DWA: Welcome one and all too the, very, very long awaited Arc 5. This shoulda been started a year ago tbh. But I made it, and am very excited to do more with this work. New character, a more mature me…sorta. Anyways, I do hope you all enjoy the first installment of Arc 5.

Chapter 1: The First Step

Footsteps, echoing in darkness, an icy cool wind blowing through. Around, a cave, where, when, matters not. Something beckons, something frightens. Fear as old as time, yet, the footsteps continue. The Wind picks up, fierce, unending. Followed by a roar, deafening, yet, not.

Something pushes forward, the wind picks up.

And a man falls out of bed, with a loud thud. He groaned in pain as he flipped over. "Arceus, fucking dammit that hurt." He muttered.

"Ajax?!" A womanly voice said. His door opened to reveal a woman, in pajamas, looking worried. "Are you okay?" She asked.

"Just dandy mom." He said and sat up and rolled his neck, hearing it pop a couple times. "Just a nightmare."

"A nightmare the day after your 21st birthday? What did you age backwards instead?." She said with a snide grin.

"Hey hey! Rude! I hardly had nightmares as a kid!" He said as he stood up. The man's complexion was fair, and his jet black hair seemed to shine in the moonlight. His blue eyes piercing in the light.

"Oh I know, I was quite happy not to have to coddle you when you were a baby." She said smiling.

"Yeah yeah." He said shaking his head and looking out the window. He saw it was just barely light out.

"Arceus what time is it?" He said and looked at his clock. 5 am. "…In four hours, I gotta work…I'm, gonna try and get more sleep. Sorry for waking ya mom." He said.

"Oh honey, its fine. I was just surprised to hear you fell out of bed. Nightmares never affected you that bad." She said. She then closed his door and he heard her walking away. He sighed and sat in bed before looking down. There on his chest, sat a birthday gift from his mom. A pendant, in the shape of, well a lopsided v, with another yellow stone in the middle of it. He lied down, deciding to get more sleep before he had to get up for work. Though, he was restless.

He'd never felt the need to get up and just, go somewhere before.

-(o)- Mistralton City, one hour later.

A plane touched down on the tarmac, docked, and let its passengers off. As everyone filed out, a man in a black jacket walked out and stretched. He left the airport with nothing but a backpack.

"So, anything?" He said to no one in particular. A voice, however, answered him.

-Nothing. This isn't normal, since we got near here I've felt, nothing from the Council.- The voice said. The man looked up to the now rising sun. His face illuminated, showed Mike.

"Well, I don't know Unova, best we check in at a Pokémon center and rest our jet lag, and I set away all my Pokémon. "Then we find a museum." He said. This time, there was no answer, as he walked towards the Pokémon center.

-(o)- Unova, Rebirth Mountain range

David's jet landed on the short tarmac and stopped quickly. He walked off the jet and was greeted by a man in a lab coat.

"Hello sir, welcome to Unova." He said with a smile.

"Ah, you're the head of Unovan operations…well were. Have you decided what you wish to do here?" He asked walking by him. The man followed.

"I have actually. I wish to work with the head of the search team of the Artifacts." He said.

"That requires qualifications." David said.

"And I have a PhD in Archeology, and all my work was done here, in Unova." He said.

"Perfect, you have my go ahead." He said. Another man came up to him.

"Hello sir, I'm here to update you of our organizations work here. You'll find everything in this data pad." He said and handed him a tablet, which he took.

"And our political stance?" He asked.

"Needs work sir. The Pokémon League and the National Government are very much tied at the hip. It will be difficult getting both sides approval. However, Neo Team Plasma is still running strong, even after a decade of their boss being in prison." He said.

"Sounds like he's still running the show, we'll help fight back." He said. He looked at the large hidden base and smiled. "To the start of our Unovan takeover." He said, and walked towards the entrance.

-(o)- Aspertia City, one week later

Ajax was down on one knee, an earbud in as he stocked shelves. He was at his job at the Pokemart, one of a few in the city. He yawned as he worked. His Pokemart was separate from the Pokémon Centers, a rarity nowadays, but it was a small one just near the exit of the city, so they still saw decent traffic.

But today was slow so that they only needed one person at the registers. He felt a tap on his shoulder, and looked back to see his friend and co-worker, Janet. She wore the standard uniform of the Mart, but she had red hair in a bob, and hazel eyes

"You look like shit." She said.

"Ah, first I see of you in a week and that's what you say? You know how to cut my heart in two." He said.

"Oh shush, what gives with the dark circles?" She asked.

