Lush Prairie

[Namohysip]

A healthy flatland of green, tall grass covered acre upon acre of the Lush Prairie. The wind never seemed to stop in this peaceful part of the Grass Continent. North, a great waterfall decorated a tanned mountain of flat cliffsides. West was a forest filled with towering Oran trees, and south were more fields and, further south, the southern sea. West was, far away, the main settlement of the Grass Continent, Treasure Town.

But it was not so peaceful at the Lush Prairie today. Huge pits carved the fields, plants crushed under some great weight…

<><><> ​

The transition from the white hall of Diyem’s abode to the open fields was jarring. Still, Owen knew he had a world to save, and had no idea how to do it! But the first thing he decided to do was get some height on the grass that towered over him. He crouched down and stretched his—he didn’t have wings. That was unfortunate.

“Uh, Diyem? Why didn’t you make me a Charizard?”

No answer. Did it even work that way? He shook his head and scanned through the grass for a rock to stand on. Even if he was a Charmander, he still had to do something, right?

Ah! A rock! Owen remembered rocks. He used to have a pet one. Then it broke. He had been sad for a while about that one. Why was the ground shaking?

The tremor toppled Owen over, and the flame of his tail slapped against his nose. “Uff.” He rolled and scaled the boulder that was a few heads taller than he was and got a better look at his surroundings.

Magikarp.

Just one. That was the world-ending disaster of this world.

Which was understandable, because this Magikarp was the size of a three-story building. Its shadow darkened a good portion of the field, though its flopping back was facing Owen, and he already had a good idea what that meant. This giant Magikarp’s rampage—it must have been heading to a town! Or a village, or—someone!

Magikarp has entered the battle! She must be stopped!

 

[Namohysip]

“Hey! Magikarp!” Owen shouted, but it didn’t listen. It kept flopping away.

Owen hopped off the boulder, ran through the grass, and tried to focus—maybe his old powers were still here? He couldn’t feel it, though. It was like he was running blind without those abilities, but it would have to do. Maybe if he tapped into it just a little…

Owen used Miracle Eye! He analyzed the enemy!
Magikarp:
HP: 500

A supersized behemoth bent on aimless destruction. What caused this?

Owen frowned, suddenly feeling drained. What in the world was that? A simple check of the enemy left him feeling like he’d run a marathon…

Magikarp used Splash, doing nothing else!

 

[Namohysip]

“Guess it isn’t really paying much attention to us…” Owen frowned, looking back. “Okay. If that’s the case…” Owen searched himself for what he might be able to do. Back home, it was aura. Maybe it was the same, or similar enough—yes! White energy illuminated the tips of his claws, and the Magikarp, by happenstance, was flopping toward him. Perfect!

Owen used Scratch on Magikarp, dealing 3 damage!

“Oh.” Owen winced. “Okay. Guess that didn’t really… Uh—”

It noticed him. And it flopped, and turned, and rolled high into the air.

“Wait, no, no—”

Magikarp used Tackle on Owen, dealing 20 damage!
Magikarp: 497 HP

 

[Namohysip]

Magikarp rolled and flopped away again, leaving an Owen-shaped deeper impact in the grass, surrounded by crushed foliage. Owen gasped for air and tentatively touched his ribs. Nothing broken, somehow. Perhaps because the ground was soft. But… how was he supposed to move like this?

Owen. Owen, are you there?

“Diyem…?” Owen hobbled to his feet.

Owen, there seems to be a discarded exploration bag to your left. Get it and heal.

“What—you can see this?”

Somewhat.

Following Diyem’s instructions, Owen found a half-empty back that only had three items in it—an Oran Berry, small Blast Seed, and an adorably tiny Reviver Seed. It would have to do. “Right…” Owen grabbed the Oran and chomped down, frowning. These weren’t strong like back home.

Owen used an Oran Berry, restoring half of his health! Owen’s HP reached 14!
Magikarp used Splash, doing nothing!

Magikarp: 497

 

[Namohysip]

“This Blast Seed might help,” Owen said, tossing it in the air to test its weight. “Hey, Magikarp!” It didn’t hear him. “Take this!”

