48 hours had passed. The sun was setting into the mountains which faced the north side of Alexandria City. The cold air and rain added a more strange feeling to the atmosphere. It had been raining for days now and it almost felt as if the city was drowning. Skyscrapers invaded most of the downtown area, huge buildings which belonged to major corporations could be seen as far as the eye could see. In the middle of the downtown area there was a building, at the entrance were several soldiers guarding the entrance. Two soldiers accompanied by a Houndour and a Houndoom were watching as the people passed by minding their own business and attending to their everyday lives. After a few minutes of silence the sound of a motorcycle engine was heard through out the street. The soldiers looked at each other and chuckled for they knew that sound indicated the arrival of a certain person. They were right as rain, a motorcycle passed through the gate and stopped near them.

A 24 year old guy got off the motorcycle and removed his helmet revealing black, spiky hair and brown eyes; he was dressed in baggy jeans which had a chain hanging from the left side, he had a black long sleeved shirt on and a short sleeve black shirt over it and some black converse on. On his back was a red and gray backpack and it started to shuffle about as he walked towards the building, he took it and opened it and out popped out a small Pikachu.

"Pika."

"Sorry buddy, I forgot."

The Pikachu smiled and jumped out of the backpack and climbed on his shoulder. As he passed by the soldiers he said, "Watch the damn thing, will ya?"

"I'll watch it real good, in fact, I think I'll take it for a spin."

"Ah ha ha ha. Funny."

He entered and stopped inside and looked around. The building itself was very elegant, the walls were painted a Mahogany color, plants decorated the corners and dim lights lit the way through the lobby. At the very front was a desk and an older woman was in it attending calls. He smiled and headed towards the front desk. He leaned on the desk and a cocky smile was soon seen on his face.

"Why Doris, how lovely you look this evening. New haircut?"

The woman looked up and smiled and said. "As the matter of fact I did get a new haircut but you didn't give me the compliment just for the sake of being polite. What have you done this time?"

"Doris! Just 'cause I said something nice doesn't mean I want something from you."

"Yeah, right. You, young man are not prone to act politely just for being nice."

"You know that does hurt my feelings."

The woman looked at him knowing he wanted something from her, most likely it was a way out of whatever trouble he'd gotten himself into just like all the other times. He always came to her to get a few speeding tickets off his record or some information about someone he had a problem with and wanted to settle the score. Doris crossed her arms and waited for an answer.

"Okay, I need a favor."

"I knew it."

"Well, I did mean the compliment. Well, the cops are breathing down my neck yet again. So I need you to pick up the phone and call your husband. Please?"

"What did you do this time?"

"Let's see um…breaking and entering, disrupting the peace, destruction of property, auto theft and insulting a police officer."

Doris had picked up the phone but was just standing there looking at him in shock. She knew he was a first class grade A trouble maker but every time he confessed all his crimes it always surprised her.

"You're unbelievable. One of these days I won't be able to get you out of trouble young man."

"Please, I'm begging you. I'll get on my knees if I have to."

"If you get on your knees I will kick your ass." Doris chuckled and dialed her husband's number. The guy smiled and so did the small Pikachu. He walked away and before he got away Doris said.

"Oh, the boss wants to see you. He's in the 57th floor."

"Kay, thanks Dory!"

"No problem."

He went to the elevators and marked the 57th floor. Once up there he got off on a room with dim light. The walls were the same color of the lobby and there were huge wild plants all over except for the middle of the room which had a red rug that led to the end of the room. At the end was a huge wooden desk and a chair; on that chair was the colonel who was shocked to see he'd arrived rather early.

"Oh, dear God. It's the end of the world! You got here on time…for once."

"Oh, that's real funny. Hey, at least I show up unlike others who shall remain nameless."

He leaned in on the intercom which was connected to receive and send out calls internationally and he yelled into it.

"Vanessa Keller!"

"Oh, no!" The colonel knew what this was going to lead to. Vanessa and he just could never seem to get along at all. Everything was a fight or a rivalry or a competition.

"Oh, yeah! C'mere and say that to my face!"

"I would but unlike you I ain't in Paris bathing in champagne and cheese! I am doin' my job."

"So am I! But just because you're jealous—"

"Jealous! Of you? Ha! You know what? You're in Paris so you should understand this pretty well. You lady are full of merde!"

The colonel stood up and banged his hands on the desk and yelled out in frustration, "I want the two of you to shut up!"

Both of them suddenly went quiet and for a few minutes everything was really quiet and tense until she said.

"Well, you know what? We're both adults so I think at least we should act like adults. So what do you say Ash? Truce?"

"Fine!" Ash crossed his arms and stood up facing the window, the colonel pushed a button on the intercom and picked up the phone and spoke quietly. He hung up and faced Ash calmly now that he was clam as well.

"I need you to look at something. Our head scientist found this out about 15 hours ago."

The colonel stood up and reached into a drawer on the desk. He retrieved a small green box and went to the middle of the room. He set the three gems found in the Sahara desert and put them in position as to make a square. He backed up and turned the lights off; once that was done he flipped another switch and from the roof came an odd looking light bulb.

