[Shalin Nariya]

Having touched the side of the enormous Rapidash's horn, Shalin felt like she had just woke up from a good night's sleep. Wide awake and completely refreshed, she couldn't fall asleep even if she tried. All of her Pokémon had slept outside their Poké Balls as well, mostly at the request of the giant Pokémon. They, too, had been similarly revitalized, as though they had received care at a Pokémon Center. There was no evidence Sol's shell had even been cracked in the first place, and Serena's paws appeared to be back to normal as well. She turned her head toward Flit. "How are you? Are you feeling better too?" His wings disappeared for about a second as a familiar, loud buzz echoed in the night. "...Glad to hear it. Not so loud, though!"

All six of her Pokémon turned to face her. "I'm so excited to be here - we're about to uncover one of Arciel's greatest mysteries. We might be the first people ever to set foot here...or at least, one of the first in a long time. I want all of you to be on your best behavior." She pointed at her Skuntank, then her Persian. "Kiku, Serena, that includes you. No chasing after anything unless I tell you to, okay?" The two nodded, putting aside their impulsive emotions, knowing the sacred ground they tread upon.

She reached for her Poké Balls out of instinct, then decided to just clip the empty Balls to her belt, where she would normally store her Pokémon. Given she was on sacred ground, she would eschew human technology as much as feasible to explore the natural wonder that was this grove radiating the color gold. She climbed into Flit's saddle and put her earplugs in, gently being shaken back and forth as the giant dragonfly got his healed wings up to speed and eventually airborne. The two didn't fly too high, though - just high enough to get a decent view of the forest floor as they followed in the same direction the giant Rapidash went.

---

NAME          SPECIES       LV    EP   STATUS
Caprice       Ninetales      43     5      Good
Prance        Stantler       32     5      Good
Flit          Yanmega        42     5      Good
Kiku          Skuntank       37     5      Good
Serena        Persian        36     5      Good
Sol           Larvesta       35     5      Good
 
{WC: 349}
{PC: 1}

[SG]

A random event has occurred!

What will you do?

Shalin Nariya

As soon as you get above the tree line, the Golden Tree is all too obvious. The massive natural wonder stands above all other trees even in this forest of giants, and produces a very faint golden glow. Only distance prevents it from being visible to the naked eye even from Maple or Poplar, but a telescope positioned on a rooftop in town could get a clear view, so prominent is the Tree.

As you get closer, you get an uneasy feeling that you cannot place, a sudden nagging anxiety that you shouldn't be here. But are you really going to come all this way for nothing? At any rate, you've just reached the edge of the forest trees. Looking down, you can see your other Pokemon following faithfully, each one stopped at the edge of the treeline as well. Just past that edge, there seem to be some kind of objects on tilted pikes lining the clearing in which the Tree stands, almost like a fence, but far more sparse. Likely, they are simply markers of this sacred ground.

In the clearing beyond, you can see silhouettes of very large Pokemon sleeping or resting, though it is a little too dark to make out just what they are.

You still have the sensation that something bad could happen, and you briefly remember that Rapidash told you to be careful, but for the moment everything is still and peaceful. Will you proceed past the sacred ground markers, or turn back and leave the Tree behind?

[Shalin Nariya]

The light of the Golden Tree was a sign that Shalin was indeed on the precipice of holy ground. Something this distinct would be easily visible she felt, day or night, with enough altitude. This, indeed, was the same tree she caught a glimpse of yesterday. The colossal Rapidash and Decidueye did indeed warn her to be on her best behavior. She would never dream of harming such majestic, giant Pokémon! A little harmless fun, on the other hand...as long as she had Flit and the rest of her team backing her up, the risk would be worth the reward!

Flit stopped right above the spear-like markers without a command from Shalin, as did the rest of her team. She asked Flit, "What gives?" before looking down. She noticed the pointed objects beneath, encircling the tree like a fence. Beyond was supposedly one of the most holy places in all of Arciel. Maybe she'd get to meet a legendary Pokémon here! She didn't get so lucky in the volcanic depths - maybe she'd get to meet one here. Taking a deep breath, she pointed forward, lightly pressuring Flit's sides with her knees. She could feel her mount likewise taking a deep breath, the two pushing closer to the grove. Her five Pokémon beneath followed, Sol firmly holding onto Caprice's seat. The Larvesta seemed most nervous of all her Pokémon.

