As far as I'm concerned about the timeline of the story, there will be seven tales to the past in accordance to the present week, before Leon and Lila turn ten and become official Trainers. Possible sequel if I'm not too busy? Each tale will consist of several chapters, varying at length under my whim. Well, this is the layout I have aimed for this sequel. From Servant to Stardom was planned to have fifty chapters and to be concluded by the same date of its birth; the latter I'm also applying to this one with an unknown amount of chapters and an epilogue altogether. But we'll discuss this later.
So now, please enjoy…
Under Michael's direction, he led the outside trio of unique heroes and his little sister to the outskirts of Gateon Port. Not much could have been said or done about the damage from the disruptive encounter with Zook and the draining of Paul's very little patience. With a curtly smirk, the symbiotic container of Darkrai looked away with the belief of his involvement was justified. Ash and Anabel disapproved of his jumping the gun, but if there was something that they all agreed, they could finally move on to Professor Krane's laboratory.
Bystanders and local Trainers stood aside from their path, having witnessed the horrible display of ferocious, blood-chilling power and aggression. If an outsider was capable of all this hysteria, then what of the other two traveling with him? Apology would not do much until the port people had fully recovered from the terrifying sight. Discovering Cipher's second rebirth and third rise to power along with the inclusion of the ultimate XD00∞ was one thing for most people of Orre; they did not need the confirmation that power with allegiance unknown to them showing up and causing mayhem on the first day of arrival.
"Here's my upgraded hovercycle," Michael presented to the group his trusty chrome-white transportation upon visiting the sight of the unending desert sands half-covered in darkness and solar light. The faraway trio examined it curiously, seeing two newly polished chrome passenger carts on both sides of the hovercycle. "They were recently equipped for a fresh start, courtesy of Perr and his grandpa. They look a bit tight, but I think you guys can fit into snugly."
"I'm riding solo, see," Paul immediately spoke, taking his seat on the seat left of the ride. Michael observed confusedly, slightly scratching his burgundy spiky hair while glancing at Ash and Anabel.
"What's up with—?"
"Long story," Ash interjected, holding his hands up to stop his question.
"I've got time, especially since it would roughly take about ten to twenty minutes from here to the Pokémon HQ Lab," Michael reasoned.
"Yeah! Jovi wants to know about the Purple Meanie too!" Jovi exclaimed, clicking her heels in delight. Anabel petted her head gingerly, smiling upon the blue-haired girl's precocious innocence.
"May I?" Anabel asked Paul, who was lounging in his seat, waiting for the ride to start.
"Be my guest," he said without another thought, staring at the somewhat bright desert sky. Anabel looked back to Jovi, pretending to inhale deeply through her mouth to incite excitement and anticipation from the eager girl with the physical shape of a Kirlia. Ash and Michael leaned in close to observe and listen.
"Simply put, Jovi, his daddy was killed by the leader of Team Galactic for supposed incompetence before his eyes and his older brother gave up being a Trainer after losing one battle against Brandon the Pyramid King," Anabel explained rather quickly, "so Paul figured that he wasn't going to be weak, kind, and easy-going like the rest of his family. So he became emotionally detached after undergoing a cheap lobotomy and thereby—."
"Enough," Paul interrupted austerely, holding what seemed to be a phantasmal fireball of burning jet-black with an inner blood red core upon the palm of his hand. "With all that babbling of yours, I believe you've lost the girl after mentioning 'Team Galactic.' Wouldn't you agree, little girl?"
"Um, w-what's a 'Team Galactic'?" Jovi asked, having been frightened to the bone as white as her shirt by Paul's interruption. Anabel did not look threatened by Paul's dark scowl. Protected by the blessing of Cresselia regardless, she knew he would not dare attack her.
"Anyway, it's time for Michael to take us to Professor Krane," Ash suggested loudly, bumping his elbow on Orre's youngest but second savior.
"Uh, right! Jovi, you're riding behind me," Michael directed, to which he received an energetic hug from. "And Ash and Anabel, can you ride in the unoccupied car together?"
"Already on it," Anabel replied, having been helped into the right compartment car by Ash.
