Elio and Lillie flew back to Black City in preparation to challenge Black Tower. The boy asked. "If we are doing this together. I am getting Solaire, H.P and Blattron for this, what is your choice?"

Lillie did not hesitate to answered. "Onua, Swoops and Isaac! They haven't been in a battle over a week!"

Elio thought something over about some of Lillies pokemon. "Speaking of pokemon that haven't been in battle, what about Medic?"

Lillie thought it over and smiled. "I had Medic with Kukui and Burnet. He is very helpful when the professor test new moves on himself and they get a bit out of hand. Rammas kind of went a similar way Samson and Loki have."

Elio nodded back and asked. "In other words, you keep her around and have her for battle, but she kind of isn't for tournament's or competitions. Lets see what this tower is all about?"

The duo entered to be greeted to a red tile interior of the tower and the building itself looked crome from the inside. As they went up the elevator to challenge the Black Tower together, they found a couple rules regarding the place. One is they only have to fight two trainers, one who opens the key to the boss of the floor and the boss of the floor. As long as they do not make eye contact with wandering trainers, they would be able progress the floor's in relative speed.

The final rule they discovered is that they would be able to give their pokemon items, they were not able to directly heal their pokemon. As the two discovered the rule, Elio sighed. "Me running in taking everything out may not be the best decision."

Lillie held his hand and spoke her peace. "From what we learned about this, we need to think of a way around it!" They went past the first two floors with little problems as they avoided trainers when they can and follow the clues to the gate keepers. As they entered the third floor, they realized the higher they went the more complicated navigating would get as they entered a maze. It felt like an hour of navigating as they found two back packers holding keys.

Vs Back packers Patrick and Ned

Patrick sent out a Marowak, Ned sent out a Mantine. Lillie shouted. "Onua... get ready for a switch!"

Elio saw the type match up and shouted. "SOLAIRE GET READY TO BURN!"

The Golurk saw the Mantine before it was switched out for the Mew, Elio began to pose a rising flame for the Volcarona to use "INFERNO OVER DRIVE!" to quickly knock the Marowak out in a fire ball. The Mantine set up an aqua ring as Patrick sent out a Rhyperior.

Elio shouted. "Before that Rhyperior takes you down, use giga drain!"

Lillie joined in order. "Isaac follow up with a shadow ball in case its solid rock proved too much!"

The Volcarona inhaled as he drained the Rhyperior for super effective damage, leaving it to be knocked out by a shadow ball. The Mantine let loose a surf of water to damage the Volcarona and Mew. With only the Mantine left, the Mew thought of a nasty plot as the Volcarona began to dance in preparation for a another giga drain and shadow ball to knock it out. A Ludicolo was sent out only to be quickly knocked out by a bug buzz. As the gate keepers were defeated, they fled the room toward a door that was locked and opened it for the challengers to confront what looked like a male ranger dressed similar to Carmen and a woman with supplies needed to care for pokemon.

Vs boss duo Owen and Caroline

Owen sent out a Machamp, Caroline sent out an Audino.

Elio shouted out. "SOLAIRE TAKE FLIGHT!"

Lillie shouted. "Onua, you should have a better time with this!"

Elio shouted at the Volcarona to use fiery dance on the Audino; the Audino to help the Machamp with its next attack. The Machamp let loose a rock slide to quickly knock out the Volcarona.

Lillie shouted out. "Onua use high horse power on that Audino!" The Golurk kicked into the Audino for a knock out as Elio switched the Volcarona out. "H.P! GET READY TO MEGA EVOLVE!"

The Kangaskhan was sent out of her great ball as she prepared the young in her pouch for mega evolution.

Caroline sent out a Venomoth as Elio shouted. "NOW! USE FAKE OUT ON THAT MACHAMP!"

The Kangaskhan duo startled the Machamp as the Venomoth used bug buzz on the Golurk for tinted damage. The Golurk used high horse power to knock the Machamp out.

Jeffery sent out a Slaking in preparation to use return on the Kangaskhan duo, sending them back as Elio shouted. "FINISH THAT VENOMOTH WITH A RETURN!"

