Previously on Poké Rangers: Eon Force...
Shaken by information told to him by Mask of Ice in their previous battle, Richard started to question what Celebi was hiding more heavily. With Philip's aid, he convinced the other Rangers to help them experiment with their Eon Crystals in order to try and discover their true powers. Unfortunately, their experiment resulted in Richard vanishing through a portal into locations unknown. As Celebi pursued him, the others fought against Hivemind, a Chaos Beast created by Xactowl and sent to capture the legendary Entei for Mask of Ice. Impressed by the Rangers' defense of him, Entei broke free and destroyed Hivemind with an unusual gold fire, one that reminded Sam of recent discoveries they had made with Professor Diggswell. Elsewhere, Ditgle revealed he had escaped Mask of Ice's control and forced Walter and Xactowl into helping him, while Suicune continues its mysterious challenges.
?...
A man sat alone, watching a screen that was depicting the Eon Rangers' battle against Hivemind. He watched as they struggled against him, as Entei came to their rescue, and as they managed to narrowly take him down without a Megazord. Sighing, he clicked the screen off and stood.
'It's not good.' he thought to himself. 'I shouldn't tell her...' Regardless, he walked towards the door to the room and opened it.
As he stepped out into the light, it could be seen that he was wearing long, flowing green robes with a hood that hid his face in shadow. He kept his hands folded as he walked silently down a hallway that appeared to be part of a great temple, massive stone columns lining the edges and statues of both Dialga and Celebi, both Pokémon and divine beings, tucked away in offshoots.
At last he rounded a corner and reached a polished wooden door, raising a hand and knocking. A feminine voice called back to him.
"Come in." He turned the door handle and entered, finding the young lady inside training. She was dressed just like him as she faced off with what would've appeared to be a human, if not for the metallic silver skin. "Sup."
"It might be time you go into action." he spoke. The girl was distracted for a moment and her robotic opponent drove a finger-jab into her chest that knocked her back. She took a more defensive stance as she approached.
"You've always said I could never do that." she reminded him. "That it was our duty to remain here and keep the secret safe, no matter the cost."
"A situation has developed." he said as she feinted at the robot's left side before swinging towards his right. The machine read the movement and blocked, countering with a leg sweep that she hopped back away from. "The Rangers' leader has vanished."
"What happened to him?" she asked, catching the robot's arm and twisting it around before kicking it forward. The machine caught itself and swung a spinning kick as it turned that would've caught her across the face if she'd charged after it any faster.
"Lost into another world." he told her. The machine raised its arms as she struck with a flurry of punches. "The others managed to defeat one Chaos Beast without him, but just barely." Managing to block her strikes, it swung a punch that clipped her on the chin as she tried to dodge. "I fear the next may be the end of them." Going with the motion, she spun and drove her elbow into the machine's midsection, forcing it back.
"As long as the secret's safe, it doesn't matter, does it?" she said, her tone making it clear she actually hated the notion she was saying. "That's what you've always said. So why tell me?"
"Because I know you." He watched as she used her foot to knock aside the machine's kick, grabbing its arm and spinning it around. "You'd never be able to live with yourself if you let that happen, and I know you'd never forgive me if I did." Releasing, she used a foot to trip the bot. As it rose, she leaped and slammed her foot into its chest, making it flail backwards. Holding out her hands, she spread them apart and a pinkish portal opened behind it.
"Power down, TOCC." she commanded. The machine's eyes dilated as it shut down, vanishing into the void that she quickly closed. Turning to the man talking to her, she stepped forward and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Thanks, dad." She smiled gratefully. "I'll keep an eye on them."
"Just be careful, my daughter." he cautioned. "You are choosing to reveal a secret that will change everything. I pray you are up to facing the consequences."
"Don't worry so much." she told him. "Whatever comes of it, we'll handle it." She laughed slightly. "You've said your prayers, now trying having some faith."
"I am trying..." he said quietly as she left the room. "But if it's as bad as I was told...you're going to need more than faith to see it through."
(Theme Song inspired by Power Rangers: Wild Force Opening)
*beat begins with a strange ethereal pulse (replace all roars with such) before quickly building into a rock beat* (The Eon Crystals awake and float into the air)
Eon Force Poké Rangers! (The original five Rangers enter the Vanishing Shrine...)
Eon Crystals are forever! (...and are bonded with their respective Eon Crystal.)
Eon Force Poké Rangers! (All seven Rangers' helmets appear to complete their morphing sequences)
We'll defend Johto together! (The seven pose together as an explosion bursts behind them.)
Eon Force! Eon Force! (The Rangers soar through the air on their Spirit Boards.)
Ancient powers have awakened; (Go!) (Richard tosses a basketball into a hoop, his Cyndaquil letting off a showy burst as it swishes. Turning to the camera, he flashes a thumbs up as the Red Ranger and Flare are shown.)
Eon Force gonna save them. (Eon Force!) (Sally steps off the bus into Azalea Town with her Mimikyu right behind. Noticing the camera, she waves as the Pink Ranger and Esper are shown.)
Our whole timeline in danger; (Go!) (Phillip reaches out and pulls a plastic bottle from a river, dropping it into a bag his Croconaw is carrying. Seeing the camera, he nods as the Blue Ranger and Vapor are shown.)
We will save (Emma is working on an explosive in a lab with her Voltorb on the table observing. She jumps back from a spark and grins at the camera as the Yellow Ranger and Jolt are shown.)
this world! (Matt looks over the Underwood Ranch as his Tyranitar walks up beside him. Petting her, he sees the camera and smiles as the Black Ranger and Umbre are shown.)
Eon Force Poké Rangers! (Sam and David laugh together with their Meganium and Swinub as the Green and White Rangers are shown with Leaf and Glace.)
Eon Crystals are forever! (Alicia raises a Pokéball and clicks it open/Professor Diggswell looks up from his notes)
Eon Force Poké Rangers! (The Rangers summon their weapons.)
We'll defend Johto together! (The Rangers aim and fire the Eon Cannon.)
*guitar riff* (Celebi and Hypnotica are talking in the shrine, Xactowl and Ditgle bow to Mask of Ice in his lair/Walter puts on his Terror mask)
Eon Force Poké Rangers! (The Eon Zords join together into the Eon Force Megazord...)
We'll defend Johto together! (...that is then shown using the Eon Spirit Charge.)
Eon...Force! Eon Force! (All seven Rangers pose together as the Eon Zords appear behind them, followed by the logo being shown (use your imagination, cuz I don't have the artistic skill to draw one))
Burned Tower, Ecruteak City...
Pryce had not expected the hole in the floor. As he walked into the Burned Tower, it was the first thing that caught his eye. Frowning, he approached the edge.
"Hello?" he called down. In the room below, he saw two statues and marveled at them, their depictions of beings that combined man and Pokémon. There was a running sound and Sam came into view.
"Oh. Hey, Pryce." he called up. "What's going on?"
"Is the Professor around?" the Gym Leader asked. "I wanted to talk to him."
"Sure thing. I'll send him up." Sam nodded and vanished from view. Moments later, Professor Diggswell appeared below and started climbing the rope upward. Pryce stepped back as he climbed out.
"Hello again, Pryce." He held out a hand and Pryce shook it, glancing down at the dust that billowed off the Professor's sleeve as it moved. "What brings you here? You don't need me and Eusine's help again, do you?"
"Not today." Pryce looked past him at the hole in the floor. "Discover something?"
