GammaTron: *playing Pokemon Shield with a Yamper on my head* Oh? Well that's interesting. Seems the reason why no other region has Dynamax and Gigantamax is because of...of...ohhh... SZ! Get in here please!
SZ: *runs in*what? What happened?!
GT: Oh, we did a big boo-boo showcasing the Gigantamax bit of Dynamaxing before the games came out. We have caused a Butterfree to flap its wings!
SZ: Oh...oh….OH! OH SHITTAKE MUSHROOMS! WE NEED TO FIX THIS!
GT: Too late! We are now stuck with the repercussions. Which means, we'll be moving away from Ash's group for this chapter and show off what has happened with all the changes that have occurred.
SZ: Good idea..
GT: Yep. So we only own OCs. We own no one else. Let's move on! *a dark and red storm appears above us* ...SZ, we may wanna move. A Pokemon just Dynamaxed. *looks up* And apparently it was in a plane when it did.
SZ:...oh geez!*runs for it*
GT: *flees before a Dynamaxed Wailord lands on the studio, Z0 cackling madly riding on top of it with a cowboy hat on his head*
Z0: I'm Back! Good Neptune! You smashed the building good! Who's a good boy...yes you are~
Quick barking filled the morning air as a Yamper ran after several rolling Wooloo across a grassy Pokemon Battle field that was outside of a large older-looking house. A sharp whistle caused the Yamper to skid to a halt, trip on its paws, and tumble a few feet. After a moment, it got up, panting happily like it hadn't just tripped, before scurrying over to the house where a young orange-haired woman in a teal sweater under a brown coat and white slacks was standing.
"Do you have to chase the Wooloo so early, Yamper?" she asked, earning a happy bark and wagging tail from Yamper, "Hmm hmm...Well I guess you do need to burn off that energy."
"Cor~!"
The young woman looked out to see a large, metallic, black-feathered raven-like Pokemon the size of a small car. Attached to it was a hot air balloon basket with a pair of passengers on it. One was an older woman with a red shirt that exposed a bit of cleavage with a white coat over it and a black skirt and leggings with long brown hair and red lipstick. The other was a formal-looking, tan-skinned man with a long piece of black hair on the front of his head and the rest pulled back while wearing a white business suit.
"?! Chairman Rose? Ms. Oleana?" the woman gasped as the Pokemon landed, allowing the two to get out.
"Ah. Good morning, Sonia," the man greeted, "Terribly sorry for being here so early."
"Professor Magnolia called us earlier about something that's never happened before," Oleana informed, "Inform her of Chairman Rose's arrival at once."
"Oh! Uh, r-right away!" Sonia replied as she quickly ran in, "Grandmother! The Chairman of Macro Cosmos is here!"
"Ahh...please. Send them in," an older, elderly woman with her brown hair starting to turn grey wearing a pale-green sweater under a closed labcoat spoke, walking over to her with a wooden cane in her right hand helping her walk.
Within minutes, tea was being poured and Sonia quickly served the cups at the living room's table. She was about to leave when her grandmother's hand caught her arm and she motioned for her to stay. Sonia nodded and sat down beside her, Yamper quickly jumping into her lap the moment she did.
"You're sure of what you reported a few hours ago, Professor?" Rose asked.
"I've checked my readings, doubled checked, and even triple checked," Professor Magnolia replied, adjusting her glasses as she pulled out a tablet and offered it to Oleana, who began to look at it, "Galar particles and the energy reading of a Wishing Star made into a Dynamax Band were found in Kanto of all places. Specifically, a city called Crimson City near the Raizen Mountain range." Oleana showed Rose the screen, showing a stylized 'M' on the screen, "The readings actually confirmed a Dynamax occurred at 4:37AM over there. A few calls to an old friend in the area after gave me a video." Oleana flicked the screen and a video of Edison Gigantamaxed was played, dealing with Team Rocket's Mecha-Moltres.
"This is worrying," Rose noted, rubbing his small beard in thought.
Oleana took out a RotomPhone and tapped something on it, "..." she looked at Rose and shook her head, who only frowned further.
"Any idea who owns that Pikachu?" Rose asked.
"None," Magnolia replied, "Rumor has it that it was a former Champion who only stayed in the position for a day. You know how Kanto tends to not keep track of these things if someone isn't at something for at least a week."
"True…Still, this is rather worrying."
"Yes...but there is also something that needs to be addressed," Magnolia added, "It was faint, but our machines detected something the day after...something I was going to discuss with the other professors of the other regions."
"Hmm? And what is that?" Rose asked.
"Shadow Pokemon."
"?!"
"Um...Forgive me for interrupting, but what is a Shadow Pokemon?" Sonia asked.
"Ah yes, you were actually studying Yamask and why they evolve into Runegrius in the Wild Area solely at the time," Magnolia recalled, "During that time, a member of a disbanded group known as Team Snag'em from the Orre Region attempted to bring forth a type of Pokemon known as 'Shadow Pokemon' made by a team they worked for: Team Cipher. The process of which...involved closing the 'heart' of a Pokemon, causing it to become absolutely ruthless and unyielding in battle to the point it would even attempt to kill their opponent."
"?!"
"Were it not for Champion Leon, they would have been successful in taking over at least half the Region," Oleana informed, "We were fortunate that the Gyms let out a special signal that prevents people from catching Pokemon too strong for them that only becomes negated based on how many Badges one has and the fact the member did not know this."
"But you can't deny how dangerous he made even a Wooloo with this Shadow Pokemon process," Rose noted, "...To be honest, I thought that process finally died after the Shadow Lugia incident…"
"Shadow Lu…?!" Sonia began with wide eyes, "Even Legendary Pokemon were succumbed to it?"
"Yes. They first used it on an Entei, Suicune, and Raikou that lived in Orre before using it on a Lugia," Magnolia recalled, "Fortunately, they were all purified thanks to the help of two Trainers that lived in the region." she frowned, "But it's worrying that they've suddenly returned. I've already prepared my bags and will be heading for Kanto for an in-person conference with several other Professors."
"...We can't let this get out," Rose frowned as he stood up, "If the news that Shadow Pokemon have possibly returned got out, it would cause wide-spread panic."
"All the professors that caught the readings are swearing to confidentiality outside of officials which is another reason why we're meeting in-person," Magnolia assured, "Some of the Champions from other regions are getting involved as well, but are trying to do this quietly."
"...So you made sure to not inform Leon of this," Oleana noted, "A wise choice."
"Considering his personality...That is a wise choice," Rose agreed, "Macro Cosmos is more than willing to help with any monetary funds to keep the investigations quiet from the public as well as pay for your needs while you're in Kanto."
"Thank you," Magnolia nodded, 'Shadow Pokemon reappearing...Dynamax detected outside of Galar...just what is going on in our world?'
"(You have to be kidding me)," Alakazam deadpanned.
"(It's true! It's true! Ash and Big Bro Pikachu fought Ho-Oh!)" Eevee squeed as he pawed at the keyboard, trying to bring up the video, "(Come on...Where is it? Where is the video?)"
"(You just ordered ten cases of hair growing potion)," Alakazam deadpanned before taking Eevee off the keyboard with Psychic and moved the mouse to click on a folder, "(Now if I remember correctly from my time recuperating here from my broken leg, the videos should be…)" he clicked and a video of Ho-Oh battling Ash played, "(...Oh my.)"
"(See? See?! It's Ho-Oh! My Trainer is the bestest! He fought a Ho-Oh!)" Eevee cheered.