The Venomoth was about to use skill swap as the Kangaskhan knocked it out, the Golurk kept using high horse power to send the Slaking barreling back to loaf around. Caroline sent out a Clefairy with an eviolite ready to be the center of attention. Elio and Lillie switched over to Genesect and Mew on seeing the tactic. The Clefairy kept being the center of attention as the Slaking channeled his affection into a strong punch at the Genesect.

Lillie shouted. "Isaac use flamethrower, we need to take that Clefairy down now!"

Elio shouted to the Genesect. "BLATTRON FLASH CANNON THAT CLEFAIRY TILL IT STOPS MOVING!" The Mew blew in flames as the Genesect shot a flash cannon on the Clefairy.

It began to draw in more attention as Lillie posed for the Mew to use. "SHATTERED PSYCHE!" The Clefairy was quickly smashed through a psychic barrier for k.o.

The Genesect grumbled as he was uncertain of what to shoot. "Are these things that anno..."

Elio nodded. "Yes they are! Lillie uses a Clefairy for the exact same thing! NOW BUG BUZZ THAT SLAKING OUT!"

The Genesect buzzed into the Slaking for a knock out, leaving Owen with a Gyrados. It intimidated the two pokemon as the Mew let out a psycho boost in preparation for the Genesect to shoot it down with an electric techno blast for a k.o

The duo descended back down as they had their pokemon healed up for the fourth floor. Much to their misfortune, it was dark and they had difficulty navigating. Elio and Lillie decided to hold each others hands so they would not get lost. As they wandered across the dark maze they battled many trainers that they stumbled into in the dark, with the mega Kangaskhan and the mega Pidgeot, they quickly cleared the way and encountered another group of gate keepers.

Vs Gate Keepers Umbra and Caterac.

Umbra sent out an Umbreon, Caterac sent out a Bibarel.

Elio shouted as he tossed a ball. "SOLAIRE GET READY FOR BATTLE!"

Lillie took the master ball and shouted. "Isaac, set up a nasty plot!"

The Umbreon let loose a confuse ray on the Volcarona as the Bibarel simply used a double to avoid being damaged.

Lillie glared as she posed for a "SHATTERED PSYCHE!"

The Bibarel was caught in a psychic hold and flung across psychic barriers for a k.o.

Elio shouted at the Volcarona. "SOLAIRE IF YOU CAN, USE BUG BUZZ UNTIL THAT UMBREON GOES DOWN!"

The Volcarona struggled to keep flight and aim, he managed to hit the Umbreon; sending it on its knees as Caterac sent out an Octillery.

Lillie shouted. "Isaac, while we have the chance use flamethrower to knock that Umbreon out!" The Mew inhaled as it finished the Umbreon off with a flamethrower, leaving the moody Octillery to lower its defenses and shoot a strong hydro pump at the Volcarona.

Umbra sent out a Chansey with an eviolite, in a sigh Elio switched the Volcarona out and shouted. "H.P COME ON OUT!"

Lillie shouted to the Mew. "Now Isaac, take that Octillery out with a psycho boost!"

The Mew channeled its power in a psychic explosion to quickly knock the Octillery out, leaving the Chansey to spit toxic at the Kangaskhan. Lillie took the master ball to call the Mew back, she whispered to the ball. "You did good Isaac. Onua, lets keep hitting that Chansey!"

The Golurk crashed into the battle with the Kangaskhan mega evolving and punching in unison against the Chansey that countered with a seismic toss. In another return and high horse powered kick, the Chansey was knocked out. As the battle ended, the two continued to roam into the dark until they found the boss duo of the floor, a psychic duo named Rahk and Kui.

Vs Rahk and Kui

Rahk sent out a Reuniclus, Kui sent out a Cofagrigus. Elio sent out a Volcarona as Lillie sent out a Golurk.

Elio shouted. "SOLAIRE START WITH A QUIVER DANCE!"

Lillie saw the Reuiniclus and shouted. "ONUA TAKE THAT REUNICLUS OUT WITH A SHADOW PUNCH!"

As the Reuniclus was quickly taken out by a shadow punch, the Cofagrigus used will-o-wisp to burn the Golurk. Irritated, Lillie called the Golurk back. "You did good. Issac, come on out!"

