AN

Roy: Sorry for the delay but voila.

Jake: Stupid Roy hahaha, okay so here it is and once again, we're sorry.

Notice: Pokemon is not ours

Dan's POV

I sighed and leaned on a rock as I closed my eyes and mumbled "Day three, still in these underground catacombs and no way out. If we do, it's a cliff or a nest of violent dark types. Not really sure how much longer I can-"

"Hey Dan, catch!"

I felt something heavy plop on my head and I grabbed it and said "HEY!"

Jayce, the Umbreon snickered and said "Sorry,"

I help the berry in my hand and took a bite out of it as Jayce took a bite out of his. Fline, Jack and Jill were eating their food while we took a break in a hidden corner in a cave.

Three days. It had been three days since I was scattered form the others. Three days since I saw my friends. Three days since a good meal. I whimpered at the sound of my stomach rumbling but Jayce just rolled his eyes and took another bite as I looked at my companions.

Fline was still very young and naïve but her fire was really hot and she proved that after crying after not being fed. Jack and Jill were playful and energetic as they often entertained Fline as a friend.

These past few days were really sick since we were often chased, hunted and followed by some dark types by the order of the king of this mountain. Three days ago, right after the Bisharps, it was a group if Shiftry, then the next day, a pack of Mighteyana and then just yesterday it was a swarm of Banette who scared us to death.

Even with all those powerful Pokemon and I was defenseless without my team, Jayce managed to beat and hold them all back. Even with his cross scar in his right eye, clearly Jayce was a seasoned battler and he was a forced to be reckoned with considering he was what kept us alive all this time.

I cracked my knuckles and said "So Jayce where to now?"

He finished up his berry and said "I think there's an opening a few minutes there,"

He pointed with his snout and nodded but I said "What about those hunting us?"

He looked grim and said "I'll try my best but I don't think how long I can hold on now."

Truly the past few days had worn him out, only switching with me between shifts on keeping watch was his only sleep. It had gotten more dangerous according to him ever since we entered this mountain but here we were, still stuck and hungry while I was separated from my friends and Pokemon.

I swallowed the final part of my berry while I looked at Jack and Jill and said "So are you two ready?"

"Yeah!" replied the two innocent Eevees,

Honestly I felt like they treat this as some sort of game but it's better than facing the cold reality of being hunted. Jayce was so overprotective of these two, just before they proved that they were very powerful in their own right.

Fline, my blue fired Cyndaquill, sneezed and her flames caught on fire again and I said "Time to tone it down a bit Fline,"

"Okay Daddy," replied the Cyndaquill as I picked it up in my arms and we proceeded to walk. I took a few steps while Jayce watched Jack and Jill frolic in front of us. He sighed as he said "This was way easier when mom and dad were still here,"

I nodded and said "What happened to them?"

Jayce looked at his two siblings and said "Mom had died when she gave birth the Jack and Jill and only recently, around four months or six ago, my Dad, who was an Umbreon as well, died. I had to look after Jack and Jill and hide them while I had to do work for the boss here. I did some things I'm not proud of but it was for the best. Also, when I was just a pup, I had an older sister once but she was captured and we never saw her ever again."

"It must have been hard," I replied, "I couldn't imagine losing my mom, dad and siblings. It's amazing that you get to protect them that well."

Jayce sighed and said "I was one of the top thugs of the boss here. I can hold my own to almost everyone except the boss himself."

Jack yipped and said "Hey Jay-Jay! I see light!"

Jayce raced after his siblings as I said "Guys, where are you?"

Connor's POV

"Connor!" yelled a girl, "Come on! We need to keep looking!"

I opened my right eye and looked at the denim clad girl standing in front me with her hands on her hips as her face was angry and her eyes blazed with fire. I sighed and she said "We need to keep looking!"

I kept one eye open and said "We have been looking but we need time to collect our bearings and have a plan. This is the best way to find Daniel, not simply digging through stone."

Liz crossed her arms and said "Well hurry up! Dan needs us!"

I opened both eyes now and scanned our area. We were on a high ledge on the mountain that was filled with some vegetation until it led inside of the cave where it was dark once more. It had been three long days of searching since we were separated from our little purple haired friend.

We had searched all over this maze of stone but we couldn't seem to find him. This place was massive and then the catacombs were just too many, I can't even get a good read on his aura since this place is too big.