"Eevee!" Oak barked as he ran over and stopped it, "Will you stop that?! I swear if you gave me another order of ingrown toenail salve, I…" he paused as he looked at Alakazam, "...You didn't hear that."
"(I did)," Alakazam replied but simply nodded.
"D'oh…!" Oak groaned as he facepalmed before handing Alakazam a box, "Here's what Bill was asking for."
"Kazam," Alakazam nodded before teleporting away, appearing beside Bill as he was sitting across from a young man with his red hair pulled back into spikes wearing a blue suit with a cobalt cape.
"Oh, welcome back," Bill greeted as Alakazam handed him the box, "Oh, you got it. That's great." he turned to the man while opened the box and pulled out several documents, "He signed them all, too. My paperwork for raising Dragon-Type Pokemon in this area, Lance, signed by Professor Oak."
Lance nodded as he took the papers and began to look at them, "These are all in proper order. Still…" he looked up at Dragonite, currently lying down to be more on level with them, "To think an Ancient Dragonite would be here of all places."
"What can I say? Bill is a good friend and this is a nice nest," Dragonite mentally chuckled before Alakazam spoke, "...I'm sorry. What?"
"Is something wrong?" Bill asked.
"Our friend Ash Katchum encountered Ho-Oh and battled him yesterday," Dragonite replied privately to Bill.
"?!" Bill shot up at that, "Ho-Oh?!"
"Ho-Oh?" Lance repeated, raising a brow.
Dragonite gave a slight exasperated look at the sheepish Bill, "A young boy named Ash Ketchum who helped me be able to meet Bill in person encountered and battled Ho-Oh yesterday. Professor Oak has a...a um...what did you call it, Alakazam?"
"Ka."
"A 'video?' Yes, that. He has that thing that lets one see the past as often as they want or even things that have not happened on big white rectangles," Dragonite noted.
"...And how old is this Trainer?" Lance asked.
"He turned eleven a bit before he came here," Bill replied, "He's being endorsed by Professor Oak along with three other Trainers all from Pallet Town."
"Hmm…" Lance nodded, 'Well, it seems that I'll be adding another thing to the questions I have for Professor Oak when I meet the other Champions that are coming with the professors.'
"One moment," Dragonite noted before a loud splash went off followed by several yelps, "The Eevee and the Dratini were trying to put firecrackers on one of the Dragonaire again." angry roaring went off, "Sorry you were hit with the waves, my child. Was aiming for the pranksters."
"And you're not terrified of one of them becoming a Sylveon why?"
"I 'learned' how to do Iron Tail from a strong Pikachu and 'showed' some of the hatchlings how to use it on the off chance one does and tries to cause physical trouble and not pranking trouble," Dragonite replied.
"Ahh…"
"That's good to hear. Just be careful in those ruins, Alain," a handsome, tall, young man with wavy black hair in a blue button shirt, black slacks, and a labcoat advised at a computer, a young teen with black hair in a black jacket with white fluff on it on the screen.
=Don't worry, Professor Sycamore. I have Charmeleon with me in case something happens= the teen assured.
Sycamore nodded before the two hung up. He sighed before getting up and turning around, grabbing a 'mane' of white fur-like bubbles and pulled up a light-blue frog-like Pokemon with large yellow eyes.
"Nice try," Sycamore noted before sighing, "So what was it this time? Abandoned or did you willingly leave and break your Pokeball again?"
"Froakie," the Pokemon held up two fingers.
"Did you at least make sure he had a Pokemon with him this time?"
"Froa," Froakie nodded.
"..." he sighed, "I really don't have time for this. I need to finish getting packed to go to Kanto. Honestly, Shadow Pokemon appearing again? In Kanto of all places?"
He put Froakie down on the desk before walking off, muttering to himself. Once he was in the elevator, the computer began to ring. Froakie, giving the elevator an annoyed look, tapped a button on the screen. The screen changed to a video call and Froakie blinked twice on seeing the caller...was a Greninja wearing a dark-blue coat.
"(If you're looking for the old fart, he's busy)," Froakie informed.
=(Huh...Was I really this much of a brat as a Froakie?)=
"(Excuse you?)" Froakie narrowed his eyes.
=(Nevermind that. Listen…)= the Greninja began =(I need to say something important)=
=Hanzo, this isn't time travel, you kn…= a digitized voice began.
=(Alakai, be quiet)= the Greninja ordered.
"(Time travel? ...I'm not getting pranked at here, am I?)" Froakie narrowed his eyes again.
=(No, absolutely not)= the named Hanzo replied before inhaling =(Our first Trainer broke our Pokeball right in front of us and threw us off a cliff after we lost to a Fletcling)=
"?!"
=(We also have a mark under our tongue that's shaped like the Unova Region's map)= Hanzo added.
"(Wh-What?!)"
=Of for goodness...Froakie, this is you from the future=
=(Alakai!)=
=Well that's the easiest way to explain it, isn't it?=
=(That's it, I am telling Ravage later that you were the one that broke his glass Galaran Rapidash figurine)=
=AH! NO! I DON'T WANT TO DIE!= Alakai panicked before a Rotom zipped off and the screen changed to the ceiling for a moment before going back to Hanzo.
"(Y-You're serious here? Not some elaborate prank by that one Shiny Froakie I gave a swirlie for daring to call himself a ninja?)"
=(No, no. It...well...It's complicated)=
"(Well, we have time. The old fart is busy packing things to go to Kanto for Shadow Pokemon or something…)"
=(He's coming here? Good. You need to go with him without his being aware that you're going)=
"(Say what?! Why?!)"
=(Because I have a Trainer for you. One that will help you become strong enough to battle even Legendary Pokemon like we dreamed of)=
"(...Explain,)" Froakie demanded.
=(I can do better)= Hanzo replied before tapping something on the screen and a popup appeared, showing the video of a boy in a blue jacket and a red and white hat fighting Ho-Oh =(Watch him)=
Froakie watched. It was obvious that the footage had to be cut at places due to the timestamp, but given that it took thirty minutes for the boy's Pikachu to lose, it was needed. Sixty minutes in the timestamp had a Squirtle join, followed by a Bulbasaur at the eighty minute mark and a Pidgeotto at a hundred and ten minutes. A Primeape of all Pokemon lasted an entire hour before going down and then Froakie's eyes widened as he watched a Mega Charizard X get a Seismic Toss in on the Legendary Pokemon along with several more attacks before finally going down to Sacred Fire. Yet throughout it, Froakie also paid close attention to the boy, seeing how he reacted to everything.
=(Do I have your interest now?)= Hanzo asked once the edited video ended.
"(...Where can I find him?)" Froakie asked.
=(Kanto, where the professor is heading to)=
"..." Froakie smirked, "(Then I'll be heading there as well.)"
=(My best suggestion? Go to a place run by a man named Professor Oak. If you meet a group of six Tauros with their leader named Chief Thunderhoof, one of the Pokemon you saw on the screen except for the Pikachu, an Eevee with a scar on his forehead, a Muk that loves giving hugs, a Grengar with a Mega Stone on his forehead that plays pranks, or a Krabby or Kingler that hangs out with the Eevee, tell them you want to meet Ash Ketchum)= Hanzo informed =(They'll help you out with that)=
"(Gotcha...Anything else I need to know?)"
=(Never leave his side, even if a Legendary Pokemon asks. I chose that and…)= Hanzo sighed, a hand going to his tongue scarf's end as a somber look formed.
"(Understood. ...So he named me Hanzo?)"
=(Perhaps)= Hanzo smirked before hanging up.