When the light hit the gems they reflected back and a show of lights was seen through out the entire room. Ash and Pikachu looked around in shock not believing their eyes. The colonel stood in the middle of the whole thing and put his hands behind his back and smiled. The colors were soon taking shape; they seemed to be making a sphere and in it a massive amount of what was interpreted to be land was seen.

"Whoa! What—how'd you…?"

"Mere accident. Someone just left some lights on and this showed up."

"Looks like a map of some sort."

"It is a map. We had someone take a snap of it and analyze it." The colonel went back to the desk and from a folder he took out a paper and handed it to Ash and said.

"We figured that little white spot is the exact location of Fantasmitus." The colonel pointed that spot out on the map. Ash then grew some concern, that area the spot was in was extremely dangerous. So dangerous not even the Elite Four would dare to go there by themselves. Not even the Champion was ever seen in that area. Strange things were said of the place and most involved people going in but never coming back out.

The colonel saw the concern upon his face and also grew concerned. He knew very little people would dare to venture in that area. To all his honesty the colonel would risk anybody and anything to get that gem. He spent 26 years of his life looking for them and he was not about to turn around and run away. Ash had been in it for 6 months and had no intention of running away either.

"I know it's dangerous lad."

Ash sighed and looked at Pikachu who let out a determined shriek and Ash smiled and said. "We'll do it. Been in this shit for 6 months, no friggin' way I'll turn back now."

"Excellent! I knew I could count on you!"

Ash and Pikachu smiled and the colonel patted him on the back and said. "I have a team assembled all ready to go. Head down to the base and pick out anything you might need or feel like taking with you."

"Cool. But a team? You know I work alone." Said Ash almost in a whinny tone. The colonel chuckled and shook his head.

"I know my boy but you are the best of the best. But even the top best need a bit of help at times. I'm sorry but I can't risk having you not come back. Don't tell Vanessa but you're much better in the filed than she is."

"Oh, hold on this I gotta write down. This is history in the making." Ash was obviously joking. He was surprised since the colonel was a man who never made anyone know just how good they really were or cheered anyone up.

About 15 minutes from the city Ash soon arrived at a military base. It was a secret military base so on top it looked like an abandoned factory. He went in through the main gate and into the factory. Once in he walked through the grimy and dusty place and went into what appeared to be an old furnace. That furnace was really an elevator shaft going 50 feet underground.

Ash and Pikachu walked into a room full of people, some were dressed in white coats indicating they were scientists and some in army uniforms. A guy about two years younger than him walked up to him and said.

"Okay, I assume you're here for the mission."

"Mission? Who the hell do I look like to you? James Bond?"

"Uuh…" Stuttered the young man as Ash kept walking away. He went into the conference room and sat at the table.

"So where's the team?"

"They're on their way. Mean while, why don't you check whatever it is you need for this little field trip to that place. Oh and by the way, the colonel sent this."

The guy took a small box and set it on the table, Ash reached over to get it but he saw the guy was still standing there as if curious as to what was inside. He cleared his throat and the guy stammered a few apologies and left. As soon as he was gone Ash opened the box and found a letter from the colonel which read:

"As you know this is going to be dangerous. You won't be the only ones there so I thought some firepower would come in handy. Yes, I know you completely trust your Pokémon and they are very powerful but this is just in case things get out of hand. I hope it doesn't come to this but you never know. I have received word that Cyrus will also be searching for the same thing you'll be looking for. As you know Cyrus tends to play dirty, very dirty. So just be extra careful and watch your back. Good luck."

"Same ol' colonel. Everything's a freakin' war with this guy."

"Pika pi. Pika pika."

"I know, I know. You guys are far more useful than a 9mm any day but he is right, you know."

"Pika!"

The door opened and in came a tall bald man; he had a scar across his left eye and was wearing a brown shirt with dark green cargo pants and some black boots. After him came a smaller man, he had some glasses on and was carrying a laptop, he had on a buttoned white shirt with some jeans. Right after him came a girl, she was around 25 years old, she had long straight red hair, pale skin and green eyes, and she was wearing a baby blue tank top, some loose black pants and some high heels.

As soon as he laid eyes on her his mind quickly tried to process the thought that she looked too familiar, in fact, so familiar he could swear he knew her from somewhere. Pikachu was doing the same thing but it suddenly freaked out and yelled out in happiness.

"Pikachu!" It jumped towards the girl and hugged her. She of course was surprised Pikachu even remembered her; after all, they had not seen each other in 10 years. She gleefully hugged Pikachu back and said.

"Oh, I am so glad to see you too! I can't believe it! Oh, you look as darling as the day I left."

"Pi pikachu!"

Suddenly it all hit Ash like a ton of bricks, his eyes widened and he just sat there almost in shock. He got up and went over to the girl finally realizing who she was.

"Holy shit, I knew I knew you! Mist how you been?"

"At last. I didn't think you'd ever remember me."

"Well it has been 10 years. So how's it going?"

"Not too bad if I do say so myself."

The guy that was in the room earlier before they arrived came back and said. "Well, all the preparations have been made. The colonel has advised that you leave at 5:40 in the morning."