Author's Notes: Hey you guys, Omniarch is here once more with a brand new story for you all. I've recently been away from Fanfiction playing up a storm on my Pokémon Ultra Sun and Moon games, and have had the idea for this story in my head since well before they dropped. Now that I've satisfied my craving for these magnificent games for a while; I can start working on this story which is set in an alternative Ultra Sun and Moon Universe.
This is where the journey begins for another of my ZOF Grandmaster tier characters… Sun IBIB. He's not quite as high up in the endless hierarchies of infinity as some of my other Grandmaster characters; though this Ultimate version of Sun will still be formidable in his own right once he's had time to grow into his powers.
Given that this all starts off when he's just 14-years-old, he'll be just a kid; a kid who for whatever reason is given extraordinary abilities. Don't expect him to always go the responsible route, as teenagers are often prone to bouts of immaturity; as I'm sure many of you know lol. Not saying he would go dark or anything… but he wouldn't be above petty actions if somebody wronged him and he would likely be tempted to get even more often than not. For the most part however, he is a good kid whose mother raised him right.
One last thing before I end this AN; this will be a Sun x harem fic featuring him with Moon, Lillie, Acerola, and Kahili to name a few. I may also even pair him with Lusamine, so if you guys aren't into a mother and daughter sharing the same man I'd recommend you avoid those parts or even this story itself entirely. Just a fair warning, this story probably won't highlight any possibly incestuous moments between Lillie and her mom … but the two of them will definitely be sharing Sun at separate intervals once the lad comes of age lol. So I've given you all a preview of sorts; if you're still on board with this story, and I wouldn't blame you if some of you weren't lol… then let's begin shall we?
Disclaimer: I don't own anything except for the ZOF concept and any OCs that might eventually pop up. I don't make any profit from this whatsoever so don't bother suing; it won't get you anything considering I'm poor as all hell.
Pokémon Ultra Sun and Moon: The Birth of a Pokémon Grandmaster
Book 1: The Trans Omni-Totality's Brightest Sun
Chapter One: New Places, Unfamiliar Faces
A boy waited eagerly in front of his computer screen, perhaps too eagerly if the way he was bouncing up and down in his seat was any indicator. "Oh come on, Mom and I have been moved in for over an hour; when is the Professor going to call?!" The teenager whined, his electric-blue eyes alight with excitement while his fingers drummed on his knees incessantly, attempting in vain to alleviate his immeasurable hyper-enthusiasm.
The boy's name was Elio, though he preferred his other nomenclature… Sun. His mom nicknamed him as such because of his sunny disposition; not a day went by when he didn't have a smile on his face at least 90 percent of the time. She always said he would one day have the power to light up the world with just his radiance alone- much to his embarrassment in later years.
He was an excitable teenage boy of blazing passion and unending amounts of hyper-active energy; with obsidian hair and glittering blue eyes like the storm and the night in the middle of the ocean. He was on his latest growth spurt and already taller than his mom, and ganglier than any teenage boy his age he'd ever seen. He was closing in on six feet high and still growing, and he ate like a freaking Rapidash and somehow stayed rail thin. And right now he was beside himself with joy at the prospect of moving to a new place; this Alola Archipelago just screamed at him to explore every nook and cranny, and he couldn't wait to get the ball rolling.
It wasn't that he didn't love Kanto back home in Pallet Town, but there were hardly any kids there his age growing up and he never really connected with anybody there so instead hyper-focused on the Pokémon League battles televised on TV and got really into the idea of training all the Pokémon there was to see.
Many Trainers swore to one day catch em all, but few if any succeeded. Sun promised himself he'd be the first, no matter whose help he had to have to do it. He was hell bent on succeeding in all aspects of being a Pokémon Master; be it training, battling, bonding, and all of that. He would be Pokémon's best friends the same as they were man's best friend. He strived to be the number one Pokémon Master in the world, and always told himself that if he couldn't dream big he might as well stay home.
His eyes scrunched shut and his smile grew to Cheshire Mew proportions as his excitement built to a crescendo; if Kukui didn't call him soon, he didn't know what he would do but it wouldn't be pretty. As if on cue, his computer monitor gave a vibrating sound as the words 'you have a message from the Alola Region's own Professor Kukui' displayed themselves across his screen.
"This is it… my journey to become the very best begins now!" Sun all but shouted as he eagerly moved his mouse curser over the video chat icon and clicked on it. True to the technological era of today's world, the video chat loaded up in record time and the monitor displayed the blurry image of a tanned, middle-aged man with a lab coat on and little else. Sun couldn't help but feel slightly envious of the man's robust figure, and made it another of his personal goals to have an Alola suntan and abs like that before his journey came to a close.
"Hang on; give me just one sec while I adjust the camera." Kukui said with childlike enthusiasm not unlike Sun's own. Sun sat impatiently, drumming his thumbs on his knees like he had been doing for the past half-hour; his mother said ADHD ran in their family and the boy clearly inherited his father's inability to stay still for even a second. It seemed he also inherited the bastard's permanent case of wanderlust, and his mother reassured him he inherited all of the old man's best qualities time and time again.
"Hey there, good afternoon Sun. So the day has finally come where you're moving to Alola huh?" Kukui greeted him with zeal.
"I know, and I'm so excited Professor; it's good to finally meet you in person! My mom told me so much about you!" Sun exclaimed in response, and Kukui chuckled at the boy's obvious enthusiasm.
"Glad to hear it; Alola is a Region made up of several islands. That could be the reason why the region is chalk full of nothin' but rare Pokémon, yeah!" Kukui said, continuing with the explanation.
"You don't have to sell it Professor; I'm already super psyched to be here!" Sun practically screamed as he threw both fists into the air while falling back into his seat. Kukui smiled at the boy's seemingly perpetual energy and bubbliness. No doubt an extrovert like him would get along swimmingly with the vast majority of Alola's people.
"Read you loud and clear cousin; let's just skip the anecdote then and get the necessities out of the way. I already know your name, but I want to know which photo you wish to use for your Trainer Passport?" Kukui replied in a laid-back tone, and Sun decided that he liked the man very much.
A series of images popped up on the screen… pictures of Sun in various places and striking various poses; some of which were quite embarrassing. The boy immediately suspected his mom had a hand in picking them. "That one," He said, deciding on the least embarrassing photo with him in his most recent change in attire. The simple blue top and red hat looked a lot better than his old clothes in his opinion… and there was more color and variety in them to.
"10-4 cousin; I'll let everyone know you're here. I'll be looking forward to seeing you in person; Alola Sun." Kukui said with a welcoming smile as the video display turned off at the click of a button on the Professor's computer.
"Hey Sun, if you're done talking to the Professor do you think you could help me with these boxes?" His Mom suddenly called out, requesting his aid as Sun rolled his eyes in a good-natured manner. His mom was the worst procrastinator in the world… odds are they'd never truly be unpacked. Half the things they brought over here were already packed away in storage at their old house; Sun honestly questioned whether the things inside those boxes had seen any use while he had been alive.
"Coming mom," he replied back to her; getting up from his chair and casting a quick glance at the pamphlet depicting a place called the Aether Foundation and its president whom Sun had to admit was the most gorgeous adult woman he'd ever laid eyes on… albeit a little intimidating.
XXXX
Each island that made up the Alola Archipelago was as different as the next one, and Akala Island's own Ruins of Life were currently under the watchful eye of not only a deified Pokémon known as Tapu Lele, but also a teenaged girl of 14-years with intense-looking hazel eyes and black hair in two braids underneath a yellow porkpie hat with a flower attached to it. She wore a spaghetti strap orange tee-shirt with red floral patterns on it, short white shorts, and a pair of white and black running shoes. She looked cute, even when she was glaring daggers at the stranger standing across from her near the entrance to the ruins. She couldn't believe the audacity of this man, this… outsider; desecrating these sacred grounds with his foreign presence.
"You have no business being here unless summoned by the Tapu for whatever reason or unless you're partaking in a Grand Trial, and considering I've just spoken with the Island Kahuna I know you didn't come here with any special permissions. I'll give you one chance to walk away outsider, or this situation might become ugly!" The girl called out to the man in a nasty tone of voice, gritting her teeth at the prospect of anyone coming here as they please, bold as brass.
The man didn't look like he had heard her at all and continued to look around him in awe as he took it all in. A vein seemed to pop on the girl's forehead as she raised her voice even higher. "EXCUSE ME?! ARE YOU EVEN LISTENING! I SAID TO FUCKING LEAVE THIS PLACE; UNLESS YOU WANT TO BRING THE FURY OF THE TAPU DOWN UPON YOURSELF!" She shouted at the top of her lungs, finally grabbing his attention as he turned to face her with a sheepish smile.