"(Gah! No, no, no! Hey! Hey! Get back on here, dang it!)" Froakie snapped, "(UGH! ...Yeah, that was future me. Only I would do something like that when I wanna be a mysterious troll.)" he looked around, "(...So Kanto, huh? ...Always wanted to see where ninjas came from.)"
"Shadow Pokemon were in Kanto?!" a shapely woman in a figure hugging black button top that exposed a bit of cleavage, long blond hair with black charms resembling the growths on a Lucario, a long black furred coat, and baggy black slacks gasped.
"Yes. It's troubling," an elderly strong-looking man with a white well-groomed beard in a white button shirt, brown vest, and brown slacks noted with a frown as he ran a hand through his beard, "It's why I asked for your presence so that I could tell you this and ask if you'll come with me to Kanto to work with the current Champion in Kanto to find if a member of Team Cipher is working in secret there since the current Pokemon League just finished last week, Cynthia."
"...Of course professor," the woman replied with a nod.
"Thank you. I'm hoping that your Lucario could sense these Shadow Pokemon," the man noted as he looked nearby where a Lucario and a Garchomp were battling one another in a practice spar as a tiny blue penguin-like Pokemon, an orange chimp-like Pokemon with a tuff of fire for a tail, and a green turtle-like Pokemon with a baby tree growing out of its head were watching in awe.
"Same here..." the woman nodded before looking out, "...I had hoped that nightmare was over. When he was a Riolu, Lucario felt Shadow Lugia's presence and was completely terrified to the point he wouldn't come out from under my jacket for months."
"Yes...Pokemon are more in tune with nature than humans, especially those who can detect Aura," the man stated, "And if they feel something upset the balance, such as a tainted corrupted Aura...or the Shadow Lugia, they would react in an appropriate manner."
"When do we leave, Professor Rowan?"
"Tomorrow," he replied, earning a nod from Cynthia.
"There is one other thing," Cynthia noted.
"Hm?"
"I saw something that surprised me and more than likely everyone that saw it both on television for those who can get channels from Kanto and those that were there in person," Cynthia noted, "A boy named Ash Ketchun was given…"
"The Clear Bell! How can this be, Morty?! Why him? From what I've learned, he's just barely started being a Pokemon Trainer!" a young man with a large cowlick of brown hair wearing a purple and white performance magician's uniform ranted, pacing around a burned out tower while a blond-haired young man in blue clothes and a headband sat on a pile of rubble nearby, playing a game of shogi with a Haunter, "How can someone who's barely starting out be given the Clear Bell from Suicune herself?! It...It's inconceivable! Nay! Impossible! It had to be fabricated! Yes! It has to be, Morty!"
"Eusine, it wasn't fake. The races is always recorded live," Morty pointed out as he moved a piece, "They've never done it any other way since that was made available."
"Then how was it possible that...that Trainer was able to not only defeat Suicune in a race, but also obtain the Clear Bell from her?!" Eusine snapped.
"Well, Suicune gave them the chance by having someone riding her and wearing weights and there's also the fact his Ponyta evolved near the end, giving it the extra strength to pick up speed," Morty replied.
"But even with weights, Suicune still should've won!" Eusine argued, "...You know what? I think I need to go confront that young trainer myself."
"Oh please don't…" Morty sighed, "Last time you 'confronted' someone about Suicune in Hoenn, I had to have Gengar use Hypnosis and Lick on both you and your Hypno before you could attack the artist that made that picture of Suicune."
"That's because they used the wrong shade of blue for it!"
"It was supposed to be a shiny variant."
"Semantics!" Eusine snapped, "But oh I assure you, Morty...when I confront that young trainer, he will rue the day he ever met me!"
"And if he caught Suicune by the time you run into him?" Morty asked.
"Then I challenge him for the right to own Suicune!"
"Somehow I see that ending poorly for you…" Morty deadpanned as he moved another piece and Haunter slumped in defeat.
A shapely older woman with long, pale blond hair sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose to fight off the headache that came from reading a proposal at her desk in a well-decorated office, the long window behind her showing the setting sun upon the waves and one of four inhabited islands in the distance. Once she felt it go away, she quickly stamped the proposal with a red stamp that read 'DENIED' and wrote in a red ink pen 'Our current budget does not allow us to build catapults that launch Electrode at incoming vessels that are attempting to attack the Aether Foundation's main structure. Stop requesting for a catapult or any number of them' before putting it into an 'OUT' bin and grabbed another from the 'IN' bin. The doors on the other side of the room were knocked upon.
"Enter!" the woman called before they opened, letting in a lanky blond-haired man with a large nose wearing a labcoat and lime-yellow/green clothes beneath and a pair of strangely shaped green-tinted sunglasses and a shapely woman wearing a white skirt resembling a labcoat and a pink sweater with her brown hair pulled up and red glasses, "Ah, Faba, Wicke. Good timing."
"President Lusamine, it seems yet another Ultra Wormhole big enough for someone to come through occurred," the man informed, "The foundation members that were in the area couldn't find anything aside from footprints and a set of pawprints. Though one pair of feet were quite large."
"The photos taken," the woman offered a manilla envelope.
"Thank you," Lusamine nodded as she took the envelope, opening it as she examined its contents, "Hmm...It looks like most of these come from boots with grooves meant to help keep traction in any environment. Though the last pair are quite huge and seem to be...mechanical? Interesting. And these paw prints...These look almost exactly like the ones that were found earlier this year." she pulled out a file in a file case on her desk and pulled out a folder that she quickly opened and pulled out a set of photos to quickly match with the picture of the paw prints, "Yes, it is the same kind of Ultra Beast. Could it be the FALL that are with them come from the same world?"
"It's possible," Faba noted, stroking his small goatee.
"We also received a call from Professor Oak and is asking for the Aether Foundation's help," Wicke noted.
"Our help? He's not after a shiny Alolan Meowth again, is he?" she sighed.
"Not Samson Oak the headmaster. His cousin, Samuel Oak from Pallet Town in the Kanto Region," Wicke corrected, "There was, well...energy readings fitting the ones on Shadow Pokemon in the region."
"?!" Lusamine stood up fully, her chair pushed back on its wheels, "Are you sure he said 'Shadow Pokemon?'"
"Yes," Faba replied.
"I thought those were dealt with already," Lusamine scowled.
"Apparently not," Faba sighed.
"Alright. We're going to be heading for Kanto tomorrow morning to provide personal aide on this," Lusamine ordered, 'Shadow Pokemon...who in the world is trying to recreate that nightmare?'
"So, let me be clear about what I heard. For the past two months, you and Karai have kept secret and hid evidence of this one member of Ash Ketchum's group with the last month adding Kira into it as well," Giovanni summarized as his three daughters stood before him, "You've also been attempting and only succeeded yesterday in obtaining a genetic sample from this one…" he held up the picture of Noel, "And had it go through the standard testing with blood you had Velvet take in my sleep last week to test against. Tell me if I have anything wrong so far, Aoiro."
"...No, father...you're right on all accounts there…" Aoiro sighed.
"They worried of, well, causing a relapse," Serenade informed.
Giovanni sighed, slumping in his chair, "Girls...This is something important. Something you should have immediately told me about, chance of a relapse or not. Now what were the results of the test?"
"I have the results with me," Aoiro replied, placing it before him, "They...they confirm it's a match."
Giovanni looked them over, "...It appears so. She...She is Mu."
"But why the hell can't she remember us?" Karai questioned.
"Trauma from...that," Kira noted, placing a hand over her heart, "It is...a possibility…"
"...She may have a point," Aoiro admitted, "Out of all of us that were affected by that day...Kira took it harder than the rest of us."