"Finally… Just don't make out along the way," Paul said bluntly. The faces of his two unlikely comrades profusely burned bright red in mortification, shocked at his sudden lowbrow insult. "… What? As if you haven't enjoyed the taste of each other's tongue and saliva already. Hmph…"
"PAUL!!"
"Tongue and saliva?! Icky, icky grossness!!!"
"Krane? We made it!" Michael yelled, gazing upon the strangely quiet laboratory. He woke his napping sister, still clinging onto his back from the ride.
"Where is everyone?" Ash asked, climbing out of the side car and helping Anabel step gingerly out.
"This better not be a surprise," Paul warned, leaping out his seat in cold silence.
"Honestly, I am not aware of events that take place while I'm not home," Michael said, shrugging calmly.
"Mommy! Jovi and her big brother are home!" Jovi exclaimed blissfully, running up to the automatic front door and inside before anyone could have stopped the young dynamo. "And we have guests!" The older teens took a glimpse through the glass door from a distance, noticing that there were no people within sight. No receptionist or lab assistance in sight.
Swollen dark clouds began to loom overhead, blocking out the sun's powerful rays from illuminating the earth. The only light visible was the ceiling light from within the HQ Lab. A churning feeling of emptiness swirled within the pits of the group's individual stomachs, though they made sure their faces did not display the exact emotions of their restrained apprehensions. However…
It was only a matter of time…
"EEK! MICHAEL!!"
The scream of his naïve little sister forced his body to act independently on a whim. Michael had to step in to save his family and friends, no matter what danger hid inside. His left arm, though sleeved, felt bare. There was no reason for him to hold onto the Snag Machine lest he wanted to end up a common Pokémon thief. He also had no reason on becoming one, considering all the Shadow Pokémon he snagged years ago were purified and legally belonged to him now. Except for one released back into the ocean…
"Michael, wait up!" Ash yelled, running behind alongside Anabel and Paul. The three of them caught up with Michael, who stood at the entrance of the building. His mouth hung open as he tightly curled his fingers on the doorframe on both sides.
The four youth found Jovi cowering on the floor in front of a squad of several gray-uniformed Cipher Peons and their swarm of Golbat; the one at front was presumed the leader of this ransacking operation.
"What the hell are you cretins doing here?" Paul demanded, furious at seeing them again. Anabel allowed herself into Ash's protective arms; the latter seething from the knowledge of their infamous task of ruining the global declaration of his becoming a true Champion a little over seven months ago.
"Yeah, what he said," Michael added, albeit more subtly.
The leading Cipher Peon glared through the protective black glasses of his helmet. He walked forward, ignoring the child watching him fearfully. He focused his sight on the leading boy with red hair, apparently not too pleased to see him again in a short time. He extended his right arm out, pointing daringly at him.
"You!" he growled, his finger shaking under stress. "I did not expect you to return to the professor, your mommy and their workers until after we've taken what we needed from this decrepit lab… And I see you've brought friends to play with too."
"Well who do you think you are barging in the lab like this?" Ash intervened, stepping forth alongside Michael with Anabel safe by his side. Both opposing teams glowered at the other's presence in the HQ Lab.
"I am Naps," the leading Peon said, crossing his arms sternly. "I attacked this very same lab years ago in an attempt to kidnap Krane for his knowledge until this boy stopped me." Michael's mood did not change, maintaining a straight cool face against his first real adversary ever. "He snagged my Shadow Teddiursa, forcing me to retreat with such great shame. Even at our rematch, the kid still defeated me and snagged more Shadow Pokémon with little difficulty at our lab."
"Can you blame him? You're playing for the weakest organization ever to exist," Paul remarked callously. Naps shifted his weight back on one foot, fuming at his open hostility.
"What do you know about Reverse-Cipher anyway, foreigner?" Naps asked defiantly.
"Reverse-Cipher?" Ash repeated. "What happened to just plain Cipher?"
"Reverse-Cipher is the ultimate rebirth of Cipher, marked by the day XD00∞ was also born into this plane of existence of ours," Naps explained, expanding his arms out as though he knew all. "Our reincarnated organization, Reverse-Cipher, now focuses on feeding XD00∞ as much power as possible in attempts to break the barriers of time and space and recreate the world as the ideal universe for Shadow Pokémon! We've already committed open crimes elsewhere in the Orre region, but this is the first and last time you'll see us! And the light of day ever again!"
