Favv: Nice chapter...It was funny how Red interrupt his parents before main event started keep going bud ...
I am frequent reader of fanfiction but don't have time to write reviews but believe me this is gonna one of best advanceshipping stories present in fanfiction
Favv, your review reminds me why I love to write. I want readers to laugh, cry, get upset, and enjoy the story and connect with the characters on the deepest level possible. I want this to be an escape from the real world's problems, so your review means a lot to me. Thank you for taking the time to leave a review.
Anyone who has thoughts or questions is welcomed to do the same! Now back to our regularly scheduled program.
Chapter 9: R.M.A
Ash stopped when he saw a familiar sight. "Wait a minute."
May leaned forward to look at him. "What's wrong, Ash?"
"I've been here before. It's the Ruins of Alph," the trainer recognized the former dig site.
"Years after your journey through Johto, the excavation team discovered the famed ruins. To conserve the ancient structures, the archaeologists discontinued their digging. That's how it happened in my timeline at least," Red eyed the entrance to the Ruins of Alph.
"That's exactly how it happened, although I'm curious to hear more about this timeline," a voice startled the trio.
They turned around to discover that it was the Sinnoh Champion. "Cynthia!" Ash was surprised to see her. May reached for Ash's hand and took a step back. Red clenched his fists when she approached them.
It was Cynthia's turn to become startled. "What's wrong?"
"Are you with them?" Red glared.
"With whom? What's going on, Ash, May?" the confused champion looked to them for answers.
May muttered, "Gary mentioned Cynthia was working with the authorities. Maybe she's still one of the good guys?" She turned to Ash.
"That's true," Ash recalled.
"Of course I'm one of the good guys, but if you'd explain what's going on I might understand what's happening," Cynthia tried to put them at ease.
Red lowered his defense. "I think she's telling the truth." He sensed the concern and honesty in the champion's voice.
"No red eyes either," Ash eased up.
"Cynthia, what are you doing here?" May questioned.
Cynthia crossed her arms. "I received a tip on one of the missing champions and that led me here." The family was surprised by the news. The champion raised an eyebrow. "Now, tell me. Why did you get so defensive when you saw me?"
Ash and May lowered their heads. "We ran into some trouble with some of the champions."
"Which ones?" Cynthia's eyes grew.
They shared the devastating news of their friends' dark turn and their run-in with Lance. "They weren't themselves. They were nothing like themselves. That's why we weren't sure if you'd turned into one of them too," it pained Ash to think of the fates that befell them.
"I'm so sorry, Ash," Cynthia rested her hand on his shoulder after he recounted Pikachu's fate.
"We don't know who else may be under the enemy's control, but we're taking caution," Red crossed his arms.
Cynthia sighed, "Diantha." The champion worried the other members of the Masters 8 might have shared the same fate since they went missing. The woman snapped herself out of her despair, "Let's not get discouraged. The other missing champions might still be out there waiting for us to find them."
"I hope you're right," Red nodded.
The Sinnoh Champion smiled, "You must be Ash and May's son from the future, correct?"
The trio's heads jerked up. "How do you know that?!" May's jaw fell.
Cynthia giggled, "He has your eyes and everything else is Ash. He did also mention another timeline. As a Pokémon archaeologist, it's part of my trade to make educated deductions."
"Impressive. You're as sharp as my dad used to say," Red noted her intelligence.
"You're good," Ash chuckled.
Cynthia blushed, "I try." Red shook her hand when he formally introduced himself and explained what led him to the past. "Well, I've dealt with stranger things before, so it's no surprise that time travel through human technology is possible," the woman stated. She refocused when she noticed the Insect Plate poking out of Ash's backpack. "Is that one of the plates that belongs to Arceus?" the woman pointed.
"It is. We tracked it down and that's when we bumped into Lance. We've been carrying it around ever since," May acknowledged.
The archeologist smiled, "That must be one of the plates that belonged to the ancient people of Hisui."
"Right," Ash showed the plate to her.
Cynthia examined it carefully, noticing an inscription. "Where all creation was born, that is the being's place of origin."
"Arceus," Red answered.
"All plates that originated from Hisui have an inscription related to Arceus and the creation of the universe. They're exceptionally rare and fabled to wield mighty power. I assume you're trying to find the plates before the others do," Cynthia guessed.
Ash confirmed, "Yeah, the Ruins of Alph happened to be on our way to the next plate."
May had her arms behind her back, "Would you mind sharing which champion you were tipped on that brought you here?"
"Not at all. I learned from the locals that Steven Stone was spotted visiting the Ruins of Alph not too long ago. Right around the time before he vanished," Cynthia informed.