I stretched from my sitting position and then Liz yanked me by the arm and said "Watch out you might fall!"

I pulled away from her and said "No I won't!"

True to word, I was practically at the edge of the cliff. I got a sly smirk on my face as I stood up and said "Oops!"

I slipped off the ledge to Liz's horror but I grabbed the cliff edge, vaulted myself up and started laughing as I said "You should have seen your face, it was hilarious!"

Her face turned beat red and she yelled and said "How would you like it if I threw you off the cliff!"

I rolled my eyes and brought my shades down from my head to my eyes and said "Relax, let's keep looking now."

Liz nodded as she picked up her bag and then she said to herself "Day three, still looking around. We keep getting more and more worried everyday. Dan where are you?"

Things haven't been really the same without our little friend. We found his Pokeballs and his Pokemon were upset to be parted from their trainer unwillingly. Jordan and Luke had been on a very searching mood ever since the incident and they want to find Dan so bad.

I snapped my fingers and then Animus and Arthus suddenly appeared close to us and I said "Have you found anything?"

"No," replied Animus, "We haven't yet,"

"We'll keep looking, are you good to go?" asked Arthus,

I nodded and said "We are, come on, we'll need you to keep away these wild Pokemon."

Arthus and Animus nodded as Liz said "So I stay behind you again while we pave the way?"

I nodded and said "Yes,"

As we walked inside the cave, I still felt the pang of guilt in my heart that it was my fault why Dan was separated from us. I do very well wish that he was okay but he's a smart kid, he'll manage.

As we stepped inside again, it felt really chilly again as Animus and Arthus scanned the dark area with their nocturnal vision. Arthus extended his right claw and nodded at his brother as Animus flashed and the room lit up.

As soon as the flash emitted, we were greeted by a pack of red eyes that gleamed with anger. Their bodies were canine and sleek with grey and black fur and their fangs looked like they could peel metal as if it was butter.

"Well, this is awkward." I stated,

The pack of Mightyeana's closed in and growled at us while Liz took several steps back and said "Uh Connor?"

"I got it," I replied snappily, "Arthus! Animus!"

The first dark type pounced but Animus formed a Bone Rush in his arms and smacked away the dark type in one go like a baseball bat. Arthus engaged one in mid air and quickly threw it back while more of the dark types closed in.

Animus kicked one in the face and spun in a circle and hit one square in the jaw as it leapt while Arthus smirked and ran into a crowd of them at unseen speeds with his claws glowing with Slash attacks and he only reappeared past them with his arms crossed and the Pokemon group of six only fell a few seconds after.

The battle between my two strongest raged on as Liz watched in awe. Animus and Arthus stood before the group growling while the pack of Mightyeana's took nervous steps back and after Animus and Arthus barked at the same time, the pack ran off whimpering in fear.

Arthus grunted in satisfaction while Animus turned to me and said "All clear"

I smiled and said "Thank you my friends,"

Arthus scoffed and said "That? No challenge! Even without Goldie I would have been fine,"

Animus growled a bit while Arthus laughed. Liz looked left and right in the lit up area and said "So where to now?"

I walked up to the middle of the intersection of the cave and wiped a stone and said "I marked this a day ago, we went left before; we can go right now."

Liz nodded and went first with Animus by her side and then Arthus said "We haven't found anything in three days, is the boy even still alive?"

I glared at Arthus and said "Knock on wood my friend! That's not a very nice thing to say,"

Arthus put his claws behind his back and said "I'm just stating facts, we haven't seen him and we might have just been wasting time."

Truly Arthus doesn't know Dan that well yet considering he's only been with us for around three weeks. Animus was colder than the Zoroark but he warmed up to Dan and Liz eventually. I knew Arthus would come along too.

I sighed and said "Arthus, he is still here. I know it, and besides, the boy is unique, you won't find anyone else like him. He actually reminds me of myself when I was a like him."

Arthus crossed his arms and said "Right, so he grew up in a big place, hailed, and-"

"Arthus stop," I stated in embarrassment, "Not like that, I meant that he was hardworking and very determined for something. He told me he would bring his oldest brother back home and his goal reaching is surprising. Even me, as I still search for the truth of my past, I cannot help but recognize a similar fire of determination like mine."

