Ash was a bit depressed the next day. His Pokemon were all healing and although they were hurt, they still made the effort to cheer him up. Upon seeing that none of his Pokemon had taken the defeat badly, not even Monferno who had more reason to beat Paul than any of them, Ash snapped out of his misery.

When Ash's Pokemon had healed, the group walked along the edge of Lake Acuity before they left, hoping to get another glimpse of Uxie. When it didn't appear, they decided to head for Dawn's next contest. Assuming Harry stayed with them this time, it would be the first time he'd seen Dawn in a contest since the Wallace Cup.

"You only need one more ribbon to enter the Grand Festival right?" Harry asked as the group headed to Mount Coronet.

"That's right," Dawn nodded.

"And after that, you and I only need to get one more badge to get into the Pokemon League," Ash reminded Harry.

"Yep," Harry said cheerfully.

Suddenly Riolu stopped at a small cave. The rest of the group went past him but when Harry noticed the Emanation Pokemon was no longer in front of him, he glanced back. Then, even more mysteriously, Croagunk busted his way out of his Poke Ball without Brock prompting him to do so by flirting with anyone.

"What's wrong guys?" asked Brock.

"Riolu, what are you sensing?" Harry asked.

"Riolu," Riolu said and gestured to the cave, which wasn't really much more than a hole that sloped steeply downwards. Croagunk was silent but had a rather dark expression and one hand was glowing faintly as if he was about to use Poison Jab.

"Wait a minute," Brock said thoughtfully, "Croagunk's acted like this before and that was when Saturn's Toxicroak was nearby."

"You think his Anticipation activated again?" Harry asked.

"Does that mean Team Galactic's here?" Dawn asked.

"We could go and find out," Ash suggested. Harry looked at Riolu who glanced back at him. They were both remembering Harry's first and second encounters with Team Galactic.

"You didn't want me to meddle with Team Galactic in Eterna City," Harry reminded Riolu who nodded. Then he glanced at the hole before returning to his trainer's side. Croagunk however walked into the cave.

"Croagunk, come back!" Brock said and hurried to the hole. Croagunk slid down the steep slope and out of sight. Brock groaned but followed him. Harry, Ash and Dawn looked at each other.

"We gonna risk our lives against those lunatics again?" asked Harry.

"Well we can't leave Brock to fight them himself," Ash said, "Assuming it is Team Galactic Croagunk and Riolu were sensing." He slid down the slope with Pikachu on his shoulder. Harry, Dawn, Piplup and Riolu followed him.

The cave was dark but it appeared to be man-made judging by the lights along the tunnel's roof, which had been fixed into the stone. Surprisingly, Croagunk had waited for them at the bottom. As soon as they caught up with him however, he strode away. The others followed. Riolu went ahead to help Croagunk find his way with Aura.

Eventually they reached an area that was lighter than the rest of the labyrinth. Hiding behind some rocks they spotted Saturn and his Toxicroak along with several Team Galactic grunts and an old man wearing glasses. Saturn and the old man were arguing about something.

"You must learn the value of patience, Saturn," the old guy said.

"Because of what happened on Iron Island, we're behind schedule, Charon!" snapped Saturn. Harry and Ash glanced at each other and smirked, remembering when they had spoiled Team Galactic's scanning of Mount Coronet.

"Sir!" cried one of the subordinates, "I've found something!" He was holding a metal rod with a pronged device on the end which was glowing red.

"Finally," growled Saturn, "Toxicroak, Rock Smash!" Toxicroak's claws glowed blue as it smashed them into the wall the grunt's rod was scanning. Croagunk watched Toxicroak for a moment, then lunged without warning.

"Croagunk no!" shouted Brock, alerting the Team Galactic members to their presence. Toxicroak turned and Croagunk thrust a Poison Jab into its belly. Toxicroak stumbled but seemed more surprised than hurt. It smirked at Croagunk and its claws glowed as it prepared for a counterstrike.