"Oh, something huge!" Professor Diggswell grinned excitedly. "An ancient chamber that nobody knew was here, with statues of the gods of myth among them, and a legend I've never heard before!"
"indeed?" Pryce said curiously. "What sort of legend?"
Professor Diggswell quickly recounted the story of the man who stole power from the gods and became a monster, how he transformed into three artifacts when he was destroyed.
"Supposedly, those artifacts were sealed in that very chamber." The Professor told him. "But they don't seem to be there today, so if they were, they must've long ago been taken."
"If they really existed at all." Pryce told him. "That sounds a bit far-fetched, doesn't it?"
"Perhaps." Professor Diggswell shrugged. "But we're learning all we can from it. Perhaps there's some clue as to what happened. If there is, we'll find it."
"I'm sure you will." Pryce nodded. "I've never seen somebody so determined to unearth the truths of myth as you."
"It's been something I've just...felt I had to pursue, since I was a kid." Professor Diggswell took a seat on a fallen wooden beam. "But that's not what brought you here."
"RIght, of course not." Pryce took a seat nearby him. "I wanted to formally apologize for that attempt Walter made to frame you and your assistants as Remnants members."
"What now?" the Professor asked in confusion. Pryce stared at him for a moment.
"Oh...they didn't tell you?" he asked at last. Professor Diggswell shook his head. "Ah, they probably didn't want to worry you. Walter attempted to use his old position with you to label you an ally of the Remnants, along with several other people. Your assistants took care of it, proved their and your innocence. Still, I felt the apology was merited."
"Well, thank you..." Professor Diggswell frowned. "If I might ask a question?" Pryce nodded for him to go ahead. "Why is Walter...like he is? It seems to me like he had everything you could want. His family was well off, more than well off actually, his parents loved him, he was charming, had talent. He could've done anything. Why become a criminal?"
"it's a complicated matter." Pryce frowned. "Many years ago, Walter was a promising new contender in the Pokémon battling circuit. He took on a few gyms, earned badges at each one. But he never got all eight. Never even challenged the remainder."
"Why not?" Professor Diggswell asked.
"From what his parents were able to tell me, he eventually concluded becoming Champion was pointless. What power is holding a position that somebody new will just come and take one of the years? No matter how skilled he was, there was always going to be some newcomer with trickier tactics than he was prepared for. It always happens. You see, young Walter was a bit power-hungry. He felt that everybody should obey him because of his family's status, and when people didn't...that's what kicked off his whole run at the gyms in the first place."
"And afterwards he joined Team Rocket?" Professor Diggswell asked.
"Not right away." Pryce told him. "It took time. Soon, he started to become obsessed with the ways Pokémon and their unique capabilities could affect humans. It was that, his research and obsession with learning more along that line, that led him to Team Rocket. They were all too happy to help him, so long as they could use anything he learned for themselves." He shrugged. "And you know the rest. He ended up deafening David, being disowned by his family, and becoming the maniac he is today."
"That's unfortunate. It's always tragic to see a promising young trainer abandon the path." Professor Diggswell closed his eyes in memory. "There were certainly plenty of people left disappointed when I did."
"You used to train Pokémon?" Pryce asked.
"Still do, I suppose, but I'm not as focused on battling these days." he said. "There was a time, back when I was a kid, that I was determined to win all the badges, become Champion. But then...then I stumbled into my quest to find the truth of the gods, and that was that."
"Do you miss it?" Pryce wondered.
"Sometimes. It was certainly thrilling." Professor Diggswell told him. "And I must admit, in my more realistic moods, I realize that I'm getting a bit old to be running all over, digging through ruins, hunting for myths. There's going to come a point where I can't do it anymore...and I have no idea what happens then. When I realize that, it does make me think that maybe I would've been smarter to stick with the path of a Pokémon Trainer. It's something you don't really grow out of, even if you do lose the top. But can I tell you a story?"
"Certainly." Pryce nodded. "I have nothing in particular to do today."
"This happened a long time ago..." Professor Diggswell looked up and off into the distance. "Back when I was just a youth traveling with my Pokémon..."
Years ago, the Lake of Rage...
"This is it!" A young boy of eleven grinned as he placed his hands on his hips, looking out over the lake. "They say there are powerful Pokémon that live here. We should be able to push ourselves further battling them!"
"Trio!" Beside him, a Dugtrio answered in three voices at once. Young Dirk Diggswell glanced down at his first Pokémon and grinned.
"Eager for some action, huh, Dugtrio?" he laughed. "Don't worry. I'm sure we'll find some soon, if what we were told is true."
Dirk walked along the beach, following the edge of the lake as his Dugtrio followed behind him, easily digging through the sandy ground. Much to Dirk's disappointment, no wild Pokémon showed their faces to attack. However, something soon caught his eye.
"What's this?" Dirk knelt beside what appeared to be a sort of white gemstone. As he reached out a hand towards it, he felt a piercing cold and immediately pulled back. "Strange thing."
Reaching for a Pokéball, he released a Swinub, the newest member to his team.
"Hey there, buddy." Dirk smiled. "Can you check out this strange cold gem for me? I don't think I could touch it myself without getting frostbitten."
"Nub." Swinub nodded agreement and stepped closer to the gem, rubbing its nose against it and sniffing it. "Swine!" Turning, Swinub began to sniff the ground, scurrying off.
"A scent trail?" Dirk stood. "Alright then. Lead us to whoever, or whatever, left this here."
Swinub led him off towards the east, soon entering the forest. Dirk and Dugtrio kept a wary eye out for wild Pokémon, but still none bothered them. Swinub soon came across another gemstone just like the first, laying amongst the weeds. Dirk knelt to examine it.
"Look at that..." He pointed to the weeds immediately beside the gem, which were coated in a layer of frost. "Really is as cold as it feels. What could've left this here?" Swinub continued on, still sniffing and following the trail, so Dirk was forced to abandon the observation and follow.
And so it went on as they traveled deeper into the forest, Swinub finding more freezing cold gemstones and pursuing the source. Soon, Dirk started to feel colder, but he could see no gemstones nearby.
"We must be near the source." he deduced. They exited into a clearing and stopped, Dirk staring in awe. "What on Earth..."
Before them lay a massive row of much larger gemstones, the cold from them making him shiver. Stepping closer, he circled around, examining the collection. As he reached the other end of the line, he blinked in realization.
"It's like an Onix." he said, looking at what appeared to be an Onix's head, or rather the shell of one, attached to the end. "But not normal. It's made of some sort of crystal."
As Dirk crouched to look into the shell's mouth, the ground trembled underneath him. Stumbling, he managed to move away before he fell right onto the dangerously cold shell, turning as his Pokémon ran up beside him. From the ground, an Onix burst free, made of the same crystal as the shed skin before them.
"Hello." Dirk greeted with a wave. The Onix loomed over him, glaring. "I was just admiring your, uh, skin. It's quite beautiful, though a bit too cold to touch."
Roaring as if offended, the Crystal Onix swung a tail around and down towards them. Dirk leaped aside as it slammed into the ground, feeling the same cold presence around it.
"Hey, I didn't mean anything!" he promised. "I've never seen an Onix like you. I was wondering if..." Onix opened its mouth and let loose a Frost Breath, Dirk again diving aside as it swept through the forest behind him, icing over trees in its path. "Alright then, you wanna be like that? I guess I was looking for a battle to begin with. Dugtrio!"
"Dug!" Dugtrio scurried forward through the earth eagerly.
