CHAPTER 4

5 years ago, the world feared the coming of night. The veil of darkness was a tragedy, and the moon a curse.

People and Pokémon fled to hide in sanctuaries, the undergrounds, ruins, or the deepest of caves, only to return in the morning in hopes of salvaging what was left of their homes and livelihood (for the humans), or habitat (for the Pokémon). Usually, there could only be so much.

The first signs of sunrise equate to a blessing of a second life; for many have lived in the night, but only those fortunate made it until day.

The world moved with predictability. The parts of the globe basking in the rays of the sun were searching for signs of life, reuniting with family and partner Pokémon, and gathering essentials in preparation for the evening. On the other hand, no questions were needed to be asked regarding the places enveloped in the darkness of the night; it was living in fear of the moment and hoping for morning to come, getting the life sucked out of you (literally), Pokémon losing control, and being killed on the spot by these same Pokémon.

When the skies turn dark and the moon becomes as red as blood, it was the sign of the night. Many would foretell of grass-like creatures that would eerily walk or levitate. They would morph into different shapes, be it human or Pokémon, thus making them hard to distinguish in faint moonlight. These grass-like creatures could use their thin jointed stems to summon attacks like Pokémon. They can even take control of Pokémon themselves. These grass-like creatures were named as Penumbral Reeds.

There were also plant-like creatures resembling large taproots shaped similarly like a human. These taproot creatures could screech so loud it would be heard miles away. Their screeching can cause tidal waves in the coasts, earthquakes and landslides on land, or simply mass destruction of infrastructures. Like the penumbral reeds, they could also control Pokémon. However, they were far dangerous for they can suck the life force out of any living being, be it plants, humans, or Pokémon. These taproot-like creatures were named as Umbral Mandrakes.

This was the state of the world for 1 whole week. It may seem like a short length of time, but the amount of destruction and the trauma it left on both people and Pokémon would last for years to come.

This incident came to be known as The Blood Moon Invasion.

It was the day of the World Coronation Championships.

People and their Pokémon from different regions flocked in the World Stadium to witness the event. Live coverage was also provided in public places where many would gather in front of a large screen setup in the public space. Others opted for livestreams at the comforts of their home. Truly, it was a match that the world awaited.

The competitors?

It was Leon, the undefeated champion of Galar & Supreme Monarch versus Ash Ketchum of Pallet Town, a boy of 10 and the current champion of Alola (the newest member region of the Pokémon League Association).

Yes, a 10-year old boy had climbed his way to the top, from the Normal Class up to the Master Class. With a narrow victory against the Sinnoh Champion Cynthia in the semi-finals of the Master Class, Ash Ketchum earned his ticket to the finals against the Supreme Monarch Leon.

With the match up decided, the event was scheduled to take place early in the evening. However, most of the audience arrived as soon as sunset, even while the stadium was being prepared. With Dynamax an expected element of the battle, the stadium's shield matrix had to be properly installed since it is the only barrier that would protect the audience against the attacks of the Dynamaxed Pokémon.

The other regional Champions and ex-Champions were also present in the event. All of whom have been defeated by Ash Ketchum on his way to the finals. The champions, Lance, Wallace, Cynthia, Iris, and Diantha, along with the former champions Steven and Alder were in attendance. A private area in the stadium was reserved for them to witness the battle.

Upon the arrival of evening, the announcer's voice boomed in the entire stadium to signify the official start of the event. An exhibition match between the ex-Hoenn Champion, Steven Stone, and former Unova Champion, Alder, was to take place prior to the main match event. Within a 5-minute time limit, Steven's steel behemoth, Metagross clashed with Alder's bash Bouffalant. This match would end in a draw.

Up next was the awaited battle.

Both competitors were introduced as they made their dramatic entrance into the stadium. It was a 1-on-1 battle. It can be anyone's game. Upon the referee's signal, both trainers called upon their trusted Pokémon; Ash Ketchum with his sparky ace, Pikachu, and Leon with his own fierce partner, Charizard. The battle has started.

The advantage fluctuated between both sides. At times, Leon would have the upper hand with strength, but Ash's unpredictability often won him an edge in strategy. The heat of the battle continued to intensify until both trainers finally resorted to Gigantamax, a variant of Dynamax that alters a Pokemon's appearance and stats as it turns into a giant.

The cheers of the audience grew louder than before; it was almost deafening inside the stadium. The crowds grew larger in public spaces that provided for live coverage. Those watching the livestreams were either jumping in excitement or making bets with relatives. At this point, every attack was crucial as it could mean landing the final blow that would decide the titleholder for World Champion.

Most of the world had been so focused on the battle that attention to their surroundings was long forgotten. However, a certain couple was an exception.

Some time during the beginning of the battle, the Sinnoh Champion Cynthia decided to grab some snacks in the vending machines outside the stadium. None of the other champions noticed her leave as their gazes were glued to the battlefield below where they sat.

