Chapter 17- Stories and Prophecies

Location: Unknown

Time: Unknown

"W-what?" Joseph awoke in Darkness. He looked around, there was no sign of anyone. Anything for a mater of fact. "T-this… is the same place as I was before I woke up in the Darkrai cult! Was I captured? Or was all of that just a Dream?" Joseph worried he couldn't even see his Pokémon on his belt. "Is there any one there?!" Joseph called out.

"I'm here. Don't worry that wasn't a dream." Joseph heard a voice, his voice.

"Who are you?" Joseph cautiously asked.

"I'm the one who practically sweepded East's team, but let's just say I'm you." A purple haired Joseph came out of nowhere, "More exact a Darker version." (A/N: labeling him as D.J. [Dark Joseph])

"What do you want?" Joseph was curious.

"I want Control." DJ replied.

"Why should I give you my body." Joseph was on guard.

"So, I can get rid of those pests on the surface!" DJ glared at Joseph.

"You mean my Friends." Joseph glared back.

"Friends?" DJ laughed, "They are just Idiots who will betray you when the time is right!"

"Those Idiots have given me more reason to trust them than you!" Joseph shouted. "I'm Not letting you hurt them."

"they will betray you! J̧͡҉́ư̵̷̶s̴t̵̛͡ ̷̷̷̀͜l̨̨͠҉i̴̷̢͢͞k̷̢̢̀͠e̷͜͡͡ ̀t̡̡h̛̛́͟é̸̕͢ ̷̧̡o̷͡t͜͞͝h̸̶̷̕é́͠͏͘r̴̢̀́͞ş." DJ's voice began to fade, "Looks like I'm out of time. But know when I see weakness in you I will surely come."

Location: Helios City (Secret Base)

Time: 2:45

"Joseph!" A female voice called to him, right before. KZAP!

"Ah! That hurt!" Joseph sat up to see his friends and Pokémon gathered round him. "H-hello?"

"You're Awake!" He heard Damian cry before being hugged by everyone.

"Do you have any Idea how worried you made us!?" Nora exclaimed

"No." Joseph groggily said. "How long was I out?"

"About fifteen minutes," Alexis carefully said. "I heard you mumbling 'I won't let you hurt them.' Care to explain?"

"I had a dream facing Jaren. He said he would kill you guys," Joseph lied, "I woke up right before being hit with a Fire Blast from Rayquaza. So, thanks for waking me up."

"Your welcome." Alexis said with a hint of disbelief

"So, you guys know why I passed out?" Joseph asked.

"Beats me." Nora said "How are you feeling?"

"I'm feeling a bit tired," Joseph yawned, "…and hungry."

"Could have been just plain exhaustion." Damian suggested, "when Rouge Mega-evolved it was different from when you battled against East."

"well exhaustion could be correct." Alexis added, "From what I could tell you didn't sleep at all since getting back from Jade tower."

"That's not wrong," Joseph admitted. "*Yawn* So what's the plan now?"

"We talked while you were asleep." Nora said, "were going to lay low for a few days then go to Utira Town to look more about the Prophecy."

"The more knowledge we have the better." Alexis said. "We should prepare for our trip."

"Oh yeah! Joseph here." Damian handed something that looked like a badge to Joseph, "since you were the only one to defeat East I think you should have it."

"Thanks," Joseph said, but in the back of his mind. "(something to remember about the person you got sacrificed. Not to mention the cause of Jaren getting Rayquaza.)" Joseph held his head.

"Let's get some sleep." Alexis said with a concerned look at Joseph.

A Few Days Later

Location: Utira Town (Library)

Time: 14:45

Pokémon Recap:(A/N the moves stated will be the moves set for battle)

Joseph's team

Rouge: Delta Charizard, Female, Mild, Delta Charizardite, Level 50 (Shadow Sneak, Shadow Ball, Dragon Dance, Dragon Pulse)

Sasuke: Delta Gallade, Male, Lonely, Magnet, Level 48 (Swords Dance, Ice Blade, Lightning Blade, Ice Shard)

Ichigo: Rotom, Rash, Spell Tag, Level 49 (Thunder Wave, Discharge, Ominous Wind, Double Team)

JoJo: Lucario, Male, Adamant, Expert Belt, Level 49 (Star Fall, Power-up Punch, Aura Sphere, Bone Rush)

Rin: Charizard, Male, Timid, Charcoal, Level 48 (Flamethrower, Slash, Wing Attack, Scary Face)

Alexis' team

Saiki: Delta Venusaur, Male, Modest, Delta Venusaurite, Level 51, (Hypnosis, Leech Seed, Psychic, Moon blast)

Grey: Delta Scizor, Male, Calm, Never Melt Ice, Level 49 (Icicle Crash, hone claws, Night Slash, Low Sweep)

Toga: Ditto, Relaxed, Choice Specs, Level 49 (….)

