As your enter the Pokemon League gates, you see that the building inside is a lot more crowded than you remembered it. A queue of trainers wait at the Pokemon Center, with the nurse struggling to heal each team as fast as she can muster. Several people sit at the tables all around the hall, or buy healing items at the market. However, not a single smile can be seen on their faces. Most look worried, a few look sad, everyone looks disheartened by the beginning of a war none would have expected to fight.
The cry of a girl draws your attention towards one of the groups sit at the tables. You recognize Gardenia, the Gym Leader of Eterna City, weeping desperate while the Gym Leader of Hearthome City, Fantina, tries to console her.
Next to them, Crasher Wake shakes his head. "Looks like we lost Eterna City as well"
"Damned fiends!", curses Flint, the Sinnoh Elite Four member, out of frustration. "Is there a city that still has not fallen to that monster?"
"I had to evacuate Sunnyshore City a couple days ago", explains Volkner, his expression showing all his concern for his townsfolk. "From the looks of it, only Snowpoint City is holding. They managed to stall Darkrai's forces at Lake Acuity, but I don't know how long will they resist".
"D-do you think... do you think Candice will make it?", asks Gardenia, her voice still broken and feeble. But before Volkner could reply, the adamant voice of a woman silences the entire hall, drawing everyone's attention to her.
Unlike most other people in the room, you can tell just by looking into Cynthia's eyes that she has not given up, not even now that night itself seeks to claim her land forever. You almost feel like everyone's hope lit up slightly just by virtue of her presence. Next to her, you also recognize several other leaders of the New Dawn that you met before in your endeavors: Lance, Wallace, and Steven. A red haired old man also is waiting in a corner of the room, behind the other leaders. Judging from his looks, you realize he could not be anyone other than the Unova Champion, Alder.
"Thank you for coming, champions", greets the Sinnoh Champion. Only now you realize how many other trainers from other regions populate the room. Gym Leaders from Kanto, Frontier Brains from Hoenn, even several Elite Four members from across the world all gathered here to hear the plea of this woman who rose to fight darkness.
"I won't hide you that the situation is dire", she begins explaining. "Most of Sinnoh cities have been overrun by Darkrai's minions. We have managed to evacuate the majority of people to safety in other regions, while most of those who are still able to battle gathered here.
However, I recently got word from the Gym Leader of Snowpoint City, Candice, that their hometown is still holding ground. Fortunately we have been able to send supplies and reinforcements through Snowpoint's harbor. The 9th army has landed in Snowpoint last night, and managed to retake most of the lands around Lake Acuity."
Several voices start whispering across the room. You manage to eavesdrop the nearest two.
"The 9th army? I've never heard of them, father", asks a girl. You turn and realize it is Fuchsia's new Gym Leader, Janine.
"Of course, Janine, you're too young to remember", replies Elite Four Koga. "The 9th army is a cohort of veterans from Johto and Kanto under the command of Lt. Surge. If he is the one defending Snowpoint, then none will take it easily, human or god."
After a few moments, Cynthia resumes her speech. "However, we also learned that Darkrai's forces also penetrated Flower Paradise. We know little about the fate of the shrine, but we fear for the opening of a second front that we cannot afford. If we want to stand a chance in this war, we must retake it as soon as possible".
"Is there nothin' we can do, besides defense?", asks all of a sudden the Unova Gym Leader, Clay. "We need to bring the fight to that fiend, damn it!"
"It is not so easy", replies Cynthia, with a calm tone. "As far as we know, Darkrai is hidden in his dark world, impossible to reach. We are trying to find a way, but until then, the best we can do is to hold our positions. Now let's have our meal for tonight, it is already getting late and I feel new battles will await us tomorrow".
While everyone leaves the hall, you head for the exit as well, but a voice calls you.
"Would you mind following me, please?". The hooded person is most certainly talking to you, and much to your surprise, everyone else is ignoring him - as if only you could see him. For a moment, you fear the worst, but a familiar pair of crimson eyes look at you from beneath the hood.
-------------------------------------
After a rather long path across the mountains, the mysterious wandered takes off his hood. As you expected, you had recognized him already.
"Sorry for taking you here so abruptly", excuses himself Lorien. "But while we are allies with the New Dawn, there are some... things... that we feel should remain secret to most of them. Nevertheless, we heard of your deeds while aboard the Bright Hope ship, and we feel we can trust you. Now come, the prince is awaiting".