Man, Cipher's gotten more crafty, and quite psychotic over the past years, Michael thought.
"Ugh! This guy's nuttier than Cyrus!" Ash commented, bumping his left shoulder up. Pikachu received the alerting signal to hop off and face the Peons.
"Not as much as Ardos and his Admin Scientist, Ash," Paul said, taking a Poké Ball out of his pocket. "And I actually tried to stop these clowns while looking for answers. These losers are wasting everyone's time." Michael and Anabel were prepared to send out Pokémon as well upon the moment the Reverse-Cipher Peons made their move.
The tension thickened; the flow of time came to a faint halt in everyone's mind. The Golbat hovered menacingly over the earthbound beings, glaring intently upon the sole opposing Mouse Pokémon crackling static discharge from his red cheeks. One unity of bitter defiance matched that of the opposing side. Jovi silently curled into a ball while fighting back her fearful tears, unable to handle the tightening pressure of burning hate and thirst for usurpation. A quiet growl escaped Naps' lips, despising the lack of action from both sides. He was the first to give way under the pressure.
"Well…" he began calmly, yet eerily, "if you kids refuse our invitation, then we'll bring the party to you. Attack!"
The Golbat screeched altogether, diving in with sharpened fangs pointing at the direction of Pikachu's neck.
"Alakazam, help Pikachu out!"
"Honchkrow, stand by for battle!"
"Go! Jolteon!"
Anabel led the others with her Psi Pokémon to join the lone Pikachu. Alakazam covered Pikachu's right while Jolteon swiftly leapt to the uncovered left flank. Honchkrow hovered over the group, assigned to watch over them from above like the forboding black angel its Trainer was.
"Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!"
"Jolteon, help with Helping Hand!"
"Jolt!" Michael's long-time partner barked. A discharge of silver-blue energy sprouted out from the hardened pins of Jolteon's fur, wrapping Pikachu in its energizing magic. Michael watched the process, feeling as proud as ever over the wonderful and unique gift of his late father leaving behind. With a confident grin, the Mouse Pokémon absorbed the last of the assisting power into his cheeks, swirling the two electric powers in his electric sacs.
"Go, Pikachu!"
"Pika-chuuuuu!" Pikachu shouted, his bellow echoing throughout the empty halls of the HQ Lab as his electric surge quickly overpowered half of the condensed Golbat swarm. Their large bodies were fried badly, emitting black smoke from friction burn.
"Hmph, save some entertainment for us," Paul said, smirking at the horrified and muddled expressions of the Reverse-Cipher Peons. Naps did not look worried, however.
"Thanks for the Helping Hand, Michael," Ash said graciously, tightly holding his fist proudly.
"This is the Orre region, by which the main battle style is usually Double Battling," Michael explained. "Of course, it wouldn't apply if a Trainer has only one Pokémon."
"But these guys are not even following the rules, using more than two Pokémon on the field," Ash pointed. Michael dismissed it with a shrug.
"Oh, I wanted to battle with Ash," Anabel sighed, having witnessed the immediate teamwork of Pikachu and Jolteon as the first of their team's Double Battle pair.
"You can tag with me next time, assuming there's a next time—Whoa!" Ash yelped, having ducked from a Golbat hesitantly gnashing at his head. "Ugh, close one…" Anabel glared at the very same Golbat that made an attempt at Ash's precious blood.
"I dare you to try that again!" she threatened, beckoning Alakazam to her side by authoritative telepathic command. "Use Psychic!"
"Ala!" Alakazam grunted, presenting its right arm forward and pointing its spoon at the Bat Pokémon. "Ka-zam!" Its sharp eyes illuminating with mental power, the Psi Pokémon forced Golbat onto the ground, shattering its ability to continue battling under an area of intense gravity tinted light blue. The remained swarm flew in, blinded by their rage to avenge their fallen comrades.
"Time to put this to rest," Paul said, directing Honchkrow to the oncoming Golbat. "Sky Attack, go!"
"Honchkrow!" the Big Boss Pokémon squawked, levitating up as its power came in the form of the ethereal white veil composing its well-groomed black feathers. The Golbat caught sight of the charging Honchkrow, going after it instead of Alakazam.
Alakazam, stall for Honchkrow with Psychic!
