《Pokemon: The Great Beyond》 The Box ¡°They say your mom''s butthole is the size of the pit,¡± Calvin spoke while chowing down on his ice cream. ¡°Bet you won''t say that to her face!¡± Alphen responded back to his best friend''s remark. The two of them sat down on Calvin''s roof, gazing at the massive crater beside their tiny town of Ophelia. Compared to their hometown, the pit was vastly large with a depth that still remained unknown today. ¡°And get fisted by the same Slaking she suspiciously has? I''ll pass.¡± ¡°Slakoth was her starter, asshole!¡± Alphen gave a chuckle, feeling his friend''s Litten nudge his hand for more scratches. Ever since school ended they both had been hanging out pretty regularly these days. Calvin had just gained his first badge in town, and was getting ready to set out on his own journey with his Litten. As much as his friend wanted him to come along, Alphen was never really interested in the gym challenge, yet alone owning a Pokemon. The thought of it simply just didn''t appeal to him in any way, and he was never really sure of the reason. ¡°What are you planning to do since we''ve graduated from school?¡± Calvin leaned himself back as he was asking the question. He shrugged before responding. ¡°I don''t know. Go to med school, I guess.¡± ¡°Bro,¡± Calvin sighed heavily. ¡°Your sister is literally the fucking Champion! There''s so much potential you can gain from that alone!¡± ¡°I guess so,¡± He continued to scratch behind Litten''s ears. The tiny feline kept nudging his hand everytime he stopped. ¡°I just never cared for battling. Everybody was always so invested in Celeste''s journey, that it just seemed like I was going to be riding on her success, you know?¡± ¡°I think you''re wasting a big opportunity!¡± It wasn''t all that long ago since his sister had became Champion. Within a week she was going on a year since her victory. He could still vividly remember watching her battle on television. ¡°Unbelievable! Celestia Primoris, the Radiant Star, has done it! What an absolutely breathtaking battle! Ladies and gentlemen, we have a new Champion of the Astryn region! Celestia has claimed the title in spectacular fashion!¡± She raised her pokeball in the air. Her white outfit was adorned with rainbow embroidery glistened in the sunlight. Long chestnut colored hair danced in the air. Cheers of celebration echoed all around her on the stadium. Her smile was proud, and her calm lights brown eyes remained resilient. He remembered watching his family burst into tears the moment she was declared the winner. Coming from their tiny town, this very moment was monumental. ¡°You¡¯d probably need an Astral band to keep up with her anyway.¡± ¡°Oh, I forgot about those,¡± Alphen confessed. Unlike in other regions that had mega evolutions, Z-moves, and others, Astryn had Astrallization. Under correct conditions, a trainer could activate astrallize where their Pokemon will take on an otherworldly glow and grants them the Astral typing, enhancing their capabilities. It''s origins still remained a mystery however. There wasn''t too many people here that actually had access to an Astral band. Acquiring one often came from professors, yet even so it was very limited. ¡°I''ll figure something out,¡± Alphen stood up from his seat, stretching his body. ¡°You''re leaving a week from now to travel around Astryn, right?¡± ¡°Yessir! Catch your boy becoming the next Champion!¡± ¡°Yeah sure,¡± Alphen smiled. As much as he was going to miss hanging out with his friend often, he was happy to see him do something he loved. He was sure he was going to do great. ¡°I''ll see you before you leave then.¡± If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°Alright man, see you later!¡± ¡°Cya.¡± ¡ª Alphen opened the front door to walk in, being greeted by their family''s Herdier. The Pokemon jumped right into his arms, licking the side of his chin as he was excited to see him. ¡°Welcome home, hun!¡± His mother greeted from the living room. ¡°Were you out with Calvin?¡± ¡°Alph is home?