---

NAME          SPECIES       LV    EP   STATUS
Caprice       Ninetales      43     5      Good
Prance        Stantler       32     5      Good
Flit          Yanmega        42     5      Good
Kiku          Skuntank       37     5      Good
Serena        Persian        36     5      Good
Sol           Larvesta       35     5      Good

{WC: 233}
{PC: 2}

[SG]

A not so random event has occurred!

What will you do?

Shalin Nariya

Against your better judgement, you proceed closer, crossing the boundary. Within moments, you can feel a change in the air. It is palpable enough that Flit briefly falters, needing to adjust to the new air pressure.

Still, your mount faithfully obeys your request to move forward. Another moment later, you hear a faint sound, no more than a ringing in your ears. But every second it grows a little louder.

Some fifteen to twenty seconds after crossing the boundary, it sounds like a household vacuum, at least for what you can hear over Flit's wings. It's difficult to discern the source, or tell how loud it would be closer to said source.

Just in case you weren't concerned yet, however, there is suddenly a bright flash from the tree, and all the Pokemon below begin to stir. The light then begins to dim gradually, and-- you have to blink to check your eyes, but within a few more seconds it has become too obvious to deny. Black streaks have begun to work their way up from the roots of the tree through the trunk and branches. They do not engulf it fully, but you are very certain this is Not Good. The tree's glow has dimmed to barely visible now, as well.

It's been a little over thirty seconds now, and there's another flash, this one overhead, and you look up.

Inexplicable terror fills you. Everyone much older than six knows the sight you're looking at all too well. It filled every news station for months after the attacks that nearly destroyed the world. An Ultra Wormhole has opened.

A number of large figures come pouring out and immediately go flying off in all directions. It's nothing like the hundreds that filled the skies over Plum and many of the world's other regions those years back, but there are enough to be concerning. The Pokemon below are in a panic, and you can faintly hear their cries over Flit's loud buzzing.

Then, the wormhole closes, and the sky is still and dark once again, as if it never happened. But the lingering panic below and the scars marring the Tree tell you it certainly did, and now there are dangerous creatures-- monsters that can only debatably be called Pokemon-- on the prowl somewhere out there in the night.

Shalin...

What have you done?

[Shalin Nariya]

The moment Shalin felt the air pressure suddenly rise, she distinctly felt sick...like she was going to vomit. A sound distinctly like a vacuum cleaner overcame Flit's buzzing. Flit was loud, too - to overcome him, the noise had to be unbearable. She looked down, and saw her entire time's eyes completely closed. They were in pain from how loud the noise was. Once the noise peaked at a volume that rang in her ears even with earplugs on, the Golden Tree turned a distinct black, disappearing into the dark sky, eldritch tendrils covering its trunk and branches.

Then, a bright flash, bright as the sun, engulfed the entire grove, Shalin and all of her Pokémon were forced to look away or risk being blinded, perhaps permanently. When she mustered the will to open her eyes after the flash had been reduced in intensity, she could make out several large figures spreading out in all directions. She had heard of this phenomenon in passing, but didn't think it could happen here.

A portal to Ultra Space had appeared.

The aliens--let's face it, Shalin didn't even think they were Pokémon--had invaded Arciel. They were so powerful that even legendary Pokémon cowered in their wake. Legendary Pokémon had been summoned from all over the world to repel them when they had invaded Alola, and some of them were beaten so badly they nearly perished. If the legendary Pokémon didn't come, Arciel was finished. Then other regions would be attack.

Realizing the gravity of the situation, Shalin started balling, letting out nothing but panicked, incoherent gibberish. All of Shalin's Pokémon frowned, shedding tears for her as well...particularly Caprice. Flit was the first to snap out of it, followed by Caprice. The Ninetales ignited the tips her tails once more, fanning them to provide as much light as possible. With this added light, Flit hovered lower to the ground, her and Caprice searching to see if some of the giant Pokémon stuck around. Her Pokémon were being leaders more than she was.

"Why?! Why meeeeeeeee?!" was the only coherent sentence she shouted since she opened Pandora's Box. Completely by mistake due to her idle curiosity and desire to meet the giant Pokémon.

