In an ideal world, Celeste would have woken up with a smile, ready to take on Cyllene's challenge.
But she was in some strange place, a parallel universe to the world that she was used to. As Akari walked her and Froslass outside, she noticed how many stars she was able to see in the night sky. Despite being beautiful, she couldn't help but feel uneasy. Even in Celestic Town, she could barely see the stars due to light pollution from Sinnoh's cities. There was something familiar yet uncanny about her surroundings.
Finally, they got to an empty house where Akari left her, wishing her a good night. Celeste recognized the inside from the antiques that great-grandma Calytrix had: there was a large, empty chest; a futon to sleep on instead of a bed; a sunken hearth in the middle with garlic and tomatoes hanging off the top; and minka-styled walls. She took off her shoes and walked to the area where the futon was. There, she took off her contacts, grabbed the flat pillow, and screamed into it.
So… are we resting for tomorrow? Froslass asked, wondering if she should interrupt her master.
"Oh great gods, I can't do this!" Celeste yelled out and threw the pillow in the direction of Froslass.
Hey! What gives?
"This isn't real. This can't be real. You're not real… Obviously what happened was that... by some miracle, I survived the fall at Mt. Coronet and fell into a coma. Yes, I must be in a coma. And this is all a hallucination."
Froslass raised an eyebrow, So why am I here?
"You're obviously a part of my hallucination. So here, I'll wake myself up!" Celeste ran up to a small table and frantically looked through its drawers. Finally, she took out a fork and cheered triumphantly.
But Froslass wasn't impressed, And what are you trying to do?
"Wake myself up," Celeste placed her right hand flat on the table and raised the fork, but before she could do anything, Froslass rushed to her and grabbed her forearm.
No, you're not hurting yourself. What the hell, Celeste?!
"It's not hurting! I'm obviously in a coma from the fall. And now I need to wake myself up. Now stop."
You're not in a coma! I'm here with you. And I'm real.
"That's exactly what my mind would imagine if I were in a coma!"
Froslass stared at her master, Okay. Here. How about I freeze your hand to prove to you that you're awake and well? Not enough to cause severe frostbites, but just enough to cause mild, superficial damage.
"Fine. I'm ready," Celeste extended her right hand and closed her eyes. Froslass took a deep breath, ready to blow out a beam of ice.
"Wait, wait!" Celeste screamed.
You flinched!
"No, I just need a moment."
You flinched! So you don't believe that you're dead or in a coma!
"No, it's just scary being attacked, okay? Here, try again," Celeste shut her eyes closed once more and held out her right hand. Froslass folded her arms and rolled her eyes.
"Wait, wait, no, stop!"
Celeste sighed and put her hand down, "Okay, there must be a better way to check if I'm actually alive."
You must be because I know that I am. Er, obviously apart from the fact that I'm part ghost type.
"It's just strange, you know?" Celeste sat cross-legged on the futon and Froslass floated to her side, "Hisui… Almighty Sinnoh… Jubilife Village… these are all Grandma Calytrix's- may she be blessed- stories."
They're not stories, they're legends. Stories are pure fiction, legends are based on real, historical events, even if they have bits of fiction in them.
"I know but it's still super weird. Like I was still in Sinnoh yesterday and now I'm here. Do you think that that was actually Arceus?"
I have no doubt in my mind. No one else would have the power to take us back to Hisui.
"What about Dialga?"
Dialga just controls time. But it would take both Dialga's and Palkia's coordination to physically move someone back in time. Remember, you're not just in a different time, you're in a different space too.
"That doesn't make any sense. I'm still in the same universe. The Hisui skies and Sinnoh skies are the same ones."
Yes and no, You're right, you're still in the same galaxy, universe, and even planet. But your physical self had to be moved back. You are made up of matter and it takes a tremendous amount of energy to move an entire piece of space- that is you- to a different time period. Think of it like, I don't know, making a scrapbook. You take a sheet of red paper, let's say that that paper represents the Sinnoh universe. You cut out a piece of the paper- that piece is you. Then you glue it to a different page in the scrapbook- this other page is Hisui. Even though the paper is part of the same book, you're still in a different space. Do you understand?
