My Little Pokémon: Grander World

Kalos. Late Afternoon.

After learning about the direction of another shard, the CMC were quick to inform the nearest Canterlot Guard, which in turn went straight to Princess Celestia. And once Princess Celestia got a hold of that information, she would spread it out to everyone else as soon as possible, even when the late afternoon Sun was about to set.

As soon as they learned about this, Lena and Team Rocket appeared at the North, specifically the colder North. For this, they came equipped with some clothing for the cold, such as thick jackets, scarfs and gloves.

"Yahooo!"Lena immediately started sliding on the snow, taking full advantage of the gear she had just to have some fun. Jessie and James weren't feeling the same as they were freezing even with these clothes on.

"S-So where is this guy, anyway...!" James stuttered while walking across the area. "Which part of North is it?"

"As long as the shards we have react to each other, we'll know." Lena said while holding out the shards. Thankfully, after the news broke out, one the two shards that Professor Kukui was keeping for a while ended up being passed onto her, just so she could find this other shard. It was the Ground Shard she had received to be exact. Right now, she had 4 shards in her disposal because of this and once they start reacting to a large degree to a 5th, that's when they'll know where this 5th shard is.

"I-If the sun ain't out, then we should've gotten the Fire Shard." Meowth shivered. "W-Why didn't we think of that?!"

"We'd have to find it in Alola first. I can't believe they still haven't found the Fire Shard at all." Jessie groaned. "If it's in Alola, why hasn't it been found yet?"

"We'll cross that bridge when we do. Let's keep moving." Lena shrugged before continuing on her way. This whole North Area of Equestria was home to many different kinds of Pokemon, from the swift Sneasel to the massive Avalugg.

Despite the heavy cold, there were a few people present, all of them having their own Pokemon as well. Some were just having a stroll, while others were just trying to get through the cold.

"I-I'm not sure if I can handle the cold much longer!" James exclaimed.

"Oh, will ya quit complainin' already? We've only been here for 5 minutes!" Meowth retorted.

"That's still 5 minutes of my life I can't get back!"

"Hah! What a big baby." Jessie scoffed while teasing James, only to have an icicle form on the tip of her hair due to how cold it was.

"B-Big Baby?! You're shivering like crazy, too! Don't act like you're not!"

"It's strange, though..." Lena mused, her brow furrowed in thought. "Why would it be so cold here of all places? It's unusually cold, actually... We're not even in some of the coldest parts of Equestria. And it can't be the Ice Shard in use since Volo's elsewhere right now..."

"Who knows? Who cares? Let's just get a move on and find this thing so we can leave."

"Right." Lena nodded, keeping her eyes and ears open.

As the group continued on their way, they passed by a few buildings. One of them looked like a resort, with a sign outside the entrance reading Blockfreeze Hotel. The hotel stood as an oasis of warmth amidst the icy landscape, with steam rising from its chimneys and lights glowing invitingly from the windows.

"Maybe we should check in there for more information," Lena suggested. "Someone might have seen something or felt something strange."

"Good idea. And maybe we can warm up a bit," James added, eager to escape the biting cold.

They entered the hotel, immediately greeted by a rush of warm air and the cozy atmosphere. The lobby was decorated with rustic furniture and a roaring fireplace, perfect for absolute relaxation in this area.

"Ah. Now this is what I'm talking about," Lena exhaled a breath of relief, seeing the fireplace.

"I'll say. I can finally thaw out," Meowth added, basking in the warmth.

"Hello, there!" a voice greeted them, catching the attention of the team. They looked over and saw an old stallion and an old mare standing side by side. Both were wearing fancy clothing, and the old stallion was even holding a cane.

"We actually have guests here. I'm surprised. Welcome to Blockfreeze Hotel. I'm the owner of the establishment, and this is my wife," The old stallion said, smiling warmly.

"Thank you for the warm welcome," Lena greeted the old couple with a nod.

"It's no problem," the old stallion continued. "Not a lot of folks come here, so it's a surprise to see anyone come here at all. Usually they stay away because it's oh-so cold."