¡± His dad called from the kitchen, poking his head around the corner. ¡°Yes I''m home,¡± he responded, entering the kitchen. ¡°Yeah I was with Calvin. He''ll be leaving next week.¡± ¡°Oh honey that''s exciting! How did it go at the gym for him?¡± ¡°Says it was tough but he did it.¡± ¡°Well tell him we wish him the best of luck! We''re about to cook dinner in a bit so don''t go snacking just yet.¡± ¡°It''s like you already read my mind,¡± Alphen snuck a cookie into his mouth. ¡°A package came in for you.¡± ¡°A package?¡± Alphen questioned. ¡°Yes!¡± His dad pointed up stairs to his room. ¡°From your sister.¡± Surprisingly he was a little shocked his sister had gotten him a gift. Since she became Champion, she hardly visits them at all. He could only assume she was just often too busy in her new role. ¡°She came by?¡± ¡°No hun,¡± His mom responded as she got up from her seat in the living room. ¡°The package was left outside the front door.¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°Well go grab it, kiddo! Let''s see what she got you.¡± Alphen went upstairs, hearing Herdiers little paws scramble upstairs with him. Opening the door to his room, the first thing he immediately noticed was a tiny black box sitting on his bed. The box itself had intricate unique symbols that he''s never seen before. On top of the box was a small envelope taped to it, with his name written on it. The writing seemed identical to his sister''s writing, but he couldn''t exactly remember what her writing looked like. It was hard to determine whether it was her''s or not. Grabbing the envelope, he carefully opened it and pulled out a small note. Where the darkest of stars shine, awaits you at the bottom. ¡°Darkest of stars? What the fuck?¡± Alphen raised an eyebrow, unsure of what to make of this message. It felt almost cryptic to him. Turning back to the box, he opened it slowly, revealing a tiny black pokeball. It was matte black, and almost had a faint glimmer to it. Not unlike any Pokeball he had ever seen before. The same symbols were faintly present around it as well. ¡°Did you open the box, hun?¡± His mother called from downstairs, making her way up to his room with his dad following behind. Alphen quickly slid the letter under his pillow. He was sure his parents would feel some sort of way with an odd message like that. ¡°Uhm, yeah,¡± He responded as he turned to see his parents entering his room. Both their eyes grew wide at the sight of the Pokeball, a smile spreading across both their faces. ¡°She got you a Pokemon?¡± His dad eagerly questioned. ¡°Never seen a Pokeball like that before!¡± ¡°I''m guessing so.¡± ¡°It''s beautiful!¡± His mom got a closer look, examining its odd symbols engraved around it. Grabbing the Pokeball, he held it firmly in his hand. For whatever reason, he felt strange holding it. Gently tossing the ball, an energized light released the Pokemon stored inside. A Zorua appeared in the center of the room, yet it''s features were different. A black and blue tipped mane that resembled shadows. It''s tail also resembled a black and blue smoke that flowed like it was liquid. Purple and blue eyes that resembled the moon, curiously looked up at Alphen. The same small symbols that were on the Pokeball, were also on the Zorua, faintly glowing blue and purple. ¡°It''s a Zorua!¡± His mother was ecstatic. ¡°Why does he look so different though?¡± His dad questioned, arching an eyebrow. ¡°He seems to have similarities to a Hisuian Zorua, but isn''t exactly one.¡± Alphen awkwardly picked up the Zorua, examining him closer. It''s been seventeen years and he''s never imagined of having a Pokemon of his own. ¡°Zohh-?¡± His eyes stared right into Alphen''s, almost like he was trying to understand who he was, just as he was trying to do the same. ¡°He''s cute! Are you gonna nickname him?¡± ¡°Uhm, no.¡± Alphen placed the Zorua back on the ground. Herdier got closer to the Pokemon, sniffing him suspiciously. ¡°I don''t even feel like it''s the same type as the other Zoruas?¡± ¡°Well he''s cute regardless!¡± His mother turned to walk back down the stairs. ¡°We''re gonna get started on dinner, why not take him outside in the meantime?