The Mew was greeted to a shadow ball as Rahk sent out a Snorlax that body slammed not soon after.

Elio shouted. "KEEP DANCING!"

Lillie joined in shout. "Isaac use shadow ball on that Cofagrigus!"

The Cofagrigus was hit but still smiled until Elio shouted. "SOLAIRE HELP THE MEW OUT WITH FIREY DANCE!"

The Volcarona and Mew worked in unison until the Cofagrigus was knocked out. The Snorlax body slammed the Volcarona as Kui sent out a Golurk that was quickly knocked out by a giga drain.

Lillie saw that the Mew would not take more damage and called him back as she saw a Tangrowth being sent. "Swoops lets finish this!"

The Snorlax crunched into the Pidgeot as the Volcarona began to dance a fiery inferno to knock out the Tangrowth.

With the Snorlax by itself, Elio shouted. "NOW USE BUG BUZZ UNTIL THE SNORLAX GOES DOWN!"

Lillie raised a key stone and shouted. "Swoops! Mega evolve and use hurricane!" The Snorlax was carried across the room by a hurricane and was buzzed into; it was left confused as it tried to find a place to rest, only to fall on his head and be knocked out by the next combination. The last pokemon sent out was a Gigalith that had his sturdy broken by a giga drain and heat wave combination. The duo were annoyed by how long each of the floors were as they began to take the elevator down in preparation for the next six floors.

Four of the five floors were nothing unusual for Elio and Lillie, save for them being long and tedious with each one. Most were a maze with twist and turns, leading to them wandering until they found the gate keeper and defeated the boss of each floor. As they ascended to the ninth floor, they found that most of the way was already cleared for them. With the gate itself being open, the duo wondered who and why when they saw a man in a blue jacket with a machine on his left arm and an orange haired woman waving to greet the two. "Look's like.."

Lillie waved back. "Hi Rui, hi Wes!"

Wes turned around and grinned at the duo. "Hah! Look like you two finally got here! We already took out the boss of this floor."

Lillie and Rui talked about the places they been on Unova; the girl made the mistake of mentioning her and Elio taking a part of the Brycen Man series.

Rui gasped in shock and gave a false scowl in questioning. "Your the Burning Wave? Oh that is it!"

Wes saw his wife draw out a timer ball and shrugged. "Guess we are the boss's of this floor. Lets see if you two are strong enough to take us both on!"

Vs Wes and Rui

Wes took out an ultra ball and shouted. "Ultima lets start this show!"

Rui tossed the timer ball and joined in. "Tsunami lets show them who you are!" A Tyranitar entered the battle with Suicune by her side.

Elio took out a pokeball and shouted. "SOLAIRE LETS DO THIS!"

Lillie took out a dusk ball and shouted. "Onua, lets take these two on!"

The Golurk recognized the woman standing behind the Suicune and tensed up for battle as he was shot by scalding water. Wes activated the key stone on his machine and shouted. "Ultima, Mega evolve!"

Elio shouted to the Volcarona. "SOLAIRE USE BUG BUZZ ON THAT TYRANITAR!"

The Volcarona buzzed into the Tyranitar to deal moderate damage as the Tyranitar countered with a stone edge for a quick knock out. Lillie shouted. "Onua use high horse power! We need to take that Tyranitar down now!" In a massive kick, the Tyrantiar was sent crashing into the wall and reverted back knocked out.

Elio called the Volcarona back and shouted. "BLATTRON COME ON OUT!"

Wes called back the Tyranitar and grinned as he tossed a beast ball. "Thundaga! Lets show them."

Elio and Lillie noticed the Xurkitree and nodded to each other. "BLATTRON FOCUS ON TAKING DOWN THAT SUICUNE WITH TECHNO BLAST!"

The Suicine was shot by the electrical techno blast and calmed its mind for its next attack.

Wes shouted to the Xurkitree. "Thundaga, use energy ball to knock that Golurk out! See if we can't get a beast boost going!"

The Xurkitree glowed green energy and tossed an orb at the Golurk for a knock out, it began to shriek as its aura glowed brighter.

Lillie called the Golurk back, took a master ball and shouted. "Isaac, we need you to take that Xurkitree down!"

