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The alarms were blaring in the underground laboratory as the R-25 robots charged down the gleaming metal hallways with all kinds of medical machines and equipment.

"I can confirm 47 casualties via my cameras at the surface," reported Central, "One Gardevoir is critically injured and requires immediate care."

"I hear you," said K-1, "Any fatalities?"

"Zero and I hope it stays that way," said Central somberly as one of the R-25's walked into the main control room.

"R-25-1 here: what are your orders, K-1?" asked the R-25.

"Head to the surface and tend to all the injured. Start with the ones who need help the most," said K-1, pointing at one of Central's views screens, "Such as her. She was thrown almost 100 yards through 3 inches of solid glass."

"Affirmative, K-1," replied R-25-1 as he dashed out of the control room, the heavy door closing behind him.

"Any ideas on what our next move should be?" asked Central.

"I'm going to head the surface to assist Mack if need be," answered K-1, "Central, I need you on standby alert with the S-100F fully loaded and ready to go."

"Affirmative," replied Central, "I'll begin loading and charging the weapons at once."

"Oh!" said K-1, "Seal all entryways into and out of the lab. Only Mack, Aura, you and I have the override codes."

"Will do," said Central as K-1 ran out of the control room with haste, "Please be careful out there." Before long, K-1 had arrived back at the ground surface. He made a mad dash up the basement stairs, down the corridors and only stopped when he came to the wrecked ballroom.

"Oh, dear…" said K-1 as he surveyed the devastation. There were dozens of hurt female Gardevoirs lying on the floor with their parents and the R-25's trying to help them. Shards of glass, big and small, littered the floor as well as cuts and dents all throughout the once shimmering, well-polished wooden dance floor. All the buffet tables had been overturned: the fine food was no more, splattered and smattered all about. K-1 carefully stepped across the ruined floor as quietly as he could as to not disturb anyone nearby. He looked over the side of one of the overturned tables where he saw Gremlin and Crystal cowering in fear. Crystal was crying and Gremlin held her tightly with his arms wrapped around her, trying to console her. Even the mischievous, happy-go-lucky Sableye had been shaken to the core at what had transpired in the ballroom just moments ago.

"Are you two okay?" asked K-1 softly, "Do you need medical attention? Need help with anything?"

"We're okay," replied a frowning Gremlin, "You'd better look around and see if anyone else needs help. I'll keep a close eye on Crystal until her parents get back." K-1 nodded as he silently stepped away from the stunned Sableye and scared Kirlia and then continued to survey the area. He looked to his left at the other entrance to the ballroom. A shocked male Gardevoir was standing next to his pregnant wife: her eyes were wide open with disbelief at what remained of the lavish dance hall. She cried at the sight of all the worried families and the young dancers, strewn about the floor, almost lifeless.

"Are you two okay?" asked K-1 gently to the male Gardevoir.

"We're… we're okay," replied George, "Just… just what on earth happened in here…?"

"We went to take a walk outside after the first dance when we heard glass shattering and screaming coming from the mansion," sobbed Joyce as she leaned against her mate and cried into his shoulder, "What happened in here? Who could have done this…?" The two Gardevoirs and robot jumped when a loud explosion from outside startled them.

"Now what's going on?" thought K-1 as he ran outside. George and Joyce followed close behind until they got to the front yard.

"Take me back inside!" begged Joyce when she saw what was happening outside. George nodded and quickly led his wife away. K-1 could hardly believe what he was seeing either. Artemis was sending one powerful psychic blast after another at Mack. The male Guardian stood firm, his eyes and pendant glowing brightly with a bluish light as the psychic energy was deflected harmlessly off a psychic barrier around Mack.

"You can't hide behind that shield forever!" screamed Artemis with unbridled rage.

"Nor can you keep this up forever," said Mack calmly as a multi-colored beam of energy exploded off his barrier. Artemis only grinned as his eyes glowed red one again. He motioned with his hands and arms as if he was picking up a large object. Mack reflexively jumped away from his spot as the earth underneath exploded up into the air.