"Ala-ka!" Alakazam boomed, firing a disrupting wave of its potent psychic energy at a small portion of the Golbat swarm. The attack was a surefire hit for a quarter of the Golbat. The remaining members began to question the next attack plan, whether to go after the vulnerable Honchkrow or to retaliate against Alakazam.
"What are you Golbat waiting for?!" Naps roared, holding a Poké Ball in his hand. "Don't make me have to use this Pokémon to finish these brats!" The Golbat clamored up, albeit their renewed organization was too late to even matter.
"Get going, Honchkrow!"
"Honch!" Honchkrow shrilled, flying in at the astonished Golbat. The radiating extent of its Sky Attack got to the remaining Bat Pokémon, forcing them out of the air and onto the ground where they belonged. "Hmph!"
"Rrgh! So much for 'borrowing' Team Rocket's Golbat reserves," Naps commented, seeing the last of the Bat Pokémon fall. "I bet the rest of the Pokémon we took from them are just as weak." Staring upon the Poké Ball in his hand with burning rage, he ultimately threw it into the air and called out the creature contained within. "You're on, Ursaring!"
"Ur-RING!" Ursaring roared furiously, bounding its thick arms onto the center of its chest cavity. Ash's head immediately perked up; his eyes stared into empty space towards Ursaring's direction.
"Uh, guys? Don't want to raise panic, but…"
"Ursaring's a Shadow Pokémon?" Michael filled in.
"A Shadow Pokémon infected with XDrus," Naps clarified. "We scrapped a sparse amount of those wily microorganisms off of XD00∞, but back then those microbes were actually the Ankoku-ShadowPokérus. You know what that it, right? … Right! The ultimate virus that gave us total control over Giratina."
"I can see why," Ash said through his clenched teeth, focusing his sight on the berserk Hibernator Pokémon. "Ursaring's dark aura is nowhere near as terrifying as Giratina's."
"Hm? And now you know. Ursaring, use Shadow Blitz!"
"Shadow what?"
"Watch out!" Anabel yelled, tackling Ash onto the ground as a ramming shoulder tackle of Shadow Ursaring narrowly missed them. Pikachu and Alakazam went to their sides, concerned for their Trainers' plight. Paul and Michael stepped in front, keeping a diligent eye or two out for Ursaring's next attacks.
"Honchkrow, use Dark Pulse!"
"Jolteon, Charge Beam!"
The two concentrated beams of opposing energy froze Shadow Ursaring in its tracks. The Hibernator Pokémon bellowed in pain, yet Jolteon and Honchkrow were not even making ruffles of its brown fur. Ursaring was trapped in a struggle to break free from its emotional imprisonment enhanced tenfold by the enticing promise of power from a Pokérus. This was the difference between an artificial procedure and the ShadowPokérus infection; the devilish deal for ultimate power was made more realistic, but at what cost?
"The distraction's working," Michael confirmed. "Keep up the attacks, you two!"
"Just long enough until he wakes up," Paul said, glancing dourly at the dozed-off Aura Guardian. He looked at Anabel and grimaced. "Wake him up!"
"Say 'please'?"
"Do it or I'll wake him up."
… Jerk.
"What was that?"
"Just hold off Ursaring, will you?" the exasperated vessel of the Lunar Pokémon asked, faking a smile while curling her shaking thin fingers behind her. Paul grunted indifferently and went back to command Honchkrow.
"Oof… Anabel?" Ash asked upon reopening his eyes, finding the young Salon Maiden on top of his legs. She was the first to rise upon her feet, lending a lifting hand out for her brash hero.
"I hope Golbat's sneak attack didn't make you forget," Anabel said, smiling amiably. "Shadow Pokémon won't hesitate to attack humans."
"I didn't; no need to worry," Ash replied, straightening out his cap over the messy raven black hair that covered most of his scalp. He woke up just in time to discover Honchkrow and Jolteon attacking the Hibernator Pokémon fruitlessly. A grizzly snarl escaped Ursaring's sharp canine teeth, followed by a Shadow Blitz wide enough to trap both Pokémon. Ursaring slammed its free arm upon Jolteon's vulnerable cranium, effectively putting it into unconscious submission.
