Well, the last chapter was something I've wanted to try my hand at, creating something that resembles a sort of filler. I mean, I was able to make a song out of it while at the same time create a romantic, yet slightly sexual scene. The Mulan parody, however, was just practice for some more songs later in the story, favored Pokémon movie songs to be more precise. I guess I did a decent job on incorporating a song into a chapter. I have my reasons for doing the last chapter, and you'll see that practice pays off. Plus, the brief Ash and Anabel moment was just icing on the cake for AbilityShippers out there, metaphorically speaking. Well, what's done is done and it's time we resumed the action with the threat of the Admins.

And those who were unable to review or log in due to that bothersome glitch that might still be lingering, it's no problem. Things happen I suppose, but it's still a wonder how the site just crashed all of a sudden.

So now, please enjoy…

The large cafeteria of the Agate Pokémon Center was pretty much empty in the bleak morning with the exception of a few Chansey cleaning up and preparing for any Trainer and Pokémon in need of an early jumpstart. Considering that the majority of the populace consisted of the elderly and the retired, they would have woken up earlier than seven o'clock to keep in shape for long life. The only person in the cafeteria sat at a rectangular table by a window and drank his steaming black coffee with a pervasive scowl on his face. His breakfast plate was completely cleaned up and devoid of scrambled eggs and his tray cluttered with a used napkin. His eyes were calmly closed, pondering on more important matters than simply admiring the rising sun from the Orre horizon. His abrupt encounter through the lingering forest-green portal into an almost extreme intimate moment nearly burned his eyes off while leaving him with disdainful thoughts over someone he actually considered a worthy rival.

What am I ever going to do about those two? Paul thought, taking a gradual sip of a drink that tasted almost as bitter as his attitude. The searing, viscous liquid glided between his tongue and the roof of his mouth, prompting him to take a sharp exhale. They're losing perspective over the real world. And our so-called 'Aura Guardian' isn't even going to go after those pathetic criminals until the last minute so that he would look like an even larger big-shot than before. Nothing will ever be accomplished unless I take charge. Paul gained some respect for his upbeat rival after the Sinnoh Conference, but still despised him for his friendship with his Pokémon. Such bonds seemed unnecessary, having taken it all from early experience; all Paul needed was respect and power from Pokémon, nothing more. But his current battling style, from his humiliating losses from the Sinnoh Conference to his and Ash's last battle in the Battle Dimension had been tottering between his old cruel ways to one where actually gave encouragement to his Pokémon. He still leaned toward the former, considering that it was the foundation of his personality, his motivation on becoming a powerful Trainer, and watching with his own black eyes on how easily distracted Ash became whenever his dear Anabel was present.

"Hey, Paul!" Ash's voice called out to him. The rival's face twitched roughly, his eyes still closed. He could hear his footsteps approaching him, as well as another's. He needed not to guess who the second person accompanying Ash was.

Speak of the devil, Paul thought, seething quietly to himself. Opening an eye, he saw the troublesome couple with their favorite Pokémon sitting across the table from him, carrying their own breakfast. Anabel was allowed a seat by the window with Espeon purring at her legs while Ash and Pikachu settled down on a chair next to her with what seemed to be a miniature buffet on his tray. Knowing that Ash had something of a bottomless pit for a stomach, Paul noticed his plate was full of scrambled eggs, French toast, bacon, and a glass of orange juice with ice. What the heck…? He shifted his eye's gaze on Anabel, who only had a small cup of piping herbal tea in her hands; no food whatsoever.

"We didn't see you at the room last night or anywhere in the Pokémon Center when we returned," Ash stated, heavily stuffing his mouth with as many breakfast items as he could fit before swallowing them. Paul was rather repulsed as usual from his somewhat messy eating habits, noticing that his Pikachu was merely entertaining himself with a bottle of ketchup and Anabel staring into the sparkling amber liquid sweltering in her cup. After one huge gulp, Ash exhaled deeply, pounding his chest a few times. "So I'm assuming that you did sleep in the lobby's sofa?"

"Hey, I was just giving you two some extra space," Paul replied, hissing out his last two words in a fuming rage. Ash got the subtle idea for where his surly rival was taking the not-so-friendly conversation into. But before he could argue back, Anabel stopped him with a brief touch on his arm.

"If it actually makes you happy, Ash and I haven't done anything else since we got back from Relic Cave," Anabel answered in his stead, her tone curt and her lilac eyes still focused upon her steaming herbal tea. "We didn't bother waiting up for you, went to our separate beds, and said 'Good night!' as usual before lights out."

"Hmph, that's funny," Paul began, downing more of his coffee casually. "Last time I checked, your mouth was stuck to his and your hands were full of his abs as they inched lower to his belt." The Salon Maiden gasped sharply while Ash, overhearing his crude implications, nearly choked on his eggs. He pounded his chest several times, gasping for breath as the food managed to slide down his throat. Anabel was not about to let Paul win this terrible mind game, this dangerous field where she knew that he had a reason to despise her. She knew what his reason was to viciously torment her, but Ash belonged with her. That was all that mattered to her now.