Katsura: Zoroark, Male, Timid, Scope Lens, Level 50 (Punishment, Night Slash, Hone Claws, U-turn)

"I never want to go through that damn cave ever again." Joseph said as the group walked in to the library.

"Why it was so nice." Nora said, "Steam is really good for you."

"Me and Joseph almost fainted from the heat twice!" Damian yelled.

"I think it was a great cave," Alexis added

"that's your opinion," Joseph said.

"Can we just move on to finding the Prophecy," Nora whispered as they walked past the information desk.

"Ah! Welcome to Utira Town Library!" A man with purple hair said, "I'm Zachary, the Librarian here. I've made it my life goal to instill love and joy of Reading in young kids. If you need help let me know."

"We just met him and I already don't like him." Joseph said outload, "(at least we agree on that.)"

"Joseph!" Nora elbowed him.

"I'm with Joseph I don't trust him." Alexis kept her eyes on him, "He looks too fishy to tell us something like that lets go a bit further in."

"We have a lot of ground to cover. We could split up in to two groups." Damian suggested.

"Sound good it should help us find more information quickly. Since you suggested why don't you pick the teams." Alexis said

"uh, I guess I'll go with Nora and you to go together." Damian was not expecting to choose

"Fine with me." Joseph said.

"alright then let's reconvene in two hours." Nora said.

"Let's take the east side." Alexis grabbed Joseph by the arm.

An hour later.

"Arceus and Giratina. Huh?" Joseph said to himself he and Alexis split up in the east corner of the library to find anything that they could he had found several books that he thought was either interesting. Or drew notice to the Prophecy. He had sat down to start reading the first one. 'Arceus and Giratina are the names for the most ancient Pokémon cosmology. Ancient texts say Arceus created Dialga, Palkia and Giratina. However, Giratina was displeased and revolted. His insurgency was quickly stamped down by the other three creation Pokémon, and was Banished to the Distortion World.' The next book was called "'Tales of Vereen.' I know I heard something about the history about Vereen and Torren being connected." The book seemed to be a fictional story about a young hero of the Vereen Region. It showed nothing of importance to the Prophecy. The next was labeled 'The First Augur' it was strangely blank. "Thanks a lot Jaren. (Oh, come on you know he's just protecting his image.) Shut up." The final book Joseph had been about Dark type Gym Leaders. 'Gym Leaders of Darkness.' 'ever since the Dark typing was discovered in the Johto Region many trainers fascinated in this type had tried to master it. But to no avail, several towns had Gyms that contained Dark type Pokémon. After a few weeks those gyms were closed down most reasons were minor but repeated a lot, like Building collapsing, Natural disasters destroying the gyms. Because of those minor reasons the Pokémon Association kept pushing for a Dark type Gym. Until one day a Dark type Gym Leader for whatever reason turned on their town, killing and destroying everything in sight. Calling in Dark Type Experts it was concluded that while possessing Dark type Pokémon risks becoming evil. Five Dark type experts have been watched over, saying that they had overcome their darkness. Three being elite four members, one a Kahuna of Alola region, and Torren's strongest Gym Leader. Their names are Karen, Sidney, Grimsley, Nanu, and (the final name was scratched out)' "Can I even blame Jaren for this? (I guess so. But what do you think about me?) You are definitely my worst side. I will over come you. (Sure, you will. But you know when one looks into the abyss the abyss looks back.)" Joseph was shaken for a second, he'd give all of his power to protect his friends, from cults or even himself.

Bang! An older woman had dropped on of the books that she was carrying, "oh dear."

"Here let me help." Joseph picked up the book.

"Thank you, young boy." The woman said.

"No problem." Joseph then asked. "Do you know where any information belongs about Prophecies?"

"hmm. Not sure if I do." The woman answered, "I would ask the Librarian though."

"Thank you." Joseph said as he walked off.

"That kindness. Hmm… it feels like I've seen him some where before." The old woman said, "I'll ask him about it if I ever meet him again."

Another hour had passed when the group reconvened in in the center of the library. "So how did it go?" Alexis asked.

