"Let's go find Giratina and talk to it, to see if it can let us out."
Lucas looked at the "No Signal" display on his phone and sighed.
Damn it, I was just on a video call with Cynthia when I got pulled in here.
Giratina, you bastard!
"?"
Latias let out a surprised cry.
"What's wrong?"
Lucas jumped off Latias's back, looked at Plane Sister, and asked.
"I thought we were going to fight."
Latias poked out her little tongue.
"And here I was, all prepared—"
Lucas: ————
"If you ask me, being pulled in here for no reason means we should have a fight first."
Lugia's voice rang out in Lucas's mind.
Lucas: ————
It's a miracle that you two actually agree on something.
By the way, Plane Sister, since when did you become so combative?
"Gen gengar—"
I don't really mind either way.
"Gengar, shut up."
Gengar: (°1
"Peace, we need peace."
Lucas advised them earnestly.
"Don't you want to go back to the Breeding House to try food made with real Max Honey?"
Gengar: *drools*—
I want to go home! Nobody can stop me!
A fierce fire ignited in Gengar's eyes.
Lucas pulled at the corners of Gengar's mouth. "That's more like it. Let's go."
Lucas walked forward.
On the other side, Cynthia frowned as she looked at the video call that had suddenly disconnected.
"Cynthia, energy from a rift in space-time has appeared at Mt. Coronet."
Just as Cynthia was about to call back, she saw a call coming in from her grandmother, Professor Carolina. As soon as Cynthia picked up, Professor Carolina's voice came through.
"A space-time rift? Haven't Palkia and Dialga already returned?"
Cynthia frowned again and asked.
"I don't know. Ever since the incident in Poplar Town, space-time rifts have appeared in many places across the Sinnoh region. However, after Palkia and Dialga regained consciousness, they both went to repair them."
Professor Carolina looked at the light dots appearing on the screen again. "Damn it, a few more space-time rifts have appeared. Has Arceus been kidnapped?! Why are there space-time rifts everywhere?"
Professor Carolina's voice kept coming. "They're all around Mt. Coronet. Wait, something is wrong."
Professor Carolina's voice paused, leaving only the sound of machinery operating.
"They are merging, Cynthia. Right now, the entire Mt. Coronet is—"
"Grandmother, what should we do now?"
Cynthia's voice became calm.
Professor Carolina froze for a moment before slowly speaking: "I've looked into it. The space-time rifts near Mt. Coronet are appearing because they are affected by fluctuations coming from the ruined world, which is the Distortion World. This explains why these rifts are appearing near Mt. Coronet; Mt. Coronet happens to be the entrance to the Distortion World."
"Then I'll head over."
Cynthia stood up from her seat and walked out of the office, with Garchomp following closely behind.
"Wait! It's useless unless you go deep into the Distortion World and solve the problem from the inside."
"Because these space-time rifts will continuously channel the power of the Distortion World into the real world, affecting the wild Pokémon on Mt. Coronet and causing them to go wild."
Professor Carolina paused, her voice turning grim.
"It's already too late for you to go now."
Cynthia paused, looked at the figure that suddenly appeared on the balcony, and walked over. From the rotom phone floating beside her, Professor Carolina's voice continued to come through.
"The primary task right now is to handle the issue of the rampaging wild Pokémon on Mt. Coronet. There are so many towns, humans, and Pokémon at the foot of Mt. Coronet. You need to protect them."
"I understand. I will go and stop them."
Cynthia's voice suddenly lightened. "Grandmother, as long as the issues on the side of the Distortion World are resolved, our real world will also return to normal, right?"
"Theoretically, yes."
Professor Carolina said, "But you can't—"
"Then there's no problem. Someone has already gone."
Cynthia reached out, patted the head of the cute Pokémon in front of her, and said with a smile.
"Sha~"
"Who? ...That Lucas you mentioned?"
Professor Carolina instantly guessed who her granddaughter was talking about and asked.
"Yes."
Cynthia hummed in agreement.
"How did that guy know there would be an accident at Mt. Coronet? But with him there, there shouldn't be much of a problem. He was the one who resolved the incident in Poplar Town, after all."
Professor Carolina said.
"He was accidentally pulled in."
Cynthia couldn't help but laugh as she recalled the call that had suddenly cut off.
"Huh?!"
