Dimension W2+UM #3: Aftermath
"It's not every day that you transport a whole city to another dimension," Soliera offered.
Elio shrugged. "Well, if we're right and the multiverse really is infinite, then maybe that actually does happen somewhere every day,"
The Castelia City of a dimension that was probably still being eaten by that massive Ultra Warp Hole of unknown origin was settling into its new home, surrounded by an alien landscape of black rock and electrical plant Ultra Beasts.
Elio groaned, rubbing his eyes. Nearby, Lunala flopped to the ground, and Elio leant on his partner Legendary. Soliera eyed them both in concern. "Go back to base and get some rest. You look exhausted. Me and Kris will handle things here, you can come and pick us up tomorrow," she instructed.
"I'm supposed to be your superior, you know," Elio pointed out.
"Go," the alien reiterated.
"Fine, fine. Lunala, got one more Warp Hole in you?" In response his Pokémon tore open a hole in space under their feet, which the two sunk into.
X
Lunala glided back into the hangar of the Ultra Rescue Initiative, and Elio's drowsiness was slapped away by the sight of Necrozma peering anxiously through the adjoining window into the medical bay.
"Elio! Over here!" Lillie shouted, and Lunala barely landed without crashing. Elio slid off her back, and rubbed her neck. "Head up to the sanctuary and sleep it off. I'll come get you later," he instructed, before pacing towards the infirmary. Upon arrival, he was surprised to find both Skye and Atlus lying, unconscious, in berths with Lillie and Hoopa worrying over them.
Hoopa looked up as he entered, and a burst of telepathy assaulted his mind. I'm sorry I screwed up the portal and me and Atlus ended up in a different part of the dimension and didn't know where you were and he couldn't handle the cold and I'm sorry!
Any anger Elio might have felt for Atlus seemingly leaving them in the lurch evaporated, especially seeing the blue tint of what was surely frostbite across much of his body. "It's fine. We'll talk about it later," he numbly responded, turning to Skye and Lillie. "What did she do this time?"
Lillie wordlessly gestured to Skye's Z-Power Ring, which had been removed and was sitting on the bedside table. Elio's jaw tightened when he saw that the Ultranecrozium-Z was still attached to it. "Oh, tell me she didn't,"
"Actually, I don't think she did," Lillie mumbled. "I took some readings of Necrozma, and I think that he fell unconscious. Skye used a bastardised imitation of Light That Burns The Sky to give him enough energy to open an Ultra Warp Hole and get home,"
". . Oh," Elio nodded. "Fair enough, I guess," Better to have Skye unconscious than presumed dead.
"How did that dimension go?" Lillie questioned.
"Someone was using a Kyurem to freeze the world solid and rule the wasteland. We beat him, but then a massive Ultra Warp Hole opened up and started eating the entire region, maybe the planet. We saved as many as we could,"
Lillie went pale. "An Ultra Warp Hole?" she repeated.
"Yeah. It was weird," Elio agreed. "Rotom?"
"Zzzzrt?"
"Show her the pictures," Elio commanded, and his possessed Pokédex manifested, playing Lillie a slideshow of everything that had happened in the most recent dimension they'd visited.
"I've never seen a Warp Hole that big. Was it naturally occurring? That shouldn't be possible," his girlfriend mumbled, the blood draining from her face.
"There was nothing natural about it," All turned to see Skye sitting up and rubbing her eyes. "Yeah, I know it's a cliche to have someone wake up and interrupt at exactly the right moment, but come on that was perfect timing,"
Elio visibly decided not to engage with Skye's insanity. "What do you mean it wasn't natural?"
"There was . . some kind of massive purple hand coming out of that Ultra Warp Hole. I've never seen anything like it," the leader explained, rubbing her head. "Some kind of Pokémon did that. Or maybe an Ultra Beast. It ripped open that dimension, reached into it and took that world's Ghetsis and Kyurem, and then ate the rest of it,"
"A massive Ultra Beast that eats dimensions?" Elio gulped. "That's a terrifying thought,"
A world eater? Hoopa echoed the sentiment. I've never heard of anything like that!
"Well, you wouldn't have. Such a creature could only exist in the void between universes," Skye gravely nodded. "We've got a big enemy somewhere out there,"
"Well . . what do we do about that?" Lillie asked, shaking her head in disbelief. "How do we fight it? Can we fight it?"
Skye raised an eyebrow. "Lillie, you don't get it. We're not talking about some wild multidimensional kaiju here. It consciously rescued Ghetsis before eating that dimension. That betrays deliberation. A wild creature wouldn't bother with that. Whatever this thing is, it has a Trainer,"
"Well - well that's even worse!" Lillie protested, Elio nodding in agreement. "What can we even do about that?"
Skye shook her head. "More than anyone else can. We're the Ultra Rescue Initiative. This is our job. It's not like we thought this was gonna be easy,"
There was a moment of silence.
". . Man, I really thought the author was going to cut away from us there," the specialist grumbled. "That would have been a really badass way to end a chapter,"
"You're right, though. I just . . I need to get stronger, so I can help out too," Lillie declared, balling her fists.
"Lillie, you do plenty," Elio assured her. "Just because you're not out in the field doesn't mean you aren't a big help,"
"Still. If Skye's right and we have an enemy out there, what if they attack here? I need to be ready to defend myself," the blonde pointed out.
"I agree," Skye nodded. "Unfortunately, we only rescued one Legendary from that dimension, and I think he wants to stay with me," She looked down at her belt, considering Reshiram, and a smile tugged at her lips.
Lillie cast them both a questioning look.
"Ghetsis somehow fused that dimension's Kyurem and Reshiram into what he called a 'White Kyurem'. It was pretty tough but Necrozma beat it, and Reshiram was so grateful to me for releasing him that he decided to join my team. His old trainer being dead might also have had something to do with it, I dunno," Skye explained. "Point is, I finally have a full team!"
Lillie smiled and applauded. "Y'now, you could have had one ages ago if you were willing to train non-Dragons," Elio pointed out. "And having exactly six Pokémon only really matters in official tournaments like the League, which we generally don't bother with. I have nine,"
Skye shrugged. "It's the principle of the thing,"
"Okay, you need rest," the Champion elected. "Come on, Lillie. Let's go get some food. Let Skye sleep off all the strings that come attached to being Skye,"
"Never gonna happen! I'm awesome and you know it!" Skye hollered as they left.
Lillie stumbled over a green shape as they left the room, and frowned, looking down at the Duosion that had been pulled along with Necrozma during the escape from the destroyed dimension. "Oh. Hello there," she blinked in surprise.
The Duosion squeaked in panic and darted past her into the infirmary, trying to hide under Skye's bed as the closest source of cover.
Skye beat her leg against her mattress to startle it away. "No! Don't come to me! I'm a Dragon Specialist, damnit!"
The unfortunate Pokémon squealed, crossing the space to hide under Atlus' bed instead. Lillie and Hoopa watched in concern while Skye shrugged and turned away.
'Don't worry. I'll take care of this,' Hoopa telepathically assured Skye and Lillie, who nodded. "You could be a little nicer, you know," Lillie admonished Skye.
"Oh, relax. That Pokémon obviously doesn't want to be with you, and I won't take him. If this puts Atlus on the path to being a Psychic specialist, so be it," Skye shrugged. "Better him than me,"
Lillie frowned, looking between the Psychic Pokémon and Skye. "Sometimes I just don't understand you," she offered the team leader, turning to catch up with Elio.
"Good!" Skye shouted after her. "I like it that way!"
