@Scytherwolf; @Soups;


Episode 3: The Light Blooming in the Darkness


"Whoa!" Brock gasped as Ash and Dawn tumbled out of the statue in a heap. "Are you guys okay?"

"I think so..." Ash replied as he dusted himself off. "We were taken to this weird purply world with all these platforms and underground tunnels..." He gestured to the statue, which displayed Giratina floating around the Distortion World.

"Not just that, we met a guy actually researching the place." Dawn added as she shakily stood up. "He was the one that led us back to the real world."

Brock glanced at the image in the statue. "How could a regular human survive somewhere like that?"

"Well, it helped we were underground..." Ash replied.

[Don't remind me about the smoke...] Tintri shuddered.

Dawn gasped as some Magnemite and Magneton surrounded the group. "I have a bad feeling about these Pokemon..."

"Maybe it has something to do with that spaceship?" Ash asked, pointing out Zero's ship as it landed on a hill.

After a few tense moments, Zero emerged from the ship, with a massive magnet Pokemon by his side. "An astute observation, hot shot." he began. "You three have something that I want...hand over the Shaymin, and no one gets hurt."

Ash, meanwhile, decided to read up on Zero's Pokemon:

"Magnezone, the magnet area Pokemon. It evolved from exposure to a special magnetic field. Three units generate magnetism."

[You want the Shaymin?] Tintri challenged. [You'll have to get through me first!]

With that, he fired a Thunderbolt. The Magnezone countered with a green beam of light, forcing the group to roll away from the ensuing explosion.

"Is everyone okay?" Brock asked as the group collected themselves.

"I think so..." Ash replied.

He looked back at the crater the explosion created, where many of the Magnemite had fainted. "That takes care of most of our problem..."

"But not all of it." Brock cautioned. "That guy could be anywhere in this area, so we need to find somewhere safe to regroup and plan our next move."

Ash noticed an alleyway near their location. "An alley! There's no way that guy could find us in town!"

[I'll distract these magnet rejects while you make a break for it!] Kori offered.

With that, she fired a Whirlpool, buying the group time to dash down the alley and into a town.

---------

"I think we lost them..." Dawn smiled as she and Kori reunited in the town square some time later.

[Those Magnemite and Magneton won't be getting up for a while.] Kori smiled.

[The next question is, where do we go from here?] Tintri asked. [That guy could very well have spies in town!]

Ash noticed a poster nearby a train station. "Gracidea Point Scenic Train Ride, 500 credits per person..."

He noticed Shaymin seemed excited over the poster. "Is Gracidea Point your home, maybe?"

Brock smiled. "I think we've found our way out of here, and a clue to what Shaymin means by 'that place'."

"I've always wanted to take a train somewhere." Dawn smiled as the group got in line to buy tickets for the excursion.

---------

"Tickets, please!" the conductor called as the group stepped aboard the train.

"Here you are." Ash handed over his ticket.

"Thank you." the conductor replied as he tore Ash's ticket. "Just have a seat anywhere--the dining car will open at noon."

Dawn smiled as Shaymin jumped into her arms. "Fingers crossed we got space-boy off our backs..." she mused as she and the boys settled into a window seat.

"And we get to see an amazing view or three in peace." Brock agreed as he connected to the train's Wi-fi network. "According to the itinerary, we'll get lunch, dinner, and excursions all across Gracidea Point."

Dawn gasped as Shaymin jumped into a woman's arms. "Oh! I guess the Shaymin we were looking after seems to like you, ma'am." she giggled as Shaymin settled in the woman's arms.

"I'm not surprised--Shaymin is a very friendly Pokemon." the woman replied. "Gracidea Point is said to be their ancestral homeland, but to see one outside of a forest or plain is very rare."

Ash smiled as Shaymin purred, creating three more flowers on her body. "So what exactly is Gracidea Point named for?"

A man showed the other passengers a basket of large pink flowers. "These are Gracidea flowers, a very rare species of flower that only blooms in a few places." he explained.

"Gracidea Point is the mountain that serves as Shaymin's ancestral home." another woman agreed. "According to one legend, Shaymin transforms when exposed to Gracidea Flowers, allowing it to soar through the sky."

"Wow!" Dawn was impressed.

"That could inspire at least a few tunes." Brock smiled. "A song about the point itself, a song about the legend of the Gracidea Flower, and a song about Shaymin's flying form..."

"It's decided!" Ash announced. "We will find a way to bring Shaymin home, or die trying!"

To Be Continued...