---\

{WC: 378}
{PC: 3}

NAME          SPECIES       LV    EP   STATUS
Caprice       Ninetales      43     5      Good
Prance        Stantler       32     5      Good
Flit          Yanmega        42     5      Good
Kiku          Skuntank       37     5      Good
Serena        Persian        36     5      Good
Sol           Larvesta       35     5      Good

[SG]

A random event has occurred!

What will you do?

Shalin Nariya

As you cry, Flit slowly hovers down to the ground, a mixed result of his own weary tears for you, thoughts you may need the comfort of the others, and fear of the creatures that just appeared in the sky spotting the two of you if you remained aloft.

Shortly after the buzzing of his wings stop, you hear the distinct sound of hoofbeats-- massive ones. A few moments later, the Rapidash from before emerges from the trees, then rears back and lets out a horrified neigh at the sight of the tree. She stammers and stumbles a moment, then looks to you, bewildered. <Child... What happened here!?>

[Shalin Nariya]

After Flit landed, the two-story-tall Rapidash approached Shalin and her bewildered, mourning team. Shalin's only reply was to explain exactly what happened, the way she saw it, through a highly emotional voice going way too fast to understand by simple hearing. She spared no detail to what she had witnessed, going into terrifyingly precise and accurate detail. Flit was so somber as to be completely still - there wasn't even the ambient vibration Shalin was used to feeling when merely sitting in his saddle.

After recounting her story, she babbled on in a slightly more comprehensible voice, starting with how she had no clue such a thing happened. All she wanted to do was meet and go riding on some of the giant Pokémon of the forest. She named off some species she would loved to have met at such a scale: Ninjask, Raichu, Eevee, Linoone...she went on and on. It was her desire to uncover the ancient mysteries of every region she adventured. She had traveled Johto and Hoenn, setting foot in every known ruin and site of ancient historical importance in both regions. Arciel was no different. She eventually shook her head, sniffed loudly, and calmed down a little but. "...Is there any way I can make this right. Any blood spilled by those...things...is blood on my hands. How can I set this right?"

---

NAME          SPECIES       LV    EP   STATUS
Caprice       Ninetales      43     5      Good
Prance        Stantler       32     5      Good
Flit          Yanmega        42     5      Good
Kiku          Skuntank       37     5      Good
Serena        Persian        36     5      Good
Sol           Larvesta       35     5      Good

{WC: 229}
{PC: 4}

[SG]

A random event has occurred!

What will you do?

Shalin Nariya

The Rapidash listens as your story unfolds, and some of the nearby wild Pokemon draw a little nearer to hear as well. By the time you are done with the recounting, several more towering Pokemon have come within a few dozen yards-- a Rillaboom, a Pinsir, and a Honchkrow as far as you can tell. As you get to rambling off Pokemon you'd like to meet, though, they go from engaged to mixed reactions. The Honchkrow flies off, the Rapidash begins pawing the ground a bit impatiently, and the other two slump a bit.

Finally, though, when you finish and change to thoughts of the future, the Rapidash moves uneasily. <Why are you asking me?> Her thoughts are quieter than before, more unsure. <I'm a simple Rapidash who's never even been as far as the edge of this forest. I've heard stories of a hole in the sky on the far side of Arciel a few years ago, but the destruction never reached this far. The tree never... did that.> She nods to the eldritch scars.

<We're in unfamiliar water here. The only thing I can suggest is to warn your people and to stay vigilant.> She pauses a few moments, then sighs. <As for riding a giant Pokemon, I... suppose I could help with that. Time is of the essence, and you need to get out of this forest quickly.> Before you caused any more damage, most likely, but also to warn humanity. <I'd offer to take you, but I don't know the full way myself. But I know someone who does...>

She takes a deep breath, and exhales slowly. A sharper breath, and she lets out a loud neigh, tossing her head as she does. Then silence. She waits, so you do, too. After about ten seconds, there is a loud buzzing. Not as loud as the earlier sound, nor as loud as even Flit, but loud enough to be noteworthy. A few more seconds later, a fifteen foot high Beedrill pops out of the trees nearby. The Rapidash looks to her, and after a few more moments back to you. <She'll take you to the forest's edge near the city,> she tells you. <But first...>