"Bah, it's fine. It doesn't bother me too much, but it sure does bother them," Lena pointed at Team Rocket, who were still shivering despite the warmth of the hotel.

"We're actually on the search for one of the shards we heard was somewhere in the North. Any chance you've seen one or someone holding a shard?" Lena asked.

The stallion's eyes widened slightly, and he exchanged a glance with the mare. "A shard, you say? That's quite an intriguing quest you're on."

The mare nodded. "We haven't seen anyone with a shard specifically, but there have been some unusual occurrences recently. Guests have reported seeing strange lights in the sky and feeling an odd chill, even inside the hotel."

"The lights seem to be concentrated near the old ice caves to the northeast," The stallion added. "If you're looking for something unusual, that's where I'd start."

"Cave, huh? Well, I appreciate the info," Lena thanked the owners.

"It's no trouble. I hope you're able to find what you're looking for," The mare smiled.

"Same here. I'm not really a fan of the cold, so I'd like to go somewhere warmer," The Old Stallion joked.

"Well, I'll let you know if we do. We'll get out of your manes for now." Lena turned, heading towards the door.

"L-Let's not leave yet!" Jessie and James collectively said while shivering, holding onto Lena's jacket. They couldn't head back out there so soon. Not in their condition.

"Umm... We'll actually stay here for a bit," Lena grinned, understanding their plight.

"Oh, of course. Canter Frost is the name, by the way." Mr. Canter Frost said kindly. "Feel free to warm up by the fireplace and rest for a while. We wouldn't want you heading out unprepared."

The group gathered around the grand fireplace in the hotel’s lobby. With steaming mugs of hot cocoa in their hands, they listened to Canter Frost and Elderly Rose recount tales of the hotel’s history and the peculiar occurrences in the area.

Lena, Jessie, and James leaned in, captivated by the stories, while Meowth enjoyed the warmth from his spot on the plush rug.

That night, they were shown to their rooms, each equipped with soft, fluffy beds and thick, warm blankets. Jessie and James sighed in relief as they sank into the beds, feeling the day's chill finally leave their bones.

"Ah, this is heaven," Jessie murmured, pulling the blanket up to her chin.

James nodded in agreement, already half-asleep. "Best decision we've made all week."

"You're telling me," Meowth yawned, curling up on the pillow.

"I'll be back. Gonna take a quick walk," Lena told the three, leaving the room.

"Mmkay," Jessie mumbled, drifting off to sleep.

"Don't get lost," James managed to say before dozing off completely.

"Yeah, yeah," Meowth replied, falling asleep as well.

Lena closed the door quietly, and set off down the hallway.

Lena walked along the quiet hallways of the hotel, her footsteps echoing softly. She was deep in thought, her mind going over the events of the past few days.

She was worried about Ash, and the others, and the world, for that matter. Lena sighed, her breath forming a small cloud in the chilly hallway. Her body felt weight of responsibility that rested heavily on her shoulders. She had brought Team Rocket and now a majority of Equestria into this quest, knowing the dangers they would face. But in the case of Team Rocket, they had proven their dedication to help and she couldn't have asked for better companions.

As she walked, Lena passed by the windows, where she could see the moon casting a soft glow over the snowy landscape outside. It was peaceful, serene even, but underneath it all lurked the uncertainty of their mission and the looming threat of Volo.

Lost in her thoughts, Lena didn't realize how far she had wandered until she found herself at the end of the hallway, facing a door that led outside. She hesitated for a moment, considering whether to step out into the cold night air. But something compelled her to open the door and venture outside, if only for a moment of solo peace.

Stepping out into the crisp night, Lena looked up at the stars twinkling in the sky as she couldn't help but be mesmerized by Equestria's glorious night sky. The stars twinkled like diamonds scattered across a vast dark blue canvas, their shimmering light casting a magical glow over the landscape.

The moon hung low in the sky, bathing everything in its soft, silver light. Lena tilted her head back, taking in the beauty of the celestial display above her. She tracked the unique constellations with her eyes, finding comfort in their familiar patterns.