"The prince?", you ask, perplexed.
"Prince N, of house Harmonia", explains Lorien. "He was the one requesting your presence. Now please ride atop one of these". Before you, a Flygon gazes upon you with a curious expression, then nods and kneels, hinting for you to ride it. Once you sit atop the Pokemon, it takes into the air and heads towards a gulch between the mountains, diving through a cave that seems to lead deep beneath the earth. Behind you, Lorien morphs into his natural form and flies along.
For a moment the world around you becomes dark, but soon after, you start seeing a light, then another one, then myriads. Glowing mushrooms and plants flourish all over the cave, bathing it in an amazing purple iridescence as the Flygon keeps flying deeper and deeper in the complex.
"What is this place?", you ask, in awe.
"We call them the Caverns of Time", replies Latios with a solemn tone. "It is the place we were charged to keep when we still served the Timelord, Dialga, and we still preserve it even now that we are at war with him and the Ebdomadarium. Jump down, we have arrived"
As the Flygon lands you down, you find yourself before a rather young guy that hardly looks like what you would expect a prince to. He wears a simple t-shirt, white pants and a hat. However, his eyes are the eyes of a king.
"Welcome, hero", N greets you with a warm smile. "I am glad we finally meet". Next to him, you see Latios's sibling, looking at you with her amber eyes. Even in her natural form, you can still tell Latias's happiness in seeing you.
"As you probably know, the New Dawn is trying its hardest to defend the last few remaining cities against Darkrai's wrath, but the only way we can win this war is to destroy Darkrai once and for all. Unfortunately, the fiend is currently hidden in his dark homeworld, beyond the reach of mortals. But not beyond the reach of beings of his same power."
"The Nightmare Darkrai lives in is impossible to enter from your world, but it could be possible to open a passage to it from inside the Distortion World", continues Latios. "However, now that Giratina's power awoke along with the rest of the Ebdomadarium, we need to... play around to enter his kingdom. We need to travel to the past, when Cyrus first opened a door to the Distortion World, and use it to enter the present Distortion World."
"And can you do such a thing?", you ask, even if you are not sure you grasped Latios's explaination fully.
But the Dragon shakes his head in denial. "We Eon Pokemon are time keepers, not time travellers. However, while we certainly cannot rely on the help of the Timelord itself, we could ask for the help of an old ally".
"When we broke ranks to side with humans, ten thousand years ago, several other powerful beings followed us", explains Latias. "One of them is called Celebi. Unlike us, Celebi possesses an innate ability to travel through time that does not depend on the Timelord's whims. However, the spacetime locus where Celebi usually dwells in seems to be in great disarray. We suspect Celebi may have fallen under Dialga's sway."
"What is this place? And how can we reach it?"
"It is an ancient version of the glade you currently know as the Flower Paradise", replies Latias. "We can open a portal to that point in spacetime, but this is the only help we can provide you. Dialga's interdition prevents me and Latios from using the Caverns of Time to travel across past and future".
"It will be up to you to rescue Celebi and bring him back to us", concludes N. Anticipating your doubts, he adds "Fear not, Cynthia and the other leaders know about this plan. If all goes well, you should be able to come back before all is lost. Should you succeed, we will finally be able to be in a position to strike back at Darkrai before the Hour of Twilight comes to pass".
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
After Assault on Mt. Coronet
Even if it was hastily built in a few hours, the Bright Hope expedition camp managed to provide some much needed shelter from the raging winds, as well as a useful logistic hub to prepare the final phase of the operation. Even now, the Psychic-type Pokemon deployed by the ship crew are travelling back and forth between the summit and the base of the mountain to retrieve supplies for the base. Every person who did not suffer injuries during the aerial fights is doing his best to help, as well. The situation may still look bleak, but nobody seems willing to give up, yet.
This and other thoughts cross your mind, as you walk towards the very summit of Mt. Coronet along with Cynthia. Above your heads, Celebi, Cresselia and the Aeon twins follow you closely, as well. However, no other ally, human or Pokemon, is guarding the small group. Despite Lt. Surge's protestations, in fact, the Sinnoh Champion insisted that all capable trainers would protect the campbase. You cannot help but wonder whether she was confident she could handle any threat on her own, or she simply did not want anybody else to put his life on the line in her stead. Thankfully, no enemies appear to stand in the way of the small party, who manages to reach the summit safely.