Red rubbed his chin, "What could the Hoenn Champion have been doing here?"
Cynthia walked closer to the entrance of the ruins, "I looked into Steven's work and learned that he was studying a mysterious power said to lurk within the ruins." The younger trainers' interest piqued. "It's said that the power of the Ruins of Alph transports you to a place called the Sinjoh Ruins," she continued.
"The Sinjoh Ruins?" Ash and May said at the same time.
The champion nodded, "Allegedly, it's a pocket dimension that connects the Johto and Sinnoh regions. If any harm ever came to the Sinjoh Ruins, it would result in the destruction of Johto and Sinnoh."
"Sounds scary," May whimpered.
"I agree. After what you told me about the other champions and knowing that Steven was last seen here, it makes me question what he was up to," Cynthia feared the worst. Ash, May, and Red looked concerned. Cynthia clenched her fists, "Without a doubt, I know I'm onto something."
Red took the lead, "Let us help you investigate. We might learn more about the plates and what their plot is if we work together."
Cynthia's face brightened, "You are your father's son." The archeologist glanced at Ash and laughed.
"Maybe a little too much sometimes," May smirked, prompting an embarrassed laugh from Ash and Red.
"I'll gladly take any help that I can get. I appreciate it," Cynthia welcomed them.
Ash flashed his fists, "What are we waiting for then? Let's go inside and see what we find." They followed him in.
When they entered, they discovered a chamber with writing engraved on every side. "What does all of this say?" May tried to discern the messages.
"It's written in the language of the Unown. It would take a while to decipher everything written here," Red also tried to make sense of what he could.
Ash looked uneasy, "It's weird. I feel like the Unown carved into the wall are staring at me."
"Careful," Cynthia warned everyone to watch their step. As Ash was drawn closer to the Unown hieroglyphics on the wall, he felt a strong power overtake him when he reached the center of the room, and the chamber shook. Cynthia scolded, "I said careful!"
Ash raised his hands in fear, "I'm sorry! I wasn't paying attention."
"Oh, Ash," May sighed.
"The Insect Plate!" Red saw the glow coming from Ash's backpack.
May, Cynthia, and Red ran to Ash as the power in the room overtook them. The Unown on the wall came to life and formed a ring around the trainers. "This doesn't look good," May pressed her back against Ash's.
"Grab onto each other. We have no idea what the Unown intend," Cynthia instructed.
The four travelers locked arms when the Unown closed in. An energy formed around them and they were transported from the chamber to an unknown location. It appeared as though they were floating in space. They saw an egg that erupted into a white light that blinded them and witnessed the creation of the cosmos. They saw the inception of the world as volcanoes erupted and storms flooded the land. They witnessed a formidable blizzard swallow the planet. Then they saw the creation of an industrialized society before it was destroyed by a bomb that resulted in a mushroom cloud. Suddenly, they found themselves in a city overwhelmed with panic as they looked to the sky and saw a meteor coming straight for the Earth, and as it got closer the world crumbled before their eyes. Red saw fiery tornadoes lift skyscrapers and lightning decimate homes. The trainer looked to the meteor and saw a man in black robes. His face was concealed. When Red looked at him, he felt a throbbing pain in his head and saw images of a blonde-haired woman in a red jacket and a white plate resembling the Insect Plate shattering. As he tried to recompose himself, Red saw people flee in fear. He turned to his right and saw his mother standing in shock as the robed man stood behind her. May was impaled and fell. "No!" Red ran to her but her body disappeared. He turned around to see his father lying dead on the ground with a blade made of aura hovering over him. Red tried to reach him, but he also disappeared. A distraught Red backed away. He was uncertain of what to do as the planet faced its doom. A bolt of lightning crashed in front of him and he felt someone else's back against him. Red recognized the aura blade when he saw it. He knew who stood against him. "Omega," he whispered.
"Red, snap out of it!" May shook his shoulders until her son rejoined them.
Red came to his senses as he rubbed his head, "What happened?"
"The Unown showed us the world, I think," Cynthia recomposed herself.
"A blizzard. A bomb. A meteor. What did all of it mean?" Ash tried to recall.
Red looked at them, "That's all you saw?"
They nodded. "Yeah, why? Did you see something else?" May had a worried look.
"It was nothing," Red tried to ease her.
The Unown retreated as the glow from the Insect Plate faded. Cynthia gasped, "We're here. The Sinjoh Ruins!"