Owen used a Small Blast Seed on Magikarp, dealing 50 damage!

That got its attention. The Magikarp flopped back again, this time looking mildly annoyed with its big, wide, empty eyes, and—

“Oh no—”

—landed heavily on Owen once again.

Magikarp used Tackle on Owen, dealing 20 damage!
Owen is Staggered!
Owen is knocked out!

Owen’s Tiny Reviver Seed restored Owen’s HP by 1!

Magikarp: 447 HP

 

[Namohysip]

Owen! Diyem actually sounded worried this time.

“I’m—I’m okay,” Owen coughed out dirt and grass, rolling onto his feet. His body was shaky and wobbly; he couldn’t get a proper stance, nor recover his momentum.

No, you aren’t. Let me help you. Hang on.

“What?”

A strange light from within Owen emanated outward, coming from a realm beyond. Suddenly, his wounds and bruises disappeared, and it all faded away…

Diyem used Panacea on Owen, overhealing him to 150% HP, cured his Stagger, and overhealed Owen’s Stamina to 150%!

“But… but how am I supposed to…” Owen shook his head. He was never one to give up. He had to keep fighting! He ran toward Magikarp and leaped as high as he could, slashing at its tailfin.

Owen used Scratch, dealing another 3 damage!
Magikarp is Splashing around…
Magikarp: 444 HP

 

[Namohysip]

“He’s gonna attack again!” Owen said worriedly. “What—what can I do?!”

It looked a lot angrier this time… somehow. Perhaps it was the flopping that displayed its angry emotions.

I’ll… I’ll give you everything I can. You better not disappoint me.

That light returned, and this time a surge of energy surrounded him. Owen’s eyes bulged out and he let in a deep gasp. “What… what is this?!” He felt like the hero of one of his comic books!

Diyem used Surge! Owen gained +4 Attack, an extra +200 fixed damage to his next attack, and double attacking power!

This was it. All or nothing. He was on top of the world! He went for a hop, his sudden strength sending him all the way to the Magikarp’s main body. He pulled back… “Take… THIS!”

Owen used Surging Scratch, dealing 208 damage!

“Aaaah!” Owen landed headfirst into the Magikarp, a huge slash leaving his claws and into its flank. Magikarp gurgled in pain and tried to push Owen away, but he rolled off on his own. “Ugh—”

Owen… did… did you do it?

“Diyem? Are you okay?”

N… no. I’ve… that took… too much from me, so far across the realm…

“I’m sorry, I—”

Get up. Hurry.

Owen did so, but by the time he turned around, he saw that Magikarp was staring right at him, pivoted to the point where he was leaning on one fin.

“Um… h-hi?”

A blue glow emanated from Magikarp’s mouth.

“Oh.”

Magikarp used Hydro Pump on Owen, dealing 61 damage!
Magikarp: 235
Owen was knocked out!

All players have been defeated!

Owen rolled, waterlogged and awash on the ground as his tail bubbled with steam. He couldn’t find the strength to move; his body was battered by the overwhelming force of water. Were some of his scales missing? There was a dark figure in front of him…

Weakly, he growled in defiance before he finally blacked out.

<><><>​

 

[Namohysip]

The land had been ruined, carved by so many overlapping Magikarp imprints that each individual one was unrecognizable. Packed grass and mud covered half of the field, but this was indeed where the two Magikarp had suddenly grown large. Nearby was a river, which was where they had climbed out.

A tear in space appeared, and Maple stepped through first. She waited for the others to emerge, one of them being Owen, who winced at the carnage. He remembered being here... His body was starting to ache with the memories that came flooding back.

 

[Ambyssin]

Necrozma tried. He tried so, so hard to hold it in. But he couldn't. It had to be said.

"How can a smeargle carve a portal through space like that? That's something—" He stopped. Necrozma looked at his right hand. "If only I wasn't so worthless..."

 

[Adamhuarts]

Cynthian was equality surprised, if not on awe. "I have heard rumors about the many great things the Smeargle species were capable of. I never would've imagine creating dimensional portals was one of them. That's really spectacular!"

