Chapter 21: Steel Crashing

"Solestral! Are you alright?" said Paul.

The black kitten opened her eyes, got up, and shook her head. She was dismayed that she had lost the battle. Being berserk might give her tremendous strength, but she could not strategise. However, she strangely remembered Volcanion had told her the final puzzle to have the whole truth.

"Yeah, I am fine. I was exhausted from the battle with Volcanion," she lied, "but I have managed to get the final clue."

"You were pretty battered, so I used Moonlight to revive you," worried General Cresselia, "But since you have mentioned Volcanion. I did not anticipate that it volunteers to be a guardian of that Mystery Dungeon. It is really bashful, isn't it?"

"Yeah," admitted the black kitten, "He attacked me without hesitation. He was really good in reacting appropriately in a critical situation too…"

"So, what…is the final clue?" enquired Normad.

"A being splits into a hundred to remain undetected. They feast on the planet core, and once they are full, they join together to form its dragon form. It will surface from the core and attempt to shatter the planet. The inevitable draws near."

Normad pondered, "I have…no idea which Pokémon…can split into a hundred of itself. But the dragon form…it can't be!"

"Is it someone you know?" asked Solestral.

"No. But I heard…of a legend passed down…from my elders. It goes like this:

A black star,

Zooming across the galaxy.

Devouring planets that host life,

A true harbinger of the end of the civilisation.

We call it, the Bottomless One.

"So, it is the one in question? It does fit with the clues. We need to inform the Dawn Guardian as soon as possible! Give me a moment to contact the Dusk Guardian." said General Cresselia, and she levitated away from the group to discuss with Lunala privately.

"Yes. Though given in this dire situation of endless night," commented Cobalt, "Ah yes, Solestral. General Groudon said that the war had ended. Now he is on his way back to the Dawn Guardian's domain to solve the mystery of the night. We should arrive there post-haste as I am feeling uneasy of my mind-controlled allies."

Solestral agreed, "Yeah, that is our priority. Thanks to General Cresselia's healing powers, I am not that tired now. I can request the storage box to warp near to the Dawn Guardian's domain."

"You have my gratitude, Solestral."

The group warped to Silver Star Mystery Dungeon's portal at the bottom end of Repeatedly from the 4th Sunray. It was a huge contrast to the lava landscape as this was a blistering cold environment. However, the cold did not bother the group. Solestral and Paul rode on Normad, while Cobalt on top of General Cresselia as his health deteriorated. The group followed Cobalt's instruction to the floating island of the south. It took them just a day, or night, to reach the snowy floating island. They noticed something unusual with the island; a red barrier shrouded it. Cobalt analysed it and convinced that Pinnacle constructed the barrier.

The sun rock said, "That Mega Alakazam made this huge barrier. Just how strong he is? Nevertheless, we need to break through this barrier. It was not the same one that surrounded General Cresselia; this is just a wall to block physical and special attacks."

"We just need to pop this 'balloon' huh?" said Solestral as she patted the barrier, "Maybe we need external help after all..."

"Not to worry. I am here to help."

The group turned their head and was astounded to see Lunala hovering above them.
The black kitten exclaimed, "Lunala! I thought you can't leave your domain!"

"With my power over the night still sealed away, there is no need for me to remain in there. I know that you have all the clues we need to convince the Dawn Guardian. And so, I shall render this barrier impractical!"

Its body glowed in bright blue, then it used its energy and directed at the barrier. The barrier shattered immediately. Then, the Dusk Guardian invoked a shield around the group and itself. It warned.

"I can sense a group of Solrocks flocking to our way. I will lead you to Dawn Guardian's skyscraper. Keep your pace with me!"

The group followed Lunala. After a few hours, they spotted the tower. It was glistering white with few openings. As the Dusk Guardian speculated, many Solrocks emerged and levitated towards them in anger. However, the sun rocks could not break through its barrier. The Dusk Guardian broke through the hordes of Solrocks till it reached the top of the tower, where the Dawn Guardian resided. Lunala then informed Solestral.

"Now go and see It! I will prevent the Solrocks from interfering."

"Okay!" replied the black kitten.

The Dusk Guardian released the barrier that protected it and the group and guarded the tower against the Solrocks. Next, Solestral and the rest of the group made their way to the Dawn Guardian. To their horror, they saw the Dawn Guardian, a supposedly white lion, became shrouded in dark red aura. They also noticed Pinnacle levitating beside It. The Mega Alakazam smirked.

"How nice to see you here, Litten? Or you called, Solestral, aren't you? I am sorry, but you and your friends will have to…"

The black kitten spoke angrily, "Drop dead? Not gonna happen, you piece of poop that infiltrated my dream! What have you done to the Dawn Guardian?"