¡± ¡°Might as well get to know your new partner while you''re at it!¡± His dad followed behind her. Alphen grabbed the letter from under his pillow. His newly acquired Zorua hopped onto his bed as soon as he noticed the letter, sniffing it curiously. ¡°Hey, get off the bed!¡± Alphen spoke, only to see the tiny fox ignore him. He hopped right onto his pillow, making himself comfy. Alphen sighed as he sat on his bed. His eyes couldn''t help but scan over the letter again. Where the darkest of stars shine, awaits you at the bottom. ¡°What does that mean?¡± He asked himself quietly. He reached into his phone, and called his sister''s phone. Calling Celestia¡­ No response. She hadn''t even really responded to his text message a week and a half ago. Yet thinking about it, why would she drop off a package with an odd type of Zorua, and not say hi to the family? Dialing Calvin''s number, he figured he''d get his input on the situation. The Offer "Man, he''s definitely a strange Zorua," Calvin muttered, crouching down to eye the little fox perched comfortably on the park bench. The longer he observed it, the more questions bubbled up. The color was off. The symbols etched faintly across its fur were unrecognizable. Its mane and tail looked like a fusion of both known Zorua forms. Hell, it was even hard to tell if it was the same type at all. Alphen rubbed the back of his head, sighing. He''d spent the whole night trying to make sense of the unexpected gift and the cryptic note his sister left behind. "Has Celestia¡ªsorry, Celeste¡ªreached out to you since then?" Calvin asked, correcting himself. Everyone in the region called her by her title now: Celestia, the Radiant Star. Alphen shook his head. "Not at all. She usually gets back to me pretty quick." Which was strange. Over the years, life had quietly steered them down different paths. They didn¡¯t talk much¡ªnot because of any fallout, but because the world had its way of keeping them busy. Alphen had accepted that her journey took priority. Still, they always tried to find their way back to one another whenever they could. He let out another frustrated sigh. "I can¡¯t even figure out what the note means." Zorua looked up at him, its glowing eyes calm and curious. Their gazes met, like they were still figuring each other out. "Hey, didn¡¯t you just get a Pok¨¦dex?" Alphen asked. "Oh¡ªyeah! Good idea." Calvin pulled the device from his pocket and pointed it at the Pok¨¦mon. Zorua. Species identified¡­ error¡ªvariation unknown. This specimen does not match any recorded regional forms. Typing: unregistered. Behavior and abilities¡ªdata inconclusive. Further research required. Warning: this Pok¨¦mon exhibits traits not documented in current databases. "Damn it!" Alphen muttered under his breath. "Makes you wonder where she found him," Calvin said. "So... what are you gonna do?" Alphen glanced at Zorua again, who now watched him quietly. Furrowing his brow, he shrugged. "I don¡¯t know. Maybe give him to a professor or a student who actually knows what they¡¯re doing. I mean, I¡¯m not a trainer. I wouldn¡¯t even know where to start." "What the hell kind of Zorua is that?" a new voice cut in. They both turned. A guy about their age stood nearby, eyes fixed on the small Pok¨¦mon with a hungry look. His tousled dirty-blonde hair and cold stare didn¡¯t help the unease settling in Alphen¡¯s chest. "Do you need something?" Alphen asked, trying to steady his voice. Zorua immediately leapt onto his shoulder, clinging to him. "Yeah, I do," the stranger said. "I want that Zorua." "He¡¯s not for sale." "You were just talking about giving him away," the guy smirked. "Why keep a Pok¨¦mon you can¡¯t even handle?" Alphen¡¯s eyes narrowed at him. Sure, he¡¯d admitted he wasn¡¯t cut out to be a trainer¡ªbut he wasn¡¯t going to hand Zorua over to just anyone. "Back off, man," Calvin snapped. His Litten stepped forward, hissing. "This has nothing to do with you." "Oh, but I think it does," the stranger grinned, tossing a Pok¨¦ball into the air. It burst open, revealing