Professor Carolina opened her mouth wide. She hesitated to speak, but finally sighed, holding her forehead, and said, "That really is... I don't know whether to call it good luck or bad luck."
"Cynthia, you'll need to call a few more Elites to help this time, as well as the Gym Leaders near Mt. Coronet."
Mt. Coronet is too massive; nobody knows how many Pokémon actually live there. Therefore, if it's just Lucas alone, it would be impossible to stop them all.
"Alright, I'll call all the Elites."
Cynthia replied.
Before hanging up, Professor Carolina suddenly said, "Find some time to bring him back so I can meet him."
Cynthia's face flushed red, and she hummed in agreement once more.
After hanging up, Cynthia issued orders to all the Elites and the Gym Leaders near Mt. Coronet.
Then she put away her phone, leaped down from the balcony, and landed steadily on Garchomp's back.
"Let's go, Garchomp."
"kao!"
Garchomp soared straight into the sky.
"Sha~" "Sha~"
Just as Lucian walked out of the League, he received Cynthia's message.
"Overtime again?"
A look of agony appeared on Lucian's face; he had just been about to grab a bite to eat.
He could only jump onto Bronzong's back and rush toward Mt. Coronet.
"Lucian, we have a mission—huh? Where is Lucian?"
Aaron ran out of the League, searched around but couldn't find Lucian anywhere. Then he saw Grandma Bertha driving a large jeep charging over, executing a stylish drift right in front of him.
"Get in."
Aaron hesitated for a moment, remembering that he didn't have a transportation Pokémon, and could only grit his teeth and get in the car.
Grandma Bertha skillfully shifted gears and stepped on the gas.
"Grandma, slow down—"
"Don't worry, this is nothing, Hahaha!"
Grandma Bertha's voice was incredibly bold and wild.
On the other side, right after receiving the mission, Flint and Volkner had just arrived near Mt. Coronet when they ran into Ash and his friends.
"Ash?"
Flint greeted Ash.
"Elite Flint, Leader Volkner."
Ash ran over and said hello.
"Ash, why are you guys here? Wasn't a notice sent out? Mt. Coronet is going to be very dangerous."
Flint asked Ash.
Ash explained everything to Flint and Volkner: how their group had come to Mt. Coronet for special training, how they had accidentally met Shaymin falling from the sky, how they had promised to take it to the Gracidea flower garden, how they had been pulled into the Distortion World, how they had met Dr. Newton Graceland who was researching the Distortion World, and how they had escaped the Distortion World under his guidance.
After listening, Flint scratched his afro.
"Why is it so complicated?"
Meanwhile, Volkner asked calmly, "So you mean this Mythical Pokémon, Shaymin, escaped from the Distortion World?"
"The Distortion World is—"
Newton Graceland was about to explain when he heard Flint say, "I've heard Lucian mention this. Legend has it that next to Sinnoh's Lake Valor, there is a fourth Lake in the Sinnoh region."
"I think it's called... Sendoff Spring? Lucian said that it's a passage to the reverse side of the world, which is the passage to the Distortion World."
"It's said that a banished creature lives there—"
Flint's voice suddenly became eerie.
"Giratina!"
Of everyone present, only Ash was startled.
Volkner: ————
Sometimes I really don't want to tell people I know you.
"Elite Flint is right. It was precisely because of the battle between Palkia and Dialga in Poplar Town some time ago that a lot of Haze appeared in the Distortion World. That's why Giratina targeted Dialga and Palkia. According to Shaymin, it escaped the Distortion World using Seed Flare. Perhaps that's exactly why Giratina targeted it."
Newton Graceland took over from Flint and continued.
"So the anomaly at Mt. Coronet is also caused by Sendoff Spring and Giratina?"
Volkner asked with a frown.
"An anomaly at Mt. Coronet? As expected... Has the Distortion World already begun to affect the real world—"
Newton Graceland murmured.
"Mi—"
Shaymin, perched on top of Ash's head, let out a weak cry.
"We'll take you to the Gracidea flower garden right now."
Having said that, Ash was about to sprint toward the flower garden.
Volkner called out to stop him, looking at the Shaymin on Ash's head.
The little hedgehog-like Shaymin was currently sleeping soundly. Lush, fresh green grass covered the upper part of its body, with a few yellow spots scattered on the grass. A pair of pink flowers adorned both sides of its body, and its four short little legs were as white as snow.