The heroes' attention turned to the champion until they heard growls in the darkness. There were three sets of red eyes as the dark room illuminated. "And you stand on the Mystri Stage," a man climbed up the stairs connected to the stage. Ash, May, and Red were alarmed when they saw Giratina, Dialga, and Palkia surround them in a triangle, but they differed from their usual forms. Even more surprising, Arceus rested at the center of the triangle near them. The young heroes had no words for it.
"What's the meaning of this?" Cynthia tried to fathom.
The man had white hair and wore a lab coat. An energetic Raichu bolted from behind him to greet the trainers. Ash and May got caught off guard when it greeted them first. "A long time ago, people from Hisui or Sinnoh came to live here and built this temple while longing for home. That's why we call it the Sinjoh Ruins, and you're standing on the stage built to show respect for the mythical Pokémon, Arceus. It's said that the ancient people used it to celebrate its magnificent might with music and dance, which is a custom the people of Johto adopted. According to ancient texts, time, space, and antimatter combined and gave birth to the multiverse when Arceus stood on the Mystri Stage. My research into the anomalies of the Pokémon world led me here to reunite with you, Ash, May. It's been a long time," the researcher smiled.
"Huh?!" Ash and May didn't know what to say. Red and Cynthia were also stunned by the acknowledgment.
Who is he? Red didn't recognize the man from anywhere, and neither did Cynthia.
The man walked to the center of the triangle as the Creation Trio eyed them. "Depicted on the Mystri Stage are the Pokémon that shaped the multiverse. The circle in the middle is Arceus, the origin of it all." He walked to Palkia's corner, who bellowed when he got close. "This is the pattern that represents Palkia, the master of space and dimensions." The stranger crossed over to Dialga, who also locked his eyes on him. "This is the pattern that represents Dialga, the guardian of time." Finally, he went to Giratina's corner. The dragon spread its wings when he approached. "This is the pattern that represents Giratina, the ruler of the multiverse that is on the opposite side of ours, the world of antimatter. When the Unown were awakened by the Insect Plate and transported you here, Arceus gave you a glimpse of the worlds beyond our own. Worlds that are alike and not so alike. That is the true power of the Alpha Pokémon. The power of making life appear out of nothing."
"I see, so the Insect Plate triggered all this," Cynthia concluded.
A confused May petted Raichu while its trainer. After staring back and forth between them, she remembered who he was. "Wait, you're Professor Willow!" May shouted.
"Whoa, talk about a blast from the past," Ash realized.
"Professor Willow? I thought you were a myth in the academic world," Cynthia bowed.
Professor Willow laughed. "How about that? You disappear for decades and they turn you into a character from Greek mythology."
"What mythology?" Red and the others failed to follow.
Willow waved them off, "Never mind that. I see that Raichu remembered you." The easygoing Professor smiled when Raichu hopped on Ash's shoulder.
May observed the Creation Trio. Her sapphire eyes locked with their red eyes, "Why do they look different?"
"We're in their realm, where they can take their true forms. Their origin forms," Willow held his waist.
Ash and Raichu got near Arceus as the dragons kept an eye on him. "What's wrong with Arceus?" Ash placed his hand on the Original One. It was asleep and in a weak state.
Professor Willow sighed, "Arceus is debilitated from the destruction of the Draco Plate. It's been asleep ever since, and the dragons stand guard over it."
"So, you're aware of what's happened on Earth?" Cynthia asked, prompting a nod from the researcher.
"Rai rai," Raichu expressed its sympathies to Ash.
"We're sorry for what's happened," Willow also shared his condolences.
Ash softly rubbed Raichu's cheeks. He gave the Mouse Pokémon a weak smile, "Thank you."
Red pulled down the brim of his hat, "If the other plates are found and destroyed, Arceus will continue to weaken."
The legendary dragons roared, acknowledging the crisis at hand. "Unfortunately, yes. In all the time I've lived here, it's been relatively calm until now. The hunt for the plates endangers the world and beyond," Willow grieved.
"Lived here?!" May's bangs stood up.
"Oh, sorry. Did I forget to mention that?" Professor Willow rubbed his head.
"If the situation is that serious, then I'd like for you to help us," Cynthia addressed the quirky man.
Professor Willow, "Of course. With what?"
Red interjected, "We're hoping you can tell us anything you know about Steven Stone. He was last spotted in the Ruins of Alph, and we have reason to believe he may be a threat."
"Or under threat," Cynthia emphasized.
Willow kept his glasses from falling over his eyes, "Why yes, I did meet Steven Stone. Funny you mention him because he was transported here thanks to the Stone Plate."
"So, he already had a plate?" Ash felt his stomach drop.