"Seems like you really care about the boy,"

"I care for both of them." I replied to Arthus, "These two are like my little siblings now and I will aid them to their full potential."

Arthus merely shot his head forward and said "Right, there's a presence up ahead. DO you mind?"

"Not at all"

Dan's POV

"So how exactly are we going to do this?" I asked Jayce,

"Simple," he replied, "You cross silently with Jack, Jill and Fline over there while I follow."

I sweat dropped and looked forward to see a group of assorted sleeping dark types like Shiftrys, Mightyeana and Liepards. We were going to have to cross this place to get to the next level of the catacombs.

I nervously looked at Jayce and said "Are you crazy!?"

"You'll be fine" whispered the Umbreon, "It's either this or the Tyrannitar area."

My eye twitched but I picked up Fline who was on my arms and then Jack and Jill were on my shoulders. I glanced at the group of sleeping Pokemon and Jayce said "Hurry up, I'll cover you."

Jayce pushed me by the leg and I said "Okay I'll go."

I nervously took a step and then another as Jack and Jill giggled and smirked at the sleeping forms as if it was a game. Fline was asleep in my arms as I took more steps and I walked around a sleeping Shiftry and I hopped over a Liepard, careful not to hit its tail.

Jack nearly slipped but I adjusted quick and Jack managed to hang on. Jill giggled while I looked at them and said "Quiet down guys"

Jack smiled while Jill giggled and said "Okay Den,"

I shook my head since they called me Den instead of Dan. I missed a Mightyeana's tail and finally got to the other side. I waved to Jayce who nodded at me and I said "Now you,"

He took a first step and quickly went through and went to the other side and when he did he smirked at me and said "See? No problem."

Suddenly, Fline was shaken awake and my eyes widened as Jayce and I looked at Fline and said "Shhh! Shh! Calm down-"

She then burst out crying and all the dark types woke up. Jack and Jill hopped in joy for some reason while I tried to calm down Fline. Jayce turned to the group of dark types and said "Run!"

He leapt and fired a Focus Blast on the ground, causing a large explosion that caused Fline to cry more and then I ran with Jayce by my side. I ran faster as I felt a Mightyeana nearly bite my leg off.

I hopped a bit while the twin Eevees on my shoulders squealed in excitement. Jayce looked at me as I said "We're here! What now!"

"Keep Running!" yelled Jayce as he shot a Focus Blast behind him,

We ran as fast as we could and I saw Shadow Ball shoot past us and a Bisharp appeared to meet us but Jayce smirked and ran faster as he shrouded himself in flames as he tackled the Dark/Steel type, sending it back as we ran.

We ran into a crossroad and Jayce duplicated into two with a double team and we managed to lose them. I sighed and breathed heavily as Jayce said "All ok?"

I nodded as Jack and Jill kept jumping up and down in joy. Fline finally calmed down and was laughing along with Jack and Jill until Jayce laughed and suddenly his eyes went dead and he fell over unconscious.

Jack and Jill leapt off and horded him while I kneeled and said "Jayce!"

I felt his head and Jack said "Jayce! How is he?"

I felt Jayce's forehead as I felt him groaning in pain. I recognized this and said "He's poisoned but how?"

Jayce groaned again and said "Stupid Bisharp got me with a Poison Jab before I hit him."

He collapsed after that and then from the dark corner of the cave, a sharp voice said "I see that Jayce is out of commission."

Form the darkness, a Bisharp, larger than the rest appeared and he slid his blades together and said "What a shame, I would have wanted to have a word with him."

Jack and Jill growled at the approaching Bisharp and said "Oh Please, like Jayce's younger siblings could do anything. Stop now and a fair trial might be given."

I looked at him and said "Who are you huh? Why do you keep hunting us?"

The Bisharp grinned and said "I am Byron, the Head Bisharp of the mountain. I am second in command to Lord Hexar. I used to be Jayce's partner until I found out he was hiding non dark types here, I had to fight him but he ended up having a scarred eye."

"And you having a severed blade." I shot back,

I noticed that his right arm blade was broken and he growled and went into fighting position as he said "I shall take you all as my prize now."

Jayce tried to get up but just collapsed again and Jill stood before her older brother and said "Jaycey! We can do it!"

"No!" said Jayce, "I won't allow it!"

Byron laughed and said "Isn't that nice, a little sibling conflict."