The Beedrill buzzed over to the Golden Tree. Though her face is not very expressive, you feel she looks mournful for a moment. But then she touches the tree and begins to glow. A light envelops her like a cocoon, and when the bubble bursts, she is a 20 foot Mega Beedrill, her speed roughly doubled in this form. As she comes back over and lands, crouching down to let you climb up, the Rapidash urges you, <Hurry now child. She won't be able to maintain this form all night. Recall your Pokemon and climb on. Warn your people of the imposing danger, and try to ensure no one else trespasses on this sacred land.>

[Shalin Nariya]

So this was indeed uncharted territory for Arciel. This was the first time an Ultra Wormhole had opened so close to a populated area. The tree was a mess - it was like the tree itself had become evil. "I just want to do what I can to help. I know it might not be much - but I want to do what I can." She couldn't hear her own voice, but the wild seemed to be communicating with her mind directly. "The first thing I'm doing when I get back to Maple is warning the Rangers there to close off the forest--or at least the path to the tree. Preferably the whole forest."

It seemed like all the giant Pokémon were willing to help out. They were benevolent and understanding guardians, after all. When the psychic-type said another companion would be able to help her, she watched intently. A positively enormous queen Beedrill popped out of the woods. The girl wanted to cry - this was the bug she hunted for the entire time, but she just knew the Rapidash would object to her trying to catch or even befriend it.

As the Beedrill circled what remained of the tree, she became enveloped in a cocoon of light, her three stings splitting into fine, her four wings splitting into six. The blonde was startled as the enormous, Mega Evolved wasp landed next to her. By now, the sun was starting to come up - at least they would be able to see. The whole event involving the Ultra Wormhole, the long discussion afterward, and the plan on what to do to stop this had taken a lot longer than she thought.

Shalin recalled her entire team then scurried aboard the Beedrill. Once she was securely between the great bug's wings, she called back to the Rapidash, "That's the first thing I'm doing - making sure no one else comes here unless we have to." The queen stood back up, faced south, and started flapping her wings, the their telltale, menacing hum following almost instantly. A gentle tingling sensation filled her lower body and hands as the Beedrill continued warming her wings up. It was relaxing, unlike the rattling feeling she got sitting in Flit's saddle. But the giant wasn't done warming up.

The tingling sensation grew until it overcame her entire body. Shalin took a quick peek toward the Beedrill's sides, and she could not see the wings at all. Not even a blur - they were completely invisible to the naked eye! When this monster of a Beedrill took off, she was gonna fly. She braced herself for the sudden acceleration of insect flight, feeling the spring of the queen jumping off the ground...

---

{WC: 451}
{PC: 5}

[SG]

A random event has occurred!

What will you do?

Shalin Nariya

The Beedrill rose at a moderate pace up through the trees, higher and higher. You hear one final thought from the Rapidash: <Good luck, young one.>

Then she is turning to run off, and the other Pokemon below you seem to start dispersing as well. Meanwhile, the Beedrill climbs ever higher. She can't go at full speed just yet. Not vertically, and not without being certain her rider has a solid grip. But as she finally clears the tree tops, and the rising sun shines on the two of you, she takes off in a sudden burst, covering a startling distance in about three seconds before slowing. She looks back briefly as if to make sure you're still holding on, or perhaps that that wasn't too much for you. But with you still clinging tight, she seems satisfied and takes off full speed once again, this time maintaining it.

The trees and horizon are blurs beneath and around you, and it makes you dizzy trying to look at anything, but straight ahead is easiest on the eyes.

The flight is uneventful other than the effects the speed has on you, however, and soon you see the edge of the forest and Maple City on the horizon beyond it.

[Shalin Nariya]

Shalin waved goodbye to the Rapidash below as the enormous hornet rose through the sky, the other giant Pokémon dispersing back into the woods. The tingling feeling she got as the bug-type ascended into the dense treetops wasn't at all uncomfortable; if anything, it was relaxing. Though it looked like they were going to fly straight through the canopy and into branches and limbs of the great sequoias, the wake of wind surrounding the enormous Mega Beedrill's wings snapped branches and blew them away from the excited, if mentally tired, rider.

