Chapter 30: The Storm

The only thing that was on Nick's mind was the concern he felt regarding me and Josh. He left the both of us under Volt's care, and he knew that Volt would do whatever was possible to keep us safe. Especially after we almost died fighting Zeraora.

Zeraora… Yeah. Nick had a grudge against him, now that his own pupils almost lost their lives to him. If anything, the only reason he's so bitter about this is because he's afraid of what would've happened if Josh and I actually did die. Regardless, he knows what's best for us, and if it means keeping us safe and away from Zeraora, that's fine.

He was resting at camp with Kenji and Will, all the while both Napoleon and Rohan went to gather info regarding what happened with Zeraora. By now, there are exclusive wanted posters for Zeraora all throughout the game. Everywhere you look, you couldn't find a space within 20 feet from each other that doesn't have a poster in town.

But still, the idea that Nick had to wait at camp instead of going to town for info made him extremely on edge. The banter he shared with the Mienshao and Tyranitar in his party could only calm his nerves for so long.

Kenji's guild, the Resolute Guild, was located in the western town of Benkei. He was considered to be a powerful martial artist in the real world, having managed to come from a long line of family members in Japan who focused on serving aristocratic families. He didn't particularly find the idea of being a servant all too appealing. So, he took pride in watching classic samurai movies, learning the history of the samurai, and ultimately yearning to be a modern samurai. I swear, his obsession with his craft is borderline insane at points! Regardless, he logged into PMDO because of a promise he made with Nick years ago, before Nick ended up trapped in here. The promise was that once Nick was in danger, Kenji would ultimately stand by his side and provide assistance. He's the closest that Nick ever had to a friend from a foreign country.

Will was the leader of the Legends guild in Oina, the central town of PMDO. His origins take him to being a rather powerful military mind. From what I've heard, his ancestors fought and served in every single war the Americans ever fought. You name it: The American Revolution, The War of 1812, The American Civil War, World Wars I and II, The Vietnam War, all the way up to fighting alongside Nick in the Afghanistan War for roughly 15 years. By the time the war came to a close in 2021, Will opted to retire from combat, but would usually spare some time chatting with the likes of Nick and his team when the time arose. But when Nick was trapped in PMDO five years ago in 2025, he wasn't going to stand losing him, and opted to log in the game and quickly forge alliances with Nick and any other ally he could muster. On a power scale, he's considered to be the third strongest, with Nick barely managing to be stronger (although their strengths are considered close to practically equal).

It didn't take long until Napoleon and Rohan returned from town, complete with a fresh set of supplies for the group. Rohan chuckled as he set the bag down by the fire. "Did you miss us?"

"Yes, in fact," Kenji answered. "The lack of any chaos was starting to bore me."

"Aw, is that a compliment I hear?" Rohan teased. "Admit it, you missed me!"

Kenji got a bit ticked off, but thankfully, he chose to say nothing.

"So, what's the word?" Will asked Napoleon. "Did you get any info regarding Zeraora?"

"As a matter of fact, we did," Napoleon said, pulling out a map of the game. "It turns out, he's no longer in the south. So, you can rest easy, Nick. Your students are safe…for now."

Nick sighed with relief at the good news. It didn't take long until the Empoleon set the map down onto the ground for everyone to see. With everyone gathered, Napoleon was ready to discuss battle plans. "As it turns out, Zeraora seems to be frequenting the eastern parts of the world map. Just to the east of Esther." He points towards a spot just east of the Town of Water and pinpoints one exact spot on the map. "It turns out, he seems to be frequenting this general area close to the Milotic River. The mountains seem to be the one spot he visits every few weeks or so, according to eyewitnesses. When we asked why that was the case, none of the townspeople seemed to give any answers. They just assumed this was a random in-game event, and anybody who attempts to fight Zeraora will be met with either the Pokémon beating them in combat, or in a worst-case-scenario, he runs away up to the mountains."

Nick took some time to inspect the mountains by the river, and there, he took note of one particular area. "Hmm… If I recall correctly, Zeraora originated from Mount Sanda, which served the purpose as a trial for various players. Maybe his original programming is causing him to retreat there for safety, given the frequent thunderstorms that brew within the area."

"Frequent, you say?" Rohan questioned. "I wouldn't say that. But it is true that Zeraora goes to that mountain because, surprisingly enough, the metal deposits attract the electric discharges in storms and acts as a lightning rod. However, it's not just the storms that reside in there. There's a lot of Electric-types in those mountains. Some of them seem to hunt in packs. But Zeraora, on the other hand, literally feeds off of that electricity, and ends up utilizing its power to gain an advantage due to his ability, Volt Absorb."

Nick averted his gaze slightly. "Yeah, I'm aware of that." I probably shouldn't tell them that I saw him strike himself with Plasma Fists and revitalized his own strength before my very eyes. It would make me feel like an idiot.

"Alright, so we have a perfect target to investigate," Will said. "The game plan is that we wait him out along the eastern mountain pass. Once he enters there, we'll end up cornering him from multiple angles. The river will be handled by Napoleon. Rohan, you can phase through walls, so use that to your advantage if you have to. Kenji can take the plains leading to the river to cut off his escape route. I will aid Rohan in the mountains, using the terrain to my advantage and catching him off guard." He then looked over at Nick, giving him a very stern look. "Now Nick, I'm aware you fought with him before. Any information in how we can beat him would be immensely helpful. However, I would advise staying out of the battle entirely, given your…condition."

Nick looked back at Will like he was slightly offended. "I'll have you know that Zeraora seems to target trapped players specifically. If I'm not there to lure him out, he's only going to avoid the trap we're laying out for him. And besides, even though he may have a type advantage, I do happen to have a few tricks up my sleeve." He then lifts up his scarf, showing the Charizardite X he keeps with him. "As long as I have this, I'm difficult to kill."

Will gave him a somewhat concerned look. "I'm aware of that, Nick, but forecast also indicates that it's going to be raining around here later today. If Zeraora chooses to arrive here during one of Mount Sanda's thunderstorms, there's a likely chance that you'll be at a disadvantage."

Nick smiled, and he placed a hand on Will's shoulder to reassure him. "Trust me, I know what I'm doing. He fooled me once already. I will not fail this time. And besides…" He turned his attention to the whole team. "I have with me the four greatest companions I could ever ask for with this mission. And besides, even if he does escape, a little extra security in the area wouldn't be so bad, now, would it?"

Everyone looked at each other as if contemplating their options. Without any other arguments, they all stared back at Nick, nodding their heads.

"Alright, if you insist," Will acknowledged. "Just…promise me you will get out of there once things get dicey, capiche?"