"Nightmares." He answered simply. Janet started stocking above him. "Don't you have a register to man?"

"If we had customers, I would be. Came to check on you. Nightmares though? You never have those." She said.

"If ya can Janet shut him up about it! He's been bitching the whole week!" A voice called out.

"You're all heart Rex!" Ajax said.

"All week?" She asked.

"The same one, over and over." He said. "So I'm sorta sleep deprived." He said.

"…The same nightmare? What happens?" She asked. Ajax sighed.

"I, got this feeling, I need to move forward. Im in a cave, bone chillingly cold. Somethings ahead, something I'm terrified of, but I have to keep walking, then a wind runs through me. Then a roar." He said. "Then I wake up. 3 outta seven times on the floor."

"…AJ that sounds prophetic to me." She said.

"Oh shut the hell up." He said standing.

"No, the same dream, the need to move on, dude, get out there!" She said.

"Shut up Janet! I'm not the adventurous type!" He said. It's nearly every week with this." He said and looked at his pendent. Just looking at it, felt like he needed to move on…

"Because you don't belong here! I got you this job to get money to go! You have enough, now call up Professor Juniper and leave!" She said. She waited for a response, but looked over to see Ajax staring into his necklace.

"AJ?" She said, and even nudged him. "Yo AJ!?" She said. He jumped.

"S-Sorry, I guess I dozed off." He said.

"That wasn't dozing, what were you thinking?" She asked.

"The need to leave for…somewhere." He said. She looked at the necklace.

"When'd you get that?" She asked.

"From my mom, it was my dad's apparently." He said. "She said, it felt like it was time." He said looking at it. "I swear this is the reason I'm having nightmares, things cursed." He said.

"If it's cursed, break the curse." Rex said coming over. Rex was darker skinned than his friends, and had brown eyes. His hair was rather unkempt. "But you'll need to travel for that." He said laughing. Ajax groaned.

"Not you too." He said.

"AJ, ever since you were young-" Janet started.

"Janet, stop." He said with a sad look. She frowned but nodded.

"Look, how about this, if the nightmare ever, is like really terrifying or prophetic, I'll go. More to just see what this is. Because I looked it up online…nothing. Even on forums, people have no idea."

"Freaky." Rex said.

"Freaky is right." A man said coming round the corner. He wore square glasses, was a tad overweight, and had a light skin tone. "Even I looked it up after hearing of the nightmares. Nada." He said.

"Sir you didn't have to do that." Ajax said.

"Ajax I'm your boss, your wellbeing is important to me." He said.

"Sure Keith." He said laughing. "Still, if it gets weirder, I guess I'll go to find out more about it." He said.

"Sure pal." Rex said patting his back.

"Yeah, not fooling anyone." Janet said as she heard the door open. "Welcome to the Poke Mart, I'll be right over!" She said smiling as she walked off. Keith did the same, and Ajax was alone, and he looked at the Pendant. He was ready to chuck it in the river, but knew better.

Something was weird with it, and he was starting to want to find out.

-(o)- Later that night

Same dance as always, footsteps, cold chill, but at the same time, it felt, off. How long had this gone on? How deep in the cave? Whispers started, one, two, ten, twenty, more and more. Until it was so many it was screaming, then it stopped. The cave seemed to enlarge. A cavern? More footsteps, heavy, loud.

Something was near him. There was a growl. It continued longer than a threatening one. It was like, talking, but just low guttural growls. The air got colder, colder, and even colder. A heartbeat was pounding so loud it was deafening.

Suddenly it was'nt cold, but, the scene had changed to a city. One that wasn't recognizable.

And it was dark out, deathly dark. No stars, no lights, and a deafening wind, cars abandoned on the streets.

A different roar was heard, and footsteps were heard. Panting. Running, couldn't get caught.

Death awaits those who do. A hand reached out.

Ajax woke up, halfway across his room, holding a flash light as a weapon, panting as he looked around. "What, the fuck?" He said. He looked down and realized he was standing. "What the actual…fuck!?" He said as he dropped the flashlight. His legs shook as he fell to his knees.

"Okay, that was too real. Where was that?" He said. He looked up and grabbed his phone, and typed into his web browsers search, Juniper. A few seconds and he held the phone to his ear. A faint ringing before a click.

"Hello?" The tired female voice said.

"Hi, Professor Juniper, I'd like a trainer License, and a starter Pokémon please." He said.

"…This couldn't wait till morning?" She asked. He looked at his phone and saw 4 am.