"I looked through at least thirty books no information to show," Damian said.

"Same here." Joseph said.

"I couldn't find anything either," Nora sighed.

"You were looking at Unova language and Mythology!" Damian yelled.

"Shh." A Person shushed at Damian

"Well I ended up helping out a kid find a Delta Budew. They gave me a Delta Scizorite." The group stared at Alexis, "But I found that there is something to do with the prophecy in the abandoned wing of the Library. We just need to ask for permission."

"Fine let's ask." Joseph headed to the Information Desk, "Hi. Me and my friends want to go into the abandoned wing of the Library, could we go there?"

"May I ask what about it interests you?" Zachary looked at Joseph with Curiosity.

"Were looking for some books," Joseph didn't lie per say, "We heard that they could be in the abandoned wing, and we needed to ask for permission."

"Hmm… Seeing as you and your friends look to be trainers. I must guess you are looking into the Prophecy." Zachary looked with interest piqued, "am I wrong?"

"…" Joseph stayed silent. "(Say something you idiot!)"

"I'll take that as a yes," Zachary smiled, "You'd be surprised at how many kids go looking for that Prophecy…*Sigh*… I hope this isn't as much of let down as all of the others. There's no book about it but there's a strange glowing orb."

"That's got to be it." Joseph said.

"I'll take you there. But Many have gone there only to return Disappointed." Zachary got up, "don't get mad if it doesn't go your way."

"Thank you." Joseph said.

The group was led in to the abandoned wing where some wild Pokémon attacked and were quickly dealt with. After a few minutes the group reached a room with a pedestal of an orb on top. "Well here we are. The orb over there is what should show the prophecy. It has never done anything, so I don't believe that its true. I think the Prophecy was nothing but a Legend." Just then the orb had glowed brighter than before, "That's never happened before!"

"Who… Dares… Wakes me?" An ominous voice spoke.

"What was that?" Nora asked

"As I said before I don't know!" Zachary looked surprised

"Its good to be awake Again." The voice spoke again. "Now who do I have here? Houseguests?"

"N-no we are here to look for the Prophecy." Nora meekly spoke.

"You are looking at the one who wrote it." So, to speak, the group could only hear a voice. "If you want to hear it choose your Champion. I'll give you five minutes to decide, the battle will be five Pokémon each."

"Our strongest members!" Damian exclaimed, "T-that's got to be either Alexis or Joseph."

"(YES! Battle unleash your rage. Show them all to fear you!)" Joseph sighed "Alexis is stronger than me."

"Yeah, but I don't have Five Pokémon!" Alexis said.

"Then Joseph Give her Ichigo!" Nora said, "We can't let this slip through our fingers."

"Okay," Joseph was reluctant, but agreed. "Ichigo please do your best with Alexis."

"Thank you." Alexis said, "Alright I'm Ready to fight!"

"You?" The specter asked, "You have no ties to any ties to any mythical Pokémon. Yet you choose to fight."

"I'm the strongest of my friends," Alexis stated, "I refuse to let the cultist to do what they want."

"Very well then." The ghost appeared, the ghost appeared to be male with, blueish black hair, and two different color eyes, red and green. The figure that the ghost had was opaquer then group thought, the Ghost wore blue and black clothing and blue lightning streaked around him. "I Was the Prophet of Arceus, and Oracle of Delphox. I've been preaching since before Hoenn was created. If you want the secret of the future, hope your skills make up for the fact you were not chosen. Come Claydol!" the Pokémon of mention came burrowing through the ground. /Claydol: This mysterious Pokémon started life as an ancient clay figurine made over 20,000 years ago./

"GO!" Alexis throughout a Pokémon that looked like Ichigo, "Hone your claw" The Rotom had moved its lightning hangs as if sharpening blades.

Immediately know something was wrong the Ghost commanded, "Hyper Beam Quick!" the beam of pure energy hit the Rotom being revealed to being Katsura, and dealing half of its health.

"Katsura while they recharge Hone your claws again," Katsura followed her words, and the Claydol took its turn to regain its power. "Now Night Slash!" forming black blades of night, the slash had instantly knocked out Claydol.

"Aegislash Come forth." The ghost called, where a blade and shield had moved through the walls into the room. /Aegislash: Apparently, it can detect the innate qualities of leadership. According to legend, whoever it recognizes is destined to become king./

"Katsura Again Night Slash" Alexis commanded, though in like Claydol Aegislash had a tougher Defense. Though it had barely survived the hit, ready to counter.

