Author's Note: Alright, here it is. I don't have much to say about this one, only that maybe it ended up too short for my liking. Oh well.
I think this is other of those 'set up for future events' chapters. A rather short one though...
I've been WAY too lazy these last days. The fact that lately I've managed to sleep more than 6 hours each night has somehow made me less active than before. Huh.
Up in the skies a ship sailed across the clouds.
At the Plasma Frigate's control room, the team's scientists piloted the airship through the sky. They didn't have a set route; Colress just had told them to remain airborne as long as possible without being detected.
The main door slid open and all the present scientists turned to the entrance. There stood a familiar man in glasses. "I come with Colress' orders!" Said Dudley.
The main pilot raised an eyebrow in curiosity. "Really? Colress sent you? Why don't tell us himself through the frigate's network?"
Dudley scratched the back of his head as he thought of an excuse. "He's... Testing at the labs. And I didn't have anything to do so I asked him if I could come tell you..."
The Plasma pilot squinted his eyes in suspicion. "Very well. What are the orders?"
Dudley neared the scientists while adjusting his glasses. "Colress wishes to land the ship at the only remaining base we have: the P2 Laboratory, at Route 17. As soon as possible.
The pilot nodded and turned around on his chair toward his monitor. "Where are we currently located?" He asked his fellow men.
"Approximately 10000 feet above Route 5, sire." One scientist said at checking his own computer.
"Set direction south, 30 degrees east." The pilot instructed. "And raise speed to 120 Km/h. Close veils to begin descent and lower speed at approximately 5 kilometers from our destination."
A monotonous and conjoined cry of "Yes sir." notified of the scientists' agreement. Soon enough the frigate's movement changed to match that of the one commanded by the main pilot, and in matter of seconds the ship was on its way to Route 17.
The change in movement wasn't detected by Colress, who continued submerged in his research.
After a extended period of Pokémon-Amie, Kyurem' affection meter was almost maxed out. Sure enough, the dragon seemed much more affectionate now.
Affectionate enough to just sit down and listen to Colress during his lunch break.
"It was fascinating, I tell you!" The scientist said excitedly. "The mere concept of 'Mega Evolution' had always been something I have wanted to research!"
Kyurem listened attentively at Colress' rant. While the man had a tendency to speak of complex and technical concepts he could comprehend or even care about, sometimes he talked about slightly interesting stuff.
Colress raised towards his mouth another unit of the unknown food (which apparently was called 'Rice Rolls' or something of the like) and ate it up in one bite. He munched merrily until he swallowed the food and continued talking. "Shame I only heard of the concept after I started my research in Plasma here! Maybe after I'm done testing with you we can travel to Kalos."
Kyurem couldn't help but raise his head in curiosity. Did he say 'we'? Was he talking about his Pokémon... Or about him?
Colress bit on another 'Rice Roll' before reaching for a bag on the small table next to him and turning to Kyurem, holding a familiar object in the air. "Here, keep eating these. We need to restore your EVs before we can start training on that!"
Kyurem tilted his head, confused at the concept of 'EVs', but happily nodded before Colress threw the Grepa Berry at the dragon, who swiftly opened his jaws to eat the incoming berry and promptly closed them after.
Meanwhile Rotom happily bounced around the chamber while munching on a berry. Once finished the Plasma Pokémon sapped back to his trainer and gave a demanding cry.
Colress slightly frowned at this. "Rotom, I think you have eaten enough for now."
Rotom grumped annoyed before bolting away from the scientist. Colress rolled his eyes before turning back to Kyurem. "Tell me, Kyurem. Are you excited?"
Kyurem tilted his head confused.
Colress chuckled to himself. "I personally can't wait to continue testing! In just a few hours we have advanced a lot! All the factors will soon come together!"
Colress stood up and walked around the room, scratching his chin in wonder. Kyurem just followed the scientist with his gaze.
"After we're done with Pokémon-Amie we can continue with Super Training! And then we'd have to level you up as much as possible! Shame we can't alter your IVs, though..." Before continuing Colress turned to Kyurem with a curious glare. "I wonder what type your Hidden Power belongs to."