"It's a nice view, isn't it?" Suddenly, Mrs. Elderly Rose's voice interrupted Lena's reverie, surprising her. "My husband chose this spot to build our hotel since it's oh-so lovely to look at. That way, guests can also gaze at it as well. Washes away your worries a bit, doesn't it?"

Lena turned to see Elderly Rose standing nearby, a warm smile on her wrinkled face. She nodded in agreement, feeling grateful for the unexpected company.

"It's beautiful," Lena replied softly. "And yes, it does help ease the worries, even if just for a moment."

Elderly Rose chuckled softly, her eyes twinkling with understanding. "That's the magic of the night sky, dear. It has a way of putting things into perspective, no? At least, I believe so, dearie."

"You remind me of my Grandma," Lena said, her voice soft with emotion.

Elderly Rose looked at Lena, her expression warm and gentle. "Is that so, dear?"

Lena nodded. "Yes. She used to say similar things about finding beauty and perspective in the world around us. She had a way of making even the simplest moments feel special. I wish I could tell her and everyone back at the village about all I've seen and done," Lena continued, her voice tinged with longing. "Once I finish finding the shards, I'll make sure everything is right. Time will go back the way it was, and I can return to my own time, even before I ended up in Hisui."

"Hm. That does sound rather disheartening. That would mean you'd have to say farewell to your three friends, correct?" Elderly Rose asked, her tone sympathetic.

"Yeah... But it's for the best," Lena replied, her voice tinged with sadness. "I shouldn't even be in this era. All of this is an accident. And because I couldn't stop Volo in time, I ended up getting Equestria and the other regions involved in my search."

"Accidents happen, dear," Elderly Rose said gently. "And sometimes, at least what my mother said, they're exactly what you need. Look at where you are now, for example. If you hadn't had that accident, you wouldn't have met your new friends, and you wouldn't have been able to learn so much about the world. You wouldn't have had the opportunity to experience all these wonderful things."

Lena was taken aback by the older mare's words, her heart filled with a mixture of emotions. It was a wonderful thing, even if her memory wouldn't allow her to remember it all. "The thing is...they already know about that. But it doesn't bother them at all. Well, not until that day ends up coming. I'm not sure how I'd say goodbye to them all when that time comes."

Lena then looked at the nearest window, seeing what Team Rocket was up to at the moment. Currently, they were bickering amongst each other which wasn't surprising. Jessie could be seen throwing a barrage of pillows at James at high speeds while James had Wobbuffet bounce them all back, hitting Jessie instead. Meowth was simply watching, enjoying the show.

Elderly Rose smiled knowingly. "I'm sure they understand, dear. They care about you, and they want you to be happy. I can see it in their eyes. They're good people, and good people always put the happiness of those they love first."

"Mm. Yeah." Lena then looked down while smiling before taking a deep breath. "Well, I'd best get some rest and be ready for tomorrow. We'll get that shard before it gets too far away from us."

"You do that, sweetie. And by tomorrow's light, I'll give you all something to eat to prepare you for the day. After all, the journey is just as important as the destination. Rest well, and may the stars guide you."

Kalos. Out in the Wild.

Back at Kalos, the situation was a lot more dire than what it was in Equestria. The land was still experiencing tremors and shockwaves, causing the ground to shake violently.

However, closer and closer, Ash and his group were reaching the location of this next shard. The energy was starting to get stronger and stronger the further they went, and the same goes for the shard.

"Right there!" Ash pointed in the distance, spotting an old, abandoned castle that was once home to a royal family, but now, it was nothing but a decaying structure. From what Ash could see from the map on the device, it was somewhere around that castle.

So far, it didn't look like Volo and Team Galactic had reached this area since the map showed the Life Plates and Dragon Shard elsewhere, away from the castle. This meant that Ash and his group got here first.

