My Little Pokémon: Grander World

Universe 50. Mirados. Nightfall.

Ash and Twilight had both defeated their respective opponents. Ash and Emboar brung down Alpha and Gardevoir while Twilight Sparkle and Kartana successfully overcoming Twilight Moonlight and Hisuian Samurott.

Alpha could not stand anymore. She knew when was beaten as she closed her eyes in defeat, promptly returning Gardevoir to her Poke Ball. "My mission. I have failed." The Soul Clone said, failing her first mission. Ash stared her down, waiting for whatever her next move was.

Alpha looked back at the other students of the Institute along with her fellow Soul Clones, knowing that they've all been beaten. They were still unconscious, essentially making this confrontation over. Thus, Alpha decided to retreat, but not without one last look at Ash, her target. "...We will meet again. And you will not escape me next time."

She had one last device she could use. A way to get herself and the others back home. And thus, she activated her teleportation device, disappearing in a flash of light, taking herself, the Soul Clones and the Arcane Institute students all the way back to the Academy where they came from.

And to make things better, all the Quantum Orbs that held the crowd were diminished and destroyed. All thanks to Brock, who took the time to break them all with the help of his Steelix. "There we go. That's the last of you all." He said to the crowd.

In a flash of light, all the spectators were back where they were before, the whole battle was done and over with.

The battle was finally over. Ash had won. Everyone was saved. It was a momentous victory for him and his friends. But it had taken its toll on him as well. His clothes were tattered and his breathing was heavy and labored. His friends were in no better condition, but at least they were alive and together.

He looked over, seeing Twilight Sparkle laying next to Twilight Moonlight, the former passed out and the latter absolutely defeated. Alas, Alpha did not manage to take Moonlight with her, the stone-faced counterpart of Twilight Sparkle crying for the first time in her life.

All that was left was finding out where Shining Armor and the soldiers fell to in this world, rescue Braviary and hopefully rescue Sombra in time. But Ash was counting on the rest of his friends to do so.

Hilbert's Braviary was being held hostage in the north of Mirados. The area was dark and quiet, the only sound being the occasional rustling of Braviary's wings in the dark.

The unknown force was made from powerful magic, done by a few Arcane Institute students. Magic chains were put on Braviary and his beak was tied shut, forcing him into silence. He was being watched by an Arcane Institute Student, who was using magic to keep an eye on him. Braviary could only think about Hilbert, hoping his trainer was okay.

"Ugh...What's taking them so long? We've been here for hours?!" A student ranted, waiting for the rest of the Institute to return.

"Well, they're probably still fighting." Another student responded.

"Whatever. I just hope we can get out of here soon. I'm so tired...so exhausted. I can't wait to head home and have a nice hot bath." The first student replied.

"I know. I wish we could have just left this bird behind." The second student complained. "We're not gonna get any information out of him anyway. Now if it was a Hisuian Braviary..."

"Hisuian Braviary is not telepathic." The first student shut her theory down. "Although, maybe we can figure out a spell that'll look into his memories. We haven't learned something like that yet, have we?"

"The Professor said that spell's too dangerous to learn and only a few of us can use it. Twilight Moonlight has it but she never finds a need for it." The third student sighed. "If we had it then-"

Before she could say anything else, something absurdly swift would das across the room they were in, startling the students and blowing a cold gust of wind in their faces. It was a blur, but the students felt their bodies tense up as the wind hit them. It was as if something had brushed past them in the blink of an eye. The feeling was unnerving, leaving the students frozen for a moment, unable to process what had just happened.

"Was...that a Pokémon?"

The dash happened once more, the sight of this being moving so fast that they could not keep up with its movements at all. They could feel a slight breeze on their faces and hear the wind whistling past their ears. One of the students even felt a small tug on her hair as if something had grazed against it. "Wh-what is that thing?!"

One of the students tried to move, but his body refused to cooperate. It was as if his limbs were locked in place, unable to respond to his commands. He could only watch helplessly as the mysterious being continued to zip around them. The sensation was both terrifying and exhilarating, leaving the students in a state of confused shock and awe.

The dash happened again and again, the being was so quick, so impossibly agile. The students were left dumbfounded, unable to comprehend the speed and grace of this creature. They were frozen in place, their hearts pounding in their chests as the mysterious being continued to dash around them.