"You know, you don't have to hide your jealously towards Ash's charm with the ladies anymore," Anabel retorted coolly, a somewhat victorious smirk growing by the corner of her mouth. "It's not my fault he knows which spots are the most romantic to spend time in. He knows how to treat a lady, after all." The gruff sound of Paul's exhale was audible. Sensing the overpowering tension of anxiety in the air, Ash pretended to be more interested in finishing his breakfast so that he could have a second helping.

"I guess you would know, after all," Paul shrugged, his tone strangely calm as his fingers lightly jiggled his half-empty cup. His face remained as unreadable as ever, which had always been a problem for others to consider him as a friend or a foe. Anabel remained wary of him, mainly because of his lasting uncaring attitude towards her and Ash. "Instead of helping him maintain the reputation of the greatest Trainer of his generation, you made yourself easy and allowed him to get some before emasculating him for your own pleasures." The strangled, abrupt noise rumbled from Ash's throat as he choked on his food again. The distressed Aura Guardian, with a gaping mouth of chewed bits of scrambled egg and French toast, did not want to believe what he had just heard from Paul; he sensed a deadly, yet beautiful aura of utter disdain uprising in the window seat right next to him.

"Take… that… back… now!" Anabel hissed, her lowered voice trembling in derision. Her steaming tea cup started to tremble against her hands, anxious to find millions of ways to rid herself and Ash of their callous ally.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Paul replied in a tone of false innocence, flaunting over the fact that he was easily able to lead her emotions around like a puppet-master when it came to her relationship with Ash. To think, she supposed to be calm. This is why true power needs no useless attachments such as this 'innocent relationship.' Hmph! He had critically noted and observed Ash's current strength and leadership over his Pokémon, considering all of it to be slipping the more he was with Anabel. For him to be considered as his rival was unacceptable, though Paul was amazed on how long he tolerated his supposedly greatest rival beginning to settle down and still remain strong. It had to go one way or the other, in his cold black eyes; never both. To him, Ash was either his strongest rival or he was a childish hero with the greatest luck in the universe, even managing to get into the corridors of his dark mind. But as of right now, he was just having too much fun to mess with their emotions for each other. "So, you're saying that I was wrong about Ash having got some last night? Or was it about me saying that you're desperate and easy?"

"I said 'take that back now'!" Anabel screamed, standing out of her chair haughtily and accidentally knocking aside her tea, not knowing where the porcelain cup and blistering liquid ultimately ended up.

"YE-OOOOOW!" Ash howled as though he was yodeling; his strangled yell was high-pitched and weaved in pain. The tea cup had ended up on his lap. There was a dark stain on the front of his jeans. The searing tea had splashed onto a place where he should never abuse. Pikachu and Espeon, whose brilliant eyes were completely wide in shock, slowly backed away from the anguished Aura Guardian. Espeon hid herself behind Anabel's chair while Pikachu slowly inched away towards the window. The poor young man was in so much pain that he simply fell back on his chair, having the rest of his pain-receiving nerve endings on his head numbed from the earlier accident.

"Ash, I'm so sorry!" Anabel immediately cried, clasping her hands together as though she was praying for his recovery. Paul merely placed a hand on his displeased face, muttering his favorite derogatory insult of the pathetic state of his rival. Completely ignoring the surly Trainer's unsympathetic remarks, Anabel knelt down to try to help her lover.

"C-Can't even… bend over…," Ash muttered; his cracking voice quivered as he covered his affected area. A painful tear had involuntarily shed out of the corner of his eye.

"Ash, please let me make up for it and help you," Anabel pleaded earnestly, attempting to get the young Aura Guardian to stay still. Ash, however, somersaulted backwards of his fallen chair and landed squarely on his feet, gradually standing up as far as he could go without the twinge from his soiled groin overwhelming him.

"Gotta go… change pants…!" Ash grunted, hopping on one foot alternatively and shuffled himself out of the empty morning cafeteria. A heavy weight pressed against Anabel's tender heart. The Salon Maiden placed a hand over her injured area over the left side of her chest, hoping to heal herself once Ash forgave her for the tea accident. The awful situation did not help at all once a brief, but snide laugh rumbled from Paul's throat.

"You're a bright girl, so you should now know why you're the reason Ash is falling behind in his training," Paul sneered, intensely narrowing his cold, hollow eyes upon the distressed Salon Maiden. "I wouldn't even be here right now if he wasn't the one carrying greatness. Once this whole 'Shadow Pokémon and Giratina apocalypse' blows over, I'm immediately challenging him to a battle where I shall finally triumph over him."

With a smug look composed of a pair of calmly shut eyes and etched with a distasteful smirk, Paul felt rather content adding more insult to injury to the situation. Instead of taking pity on the accident that had befallen his rival, he opted to cruelly castigate the Salon Maiden who started the accident in the first place. What he did not expect, however, was a frigid splash of sticky orange juice and ice cubes showering his face and part of his hair. His disturbed eyes jolted wide open in detestation, discovering that in a brief fit of rage, Anabel had poured Ash's morning drink on him. The empty glass cup slightly trembled in her hand as she breathed heavily over the done deed; she glared upon Paul with intensely focused lilac pupils.

"Is battling the only thing you ever care about, Paul?" Anabel asked, her tone suddenly icy.