"Oh…sorry, just woke up from a nightmare, nothing like feeling….ya know what never mind. Can ya do it?" He asked.

"Yeah yeah, my assistant will arrive in a couple days at least, just give me your information, or do it online, LIKE A NORMAL PERSON!" She shouted and hung up. He blinked and laughed.

"Yeah that woulda been smarter." He sat in bed and started typing what he needed in. He needed to do this now, before he regained his nerves.

-(o)- Nimbasa City, the following morning

Mike sat in the park of Nimbasa city, awaiting a contact. He'd made many calls since getting here, and realized he needed someone to help locate these things. Someone who could handle danger. Someone walked up to him.

"You Mike?" The man asked. Mike looked up from his bench, to see a man in a red short vest, making it to just below his chest, a black and white shirt, and black shorts.

A real outdoorsman look. Mike stood and smiled with his hand extended.

"That's right, you must be Nate." He said. Nate gripped his hand and shook it.

"You got it bud. Senior Ranger, pleasure to meet you. That's Noivern up in the sky." He said and looked up to see a bat like Pokémon flying above them.

"Looks healthy." He said. "So, were you briefed?" He asked.

"Barely, I know I'm looking for ancient temples apparently no one's found via aerial flybys." He said. "Why is that?" He asked.

"Underground, dense forest, and simply ancient powers at work. These places have connections to Legendary Pokémon, protected from sight from too far away. I have a map of locations I can load directly to your Styler." He said and held up a data chip. Nate held up his Styler and Mike stuck the chip in and let it download. "None of these are confirmed hits, so contact me when you find one." He said.

"Sure thing pal, but let's spend the day together, get to know who we're working with." He said.

"I'm down, walk and talk Nate, walk and talk." He said and walked. Nate shrugged and put his hands behind his head as he followed him.

He wouldn't admit it, but Nate didn't like the, feel, of this guy. Nate liked him for being friendly, but he just had, a bad vibe. Not always a bad thing, but hardly a good thing.

Still, this was a special assignment, so he was eager to complete it.

-(o)- A couple days later

Ajax sighed, over the last few days, it'd been hectic. Buying new clothes, prepping for his journey, his mom crying happy tears. Apparently she'd been secretly hoping for this. Ajax couldn't tell if it was to get him out of the house, have an adventure, or something else.

Janet was surprised at the sudden change, as where his friends. Keith too, but promised his position would be open if he needed it.

For a time. That memory made him chuckle. He stood and looked at his outfit. A nice navy blue cloth jacket, with a black shirt underneath, with a white poke ball design on the front. He had jeans and tough looking sneakers. He pulled up a Silph Co backpack that he'd purchased yesterday, which was black and white. He nodded and grabbed his wallet, phone, charger and earbuds. He stepped out of his room and took one long look at it, before closing the door. He went to the stairs and saw his mom at the bottom, with a smile. He walked down and got a tight hug from her.

"Don't give up, no matter how hard it gets out there okay?" She asked. He smiled at her.

"I might be lazy but I'm not a quitter." He said laughing. She nodded.

"I'm proud of you." She said. Ajax smiled. He opened the front door.

"Love you mom, see ya later!" He said as he ran out. His mom just smiled and looked at a face down photo, walked over and put it up, showing a man with jet black hair.

"He's off honey. I'm sure he'll do wonderful." She said smiling. "He is your kid after all."

Ajax walked to his workplace, the rendezvous with the assistant.

He arrived to see Janet and Rex outside, only Rex in uniform.

"Make it quick bud, I'm on break." Rex said.

"I have no control of this." Ajax said shrugging with a smile. Janet went up and hugged him, he gave an awkward hug back.

"Bout time you left this city." She said.

"Maybe, but you should get out too." He said. She shrugged. "I'll be fine, job hunting anyways. Or a promotion would be nice."

"You ask and you'll get it you know that." He said. They soon heard a small motor and looked down the road. A woman in a puffy orange jacket, a green beret, and white dress pulled up to them on a moped.

"You know you're lucky I was nearby." She said. "My name's Bianca, Juniper's assistant!" She said smiling. "So which boy is Ajax?" She asked. Ajax rose his hand.

"Good! Here's your license, and it comes with access to an app on your Phone. The Pokedex app! It should come in handy!" She said. He took it and held it to his phone, which pinged and started downloading the app.

"Thanks every trainer I've talked to says this thing is a life saver." He said. Bianca nodded, and took out a container.