Finally, one of the students gathered enough courage to try and cast a spell to track the dashing object down. But the second she did, the dashing entity dashed by her and kicked her in the face. She would fall back, passing out in one go as the entity continued to move on. They were so scared they couldn't do anything but stand there and watch.

Suddenly, after a few more dashes, the students were all kicked knocked out cold. The being stopped and stepped out of the shadows. It was Pheromosa.

Naturally, it was obviously her.

"Ya know,...you could've just hit 'em the second you showed up here instead of doing all of that." Rainbow Dash spoke, seeing that as unnecessary.

"Yes, but she does love a good bit of drama and suspense." Rarity would nudge her partner Pokemon with a laugh.

"Phero~"

"We've got you, Braviary." Fluttershy spoke as the magic chains would vanish due to the students being out cold. Once the chains vanished, Audino would catch him from behind, making sure he wouldn't fall. "All that's left is Sombra."

"Okay, Slurpuff! One more to go!" Pinkie said to Slurpuff. "Let's find him!"

"Puff!"

But it would be too late. At last, the Arcane Institute all the way back at Universe 12 managed to get their gateways working again. They managed to breach through Harmony's spell, only a little bit though. They could only have the gateway open for 5 minutes since the spell was limiting it, but that's all the time they'd need.

Their mission here would come to an end as the Train would start moving once more. Alpha and the others gazed at this gateway, ready to take their leave. However, Luna and her Pokemon were still inside the train, hearing and feeling it move.

But for Luna, this would not be seen as a problem for her. She was already aiming to find the Soul Crystal in this hidden dimension that it was kept in. In fact, she was also willing to go through this gateway and enter Universe 12 to find it. It didn't matter where it was, or who had it. She was going to get it, and the Professor would not stop her. So, when she saw that gateway, she smiled. It was her way to Universe 12, and she was going to use it to sabotage the Institute.

Before that, she would make sure to inform Celestia of her next mission, using the Harmony Badge to do so. She took out her own Harmony Badge, harnessing the magic within it to send a message. Once the message was sent, she knew it would reach her. Celestia would know that Luna was on her way to Universe 12, and she would be ready for whatever was to come.

Luna smiled, a part of her feeling excited about what was to come. And a part of her is excited to absolutely destroy everything the Institute has. With that, the Arcane Institute passed through the gateway, returning to their base in Universe 12.

A few hours passed and things mostly went back to normal, with ponies recollecting themselves on what just happened, especially the racers. The citizens would see the city being repaired, and the Institute disappearing without a trace. The Mirados Police were no longer held hostage and were now taking care of the city and the damages made.

One thing was for sure. The crowd did not waste their money seeing all of that transpire. They saw the amazing battle, the amazing racing, the strategies and more. Pendence felt satisfied, knowing this would bring a ton of money in and it certainly did. However, the cost of repairing the city was massive, so the money was put towards that, to fix everything back to the way it was before.

But not everything was positive. Princess Galela had been taken by the Arcane Institute as well. The Temple of Galela was now devoid of the princess's presence.

"So...It's both Sombra and Galela that have been taken." Rarity spoke as Twilight Sparkle was currently asleep, resting up after expending so much power. "But Princess Luna willingly went through? What is she planning?"

"Absolute sabotage, of course." Celestia spoke through the Harmony Badge, communicating with them. "I can count on Luna for that. Whatever the Institute's plans are, I know Luna would try her best to foil them." She assured them. "But as for the rest..."

"We still have to find Shining Armor and the others. They fell into Mirados just like us, but they went somewhere else." said Ash.

"They're safe. Their Harmony Badges are indicators of their wellbeing." Celestia confirmed. "But they have obviously landed somewhere else in this universe. Outside of Mirados itself. You need not worry. After all, Brock wasn't the only one who showed up here, remember?"

"Who else showed up with you, anyway, Brock?" Fluttershy asked.

"I came here with Sweetie Drops, some Pokemon Rangers and Starlight Glimmer. It would've been more but Princess Celestia didn't want to draw too much attention." Brock answered.