a massive Tyrantrum that landed with a quake. Its roar shook the ground. "Shit," Alphen cursed under his breath. Calvin might¡¯ve had battle experience, but Litten wasn¡¯t going to do much against a beast like that. "I¡¯ll take you both on," the stranger said. "Tyrantrum¡ªAncient Power!" Chunks of rock levitated and launched toward them. Alphen and Calvin dove to opposite sides, clutching their Pok¨¦mon. The attack shattered the bench behind them with destructive force. "You could¡¯ve hit us, asshole!" Alphen shouted. Zorua leapt from his arms, growling. "Litten, Ember!" Calvin commanded, wasting no time. Litten launched fiery sparks at Tyrantrum, who took the hit with little more than a scoff. "Wow! You guys suck!¡± the guy laughed. If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Zorua turned to Alphen expectantly. He was waiting¡ªfor a command. Alphen¡¯s heart pounded. What do I do? "Iron Head, Tyrantrum!" Zorua didn¡¯t flinch. He opened his mouth and summoned a strange ball of dark and white energy, hurling it forward. It struck Tyrantrum head-on, exploding in smoke and pushing the beast back several feet. "Was that... Shadow Ball?" Calvin asked. "No," Alphen murmured. "It was... something else!" It looked vastly different from a typical Shadow Ball, unlike anything he had seen. Tyrantrum snarled, now fully enraged. "Stone Edge¡ª" A burst of blue light streaked in from the side, slamming into Tyrantrum and sending it crashing several yards away. It barely managed to get back on his feet weakly. Everyone turned. A girl and her Lucario stood nearby, Lucario¡¯s hand still raised. Her hazel eyes narrowed. "That¡¯s enough, Jace." Jace''s eyes glared heavily at her. "Nice to see you too, Lyrielle," He sneered. "What brings you here?" "Nothing you need to worry about," she snapped. "I think you should leave. Unless you''re ready to get a second ass beating this week.¡± He scoffed, returning his Tyrantrum. "Next time, sweetheart." He gave a final look to Alphen and Zorua. "I¡¯ll be seeing both your cute faces sometime soon.¡± As he walked off, the tension began to fade. Alphen and his friend could feel their bodies finally relax. "You guys okay?" Lyrielle asked, approaching calmly. Her Lucario stayed alert. "You couldn¡¯t have shown up at a better time," Calvin laughed, Litten back on his shoulder. "Thanks to you, yeah," Alphen added, still catching his breath. "Do you know that guy?" Lyrielle rolled her eyes at the question. "Unfortunately you could say that. We started our journeys around the same time. He¡¯s a pain in the ass every time." "Well, thanks for saving us. I¡¯m Alphen. This is Calvin and his Litten." "Nice to meet you both," she smiled, but her gaze drifted to Zorua. "He¡¯s... different. Where did you find him?" Alphen gave a nervous laugh. "Kind of a weird story..." ¡ª ¡°Your sister is THE Celestia?¡± Lyrielle¡¯s question came out breathless, her hazel eyes wide with disbelief. Even her Lucario looked stunned. ¡°Yes!¡± Alphen confirmed. ¡°And you''re not a trainer?!¡± ¡°Exactly what I¡¯ve been saying!¡± Calvin added eagerly. Alphen sighed, tilting his head back. ¡°Yeah, yeah¡ªI know. I just never got into it like she did.¡± The group made their way down the sidewalk, Lyrielle having agreed to walk with them in case that jerk from earlier returned. But truthfully, she was also intrigued by the story Alphen had started telling. Zorua walked beside him, occasionally brushing against his leg as they neared Calvin''s house. The sun dipped lower in the sky, painting the clouds gold and violet. ¡°Why would she give you a Pok¨¦mon then?¡± Lyrielle asked, brows furrowing. ¡°Especially one that''s just so strangely different?" ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Alphen said with a shrug. ¡°Doesn¡¯t make sense to me either. She left this note too.¡± He reached into his pocket and handed her the folded piece of paper. ¡°¡®Where the darkest of stars shine,¡¯¡± Lyrielle read aloud. ¡°¡®Awaits you at the bottom?¡¯¡± She stopped walking, her expression sharpening as she looked at Alphen. ¡°What if she means the bottom of the Great Beyond?