"You have so much talent," remarked Mack as he thrust he right hand forward, "All that power is wasted on you!" An explosive beam of psychokinetic energy fired forth from the palm of the Guardian's handed. The potent attack landed a direct hit on Artemis's chest, sending him flying into the air, his fall only stopped by a harsh collision with a tree. Artemis quickly jumped back onto his feet and made a quick slashing motion with his right hand. Once again, Mack felt an unseen force grab his ankle and fling him into the air and onto his back. Artemis thought that now was his chance and he charged towards Mack, charging up another psychic blast in his hands.

"You're blinded by anger, Artemis. You'll never be able to face me like that!" said Mack, jumping back into his feet, sending a powerful psychic wave through the air. Artemis was knocked off his feet and onto his back as he blindly fired his own psychic blast into the sky. Mack wanted to put an end to this quickly, but he knew he would have to be very rough with Artemis to get him to cool down. Again, Mack's eyes glowed with a bright blue light. His sapphire pendant started to radiate with bright light as well, lighting up the entire front yard. Artemis could feel Mack's telekinetic power gripping his body and he desperately focused his own power to counter the Guardian's approaching assault. But, Artemis was not nearly powerful enough as he was picked up. Mack closed his eyes, not wanting to watch as he slammed Artemis against trees, the ground, the hard concrete driveway of the mansion and even against the reinforced walls of the mansion again and again. Artemis cried out with sharp pain coursing through his entire body and with that, Mack sent Artemis sailing against the mansion walls one last time. Artemis gasped as the air was knocked out of him. Mack opened his eyes as Artemis collapsed to the ground.

"Had enough, Artemis?" asked Mack, taking a deep breath. Artemis responded by thrusting his right hand forward, sending one last destructive psychic wave at the Guardian. Mack made a quick slashing motion with his own right hand, countering Artemis's attack with his own psychic blast. Mack closed his eyes and snatched Artemis up from the ground and hurled the howling Gardevoir through the air with great speed. No one watched as Artemis cried out, colliding with a tree hard enough to break the old oak in half. Wood splitters flew through the air as Artemis fell to the ground. This time, the enraged Gardevoir didn't move. Mack opened his eyes and turned his gentle gaze upon Artemis as tears streamed down his face.

"…My friend…" said Mack with grief as he slowly walked up to the fallen Gardevoir. Artemis didn't move a muscle and gave no response as he breathed heavily. Mack took one last look at Artemis as he lay face down on the green lawn.

"I'm sorry, Artemis…" said Mack quietly as he turned away from the juvenile male Gardevoir.

"I'm not…" said Artemis quietly as he jumped to his feet, howled with rage and let loose another psychic blast. Mack only had time to turn around, his eyes wide open with disbelief as the powerful attack hit him in the chest and sent him flying towards the front side of the mansion with incredible speed. The crowd watched, horrified as Mack sailed over their heads and slammed into the side of the large house, clear through the reinforced concrete and steel wall. Aura ran to her mate, almost too afraid to see what had become of him. She peered through the large hole in the wall as the dust cleared, surrounded by twisted rebar and sparking wires. White feathers littered the floor. Mack was slumped over, unconscious with his back against a wall with a fresh, huge dent in it. Mack's wings were spread open, lying limp on the ground as crimson blood trickled down his face.

"MACK!" screamed Aura with sheer terror as she jumped through the ruined wall and ran to her mate's side. Outside, Glacian's angry gaze fell upon Artemis: the young Gardevoir standing still with an evil smile on his face with his shimmering black ball gown fluttering in the wind. Glacian was through with Artemis: there was only one penalty for attacking a Guardian of Gardev, especially with the intent to kill. Glacian's eyes glowed for a moment as an ornate, white belt appeared around his waist with a long, golden scabbard hanging at his right. Glacian drew his sword, pointing it towards Artemis.

"Seize Artemis and bring him before me!" commanded Glacian with unbridled rage, "I want him alive!" In an instant, Artemis took off running towards the snowy forest with nearly one hundred angered male Gardevoirs and every last Gallade in Olympus right on his tail. Glacian almost could not believe what he was seeing: Artemis went dashing into the darkened woods with incredible speed. The Gardevoir king slid his ornate, glimmering blade back into its jeweled scabbard as Wallace ran to his side.

"Wallace," asked Glacian, scowling at the fearful Gallade, "How is it that Artemis is so quick on his feet?"

"It… it must be the training… I gave him…" stammered Wallace.

"You're orders were to mentor Artemis," said a very disappointed Glacian, "Not give him the secret teachings of the Elite Guard." Wallace bowed his head with shame.