"Hmph, I wasn't the one who ordered the tea. Anyway, I was right about you and him. You've done nothing but hinder his potential with your insatiable need for romance. And apparently, his abs was too good for you."

"What I've done?! Why would you even care about Ash? You've made it a point to everyone, including weird strangers, that you and he are not friends."

"Yeah, so what if I did?" Paul scoffed, grabbing a nearby napkin to absorb the remnants of the orange juice on his face while brushing melting ice cubes off his head. His vague response to Anabel's question had puzzled her; he was so difficult to understand his real motives. With hands stuffed in his pockets and an indifferent grunt exhaled, he prepared to leave the table without bothering to put away his tray by the garbage bins. Instead, a Chansey simply came by and took care of the task of Paul's tray without another word. Anabel felt rather sorry for the Egg Pokémon being subjected to such treatment from someone like Paul, but the Chansey did not look like she minded doing the task at all.

"Paul, wait! Where are you going?" Anabel demanded, stomping her foot forward to declare her business was not over yet. Paul stopped in his tracks, merely twisting his head around with the same emotionless scowl and glare on his face as he glanced at her.

"I'm going about on my own business by first washing off that sticky abomination you poured on my head; you should, however, train in Eagun's hidden grounds since today is your day," Paul stated tersely, unfazed by her demands.

"Well, what if I don't train today and rather spend time with Ash, hmm?"

"It's your life," Paul shrugged unconcernedly, turning his head back forward, but did not move from his spot. "But know that if you get in my way again, I won't show anymore mercy the next time we clash. Leave Ash to become strong and there shouldn't be another problem between us."

"That's all you ever see in him? A rival to satisfy your own needs for power?!" Anabel surmised in an incredulous outburst. "You're no different than I am for Ash's love, you nasty hypocrite!" Paul, however, had stopped paying any attention to her and walked off in an even pace of stiff shoulders and an aloof demeanor. As his personage had finally left the cafeteria, the Salon Maiden took a deep breath and collapsed her light weight onto a chair. She placed her hand upon her aching forehead, completely stressed by this hectic morning. Pikachu and Espeon came to her aid from their table, attempting to talk to her and ease her worries.

"Pika, Pikapi Pikachu?" Pikachu asked meekly, concerned about her current relationship with Ash.

"I don't know what's going on with me lately, Pikachu, so I'm afraid I can't really answer that right now," Anabel sighed, her pastel face sullen by her distress. "Everything was going fine until Paul shows up and tries to ruin me so that Ash could become stronger his way… instead of our way. I mean, I love Ash, but Paul's just making things so difficult for me that… ugh! I hate him so much now that I wish that I could be the one to shut him up instead of always relying on Ash like I'm helpless or something."

"Pe, Esp-e," Espeon mewled, upset to see her Trainer like this. Pikachu concurred with the Sun Pokémon with a somber nod.

"I'm not going to let his dangerous mind games get to me," Anabel replied. "There's no need to worry anymore." She sounded noticeably calmer now. Even the muscles of her pale face relaxed and allowed her natural radiance to shine out her sweet inner beauty. Espeon smiled, content that the Salon Maiden was able to bounce back despite the disconcerting occurrences that took place breakfast time. "Espeon, let's go become stronger for Ash's sake. Pikachu, can you check up on him and let him know that I owe him one?"

"Pika!" Pikachu exclaimed, saluting her off resolutely before running off.

"Let's go, my friend," Anabel hummed to her closest Pokémon, softly petting her on the head before starting their routine for the third day.

Four days later…

It had been exactly seven days since that fateful message from Dakim. The past days have been rather uneventful as circumstances had settled down a notch from the first few days. It was another morning, just like the last, where the sun was estimated to be in between the position of eight o'clock and nine o'clock rising from the east horizon. The heroic, blessed trio had gathered in Eagun's domicile for further news about facing the next Reverse-Cipher invasion targeting Agate Village. The silencing tension had left the entire household spellbound by apprehension. It was unknown what time exactly that Dakim and his new Tag Team partner would show up and ravage the forest village. Plans were needed. Organization was a must. The need to relax in the face of opposition was provided by Beluh's soothing herbal teas. As the group gathered around in the living room with Eagun and Rui, contemplation stormed in their minds as the moment remained eerily quiet. Wanting to break the icy hold that took hold from their anxieties, Ash stood up with a speeding heart and trembling knees.

"Okay, so one extra day of training for either one of us is not going to help," Ash began, pausing to take a deep breath. Anabel, Rui, and Paul glanced at him intently, expecting a show of confident leadership from him. "So… anyone have any suggestions on going about?"

"Well, we all know that they're going after the Relic Stone in order to shatter our lasting connection to Celebi," Rui explained, taking a quick sip of her tea. "It's really strange since today's advances in technology had granted the creation of more purification systems, such as Professor Krane's Purification Chamber."

"Except those Peons attacked the Pokémon HQ Lab when Michael came to escort us from Gateon Port," Paul intervened wryly. "They trashed everything, including Krane's Purification Chamber."

"Besides, we have Ash's powerful aura abilities to open the hearts of Shadow Pokémon," Anabel added, carefully placing her tea cup at the center of the table. "And since the ShadowPokérus also functions as the regular Pokérus, purified Pokémon would have built immunity to it. They'll remain strong thanks to their benefits and once their hearts are freed from the shadows, they'll keep the power boosts."