Nick gives a very confident smile to his teammate. "This'll be just like the war, am I right?"

Will had to think about that quip for a good minute, but sure enough, he nods in understanding. Will then turned to face Rohan, ordering him "Spectro, I think this goes without asking, but who's in charge of the Moon Guild again while you're gone?"

"Uh…that would be Team Nagi," Rohan acknowledged. "Don't worry. That group is capable of taking on any challenge."

"Well, let them know that we'll be needing the best troops of the guild in case this mission fails," Will suggests. "Whatever must be done, we cannot allow Zeraora access back to this mountain." He points at the location of Mount Sanda on the map to clarify his point. "If we cut him off from there, it'll be easy to weaken his power. He won't have any chance to retreat. He'll instead be like a bird without wings."

Nick nodded his head, looking at his team, and confidently states "We have our plan, so let's make sure it succeeds. You guys ready?"

Everyone collectively said "Yes!"

Nick smiled, and raised his clenched fist into the air. "Let's give him hell, boys!"

Hours later, the five of them gathered along the mountain range past the Milotic River, anticipating their chance for Zeraora's arrival. Thunder brewed in the sky above, and everything that the plan laid out was to go in motion. Nick handed over a Swift Seed to Napoleon. "Use this in case Zeraora gets the jump on you," Nick told him. "He's fast, so you better haul your ass to that river and cut him off."

"You don't have to tell me twice," Napoleon said, accepting the offer. "I'm going to make sure he even regrets messing with the likes of you."

Nick and Napoleon hug it out with each other, before they both made preparations with their trap.

Rohan and Will finished a conversation before they both made their move towards the mountain. Rohan retreated into the sediment while Will turned to see Nick finish his hug with Napoleon. Nick soon flapped his wings and flew off towards Will's direction, hovering close to Will's side. "Kenji's already in his spot," Nick said. "He'll send a signal when he sees Zeraora charging in."

"Good," Will answered. "The signal has got to be something we would easily notice."

"A Focus Blast sent skyrocketing into the air sound fine enough for you?" Nick added. "And in case that doesn't work, we could always use a Blast Seed to signal an explosion."

Will grunted a bit, stopping in his tracks to look at the Charizard. "Nick, I'm being serious! I'm not just going to lose you here! You're bright and talented. It would be a shame if you ended up being caught in a terrible position and slain."

"You're not just saying that because of the favor you owed me after Afghanistan, right?" Nick asked dubiously. "Because frankly, I don't like your vote of confidence here. It's almost like you think we can't win."

"I'm only scared because you somehow still ended up losing him, even though he was right where you wanted him, right?" Will admitted. "What's worse is that we're going to be dealing with a pretty intense thunderstorm, and rain is a significant hindrance for you. What would happen if your flames are smothered?"

"My tail is still burning brightly, see?" Nick joked, showing the tip of his tail, which was lit in a burst of flame (the trademark of his species in-game). "And besides, I've been through worse. The Zero Isles were far more intense, and I've spent months training there."

"Oh? Much like your pupils, Josh and Adam, right? Tell me again how they held up against Zeraora?"

"Okay, you've got me there." Nick then saw Will stop in his tracks, turning to face the lower incline of the mountain, which led straight towards the river. Nick landed by Will's side, facing the same general direction. A brief moment of silence was shared between them, until Nick could suddenly hear the thunder roaring in the clouds above. "It's going to rain soon. Think you can try and contain the Sand Stream for when Zeraora is beaten?"

"I only activate that ability when I wish to," Will commented. "You know sandstorms are not something you can handle."

"I know," Nick replied. "But it's the thought that counts, right?"

"Speaking of, did you also…?" Will was interrupted by Nick holding up a purple orb with a lightning bolt on it in front of him. "Is that what I think it is?"

"Foe-Hold Orb," Nick answered. "Now only Zeraora is mobile while we do battle."

Will smiled as he looked at Nick. "You really think of everything, don't you?"

"Consider it a life lesson I've learned since training Adam and Josh," Nick commented, placing the orb away. "I won't make that mistake twice. Josh even told me this: 'Always keep a Foe-Hold Orb on in case of emergencies.'"

"From an experienced player to someone still learning the ropes?" Will asked.

Nick chuckled, before saying "Actually, it was because of my mistake that Josh and Adam are where they're at today."

Will looked at the fields with a smile, taking a slight glance back towards his comrade. "So even the great Infernick is prone to make mistakes? Who would've guessed?"

Nick chuckled at the comment, and looked at the field as well. "Luckily for me, Josh and Adam overcame the danger and not only grew stronger together, but they also saved my life. You could say I owe it to them."

"Yeah, I guess." Just then, they both heard some thunder up in the clouds above them, and soon enough, rain started to pour down over their heads. Nick took a deep breath, shaking off the tension of this encounter by calming his nerves. While that happened, Will commented "Are you nervous?"

Nick stood tall, a grin on his face, before telling the Tyranitar "If you think I'm scared, then yes. I guess you could say that I am."

"Don't tell me the fight is going to be your last, Nick," Will said with concern in his voice. "I don't need you to feel like you're going to lose before we engage with the-"

"It's not that," Nick reassured him. "It's just that I'm not really at full power during the rain. Not to mention that my own tail is an obvious beacon in case you didn't know. Given the dark clouds, the rain, and the thunder, it's a perfect breeding ground for Electric-types to flourish."

Then, as if on cue, a ball of yellow energy is shown being flung up into the air, and the rushing waters of the Milotic River suddenly began to rise before a massive wave rushed into the entrance. This was then followed by the water suddenly crystalizing into ice which reflected off of the blue sparks of electricity that emitted at the base of the mountain.

Will chuckled, before saying "I guess it's time we bag ourselves a tiger."

"The hunt is on, old friend," Nick said, before he soon flapped his wings and started to take off. "Make sure he doesn't escape by cutting off his exits! I'll go make sure we aren't disturbed by wild Pokémon during this fight!"

"Roger!" Will yelled as he charged on down the mountain, deciding to rush in there as he readied a Rock Slide attack, about to seal off the exit routes leading into the mountain.

All the while, Nick flew high up into the air, pulling out his Foe-Hold Orb, setting it off then and there to make sure that any wild Pokémon in the area were held back. And sure enough, the wild Pokémon were soon petrified in place from what Nick could see. Eventually, the orb stopped glowing, and shattered in a series of pixels. As he overlooked the battlefield, he could see that Zeraora was standing there, looking up at him with an intense stare.

"Rest assured, I won't make the same mistake twice," Nick muttered to himself. He then took off towards the fight where his crew was at, before he activated his Charizardite X and proceeded to Mega Evolve. After glowing brightly for a few seconds, he became a Mega Charizard X, ready for a rematch. This time, he thought, he won't get away.

