In the Footage—
When Ash arrived at the Cerise Laboratory, he found everyone floating in mid-air. Only Chloe remained on the ground, trembling, with Yamper standing guard in front of her.
Facing them was a purple-black Pokémon with glowing red eyes, pointed ears, and a mischievous grin.
The Ghost-type Pokémon—Gengar!
"Chloe, are you okay?!" "I... I'm fine. Yamper protected me, but this Gengar is so strong..." Chloe's face was pale. She had only experienced one battle; faced with a powerful ghost, she didn't know how to react.
"Leave it to me! Noctowl, I choose you!" A reddish-gold Noctowl appeared, its wings shimmering. Even while floating helplessly in the air, Professor Cerise gasped: "A red Noctowl?! A Shiny one?!"
"Professor, not the time! Noctowl, Extrasensory!" The bird's eyes glowed gold, and a golden vortex of psychic energy erupted. Gengar dodged, dropping the Professor and the staff to the floor. Gengar then vanished into thin air—the Invisibility trick.
"Don't let it get away! Noctowl, Foresight!" Ash had specifically brought Noctowl because it was his secret weapon against Ghost-types.
This Shiny Noctowl wasn't just rare; it was exceptionally intelligent and a master of Psychic-type moves.
Noctowl's eyes scanned the room, instantly revealing Gengar's hiding spot. "There! Extrasensory again!" Gengar countered by using Psychic to freeze the vortex in mid-air.
This Gengar was clearly a high-level fighter.
"Interesting! I've decided—I'm going to catch you! Noctowl, Air Slash!" Blades of energy rained down, but Gengar held them back with pure mental force.
"Now! Aerial Ace!" In a blur of speed, Noctowl circled behind and slammed into Gengar, blasting the ghost out of the laboratory building!
Ash ran outside, but Gengar had disappeared into the night. "Aw man, what a shame..." Ash sighed, lamenting the missed opportunity.
[Lance: I noticed it in the backyard earlier, but that Noctowl's combat power is incredible!]
[Karen: Noctowl is native to Johto. Ash must have caught it there.]
[Will: That bird handles psychic energy better than most Psychic-types. I almost suspect it's a dual Psychic/Flying type!]
In the Footage—
Professor Cerise explained that the building was actually a "haunted house" he bought specifically to study. The Gengar was likely the original resident.
"I've decided," Ash said. "Next time I see him, I'll find him a better home!" Chloe giggled. "You change your mind so fast! Weren't you just saying you wanted to catch him?" "Well, some Pokémon are happier in the wild. I've always believed that!"
Chloe's eyes softened. Ash's selfless nature was slowly changing her perception of trainers.
[Steven Stone: Professor, do you already own that lab?]
[Professor Cerise: Not yet. This imagery seems to be three or four years in the future.]
[Steven: Just let me know the address. I'll buy the house and let the Gengar live there in peace.]
[Wallace: ...Are you even human? Stop flexing your wealth!]
In the Footage—
A few days later, Cerise gave Ash and Chloe two tickets to the World Coronation Series Finals at Wyndon Stadium in Galar! Chloe was excited, but Ash looked puzzled.
"Ash, it's the finals! Why aren't you jumping for joy?" "Uh... what's the World Coronation Series?"
Professor Cerise & Chloe: "???"Are you kidding?! You're the Alola Champion, and you don't know the biggest tournament in the world? Do you live under a rock?
[Lance: Wait... Ash doesn't know about the WCS?]
[Flint: To be fair, Ash never watches the news. He's a total battle-maniac who only focuses on what's in front of him.]
[Cynthia: Don't mistake ignorance for weakness. His Sceptile and Infernape are already at the Elite Four level or higher. He just... doesn't keep up with current events.]
In the Footage—
Once he learned the WCS was a battle to find the "World's Strongest Monarch," Ash's eyes turned into stars. "I'm going! I'm going! When does it start?!"
The two headed to Galar by plane. On the way, Ash read the lineup: "The undefeated Monarch... Leon. The strongest Elite Four of Kanto... Lance." "I know Mr. Lance, but who is Leon?" Ash asked.
[Lance: Oh! I made the finals?! Haha! I must have mastered the Mega Evolution for Dragonite and crushed everyone!]
[Lorelei: ? Did you miss the part where he called you 'Elite Four'? That means you still haven't won the Kanto Championship in the future.]
[Lance: ...]
Ouch. Why are my teammates like this?
In the Footage—
Suddenly, the plane's lights flickered, and alarms blared. "Pika-pi!" Ash and Pikachu looked out the window with deadly serious expressions.
Chloe followed their gaze and saw a massive, purple silhouette flash by, sending a chill down her spine.
"Was that... a Pokémon?" Chloe whispered, trembling. "It had to be," Ash said, his hand gripping a Poké Ball. "And a Legendary one at that. That pressure... It's as heavy as Reshiram, Lugia, or Solgaleo."
The danger passed as quickly as it came, and the plane stabilized.
[Lance: What was that? I've never seen a bird or dragon like that.]
[Leon: Galar has many legends, but that creature... It's not in the common records.]
[Professor Magnolia: I believe I've seen this in ancient texts. If the description matches...]
[Leon: Professor, please tell us.]
[Professor Magnolia: 3,000 years ago, a Pokémon called Eternatus descended. It absorbed Galar's energy to survive, causing the 'Darkest Day'—an event where Pokémon grew to giant sizes and went berserk. It was stopped by a hero with a sword and shield. That purple shadow... it looks exactly like Eternatus.]
The world went silent. If the Professor was right, Eternatus was returning. What kind of disaster was about to hit Galar?
In the Galar region, Chairman Rose watched the screen with a glint in his eye.The Darkest Day... this aligns perfectly with my vision for Galar's energy future. Did my future self succeed?
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