"Only one problem, though," Paul muttered, his expression grim and glowering as he leaned forward with his elbows pointing out upon his lap. "We still don't know where their base of headquarters is located. And at this rate, we've been liberating almost half of Orre from their control. There have been some places we've yet visited, but as long as they still have that Shadow Giratina in their hands, they can chose to wipe out Orre at anytime unless we can strike fast and hard."

"Hmm, quite a troubling conundrum this is," Eagun mused, lightly tugging several strands of his long beard. "But what does all of that have to do with protecting Agate Village?" The four youth blinked rather stupidly, having allowed their greater worries over the rising criminal organization to envelop their way of thinking. Braking out of the foolish façade first, Paul cleared his throat and stood up to join Ash.

"I've got a plan to defending Agate Village," Paul announced calmly, waiting for all ears in the room to listen to him. "Since we're dealing with a Tag-Team pair of possibly strong Admins, two of our strongest should take them on before they strike the Relic Stone."

"Wait a minute! Are you saying that we should work together, Paul?!" Ash queried, his tone and expression completely disbelieving as was Pikachu's. Paul exhaled, fiercely glaring at the young Aura Guardian.

"Hmph, how do you think I feel for proposing it? As much as I despise working alongside you in battle, we've got bigger matters on our hands. This is just like the day you fused Darkrai into me without my say-so. I still can't believe I was required to be a 'hero' just so I can battle again another day."

"You're also partnering yourself Ash because of the possibility that the Admins' Pokémon are infected with the ShadowPokérus," Anabel interrupted, keenly glaring at the apathetic rival. "You're going to burn out those viruses out of their systems and have Ash come in for the kill, aren't you?"

"Like I told you before, so what if I am?" Paul scoffed. Ash sat back down next to the Salon Maiden and comforted her, much to her sudden blissful relief. The surly Trainer gave a polite bow before Eagun before leaving for the front door, but not before being knocked aside from a familiar young man that hung around outside Eagun's home. He was sent into the cylindrical umbrella bin, groaning mildly in the drawn out pain with the coat rack pressed on top of his purple-haired head. Only his legs stood out from the cluttered mess from the intrusion of the young man making his way past Beluh and her teapot to the living room where Eagun and the others were wrapping up their formations.

"Eagun! Reverse-Cipher troops have invaded the bridge, followed by a scary giant with red hair and some weird primate guy on his shoulder!" the man warned, panting out of breath with a hand on his chest and the other leaning on his knee. Eagun coughed out spittle of his lukewarm tea, standing out of his chair abruptly.

"Then what are we standing here for?!" Ash demanded, clenching a fist determinedly and stood up with Anabel and Rui. "We've got to stop them!"

"It's settled then," Rui announced before the rescue mobilization began out the door. "Ash and Paul will stop Dakim and the other Admin. Anabel, Grandpa Eagun, and I will stop the following troops from creating havoc on the village. Let's do this!"

"Right!"

"I remember that I sent Skrub years ago to dispose of that accursed Relic Stone," Dakim muttered, stomping through the insides of Relic Cave. Gorigan clung onto his hulking left shoulder, listening to his nostalgic monologue as they loomed closer to the sacred shrine of the forest protector. "But that was when we lacked advancements in both Shadow Pokémon and in technology. Wouldn't you agree so?"

"Personally, I prefer action over words," Gorigan grunted, surveying the forest cave with a brisk sweep of his upper torso. His gangly right arm hung around Dakim's neck, easily maneuvering around his partner's body from the quick scan of the small vicinity.

Nothing seemed out of the ordinary aside the blinding light from the exit straight ahead. Still maintaining an even pace while the rest of their troops bullied the elderly population of Agate Village, Dakim and Gorigan entered through the thick mysterious light. Beyond the bright exit, the two Reverse-Cipher Admins had appeared in the secluded forest shrine of the Relic Stone. The lone monument stood there in the center of the gear-shaped stone platform in amidst of the peaceful grove. It strangely gave off a forest green glow from its built crevices. Before the brutish duo took a step forward, a chilling wind whistled through the Relic Forest. The shadows of various tall trees started to shift and grow. The rays of sunlight were partially blocked by several branches several feet high in the air. Dakim and Gorigan became wary of the encroaching gloomy surroundings. Someone or something mysterious had entered the Relic Forest before they did.

"Do not… come near…," a brusque voice resonated from the Relic Stone.

"Why don't you come out and make us?" Dakim demanded, haughtily stomping a foot forward to declare the challenge. Gorigan leapt off his shoulder, grunting wildly while pounding on his chest repeatedly. The cold winds came around from several directions, concentrating at a certain spot in front of the Relic Stone. A black puddle was seen darkening in front of the green-glowing monument; it became a person's shadow. Soon enough, flowing purple hair was seen emerging out of the shadow, followed by a scowling, hardened face.