Jack stood beside his sister while I stood there with Fline in my arms. The male Eevee then said "Trust us Jaycey! We can fight too!"

Jayce looked at his two siblings determined eyes and he struggled to get up but I looked at him and said "Trust them Jayce, you need to rest."

He gave me a desperate look. He didn't want them to battle and be exposed to the life he had to live and now he would be watching them face his old partner and probably the second strongest in this mountain.

He looked at his two siblings and said "No you can't,"

The two looked surprised as he said "Not without some help, Dan tell them what to do, you're a trainer."

I nodded as he said "Please take care of them,"

He collapsed with exhaustion breathing slowly while Jack and Jill glared at Byron who's remaining blade extended and he rushed forward saying "Pathetic,"

Jack growled and surprised Byron by tackling him with his body glowing red with power causing the dark type to fly back into the rock wall. Jill blasted a blue ball of energy at the crashed figure causing it to take more damage.

My eyes widened in surprise as I said "That was Superpower and Focus Blast!"

"Yeah!" said Jack, "I copied that from Jaycey!"

"Me too!" said Jill

The Bisharp got up and said "Admitted that surprised me but it ends now."

He formed a black sphere of energy in his hands and fired it forward but the two gutsy Eevees rushed in and tackled him through the ball of energy and delivered more damage.

Byron caught them and extended his blade but I took a guess and said "Double Team!"

The twins evaded and slammed and Iron Tail square on the Bisharp's head causing him to stagger. The Pokemon grasped his head and an evil and eerie said "I guess the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree."

From behind Byron, a large specter like Pokemon floated to us and the thing emitted an evil aura. Byron bowed immediately and said "Lord Hexar!"

The Bisharh slowly rose from the ground and was violently slammed on the cave wall causing it to wince in pain and then the Spiritomb said "You worthless knife! Can't even handle two children?"

The Bisharp struggled against the wall and psychic grip of the Pokemon and it said to us "You and your friends have been a thorn to my side. Especially that Golden Lucario and Blue Zoroark!"

I raised a brow and said "Arthus and Animus? They're looking for me!"

The Spiritomb laughed and said "Too bad we have them now."

I froze as the Pokemon hissed and said "I will enjoy ending Jayce and his siblings."

Jack growled and lunged at the Pokemon but he was stopped in mid air and was quickly dealt with and thrown back to me while Jill fired a Focus Blast but it was redirected by the Pokemon sending it back to us causing a large amount of rocks to fall on my head.

I fell on the ground with my vision blurring and the last thing I saw was Fline desperately trying to shake me awake.

Connor's POV

I shook out of my daze and saw myself surrounded by Dark Type Pokemon. I was in some sort of throne room since we were captured by a big group of dark types. We would have won but we didn't want to bring the mountain down, especially here, this area is unstable on a high level.

I shook my head and saw Arthus and Animus sitting back to back while they were being guarded. The two looked hardly amused and were clearly itching for a battle. I smirked as Arthus nodded at me and a Mightyeana growled at him but Arthus just growled back, hard, and the Pokemon backed off. He pointed at Liz who was beside me and she just woke up from her sleep.

"What happened?" asked Liz,

"Long story short," I said, "We got caught,"

"What?!" stuttered Liz, "How?"

I raised a brow and not go in full depth on how I willingly got us captured so that we could hopefully find Dan here. Animus and Arthus had given up simply as I said and now we were right exactly where we wanted to be. The problem was, this place didn't look safe, it looks like it could collapse any moment.

Liz glared at me and said "Well?"

I nearly spoke the truth until we heard clacking sounds and from the dark cave, four Bisharps walked in. One carried an Umbreon, one carried two Eevees while the largest one carried a purple headed boy who seemed to be mumbling about food.

"Is that Dan?!" I asked,

The boy groaned and said "Food…"

"That's Dan," said Liz as she rolled her eyes, "I'm glad he's fine,"

I noticed the look of clear relief on her face and smiled but suddenly a dark and heavy aura pulsed and we turned to see a large Spiritomb floating inside the cave. The room was now looking like a Royal Council with all sorts of dark types ranging from tiny Purrloins to gigantic Tyrannitars and Hydregions.

The Spiritomb hissed and said "After weeks of searching, we have finally caught the thorns in my side. My once trusted right hand, Jayce."