Making her way through the corridors of the stadium, she came across Steven Stone who was about to return to his seat at the VIP area. It was no secret that the Sinnoh champion and ex-Hoenn champion were dating since they recently revealed their relationship to the public. After a flirtatious and playful banter, the steel blue- haired man decided to accompany the blond champion.

As the couple stepped out into the open, they took notice of the unusual behavior of the wild Pokémon in the area. Some were huddled together under the trees and bushes, while the smaller ones peeked from a hole they dug on the ground. Cynthia slowly approached a flock of Nidoran when a Drednaw suddenly appeared. It roared loudly before charging towards the unguarded Sinnoh Champion.

Luckily, Steven reacted on time and called out his Metagross to use Psychic on the wild Drednaw. The assaulting Pokémon was covered in a pink veil and lifted above the ground, stopping its attack. After quickly recovering from her shock, Cynthia took a closer look at the Pokémon.

The wild Drednaw's eyes were bloodshot. Actually, that was an understatement. The Pokemon's eyes were so red that one would think they were bleeding. Despite being trapped in Metagross's psychic, the Drednaw still cried out like it was in pain. Metagross began to struggle in containing it as the Drednaw began to flail wildly.

After a quickly planned strategy with Steven, Cynthia called out her Garchomp to intercept any potential attacks once the wild Pokémon breaks free from the Psychic veil. Just as expected, said Pokemon broke free, but Garchomp was quick to subdue it with Flamethrower, and landing a finishing blow with Brick Break.

Cynthia approached the fainted Pokémon and began to formulate possible causes and scenarios for the current situation. Steven opted to observe the surroundings as well. As his gaze passed towards the skies, he froze. Telling Cynthia to look upwards, the blond champion became just as shocked.

The full moon was tinged in the color of blood.

Steven mentions the lack of astronomical reports pointing to a total lunar eclipse for the night that would have caused the blood moon. However, he was skeptical whether any celestial phenomena could cause the moon to be darker than crimson.

Soon, screams of fear and panic are heard from inside the stadium. The couple rushed inside and were met with a frantic Diantha. The Kalos champion then led them to a vomitorium where all the other champions and ex-champion gathered. Ash Ketchum and Leon stood among the champions, their battle long forgotten as the center stage was now occupied by a mysterious man clad in navy blue regiment uniform.

"He suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Pikachu and Charizard were about to clash when a portal-like thing opened in the middle of the battlefield. Next thing I know, that man stepped out and... deflected our Pokémon's attacks like they were nothing," explained Ash as he glanced back towards the mysterious man.

"Deflected? With what Pokémon?" asked Steven

The champions simply looked at each other as if debating whether he would consider their explanation believable or not.

"There was no Pokémon," replied Lance.

"Pardon?"

"There was no Pokémon involved. That man deflected the attacks on his own. He stood there as humanly as possible, snapped a finger, then Pikachu and Charizard hurtled backwards," Lance added in a tone of disbelief.

Despite their efforts to maintain a professional character at the moment, Cynthia and Steven couldn't help but slightly gawk at their companions. A human deflecting Gigantamax Pokémon attacks? That sounds straight out of fiction.

"I know it sounds silly because trust me, everyone in this stadium is probably having the same thoughts. Then again, we saw it happen before our eyes. It's hard to deny it didn't happen," explained Leon.

"Here, the livestreams caught that exact moment. It's trending around the globe as we speak," Diantha handed her phone over to Cynthia and Steven.

The first few seconds of the video showed Pikachu and Charizard preparing to launch their attacks. Just as the Pokémon were to clash, the middle of the battlefield became distorted, as if thin air was being vacuumed into an invisible point at the center. It didn't take long before a large hole—a portal— formed from the distortion point. A man with crimson hair came out from said portal, seemingly passive with the fact that he stood in between two Pokémon hurtling towards him. With the raise of a hand, he snapped his fingers which was immediately followed by a blast of white energy that rippled from his hand, outwards toward Pikachu and Charizard. The ripple of energy caused aforementioned Pokémon to be swept backwards and falling to the ground in loud 'thuds'. Immediately, the Pokémon returned to their normal proportions as the power of Dynamax was instantaneously deactivated.

Cynthia moved her attention from the phone to the audience. Many were frightened and frozen in fear, children held on to their mothers, young trainers whispered among themselves, the announcer and emcee remained speechless, while others began to make their way to the exits. Her gaze then settled to the mysterious man standing on the center stage. He was eyeing the crowd intensely.

As if the man sensed Cynthia observing him, he sharply turned to the Sinnoh Champion's direction, his red irises meeting eye to eye with the woman's gray orbs.

Cynthia maintained eye contact with the man until she felt a weird sensation. A cold flash coursed through her body, dissipating slowly with each passing second.

'Woman. As of the moment, is this part of the world watching what unfolds?' said a voice in Cynthia's head.

She turned to her colleagues, but it seems that none of them heard the same voice. All of them were busy discussing who the mysterious man was.