"It's one of those brats that defeated the Hexagon Brothers from before!" Gorigan hooted, hissing the very term Reverse-Cipher had named the bothersome youth that thwarted most of their plans in Orre. "I bet he was the one who rendered Yellosix and Browsix into helpless comas." Paul's head had fully emerged out of the dark ground; the rest of his body was following out of the murky, swirling puddle of smoke. The limitless powers of Darkrai had granted the Veilstone Trainer the ability to move as a shadow on the ground. "What's he doing here? He alone can't stop us!"

"He's not alone!" a new, stanch voice declared from behind the Reverse-Cipher Admins. Dakim twisted his large body on a heel, discovering another young man estimated the same age as the first. He had a Pikachu on his shoulder, sharing the same determined expression on his rather adorable face. Dakin seethed to himself, frustrated that two of them have them surrounded. "What took you guys so long?"

"The first boy managed to get past us, but not the second," a Reverse-Cipher Peon reported to the supposed leading Peon. "He won't be getting past us, eh Skrub?" He and an estimated dozen of troops had begun to spread out to the far corners of Agate Village while the leading two were back at the bridge leading to the Pokémon Center and the lower levels of the Relic Cave. They had prevented Anabel from proceeding after Ash quickly sprinted ahead and went into the Relic Forest to meet up with Paul. The Salon Maiden, not only scolding herself on running so slow, was upset towards the two insignificant Peons that mistook her for a boy. Enough was enough.

"Let me through now!" Anabel demanded, only to be rebuffed by the two Peons' disdaining laughs. "Ugh!" She reached for a Poké Ball, knowing that there was only one way through them. Dealing with overconfident, ignorant gits like them, the Salon Maiden had to let go of her usual politeness in order to throw them out.

"Sorry, little boy," the Peon known as Skrub mocked in a higher-pitched tone to mimic that of a kid's nagging voice.

"This is no place for skinny children like you," his second-in-command hissed, pounding his curled left fist into his right palm as means of intimidation. Anabel was not scared, nor affected, by his weak, empty threat. She had the confident ability to take on half of their militia invading the south and east while Eagun and Rui protected the northern and western sections of Agate Village. If the small army had any Shadow Pokémon on their side, the observant, empathetic eyes of Anabel and Rui would sense their ceaseless anguish in the form of the despicable black aura.

"Why don't you creeps try to stop me yourselves instead of trying to scare me off?" Anabel suggested, her stable tone unwavering as she reeled her arm back for the throw. "Go, my friend!" With an elegant toss of her Poké Ball in the air, the Salon Maiden observed with an eager smile on her radiant face the emergence of her new friend in its first battle on her side, the side of righteousness.

"Shiftry!" Shiftry growled, swinging its arms out and conjured a brisk wind shockwave. The breeze flew through Skrub and his accomplice, ruining their balance and nearly throwing them off their feet. As they were covering from the fall from the strong force of the Wicked Pokémon's wind, the Salon Maiden approached them with folded arms and a confident smirk on her face. Skrub and his secondary Reverse-Cipher Peon saw her looming silhouette under the bright sun leering down the cowering duo.

"And by the way, I happen to be a girl."

Reverse-Cipher Admins Dakim and Gorigan would like to battle!

The moment was still as an old-fashioned showdown in the Relic Forest. The tension was binding the cool air circulating through the ancient grove. Ash and Paul were in front of the Relic Stone, having sworn to the great elder of Agate Village to protect the sacred monument that maintained a remaining connection to the legendary Celebi. Eagun warned the two ceasefire rivals about Dakim's overwhelming tactics of using Earthquake and Protect to brutally wipe out his enemies in one blow. His partner, Gorigan, however remained in a mystery. It was unknown what his favored strategies were, but judging from his horrible posture and wild tendencies to beat his chest like a Primeape, he would prove to be an unpredictable opponent.

Dakim stomped forward like a sumo wrestler, flexing his biceps as his blazing red hair bobbed and swayed up and down. The ground slightly quaked, but Ash and Paul remained rigid and steady. Gorigan slammed his fists on the ground furiously, somersaulting forward with a thrust of his arms. These two Admins might prove to be quite a challenge, a complete change from facing the Hexagon Brothers Ω back at Phenac City. But the previous days' worth of training would soon be realized if the entire arrangement in using Eagun's secret ground would be fruitful or not. Dakim pointed at the two young heroes with a thick finger, glaring upon the Relic Stone with a burning fire in his fierce eyes.

"Allow me to go over the rules once more just in case your tiny attention spans couldn't comprehend them," Dakim announced, gruffly chuckling and sneered. "This will be a Tag Battle where all Trainers are allowed Three Pokémon each. Substitutions are allowed and there will be no time limit. Any questions?"

"Yeah, I have one: how will we know you guys will follow your rules?" Ash inquired, fire burning in his firm voice. "Reverse-Cipher hasn't been the most honest organization we know."

"Young man, this is not only a battle that will determine the fate of the fabled Relic Stone, but of true honor and integrity," Dakim explained, pounding his muscular chest with a confident fist. "Why else would I give you brats the heads-up on our invasion?" His explanation sounded rather suspicious as Ash and Paul leaned slightly closer to listen to his words intently. "You see, Reverse-Cipher gave me another chance at greatness. And together with Gorigan, I plan on making a name, a powerful household name, for myself."

"But fighting for Reverse-Cipher?!"