"Ah, sorry about that miss; I was out training on the Akala Outskirts and kind of lost track of where I was. I'll be sure to leave in just a moment; believe me… I meant no disrespect." He said in an apologetic tone that did nothing to appease the girl's anger and frustration. If anything, she furrowed her eyebrows deeper at the man's complete ignorance.
"Who are you outsider?!" She demanded harshly.
"Ah, kids today… it is impolite to ask my name without introducing yourself young lady." He said in an admonishing tone, but the girl was having none of that.
"It doesn't matter who I am… what matters is you're trespassing. You better hope you have the strength to challenge the Tapus if you plan to continue loitering around here! Though I seriously doubt some joke of an outsider who doesn't even know our ways could beat an Island Guardian Deity anyways!" the black haired teenager retorted viciously. It was at this point that she got a proper look at the trespassing moron, and she couldn't help the shudder that passed through her when she took in his appearance.
He looked to be no older than 20-years-old, though his face was strangely timeless and unbelievably handsome - not that the nameless teenager was really fixating on that detail, but she could appreciate things like that from time to time now even in an individual many years older than her. His skin was tanned a tawny gold and his face had strange markings on each cheek resembling the letters ZIB. He wore a black cloak over his shoulders and back which was trimmed in metallic gold and fastened to the front of his chest by a pure white gemstone with the abbreviation 'AIBIB' in multicolored, all-caps font. The girl had no idea what these acronyms stood for, and that just puzzled her even further. He wore a simple white tee-shirt underneath the cloak, and loose-fitting blue jeans. She met his gaze and found herself mesmerized by his iridescent golden eyes of almost otherworldly vibrancy.
"I'll ask you once again, and I expect an answer this time; who dares trespass upon these sacred grounds?!" The girl demanded once she recovered from the shock of observing this man.
The equally mysterious man gave her an irritatingly impish grin. "And all you would have to do to get your answer would be to tell me your name first; young lady. You would have me at a disadvantage otherwise, which is extremely impolite; you asked me first, so it is only fair you give me your name first. What say you?" He responded to her question with a maddening grin, and the girl sighed in defeat.
"My name is Moon… there, you got your introduction; now tell me who the fuck I'm dealing with here!" She demanded once more. Maybe the third time would be the charm.
"Ah, nice to meet you Moon; my name is Appaneesty IBIB, though recently I've been going by Ash Ketchum IBIB. I guess you could simply call me Ash. I'm here visiting these ruins for… various reasons of my own, you could say. I'm merely a casual observer if you will; a witness to the remarkable sequencing of events that will unfold in this universe. I'm a catalyst of this epic tale to be as much as a certain blonde haired girl will be, and her little Cosmog to." He responded airily, and Moon looked at him like he was completely nuts; given some of the things he just said… she honestly questioned his sanity. No sane individual would come to these ruins in such a nonchalant manner either, now that she thought about it.
"I think I speak for every sane person on this planet when I say… huh?" Moon quipped, feeling mightily on edge with this person. A bright pink light suddenly burst forth from the entrance to the Ruins of Life, interrupting her thought process as it crashed into the ground between her and the aforementioned Ash IBIB with meteoric impact.
Moon immediately recognized the Fairy and Psychic-type legendary form of Tapu Lele from all her time spent protecting the island as one of Kahuna Olivia's protégés. She felt awed and humbled to be so close to such a being, having only seen the Island Guardian a handful of times in her life and always fleetingly. Most people would feel intimidated, but Moon only saw in Tapu Lele a potential friend and a rival one day when she bested the Island Trials and became the Island Challenge Champion.
It was said the Island Challenge was first made to help aspiring champions grow strong enough to challenge the Tapus, and the proof of one of these legendary being's strength was right in front of her. Tapu Lele radiated a discombobulating aura of pure psychic energy; one which surged through the whole of the island and enveloped the Akala outskirts all around them in a soft pink glow. Recognizing this as the Psychic Terrain… Moon made a vow right then and there to teach that move to any Pokémon she caught that could learn it; because it was probably one of the best friends to Psychic-type Pokémon nowadays. It offered complete immunity to First Impression and Sucker Punch as well as all other instant speed attacks. It also provided Psychic-type moves with an enormous boost in power.
Tapu Lele inclined her head at the Entity who had come to her temple and scrutinized him intensely with her beautiful multicolored eyes; those same eyes widening when they recognized what kind of being this Ash Ketchum IBIB was. "IT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE OUR WORLD WAS GRACED BY THE PRESENCE OF YOUR KIND. WHAT BUSINESS DOES A ZENITH OMNIDONY HAVE WITH OUR ALOLA REGION?" Tapu Lele asked in perfect human Alolan… though her voice was quite a bit naturally louder than the average person's.
Moon watched the exchange with interest, taking in everything the Guardian Deity said and wondering what the fuck a Zenith Omnidony was. Ash meanwhile, smiled charmingly at the Akala Island's watchful protector. "Ah, Tapu Lele, still as sexy as ever I see; you were always my favorite of the four Island Guardians. I also happen to like your Terrain ability the best as well, but I digress. I'm here in this Alola Region for one purpose and one purpose only. I have found a candidate here to make into a new Grandmaster of the ZOF." He explained in a much more no-nonsense and serious tone than the one he had used with Moon earlier. The abrupt change in demeanor, as well as the subtle symphony of every note of power imaginable bleeding out from him was unnerving to her to say the least.
Tapu Lele's eyes narrowed in distrust of the man's intentions. "YOU WISH TO ALTER OUR REALITY? SURELY THERE ARE OTHER WORLDS FAR BETTER SUITED TO YOUR GIFTS AND PREPARED TO ACCEPT THEM!" She stated, the idea of their world being on this man's radar not sitting well with her in the slightest. She wouldn't let him catch her off guard with those compliments of his… calling her sexy; she would remain steadfast and stubborn until he got bored and left their planet in peace.
"Tapu Lele, I can assure you I've looked into every dimension, parallel, and alternative and I can honestly say there is no better world to receive the changes I am to implement. If there were, I wouldn't be here." He promised her, and Tapu Lele sighed when she realized there was no way to change his mind. Loathe though she was to admit it, no force on this earth or in the heavens above could force this Entity to leave their world; he would get what he wanted in the end regardless of what they or anyone else thought. Once a Zenith Omnidony had their heart set on a certain place or people; there was no way to dissuade them.
"WHO DID YOU HAVE PICKED OUT, IF YOU DON'T MIND ME ASKING?" Tapu Lele finally relented, recognizing the hopelessness of this situation but also lamenting her powerlessness to stop it.
Ash smiled at her reassuringly. "There's no need to be so glum about it you know, and of course I don't mind. It's the very same Trainer whom you guys have arranged to move to Alola this very day; the one who will become one of the greatest Trainers this world has ever known. I speak of course… of the future Sun IBIB." He answered her, and Tapu Lele closed her eyes… mourning the death of the poor boy and his rebirth into something else entirely. Everything he was would be gone in a split-second, only to be replaced by another Arceus-damned Zenith Omnidony. Of course it would be the Trainer they were pinning all their hopes on, and while Tapu Lele didn't deny the boy would have powers beyond reason when and if he did undergo the transformation… she also couldn't help wondering if their world was better off without any type of interference from a higher power whatsoever.
Moon continued to stand off to the side and listen to their exchanged words with wide and befuddled eyes. She wasn't following what was happening here at all. What freaked her out the most was how unnerved Tapu Lele was by this man's mere presence; anything that could scare a Guardian Deity was not to be taken lightly.
"I'M GUESSING THERE IS NOTHING I CAN SAY OR DO TO CONVINCE YOU NOT TO GIVE HIM THAT OPTION AT ALL. OUR WORLD ISN'T READY FOR THE KIND OF OMNI-SHIT YOUR KIND GETS UP TO ON A REGULAR BASIS." Tapu Lele said in an imploring tone, and Ash smiled sadly at her.
"Very few worlds ever are, but this is no longer just about your world anymore or about any one person. I need to think of ALL the worlds my selected Grandmaster will save, but I can also understand why most of you aren't able to see or appreciate the bigger picture; most sentient beings are inherently selfish by their fundamental nature and can't look outside of themselves or their own little worlds. I can respect that Tapu Lele, but not when it hinders a Zenith Omnidony's responsibilities to the greater cosmos. Our kind doesn't belong to any one world or reality; we belong to all of them, and yet also none of them. I hope that in time you will come to understand the necessity of our existence and of my decision to choose this world for the ultimate paradigm shift." He responded lengthily without drawing a single breath.