 

[Virgil134]

As Cabot stepped out of the portal he looked back at it in awe. How could a Smeargle do any of this? While it was true that with Sketch they could learn any move, as far as he knew there wasn't a single move that allowed a Pokemon to simply open up a portal to far away places. His thoughts were cut short as he noticed Owen visibly wincing, prompting him to walk over and put a claw on his shoulder.

"Owen? You doing okay?"

 

[Namohysip]

"Yeah, I'm okay," Owen assured Cabot. "Just... remembered that this is the place where I got Hydro Pumped."

Maple, meanwhile, eyed Necrozma with a certain focus that she didn't give any of the others. "Mm." She shook her head. "You're far from worthless, Necrozma. I saw the end of the fight as you protected your team members. That is admirable, and you helped everyone succeed." She looked like she wanted to say more, but held off.

They headed for the riverside. "Come," Maple said. "Let's investigate where the Magikarp had first arrived. Soda must already be talking to them about what they know. If we can combine information, we may have a better picture of how this all happened..."

There was indeed a strange feeling coming from somewhere upstream, but it was faint.

 

[Adamhuarts]

"Whatever it is, I hope we can get to the bottom of this soon enough. It isn't at all normal for magikarps to grow huge out of nowhere. That's the stuff of nightmares I tell you." Cynthian heaved a tired sigh.

 

[Ambyssin]

Necrozma had lived far too long to fall for such an obvious sidestep of his question. And that look she was giving him. "You didn't answer me, you know." His core flickered. "But I'm sensing... something faint. From upstream, perhaps?" He waved his right arm in front of him.

 

[Fusion]

"Is it not normal for people to make portals?" Vix asked. "I mean, I can't, and I only know two guys that can, but still?"

She followed behind Maple, not floating too close as to be a bother. Should she introduce herself? That would be the polite thing to do, obviously, but she didn't really know how to approach someone so... serious sounding. Was that just her? Maybe. Vix decided proper introductions could wait for later, it was business time now.

 

[Virgil134]

"Yeah, I'm okay," Owen assured Cabot. "Just... remembered that this is the place where I got Hydro Pumped."

"Right... I guess that's not a very pleasant thing to remember," Cabot murmured as he followed after Maple with the rest of the group. "But at least you won't have to worry anymore about that happening to you or anyone else."

 

[Jedi Shulk]

“What happened here? I can guess it about the fish” Fay spoke.

 

[Namohysip]

The team searched around the riverside and found nothing worth noting. The impact areas were similarly mundane. However, after some tiresome walking around, and with Maple more carefully inspecting the strange aura that Necrozma helped direct them toward...

"...What?" Maple mumbled. "What is this?"

I'm sensing a strange power coming from it, Diyem added.

It was a crater by the riverside. It looked like there had been some sort off scuffle there, perhaps a fight? But what was of greater interest was something inside: Several strange, lumpy stones that were vaguely in the shape of spheres, all piled together. There were other craters nearby with other stones, like they'd fallen from a scattershot from the sky. Each stone was no larger than a grapefruit, gray in color and rough in texture.

"We had sent scouts from the Mystery Continent to investigate this area first-thing after Magikarp had been spotted," Maple said. "Some of the strongest we had. Yet they found nothing at the time. Soda had been among them... I'll ask him if he missed this, or perhaps it was more recently here. These appear to be nothing but stones..."

 

[Fusion]

"Where do you think they came from? Did they make this crater?" Vix asked, slowly floating closer to the stones. She had the feeling she should be more careful about this, but they didn't seem all that dangerous. "What kind of mineral are these even made of?"

 

[Ambyssin]

Again he was ignored. How frustrating. Did this smeargle really think she could casually toss around that power — no, his power — and brush him aside?

Still, his complaints faded upon discovery of the stones. "I... do not think these are simple stones." His multicolored triangles flickered. "I'm sensing... something off about them. In the same way the magikarps' auras were off." He crossed his arms. "Besides... mere stones would not create this kind of damage. They'd have to fall from outer space. Which would make them meteorites." Necrozma looked skyward.