"It doesn't matter to me if I played the hero or the bad guy. As long as I get all that I need, then I will succeed."

"Enough talk!" Paul interrupted, scowling ferociously as a low growl rumbled in his throat. "Are we going to battle or not?"

"My sentiments… Ook… exactly!" Gorigan screeched, thumping his arms on the cold stone ground. He snatched a Poké Ball out of his belt and wound up his arm for the pitch. "Primeape, let's go!" Gorigan called forth the first Pokémon into battle. The Primeape that materialized from the white flash behaved as wildly as he did, huffing about on each foot alternatively.

"Since my partner's so enthusiastic…," Dakim mused, clutching his own Poké Ball in his large hand. "Solrock, come forward!" His Poké Ball snapped open, releasing the Meteorite Pokémon in a bright white flash into battle.

"Sol…," Solrock hummed dully, floating lifelessly in the air next to the anxious Primeape. The sunlight was blocked by Darkrai's inner presence surging restlessly within Paul's body. Solrock did not seem active at the moment. Ash gazed upon the Admins' Pokémon. They both had no black aura; they were probably saving their strongest Pokémon for last.

"Looks like it's our turn," Ash commented as he and Paul prepared choosing their first Pokémon to match the Admins' unique combination. Before they all officially began the promising violent battle, the young Aura Guardian gazed upon the Poké Ball in his hand, concerned about the Pokémon within. Even Pikachu shared his introspective thoughts and expression as he looked down into Ash's hand as well. This is going to be your first battle with me. Do your best as always and I will help you the rest of the way. He overheard a coarse grunt from Paul; his surly rival looked into his somber eyes. Coming to a momentary truce as powerful rivals, they nodded together and began to throw their Poké Balls forward. "Walrein, I choose you!"

"Ursaring, stand by for battle!"

Their Pokémon bellowed upon release, stretching their limbs and other appendages as the white energy dispersed from their bodies. Ursaring growled darkly, baring its frontal claws against Solrock and Primeape as a force of intimidation. It achieved no reaction from Solrock; Primeape, however, was raring to go as it furiously threw its fists into the air, jabbing left and right in the Hibernator Pokémon's direction. Walrein glanced around the forest battlefield, perplexed by the different interactions of the Pokémon around it.

"Walrein, get ready!" Ash called out. His encouraging command helped the Ice Break Pokémon focus on the main goal, to defeat the opposing side, the very same side that forced it against its will with their insidious artificial virus.

"If you're not going to move, then we'll make you!" Gorigan declared arrogantly. "Primeape, use Karate Chop on that traitorous Walrein!"

"Ursaring, get in there with Slash!"

"Ur-ring!" Ursaring roared, stomping in front of Primeape's path and disengaged the Pig Monkey Pokémon's chop with a powerful swipe of its white-glowing claws. Primeape staggered back, angered at Ursaring's interference as it started throwing a frustrated tantrum. The Hibernator Pokémon smirked over Primeape's lack of control over its rotten temperament.

"Walrein, use Ice Ball on Solrock!"

"Waaaaal…!" Walrein bellowed, rearing its head up and conjuring a glittering, rough-cut diamond of ice in front of its tusks. "… Rein!" The Ice Ball was formed into the size of its gaping mouth and fired promptly as Walrein pushed itself forward, striking Solrock squarely in its face before it could have reacted.

Hmm, decent strength, Dakim thought, noting the power behind the first Ice Ball that struck his rather inactive Meteorite Pokémon. He was able to maintain his cool for a much longer time due to his extensive time in prison. He was a noticeable calmer man, only throwing a dangerous fit when it served him right. Walrein's a lot stronger with this kid than with Blusix, that's for sure. His eyes shifted over to the miniature brawl between Gorigan's Primeape and Paul's Ursaring. "Solrock, use Sunny Day!"

"Soooool…!" Solrock rumbled, releasing a bright orb of solar energy from its top rock shard. The orb circled into the top of the secluded Relic Forest grove, exploding in the sky and unleashing an increased intensity of the sun's power upon the grove. "Sol-rock!" Solrock felt significantly more active than before, hovering around its airspace in circles to contain its rising energy.

"Now use SolarBeam on Ursaring!"

"Soooool…!" Solrock hummed, quickly garnering a huge amount of energy emanating from its artificial sun into its top rock. Ash and Paul were extremely chary of the situation. Ursaring was still in a physical melee against the berserk Primeape, matching and countering its swift Karate Chops with its own Slash attacks. There was only one option, and only one perfect moment to strike before Solrock could fire its SolarBeam.

"Ready?" Ash asked Paul in a mutter. The latter narrowed his piercing black eyes on the fight between Ursaring and Primeape, waiting for the precise window of opportunity to open up and leap through. The Pig Monkey Pokémon was tiring itself out with its excessive barrage of Karate Chops while Ursaring remained in full strength due to its brutal discipline from its Trainer. One Slash attack managed to throw Primeape off it off its balance; the moment was now.

"Go now!" Paul declared with a sway of his arm.

"Walrein, jump on Ursaring for a Body Slam!"

"Ursaring, Hammer Arm Walrein into Solrock!"