"You four again!" Saturn snarled. Charon looked at the intruders with a mildly interested expression.

"What are you thugs looking for?" asked Harry.

"None of your…" Saturn began.

"Spear Pillar," said Charon. Saturn glared at him but the old man just shrugged at him. Harry glanced at the wall which had been partially knocked away by Toxicroak's Rock Smash.

"Get them, Kadabra!" ordered Saturn sending out his Psychic type. Charon sent out a strange, levitating creature. Harry scanned it quickly.

"Rotom the Plasma Pokemon. It is known to infiltrate electronic devices and wreak havoc. Depending on what device it enters, it can take different forms and learn different moves."

"Pikachu use Quick Attack on Kadabra!" ordered Ash and Pikachu darted towards Kadabra.

"Teleport!" Saturn ordered and Kadabra disappeared and reappeared behind Pikachu, "Psybeam!" A purple beam shot out of Kadabra's spoon and Pikachu yelped in pain. Then there was another cry of pain from Croagunk as Toxicroak used X-Scissor to send him flying.

"Riolu help Croagunk!" Harry ordered and Riolu hurried forwards but Croagunk glared at him and shook his head. He wanted to deal with Toxicroak by himself.

"Kadabra, Psybeam on Riolu!" ordered Saturn and Kadabra blasted Riolu with a purple beam.

"Rotom use Shadow Ball on Pikachu!" ordered Charon and Rotom formed a black orb which it then fired at Pikachu.

"Dodge and use Iron Tail!" ordered Ash and Pikachu jumped, spun in the air, and smashed an Iron Tail into Rotom knocking it to the ground.

"Don't just stand there you fools!" Saturn bellowed at the grunts, "Get rid of these children!" The grunts each sent out a Golbat.

"Pachirisu Discharge!" Dawn cried and sent out her Electric type who blasted the Golbat with bolts of blue electricity. Pikachu helped with his Thunderbolt and unconscious Golbat landed in various parts of the cave. Saturn glared at the unconscious Golbat, then at the grunts who had been no help at all.

"Riolu, Quick Attack on Kadabra!" ordered Harry and Riolu darted towards the Psychic type.

"Teleport!" ordered Saturn.

"Sense it!" countered Harry and Riolu locked onto Kadabra's Aura very quickly before turning and shooting towards it as soon as it reappeared, catching the Psychic Pokemon off guard and ramming into it.

"Psychic!" ordered Saturn and Kadabra lifted Riolu into the air telekinetically and smashed him against the wall, knocking him out.

"Riolu return," Harry said as he recalled his unconscious Pokemon.

"Piplup use Bubblebeam on Kadabra!" called Dawn.

"Teleport then Shock Wave!" ordered Saturn and Kadabra disappeared, reappeared behind Piplup and blasted him with an electrical bolt at point blank range knocking him out with a single hit.

"Piplup!" cried Dawn, "Alright Pachirisu Super Fang!" Pachirisu's fangs grew beyond their natural length and Kadabra yelled in pain as the Electric type bit it hard, destroying half of its remaining energy with one strike.

"Recover!" called Saturn and Kadabra glowed yellow and restored energy.

"Pikachu, Thunderbolt on Rotom!" ordered Ash and Pikachu shot a Thunderbolt at Rotom. Rotom just chuckled as if the electricity was just tickling it.

"Confuse Ray!" ordered Charon and Rotom's eyes glowed purple and it sent a purple ray from them towards Pikachu. Pikachu clutched his head. Saturn noticed and smirked.

"Use Psychic to throw Pachirisu into Pikachu!" he instructed and Kadabra obeyed. When Pachirisu slammed into Pikachu the latter released a blast of electricity. In his confused state of mind, he'd mistaken Pachirisu for an enemy. Pachirisu backed away, looking scared, then Pikachu slammed an Iron Tail into it. Charon and Saturn watched with amusement.