"So, now what do we do?" Rainbow Dash asked. "They've got Sombra and Princess Galela. Plus, Hilbert's a spirit now which is..."

"Not too bad, honestly!" Hilbert boasted while his Braviary looked at him with confusion, struggling to believe that he was now a spirit. "I can fly around as much as I want! A shame I can't touch stuff or whatever. But that just means I'm Untouchable! A fitting status for the best of the best!"

"He's still the same as a spirit..." Rainbow Dash sighed, lowering her head. Being a spirit did not negate Hilbert's boasting.

"While it's good you're looking positive, Hilbert, the fact that your body is a spirit leads to some future problems." Celestia spoke. "Intangibility does not always mean invincibility. Every Ghost-Type can vouch for that. We'll have to find a way to restore your body and soul once more, before you are eventually touched. As for our next goal, it is to rescue Sombra and Galela as well. And this time, we will make sure we properly enter their universe." She explained.

"So soon?" Fluttershy asked.

"Potentially. The Arcane Institute have made it clear that they plan to up their pace. And now that they've managed to turn Hilbert into a spirit, even if by accident, it will make them believe that they are getting close to their goal. If that is the case, they will not slow down." Celestia warned. "And they will not stop. They will keep going until their goal is reached." Celestia spoke with concern. "As such, we will need to act fast as well."

"Act fast as in..." Rarity spoke. "Are you suggesting that we go after them immediately?"

"Yes, but you all will need time to rest. I can always just send others for this mission. Then again, you all seem to be the best at getting things done, so I'm tempted to." Celestia giggled. "But first, you will all have to return home for now. Speak to Harmony so that she can bring the spell down."

"Are you planning on saving the Princess?" Walking over was Cure as she and many others were worried about Princess Galela. "If so, please hurry. The city's a mess and she's the only one who can bring everyone's hopes and spirits up. Without her, morale will drop. Even though she's not a full-on leader, she's still important to all of us" She spoke with a saddened look.

"Don't worry. We'll save your princess." Ash vowed to them. "We've done this a few times, and we won't let her or anyone else down. We'll make sure she and the city are restored to their normal selves."

"Oh, thank you!" Cure exclaimed with relief. "Please, help her in any way possible!"

Universe 12. The Arcane Institute.

Alpha's team had returned to the Arcane Institute in Universe 12. The train had gone right back to the building, reporting on what they had managed to achieve. Luna and her Pokemon would stay hidden on the train, the former using her magic to conceal all the Soul Clones and Students she defeated and captured. Her plan was simple.

Enter that dimension and sabotage the Soul Crystal.

Easier said than done since she had to put a lot of work into to even it in the first place. All the while, Professor Grogar, who lost his temporary form minutes ago, would speak to Alpha and the others about their mission.

"Not a desirable outcome. However, it is not all bad. For your first outing, you Soul Clones managed to do well. Especially you, Alpha." Professor Grogar praised. "The fact that you managed to take do so well on your first mission and even bring back someone like Sombra is impressive. I was also told you were able to knock out one of our greatest threats. Well, a piece of him. Which is a step forward, in my book." He spoke with a somewhat impressed tone, his voice echoing throughout the room. "I will not entirely blame you since this you Soul Clones are all newly created. You will still need some work done, but you have proven to have potential." He praised. "As for you, students, you've done your part."

"What about me?! I'm the one who managed to get a good hit on Hilbert!" Flawless exclaimed, wanting praise.

"You did well as well, Flawless. I did not foresee him turning into a spirit, but that at least holds back Prisma's return in a way." The professor added. "So, I must thank you for that. But some extra work must be done. I will add more souls to you Soul Clones. Just to better your efficiency. For now, prepare for the next mission. But before we do so...let's give that universe a gift and an example of siding with Prisma."

Grogar had one last thing to show off to Universe 50. The scientists knew what they had to do, and began to operate the machines. With a few button presses, they would try and open another gateway. But it wouldn't be used to travel. Not at all. The spell Harmony put up as powerful indeed, blocking off any gateway traversal. However, it was by now that she planned to bring the spell down to allow herself and her friends back home.

