Special thanks for KHLegacy for the Cooperation on this chapter.
The Dark Portal opens and Kuran steps out, noting that Will wasn't with him "Again separate paths? Nice..."
He looked around to see where he is and notes that he is in a dessert and wondered "Just where am I?"
Then he heard a sound and he whirls around and summons his Keyblade… only to see that instead of his blade six black balls with a white button appears and falls on the ground. He goes on his knees and looks at these balls. "What the?"
he is suddenly passed by a large vehicle that stops not to far from him
Coughing up by the dust, Kuran turns to the vehicle and asks "What now?"
Suddenly a kid about Ten years old, with bluish-black hair a red shirt with white pinstripes brown pants and a blue cap on his head and goggles, with a blue bipedal jackal like creature with black markings comes out. "Who are you?"
"Kuran… Kuran Yuma" told the darkness user "Why do you ask?"
A red headed boy with a machine on his arm dressed primarily in black and yellow came out with the others. "We don't usually see someone willing to trek the Deserts of Orre unless they absolutely have to."
"Why don't you hitch a ride with us?" said an older boy hair like the youngest only spiky with a Red and black baseball cap with a green insignia.
"Given that I don't have anything better to do right now, sure" told Kuran and went over, looking where he could still have some space to join into… this vehicle.
"Those are some pretty dark warm looking clothes, are you sure you're gonna be okay?" Asked a blue haired kid with a white and Green shirt and blue hair wearing glasses.
"I'm kind of with Max on this one not my ideal choice for traveling the deserts of Orre." the Red haired boy added.
"Not the first time I am traveling in a dessert with these. I am more concerned about WHERE I am… because somebody thought it was funny to place me into the middle of a place I don't know"
"You're in the Orre region." said the Red haired boy. "My names Michael this is Eevee." he replied pointing to a brown fox like Pokemon who wagged her tail.
"Vuiii!" she cooed.
"I'm Ash this is Pikachu." he replied pointing to a yellow mouse like Pokemon with pointed ears and red cheeks on his shoulder.
"Pika, Pikachu!"
"I'm Rosa it's nice to meet you." said a girl with a pink visor white and blue shirt yellow shorts and leggings.
"I'm Tai." the goggle headed boy stated jabbing a thumb at himself. "This is Rio."
"Raaa!" the blue jackal puppy Pokemon called wagging his tail.
"My names Max." said the boy with glasses.
"Like I said before: Kuran. Kuran Yuma" was his reply, looking at the creatures… if he recall it correctly they were called… Pokemon. Thought his experience with Pokemon are rather limited… to two Anthro Pokemons and with a… different capturing procedure.
"So Kuran what Pokemon do you have?" Tai asked pointing at the Pokeballs on his belt
"None… they are all empty. I had these as I found myself here"
"Tai we should wait till we're off the Caravan." Ash told him making his brother pout.
"I thought I should get on," chuckles Kuran "After all… we are in the middle of nowhere if I see it correctly"
Ash nodded scratching the back of his head. "That's what I meant."
He nods and climbs into the vehicle and asks "So… where we are going?"
"Battle Town." Michael replied. he suddenly saw Tai hang his head and Ash give a sad glance to him. "We'll have to make it quick we need to meet with Professor Krane who may have a clue as to some strange creatures that have been attacking people and Pokemon."
"Black with yellow eyes and some bearing a sort of symbol on the body?" asks Kuran.
"How'd you know?" Rosa asked. "That's what some of the reports have been saying others have just been a pitch black color."
"I know what they are" told Kuran "And let's say… I belong to a group trying to get rid of them"
"Great!" Michael beamed. Soon the Caravan came to a stop and everyone got out Tai heading in another direction.
"Thought given my situation now… I need a teacher. And a Pokemon" spoke Kuran, wondering where he could get both…
"Professor Krane's lab." Michael replied. "There's plenty to learn about being a trainer there and the lab is where beginning trainers of the Orre region get their starter Pokemon they vary from what ever the Professor is able to get there was a choice of Abra, Poochyena and Tyrouge once.
"Alright… then lead the way please" told Kuran
The group headed to the HQ Lab and went in. Kuran looked curiously and asks "Say… what you are doing in this place?"
"We research Aura and how it works and reacts and the different kinds. Aura is the life force that flows through all living things but some people and Pokemon like Riolu or Lucario have a stronger aura. So much so that if trained to do so they can manipulate it." Michael explained.
"How far manipulate it" asks Kuran while looking at Michael. "Like creating… objects out of it?"
Michael crossed his arms. "Hmm perhaps but with Aura Guardians being all but extinct now it's hard to figure out what they knew on their own."
Ash blinked and looked around. "Tai's gone I'm going to go find him."
"see ya" told Kuran and asks "So… where is this Professor Krane, regarding a Pokemon for me?" not noticing that something is watching him from a corner.
Suddenly a shape rushes at Kuran and attaches itself to his face. "MMMPH!"
He stumbled back, grabbing whatever was on his face and tried to take it off, getting the need of fresh air. Once he managed it, he gasped loudly and looks what was on his face.
a small black fox Pokemon chuckling to himself with red tufts of fur. "It's a Zorua!" Michael exclaimed.
"A Zorua? Have been dealing with one of them before" told Kuran before turning to the dark type "Any reasons why you jumped on my face like that?"
Michael sighed. "According to Krane this one's a bit of a handful and it likes doing that as a hello. I didn't think using a Zorua for a starter was a good idea."
They suddenly heard Tai and Ash screaming outside.
he turns and runs out to see what is going on, still carrying the zorua in his arms. Once he got out he stopped "Damm! Just why now?"
The two boys are surrounded by Heartless. Kuran cursed his current lack of a Keybalde, put the dark type down and rushes in, summoning blades of darkness to cut through the first few heartless.
"How are you doing that?!" Ash asked he was suddenly called by Pikachu.
"Pikapi!" he called.
"Oh! Pikachu use Thunderbolt!" Ash called.
"PIIIIIIKKAAAAACHUUUUUUUUU!" he shouted zapping several Heartless into oblivion.
Tai glared as Rio shadow clawed the Heartless, the Riolu called to it's trainer.
"Okay use…." but images of Helioptile flooded his mind. "Rio gets out of there!" Tai suddenly called.
"RAAAH?!" Rio asked shaking his head wildly. Kuran cut through more of the heartless and called "Tai! Don't stand around! Help or get lost!"