"We'll find him, sir," said Wallace with a heavy sigh and a polite bow towards his king.

"And that black gown of his will act like camouflage on this dark, moonless night…" said Glacian, "Stay at my side, Wallace. You and I are going to join the chase."

"Me too," said Gloria with determination.

"Then let's be off and pray that Mack is alright," said Glacian, closing his eyes for a moment as he again drew his blade, "After that Gardevoir!" Glacian and Gloria quickly took flight into the chilly winter night air and flew above the forest while Wallace ran into the woods to catch up to his comrades. Meanwhile, Aura was holding Mack's right hand and weeping bitterly as K-1 trained his gaze upon the fallen Guardian. K-1's eyes had been outfitted with a menagerie of powerful sensors and once again, K-1 was all too glad to have them.

"Is… is he…?" asked Aura fearfully as K-1 looked Mack over.

"No, he's alive," replied K-1, "…Barely…"

"Then we have to get him downstairs into the lab!" said Aura as she started to put her arms around her unconscious mate.

"No! Stop!" shouted K-1 as his eyes opened wide, "Don't move him! We'll need the R-25's to stabilize and then transfer Mack to the lab! We'll only make things worse at this point if we try and take him to the sick bay on our own."

"How bad is he hurt?" asked Aura with renewed grief.

"He'll make it," replied K-1, trying to reassure Aura, "He suffered severe internal trauma from the impact, but we can help him nonetheless. Just please wait patiently until I can get a few R-25's to help us." At that point, K-1 finally switched on his internal radio.

"Central? Do you copy? This is K-1," said K-1 through his radio to the immense super computer down below.

"This is Central," replied the powerful computer, "How can I assist you, K-1?"

"Equip the S-100F on the double and come to the surface," ordered K-1, "I need you to assist Glacian, Wallace and the others on a hunt for Artemis. He injured Mack and quite badly, too." Central's calculations paused for only a moment: her programming had only one solution listed whenever Mack was in grave danger or injured.

"I'll be up there on the double!" replied Central with an unusual amount of rage in her usually calm voice, "I knew Artemis could not be trusted!" Down in the underground lab, a pair of thick, metal doors to the left of Central's main control console slid open with a loud hiss: revealing the S-100F battle armor. Central quickly took control of the powerful engine of war, stepping out of the heavily-reinforced holding area. She moved each of the armor's large shoulder cannons, quickly running diagnostics on the armor's intricate systems.

"All systems go," reported Central, "What are your orders?"

"Hunt down Artemis," commanded K-1, "He must be taken alive."

"Affirmative!" said Central loudly as she dashed out of the control room, the robotic eyes glowing with a bright red light behind the armor's black visor. Just then, Simon stepped into the hallway, his eyes narrowing at Mack.

"Aura," said Simon resolutely, "I'm going after Artemis, too. Maybe I can help the Gallades track him down with my heightened senses. If need be, I can also subdue him."

"Do what you must, Simon," said Aura, gazing at Mack as tears trickled down her face, "Just make sure you capture Artemis so Glacian can pass judgment on him for hurting Mack…"

"You have my word of honor, I will take him alive," said Simon, bowing slightly towards Aura right before he took off like a shot, dashing out of the mansion and towards the immense forests outside the village outskirts. Central came running alongside Simon as she also left the mansion: the powerful S-100 and Pokémon giving each other a nod. Meanwhile, on the second floor of the mansion, a shadowy figure cautiously peered through some window blinds, spreading them apart, smiling as the ancient Kabutops and glimmering centurion disappeared into the inky darkness of the woods. The shadowed Gardevoir cracked a smile as he slowly closed the window blinds.

"Thank you very much Wallace for all the training you gave me," thought Artemis, "I never imagined your 'Stealth Teleport' would serve me so well." With the mansion almost completely empty, Artemis knew he would encounter no resistance and now, he could finally put his long postponed plans in motion. As silent and invisible as death itself, the depraved Gardevoir quickly and stealthily descended through the immense labyrinth that was the mansion and towards the basement. He stopped only for a moment when he came across the secret entrance to the underground laboratory. He studied the concrete wall for a few moments before reaching out with his right hand.