Moon decided that very moment to pipe up, a look of horror and confusion plastered on her face. "Um… excuse me, but what's going on here? This sounds like it is too all-important and on too big a scale for me to even fathom. Why are you here outsider, where did you come from, and why can't you just leave instead of doing whatever alien thing you came here to do. I won't just stand by and watch while you snap your fingers and bring our world to its knees." She said, demanding an explanation for his intrusion as Ash cast a sympathetic smile before his eyes glowed with a rainbow-tinged blue light, and everything went black for Moon as she lost consciousness.
Tapu Lele's eyes widened as she examined the girl to make sure she was alright, before she rounded on Ash with fire in her eyes. "WHAT DID YOU DO TO HER?!" She demanded furiously, and Ash raised both his hands in a placating manner; not wanting this conversation to turn into a fight she couldn't possibly win.
"Nothing, she's fine… she'll just sleep, and when she wakes up she won't have any memory of this conversation. It'll be up to my chosen Grandmaster whether or not she learns the truth of our kind's reality; for now though I've only interests in naming one such Grandmaster in this world. Whether or not he deifies anyone else on this planet in turn- particularly the woman or women he will fall in love with and can't live without- is completely up to him. He will be the first though, and he will learn through trial and error and grow into his powers; so as to help guide your world into this new age of infinite power. The best ZOF Paradigm shifts are the ones that take their time; this way at least your world will have a bit longer to acclimate to these changes… and adapt to the altered reality my new fellow Grandmaster will create." He reasoned, and Tapu Lele breathed a sigh of relief upon realizing that Moon was okay.
She had watched over the girl from a time when she was small, and had taken her under her wing much like her Kahuna did. Moon had a rough time of it growing up and Tapu Lele had always felt overprotective of her; so she was overjoyed that Ash hadn't harmed her in anyway… though she was less than pleased about this turn-of-events.
"SO THE ONLY ONES WHO KNOW ABOUT THIS ARE YOU AND I? WHY TRUST ME OF ALL THE LEGENDARY AND MYTHICAL POKÉMON IN OUR WORLD?" Tapu Lele skeptically questioned him, her hand on her hip as she raised a delicate eyebrow at him expectantly; awaiting his answer.
Ash's answering smile was full of mystique. "As I explained to you, you're my favorite of the Island Guardians and the one least likely to attack me on sight. True to your Psychic-typing you analyze the situation first to see if it warrants such an aggressive approach. I like that about you." He responded plainly, and Tapu Lele nodded; though she grew a sly smile as the beginnings of a really clever idea came to her.
"AND IF I SHOULD DECIDE TO BRING THIS MATTER TO THE OTHER TAPUS OR EVEN THE REALLY POWERFUL LEGENDARY ENTITIES LIKE ARCEUS?" She asked for clarification, and Ash smirked right back at her.
"That is entirely up to you, I won't try to stop you if you do try to Rattata me out, but it won't stop me from achieving my objective." He clarified, and Tapu Lele's smirk broadened. She was forming a plan in her head, but it depended on if he really thought of her as sexy. Maybe she could use that to persuade him to leave their planet alone; granted… it had been a while and she might not be as experienced as she once was, but if it got him to leave their world alone then perhaps she should give it a try.
"GOOD TO KNOW, ONE MORE QUESTION; JUST ONE MORE. WHEN YOU CHOOSE THE BOY AS YOUR PAWN; WILL HE STILL BE PERMITTED TO TRAVEL HERE IN ALOLA, TAKE THE ISLAND CHALLENGE, AND SAVE OUR WORLD FROM THE IMPENDING CALAMITY TO COME? OR WILL YOU TAKE THAT AWAY FROM HIM TO?" Tapu Lele queried sardonically, and Ash responded with a heart-melting, sincere smile.
"I would never take away my best potential candidate's right to choose his own fate. Life will throw situations at him because of what he'll become no doubt, but he will always be able to choose how he goes about dealing with those situations and fulfilling his destiny. And honestly, I would consider it a personal loss if he didn't choose to enjoy his new life and make the best of his time in Alola; for all I know he might even form a base of operations here."
"Frankly, there's no need to take away anything from him; the ZOF doesn't change a person's path in life so much as it adds new stuff on top of it. And it permits them to live the way they choose way beyond their previously intended time to die. Honestly Tapu Lele, you have little reason to be so afraid; it'll be easy worth for him to fulfill whatever directive you and the other Tapus have planned for him on these islands, far easier than it would've been without these alterations." Ash promised her with that smile never leaving his face. Tapu Lele did feel a little bit better about all this, but she was still somewhat uneasy. If nothing else, at least the boy would retain his freedom to choose.
"I'M HONESTLY CURIOUS, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THE BOY ACTUALLY DECIDED NOT TO ACCEPT YOUR GENEROUS OFFER?" Tapu Lele asked him, breaking her unspoken promise from before to only ask him one last question.
Ash obliged her regardless. "Nothing, that's his decision alone Tapu Lele. Most people don't realize it, but there are actually quite a few people who've rejected my offer and managed to live healthy, happy, fulfilling, ordinary lives because of it. Don't get me wrong, he would be denying so many worlds the potential inside of him, and I would be saddened to hear it, but I would respect his decision. I guess I would just have to make do without him, and even if the Trans Omni-Totalities are all the worse off for it; things like this have a way of working themselves out with or without the influence of my best potential candidates. I created the ZOF and the Trans Omni Omega Omnispheres to be constantly in flux and endlessly self-improving to boot; so even if he's the best candidate right now someone better may come along in the future. So my answer is obvious Tapu Lele." He responded, and the Akala Island Guardian smiled dazzlingly at him as she felt a huge weight lift off her chest. That was the most reassuring thing he could've said to her, and she was glad that no matter the outcome not only would the boy have the right to choose but the realities beyond would find a way to compensate should he choose not to accept.
"I THANK YOU FOR YOUR REASSURANCE ON THE MATTER ASH KETCHUM. YES, I KNOW WHOSE FACE YOU EMULATE; EVEN THOUGH OUR WORLD HAS NO COUNTERPART TO HIM OTHER THAN THE TRAINER RED FROM KANTO. THE ULTRA WORMHOLES HAVE BEEN A USEFUL TOOL FOR IDENTIFYING ICONIC FIGURES FROM OTHER WORLDS; OF COURSE ONLY BEINGS LIKE PALKIA OR ARCEUS ARE FULLY IN TUNE WITH MULTIVERSAL CONVENTIONS." Tapu Lele responded with a far airier tone than she had been using. She no longer felt the need to seduce the man into leaving their world untouched- not that she expected it to work ultimately- and who knows… this could be a blessing in disguise. After all, a Trainer who was infused with the power of the ZOF as well as his Pokémon ought to be a terrific ally in the wars to come.
Ash nodded with a flirtatious smile on his face. "Not a problem my sexy lady friend; I'm always glad to be a source of reassurance. I best take my leave now, but perhaps our paths may cross again someday." He said, and Tapu Lele smirked at him.
"I'LL BE LOOKING FORWARD TO IT, YOU SWEET TALKER YOU. SERIOUSLY, KEEP CALLING ME SEXY AND I MIGHT JUST HAVE TO SHOW YOU HOW SEXY I CAN GET." She winked at him suggestively, and they both shared an easygoing laugh before Ash was gone in a whirl of his black cloak… vanishing into thin air with nary a crack of displacement.
Tapu Lele stared at the spot where he'd been for a long while afterward, her face burning and her body hot with lust for the first time in a long while. She hadn't felt attracted to anyone who resembled a human in a long time, and she hoped she would see him again someday; if for no other reason than to scratch the itch he'd given her then so be it. It was then that she remembered Moon, and she floated over to her with a caring smile as the black-haired girl stirred and groaned tiredly in her hypnotically-induced sleep or however Ash did the trick. She was just glad he didn't use the Dark Void technique or that a Darkrai was near; that particular legendary was a boon to nearly every Psychic-type Pokémon in existence.
"Ugh… what happened, I remember coming to the Ruins of Life to tell off a trespassing outsider, then zilch." Moon moaned as she sat up into the grass while recapping recent events out loud. It was as she sat up straighter that she became aware of the Guardian Deity's presence here as well.
"Um… Tapu Lele? Am I dreaming?" She asked dazedly, obviously still out of it as the Psychic and Fairy-type legendary shook her head.