"Yeah...as in her heart most likely broke and she became the cold scary admin we all know," Karai added.
"Velvet, if you would," Giovanni ordered.
*THWACK!*
"OW!" Karai yelped, rubbing the bump on her noggin.
"Sorry," Velvet apologized, lowering her staff.
"But there is another thing...she barely looks older despite it happening a decade ago," Kira noted.
"...What if she ended up in a place that had time move slower compared to ours?" Aoiro suggested, "Add in her memory loss from the trauma caused by...that...thing…" she clenched her fists for a moment with a shiver, "...It would more than likely have made her believe she was born wherever she ended up."
"That explains how she was damn good in that mock Contest in Celadon. Won the whole thing with that Vulpix and an Eevee," Karai recalled, "Kinda like how she got all the Badges in Kanto with just Bolverk."
"Bol...Bolverk!?" Serenade exclaimed, "Gah! I knew that name was familiar!"
"Explain," Giovanni ordered.
"Remember that I needed to be treated for gunshot wounds after that Lighthouse fiasco? The guns she summoned...she called them 'Bolverk,'" Serenade noted.
"A subconscious naming choice for something she keeps on hand perhaps?" Velvet pondered.
"Most likely," Aoiro guessed, "...And one thing I did notice from my temporary alliance with them during the Sabrina incident...it would seem Mu and her friends had attended a military academy of sorts before arriving here...which explains their quick response times and their readiness for battle on the field should something come up."
"If that's true...yeesh. Those three idiots we sent to Alola are lucky to be alive right now," Karai muttered.
"...Take the rest of the week off," Giovanni ordered, "I don't care what you do, just take the rest of this week off so we can properly take this in."
"Father/Pops?" the trio blinked.
"After everything you've been through and being so invested in your little investigation...you deserve it."
"...Thank you," Aoiro thanked.
Giovanni nodded and waved them out. Once they were all gone, he opened a drawer and pulled out a picture frame. In it was a smiling Giovanni wearing just a casual red/orange shirt and jeans, patting a five-year-old Karai and Aoiro with the former pouting. Beside him, smiling with a four-year-old Kira...was a girl who looked like a ten-year-old Noel with a Growlithe leaning against her leg.
"...My precious child…" Giovanni whispered, almost letting out a ragged breath as his free hand began to shake.
In the solace of his office, unseen by all, the great leader of Team Rocket...let tears fall.
"Okay, I am having some important people showing up here," Professor Oak informed, marching outside in front of all the Pokemon there several days later, "This is something that is vital for the entire Region due to concerns of a matter the likes of which has never appeared on Kanto's shores!" he pointed at Eevee, Ash's Krabby, Gengar, and Gary's Krabby, "You four! You will do nothing to them. There will be no pranking, there will be no attempting to prank, no planning to prank, no thinking of pranking. There will be nothing done to them that results in a chuckle, giggle, snort, bellow, holler, screech, squeak, or any noise from any of you...and no hugging at all, Muk!" he quickly pointed at Muk before he could jump onto him, "We are going to be dealing with not only fellow Pokemon Professors, but several Champions from different Regions and their entourage that will, more than likely, have their first experience of being in Kanto and I'd like for them to have a positive outlook."
"...Muk muk…" Muk muttered as he backed away.
"Good…" Oak nodded, "Now, the first arrivals will be here soon. All of you...behave."
"Eevui/Gengar/Kookee…" Eevee, Gengar, and both Krabby complied with a mutter.
"(Well are you surprised he's been pointing you all out?)" a Vulpix asked once he went inside, "(You all put everything in the lab on the ceiling!)"
"(To be fair, someone ended up putting sugar in our food and…Yeah. We ended up blanking out)" Eevee muttered.
"(Suuure ya did)," a Pidgey noted, rolling their eyes.
"(Eh, I pocketed some of Noel's fudge before I came back and you know how us Poison-Types love her stuff)," Gengar huffed.
"(Here, here!)" several Poison-Types in the crowd of Pokemon agreed.
"Don't even think about it!" Oak shouted before he could step inside.
"(D'oh...party pooper…)" Gengar pouted.
"(Booo!)" the Poison-Types booed.
"(I don't have ta take this…)" Eevee pouted before walking off.
"(Where are you going?)" Gary's Krabby asked.
"(Ash's Meema's house!)" Eevee replied.
"..." a Vileplume looked around, "(Anyone gonna tell the Professor where that Eevee is going?)"
Gengar reached into Chief Thunderhoof's shadow and pulled out a picket sign and a can of purple spray paint, "(I'm on it.)"
"Ee-vui-vui! Ee-vui-vui! Eevee-vui-vui-vui! Ee-vui-vui! Ee-vui-vui! Eevee-vui-vui-vui!" Eevee chanted as he crawled under the fence and onto the sidewalk before he started marching down it, making sure to avoid the rental car that went by towards Oak's lab, "Ee-vui-vui! Ee-vui-vui! Eevee-vui-vui-vui! Ee-vui-v…"
"(Excuse me.)"
"(Huh?)" Eevee blinked, looking around before a blue frog-like Pokemon poked his head out of a bush, "(GYAH! A POLITOAD WITH A COLD!)"
"(I am a Froakie)," the Pokemon corrected.
"(Oh...Aren't you from Kalos? Whatcha doin' all the way over here in Kanto?)"
"(Trying to find a lab with a large range for Pokemon)," Froakie replied.
"(Huh? Professor Oak's lab? I just left there to go see Ash's Meema for cuddles and treats since apparently he can't take jokes)," Eevee replied, huffing at the end, "(...Wait. Why do you want to go there? He's being a stuffy guy today.)"
"(A Greninja named Hanzo suggested I come here to find a Trainer.)"
"(Mr. Hanzo? Well if he's suggestin' then I say you come with me so I can show you to my Trainer's Meema! She's really nice and knows a whole lot about Ash before he met my Big Bro!)" Eevee replied.
'Ash...That was the name of the Trainer he referred to. This is one of his Pokemon?' Froakie pondered...before his stomach growled loudly, "?! ..."
"(Oh, I know that rummy in a tummy)," Eevee noted before using his tail to grab Froakie's wrist and pulled him along, "(Come on! I think Ash's Meema is testing out new recipes for Hot Pockets with putting the steak and cheese into different things!)"
'What have I gotten myself into…?' Froakie thought.
Professor Sycamore opened the driver's door and exited from the rental car. Closing it behind him, he moved to the passenger side and opened it. Offering a hand, Professor Magnolia took it and he helped her out while Sonia got out by herself in the back, her Yamper jumping out and landing flat on his face...before getting up, panting happily with his tail wagging.
"Ah! Professor Sycamore! Professor Magnolia! Welcome to my lab and ranch," Professor Oak greeted as he approached.
"Bonjour, Professor Oak," Sycamore greeted.
"A pleasure to meet you in person and not on a phone call for once, Samuel," Magnolia greeted before moving to the side, "This is my granddaughter and apprentice, Sonia."
"Hello," Sonia greeted, "It's nice to meet you, sir."
"Welcome, Sonia," Oak responded before blinking twice at Yamper, "Hm? Now who's this?"
"This is my Starter, Yamper," Sonia explained as she picked up the corgi-like Pokemon.
"Remarkable. I've never seen a Pokemon like this before," Oak noted, "Ah, but where are my manners. Please, all of you, do come in and enjoy some tea while we await the others."
"Magnifique," Sycamore grinned, "Thank you, Samuel."