"Not really."
Okay, the point is that now you're occupying a different time and space. And only Arceus has the power to do that. Why would either Dalgia or Pialka waste their time and energy to send someone back in time?
"So how do I get back home? How long am I supposed to stay here?"
As long as Arceus wills. I think he wants you to catch all Pokemon.
"That doesn't make any sense," Celeste repeated, rubbing her temples, "Why would he want me to catch all of them? We already have a completed Pokedex in Sinnoh."
Someone has to be the first to do that and Hisui was Sinnoh before full contact with Pokemon, at least according to Calytrix. It's an interesting paradox actually. You lived in a time when the Pokedex was completed, but you have to go back in time to complete the first ever Pokedex, hence allowing your younger self to live in a world with a completed Pokedex.
"You're making my head hurt."
If it makes you feel any better, because you lived in Sinnoh- the place and time where the Pokedex was completed- you must have succeeded in Hisui. Otherwise, you wouldn't have existed in Sinnoh as you did.
"But why me? Why does he want me to do that? I don't even like battling."
I don't know. But you were summoned by Arceus so I would follow through. Not everyone gets to face Him, you know?
Froslass glanced out the window for a moment then turned back to her master, You should get a good night's rest. I don't know what that captain is expecting but here you have food and shelter. I don't know how long I would be able to protect you in the wild. When I was alive, the world was a different place. The Sinnoh wilderness is nothing compared to Hisui's.
It must have been late at night. Celeste's eyes began shutting themselves and, before she knew it, she fell asleep.
When she opened her eyes, she saw a cave wall with etchings of three Pokemon. For a moment, she felt comfort from seeing the familiar drawings.
"I'm back! Froslass, I'm back!" she turned around, but her partner was nowhere to be seen. Her heart dropped, realizing that her worst fear was true.
She walked out of the ancient cave and found herself in the center of Celestic Town. Outside, familiar faces, some dressed in red and others in blue robes, stood and stared at her. Celeste exclaimed in frustration, knowing that this was just a dream. There was Mr. Eto- the construction worker that lived in the western part of the village. To his left stood Mr. and Mrs. Santiago- the newly wed couple from the southern part of the village. A couple of places next to them were Celeste's maternal grandparents, whom she recognized from family photos. In the back she noticed her mom- Cynthia- dressed in black robes. She wanted to call out for her mom, but Cynthia, as always, was on her phone. Aunt Celina stood next to her, clasping her hands in excitement.
"What do you want from me?!" Celeste looked up to the day sky and screamed.
She didn't notice, but to the left to the cavern's entrance stood her great-grandmother Calytrix and the old man that she had met back in Sinnoh. She grit her teeth. It was the same old man that encouraged her to go to the mansion in Eterna Forest then later tricked her into entering Arceus's temple. Maybe this was all a punishment?
"Celeste Shirona," her grandmother said robotically, holding out a crown of flowers and ribbons, "Does thou accept the responsibilities bestowed upon thou in this role?"
"What? What role?" she asked.
"Celeste, just say 'Yes, I accept'," Calytrix snapped, "We went over this a hundred times."
"Grandma, this is a dream. You're dead. I remember you dying!"
The old man took a step forward and grinned at Celeste. Chills traveled down her back.
"Okay, okay. Yes, I accept," she quickly said.
"Does thou promise to serve our master for the rest of thy being, for the rest of thy existence, in health and in sickness?" her great-grandmother said.
"Who?!"
"Celeste, just say 'Yes,' why do you always complicate everything?!" Calytrix rolled her eyes.
"What is this?" Celeste turned to the old man. She looked down and saw that she was wearing a white toga with a gold shawl. She touched her head and pricked her hand on a sharp object. She took it off, seeing a gold, laurel wreath with thorns.
"It is your ceremony, Celeste. Now, hurry and accept the terms, I have bingo at 9," the man simply replied.
"The terms for what?!"