Turning to the Zorua "The same goes for you,"
The Zorua as if insulted suddenly blasted everything in a straight line including Kuran with Dark pulse.
Tai looked very guilty."Tai just go we're fine!" Ash called.
"But." Tai muttered when he suddenly saw a Neo Shadow right above him. "AAAHHHH!"
"TAAAI!" Ash called shoving him out of the way and getting clawed himself. Kuran shook his head by the attack and had to take a moment to look around. He saw that Ash got wounded and threw a set of daggers to get the heartless into distance before rushing over and slice up a path "Tai. help Ash to get out of here"
"Right!" Tai replied recalling Rio and with all his strength pulled the older boy over his back and dragged him away.
"Kuran on your left!" Michael called. instantly Kuran sent a dagger at the Heartless. "Eevee use hidden power, sixty degrees north!"
"VUUIIII!" she shouted unleashing the attack hitting the remaining Heartless killing them off
Kuran looks around and asks "Is anybody else hurt?"
"Not me" told Michael "Eevee is alright as well." then they look at Zorua who was fine as well. Kuran runs over to Ash and examines the wound. "Not good… they didn't get deep but left an effect on him"
Starting to look in his pocket he took out a bottle with a liquid in there. "Drink this… taste horrible but helps. Is a special mix from a friend of mine who… knows how to deal with that."
Ash obeyed but as he drinks it, he shows reaction to the terrible taste of it. The wounds on his chest began to heal and Kuran looks at Tai "What stopped you?"
"I…...I…." he looked down guilt ridden.
"Kuran just leave him alone it's fine." Ash told him sternly.
"NO IT'S NOT!" Tai stated almost ready to cry running off as fast as he could.
"Tai wait!" Rosa cried chasing after him.
"Stay away from me!" Tai called Rio tried to run to him.
"YOU TOO!" Tai sobbed making his partner stop in his tracks before the boy turned and ran again. Once he was out of sight Rio followed again.
"Can anybody tell me what is going on?" asks Kuran "I can tell that something hurting him but what?"
"I take it is about Helioptile" told Rosa "You see... " she began to looks for good words to explain it.
"We found it in the forest injured and all alone." Max added. "Nurse joy healed her up, but Tai while exploring the town found Helioptile's original trainer. But he was a terrible abusive trainer and tricked Tai into giving her back to him so he could beat her up and he killed her."
"he feels helpless and weak since he couldn't prevent it… and guilty since he gave her back" summarize Kuran "I think I can understand his pain… I went through something similar"
He turns "I am going to go look for him… can you try to clean up here?"
"I think we can do that" replied Rosa "Good luck"
Kuran nods and began to look for Tai. Luckily it was easy to find his Riolu and follow him. On the way he notices he was followed and notices the Zorua from earlier. "Why are you following me?"
The Zorua jumps up and sits on his shoulder.
"I take you want to go with me huh?" chuckles Kuran "Then I need a name for you… how does… Zatana sounds to you?" while scratching her chin. While still following the fighting tpye.
Rio looked at the ground sad, as they walked.
Meanwhile somewhere, in the forest Tai was sobbing to himself.
"It's all my fault, I'm a monster, I shouldn't be around Ash's life has been nothing but trouble since I met him."
"Tai! Are you here?" he heard Kuran call "we have to talk! I heard about Helioptile I can understand you"
Tai gasped "And jumped up trying to run. But in front of him a dark portal opens and Kuran steps out "Here you are!"
And Tai tried to run into the different direction "Tai! Wait!"
"Leave me alone!" Tai cried running away as fast as his legs could carry him. However Kuran didn't give up and chased him, getting closer and jumps on him once he was close enough to catch the boy "Now you stay here and listen to me!"
"No let me go!" Tai shouted struggling violently even trying to bite Kuran.
However he holds him down and told "I won't! You will listen to me! I know how it is to be helpless about losing somebody you care for"
"Horrible and do you want to know something else I have powers that make me a monster a destructive freak of nature the minute I saw Helioptile get murdered I went on a rampage and tried to kill her trainer but Ash stopped me and I ended up hurting his arm! I clawed it but in my rage I remember wanting to crush it then kill him next….." Tai instantly broke down into tears.
"Oh yeah? Then how about this: If I don't watch out with something I have, I turn into a city wiping monster!" told Kuran "I lost my mother to a sickness as I was a child. A few years later I lost the next important person in my life through murder! A murder in front of my eyes!" told Kuran "I got all this in my live and have to deal with it!"
Tai stared in shock. "I'm sorry..." he muttered hanging his head in shame. "Ash….I didn't want to hurt him I'd never hurt him on purpose."
"It happened" told Kuran "You have to live with it. But you can learn from it… about yourself. About what you can do."
He sat down, letting go of Tai "It will be a hard way… but if you learn to restrain it first and slowly make process towards controlling it so you can use it for your advantage"
Tai blinked. "I guess." he muttered staring at his hand.
"it will be hard but worth it" told Kuran, forming a darkness dagger in his hand "It took me a lot of time to learn how to control this so far to produce whatever I want"
"That's cool." Tai muttered as the Dagger was made to disappear.
"Your abilities have different ties then mine" explains Kuran "You are maybe able to… do a different variation of my darkness weapons but it took some time… so don't get frustrated if it doesn't work"
"Alright." Tai huffed. "how's Ash doing?"
"Recovering. Though he will hate me for the terrible taste of the medicine I gave him" told Kuran "We should go back now… the others will probably be worried about you"
Tai Nodded wiping his nose "Alright."
And the two began to head back… and they happen to run into Rosa who was looking for them "Here you are! We all have been worried since you didn't show up for a while."
"Took longer to talk down" told Kuran "But now we are ready to get back." told Kuran.
"Yeah." Tai agreed. "Hey where's Ash?"
"taken to examination" told Rosa "The professors didn't believe that here is anything that could heal human wounds that quickly"
"At least not commonly in this place" told Kuran with a shrug "depending on where you are and what you are looking for it can be difficult to come across these potions. I even know a variant no shop is selling and only found by defeating certain heartless… And don't ask how this works."
Then he looks at Zatana before asking everybody "And… with the does I have to talk about her? Because… I am pretty sure somebody might be searching for her by now"
"I told the professor she went after you." Max replied. "So I wouldn't worry."
"I'm gonna go see Ash." Tai called, heading inside.