"THIS IS NOT A DREAM YOUNG ONE; I HAVE DRIVEN THE INTRUDER AWAY, THOUGH IT WOULD SEEM THE BACKLASH FROM MY DOING SO KNOCKED YOU OUT FOR A SHORT WHILE. YOU SEEM TO BE UNHARMED THANKFULLY." She said when it became clear she'd have to come up with a convincing story to fill the gaps in Moon's memory. The young aspiring Trainer nodded, a little unsurely as she soaked all of this in; wanting nothing more than to go back home and sleep the day away. Oh, it would be wonderful if she could do that… if only her father wasn't an abusive drunk 90 percent of the time. She supposed she could go back to where she had been living for the past three months- crashing on Olivia's couch- but she was tired of being a freeloader and was content with what she knew about Pokémon already. She was ready to begin her journey, and hoped Tapu Lele would support her decision.
As though the Island Guardian read her mind, Tapu Lele produced a fully formed Z-Power Ring; not even in its unpolished sparkling stone form. "THIS Z-POWER RING BELONGED TO THE FIRST KAHUNA OF AKALA ISLAND THAT I EVER CHOSE… SHE WAS YOUR DISTANT ANCESTOR MOON, AND GAVE HER Z-POWER RING BACK TO ME TO PASS ON TO SOMEONE ELSE WHEN SHE BECAME TOO OLD TO OPERATE AS KAHUNA ANYMORE. SHE WAS ALSO AN ISLAND CHALLENGE CHAMPION, AND ONE OF THE SELECT FEW PEOPLE TO HAVE EVER SEEN BOTH LEGENDARY POKÉMON OF ALOLA UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL." Tapu Lele explained the history behind the Z-Power Ring as Moon's eyes widened, too stunned by this revelation to accept the generous gift.
"I… can't accept this Tapu Lele; it holds too much historical value." She protested weakly, though deep inside her heart of hearts she longed to hold such a valuable item. It almost seemed to sing in her presence, calling out to her, and it took everything she had not to reach out and grab it.
Tapu Lele smiled reassuringly. "SHE WOULD'VE WANTED YOU TO HAVE IT; YOU WOULDN'T REJECT SUCH A GIFT FROM ONE OF THE ISLAND GUARDIANS, WOULD YOU?" She said in a dangerous tone that was mostly falsified. She was simply playing on Moon's enormous reverence for the Island Deities as well as her lavished devotion to Alola's cultures and customs. Moon's eyes widened in horror as the implications sunk in, and she snatched the Z-Power Ring away from Tapu Lele without any further hesitation.
"Of course not, please forgive me for my initial hesitancy, Island Guardian." Moon said while bowing respectfully at Tapu Lele's feet with her hands stretched out in front of her on the grass and her head crouched down low to the ground.
Tapu Lele grinned at the girl's contriteness in her presence. "THAT WAS A MINOR SHORTCOMING AT THE VERY WORST MOON; YOU WILL MAKE A FINE ISLAND CHALLENGE CHAMPION YET… BUT MANY OBSTACLES STAND IN YOUR WAY. ARE YOU WILLING TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO STAND AT THE SUMMIT?" The pink Deity asked in an enticing voice as Moon nodded eagerly like a kid at a rare candy sale.
"Yes, I mean… if you think I am ready." The girl replied in earnest.
"IT'S NOT ABOUT WHAT I THINK; IT'S ABOUT WHETHER YOU THINK YOU ARE. IF YOU BELIEVE YOU CAN HANDLE THE TRIALS THAT WILL COME YOUR WAY. TAKE A FERRY TO MELEMELE ISLAND AT THE TERMINAL IN HEAHEA CITY. ALL ASPIRING ISLAND CHALLENGE CHAMPIONS START THEIR JOURNEYS ON THAT ISLAND FIRST. ONCE YOU REACH MELEMELE ISLAND, YOU WILL SPEAK TO KAHUNA HALA ABOUT OBTAINING YOUR STARTER POKÉMON; I BELIEVE THERE ARE THREE OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO YOU IF MEMORY SERVES ME. ONCE YOU HAVE OBTAINED YOUR STARTER, YOUR TRAINER PASSPORT, AND ISLAND CHALLENGE AMULET; YOU WILL BE READY TO BEGIN. IF YOU RUN INTO ANY COMPLICATIONS ON THE WAY; SIMPLY TELL HALA THAT TAPU LELE VOUCHED FOR YOU… HE'LL KNOW WHAT TO DO. OH, YOU'LL ALSO NEED TO INFORM OUR OWN ISLAND KAHUNA ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE ABOUT TO EMBARK ON." Tapu Lele gave her a very specific set of instructions as Moon nodded once again… an overexcited grin etched on her gorgeous Alolan features as she realized this was it. It wasn't every day that a beginning Trainer got a reference from the Island Guardians themselves… if that wasn't a sign that her time to begin Training was now she didn't know what was.
"I… graciously accept your generous offer Tapu Lele; mark my words, I will be a Trainer that you and all of Alola can be proud of." Moon vowed, and the Deity nodded with an approving smile.
"SEE THAT YOU DO, YOUNG ONE. ENSURE YOU ALSO DON'T FORGET TO TELL OLIVIA ABOUT THIS RECENT DEVELOPMENT; SHE WORRIES FOR YOU JUST AS I DO." Tapu Lele said in a mothering tone, one which made Moon's heart ache with longing as she fought back tears of joy at the thought that people actually cared for her. She'd spent most of her life being completely independent and self-sufficient; given that her family was never there for her… but the fact that she didn't have to be so strong all the time with these wonderful people and Pokémon who had taken in… it was more than she could stand most days.
"Olivia is like the mother I never had, and you've been looking out for me since I was just barely old enough to toddle Tapu Lele. I'll be forever grateful for everything you've both done for me. And I wouldn't dream of flaking out on Olivia without explaining to her in explicit detail where I was going and what I'm planning to do. It's the least I can do when she's taken such good care of me these past months." Moon admitted in a rare, uncharacteristic display of tender and loving emotions. She knew she could be hard to deal with and was just a hard-ass and uncompromising in general, but she wasn't some heartless monster.
Tapu Lele could instantly tell Moon would become a Trainer she could be proud of one day… maybe even enough to join whatever Pokémon roster she ended up befriending. "YOUR JOURNEY HASN'T EVEN BEGUN, AND ALREADY YOU SHOW SO MUCH PROMISE. YOU WILL GO FAR MOON… MARK MY WORDS. YOUR JOURNEY MAY ALSO HOLD A FEW SURPRISES YOU NEVER COULD'VE SEEN COMING. ALWAYS REMEMBER THOUGH… YOUR GREATEST FOE IS ALWAYS YOURSELF; YOUR BEST ALLY THE POKÉMON BESIDE YOU." Tapu Lele whispered sagely, and Moon giggled.
"That's what Olivia is always saying." She pointed out, and Tapu Lele laughed with her.
"AND WHERE DO YOU THINK MY CHOSEN KAHUNA GOT THAT NUGGET OF WISDOM FROM. HER QUOTE ABOUT DIAMONDS AND PUSHING TO ABSOLUTE LIMITS IS HERS… BUT HER OTHER FAMOUS QUOTE IS MINE. NOW GO, YOUR DESTINY AWAITS YOU MOON." Tapu Lele adoringly stated, and she was pleasantly surprised when Moon suddenly embraced her. Knowing that the girl usually had an iron grip on her emotions… this was a rare display of affection, and Tapu Lele was not going to ruin it.
Instead, she simply returned it; she was honored by the affection this wonderful girl showed her. Contrary to popular belief, the Tapus weren't as high and mighty as the humans believed- capricious definitely, the prided themselves on their unpredictability- but they adored hugs and many other human interactions… even if battle-crazed Tapus like Koko were loathe to admit as much. So to stand here receiving a loving hug from a girl whose composure and tough façade were usually unshakable… was as much an honor to Tapu Lele as receiving a Z-Power Ring from her was to a human Trainer.
Moon was the first to pull away, and the both of them had blissful smiles on their faces. "Thank you for everything Tapu Lele. I will never forget my roots and where I came from… even when I someday stand at the summit of the World Championship I will look down on this place with absolute pride in my heritage. I'll make sure the whole damn world knows I'm from Alola, and that we're not to be trifled with." She declared with resolution and raw determination.