The ruins of Spear Pillar, which made their way into tales and legends recounted all around Sinnoh, stand tall in defiance of the harsh winds. The air itself is saturated with a heavy sense of dread, though you cannot tell to which extent Darkrai is actually responsible for this. However, you soon leave these impressions behind you, as Cynthia stops in her tracks and turns towards the group.
(Soundtrack)
"First of all... allow me to thank you all, heroes and Pokemon alike. Regardless of the outcome, humanity will forever be in your debt. It is your valor that kept our hopes alive until now, even in our darkest hour"
Cynthia's eyes meets the ones of the legendary Pokemon in a long silence, interrupted only by the howling wind. Then, Sinnoh's Champion nods and draws a flute - the same one Eusine attempted to wrest from her.
"Now, it is time to give those hopes an answer."
As she murmurs these words, Cynthia glances at Celebi, who nods in return. The Pokemon's blue eyes, then, begin glowing in a suffused light. Nothing seemingly happens around you, making it hard to even tell if something is going on, at all. And yet, you cannot help but notice that the incessant howling of the wind has somehow subsided. Even after Celebi's eyes eventually return to normality, the odd feeling that the world around you has somehow come to a complete stop still persists.
Then, a silvery orb of light suddenly appears in midair, floating gently around you.
"This light will guide you to Darkrai." Cresselia's voice clearly echoes in your head. "Do not attempt to confront the fiend alone. As soon as you find his dwelling, make your way back to us."
"Once we know where Darkrai hides, we can use the flute's magic to seal him forever," Latias explains. "It will not kill him, but it will prevent him from exerting his dark influence over this world ever again."
"Neither Darkrai nor Giratina likely expect this move from us," her twin says, as well. "If we act fast enough, we may be able to blindside the Nightmare lord before he can figure out our plans."
Cynthia nods, then she glances at both of you.
"I wish I could fight this battle alongside you, but I will need to do my best to keep the portal open until you are back. I do not know what you will find, in the depths of Distortion World, but please be careful. You are the last hope of this world."
Zones:
Flower Paradise
Caverns of Time: Old Flower Paradise (Part 1) ---> (Part 2)
Nightmare Prison
Assault on Mt. Coronet - The Siege ---> The Gunship Battle
Distortion World
(Only if at least one of the challengers completed Trial of Darkness) Full Moon Island (Hard only)
The cry of a girl draws your attention towards one of the groups sit at the tables. You recognize Gardenia, the Gym Leader of Eterna City, weeping desperate while the Gym Leader of Hearthome City, Fantina, tries to console her.
Next to them, Crasher Wake shakes his head. "Looks like we lost Eterna City as well"
"Damned fiends!", curses Flint, the Sinnoh Elite Four member, out of frustration. "Is there a city that still has not fallen to that monster?"
"I had to evacuate Sunnyshore City a couple days ago", explains Volkner, his expression showing all his concern for his townsfolk. "From the looks of it, only Snowpoint City is holding. They managed to stall Darkrai's forces at Lake Acuity, but I don't know how long will they resist".
"D-do you think... do you think Candice will make it?", asks Gardenia, her voice still broken and feeble. But before Volkner could reply, the adamant voice of a woman silences the entire hall, drawing everyone's attention to her.
Unlike most other people in the room, you can tell just by looking into Cynthia's eyes that she has not given up, not even now that night itself seeks to claim her land forever. You almost feel like everyone's hope lit up slightly just by virtue of her presence. Next to her, you also recognize several other leaders of the New Dawn that you met before in your endeavors: Lance, Wallace, and Steven. A red haired old man also is waiting in a corner of the room, behind the other leaders. Judging from his looks, you realize he could not be anyone other than the Unova Champion, Alder.
"Thank you for coming, champions", greets the Sinnoh Champion. Only now you realize how many other trainers from other regions populate the room. Gym Leaders from Kanto, Frontier Brains from Hoenn, even several Elite Four members from across the world all gathered here to hear the plea of this woman who rose to fight darkness.
"I won't hide you that the situation is dire", she begins explaining. "Most of Sinnoh cities have been overrun by Darkrai's minions. We have managed to evacuate the majority of people to safety in other regions, while most of those who are still able to battle gathered here.