"Well, as you can see, It is under my spell. It will do fine to crush you."

Pinnacle snapped his fingers. Upon receiving his signal, the Dawn Guardian roared and used Flash Cannon. Silvery light bombarded the group with such force that they were close to flinging off the tower. Then, it began to charge for another attack. General Cresselia recognised that attack and her eyes began to glow blue.

"It is going to use Hyper Beam!" the crescent Pokémon said, "I will try to divert its beam to somewhere!"

Solestral acknowledged, "Right! I shall give you a boost!"

The black kitten activated Syncross. The golden aura imbued General Cresselia with power. When the Dawn Guardian let loose a Hyper Beam, General Cresselia used her Psychic and moved the attack towards the night sky. The beam lasted for a few seconds before it disintegrated. Solestral then deactivated her ability and panted.

"I…have not use my ability consecutively before. I think I will need to rest for a while."

"Leave it to me, Solestral!" assured Paul, "Legendary or not, it will not resist this!"

The blue tortoise took up HP-Swap Wand. He directed the sparkling yellow twig at the Dawn Guardian. As the yellow sparks flew towards It, Pinnacle intervened with his Safeguard.

"Oh, no, no. That is cheating," Mega Alakazam said, "And that, I shall remove the source."

And he disabled items that could heal or attack in Solestral's, Paul's and Normad's bag temporary. Paul was astonished, "How can you… You are the cheater!"

"Say as you will, but I deemed myself not doing that as I am using my abilities."

"He is a lunatic," thought Paul. Next, he spoke to Solestral, "Sorry, Solestral. Any ideas on how to take the Dawn Guardian down?"

The black kitten could not believe that her battle was getting harder. Additionally, she could not depend on General Cresselia's Moonlight to keep healing the group. Then, an idea popped in her mind, and she told the group.

"We must take down Pinnacle. He is the mind-control user, right? With him defeated, the Dawn Guardian will be back to himself."

"True. So how are…we pin him down?" asked Normad.

"I will deal with him. The rest of you deal with the Dawn Guardian."

"That's too dangerous! We should stick together!" replied Paul.

"I agree with Paul", said Cobalt.

"I only have enough strength to use one more Syncross on myself to take him down. Don't worry. I have thought this through. You won't think that I will do this in a losing battle, isn't it?"

General Cresselia spoke. "I see. We shall distract the Dawn Guardian with our numbers. Very well, we shall execute the plan of yours, Solestral!"

The black kitten smiled. "Thank you for believing in me, General Cresselia."

The crescent Pokémon nodded as her response to Solestral. Next, they went to their separate ways. Solestral ran towards Pinnacle, but he looked at her bewildered.

"Your tortoise friend is right, though. It is reckless to challenge me alone."

Solestral taunted him. "Blah. As if that speech of yours will scare the kitty out of me!"

She reactivated her Syncross and charged towards him. Pinnacle elegantly dodged her tackle, but she spewed Ember at him. He shrugged the fire as it did little damage to him. However, he did not expect the black kitten tackled him when he was distracted by the fire. The impact was so powerful that he knocked back about ten metres. He then summoned his five spoons and said.

"I guess I have to be serious then. Try not to get caught by my spoons."

He used Psychic to move his spoons to hit Solestral. The black kitten had trouble dodging all the spoons, so she used Substitute to shield her. As her Substitute was powered up by her Syncross, it resisted many hits from the spoons. Pinnacle then forwent the spoons and used Psycho Cut. That high critical hit move broke Solestral's imitation. Mega Alakazam then flew close to Solestral and spoke.

"Well then, time to meddle with your mind."

Solestral bit back, "In your dreams, you three-eye freak!"

The black kitten rammed her head onto Pinnacle's third eye. He moaned in pain while rubbing his forehead. She was delighted that she had found his weakness. She used Ember at his third eye. The attack landed, and Pinnacle yelled in excruciating pain.

"You! Stop it!"

This time, Solestral smirked at him. "Oh? Your gentlemen facade was just an act, huh? And no can do, you deserve more from me!"

"Enough!"

Pinnacle unleashed a powerful Psychic that knocked Solestral off the tower and wobbled the tower itself. He chased after her and shouted.

"The barrier I generated was to show my capability. Don't you underestimate me!"