"Mud Bomb!" Dirk commanded. Dugtrio formed a sphere of liquid earth and launched it forward, exploding and splattering over the Crystal Onix. Looking down at the muddy mess on it, it roared angrily and charged forward, slamming a Headbutt down into Dugtrio.
Dirk felt a burst of cold from the move and Dugtrio was knocked out by the hit. Drawing its Pokéball, he recalled him as Onix raised a tail and tried to slam down on his fainted form.
"Was that an Ice-type move?" he wondered. "It was clearly Headbutt, but..." He frowned, unsure what that was. "It's too powerful; we'll have to take it down as fast as we can." Holding out another Pokéball, he sent out his Quagsire. "Quagsire, Surf!"
"Quag!" Quagsire formed a wave of water beneath itselff and rode it forward, sending crashing down on the Crystal Onix. The mud was washed off its body, but the water started to freeze everywhere it was near it. The Onix recoiled back from the wave, but quickly got over it and came at them again.
Eyes glowing, it sent a burst of cold forward. Quagsire was struck and yelled in pain as the attack damaged it, collapsing to the ground.
"What!?" Dirk gaped. "The Water-typing should've neutralized Ice moves. How did it...?"
Turning away from Quagsire, the Onix glared at him as he looked between his other Pokéballs, debating between Donphan and Marowak. Swinub lunged forward, but Onix's tail swung out and slapped it aside.
"That does it." Dirk held out both balls and clicked them open. "Let's go, boys!" Marowak spun its bone and Donphan trumpeted angrily as they charged forward. Onix's mouth opened as power charged up inside. Dirk felt a cold even more intense than what the strange Pokémon had showed thus far. "Watch out!"
The warning did nothing to help. Onix blasted a Hyper Beam forward, striking Marowak and Donphan and flinging them back into Dirk. The group crashed to the ground in the forest, the two Pokémon absorbing most of the attack, undoubtedly saving his life.
Even still, Dirk felt incredibly sore from the impact, and even worse, he felt colder than he'd ever imagined. Everything was icy and chilled, clear through. As he gasped for breath and trembled in freezing misery, Onix slithered forward, snarling down at him.
"And what is going on here?" a voice rang out. Onix stopped and turned back. Dirk managed to pull himself to the base of a tree and into a sitting position, spying a woman in green robes staring at the Crystal Onix. Beside her stood a man, or at least, he thought it was a man. Maybe he was hallucinating, but their skin looked silver.
Onix roared at them and she clasped her hands together.
"TOCC, distract that Onix." she commanded. The silver man stepped forward.
"Run Protocol: Distraction." He recited. Leaping forward, he struck towards Onix's face, the giant crystal snake rearing back and avoiding the blow. It tried to swing its tail at him, but TOCC nimbly dodged aside, circling behind. Onix pursued it as the robed woman began to chant.
Dirk watched a slight golden glow surround her as she spoke, becoming brighter with every word. At long last she stopped, holding up a hand with fingers ready to snap.
"TOCC, return to me." she commanded. TOCC immediately abandoned distraction and sprang over the Crystal Onix's head, landing beside her as she snapped her fingers.
The next thing DIrk knew, he was being carried by TOCC through the forest. He looked around in surprise and the silver man's grip tightened, keeping him from falling out of his arms.
"Still." Dirk looked over at the woman's command. She was walking in front of them enough that he could only see her back. "You're lucky we showed up when we did."
"How did I get here?" Dirk asked in confusion.
"That's a silly question, child." She laughed. "We brought you and your Pokémon with us." Dirk reached for his waist and found that all his Pokéballs were there and had their occupants inside, sighing in relief.
"But we were just...how did...?" DIrk struggled to understand how he had so suddenly gotten into TOCC's arms and far enough away that the Onix was nowhere in sight. "DId I pass out?"
"Not exactly." the woman told him. "It's a long story to explain." She stopped and TOCC came to a halt as well as she turned around, lowering her hood. Dirk could tell by the wrinkles that she was old, but she had no hair. On her forehead and extending up onto the top of her head was a tattoo of what seemed to be a Celebi's head in a Dialga-style helmet. Her eyes sparkled kindly, but sternly, as she looked at him. "You shouldn't go fighting an Onix from the depths. They're extremely powerful and quite aggressive."
"So I noticed." Dirk frowned. "What do you mean from the depths?"
"Onix live underground." She said. "Some more than others. That particular variety, they've adapted over the years to live in the far depths of the Earth. The high pressure of those depths hardened their body into diamond, while the extreme cold they generate counteracts the great heat found that far down into the planet. The cold is so great, it turns Normal-type attacks into Ice. They can even produce cold so harsh it can affect Water-types in a super-effective manner." (A/N: AKA they have Refrigerate and know Freeze-Dry)
"So what would it be doing on the surface?" Dirk wondered.
"Probably got lost." she shrugged. "Stranger things have happened."
"How do you know all this?" Dirk asked, trying to sit up and remove himself from TOCC's arms, but finding himself unable to.
"Don't try to walk yourself. You're still far too cold. TOCC is using his internal heaters to warm you, but after being hit by an attack like that, it'll take a good long while before you're up again." Dirk sat still and looked over, noticing glowing spots on TOCC's chest and arms that emanated heat. He settled himself more firmly into place. "As for what I know, well, you can see that I've been around the block a few times. You live as long as I have, you learn a few things."
"Do you have a name?" Dirk questioned.
"Leah Sutherland." she answered. She looked ahead of her and nodded. "We're here."
"Where's...?" Dirk stopped and his jaw dropped a sprawling collection of temples suddenly appeared before them, the forest vanishing and being replaced by them as they stepped forward, each built on a higher cliff than the one before it. Leah laughed at his shocked expression.
"Welcome to the Sinjoh Ruins." she told him. "We'll have you back on your feet in no time."
Dirk marveled at the sight before him as TOCC carried him up a wide staircase of polished marble. To each side were statues, one depicting a man in Dialga-designed armor while the other a woman with green hair and thin translucent wings on her back, both of them vibrantly painted. The temples past them were constructed of various types of stone, each perfectly crafted down to the finest details. Among the temples, he caught sight of more people dressed the same as Leah, each with the same tattoo atop their head. One, a boy younger than himself, came running up to Leah as they approached.
"Gram!" He cheered, wrapping his arms around her.
"Hello, Tobias." She smiled fondly. "Listen, I have to tend to this visitor, okay? I'll come see you later."
"Okay, Gram." He looked towards Dirk curiously, who offered a friendly wave in return. "Dad says you'd better erase his memory of us."
"Does he now?" Leah frowned. "I'll remind him that I'm the Elder here, not he. Now run along. This visitor needs to get inside." Tobias nodded and smiled at Dirk before taking off.
"Erase my memory?" Dirk asked.
"Don't worry about it." Leah told him. "I'm not going to."
"Did you guys know I was coming or something?" he asked, confused how Tobias's father could've sent a message about him already.
"One of the benefits of worshipping the time gods." Leah waved to the statues that towered over them.
"Time gods..." Dirk stared up at the statues in awe. "They let you see the future?"
"They show us what they want us to see of the future." she corrected. "Now, we must move. My temple is up there." She pointed to a structure built higher and further than than the others. "It's quite a climb."
