The first was Nate, standing next to his partner Kyurem. That boy had been a legendary trainer, something unlike what Unova had ever seen. Next was Reshiram and it's partner N, that "freak without a human heart", as Ghetsis so lovingly called him. After that came Iris and Nate, sitting stop their dragons, while Drayden stood in the middle. Colress felt memories overtake him with each and every picture he dusted. Last was a painting, of Ghetsis kneeling and Nate standing above him. That one was a favorite of his.
He shook his head, and sat down in a metal chair that was pushed against the wall. Colress had spent his time after Team Plasma disbanded to use his technology and wisdom to fix their mistakes. He wasn't alone, however. A girl lived with him: Tia, the orphaned daughter of legendary dragon tamer Iris. Tia was a girl filled with energy and her mother's spirit, and as if on cue, Colress heard her call for him.
"Uncle Colress! Uncle Colress! Can I show you something?!" She called him her uncle, but Colress just assumed it was an indirect way of making him feel young again. She was only twelve, and her adorably boundless nature made her a perfect companion.
"Yes, Tia? What is it?" Colress asked, rising from his chair. Tia came running into the room, with her Axew stomping along behind her, roaring.
"I found something while I was outside exploring! It looks like a broken tooth. Here, do you want to take a look at it? Well, I guess I didn't find it, Axew did, but still!" Tia held out her hand and Colress saw something in it that made his heart stop.
"Tia. Where did you find that?" Colress asked, his previously happy expression now frozen. Tia suddenly looked scared, and flinched away a little. "Now now, Tia, I'm not angry at you. Just please tell me.. where did Axew find that?"
"She.. it was laying on the beach that Axew and I play at.. I don't know how it got there, and, uh.. is it important? You seem to think it is," Tia said, handing the object to Colress. He turned it over in his hands, the color draining out of his face.
"Tia, this.. this is a DNA Splicer. Your mother should have told you about Nate and Team Plasma. I assume you've heard nothing more about that?" Colress examined the Splicer, looking at it closely just to make sure he wasn't mistaken.
"Nope. That's all she ever told me." Clearly wanting a story, Tia sat down in front of Colress and crossed her legs. Axew followed suit, doing the best the little dragon could. Closing his eyes, Colress sat down in front of her and lowered his head.
"Drayden told me there were only two Splicers, but after I did some research, I discovered a third. It's supposed to be long lost, it's last known location being the Relic Castle many centuries ago. However, I've got a hunch this is that third Splicer. How it's shown up here is anyone's guess, though," Colress said, shaking his head slowly.
"So why couldn't this be one of the two Splicers we know about, then?" Tia asked, tipping her head to one side. Axew mimicked her.
"From what I recall, after Nate defeated Team Plasma, he held on to the other two Splicers. He's strong enough that I doubt anyone would be able to get one from him, whether he has Kyurem or not. I very highly doubt this one is his," Colress explained, looking at Tia.
"Well.. all right. That makes sense. Thanks, Uncle Colress!" Tia smiled and ran off, and Axew stumbled up to charged after her.
"That Splicer.. I hope this thing turning up doesn't mean anything bad for us. Nate, you had better keep those two Splicers safe, if this is indeed the third." Colress tucked the Splicer away into his pocket and turned to move back to his bedroom. A couple minutes after sitting down, Colress's Bell began beeping. The Bell was a rapid speed communications device he and Professor Juniper had developed a decade earlier as a blend between the Pokedex and the Xtransciever, and they had been updating it since. Colress groaned and stood up, reaching to pick up the Bell.
"Oh. It's Nate. I wonder what he wants? I haven't heard from him in months. Well, only one way to find out." Colress pressed the green button on the screen and held it up to his ear.
"Colress? Hey, Colress! I've got some news!" He rolled his eyes.
"Well, Nate, what is it? For you, news is either dragging me out to some crazy adventure or finding a new drink at a bar."
"Well, consider it the first of those. And the news I've got isn't good, either. It's dire as hell." Colress groaned a bit more, bracing himself.
"Hit me. What's happening this time?"