Tapu Lele wanted to tell her that a big part of being the World Champion was learning to draw wisdom from all the cultures of the earth- that Moon's attitude towards outsiders would have to change accordingly, but that was for the young girl to discover for herself. The Akala Island Guardian had every confidence that Moon would grow into a respectable Trainer of jaw-dropping power and ball-dropping beauty. This journey would be good for her, and it would give her room to grow on a very personal and individual level. She had learned all she could as Olivia's Protégé; now was the time for her to come onto her own and show the whole world what she could do.
With everything set in motion for Moon to begin her journey, the 14-year-old girl made her way out of the Ruins of Life and waved goodbye to Tapu Lele until she was merely a speck on the horizon. The Island Guardian beamed with pride, though she couldn't help but wonder if Moon's destiny was somehow intertwined with Ash's chosen Grandmaster. By her rough estimates, Moon would make it to Melemele Island just in time to catch Sun getting his first Pokémon as well. Was that timing merely coincidence, or did Ash time it that way on purpose? Either way, she doubted Moon would be all that welcoming to the boy at first. "POOR BOY… HE HAS NO IDEA WHAT'S COMING. I CAN'T HELP FEELING SORRY FOR HIM." Tapu Lele commented aloud to herself, though the way she held her hand over her mouth while giggling quietly contradicted the idea that she was truly sympathetic quite spectacularly. It would be interesting to see how this all plays out.
XXXXX
"Nebby… get in the bag; we're heading out now." A slightly timid but angelic voice called from up in what appeared to be a loft, inside a run-down old building with several patched holes in the roof and a sandy beach outside it with the vast ocean in plain view. To the people who lived here… this place held its own kind of unique charm; even if the place was pretty much trashed it was home. This could only have been the laboratory of the famous Professor Kukui; one of two Professors in the Alola Region alongside Professor Samson Oak.
"Pew," Another voice responded in an adorably delighted coo, the being it belonged to obviously enjoying not being in the aforementioned bag.
"I know, I know, you don't like going in there… but Nebby, it's for the best if nobody sees you. Come on, I'll make it worth your while when we get back here. Now let's go, the Professor has asked us to go find the Kahuna and tell him we're ready with the three starters. We need to hurry if we're going to catch him in time." The voice tried reasoning, but the mysterious Nebby was having none of it as a tiny figure zipped down the ladder leading up into the loft… followed by the heftier sound of footsteps climbing their way down after it.
The first figure resembled a ball of cosmic-patterned fluff or cotton candy. Its adorable beady black eyes were alight with playful amusement as it shot away like a comet from the approaching second figure attempting to chase it down, effectively winning at its perceived game of hide-and-go-seek-tag. It found a rather lovely spot to lie down low… behind the sofa in the Professor's worn-down guest room. He could hear the second figure's approaching footsteps nearing his hiding spot, before it stopped abruptly at the front of the couch and listened.
"Oh dear, where oh where could my little Nebby be," the second figure asked in mock-perplexity, before a face revealed itself over the back of couch and two arms snatched Nebby from its little hidey-hole.
"Gotcha, you little rascal." Lillie giggled with adoration as she held Nebby close to her chest with one arm and poked him in the center of his body with her other hand's fingers over and over; laughing in delight as she effectively tickled him.
"Pew!" Nebby protested, squirming valiantly in an effort to escape the unbreakable grasp of his captor, but it was not to be as he accepted his fate and let Lillie subject him to all manner of torments.
Lillie smiled down at the little fluff-butt in her arms before finally deciding to show the poor guy a little mercy, and she withdrew her damnably deft, dexterous fingers and brought him up above her face. "Oh Nebby, what am I going to do with you, huh? You're lucky you're so cute you little troublemaker." Lillie teasingly admonished him, and Nebby could no longer resist the urge to smile down at her in return as the two of them shared a laugh and Lillie brought him in for a loving hug, nuzzling his face with hers as Nebby squealed in pure delight. He loved it when she did that.
"Okay, that's enough playing around now, alright? I was being serious before Nebby; you need to get in the bag." She said, and the look of pure betrayal he gave her after she stated that was enough to leave her in stitches.
"Oh, don't give me that look, you big drama king. It's only for a couple of hours, and I promise when we come home we'll play together all night; how does that sound?" Lillie asked, deciding that when all else failed, try and bargain with him.
Nebby made a sound that was suspiciously like that of a sound of acceptance, and he relented and got in the bag. "Uh, now that that's done, and that's not even the hard part; the trick is getting him to stay in the bag. Alright Nebby, let's get going alright?" Lillie beamed down at her trusty duffel bag, where her favorite Pokémon in the cosmos laid tucked down all safe and cozy inside.
"Pew," he responded none-too-happily, though Lillie could tell she won him over with her little bribe earlier. For now at least, he would consent to her wishes. Professor Kukui was still getting ready with the starter Pokémon down in the basement, and it would be a while before he had everything sorted for the three new Trainers coming today including their passports.
Lillie knew about Hau of course; given that he was one of her closest friends and only just turned 11 last night he was getting his starter the first chance he got. Kukui also got a call this morning from Akala Island's Kahuna, saying that a promising Trainer named Moon had just received a Z-Power Ring with great historic value from Tapu Lele and was on her way to begin her journey at 14-years of age. Lillie wondered why the girl was starting so late, but when she thought about the fact that she was 15 and had yet to begin any sort of journey herself she stopped questioning it. From what she heard, Moon was something of a celebrity on Akala Island and was a direct descendent of its first ever Kahuna and one of the first Island Challenge Champions in the history of Alola. This ancient Kahuna of Akala was also the one who's Z-Power Ring Moon supposedly inherited. With such a rich heritage and deep connection to Alola's earliest history; Lillie had no doubt Moon would go far as a Trainer.
Finally, the third Trainer was a boy around her and Moon's age, and amazingly enough he was coming to their Region from all the way in far off Kanto. Lillie could only imagine he had to be feeling nervous and excited at the same time, and hoped they could be friends. Regardless, she wanted to make sure he felt welcomed; Alola was sure to be a place he wouldn't forget.
"The Professor said his name was Sun, and he showed his picture as well Nebby. He seems really nice and full of energy; I hope he's as nice in person as I'm imagining him to be, though I don't think it's really fair if I judge a near stranger if he doesn't live up to my expectations of him." Lillie blabbed and babbled in a nervous manner. She loved being the Professor's assistant, but she was worried she would leave a bad first impression on Sun and Moon. She hoped they could be friends like she and Hau were. Then again, Hau would be friends with anybody… the guy had to be the happiest, most positive-minded fellow she'd ever had the pleasure of meeting. Literally nothing ever got the boy down; Lillie often questioned how anyone human could have that level of optimism, but it was likely to be a mystery that never got solved.
"Alright Professor, I'm heading out now alright? I've got Nebby safe and sound in the bag and I've got lots of max repels with me. I'll see you in Iki Town then?" Lillie shouted down to the Professor in the basement; she was raring to go but opted not to leave until she got a proper response from the man.
"Sure thing Lillie, I'll see you there. Be sure to let Hala know we're coming, and don't let Sun, Hau, and Moon make their decision prematurely. I plan to be there when they choose their starters, woo!" Kukui responded with a yell of childlike overexcitement. Lillie had to resist the urge to roll her eyes at the Professor's childish disposition, but she managed a small smile as she sent him her assurance that she would do exactly that and made her way out the door into the dazzling afternoon Alola sun.
"Ah, fresh air; the ocean looks so blue today, and the weather is just perfect. It's beautiful here Nebby." Lillie commented with a contented stretching of her arms which subtly accentuated her chest and other curves. She had been told a select few times in recent months that she was beautiful; a statement which constantly clashed with what her mother said to her all her life, always calling her and her disobedience ugly. At 15-years-old Lillie was already sporting an enviable hourglass figure and a rather sizeable bust; the problem was she was the type of person who couldn't even see how beautiful she was. She had some deeply-rooted issues with confidence that stemmed from years of emotional abuse by her mother; she was little more than a decoration to Lusamine most days, expected to act and think in a certain way. Lillie wore a one-piece outfit of pure white that ended in a skirt just above her knees, and a straw hat of the same color covering her platinum-blonde hair and shielding her twinkling emerald eyes from the worst of Alola's sunlight. She would never regret rescuing Nebby though; no matter how much abuse she had to put up with her mother from here on out... she only hoped she would be able to help him find his way home.