Colress reached for a small headset on his right ear. "Show me the data about Kyurem's IVs."
Soon enough the screen, which at the moment showed Kyurem's EVs, changed to one displaying the IVs. Colress analyzed the present digits, doing the calculus in his head. "I see... Your Hidden Power would be Fire!" Concluded the scientist with excitement as he clasped his hands together.
Kyurem continued staring at Colress with confusion. Sure enough he had no idea about what he was talking about.
Colress glared at the screen before turning to the dragon with a smirk. "Tell me Kyurem, after we're done with the training... Would you like a rematch with Klinklang?"
The midday sun flared down on Opelucid City. Miners all around the city continued working in exterminating the ice that covered most of the city, as said ice was too strong to be broken down by conventional means.
At the central plaza a certain gym leader directed the workers. "Finish off cleaning the citizens' homes before moving on to the 3rd street. Ignore the gym; the people come first." Told Drayden to his fellow men.
"Of course sir." Answered the miner with a salute before taking off to the working site.
Drayden stared after the man before giving a sight. Even if they managed to clean off the city, he didn't know if Team Plasma was really gone. Sure, he had received news that someone had defeated them but... If Plasma managed to rise after a first defeat, they could as well do it again.
Drayden walked towards his home before giving a last look behind. It was only a matter of time before his city was repaired, just some more time...
However, before Drayden could enter his house he heard the flapping of two flying-type Pokémon. He stared upward, curious about the noise's origin, and noticed two trainers descending from the skies towards him. Drayden gave one step back before the Pokémon landed in front of him.
Nate jumped off from his Braviary and swiftly returned it to its Poké Ball, Hugh following suit. Drayden grinned at recognizing the trainer.
The two youngsters approached the gym leader, who welcomed them with open arms. "Ah, I was hoping to meet you again. Nate, isn't?"
Said trainer nodded in return.
"Good. Iris told me that a certain someone managed to beat the Pokémon League." He said before patting Nate on the back affectionately. "Congratulations, Champion Nate!"
Nate scratched the back of his head and blushed slightly as he grinned.
From behind them Hugh grumped. "Yeah, that's great and everything, but we are in the middle of something serious."
Drayden raised an eyebrow is curiosity. "Really? What is the problem?"
Hugh turned to Nate with a confused glare. "First off: Nate, why are we here?"
The trainer stared at his partner before his eyes lighted up at a certain memory. He reached for an object in his bag and showed it to Drayden.
The gym leader gave a slight gasp at the sight. "The DNA Splicers... You got them back..."
Nate nodded before extending his hand to the gym leader. Drayden admired the object before shaking his head and pushing the DNA Splicers away. "Don't return them to me; keep them."
Nate couldn't help with tilt his head confused.
"It was you who defeated Team Plasma, wasn't it?" Drayden asked the trainer, but continued before he could answer. "I'm sure you could care of this object better than I ever could."
Nate blinked before turning his head to the DNA Splicers, and back to Drayden. Eventually he sighed and returned the item to his bag, before nodding with a smile at Drayden.
Drayden grinned inwardly before turning to Hugh. "Was that the problem, boy?"
Hugh stared at the gym leader before tuning to Nate. The trainer looked at Hugh before giving a nod. Supposing he got the right message, Hugh took a small breath before saying. "The thing is... Team Plasma is back, and they captured Kyurem again."
Drayden visibly paled at the words. He turned around, growling inwardly as he tightened his fists. "I knew Plasma wasn't down..."
"We looked for them at the Giant Chasm, but we just found these DNA things." Hugh continued. "I don't know where to go now, though."
Drayden stayed in silence before turning back to the trainers. "Wasn't there a faction of Team Plasma who reformed?"
Nate and Hugh stared in wonder at the leader. "Yeah, I think they were at Driftveil City." Said Hugh. "Do you think they..."
"These Plasma people don't have anyplace to go now." Continued Drayden. "I know they have a flying airship, but they can't stay afloat forever. Searching them through the skies is a futile task; you won't find ever find them in the massive air space."
Hugh tried to put together the ideas. "So they eventually must land somewhere, and if they're not at the chasm then..."