The old man grabbed her forearm and pushed her back. She closed her eyes as she felt herself falling again. When she opened them, she looked down and saw that she was still wearing the toga. She walked up the newly formed stairs in front of her and realized that she was in a different familiar setting. To her sides were tall, white columns. She looked straight ahead and, a hundred meters or so, saw her father standing in front of an altar. As usual, he held his hands behind his back and seemed too focused to notice another person in the room.
"What is this?" she asked him. He turned around and responded in a glare.
"Where did the old man go? Who is he?" she asked.
Her father threw out a PokeBall, releasing a Houndoom. Celeste raised her eyebrow.
"I don't have any Pokemon, dad, do you not see what I'm wearing?" she said.
"Houndoom, use flamethrower!" the man commanded.
The hellhound barked and snarled, then released a flame from his mouth. Celeste ran behind a column, crouched down, and hoped that the dog wouldn't find her. She felt her back getting warmer and looked up to see that the column she hid behind was on fire. She ran behind another one, then another, as the Houndoom continued burning the room.
"I don't have a Pokemon!" she yelled out, but the man either ignored her or didn't care.
"Use thunder fang!" he said.
Celeste looked forward and the dog was right in front of her. She tried moving her legs, but they were paralyzed from fear. The dog got closer and closer, its sharp teeth turning yellow as electricity ran through them. At least this horrid nightmare will finally be over, she thought, cowering.
The dog sprung in the air, but before it could reach Celeste, the old man appeared in front of her. She looked up. The Houndoom bounced off him into the tiled floor, where it fainted.
The man turned back to the girl, "You know, you really should be more careful."
"Am I actually in Hisui?" she asked, "Not right now. But when I was awake?"
The man handed her a PokeBall. Celeste looked at it and when she looked back to thank him, he was already gone. She got up and walked to her father again. But he was not interested in talking to her and instead sent out a Weavile.
"Go mystery gift!" Celeste said, throwing the ball that the man gave her. Her father raised an eyebrow and she looked down at the Pokemon that came out.
"A… a Pichu? Really? Come on!" she stomped her foot in frustration.
"Piiiii-chuu!" the Pichu smiled at Celeste, releasing sparks from its cheeks.
"Well, you're very cute. I'll give you that," the girl muttered.
"Weavile, use earthquake!" Cyrus commanded.
"Weavile can't use earthquake. Oh wait. That's right. None of this is real because I'm dreaming," Celeste rolled her eyes. Her head began itching. She reached out and took off the same flower crown that her great-grandmother held earlier. From the side of her eyes, she noticed five Pokemon approaching her. They were Leafeon, Glaceon, Umbreon, Espeon, and Sylveon. A feeling of guilt overcame her.
Why did you let us die? the Leafeon and Glaceon asked.
"I didn't! I was a young and inexperienced trainer. I don't know why my mom trusted me with Pokemon when I was five!"
Why did you give us up? Umbreon, Espeon, and Sylveon asked.
"Because of what happened to your brothers! I didn't know what else to do!"
You kept Snorunt.
"You guys are better off with Aunt Celina," Celeste felt tears rushing to her eyes. She found it harder to breathe and just wanted this terrible nightmare to be over.
"Are you having fun tormenting me?" she asked the heavens.
The earth shook from Weavile's earthquake. Pichu crouched down but survived the attack. Before Celeste could command it to do anything, it released a powerful electric blast. Celeste was thrown back into a column. Once the dust disappeared, she looked at the battlefield. Weavile was lying face down on the ground; sparks were appearing all over its body. The Eeveelutions were completely gone. Pichu was still standing in its spot. Cyrus was lying against a column. Celeste felt herself breathing heavily.
Just then Cyrus smiled and stood up again. He started laughing maniacally. Celeste took a defensive stance; she knew that he still had three Pokemon left and, thankfully, Pichu was super effective against all of them.
But instead, a shadow formed behind him. The shadow kept getting larger and larger until piercing, red eyes glared at Celeste. Pichu whimpered and ran away. As Cyrus continued laughing near the altar, the shadow took shape. Three gold half-rings formed around its neck and a gold crown and gold horns formed on its head. Celeste took a step back, and another, and another. But the Shadow Pokemon already noticed her and charged straight into her.