"And I want to talk with the professor." told Kuran "To give me some details about her… I prefer to know how to deal with a Zorua like feeding and stuff"
"I see this as a reasonable decision" told Max "So we better make sure that you know. And that you get her Pokeball"
The group went inside where Krane was waiting for them. "Ahh Michael, you're back and Zoura Kuran and Tai have returned very good."
"I thought this is the first time we meet" chuckles Kuran and holds his hand out "Kuran. Kuran Yuma"
"Sorry." Krane replied sheepishly" I had overheard your name from Michael."
"Not a problem" told Kuran "So… can I have the Pokeball of Zatana here? And of course a good explanation on how to take care of her?"
"Of course" told Krane with a smile "Just listen…"
Six hours later…
Kuran was lying on a couch, a bag of ice on his head while Zatana was sitting on his stomach, looking at him. "Man…" told Kuran "Is it normal to have headache from so much of an explanation?"
"If you listen to Krane…." Michael replied sweat dropping.
"I've been a trainer longer than you and my head hurts!" Tai moaned, "And Ash, poor Ash is out cold."
Indeed Ash was lying in the corner with swirls in his eyes, it was stuff he knew but the way Krane explained it…
"Next time I buy a book to guide me" told Kuran "So… what is to do next? Aside getting me some experience as trainer?"
"Any way you got the gist Kuran?" Ash asked, unaware he was being watched by a dark force.
"Most of it" told Kuran "I just need some practical experience to understand the rest."
"Then let's find you some exercise!" told Ash with determination. Kuran chuckles and stroke Zatana on the head "Where should we go?"
"how about the battle tower?" offered Tai. "It's a great place to battle!"
Michael nodded, "Yeah." the group left but Ash turned back looking at the place he had been watched. "Hey Ash what's wrong?" Michael asked.
"I thought I saw…." Ash started but shook his head. "No it's nothing, let's go!"
"Pikachu!" Pikachu called jumping onto his shoulder and the group took off finding themselves at the battle tower a facility not too far from Mount Battle.
Kuran asked "Did they seriously build a facility INSIDE an active volcano?"
"Yes." told Rosa "Is there a problem?"
"Only one… what do you do if this thing decides to erupt?"
Rose wanted to say something but was speechless. Turning to Max, the boy adjusted his glasses and wanted to explain… only to realize he doesn't know the answer himself.
Michael sighed. "I'm not sure if anyone's ever thought of that, I'm sure they have something in mind, but Mount Battle hasn't erupted for twenty years so…"
Tai blinked. "Way to throw in the fridge horror Kuran." he muttered as they headed to the Facility.
Kuran looks and whistles while wondering "So how do we proceed now?"
"Simple: Go to the counter to register yourself and you can start of. You fight the trainers in rows of five and then you can rest up a bit before the next row… you continue until you defeated either all 100 platforms or get beaten." Michael told him.
"Sounds a bit drastic to get me used to battling." admits Kuran but shrugs "But given the situation I think the cold water course is the best one."
Then he moves to the counter to get registered...only to be asked to show either his Pokedex or pass… and Kuran had to sweatdrop since… he had neither.
"Uh oh now what?" Rosa asked.
"Kuran can't get in without one and he doesn't have a Pokedex." Tai added he suddenly saw Ash turned around and jerk. "Ash what's wrong."
"Something's Following me." he muttered warily.
"Team Rocket?" Max suggested.
"No it seems different besides Team Rocket has had plenty of Opportunities to pop out and say their dumb motto." Ash replied.
"They aren't the the smartest ones I take" wondered Kuran and and the others just nodded
"And why is this team Rocket after you?" asks Kuran "Don't tell me that you have something that belongs to them"
"They want my Pikachu but because they won't give up, they keep going after him." Ash noted petting Pikachu.
"Pika, Pika." Pikachu added.
"And… why does they want your Pikachu? No offense but he doesn't look like anything that anybody with clear mind would want to steal" told Kuran and Pikachu looked very offended by this comment.
"I don't get it myself" admits Rosa "After all Pikachu's are in some regions more than common and easy to get by."
"They said it was because Pikachu was more powerful than regular Pikachu something about his power being beyond his evolutionary level." Ash crossed his arms. "Mind you this was only back when I started as trainer and got to Virdian city."
"And imagine how powerful Pikachu has become since then." Michael muttered in Awe.
"If they try anything while I am around, they would regret it" told Kuran "I have better things to do than to deal with wannabe criminals"
"WHAT DID YOU SAY?" came from a corner and they turned to see…
"Are they these infamous Team Rocket?" asks Kuran with a deadpan.
"Sadly yes." Tai sighed.
"Insult us all you like but you can't deny." Jessie started.
"That, We're the most nostalgic part of the show you'll find." James added.
"A force that strikes fear in the Hearts of the Valiant!" Jessie called.
"Snuffing out the Light to bring forth the shadows!" James added.
"You'll fear us for eternity!" Meowth added.
Suddenly a dagger flew past them, coming from Kuran "stop that! I have seen commercials with better speeches than this! And fear you? Compared what I faced so far, you fit better in a comedy club"
"What how dare you!" Jessie snarled.
"Don't you know who we are?!" James snapped.
"Only what they told me… and from what I heard: Criminals from the loser department, not able to do anything right in long run," told Kuran and two swords of darkness appears in his hands. "I bet you don't know how to fight without your Pokemon" pointing one of his swords at them.
Team Rocket looked really scared, "Ha!" Jessie stated, "Like I said you don't know who your messing with!" she James and Meowth suddenly swapped out clothes wearing samurai like outfits. "All members of Team Rocket are trained in the art Physical Combat!"
"WHOOOOAAAAAAAHHH!" James and Meowth went.
POP! "WOBBUFFET!" he called in his own samurai garb.
"Not very convincing." Tai deadpanned.
"Prove it" told Kuran, storming forward to the four, the blades ready to strike The four charged back however not only where their blades cut in two the Darkness seemed to explode around them.
"What a joke!" told Kuran "Even the lowest of the heartless gives more challenge" while turning around to look at the three a blade pointing at them. "Or do you wish to continue?"
Team Rocket blanched and immediately turned to Ash, "BLAST US OFF ALREADY!"
Ash sighed, "Alright, Pikachu thunderbolt em!"
"PIIIIIKAAAAAAACHUUUUUUU!" he shouted zapping the three and sending them blasting off.