The crowd of Pokemon erupted into growls and roars of cheer as the largest Bisharp raised the unconscious dark type in his hands. The Spiritomb got a evil look on its face as he said "And now, before we deal with the others, we shall execute the traitor!"

Everyone cheered but the tallest Bisharp looked uneasy. The Spiritomb looked at him and said "Byron, finish him."

"But my Lord," stuttered the steel/dark type, "I never wanted to kill Jayce, I wanted him back as my friend and partner."

"I said DO IT NOW!" yelled the Spiritomb,

The Bisharp dropped the Umbreon gently next to the Eevees as the nudged him and his right arm blade extended and turned black as he said "No"

"YOU DARE DEFY ME!" yelled the Spiritomb,

The Bisharp looked at the crowd and said "Do we yield to this Tyrant? Do we still need to be under him! We can make a change for the better! We can-"

He stopped and clutched his throat as he floated in mid air and the Spiritomb said "You were quite the subordinate Byron but now you shall-"

An explosion shoved the Spiritomb back violently while the crowd of Dark types turned to see a pack of terrified Mightyeanas away from Arthus and Animus who had their arms forward and Byron the Bisharp was dropped to the ground gasping for air.

The Bisharp got up and said "Thank you,"

"No problem," replied Arthus," Y0u want this battle or will we have it?"

Byron extended his blade and said "I would appreciate the help,"

Arthus flicked his wrists and his claws extended while Animus clapped his hands together and pulled them apart as he caught a blue staff of energy and twirled it around expertly before he smirked at the Spiritomb who got back up and said "Attack!"

The crowd of Dark Types didn't react as the Spiritomb hissed again and said "ATTACK YOU IMBECILES!"

Byron smirked and said "You see Lord Hexar, we do not agree with your ways anymore. We are our own Pokemon now, either step down or be dealt with."

The Spiritomb growled and Animus stood on his staff and said "I do ask you to attack, we need a exercise."

The Spiritomb fired a powerful Shadow Ball forward while Arthus and Byron ran forward and severed the sphere in half while Animus leapt above and slammed his staff on the Spiritomb's face causing it to stagger.

The dark types cheered while I got up and helped Liz up as well and said "We need to get to Dan and see if he's fine."

She nodded as we crept around the crowd to find Dan slumped on the ground with his hand on his stomach. The two Eevees nudged the Umbreon as he slowly got up and said "W-Where am I?"

I looked at him and said "In the throne room, my name is Connor and this is Liz, we are friends of Dan."

The Umbreon nodded and said "My name is Jayce and this is Jack and Jill, Dan has told us about you two."

Liz looked at me and the Umbreon probably confused as I spoke to the Pokemon fluently and she said "Uhh, what's going on? Is Dan fine?"

Dan's stomach rumbled as he moaned again and I said "He'll be fine."

She nodded as she felt his forehead and said "He looks weak,"

Jayce looked around as he was looking for something and said "Where is she?"

"Who?"

"Fline," replied Jill,

"Yeah!" said Jack, "Where's Fline!"

Suddenly, a small creature with slit eyes was seen hanging from a high ledge desperately clinging. Jayce's eyes widened as he growled and said "She must have gotten away and followed us, we need to save her!"

I quickly ran past Jayce and Liz said "Connor what are you doing?!"

"Something stupid!" I yelled,

I quickly maneuvered over the rocks and quickly climbed the rock wall but I lost my grip on a rock as it crumbled yet my hands fell on another one. Liz was yelling for me but it was very distant as I focused on climbing. I slipped again and now I was hanging by one hand.

I saw a rock a distance away and the little fire type was almost ready to fall. I sighed and said "Tally Ho,"

I clutched on my grip and ran on the rock wall as I let go and grabbed another and leapt as the fire type fell and caught it with my arms and covered it as we crashed on the ground with a thud.

I groaned and said in a pained voice "How are you little one?"

"Where's Daddy?" asked the little Pokemon,

"He's fine" I replied, "Follow me,"

I carried her and walked over to Liz and put her in Dan's arms as she smiled and said "Daddy!"

I smirked as Liz said "That's a Cyndaquill right? Where'd it come from?"