Professor Grogar was aware of this spell very much. He came from the same universe Harmony did after all. And with the Institute back home, he knew very well that Harmony would bring the spell down on Universe 50. Thus, the gateways could be open once more. But the Arcane Institute was smart, and had a backup plan should the gateways have been closed off. A backup plan that was a massive beam that was going to be shot through the gateway, and destroy a portion of the city in the process, if not the entire city itself.

"Let's show them the price for being in the way of progress." The Professor spoke, watching from afar through his holograms and surveillance devices. Something massive was coming for Universe 50.

Harmony had let the spell down, believing the Arcane Institute to be gone, no longer needing a reason to show up here. All that was left was finding Shining Armor and the others, which Sweetie Drops and a few others would have covered.

Nate, this whole time, stayed at the Hospital to keep an eye on Hilda, who was still recovering from her strength being drained for her. But now that the race was over, Nate would soon see it as a good time to get her to the main universe, treating her there next. Hilda was being carried by Nate's Samurott, the trainer sitting on his back. Harmony and the others were on their way to the portal that would take them back to the Main Universe to regroup and plan their next move.

"Ah..,I still feel so weak..." Hilda groaned. "I don't even have any magic on me..."

"Maybe a Heal Pulse will do. We can just ask Fluttershy's Audino to hook you up." Nate replied. "As for Hilbert...I saw him on TV during the race. He ended up as a spirit. Even then, he's still smiling and talking big."

"Still? Even as a spirit?" Hilda groaned. "That guy...The ego on him."

"Heh. Yeah, he's a real character." Nate replied with a chuckle. "But that's why we hang around him a lot. Plus, he can back it up a lot of the time. Although...I wonder if something similar will happen to me? Or Red? Or Lucas, or any of us? Will we end up as spirits too?"

"You won't as long as you can keep overcoming the Arcane Institute, you'll be fine. But it does make me worry." Hilda replied. "All 10 of you are at so much risk. And for what? Some guy who lives within you all? I don't even believe Hilbert can even be influenced by Prisma. I mean, come on, he's way too proud for that."

"He did." But Nate confirmed it to Hilda, causing her to pause. "So did I. After you were taken down, Hilbert's rage allowed Prisma to take influence. I was even influenced by him and went through an awakening. Even someone like Hilbert isn't immune to Prisma's influence."

"Hilbert..." Hilda uttered silently. It hurt her heart a little bit to know that Hilbert was under Prisma's influence briefly. But it also warmed it to know that he cared for him that much.

"Come on. I think Ash and the others aren't too far from here." Nate would point his thumb in the distance. In that instance, suddenly, a powerful booming noise would reveberate across the skies, alerting everyone.

Right before the eyes of all those here, a massive gateway had opened. An absolutely colossal gateway, bigger than any gateway ever seen before, would open. A gateway so big that it seemed like the sky was tearing up before their eyes.

The gateway was at least the size of an entire city, perhaps bigger. And with the gateway being so high up in the air, that would mean the gateway would have been several miles long in diameter, if not hundreds or thousands. The biggest gateways could be the size of a town or maybe a small city, but this gateway was so large it was the biggest gateway ever seen in their lives, dwarfing even the largest of the cities on the planet.

It had been opened in such an unexpected and abrupt way, as well. There had been no prior warning or indication that the Arcane Institute would be planning to open a gateway, especially a massive one. This sudden opening of the colossal gateway, combined with the immense size and power it seemed to possess, made the situation feel all the more intense and alarming.

As everyone stared at the massive gateway, it started acting differently from all gateways. Instead of allowing others inside wherever it leads to, this massive gateway would start acting like a black hole. A powerful pull could be felt as this gateway sucked in whatever it could.

The buildings were starting to come apart, every bit of them slowly being pulled into this gateway. People were being lifted into the air and being sucked inside as well. The Arcane Institute's goal was clear. To suck in the city into this gateway and destroy it in the process.

The gateway was so big it covered most of the city, and it would keep on going, slowly, but surely, destroying everything in the way. And the worst part is, it had been done without any mercy, and with a sense of cruelness and malevolence that made it seem all the more malicious. The destruction that this massive gateway was wreaking was simply incomprehensible.

"What's going on?!" Ash held onto his hat as a massive array of stones from the roots were being ripped out of the ground and being sent towards the gateway, as were some cars, vehicles, signs, and other things. Ash himself was almost lifted into the air.