¡± ¡°The pit?¡± Calvin¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°There¡¯s no way she¡¯d want me to go somewhere that dangerous!¡± Alphen protested. ¡°Think about it!¡± Lyrielle pointed toward the distant silhouette of the jagged mountains. ¡°If she''s referring to the bottom of the pit, it lines up. And as far as anyone knows, no one¡¯s ever come back from the bottom. We don¡¯t know what¡¯s really down there. What if this Zorua is the ¡®darkest of stars¡¯?¡± Alphen started to reply but stopped himself. Her theory wasn¡¯t as far-fetched as it first sounded. It would explain the strange move Zorua used against Jace¡¯s Tyrantrum. ¡°I guess it could explain his typing and abilities,¡± Alphen admitted. ¡°Almost like a Void type?¡± Calvin mentioned. ¡°If some Pok¨¦mon here can use Astral energy, then maybe this Zorua¡¯s like... Void. Like a counterpart.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s true, why would she want me to go into the Great Beyond?¡± Alphen asked. Lyrielle shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s just a theory. But everyone knows only trainers capable of facing the Elite Four can go that deep into the pit.¡± The Elite Four of the Astryn Region were known to be notoriously... unstable. Most trainers who got the chance to meet them often stated they were a little crazy in the head. Each of them specialized in some sort of theme, rather than a single type. There was Pandora, the Omenweaver. Lucid, the Dream Phantom. Artorias, the Revenant Blade. Valtheron, the Scales of Ruin. And Celestia¡ªthe Radiant Star of Astryn. His sister. The Elite Four were known for descending into the Great Beyond. And few who entered ever returned. Some called it the Gate to All Worlds. Others simply called it suicide. ¡°I guess it makes sense,¡± Alphen said quietly, glancing at Zorua trotting beside him. Maybe that¡¯s why Celestia hadn¡¯t written back. ¡°If that¡¯s what she means, would you go?¡± Lyrielle asked. Alphen chuckled weakly. ¡°I¡¯m not a trainer. I wouldn¡¯t last a day.¡± ¡°You and me both!¡± Calvin laughed. He spotted his house just a few blocks away. ¡°Anyway, I¡¯ll catch you guys later this week. Thanks again, Lyrielle.¡± ¡°Of course!¡± ¡°Later, man.¡± As Calvin waved and turned down his street, Alphen turned to Lyrielle. ¡°I can walk home from here.¡± ¡°You sure?¡± He nodded. ¡°Yeah. I¡¯m just a few blocks that way.¡± Zorua hopped up onto his shoulder again, earning a small wince from Alphen. He wasn''t quite used to having a tiny creature dangle on his arm. ¡°Thanks again for saving us,¡± he added sincerely. ¡°Well, if you say so.¡± Lyrielle extended a hand to shake his. ¡°Also¡­¡± ¡°Hm?¡± She glanced at Zorua, then back to him. ¡°You should think about going into the Great Beyond. If my sister left me something like that¡­ I¡¯d want to know why.¡± ¡°I already said I wouldn¡¯t survive,¡± he said with a small, sheepish laugh. ¡°If you decide to, I¡¯ll go with you,¡± she offered. Alphen stared at her, dumbfounded. ¡°You can¡¯t be serious.¡± ¡°I am!¡± she grinned. ¡°I¡¯ve always wanted to see what¡¯s down there. And now? That little guy makes me even more curious.¡± She scratched gently behind Zorua¡¯s ear, earning a pleased purr. ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­¡± Alphen exhaled slowly. ¡°I¡¯ll think about it.¡± ¡°Good,¡± she said, handing him a slip of paper with her number. ¡°Let me know. I mean it.¡± ¡°Thank you, Lyrielle.¡± ¡°Call me Elle,¡± she added with a small wave. She and Lucario turned to walk the other direction, disappearing into the orange haze of the evening. Alphen stood still, holding her number. His thoughts spun as the weight of the day settled in. Zorua gave him a little lick on the cheek. ¡°Yeah¡­ I¡¯ve got a lot to think about.¡± He turned and made his way home beneath the fading light, Zorua nestled against his shoulder like he belonged there all along. His First Battle His tired eyes blinked open. Morning sunlight crept softly through the blinds, casting golden lines across his walls. As he tried to sit up, he felt a warm, unexpected weight around his neck. Zorua. ¡°Really?