"Pikachu stop!" cried Ash as Pikachu tackled Pachirisu with Quick Attack, knocking it out. It was only then that Pikachu regained his senses.

"Rock Smash!" ordered Saturn and Toxicroak smashed its glowing white claw into Croagunk, sending him flying into Pikachu, "Now use Dark Pulse!" Toxicroak smirked and fired black rings from an orb of rings it had formed between its hands, knocking out both Croagunk and Pikachu with the same move.

"Pikachu no!" cried Ash.

"Croagunk!" yelled Brock.

"Seize them!" ordered Saturn and the grunts obeyed. Before long all the intruders were tied up, "Now stay quiet."

"Or what?" asked Dawn. One of the grunts loosened her scarf and tightened it over her mouth as a gag. The boys all stayed quiet and watched. The grunt then glanced at them, which was confusing.

"Toxicroak finish smashing that wall," Saturn ordered. Toxicroak had a few bruises – Croagunk had put up a valiant fight – but was able to use Rock Smash to shatter the wall without too much difficulty. Behind the wall was a small ruins. Saturn looked at Charon and asked, "Is this it?"

"Only one way to find out," Charon replied. He gestured to one of the grunts who brought a case over to him. The tied up captives instantly straightened when he opened the case. The same key they had seen Mars and Jupiter using on Iron Island was in the case.

Saturn looked at the key, then the ruins, then Charon. He scowled. Charon grinned sheepishly.

"I guess this is the wrong ruins," he said.

"Well I have all the information I need," said the grunt who had gagged Dawn. Everyone looked at him as he threw off his disguise. He was a tall, handsome man in a trenchcoat with brown hair and grey eyes.

"You're no Team Galactic member!" cried Charon. His Rotom floated to his side and the pair of them glared at the man.

"I'm Looker a member of the International Police," the man replied, "And you lot are under arrest. Croagunk free the prisoners!" Another Croagunk burst out of its Poke Ball and jumped to Ash, Harry, Brock and Dawn. It removed their bonds quickly and Dawn wrenched her scarf away from her mouth so that it was around her neck once more. She spat out a few bits of material that had gotten into her mouth.

"Toxicroak, get rid of that Croagunk too!" ordered Saturn as Croagunk returned to Looker's side, "Rock Smash!"

"Use Sucker Punch!" ordered Looker. Toxicroak leapt at Croagunk but the smaller Pokemon darted in close and punched its evolved form in the belly before ducking beneath Toxicroak's claw and leaping away, "Now use Mud Bomb, Croagunk!"

"Croagunk!" cried Croagunk and spat bombs of mud out of its mouth blasting Toxicroak away. The larger Pokemon struggled to its feet but its battle with Brock's Croagunk had exhausted it.

"We're leaving!" cried Saturn, "Kadabra, get us out of here!"

"Spiritomb Hypnosis!" cried Harry and threw Spiritomb's Poke Ball. The Forbidden Pokemon's body spun as he used the move Brandon's Spiritomb had taught him. Kadabra fell asleep before it could focus on all the Team Galactic members in order to Teleport them out of the cave.

"Never mind Teleport," Charon said, "Let's just run!" With speed unexpected in a man his age, he ran for the exit.

"Stop him, Croagunk!" ordered Looker and Croagunk lunged but Charon's Rotom got between them.

"Confuse Ray!" ordered Charon and Rotom shot a purple ray at Croagunk who started stumbling around, banging its head with its fists. Toxicroak gave it an evil look and lunged forwards.

"Croagunk return!" said Looker before Toxicroak could gut its pre-evolved form. Toxicroak looked disappointed. All the Team Galactic members were now heading for the exit.

"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!" ordered Ash.

"Spiritomb, Dark Pulse!" Harry commanded.

