The Steps of Cameran Palace
Ash burst through a set of double doors, exiting the ballroom of Cameran Palace. Making his way down the corridor, he rolled up the sleeves of his red, frilled tuxedo, unbuttoning its top buttons in order to make for a more breathable attire. Tailing the trainer was May (who wore a pink ball gown,) Alex Peters (wearing a casual black tuxedo,) and Blue (who opted to wear his bomber jacket and khakis, even if it went against the Ball's dress code.) As the four trainers marched down the hall towards their destination, they approached the couple of Dawn and Paul (who wore a blue dress, and dark blue suit respectively), who had just stepped out to get some fresh air.
"What's gotten into you guys?" Paul said, looking at the group of trainers.
"Giovanni." Ash stated, passing his friend.
"Well shit," Dawn said, turning her attention to Paul once more. "Let's go too."
As the group marched their way through the castle, they began calling out several of their Pokemon as they went to build up their entourage. Once they finally exited the palace, with a combined team consisting of Sceptile, Blaziken, Electivire, Piplup and Lopunny, Toxtricity, and Charizard, the group of trainers formed a line in front of the castle's main entrance. Standing across from them, on the white bridge leading to the steps of the palace was Giovanni, accompanied by at least 50 Team Rocket Grunts, wearing their iconic black suits donning the 'red R' insignia.
"What are you doing here?" Ash called down, glaring at the enemy. "I just wanted one peaceful night with my friends before having to square up against you!"
"Calm yourself Ash!" The mob boss said. "I saw a broadcast of your Battle Royal today, and that Gigantamax Urshifu was something! It seems as if our little secret weapon is not so much a secret anymore."
"Well I found out that you were bringing your own particles over when I raided your castle. My buddy Ross and I were the ones that took your G-Max Charizard," Ash said. "It also gave me the idea to call in my boy Alex; Champion of Galar and Dynamax Specialist."
"That's right!" The professor said, bumping fists with his friend. "And now that my Dynamax bracelet is back online, Toxtricity and I are feeling like Stun Shockin' the lot of you!" The Poison/Electric type stuck out a tongue, running his hands along its electric mohawk.
"Hey guys, what did I miss?" Alexa said, finally joining the trainers whom she has been tailing from the ballroom, with her Lucario and Vigoroth. "We gonna start this party early or what?"
"Well well well, if it isn't today's victor! Ms. Alexa Ketchum," The Rocket Boss said. After uttering her name, the trainer's body tensed as she despised the Rockets. "I must say young lady, when I held you prisoner on my ship, I wasn't aware of your capabilities… Had I known, I would've just had my Shadow Mewtwo extinguish you there-"
"You better shut your mouth!" Ash shouted at the Rocket Leader.
"Yeah! Alexa's more a trainer than you could ever hope to be!" May added, after her fiancé.
"Listen here you creep!" The teen shouted. "You've hurt a lot of people and Pokemon! And I've made it my goal to get stronger so I can help protect everyone from people like you! How about I take you on in a battle and show you how tough I really am!"
"Well that's quite the statement considering your victory today was a fluke!" Giovanni said. "You waited for the two stronger opponents to engage each other, then used a dirty trick to win for yourself! Where's the honor in that!"
"Where's the honor in scolding a 14 year old?" Alexa responded in a mocking way. "You still didn't tell us what you were doing here."
"Fine," Giovanni said, crossing his arms. "I just came here to have a little chat with your brother. That's all."
"I'm listening…" Ash responded.
"I just wanted to confirm that you will be there at the Tree of Beginning. Assuming you have not chickened out. Once I open Arceus's Chamber with your crown, you will only have until the end of the Eclipse to meet me there. While I'm planning on having several obstacles along the way to slow you down for fun, I would hate to see you be late for our battle."
"Why wait? We can do this right now," Ash said, readying another Pokeball from his belt, while his Sceptile at his side formed a Leaf Blade.
"Remember Ash, you agreed to battle on my terms, remember?" The Rocket Leader said. "And on my terms we are to do battle on the Immortal Battlegrounds in Arceus's realm." Paul and Dawn grew rigid at the mention of that battlefield in particular. "I can see you two Sinnoh natives must be somewhat familiar with the folktale. Well allow me to elaborate on it."
"Go right ahead," Ash said, in a haughty manner. "I could use a little history lesson."
"Ash, this isn't funny," Paul said in a stern tone of voice. "It's bad news."
"The boy is right, y'know." The Rocket Leader said. "When I challenged you to a battle, I knew that even if I crushed you, it is in your nature to be an obnoxious thorn in my side. That is why I wish to challenge you in a place where the winners and the losers are immortalized in two very different ways."
"If you win on the Immortal Battlefields, you'll go down as a Legend," Dawn said, chiming in. "But if you lose there, you'll be trapped… Unable to return to our world ever again." Ash, May, Alexa and Alex grew rigid at the mention of this.
"So… you want to lure me there," Ash stated. "So you can imprison me there for an eternity?"
"In a realm where time does not exist, an eternity is is not possible. Naturally, I have tried numerous times to halt your progress before… And yet here we are," Giovanni said, holding his arms out to either side. "The Immortal Battlegrounds are my guaranteed way of putting a stop to you for good... And ensure that you shall never rise up to challenge me."
"Well there's one flaw to your plan. And that's gonna be me beating you on the Immortal Battlegrounds!"
"Oh, how wrong you are. My Ultimate Weapon; your former friend, has been essential in staying one step ahead of you. I can assure you that I will be facing you, and defeating you."
"Well you sure are giving us a lot of incentive to kick your ass right now!" May said, as her anger bubbled over.
"And that is quite the proclamation in itself, my girl! You don't have the numbers to challenge me-" Giovanni grew silent, as the faint sounds of propellers rotating could be heard in the distance. "I stand corrected."
Raising his left hand high into the air, Giovanni snapped his fingers, as he decided the time for talking was over. In a bright flash of purple light, Giovanni's Shadow Mewtwo appeared above him and his head. Upon seeing his Ultimate Weapon, the entourage of Pokemon all leapt forwards in front of their trainers, readying their attacks at the Pokemon who's body flowed with Dark Aura. For a brief moment, Ash locked eyes with the corrupted Pokemon, who was once one of Ash's greatest friends. Mewtwo stared back, with an aggressive look on its face. In another flash of light, the black Mewtwo was gone, along with Giovanni and his Rocket Grunts that accompanied him.
Ash's group of trainers let out a collective sigh, seeing that there may have been no need for conflict this evening. "What was that about!?" Alexa said. "I thought he said we were outnumbered?"
"We were," Ash said, running down onto the bridge which led up to Cameran Palace. "But earlier today, I decided to finally call in an old friend for some help!... Well I guess it's a lot of old friends!"
The remaining six trainers, along with their Pokemon, all accompanied Ash onto the bridge, seeing the origin of the propeller noises which drove Giovanni away. In the distance, growing closer and closer, was a large black Pyramid, with a large propeller rotating at each of the corners at its base.