Exactly one hour 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. This was definitely not Northbridge Town, not as clean or as calm anyway. There were a lot of people walking the sidewalks and there were dozens of cars on the streets, several garbage cans were placed by some light poles but people mostly used the sidewalks to throw their trash away in instead.

In a cleaner environment of the city was a huge building made of strange cement which helped give it an old look and feeling, it was the Alexandria City museum. There was a huge sign with bold red letter that read, "Sorry, we are closed for repairs." Old man Petrov stopped his car at the front of the museum and got out. He walked up to the front door and looked back at the street as if looking to see if he wasn't being followed by anyone. He opened the door slightly and walked inside. Once inside he looked about and saw nothing out of place, there were wax figures resembling several legendary Pokémon in the middle of the room. On the wall were paintings of extinct Pokémon and on the roof were several skeletons of flying Pokémon.

The lights were off so he had a bit of a hard time looking about in the darkening room. His eyesight was not what it used to be so he walked slowly and carefully about. As he passed by a wax Lapras he heard a strange sound and when he turned around he came face to face with Eriscordia. This time she was wearing a long black dress that dragged a little at the end, it had no sleeves, just two thin straps. She had on some high heeled sandals which had leather laces that were wrapped around her legs. She crossed her arms and leaned on the Lapras and looked at Petrov seriously.

"I thought he had been locked up."

"He was but Officer Jenny let him back out. How the hell was I supposed to know that?"

"You should pay more attention to your work!"

"Oh, excuse me. I didn't realize flaring about town in the shadows of the night, parading around and shape shifting into your rival was considered a job."

Eriscordia walked up to Petrov and pointed her index finger right at his face and said. "I was making it seem as if he was the one who destroyed the hospital so they could lock him up, you idiot!" Petrov backed down and looked at her, he had no sense of respect for her but he did know not to get on her bad side for he knew what she was capable of. "Why on Earth did you take the girl?"

Eriscordia chuckled and said as she passed her hand on the Lapras wax figure and said. "For insurance and…a way to get rid of our dear friend." Petrov looked at her in question and doubt so he said. "I don't think I understand completely."

"I gave Ash two choices, he would either join me or he would die. He chose death so we'll give it to him."

Back in Northbridge Town Officer Jenny explained all that had happened to Tanya and Marco. Both of them were in shock to hear what a man like Petrov had done, both were angry and disappointed with reason of course seeing as how Petrov's actions were nothing short of treason. As everyone sat down in the living room the phone rang and everyone turned their heads towards it as Marco picked it up but before putting it to his ear he pushed the speaker phone mode button so everyone could listen in since he knew it was Petrov on the other line.

"Petrov."

"Marco, how are you?"

"Enough chit chat Petrov, where is the girl?"

"Ah, yes, lovely girl. Bit angry though. But then again who wouldn't be if they were tied up and locked in the janitor's closet."

Max had also become both angry and concerned, he got up off the sofa and ran to the phone and yelled into as Nurse Joy held him back. "You hurt my sister and you'll be sorry!" Nurse Joy managed to sit him back down and calm him but old man Petrov just laughed and said. "Worry not, boy, she will not be harmed I promise you that…unless…" Petrov remained silent for a few seconds but in those few seconds tension had built up inside each and every person in that room. Then Petrov carried on. "I propose a trade. The girl for the boy."

As soon as he said that Ash snarled and everyone looked at him. They had been put in a very dangerous position. In the back of his mind an idea lit up and Ash grinned and came forward to the phone and said. "Just name the time and place and we have a deal."

"Excellent. Meet me tomorrow in Alexandria City, the corner of fifth and seventh at noon. I'll call on the doctor's cell phone for further details."

Petrov hung up the phone and all looked at Ash in question. They all thought it was risky and just plain crazy but all Ash could do was grin as he fully developed the plan in his mind. Two hours before noon everyone was ready to go, Tanya and Marco being a nurse and a doctor could not just put their jobs aside but they trusted they could handle matters without them. Max was eager to make the switch but Marco stopped him by putting his hand on his shoulder and said. "I think it'd be best if you stay behind."

"What? Why me?"

