Two days quickly passed since Alex dropped Kahuna Hapu off at her farm along the Ancient Poni Path. More specifically, it'd been exactly 48 hours. Time was difficult to judge in the perpetual darkness. Unlike a normal eclipse, the sky was shrouded in near-total darkness rather than muted twilight. Even when the sun was at its highest, its light was so heavily dimmed that it barely pierced the gloom, making it almost indistinguishable from when the moon rose. Even Alex had to squint to tell the difference despite his Dark type Affinity.
Still, his journey northeast had finally given him a clear view of the spectacle on the horizon. It was an electric field of bluish light generated by roughly a dozen Xurkitree scattered throughout a 1-mile radius. They were spaced far enough apart that they didn't interfere with one another as they absorbed electricity from the ground before discharging it into their surroundings. Together, they resembled a sparse forest of deadly glowing Christmas trees.
Amazingly, their constant discharge had become a refuge for Electric type Pokémon numbering in the hundreds. Charjabug, Vikavolt, Togedemaru, Oricorio Pom-Pom, Pikachu, and Alolan Raichu, among others, were scattered throughout the forest. They fed on the electricity that served as both their source of nutrition and a rare sanctuary in this dark world where plant life could no longer thrive.
The Poni Plains, which had once been vast farmland covered in greenery, had turned into an empty expanse with nothing growing across its surface. It would've been an even more depressing sight if not for the Xurkitree forest growing at its center, providing electricity to the Electric type Pokémon.
"It's interesting how an Ultra Beast became the light that allowed those Pokémon to survive in this harsh landscape," Alex mused.
It was somewhat ironic that the same phenomenon responsible for their suffering had also become their means of survival. The Ultra Wormholes had been both the cause and the solution all at once. Then again, the rest of Alola told a different story, as it remained a dark wasteland.
Having found the source of the light in the distance, Alex's curiosity was satisfied, and he was ready to continue toward Aether Paradise. However, just as he was about to leave, a multicolored, disco-ball-like light suddenly approached the electric forest. Upon closer inspection, he realized it was a group of two dozen Blacephalon approaching from the north.
"If I remember right, Xurkitree and Blacephalon have an ongoing rivalry over which species can shine the brightest," Alex muttered.
Rather than continuing on his way, Alex decided to watch this unusual spectacle unfold. He reined in Mantine, having him circle the area from a close distance while he observed.
The approaching Blacephalon illuminated the darkness like a swarm of floating fireworks, their colorful lights intensifying with every step closer to the Xurkitree forest. In response, the Xurkitree began increasing their output, their bodies glowing brighter as they released more electricity in waves of blue energy. The entire plain slowly transformed into a clash of competing lights, with the darkness of Alola temporarily pushed back by their radiance.
The sudden display drew the attention of nearby Ultra Beasts and Pokémon alike. The scattered Xurkitree gathered together, their towering forms forming a glowing line against the approaching Blacephalon. Meanwhile, the surrounding Pokémon moved away from the center, gathering at a safe distance like spectators watching a grand performance, though their tense postures suggested they knew this could quickly turn into a battle.
"This is getting more interesting."
Once both sides were finally within range, the competition escalated. The Blacephalon began glowing brighter and brighter, their colorful lights intensifying as their greater numbers allowed them to create a dazzling display. However, the Xurkitree refused to be outshined. They anchored themselves into the ground, drawing in vast amounts of electricity before releasing it through their bodies in waves of blue radiance.
Where the Blacephalon were like blazing fireworks, brilliant but fleeting, the Xurkitree were like a vast power grid, a steady and unrelenting source of light. Their battle for radiance continued, with neither side willing to back down.
Eventually, the difference in their approaches became apparent. The Blacephalon's explosive brilliance began to wane as exhaustion set in, their lights flickering and fading. Meanwhile, the Xurkitree maintained their glow, constantly replenishing their energy from the ground. It seemed sustainability had triumphed over a momentary burst of brilliance.
Realizing they were losing, the Blacephalon grew agitated. Their movements became erratic as frustration overtook them. Then, one of them suddenly rushed forward into the center of the gathering.
Its jellyfish-like head began swelling like a balloon before—
BOOM!
The Blacephalon detonated in a massive explosion using Mind Blown, the blast tearing through the area and heavily damaging several Xurkitree, causing their collective radiance to dim.
Inspired by their comrade's sacrifice, the remaining Blacephalon followed suit. One after another, they charged forward, preparing to unleash their own explosive attacks.
That was when the Xurkitree finally retaliated.
Lightning erupted across the battlefield as they unleashed Zap Cannons and Thunderbolts toward their opponents. The remaining Blacephalon abandoned their contest of radiance entirely, charging forward with the intent of winning through violence instead.