"To disengage the first lock, I need to deliver a secret knock on the right section of the wall," said Artemis, quickly tapping out the correct rhythm with his right fist. There was a soft click from within the wall and a slight hiss as a small panel of the concrete wall slid away from Artemis and then to the left, revealing a security keypad.

"The lab is currently in full lockdown," said a voice that sounded like it belonged to a computer from a bad sci-fi film, "Please enter the override code in order to proceed."

"The key code is a simple one," thought Artemis as he punched in one number at a time with great haste.

"," said Artemis to himself, "Well, now that I think about it, this code is anything but simple!"

"Access code accepted," said the cheap computer voice as the concrete panel slid back over the security pad, covering it completely as a loud hissing sound echoed throughout the basement. Artemis could only hope that closing the basement door up above would help prevent anyone from hearing what was transpiring in the lower levels of the mansion. Two, large sections of the wall in front of Artemis slid away, deeper into the surrounding wall several feet before each section slid to an opposite direction, revealing the way to the main elevator.

"Too easy," said Artemis as he dashed to the elevator and soon was on his way down into the secret facility. Meanwhile, Aura could only stand back and watch as a few of the R-25 robots worked alongside K-1 to help get Mack ready to be taken down into the lab for treatment.

"Move carefully," cautioned K-1, "He's in very bad shape."

"Affirmative," said R-25-1, "The medical sensors confirm your readings of considerable internal trauma: dislocated joints, bruised muscles and torn tissue."

"So long as we are very careful, Mack has a 100% chance of recovery," reported R-25-2. Aura stood at K-1's side with her left arm wrapped around K-1's head as the two robots ever so tenderly secured Mack to a wheeled gurney.

"So… Mack is going to be alright?" asked a very uneasy Aura.

"Yes," replied K-1, "But his recovery could take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. If Mack had not modified his DNA structure in order to give himself flesh as tough as iron and bones harder than tempered steel, I severely doubt Mack would have survived the impact. That, plus the tough fabric of his ball gown helped prevent the concrete and steel rebar in the walls from cutting into him. His injuries would have been far worse if he had been wearing the usual, open-backed gown that Gardevoirs typically don."

"Is my body… just as strong as Mack's then?" asked Aura.

"Affirmative," replied K-1, "Except for the difference of gender, you and Mack are 100% identical in nearly all aspects."

"Dr. Foxx is stable and ready for transport," reported R-25-1.

"Then let's be on our way. We have a long and slow trip to get from the mansion to the sick bay," said K-1. As the twin robots slowly wheeled Mack down the hallway, Artemis was hastily gathering weapons and other equipment. He still remembered every last access code for all the weapon cases he had watched Mack open. One particular item had caught Artemis's attention quite affectively: a set of high-tech metallic body armor that looked like it would fit a Gardevoir perfectly. It only took a few minutes for Artemis to slip on the armor before he took one last look at his inventory: an FIW-36 Combo Rifle, one FIW-59A Elemental Pistol, several extra power cells, a set of experimental body armor with instruction manual and a half dozen high explosive fragmentation grenades. Artemis picked up one last key item in his right hand: the ceremonial dagger that was used for cutting wing slits into the wedding dresses of Gardevoirs who were marrying into the Olympus royal family. Getting the dagger from Glacian's bedroom several months ago had been a hair-raising ordeal. Still, thanks to the training Wallace had given Artemis, the young Gardevoir was able to stay out of sight and well clear of the palace guards. Artemis looked over his right shoulder at the only weapons case he had not been able to open: the one with the large missile, plasma and ion storm cannons Mack had told him about quite some time ago.

"May as well try," thought Artemis. He walked up to the keypad and entered in a random set of numbers: 42137. There was a soft click as the door to the weapons case opened up.

"Talk about blind luck," thought Artemis with glee. He knew he could only managed taking one of the large weapons, so he settled for the FIW-70 Missile Storm. Complete with 4 chains of ammunition, giving Artemis 100 laser-guided micro-missiles to play with in case of an emergency. He quickly collected his arsenal, slipping the elemental pistol into a thigh-gripping holster, slung the combo rifle and missile storm over his shoulders and placed the extra power cells into the reinforced pockets all over the body armor. Finally, Artemis managed to find a belt and strapped the golden, jewel-encrusted dagger to the right side of his waist. Now, at last, he was ready to hunt down and face the Ninetails who had taken so much from him.