"And this, holds one of your starters." She said. She opened it, and the Poke balls opened, and revealed the Unovan start Pokémon. A small green snake Pokémon, a red and black pig Pokémon, and a white and blue otter Pokémon. Ajax squatted down and looked over the three.

"Hmm, you all look like ya have potential." He said smiling. The three gave a pose to him. After a bit he smiled and nodded. "Oshawott." He said. The Oshawott seemed to give an arm pump while the other two looked a bit downtrodden.

"Now now you two, you'll find great trainers, I'm sure." He said smiling. They seemed to be reassured by his words as they were recalled. He held up his phone as the app finished installing, and it immediately pulled up Oshawott's information.

"Oh! A team option…" he said and started fooling with the app.

"It's a trainer's best friend!" Bianca said. "Oshawott, you be good okay?" She said. Oshawott turned and gave a salute. "Atta boy, I have to go, other things to do!" She said and rode off on her moped.

"So, ya gonna name him" Janet said.

"Course, he's Sam." He said. Rex sighed.

"You saw the name of its final evolution and took most of its name off huh?" He said.

"You have no evidence." He said. Oshawott, now named Sam, jumped up and stood on the top of Ajax's backpack and looked over his left shoulder.

"Guess that's your spot now huh? Okay big guy, let's pick out your food." He said and went inside, the others following. Rex and Janet met up with Keith, as Ajax and Sam picked out Sam's food, and some treats. He went up and Rex rung him up.

"Guess I'm bouncing eh boss?" He said.

"Guess so. Ajax, I wish you the best of luck." He said and held out his hand. Ajax smiled and shook his hand.

"You're all set bud." He said and pushed the items to him. Ajax set Sam on the counter and put the items in his bag and put it on his bag, and put Sam back on his bag.

"Hey man, you know what you're doing out there?" Rex asked. Ajax looked at his pendent.

"For now, figuring out more about this. I'll figure it out." He said. Rex grinned and held out his fist. Ajax smiled and gave him a fist bump. He turned to Janet.

"So, guess this is goodbye for now." He said.

"Ya better not give up too fast." Janet said.

"I'll do ya a better, I promise not to." He said. Janet smiled and nodded. "Welp, I'm out guys. See ya." He said and they all nodded, and he walked out, and walked out of the city.

"Huh, they say that first step is always different, felt the same to me." He said.

"Osha." Sam said and shrugged.

"So, what do you like to do?" He asked lookin back. Sam started punching the air.

"Osh! Oshawott!" He said. Ajax chuckled.

"Battle huh? I have a feeling we might be doing quite a bit of that." He said. "Glad I'll have you by my side…you know what the gyms are?" He asked. To his surprise, Sam nodded.

"Oshawott!" He nearly shouted.

"Oh wow, you sound excited." He said. He was silent for a bit. "The first gym for us would be behind us, maybe we'll head back, give it a shot. But I doubt we'd win…" He said a bit downtrodden.

"Osha?" He asked.

"Oh, sorry bud, I don't know how I'd battle is all." He said. They walked in silence, Ajax running mock battles in his head, many ending up with him scrapping his little simulations. He was getting a bit more pessimistic about the whole gym challenge. He heard rustling to his right and stopped and Sam growled, before a man hopped out of the bush, in a black jacket, with a hood over his head.

"Oh, sorry!" He said. "I'm just…searching, for something." He said and got close to Ajax.

"Hey buddy, back off!" He said.

"S-Sorry, thought I saw something. Have a nice day!" He said and ran into the brush on the other side of the path.

"That, was weird." He said. "I bet you're bored up there, let's get some training in. If we're gonna try out Aspertia's gym, we need to get ready." He said and walked forward.

He thought it best to get in real battles, instead of lose the ones in his head over and over.

Plus, if Sam was to be able to protect him, he needed to get some experience.

-(o)- ES Unovan Base

David sat across from one of his agents, looking at the pictures he'd brought in.

"And you're sure?" He asked.

"Yes, it was him." She said.

"And talking to a Ranger no less. He must be doing what we are." He muttered. "Thank you, dismissed." David said. The agent stood and left promptly. David set the pictures down, one clearly showing Mikes face, the other, Nate's.

"I guess I'll have time for a rematch after all, eh Mike?" He said with a grin. "I simply cannot wait, old friend."

DWA: Arc Five's first chapter! I was honestly not expecting to have this up so fast! Yet here we are. Anyways, I hope ya enjoyed this first installment. Please remember to follow, fave, and review! They're fun to read and let me gauge how I'm doing! See ya next time!