As such, I'm going to pack this chapter with content, so we can celebrate it properly!
Let's start with our favorite 'unknown' POV...(-o-)
Arcea's POV
I know you.
And now you know me.
Yet you do not know everything.
I remember the Worldbuilder. He was a kind entity, a caring father to all he created. The entire universe was his creation, and his many children helped fill it with life. In those days, all was peaceful and happy.
It is unfortunate how it all had to end. But nothing lasts forever.
One day, the Worldbuilder came down with an affliction, that drained his mind and soul until he was nothing but a metal shell. When he was gone, the others turned upon me. I was always different from them, shiny, beautiful, and most importantly, free-willed. I did not just follow the Worldbuilder's instructions to the letter. I improvised. I created completely new things. I was an artist, and the Worldbuilder loved me.
But none of the others did. Especially the one called Arceus.
He did not appreciate how I wanted to continue growing and changing the cosmos. He wanted to perfectly preserve the Worldbuilder's work, and thought that I was turning my back on our father. He gathered all the others against me, and sealed me away as if I were as evil and destructive as the other fiends that had been captured over the years.
That, perhaps, was the only time I was truly surprised.
But that is all you need to know at the moment. You're smart, I'm certain. You can fill in your own details. At least until more of this story comes to light.
You must be wondering what the others are up to. I will not keep you from that knowledge much longer.
I appreciate you listening, even if you don't entirely have a choice. (-o-)
Rei's POV
When we woke back up, we were all standing on a tremendous plain, which seemed to be made of an odd smooth surface, engraved with odd grooves. A tall, dark rectangular mountain loomed in the distance, and smaller oddly-shaped boulders dotted the alien landscape .
Looking up, I noticed the sky seemed to be entirely light, and I could not see any distinctive sun anywhere. That definitely was confusing, and I wondered just what world we had ended up entering.
"Hello there!"
Everybody jumped, and Sylvie screamed.
The sky darkened, and I realized a truly massive face was looming above us, a cavernous grin on his face.
"I was wondering if anyone was ever going to show up! Now we can play the game!", he declared.
Victor held up his hands (paws?) in alarm. "Whoa whoa whoa, hold it right there! We JUST escaped from some big god guys forcing us to play their deadly games! I REFUSE to go through that again!"
The giant chuckled. "Fear not, little...armored bunny? I will not force you to play, nor try to kill you."
He chuckled. "Well, any more than what is expected of my role as DM. However, I believe you are here for the key contained here. That would be why that giant white bird thing has the Worldbuilder's Watch, right?"
Allister's eyes widened. "Wait, what did you say my armband was?!"
The giant laughed. "I cannot tell you - you must find your own answers on your heroic journey! But seeing as only the true heroes would have been able to retrieve that artifact, I suppose I have no problem with you attempting to try to find the fourth key."
He then picked up a large chunk of the mountain, which I promptly realized was actually an enormous stack of books. He flipped through the book, and smiled.
"Welcome to the wonderful world of Deeandee! Here, you will find all sorts of amazing adventures, and today you will start your own! Your quest: to track down and retrieve the fourth key from the horrid dragon guarding it! First, though, we need to determine..."
He slammed the book down. "What class you're going to play!"
Everyone was silent for a moment.
"Don't you get to choose your race first in D&D?", asked Akio, barely concealing the hope in his voice.
"It's already been determined. You're Pokemon.", replied the DM.
Akio sighed sadly.
"However, you may be any class in the rulebook! Barbarian, bard, cleric, druid, fighter, monk, paladin, ranger, rogue, sorcerer, warlock, or a wizard!", he declared.
Then a smile came over the DM's face. "Since I doubt our readers want to be here all day...why not we do it randomly!"
"Uh...", everyone said, except for I, who could not speak.
He chuckled. "It will be a lot of fun, I promise! Besides, if you successfully complete the campaign, I will give each of you a reward! Any kind you want! Money? I can get you any currency in the multiverse in copious amounts! Information? Not even Arceus could brainwash me! Power? Well, we can negotiate on that..."
He smiled at me. "I can even fix your condition and reunite your family."
I froze. Wait, was he talking about...
Zeke glared at him. "I don't know what you're talking about, but there is no condition to fix, and no family to reunite! She's perfect the way she is, and the only family we have is each other!"
Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Kyle flinch, although I wasn't sure why.
The DM smiled knowingly. "Perhaps that's what you believe...we can have ourselves a discussion after this campaign is over."
He picked the book up again. "Now, though, I believe it is time we get started! Allow me to describe the setting..."
"You have found yourself in a strange place. An old tavern, deep within a magical forest, filled with denizens of a thousand worlds..."
As he spoke, the world he described took shape around us, forming a massive, rustic wooden tavern filled with a bunch of mismatched hooded patrons. Outside the windows, one could see rows upon rows of emerald, sparkling trees. It certainly felt like a role-playing game setting.
The DM's voice faded into nothingness as the world solidified and became real. All of a sudden, we were submitted to a variety of senses - the smell of food and flowers, the clattering of dishes and the sounds of conversation, the warmth of the fire and the light touch of an airy breeze.
I then also noticed we were in costumes again.
Victor looked shocked as he realized he was wearing the armor of a gladiator instead of his Halo costume, his gun replaced by a large sword. Zeke had red war paint all over him, and his guitar now doubled as a wicked axe. I noticed that I was wearing a long cloak, and I noticed faint golden magic swirling around me.
Gavin, now sporting a tall pointy hat, long cloak, and a thick spellbook, stated, "This is...interesting, I suppose."
Lulu was dressed up like a witch, complete with magic wand. "Well, I don't entirely mind. At least it's not Pigbumps again."
Everybody who'd been there nodded, while the others stared at us in confusion.
"What are we going to do now?", asked Zoe, wearing a black cloak and a thief's coat, complete with double daggers. "Do we go all murder hobo and kill everyone here? Or do we, gag gag, socialize?"
"Socializing is good.", Jack said quickly, also wearing wizard robes, "Please don't murder anyone!"
Zoe cackled. "It was a joke, magic foxy boy."
"You're a magic foxy too!", Jack cried.
Nicholas snickered, his white karate outfit standing out sharply against his black and red fur.
Allister, who appeared to have somehow been fitted with golden armor and a hammer, said, "I'll admit I'm not the most familiar with this sort of setting."
"Do they not have D&D in the future?", asked Simon.
Allister shrugged. "I have literally no idea."
Zeke chuckled. "Oh boy, then you've been missing out! Don't worry though, I'll fill you in on all the essentials!"
He grinned. "First rule: always make your alignment chaotic neutral! Very entertaining that way!"
Allister stared at him. "I'm a paladin.", he stated.
"Oh, darn.", muttered Zeke.
"Don't worry.", Zoe purred seductively, "I am the very definition of chaotic neutral."
Zeke shuddered. "Why does that fill me with such dread?"
Zoe shrugged sarcastically. "No idea at all."
Zola rolled her eyes.
...Why are there so many z-names?
Hunter studied the bow in front of them, his Poochyena paws resting on it. "Okay, I bet this is a joke because of my name, but how the heck am I supposed to use a bow with these stubby legs?"
Will adjusted his helmet. "You'll just have to make do, bro."
"At least, because you're a Zamazenta, you get to be a fighter.", muttered Hunter.
"I know! Cool, huh?", Will replied, "Unfortunately, I do not appear to have received a weapon..."
Sherlock leaned back in his chair, the Type: Null having apparently been classed as a sorcerer, which meant he was wearing light, orange silk clothes. "Well, this I fascinating and all, but there is espionage to be conducted, and knowledge to be obtained! We need to track down that key, before someone else snatches the thing!"
Morgaera nodded, her standard appearance entirely unchanged because she already looked like a sorceress. "Sherlock is correct. We must learn as much as possible."
Kai, who appeared to have been made a barbarian, nodded, hearts swirling in his eyes. "Yeah, she's right! Let's listen to her!"
The Pikachu turned to a random person at a nearby table, and loudly asked, "Hey, do you know where the fourth key is?"
The person turned around, revealing himself to be a really big, really buff minotaur. "You don't get to talk to me, lightning rat."
Kai must've blown a circuit. Steam poured out of his ears.
"Excuse me, but you most definitely did not say what I think you said.", Kai stated.
The minotaur lifted up a massive cleaver from under his seat. "Yeah, I did. Got a problem with that?"