¡± he muttered, voice still heavy with sleep. The little Pok¨¦mon was draped over his chest, head resting against Alphen¡¯s neck like a scarf. Sometime during the night, Zorua had snuck into bed and made himself comfortable. Alphen sat up carefully, stretching with a long yawn as Zorua grumbled but didn¡¯t move, too deep in sleep to care. He eventually slipped out from under him and got ready for the day. After freshening up and changing, Alphen headed downstairs. Zorua followed behind with slow, lazy steps, eyes still half shut. The aroma of bacon hit him before he even reached the bottom step. ¡°Good morning,¡± Alphen called as he walked into the kitchen, stomach growling at the smell. ¡°Morning, you two!¡± his mother chimed, placing a warm stack of pancakes on the table. His father gave a casual wave, eyes glued to the morning news while working on his second helping. ¡°You sleep okay?¡± his dad asked, mouth half full. ¡°Yeah, I guess,¡± Alphen replied, pulling out a chair and sitting down. He looked at Zorua, who was now fully awake and hopping up into a seat beside him. ¡°This one was practically glued to me all night.¡± His dad chuckled. ¡°Any battles while you were out?¡± he asked with interest. Alphen took a large bite of pancake to avoid answering right away. He wasn¡¯t ready to explain what had happened the day before the confrontation, the strange move Zorua used, or Lyrielle¡¯s unexpected arrival. ¡°Not really,¡± he said after swallowing. He didn¡¯t want to worry them unnecessarily. The encounter had made something clear: people might come after Zorua just out of curiosity. And truthfully, he still wasn¡¯t sure if he should keep him. The volume of the TV rose slightly as the news transitioned out of a commercial break. ¡°¡ªand in continued coverage this morning, Water-type Gym Leader Myra from the Frostbay Gym remains missing. League officials confirm she was last seen nearly a week and a half ago. According to close friends and family, she expressed her intent to visit the edge of the Great Beyond. Search efforts have continued, but no signs of her presence have been discovered...¡± His mother lowered herself into a chair with a soft gasp. ¡°Oh, that poor woman...¡± His father let out a grunt, finishing the last of his coffee. ¡°I¡¯ll never understand how anyone thinks they can just walk into that man-eating cave and come back out. All those casualties, and people still keep trying.¡± ¡°I feel terrible for her family,¡± his mom added, shaking her head. ¡°Not knowing what happened¡­ I can¡¯t imagine the pain of that.¡± His father turned slightly toward him. ¡°Have you heard from your sister?¡± he asked, a faint frown forming on his face. ¡°She hasn¡¯t reached out to us either. We know she¡¯s busy, but not even a quick message?¡± Alphen shook his head. ¡°No. I¡¯ve tried to contact her. Wanted to thank her for the gift, but I haven¡¯t heard back.¡± ¡°That girl,¡± his mother sighed, exasperated. If you decide to, I¡¯ll go with you! Lyrielle¡¯s words from yesterday replayed in his head. She was serious about going down into the Great Beyond. They had just met, and yet she was so ready to dive headfirst into the unknown. Alphen didn¡¯t think she¡¯d try to steal Zorua. She¡¯d had every opportunity to do so yesterday but didn¡¯t. He remembered what she had mentioned yesterday. I¡¯ve always wanted to see what¡¯s down there. And now? That little guy makes me even more curious! She¡¯s definitely crazy, he thought. He looked down at Zorua, who was watching him silently. Where the hell did you come from? Zorua blinked slowly, his expression unreadable. Something about his eyes just seemed different. ¡ª-------- ¡°You ready?¡± Elle called out from across the training field, her voice clear and confident. Lucario stood firm in front of her, eyes locked onto Zorua and Alphen. ¡°I hope so!¡± Alphen called back. He had messaged Elle earlier, asking if she¡¯d help him out with his first real battle. He wasn¡¯t expecting to win, just eager to see what Zorua could really do. ¡°You got this, bro!