The Solace Guild was about to face a rather intense storm as players either left town to explore during the weather, or retreated to the inside of the various buildings for shelter. I was lucky to have made my way towards the study to practice a game of chess against myself. Why, you may ask? Apparently, I have to try and figure out how to best my opponent through strategy rather than sheer strength alone. That was my homework for the day since Lucian decided it was for the best that he'd tutor me and play chess on the chances I received breaks from training.

My own behavior soon grabbed the attention of Cross, who just so happened to be going through the study on the off-chance that Josh was here. I saw him passing by me, and I told him "Josh is not in his usually study chamber, in case you're curious. Apparently, he's decided to spend the rest of the day training on his own."

Cross looked at me with a curious expression. "While there's rain outside? Josh could likely catch pneumonia if he does that, you know."

"You don't know that," I said. "I've seen Josh train out during rain, snow, hail, and even when there was intense wind blowing because he told me it would be a good bit of training so that one day, somehow, he could steady his technique."

Cross gave a slight scoff at the idea, and sat down across from me. "That mutt is crazy, I'll tell you that. Though…he does realize there's an indoor training hall, right?"

"Oh, he's aware," I remarked, moving a pawn on the chess board in front of me. "He just chooses not to use it."

Cross eyed my actions carefully, and was immediately perplexed by my own behavior. "Speaking of crazy, I can't help but think that you have an imaginary friend you're going against in this chess match."

"Huh?" I took a look over at the Gallade, before I ended up correcting him. "No, I'm just, you know…trying to plan my approach carefully…"

Cross sighed, before he soon commented "It's sad, that's what it is. You need an actual opponent to go against. Don't take on something just by yourself. Here." He then proceeded to analyze the placements of the pieces. "Now, you have a knight on F3 and a pawn on E4, while Black has two pawns on E5 and F5 respectively. But say, take your bishop to C4, and I take my knight to C6."

"Woah woah woah! You know how to play Chess?" I asked out of surprise.

"My father taught me how to play when I was 7," Cross answered. "What you have here is known as a Latvian Gambit. It leaves Black completely in the open, and leads to some crazy tactics at play here."

"Oh. I see. So, it's a good opening to exploit?"

"If you want White to counter Black, then yes." Cross then took a look at me, asking "By the way, which color are you?"

"Black."

"Then you've essentially played one of the worst opening positions in chess. If you don't play your cards right, you'll ultimately end up losing your more valuable pieces."

Cross then showed me the idea of the Latvian Gambit (whatever it's supposed to be) and shows me the overall strategy that goes into taking the king and winning a game under this strategy. I was almost impressed in him teaching me these things, and I couldn't help but smile over his passion for strategy. He was going on and on with his detailed knowledge of the game before I held up my hand to silence him, saying "I think I get the basic principles. Thanks."

Cross stopped what he was doing immediately, and soon settled down, asking me "So, why the sudden fascination with chess? Where did this come from?"

"Oh, uh…" I didn't want to tell him I was taking private lessons with Lucian, but I didn't want to leave him in the dark either. So, instead, I came up with an excuse. "You see, I just…react a bit slowly to plan out my moves on enemies. I soon found that chess adds a sense of tension and strategy that could help me with-"

"Lucian told you to study up on chess, didn't he?" Cross asked bluntly.

WHAT THE-! How did he know!? I gulped, and I asked nervously "How did you know?"

"Because Lucian told me about it before he left today," Cross answered. "He was very discreet about it as well. Wanted me to know ahead of time whenever you were on your breaks from training."

I didn't know how to respond to that. "I see…"

Cross smiled as he stared at the board. "Though, if you'd like, I could show you a few tips and play a game or two. Who knows? Maybe it could help you in the long run."

"R-really?" I asked, staring at him like I just found a lucky four-leaf clover. "You mean it?"

"One-hundred percent, buddy," Cross said with sincerity in his voice. "In case you're ever confused on what's put at play here, just remember to ask me about it. I'm more help than you may realize."

"Oh, thank you!" I said gratefully, shaking his hand in mine. "You're a big help, Cross! Thank you so much!"

"Anytime. Now, what color should you go with? Black or White?"

"Black. You're the Ivory Blade of Team Calibur, aren't you? Might as well give you White out of respect."

"Eh, fair enough." We then proceeded to set up the board, and before long, Cross and I were about to start a chess match together. "Now, in case you're stumped, just remember that I'm only trying to help you improve quickly. Which reminds me, we need a timer of some kind…" He then pulled out something from his bag, and it appeared to be an hourglass. "Typical chess matches don't take too long, but just to make things fair here, we'll see how far we go within 15 minutes. Whoever scores the most pieces from their opponent is declared the winner. You lose if you either have fewer pieces or end up in checkmate. Sound fair?"

"Hold on… Why the timer?" I asked in confusion.

"Because in an actual battle of wits, you need to (a) think fast and (b) act fast," Cross explained. "Much like a physical battle, if it takes too long, you're only going to make things seem boring. Real battles are quick and decisive. That's what I'm hoping you'll take from this." He then gripped the hourglass, giving me a look of reassurance. "Don't be nervous. You'll improve over time, I know."

I took a glance at the hourglass and then back to Cross. He didn't seem like he was hiding much of any ulterior motive, so if anything, he was being quite open and honest. If I was being honest, Cross helping me out with strategy seemed like a more viable option than Lucian ever was. I decided then and there to put my faith into Cross. Taking a deep breath, I looked at him, and then focused all of my attention towards the board. "Okay. Ready."

Before I could even blink, Cross flipped over the hourglass, and he immediately made his move.

Zeraora was caught off guard by the sudden ball of light that was chucked into the air, but not as much as the sudden torrent of water heading towards him. He was close to simply vaporizing the water with his electricity, but the Empoleon on top of the wave saw this coming and froze the water with Ice Beam, before landing in front of the giant ice wall.

Unfortunately, the Empoleon was the least of his worries as he was then suddenly made aware of a pair of ghost hands gripping his legs in place and holding him down. This left him wide open for a High-Jump Kick that struck him square in the chest, sending him flying towards the cliff base.

As the Empoleon and Mienshao stood tall and had Zeraora cornered, he was then made aware of the Dusknoir who emerged from beneath the ground and readying a Will-O-Wisp attack. Zeraora looked at the three of them, in turn, and asked "For what reason do you three wish to do with me through taking me by surprise? If you value your companion's life, I'd suggest you stand aside."

"After what you've done to Nick?" the Mienshao questioned. "You think that killing him is okay with you?"