"We're blasting off again!" Team Rocket shouted.
"Wobbaaaaa!" Wobuffet shouted as they dinged in the sky.
"That's… was rather unimpressive" told Kuran.
"No kidding." Tai agreed.
"So… began Rosa "What should we do now?"
"Getting Kuran either a pass or a Pokedex?" suggested Max and Kuran sighs "Why not keeping it more simple and I train with you?"
Team Rocket groaned as they laid in a heap. "Owwww some twerp just comes out of no where and tears us down before blasting us off." Jessie groaned.
"And didn't even need a Pokemon… just a pair of strange looking swords" sighs Meowth and James wondered "Perhaps these blades were Pokemon… I heard here is a Pokemon that looks like a sword."
"They certainly didn't act like Pokemon." Jessie grumbled.
"But how do you explain it then?" asks James "These weapons weren't made of Aura… I don't even know if something like Aura Weapons exist but I don't think that a normal human could pull that off as well."
"I agree on this one" told Meowth "I mean these things were completely dark, come out of nowhere and he even blasted us with this stuff."
"Hmm well, I don't know everything we'll have to figure out how to stop him if we want Aura 001 and Pikachu." Jessie growled.
"Then how about… you get help?" asked a voice and the three jumped, looking and then look confused
"What… what are you?" asks Meowth and the being chuckles "A friend… a friend who offers powers to defeat those who always defeat you…"
"Huh?" Team Rocket as a figure towered over them.
Later with Ash and Co…..
"Noom." Tai went as he bite into his pizza still feeling a little upset but much better.
Kuran ate a piece as well while Zatana was chewing on her own food. Then he asks "Something wrong?"
"Still a little down that's all" Tai sighed.
"Ah. Anyway… where are these dark creatures sighted anyway?" wondered Kuran "Because in most cases they have a leader and dealing with this leader, will ensure that they disappear"
"So far I could gather" began Tai "They mostly appeared within places with bigger Cipher activities… do you really think that here is a connection?"
"Wouldn't surprise me" told Kuran "Not the first time they team up with bad guys. It is even a rather common trait."
Michael sighed, "thing is we're not sure where Cipher is at the moment. We've lost track of them."
Max looked around, "Seems we've lost track of Ash too he went to go get seconds and hasn't come back yet."
Rosa waved it off. "I wouldn't worry he's probably stuffing as much food on his plate as he can."
Tai however was very nervous he get up and went to the food counter, "Ash?" he called as he went.
Kuran just shrugs and asks "Can I have a map of this place? Because… I have a sort of a talent for good guesses. At least so long they involve finding trouble."
"By all means." Michael replied simply and gives a map. Kuran opens it up and studies it
Immediately Tai came back in almost teary eyed. "Ash is gone!"
"And knowing our luck he got kidnapped by somebody and we have to rush to his rescue" sighs Kuran "Where did anybody see him last time?"
"He got up and went to the food counter." Max muttered.
"We've gotta find him now!" Tai shouted.
"First we have to know where he might be" told Kuran calmly "Just storming out without an idea where to look isn't helping"
Then he moves towards the counter and asks "Did anybody see a young boy with black hair?"
"Yeah, he was piling food on his plate like no tomorrow then suddenly a couple of Nurse Joys told him that he had a Phone call." Said a man. "They went down that hall."
"A couple? That's a few too many to just tell him about a call" told Rosa and Kuran agrees with her,
"We better go over and see if we find more clues!"
"Why? Isn't it clear what is going on? He's been kidnapped!" panicked Tai.
And Kuran grabbed him "And again: We have only clues which we are going to follow!"
Tai wanted to say something but Kuran was already heading down the hall to see if he can find more clues.
"Wait for me!" Tai cried following.
They reach down the halls and they don't see any human there. Tai however shivered a little. "There's something….dark that had...been here I'm not sure how to describe it. Ash where are you?!"
"Heartless..." mumbled Kuran "That is bad"
"Better we look for clues" told Rose and looks around "Just… where to start?"
"I don't know." Tai muttered his eyes watering but he suddenly felt the wind inside was a ransacked room with a broken open window. "Kuran in here!"
He came in and went directly to the window to see what is there by the outside "Kuran see anything out there?"
"Only one thing. That is parts of something"
"What kind of parts?" Tai asked looking around, "How are they gonna help us find Ash?! Why would someone even take him!?"
"parts of a car. Black and very big." Kuran told him.
Tai's eyes got wide, "You don't think Ash is? Any idea where they could've gone?" he asked.
"Name me a pokemon that could smell the ground to follow the tracks before the wind blew it away?" asks Kuran quickly and everybody looks at Rio while Max said "Also we could try to follow Ashs aura"
"Max also has a Growlithe too it's better to rely on that." Michael stated much to Rio's dismay.
Max pulled out a Pokeball "Growlithe come on out!"
POP! "Grooowwll!"
"Growlithe Ash is missing we need you to pick up his scent." Max instructed.
The fire type smells on the ground and began to bell once he got something, running towards a direction to follow the found scent.
"Follow that Growlithe!" Tai stated running after him with the others following.
They keep on running until they began to reach a ship… and Kuran asks "Is it normal that a ship is in the middle of a dessert?"
"No it's not…" Michael muttered.
"I know that ship that's the S.S. Libra!" Rosa called.
"Yeah you're right!" Tai stated.
"I take this ship was missing?" Kuran asked.
"Missing? It was stolen! By a large Pokemon! Ash had an idea on what it was but he wasn't sure…." Tai replied glancing at the ship sadly. "What are we still doing here!" and with that he rushed towards the ship. "Hang on Ash!"
They followed and as they reached it, they encountered Heartless.
"Shit" cured Kuran and cuts some down while Zatana starts using her moves to attack them as well.
"Rio use Shadow Claw!" Tai shouted, Rio slashed through several Heartless killing them all.
"I fear more are waiting inside this ship"
"Better we have our Pokemons ready" suggested Rosa.
"Yeah I hope Ash is okay." Tai muttered sadly.
"If they took him, then it means they need him alive." reasoned Kuran
"Right but for what?" Tai asked. "To get Pikachu? Could Team Rocket have done this?" he asked as they climbed the stairs.
"Wouldn't be this a bit of an overkill?" asks Kuran "Or are they getting desperate?"