The surrounding Electric type Pokémon saw this as an act of aggression. The spectators immediately joined the battle, unleashing waves of electricity without concern for their own safety. The Blacephalon responded with fiery attacks of their own, retaliating with flames or detonating themselves in brilliant explosions.
Unfortunately, the spectators did little to change the outcome of the battle. Despite numbering in the hundreds, they only managed to close the gap in numbers between the Blacephalon and Xurkitree. Most of them were only Expert ranked at best, while the Xurkitree and Blacephalon were all between Elite and Champion rank. The difference in strength between them was staggering.
What had begun as a harmless competition of light had transformed into a chaotic battlefield. The once beautiful display illuminating the darkness of Alola had become a deadly clash, with both sides suffering casualties as the conflict continued to escalate.
Of course, Alex could tell it wasn't as serious as it appeared. Both sides had only been knocked unconscious at most, with no actual threat to their lives. Even those that had already fainted and were in danger of being caught in an explosion were dragged away from the battlefield by the older Pokémon. It was clear this was more of a pastime than a true life-or-death battle, unlike the brutal conflicts Alex had grown accustomed to witnessing from Pokémon.
"I bet Alvera would've loved to have been here to take pictures of this," Alex muttered.
He would be lying if he said he didn't have favorites among his children. At the top of that list was undoubtedly Alvera, who had inherited both his talent and his thirst, though hers was driven by adventure rather than combat. Next was Veran, his little battle maniac who constantly challenged him to fights, and Lila, who had grown into a veteran bounty hunter and remained his little bundle of chaos.
As Alex's interest began to wane due to the lack of actual bloodlust, his mind started drifting toward fond memories of his children. It was during this moment of reminiscing that he noticed a peculiar Pokémon among the group that quickly caught his attention. Judging by its bored expression as it participated in the battle, it seemed to share his opinion. This wasn't the kind of exciting clash that made one's blood boil.
"Hmm... I could add it to my team, but given its typing, it'd probably be better as a gift for Alvera. She hasn't been getting into much trouble lately since her team of Alolan Raichu is already powerful, but she could always use another bruiser to add to her lineup."
With ulterior motives, Alex had Mantine land near the battlefield before releasing Gardevoir. The battle had already come to a halt without a clear winner, as the older Electric type Pokémon had begun separating the unconscious combatants. With the conflict over, it was safe for him to intervene.
"Play nice. We're not here for a battle," Alex instructed as the pair approached.
The surrounding Pokémon watched Alex warily, but their suspicion quickly faded when Gardevoir began healing the injured with Heal Pulse. He also released Tsareena, who used Grassy Terrain across the battlefield, and Milotic, who used Life Dew on everyone nearby. The healing wouldn't be enough to wake those who had fainted, but it would allow their bodies to recover and gradually return to full health.
Alex then stopped in front of a bipedal, feline Pokémon with primarily yellow and black fur. It was an Elite ranked Pokémon that had managed to heavily injure a Blacephalon before being nearly knocked out by a suicidal Mind Blown.
"You look bored," Alex said, looking down at the wary, resting Pokémon. "How would you like to come with me and be a little less bored? At the very least, I can promise you deadly battles and endless opportunities to grow stronger."
"Zeraora?" it asked skeptically.
"I'll let you decide whether you want to join me or my daughter. If you join me, your battles will be far deadlier, but you'll have to stay put and train constantly to grow stronger. You'll also have to fight as part of a team rather than on your own. If you join my daughter, you'll get to explore the world, experience new places, and still fight in dangerous battles. The choice is yours if you're interested."
It took a minute of consideration, but eventually, the Mythical Pokémon Zeraora, rumored to have been born from a lightning bolt striking an erupting volcano, nodded its head.
Ever since the Eternal Eclipse began, Zeraora had grown bored with the scenery of Alola. The battles it encountered were rarely exciting. Most were desperate struggles for survival from weak Pokémon, while others, like the battle it had just participated in, were little more than displays of pride and entertainment.
What it truly desired was an adventure where it could roam freely, discover new places, and test itself against powerful opponents without restraint. It also helped that this powerful trainer, accompanied by four incredibly powerful Pokémon, was promising it both growth and countless battles.
"Zeraora!"
"Excellent," Alex said. "You'll need to stay in a Poké Ball for a while and watch my ongoing adventure, but I promise you'll be joining me or my daughter eventually."
Alex took out a Poké Ball and captured the willing Zeraora, pleased that he had managed to obtain a Mythical Pokémon. At the very least, this dimensional expedition was no longer only worthwhile because of Guzzlord's satiety and the rare materials he could collect from Ultra Space.
Seeing that the surrounding Pokémon were already nearly fully healed, Alex recalled his Pokémon, mounted Mantine, and continued flying northeast toward Aether Paradise. He still had a suicidal mission to attempt and a lot of resources to gather before he could consider this expedition complete.