As they climbed staircase after staircase, Dirk continued to see new sights that amazed him. There was a plateau that held a sizable farm, with both people and Pokémon working the fields. Another building appeared to be some sort of library, judging by the people entering and exiting with everything from ancient scrolls to modern books to slim datapad like devices. They passed two glowing pillars with a swirling vortex in between them. As Dirk watched, some sort of mechanical contraption emerged and hit the ground, smoking. Two people ran forward, one of them having an Octillery alongside him who sprayed water to cool the device. Leah noticed his stare and smiled.
"That's where all time trash ends up." she explained. "Things that are lost to the timeless void between worlds, it all ends up here, in our world. Celebi ensures that it makes its way here, and we make whatever use of it we can." She nodded at the robot carrying Dirk. "That's where TOCC comes from. Somebody somewhere attempted to send him through time, but he was lost, and soon emerged here in our little corner of creation."
"Worlds...? I don't..." Dirk shook his head. "This is a lot to take in."
"That it must be." Leah agreed. "The world has forgotten the gods, not just the ones we worship, but all of them. But they still exist, their powers and avatars still traveling our world and all the others. The rest of the world may just see their avatars as extra-powerful Pokémon these days, but here at Sinjoh, we've never forgotten."
"So Celebi gives you time trash." Dirk mused. "What about the other one?"
"Dialga? You've already witnessed his gift." Leah smiled. "It's how I saved you. When we pray to him, he stills the flow of time for us."
"That's crazy." Dirk shook his head.
"He usually only does it for the Elder, and even for me only once a year. But sometimes another can do it, if the cause is just." She explained. "Now enough questions. You'll have plenty of time for that later."
Dirk quieted as Leah and TOCC finally reached her temple, the Elder pushing the door open and leading them inside. Dirk was surprised at just how normal the rooms inside looked, though he thought, after all he had seen on the way in, perhaps he should've expected it. As TOCC placed him on a bed, Leah slid a panel on the stone wall aside to reveal what looked to be a thermostat, which she started adjusting.
"One more question?" Dirk asked.
"Fine, one more." Leah chuckled to herself. "What is it?"
"Why do you call this place the Sinjoh Ruins when it's not ruined?" he questioned.
"It's not all like this. There's another side to the place, currently resting in the Sinnoh Region." she said. "It's a legitimate ruin. Should somebody approach this place without one of our members' blessing, they would most likely be repelled by the charms surrounding it, but should they somehow slip through those, this whole location would switch with the one in Sinnoh, leaving only empty ruins for them to find. And vice versa." She smiled. "Now sleep. You'll need your rest."
As she walked out the door, Dirk lay back and sighed tiredly, soon passing out.
For about a week, he stayed in the Sinjoh Ruins. As soon as he was able to move again, he made his way to the library he had seen, curious about its contents. Inside, he read through all sorts of tales of the gods. The story of Arceus's birth from Chaos, how he formed 1000 avatars of himself and sent them out to create the universes. The plural still threw him off a bit, but it was consistent through many of the stories, the references to other worlds. He found the story of Giratina's rebellion and his being sealed in the Infernal World for eternity, and the tale of how Mew came to be the Queen of the Gods. Then there was the story of Celebi and her mortal lover, Lutheran. The text he read on this one seemed very spiteful towards Lutheran. Dirk noticed it had been written by a Merle Sutherland.
He soon met Merle himself, learning he was Leah's son and Tobias's father. He seemed to resent Dirk's presence, even moreso when he found out he was reading from the library. More than once Dirk overheard him yelling at his mother for letting him remain so long. He kept expecting her to snap back at him, but she always remained calm, repeating that she was acting on the will of the gods and someday, when he became Elder, he would understand. Dirk shuddered at the idea of him being the leader of this magical place.
He asked Leah what Merle's problem was, and she had sighed in disappointment before explaining that he was of the belief that because the world had chosen to forget the gods, they, the gods' most devoted followers, should forget the world in turn, and isolate themselves entirely.
"That's why he's so against your presence." She told him. "You're an outsider. And he worries what the knowledge you're gaining from our writings will mean when you return." Dirk hadn't thought about it, his leaving, but he frowned in consideration when she said it.
But it had to end at some point. Leah came to him one night, looking haggard and worn out. She still put on a brave smile as she woke him.
"You must go." she said. "If you wish to maintain your memories of this place, you must leave at once."
"What?" Dirk frowned. "Why?"
"Soon, Merle will be the new Elder." She said. Dirk processed what she was saying and started to speak, but she placed a hand over his mouth. "Do not object. After 500 years, my time is long overdue. I have pushed on at the will of the gods for one moment, and that is this one. To ensure that you do not forget." Dirk stared at her with wide eyes as she smiled. "Now you must go, quickly, before I am gone. You will not be able to return with Merle as the Elder; the charms will not allow it. But never forget."
Dirk nodded wordlessly and she sighed tiredly.
"One last time..." She began to speak, and Dirk soon recognized the same prayer that she had used to call on Dialga's power. He recalled what she said about it usually only working only once a year and started to speak...and then he was in Mahogany Town. He stepped back in surprise and spun in circles, but the location was unmistakable.
"Dirk?" He turned at a familiar voice to find his Rival, Eusine, staring at him. "Where did you come from? I haven't seen you in a while." He grinned. "You up for a battle?"
"I...suppose." Dirk glanced in the direction that, from his best guess, was the way to the Sinjoh Ruins, wondering just what was happening there.
Present day, with Pryce and the Professor...
Professor Diggswell sighed as he watched Pryce staring at him.
"You don't believe it, do you?" he asked.
"Don't be so quick to assume." Pryce said.
"Nobody ever does." Professor Diggswell shrugged. "After a while, even I started to wonder...maybe it was all a dream or a hallucination or something. It's possible."
"You have to admit, it's quite a fantastic tale." Pryce told him.
"It is. But I never could escape it." Professor Diggswell folded his hands. "I need to know that I'm not crazy, and I need to know what happened after I was sent away. Did Leah really die like she hinted? Is Merle the Elder now? What's he done with the place...I know I only spent a short time there, but I came to admire it. It had a beauty and purity like nothing I'd seen before...I'd hate to find out that he ruined it."
"Have you tried going back?" Pryce questioned.
"Over and over." Diggswell nodded. "Never works. I always end up lost, but that doesn't prove anything. I always told myself that if I could just find it again, see that all was well, I would return to Pokémon battling. But, it never happened. Now I don't know if I even could."
"Well, there's a simple way to figure that out." Pryce smiled and stood. "Come with me."
Diggswell followed him curiously as the Gym Leader led him out of the Burned Tower and to the Ecruteak Gym. Entering, they made their way to the back, where they found Morty. Pryce asked him if they could borrow his battle area and the Gym Leader nodded, leaving them alone. Pryce drew a Pokéball.
"Let's see if you've still got it, shall we?" he asked. Diggswell watched him before a small smile broke out on his face.
"Okay then." He drew a Pokéball of his own. "Let's do it."
The Underwood Ranch...
Sally came down from her room, yawning. She had slept in quite a bit and nobody had bothered to wake her up, evidently. Spotting a glow from Matt's office, she walked in and found Phillip sitting in front of the computer, fast asleep.
"Phil?" She placed a hand on his shoulder. He jolted awake and rubbed his at his eye. "You okay?"
"Okay as I can be, I guess." he said miserably.
"It's not your fault, Phil." Sally told him.
"I was the one who suggested experimenting with the crystals!" He said, spinning the chair around so he faced. "How can you say it's not my fault!?"
"We all knew there was a risk." Sally argued. "Rich too. And anyway, we'll find him. Celebi will show back up with him any moment."