"Given that they failed to get Pikachu since 1997 I am not surprised" told Max "that's only counting the official anime. We didn't count in the thousands of fanfictions, fancomics and other fan arts, role plays and in whatever they failed to get Pikachu"
"Don't forget about mods and hacks which were also created" added Rosa
"Considering that: I wouldn't be surprised if they finally sold their soul to the devil… or worse to the heartless" told Kuran
Zatana sighs on Kurans head, not really in the mood to see these losers again.
The group suddenly heard muffled yelling from nearby, "Who was that?" Rosa asked. They quickly followed the sound.
They rushes through the ship, while dealing with some more groups of heartless until they found themselves in a large hall… with a moving bag in the middle.
"ASH!" Tai cried rushing towards the bag.
"Wait Tai! This might be a-" began Kuran but as Tai touches the bag, an egg shaped creature with red eyes jumps out, stretching its tongue out.
Kuran blinks for a few moment "This isn't a heartless…"
"Nope, it isn't!" Told a voice behind them. By turning around they saw something that resembles a large bird in a generic mage's cloak and hat. Its arm-like wings are lined with piano keys, and end in five feathered fingers. The bottom of its body hides it feet (assuming it has feet) and is decorated with bells. It wears a wig-like spellbook underneath its hat, with the pages resembling hair. Underneath its beak, it has a curled, yellow pouch-like part on its neck. It carries a broom with it, which has a purple shaft and a glass-looking sphere on one end.
"Where is my brother you ugly cosplaying Pelliper?!" Tai growled.
"You want him? Then how about a deal?" told the bird, not showing any offence about the insult ""I have to show you something anyway"
"And why should we bother to look?" asks Kuran and the creatures chuckles "Simple! Ash's life is on the line… and of everybody else as a fact"
Michael's eyes narrowed, "What are you getting at?"
"Who cares take me to my brother NOW!" Tai shouted.
"Hold on Tai, we need to be careful here he just said all of our lives were at stake which means we've walked right into a trap!" Michael warned.
"Half trap" was the reply "Because even if you escape… the trouble is still there"
Then a flash blends them and they found themselves… in space?
"What the?" asks Rosa and they could see that above earth a ring appears and out of the ring shoots a meteoroid, hitting earth and the destruction causes swipes across the planet
"You see" told their enemy "This will happen if you don't cooperate! A little something that will happen in the future, caused by a different universe which is just trying to survive"
Tai glared but sighed, "I just wanna see my brother what do you have to show us?"
"Simple: I will make sure this meteor won't impact here… for the simple price of Tai's loyalty, the Pikachu and Kurans death" told the bird "A small price for saving millions others, don't you agree?"
"My Loyalty?" Tai asked, "let me see Ash first!"
He waves his hands and a magic ball appears, showing Ash in a cage… which is hanging on a flying heartless which is above the sea
"Ash!" Tai yelled panicked "Ash can you hear me!?"
"This is only an image" told Kuran "But the intention is clear: Play along or he gets a bath."
"You nasty- RRRRG what do you want with me and Pikachu?!" Tai snapped.
"Ask them" was his reply and Team Rocket jumps on the field, looking… darker and edgier than usual.
"Team Rocket?!" Michael asked surprised.
"Threatening the world and Ash's life just for his Pikachu!? That's low even for the three of you!" Rosa snapped.
"Something's different about them...But now it all makes sense!" Tai stated as he clenched his fist and held back tears. "Everyone's gonna suffer if I say no, everyone's in danger solely because I exist!" he stated trembling.
Kuran puts a hand on him "Even if you don't exist, I would say that this move were coming."
Tai nodded with tears in his eyes, "Hey how about this you eat my heart but you let Ash go and leave Pikachu and Kuran alone?" he asked.
"WHAT?! Tai are you insane!?" Michael shouted.
"RAAUUUUU!" Rio shouted shaking his head frantically.
"I can't just let Kuran and Ash die but I can't let them get me or Pikachu me going away is probably the best thing right now!" Tai stated shutting his eyes in fear gritting his teeth.
Max growled up at Team Rocket, but caught something "Team Rocket something weird with them!"
Michael glanced over at the younger boy then activated his aura reader, "You're they've got an aura similar to a Shadow Pokemon's!"
"They took a deal with the heartless" told Kuran "Which means…"
"You got that right twerp!" told James and snaps his fingers and heartless appears "Payback time!"
"Sorry pal! As tempting as your offer might be… Keybearers are too annoying to leave them alive. Especially one who plans to stop us. Of course I could try to stop his friend but… do you know how hard it is to stop somebody who cannot die?"
Tai blanched, "Who is he talking about the guy who can't die?"
"My friend and partner on this mission" told Kuran "His name is Will and… since an event you could cut his head off and all he does is laugh a little before putting the head back on the body, giving the body finds the head."
"Sounds like fun but what we do if we don't do something Ash is gonna get a watery grave!" Tai stated.
"I know" told Kuran, then noticing something "Say… is a raising water tornado normal here?"
Michael raised an eyebrow, "It's not normal anywhere why do you ask?"
He points to the orb and they saw a water tornado rising to Ash
"Huh? What is that?" asks the bird and Jessie asks "is it… what I think it is?"
"What? Jessie what do you know?!" Tai shouted.
"He didn't tell you about this?" asked James
"About what?" asks the bird and then the heartless what was holding the cage was washed away from the water tornado and it broke apart, revealing a giant white bird which grabbed Ash's cage.
"What… is that?" asks Kuran shocked. Max stares as well "Is that… the legendary Lugia?"
"What does it want with Ash?!" Tai asked in a terrified tone.
"This stupid bird is taking my price!" shouts the pelican "Team Rocket! Deal with them! I have to take down a bird!"
"Of course!" told Jessie and James add "Even if Lugia is trying to save this brat, you brats are going to fall!"
"And this time we got an unstoppable army!" finished Meowth
Kuran looks up at Zatana who still lies on his head "Did you get a memo stating that Heartless are unstoppable?"
The dark type tilts the head for a moment before shaking her head, followed by jumping down and get ready to fight.
Tai growled he suddenly lit up his hands with claws coming out. "Get out, of my way!"
"Not until we got you!" told James "Heartless! Destroy them!"
the Heartless lunge but Rio takes several out with his Shadow Claw and Tai his aura claws.
Zantana used her dark type moves while Kuran used his blades and cut through the heartless, calling to the others "Fall back or make sure you don't get hit!"
