Author's Note: The story spans across three regions and two time periods. Below the chapter title, I will place in italics the region (Kanto, Johto, Hoenn) and the time period (Past, Present). Please enjoy and make sure to review.

PROLOGUE

Past Johto

The day was dark. The woods were silent. The sky was but a ghost that hung over the shadow that was the Ilex Forest. Cries from the people of Azalea went no further than the town's edge. Nobody dared to wake Celebi.

Growlithes sent their blazes in all directions as the nomadic attackers looted the houses. The townsfolk didn't dare try to fight back without pokemon of their own. The chief stood somberly as he watched the attack, his Arcanine gazing at the night sky that was so beautifully illuminated by the flames. Although it was unknown to the raiders, the villagers knew this day was to be remembered forever. Their Guardian had told them so. Despite the brilliant brightness of the neighboring town, the Lord of the forest slept soundly. Anticipating.

CHAPTER I

Present Johto

Flynn waited nervously as his unit's carrier finally crossed the border into Johto. It wasn't his first time to be dispatched, but there was something about entering enemy territory that the young medic always had trouble dealing with. He put his hand to his side to make sure his pokeballs were still on his belt. He would be useless to the team without his Miltank and Chansey.

Compared to those of the soldiers, his pack was relatively light. Because he was the medic, he saw little need to carry the milk and potions employed by the others. He kept a bow and a few arrows on hand in case the need arose but the young man's aim was nothing special. Guns had once been used in battle, but were discarded as the use of mirror coat was perfected. The arrows could still create chaos if they were to fall into this trap, but the wound caused from arrows were easier to treat before the unsuspecting shooter met his end.

Flynn looked around at the seemingly confident faces that surrounded him. He knew better than to think it was anything more than a facade, but they took comfort in knowing his healing hands were with them.

Counting Flynn his unit consisted of sixteen trainers. The soldiers were each armed with three pokemon and a sword. The commander, Gale, opted only to carry his blade and a pokemon called Gallade. The pokemon was unfamiliar to everyone on the team, but was said to have come with the commander from Sinnoh.

During the crossover to the Johto region, Flynn couldn't help but remember his first memory of his superior. Flynn's once long white hair had just been singed to the roots by an angered vulpix during a field exercise. It had been his first real encounter with a wild pokemon, seeing as the Miltank and Chansey he kept were owned by his family. He had only enlisted a short while before and was shaking nervously. The rest of the squad found great amusement in the situation, but Gale only stared at him with his stone cold eyes that revealed no emotion.

His eyes had the same expression now. He showed no fear. No anxiety. Just his steady gaze, focused on everything and yet nothing all at once. His helmet hid not only his short gray hair, but also his age.

"We're here. New Bark Town. Everybody out." ordered the driver. New Bark had been occupied by the Kanto army for years. The townspeople had learned to ignore the soldiers as they went on with their lives. The resentment was still their, but had greatly diminished since the war began.

Flynn was the last to leave the carrier. His comrades were already on the way to the encampment at the other end of town as he stepped out. Although the soldiers went by unnoticed, people all around stopped what they were doing when Flynn appeared at the opening of the vehicle. During his first stay in the region, he was assigned to help maintain control of the newly captured town. Noticing the lack of medical facilities for humans and pokemon alike, he had used his down time to help take care of sick or injured villagers. Apparently they remembered.