'I asked YOU the question, did I not? Do not inquire your fellow champions for such a simple query!'

Cynthia's attention immediately landed to the man standing on the center. She could see that his gaze was still locked on her. Internally, she debated whether she was hearing things or that the man in front was capable of telepathy. Not wanting to test said man's patience, she nodded in response albeit with a puzzled look.

The man tore his gaze from her and ushered for a Rotom Drone to come near. He sternly spoke to the Rotom, causing the Pokémon to quickly fly towards the commentary box where the emcee and announcer sat. The Rotom Drone soon came back to the man with a microphone nestled between the metals of its propellers. Taking the microphone, the man took a step forward before speaking.

"Greetings, people of the Unified World. I am Sidero," said the man in a deep voice, "I come from another part of the earth. A forgotten region that has cut its ties with this part of the world since the age of war and discovery, an age time immemorial. I am among the extraordinary beings called Synergists; individuals born with exceptional gifts from the stars. However, I did not come here to discuss the nature of my abilities as such is far from your understanding, and partly due to my decision to end ties with fellow synergists,"

Sidero paused before he continued, "I, Sidero, have come to fulfill a mission. I have come to prepare the earth for the transcendent beings of the ascended stars! They thrive on the forces of life and existence, and this world is mere fodder that I would gladly offer. It is for this reason that I shall harvest from all of you and the earth all that is necessary by all means possible,"

The man, Sidero, saw that some began to snicker. He could sense that they were conversing about how his 'fictional' entrance through a portal was just a stage show prepared by the World Tournament, including his previous utterances. The people did not take him seriously.

"As I said, the extent of my abilities is beyond your understanding. You are naïve as to your existence and the true nature of all things. But no matter, you would all be dead in due time. LISTEN! I AM TO GIVE THIS WORLD ONE NIGHT TO PREPARE FOR WHAT IS TO COME. YOU WILL SEE WITH YOUR EYES WHAT WAS PREVIOUSLY UNKNOWN AND IMPOSSIBLE. YOU WILL HEAR THE SCREAMS OF YOUR LOVED ONES IN THEIR FINAL BREATHS. YOU WILL FEEL THE WRATH OF THE SHADOWS AS THE FULL MOON BLEEDS. For all those listening and watching, and for the ones who will survive, I wish you all… the best of luck."

With that, Sidero threw a dark colored Pokéball in midair, releasing a ray of energy. The energy morphed into the shape of a Pokémon— Mewtwo. Said Pokémon appeared to attack the crimson-haired man, unfortunately it came stumbling backwards as Sidero launched another blast of energy with the slightest flick of a finger.

"Foolish Pokémon. I am your master and you will do as I command," said the man.

Folding his arms, he faced the audience and closed his eyes in meditation. In a few seconds, an invisible force moved circularly inwards towards him and Mewtwo. The stadium's foundations began to crack, causing the people to panic and run towards the exits. Amidst the chaos, Sidero continued to stand in the middle of the force influx.

Soon, Mewtwo began to transform as it unwillingly absorbed the surrounding forces. Its humanoid body turned dark in color, with prominent fiery yellow-orange veins coursing through its muscular body and tail.

"Now, Shadow Mewtwo use Nova Implosion!"

Said Pokémon formed a yellow, cube-like object that spun around its arms; pale yellow energy was trapped inside the cube, moving erratically. Mewtwo threw the attack upwards until it began to descend slowly into the stadium. Before it contacted the ground, Sidero was grabbed by the Pokémon as they escaped through the opening above the arena.

A flash of blinding light was released from the cube before the contained energy caused a massive implosion that collapsed the entire stadium.

This was the first of many more destructions that would follow throughout the course of the Blood Moon Invasion. In fact, this was just the beginning of the horrors that the world would face in that 1 week. As lives are lost, infrastructures destroyed, and the hopes for a tomorrow are crushed, a certain alliance would stand as the world's final resort in ending the ensuing chaos— the Pokémon League Association.

Before anything, I just want to say that everything written here is just a glimpse of "the incident 5 years ago" that I've been describing in the previous chapters. I realized how hard it is to continue with the story if I had to describe things with 'the incident', 'that man', '5 years ago', etc.

At least things are slightly clear now. We have a name for the incident (Blood Moon Invasion) and the man responsible for it (Sidero).

I purposely did not describe the whole events of the Blood Moon Invasion because I plan to expand the story through a Prequel. There's just so much potential to write a separate story with its own plot that I couldn't let things be settled in a single chapter. That said, I'll start drafting the prequel one day. For now, I want to focus with this story.

Also, when I conceptualized this story, the idea of 'Synergists' and their abilities already came into my mind. While I was searching for a suitable Pokemon for Sidero, I realized that Pokken Tournament had a similar concept, albeit through the use of a so-called Synergy Stone (and it only works on Mewtwo, I think). But, I have a different concept of Synergy in this story that you'll soon discover in upcoming chapters.