"Molt!" a voice behind the large group cried out.

The Legendaries calmly turned, but the human-owned Pokémon, as well as their trainers, swerved around in surprise.

It appeared that Moltres had been just as busy as Articuno, for she had brought with her a bored- and annoyed-looking Zapdos, a skittish Dratini, a curious Dragonair, a shy-appearing Dragonite, a battle-ready Arcanine, an impish Raikou, and a powerful and solemn Ho-oh.

[It took some doing, but I managed to round up a few more Legendaries and Dragons. Snorlax didn't want to get up off of his fat butt. Big surprise there...And I looked, but was unable to find Kingdra.]

Cat translated for the humans, and Lugia nodded afterwards. Kingdra hates leaving the water, so it's probably for the best.

[Can we get on with this already?] Zapdos snapped.

Celebi hid behind Cat, who translated, and Raikou smirked. Anxious to get back to zapping defenseless, weak Water-types?

Zapdos slitted his eyes, but Entei barked and interrupted him. Silence! This is a time of unity. Quibbling among ourselves shall only serve to divide us.

[Well put,] Dratini squealed, then looked shocked at its own daring, hiding behind Dragonite.

Rolling his eyes, Lugia gazed at Ho-oh. How are you doing, old friend?

I'll be a lot better once we get rid of this threat, Ho-oh growled in everyone's minds.

[If we get rid of it,] Articuno added.

"Surely all of us could easily beat--" Ash was interrupted by Arcanine.

[Human fool!] the Fire-type barked. [Don't you realize what is at stake here?]

After a quick translation from Lugia, Misty's eyes sparked. "He's not undermining the importance of taking care of things, but there are quite a few of us--"

Dragonair cut Misty off. [But the Man of Evil is on the Defector and the Restless One's side. Do you not recall the legend?]

After the Pokémon's message was relayed to the humans in a form that they could relate to, the humans all sprouted quizzical looks.

Dragonite spoke mournfully, and despite the fact that he did not speak in anyone's mind, all were able to understand him. [According to the legend of old, every two centuries the Man of Evil takes on a different form, although it is always a male human that, unless acted upon by forces other than disease, shall live to be exactly a century old. His rise to power is inevitable and always quick and great. He always has many Pokémon at his disposal and always tries to capture or destroy Legendaries. Although Good is powerful, unless most of the Legendaries band together Evil shall triumph. The Legendaries have never been able to defeat the Man of Evil, but, then again, the Chosen One has never been on our side.]

At this, with the exception of the Mews, all of the Legendaries' eyes were upon Ash.

"The Chosen One?" Ash looked skeptical.

After glancing at Dragonite and earning a nod, Dragonair stepped in, Lugia providing the translation. [The Chosen One comes only once every two millennia. If the Legendaries find the Chosen One, and get him or her to team with them, there is a possibility that the cycle of the Man of Evil shall be stopped....But only if no Legendaries die, the Man of Evil lets any Legendaries that he has go free, and the Man of Evil is converted to Good.]

"Pika," the electric mouse cooed in awe.

Ash's eyes were wide. "You're relying on...me?"

Zapdos snorted, [I knew this 'Chosen One' stuff was too good to be true. Not only is our Chosen One just a kid, he also has only half a brain!]

Lelia narrowed her eyes, and started glowing. [That's not very nice...] she hissed, and shot out a kinetic ball that was deflected by Lugia's wing.

We shouldn't quarrel among ourselves, the large bird insisted.

"Yeah, sis," Cat sniffled.

[Watch it,] Lelia growled.

[Do we have to go inside?] Celebi whimpered, the sight of the gloomy-looking gym making her uneasy.

"Yeah, do we?" James and Jessie asked simultaneously, clinging to each other. They didn't want to fight against their boss.

Meowth had his arms wrapped around Mewsie tightly. "I tink we should stay outside and youze guys can go in. It's too dangerous in dere!"

Mewsie nodded. He didn't feel like facing his brother.

But with an ominous creak, the gym doors opened by themselves, exposing the interior, which just appeared to be cloaked in a dark, forbidding blanket...Forbiddingly inviting.

"So, remind me," Brock said. "Apart from the doors with minds of their own, why is us beating him going to be hard?"

Suicune sighed, as if it were obvious. He has more powerful Pokémon than you can count. Add to that the Restless One and the Defector, and he has quite an army. Think of the most powerful non-Legendary Pokémon you have ever seen, multiply its strength by ten, and add one hundred of its kind...That doesn't even begin to describe the Pokémon he has.

Clutching Togepi, Misty groaned, "Glad to know our work isn't cut out for us."

And forward into the blackness the group went, practically pushing the Team Rocket not-quite-ex-members.

An eerie feeling settled over them all at the sight of the creepy, dark stadium.

"Oh, nobody here, it's time for us to go," James tried to leave, but then the lights flashed on, temporarily blinding them.

After they regained their eyesight, they spied, at the far end of the stadium, Giovanni standing stock still, a dark and ominous sight.

"I've been waiting for you."