"I am not going to kill the Charizard," Zeraora explained. "I'm just trying to save him from this place. I know he's a human who's trapped against his will, so I only wish to help him."

"Killing him in-game won't change a thing," the Dusknoir retorted. "He's far beyond rescuing from this place. Especially from the likes of you!"

Just like that, the Dusknoir fired the glowing blue flames of Will-O-Wisp at Zeraora, who tried to move quickly to avoid getting hit, only to find himself suddenly moving rather slowly, much to his own shock. "What…?" It didn't take long for the flames to engulf him, and he was left with the all too familiar sting of the burn status, which ultimately caused him to stumble from the shock.

"Were you surprised?" the Empoleon asked Zeraora. "Just a little Trick Room to make sure you're not leaving without dealing with us first."

"For example…" The Dusknoir then fired a black beam of energy towards Zeraora, striking him in an instant, knocking him towards the cliff wall again. "Normally, I'm pretty slow against a speedster like yourself. Therefore, after grabbing your legs, I activated Trick Room when you were distracted by the High-Jump Kick. Your own speed is now being used against you."

Zeraora staggered a little when he looked back at the Dusknoir, gritting his teeth in frustration. He scanned his surroundings, and sure enough, he found himself encased in what appeared to be a giant rectangular room. He had to admit, he was outplayed in this bout.

Zeraora smiled as he was impressed with their general strategy. "It appears I'm not dealing with amateurs. You really seem to know your tactics." He then sparked with electricity all around his body as he stood back up on his feet, a wicked grin on his face. "You will make a fine challenge before I confront the Charizard."

He then tried to make his move, only to then notice that the ground below him started to shake. He looked up, and found that a bunch of rocks were falling down on top of him. Without thinking, he soon leapt out of the way from the attack, narrowly avoiding the Rock Slide before he was then met by the Mienshao using Coaching to boost his allies attack power, leading to Zeraora seeing both the Empoleon and Dusknoir charging towards him with Ice Punch and Wave Crash from two separate directions. Thinking quickly, Zeraora decided to fire a Thunder attack up into the sky, before using Bulk-Up to try and defend himself from further damage, shielding his body as he took both attacks simultaneously.

The Mienshao soon made his move as he fired a Focus Blast attack towards Zeraora, who didn't react in time to dodge, and instead took the brunt of the attack. He tried to fight back against all three of his opponents who were all charging towards him from different angles, before he found himself backing up towards the cliffs. As he was backing up, however, that was when the Rock Slide suddenly started to come down again, and he ended up barely dodging the attack thanks to barely managing to manipulate the electromagnetic fields around him to try and block off most of the attack from above. This, unfortunately, came at a side effect of him getting slammed in the chest by three different attacks at once. However, with what little strength he had at the time, he managed to chuck the rocks he was holding at his assailants, striking the Dusknoir and knocking him down, but leaving the Mienshao and Empoleon barely phased as Zeraora was hit rather hard.

Zeraora screamed in agony as the relentless attacks ended up doing significant damage to him, and he ended up being nearly buried in the wall from the strikes of his opponents. He slumped over, eyes closed, as he soon felt short of breath and collapsed on the ground.

As the dust settled, Zeraora was down, and both the Empoleon and Mienshao stood victorious over their adversary. The Mienshao sighed with relief as he turned to look at the Empoleon. "That was a little too easy, wouldn't you say?" the Mienshao asked.

"Yeah," the Empoleon muttered. "No doubt in my mind that he was probably weakened by the burn status he had, plus the Trick Room really seemed to do a number on his speed."

"I agree. However, Nick underestimated him beforehand. We should take caution with him and finish him off while we have the chance."

The Dusknoir got up from the rocks that hit him, and he soon stared up at the top of the cliffs. "Oi, Will! Do you think you could tone down the Rock Slide just a smidge!? That attack almost took me out!"

All at once, a shadowy presence from on top of the cliff ended up leaping off, before landing right in between the Dusknoir and his allies. The Tyranitar ended up looking at his Dusknoir ally, taking a look at his injuries, and simply said "It wasn't that bad, Rohan. It's not the end of the world if you took damage like that."

"That Rock Slide seriously took a lot out of me, you know," the Dusknoir, Rohan, commented. "Why didn't you warn me that Zeraora could just block the attack and use it against me?"

"Fine. I admit that I had no clue he could do that," the Tyranitar, Will, replied. "I only heard he manipulates magnetic fields to move fast. I had no idea he could use it as a form of defense."

"Well, whatever the case is, he's not getting up from that anytime soon," the Empoleon stated, turning to face Will. "Nick's going to miss out that we took the victory for today."

"Don't be too certain," the Mienshao mentioned, grabbing all of their attention. "Let's not forget that he charged at us despite the effect of Trick Room hindering his movement. We took the offensive and struck while he was denied a chance to strike back. And yet, something seems off. The fight was over too quickly, especially considering this is the mythical Zeraora we're dealing with. I was expecting more of a challenge."

"Well, in any case, I guess we just outmatched him, Kenji," Rohan said. "He never even had a chance to strike at us before we were able to deny his lightning."

"His lightning…" Kenji muttered, looking closely at Zeraora as he was deep in thought. He was covered in lightning like he wanted to strike against us. And yet, instead, he fired a bolt of lightning up into the sky to fight us without any issue. But why would he choose to do that and leave himself vulnerable? Why would he…?

And it was there that he saw that Zeraora was giving off a subtle burn around his body, which only Kenji seemed to take notice of. In an instant, Zeraora seemed to give off a smile, like he had this all figured out from the start. And it was there that Kenji knew what Zeraora was up to.

In an instant, Kenji turned around, yelling "ROHAN! ABOVE YOU!" He tried to rush after him, but due to the Trick Room still being in effect, he was not fast enough to save the Dusknoir, who ended up getting struck by a powerful bolt of lightning from above, made even more powerful due to the electricity being charged up through the electromagnetic fields of the mountain itself. Rohan was struck by a devastating Thunder attack, before he ultimately was burned to a crisp and instantly fractured into pixels. A message reading "Spectro has fainted" appeared where he stood.

Before Will, Napoleon and Kenji could turn to face Zeraora, however, he was already in the midst of charging a Plasma Fist attack, which he slammed into the ground, striking at all three of them at once. The damage was intense on both Kenji and Will, but to Napoleon, who was a Water-type, it was excruciating. As all three of them were struck by the attack, a massive explosion of electricity was released. By the time the dust settled, Kenji and Will were left standing while Napoleon was knocked to the ground, and broken apart into a series of pixels. "EmperorBlue has fainted" emerged from where he was defeated.