"Now I just need some transportation," thought Artemis as he dashed down the corridor and made his way to the massive launch bay. The double doors slid open with a soft hiss as soon as Artemis arrived. He quickly looked about the cavernous room, gazing at each of the powerful vehicles: the S-5 Heavy Cargo Carrier, named the Titan, the S-1 Aircar, the S-4 Firefox and then the S-12 Hovercycle. How Artemis wished he could take the Firefox or even the aircar for this trip, but the only vehicles he knew how to fly was the Hovercycle and the S-5 carrier. Titan, unfortunately, was certainly far too large for a covert getaway. Undaunted, Artemis dashed from one vehicle to another, leaving a little surprise in a random part of each flying machine. After all, the young Gardevoir did not want to be followed. His dirty work done, Artemis mounted the Hovercycle, stopping for only a few moments to read through the armor's rather thick instruction manual.

"So, this armor suit possesses energy shielding, reactive armor plating, radar, heat vision, night vision, X-ray scanning and temperature controls for the user. Plus, this armor set never runs out of electrical power," thought Artemis as he tossed the small, yet thick book to the floor, "Good. This means I'll be safe outside even in the middle of a blizzard. I should be able to stay out for weeks with all this gear and provisions." Artemis took one last look around the launch bay as he started to power up the Hovercycle. Even now, with all his plans set in motion, he couldn't help but hope Mack was going to be okay. Artemis was completely certain this would be his last trip down into the hidden laboratory. He also knew he would never get forgiveness for what he had done in the ballroom, for what he had done to Mack and now even stealing the Guardians' equipment and sabotaging all the other vehicles.

"I sure hope Aura and the others aren't foolish enough to try using the other transports," thought Artemis as he turned his gaze upon the launch bay's main control panel, to the left of the main doors. Artemis's eyes glowed blue for only a few seconds as he used telekinesis to press the right buttons to open the gigantic doors up above. He knew he would have little time to escape and would have little chance of survival in a head-on fight with Aura, Glacian, Wallace, the Elite Guards or any of the members of the Olympus royal family.

"I have a death warrant on me now from the King of Olympus," thought a determined Artemis, "There's no turning back now…" K-1 and Aura jumped when they felt the ground under their feet unexpectedly lurch slightly.

"What was that?" asked a surprised Aura.

"I think that was the launch bay doors!" shouted K-1 with shock. Without a second though, Aura and K-1 ran through the mansion and got to Warren's back yard just in time to see the gigantic doors closing and to see a Gardevoir in shining silver armor, armed to the teeth, rocket away above the woods and towards the dark, mountainous horizon towards the east with great speed on the back of the S-12 Hovercycle. All in an instant, Aura's sadness and despair was replaced with pure rage: an intense, consuming rage she had never felt before in her entire life.

"We're going after him!" screamed Aura as she grabbed K-1 by his left leg and then dragged the surprised robot back into the mansion, through the hallways, right past her injured mate and down into the underground facility, not stopping until she and K-1 were in the launch bay.

"Madam, if you would kindly let go of me," suggested an irritated K-1, "Perhaps I can help you operate the S-5? The Titan has the most powerful sensors."

"And the most powerful weapons!" snarled Aura with burning anger as she dragged K-1 behind her into the massive Heavy Cargo Carrier, up the stairs and only released him when they were both in the roomy cockpit. Aura said not a word as she plopped down into the pilot's chair and started to power up the large machine. K-1 stood up: the perfect picture of serenity and forgiveness, though in truth, obscenities of every kind were running through his processors in thousands of languages. He sat down in the navigator's chair, right behind the pilot's station, switching every system on that he could reach. Suddenly, a loud explosion rocked the huge vehicle followed immediately by the unmistakable sound of alarms and the twinkling of every warning light in the cockpit.

"What on earth was that?" shrieked Aura, the shock from all the noise and flashing lights almost immediately taking away her anger. K-1 jumped to his feet and checked a nearby instrument panel as Aura quickly powered down the S-5.