"Apparently some crazy group is chasing down Kyurem and the Splicers again. Not Plasma, this time, I don't think."
"My Arceus. You're joking, I assume? This is some sort of practical joke?" He scoffed a little. Some group was after Kyurem again? Hadn't whatever new group this was learned from how badly Nate had mangled Team Plasma two decades ago?
"Nope. I'm dead serious. They call themselves Team Neo, and while I'm not fully sure who's leading it, I would bet money that Ghetsis has some part in it, since they're after Kyurem and seem to know what they're doing. I learned from an old friend, who's an ex member of the Shadow Triad, that Team Neo assigned three agents to steal the Splicers from me. However, I entrusted that same Triad member with one of the Splicers yesterday night and told him to place it on the beach outside the Plasma Frigate, where Tia plays. I was worried she'd run away from him if he appeared directly to her, which is why I had him leave it for her to find. If they're after the Splicers, then there's no doubt they're after Kyurem, too.. MY Kyurem."
"I see. So you've known of the third Splicer and it's whereabouts all along. So, why give it to Tia? Even though she lives with me? Wait.. what about the other two Splicers?! Tell me they're still in your possession. Now."
"My, ah.. my house was broken into, and I was only able to protect one of them. I stashed the three Splicers in different parts of my house, so they couldn't all be taken at once. I have one Splicer, Tia has another, and Team Neo currently has the third. I had given one of the Splicers to the Triad member mere hours before those thugs broke into my house. I figured splitting the Splicers up would hinder Team Neo, but I didn't anticipate they'd end up getting the jump on me."
"Solid thinking, Nate, even if your security skills are.. a bit lacking. Tia brought me the Splicer not long ago, actually." Colress turned the Splicer over in his hands and looked down.
"One more thing, Colress. Say Team Neo gets their hands on all six components needed to create Genesis Kyurem. How are we going to stop it? We can't defeat it in battle, it's invulnerable. If only there was someone who could, like, speak to it." Nate's frustration was easy for Colress to hear, but he wasn't focused on it. Instead, he focused on the loud, playful yelling and roaring from another room. He smiled.
"A candidate just came to mind." Colress clicked off the Bell and set it back down. He let his mine roam, and thought back to when Nate had defeated Team Plasma. A strong wave of nostalgia flooded through him. Could Tia really be strong enough to stop Team Neo? Sure, she was a dragon tamer by blood, but would that be enough? He couldn't doubt her. She had the blessing, after all. The Bell emitted a loud beep, and Colress looked down at the incoming message.
Who's this candidate of yours? N?
Nope. I think you can guess, though.
You don't mean Tia, do you? Please tell me you don't mean Tia.
Of course I do. She has the blessing, after all, and she's Iris's daughter. I've seen what she can do for myself.
Ah, yes. I seem to recall being there when the girl was born, and received the blessing. You've never been wrong before.
That's a damned lie.
I guess that's true. You've been wrong before.
Don't let me down, Colress.
Don't plan to.
Oh, and one more thing- you haven't started to lose your hearing yet, have you?
Err.. no, why do you ask?
BECAUSE I'M KNOCKING ON YOUR DOOR!
Colress laughed and tossed the Bell back down on the bed, turning to run to the door. After opening the lock on the door, it was thrown open to reveal Nate and company.
"I brought friends!" Nate said, grinning. Skyla, his wife, the Triad member, and their son, Cyro. Cyro was fourteen. It had been several years since Colress had last seen Skyla and Cyro, but given how much Nate had loved riding her airplanes, their marriage had come as little surprise.
"So I can see. Welcome, all. Would you come in? I'm sure Tia would be delighted to see you, Cyro." Cyro beamed, and ran inside, shouting "Tia! Hey, Tia!"
"Ah.. he's so full of energy. I wonder where ours all went?" Skyla looked wistful, yet she was still smiling. The Triad member looked at Colress.
"Master Colress. You know why we're here."
"Indeed I do. Come this way, you two. Skyla, can you round up the kids and bring them in here? They need to be present for this." Skyla smiled and nodded.
