BOOK I

DOOM-SEER

The challenger stopped suddenly in his tracks. He was staring hard at two figures, sitting on a park bench. He appeared to be in thought, then went up to them.

One was a boy, barely older than eighteen. His hair fell in a long, dark green sheet down his back, apart from a single forelock bisecting his right eye. He was wearing a grey jacket, zipped to the neck and with loose, flared sleeves. His trousers were black, sensible and neat. He had left a blue leather courier bag on the seat next to him. His belt had six balls in it; each was the size of an orange, though two were black with a single yellow stripe, two were red, one purple and one blue with two red spots. Propped open in his lap was a thick book with a large fossil on the front, emblazoned with the title "Nature's Legacy: A Guide to Modern Palaeontology", and he was copying notes into a small pad of paper.

His companion was reading the book over his shoulder, and could not have looked more out of place in a small park in Rustboro City. Her entire body was covered in soft, white fur, like a cat's, except for her face. The fur on her face was very short and black as the ace of spades (literally, though there was a navy tint), and a long, sickle-shaped horn hung down from her temple to her right shoulder. Her nose was small and triangular, glistening with moisture. Her fingers and toes were shiny black claws, and a triangular bat-wing tail poked out from above her jeans. She was also wearing a short orange tank top. Her hair was also long, but snow-white, and obscured her left eye. The other was a warm red hue. She was wearing a strange amulet around her neck, a pink chunk of crystal.

The challenger cleared his throat. The boy looked up. He wore a strangely stern expression, but his eyes betrayed any sign of emotion. His companion looked up and smiled, revealing pointed teeth.

"Yes?" the boy said, in a quiet, depressed tone.

The challenger pushed up his cap. He had messy black hair under his red and black baseball cap, and a red t-shirt. Riding on his shoulder was a curious animal; vivid, electric yellow with brown stripes on its back, round red cheeks, pointy ears tipped in black and a long tail in the shape of a lightning bolt. He looked like he came from out of town.

"Don't tell me," interrupted the boy before the challenger so much as spoke, "You're Ash Ketchum, from Pallet Town, and you want to battle?"

"How did you know that?" Ash asked, astounded.

"I have a gift. And I accept; I could use a decent battle for once."

Ash nodded absent-mindedly. The girl was a Pokémon; an Absol. But normally, Absol were quadruped, beast-like Pokémon, about 3'11'', with a thick mane of fur and a cat-like face. But this one was, and there was no way around it, almost human. She was about 5' tall, and built like a young woman. But at the same time ... maybe it was the flattened nose ridge, or the dainty, high cheek-bones, or those startlingly red eyes. There was a kind of beauty there. It worked.

"How about a three-Pokémon knockout match?" Ash said.

The student stood up, laying his stuff neatly on his seat.

"Let's roll."

Ash threw his first Pokéball. A blaze of crimson energy flooded from it, forming into a huge, powerful bird. It was easily as tall as Ash, and a dull grey in feather. On its head was a large, blade-like comb, hooking towards its cruelly sharp beak. A Staraptor. The student cocked his head, interested.

"Staraptor, huh? You've been to Sinnoh?" He chuckled humourlessly, and drew a black-and-yellow Ultra Ball from his belt. Another burst of light, and a giant sea serpent coiled into being. It had huge black eyes that shone as though it was crying. Two long red fins hung from the side of its head. The milky skin tone gave way about half-way down its slender body to bright, iridescent blue scales, ended in a tail-fin that looked like a fan. Milotic.

"Staraptor, Aerial Ace!"

"Milotic, Protect!"

A force-field surrounded the 20' serpent just before Staraptor struck. A crash like a gong filled the area. Staraptor wheeled away, dazed but alright.

"Milotic, quickly, use Surf!"

Milotic gave a mighty cry, summoning a tsunami from nowhere. Staraptor couldn't get out of the way in time. The deluge smashed the bird from the air like the hand of a careless god. Staraptor shook itself off, and valiantly flew back at Milotic.

"Look out!" Ash yelled. Staraptor plummeted in order to dodge a jet of water so forceful it gouged a deep channel in the dry earth. Staraptor smashed into Milotic again and again, too small and fast for the much larger Pokémon to dodge.

"Milotic, return!" the student shouted, drawing Milotic back into its Pokéball. He pulled out one of the red Pokéballs, whispered "Maybe you'll do better," and opened it.

The Pokémon looked like a tall green dinosaur, with a red underbelly and golden seeds sticking out of its back. Its tail was long and thin, but razor-like leaves grew from it, as well as its wrists. It was a Sceptile.

Ash smirked. His Flying-type moves would be incredibly powerful against the Grass-type Sceptile.

Powerful moves don't necessarily win battles, said a small voice at the back of his mind, in a voice scarily similar to the student's.

"Staraptor, Brave Bird!"

Immediately, Staraptor climbed very high. Sceptile just stood there watching it. Suddenly, Staraptor began to dive. It was travelling at a very steep angle, homing in on the tiny green speck like a cruise missile. Sceptile, meanwhile, curled its right hand into a fist, concentrating on the plummeting bird. Staraptor tucked its wings and feet in. Sceptile was getting closer every millisecond.

No-one noticed the student's eyes momentarily turn to a deep, ember-red.

"Sceptile, Focus Punch!"

Sceptile's fist cannoned through the air and dotted Staraptor right between the eyes before the bird could reach it or change course. The force of its plummet was knocked askew, and Staraptor ploughed into the ground. Its body went limp. It was Knocked Out.

Ash retreated the Fainted Pokémon into its Pokéball. He plucked another one out and threw it.

"Infernape, GO!"