"Let's go together. Maybe this Shaymin is the key to solving this matter. We need to protect it."
Volkner said.
Flint thought about it. "Fair enough, we'll do as you say."
"That's great! Thank you so much, Elite Flint and Leader Volkner."
Then, the group rushed toward the Gracidea flower garden.
The Distortion World.
Within Giratina's crimson pupils, it continuously scanned the people and Pokémon on the "mirror surface."
Its gaze swept past quickly, seeing a large white bird, a red-and-white plane, a fat purple guy, a little green princess, a purple-black mother, a muscular fierce woman, a lazy large fox, and a black-haired young man, who were all staring at the floor tiles—or more accurately, the space beneath the floor tiles.
Giratina: ————
Can't mess with them, definitely can't mess with them.
It then scanned the area again, quickly finding Ash's group and Shaymin.
Giratina flapped its six long, ghost-like streamers of wings, gliding swiftly through the Distortion World, heading straight for Ash and the others.
Lucas squatted on the floor tiles of the Distortion World, looking at the shadow space beneath them.
It was already strange enough that the Distortion World had floating floor tiles, but he hadn't expected to actually see Gengar's "four-dimensional pocket" here.
"I was wondering where the 'Supreme Legend Blade' I carved for myself went. So you were the one who took it!"
Lucas pointed at the wooden sword in the corner and scolded.
"Hehehe."
"Lilli—"
"Why do you even have a telescopic ladder—"
"I was afraid I'd need to climb trees."
"Gothitelle?"
"You even have a fire extinguisher?"
"I was afraid of a fire—"
Ninetales: ??? [Confused Fox]
"No, Gengar, why on earth are you carrying a bathtub with you?"
Lugia was also shocked, pointing at the inconspicuous large bathtub and asking.
Who brings a whole bathtub when they go out?!
"Hehehe."
Gengar tapped its index fingers together, not saying a word, only keeping up its grin.
Lucas: ————
"Gengar!!!"
Lucas pulled at the corners of Gengar's mouth. "You carried a bathtub with you, so why didn't you bring it out for me to take a bath that day?!"
"Gen gengar—"
"Let me explain—"
"I... I forgot—"
"I say... shouldn't we be trying to find Giratina and get out of here right now?"
Latias's voice echoed in his mind.
Lucas stood up, "Don't you realize? No matter how we walk, we are always in this same scene. Giratina has trapped us here using the illusions of the Distortion World."
"I think it wants to resolve its own business first, and then let us out, right?"
"That sounds like something that guy would do," Lugia said.
"Lugia, can we — — — —"
"No. The Distortion World corresponds to the real world. Do you see those bubbles? Don't let their beauty fool you; they are extremely fragile. If even one bubble is destroyed, the corresponding location in the real world will experience the same destruction. I could use my power to break this illusion, but there are too many bubbles in the place where we are trapped — — — —"
Lugia spoke up: "I will not destroy these bubbles."
Lucas sighed.
The surrounding area was filled with more than just a few bubbles; it was almost entirely bubbles.
Hearing Lugia's words, Gengar hurriedly retracted the finger it had wanted to use to poke a bubble.
"Then there's nothing we can do; we'll just have to wait."
Lucas sighed, "Since Gengar still has a pile of snacks hidden away, let's take them out and have some."
Gengar: ∑(°A°)
"I'll make new ones for you when we go back, double the amount."
Gengar: (*1▽"*)
Just look at this, isn't this treating me like some kind of ghost — — — —
"Arrogant at first and humble later, it makes one laugh to think about it."
Gengar: Bleh.
"Giratina, give me some permission, let me see the scene outside."
Lucas suddenly shouted.
Giratina was charging towards Shaymin and Ash on the mirror surface. Hearing Lucas's words, it suddenly paused, looked back at Lucas, who was trapped in the illusion, hesitated for a moment, and then Lucas discovered that the sky of the Distortion World above his head had turned into a mirror.
Lugia: ???
"I say, Lucas, you didn't happen to get some dirt on it, did you?"
Lugia looked Lucas up and down, making tsk-tsk sounds.
"I have never seen it share the authority of the Distortion World before."
"You talk as if you've been to the Distortion World before."
Lucas rolled his eyes.
Lugia: — — — —
Fair point.
"Exhausted, after traveling all day, might as well lie down for a bit."