"Of course. Give me a couple minutes." She turned and disappeared down the hallway, following the shouting. Colress led Nate and the Triad member down the hallway, into his bedroom, and sat down. He motioned for the duo to take a seat, and they did.
"So. Why has this Team Neo decided to chase after Kyurem now of all times? Unova has been at peace for decades. Why now?"
"Perhaps they got word of the fact that Nate owned all three Splicers. We know nothing of their intents, however, who's leading them, or how they plan to accomplish said unknown intents. Tia was lucky enough to find it before they did. I risked my life to deliver that Splicer, after all," the Triad member finished, his eyes dark.
"And for that, we're grateful. Your successful delivery has proved amazingly helpful, that's without a doubt." Nate nodded in assurance at Colress's words, and a look of relief crossed the Triad member's face.
"As you all should know by now, Tia is the only one we know of who can speak to Genesis Kyurem as an equal. She has the blood of dragons running through her." The Triad member slowly nodded, understanding coming to his eyes.
"Uncle Colress! We're here!" Tia threw open the door, and behind her, Axew and Cyro burst in. Skyla followed, clearly out of breath."
"Yes, we're.." *pant* "here.." *pant* Skyla sat down next to Nate and looked up wearily.
"So, Uncle.. what is everyone gathered here for?" Tia looked around at the people gathered, her gaze resting warily on the Triad member.
"I am not your enemy, young mistress Tia. Just to resolve animosity, please call me by my name, Liao." He bowed he head, and Tia's gaze softened.
"Okay, I guess I'll call you Liao. So can you explain all this, Uncle Colress?" She looked up at Colress, and he cleared his throat.
"That Splicer you found earlier has been thought to be long gone for centuries. Turns out, Nate has been in possession of it for years now. Some agents of a mysterious group called Team Neo were dispatched to find the Splicers, presumably to return them to their leader." Colress nodded to Liao, who began to speak.
"I had been in contact with Nate for a while now, and I knew that he was my friend. We made a plan for me to run off with the Splicer and place it on the beach where you, Tia, would find it. As luck would have it, you did, and the Splicer is safely in our hands. However, this next bit of information may come as a shock to some of you. Team Neo has already captured and is in possession of Zekrom. He's under terrible pain as Team Neo's scientists attempt to draw his power through machines." Nate shook his head, tears coming to his eyes.
"If those fiends capture and hurt Kyurem in any way.." Skyla put a hand on his shoulder and embraced him.
"Easy, my dear Nate. I know you'll fight to prevent that. We all will." She wiped the tears from his eyes with her sleeve, and he nodded.
"Of.. of course."
"Well.. who exactly is this Team Neo, and what do they plan to do with the Splicers?" Cyro asked, speaking for the first time. Tia nodded, looking curious.
"Good question. We sadly have little concrete data on their intentions, but I'll give you an educated guess based on what I've learned." Liao cleared his throat and looked at Cyro. "If they're going after all three Splicers, then they must seek nothing other than the summoning of Genesis Kyurem. Unlike Pokemon, or even the stories you've heard of Alola's Ultra Beasts, Genesis Kyurem is not of this plane of existence. It is beast of the god's realm, a dragon that blurs the I lines between heaven and hell. It cannot be touched in battle, and can only be spoken to by those possessing the blessing of the sacred dragon." Cyro looked mortified, almost sorry he asked.
"Uncle Colress..? Where are the locations of the other two dragons? They already have Zekrom, but what about Kyurem and Reshiram?" Tia asked, tilting her head to one side.
"Well, Nate released his Kyurem back into the wild a few years after Team Plasma's defeat, and as for N and Reshiram, I know not of their whereabouts." Colress looked at Nate, who nodded.
"I gave Reshiram back to N a few years ago. From what N has told me relatively recently, they're still with each other. Ah, Colress. You should probably hold on to this." Nate pulled a Splicer from his backpack and handed it to Colress, who slipped it into his pocket. A resounding clink filled the air as the two Splicers met.
"If this Team Neo gets their hands on the other two dragons, the results will be.. utterly ruinous. There's no other explanation for what they're doing other than their intent to summon Genesis Kyurem." Liao shook his head and looked down. Tia looked terrified. "This world is in grave danger, you all. And right now, we're the only ones who are able to save it."