Knowing this, they would approach the castle, seeing exactly where it was situated at. This old castle was sat in the middle of two cliffs with a large lake behind it, and a waterfall was cascading down one of the cliffs, leading into the lake.

The path towards the castle was a long and narrow bridge that was suspended in the air between the two cliffs. The group would cross the bridge, slowly and carefully. The castle loomed ahead, its crumbling walls and ivy-covered towers casting eerie shadows in the fading light of the day.

"Looks like this place has seen better days," Twilight remarked, her voice echoing in the stillness of the air. "Wonder what the story behind this one is..."

"Yeah, no kidding," Rainbow Dash added, her gaze sweeping over the olden structure.

As they reached the other side of the bridge, they stepped onto the worn cobblestones of the castle courtyard. The once-grand fountain in the center lay dry and cracked and yet it was still pouring water.

"So, where do we start looking?" Sunset asked, scanning the surroundings.

"The shard should be somewhere within the castle grounds," Ash replied, consulting the map on his device. "Let's split up and search the area. Be on the lookout for any signs of the shard or any clues about Volo's whereabouts."

"Got it," Twilight said, nodding in agreement.

With that, the group dispersed, each heading in a different direction to explore the castle grounds. They moved cautiously, their footsteps echoing in the empty corridors and abandoned rooms.

As they searched, they encountered remnants of the castle's former glory. The tapestries were still around and intact, helping them see what this place was like prior to all of this, among other things. There were the ornate chandeliers, and dusty suits of armour standing sentinel in the dimly lit hallways.

Suddenly, from the shadows emerged a figure, but it wasn't the intimidating Volo they expected. Instead, before them stood a Pokémon, its form shrouded in darkness.

"What... what is that?" Sci-Twi gasped, her eyes wide with apprehension.

"Noibat?"

Relief washed over Ash and his friends as they realized that the mysterious Pokémon was just a Noibat. They watched as the small bat Pokémon hovered nervously in the air, its eyes darting around the room.

"Oh, it's just a Noibat. It looks like the only Pokémon in here," Ash said, kneeling down to face the timid creature.

The Noibat chirped softly, its wings fluttering anxiously as it regarded Ash with cautious curiousity. "Do you think Noibat's seen the shard? I don't see any Pokemon around here at all." Sunset pointed out. Noibat seemed to be the only Pokemon residing here in this castle.

"Maybe, but the poor little one seems scared," Rarity observed, noting the way the small bat Pokémon flinched as she spoke.

"He must have been alone here for a while," Sci-Twi said, her expression softening with sympathy.

"Bat. Noi! Noibat!"

"Don't worry about it. We're just here to pick something up and we'll be out of your hair." Ash reassured Noibat, giving a thumbs-up. Noibat looked at him for a moment before slowly nodding his head. "Have you seen a shard somewhere here? Or anything that sticks out?"

"Bat, Bat!" Ash and his friends followed the Noibat deeper into the recesses of the old castle. The small bat Pokémon fluttered ahead, its movements quick and purposeful as it led them through winding corridors and shadowy hallways.

As they ventured further into the darkness, a sense of unease settled over the group. The air grew heavy with an unexpected tension, as if Volo was nearing. It would make sense for him to eventually show up here since there was another shard present in this area.

"Are you sure this is the right way, Noibat?" Sunset asked, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

"Noi-Noi." The Noibat chirped in response, its eyes glinting in the dim light as it continued to guide them forward.

"Something's a bit iffy about the air right now..." Twilight said, casting a wary glance around the darkened corridor.

But despite their apprehension, they pressed on, drawn onward by the mysterious allure of the shard and the enigmatic Noibat that led them deeper into the heart of the castle.

With each step they took, the shadows seemed to grow darker and darker. As they rounded a corner, the Noibat suddenly came to a stop, its wings twitching nervously as it hovered before a heavy wooden door.

"This must be it," Ash said, his voice hushed with anticipation.

With a hesitant hand, he reached out and pushed open the door, revealing a dark chamber beyond. The Noibat darted inside, disappearing into the darkness.