"I hope you're right." Phillip turned and looked at the computer. "I've been trying to research, figure out if there's anything we can do. So far, I haven't found...there's nothing but myths that contradict each other."
"In what ways?" Sally asked.
"Every detail." Phillip grumbled. "Some of them claim Lutheran was just a normal guy; others say he was some kind of chosen one. Some of the stories claim Celebi herself, uh, the goddess one, came directly to be with him, but according to what Celebi said, that's impossible. Some of them even say he became a god himself in the end. As for the Eon Crystals, it's all over the place. Some say Lutheran channeled all their power and fought Dialga directly. Others claim they were failures and Dialga killed him. A few suggest they have the power to transport people to the Celestial World where the gods live, which is the CLOSEST thing to what we saw that I can find, but that did not look like any god-world or whatever. It looked just the same as ours. I suppose it's possible, but..." He shook his head. "I don't know. We aren't getting anywhere with this."
"Maybe we should ask Professor Diggswell?" Sally suggested. "He studies those old stories, maybe he'd have some idea what's true and what's not."
"Hmph." Phillip reached out and clicked a link. "Oh, I've found his claims. Check this out." He pulled up an article. "He states that the truth of what happened in the old stories of the gods is unclear. According to him, there is a secret group of people living in both Johto and Sinnoh that still worship the gods, and that the gods grant them favors, but, and I quote here, 'even their texts are uncertain and filled with their own biases.'" He looked up at Sally. "Of course, despite his claims to have read these texts, he cannot produce even a shred of evidence of such. He's considered one of the biggest frauds, or at the very least just a crackpot, in the research of the divine."
"Oh..." Sally frowned. "That's...wow."
"Yeah." Phillip folded his arms. "I mean, he did help with the Box of Seven, so he clearly knows some stuff, but...I don't know how much he can tell us for real."
"Well, whatever the case..." Sally said. "We'll figure it out. But not if you're going to pull all nighters and exhaust yourself."
"How can I sleep?" Phillip asked sadly. "While Rich is..." Sally smiled as he trailed off.
"You really care about him, huh?" she said. Phillip turned away and nodded wordlessly. "You two finally got together?"
"Were we that transparent?" Phillip sighed.
"Well, you both have been unusually cheerful for the past few weeks." Sally laughed. "Plus, you're like a hundred times more messed up than when the Remnants captured him, and we all saw that little incident."
"Yeah, okay." Phillip chuckled. "It's not that we were trying to hide it from you guys or anything. It's just...we wanted to take it kinda slowly, starting out, you know? It's a new experience, for Rich in particular."
"Personally, I think you two make a great couple." Sally smiled at him. "You balance out his more impulsive side."
"Didn't do much to stop it this time." Phillip muttered.
"Stop that." Sally spun his chair around so he faced her. "You have GOT to stop blaming yourself." Phillip gave no response and she held out a hand. "Come with me."
"Where are we going, exactly?" Phillip asked as she pulled him to his feet.
"I have an idea." Sally said. "Maybe we have a way to prove that Rich will be back."
Sally led him upstairs to her room, quickly locating her Pokéballs and searching through them. Phillip watched her curiously as she drew one and clicked it open to release Natu onto her bed.
"Tu?" Natu hopped forward on the blanket and looked up at her. 'What happening?'
"Natu, I need your help." Sally knelt and waved for Phillip to come forward. "You know how you can see the future sometimes?"
"Na?" Natu tilted her head. 'Flashes. Pieces. Only sometimes. Not always clear.'
"Okay, well, can you try and see specific things?" Sally asked.
'Can try.' Natu confirmed. 'Don't know if work. But can try.'
"Okay, here's what I want you to do..." Sally explained to her all about Richard's vanishing. "Can you see if he'll make it back to us?"
'I look. I try and see.' Natu agreed, closing her eyes. She clicked her beak and hopped in place slightly. 'I see him! I see friend Rich!'
"You do?" Phillip leaned forward excitedly. "What's happening?"
'He helping some people. Don't recognize. Not familiar.' She shook her head. 'That all I can tell.'
"Well, at least we know he's okay." Sally pointed out.
"But not when or if he'll come back." Phillip said sadly.
"Hey, if he's okay, he'll find his way back, no matter what." Sally told him. "You have to believe that, Phil."
"Yeah..." The Blue Ranger put on a smile and nodded. "You're right, Sally. He'll find a way, and if he can't, he'll make one."
"That's the spirit." Sally grinned.
'Oh no!' Natu suddenly shook her head, hopping nervously from one foot to the other. 'No no no! No good! Not good at all!'
"What?" Phillip asked worriedly.
'You guys!' Natu trembled. 'Fighting a monster! It winning! Knows all your moves!' Natu chirped miserably. 'This awful!'
"What monster?" Sally asked. "What are you talking about?"
Before Natu could answer, Sally's phone rang. She and Phillip looked at each other nervously as she drew it and answered.
"Hello?" she asked.
"You near a TV?" Hypnotica's voice came through. "There's something on the news you should see."
Sally quickly recalled Natu, grabbing up the rest of her Pokémon as they ran downstairs. Phillip snatched the remote from beside the TV and clicked it on.
"We're still waiting for the Poké Rangers to show up and stop the monster rampaging through Goldenrod right now." A reporter was saying. "So far, there has been no sign of them, but people are confident they will arrive any minute."
"Me and Phillip will grab Matt and we'll be on the way." Sally quickly told Hypnotica. "Call the others and let them know."
"Will do." she agreed, hanging up.
"You think this is the one?" Sally asked.
"Does it matter?" Phillip countered. "We have to stop it, no matter what." Sally nodded and the two drew their Morphers.
"Bring on the power of Eon!" The Eon Spirits emerged and flew above them, forming their respective elements and launching them down to form their Ranger Suits. Circling around, the spirits became helmets to complete their transformation.
Runnng outside, the two held out their hands.
"Spirit Boards!" The miniature surfboards appeared and they charged them with their crystals, increasing them to full size. Hopping on, they flew over Matt feeding the Ranch's Pokémon and waved for him to follow as they took off towards Goldenrod.
Soon, in Goldenrod...
"Run, you weak humans!" the monster laughed as he marched down the street, chasing pedestrians away. "I'm looking for the Rangers!"
Sally, Phillip, and Matt flew down on their Spirit Boards along with Emma, who had caught up with them on the way. From the other direction, Sam and David leaped off of theirs, the beast suddenly finding himself surrounded by Rangers.
"About time you showed up!" He laughed. He had thick orange Dragonite-style legs and a Dragonite head, but the body of a Tyranitar, its tail swinging behind him. In his arms, he wielded a Tyranitar-designed sword and a shield with a Tyranitar's face on it. "I'm am Tyraninite, the face of your destruction!"
"Not likely." Phillip drew his Aqua Jetters. "Alright, guys, remember. We have to be careful without Rich here."
"Right." Sally agreed. She raised her Psycho Cutter. "Let me see what we're dealing with."
Leaping forward, she swung her blade out and he matched it with a swing of his own. While she continued to strike at him, Matt stepped on Emma's shadow and disappeared into it.
Seeing it, Tyraninite dodged past Sally and planted his foot on her shadow, vanishing inside. Moments later, Matt came flying out, slamming into the Pink Ranger and knocking them both to the ground as Tyraninite leaped free and landed on his feet.
"He can enter the Shadow World too?" Matt asked in surprise as he stood.