"So.. why tell us this?" Tia asked, bewildered. "Why can't Nate just be amazing and save the world again? Has he lost his touch or something?" As Tia finished her question, Nate chuckled, and stood up.
"I feel like you're indirectly calling me old."
"No, no! It isn't that! I just.. don't want you, or anyone, to get hurt." Nate closed his eyes, nodding, and sat back down.
"I know what you meant, Tia. However, speaking to Genesis Kyurem is no easy task, and there's only one known living human who possesses all of the qualities needed to do so." As he said that, Liao and Colress looked at Tia, and she froze.
"Wait, so.. okay, hold on. Why are you all looking at- oh. Oh, no. No no no." Tia shook her head wildly and stood up. "You are NOT looking at me for the reason I think you are."
"Heh heh.. you catch on quickly, girl," Liao smiled faintly.
"No. You cannot possibly think that person is me." Tia looked wild and scared. Colress stood up and put an arm around her shoulder.
"Tia, close your eyes."
"Why?"
"Just do it." Tia closed her eyes, groaning. "You've spoken to your mother before, haven't you?" Dragon tamers had a strange ability to speak to those who shared their immediate blood, but rarely could they speak at will the way Iris and Tia could. Usually they were just visions, the meetings weren't by choice.
"Y-yes? How did you know?!"
"I've heard you talking to her. I've heard her voice, too. Do you think you can talk to her now?" Tia nodded slowly and closed her eyes tighter, focusing. The room went dead silent to the point where even the normally rambunctious Axew was still as a stone.
"Mother.. mother, where are you?" Nothing. Then, a dull echo.
"Tia.. oh, my daughter.. what is it you wish to speak to me about?" Iris's voice filled the room, and Tia's eyes started to shine with blue light. Cyro looked around in bewilderment. Skyla and Liao were doing the same. Only Nate and Colress seemed to understand what was going on, but their eyes didn't shine with the same light Tia's did. Whatever she was seeing, she was the only one seeing it. Rumor has it the deceased parents of dragon tamers appear in visions as shining silhouettes, almost like ghosts, but the exact nature of these interactions was something dragon tamers had sworn to secrecy centuries ago. Yet, Iris's voice rang out loud and clear, able to be heard by all those present in the room.
"Mother! Oh, mother.. it's been a long time since I've spoken to you! Uncle Colress has told me so many things and-" Tia silenced immediately. Iris must have done something or made some gesture to silence her.
"I've heard everything. You're scared of being a hero, aren't you?"
"Y-yes.. I don't know if I can do it, and I don't want to let anyone down.." Tia looked down, her eyes stained with tears.
"When you were born, Reshiram gave you it's blessing, infusing your blood with that of the ancient dragons. You're the only living human we know of that has all of the needed requirements to be able to speak to Genesis Kyurem. My own daughter.. I always hoped you would fulfill an amazing destiny." Iris's voice sounded almost like she was crying. "I knew you were special from the moment you were born, I only wish I could have been a better mother.." Iris's voice was filled with regret, of things she longed to finish but couldn't.
"Mother, no.. don't say that. It isn't your fault." Tia shook her head desperately, tears forming in her eyes. "What is it you need me to do, mother?"
"I need you to be a hero. You have the blood of the sacred dragon in you, and you're the only person alive who can speak to and have a chance of reasoning with Genesis Kyurem, should it be summoned. I trust the people in this room to strengthen your spirit and prepare you for the task you'll face."
"Mother, I.."
"I must go now, my dear daughter. Please heed my words. Remember, even in death, I love you." Tia wiped her eyes with her sleeve.
"I love you too, mother.." a pause, then Tia sat back down. "She's gone. I guess I really have to be a hero now, huh.."
"You're still a child, Tia, and Team Neo doesn't have all the components yet. We still have time, and I trust you'll strengthen yourself and Axew on your journey."
"So.. what am I going to do? Beat the gyms and train the strongest Pokemon that have ever been trained, like Nate did?" He chuckled at this.