The two crested the treetops, Shalin getting a good look at Fuji and Cork towns to the west. Cork Town was a bit blurry due to it being directly through the great hornet's right wings - while they were moving so fast as to be invisible to the naked eye, they were still there, and distorted her view of the towns. They were hundreds of feet in the air - far higher than a normal-sized Beedrill could hope to fly. The trees directly next to where they had ascended had been almost completely stripped of their leaves. Even at Flit's size, a normal Beedrill wasn't capable of something like that - Beedrill couldn't beat their wings forcefully like Yanmega could. She was shredding the trees because her wings were just that damn fast. Once the two were a hundred feet or so above the tree line, the drone of her wings changed to what could only be described as a low-pitched shriek. Shalin was blown backward from the sudden burst of speed, practically laying on top of the Beedrill as the apparent wind threatened to blow her off.

Oh Arceus.

Thankfully the burst only lasted for three seconds before she could hear the more normal Beedrill drone, the two even higher above the tree line now. The Golden Tree was so far away now - had they really covered that much distance in such a short time? It felt like the Mega Beedrill had...teleported. The queen looked back to make sure her rider was okay, the girl crawling around to assume a much lower position - one where she would have to deal with less wind. Of course, she could only see directly ahead of her and below. She hovered in place for a few seconds, her wings going from a drone to a shriek again, and finally to a high-pitched whine.

Oh double Arceus.

An overwhelming tingling sensation left Shalin nearly immobile atop the queen Mega Beedrill as she started flying so fast that everything surrounding her was a sea of color - she couldn't even see clearly straight ahead. Unlike with Flit, whose entire body shook violently when pushed to his full speed, the tingling was the only discomfort, and only because of how strong it was. She wanted to let out a scream, but she didn't dare open her mouth, lest the inside of it be completely dried out from the rush of wind across her face. The Beedrill's flight pattern being relatively straight was the only reason she could hold on - any sort of turn at this speed would easily wrench her off.

Squinting, the girl, her focus fueled by nothing but pure adrenaline, could barely see Maple City, straight ahead on the horizon. They were already close to the edge of the expansive Sequoia Forest. A distance that had taken Shalin a day and a half to cover, and on several speedy Pokémon at that, this Beedrill had covered in well under an hour. Mixed emotions flooded her mind; she wanted this Pokémon on her side, even it couldn't be a permanent part of her team. She just wanted a way for it to be at her beck and call if she needed it...but she couldn't say anything until they had landed...or at least slowed down to a speed that didn't feel like teleportation.

---

{WC: 650}
{PC: 6}

[Jae]

A random event has occurred!

What will you do?

Shalin Nariya

The Beedrill would not slow until after breaking through the last of the Sequoia Forest's massive trees. Once there, she finally starts to slow closing the distance to the city limits with a bit more reserve than before. At the edge of town, she finally slows down entirely and comes to a stop, hovering briefly before easing down to allow Shalin to get off her back. She then floats up again ready to zoom off at a moment's assurance. 

[Shalin Nariya]

Even when the Mega Beedrill slowed outside the forest, Shalin still didn't dare speak - the giant Beedrill was still flying at speeds well beyond reasonable. At least she could see directly in front of her - Maple City's limits were getting close. Once they were a few minutes out, she started to regain feeling in her extremities again, the strong vibration having dulled her sense of touch. After only a few minutes, the wild insect started to descend toward Maple's north gate, uprooting quite a bit of grass just north of city limits. She peered over the side of the Pokémon - even at this slower speed, the Beedrill's wings were nearly invisible!

The five-needled Pokémon touched down a couple hundred feet from the north gate, letting Shalin dismount on jelly legs. She took deep breaths after quickly tumbling to the ground, unable to stand. "If you need a partner to fight the Ultra Beasts...nothing would make me happier!" she weakly cried back to the Beedrill, who jumped back into the air, hovering some distance away from her. This was one ride she would never forget. She waved back to the enormous bug, feeling it could disappear into a blur at a moment's notice.

---

{WC: 205}
{PC: 7}

[Jae]

A random event has occurred!

What will you do?

Shalin Nariya

The Beedrill gave a cry and a salute. She needed to get back to the forest, however. There were many things that needed to be checked on. Speeding off again thereafter, she was gone in the blink of an eye. You are left with the memories of the incident and...

...What is this? 

You find a strangely battered mushroom has attached itself to you at some point? Not exactly a consolidation prize considering but...something? 

Congratulations!

Your thread is complete and now locked.

Despite its length, due to the nature of this discovery thread, you receive 100 pen and 1 Eat Me! Mushroom.