"Rotom cover us with Light Screen!" ordered Charon as the two former enemies launched their attacks. Rotom shot between the attacking Pokemon and the fleeing Team Galactic members and formed a yellow screen. Thunderbolt was absorbed harmlessly while Dark Pulse pushed Rotom back but couldn't penetrate Light Screen. Rotom then disappeared as a Poke Ball's red beam shot out of the dark tunnel.

"Typical," Harry muttered, "Those guys always get away." He looked at the ruins, "What do you think's in there?"

"Does it really matter?" asked Brock, "We're not Brandon."

"No but there could be a rare or Legendary Pokemon in there," Harry said.

"We don't have time for this," said Looker, "We need to catch Team Galactic."

"Those guys are very good at running away, Mr Looker," Harry said, "And no offence but did you think you could arrest all of them by yourself?"

"I needed to be inconspicuious so I couldn't call upon other members of the International Police," Looker explained.

"Well even though Team Galactic got away, thanks for helping us Mr Looker," Ash said. Dawn nodded although she could still taste a bit of her scarf on her tongue. All the travelling had made the scarf a bit frayed.

"You know what, I think the information I got here today will be useful in the future," Looker said and suddenly he seemed cheerful, even though his quarry had escaped, "Why don't we have a quick look at the ruins?" The group all went into the hole Toxicroak had created.

The ruins had strange symbols on the doors, shaped like letters. Ash, Dawn and Brock had all seen this kind of writing before at the Solaceon Ruins but since Harry had bypassed Solaceon Town altogether, he was unfamiliar with the Unown. The group had to work together to push the doors open.

Inside was a large chamber which was unnaturally cold. There was a strange shrine in the middle with a golden Orb on it.

"What is that?" asked Dawn.

"It looks a bit like the Lustrous and Adamant Orb," Harry said, fascinated. Looker stepped forwards and examined the orb closely.

"It's very old," he said, "I wouldn't be surprised if it's as old as the Adamant or Lustrous Orbs."

"Team Galactic was obsessed with those Orbs," Harry said, "This one might be just as powerful." The group all looked at the Orb whilst Looker circled around the shrine.

"Giratina…" Looker said quietly.

"Excuse me?" asked Ash.

"I think this is the Griseous Orb," said Looker, "According to legend, the Original One designed it specifically for Giratina, just like it designed the Adamant and Lustrous Orbs for Dialga and Palkia."

"Do you think Team Galactic know about this?" asked Dawn.

"If they did, they would have been looking for this Orb too," Brock pointed out.

"Which means we know something they don't," Harry said, "Cyrus said the Adamant and Lustrous Orb's control Dialga and Palkia so by that logic this Griseous Orb is probably able to control Giratina." He reached out very slowly and touched the orb. It was very cold.

"I think we should leave," Brock said.

"But Brock, Team Galactic are after both Dialga and Palkia," Harry said, "The last thing they'd be expecting is for us to bring along a third Legendary Pokemon. I think we should take the Orb with us."

"I'm not sure if that's a good idea," Looker cautioned, "Giratina is known for being a very hostile Pokemon."

"We'll encounter Team Galactic again," Harry said with certainty. He didn't think Aura could be used to foresee the future but some gut instinct was telling him that this wouldn't be the last time they ran into the villains, "What we need is the element of surprise. Giratina would be a perfect surprise."

"Do you really think we can control Giratina just by having that orb?" Brock asked.

"Brandon's able to control Regirock, Regice, Registeel and Regigigas all at once," Harry said, "And Tobias can control Darkrai, Latios and Latias. Besides would using Giratina be worse than Team Galactic's plan to destroy the world?"

"Good point," Ash muttered. Harry picked up the Orb. It was surprisingly light. He put it in his backpack. Looker and Brock were frowning but Ash and Dawn seemed to have accepted Harry's decision.

"Let's go," Harry said and the group left the ruins.

QUEENSPELLER67, I don't know if Gliscor's female in the anime but there's no evidence that it's male either and I prefer it if most of the main characters Pokémon have confirmed genders, Bronzor being an exception obviously.