Gengar took out a blanket and spread it on the floating tiles. Lucas lay down, hugging a Gengar-shaped doll.
"Gengar, why does this doll feel so familiar?"
Gengar: Hehe.
"You even took Shauna's things — — — —"
Gengar covered Lucas's mouth.
"Gengar"
Do you want to take a bath?
"It's not impossible — — — —"
Seeing Gengar actually take out a bathtub, Giratina let out a roar.
"Roar!"
Don't push your luck, hey!
"Roar!"
What are you roaring for! Want to fight?!
Lugia didn't tolerate Giratina's attitude and roared right back.
Giratina: — — — —
Giratina lifted its head, found the location of Ash and the others, and chased after them.
"Lugia, I remember Lugia's personality being quite gentle, isn't it? Why do you seem so irritable?"
Lucas let Gengar put the bathtub back, lay on the blanket, and asked.
"Am I not gentle?"
Lugia looked down at Lucas and asked, puzzled.
Lucas: — — — —
Latias: — — — —
Gengar: — — — —
Lilligant: — — — —
Gothitelle: — — — —
Ninetales: — —
Flint: Quite gentle, actually.
Everyone: — — — —
"I think I'm quite gentle. After all, when I went to find them to fight, I told them beforehand."
Lugia continued.
"Find them to fight? What do you mean?"
"Many years ago, I often flew back and forth between various regions, looking for those Legendary Pokémon to fight. Ho-Oh, Groudon, Kyogre, Mewtwo, Deoxys, Rayquaza, Palkia, Dialga, Giratina, and Reshiram — — — —"
Lucas: — — — —
"Moltres and the others were also beaten into submission by me back then and taken as underlings. In Galar, I went to find Eternatus to fight. After I lost, I took my anger out on Galarian Moltres and the others, and then captured them."
"You didn't fight all of them, did you? The Legendary Pokémon — — — —"
"Not quite. Later, those Pokémon would run away as soon as they heard I was coming, especially Rayquaza. I can't go up to space, so it was annoying as hell."
"Did you win all of them?"
"Fifty-fifty."
"Have you fought Arceus?"
Lugia looked at Lucas with an expression like it was looking at an idiot.
"Are you stupid? Why don't you go fight one and let me see?"
Lucas touched his nose and gave a dry laugh, "Why did you go looking for them to fight?"
"Battle, it feels great!"
Lugia spread its wings and let out a long cry to the sky.
No wonder Hoopa dragged you over — —
I can now confirm that the Rayquaza in our world is not black. If it were, it would have probably fought you already.
Lucas looked at the image on the mirror. It was like a television station merging various channels. Images from all over were inside, and Lucas needed to find the scene he wanted to watch.
After a long time, Lucas finally found Ash and the others.
In the image at this moment, Shaymin on Ash's head was about to arrive at the Gracidea flower field. Smelling the fragrance of the Gracidea flowers, a scorching light erupted from its body, and its body evolved from a hedgehog-like form to a deer-like form.
Shaymin Sky Forme.
In the image, Ash and Brock were happily talking about something.
"One star, no sound."
Lucas muttered.
Then he noticed that Flint and a man who looked exactly like "Four Bags of Noodles" were also in the image.
"Why are Volkner and Flint here too?"
If I weren't here, Ash and the others, along with Flint and Volkner, should be able to solve it, right?
After all, Volkner also has strength on par with an Elite.
That's equivalent to having two Elites.
I wonder how things are with Cynthia. When I was pulled into the Distortion World, I told Celebi, who was recuperating in Poplar Town, via the wooden plaque on my chest.
Celebi should have told Cynthia by now, right?
I remember this incident ended after dealing with a certain scientist's assistant and the avalanche. It seems much easier than Poplar Town.
Lucas kept thinking, then nodded.
Ash, I believe in you.
Then Lucas swiped the screen to look for Cynthia's image.
Aaron and an old woman? Why does Aaron have such a look of resignation?
Lucian and Gardenia? How did they end up together?
Byron? Roark? This father and son made up?
Why is this person dressed so thinly? Their build is also so thin, can't they afford to eat?
Speaking of which, with such an important matter, why haven't I seen the "real" protagonist yet?
"James, haven't you found a way out yet, Meowth?"
"Where exactly is this place — — — —"
Speak of the devil, Lucas heard the trio's voices. He sat up, looked outside, and found James and the others. They were hunching, heads down, walking like gorillas.