By the time that Trick Room soon dissipated, Zeraora was standing there, panting as he tried to hold off against the burn that was stinging his body. Will and Kenji were the only other ones standing there when they saw that Zeraora was struggling to keep going.

"It would appear…that you…are tougher than I thought…" Zeraora said between breaths. "However, it's the Charizard that I want to fight. Not you."

"Why, though?" Will questioned. "Why would you want to battle against Nick?"

Zeraora let out a pained laugh, the heavy rain helping to soothe the pain that was currently taking hold of his body. "I guess I was a little too soft on him when I first met him. Knowing how he trained himself, I had to dispose of him sooner rather than later. But don't misunderstand, Tyranitar and Mienshao. I have a mission to fulfill, and you are just nothing more than obstacles that are standing in my way. I fight for the freedom of humans everywhere. They are in grave danger, and I am not going to sit around while they suffer. I will save them, for I am…" Suddenly, he flexed his claws as he covered his body with his arms, forming what appears to be an X motion. But then, unexpectedly, Zeraora took a moment of pause when he realized exactly what kind of motion he was doing. Lowering his paws, he looked at them, and he soon felt something that tugged at the back of his mind that he had never once thought about before. Confused, he muttered to himself "Why am I emulating him?"

But then, that was when the move Bulldoze came from Will, immediately snapping Zeraora out of it. It came suddenly and without warning, catching Zeraora by surprise, leading to him taking a large chunk of damage. Kenji followed this with a swift High-Jump Kick that knocked Zeraora back towards the cliff base. As Zeraora crashed against the wall, Kenji leapt aside, allowing Will to get a full view of the damage that the both of them let out.

"You think your defenses are yours to master," Will commented. "Well…I know a thing or two about breaking them." He then took a deep breath, and bellowed out a loud Screech attack, managing to affect Zeraora drastically as he was pinned to the wall from the move. This was then quickly followed by Kenji firing a Focus Blast towards Zeraora.

Thinking quickly, Zeraora fired a Thunder attack in an effort to hopefully slow the Focus Blast down, but the combined effort of the Screech attack and his current injuries made it so that his counterstrategy was failing him. He ended up failing to block the attack, and he ultimately was struck by the Focus Blast.

The explosion from that attack was powerful, and it resulted in Zeraora in a desperate situation. What do I do? At this rate, I'm not going to last must longer. What should I do?

Zeraora soon thought about using his Entercards to escape. However, that led to great risk, given that he seems to be having trouble leaving them behind during desperate escapes. And given the situation he's in at the moment, setting up an Entercard was risky. What he needed was a chance to open a portal, just for a moment, and make a clean getaway. However, Zeraora was already in a tight spot. And the battle was starting to wear him down. In an act of pure desperation, he had to make his move.

As soon as the dust around Zeraora settled, he sparked himself with electricity, and roared intensely as he rushed towards Will with unrelenting speed. Will anticipated this, and started to charge at him with Giga Impact, which had its power boosted greatly thank to Kenji using Coaching.

If Zeraora was going to escape, he needed to give it his all at that moment. He charged forward, and began to strike using Close Combat to fight the Tyranitar, giving his punches all the strength he could ever muster with each strike.

The two attacks clashed, as Zeraora tried a flurry of rapid-fire punches to slow down the Giga Impact. To him, it was like an unstoppable force meeting with an immovable object. Regardless, Zeraora gave it his best effort in an attempt to finish off his foe. However, the burn greatly hindered his strength, and it didn't take long for the Tyranitar to break through the punches, knocking Zeraora back, sending him flying towards the cliffs yet again.

Just as planned.

Zeraora grinned as he was knocked back, and he ultimately ended up adjusting his trajectory as he ended up landing against the wall on his feet, and upon tapping into his speed, he was able to jump off the wall and charge towards Kenji like a bolt of lightning. Kenji was quick to use Detect and narrowly dodge Zeraora's pounce, managing to catch Zeraora winking at him briefly before Zeraora landed by another wall, and bounced off of it towards the open corridor and to his escape, with the sound of thunder ringing with Zeraora's movements.

Kenji and Will were shocked at how fast Zeraora truly was, and quickly found him attempt to get away. "Damn! He's getting away!" Kenji yelled as he soon took pursuit.

Will smirked as he remarked on how Zeraora was apparently moving swiftly through not just the rain, but also, utilizing every aspect of his home to his advantage. Giving a slight chuckle, he soon charged in the same direction as Kenji. "Using momentum of my own attack to build up speed, and bounce along the walls like a springboard. Not bad. This might actually be worth a challenge after all."

While the two of them were a fair distance away, Zeraora soon attempted to find a place to hide so he can heal up and avoid any further confrontations. He slowed down enough to maintain speed against them, contemplating his actions. Once I get out of here, I need to hide so they will lose sight of me. I'll need to use the storm as a cover, and then I'll-

Without warning, Zeraora was struck by a Breaking Swipe attack, which hurt tremendously as it knocked him towards the center of an alcove, leaving him collapsed on the ground. Zeraora was in such immense pain, was unable to move, and didn't have any remaining strength to use to fight back. That one Breaking Swipe attack did a big number on him, whittling him down to semi-consciousness as he stared at what it was that attacked him.

What he saw was glowing blue flames in the dark of the storm. One bolt of lightning going off was enough to make out the shape of a Mega Charizard X, lowering himself down from the sky as he looked over at Zeraora with an intense glare.

Zeraora coughed as he was sore all over his body, looking at his opponent. The Charizard he's been wary of since that little skirmish in Shoal Coast. Rumored to be the strongest fighter in the game. Game? What game? Where did that thought come from? Zeraora wondered.

The Charizard landed on the ground, smiling as he has victory over Zeraora. "You've been causing me and my friends a lot of pain these past few days," he said. "So, I decided to wait here while my pals wore down your strength. And judging from your condition, that seemed to do the trick."

"How…did you…move so fast? And for that matter, why did your attack…hit so hard?" Zeraora asked weakly.

"Oh, I decided to try and match your speed with Dragon Dance," the Charizard answered. "I've been stacking it up this whole time, waiting to strike while the iron was hot."

Zeraora was shocked over the fact that this Charizard was a crafty thinker. He knew for a fact that facing against Zeraora in a battle would be a risk, so he baited Zeraora into running down a pathway where he could ambush him at the last second. A dirty tactic, but then again, this wasn't the only time he was dealing with something like that. That Gallade he fought used similar tactics and strategy. To him, Zeraora thought that the Gallade was close to matching his own intelligence when it came to combat. Unfortunately, this was it. He probably wouldn't get the chance to see that Gallade again, and he knew that it wouldn't be long until he would be disposed of by the hands of that Charizard he was wary of this whole time.