"Aegislash Sacred sword!" The ghost called, Aegislash switched its form from being sheathed in its shield. It raised itself up and slashed down on Katsura instantly knocking him out.

"You did good Katsura," She returned her Zoroark to its ball and threw out a Scizor, "Let's go Grey use…

"King's Shield!" Ageislash reheated its sword and put up a protective barrier. "Hmp you just lowered your attack.

"Uh check again." The ghost looked to see Scizor had sharpening its claws, "Now that you've wasted King's shield. Use Low Sweep!"

"Hah a move like that…" The ghost did not expect that Scizor's ability was Scrappy. With the sweep Aegislash had fallen. "… Come forth Delphox." A reddish fox appeared before them. /Delphox: It gazes into the flame at the tip of its branch to achieve a focused state, which allows it to see into the future./

"Grey you wont last against a fire type. Return," Alexis returned her Scizor for now. "Go Saiki!" The giant Pink Venusaur had gotten hit a bunch of wisps of fire burning him instantly. Taking away a sixteenth of its health. "… Playing like this huh, Leech seed!"

"Flame thrower." The ghost said. The seed were able to implant to Delphox, but Saiki had sustained forty-three percent damage. From the leech seed and burns the damage had canceled out, taking a sixth tenth of Delpohx's health.

"Moon blast!" Alexis called, though the opposing Delphox was quicker and able to take down Saiki, though sustaining fifty percent health left. "Toga I choose you!" another reddish fox came out with some glasses on.

"hmm, Use Psyshock." The ghost commanded, Dealing twenty four percent damage to Toga.

"Counter with Psyshock!" Alexis commanded, Toga had dealt more damage cause of the choice's specs, but knocked out Delphox from a critical. "Good job."

"Jellicent appear for me." The ghost once again called, the blue ghost had appeared from the ground, "Rain Dance." /Jellicent: The fate of the ships and crew that wander into Jellicent's habitat: all sunken, all lost, all vanished./

"Toga come back, Go Ichigo!" Alexis switched her Pokémon, "Ichigo use this storm and Discharge." Ichigo had discharged its electricity, shocking through half of jellicent's health

"Retaliate with Hex," The ghost commanded. It had taken away seventy percent of Ichigo's health.

"Discharge again!" Alexis yelled, Ichigo had knocked out the opposing Jellicent.

"Hmm. You are indeed strong, as I have been left with my final Pokémon. While you still have three." The ghost said, "Come my companion in bonds, Banette." A black doll like Pokémon appeared "Reach my will of battle, and I will reach for you. Our souls tossed away like ugly doll, have our emotions become on. Mega evolve!" the blue lines of energy that was focusing around the ghost and Banette. "Shadow ball!" the ball of headed for Ichigo. /Banette: Resentment at being cast off made it spring into being. Some say that treating it well will satisfy it, and it will once more become a stuffed toy. Mega Banette: Mega Evolution increases its vindictiveness, and the cursing power that was held back by its zipper comes spilling out./

"Quick Use thunder wave!" Alexis called, though it was not able to connect its wave of thunder an Ichigo hit the floor. "Thank you," Alexis stepped down to hand back Ichigo to Joseph. "what do you think my chances are?"

"you have two Pokémon against one." Nora said. "I like your odds."

"From the damage dealt it seems Grey didn't have Never melt Ice." Joseph smiled, "and with an imposter ditto your about tied with power."

"Go Alexis!" Damian cheered. "You got this!"

"Thanks." Alexis smiled at her friends. "Sorry for the wait."

"It's fine it seems you didn't speak strategy with them. Did you not?" The ghost asked, "Only to return a Pokémon to their rightful trainer."

"Yes." Alexis said, "Come back out Toga," The ditto appeared back out but as a mega Banette.

"What trickery is this?" the ghost asked.

"Oh, just the ability of my Pokémon." Alexis smiled

"Go Now! Shadow ball!" The ghost commanded,

"First Sucker Punch!" Alexis yelled. The two Pokémon moves had ended the battle with a double Knock out.

"heh…" The ghost smiled, "Not bad. Guess I'll tell you the prophecy. First I warn you all." The ghost looked upon the group, "The Prophecy has been misunderstood many, many times."

"So, what." Nora said, "we came all this way to hear it."

"Even the Cult have never heard the true version." This made the group tense up.