Infernape was a tall, reddish ape. Its feet were like its hands, and a bright flame blossomed from its scalp.

"Infernape, Flame Wheel!"

"Sceptile, Dragon Claw!"

Infernape cloaked itself in brilliant orange flame, charging at the dinosaurian Sceptile. Sceptile leapt out of the way just in time, retaliating with a burning scratch. Its claws blazed with arcane energy as they slashed through the air. Infernape jumped over Sceptile and slammed a fistful of fire into Sceptile's back.

Sceptile screeched with rage. Its back was blackened and burned, the smell of charred flesh heavy in the air. The leaves on its tail glowed as it slashed it at Infernape's face. Infernape dodged the attack, striking back with another Fire Punch.

The student didn't get time to warn Sceptile; Infernape was too fast. Sceptile, already weakened from Staraptor's impact and the burn, crumpled under the hit.

The student called back Sceptile. He appeared to be thinking. A horrible thought struck Ash; He wasn't trying. He was sizing me up.

"Absol, you're up!"

The Absol-girl bounded into the arena, crouching like a predator, growling faintly. It seemed suddenly less human, and much more dangerous.

"Infernape, Close Combat!"

"Absol, Psycho Cut!"

The tables were turned. Absol swung a paw through the air, and a purple shockwave flew at Infernape. There was a sound akin to shorting electricity mixed with a blood-curdling scream as the purple light enveloped Infernape, burrowing into its skull. Infernape flew backwards, screeching as the mental cacophony shook the foundations of its sanity. It slumped to the ground, its wiry frame limp from exhaustion. It was done.

Ash shook with anger. How do you fight speed? With speed. "Pikachu, I choose you!"

Pikachu leapt off Ash's shoulder, eager to take up the challenge. Absol was easily two or three time the size of Pikachu. Absol opened her mouth wide, and blew a searing gout of blue-white flame at the Mouse Pokémon. Pikachu bounded from the flames as though stung, but that opened the gap Absol needed. She simply disappeared into thin air.

"Pikachu, run!"

The yellow Pokémon ran. Absol reappeared, her paw slicing through the air where Pikachu was a second before. The momentary confusion opened a gap for Pikachu, and it started running circles around Absol. The tactic was one that had worked very efficiently several years ago, when Ash was fighting against Lt. Surge for his third Gym Badge. His Pikachu was small and fast enough to make Surge's Raichu so dizzy it could not battle any longer. Unfortunately, Absol was made of sterner stuff. Absol back-flipped out of the circle and sent another incandescent wave of flame at Pikachu. Pikachu barely escaped by the fur on his tail.

"Iron Tail!" Ash called.

Pikachu leapt at Absol, tail shining blue. Absol slipped out of synch again, reappearing right behind Ash. She bounded straight over him, driving a fist at Pikachu, who dodged. Absol landed the shattering punch into the compacted dirt, but followed through with a Psycho Cut, which Pikachu also ducked, and it blasted a branch off a nearby tree. Taillows flitted into the sky, chattering in irritation.

"Volt Tackle, Pikachu!"

Pikachu sprinted at Absol, so fast it was merely a yellow blur. Lightning shorted from its body, wrapping it in a halo of electricity. Absol smirked, and warped out of the way, launching another punch at Pikachu. Pikachu ducked it, retaliating with a Thunderbolt. Absol twisted out of the way, and the discharge blasted a patch of grass to cinders.

Ash growled in frustration. They're toying with me, he thought. Somehow, that Absol knows what I'm about to do. That trainer must be able to command Absol without saying anything.

It was too demanding on Pikachu to dodge the volley of attacks, and the little Pokémon was tiring. It was all he could to evade the desynchronising death-machine.

"Pikachu, look out!"

Pikachu turned around. A faint glimmer of darkness popped up between him and Ash. Absol flew out of it, fist drawn back. Pikachu tried to jump over her, but was sluggish in his exhaustion. Absol punished this with a Sucker Punch to the forehead. Pikachu collapsed, beaten.

"Pika ..." it managed, before it fainted. The implication was clear; well done.

Absol scooped up the injured Pokémon, and gave it to Ash. He clutched Pikachu in his arms. The student strode forwards. He stuck out a hand.

"Good battle. You were better than I thought."

Ash stared at him. Close to, he looked tired and gaunt, as though he had seen things no boy his age should see. His cheeks were hollow and sunken, and on one was a peculiar marking, tattooed on in an ochre colour. His ears were long and pointed, and stuck out prominently from the side of his head. He wore earrings; the left was red, and looked like a stylised, ruby A. The right was an M, made of sapphire. The markings looked vaguely familiar, but he couldn't quite remember where from. His eyes were a dull greyish-green, flecked with dying embers of blood-red. He revealed about as much as a steel bulkhead; though he showed nothing, it was that which was hidden that made him interesting.

"Thanks," Ash said, taking the hand. "Your Absol really was something else. How long have you had it?"

There it was; the student's eyes burned momentarily like hot coals, but soon died down. "I'd rather not say. I'll see you around, Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town."

Those last words sounded final, but Ash called to the retreating student, "Who are you?"

The student half-turned, his profile thrown into shadow by the sunset. The dark made him look bizarrely like his Pokémon. "My name is Henry Parkinson."

"Are you all right?" asked the Absol, as Henry started to pack away his book and notepad. Her voice was fruity and soft, yet there was a mewing, cattish edge to it. "You weren't half acting strangely just now."

"I'm fine. It's just that I have the horrible feeling that something bad is about to happen."

"Did you mean to beat him that badly?"

A rare smile flickered at the corners of Henry's mouth. "Hell yeah."

Absol laughed so hard she coughed. Henry smiled again.

"Come on," he said, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. "Let's go home."