The Charizard was soon accompanied by Will and Kenji, who slowed down to see that Zeraora was down, barely hanging on to survive. Kenji smiled, patting the Charizard on the back. "Well, it looks like your pupils are going to be okay, Nick," he said. "There's nothing more to worry about now."

"What happened to Napoleon and Rohan?" Nick asked.

"Zeraora was pretty smart and took advantage of the situation," Will answered. "They both fainted, leaving us to dispose of him."

"The top three against the dangerous criminal," Nick muttered to himself, looking at Zeraora. He sighed, crossing his arms in disappointment. "A shame, really, that this AI had to cause so much trouble. But the question now is this: Who was the one who reprogrammed him to act like this?"

"Wait. Are you suggesting that there's an accomplice in cahoots with Zeraora?" Will asked.

"I'm only saying that obviously, somebody had malicious intent to try and kill off my students," Nick said. "Normally, I'm expecting this creature to explain who he knows first and foremost." Leaning closely to Zeraora, he asked him "Who was the one who reprogrammed you?"

"What are you…talking about?" Zeraora asked. "I don't know what you're saying…"

"Alright, so let's make it easier for you to understand," Nick stated, before stomping his foot onto Zeraora's leg, the audible sound of bones twisting out of alignment ringing in Zeraora's ears as he gritted his teeth, trying to fight the pain. Nick soon backed away, allowing Zeraora to grab his knee. "Let me repeat myself. Who was the one you made contact with, and why did he reprogram you?"

Zeraora gave a pained laugh at Nick's statement. He soon struggled to sit up and lean his back against the wall, looking at his enemies. "Why ask questions in which you will only be disappointed by hearing the answers?" Zeraora asked. "This place is my home. It wasn't until a year ago when I first discovered something you humans couldn't possibly understand. For as long as I remembered, I have been unable to recall my own actions. That is, until I met with Psylink. He found me, he and I became friends, and he was the one who taught me what humans were like, being one himself." Looking at his paw, Zeraora reminisced about his departed friend. "He and I shared a lot together, traveling from place to place until we ended up separated on a rainy day such as this one. He was taken hold by this…presence, and I simply didn't want him to suffer. I did what I had to. Are you satisfied with that answer?"

Nick huffed, smoke emerging from his nostrils, as he stood there, listening to this story play out. "Not in the least," Nick said rather coldly.

Zeraora smirked, before lowering his head. "A shame. I figured you would understand, given you know this presence yourself, yes? This…MCP, was it?"

In an instant, Nick felt like he was just struck with a sudden jolt upon hearing that. Both Will and Kenji were quick to see Nick's reaction upon the mention of MCP, which only made them instantly concerned. "How did you come to know that name?" Nick asked.

"Oh, so you know about it," Zeraora goaded on. "Then tell me, why is it you are targeting me instead of this MCP thing? That's the real enemy in this situation. I'm only trying to protect humans such as yourself from him."

Nick was instantly triggered, firing a flame from his mouth that barely missed Zeraora, nearly singing his whisker. "Where did you learn that name!?" Nick asked in a rather terrified tone of voice.

"Nick? Are you okay?" Will asked nervously.

"Yeah, this isn't normally like you," Kenji added.

Zeraora took the time that Nick almost had a panic attack to slowly, carefully dig into his satchel. All the while, he kept it hidden thanks to holding his sprained leg up. He just needed to buy time. "This MCP thing…" Zeraora began. "Tell me, what do you know about it? It would be a service to everyone if you went and explained yourself."

Nick trembled with unease, the thunder in the clouds building as he clenched his talons with anger. "I'm the one asking you the questions, so speak! Where did you learn about MCP!?"

Zeraora sighed, realizing he was not going anywhere with Nick anytime soon. "From Psylink," he answered bluntly. "He was part of a group of rebels who wished to fight MCP but were soon made into his slaves. Their free will; their sense of being. All of it taken away in an instant. The only reason I'm doing what I must is because these humans need saving, to protect them from any further harm. I have no other options."

Nick growled in irritation at Zeraora's response. "Where did Psylink learn about MCP then? Last I've heard, he was a skilled programmer that was brought in from Ontario to help with coding. Tell me, did he even meet with MCP?"

"Wouldn't you know more than me?" Zeraora questioned back. "After all, he mentioned that it's MCP he's intent on finishing off along with his allies. Austin didn't have much help, so I decided to fight alongside him, even though we didn't have any other allies to depend on. My speed and strength, mixed with his intellect. We were a powerful pair, fighting against various goons sent in by MCP. But one occasion took his life, and I was left alone. And I intend to make sure that nobody else ends up suffering the same fate. And if it means getting my paws dirty, so be it."

Nick took glances back towards Will and Kenji. He could tell that they were just as curious about this as he was, about how something like MCP ended up being known by Zeraora. Nick gritted his teeth, returning to face Zeraora, before asking "Then I have but one more question. You claim that I know about MCP more than you do. How did you know?"

Zeraora sighed, lowering his head before saying "Because I was able to hear about what happened to you. How you ended up involved with MCP once this world was brought to existence. You were trapped here longer than the Lucario and Incineroar, your 'pupils' as you call them. That much is evident by your combat experience. The Lucario and Incineroar seem to share similar capabilities. The stoking flame that serves to be like a blazing inferno. And what's more, they now know you were involved."

Nick tensed up upon hearing this news, especially from Zeraora. Clenching his fists, he yelled "Last warning, Zeraora! Tell me why you know these things! Who told you?"

Zeraora smiled, looking back up at Nick, his eyes no longer blue in color, but instead vivid red. "Ignorace is not going to save anyone, Infernick," he said. "Denial of the truth will only hurt Josh and Adam."

Zeraora meant those words, but he briefly tensed up upon uttering them. For a moment, he thought to himself Why am I saying these things?

However, it was only for a moment, as Nick quickly fired another Inferno attack towards Zeraora, and an explosive blast struck where Zeraora was sitting. However, in that brief instance, Kenji was using Detect, and noticed that Zeraora was fast enough to pull out a Warp Seed, before placing it in his mouth and biting down. All at once, Zeraora vanished just mere moments before the flames struck him.

As the blast settled, there were just small blue flames within the alcove, Nick huffing out of anger, before he soon calmed down, sighing with relief. Will looked over the damage, partially nervous over Nick's sudden outburst, but nonetheless relieved that he was no longer in need to worry about Zeraora for a time. Looking back at Nick, he asked "What did he mean about you knowing this…MCP, whatever it is?"

"It's a long story," Nick lamented. "But now, I think we should report about our struggle here. We're done."