"Pew, pew." Nebby commented from inside the bag, and Lillie grew an even bigger smile as she reached into another compartment of it and brought out a Max Repel. Proceeding to spray it all over herself and her clothes, Lillie felt her excitement building as she went out past the beach up to Route 1 north of the laboratory. Max Repel carried a special and overpowering scent that most if not all species of Pokémon hated; she didn't really understand the science behind it… but apparently it smelled different to each Pokémon according to what they found least appealing or appetizing. It was referred to as an olfactory misdirection or something. This particular brand of repellent was better than the other two variants in that its effects were more potent and lasted for even longer. She would probably already be in Iki Town by time it wore off, but even if it wore off beforehand she had a couple of others on hand just in case.
"Excuse me; are you interested in a battle?" A youngster Trainer suddenly got her attention with an eager look in his youthful eyes, and Lillie had to resist the urge to flinch at the very thought. She hated Pokémon battles; she never understood how any of them could be so okay with getting so beaten up… but for whatever reason certain Pokémon seemed to be a glutton for punishment, even more so when their Trainers were nice about it and rewarded them for their hard work. Lillie honestly believed it was the least those so called 'nice' Trainers could do; they should be on their knees praising their Pokémon profusely for being willing to put up with that abuse. Still, Lillie was the Professor's assistant and could respect Trainers well enough to keep her biting comments to herself. Arceus help her if Hau ever neglected his Pokémon in such a way, or even the other two new Trainers.
"Um, sorry… but I'm not a Trainer; I'm just running an errand for the Professor. I'm his assistant you see." Lillie informed the lad courteously. The kid couldn't have been older than 7 or 8, why in the world was a child so young allowed to order Pokémon around in battle for their own amusement? She shook her head mentally, trying to mask her features into a look of cool professionalism. She didn't miss the way the boy's eyes lit up at the mention of the Professor, and sighed when she realized he was going to keep her talking for a bit.
"That's awesome; you must know all about Pokémon moves then. What would you recommend for my Inkay? His current moves I've taught him so far are Tackle, Peck, Constrict, and Reflect, and his ability is Contrary." He informed her as Lille- true to her walking Pokémon encyclopedia persona- struck a thinking pose as she cast herself back to what she had read about Inkay and what moves they could learn.
"Well, I'd recommend teaching it how to learn its Egg Moves; if I remember correctly Inkay can learn some really neat moves at birth such as Simple Beam, Power Split, Destiny Bond, and even Guard Swap just recently." She informed him dutifully, like any good assistant should.
"Also, if you really want to make use of that Contrary ability of his, I'd recommend Superpower since that would raise his Attack and Defense instead of dropping them." She added with a smile… anything that would help this poor Inkay win battles more decisively without having to hurt his opponents unnecessarily or himself in longer, more drawn out fights was a plus in her book.
The kid looked up at her in confusion. "But miss, I thought egg moves could only be taught by breeding with certain parent Pokémon?" He asked for clarification, but Lillie shook her head.
"That's a common misconception and it used to be true; Pokémon always had the potential to learn all of their egg moves but couldn't access certain moves without being bred by a parent with such a move in their pool… but nowadays all the current generations of trained Pokémon are able to access their entire move pools without too much difficulty. All you really need is to train them up. Oh, and you could also make some use of the Move Tutor over by the beach on the other side of this Island… there may be a few moves they have that Inkay can't learn without insane amounts of training. Still, if you train your Pokémon enough they can learn every move they're compatible with without the need for any sort of outside tutelage. I also know that Pokémon champions and Masters can work with their Pokémon to learn entirely new moves with all sorts of neat effects; that could be where all the new techniques that had cropped up overnight came from." Lillie finished her lengthy tangent as the boy's head looked close to overloading with all this information, and she paused a moment when she saw him looking at her with a dazed expression.
"Hehe, sorry… I read a lot in my spare time." Lillie said; sweat dropping sheepishly as the boy nodded.
"Thank you miss, but I think Inkay and I would be better off figuring this all out on our own." The boy said, and Lillie couldn't help but smile.
"That's some fine initiative you got there; I may not like seeing Pokémon battle myself, but even I can tell you'll go far if you just trust in yourself and Inkay's potential." Lillie commented, and the boy beamed at her with pride.
With that out of the way, Lillie continued her trek through the Hau'oli outskirts and up past the beautiful house she knew the boy Sun and his mother were already moved into. She paused a moment when she saw a car parked in the open garage and no sign of the moving Machamp crew anywhere… wondering if they were already moved in fully.
"Say Nebby… do you think we have time to stop by for a visit and greet the new neighbors?" Lillie asked in a half-rhetorical fashion, though Nebby responded anyway in his usual form of communication.
Lillie shook her head at the silliness of the thought. "They're probably still unpacking everything, besides… I'm sure I'll see him soon. He's expected to pick up his starter Pokémon in just over an hour or so. Come on; let's keep going to Iki Town." She added once she thought it over; there would be plenty of time to introduce herself to the new Trainer and his mother. She made her way to Iki Town without any more Trainers bothering her, and she couldn't help but skip a little with each step she took as the excitement of meeting new people and sharing new experiences filled her mind. For one blissful day, she could almost forget about the fact that the Aether Foundation was after her and Nebby, and she did allow herself to be caught up in the moment for now. She had no idea today was the day her life would change forever, but even if she had she wouldn't have wanted to change what happened afterwards.
XXXXX
"Whew, that was… exhausting." Sun panted as he collapsed on his bed, having spent the last couple of hours helping his mom unpack as many boxes as they could manage. It was amazing to think they ever had this much stuff just stored away; some of it was even useful… though it brought a sad smile to his mother's face as a lot of it belonged to Sun's father. Sun secretly wondered if that was why his mother was so late to unpack this stuff; he found it odd how she couldn't bring herself to throw it all away yet also couldn't bear to look at it either. It wasn't doing either of them any good locked away in the box, but his mom did find thirty five thousand Pokedollars in cash as well as some Max Revives that were still before their expiration date as well as some useful breakable TMs from way back in the day in Kanto.
TMs were special discs containing the data for certain moves for certain Pokémon… back in the day when people's knowledge of Pokémon move pools were limited. They were designed to teach Pokémon specific and rare moves that would normally take years of training for them to learn on their own. Sun was pleasantly surprised to find TMs for moves like Rage, Self-Destruct, Metronome, and Mimic just lying in boxes unused, and still perfectly viable. His mother had said these would be perfect for his journey, and so put them away somewhere easily accessible for when Sun went on his journey. She also stashed the money away in some undisclosed location, and Sun wondered if she was planning on giving him his father's stuff for his journey. He couldn't help but smile at the thought; he would make damn sure he made use of the seemingly broken things his father just threw away and left behind… alone and forgotten.
For now though, his bed was warm and sleep beckoned him… so he closed his eyes and was out so fast he wasn't aware at first that he was dreaming until his surroundings completely changed before his eyes.
XXXXX
"Where am I? I've never seen a place even remotely like this before; so how could I be dreaming about something I've never even pictured in my mind?' Sun's dream-self asked in an inquisitive tone.
"Dreams are but another reality to some of us Sun; always remember that." Another voice called, one over-saturated with power and mystique as a figure appeared in the landscape of Sun's mind. They were standing in some sort of ruined world… like the kind one sees in a post-apocalyptic movie. There was a monstrous creature feeding on something in the distance, and they were standing on the side of a knocked-over skyscraper or some other type of huge building.
"An interesting realization to come to isn't it? We all think our tiny little worlds can survive any adversity and every possible test of time… but then this happens. Everything we know and love… everything we are and worked so hard for… gone in the briefest of moments. Almost every culture in the Trans Omni-Totality has some concept of the apocalypse but never seem to look at the end as anything more than the end of their planet. You may be surprised to know this, but worlds like this Ultra Ruin happen all the time. It's just… so intriguing." The figure commented in an inappropriately serene tone considering the circumstances. Sun looked around him in horror; the blood red sky and the shattered cities, the creature of nightmares feasting on the waste of humanity and Pokémon alike. There was no denying this was once a thriving civilization… but looking at it now, Sun realized this was no ordinary dream he was having.
"This is… horrible; why am I even dreaming this up?" Sun asked himself more than the figure standing beside him. For some odd reason, Sun couldn't look directly at the figure… every time he tried he was blinded by some golden-white light that forced him to look away again.
"As I said, dreams are but another reality…and this is the reality for many different worlds throughout the Totalities of Existence. Dreams are almost never just dreams Sun Elio… they can be omens good or bad, visions of potential or even absolute futures, memories from a life beyond the here and now via reincarnation, and so much more besides. They can be windows into other dimensions, alternatives, and parallels; much like what we're seeing now. The scientists of your world will always try to make sense of everything, but some things by nature just don't make any kind of sense whatsoever." The figure stated plainly, and Sun considered his words as he watched that creature continue feasting on whatever dirt or scrap metal it had collected. At least, he thought the figure was male… but he couldn't say for absolute certain.