The total cooperation between both Trainers and their Pokémon was placed in its first test. Having learned to follow Ash's word since their first day of training together, Walrein slapped its flippers off the ground and leapt into the air over Ursaring. The Hibernator Pokémon leaned back, its thick furry forearms glowing solidly overhead. It waited as Walrein's shadow was casted almost over its entire body. The seconds passed slowly as the faultless moment came closer. The Ice Break Pokémon was descending closer and closer to Ursaring, whose impatient growls made Walrein rather nervous.

"Riiiiing!" Ursaring bellowed, launching itself up and slamming its powerful forearms into Walrein's backside like a volley ball. The Ice Break Pokémon's face twitched in pain as it felt the numbing shockwave from Ursaring's Hammer Arm; Ash even noted the suffering from the short distance. Its remarkable velocity caught the Meteorite Pokémon off guard as Walrein loomed in close.

"Solrock, fire!"

"Walrein, use Ice Ball to protect yourself!"

"Waaaaal…!" Walrein hollered, creating its second, larger Ice Ball in front of its mouth. The size of the Ice Ball had quickly grown to almost match its height at the exact moment Solrock had set its narrow SolarBeam in motion. Since its special attack power was relatively weak in reality and that its attack was dealing with an Ice Ball at its second stage of size and density, the SolarBeam had dispersed into streams of light that refracted off of Walrein's Ice Ball. Walrein flew in and tackled Solrock with the majority of its blubbery bulk. The impact of its Ice Ball against the source of the SolarBeam caused a forceful explosion that threw both Pokémon onto the ground.

"Walrein, you okay?" Ash asked loudly. Dakim merely glanced silently at his fallen Solrock, waiting for the final verdict of the collision. Both wounded Pokémon survived from the impact of the explosion, but dirtied by the smoke and dirt thrown their way.

"Not bad at all," Dakim commented, his tone impassive. "Solrock, Earthquake!"

"Soooool-rock!" Solrock rumbled, its sun outline shining in an earthly brown power. The Meteorite Pokémon slammed the bottom tip of its body into the ground, casting a powerful seismic shockwave that tossed Walrein to its Trainer's side due to its adjacent range to Solrock. Walrein was sent flying past Ursaring and Primeape as they resumed their close-ranged combat; the two violent Pokémon could really care less to what would happen to the others around them.

"Oh, man," Ash groaned, distressed by the state of his newest Pokémon. "Walrein's been taking too much damage now from the boost from Ursaring to the crash with Solrock."

"Since Hammer Arm happens to be a Fighting-type move, I could only imagine how much endurance Walrein has left," Paul added, shifting his cold black eyes at his worrisome partner. "You should have improved your Walrein's defenses against all kinds of moves."

"Well, your Ursaring didn't have to blow its top off waiting for Walrein to come down for a safer launch," Ash retorted, glaring back at him.

"What's that got to do with anything?" Paul replied as though he did not hear Ash's complaint over his Ursaring. Ash gritted his teeth and turned away. Though he was his Tag Team partner for this battle, Paul still did not plan to get along with Ash. He helped him at some instances, but he was still in this for himself. He suddenly noticed that the seismic shockwaves from Solrock's Earthquake were still heading towards Primeape and Ursaring, the former having been issued a command for Protect. The resilient green bubble formed around the Pig Monkey Pokémon, absolutely defending it from Earthquake. There was only one thing left for Paul to do. "Ursaring, jump off of Walrein to avoid Earthquake!"

"What?!" Ash shouted; his entire expression and body formation were incredulous. Pikachu was nearly thrown off his shoulder from the sudden shift of his posture. "I'm not going to let you do that to Walrein." He seized Walrein's Poké Ball out from his belt and directed it at the limp Ice Break Pokémon before Ursaring used it as a trampoline for its own preservation. "Walrein, return!" Ash beckoned the red light from the Poké Ball to retract Walrein back. The moment Ursaring hopped on top of it, the Ice Break Pokémon's body converted into red energy that flew back into the Poké Ball while leaving Ursaring face flat on the stone ground.

"I will deal with you later," Paul whispered to his rival in a tone that warned of an ominous, cold death. He turned his attention to his lone Ursaring, who merely stood back up and waited to take on the seismic wave itself. "In that case, use Bulk Up and Hammer Arm!"

"Ur-Riiiiing!" Ursaring roared, flexing its powered forearms high in the air as a wicked red aura blazed from its body. "Riiiiing!" The Hibernator Pokémon slammed its arms down, effectively disposing of the Earthquake's shockwaves with its own bare hands.

"Hmph," Paul grunted, nodding to its satisfaction while casting an iniquitous sneer upon Ash.

Geez, give me a break already, Ash thought, feeling the pressuring gaze of his ill-tempered rival beating down at his own morality. I hope Anabel's not having a hard time like I am…

"Shiftry, blow them away with another Leaf Storm!"

"Shiiiiift!" Shiftry shouted, releasing a tremendous force of leaves from its core with the outward wave of its hands. The Leaf Storm blew back several Mightyena and Golbat belonging to six Reverse-Cipher Peons at the east side of Agate Village. "Shiftry Shift Shifty."

"I know that, my friend," Anabel replied. "So far, these criminals don't have a Shadow Pokémon on their possession. I'm not sure if the Peons Eagun and Rui are dealing with have any."