"Wait, so… they don't know what the real prophecy says?" Zachary asked.

"Correct." The ghost looked in his direction. Then back to the others, "I won't read you the whole version. it's a terrible poem that's easy to misinterpret, and I don't want to be that oracle. Understand." The ghost paused. "I hope your ready. *Ahem*" this confused Alexis "the first thing predicted was the emergence of a hero, chosen by a legendary Pokémon." The ghost looked at Alexis before continuing on, "Secondly, the hero will succeed to undefeated in Torren, they'll move on victories." As the strongest member chosen by a Legendary the group looked at Joseph. "The final secret Piece of information… the Hero will betray his friends and join the Infernal Cult. That's basic-"

"Wait, What? One of us is going to join the Infernal Cult?" Damian asked.

"Yeah, what? You can't leave us with that!" Nora exclaimed, "Who's the hero? How can we stop that from happening?"

"You can't avoid fate, Nora." The ghost said before disappearing

While his friends started to discuss what was happened. The shock of this cleared Joseph's mind, except for his voice. "(Oh, you must be kicking yourself. If you are the chosen on then you'd better be on guard.)"

"Well, you can't say he doesn't have flair for the Dramatic." Zachary said. "This reminds me what author L. Frank Baum did when introducing-"

Nora interrupted. "Oh, SHUT UP! How can you stay so calm? W-we were just told one of us is a traitor! This isn't the time for jokes."

"…" Zachary was silent for a second, "Well he did say that you'd get rid of the cults, Right? I'm a Liberian. As Prophecies go I've heard worse. Plus no one knows about this, right? You can use that to your advantage. But anyways I need to go back to work, Be sure to beachful on your way out. See you around, heroes." Zachary then walked away from the group

Nora was still flustered about the recent events. Alexis tried to talk "Nora calm down. You won't thin-"

"CALM DOWN?!" Nora Exclaimed, "How can I calm down when one of us is a traitor."

"If we discuss this rationally we-" Alexis was once again cut off.

"We? As far as I know your just some girl with above average skill, who's with the international Police." Nora started to rant. "For as far as your concerned you weren't even chosen. So, it's not like you'd be able to understand what's to come."

"Nora you don't mean that," Damian placed his hand on her shoulder. "Don't panic about this, okay?"

"Don't Panic?" Nora grabbed Damian's hand from her shoulder "Damian we just got told were going to lose! People are going to die."

"But Worrying about this isn't going to help." Damian protested. "We need to work together. If we let this make us turn on one another, we might as well give up."

"Oh, criticizing me already?" Nora snapped. "You know if I were an Infernal Cultist in disguise, I wouldn't Draw attention to myself. But of course, you wouldn't know anything about that tactic, would you?"

"Nora" Alexis tried to intervene to no avail.

"Mr. I-ran-my-mouth-in-front-of-a-cultist-and-got-kidnapped-in-a-garbage-dump." Nora pressured

"Nora," Damian looked upset by this, "Please stop."

"You know what I think Damian?" Joseph just came to from his mental shock when he heard Nora say. "I think your step mother was right about you."

"NORA!" Joseph shouted, "That's too far."

"oh, I'm sorry Mr. I-got-my-memories-erased." Nora turned on Joseph, "For the reason, you can't even remember. For as much as we know when your mind was being erased, they implanted something into you turn you against us. Not to mention you're the one with the least information about, other than the fact that between the three of us we never won a battle against you! So how do we know if you won't betray us."

"I don't." Joseph stared at her, "your right I don't know why I was captured. I don't know what Jaren and The Darkrai cult Had to do with me. I Don't know why Mew chose me. I don't know if I will be the traitor or not. But what I do know is that I won't let you guys fall from the right path, and I expect you'd do the same for me."

"…" this seemed to bring Nora back to herself, "I'm sorry Joseph I know…" Joseph just looked at her then at Damian, "Damian-" She was interrupted.

"Enough" Damian looked like he was on the verge of tears. "I just want to be alone for now. We need should get the next badge if we want to get stronger you know." Damian walked off on his own.

"…" Nora looked disgusted with herself. "W-why did I say all of that. I-I don't know what just came over me… I feel awful, I'm sorry for all of what I said."

"We forgive you right?" Alexis asked, Joseph nodded in response. "But there's someone who you need to apologize to more.

"Your right," Nora said meekly, "I really hope I didn't hurt him… I can't lose somebody else." Nora then ran off after Damian. Leaving Joseph and Alexis to themselves.