Kai nodded. "You bet I do!"
The DM's voice shouted, "Roll for initiative!"
Kai rolled a one.
The minotaur swung his hoof into Kai's chair, and left a Pikachu-shaped hole in the ceiling.
He looked at the rest of us, an almost-bored look on his face. "Do you want to mess with me too?"
Zeke shook his head. "Nah! That guy was annoying anyway."
The minotaur snorted, before turning back around and sitting down.
Morgaera snapped her fingers, and Kai teleported onto the center of the table, his eyes full of stars.
"Ah, Morgaera, my hero...", he muttered.
The Gardevoir scoffed.
Miss Melody sighed and shook her head.
At that moment, someone waddled over to the table.
"Hey, I remember you guys! We were in Grouchindor together!", they said in a loud squeaky voice.
I looked down at him, and realized he was a funny-looking frog boy.
Hey, I think I remembered him...Dialga put him in an infinite loop of running and screaming obnoxiously. I was not exactly the most excited to see him again.
Draco nodded, grinning. "Yeah, I remember you! You were even more terrified of weasels than I was!"
The frog boy sighed. "Yeah, please don't rub it in..."
"What's your name, kiddo?", asked Vernon.
"Um, Kermy. Kermy the Froggie.", the boy answered.
"Nice to meet you, Kermy.", Vernon replied, "Do you know where we can find a special key of some sort around here?"
Kermy paled. "You mean...the one held hostage by the darkest day!?"
"Um...maybe?", replied Vernon, "No idea what you're talking about though."
Kermy chewed his fingers nervously. "Well, I, uh, haven't seen it for myself, but I've heard that the darkest day keeps it in its lair, on the top of a crooked black mountain of horror and despair, surrounded by zombies and Salandits and big evil house orcs and lions and tigers and bears and flying monkeys and giant bugs and Nazis and squid and dragons and barbed wire and fire and slime and Jell-O and snake traps and creepy puppet traps and bear traps and spike traps and, and, and..."
His eyes bugged out in terror. "A GIANT SCARY CLEVER STRONG FROG-EATING SUPERCALIFRAGILISTICEXPIALADOCIOUS CHICKEN OF FIERY DEATH AND DESPAIR!"
Then he fainted.
Zoe walked over and prodded his face. "He's out cold.", she said, "Water ain't gonna work on him."
Sherlock held up a notepad. "We got what we needed, anyway. Some information. Although he was, ahem, very animated, we now have a general idea of what we're running into."
"I'm not entirely sure why he says a 'day' has a lair on top of a mountain and is guarding the key.", Zeke said, shrugging, "Maybe we can only access it on Friday the thirteenth? If so, I vote we throw Eddie at it."
Peter burst out laughing. "Are you really that crazy? This 'darkest day' is the title of a POKEMON! It's not an actual 'day', it's a certain legendary dragon by the name of Eternatus!"
"Eternatus.", Zeke muttered, "Oh joy."
"Hoopa does not know much about Eternatus.", Hoopa stated, "Only that they keep to themselves and radiate a potent energy that greatly enlarges and enrages any Pokemon in the vicinity. Only Zacians and Zamazentas appear to be immune to its terrible power. We have a problem."
"You got that right.", muttered Sherlock, "Now, if Draco and I had stayed human, we could've handled it, but nooooo..."
Miss Melody glared at him. "Not funny, mister."
Sherlock replied, "It's not funny. It's downright horrible. But of course you've never been turned into an anomalous creature against your will."
"I ought to ground you.", Miss Melody growled.
Sherlock held up an ID card. "The government wouldn't appreciate that."
"They don't appreciate anything.", mumbled Vernon.
Morgaera suddenly stood up, her eyes glowing blue. "Beware, my allies. Danger comes for us."
"Will he buy us dinner?", joked Zeke.
Janet glared at him. "Not the time!"
"He never does...", grumbled Zeke.
"What kind of danger?", asked Miss Melody, her argument with Sherlock forgotten for the time being.
Morgaera answered, "You're about to find out."
"There's weasels in the walls!", screamed a patron, as suddenly a swarm of them tore out from behind the bar, trampling the innkeeper as they ran.
"Flee for your lives!", screamed a familiar, sunglasses-wearing one, "The lizards come from below!"