Michael nodded, "Okay! come on!" he told Max and Rosa who fell back keeping Eevee, Rosa's Dewott, Dewa and Max's Mawile out if necessary.
"Tai! Let's focus on Team Rocket!"
"Okay!" Tai replied trying to cut through Heartless to get to them.
And Kuran storms forward but one of the heartless jumped in front of him, making him fall down and his blades flew to Team Rockets feet.
Shaking his head Kuran rises up and saw that Jessie and James had his blades in their hands
"Such Irony!" James muttered
"To be killed by your own weapons" Jessie added.
"It would be more ironic if we could make it that you did it yourself" told Meowth and Jessie impales Kuran through the chest while James slams his one into Kurans head
They stepped away from each other and Jessie told "Goodbye brat!"
"Enjoy hell" told James
Max gasps loudly while Rosa screams in shock. Michael could only stare taht the scene and Tai...
Tai stares in horror his head hangs and aura surges around him. "RAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" it now explodes in all directions killing the Heartless and he rushes at Team Rocket relentlessly beating on them.
"Tai… calm down" told Kurans voice and everybody stares at the Keybearer as he walks up as nothing happened with him. Slowly the dark weapons disappears and reveals he was fine. Zatana rushed up and jumps on Kuran, glad that he was alright
"Kuuuuurrraaa-Uunnng." Tai muttered as he shook his head seeing Team Rocket in a heap and gasping in horror. "What have I done?!" he asked tears streaming down his face he started to cry.
"Tai!" Rosa stated hugging him.
Kuran moves over to Team Rocked and checked on them "They only look worse than they are… in fact if I had done the job, they would be much worse to bay. But their darkness is… relative back to normal."
"So...they're alive?" Tai sniffed sighing in relief, "that's good."
"Just beaten up" told Kuran "Should we scare them by showing that I am still alive?"
"YES!" Tai stated loudly and desperately.
Looking at him Kuran told "Calm down"
"Okay, okay! But after everything they've done today I want the Karma to be good!" Tai replied.
"Just let's hope Ash is alright" told Kuran "So, who does know about this… Lugia was it?"
"Lugia is a legendary Pokemon from Johto" told Max "It is said to control the seas but… sorry I don't recall why it would help Ash"
"Then I ask different: Did anything happen, that regards Lugia to show up and Ahs happen to be there?"
Rosa hummed, "He mentioned seeing one in the orange islands they worked together to save the world."
"Saved the world? Then it would explain why it is helping him" told Kuran "Anybody happens to have something to fly?"
"No," Michael sighed "our only option is to get the coast of Gateon port as fast as possible."
"Then we better hurry" told Kuran and went to the exit of the ship.
The group quickly made their way towards Gateon port where they saw something that made Tai gasp. "ASH!" he cried.
Lugia with Ash on his back was desperately trying to get to shore, but was blasted over and over by Spellican.
"STOP IT!" Tai shouted rushing forward trying to charge as much aura as he could into an attack. "YOU LEAVE MY BROTHER ALOOOOOONNNEEE!" with a scream his hand went forward and blasted Spellican away allowing Lugia to get to shore he collapsed once the attack was done Tai collapsed as well.
Kuran rushed over to Tai "Tai! Are you alright?"
Ash got off Lugia and rushed over as well, looking worriedly at his brother. The keybearer looks in his bag and mumbled "come on! Come on! Here!"
And he holds up another potion bottle "Time for a drink," Ash helped Tai to drink it
After a while Kuran asks "How do you feel?"
"Woozy," Tai replied tiredly.
"This will be alright" told Kuran before looking up "Guess it takes a moment before this guy shows up again… but we definitely have to deal with him for good. Better we prepare for that"
"And how should we get prepared?" asks Rosa and Kuran just replied "by getting him on our turf."
Michael mused, "I think I have an idea but we'll have to use you as bait and figure out how to trap him." he turned to Ash, "You should stay with your brother for now, it looks like that took a lot out of him."
"I'm okay really!" Tai protested.
"No, Tai it's okay you need to get your energy back just relax and leave it to Kuran." Ash told him
"He needs to rest" admitted Kuran. "But as long we have to figure out first how to lure him in, he can try to get fit enough… and talking about figuring out. I think we should go to talk with Team Rocket… while I doubt it, they might know something that interest this beast, aside from having my head and destroy this universe".
Tai passed out again; Ash frowned but turned to Kuran "Where is Team Rocket now?"
"If nothing changed, still on the ship" told Kuran and chuckles "Tai gave them quite a beat up as they tried to use my own Darkness Weapons on me."
"That is not funny!" told Max "We all seriously thought they killed you!"
"Yeah! And Tai certainly didn't find them being beaten to a Pulp funny!" Rosa snapped.
"You know… traveling with somebody who cannot be killed, has an effect on you… especially if he gets a normally lethal hit on almost every place I go with him."
"That can happen for better or worse," Michael noted.
"Well… if I start telling what I have seen with him… your stomach would turn" he mused "So we have to go now or we won't be able to do anything. Don't you agree Zatana?"
The Zorua barked in agreement.
And they head back to capture Team Rocket… and they just got there to see how the three began to wake up and cries "GHOST!"
"Yes! I am ghost! and I am here to haunt you until the end of your days" told Kuran "But I might think about it when you tell me something…"
The three held each other in sheer fear. "Anything! Please don't haunt us and stuff us into a fluffy bear suit!" Meowth cried.
"Where'd that come from?!" Jessie stated.
"Search me." James replied.
"Tell me where what the plans of this pelican are and how we find them. Or I will not only stuff you into a fluffy bear suit. I will stuff you all three of you into a single golden suit and set you on fire!"
"He wants you're dead for one thing." Meowth stated desperately.
"He also wanted the heart of the world. Whatever that is." Jessie added.
"Only of the world? Or universe?" Kuran asked.
"Oh Wait I think he did say Universe!" James replied.
"Good!" told Kuran and pulls his swords out and slams them down, directly between Jessie and James legs, just inches before their bodies. While meowth saw a golden fluffy teddy on Kurans head, grinning and dancing
"AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!" the three rushed into a wall knocking themselves out. Zatana chuckled.
"That was fun" told Kuran and turns to the others "How about you use my "death" as a sort of scaring speech in the future?"
Then he slaps his head "Damm! Forgot to ask them where the keyhole is supposed to be."
"I think Spellican mentioned some weird energy at the top of Mount Battle let's try there!" Ash suggested.