"Ash!" Rarity would hold him down with her magic, keeping him in place. All of them screamed, slowly feeling their bodies leave the ground and be dragged to the massive gateway. They could feel the air get thicker around them. Even their skin was feeling the effects of the gateway's gravity, as it was pulled closer to the massive vortex in the sky. It felt like their bodies were about to rip themselves apart. The force was just so strong and overwhelming that it was almost impossible for them to stay in place.

"M-Mew...!" Refusing to let his friends be sucked in, Mew transformed into a Pokemon he believed would be powerful enough to hold them all in place. With his eyes glowing, Mew took on the form of the Continent Mover itself.

Regigigas.

With a roar, Mew transformed and used all the strength in his body, pulling on everyone and holding them close. His feet dug into the ground and he used his strength to keep them all close to the ground, but he wasn't strong enough. He felt his entire body slowly get sucked into the gateway. The pressure on his body was getting too much and it was hard for him to keep everyone close. He was simply mimicking Regigigas's frame. He did not possess the same strength the real deal had.

He could hold them back for a while, but not for long.

All the wonderful technology of Mirados was being ripped apart, all that progress and hard work that was a result of centuries, if not thousands of years, were all going down the drain in a matter of moments. It was a cruel display of destruction and carnage.

All the citizens screamed, their bodies being sucked towards this Black Hole Gateway. Millions of ponies and Pokemon were helpless to resist its pull, their fate seemingly inevitable. Poor Hilda had to grip onto Samurott as hard as he could, but that would not save her.

Harmony grit her teeth, wondering where this gateway would even lead to? "W-Where does it go?!" Her eyes would glow as she cast a spell that allowed her to look into this massive gateway from a distance.

What she saw was a dark, ominous place, with black, rocky terrain, a sky that looked like a perpetual storm was raging. It was like the entire world had been turned into a giant, hollow ball, filled with a menacing, virulent darkness that threatened to engulf everything within its reach. It felt like the very essence of life was being sucked out of the world, leaving only emptiness and despair in its wake.

There was nothing, no sign of life at all. Just darkness, the sound of an endless howling storm, a world where no living thing could ever survive. She couldn't see the bottom. It was like staring down into a void.

"It's a Null Realm!" Harmony gasped. She refused to let them all fall into that realm for even a second. She absolutely refused to give the Arcane Institute an inch, knowing this was their doing.

No one else had the power to stop this in time and save everyone. Not even Fluttershy's Bayleef could do so. She emerged from her Poke Ball, attempting to use her Fate-Changing Leaf, but the pull of the Blackhole Gateway was so strong, the leaf she held onto was sucked into the gateway and she herself would've been sucked into it had Fluttershy not used her magic in time to keep her safe.

"Bay!" The Leaf she needed to change everyone's fate would be taken to that Null Realm.

Thus, it was up to Harmony herself. She had a way to try and save everyone. The Fusion of 5 Ponies couldn't stop the gateway, but she could change the destination of where it takes them all at least.

Harmony would bet it all on this one spell. All that outstanding magic within her will start building up, causing a massive reaction that could be felt all around the city.

"Harmony?" Ash looked up to see her. He couldn't imagine the strain on his body that he was going through right now.

"I can't control where it will take us...but I hope it will at least be better than a Null Realm!" Harmony's eyes would glow. A massive, rainbow magic beam would be shot up towards the gateway. She could not control the gateway's direction but she would use her magic to make a way for her to create a new location for the gateway.

Harmony knew that this would be the one time her Magic was more powerful than any other. As the Blackhole Gateway absorbed everything, it was her duty to save everyone from falling into a Null Realm where they would suffer and perish, as no living being can ever survive in one.

Right as she and everyone else would finally enter the Blackhole Gateway, a brilliant flash of magic erupted from it as the last thing present before it finally disappeared, the gateway itself closing in on itself. Everyone had gone, with nothing but a massive area where a city once was, leaving only a massive hole in the ground, along with a few scattered pieces of rubble, broken shards of metal, and shattered glass

All Harmony had to do was hope that the location she sent everyone and herself to was better than that Null Realm as the journey continues.

Chapter 696 End.