"Ha! If you wanted Shadow Pokémon, just talk to our superiors dismantling the Relic Stone right now!" a Reverse-Cipher Peon boasted foolishly.

"Oh, I doubt that's happening right now," Anabel contradicted politely, baring a smirk on the side of her pale face. "If I can deal with you guys, then I'm sure that my boyfriend and his rival are more than a match with your Admins." Before she could issue a command out to Shiftry to deal with these weak punks, she overheard some sort of jumbled murmuring among the rowdy Peons.

"Boyfriend? Are you gay or something?" another rude Peon asked. Anabel sharply gasped in disgust. Even Shiftry could feel her inner rage and embarrassment flare up from the abrupt comment; it wasn't even a Psychic-type Pokémon to begin with, but it was in tune to nature as well as its sincere Trainer.

"I'm a girl!" Anabel screamed through her gritted, pearly-white teeth. Shiftry, Extrasensory on the double!

Within the dark labs of Citadark Isle, the monthly examination of Shadow Giratina, codenamed XD00∞ had begun. The shadow chimera of antimatter and distortions was shackled in large titanium bracelets suspending its six jet-black legs and around its silver ribcage. It was kept in a separate, remote room in order to safely measure the amount of potential it had so far. Ardos, Admin Stein, and several lowly scientists had begun their procedure as the statistics and live video of the creature had activated on wide screen and began accumulating the net power of XD00∞.

"Tell me, Stein, how much longer until our ultimate weapon can be sent out to finally begin the apocalyptic destruction while still under our absolute control?" Ardos queried, his tone rather eloquent.

"As of now, XD00∞ must reach a total level of seven thousand, according to our scale," Stein replied, adjusting his glasses for a clearer read of the increasing levels by thousands. "Any level beyond the preset limit while it's still in this premature stage is not good. Not only do we get to say good-bye to this world, but we'll have to say good-bye to us as well. It'll turn into a rogue and destroy everything, and I mean everything."

"I see," Ardos mused to himself. Greevil, you may have given up on being Grand Master of all, but I will not let you down. Not again…

"Sir, there's something wrong!" a scientist spoke up. A warning siren was activated while its red light flashed over the smaller monitor on his computer screen. Ardos and Stein watched alongside him the sudden malfunction of the system. The entire staff observed from their individual monitors that the numbers continued to accelerate, but at an even quicker pace as they nearly reached seven thousand. Signs of rebellious life reanimated the shackled Shadow Giratina as its movements caused sparks to fly out of its tight restraints.

"What… What's going on?" Stein demanded. "What does the power level read now."

"Seven thousand… eight thousand…," Ardos murmured, his expression horror-struck as Stein's warning echoed in his head. Impossible! This cannot be. I cannot let things fall out of control. Not again! The brilliant Reverse-Cipher Admin noticed that their leader was becoming extremely aggravated upon the turn of events. The power level continued to increase and Shadow Giratina was struggling for radical liberation was its dark powers surged through its durable body.

"Ardos, just… calm down," Stein advised warily. There was no stopping his master once he began to release his utter aversion and rage. The Admin glanced around the room; the scientists started to panic. "Everyone, administer the ShadowPokérus Anesthetic and decrease XD00∞'s power level back to its recommended level before it reaches—!"

"It's over Nine THOUSAND!" Ardos roared; the resonations of his ardent outburst rumbled in concurrence with Shadow Giratina's resistance. With a fit of blind rage, he punched his right fist into the computer monitor in front of Stein and exploded upon the harsh impact. The blue-clad leader was blown backwards as the electric feedback and bursting mechanism of the computer gave him a lasting effect on how life was unfair to villains.

"Ardos!" Stein yelled, running towards his leader mangled up against the wall while the other scientists injected the sedative into XD00∞ in the form of wicked purple electrocutions from the titanium shackles around its body. Upon closer look, he was repulsed by the great disfiguration his rage had bestowed upon him. Stein further backed away as Ardos rose, as a man whose flesh was eaten away by half of his face by electricity and right arm rendered useless from the blow, cackling maniacally.

The reference to that funny, yet annoying Dragon Ball Z meme was to celebrate both the number of hits of Tale of Stardom and my profile page. They've both finally reached over NINE THOUSAND! Ah ha ha ha! Anyway, you can probably imagine in the story that Ardos has lost his remaining sanity from the accident, if he actually had any left in the first place. So what have we learned so far? Anabel learns more about Paul's cruelty towards her, his particular interest in Ash's strength, and the first half of the battle against Dakim and Gorigan which will be continued and finished next chapter.

Kasuchi, Koichi; I found the name for Lucian and Lorelei to be SpecShipping. I guess you were close.

One last note to all of you: While I do respect the opinions from each and every one of you readers out there, I do not tolerate the abuse of such freedom in the form of flames, spam, and mistaken identities though the form of anonymous reviews. I will not say this again. There's already enough strife out there in the world. If you plan on bringing it here to my stories, then you have no place here whatsoever. If you're guilty of no crime, then you shouldn't have anything to worry about.

If you would please review, it will be appreciated. Your feedback to this chapter is welcome. I won't bite… much.

Ciao!