He grabbed the black kitten's neck and threw her towards the ground. Solestral realised she was in grave danger as her friends, General Cresselia and Cobalt were too focused on trying to weaken the Dawn Guardian, as well as Lunala fending off the Solrocks. However, an unlikely idea popped in her mind. She took out Eclipssa Rock and threw it on the ground. It contacted the ground before her and shattered. Galaxy-like smoke escaped the shattered rock, and a huge unknown being came out of it and saved her by allowing the black kitten to land on its torso. The being looked like a green altar that had many nozzles for its hands and feet to keep itself airborne. It also had long pillar arms, and long swaying flaps moved around unnaturally. The pillar being smiled at Solestral and then glared at Mega Alakazam sternly. It spoke in a metallic voice.

"Your master, Blighted Wings, has caused quite a stir in this world. I condemn his actions, as well as yours."

Pinnacle was surprised. "Who are you? And how do you know I serve him?"

"I am Celesteela. I am from Planet Ultraurian, which is from the other dimension. It is on the verge of destruction due to a being similar to your master. My allies and I are planning to settle in Planet Sereni to save our lives, but you and your master are delaying our plans. I shall end your nefarious schemes!"

Celesteela dashed towards Pinnacle. Mega Alakazam used Psychic, but it did not affect the pillar being. It then rammed into him and sent him flying. Pinnacle used Psychic to stabilise himself, but he did not expect the pillar being to shoot multiple Flash Cannon from its nozzle arms. Each Flash Cannon exploded around him, and the light blinded him. But his spatial sense was not affected. He tried to anticipate Celesteela's move, and once he did, he felt dread. The pillar being used Shattered Psyche, an unknown overpowered Psychic-Type move in this world. The attack was huge psychic spears moving towards him. He promptly used Light Screen to shield from this attack, but his wall shattered easily by the spears. Ruthlessly pierced by the spears, Mega Alakazam's mind had collapsed. But he managed to say something.

"I have failed you, my master…"

Eventually, he fainted and fell onto the ground. Strangely, he did not get injured from the fall, and he reverted to his normal form.

Celesteela sighed relief and talked to Solestral, "Are you alright? I apologise that I did not come to your aid earlier. I do not want to interfere with your mission, but that servant was too powerful for you as you are not in your best form."

"Oh no, I am fine," replied the black kitten, and she deactivated her Syncross. She carried on conversing with it, "What you said to Pinnacle reminded me about what that 'crazy' Mewtwo had mentioned about the creation of the Rocks before he was sealed."

"Ah, you have heard about this story? That two-legged feline spotted us creating the special rocks millennium of years ago. But we did that just in case we are not welcome when we have managed to come here. Currently, my allies are fighting that beast. However, we are unable to fend off for long. Soon, they will arrive here from a dimensional portal. Although, I am worried that that beast will follow us here. We cannot have two beasts destroying the planet, so let me help you prevent that from happening."

"And how can we find that monster?"

"The core. My body consists of materials that can withstand the Sun's mantel, so I can bring you and your friends to thwart its plan. I understand it can split itself into a hundred cells to protect itself. Despite that, I feel since that Mega Alakazam had did such as the extent to prevent you from entering this floating island because that beast is about to finish consuming the core. Thus, we shall head to the planet's core instead." The pillar being looked at the Dawn Guardian still rampaging against Solestral's group and said, "Oh yes, we need to assist your friends in the battle against the Dawn Guardian. Let's go."

They approached the group. They seemingly exhausted dodging the Dawn Guardian's attack and yet unable to land an attack on It. As the group spotted Solestral and Celesteela, Paul was the first one to speak.

"Who is that new Pokémon I have never met?"

"I am not a Pokémon," answered the pillar being, "My name is Celesteela. I am an Ultra Beast from another dimension. It looks like you need a hand."

"Definitely! We can't stop the Dawn Guardian from using its range attacks on us. And when we got close to It, It used Iron Tail to sweep us away!"

The black kitten said, "I find it odd that the Dawn Guardian hasn't calmed down yet. Isn't the mind control should stop after we defeated Pinnacle?"

Celesteela responded, "It is most likely that It is under a suggestion that we are the enemies that needed to be defeated. I will try to wake him up."

The pillar being lowered itself onto the ground and asked Solestral to climb down. Once she had done so, Celesteela flew towards the Dawn Guardian. The red lion used Flare Blitz and dashed towards it. Both tacked each other, refusing to back down. The Dawn Guardian even charged for Hyper Beam. The pillar being that used its left arm and Smack Down the red lion's head. The red lion gasped and stopped charging for Hyper Beam and its Flare Blitz. It then shook its head and took a couple of breath before calming itself down. Its skin also returned to white. The Dawn Guardian lied on the ground and said.

"I…what happened? All I could remember was seeing Dishita and the other soldiers returned Solarie Rock to me…"

"You were mind-controlled by Mega Alakazam, my lord," said Cobalt.