Wes was about to order the Xurkitree to use baton pass as, Lillie placed one finger to each side of her hand, raised her left hand in a sign and used two fingers of her right hand to press at the side of her head, posing for the Mew to use. "SHATTERED PSYCHE!"

The Xurkitree was slammed through psychic barriers for a knock out as the Genesect shot another techno blast, knocking the Suicune out.

Wes called the Xurkitree back and chuckled. "Well... that went that plan. Aero come on out!"

A timer ball was tossed letting out a Tornadus.

Rui called the Suicune back and sent out an ultra ball. "Go Beary!" Out came a Bewear that looked ready for battle.

Wes shouted out. "Aero use hurricane on that Genesect and don't stop!"

The Tornadus waved his arms as he brewed up a hurricane to sent the Genesect flying, it held on as Lillie shouted. "Isaac, use flamethrower on that Bewear!"

The Mew inhaled a flamethrower to deal extra damage to the fluffy Bewear as Elio shouted. "BLATTRON TAKE THAT TORNADUS OUT WITH ANOTHER TECHNO BLAST!" The Tornadus held on a focus sash as it was shot by the techno blast.

Rui shouted. "Beary use return on that Mew!" The Mew was sent flying back from the Bewear's punch, straight into a wall.

The Tornadus knocked the Genesect out with another hurricane as Lillie shouted. "Isaac, use flame thrower to knock that Bewear out!" The Mew came through to see the Bewear charge with his paws in a punch; the Mew inhaled and knocked the Bewear out with a torrent of flame.

Rui tossed a great ball shouting. "Tiff fly in the field!"

An Altaria with a stone on her forehead prepared as Rui began to shine her bracelet. Elio called the groaning Genesect back and shouted. "H.P WE NEED THAT TORNADUS DOWN! MEGA EVOLVE AND USE FAKE OUT!" The Mega Kangaskhan leaped in front of the Tornadus and clapped in unison for a knock out as the Altaria began to glow to mega evolve in a much fluffier form.

Rui shouted. "Tiff use dragon dance and then use return on that Mew!"

Lillie shouted. "Isaac use psycho boost, we need to take that Altaria down before it can power up!" The Mew channeled its power into a psychic explosion; the Altaria still began to dance and increase her speed as she channeled her affection in one strong pixalated smack with one of her wings.

Elio saw the Mew flying back into the same wall knocked out and shouted to the Kangaskhan duo. "H.P, MAGGIE! END THIS FIGHT WITH A RETURN OF YOUR OWN!" The Kangaskhan duo channeled their affection into two strong punches, sending the Altaria flying back and reverted back to a less fluffier form. Wes and Rui were defeated.

Lillie asked if Wes or Rui knew anyone else that came up in the tower.

Both shook their heads as Elio asked. "What are you doing here?"

Wes shrugged at the question. "I had Quake visit Abundant Shrine for his duty in the fall. He won't be done till close to winter so I am stuck in this region for a bit. In the mean time I have Aero and Raiden with me to keep them out of trouble."

Lillie was about to ask about the Suicune before Rui answered. "Yes he was a shadow pokemon. Same with Tiff and the latest one, Beary."

Elio noticed a legendary beast when he saw one and asked if the duo had any others.

Wes raised two fingers. "One is Firaga, an Entei. The other is a Sabre, no I don't know how Team Snagem got their hands on another Raikou. There is one other pokemon I met a long time ago... but I never captured it."

Elio knew of the trio master of the legendary beast and asked. "Since the three legendary shadow pokemon were the three beast... did that mean they turned Ho-oh into..."

Wes interrupted him with his own answer. "Oh no! Ho-oh was the reason Evice did not get away when Rui and I defeated him... Ho-oh came out of nowhere to be honest."

Elio's eyes widened at the answer. "I heard more about Ho-oh when I was doing an old school report on Lugia. Doesn't Ho-oh only present itself to those pure of heart?" Wes's usual grin of arrogance faded into a frown of uncertainty as he heard the question. Elio noticed the frown and apologized if it bothered him.

Lillie began to chance the subject. "How is Thundaga behaving?"