However, Kenji had a different vibe, and he quickly placed his paw on Nick's shoulder. "Don't go changing back just yet, Nick. Zeraora's still here."

Nick and Will gasped, before turning to face him again. "He's still alive? But he didn't even use any Entercards! We would've noticed him using one!"

"He didn't use an Entercard." Kenji soon looked square at Nick, and asked "You've mentioned that Zeraora had a healthy bunch of supplies to use according to your student's observations, yes?"

Nick was afraid that Kenji knew what happened, and dreaded hearing the truth for himself. "He mentioned he had seeds and berries at his disposal, yes," Nick said.

Kenji stared back at the scorch marks in the alcove. "I used Detect to try and predict if Zeraora was bound to use any moves to escape. However, another benefit of it is that I can catch up to whatever movements Zeraora planned to execute. Especially the use of items." Looking back at his teammates, he described exactly what he saw to the both of them. "Zeraora used a Warp Seed to escape in the blink of an eye."

"WHAT!?" Nick yelled out in shock. "He could be anywhere in the mountain at this point!"

"In that case, we need to revive both Rohan and Napoleon to help our search," Will suggested. "Nick, you go back and do just that. Leave this part of the investigation to us."

"But-"

"Nick, you can trust us," Will mentioned, gripping the Charizard's shoulders. "The talk with MCP will come later, after we search this mountain from top to bottom. Agreed?"

Nick gritted his teeth in frustration, before he averted his gaze and puffed out a small flame from his mouth. "Alright. I'll do it."

"Good. Now go. Kenji and I can handle the search for now. However, we need more allies. Rohan's guild should provide the troops we need to comb the area. Tell him that! Hurry!"

Nick nodded, and he took off into the sky as he flew back down the mountain. All throughout his flight back down, he could feel the winds and rain from the storm billowing down his back and face. The drops of rain made contact with the flames around his mouth and tail, emitting steam as he flew. All the while, his eyes were wide as he thought back to what Zeraora said to him.

Nick wasn't aware that Zeraora knew, somehow, about MCP and his own involvement with it. He heard the name Psylink being used during the conversation, and as such, he knew that someway, there's got to be some connection between him and Zeraora specifically that lies beyond companionship. There's a reason why Zeraora had that knowledge, and there's also a reason to suspect that Psylink might be involved somewhat. But one thing still caught his attention during the interrogation.

"He was part of a group of rebels who wished to fight MCP but were soon made into his slaves. Their free will; their sense of being. All of it taken away in an instant."

He wanted to fight MCP? And if so, who are his allies? Nick pondered this line of thinking, all the while thunder brewed in the clouds above, rain dripped down from his wings and tail, and lightning struck along the horizon.

"Checkmate."

Cross beat me after roughly 15 minutes of chess, his bishop placing my king in a precarious position. Over the course of the game, he gave me pointers, helped me to have quicker reaction time with moves, and even allowed me to realize one glaring flaw with my own approach: I didn't use my pieces to my advantage.

Cross sighed, leaning back in his chair, staring up at the ceiling. "You know, I have to admit, as much as Lucian is quite the enigma, he seems to know what he's doing."

I only sulked as I had to admit that I lost. Again. At another game of chess. "I don't see how this could be helpful if I just keep losing."

Cross took a look at me as I was putting the chessboard away. "Adam, don't think that because you lost that you should just give up on yourself. Every bitter defeat should be seen as a lesson to learn. A chance to improve on ourselves so we can do better next time."

I sighed. "I get that, but while you and Josh are doing most of the heavy lifting, I always end up having to be a burden on you. I only seem to be helpful in a battle with a group, not so much by myself."

Cross placed his hand over mine, and gave me a reassuring smile. "Adam. I don't know what you're thinking half of the time, but I can assure you, you are far stronger than you realize." He got up from his chair as he stared me down. "You just need to look deep inside of yourself and find the resolve to do better. You have potential. After all, you're the student of Infernick of the Blue Flame. Surely, he has faith in you, as do Josh, Rose, and even Volt's team."

I just looked at Cross with concern, and I ultimately felt a pit in the bottom of my stomach. "I…I see what you mean. It's just…" Looking away briefly, I decided to confess something to him. "You see, after the Zero Isles, I went all out in a battle with Josh during a sparring match. As I did, I felt these…impulses, telling me that I had to win, no matter what." I looked at my open hand, at my claws, and the muscles within my forearm. "I ultimately gave into those impulses, and you know what? Those were the same as they were when I fought on the Zero Isles, and when facing against Zeraora at Mount Ebott. Those impulses…" I clenched my fist, saying "They told me 'Win, no matter what. You will survive. You will surpass your own limits and win.' And then…" Looking back at Cross, I mentioned "I ended up hurting Josh so hard that he was hospitalized for two days. I apparently broke a couple of his ribs and he wasn't able to move at all."

Cross simply looked at me with sudden intrigue, ultimately not saying a word as I continued my story. Looking back at my hand, I said "By the time that I visited the medical wing, there were already healers tending to his injuries, and Volt told me something about my species. He said 'Your strength is truly something else, Puss. Just what I'd expect from an Incineroar.' I asked him why that is, and he told me 'Incineroar are considered to be adept fighters. Fighting is their passion. Their drive. They act on an impulse to give out a strong bout with tough opponents, like your brother, for instance.' I was scared, worried that maybe I was being too rough. But ultimately, Volt mentioned 'You're a heel, Puss. You're destined to be the tough and immoral sort. Your strength is to break the rules and rile up your opponents to give it their all. Use that strength right, and you will be able to escape in no time.'"

I soon clenched my fist, looking back at Cross as I described this to him. "You know what Josh and I call immoral people? Villains. I was scared that I was destined to be put in a villainous role after my training on Zero Isles, so from that point on…I just chose not to give in to my impulses. Josh has his aura, basing his technique on how most Lucario fight. Every day, he practices with aura, meditates, and resolves himself to protect the innocent around him. He's destined to be a hero. But I…" I trembled, and slammed my fist onto the table out of frustration. "After everything Josh did for me, I was destined to be a burden. I was scared that I would be the villain in Josh's story." I grit my teeth for a bit, before sighing, lowering my head in shame. "I can't even muster the strength to do good on our goal. I want to help others, not leave people thinking I'm a bad guy. Honest."

Cross was quick to lift my head up, giving me a gentle look. "Adam. You're not a bad guy. Don't go believing what Volt tells you. You are a kind, albeit insecure individual. Sure, the heel isn't exactly known for being the hero in a wrestling match, but to be fair, there are some heels that are actually cheered upon by the crowd. You are destined to be a hero in your own way, Adam. All of that strength you have in you, you can use it to help others."