"If you'd like, you can let Yamper run about in the back and see all the other Pokemon that I take care of here. Just...be careful of a Gengar, two Krabby, a Muk, and an Eevee that has a scar on his forehead," Oak advised.
"Duly noted," Magnolia nodded.
"Thank you, sir," Sonia thanked, gently putting Yamper down and letting him run off into the backyard, yapping.
"(SWEET DARKRAI DREAMS!)" Gengar screamed in the backyard after a moment, "(AGH! GUH! PTUI! IT'S IN MY MOUTH! IT'S ON MY TONGUE! Ah-ah! I'm a-I'm a g-I'm gonna...HURK!)"
'Music to my ears,' Oak thought with a mental dark chuckle as he led the three into his lab, 'And thank Arceus for cameras so I can watch whatever happened later.'
"(Hello! Hihihihhihihihi! Oh wow! There are so many new scents and things and clouds and wow!)" Yamper yapped quickly, running around as Gengar stumbled out of a bush, his face pale as he furiously scrubbed his tongue with a metal scrubber, "(Oh wow! I've never seen birds like you before! Hey, hey, hey! Oh wow~! What's that?!)"
"(I should've followed Eevee…)" Gengar groaned.
"(We're here!)" Eevee beamed as they stopped at the Ketchum house, "(I love Ash's Meema. She's nice and warm and knows just where to pet to make me melt in her arms. She's one of the only ones that I'll let call me cute with the only other being my Meema.)"
"(...Huh. Look real nice,)" Froakie noted as he looked at it.
"(Yep-yep-yep!)" Eevee beamed as he ran up onto the porch and scratched at the door, "VUI~! Eevee-vui-vui~!"
"Okay, okay. I'm coming, Eevee," Delia replied before opening the door, "Welcome back, dear. Hm?" she looked up at Froakie, "Oh? Did you bring a friend?"
"Vui!" Eevee nodded, tail wagging.
She giggled, "Ah, this is like Ash and his friends when he was younger all over again. Would you like to come in, dear?"
"...Froakie," the Kalos-born Starter nodded.
"Wonderful. Then please come on in," Delia offered as she moved to the side, letting him hop in alongside the excited Eevee before she followed, "I just finished some new ideas I'm planning to add to my diner's menu that will be safe for both humans and Pokemon."
"VUI~!" Eevee cheered, practically bouncing in excitement.
"...Froa," Froakie shrugged.
"Ahh, Professor Elm. I'm glad you could make it," Oak greeted a younger light-brown haired man wearing a teal button shirt, grass-green slacks, a labcoat, and glasses.
"Of course I would come, Samuel," Elm replied, "This is something that is top priority for everyone in the entire world that needs to be dealt with quickly."
"Indeed," Oak nodded, moving to the side to let him in, "Professors Sycamore and Magnolia from Kalos and Galar have already arrived."
"Ahh good. How long until the other professors and the region Champions arrive?"
"Hopefully sometime soon," Oak assured, "We should be expecting Professor Rowan and Cynthia any time now. I even called in some favors from Alola."
"I see," Elm nodded before hearing a girlish scream mixed with electricity crackling, "...What was that?"
"That was the sound of a Gengar being hit with a Nuzzle by the Pokemon called Yamper from Galar," Oak informed, a smile on his face.
Elm raised a brow at that, but decided to not question it. He nodded before making his way to the main room of the building where a long oak table had been set up where Magnolia and Sycamore were discussing something as Sonia was looking around but not attempting to touch anything. After another half-hour or so, more and more people began to step into the room and took their respective seats on the table, amongst them being Professor Rowan, Cynthia, Lusamine, and so on.
"Thank you all for coming," Oak greeted before taking the center seat, a serious expression on his face, "Now then...I'm sure you all know why we're gathered here today, correct?"
"Shadow Pokemon being detected here in Kanto," Sycamore noted.
"Yes...and I fear someone is or maybe trying to bring back that horrifying concept," Oak continued with a frown.
"Do you know where the energy signature originated?" Rowan asked.
"Yes...the Raizen Mountains," Oak nodded.
"The mountain where Ho-Oh is said to appear?" Elm asked...before he began to pale, "You don't think they'd tried to make Ho-Oh a Shadow Pokemon...do you?"
"Don't even joke about that," Lusamine frowned.
"Considering that Lugia was a success for Team Cipher, I'm not surprised someone would attempt that," a portly man with brown hair and a small beard wearing a green shirt, light-brown baggy shorts, and a labcoat noted with a frown.
"Agreed, Birch," Oak nodded...before his eyes widened in worry, "...Ash was there."
"Hmm?"
"Ash Ketchum, one of this year's starting Trainers here from Pallet was at the Raizen Mountains, and had battled the Legendary Ho-Oh," Oak explained.
"?! What?" Cynthia's eyes widened at that.
"It's true. I have video proof," Oak continued, "But I didn't get it until after the Shadow Pokemons' energy signature disappeared...meaning he was there when the resurgence happened."
"Ash Ketchum...As in the one who helped Bill who lives on Cerulean Cape meet a Titan Dragonite who now resides there?" Lance asked.
"The very same."
"...Hmm...Could it be possible he was the one who brought the Shadow Pokemon back?" Faba guessed.
"Mind your tongue," Cynthia scowled at him, "He is only a child, and yet you suggest he's behind the Shadow Pokemon possibly coming back?"
"I am just saying...the fact he was able to help tame a Titan Dragonite, encounter and race the Legendary Suicune, and battle Ho-oh for being so young...it would be possible he's putting on a facade and is secretly trying to bring back Team Cipher's dream," Faba stated before smirking, "In Unova, there is a young man by the name of N, and he managed to convince an entire town to release all their Pokemon...Who is to say this Ash Ketchum isn't a potential threat like him?"
"My good man, I've known the boy for years," Oak frowned, "There is no way that he would do something like you accuse him of."
"Faba, be silent," Lusamine ordered, narrowing her eyes at him before looking towards Oak, "My apologies for him. Though, that does beg the question: why was he there?"
"Given what his track record is, he more than likely came upon it by pure happenstance," Oak sighed, "Sycamore, do I need to remind you of what you told me Ash got involved in during that summer camp?"
"Hmm...Ash…Ash...He wasn't the one who got stuck on the top of the Prism Tower when the Gym Leader decided to make it look like a mountain for the fair, was he?" Sycamore asked.
"No, that was Red," Oak deadpanned.
"The brunette that was swarmed by Eevee because he didn't listen to instructions and brought a bar of chocolate on that one field trip?"
"No, that was my grandson Gary."
"Ah...The brunette who managed to legally earn ten thousand PokeDollars in an hour at Hotel Richissime despite her age?"
"No, that was Leaf and I am still shocked at how she did that to this very day."
"Hmm...Ah! Ash was the young boy who calmed that enraged mother Chesnaut by finding her hatchling, wasn't he? Barely seven years old and he actually had the courage to be in the path of her rampage and hold up her Chespin. My word, even when I'm recalling that makes me feel like I've lost several years due to worry," Sycamore recalled.
"A seven-year-old did that?" Sonia asked, 'I thought that news article was from a magazine grandpa likes to read and laugh at for having outlandish fake news!'
"Indeed he did," Sycamore noted, "A boy with that kind of connection to Pokemon is rare indeed. I could not imagine that boy ever becoming someone who'd associate with anyone trying to bring back Shadow Pokemon."
"That does concur with what the Titan Dragonite spoke of through telepathy," Lance agreed, "He skimmed Ash's thoughts that day they met and could only read a deep love for Pokemon and a dream of becoming a Pokemon Master."