Wes calmed down as he answered. "He gets along with Edgar and most of the others. One good thing about Raiden being reckless is that Thundaga has plenty of electricity. Other wise he strange... but friendly. Certainly not the weirdest pokemon I seen."

Lillie looked confused as she asked. "If an Ultra Beast isn't the strangest thing you seen... what is?" Wes asked if their Dex had information on a pokemon called Sigilyph.

Elio took a tied up Rotom Dex out of the bag and undid the bindings before ordering him to show. "BZZT! Come on that translation added more drama! Sigilyph. The Avianoid pokemon. The guardians of an ancient city. They always fly the same route while keeping watch for invaders. They use their psychic powers to attack. Despite their odd anatomy, they have a gender and everything! BZZT!"

Wes listened to the description as he added one more pokemon found on Unova. "You may have seen it in Twist Mountain but I don't even know what to make of Crygonal... other than it is a face that is very dangerous. Don't not touch those chains on its face if you value your life."

The Dex showed a picture of what Wes was talking about leaving Elio and Lillie confused to what the pokemon even was other than in Lillie's own words. "Maybe it is a giant snow flake?"

Elio wondered. "It's a pretty rare pokemon. I heard people in the Battle Tree that came from this region say it is only found in Twist Mountain and it is best found in winter."

Wes agreed. "If your into ice types, it's worth giving it a look since it has levitate for an ability... not a pokemon I am all that interested in!"

Rui agreed. "Every pokemon has a place somewhere."

Lillie listened and began to finish the conversation. "We have one more floor before we finish. See you later?" The two adults waved goodbye to the kids as they saw Elio struggle to focus away from the Crygonal.

As Elio and Lillie ascended to the final floor, they found that someone had reached the floor before them and much like the ones from below, that someone cleared the way for them. As the approached the opened gate, they found a black haired goth woman talking to what looked like a energetic red haired teenager.

The duo recognized the woman as Cindy and shouted while she was speaking to the teenager. "Your belief in team work is fascinating but you seen how well Prissy has proven that with your o..."

The goth woman heard a familiar girl shout. "Hello again Cindy!"

Cindy turned around to be greeted by Lillie waving hello and Elio wondering about who she was about to challenge. "Oh my, you two again?"

Elio saw the two trainers and asked Lillie. "Who goes after what look like Alder's grandson and who gets Cindy?"

Cindy took a deep breath as she answered. "If you must know the young man I just defeated goes by the name of Benga... a powerful trainer in his own right."

Lillie was about to ask. "Then... how about me and Elio fight you together?" Cindy let out a faint smile at the idea.

Huff

"Might as well."

Vs Pokemon Trainer Cindy

Cindy shouted out. "Elizabeth, Fridgette, show them your power!" A Nidoqueen and Glacion joined the battle, Elio and Lillie sent out a Volcarona and Golurk.

Elio shouted to the Volcarona. "SOLAIRE SET UP A QUIVER DANCE!"

Cindy gestured to the Nidoqueen and Glacion. "Use ice beam to dismiss that Golurk."

The combined ice beams knocked the Golurk out, Lillie called it back and tossed a master ball. "Isaac get ready!"

The Mew floated as Elio ordered the Volcarona. "Fiery dance that Glacion!" The Glacion was knocked out as Lillie posed for the Mew to use "SHATTERED PSYCHE!" to knock the Nidoqueen through a barrier.

Cindy kept a smile as she called the Nidoqueen and Glacion back to send out a Xatu and Pheromosa. "Sage, do something about that Volcarona with psystrike; Prissy dispatch that Mew with a bug buzz!"

The Xatu attempted to use psystrike as he was quickly knocked out by a bug buzz, the Pheromosa was hesitate to issue Cindy's order to use bug buzz on the Mew; Cindy requested a small moment before they continued the battle.

The duo agreed to wait as Cindy spoke calmly. "Prissy, I know those two had helped you in the past. I understand how you would feel ungrateful for battling against them. But this is a friendly sprawl at worse." The Pheromosa looked behind in questioning.

Cindy frowned in understanding the question. "Compared to those... waste of oxygen you helped thwarted a couple weeks ago, these two are still your friends, regardless of trainer." The Ultra Beast let loose a faint shriek as she and turned back to the battle.

