Chapter 172 Luna's Past Part 1
After a while, even Clair manages to get permission from Lance to come to the Reborn Region, and she is going to stay with Ash for a while just like the others. After discussing for a while, Ash decides to bring Clair to the next mission alone, since she is the only one that hasn't done this Anomaly mission before. When they get to the Night Club, they find the blind girl Danielle at the counter this time.
Danielle: Okay, so apparently there's a huge cult chamber underneath Jasper Ward? Subseven whatever? Did you know about this?
Ash: I know that place really well...
Danielle: Is everyone just like, totally okay and accepting of these giant underground spaces under a densely- populated area belonging to fanatical groups? ...Okay, you know what, forget it. No wonder this city was nearly taken offline twice. You all had this coming. Anyway, apparently, there's some kind of energy fluctuation there ...That's what I was told, but again, let's be real, it's probably just another Legendary that decided to stick its nose into our business. So that's your problem now. Go on.
Clair: (Turns to Ash) What is this Subseven Sanctum about?
Ash: It is a place where my family and I have to save Luna from her biological father. Speaking of her, I still don't know why she would leave her father, I mean, Elias is now a good man, but...
After that, they decide to head to Seven Street and get to the Subseven Sanctum. Clair is surprised to find the Underground Blackmarket like this, but after walking for a while, they find Luna standing in front of a portal.
Luna: Well met once more, Ash. (Hugs him)
Ash: Hello to you as well, Luna. And this is Clair, if you haven't met. But what are you doing here?
Luna: I, as well, had come to see what the matter was here. Loath as I am to admit due to long-tarnished memories, this place is one I'm yet beholden to in other ways. I should not like to see it fall to total ruin; silence is quite enough. And yet, I find this door is closed to me. Whatever wonders remain beyond it, they are not mine to access.
Clair: So you can't go inside...
Ash: Then it might be one of those new worlds that shows memories from a person...I mean I found one showing Shade's.
Luna: This is quite new to me. But here you are, an answer to a question. Unfiltering and unfaltering, may you find you fill your role as effectively as always you thus far have.
When Ash and Clair go through the gate, they are somehow surrounded by the cultists.
Cultist 1: Hello! Did you just come through Heaven's Gate?! Are you an envoy of the gods, or the agent of this chaos?!
Cultist 2: They don't look like an "envoy of the gods" to me...
Cultist 1: Then we have no choice but detain you for defiling this sacred space!
Then the two cultists try to attack them with Pokemon, and both Ash and Clair have to use their Pokemon to defeat them. Clair is also delighted that the Holy Field boosts the Dragon-Type attacks so that her Pokemon can be powered for more.
Cultist 1: Well you don't LOOK like a divine envoy. Lord Solaris will want to see you for questioning.
Ash realizes that they are back in the past, and Solaris is still alive in this era.
Cultist 2: But how can we subdue this threat?
Cultist 1: Ah, the hand-grenade!
Cultist 2: Of course! The Holy Hand Grenade of Antidote! Any agent of chaos will be blown away; any envoy unharmed! Use it at once!
Just then, they get something and spray at both Ash and Clair, causing them to get knocked out. When they wake up, they are inside of a cell.
Clair: Hey, Ash? What's going on here?
Ash: We are seen as enemies...those cultists are Team Meteor members in the past...
?: ...Did you see them?
?: Not from here... Shouldn't we be quiet? If Dad hears us...
?: It'll be okay, he can't even get to us right now!
Ash and Clair are confused by the voices, but Ash recognizes them as Luna and Taka's voices.
Luna?: Psst, hey, person! Mystery person! Can you hear me?
Ash: Are you talking to us? We can hear you.
Lukah: Yeah, see? It's fine, they're friendly. Well, maybe. What's your name? Mine is Lukah!
Ash is confused, the voice sounds like Luna, but the voice says that her name is Lukah, and he also finds the name in Elias' diary as well.
?: Hey, you really should probably stop...
Lukah: And the worry-wart over there... That's Taka! He's my master, so I'm supposed to serve him until the day I die!
Taka: Lukah, please don't say things like that...
Lukah: Why? It's just true. There's nothing wrong with it. If anything, I'm grateful that my life has a clear purpose.
Clair: What is this kind of master and servant thing?
Ash: I heard from Elias before, Taka's family are said to be the guardians of Arceus, and Elias' family are their servants for centuries.
Clair: This is ridiculous...
Lukah: So, why are you here?
Ash: You might not believe us, so it's a long story. What about you?