"The Volcano? Does it have anything old, mystical there? Like… a monument built in ancient times." wondered Kuran.
"It's said that the original Battlefield is somewhere inside the crater and if you believe such things a spell makes the inside habitable for people and non-fire types we could try there." Michael suggested.
"Given what I have seen so far, it is not far from the truth." told Kuran "And I have seen weird stuff. And the most harmless case is people transforming into giant rabbits and dragons"
"And you suppose that we believe you?" asks Max "That's ridiculous"
"Ridiculous like the fact I make weapons out of nowhere?" asks Kuran
"He has a point" countered Ash while Max counters "And I say here is a scientifically explanation"
"Like how Dialga and Palkia can Time and Space?" asks Rosa.
Max opened his mouth...but he found himself unable to answer, "How do they do that?"
"nobody knows that" told Rosa and Kuran coughs "back to the topic! Let's go to the active volcano"
"Right!" Michael replied.
And they head as fast as possible back to the volcano and Kuran wondered on the way while stroking Zatana "Any idea who we could ask for the entrance to this old stadium?"
"Let me make and E-Mail quick." Michael replied typing into his PDA.
And they wait for the reply, Michael grinned. "According to Professor Krane the Battle feild is in side the Volcano itself there should be a small cave on the edge leading towards it.
"Then Let's hurry!" Ash stated. The group quickly made their way towards Mount battle heading to the top they looked at the large open mouth of it's summit.
"So where is the cave?" asks Rosa "Because I don't think we have everything nesscessary to climb down"
"It should be around here somewhere." Michael noted as he looked around. "Over there!" he stated pointing to a large cave sitting across from the battlefield that now hung over the Volcano.
"Just who came to the idea to hold Pokemon Battles down here?" asks Kuran "I mean one wrong step and we got fried Pokemons"
Zatana nods to this, gulping nervously while hating right now the fact she wears thick black fur.
"The Legend states there's a force field that protects from the Heat and lava but even then the heat is still pretty thick down here it's also been said that the spell had been weakened so they hung a new battlefield over the new one." Michael replied.
"That's weird, who cast the spell?" Tai asked. "And how it starts losing power?"
"No one knows." Michael replied. "We're here."
"WE should get swimming suits" told Kuran "So we won't melt"
But suddenly he was hit by Rosa "Pervert!"
"What?"
Tai just stared, "Think about what you just said for a minute, besides if we swim in that we'll burn and die duh!"
"The idea wasn't to swim!" groans Kuran "It was to minimize the clothing we wear so we won't sweat that much."
"I don't think that would help us." Michael noted.
Ash moved out a little bit towards the edge of the cave exit putting his hand out. "To be honest….it's that hot." he muttered.
"Pikachu." he agreed.
"let's me see." Tai said walking out of the cave and standing there. "It feels like a really hot day in Orre but other than that it's pretty bearable come on!" Tai called running ahead.
And they move in, Kuran having his Blades ready to defend or slash if anything comes out of surprise… thought they couldn't spot anything "Just where is this bird?"
"Who cares let's just beat him to the Keyhole!" Tai stated.
"You know… the problem is that they usually only show up after the butt of the bad guy is kicked"
"You're kidding!" Tai groaned.
"Does he looks like he is kidding?" laughs the Pelikan and appears above them.
Tai get's protectively in front of Ash glaring at the bird. "KURAN! Roast that turkey!"
"First I have to remove the feathers" declared Kuran while throwing daggers at it but the enemy avoided the attacks at first and shoots meteors at the group but Zatana shoots a Dark Pulse to destroy some of them.
"Pikachu thunderbolt!" Ash called.
"PIIIIKKAAAAAAA CHUUUUUUU!" he shouted as he zapped Spellican.
ARRRGH!" shouts Spellican and summons… brooms?
Kuran and Zantana blinked and they made both the sound of "O… K…"
And Spellican disappeared after the summoning.
Rose looked at what just happened and guessed "So… for him to come back… we have to deal with these self moving brooms?"
"Looks like that "Told max "Thought… why should this thing summon something so harmless"
"Max! If you ever had met Roll, then you know how terrible of a weapon a Broom can be" told Kuran and Max asks "And who is Roll?"
"Somebody I know and complicated to explain about her origins" told Kuran
"In this case" told Tai "Aura Sphere!"
"Pikachu, thunderbolt!" came from Ash while Kuran went to slash some and Zantana went for slicing them.
Rio blasted a few brooms away with the Aura sphere. They keep on and the last broom were wiped by a combo attack of Rio and Zatana. Satisfied with their work, she turned to the Riolu and winked him with a grin.
And Spelican came back… and this time he fire stars which are shooting against everybody.
Everyone yelped dodging the blows as Kuran landed a hit on Spellican.
"Why won't you just die?" shouts the dark creature and Kuran just answered "Because I am not letting you messing around with this place anymore!"
"I HAVE ENOUGH!" he shouts and waves the stuff and waves his stuff and a new creatures pops up. Its body is mostly dark purple in color, with its ears and feet ending with a brighter purple. Its face is marked by a yellow jaw and red cheeks. Its gun arms are bright shades of blue with purple and yellow highlights, and they are wrapped in magenta chains. It has a whip-like tail of rainbow stripes, which ends in a semicircular blade that has a hollow section which forms a Hidden Mickey.
"What do you want Spellican?" asks the creature and Spellican answered "Deal with these kids and get the Keyhole! I have better business to do!"
Then he turns to them "If you managed to beat Wargoyle here, you can have the Keyhole! But I doubt this is the case! HAHAHAHAH!"! and he disappears
"Really?" asks Kuran "Running away and let somebody else deal the job? That is just a Cliché"
"I agree but orders are order!" he shouts "And for what this other Keybearer did to me, I am more than happy to pounce you flat and toss you into the lava."
"That does only gonna happen to you!" Tai snarled.
"HAHAHA! GOOD LUCK!" he shouts and jumps to punch them but Kuran made a dark corridor and forced him to fly at the wall "RWAAAAHH! he shouts in pain and shakes his head. Once recovered he turns to them and shoots fireballs at them
Tai put up a shield blocking the attack. Then he jumps at him, punching at the shield but Zatana attacks from the side with Dark Pulse, causing him to roar while Kuran slashed at a leg
"Dewa use Razor shell!" Rosa called.
POP! "Dewoott!" she cried jumping up and slashing the Spellican.