"The Number 4 engine has detonated!" said K-1 with disbelief, "Looks like a case of FOD: Foreign Object Damage!" K-1 and Aura raced out of the cockpit and back to the ground-level entry hatch. K-1 cautiously slid open the heavy armored door and was greeted by the burning head of a plush Pikachu, sitting at his feet as its black eyes started to melt from the flames. K-1 ran to the opposite side of the S-5 transport and could not believe what his optical sensors were detecting. The S-5's lower right engine had indeed exploded: its blackened and twisted armored casing peeled back like a banana. The jet's turbines were spread everywhere on the floor for several yards with many of the sharp metal blades now imbedded into the walls, the ceiling up above and even in the armor plating of the S-5 itself. Aura reached down and picked up the smoldering, blackened head of the thoroughly mangled stuffed Pokémon.

"K-1, please don't tell me the Titan was disabled by a stupid stuffed animal," said a wide-eyed Aura.

"I'm afraid so!" said K-1 as he ran back alongside Aura, "I'm afraid the late engine's brother didn't fair well, either. It could take hours to get this mess cleaned up!"

"Then we'll have to try the S-1!" said Aura with renewed vigor as she dashed towards the Aircar.

"Wait!" yelled K-1, quickly extending an arm from his chest compartment, his metallic hand grabbing Aura by the back of her right arm, "If the S-5 just went up like that, it would not surprise me if the other vehicles are sabotaged, too!"

"Then how about you try activating the S-1 using your built-in remote controls!" ordered Aura with a harsh tone of voice.

"Yes, milady," said K-1 sarcastically as he quickly locked onto the S-1's remote control frequencies. Aura jumped back while K-1 stood perfectly still, mesmerized as the S-1 rocketed straight up at well over 200 miles an hour and crashed into the thick, reinforced doors of the launch bay. The crumpled S-1 hung in the air for only a moment before it came careening back down towards the floor. Aura jumped behind the S-5 as the S-1 landed with a thunderous 'BOOM!' that shook the entire lab. Debris flew through the air. K-1 moved not a single servo as the smoking steering wheel rolled to a stop at his feet. Aura took a deep breath and peeked around the corner of the disabled S-5.

"K-1, do you think we should even try using the Firefox next?" asked Aura hesitantly. K-1 slowly swiveled his head around: by the look on Aura's face, she also shared K-1's sentiment that activating the Firefox would probably lead to another disaster, or at the very least, another thundering explosion.

"Well… if I start up the Firefox into its Automated Diagnostics Mode we should be able to find any problems with the star fighter before or any foreign objects before… well, before the Firefox gets blown to kingdom come," explained K-1 as he cautiously walked through the flaming debris of the S-1 Aircar and towards the shining and pristine S-4 star fighter. Aura followed close behind K-1, the robot and Gardevoir keeping their distance from the gleaming machine of war.

"Central confirms that there are several complete copies of all of the Firefox's flight and mission data, so if anything stupid happens to the S-4 too, then at least Mack and I won't lose anything too important," said K-1.

"Wait! What about the Infinity Drive, the machine that allowed you, Central and Mack to travel to this dimension? Won't you be stuck here if that gets destroyed?" asked a worried Aura.

"The Infinity Drive is elsewhere in the lab and is still undergoing repairs," replied K-1, "Either way, if this doesn't work, we're going to have a lot of explaining to do to Mack." K-1's transceivers quickly locked onto the Firefox's control systems as he said, "We probably should stand further back." With that, the robot and young Gardevoir took several steps back and away from the Firefox as its engines started to whine while the turbines quickly gained speed.

"So… what happens next?" asked Aura with curiosity.

"Simple," replied K-1 calmly, "The onboard computer is going to test each and every system on the S-4, making sure there are no hardware or software faults. First up: the engines and their accompanying fuel delivery systems." The Firefox shuddered for a few moments as the engines soon quieted down. Small clouds of black smoke puffed from the Firefox's four engines as the turbines spun down. At that moment, K-1 got a message from the star fighter's computer: unidentified, amorphous foreign object detected in engines and fuel systems. Aura sniffed the air and a familiar odor drifting into her nose.

"Smell's like burnt chocolate and caramel…" remarked Aura, with a slight giggle, "Kind of reminds me of that time Agatha tried to make homemade candy but accidently left all her ingredients on the stove too long. It took hours to get the mansion cleared of smoke and even longer to clean the kitchen."