"Be careful, everyone," Twilight cautioned, her horn glowing softly as she cast a faint light into the gloom.

But as they stepped into the chamber, they were met with a sight that sent a chill down their spines. In the center of the room stood a towering statue, its stone form twisted and grotesque, its eyes gleaming with an otherworldly light.

"What is this place?" Pinkie Pie whispered, her voice barely audible over the eerie silence that filled the chamber. But before they could receive the answer, a low rumble echoed through the room, sending tremors through the stone floor beneath their feet, but it was only for a little while.

"We shouldn't stay here," Sunset said, her voice trembling with fear. "This place gives me the creeps."

"I don't like this one bit.." Rainbow Dash muttered, her eyes shifting nervously around the chamber.

As the floor began to tremble and crack beneath them, Ash and his friends stumbled backward in alarm, their eyes widening in shock as they beheld the gaping chasm that yawned open before them.

"What's happening?!" Rainbow Dash cried, her voice filled with panic as she struggled to maintain her footing on the shifting ground.

As Ash and his friends peered into the depths below, they were met with a chilling sight. The room revealed by the crumbling floor was cloaked in shadow, its depths obscured by a thick veil of darkness that seemed to swallow the light.

"D-Do you think the Shard is down there?" Sunset whispered, her voice barely audible over the distant echoes that reverberated through the chamber.

"It's hard to say," Twilight murmured, her brow furrowed in concentration as she tried to make out any details in the murky depths below. "I hope not, honestly."

But as they strained their eyes to see, they realized that the darkness was impenetrable, concealing whatever secrets lay hidden within its old depths. Just then a chill wind whispered through the chamber, sending shivers down their spines. The air seemed to crackle with anticipation, and an eerie silence settled over the group as they peered into the darkness.

"You'll have to find out yourself." Suddenly, Noibat would speak to them in a clear voice that made them all gasp, its form beginning to shimmer and warp before their eyes. Ash and his friends watched in shock as the small bat Pokémon underwent a startling transformation, its tiny body enlarging into that of a Human.

Then, with a bone-chilling roar from the energy around it, the character standing there had been revealed. It was none other than Volo.

"Volo?!" Before Ash and his friends could react, Volo had used the Dragon Shard in his disposal, unleashing a mighty draconic shockwave that reverberated across the area, shoving them all into the gaping maw of the abyss below.

With a collective cry of shock, they plummeted into the darkness, their screams echoing off the walls of the mysterious room below. Volo looked down at them all as they fell, especially at Sci-Twi.

"Apologies, Twilight. But you and I are now enemies. This is how it has to be." Volo coldly said as the floor would close up, concealing this area completely. Volo closed his eyes before walking off, already knowing where the shard was. As he left them all in that dark room, he would them walk off, entering the other room not too far from here.

In that room, he had found the other shard. None other than the Dark Shard. Volo had held back the power of the Life Plate to make sure no destructive reaction wouldn't go off until he had found the next shard. Now that he had the Dark Shard, that meant that only 4 shards remained to be found by either side.

With the shards of power pulsating in his grasp, Volo had one last thing to do before he leaves. He knew that Ash and his companions were not to be underestimated, and he couldn't afford to let them escape from the depths where he had trapped them.

Drawing upon the combined energies of the Dragon Shard and the newly acquired Dark Shard, Volo channelled their potent power into the very floor beneath which his adversaries lay imprisoned.

With a gesture of his hand, he unleashed a torrent of Divine energy that ensnared the chamber, sealing off any hope of escape for those trapped within.

The air crackled with malevolent power as the energy surged through the chamber, enveloping the trapped group in its suffocating embrace. Each pulse of energy sent shockwaves rippling through the darkness, binding them ever tighter in its grip.

Volo's lips curled into a cold smile as he surveyed his handiwork. With the combined might of the Dragon Shard and the Dark Shard at his command, there was no escaping his grasp.

"Now," he murmured to himself, his voice echoing through the chamber, "Let's see how you get out of this one. If you can."

As the journey continues.

Chapter 525 End.