"H-Honch-krow," Honchkrow coughed, having flapped out of Shadow Ursaring's range as it watched Jolteon thrown aside.
"What are you doing, Honchkrow?" Paul castigated, apparently disgruntled by the flight of the Big Boss Pokémon. Michael ran past him, the wind of his dash blowing against his bangs and jacket collar. The redhead Orre native sprinted into the battlefield that was formerly the HQ Lab reception floor, desperately seeking to aid his injured Lightning Pokémon. Oblivious to everything else, including the imposing Ursaring, Michael felt his heart twinge at the sight of his exhausted prized Pokémon.
Excellent, Naps thought, watching him tend to his wounded Jolteon in the middle of the scuffle. "Ursaring, attack him with Shadow Blitz!"
Jovi peeked from under the receptionist's table, observing in fright the lumbering Shadow Pokémon about to greatly maul her older brother. Her heart and mind wanted her to speak, but her trembling legs refused to move. More tears escaped from the corner nooks of her round bubbly eyes, unable to accept the fact that she was truly a complete scapegoat for her big brother.
Jovi, move… Jovi, move! … Jovi… MOVE IT! Her voice within screamed, ringing in her ears. Jovi had stopped shaking, quickly standing up as if there was no tomorrow. "MICHAEL!" The volume of her innocent youthful voice caught everyone's attention with the major exception of the blind Ursaring stomping towards its stunned target.
Michael covered Jolteon's body with his own. The Lightning Pokémon's fur needles never harmed him since the day he evolved Eevee, a decision that was more painful than this supposed discomfort. Whatever happened from this point, Michael knew that Jolteon would be safe.
"Pikachu, Volt Tackle! Let's go!"
"Alakazam, use Focus Punch!"
"Honchkrow, Aerial Ace!"
The grunts and battle cries of his teammate's fellow Pokémon eased their burdens much. First off, Honchkrow flew over them leading off with a square jab of its flat beak at the center of Ursaring's stomach. Michael and Jolteon were free to life their heads up, watching with open smiles of relief as Alakazam sent a glowing right hook upon the same spot Honchkrow struck it. It was Pikachu that ultimately sealed the battle's fate with his oncoming Volt Tackle, glowing brightly in his prime.
"Pikachu, up at the chin!"
Ash's sudden command reached Pikachu in time, within prepared jumping distance. The distance was a minor two feet away. The electrical-brazen Mouse Pokémon leapt, tackling his golden-empowered skull under Ursaring's chin as directed. The Hibernator Pokémon hollered in painful confusion, stumbling about wildly on its hind legs until falling onto its back in fatigued cession.
Naps and the Reverse-Cipher Peons fumed in defeat. As the holder of its Poké Ball, Naps grudgingly held it towards Ursaring's direction, only to be met with a Dark Pulse that shot the spherical containment unit out of its hand. The grunts discovered Paul's Honchkrow hovering before them, smirking coldly with its crooked beak at their pathetic visages.
"You there!" Naps barked, referring to the shuddering Peon on his left. "Retrieve the Poké Ball this fowl knocked out of my hand!"
"A little late for that," Paul said, shaking his head in mock amusement as he and the others approached the fallen Shadow Ursaring. "You might want to look before you retrieve." From his blunt riddle, Naps and the Peons found Ursaring's Poké Ball lying dead and broken beyond repair on the cold laboratory floor. Naps snarled; his men froze and stiffened into position.
"Peons, fall back," he commanded calmly. The Reverse-Cipher Peons recalled the burnt Golbat from the confrontation's earlier scuffle before running out of the HQ Lab in disorderly mortification and shame. "We'll meet again." Naps snorted callously and walked, pointing his chin away from the youth that took him and his men down with somewhat relative ease. He felt the glares of the four youth, especially that of the one with the Pikachu. For some reason to him, he could actually feel that young man's power and desire for justice burning through his body just from his stare. He could feel his aura…
Once Naps left, Ash took a deep breath, restraining the fiery contempt he held towards the newly reemerged Reverse-Cipher and the darkest treatment towards Pokémon. His blazing aura, inherited from one of the greatest Aura Guardian from ancient history, simmered to a softer flame.
"Come on, guys," Ash said, kneeling by the Ursaring's side. The others knelt around Ursaring, ready. "Let's give this Pokémon its life back."