"I have a pretty good idea," I replied,

She wanted to ask again but Arthus flew over head and crashed on the wall. Animus grunted after deflecting a Shadow Ball and said "He's stronger than I thought,"

Byron dodged and said "There's a reason we all feared him."

Arthus got out of the dent and waved at me and Liz as Liz waved back and he leapt back into battle. He swiped across the Pokemon's face and it staggered back as Animus said "Stall him! I need time!"

The two Dark types nodded as they deflected another ranged attack and Hexar said "YOU HAVE NO CHANCE TO STOP ME!"

He raised his power again and a torrent of blue flames, or in other words a Will-o-Wisp fired towards the two Pokemon and were directly hit. The two got back up and Arthus said "A dance of blades?"

"Agreed," said Byron,

They extended their blades once more while Animus closed his eyes and put his palms together. Arthus tackled the Spiritomb as he glowed a powerful shade of red and Byron's blade turned green as he hacked again and again, severely weakening the Spiritomb.

Animus shook as he said "Out of the way now!"

Arthus and Byron leapt away as Animus opened his eyes and they were glowing a golden yellow ad he opened his palms while a hand sized orb of golden Aura shimmered and he thrust forward as he yelled "Aura Beam!"

A golden blast shot forward knocking back and defeating the Spiritomb as the ground shook and the cave threatened to collapse. All the Pokemon exited the cavern while Liz said "Connor we gotta go!"

I nodded at Animus who lifted Dan and Liz while Jayce and his siblings followed Arthus and Byron last out. I ran after them as I turned and saw the Spiritomb groaning as the cavern shook.

"Unacceptable…" the Pokemon muttered, "I don't believe it ends like this…"

I looked at the Pokemon one last time and before I knew it, I knew what I had to do.

No One's POV

Liz kicked and yelled as Animus, the golden fur ball, carried him on his shoulders as she said "Let me go! I can run!"

"Sorry!" said Animus,

He still carried her and Dan as they ran and behind them the cave was shaking and Connor still hadn't made it out. I held my breath as before the rocks caved in, he leapt out of the darkness with a Pokeball in his hand and he yelled "Run! Keep running!"

The cave was closing down as she saw the Umbreon run with the twin Eevees and the Bisharp carry the Cyndaquill. Arthus severed a rock in front of us and we finally made it out and not just out, out the base of the mountain. Turns out that cave leads out.

All the dark types had escaped, all but one, I sighed as Animus out me down and he said "Well…"

"The Spiritomb," said Arthus, "Didn't make it out,"

Connor raised a brow while Jayce walked over to Byron and said "Byron my friend thank you."

"No problem," replied Byron, "I'm guessing you won't stick around?"

"Nah," replied Jayce, "Me and the twins wanna see the world."

"I understand," said Byron, "The others need a leader and you would have been the best option my friend."

Jayce shook his head and said "You would do a better job, I've always been more of a free spirit right?"

"Right you are Jayce, right you are." Replied the Bisharp,

"So how will you do it then? See the world I mean," asked Byron,

Jayce looked at the sleeping Dan and said "I think I found our meal ticket. Besides, I want to see and experience some battles outside the hive ya know? Not just to survive but for fun."

"I wish you luck then my friend," said Byron, "Do visit some times."

Byron leapt and went back inside the mountain as Jayce looked at Dan and said "You think he'll do it?"

"Do what?" asked Animus,

"Take us with him." Replied Jayce,

"No problem," said Arhthus, "This kids got spunk and he'll take you guys no matter what."

"Thanks" replied the Umbren, "Hear that guys? Dan's taking us around the world!"

"Cool!" yelled Jack and Jill,

The two Eevees hopped around while Connor held a Pokeball and Liz said "What's wrong with you?"

He quickly put it on his belt and said "Nothing, I think Dan is waking."

They all crowded Dan as he coughed and opened his eyes to see his the Pokemon around him. Connor quickly let loose his Pokemon to watch him be dog piled by a energetic Pichu, a red Riolu, a heavy Marshtomp, a prickly Skorupi, a happy Snivy and a large Braviary.

Dan yelled and said "Guys! Help! Air!"

Connor and Liz laughed while Connor slowly slid the mysterious ball in his bag.

AN

Here it is! Finally! Sorry it was exams and we came form a trip! We really apologize!

So hopefully this makes up for it! Next up is Saffron!

Later guys!

RM & JG signing off….