"I was? I see… Soldier, what is your name?"

"Cobalt, my lord."

"Cobalt, please inform me what had transpired."

After mentioning what had happened to the Dawn Guardian when he was not himself and the true villain of the extension of the night time, the white lion understood the situation and ordered his soldiers to stop fighting. After that command, Lunala approached the Dawn Guardian and spoke in a way that Solestral and the rest of the group did not expect.

"Are you fully aware of the issue we are facing now, you stubborn lion!"

The Dawn Guardian apologised, "Yes, yes, you were right. I was wrong to judge you, my sister. I will…made up to you once this disaster is over. So, I believe there is something else I should know about the extension of the night time?"

"There is. Solestral, show it the Universe Histogram Map."

The black kitten passed the map to It. The white lion opened the map and was puzzled when It saw something unusual.

"Hmm… Wavering time flow disturbance in between Planet Sereni and the Sun. Strong, but rough in the handling. Lunala, we should go to space to visit that area marked on the map. We might get the answer we need."

The Dusk Guardian responded, "Of course, brother. We will have our strength recovered by the starlight too. Solestral, her friends and her allies, thank you for making Solgaleo the Dawn Guardian back to Its senses. We shall leave finding the villain to you all."

"Where you are going, my lord?" asked General Cresselia.

Lunala replied, "To the other villain that played a role in this mayhem. General Cresselia, I ask of you to aid Solestral in her mission once more."

"I will do it otherwise. Be safe, my lord."

"I will," then the Dusk Guardian signalled to Solgaleo, "Let us be off."

"Yes," then the Dawn Guardian turned to the other Pokémon and said, "Thank you for saving me, heroes. And, I am sorry that you had put up to my nonsense… Cobalt, inform General Groudon of the current situation and ask him to stand guard of my domain when I am gone."

"Acknowledged, my lord," replied Cobalt.

Solgaleo took the Universe Histogram Map. Together with Lunala, they took to the skies. Celesteela looked at them go and spoke to the rest of the group.

"Anyway, we have to go to the planet's core. We need to be prepared for this 'down to earth' scenario. Is there anything all of you have to do?"

"Eat and sleep," answered Solestral promptly.

"Alright, but not too long. We only have half a day before the planet loses its heat retention."

"Enough time for me!" the black kitten took out her Oran Berries and munched on them. On the other hand, General Cresselia had questions to ask the pillar being.

"Pardon me, Celesteela, may I ask what happen to your home planet?"

"Ah," the pillar being took a while to gather its thoughts and continued speaking, "My planet is about to be a lifeless ball due to that beast we addressed it as Blighted Wings. It has successfully devoured the core of my planet. And yet, my allies are fighting against that beast to stop it from escaping to other living planets. We knew that we do not have enough time, so we searched far and wide to find a planet where we can migrate. It was only 'recently' that we found this planet as time flows differently from my dimension. We are afraid that we won't be welcome as we had done some 'interventions' here so that no one can fight against us when we arrive here. However, once we realised that this planet is going through the same as ours, my allies will come and aid us once that they have completed on what they need to do. Hopefully, that will make it up to what we had done in the past."

"I see. I think we won't have a problem with you and your allies to come to this planet and live with us. But the final decision will be made by the Dawn Guardian and the Dusk Guardian."

"Yes, I understand. That will be a topic for other times."

"Celesteela, is the Eclipssa Rock a key for a dimensional portal?" enquired Solestral before she had her second Oran Berry.

"Haha, no. But the rock can inform us of the situation occurring on this planet. When you broke the rock, I was still taken aback from your action. But I know that I have to travel to this dimension to help you."

"Well…umm, breaking the rock wasn't my intention. I was desperate at that time. But somehow, this idea popped up in my head. I was relieved that you appeared and saved me. Many thanks!"

The pillar being smiled. "Haha, no need to. I know you had been doing missions that you are reluctant to, but you did them anyway. I hope this is the last mission you have to focus on before you can truly be free."

"I don't think of myself as being bound to the planet because of my mission. But…" the black kitten looked at her friends, her allies and the environment before she carried on the conversation, "It isn't bad to have adventures with my friends, and other Pokémon, and you, supporting me along the way. So, no worries! I do have my own goal, but I am not hasty to accomplish it."

"Ah. Now, I see why you are chosen for this mission…" muttered Celesteela.

"Whut…di you sei?" asked Solestral as she continued munching on her Oran Berry.

The pillar being chuckled, "Haha. It is nothing. Well then, let's have a rest. We need all the energy we can muster later."