The rising sun woke Celeste up, but she still felt tired and groggy. She walked up to the sink and washed her face then woke up Froslass.
"Come on, it's time to go," she said, squinting her eyes.
You good there? Froslass asked.
"Yeah. I threw out my only contacts last night and I don't have any more because, you know, I lost my bag."
How are you going to catch Pokemon if you can't see?
"I don't know. Maybe you can intimidate them? And I'll catch?"
What if she has you catch a Rapidash or a Mogmartar? I can't help much with that.
"You'd have to be bait then."
Woah. How about you be the bait and I catch?
Celeste smiled, "You know that we can't do that. Come on, let's head out."
It was still quite dark out. Celeste walked down the main street until she got to the tallest building there. Four people stood waiting outside; just barely she could make out who was there: Professor Laventon, Cyllene, Akari, and Rei.
"Are you okay?" Akari asked.
"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" Celeste responded.
"You're just walking weirdly. As if you're drunk."
She can't see, Froslass shook her head.
"I'm fine. Just not used to getting up this early," Celeste said.
"Hmmm…" Cyllene murmured, "There is just something wrong with this picture. We can't have her catching Pokemon looking like that."
Celeste looked down at her outfit, realizing that she was still wearing the dress for the trial. Yes… maybe this isn't the best thing to wear for an activity that requires a lot of motion.
"Akari, take her to Anthe. Find a Survey Corps outfit that will fit her. Then come back here," Cyllene told the assistant.
"On it!" Akari smiled, "Let's go, Celeste! I'm sure that the Corps outfit will be much more comfortable than that."
The village was quite small. They made it to a clothing store quite quickly. Outside of it, stood a woman in a lavender kimono, white apron, glasses, and black hair with a gold highlight down the middle.
"Hi Akari," the woman said gently, "Oh, and is this our little friend that Professor Laventon brought in?"
"Yes, this is Celeste. She is actually in need of an outfit. May we get a Survey Corps uniform please?" Akari replied.
"Wow, Captain Cyllene must have a lot of fate in this girl to be giving her a uniform before she's formally accepted. Truth be told, I heard a lot about her as well. Is it true that you championed a beast of ice?"
"Who? Me?" Celeste thought for a moment, "Oh, you mean Froslass? Froslass isn't a beast. She's quite friendly, you know."
And I can understand you, you know? Froslass scoffed.
"Step inside! We have a lovely selection," the woman said cheerily, stepping aside.
"That's Anthe," Akari said, "She is the clothier of our village. She has an eye for fashion and takes inspiration from nature. Ah, and here it is. A Survey Corps uniform. Try it on!"
"Thanks," Celeste took the uniform, "I was wondering, does she also have glasses? I actually can't see."
"Yes! They're right here. What's your prescription?"
"Negative three point oh in right eye, negative three point twenty-five in left."
"Lucky you! She has this exact pair. Here you go," Akari handed her a pair of red glasses.
"Thank you," Celeste put on the outfit and looked at herself in the mirror. It fit quite well.
"What do you think?" she asked Froslass.
It's nice. I like it! Froslass clapped in happiness.
"Isn't it gorgeous? It fits you so well," Anthe agreed, "In fact, I'd go as far as to say that the look suits you."
Celeste smiled but felt a bit nauseated by the remark. She had to keep in mind that, ultimately, she needs to return to Sinnoh.
Akari led Celeste and Froslass back to the Town Hall. There Cyllene looked at them angrily.
"I will not tolerate tardiness," she said, putting her hands on her hips, "Although I do admit, you look more appropriate in the outfit. Now. For your trial. You must catch a bidoof, a shinx, a starly, a buneary, and an abra."
Celeste winced. She knew that an abra is difficult to catch. Plus Froslass might be too powerful to actually help her with the challenge.
"Okay, I got it," she finally said.
"The three of you," Cyllene turned to the professor and his assistants, "Please take her to the Obsidian Fieldlands. Supply her with… fifty balls. That should be enough. Be there just in case something happens. Report back to me by… noon."