"That makes it official," said K-1 with a sigh of despair, "We're not going anywhere tonight…" Meanwhile, Glacian and Wallace, with a small army of Gallades and male Gardevoirs, continued their search in the darkened mountain forests, completely unaware of what had transpired in the underground lab just moments ago. The deep snow with its thick, monstrous drifts made traversing the woods difficult at best, but the group of determined Pokémon continued on, following Artemis's tracks in the snow. Up above, Glacian and his family drifted in the gentle wind as they searched from the air. On the ground, taking the lead of the search party was Simon with his keen predatory senses to lead him on with Central at his side, making full use of the S-100F Armor's scanners. Just then, for only a brief moment, Simon could detect Artemis's scent from somewhere straight ahead, deeper into the mountain forests.

"I think we're getting close," whispered Simon to Central.

"I have a very faint heat signature in my infrared scanners as well, 100 yards straight ahead," said Central.

"Really? Are you sure?" asked Wallace from behind Central. Central nodded the head of her gleaming armor.

"Everyone! Move straight ahead! Simon and Central may have found something!" shouted Wallace. With renewed vigor, the following Gallades and Gardevoirs charged forward, right behind Simon and Central as they dashed effortlessly through the heavy snow. Glacian had heard Wallace's shout and directed his family to follow him after the Kabutops and armored robot. Moments later, Simon and Central came to a stop in the middle of a small clearing in the woods. It seemed the future had already been choreographed with great precision, for Wallace, the Gallades, the following Gardevoirs, Glacian and his entire family all arrived just moments after Simon and Central, all of them converging at the same spot with startling unison. Lying in the middle of the clearing was Artemis's shimmering black ball gown, right at the point where the young Gardevoir's footprints came to an abrupt end. Glacian bent over and picked up the black dress from the snow: it was still slightly warm, meaning that Artemis was surely nearby.

"Do you think he's trying to fool us somehow with this cheap trick?" scoffed Glacian with a sneer on his face, "He won't get very far in this cold and snow without clothing."

"Judging by the lack of undergarments at this site, I doubt he just floated off into the forest without clothes," said Central matter-of-factly, "Besides, my sensors are detecting a very weak trace of energy about that ball gown. The energy signature is almost identical to that of a recent teleport."

"He couldn't have teleported away without someone noticing," said Simon with skepticism, "There would have been a bright flash of light if he had managed a successful teleport."

"Unless…" said Glacian as he slowly turned around to face Wallace, "…Unless Artemis knows far more than I suspect." Wallace gulped with fear as he bowed his head low out of shame.

"He does…" said Wallace with a heavy sigh, "Artemis must have somehow mastered the stealth teleport technique…"

"Any why in blazes did you teach him that?" demanded Glacian with a thundering voice of raw anger.

"I… I started to teach him the technique, but each attempt he made failed miserably," replied Wallace with dread, "Maybe he was toying with me and managed to master the technique without me or anyone else knowing."

"Then this night's search is over. Artemis could be anywhere by now," said Glacian, clenching his fists tightly.

"We may as well head back," said Central, "There's a major blizzard forecasted to hit these mountains tonight within the next four hours, so we'd best seek shelter at once."

"Agreed, Central," said Glacian as he turned to face his family, Simon and the large group of Gardevoirs and other Gallades, "I want to thank you all for your efforts to hunt down Artemis. We'll have to try again within the next few days, after the storm passes. In the meantime, you should all head home."

"And what will you do, dear?" asked Gloria, still shaken by what she had witnessed in the ballroom that night.

"You and I are going to check in on Aura and pray that Mack is going to be alright," said Glacian as he handed the shimmering black and fluffy dress to Wallace, "Get this ball gown to Angel and tell her to take good care it. Artemis is going to be wearing this dress to his execution…" Within the hour, the crowd of once delighted and happy Gardevoirs, Gallades and Kirlias had left Gardev for their warm homes back in Olympus. Glacian and Gloria had bid farewell to everyone in their family and wanting to lift the mood, they took the time to congratulate Eric, Alvin, Cecil, Andre and David on their engagements to the five Gardevoir seamstresses. By now, the few dozen or so R-25's were at work repairing the heavy damage to the Gardev mansion and especially in the ballroom. As the Gardevoir monarchs were leisurely led down into the mansion's immense basement by Central, Simon was already hatching a plan to capture Artemis. He only wished the weather was going to be even the slightest bit more cooperative than the young male Gardevoir he was more than ready to hunt down.