This is my first fanfiction so please bear with me. If you guys think this story has any potential please review and I'll continue otherwise I'll scrap it. I'm also looking for a beta reader so if you're interested shoot me a PM. This story takes place beginning at the Sinnoh league during the fourth match between Ash and Paul.

Chapter One: The first sign

A man sat in a dark room behind a desk, the only light coming from a TV in the corner. On the screen was a pokémon battle. A young man with raven hair and a red and white baseball cap was shouting commands to his Pikachu as it battled against a strong looking Electivire whose trainer was a boy with purple hair and a serious expression. The MC's voice rang out "Both trainers are down to their last pokémon and it's Pikachu vs. Electivire! Winner will move on to the semifinals of this year's Sinnoh league! Who will be the one to rise to the top?" using this as encouragement both trainers called out another attack and the fierce battle continued. The man smiled as he watched the trainers absorbed in their match, unaware of what was about to transpire.

….

The boy with the raven hair grit his teeth as Pikachu took another direct hit from Electivire's attacks. It was already worn out from its battle with Froslass earlier. He had hoped that his Infernape would be able to take down Paul once and for all but he'd taken too much damage in the last battle and went down easily when Paul had released his last pokémon.

"Electivire use Thunder Punch!" called out Paul. Ash's moment of distraction had cost him as Pikachu was hit once more, flying across the field and taking significant damage.

"Pikachu are you ok?!" Ash cried out to his partner.

"Pika!" Pikachu called out in reassurance but he was tired, he was almost at his limit and both Ash and Paul knew this. Now was the time for the final strike.

"Electivire Thunder Punch!" "Pikachu Volt tackle!" both trainers cried out at the same time. The two pokémon rushed at it each other, powering up their respective attacks, when suddenly something fell from the air and exploded between them. Black smoke began to spread over the field, and trainers and pokémon alike disappeared from view of the screaming crowd.

…

"What's this? Black smoke has covered the whole field! I can't see anything! What has happened to the battle?!" The MC continued to narrate what was happening in the match.

"What's happening?" Dawn asked Brock fearfully as Ash and Pikachu disappeared from sight and were engulfed in a cloud of black smoke.

"I don't know Dawn" Brock honestly replied as he too searched frantically for any sign of their friend. Suddenly they heard shouts coming from all around them. Looking up they saw that many men and women from the audience had pulled off the clothes revealing black uniforms with a large 'R' on the front. They pulled out pokéballs and began fighting with the other trainers in the crowd. A few ran up to them and began demanding they hand over their pokéballs.

"What have you done to Ash?!" Dawn demanded as she too pulled out a couple pokéballs and released Mamoswine and Togekiss. Brock followed suite and released his Crogunk and Sudowoodo. The rocket grunts ignored her and started calling out attacks and the two friends were pulled into a fierce battle, all the while worrying about their raven haired friend who'd yet to reappear.

…

As soon as the smoke bomb hit Cynthia was on her feet and running down to the stairs in the direction of the field. In her hand she had her phone and was dialing as quickly as she could. It rang only once before a voice answered on the other side.

"Cynthia what's going on?" the voice asked.

"I don't know Lance. Ash and Paul were in the middle of their battle when a bomb came out of nowhere. I can't see anything." She spoke quickly as she ran down the maze of hallways heading to the exit which would lead to the bleachers.

"Yeah I saw that on the TV. The screen just suddenly went black. Everyone in all the regions is seeing this. Cynthia just how serious is this?" Lance asked knowing he wouldn't like the answer.

Cynthia finally made it to the exit and stepped into the main stadium at the top of the bleachers finally seeing the real damage. "More serious than either of us expected Lance. Get here now." With that she hung up and pulled out several pokéballs, ready to join the fight.

…

Ash's eyes and lungs burned as the smoke found its way inside him. He was coughing heavily and fumbled around, unsure what direction he was heading in. One moment he was battling Paul and the next something exploded and he couldn't see or breathe.

"Pikachu!" he tried calling before falling into another coughing fit. "Pikachu where are you?!" he desperately cried out, he tripped and fell to the ground, lying there for a moment as his head pounded. The smoke was making him feel light headed and sick. "Pikachu!" he tried calling again.

"Pikapi!" Ash's head whipped up in the direction of the weak reply, "Pikachu hang on I'm coming!" Ash picked himself up and began to move in the direction of the sound. Walking onto what he assumed was the middle of the battle field where he last saw his partner; he spotted Pikachu on the ground trying to cover its mouth with its paws. "Pikachu! I'm here!" He ran toward the electric mouse and fell on his knees; he gently picked him up and held him against his chest trying to protect him as best he could from the smoke. Ash looked around for Electivire but couldn't spot him anywhere. Hoping that Paul had already returned his own pokémon and made it out the smoke cloud Ash stood and began trying to make his way out when he heard a voice over the P.A system.

"Hey you can't be in he-" the MC's voice began before he was cutoff and a new voice took over.

" Attention! Team Rocket has taken over the league! All trainers will hand over their pokémon immediately!" All around him Ash could hear people screaming and yelling. Finally the smoke began to clear and Ash found himself standing alone in the middle of the field, and saw the whole stadium in chaos. Men and women in black uniforms with a large letter 'R' on the front were all over the place battling against all the trainers from the audience. Ash spotted his friends Dawn and Brock engaged in battles of their own and on the opposite side Paul had called out his Electivire again and was battling a grunt with a Houndour.

"Hey you!" Ash's attention was ripped away from the many battles and turned around to find the owner of the voice. A man with blue hair styled into two curved crescents was standing before him, hand outstretched like he was waiting for Ash to give him something. He was clearly with the group trying to take over the stadium but looked different from the others, his uniform was a different style, white and black with a 'G' printed on the front.