And Captain Cyllene walked back into the Town Hall.
"Wow, she must really like you," Rei said with a hint of jealousy, "She wouldn't just let anyone take one of our outfits."
"Or maybe she expects you to fail as a warning for anyone else who wants to join," Akari shrugged, "Five Pokemon? None of us even have five Pokemon."
"Hmm… now, we wouldn't want Celeste to just go into the wild with no defense," Professor Laventon rubbed his chin, "I got it! I can give you one of my Pokemon. Captain Cyllene said nothing against that."
"What about her ice beast?" Rei asked.
"I think Froslass will be a little too powerful," Celeste sighed, "Captain Cyllene knows that those five Pokemon are just babies. I would really appreciate a Pokemon."
"Which would you like?" the Professor took out three PokeBalls.
Celeste thought for a moment and thought back to her previous team. Infernape, Lanturn, Gardevoir, Mawile, and Rotom all had their strengths but her team was overall weak against ground and ghost. She remembered Calytrix's tales about how Hisuian Cyndaquil ultimately will become a Typhlosion that is both ghost and fire. Hisuian Samurott is water and dark. And Hisuian Decidueye is grass and fighting.
You already have me, Froslass said, It might be best to get the Oshawott.
"That's true. I'll take the Oshawott," Celeste reached out her hand.
"What a fine choice! Best of luck to you!"
The party arrived at a tent in what Celeste recognized as western Sinnoh. Great plains spanned as far as her eye could see. Akari nervously chewed on her nails and Rei spent an awfully long time fixing his cap.
Celeste walked out into the field and first noticed a small, black bird. She knew that starlies were easy to startle. She crouched down and, from a distance, threw the PokeBall.
"Easy," she smiled back at Froslass.
Wow… Look at you, being able to catch babies.
"Don't try to make me feel guilty."
She walked a couple of meters down, enjoying the scenery. Curious bidoof stopped grazing and started following her.
They can tell that you're not from here. You smell different, Froslass pointed out.
"Probably because I haven't showered yet."
Gross.
Celeste threw a PokeBall at one of the bidoof.
"Okay, bidoof is down. Starly is down. Who's next?"
The shinx. They're more likely to actually attack.
Celeste walked around some more. Paras and Parasects hung around together in a grassy field. She got to a trail where Geodudes and Gravelers threw rocks at each other. Finally, she got near a river. In the distance, she saw a yellow being disappearing and appearing.
"That's the abra," she whispered to Froslass.
Be careful not to scare it away.
Celeste crouched down. Near her grew a Nanab berry tree. She picked up one of the berries and threw it near the abra. Once the Pokemon began eating, she threw the PokeBall and caught it.
"Come on Captain Cyllene," she said aloud, "Give me a challenge."
I wouldn't celebrate too early. You still have to catch the shinx and the buneary. Plus, I remember what these fields were like, Froslass said ominously.
"The Pokemon are literally running up to me," Celeste rolled her eyes, "You're too dramatic."
She walked back until she noticed a pack of shinx. They began moving eastward but one stayed back, playing with a flower. Celeste released Oshawott. A bout of electricity escaped from the shinx.
"Good thing that Oshawott didn't faint. Now, use tackle!"
The Oshawott tackled the shinx. As the shinx prepared to attack again, Celeste picked up a rock.
What are you doing? Froslass asked her.
"There's no way that Oshawott will defeat it. No offense, but it has a type-disadvantage. There's no formal rules about battling so might as well do what I need to," she threw the rock at the shinx, angering it. It ran up to her, trying to bite her, but Celeste jumped out of the way. She threw another rock at the shinx. Then, while it faced away, she threw a PokeBall.
"Easy," Celeste placed her hands on her hips, "Now we just need Buneary."
They walked further until they got to a forest area. There Combees ate from different flowers while Beautiflies flew around. Celeste looked around and on a tree saw a happy, smiling bunny.
"Aw, how cute!" she said and threw a PokeBall. The Pokemon was caught.
Okay, now let's get back before something goes wrong, Froslass said nervously.