"WHAA!" shouts Spellican "I better go!" and opens a portal where it flew into, leaving them alone with Wargoyle.
"Pikachu! Thunderbolt!" told Ahs and the electro mouse unleashes the electric turret at the large enemy. As reaction he roars and unleashes flaming projectiles, shooting at everybody.
Kuran used a shield to block his while Zatana shoots her Dark Pulse and Dewa countered with Razor shell. Ash and PIkachu… they choose to just run, hoping they won't be hit.
Once Ash felt like he had a safer vantage point to attack he turned back to face the foes. "Okay Pikachu Thunderbolt!" Ash called.
Pikachu leapt into the air. "Pika! PIKA PIKA PIKA PIKA CHUPI!" he shouted unleashing the attack and hitting several targets hard destroying them instantly.
Rio's aura sphere destroyed several more when it exploded on contact with several other projectiles, Kuran threw a dagger to destroy the last one, while Pikachu sends a thunderbolt at Wargole
Wargole roars and storms forward Ash and Pikachu to punch them into the ground and tripled as Kuran slices his legs, falling down and Dewa shoots a water move into the opponent's face, while Zatana adds more pressure with dark Pulse.
Tai put his hands together trying to focus some energy as Rio kept bashing it with Aura sphere's he saw a slight glow and kept trying until a thin beam hit Wargoryle right between the eyes.
he roars and jumps up, wailing around as cracks began to show on his body and Kuran offered to Tai and Zatana "Team Attack?"
"Let's do this!" Tai stated.
Kuran nods and got his axe ready, charging over to their opponents and Zatana runs after him, wanting to get a close hit as well, jumping on Kurans head and jump on from there at their opponents head. Her front paws began to glow and once she landed on him, she unleashes her strongest dark type attack while Kuran crashes his axe at the chest, unleashing a shockwave of darkness. Tai sent another blast into the chest "Rio use Aura Sphere biggest you've got!"
Rio charged up the attack gathering aura around him until the orb was huge then he crashed it into the beast's chest.
Wargoyle roared loudly in pain as the attack crashed through his body, leaving a gaping hole and he wailed around as he disintegrated soon no longer existing
Zatana landed on his head and Kuran pants "Looks like we won this match"
"Is it over now?" wondered Rosa and Kuran nods "Since this bird fled and we killed his replacement, we finished it off… now we only need the Keyhole and everything is fine"
"So… and where is this Keyhole?" wondered Max, looking around "Because I only see the inside of a volcano while standing on a platform that should be gone by now at normal physics"
"To admit. They tend to show up when they want" told Kuran "Thought I admit it was fun traveling with you"
"it was an interesting experience with you" admits Rosa and Max nods
"Yeah! It will be a challenge to find a scientific explanation to your stuff." He chuckled.
Kuran laughed at this but then turns as he notices something… at the wall of the Volcano the keyhole appears and the six black Pokeballs disappeared from his belt, reforming into his Keyblade, Light Within Darkness and he points at the Keyhole, closing it.
"Was this… the sealing?" asks Rosa and Ash wondered "Uhm… what are you holding?"
"Looks like a Giant Key." Tai noted.
"Ruuuu." Rio agreed.
"That's the keyblade" told Kuran "This helps me to seal the Keyholes and ensure the places sealed by it are shut and safe."
"So… the heartless are gone now?" wondered Ash and Kuran told "Mostly… a few remaining ones might be still there but once they are dealt with, they are gone for good… which means I have to leave now to get to the next place
"Do you really have to go?" asks Rosa and Kuran nods "I have… and I have sadly to leave Zatana behind"
The Zorua looks at the man who became her trainer and friend. yipping a bit as she doesn't want to be left behind
"Sorry girl… but it would be too dangerous" told Kuran "The best thing I can do is the promise that I can try and come back to pick you up"
She nods but was still sad and Kuran asks "Can one of you take care of her until I return?"
"I could take care of her" told Max "I promise to do my best to keep her healty"
"Thanks" told Kuran and hands over Zatana "Thought you need a new Pokeball for her… the one I used turned back to my Keyblade"
"And another thing I won't be able to explain that easy" sighs Max
"Why do you need to? Just let it go." Tai said as he hummed a song.
"Sorry but other places need my work as well" told Kuran as he pulled out a crystal "So… see you around, okay?"
"Take care of yourself" told Rosa and Ash told "Yeah! We want to see you again"
"Pikapi!" he chirped.
"Definitely!" Tai added as Rio howled in agreement.
Nodding, Kuran hold up the crystal and a dark corridor appears and he went through it, before it disappeared once he completely through it.
Blinking, Max simply told "Now I am completely lost here…"
"Don't try it Max" told Rosa "just accept it"
"Shall we leave now?" asks Ash
"I think we should after all we're in the core of a Volcano." Michael agreed.
And they began to leave, ready to continue their own adventures.
Meanwhile Spellcican came through his portal into an unknown location.
"Man that was close."
"Yes it would have been a shame to have you Died on the first day of the job." A voice spoke, revealing to be Stalwart blade, accompanied by Null.
"Oh shut up!" The dream eater demanded.
"Oh please you're the one who said you can handle it." Null countered.
"Besides It's not like you could have done anything else."
"Is there a point to this!?" Spellcician asked.
"Only that you can at least try to do a better job. But hey no pressure or anything." Null spoke.
"I bet that Wargoyle will handle that! I already told you from the beginning I am a Plotter and not a fighter! But did you listen? No! You just send me off to kill this darkness user who happens to hang around a bunch meddling brats!"
"Didn't at least team up with someone you could have help you?" Stalwart asked.
"Didn't work out well as you could see! They had been the best bet I could find at short notice but what I got? Losers which failed at the first encounter despite all the advantages!" countered Spellican
"Wait...Who'd you end up getting?" Wondered Null.
"They called themselves Team Rocket… why?"
Hearing this made Null fall to the ground rolling around laughing hard.
"BWAHAHAHAHAHAH HOLY CRAP YOU COULD NOT HAVE FAILED ANY HARDER!" He laughed.
"Ehhh… why?" asks Spellican with a deadpan.
"Those three are like those dumb incompetent lakies you find in movies. Except a hundred times worse!" Null said trying not to die from laughter
"Enough!" Stalwart said.
"Just be glad you can fight another day. The fact that you can call upon other Dream Eaters is a huge help to us. Do yourself a favor and don't underestimate them next time."