"You're from team Galatic!" Ash realized.

"Yeah what of it? Hand over your pokémon!" the man demanded.

"No way!" Ash angrily replied. "How can you do this? Return everyone's pokémon at once! Why are you with Team Rocket anyway?"

The man merely laughed in his face, "That's none of your business. All you need to know is that we're stronger than ever! Now do yourself a favour and give us your pokémon otherwise you'll regret it" he sneered.

"No." Ash said defiantly.

The man growled and pulled out a pokéball. "Salamance teach this brat a lesson", a flash of light erupted from the ball and formed into the large dragon Pokémon. It stood before Ash, huge and intimidating, and let out a roar. Pikachu jumped from Ash's arms into a battle stance. The man appeared unconcerned with Pikachu's challenge and continued to speak "does this change your mind?"

Ash glared at the man, "are you in charge? Call off all your grunts and leave!"

"I see that you can't be persuaded otherwise" the man huffed. "Fine. Then we'll make an example out of you." Grabbing a mic attached to his shirt that Ash hadn't noticed before he began to speak. "Let this be a lesson to all who even attempt to defy us." The man's voice rang out across the stadium apparenty being connected to the P.A. system. Upon hearing him, all the battles ceased as everyone turned to look toward the lone trainer left on the field facing the Rocket. From the corner of his eye Ash could see Dawn and Brock calling out worriedly to him and Paul watching him intensely. "Anyone who disobeys will suffer the same fate as this young man." The man smirked menacingly, "Salamance! Hyper Beam." The man coldly commanded. Ash realized too late what he was doing and ran in front of Pikachu, spreading out his arms in a desperate attempt to shield his already injured partner.

"NO ASH!" screamed Dawn and Brock as they watched the attack head straight for their friend. Everyone stared in shock at what was happening, even the grunts who were supposed to be collecting the pokémon watched, unable to look away. Paul gazed at Ash unable to understand his actions before everything was consumed in a bright light.

…

Ash could feel the heat of the attack before it hit. He felt like he was on fire, burning all over. Pain consumed every part of his body as he screamed. He only hoped that his body was enough to protect Pikachu from the bulk of the attack. Then the burning feeling got more intense. It rose from his core and pushed outward with great force. His ears were ringing and he swayed on the spot. He could hear his friends calling to him but could only mutter "Pikachu" before his vision turned black.

…

The man grinned and laughed as his Salamance spewed a Hyper Beam from his mouth. That trainer, like his name, was ash. Suddenly a burst of light erupted from the spot where the trainer formerly stood. Then there was an explosion and the man used his arm to cover his face as dust threatened to enter his eyes. Looking up he saw his Salamance fly across the field, crashing into the wall behind him.

"What?!" the man stared at his KO'd pokémon in disbelief. Slowly he turned back to where the explosion occurred and, standing in the same place as he was only moments earlier, was the boy, his body surrounded by a blue glow. "What the hell?" who was this kid? He fingered another pokéball when his earpiece began to buzz.

"Saturn. Come in Saturn." A voice crackled.

"Saturn here."

"New orders sir. Retreat immediately."

"What are you talking about? We can't retreat!" he argued into the mouthpiece.

He winced as the person on the other line yelled at him. "Those orders come from the top commander!"

Obviously this was an issue that he and his team couldn't handle. He made the order to retreat and threw one more suspicious glare at the boy who still stood in the same place. A black blimp appeared over the stadium and he grabbed one of the many ropes that hung from the flying aircraft. The grunts all followed his example and recalled their pokémon and began to withdraw. As quickly as they had appeared, all the rockets including the galactic leader disappeared.

…

No one had moved the whole time Team Rocket had made their exit. The crowd's eyes lingered on the disappearing black blimp in the distance. A few however, were watching the trainer who had caused their retreat. Ash still remained standing, arms now by his side, with a dim glow around his body. Paul watched his rival suspiciously as the blue light surrounding Ash finally began to dissipate; he wondered how many other people had noticed the phenomenon. He noticed Cynthia, the Sinnoh champion, also staring intently at Ash from the bleachers. His eyes made their way back to Ash just in time to see him, now back to normal, sway on his feet and murmur something before falling forward and collapsing.

"Ash!" Dawn and Brock rushed to their fallen friend. Dawn dropped to her knees to listen to his heart "His heart is still beating we have to get him help!" She cried, tears streaming down her face. Brock nodded and looked up relived to see medics already making their way over. Remembering the reason why Ash was there in the first place Brock quickly searched for Pikachu. He was right where he was before the attack hit, safely hidden behind Ash. Pikachu was also knocked out but as Brock carefully checked over him he was relieved to see he was not seriously injured. That meant that Ash was the only one in immediate danger. What had happened anyway? All he saw was a bright light followed by an explosion. He thought that maybe Pikachu had launched a last minute Thunder attack to cause the explosion but he was still behind Ash so it couldn't have been him. He glanced at the ground around them and gasped. The ground was blackened in a perfect circle. Normal explosions don't do that. Brock glanced up at Ash with a worried expression. Just what had happened to his friend?

…

Back in the darkened room the man slammed his fist into the desk. His plans had been ruined. His eyes flicked back to the television screen and focused on the boy who'd collapsed onto the ground. Could what he saw have really been what he thought it was? He pressed the button on his comm. system "Archer, that boy from the match, find out who he is."

"Sir?" the voice crackled from the other end.

"Just do it. The boy may be valuable to us."

"Yes sir right away Giovanni." The voice quickly replied, not wanting to annoy his boss any more. Giovanni smiled, although his original plans may have failed, he just might have found something much more promising.