¡± Calvin shouted from the sidelines. Litten stood beside him, letting out a supportive growl of its own. A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. Alphen looked down at Zorua, who gave a determined nod in return. ¡°Alright,¡± Alphen murmured. His thoughts briefly flicked back to the previous day¡ªto that strange attack Zorua had used against the Tyrantrum. He tightened his grip and raised his voice. ¡°Let¡¯s open with that same move. Void Sphere!¡± Zorua opened his mouth, gathering swirling energy. A glowing orb of black and white formed, pulsing with eerie power. With a sharp breath, he launched it forward at high speed. Lucario didn¡¯t flinch. He summoned a glowing blue bone in a flash and swung, deflecting the sphere with practiced ease. The attack exploded against the ground several yards behind Elle. ¡°Void Sphere, huh?¡± she called out with a grin. ¡°Sounds kinda edgy.¡± ¡°Cringe name, man!¡± Calvin teased from the bench. Alphen groaned. ¡°Well what else am I supposed to call a move no one¡¯s ever seen before?¡± ¡°Fair enough! Lucario, Bone Rush!¡± Lucario bolted forward, eyes locked on his target. He closed the distance in a blink, slamming his glowing weapon across Zorua¡¯s side. The small fox was knocked off his feet, skidding across the field in a small cloud of dust before digging in with his paws and regaining balance. Alphen flinched as he watched Zorua skid across the ground. ¡°You good?¡± Zorua growled, already back on all fours, his tail flicking with focus. Despite his small size, he had taken the hit surprisingly well. ¡°Use Scratch!¡± Alphen called out. Zorua lunged forward, claws extended mid-leap. Lucario sidestepped effortlessly, dodging the strike with fluid grace. In a single motion, he summoned another glowing bone and hurled it forward like a javelin. The tiny fox twisted midair and narrowly avoided the projectile, landing in a crouch. Without hesitation, Zorua opened his mouth and fired a flurry of glowing stars- Swift. The stars curved in on Lucario, striking him from all angles. Lucario stood firm, letting the attack land. When the last star faded, he remained unfazed. ¡°Strong indeed,¡± Alphen muttered, more impressed than surprised. He had expected nothing less. ¡°This is nothing!¡± Elle grinned, confidence radiating from her stance. She raised her arm, revealing a sleek, silver bracelet wrapped around her wrist. ¡°You ever seen a Pok¨¦mon Astrallize?¡± Calvin¡¯s jaw dropped from the bench. ¡°You have an Astral Band?!¡± Alphen narrowed his eyes, gaze fixed on the band now glowing faintly. ¡°Can¡¯t say I''ve seen it in person.¡± He could vividly recall seeing his sister astrallize that Pokemon on TV during one of her tournaments. ¡°Let me show you the difference between you and us!¡± Elle raised her arm above her head. Her bracelet pulsed with light, shifting through a spectrum of brilliant colors as it activated. Lucario immediately began to glow, his entire body enveloped in a thick, radiant aura. A deep blue energy wrapped around him, flowing like wisps of smoke across his limbs. Sparkling particles that were like fragments of distant stars drifted off his body. His new form shimmered with a surreal mythical presence. Alphen stood frozen, eyes wide. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ beautiful,¡± he murmured. Seeing it on TV was one thing¡ªbut in person? It was something else entirely. Lucario didn¡¯t just look stronger¡ªhe looked divine. ¡°You understand how it works, right?¡± Elle called across the field. ¡°Not really!¡± Elle smirked. ¡°Once activated, your Pok¨¦mon takes on a unique glow,¡± she explained. ¡°They get slightly stronger, but that¡¯s only the beginning! Over time, the form evolves into one of two types of Astrallization: Astral Echo or Astral Radiance.¡± Alphen blinked. ¡°Astral¡­ what?¡± ¡°Astral Echo affects the battlefield,¡± she said, her grin widening. ¡°Astral Radiance completely transforms the Pok¨¦mon¡¯s body and abilities. But too bad you won¡¯t get to see which one Lucario has today!¡± She extended her arm. ¡°Lucario, Astral Sphere!