"Froslass, relax. Pokemon rarely attack people and when they do, it's because you got in their territory and scared them. Look at how friendly all the Pokemon have been so far," Celeste smiled and turned to head back to the tent. From behind her, she heard an enraged scream.
You mean like that? Froslass asked.
Celeste released Oshawott as a Lopunny fell from the sky and landed right in front of her. It raised its hand and swiped Celeste, throwing her back into a tree. Oshawott used water pulse on the rabbit, but it almost had no effect. Instead, it appeared to enrage Lopunny more. It used another swipe and Oshawott fainted.
"Jeez, that Lopunny is huge," Celeste whispered to Froslass, looking back at her elbow. It was bleeding and twigs were stuck in her hair, "And why are its eyes red?!"
Oh, I was worried about this, Froslass said, I remember now. My people didn't explore the Hisui wilderness because, one, Pokemon are dangerous, but two, we had alpha Pokemon. These ones are much larger than regular Pokemon. They are also angry. Like really angry. You might have taken its child.
"Well, then, go attack it!"
Me?! I wasn't the one bragging about how easy this challenge is. It's kind of rude of the captain to send you to a field where there are alpha Pokemon though. Honestly, I think she's trying to kill you.
"Well, now I know why she looks so familiar. I guess that just runs in dad's family," Celeste grumbled, "Froslass, go! Ice beam!"
Are you insane? This thing is going to kill us and put our heads on a spike.
"You're not human anymore! You're a Pokemon! Now go, ice beam!"
Froslass let out a powerful beam of ice. The Lopunny held its hands in front of its face defensively, but the attack didn't seem to do much damage.
"Okay. Plan B, we run away," Celeste turned back and started running. Froslass followed but the Lopunny was fast. It jumped in front of the girl again. Celeste picked up an acorn and threw it at the rabbit.
An acorn?! Really, Frosalss sighed.
"You have a better idea?" Celeste asked.
Release all the Pokemon you just caught. It might not attack if it sees that we have Buneary with us.
"And the others?"
Just release them in case it tries attacking again.
Celeste followed the instructions. As soon as the Lopunny saw the Buneary, it seemed calmer and began cuddling it. While it stopped paying attention, Celeste threw a ball at the Lopunny.
What are you doing?! Froslass asked incredulously.
"Trying to catch it. Just to show those villagers not to mess with me," Celeste replied.
The Lopunny got out of the PokeBall, even angrier than before. Celeste grabbed a nearby rock and threw it at the raging Pokemon. The scene became messy: the Starly pecked the Lopunny, the Shinx sent out jolts of electricity which caused Starly to faint, the Bidoof bit the Lopunny, but got caught in the electricity and fainted as well. Abra teleported behind Celeste in fear. The Lopunny kicked the Shinx into a tree, causing it to slowly faint.
Okay, enough! Froslass snapped and began a blizzard. The Lopunny got caught in the blizzard and fell to its knees. It tried swiping at Froslass again but Celeste threw another PokeBall, this time catching it.
Celeste didn't care that she was late by the time she got back to the tent. Her elbow was still bleeding and she knew that she was dirty. She walked up to the tent slowly, causing Rei and Akari to scream.
"Almighty Sinnoh!" Akari exclaimed, "What happened to you?!"
"Did you catch the Pokemon?" Rei asked.
Celeste released the six Pokemon that she caught. Her audience, including Cyllene, gasped when they saw the Lopunny.
"H-how?" Cyllene asked, staring at the Lopunny, "How the hell did you catch that?!"
"Oh, you know, I just threw a couple of balls at it, no biggie. I tried getting the Buneary and I figured that I should get the Lopunny as well," Celeste shrugged.
"Oh gods, that thing could have killed you!"
"So did I pass?"
"What?"
"Did I pass your challenge?"
"Yes! Yes! I just don't understand, why did you go for the alpha Pokemon?!"
"I was trying to get the Buneary and it was there," Celeste explained, "I had to. I couldn't just defeat it. It was too powerful."
"We must speak to Commander Kamado immediately," Cyllene said, "This is incredible! What great news for our people!"