However, I recently got word from the Gym Leader of Snowpoint City, Candice, that their hometown is still holding ground. Fortunately we have been able to send supplies and reinforcements through Snowpoint's harbor. The 9th army has landed in Snowpoint last night, and managed to retake most of the lands around Lake Acuity."
Several voices start whispering across the room. You manage to eavesdrop the nearest two.
"The 9th army? I've never heard of them, father", asks a girl. You turn and realize it is Fuchsia's new Gym Leader, Janine.
"Of course, Janine, you're too young to remember", replies Elite Four Koga. "The 9th army is a cohort of veterans from Johto and Kanto under the command of Lt. Surge. If he is the one defending Snowpoint, then none will take it easily, human or god."
After a few moments, Cynthia resumes her speech. "However, we also learned that Darkrai's forces also penetrated Flower Paradise. We know little about the fate of the shrine, but we fear for the opening of a second front that we cannot afford. If we want to stand a chance in this war, we must retake it as soon as possible".
"Is there nothin' we can do, besides defense?", asks all of a sudden the Unova Gym Leader, Clay. "We need to bring the fight to that fiend, damn it!"
"It is not so easy", replies Cynthia, with a calm tone. "As far as we know, Darkrai is hidden in his dark world, impossible to reach. We are trying to find a way, but until then, the best we can do is to hold our positions. Now let's have our meal for tonight, it is already getting late and I feel new battles will await us tomorrow".
While everyone leaves the hall, you head for the exit as well, but a voice calls you.
"Would you mind following me, please?". The hooded person is most certainly talking to you, and much to your surprise, everyone else is ignoring him - as if only you could see him. For a moment, you fear the worst, but a familiar pair of crimson eyes look at you from beneath the hood.
-------------------------------------
After a rather long path across the mountains, the mysterious wandered takes off his hood. As you expected, you had recognized him already.
"Sorry for taking you here so abruptly", excuses himself Lorien. "But while we are allies with the New Dawn, there are some... things... that we feel should remain secret to most of them. Nevertheless, we heard of your deeds while aboard the Bright Hope ship, and we feel we can trust you. Now come, the prince is awaiting".
"The prince?", you ask, perplexed.
"Prince N, of house Harmonia", explains Lorien. "He was the one requesting your presence. Now please ride atop one of these". Before you, a Flygon gazes upon you with a curious expression, then nods and kneels, hinting for you to ride it. Once you sit atop the Pokemon, it takes into the air and heads towards a gulch between the mountains, diving through a cave that seems to lead deep beneath the earth. Behind you, Lorien morphs into his natural form and flies along.
For a moment the world around you becomes dark, but soon after, you start seeing a light, then another one, then myriads. Glowing mushrooms and plants flourish all over the cave, bathing it in an amazing purple iridescence as the Flygon keeps flying deeper and deeper in the complex.
"What is this place?", you ask, in awe.
"We call them the Caverns of Time", replies Latios with a solemn tone. "It is the place we were charged to keep when we still served the Timelord, Dialga, and we still preserve it even now that we are at war with him and the Ebdomadarium. Jump down, we have arrived"
As the Flygon lands you down, you find yourself before a rather young guy that hardly looks like what you would expect a prince to. He wears a simple t-shirt, white pants and a hat. However, his eyes are the eyes of a king.
"Welcome, hero", N greets you with a warm smile. "I am glad we finally meet". Next to him, you see Latios's sibling, looking at you with her amber eyes. Even in her natural form, you can still tell Latias's happiness in seeing you.
"As you probably know, the New Dawn is trying its hardest to defend the last few remaining cities against Darkrai's wrath, but the only way we can win this war is to destroy Darkrai once and for all. Unfortunately, the fiend is currently hidden in his dark homeworld, beyond the reach of mortals. But not beyond the reach of beings of his same power."
"The Nightmare Darkrai lives in is impossible to enter from your world, but it could be possible to open a passage to it from inside the Distortion World", continues Latios. "However, now that Giratina's power awoke along with the rest of the Ebdomadarium, we need to... play around to enter his kingdom. We need to travel to the past, when Cyrus first opened a door to the Distortion World, and use it to enter the present Distortion World."
"And can you do such a thing?", you ask, even if you are not sure you grasped Latios's explaination fully.
But the Dragon shakes his head in denial. "We Eon Pokemon are time keepers, not time travellers. However, while we certainly cannot rely on the help of the Timelord itself, we could ask for the help of an old ally".