"That's right, Black Ranger!" Raising his sword, he charged forward and swung down, the Black Ranger summoning his Night Slashers and blocking. Kicking him aside, he slashed again and struck Matt across the chest, flinging him away.
Sally slashed towards his back and he spun in time to raise his shield and block. Sally dodged back from a slash and held out a hand, trying to telekinetically pull his weapons from his hands. They moved for a moment, but then a black aura flared to life over them and she lost her grip on them.
"Nice try, Pink Ranger!" The same dark shadow coated his sword as he knocked her blade to the side. "But you'll have to do better than that!" As he swung again, she tried to form a telekinetic barrier to stop the strike, but it forced its way through and sent her flying.
"Let's get him, David!" The Green Ranger called as he summoned his Seed Bomber. Firing, Tyraninite raised his shield, blocking the shot. Sam held out hand and the seeds left grew into vines that reached up and started to wrap around him.
Beside him, David held out his hands, firing a beam of ice forward. Before it could strike, the Tyranitar mouth on the Chaos Beast's shield opened and fired a blast of flame down, burning through the vines trapping him. Holding it forward, the same stream of fire pushed against David's ice blast.
"I'm more than ready for you two!" Tyraninite laughed, thrusting the shield out harder. The fire blast increased and blasted the two to the ground. "I know all your tricks."
"How about this one?" Emma's eyes sparked with electricity under her helmet as she tapped into Hyperspeed. The instant before she did, Tyraninite's body seemed to harden over with a thick stone coating.
Racing forward, she swung her Discharger, but it bounced harmlessly off the rocky hide. Growling, she fired lightning blasts against him, but it did nothing to pierce through. After a few such attempts, she deactivated Hyperspeed.
The blows blocked, the stone coating faded and he spun, lashing out with his shield. Emma raised her Discharger, the two shields colliding together with enough force to fling the Yellow Ranger backwards.
"That one too!" He laughed, leaping and slashing down with his sword, managing to catch the Yellow Ranger as she tried to dodge aside and sending her crashing to the ground.
Phillip hurled his Aqua Jetters, Tyraninite blocking them with his shield. Water fired from their hilts and launched them back to the Blue Ranger as he ran forward, springing and stabbing down towards his chest.
Swinging his sword up, he struck the Blue Ranger and he flipped back, managing to land on his feet. As Tyraninite struck again, he liquidated his body, allowing the strike to splash harmlessly through. Spinning, he fired water from his weapons, pulling himself into a spin that struck the Chaos Beast's back and made him stagger forward.
"Not bad, Blue Ranger." He laughed. "But I have just the thing for that!" He hurled his sword forward and Phillip instinctively jumped back. Thrusting out his shield, the Tyranitar mouth opened and fired a bolt of electricity, striking him in the chest and conducting throughout his body. The Blue Ranger yelled in pain as he was hurled back, rolling along the ground as sparks flew from his suit.
The other Rangers gathered to help him to his feet, the six of them facing Tyraninite as he retrieved his sword and pointed it towards them.
"You Rangers are even easier to beat than I thought!" he told them.
"It's just like Natu said..." Phillip gasped. "He knows all our moves."
"That's right, Blue Ranger." Tyraninite agreed. "I was specifically made to know every trick in your arsenal. Even if your leader was still here, or even if you two..." He pointed his blade at Sam and David. "Had unlocked your second powers, it wouldn't matter! I would know just how to stop them." He laughed evilly. "There's not a thing you can do to beat me!"
"Well if you think we're backing down, guess again!" Emma told him. "Right, guys?"
"Right." Phillip agreed, drawing back his Aqua Jetters. "We're going to stop you, one way or the other." The other five Rangers all raised their weapons as they spread out into a line beside him.
"Pitiful." Tyraninite sighed. "But fine then. If you wish to be destroyed, who am I to deny you?" Laughing, he drew back his blade and charged forward.
"Get ready!" Phillip called in warning.
Before Tyraninite could reach them, a small pink sphere slammed against his chest and exploded. Several others followed, making him exclaim in shock as he staggered back.
"Who did that?" he growled. The Rangers looked around in confusion.
"Does anybody see anything?" Sam asked. "I didn't just imagine that happening, right?"
"No, we all saw it." David assured him.
"Up there!" Emma pointed. "On the roof!" The team looked up at the building behind them she was pointing at, spotting the figure standing on the roof's edge.
"Uh, Sally?" Matt asked. "You don't happen to have a long-lost sister you never told us about, do you?"
"Not that I know of." Sally shook her head. The pink Ranger on the roof leaped off and flipped through the air, landing in a crouch between the team and Tyraninite. The Chaos Beast growled in annoyance as she rose to her to feet.
Now that she was closer, they could see that she wasn't exactly like Sally in appearance. Her suit was a lighter shade of pink, and when she twisted partially around to look back and give them a thumbs up, they could see her helmet had a Sylveon design and her crystal, instead of the synapse-like pulses Sally's had, held some sort of glimmering sparkle in the center.
"Who are you?" Tyraninite snarled, raising his sword to point at her. Turning back to him, the new Ranger punched her fist.
"Your worst nightmare!" she told him. "Fairy Power! Mystic Eon Ranger!"
"I've never heard of a Mystic Ranger. I don't have time for this nonsense." Tyraninite snapped, holding up his blade. "Cryoclopes!" Around him, a large group of the frozen golems appeared, summoning ice weapons in their hands.
"Aww, you brought all these guys here, just for me?" the Mystic Ranger folded her hands. "I'm touched." The other Rangers started forward, but she held a hand back to stop them. "Nah nah, you guys take a breather. I got this." Laughing, she charged forward to meet the group in battle.
Leaping, her foot slammed against the Cryoclops out front's shield and she used it to spring higher, spinning and kicking his head from his shoulders. Landing, she dodged aside as another slashed down with an ice sword, driving a punch into its chest that broke it apart. Whirling, she ducked low as an ice axe passed through where her head had been and slammed an elbow back to break the Cryoclops responsible's knee out.
Grabbing the minion as it stumbled, she threw it forward into another charging at her, stopping him as they collided. Raising a leg, she slammed an axe kick down to take them both to the ground before twirling and sweeping her leg out to knock several others' feet out from under them.
A trio of Cryoclopes formed ice cannons and aimed, firing at her. She flipped back out of the way as the cannonballs struck the ground and exploded in frozen bursts.
"Pixilator!" Holding out her hand, what appeared to be a portable CD player with a Sylveon design appeared. Reaching her other hand out, it seemed to vanishing into a pink glowing gash in the air, emerging with a TM in hand. "Hidden Power Mode!" Inserting it and clicking the Pixilator closed, it transformed in a pink burst into a three-barreled pistol that she aimed, firing rapidly and blasting the Cryoclopes who had shot at her down with the same spheres of pink energy that had previously struck Tyraninite.
"You sure we shouldn't help her?" Phillip asked the others.
"I don't think she needs it." Emma laughed as she watched in amazement.
A Cryoclops stabbed down with an ice spear and the Mystic Ranger flipped out of the way, firing her weapon rapidly while upside down to blast a whole line of Cryoclopes away. Rolling to her feet as she landed, she raised the weapon and blocked an ice sword swinging at her, kicking the wielder back.
Reaching out again, she pulled an HM free and her Pixilator returned to normal, clicking open to reveal it was empty. Inserting the new disc, she closed it and it transformed into a long sword, still with the same Sylveon design.