Turns out they had been pulled in a long time ago.
Looks like they were also trapped in the illusion?
"So hungry — — — —"
"Exactly, Meowth — — — —"
"Do you want to come in and eat some snacks?"
"Why did I seem to hear Lucas's voice just now?"
Jessie looked up and asked suspiciously.
"I heard it too."
"Me too, Meowth."
"Wobbuffet — — — —"
"Get back in there."
"Could we have misheard? How could Lucas be here?"
"Are we so hungry we're hallucinating, Meowth?"
"I really want to eat another bowl of noodles cooked by Lucas before I die — — — —"
Tears welled up in Jessie's eyes.
"If you don't come now, Gengar will finish them all."
"I heard it again! Jessie!"
James looked up and searched around.
"James, look."
Jessie pulled James and pointed ahead. James vaguely saw something. He rubbed his eyes and found Lucas sitting on a blanket, with Lilligant and the others sitting beside him, waving at him.
"Is it an illusion? Or — — — —"
James said.
"Hurry up and get over here!"
Lucas couldn't stand them and shouted.
"It really is Lucas!"
Jessie ran over happily.
James and Meowth followed closely.
Poof~
"Strange, why does it feel like I passed through something?"
Jessie heard the sound and said suspiciously. But when she saw James and Meowth already eating snacks, she ran over too.
"Manager — — — — *sob* *sob* *sob*."
Jessie pounced over, wanting to hug Lucas's leg.
She was swatted away by Ninetales' tail.
Ninetales stared at Jessie with narrowed eyes.
Gothitelle and Lilligant also narrowed their eyes.
Jessie gave a dry laugh, "I didn't mean to, hehe."
"Alright, come in and sit down, eat something, and I'll take you out later."
"*Sob* *sob* *sob*, Manager, you are still so kind."
Jessie said, eating snacks with tears all over her face.
"That's great, Lucas."
James said the same.
"Meowth — — — — that's right *sob* *sob* *sob*."
After Jessie cleaned up the trash, she sat on the edge of the blanket. Lucas saw their actions and said with a smile: "It's fine, just sit in. We'll have to wash the blanket anyway."
The trio looked at each other, then sat in the middle of the blanket with a grin.
"Manager, why did you appear here?"
Jessie asked.
"When I heard your voices, I thought we had misheard."
"That's right, we didn't expect to see you here, Manager."
James said.
"That's right, Meowth."
"Same as you, I was pulled in."
Lucas said: "Rest well, I'll take you out in a while."
After saying that, he continued to look for Cynthia's image.
Seeing Lucas fall into silence, the trio huddled together.
"Did you see that, that Pokémon."
Jessie whispered.
James and Meowth looked up at Lugia.
"The legendary Lugia, Meowth."
"The Manager even tamed that? So amazing."
"Do you think the Manager is — — — — Giratina — — — —"
Before they could finish, the trio laughed together.
"Wobbuffet~"
"Why did you come out again? Get back in there."
"What's wrong?"
Lucas turned his head.
The trio pressed Wobbuffet down and shook their heads frantically.
"No, nothing."
Seeing this, Lucas stopped paying attention to them.
"We can help the Manager — — — —"
"Right, but we can't let the Manager know. Give the Manager a surprise, after all, the Manager has helped us so much."
"No problem, Meowth."
While the trio was plotting, at the Gracidea flower field.
A suddenly appearing vortex pulled Ash and the others in, leaving only Brock and Flint.
"Ash!"
"Volkner!"
Flint was about to jump in, but was held back by Brock.
"Elite Four Flint, we need to handle those — — — —"
Flint followed Brock's finger and looked, swallowing hard.
"What in the world is — — — —"
"What's the situation — — — —"
January 9th, 14:53.
The wild Pokémon of Mt. Coronet went berserk for unknown reasons, attacking Trainers and other Pokémon everywhere.
13: 08.
Sinnoh Champion Cynthia arrived at Mt. Coronet, commanding the Sinnoh Elite Four to take their posts in the southeast, west, and north directions of Mt. Coronet to handle the wild Pokémon rampage incident.
13: 48.
Gym Leader Gardenia, Byron, Roark, and Maylene arrived at Mt. Coronet and joined the battle.
Gym Leader Volkner was pulled into the Distortion World.
***************************
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