Secrets of the Underground

by Kishiko Masago

Humanity has used Pokemon for too long and in the future, Pokemon battles are outlawed. An evil crime syndicate has created a series of underground battling rings. Ash Ketchum yearns to relive his glory days and participates in them; however, a chance encounter causes him to investigate the rings and who is behind them without Pikachu. Rated T for strong language and dark themes.

1. Prologue

Prologue

"What have you done?"

The voice, booming and discontented, echoed off of the crumbling walls of the ruins, making bricks of worn, tan earth tremble and fall, breaking into hundreds of clay pieces. The creatures crouched within the crumbling walls quivered slightly as their leader's irate roars filled their ears.

"You idiots!" a creature standing on all fours yelled, straightening itself so it's silver and royal blue coloring caught the setting sun, "I cannot reset time again. The fabrics of space and time are unraveling. Resetting to a peaceful time is impossible, unless we all want to be destroyed. Besides, there is no point in trying to dissuade humans from abusing our kind; it always happens, no matter what we do."

"Silence, Dialga!" the white creature perched on a significantly higher platform of earth exclaimed, making the ruin shake again, "No one is permitted to speak unless I request it. Do you all understand?"

"Yes, master," all of the creatures gathered replied meekly and in unison, though it was unintentional and out of place.

The white, four legged creature turned its piercing emerald eyes to the levitating creature with a white head and neck and red hindquarters. Without a word being exchanged, the creature departed, along with its similarly structured silver and blue counterpart. When the levitating creatures had gone, the white, four legged creature spoke again.

"I have sent Latios and Latias to be liaisons to the human governing organizations," the creature said calmly, "They are going to fix the problems you have caused by fighting each other around humans!"

"Uxie, Azelf and I have hardly argued, master," a pixie-like creature with a pink head and two long tails with red jewels on them retorted, "And why did you not send any of us?"

"Not now, Mesprit," the leader replied, stamping his front left foot to silence the murmuring among the members of the council, "As I was saying, your careless interactions with each other has caused humans to think that forcing Pokémon to battle is unacceptable and not cruel at all. Latios and Latias are going to share our displeasure with humans in power and are going to make sure that all Pokémon battles are banned, once and for all."

"There will surely be resistance, Master Arceus," a pixie-like creature with a yellow head and silver body added meekly, keeping its eyes firmly shut.

"I am aware, Uxie," Arceus replied, turning its emerald gaze to the creature, "But we will deal with that when it happens."

"I pray for your sake it does not happen for a long time…" the last pixie-like creature with a teal head murmured to its leader as all of the Council exited the ruins as it completely crumbled behind them, leaving no evidence that the council had ever been there.

A/N: The reason Arceus does not chastise Mesprit and Uxie like he does the other legendaries is because they have always been his loyal servants every time and space is reset, whereas the other legendaries rebel.