"Who are you?" He finally asked, sensing that this Entity was more than just a figment of his subconscious mind.
The figure chuckled at his forwardness. "You know, I've already been asked that question today already, and I'll tell you what I told the first person who gave me the 411. It's impolite to ask my name without introducing yourself first." He responded, and Sun sighed in an exasperated tenor. His mom was always on him about remembering his manners, but being a teenager made him less inclined to acquiesce to her advice. Still, he realized he wouldn't get any of the answers he wanted unless he played nice first.
"You already confirmed you know my name earlier, but I'll tell you anyways. My name is Elio, but everyone calls me Sun." He pointed out, and the figure guffawed.
"That's right, I did, didn't I? It's funny the things that slip your mind, eh? And now to answer your question; I've been called many names throughout the ages and endless realities that make up the Trans Omni-Totalities. I've been called Appaneesty IBIB, Ash Ketchum IBIB, ZIB, God, Aslan, The One-Above-All, and even Arceus to name a few. You can call me Ash though; that's the name I go by these days." The now named figure responded, and Sun's eyebrow quirked.
"You're Arceus? Yeah, right, and I'm the World Champion." Sun drawled sarcastically.
"I'm not Arceus, though I have been mistaken for him and various other omnipotent entities throughout the ages." Ash explained, and Sun laughed incredulously.
"Why should I believe you?" He demanded challengingly, and the Entity called Ash fired back a response rather quick for Sun's liking.
"Not saying you have to yet, but the truth will reveal itself in good time. I'm here in this universe… because I have selected you as the best possible candidate and best alternative version of yourself in every Pokémon Omniverse to name as your ultimate counterpart… Sun IBIB. I should warn you however… that if you should choose to accept this rather heavily vaunted role there is no going back. You will have powers beyond your wildest dreams and most outlandish fantasies, and you will be able to train your Pokémon to a level beyond infinity itself, and all concepts of omnipotence. However, you will also have your own version of causation; you will attract dangers and foes equal to what you are capable of." Ash concluded his answer as the world around them tightened in response to something… Sun didn't know what it was, and it didn't make this strange man's explanation or this nightmarish dream world any less terrifying. If anything, it only seemed to amplify the fear factor. There was no way Ash could be telling the truth… was there?
"That's not possible, what you're saying cannot possibly exist!" Sun vehemently denied, unable to wrap his head around the enormity of Ash's statement.
"Oh, my dear boy… you would be astounded beyond reason by what is actually possible." Ash insisted, and just like that Sun was driven out of his uneasy sleep by the sound of his mom's Kanto Meowth yowling at him to wake up.
XXXXX
"Whoa!" Sun yelled as he fell off his bed and onto the unforgiving hard floor, his limbs tangled in the comforter as she squirmed to get out of it. His family's pet Meowth was staring up at him with a coy smile on his face, and Sun would've been more annoyed with him if he wasn't still reeling from the horrible nightmare he just had.
"Oh good, you're up… it's time for you to get going Sun; so hurry up and get ready alright?" His Mom called to him from over in the other room, and Sun groaned as he picked himself up off the floor and dusted himself off, placing his comforter and sheets back on his bed haphazardly. Once his brain caught up to what his mother said, his weird-ass lucid dream was suddenly the last thing on his mind as excitement once again took over.
"Hang on, I'm coming!" He shouted excitedly, grabbing his hat and bag off of the stand they had been hung up on and placing them on him before making it to the door in less than two bounds.
"You were out like a light for the past hour; unpacking all of those boxes must've really tuckered you out. You must be full of energy by now though huh; are you excited to meet some cool Alolan Pokémon?" his Mom asked him conversationally as Sun nodded and scarfed down a slice of buttered toast.
"Do you even have to ask?! Of course I am! I've been waiting for this moment my whole life!" Sun declared with exuberant passion, and his mom nodded happily and with a fond smile.
"You even neglected to go on a journey through Kanto first because you had your heart set on Alola, if I recall correctly. That was remarkably patient of you to hold off on a journey like that. Your father was definitely never this mature at your age." She stated, and Sun nodded in affirmation, trying to ignore the dull ache in his stomach as he thought about his father.
"Mmhmm, something about this Region was calling out to me mom; I know I've said this a million times but I can't explain it. You ever just have a feeling in your gut, or a compulsion to do something that was beyond reason?" Sun asked her, and she nodded with a small smile.
"Yes I have, a long time ago." She answered, and Sun wondered if that was the feeling she got when she met his father.
"Alright, off you go now; it might not be a bad idea for you to get out and see how friendly Alolan Pokémon are, right Sun? You're all ready to do a bit of exploring. You're sure you've got everything right; your bag, hat, and the TMs I left you from the old days back in Kanto?" She checked off a list of sorts as Sun nodded happily.
"Awesome, I guess that means you're ready for anything. But even so Sun, try to be careful when walking through the tall grass. Still, I have to admit I'd love to have a new Pokémon around. So why don't you head up toward Iki Town and see what you discover in Alola?" She recommended to him, and Sun grinned eagerly as he stood up from the breakfast table.
"Sure thing mom… oh man, this is really it isn't it?!" He asked in a daze, wondering if this was a dream due to the surrealism this situation presented. He'd been waiting his whole life for this, and now that it was really happening he was far too excited for words. Looking up at his mom, he saw her sad but proud smile as he went over to her and threw his arms around her.
"I love you mom." He whispered adoringly, and though she was surprised initially by this sudden bout of affection she returned the gesture with equal passion.
"I love you to… my dazzling, wonderful Sun." She whispered, and as she pulled away she was surprised to find him looking up at her with a tearful smile.
"I'll be sure to call you as much as I can, and I'll tell you everything about each new Pokémon I catch. I'll be sure to come back and visit; so don't you worry about a thing, alright? I'll be just fine on my journey mom." Sun said affectionately, and the woman nodded as she felt a weight lift off her chest. This was a proud yet heart-wrenching moment in every mother's life; the day their baby went off on their own journey of self-discovery was a huge milestone, and everybody had to take that first step at some point in their lives. She had done her absolute best to raise him right and to bring out the best of his father's qualities within him… because like it or not Sun was as much that man's child as he was hers.
"Listen, even though he left us I have to tell you something Sun. I don't hate your father; I mean… how could I? Hey may not have been a perfect dad or husband, but one way or another he gave me the best son I ever could've asked for. You've been the light of my life… my beautiful boy. Just… promise me that if you ever end up with a wife and kids someday that you'll do so at a stage in your life when you're ready to handle that kind of responsibility. I'm sure whoever you end up meeting on this journey of yours will be as touched by your boundless brilliance as I've been these past few years. Now go, your destiny awaits you Sun." His mom advised him, and Sun nodded as his mind soaked up this profound wisdom she was imparting on him. He smiled his best smile and flushed when he realized she considered him the best possible gift his father could've given her… that alone was proof enough he wouldn't end up like his old man. The whole nature vs nurture debate did have some merit after all.
"I won't… I promise, I'll never become like him; you've made sure of that." He promised her, and with everything that needed saying now already said… Sun made his way for the front door and paused at the handle for barely a moment before he turned the knob. He took his first step into his fledgling journey, and fought a manic grin as he stepped into the Alola sun just as it was beginning to set. The sky was painted a remarkable pinkish-orange, nothing like the blood red sky of his recent nightmare.
"Oh boy, what a wonderfully morbid thought that was." A voice remarked flippantly just outside the front gate to his house, and Sun spun to the source to see who it was. He was met with a fascinatingly iridescent golden-eyed stranger, with markings on both his cheeks resembling the letters ZIB and an inhumanly symmetrical tawny-gold tanned face with perfectly coiffed black hair. He wore a Master Ball-styled ball cap overtop of said hair and had a black cloak that was buckled to the front of his broad chest with some kind of white sphere. The sphere had the words AIBIB embroidered on it in an endless blend of multi-colors, and the man's face was split into a maddening grin of Cheshire Mew proportions.
"Okay, who the hell are you?" Sun practically demanded as the strange man leaned over his fence. The 14-year-old boy couldn't help but think the man sounded familiar, but wasn't about to entertain the thought of where he heard his voice before anytime soon.