Jovi came out of the receptionist's desk, as well as the entire staff of the HQ Lab out from the back. It was the perfect moment for Professor Krane and the rest of his workers to witness the new way for Shadow Pokémon purification as Ash laid and pressed his hands upon the immobile Ursaring's chest. His powerful, chaste aura enveloped the Hibernator Pokémon entirely from its ears to its feet. The aura was formless, shifting as Ash began excising the dark aura like an eraser. The darkness emerged out of Ursaring's body, circling the aura like electrons to an atomic nucleus. A flash of green emerged from the ethereal blue aura once the darkness came together where Ash's hands where and dissipated completely without a trace.
The laboratory staff stared in awe. This was the first time anyone of them witnessed this kind of special power over aura. Indeed, it was decided that Ash Ketchum was the skeleton key, capable of unlocking the doors of all Pokémon's hearts. Even possibly the warped door to Giratina's shut heart…
"Michael, Ash, friends, you guys could have not come at a better time," Krane said, adjusting his glasses with a warm smile on his face. "I thought I was going to be taken again. Thank you all!"
"Yes! Thank you! But what they really wanted was our Purification Chamber so that no Pokémon could be purified ever again," Lily said, sincerely glancing at Ash, "but it seems that I stand corrected."
"Thanks, ma'am, but it was no problem, really," Ash said humbly. "I really couldn't have done it without my friends."
"Because one Reverse-Cipher army could've given him so much trouble," Paul said sarcastically, yet indifferently. Lily looked at him, confused.
"And who might you be, young man?" Lily asked.
"Ah! Let's save the formalities for later," Krane stated, folding his arms behind his back. "After all, Reverse-Cipher apparently had no patience to talk before action. Anyway, Ash, Anabel, Paul…"
"Yes, Professor?" the trio asked. The staff went back to work under Lily's command while Michael promised a play date with Jovi with the Battle Simulator on the top floor.
"I'm not going to beat around the bush, considering that time is now of the essence," Krane explained. "You do know that your main mission is to stop Reverse-Cipher and save Giratina before they manage to acquire Dialga and Palkia into their ranks, right?" He was replied with straightforward nods. "With power of time and space, they can capture almost any Pokémon in the world. Nay, the universe. This includes Legendary Pokémon like Lugia, Groudon, and even outer-space Pokémon like Deoxys. Their range would be limitless and the entire universe would be governed under the authority of their Shadow Pokémon army."
"This sounds gravely serious," Anabel said, covering her astonished gaping mouth.
"Reverse-Cipher will be able to spread the virus concocted with former ally Team Rocket with both Dialga and Palkia's powers," Krane continued. "Giratina was just the first step. But I can't explain everything to you just yet."
"Why not?" Ash asked.
"It's better for you to experience the Orre region for yourself, Ash," Krane said, patting the young man on his shoulders. "You and your friends must first weaken Reverse-Cipher's hold over Orre while keeping an eye out for Shadow Giratina. Weaken it as much as you can before fleeing as a measurement of how much left you need on becoming stronger as you travel Orre. This journey will be your ultimate yet!"
"So what do we have to do first, Professor?" Paul asked, his serious tone an evident sign that he was ready for action.
"First go to Dr. Kaminko's laboratory south from here, a short walk from here no doubt," Krane said. "Under my orders, he and Perr worked on a form of suitable transportation to take you three anywhere around Orre."
"We're capable of walking, you know," Ash interrupted.
"It'll take too long, especially under Orre's chaotic weather changes from a burning desert sun to a frigid dark sky," Krane explained strongly. The trio of heroes understood, signifying it with a simple nod of approval. "Anyway, go to Dr. Kaminko's lab and call me from that point. I will provide the next set of directions for you to follow up. Do you understand?"
"Right!"
I actually enjoy thinking about how the whole story plays out in my mind. If I wasn't so busy or so laidback due to a minor senioritis infection, more chapters detailing the journey in Orre would be present. And while it was fun for me to watch you all jump the gun upon the first word of Ash's disappearance as his being dead, nothing's set in stone yet. What I'm making for all of you is what you or I want you to believe. Be cautious of the next I might throw in.
If you would please review, it will be appreciated. I want to listen to your feedback about this chapter.
Ciao!