"Um...I know this is off topic, but when you say a Titan...do you mean a Dynamax Pokemon?" Sonia asked.
"No, dear," Magnolia shook her head, "While Dynamax Pokemon are gigantic, they only last that way for a bit of time outside of the dens in Galar's Wild Area. Titans, on the other hand, are Pokemon who have actually grown to their massive sizes with no need of remaining in a den in the Wild Area. It's quite surprising since I thought they had gone extinct. It was said that they could live for millennia without worry and were wise beyond their years. If one says that this Ash is a good lad, then I'll side with their opinion."
"...You say that, but there is something I wish to bring up," Faba spoke.
"Faba, silence," Lusamine ordered before Faba brought a tablet out.
"You say that this Ash Ketchum is a good child..and yet from the energy readings we've gotten from our labs, he seems to have a vast amount of Ultra Wormhole energy surrounding him," Faba explained.
"What?" Lusamine asked, "And you were going to tell me this when?"
"I was intending to tell you this as soon as I could, but there has been quite a delay due to that employee hugging a Bewear and accepting some honey from it, then the Pichu that chewed through a power cable that knocked out the power on the entire artificial island we work on, and then Tapu Bulu and Tapu Koko fighting all over it for who knows why, and who could forget getting ready for this meeting?" Faba replied, "But my point is, this Ash Ketchum is surrounded by Ultra Wormhole energy...who's to say he won't end up attracting something worse than the Shadow Pokemon?"
"Something worse?" Sonia repeated in worry.
"Ultra Beasts," Faba replied, "Mysterious creatures that can emerge from Ultra Wormholes if they're large enough. At the moment, we currently have eleven known Ultra Beasts on record with each one having appeared at least once on the four islands of Alola and once inside of the Aether Foundation itself. When they appear, they tend to be attracted to those who have the unique energy of the Ultra Wormholes on their bodies, whom we have labeled as Fallers or FALL for short. The IPP are aware of these members and even have one in their employ." he tapped on his tablet and turned it around, showing a picture of a young woman with violet hair pulled into a tiny ponytail in a black business suit beside a picture of the same woman but around eleven years of age in a lilac and cream dress-like long-sleeved shirt and lilac pants playing with an Espeon with a timestamp on them both showing the exact time and date of the photos being at the same time, "Everything down to their very DNA is one and the same, but the older one gives off the Ultra Wormhole energy and actually did come from another world thanks to the Ultra Wormhole. Yet all she is able to remember is her name being Lila Anabel-the same name as the younger girl with the Espeon-, that she came from Hoenn, that she protected a tower there, and that she was a powerful Trainer. It's been theorized that going through the Ultra Wormhole resulted in her losing her memories."
"Anabel…" the portly professor muttered before his eyes widened, "That's one of the Battle Frontier Brains!" he covered his mouth, "Ah...I shouldn't have said that…"
"Secret project, Birch?" Oak asked, earning a nod from him, "...We heard nothing then."
"Oh thank you…" Birch sighed in relief.
"Regardless, you see my point," Faba resumed, "Unless something is possibly done, then Ash Ketchum may very well end up attracting Ultra Beast here to Kanto..and I am certain that the only people here to try and repel them back is the Champion and Elite Four. And even then they'll just keep coming back in greater numbers."
"Faba, you must be mistaken," Wicke noted as she looked at the findings, "This is rather unusual as well. I mean, these readings are equal to several Fallers, not one. Does he travel with anyone?"
"Several people," Oak replied, "Two of which are children of Gym Leaders that have also run the Gyms for a time each."
"...And you know who the Fallers amongst his little group are, don't you?" Faba asked, making Oak tense a bit, "...Oh ho. Seems the trusted Pokemon professor isn't as trustworthy as we thought…"
"Is this true, Samuel?" Rowan asked.
"...I do, however they mean no harm and have been researching ways of finding their way home," Oak replied, "Furthermore, I've already informed the IPP about this and they said to let them be. One of their agents that specializes in Fallers is already keeping observation of them in Kanto."
"Really?" Birch asked.
"Yes. Elm, you actually know one yourself when you visited last month and praised her enthusiasm for Pokemon research," Oak noted.
"Ms. Faycott?" Elm asked
"The very same," Oak nodded.
"In all honesty, I cannot believe she'd be a danger," Elm noted.
"How were you able to figure there were Fallers travelling with this Ash boy?" Lusamine asked.
"Basically, they mispronounced the old name for Pokemon when Kajun said they came from a region that still called them that way," Oak noted, "Given the mixed language they use, I thought it was the Ransei Region they were from until that mispronunciation happened. It was fully confirmed for me when I met them in person on that island that now has a newly-created Titan Tentacruel in its reef caused by a woman named Nastina."
"Oh Arceus her…" Lusamine groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose.
"I take it you know this Nastina woman?" Magnolia asked.
"Unfortunately," Lusamine replied, "She and her entire family are amongst the most horrid humans I have ever met…"
"Are they really that bad?" Cynthia asked.
"Lance, recall that incident involving the Rare Candy overdosed Gyarados I mentioned?" Oak asked.
"...That was her doing?" Lance asked back.
"No, but it was her cousin Brutella."
"...Okay, noted," Lance spoke.
"Excusez-moi, but I feel we've deviated from our original purpose here, avons-nous pas?" Sycamore noted, "The Shadow Pokemon reappearing?"
"Of course. My apologies for Faba's deviation from the main subject," Lusamine apologized, "The Aether Foundation is more than willing to supply tracking technology to help locate any that might appear to help find any that might be in Kanto."
"Since the Sinnoh League has finished for the year, I will be more than able to stay in Kanto to help find any with my Lucario," Cynthia offered.
"I'll be sure to inform Steven of this and help out anyway I can," Birch added.
"Since they're not available outside of Galar yet, I can provide several Rotom-powered phones for private communication to prevent any unexpected wiretapping," Magnolia noted, adjusting her glasses.
"With how close Orre is to Unova, we were able to get a list of ways to tell that a Pokemon is a Shadow Pokemon through visual signs and a copy of an Aura Reader that was developed by Professor Krane who was unable to come due to needing a hip surgery," a young shapely woman with her brown hair pulled up in a white top, green skirt, and light-grey lab coat noted, "It will allow someone who can't see aura or have a Lucario be able to see the aura of a Shadow Pokemon."
"Thank you, Professor Juniper," Oak nodded.
"When a Shadow Pokemon appeared in Kalos, we learned that a Mega Evolved Pokemon could be on par, if not greater, than a Shadow Pokemon," Sycamore noted, "I contacted a friend of mine, Gurkinn, about this before I left and before I boarded the plane, he provided me with two Key Stones and some Mega Stones he had with him on a temporary loan." he looked at Cynthia, "Since you will be staying, Madame, I can provide you with a Key Stone and Lucarioite to Mega Evolve your Lucario in case you do encounter one."
"After today, I'll definitely need one to help in this crisis," Cynthia nodded.
"With the time between the Indigo League and now, I will be able to help for all but that final two weeks before I'll be required to be at the Indigo League Plateau," Lance informed, "Before I left to come here, Bill and his Titan Dragonite companion offered the lighthouse he lives in as a base."
"A base?"
"Yes. It is well protected, out of normal sight, and has a direct link to Professor Oak who, in turn, is connected to many of you to give periodical updates," Lance noted.
"Ahh...good idea," Cynthia nodded.
Faba opened his mouth before flinching when both Lusamine and Wicke gave him sharp looks.