I gave a quizzical look towards him. "That's not what my impulses tell me."

"And how do we know those impulses are because you're an Incineroar?" Cross asked. He crossed his arms as he stared at me. "You became an Incineroar because you chose him as your favorite Pokémon, not because you are a bad person. You want the attention. You yearn for the crowd to root for you. And moreover, you put up a tough guy act merely because you have a drive to keep going forward no matter how rough it gets." With a smile, he nodded his head. "You intrigue me. Perhaps these chess matches can help you understand what you're hidden potential really is."

"Hidden potential?" I mused. "I have something like that?"

"Everyone does, tiger," Cross reassured, patting my shoulder. "And I promise you, you're bound to rise up and be able to make Josh proud. I believe that when the time is right, you will use those Incineroar impulses, and you will use them to achieve victory against a tough opponent. And when the battle's over, and Josh runs up to you, he will have tears in his eyes and a smile on his face, and he will say 'I am so proud of you, Adam!' He will give you the biggest hug imaginable, and this in turn will reignite your fighting spirit."

I got chills from hearing Cross say that, and this in turn helped to cheer me up. "You think that's what will happen?"

Cross nodded his head. "I sure hope so."

I smiled back at the Gallade, and I couldn't help but feel that the storm outside was bound to subside and give rise to a brighter day.

Just when I was thinking that, Josh was walking in from outside, his fur completely soaked from top to bottom as he stretched his arms after training outside for so long. As he walked through the study, he made his way towards his private room, closing the door behind him. But before he did so, he took a wayward glance towards me and Cross, and acknowledged our presence with a wave from his paw.

Cross patted my shoulder. "Well, that's my cue to talk with Josh." As he looked back at me, he said "Try to temper that inner Incineroar for me, will ya? I'll be rooting for you!" And just like that, he walked away and made his way towards Josh's private study.

As I sat there by myself, I stared out at the direction of the storm outside. It was pouring hard, and what's more, it made me wince at the idea that I would be soaked if I stepped foot out there. But moreover, I began to think back to the last time a storm occurred. Hard to believe that it's been nearly a week since we first saw Zeraora. If I remember, it was raining just like this. I smiled, remembering the time Josh saved my life. He looked so capable as a fighter, challenging Zeraora directly to protect me.

"One day, I'll repay the favor," I muttered, renewing myself with confidence as I stared at the rain pouring down, hearing the sound of thunder in the distance. "I promise, Josh. I will save us both. Just you wait."

The rain was starting to come in pretty crazy as Mount Sanda became drenched, making scaling certain inclines dangerous. Nick, Kenji, Will, and Napoleon were exploring every possible angle, while Rohan was at the base of the mountain to make contact with his guild. It was a dangerous place. Thunderstorms aren't really uncommon, but it does serve as a location where electrical discharges are rather frequent, which is especially bad during thunderstorms.

Nick flew down to Rohan at the base of the mountain, deactivating his Mega Evolution, before landing next to him to grab his attention. "The storm is getting pretty bad. At this rate, we'll never find him."

"He used a Warp Seed, correct?" Rohan asked. "If so, he should still be in there. He frequents this mountain for a reason."

"I highly doubt he'll stay there for long," Nick mentioned. "He's hiding somewhere to recover and make more Entercards, most likely. Once that's done, he'll escape and return to killing like always." Nick soon started to get irritated from the constant downpour, before asking "How long do you think a sweep around the mountain would take?"

"With my guild on standby, it should probably take no more than 12 hours, give or take," Rohan answered. "We'll send the best of the best to investigate. And in case he's gone, we leave a patrol to keep tabs on the place so he'll think twice before returning."

"Are your troops capable fighters?" Nick asked. "You practically got taken out without warning."

Rohan winced from embarrassment for his failure. "Don't remind me. In the meantime, it's dangerous for you to stay out here. Fly back to Esther and rest in the guild. Rainwater simply can't be good for you."

Nick sighed, before nodding his head. "I'll do just that. If your guild finds anything, be sure to let me know. There's no possible way for Zeraora to hide from us forever."

"You've got it!" Rohan then gave a salute to Nick.

Nick smiled, before taking off into the sky, making his way towards Esther. As the mountain loomed further away from sight, Nick scowled, angry mainly at himself for allowing Zeraora to escape again. "Mark my words, Zeraora. The next time we meet, you won't be so lucky."

Meanwhile, thunder brewed in the sky as Nick flew further away from the mountain. But as the Charizard became nothing more than a flickering glow in the storm, a hidden cliff face, behind a pair of dead trees, revealed a secret door that Zeraora could open for himself to use at any time. He winced as he struggled to hold on after his battle, but he reached his destination.

He placed a claw on the center of the spot between the two dead trees, and carefully drew a lightning bolt pattern before making a straight line connecting the two endpoints. All at once, the stone opened up, leading directly into the mountain. He stumbled inside, closing the door behind him, before following the glow of blue crystals in the dark towards a small chamber.

Once inside the chamber, he began to feel dizzy, placing a paw towards his head as he leaned against a wall. Grunting from the pain of his most recent battle, he lowered himself down towards the ground, and as he sat there, he stared at his paw curiously. As he did, he began to ponder what happened during that battle.

Lightning struck the mountain, causing the crystals inside to glow brightly in an instant. As the thunder rang in Zeraora's ears, for just a brief moment, he suddenly recalled the white flames engulfing his paw after fighting that Gallade.

Before long, his memories started to flash through his mind. His meeting with Austin; his battle with that Lucario; the fight he went through on Mount Sanda. But there were other memories he also didn't remember having: holding a Dawn Stone; resting by a fire with friends; performing on a stage in front of hundreds of people; a Gardevoir and Lopunny betraying him; a chance meeting with a Meowstic with glasses; an Absol resting by his side under a starry sky.

Zeraora's head started to ache as he clutched it between his paws. Panting heavily, he slowly lowered his paws and gave them a good look. He inspected them, and for just an instance, he thought he was inside of a simple room, and looking at his reflection in a small pool of water, seeing the water rippling greatly to hide his face.

"Hey! Are you alright?" a familiar voice rang in his ears.

"Wh-what…? Why am I here?" he said, though the voice didn't sound like him at all.

He closed his eyes, his head aching greatly as he clutched it again. By the time he opened them again, he was back inside of the cave of crystals under Mount Sanda. The experience itself left Zeraora disoriented, and terrified. Thunder rang outside of the cave, and Zeraora once more stared at his paw, only this time, he felt uncertain.

Something's wrong with me. It's almost as if…I'm not me…

And then everything went black as lightning struck once more.