Inside, Ash stared at the Pokémon before him. It was a Cryogonal, but nothing like the ones before. While all the others were around three feet in diameter, this one was slightly larger than Ash, being at least five feet. The ice chains hanging from its mouth scraped across the floor, even though it was well in the air. Its eyes were narrower than its brethren, making it seem to have the most menacing glare of all. Chills were crawling up and down Ash's spine as he stared at the monster. He wasn't the only one, as the entire Pokémon Center was hushed. Then suddenly the giant Cryogonal spoke.

"White Hero," it hissed.

Ash winced and gasped. He didn't what shocked him more: how the Pokémon addressed him or it actually talked. Or somewhat talked, as it had an eerie voice that didn't help the boy's nervousness. Its voice sounded like someone whispering through a tube. Finally, Ash gulped and decided to reply.

"Y-yeah?" he stammered.

"You come," the Cryogonal whispered.

"Where?"

"You come with us. Master has chosen you."

Master?

Ash couldn't ask another question as suddenly a dozen Cryogonal started spinning around him. With a panicked gasp he looked all around him, watching the Cryogonal form a perfect circle around him in seconds. He was completely surrounded. And these guys did not look happy. Refusing to so show fear, Ash glared at the giant.

"What do you want?" he demanded.

"We bring you to Master."

Suddenly the Cryogonal hissed. Before Ash could properly blink, their ice chains extended dramatically and shot at him like super long bullets. The boy screamed and ducked, bracing for the worst. But it never came.

There was a harsh cry and split-second later Ash's hair stood on end from intense electricity filling the air. The Cryogonal screamed as yellow lightning coursed through their bodies, jumping from victim to victim. It looked like a jagged yellow veil had formed perfectly around the Pokémon. As soon as the phenomenon had started and before Ash registered what was going on, the electricity was cut off. The Cryogonal were still for a few seconds, black steam rising from their bodies. At last, every one of them clattered to the floor at the same time, all unconscious. Ash looked behind him to see Pikachu in a battle stance, his body still sparking from the great attack. His trainer laughed.

"Great job, Pikachu!" he exclaimed.

A weird noise suddenly came from the giant Cryogonal, the only survivor, which Ash interpreted as an enraged growl. He turned back toward the creature and straightened, ready to put an end to the madness. Little did he notice the red glow coming from the door.

"Give it your best shot!" the trainer taunted his opponent.

The giant hissed again and its body began to glow. A ball of white energy began to form in front of its frown, quickly growing in size. In seconds, the ball turned into a powerful beam racing towards Ash.

"Pikachu, Electro Ball!" he yelled, pointing in front of him.

Before the SolarBeam struck, a yellow ball of electricity whizzed past Ash's ear and met with the opposing attack. The noise of the explosion racked his ears and his entire vision filled with thick smoke, but Ash refused to stop. He threw he hand again and called, "Quick Attack!"

He felt Pikachu race past his feet at an impossible speed and slammed into the Cryogonal's face. It was pushed several feet back and Pikachu glided along after it. The rodent was able to land neatly as his opponent came to a halt. The Crystallizing Pokémon's body glowed again, but this time multiple colors rippled across its body. Suddenly a colorful beam shot from its frown, aimed at Pikachu. Pikachu was able to dodge by jumping backwards, the force of the Aurora Beam attack helping lift him into the air.

"THUNDERBOLT!" Ash screamed.

"Pii… kaa…" Electricity began coat around the mouse's body. "CCCHHHUUUU!" A concentrated beam of lightning raced at the coming victim. The Cryogonal wasn't even able to move before the attack struck it.

Ash saw only for a split second the attack engulfing the Pokémon before a giant explosion filled the entire lobby. The trainer covered his face as smoke and roars filled his senses. The young boy feared he would become deaf from the noise and blinded by the debris sinking into his eyes. He barely heard other trainers grunting from the force. Finally, the explosion cleared, revealing the last of the Cryogonal disappearing into the hole.

Ash lowered his arms and looked around. Trainers were cautiously coming from their hiding places and observed their surroundings with shock. Their enemies were gone… and it was because of a battle that only lasted for a few seconds. The Pokémon Center was completely silent.

That was until a mighty clap of thunder sounded. Ash jumped sky high and screamed, followed by many others. At the same moment, a giant column of roaring fire burst into the lobby right behind the kid. Nurse Joy, who had been hiding throughout the battle, jumped back under her desk as the flames ended inches away. After a few seconds, the powerful Flamethrower abruptly stopped; the noise suddenly gone and only a few embers still hanging in the air.

Ash whirled around and faced the source. His body was rigid and his face frozen with shock. A black shoe poked out from the rim of entrance, followed by the rest of Giovanni's body.

"Well, that took longer than expected," he muttered. He turned to Ash, who was completely dumbstruck, but that quickly disappeared as the boy's eyes drooped.

"Gio—"

He couldn't finish saying his own savior's name as his eyes closed and his head bent backwards. His knees buckled and his body began to fall towards the ground. Before he completely collapsed into a heap, Giovanni leaped towards him and caught him in his arms. He glanced at the unconscious boy, his stone-cold eyes almost showing pity. He picked the boy up by tucking an arm under Ash's knees and the other wrapped around his shoulders. The trainer's head was squatted against Giovanni's shoulder.

Poor thing.