"(Ice cream sandwich with the 'bread' made from layered bacon…)" Eevee sighed contently, lying on the table with a distended belly, "(Ash's Meema's food is Arceus-blessed…)"
"(...What is he like anyway?)" Froakie pondered.
"(Hm?)"
"(Ash. What's he like?)"
"(Oh, he's the bestest! He didn't care that I tried to knock him over with a Tackle when we met because I thought he was behind Meema going missing for a few days until she told me what happened. Then I was all 'Wow! New people!' and decided to follow him around and got to meet a huge Dragonite! It was as huge as the lighthouse!)" Eevee recalled, "(And-and-and then these meanies from Team Rocket showed up and beat up everyone but Ash and Big Bro Pikachu showed up and there was a big boom of lightning that hit Big Bro and he sucked it all up in his cheeks and then made a huge kaboom and sent them flying away!)"
'I should've asked after he woke up from the sugar rush,' Froakie thought.
"(And when Mr. Bill said that they'd get to have one of us, I made sure that I got the bestest of them! And I am so happy that Ash is my Trainer!)" Eevee continued, "(I get to see so much now than just water...water...more water...ugh, I hate beaches. I never wanna be a Vaporeon 'cause of it. ...Um...no offense?)"
"(None taken.)"
"(Phew. So, yeah! Whenever I get to go travel around with Ash and Big Bro, it's always so neat! One time we got to go to this huge building with these funny brothers and their baby brother Eevee and their Trainers who were also all brothers, but then I got taken by Team Rocket and Ash came to save me and everyone who got taken! And when this scary lady in a grey mask showed up and beat up everyone, I was so scared! I thought I wasn't gonna see Big Bro and Ash anymore and then...He made this cool Greninja name Hanzo get all super awesome and beat up a Spiritomb!)"
'He knows Hanzo?' Froakie pondered.
"(And then a few days later, everyone dressed up as Team Rocket to make fun of them for taking this Ditto and the lady who has Hanzo did these funny poses and I got super-super-super strong and fast and-and-and-and…)" Eevee inhaled deeply, "(It was so cool~! And it unlocked all these neat attacks that I can do now! Ahh...I'm so happy to have Ash as my Trainer.)"
"(...Do you know where he is now?)"
"(He's probably off the mountains now. Oh that's right! Big Bro Pikachu and Ash fought Ho-Oh! Oh, it was so awesome watching it on the computer!)" Eevee squeed, "(I hope I get to go with Ash soon so I can hear everything that happened from Charizard and Big Bro!)"
"..." Froakie raised a brow, 'And I thought that Eevee being this hyper was always a myth.'
"I'm surprised. I always offer a room for the night when we have big gatherings like this, but this is the first time someone has honestly agreed to it," Oak noted as the sun started to set while he sat in a chair between Magnolia and Lusamine, watching Sonia try and fail to catch her rapidly running Yamper as it chased after Gengar, who was shaking a fist at it while trying to keep far away from its tongue only for a Nidorino with faint paint marks from constant scrubbing to stick a leg out, causing Gengar to trip and let Yamper pounce and lick him silly.
"With my home being on a Route just outside of Wedgehurst, I'm far too used to living near an abundance of Pokemon to properly sleep without hearing the sounds of them nearby," Magnolia noted as Sonia scooped up Yamper only to drop him back on Gengar when the corgi licked her face silly.
"Indeed. The preserve we have on the Aether Foundation's main base of operations is just above where I live on it and the home I have on Melemele has an entire playground that's often filled with Pokemon," Lusamine agreed while Gengar decided to get back at the two by using Lick on them both at the same time before jumping into a passing Golduck's shadow to get away, leaving a twitching Sonia and a yapping Yamper running around Sonia that was searching for Gengar.
Oak nodded as he looked out at the sunset, "We truly live in an amazing yet mysterious world…"
"Indeed we do," Lusamine agreed, "Though...there is another reason as to why I stayed instead of going with Wicke and Faba to the hotel."
"Indeed with myself," Magnolia added, "Youth before age?"
"Why thank you, professor," Lusamine thanked before looking at Oak, "Can you tell me about these girls that were labeled as Fallers?"
"Hm? Well, from what I learned from the time I spent with them in-person, they come from a world that, well, is in bad shape," Oak noted, "A solitary government that's more than likely corrupted to its core, being forced to live atop mountain ranges because the surface is coated in a toxic invisible gas that remains from a monster that died over a hundred years in the past, and instead of racism being in one's Region, it's instead placed upon a group known as Beastkin, which are half human and half animal."
"Half human and half animal?" Lusamine repeated.
"One of them, Makoto, is a Beastkin," Oak noted as he pulled out a photograph he had taken of the girls, "That's her with the Pachirisu and Emolga in her tail."
"My word. She looks like she's trying to cosplay as a Greedent," Magnolia noted with a small chuckle.
"Heh heh. I feel people are gonna point that out to her for quite some time," Oak chuckled in agreement, "There's a Trainer that has one that the Gym Leaders talk about on the League site and the Sensational Cerulean Sisters of Cerulean Gym all took it on themselves to learn about it and its pre-evolved form just because it was adorable. I may need to send a quick update to all the Pokedexes in Kanto right now with the Galar region's Pokemon added."
"You haven't before?" Magnolia asked.
"Well, no one's seen them outside of Galar here in Kanto and Johto," Oak admitted, "Though, ironically, Ash is the only one who had the data of the Galar Pokedex added to his just a few days ago."
"Again with him?" Lusamine pondered.
"From the pictures that I received, he encountered a Scorbunny in Crimson City," Oak replied.
"Ah, that's part of what I wished to ask," Magnolia noted as she pulled out her tablet and showed them the video of Gigantamax Edsion, "This was recorded in Crimson City."
"That is a very big Pikachu, yet it doesn't look like a Totem Pokemon at all," Lusamine noted.
"That's because this Pikachu grew because of a phenomenon that is supposed to be exclusive to the Galar Region," Magnolia replied, "It's known as Dynamax, but given the changed appearance this Pikachu was is a rare one that's capable of performing a Gigantamax."
"I see...interesting," Lusamine noted.
"How is it exclusive?" Oak pondered.
"Because the Legendary Pokemon that caused the Dynamax Phenomenon never leaves Galar," Magnolia replied, making the two tense and look at her, "It's top secret. Only the highest ranking scientists and government officials are allowed to know of its existence in Galar but centuries ago, an event known as the 'Darkest Day' was caused by this Legendary Pokemon appearing. Its very presence releases special particles into the air that cause Pokemon to grow to gigantic proportions that we call Dynamaxing. It was sealed away by two kings, yet it still produces the particles that cause Dynamaxing that now gather in dens in Galar's Wild Area."
"So for a Pokemon to do this here in Kanto…" Lusamine began with a troubled look.
"First Gary and Leaf end up breaking up a smuggling ring in Celadon City's Game Corner, then Red battles the head of Team Rocket during the Silph Co. Incident, and now Ash fights a Ho-Oh, gets the chance to catch Suicune, and more than likely encountered Shadow Pokemon. I always knew things would be different the moment those four would head off on their journeys, but for things like this?" Oak sighed, facepalming, "Oh sweet Arceus…"
"I am so glad Alola doesn't have a Pokemon League," Lusamine noted.
"Don't expect me to sponsor any of those four if they come to Galar," Magnolia noted, "Especially if all four go at the same time. For all I know, they'd more than likely arrive in time for that Legendary Pokemon to wake up and go nuts again."
"And I fear what would happen if they come to Alola," Lusamine added.
"At best? You'd have Red refusing to come down from any of your mountains until Gary drags him down," Oak replied, "At worst? You'll have a Legendary Pokemon that wants to be caught by one of them."