"Cut Mode!" Leaping forward, she knocked the Cryoclops' sword aside and slashed through its midsection, letting it fall apart behind her. Spinning, she forced an ice axe down before taking its wielder's head off, spinning past as one jabbed at her with an ice spear. Cutting the weapon's head off, she slid her sword down its length before slicing through him.
"She's good." Sally admired.
Two Cryoclopes aimed ice bows and fired arrows towards her. Swinging her sword up, she struck with the flat and managed to flip the arrows around. Spinning and lashing out, she struck them in the back with the flat again, launching them back to pierce into their shooter's chests.
"That's an understatement." Matt told Sally.
The Mystic Ranger faced even more Cryoclopes and sighed.
"Getting a little bored with the light work, honestly." she said. Holding out both hands, she spread them apart, opening a pink portal, a metallic silver humanoid emerging. "TOCC, destroy the Cryoclopes."
"Targeting: Cryoclopes." TOCC's eyes glowed red and he charged forward. The Cryoclops at the front stabbed a spear towards him, but it shattered apart against his metal body. Swinging an arm, his hand chopped it on the side of the head and it shattered apart.
Raising a leg, he kicked the two on each side of the first rapidly, knocking them to bits. Holding out his hands, a disc slid down on each palm, revealing a set of blasters that fired energy shots, tearing through the golems with ease.
"She has a robot partner?" Sam asked. "Why don't we get one of those!?"
Meanwhile, the Mystic Ranger leaped for Tyraninite, swinging her sword at him. He raised his own blade to block her slash and she pushed the blade up, spinning and slashing at him in one fluid motion. He managed to narrowly raise his shield in time to defend.
"Not bad." He pulled back and slammed the shield forward, striking her sword and shoving her back. "But you aren't strong enough to beat me!"
"Tsk." The Mystic Ranger reached out as her Pixilator returned to normal, pulling another HM free and inserting it. "Strength Mode!" In a flash, it transformed into a heavy gauntlet that reached up to her elbow.
Drawing back, she charged forward and punched out, Tyraninite raising his shield. The blow slammed against it so hard he was sent staggering back. The Mystic Ranger didn't let up the attack, raising her arm as she pursued and bringing it down on the shield's top, knocking it out of his hands.
"How's this for strong?" She asked, slamming punches forward and knocking Tyraninite further and further back. The gauntlet glowed with mystic energy as she pulled back one last time, slamming a powerful blow against the Chaos Beast's chest that hurled him through the air.
Landing on his back, he struggled to roll over and crawl upright. The Mystic Ranger watched, holding up her gauntleted arm.
"Had enough, big guy?" she questioned. Tyraninite growled in rage.
"You haven't seen the last of me!" he told her. Planting his sword against the ground, he iced over and vanished from view.
"Yeah, that's what I thought." Her Pixilator returned to normal and she dispelled it. "I'll see you then."
TOCC walked up to her, the red glow in his eyes fading.
"Cryoclopes: Eliminated." he reported.
"Good job, buddy." The Mystic Ranger held up a fist. "Fist bump."
"Run Protocol: Fist Bump." TOCC raised his own fist and tapped it against hers. The Mystic Ranger laughed and spread her arms.
"Power down, TOCC." she commanded. Shutting down again, he vanished back into the portal as the other Rangers appoached her. Turning to face them, she waved. The group removed their Morphers, returning to their civilian identities. They noticed that her Morpher was exactly like theirs, a perfect replica.
"Who are you?" Sally asked. The Mystic Ranger pulled her Morpher off and demorphed, revealing a teenage girl in green robes that flowed down to the ground and covered her body. Reaching up, she lowered the hood over her head, revealing that she was shaved bald and had a tattoo of a Celebi's head in a Dialga helmet on her forehead and extending up onto the top. Her bright blue eyes twinkled excitedly as she raised her hands.
"Sup, guys?" she asked. The Rangers looked to each other in confusion. Grinning, the girl ran forward and held out a hand. "I'm Mia Sutherland. It's so good to finally meet you all!"
"Uh...hi?" Sally reached out and shook her hand. "I'm..."
"Sally, I know." Mia smiled happily and moved down the line. "And you're Matt, Phillip, Emma, and of course, Sam and David. I've been watching you all for a while."
"You have? Why?" Matt asked.
"And more importantly, where did you get Ranger powers?" Phillip questioned.
"Okay, okay, I know there's a lot of questions right now." She said. "But maybe out here in the street isn't the best place to discuss them. Can we take this to, uh...Celebi's place." She thought for a moment before snapping her fingers. "The Vanishing Shrine! That's what it was called, right?"
"Yeah..." Phillp nodded. A small part of him wondered if they could trust this random Ranger who had come out of nowhere, but, at the same time, something about her seemed to give the answer that they could. He wasn't quite sure what it was, but he felt they were safe with her around. "Alright then. Let's go."
Mask of Ice's lair...
"That's not possible!" Xactowl snapped. "There can't be an eighth Ranger! There are only seven Crystals!"
"I'm telling you, it's true!" Tyraninite insisted. "You think I'd be back here unsuccessful if it was just the others? I would've destroyed them."
"He is telling the truth..." Ditgle held up an ice sphere, showing the Mystic Ranger fighting him off. "I've never seen her before."
"I don't get it..." Xactowl growled to himself. "Who is she? Where did she come from?"
"All excellent questions." The three spun as Mask of Ice walked into the chamber.
"Master." Xactowl bowed in greeting, the other two following suit. "You've returned. We weren't expecting you back yet."
"I sensed this new Eon Crystal earlier." he told them as he brushed past. "I've never felt it before...it surprised me. I did not think there could be another crystal I didn't know of."
"So it is a real crystal?" Xactowl asked.
"It has a nearly identical energy to the others." Mask of Ice told them. "But what I don't understand is how it slipped my notice...that shouldn't be possible." He looked to Xactowl. "I need answers."
The Chaos Beast's eyes glowed gold.
"Whenever you're ready, sir." he encouraged.
"What is this new crystal?" he demanded. "Explain it to me." Xactowl smiled as the answer appeared in his head.
"I can tell you all about it, sir."
Burned Tower, Ecruteak City...
"Do you think they were actually here?" Eusine asked as he examined the spots that seemed to indicate the three artifacts had once rested there, holding a magnifying glass up for a closer look. No answer came. "Dirk?"
"Hmm?" Professor Diggswell looked up from staring at one of his Pokéballs. "Oh, sorry. My mind is elsewhere."
"That I can see." Eusine placed the glass away and stood, walking closer. "What's got you so distracted?"
"Oh, it's just..." he frowned. "I just got back from a battle, the first friendly competition I've done in years."
"Thinking about the old days?" Eusine laughed. "Back when we traveled looking for fights, ambushed each other into battles every chance we got." Professor Diggswell smiled as Eusine nodded. "It was a fun time."
"Yeah..." Professor Diggswell put his Pokéball away. "Guess it's just got me feeling nostalgic."
"So...how did you do?" Eusine asked curiously. Diggswell mind wandered back to the battle.
"Three on three?" Pryce asked as he drew his first Pokéball.
"Fine by me." Dirk agreed.
"Delibird, go!" Pryce called, the Ice/Flying type emerging and landing before him.
"Mamoswine, you're up!" Dirk held out its Pokéball and the mammoth-like Pokémon emerged, facing off with Delibird excitedly.
"Interesting..." Pryce murmured. "Hail!" Spreading its wings, Delibird spread its wings and summoned a hailstorm over the area, the ice pieces pelting down. Mamoswine stood unbothered among it.
