The storm had gathered into one huge eye, looming over the fortress ominously. The sea below churned with the rabid waters, foaming at the tip of every wave. Huge walls of water crashed upon the ships anchored at the harbor. Rain fell like the bullets that had pierced the walls of Verucean Fort 78 years ago, hammering away at the workmen struggling to keep their footing on the wet, rocky soil that served as the loading docks. The fortress was of a dinosauric size, as big as the creatures that were thought to have roamed the Earth eons ago. It was so large that it was impossible to picture it in your mind. That was where the eye of the storm had gathered.

Far below the top of the fortress, in the swelling sea that surrounded it, a freight ship rocked like kite's in a hurricane. The workers that swarmed along the deck of the ship were assaulted by the waves and the rain and the wind, and many were soaked to the bone.

Lightning arched across the sky, and thunder shook the foundations of the fortress. It was the sight of a doomed world, and would have brought chills to any man or Pokemon. But the storm could have been a simple drizzle for all the cares of the people inside the cylindric structure that served as the World Government's Head quarters.

Deep within the Headquarters walls, a meeting, quite oblivious to the hurricane outside their front door, was taking place. The room was filled with cool lighting and carpeted floors. A long table filled up much of the place. A dozen chairs lined the edges of the table, all occupied with men, and the occasional women, worth more money than all the diamonds in the world combined. The air was still and calm, mimicking the people inside the room. In all intents and purposes, this was the room that housed the entire government, and held more power than any Pokemon-or so they said.

All within the room sat waiting expectantly for the Head of Government to finish sorting through the various reports that lay before him. There was no sound except the slight rustle of paper.

If you saw the Head, you would have found it almost comical that the leader of the human race could be contained in such a short figure. The man was rather square looking, and had a height that rivaled Napoleon's. He was clean shaven, and wore a crisp business suite that looked as if it had come out of the box. Indeed, the man had enough power that he could have worn a new suit everyday for the rest of his life. But unlike Napoleon, the man did not look powerful-rather, very ordinary. His jet black hair was pressed down, and he did not have any adornments other than the golden watch on his wrist. You could have passed him in the street without a second glance, despite his size.

But when he spoke, there was nothing ordinary about his voice. The atmosphere visibly changed every time he opened his mouth, as it did so now. The normally cool and collected lot of people assembled around the table now appeared, in every sense of the word, scared.

"It has come to my attention that there has been a certain fallback in the order of things." The voice was clear and cold, resonating in power. The deepens would startle anyone, coming from a man like that. He sounded just like an evil villain in a children's video.

The Head of Government looked around the room, surveying the people around him. He continued.

"There have been reports of incidents that have happened for no plausible reason whatsoever. The Pokemon that inhabit the area where these happenings have occurred do not have the ability nor the power to conduct these...events." No one spoke. It was clear he was in charge.

"It has been 78 years since the last war, and the founding of WorldGov. We have worked hard, haven't we?" Murmurs of assent. "We have successfully managed to expel the act of Pokemon Training as nothing more than recreational entertainment. The Pokemon League has been stripped of its power, and serves no more useful purpose other than a consultant. Pokemon no longer serve a purpose in law enforcement other than transportation and technical help. World economy has been brought back from it's shaky foundation on Pokemon, and to a more stable path. No more do we have miners relying on Pokemon to help them. No more do we have balloonists and Pokemon combined. We have successfully separated humans from those...animals...even at the most basic level. Now, the only interaction between humans and...them...is for use as a pet, and for Pokemon training at a recreational level. But all for what, I ask you?"

All eyes cast down, none daring to test the bosses anger in answering such a tricky question. Some felt it was merely to save humanity, others though it was reassurance against future wars.

A voice pierced the silence. "Profit?"

Shock registered through the group. The one who had spoken stood. He was a fairly older gentleman, with white hair and bright blue eyes. He too, wore a suit, but unlike the Head, his was not new. Rather, it was very old, and wrinkled, like the man'a skin.

The boss turned toward him. Cold eyes narrowed down. The older gentleman continued, seemingly unperturbed by the withering gaze of the Head of Government.

"I mean, that's what all this is about, isn't it? The Separation. Profit for us, all of us. Government heads are actually worth something, and are no longer classified below Pokemon Champions. We get more and more money, and the people get less. That was the point of all this." The man waved his hands vaguely, gesturing to the entire fortress. "That was why we did it. All of it. 151 years of planning and preparation." The man narrowed his eyes, and jabbed a finger in the Head's direction. "And now you think it's all going to Hell. Something big has happened, hasn't it? Why else would you bring us all in here, the whole damn government. So you can clean up your tracks easier, when the plan fails? We're not leaving this room alive, are we...Giovanni."

Gasps. No one had ever dared to challenge the Boss like this before, and nobody ever called him by his first name. Giovanni scowled, and looked at the man who had spoken for a long time. And then, something that had never happened before did: Giovanni laughed.

It wasn't a chuckle, it was a hysterical, all out laughter. No one spoke at all, shock and awe holding their tongues in place. It was as if Giovanni had been holding in this laughter for the past 46 years. All were wonder struck and frightened.

After 15 minutes of this, Giovanni's hysteria turned into chuckles, and then into a broad smile on his face. Pretending to wipe tears from his eyes, he addressed the man who's little speech had rendered him incapacitated for 15 minutes due to mirth.

"Joseph, I can never get anything by you, can I? You served my family faithfully for 60 years...and brought me up too."

"That may be sir. But you still haven't answered my question." Joseph had regained the faithful talk that Giovanni's many servants uttered.

"Yes. Of course."

First of all, it was due to profit. But you already knew that. There's no need to repeat it...because you came up with it. No, no, what I'm saying is for you." Giovanni's smile turned cruel as he gestured around the table. "You, my faithful, brainless 'Governors', have a right to know. To know everything."

Giovanni seemed to be enjoying this. He looked at the man called Joseph, who promptly returned to his seat. It was only then that Giovanni continued.

"151 years ago, my great grandfather hatched a scheme, using what little money he had. My family had never always been rich. Marcus Giovanni was a farmer boy, who had witnessed all the evil in the world. His parents had been killed by the time he was 8, his uncle and dead within two years of that. And his best friend he ever had in the whole world was murdered over a disagreement involving a particularly nasty Pokemon trainer.

Amphoros had been Marcus' best friend all throughout his life. One day, shortly after his uncle's death, he had been spotted by a rather mouthy young trainer. And would you like to know what that trainer did?"

Giovanni leaned forward, eyes cruel and calculating. The room temperature seemed to drop. Outside, the storm could be heard, raging on. Normally, this would have not happened. The room was sound-proof. But Giovanni had taken measures to make sure that everything tonight was not going to be normal.q