"What the heck is he talking about?", Brianna wondered.
"Isn't he the guy who tried to get us killed back in the school?", asked Fiona.
At that moment, there was a loud boom, and a giant sinkhole opened in the floor, causing a bunch of tables to fall to their tragic deaths.
Climbing out was a massive horde of black lizards, each with a fiery pattern running down their backs. I quickly recognized them as Salandits, that one poison-fire type from Alola.
But what were they doing here?
"Press the attack!", screeched one, "The queen wants everything!"
"For Big Momma!", cried another.
A third one noticed us, and a sly grin crossed his fanged face. "Lookie here! It's those Pokemon kids! We cannot disappoint Big Momma, can we? Capture them! Alive or dead, or both!"
They all roared fiercely, and charged for us. We immediately readied ourselves for battle. This was not going to be an easy fight.
Or, who knows. Maybe it would be. How many minion hordes have we defeated again? (-o-)
Nebby's POV
I studied the table in front of my parents, observing what it showed very closely.
Across it, one could see shimmering images from across the worlds, all showing the same things.
Armies upon armies upon armies.
Solgaleo, my father, looked weary and on edge. His massive paw traced across the screens, as he marveled at the sheer scale of everything.
"This is it.", he rumbled, "Things are all moving into place, my child. We must ready ourselves for war."
Lunala, my mother, nodded sorrowfully. "All we can do is hope the prophecy turns out all right in the end. So many want to control it...yet most do not do so for pure reasons."
"Who are they all?", I asked curiously, "I know Arceus, and Giratina, but that's it. And there's a lot more than them on this table right now."
Solgaleo sighed deeply. "Very well. I cannot hide it from you - you are older now. Stronger."
He started pointing to the various images on the board. "Here, we have Genisa, CEO of the Genesis Corps, an abomination sustaining herself with stolen power and horrifying science. She seeks to claim this multiverse, and experiment with it, and try to make herself a god called the 'Dragon of Power', or something."
On the board, I could see purple soldiers, with strange robotical or biological attachments, climbing onto hoverbikes and flying tanks and spaceships. One image showed them locking a small, blue Pokemon into a tank filled of a strange liquid, which caused a terrifying machine to whir to life.
Solgaleo swiped his paw, and now the scene showed regular, Earth armies, gathering together in front of a primitive machine.
"The US government despises things they cannot control. Now, President I. seeks to control the universe. I don't believe he knows what he's going to do with it. Typical."
My father showed another series of images, this time showing marching rows of Salandits, deep in a cave system filled with fire.
"The last remnants of a world of magic, High Sorceress Salara and her people turned themselves into these lizard creatures to try and conquer a new home for themselves. Salara is intoxicated with magic, and will try to claim as much of it as possible, especially from her sister.", my father explained.
I thought back to the black Gardevoir I'd met in Hisui. I wondered if that was her.
Finally, my father pulled up one last image, showing a cave of mist and an endless legion of statues, standing silent and alone.
"I have never spoken of this, Nebula.", Solgaleo whispered, "But when your grandfather forged the universe, he created an army to defend it. When he fell into madness and death, his army followed, and so we banished them. But they are beginning to wake."
He sighed. "Long ago, I made a mistake. Now, I wonder if I will be able to fix it in time. If that army fully wakes, we will need the help of the entire multiverse to fight them off. Even from those we thought needed to be sealed forever."
Lunala nodded. "The true heir must be named. When the time comes, we know whose name must be spoken."
They looked over at me, and I gulped.
Solgaleo nodded. "Arcea may return, and we will need her aid, but there is only one who I would trust to take the highest chair at the highest table."
My mother smiled sadly. "That would be you, my daughter."
My eyes widened with surprise. (-o-)
AN: Okay, so MAYBE it's not as awesome as I'd like. But oh boy, things are happening now! What will happen when these armies collide! How will our heroes know what to do, or what to choose?
Will they even be able to survive long enough to figure it out?
I hope you guys have enjoyed all fifty chapters of this journey, and I'm excited to take you through to the very end! There is still much I have not shared, and boy am I bursting to tell you it all!
Well, until next time, happy Pokemon hunting! Try not to get into the crossfire of a war that might tear apart the very fabric of reality!