"We only have the one that slumbers," Magnolia noted.
"...I feel so sorry for the Kahunas and them trying to not let a battle between those four you gave a Starter to and the Tapus happen," Lusamine shook her head.
"(So you came so you can be Ash's Pokemon?)" Eevee asked as the two laid on the floor in the Ketchum living room.
"(Yes.)"
"(That's so great! Ash keeps talking about wanting to catch a Froakie especially when Hanzo went all super awesome and whammed that spooky Spiritomb!)" Eevee beamed as he tilted his head, "(Mmm...If I remember right from what Meema said, Ash and Big Bro are going to Cinnabun Island next.)"
"(You mean Cinnabar.)"
"(Yeah, that place. And that's just south of us meaning that he'll be here after he gets that badge!)" Eevee beamed before gasping, "(Oh goody! I can introduce you to everyone Ash caught and we can help hide you from the old grump until Ash can meet you and be your Trainer! And we can come over here and have lots of nummies from Ash's Meema, too!)"
"(I see…)" Froakie muttered, "(...Anything else I need to know, or are you out of breath finally?)"
"(Um...I think so)," Eevee replied, tilting his head.
"(Ah good...didn't wanna see you knock yourself out there…)" Froakie sighed, "(Seriously...I've seen a Chespin that's more hyperactive than you, and he NEVER stayed quiet…ended up missing him and Feniken once they got chosen...)"
"(Oh, I know how that feels. I miss a lot of the Eevee that got handed out by Bill)," Eevee noted, "(But I know they got good trainers, so I'll just wait 'till I meet them again at something like the Pokemon League!)" he giggled, "(Oh-hoh-hoh~! Wait 'till they get a load of all the new attacks I've learned thanks to that day with the Ditto~!)"
'Even if it's not Ash but his Eevee, it feels almost like Ash had never left,' Delia thought with a giggle as she peeked on the two while washing dishes.
"Come on, come on. Pick up already…" Tager muttered, tapping a foot with a finger to the side of his head.
=Yo=
"Kokonoe, you said you would contact me immediately the next day," Tager noted, "Why have you not responded for an entire month? I've been calling you since the first ten minutes after our scheduled time of contact!"
=Excuse me?=
"It's been a month and so far we still haven't found Kajun or her classmates," Tager stated.
=You're kidding me. It's only been a day here= Kokonoe replied.
"What?" Tager asked.
=Did I stutter? It's been a day since you left a-wait...a month…= Kokonoe paused =...Does this mean...time flows differently there?=
"It seems that way," Tager replied.
"This has happened before," Dulse noted, "Many worlds tend to run on different times, some faster than others and some slower than others."
=So the five days these girls have been MIA has actually been five months= Kokonoe realized.
"Due to some various contacts we've made, we've learned that they're travelling with two Gym Leaders and a newly starting Trainer who has caught the attention of a Legendary Pokemon Suicune," Fifi noted.
=If I remember right, Gym Leaders are those tough folk who run places Trainers come to earn a little badge of sorts to prove their abilities with these Pokemon, right?=
"Yep!" Zossie beamed.
=And Legendary Pokemon...Those are these Pokemon that are physical Gods or are beyond powerful like your Solgaleo and Lunala that let you travel through the Ultra Wormholes, right?=
"In many cases, that is true," Dulse confirmed.
=...Are there Legendary Pokemon...that control time and/or space?=
"Yes. Dialga and Palkia respectively."
=...=
"...Did I say something wrong?"
=...HOW HAS THE MASTER UNIT NOT ERASED THAT WORLD YET?!= Kokonoe snapped.
"If I may speak up, Mademoiselle Mercury?" Fifi spoke up, "Monsieur Tager has told us of this 'Amaterasu' and its power. Quite frankly...It is laughable compared to Dialga."
=...What?=
"Dialga is Time itself. Dialga created Time and its concept," the species-shifting Furfrou informed, "If this 'Master Unit' were to try to erase what Dialga makes or try to bend it to what it wants when it shouldn't...It would be the Master Unit that is erased."
=...I repeat: What?!=
"I'd like to argue about it...but given what I saw with just Suicune, where-even weighed down with multiple weights-it was able to reach incredible speeds and purify an entire river to be crystal clear and contaminant-free by just walking-and I do mean walking and not running-on the polluted water...I'm starting to believe that the Master Unit is better off not noticing this world," Tager noted.
=...A third time: WHAT?!=
"Bring up my memory of a week or so ago. I know you have that installed in me somewhere," Tager deadpanned.
=...= furious typing went off before several minutes of silence =...What am I seeing? A big blue dog just walked on water polluted with all kinds of muck and mud and it just...it went crystal clear! I haven't seen water that clear since I sent you down to the planet's surface to get a sample of the Seithr concentration and reviewed the footage after you got back...No, not even that was as pure as the water I'm seeing on this. This...this is...is…!=
"Amazing? Unbelievable?"
=The latter!= she replied.
"And Suicune is just one of the lower levels of the Legendary Pokemon," Fifi noted, "The higher tiers are the very embodiments or creators of things such Space, Time, Antimatter, even existence itself."
=...= a 'thud' went off on the line.
"I believe you made her collapse in overthinking," Tager noted in amusement.
"Oh dear…" Fifi gave a tiny gasp.
"...You're smiling," Dulse pointed out.
"Oh, I know, Darling," Fifi giggled, "But how can I not? I am ze 'dog' and she is ze 'cat.'" Dulse rolled his eyes under his visor, "Oh come now, Darling. No need to be exasperated. Plus, now we know that when Kokonoe is able to contact us, our times seem to sync up."
"...True, I suppose."
"Merveilleuse! Now zen, shall we go to ze beach, Darling?" Fifi asked as she motioned towards the beachfront of the hotel they were in before whispering into his ear quietly.
"Why did we come here again?" Tager asked Zossie as Dulse's face turned bright pink as steam began to leak from the top of his head while Fifi pulled him off out of the room.
"Because if there's one constant in so many places, one of the Gyms is here on this Cinnabar Island, meaning that it's just a matter of time before the people you're looking for show up," Zossie replied.
"Ahh...and you think the group the girls are with will be heading here?"
"It's our best guess," Zossie shrugged.
"...Very well. Let us prepare and be on our way," Tager nodded.
"Great! I'll get the big ball and swimsuit Fifi helped me get!" Zossie beamed before Tager fell over comically, "Did you run outta juice?"
'Those girls coming here can't come soon enough…' Tager thought.
A pair of scientists with black lab coats with a stylized red 'R' on their pen protectors walked by a trash can. After a moment, Serenade poked her head out of it. She looked around and her eyes briefly glowed. A moment later and Velvet appeared beside the trash can as Serenade hopped out. The two moved quickly over to a pair of sliding doors and Serenade pulled out an ID tag. She used Psychic to make it float up and swiped it on a scanner by the door, causing it to slide open. The two entered and Velvet pushed a button on the wall, causing the lights to turn on. Standing on the other side of the large room, connected to various devices by black cables...was the armored Pokemon that had fought Sabrina.
"Hello, Master," both greeted, bowing.
GT: ...Did they just say 'MASTER?!'
SZ: They did. They did!
GT: Oh man...Well...That explains where they learned Telepathy…
Z0: Well...that's something to talk about later. Oh boy that's gonna be awkward.
SZ: Aye…
GT: Sorry it took so long to get this out, folks. Lots of things have been going on.
SZ: Real life and all that strikes again.
GT: So please read and review!