Cindy apologized to the two trainers for wasting their time. "After this, would you like to get together at Village bridge for some tea and sandwiches? I plan to have Prissy try something new in comparison to the poffins normally I given her."

Elio shrugged at the answer, Lillie answered with a smile. "That would be very nice!"

Cindy made a faint smile as she began to signal the battle to continue. "Prissy, dispatch the Mew with a bug buzz!"

The Pheromosa sent the Mew crashing against a wall with a loud buzz and glowed a stronger aura to increase her speed.

Lillie called the Mew back and sent out her last pokemon, a Pidgeot. "Swoops come out and Mega evolve!"

Cindy called the Xatu back and sent out her next pokemon. "Morpha, lets put an end to that Volcarona's nonsense!"

Lillie knew she was in a corner and shouted. "Swoop's use protect to buy us more time!"

The Pidgeot prepared to protect itself as Elio shouted. "SOLAIRE USE FIERY DANCE TO TAKE THAT PHEROMOSA DOWN!"

Cindy saw the fire attack and frowned. "Prissy... use baton pass."

The Pheromosa tossed a baton and retreated into the beast ball as Cindy took out a dusk ball. "Wilbur, be ready for a flash fire!" The Chandelure was hit by the fiery dance; he giggled and ignite in a flash fire. The Venomoth used stun spore to paralyze the Volcarona.

Elio saw the battle turning against him and Lillie and switched to his Kangaskhan as the Chandelure knocked the Pidgeot out with an overheat. Leaving Lillie unable to battle and her heart racing, it was up to Elio to win. "H.P use fake out on that Chandelure, then get ready for the big one!"

The Chandelure flinched as the Venomoth missed his stun spore, Elio raised his keystone and shouted. "H.P Mega evolve and use crunch on that Chandelure!"

The Kangaskhan's child grew and leaped out of the pouch as both felt another over heat, they crunched in unison at the Chandelure for a knock out as the Venomoth paralyzed the Kangaskhan.

Cindy tossed the beast ball back. "Prissy, this has gone on long enough!"

The Pheromosa entered the battle as she heard her trainer order. "Prissy, bug buzz! Morpha use quiver dance!" The Pheromosa buzzed into the Kangaskhan for a knock out.

Elio gritted his teeth as he cakked the reverted duo back and sent the Volcarona out. "SOLIARE WE NEED TO KNOCK ONE OF THESE GUYS OUT!" The Volcarona did not fare that much better as the Pheromosa shot him down with the Venomoth shooting a venoshock.

Elio began to pose like a rising flame. "SOLIARE IF YOU CAN," the Volcarona struggled as he glowed a flame; he heard his trainer shout "INFERNO OVER DRIVE THAT VENOMOTH!"

The Volcarona followed the order and shot a massive inferno at the Venomoth for a knock out; the Volcarona was about to fall as the Pheromosa struck with a bug buzz k.o.

Elio called the Volcarona back and tossed a net ball. "BLATTRON WE NEED TO PUSH!"

Cindy recognized the Genesect as it stared at the Pheromosa in excitement; she shouted abruptly. "Regardless of your condition you will find no pitty here, Prissy use quiver dance!"

The Genesect downloaded a special attack boost as he saw the Pheromosa dance elegantly, his gun began to ignite in anticipation as his trainer ordered. "FLAMETHROWER THAT PHEROMOSA!"

The Pheromosa showed a sash and was staring anticipating the damage, she cringed in pain as she held on and felt a burn! As the Pheromosa was attempting to focus a blast, she fell from the burn for a k.o!

Cindy took a deep breath on the defeat as she prepared to call the Pheromosa back. "Thus it has ended! Still, excellent work Prissy."

Benga saw everything and was prepared to take his leave in excitement. "Hey, hey! You two better come to Floccesy town when you can! I know someone who will give you something awesome!"

As the three trainers saw him leave, Cindy asked. "When do you want to met at the sandwich shop?"

Elio and Lillie looked at their watches to check the time, the trip to the Black Tower took them nearly the entire day and it was evening.

Lillie already agreed to having a meeting as he and Elio's stomach's rumbled. "We could use some dinner anyways."