"No, Tia," Nate answered. "You won't be able to defeat Genesis Kyurem in battle. You'll, uh, you'll have to speak to it." Tia nodded in understanding. "This won't be a journey of strength, it'll be one to make your soul and spirit strong enough to speak to Kyurem as an equal."
"And if I'm.. not enough?"
"Then Team Neo will most likely use Kyurem's power to destroy everything we know and love with no hope of saving anything. Memories, life, worlds, existence, all burned away."
"So, no pressure, right?"
"Haha, nope, none at all, Tia. But we'll all be here with you to strengthen you on your journey." Skyla nodded, and so did Colress, then Nate and Liao. Only Cyro looked shaken.
"Hey, why does she get to go on this big adventure?! I want to go on one too!" Cyro pouted.
"I had Hugh with me during my journey. I can promise, you won't be useless, my son," Nate said in response. Cyro rolled his eyes, but didn't speak much more.
"Hugh.. he was my father, right, Colress?" Tia asked, and looked at him. Colress nodded.
"Your father has set off on his own journey long ago, to finish your mother's dreams. He gave me his best wishes to raise you as if you were my own daughter." Colress's eyes started to tear up, and the shook his head. "Back to the present. On this journey we're going on, you'll have to learn to talk to Pokemon. I can only hope we're able to locate N, so he can assist us with that." Nate nodded, and spoke.
"I think I know where he is. Unless he's suddenly up and moved, then he's at Dragonspiral Tower. I suggest that's the first place we head," Nate said, nodding as he spoke.
"Any objections? Speak now, or forever hold your peace." Nobody said a word, and Colress nodded, and smiled. "Everybody rest up. We leave tomorrow morning."
As the group broke apart, he chuckled. Liao hung back and stood next to him.
"Thank you, Colress. We stand a chance now, that I'm sure of. Ah, yes. That Axew she runs around with. She's born of her mother's Haxorus, no?" Colress closed his eyes and nodded in agreement.
"She is indeed. You plan to accompany us, Liao?"
"Yes. I want to be able to share what I know about Team Neo with you as we journey," Liao said, nodding.
"Understood. Now, lets go save the world.. one more time." Colress smiled and Liao left the room, leaving him alone. He shook his head. "This won't be easy for her. But I know she can handle it."
The next morning, Colress awoke to loud yelling from another room. He stumbled out of bed, pushing the door open, and rushed down the hallway as fast as he could, throwing open the door to the kitchen.
"What in the name of-" Axew and Tia were playing tug of war with a container that held pancakes inside it. Skyla was smiling, holding a spatula, and Cyro was behind Axew, cheering her on. Colress groaned, but took a seat, willing to let them fight it out. Back and forth the pair went, until eventually Axew pulled back far enough that Tia let go and fell on the ground.
"Ugh.. you win, Axew.." Tia rolled over and Axew toted the container around triumphantly in her mouth. "Oh hi, uncle Colress! Skyla made pancakes for breakfast!"
"I can.. see that." Deciding not to question why the two had fought so fiercely over leftovers, Colress sat down next to Nate, looking up at Skyla. "I assume you can get us a plane bound for Opelucid?"
"Of course!" She smiled. In the years following Team Plasma's defeat, Skyla had used newfound funding to set up more airports all across the region. "In fact, I've already booked us a flight on the personal jet we took to get here!" Skyla pointed outside and the group turned to look at the blue and white plane that was parked on the ground. "That's my personal jet. I use it for business as well as family trips. Fitting six plus small dragon won't be an easy task, but we can make it."
"Glad to hear it." Colress nodded and stood up, moving back to his room. The other people dispersed, going their separate ways. Colress pulled out an old briefcase, carefully folding clothes and other belongings and placing them in the briefcase. Once he was finished, he picked it up and rejoined the rest of his ensemble in the main kitchen.
"I'm ready, Uncle Colress!" Tia smiled, and I could see her bright purple messenger bag around one shoulder. Colress nodded, and looked around.
"Is everyone ready to depart?" Colress asked, and everyone nodded in turn.