"I believe I've already introduced myself to you Sun Elio; though I guess I can understand you still thinking of me as a figment of your imagination. You did meet me in your dreams after all." The man answered, mad grin seemingly perpetually in place as Sun's synapses fired repeatedly and threatened to overload with the amount of mind-fucking information they were being forced to transmit.
"This… can't be real!" He whispered in a daze as he started feeling dizzy, teetering slightly as he collapsed in the front lawn.
"Everything is real; fiction and non-reality are illusions of the parochial mind. There is always so much more to existence than you humans imagine." The man blithered; his words flying right over Sun's head as the boy sat there in stunned silence. Everything he experienced in that nightmare… really happened? What in the hell was going on here?!
"Why are you doing this to me?" Sun asked the man in a trembling voice, and Ash's expression softened.
"I'm not doing anything to you Sun. I made you an offer, remember? And I want you to honestly think about it. I've got time, I can wait forever for you to make a decision if need be." He answered in a surprisingly gentle voice. Sun stared at the man in confusion, racking his brain in an effort to remember any sort of offer being made.
"I'm sorry, but can you tell me what the offer was again? It kinda got lost in all the technobabble." Sun asked him in as polite a tone as he could manage.
"My apologies for that… I get longwinded when I get on a roll. Allow me to reiterate my statement from before; I want you to become your IBIB counterpart, and to give you the powers of a ZOF Grandmaster." He said back, and Sun scratched his head in confusion… that brought up more questions than it answered.
"What for, I mean… what's the point? I don't understand why you're just offering me this right out of the blue." The boy couldn't help but say.
"Because I have seen your potential and the Trainer you will become one day. My kind are the rarest of all pantheons, and reincarnating certain privileged humans as one of our own allows us to bolster our numbers against the common enemy of both Zenith Omnidonae and mortal sentient beings alike." Sun's eyes narrowed as Ash told him this, suspicious of his intentions now.
"What common enemy? You never mentioned an enemy before now." He demanded, wanting answers, and Ash nodded before launching into a brief explanation.
"He's called ZIBIB, and he's one of the first Zenith Omnidonae Force Grandmasters to forever exist just as I am. He's also my antithesis and the bane of my very existence. He seeks to undo all I have made as the progenitor of the three Trans Omni-Totalities and the ZOF itself." He briefly elucidated.
"Why, I mean… why is he so against the idea of you creating all things?" Sun continued his 411, still not believing the madman 100 percent… though the thought of becoming so powerful did intrigue him just a little.
"Because I've grown to care for all of my creations in recent years- with a little help from a very special lady friend of mine- and all he cares for is destroying every aspect of my life and unraveling everything I worked so hard for. I put a lot of thought and effort into making all of this you know… and I won't see all of that creativity on my part be laid to waste. You can help me with that… or not; the choice is entire your own, but I want you to at least think about it. I'm offering you a chance to become part of something greater than you will ever know… but I don't wish to deceive you Sun. If you do sign onto this you do so forever more… there is no going back once the decision is made." Ash said lengthily, and Sun blushed at the information this man gave him regarding that lady friend of his. He was at the age now where anything mushy or romantic would get him flustered… but he wouldn't deny that he held a certain appreciation for the fairer sex as well underneath the embarrassment.
"Can I… get back to you on that? I'm still even 100 percent sure I even believe you, for that matter." Sun requested, and Ash nodded with an empathetic smile on his face.
"Of course, though I may be able to do something to fix that skepticism of yours. Is there any power I could demonstrate to you that might validate my claims in your eyes? I guarantee you I have them all." Ash promised him as Sun pondered the question in his head.
"What happened to the whole 'though shalt not test thy Lord Arceus' rule?" He questioned, and Ash actually burst into hilarity at that.
"I'm the truth behind every creation story in every reality; I'm not Arceus, I am the one true God and progenitor of all things. If I say I don't require you to follow any such dumbass commandments, then who are you to question it?" Ash replied jokingly, and Sun had to admit this guy had a pretty good sense of humor for a supposed reality-bending Deity. It was at this moment that he thought of a power Ash could demonstrate that would suffice.
"Can you give me every Legendary Pokémon from other regions including Arceus?" Sun asked, trying to keep the excitement out of his voice and maintain his façade of skepticism.
"Dude, I was already going to give you every Pokémon not indigenous to Alola when I gave you your powers; think of something else." He stubbornly stated, and Sun furrowed his eyebrows and tried to think of something else.
"Can you transform into an Arceus?" He finally settled on, and Ash smiled and rolled his eyes before he began to glow with a blinding golden light. Sun was gobsmacked when a massive equine being stood in the same place Ash had been standing in before.
"Holy shit! But wait… I thought Arceus was mostly white not gold in coloration, or is the image on the Pokedex wrong?!" Sun started bouncing up and down like a caffeinated child, running up to the floating God of Pokémon and taking in his awe-inspiring presence.
'He is typically, but I've gone the extra mile and decided to use his shiny form.' Ash's voice sounded, in Sun's own head as the teenaged boy vaulted backwards in shock.
"This is amazing… can you like, do everything Arceus can do now?! What moves can Arceus even use?!" Sun gasped in pure, rampant astonishment.
'Yes I can, and more on top of it. I can even use punching moves if I wanted… which Arceus sorely lacks the capacity to do in most of his forms. As for your other question; Punishment, Gravity, Perish Song, Extreme Speed, and Swords Dance to name a few… his signature move is known as Judgement, and can change types to match Arceus's.' Ash telepathed to him, his voice again resounding in Sun's mind as the kid looked up at him with eyes wide and pupils dilated.
Ash smiled at the boy's childlike wonder before reverting back to his human form and ushering Sun onward. "You should probably get moving to Iki Town to receive your starter Pokémon. You can decide on this later; take as much time as you need." He instructed him as Sun nodded and turned to go, before he paused and thought about every mind-numbing revelation Ash had made.
"But wait, if I should decide I'm content with my mundane, generic, normal life… what will happen to the people like you with this ZIBIB running amok? Could I really make any sort of difference?" Sun asked him in a serious tone, believing the man to have great powers now… but not believing for a second that he was the best potential candidate in this entire world for the prestigious role Ash was bestowing onto him.
The look on Ash's face made Sun feel completely humbled in his presence… it was the look of a man, or a God who was somehow the epitome of infinite wisdom and yet was still learning himself. "Countless eternities of Trans Omni Omega Omnispherical time and space, and you know what I've learned Sun? One person can make all the difference in the world and beyond, with or without powers. You don't need to be indestructible to be a hero, or a champion." He said with infinite profoundness, though Sun still felt a little unsure of his decision, and whether he would make the right one in the end.
"But say I could've made a difference in all this for whatever reason…" Sun began, but Ash interrupted him.
"Then I would just have to make do without you, uncountable realities beyond your own would have to make do. You don't owe anyone anything Sun, and you never did; if you wish to remain as a human… I will of course respect your decision, and will do everything in my power to ensure all others do to. Though I won't repudiate you'd be denying so much potential to the greater worlds beyond… and you'd be denying yourself of a life of absolute grandeur as well, but this life isn't for everyone Sun. Now, off you pop… and take your time to think this decision through, and make sure you weigh all of your options very carefully. This is the moment… everything begins for you." Ash finished answering Sun's question, and then he was just gone. Sun blinked a couple of times to ensure he truly disappeared into thin air… but when Ash stayed gone his pupils dilated once again.
"Oh my God, he used Teleport." He remarked, with an incredulous shaking of his head as he smiled. At least Ash had reassured him they'd make do without him… even if he was content with his life in the Pokémon world alone. One thing was for sure as Sun made his way to Iki Town up Route 1 to get his starter Pokémon… he had a lot of things to consider, and a decision to weigh that would affect not only his life forever more, but the lives of untold countless civilizations on top of his own world. The friends he would make; his family… this decision would forever haunt his thoughts even after he already made it, and he would always wonder about what would've happened had he made the opposite decision, the one he didn't make. No matter what he chose, his path in life would be forever altered either way. All and all, it was too much pressure for his 14-year-old mind to properly handle, and he knew it would be a while before he settled on a proper decision.
Author's Notes: And… there you have it folks; my first chapter done, and boy what a chapter it is if I do say so myself. I love how this is all playing out, and I hope you enjoyed reading it to. Let me know what you all think in the review section; bear in mind though that flames will be ignored and the people making them blocked. Have a good one guys, and I hope you're all looking forward to the next chapter as much as I am. Be expecting the action to pick up and for some Pokémon battling to happen next chapter; this was just the introduction lol. Believe me; I've got lots more in store for the characters in this story. Omniarch is signing off now.