"Charge in with a Take Down!" Dirk commanded. Mamoswine ran forward, but Delibird took to the air, flying up and out of range.
"Blizzard from above." Pryce ordered. Delibird pulled its wings back and flapped them, sending a powerful snowstorm down to swirl around Mamoswine, battering against him.
"Push through, Mamoswine!" Dirk called. "A Rock Tomb should bring it down!" Mamoswine formed several small stones around itself and hurled them up, striking Delibird and pinning against its body. The Flying-type cried out in surprise as it was knocked from the air and stuck to the ground. "Now, an Ancient Power to finish!" Glowing rocks appeared around Mamoswine and flew forward, striking Delibird as it tried to pull itself free and sending it collapsing to the ground.
"Not bad." Pryce admitted as he recalled the Pokémon. "But Delibird is just the beginning. Dewgong, go!" The seal-like Pokémon emerged and Pryce pointed forward. "Water Pulse!"
"Use the hail to hide!" Dirk called. Mamoswine hung back as Dewgong fired several pulsing shots of water forward, using its Snow Cloak ability to avoid them. "Hit it from where it's not expecting it!"
As Mamoswine circled in the hail, Pryce planted his walking stick against the ground and closed his eyes in concentration.
"Rock Tomb!" Dirk called.
"Two o'clock!" Pryce called. Dewgong slide aside as the stones sailed past from that direction. "Aim and fire at twelve o'clock!" Dewgoong twisted straight ahead and fired another Water Pulse, catching Mamoswine mid-move and blasting it off its feet. Mamoswine tried to rise, but found itself unable to get up.
"Clever..." Dirk recalled Mamoswine and glanced at Pryce. "You felt out the vibrations of him moving." Pryce smiled and shrugged.
"I'm an Ice specialist." he said. "I know how to counter Snow Cloak."
"Then maybe we should mix up the weather." Dirk raised his second ball. "Onix!" The newest member of his team emerged and looked ahead at Dewgong. "Sandstorm!"
"Nix!" Onix reared up its head and the hail vanished, being replaced with a swirling sandy wind. Dewgong moved back slightly, feeling the grains biting at it.
"Don't worry, Dewgong." Pryce called. "You only need one hit. Surf!"
"Stealth Rock!" Dirk told Onix. The rock snake hurled stones forward and scattered them around the area as Dewgong and its wave crashed down on it, falling to the ground. "Good job, Onix." Dirk told him. "You did all we needed."
"It seems you have a great deal of trust in your final Pokémon." Pryce noted. "That you're confident it can take down two of mine."
"He's been with me since me since the beginning." Dirk recalled Onix and drew another ball. "Dugtrio, let's do this!"
"Ah, yes." Pryce nodded. "I remember this one. Surf!"
"Dig, Dugtrio!" Dirk called.
"DUG!" Dugtrio ducked beneath the surface and burrowed forward, passing under the Surf's wave and emerging directly under Dewgong, the force launching it into the air. "Now, Rock Slide!" A collection of stones burst out of the ground near Dugtrio and hurtled forward, slamming against Dewgong mid-fall and tossing it to Pryce's defeated.
"He's quite a hard hitter." Pryce admired.
"Sand Force." Dirk explained. "Makes his moves stronger when there's a Sandstorm."
"Ah..." Pryce nodded. "And he's speedy as well..." He recalled Dewgong. "So perhaps some speed is what's needed to counter it. Sneasel!"
As his last Pokémon was sent out, Pryce regarded Dugtrio in anticipation. Dirk pointed forward.
"Rock Slide, Dugtro!" he commanded.
"Dodge it, Sneasel!" Pryce called. Sneasel agily leaped aside, avoiding the stones crashing down around it. "Icy Wind!" Thrusting out a hand, it sent a cold wind forward, but Dugtrio went underground to avoid it. Pryce kept his stick on the ground, feeling for the slight rumble of his burrowing.
"Dodge up, now!" he called in warning. Sneasel leaped high in the air as Dugtrio emerged, avoiding getting hit and landing on its feet.
"Make more tunnels!" Dirk commanded. "Premake them so you don't have to burrow!" Dugtrio vanished back under the ground, burrowing back and forth and digging a maze of tunnels. Pryce frowned as he felt the vibrations cease.
"Get ready, Sneasel." He warned. "Hone Claws and prepare to evade." Sneasel scraped its claws together, making them sharpen as it prepared.
"Now, another Rock Slide!" Dugtrio popped out of the ground at Dirk's command and hurled the stones forward...only for them to pass harmlessly through Sneasel. "What?"
"Now, strike!" Pryce called. Dirk looked up as Sneasel sprang down from above, ice wreathing its fist, and realized it must have used a Substitute to trick them. "Ice..." Before Pryce could finish the command, he halted. Sneasel glanced over to see what was wrong and slowed its strike enough that Dugtrio could dodge aside.
"Only chance, Dugtrio!" Dirk called. "Fissure!" Focusing its power into the ground, it split towards Sneasel, breaking open under the Ice-type before clamping shut. Pryce looked back in surprise.
After a moment of silence, he smiled. "Well...it seems we have a winner." Chuckling, he stepped forward, recalling Sneasel into its ball. "Well fought."
"Thank you..." Dirk frowned. "Although, I don't know what happened there at the end. You had me."
"Ah." Pryce shook his head. "It seems I've grown too easily distracted in my old age. But you...you've still got it." He nodded. "A fair win's a fair win."
Back in the present, Professor Diggswell smiled.
"Ah, it's a secret." he said. Eusine laughed.
"Don't feel too bad." he said as he walked past. "There's no shame in being a little rusty."
"Yeah." Professor Diggswell chuckled. "Whatever you say, Eusine." Drawing a flashlight, he stepped up to the wall. "Come on. Let's have a closer look at those imprints. There's something I'm very curious about."
The Vanishing Shrine...
The Rangers walked into the door with Mia behind them. As they entered, they found Hypnotica waiting. Looking up at them, she took notice of the newcomer and quickly approached.
"Hello, Mia." She greeted. "It's nice to meet you in person."
"Hi..." Mia smiled. "Do you know me?"
"Oh, indirectly." She smiled. "Celebi shared a lot of things with me, stuff I promised not to talk about. One of them was your existence." The other Rangers looked at each other in surprise, but Mia simply nodded in understanding.
"Got it." she said.
"You know, he won't be happy when he finds out you've shown yourself." Hypnotica told her.
"Yeah...I know." Mia said, before smiling hopefully. "But, surely when he realizes I had no choice...he'll understand."
"We'll see." Hypnotica told her. "In any case, I, for one, am glad you're with us."
"I'm so confused right now." Emma said. Hypnotica smiled and spun Mia around to face them.
"Maybe you should tell everyone your story, dear." she suggested. The other Rangers waited eagerly as Mia grinned and placed a finger on her chin.
"Oh dear...where to even start?" she laughed. "Well, at the beginning, I suppose." She nodded. "Let me tell you all about how the Eon Crystals were created."
Next Time on Poké Rangers: Eon Force...
Mia: It's a lot to take in, I know.
Sam: Where did you get the crystal?
Mia: I couldn't just stand there and watch you all be destroyed.
Tyraninite: You surprised me last time, Mystic Ranger. It won't happen a second time.
Mia: You never learn, do you?
Celebi: Good, you're all here. I found him.
Chapter 23: The Secret from Sinjoh Part 2