"Right this way!" Skyla said, leading the group out of the Frigate and towards her jet. One by one, the members of Colress's group climbed aboard the jet and took their seats. Skyla was right, it was definitely a cramped fit. She positioned herself in the cockpit, and as the plane whirred to life, Colress set a hand on Tia's shoulder.
"This may be the last time you ever see the Frigate." Tia nodded, and pressed her hands to the window, looking at the Frigate as it's size diminished the further up they went. Most of the plane trip was spent in silence, apart from Axew's occasional growl or rumble at a passing cloud. After the two hour trip was over, Skyla landed the plane right outside of Opelucid, and the group climbed out, relieved to be on the ground again.
"Honey, I'll never know how you can fly those things for a living. You baffle me." Nate groaned, but there was obvious humor in his eyes.
"Then that's one secret I'll take to my grave, isn't it?" Skyla smiled, and turned to face route nine, which would take them to Icirrus City. Moving like a herd, the seven walked down route nine, hampered by Axew's continuous want to battle each and everything she saw, be it living or not.
"Tell me, Uncle. During my vision, mother told me I had dragon's blood. Why'd you never tell me, and what does it mean?" Colress tipped his head, pausing for a second to mull over her question.
"Well.. the dragons of Unova are able to give their blessings to children if they're present at birth. The blessing of the legendary dragons enables beings of this realm to communicate with beings of the heaven's realm. As you now know, an example of such a being would be Genesis Kyurem. As Genesis Kyurem isn't of this world, or even this plane of existence, neither N nor Zinnia can speak to it, as they do not have the blessing you do. When you were born, N and Reshiram were present, and he and Reshiram agreed to give you the blessing as a safeguard, so you could communicate with Genesis Kyurem in case the Unova region was in grave danger. I kept this a secret as best I could, and nobody but myself, N, Nate, and your dead mother know of your true power." Tia nodded in understanding as Colress finished his explanation.
"I see. So this is why you're taking me to N, so he can teach me how to talk to Pokemon?"
"Precisely. Your mother was never given this blessing, and from what we know, nobody else in the world has it. I'm hoping N can teach you to speak to Pokemon, and later on, Zinnia will be able to teach you about your dragon tamer heritage." Tia nodded as Colress finished speaking. "Ah, I've driveled on for too long. We're here." Looking up, Colress and Tia were able to see Dragonspiral Tower, and a faint red light was visible from the top.
"Do you think that's Reshiram?" Tia asked.
"No doubt about it." For a minute, the group stood, until Tia broke the silence.
"So, what are we waiting for?"
"What?" Colress asked. "We brought you here, did you expect us to go up with you?"
"I mean.. yeah, wasn't that the plan?" Tia asked, bewildered.
"No? You were meant to climb the tower and speak to N by yourself."
"Oh. Well, uh.." Tia stammered.
"Nothing will attack you. You have dragon's blood. You'll be able to make your way up the tower without disruption," Liao said, and Colress nodded.
"Good luck, girl. I'm sure you'll learn a lot," Skyla said, and gave Tia a quick hug. Nate gave her a hearty pat on the back.
"Well.. thanks, everyone! I'll meet you in Icirrus when I'm done!" With that, Tia turned and started running into Dragonspiral Tower, her companions waiting outside.
"Do you think he will teach her?" Nate asked.
"Or course. Let's wait until she comes back. I'm sure she'll be very different," Colress responded.
Meanwhile, inside the tower, Tia was scrambling up the seemingly endless supply of stairs.
"It's.. so much.." she sat down, her sides heaving. "How does N climb this place regularly?! Wait.. he flies on Reshiram. Duh. Use your brain, Tia, it's in there somewhere." Tia poked her head and started back up the steps again. They seemed endless, stretching up onto the sky, but still last, she saw light and an end. Newly filled energy flushed through her, and she raced up the steps, forgetting how tired she was. She stopped upon reaching the final step, and turned to see a man with long green hair sitting next to a huge white dragon. He was facing away from the way she came, and the dragon made growling noises, both seemingly unaware of her. As she raised her hand, however, he spoke.
"Welcome, young master Tia. We've been expecting you."