¡± Alphen¡¯s eyes sharpened. That¡¯s a new move¡­ Astrallization must change moves, too! ¡°Zorua, Void Sphere!¡± he commanded instinctively. Lucario raised both hands, forming a radiant sphere glimmering with an array of cosmic colors. At the same time, Zorua gathered his swirling black and white energy and let loose the attack. The two glowing projectiles surged across the battlefield and narrowly missed one another, colliding with their respective targets. Twin explosions erupted at opposite ends of the field. Zorua was hurled through the air, landing hard a few feet from Alphen. The hit had knocked the wind out of him and the strength of the Astral Sphere was enough to end the match. ¡°Zorua!¡± Alphen shouted, running to his side. The little fox let out a groan, clearly conscious, but unable to continue. As the dust cleared, Lucario stood tall¡ªhis arms crossed in front of him, having braced the blast with his body. Seeing that the battle was over, the astrallized glow faded. Elle ran to her partner, checking him over. ¡°That attack¡­¡± she muttered in surprise. Then she looked back at Alphen, impressed. ¡°That actually hurt Lucario.¡± Alphen gently lifted Zorua into his arms, both of them gazing across the field. ¡°You did good out there,¡± he said softly. ¡°Get some rest.¡± ¡°Both attacks looked like they were super effective,¡± Calvin chimed in from the sidelines. ¡°You don¡¯t think that means¡ª¡± ¡°That Astral is strong against... Void?¡± Alphen guessed. ¡°And maybe the other way around?¡± ¡°Seems like it,¡± Elle said, crossing her arms with a thoughtful frown. ¡°Which just makes me wonder¡ªwhat exactly is that Zorua? A Pok¨¦mon that¡¯s both strong against Astrallization and weak to it? That¡¯s unheard of.¡± Alphen looked down at the exhausted fox in his arms. ¡°Definitely adds more mystery to the list.¡± ¡°Maybe it¡¯s time to call it for the day,¡± Elle said with a grin. ¡°Yeah,¡± Alphen agreed, already turning toward the street. ¡°Let¡¯s head home.¡± After walking Calvin home, Alphen and Elle continued down the quiet path back to his place. The air had cooled, and Zorua, now nestled on Alphen¡¯s shoulder, looked far better after Elle treated him with a few potions from her bag. ¡°So,¡± Alphen said, stopping briefly. ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking.¡± Elle glanced over with a knowing smirk. ¡°You¡¯re about to say yes, aren¡¯t you? To the Great Beyond.¡± He rubbed the back of his head. ¡°I¡¯m still unsure, honestly.¡± He looked down at Zorua again, who glanced back up. ¡°But I can¡¯t stop thinking about it. Where did he come from? Why is his typing so different? How did Celeste even get her hands on him? And that note¡ªwas she really telling me to meet her at the bottom?¡± Elle nodded slowly, sensing the weight behind his words. ¡°It¡¯s a weird situation, I¡¯ll admit. But I get it. Curiosity like that doesn¡¯t go away.¡± She offered him a supportive smile. ¡°If you do decide to go... I¡¯ll come with you. You¡¯re not exactly champion material yet, but don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll make a top trainer out of you in no time!" ¡°I¡¯d hope so,¡± Alphen chuckled. ¡°Let¡¯s meet up later this week and figure out a game plan.¡± ¡°Deal.¡± Elle waved goodbye as she turned to leave. ¡°Don¡¯t take too long deciding.¡± He watched her walk off until she disappeared around the corner. Zorua shifted on his shoulder, nudging his neck slightly. Alphen looked down, meeting the Pok¨¦mon¡¯s quiet gaze. Neither of them said a word, but something passed between them. They both were longing to understand each other. ¡°I really hope you¡¯re waiting for me, Celeste,¡± Alphen whispered. ¡°And I hope we figure out where you came from too,¡± he added, glancing at Zorua. He awkwardly adjusted his hold on the small fox, who now rested more comfortably in his arms. It made him think of that day when his sister caught her first Pok¨¦mon. He remembered thinking it looked weird at the time, but she was glowing. That moment meant everything to her. ¡°Come on,¡± he said quietly. ¡°Let¡¯s head inside.¡±