"When we broke ranks to side with humans, ten thousand years ago, several other powerful beings followed us", explains Latias. "One of them is called Celebi. Unlike us, Celebi possesses an innate ability to travel through time that does not depend on the Timelord's whims. However, the spacetime locus where Celebi usually dwells in seems to be in great disarray. We suspect Celebi may have fallen under Dialga's sway."
"What is this place? And how can we reach it?"
"It is an ancient version of the glade you currently know as the Flower Paradise", replies Latias. "We can open a portal to that point in spacetime, but this is the only help we can provide you. Dialga's interdition prevents me and Latios from using the Caverns of Time to travel across past and future".
"It will be up to you to rescue Celebi and bring him back to us", concludes N. Anticipating your doubts, he adds "Fear not, Cynthia and the other leaders know about this plan. If all goes well, you should be able to come back before all is lost. Should you succeed, we will finally be able to be in a position to strike back at Darkrai before the Hour of Twilight comes to pass".
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
After Assault on Mt. Coronet
Even if it was hastily built in a few hours, the Bright Hope expedition camp managed to provide some much needed shelter from the raging winds, as well as a useful logistic hub to prepare the final phase of the operation. Even now, the Psychic-type Pokemon deployed by the ship crew are travelling back and forth between the summit and the base of the mountain to retrieve supplies for the base. Every person who did not suffer injuries during the aerial fights is doing his best to help, as well. The situation may still look bleak, but nobody seems willing to give up, yet.
This and other thoughts cross your mind, as you walk towards the very summit of Mt. Coronet along with Cynthia. Above your heads, Celebi, Cresselia and the Aeon twins follow you closely, as well. However, no other ally, human or Pokemon, is guarding the small group. Despite Lt. Surge's protestations, in fact, the Sinnoh Champion insisted that all capable trainers would protect the campbase. You cannot help but wonder whether she was confident she could handle any threat on her own, or she simply did not want anybody else to put his life on the line in her stead. Thankfully, no enemies appear to stand in the way of the small party, who manages to reach the summit safely.
The ruins of Spear Pillar, which made their way into tales and legends recounted all around Sinnoh, stand tall in defiance of the harsh winds. The air itself is saturated with a heavy sense of dread, though you cannot tell to which extent Darkrai is actually responsible for this. However, you soon leave these impressions behind you, as Cynthia stops in her tracks and turns towards the group.
(Soundtrack)
"First of all... allow me to thank you all, heroes and Pokemon alike. Regardless of the outcome, humanity will forever be in your debt. It is your valor that kept our hopes alive until now, even in our darkest hour"
Cynthia's eyes meets the ones of the legendary Pokemon in a long silence, interrupted only by the howling wind. Then, Sinnoh's Champion nods and draws a flute - the same one Eusine attempted to wrest from her.
"Now, it is time to give those hopes an answer."
As she murmurs these words, Cynthia glances at Celebi, who nods in return. The Pokemon's blue eyes, then, begin glowing in a suffused light. Nothing seemingly happens around you, making it hard to even tell if something is going on, at all. And yet, you cannot help but notice that the incessant howling of the wind has somehow subsided. Even after Celebi's eyes eventually return to normality, the odd feeling that the world around you has somehow come to a complete stop still persists.
Then, a silvery orb of light suddenly appears in midair, floating gently around you.
"This light will guide you to Darkrai." Cresselia's voice clearly echoes in your head. "Do not attempt to confront the fiend alone. As soon as you find his dwelling, make your way back to us."
"Once we know where Darkrai hides, we can use the flute's magic to seal him forever," Latias explains. "It will not kill him, but it will prevent him from exerting his dark influence over this world ever again."
"Neither Darkrai nor Giratina likely expect this move from us," her twin says, as well. "If we act fast enough, we may be able to blindside the Nightmare lord before he can figure out our plans."
Cynthia nods, then she glances at both of you.
"I wish I could fight this battle alongside you, but I will need to do my best to keep the portal open until you are back. I do not know what you will find, in the depths of Distortion World, but please be careful. You are the last hope of this world."
Zones:
Flower Paradise
Caverns of Time: Old Flower Paradise (Part 1) ---> (Part 2)
Nightmare Prison
Assault on Mt. Coronet - The Siege ---> The Gunship Battle
Distortion World
(Only if at least one of the challengers completed Trial of Darkness) Full Moon Island (Hard only)
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