Lukah: Our Dads put us in here because we're onto their tricks! We kept feeling around and messing with the statues and then we got time out together! Well, sort of together! But if you think about it, there HAS to be secret passages! The hallway suddenly changed! There's no other explanation. Also, why WOULDN'T there be secret passages? When I'm an adult, I want to live in a castle that ONLY has secret passages. I think all adults should have secret passages. So I'm sure there are some here.
Taka: Lukah, please, what if it's a bad guy?
Lukah: Then I'll protect you. But what if it's not? The only way to find out is to find out! And then you don't have to be scared of them! So let me find out and protect you, Young Master. So, are you a bad guy?
Clair: What kind of question is that? If we are Bad guys, would we try to admit that we're bad guys?
Lukah: Hmmm... Yep, I believe you're not bad guys! Then it's settled!
Taka: Nothing is settled, Lukah! Look, please just be quiet. Someone will come to get us soon...
Lukah: ...Well, if that's an order... Okay.
At the same time, Ash notices the Arceus statue and touches it, and much to his surprise, he finds himself becoming invisible.
Clair: Ash? Where are you?
Ash: Clair, I'm still here, try touch the statue!
Clair nods as she does it, and much to her surprise, she is also invisible.
Clair: What is going on? How come we've become invisible?
Ash: It seems like those statues are making us invisible...with this, I think we can go through walls with limited space.
Clair: So it is not time but space?
Ash nods as they try to walk through the wall, and after they manage to get out before the spaces run off, they get to the other prison cell, but much to their surprise, they find a boy in front of them, and he has a similar appearance as Luna.
Lukah: Huh?! How'd you get in here?!
Taka: Lukah? What's happened?
Ash: Can you try touching the statue?
Lukah: Wait, is it the statue? Did Arceus give you this power? Let me try! (Touches it and becomes invisible) Oh! (Rushes to Taka's cell and drags him out of the jail) All free!
Taka: Wait, waitwaitwait, what just happened?!
Lukah: This person showed me how to rescue you! I knew they were good!
Taka: But how did...
Lukah: Oh, the wall on the inside is full of dirt and bugs! Gross!
Taka: Ew... Lukah, get out of there... I don't think I want to be here anymore if it's like that...
Lukah: No worries! It's not just this place- I heard every building is like that! (Taka is speechless.) Besides, there's no reason to be afraid of what's there now that we know what it is! It seems like we just walk through all of it with the statue's blessing anyway. Oh, Young Master, your necktie is loose. Here, let me get that for you!
Taka: Lukah, please... I already said not to call me that.
Lukah: But I have to. I don't mind; I think it suits you!
Taka: (Mutters) Just what part of that suits me...
Lukah: Anyway, isn't it weird? They don't usually do that- the statues. I wonder if it's related to all the hallways changing shape?
Taka: Father said there was some kind of power distorting the place...?
Lukah: He's just saying that so we don't find out about the secret passages. You're all set, so let's go look for them!
Taka: Won't we just get in more trouble then?
Lukah: Nah, the adults have bigger concerns right now. (Walks towards the door to find it locked) Oh, they locked us in. Good thing I stole a key earlier!
Taka: Lukah...
Lukah: It's okay, Young Master. Even if we get in trouble, I'll be the one to take all the blame. So please don't worry about it!
Taka: That doesn't make me feel better...
Lukah: Door's open! Let's go!
Taka: ...Lukah... Um, well... Thanks for getting us out, I think. I don't know why they put you in here, but... If you're like the last lady, it probably wasn't your fault, right? Um, so if you want to escape... There are four switches you need to find- one for each color. The hallways are kind of a mess, but I think I saw one of the switches very nearby... And then you can get back to the surface ...Don't tell anyone I told you that though, okay?
Ash: Sure, we'll take care of ourselves.
Then after Taka and Lukah leave, Ash is now having a lot of confusion.
Clair: I thought Luna was a girl, but that appearance looks like he's a boy...
Ash: I am also confused. As for Taka...I can't believe I'm seeing him again...it was my fault that he was killed...
Clair: What do you mean?
Ash tells Clair about the events back in Never After, and Clair can only understand how Ash is feeling. Then they decide to get out, and they find a path to the Blue Statue, they press the button and leave the place while walking through the walls.
Clair: Geez, Janine would be the one liking this kind of place.
Ash: But the fact that we're traveling through time, and we can just walk through any space that we want...Don't tell me that the Anomaly for this place is...
Clair: Dialga and Palkia, is that what you're going to talk about? Since it might be the case.
Ash: Then we are going to have two new Dragons for our trouble right now...
Then they quickly get out of the prison so they can head to the next room.
I'll end the chapter right here, this is the two-part chapter with Ash and Clair trying to find Luna's memories with Taka. As you can see, this quest is for Dialga and Palkia, I hope you like this chapter.