The Professor continued, "Well, when I saw him, he was fine. After Devon Corp unearthed the Stone Plate at the Mirage Tower, Steven investigated the plate's glow and came here because he learned of the plates' connection to the Ruins of Alph and the Sinjoh Ruins. When I met Steven, I warned him that a glowing plate is an ill omen. Of what? I fear I don't have the answer. Nonetheless, after our discussion, I urged Steven to warn anyone that could help prevent catastrophe."
"Sounds like Steven didn't get around to it," May lamented.
"Nothing was evident until Arceus and the Creation Trio appeared here. I learned from the dragons of the events that transpired on Earth surrounding the Draco Plate and thought back to my conversation with Steven. The threat is clearly here and moving. The one they call Sapphire," Willow summarized.
Red snapped, "That's not Sapphire. She could never be Sapphire!"
"Calm down, Red. Professor Willow didn't mean it like that," May grabbed his shoulder.
"I know it's a lot to take in, but we have to stay cool-headed," Ash urged him.
Professor Willow cleared his throat, "My apologies if I offended you."
Cynthia focused on the researcher rather than Red's outburst, "You said there were other worlds out there, even ones that are different from ours. If we fail to stop Sapphire, are they at risk as well?"
Professor Willow placed his hands behind his back, "The mirror world. The parallel world. The pocket dimension we stand in. There are many different worlds, but they are all linked by Arceus and the plates. I'm not sure what our foe's endgame is, but if the plates are under threat, then so is all of existence."
Red looked defeated, "It's my fault. My oversight allowed this to happen."
Willow patted Red on the back, "Do not be hard on yourself. Few could anticipate such twist of events."
"We can still make a difference," Ash raised his fist.
"Don't worry. We'll stop her!" May also raised her fist.
Cynthia took her side by them, "We will do it together. You have my word."
Red lifted his gaze. He mustered a soft smile when he saw their resolve, "Thank you."
"I wish I could join you, but my work is here. Someone needs to keep the Sinjoh Ruins protected and tidy," Willow remarked, and the heroes acknowledged his duty. "Nevertheless, I wish you good fortune in the battles to come. If anyone can stop them, it's you," Willow put his hands on Ash and May.
"No pressure, right?" May let out an uneasy laugh.
"We got it," Ash chuckled.
Professor Willow turned to the dragons, "You heard me. Take them home, my friends."
"Rai raichu!" Raichu climbed onto Willow's shoulder and waved goodbye to Ash and May.
The Creation Trio roared as the heroes got enveloped in a mystical energy. "Thank you for all your help," Cynthia bowed again.
"Stay safe, you two," May waved at Raichu and Willow.
"And take care!" Ash added.
"I'm sorry I snapped at you earlier. I didn't mean to," Red looked at Willow.
Willow nodded sideways, "Don't fret. We all have our reasons. Just keep fighting, got it?"
Red gave a thumbs up, "Will do!"
After they bid their farewells, the heroes were transported outside the Ruins of Alph. Time appeared to remain still while they were in the Sinjoh Ruins, but that did nothing to quell their sense of urgency. Cynthia put her hands on her hips, "At least now I know what Steven was doing here. I will need to learn whether Devon Corp. still has the Stone Plate."
"We still need to get to the Whirl Islands," May reminded Ash.
"Everyone is depending on us, including Arceus, so we should hurry," a stern Ash commented.
Red looked at Cynthia, "Cynthia, do you mind if you hold onto the plates we collect? It's too dangerous to carry them around like this, and I think they may be safer if they were with someone as knowledgeable as you. We don't even know if we're being tracked."
"I'd be happy to. Thank you for trusting me, Red," Cynthia smiled.
"We appreciate it," Ash handed her the Insect Plate.
Cynthia nodded, "Just deliver any plate via the Pokémon Center's item transport system and I'll have it received in Celestic Town. That will give me the opportunity to study them and see if we can somehow restore the Draco Plate."
May scratched her face, "Do you think it's possible?"
"The Hisuian Plates were special gifts and we know very little about them. I suspect there's more to them than we know," Cynthia believed.
"I hope you're right," Red said.
An optimistic Cynthia waved, "Then this is farewell. You should arrive in Cianwood near midday. I'll be waiting for the next plate."
"You got it!" the trio responded.
Cynthia took her leave in the opposite direction as the heroes picked up the pace. Their journey took them through Johto's grasslands and shorelines with a bright sun over them. Without any stops for rest, the trio's trek led them to Cianwood City by noon. They arrived at a cliff that overlooked the coastal city. Red, May, and Ash gazed at the horizon. Beyond the city's waters, they knew the next plate waited for them in the Whirl Islands with a looming threat. Despite that, they were ready to face what came. They were the world's best line of defense.