"Ask the reformed Plasmas for a location." Drayden instructed. "Their old castle has been destroyed. If they have other bases in the region they will go there."
Hugh grinned at they idea. "Of course! That's brilliant!" Was all he said before he reached for his Poké Ball and freed his Unfezant.
Drayden turned at Nate before saying. "Look at Opelucid, boy. Don't let Plasma repeat this catastrophe."
Nate nodded before promptly reaching for his Poké Ball and freeing his Braviary. He jumped on it before turning one last time to the gym leader.
Drayden gave a hearty smile at the champion before saying "Don't be too reckless out there. Good luck."
Nate smiled and gave a thumps up before his Pokémon took flight. Soon enough the trainer was in the sky flying after Hugh.
At the ground Drayden stared at the trainers before they were out of sight. The gym leader turned around , only to find a certain someone at his home entrance.
"Iris?" Drayden asked in confusion. "What are you doing-?"
"I just wanted to talk with you, silly!" Iris said merrily. "Just converse and stuff." She grinned before staring at the leader. "You want to go, don't you?"
Drayden blinked before saying. "I suppose you heard the whole conversation?"
"Most of it." Iris admitted. "But the point is that I think you should go with them."
Drayden dismissed the idea with a frown. "Of course not; I need to look after the city. I can't-"
"Don't worry, I'll just set someone to do that!" Iris said with a grin. "I think you have worked too much here at the city. You need to go out there, catch some warm air, and teach those Plasmas another good lesson!"
Drayden stared at his former apprentice before closing his eyes in thought. It had been some time since he had done some fieldwork. But maybe he needed to take matters into his own hands for a moment.
Eventually Drayden opened his eyes and smiled at the former champion. "Many thanks, Iris."
Iris happily grinned in return. "No problem, sir!"
Drayden reached for one of his Poké Balls before freeing his Flygon. The earth dragon gave a cry before laying on the ground in order to let the leader mount him.
Once on his Pokémon back Drayden turned one last time to his apprentice. "Who are you going to put in my place?"
Iris scratched her chin in wonder before waving a hand to the leader. "Don't worry yourself with that, I'll call someone!"
Drayden sighed before his dragon began lifting off. "Tell my workers I'll be out for a while! Make sure they keep working before my substitute comes!"
Iris nodded in return as the gym leader ascended towards the heavens. Once Drayden was fat enough the former champion ran away from the house and outside the city. Once in the wilderness Iris ran between the bushes and looked upward at the sky, following Drayden's Flygon.
As the girl dashed past the trees, a bright light engulfed her, and soon where once ran a human a Zoroark gave pursuit.
It was a surprisingly clear sky that day at Icirrus City. And yet, nobody saw the shadow that materialized over one of the city's hills.
Umbra looked around him in search of the face of the trainer. Stealthily he jumped between the city shadows, peeking through the windows of each house in the vicinity.
It took a while, but eventually the Shadow Triad member concluded the trainer wasn't in that city. Umbra sighed as he reached for a device on his pocket. "Umbra here... No sight in Icirrus City..."
"...Kage here... Move on to the next location." Said a voice through the device.
"Umbra here... Understood." The shadow member answered before returning the device to where he had saved it.
Before continuing Umbra sat down on the ground and stared upward towards the sky. He hoped Ghetsis was safe back at the hideout. As much as he wanted to avenge him, he would prefer making sure he wasn't captured.
In his studying of the heavens Umbra noticed two birds moving quickly through the sky.
"...Huh, I didn't know trainers traveled in pairs..." Umbra told himself.
What caught his attention, however, was the Flygon that flew past after the two trainers. While Umbra raised an eyebrow at the sight, what really sold it was the flash of black that sped past him seconds after the dragon. Umbra looked after the being and noticed it was a Zoroark.
"Alright..." Umbra thought out loud. "...I'm interested now."
AU: Oh my, stuff happens. Call the police.
It's gonna be hard to keep writing after I found that old 'Dark Souls' game between my PS3 stuff. Then I remember that I got frustrated after like the second level and stopped playing about one year ago because the thing was just too damn hard. Now I'm playing it again and I can't stop. Send help.