Brock walked up to them and said. "He's right, Max. This is pretty dangerous and you could get hurt." Max removed Marco's hand and said as he looked at both seriously. "May is my sister! So I'm going whether it's dangerous or not!" Ash had heard the commission so he walked over to him and said. "Look, I know you're worried and scared but I promise we'll get May back safe and sound." Max chocked up and a tear fell down his cheek as he looked at the three of them and said. "Promise?"

Ash smiled and said as Pikachu climbed up on his shoulder. "Promise." Pikachu lifted its small paw and also agreed by saying. "Pi, pikachu!" Max stood down and calmed down a little bit. He remembered how Ash and Brock always seemed to be able to get both May and he out of trouble so he put his complete trust in them both and agreed.

Shortly after arriving in Alexandria City they let Dante, Karin and C.J. guide them through the city since they knew it like the back of their hands. They were now 45 minutes from noon so they made a few last minutes arranges. The corner of fifth and seventh had several building around it and one of them was the museum run by Petrov. Next to the museum was also a large plaza with a beautiful fountain shooting water from well done statues.

Part of the plan involved Ash using a lot of psychic energy which, sadly, was a type difficult for him to tame. He had learned to control all types but psychic was difficult and up to that day he couldn't fully control it but he went on with the plan either way. After everything was set Marco's cell phone rang so Officer Jenny answered it.

"Petrov, is that you?"

"Yes. Listen very carefully, I will be watching you from above so anything you do I will see. Have the boy walk up to the fountain in the plaza and wait till the girl reaches the fountain. As soon as both are standing there the boy will move towards the museum and there he will be escorted by Eris and as soon as Eris shows up the girl can get away. Is that clear?"

"Crystal clear."

Both hung up and went with the plan. Up high on the roof top of the museum stood Petrov as he watched down below at the plaza. He saw Ash appear from out of the bank they were hiding in and walked up to the fountain, strangely he only wore his black shirt and not tucked in as he always had it and of course the blue jeans. Petrov saw as he lowered his hat and walked on. He lifted his gaze and saw another young man walk out of the bank. This one was dressed differently, he had on black baggy pants, a plain black shirt and a black overcoat and some black rock boots and a pair of black Arnette sunglasses. The young man walked towards the mall so Petrov gave no real thought to it and kept an eye on Ash.

Once he reached the fountain May was released and she slowly walked up to the fountain. In that walk towards the fountain which seemed like miles she wondered how they were going to get out of that trouble. Once she reached the fountain she tried to look at Ash but he covered his face with the hat, she wondered why but she didn't give it much thought. May looked around frantically to see if she saw Petrov or Eriscordia in the area and said in a low whisper.

"What's going on? What are we going to do?" Ash didn't say anything he just lifted his index finger and placed it over his mouth and shushed her always making sure the hat covered his face. May was all too confused to do anything much. Eriscordia walked out of the museum and stood in the doorway which signaled that May should keep walking towards the bank. She moved on and as soon as she walked into the bank she was pulled inside by Nurse Joy.

Eriscordia walked towards Ash and as soon as she was right behind him she wrapped her arms around him and leaned in to whisper something in his ear. "You're dead meat, Ketchum." He began to laugh and for some reason Eriscordia noticed he was a bit taller than before. She backed up a little and looked around, all he did was laugh and when she turned him around and removed his hat she came to the surprise that it was Dante in disguise.

"What the hell is going on here?" Dante grinned and began to sing something. "There hasn't been an evening like--" Eriscordia looked at him confused and suddenly she heard a very familiar voice from behind her continuing that rest of the song, "This is what they wanted, always to feel hunted…"

Eriscordia slowly turned around and saw the real Ash Ketchum standing right behind her aiming a net gun at her. The young man Petrov saw getting out of the bank and heading towards the mall was in fact Ash and the boy heading towards the fountain was Dante. Anger rose from inside of Eriscordia and before she could even blink Ash fired two nets which wrapped around her and she fell to the ground cursing at him. Ash could do nothing more than laugh wickedly and watched as the mighty Eriscordia struggled to free herself from the net. He kept laughing at her attempt to free herself and walked up to her and placed his left foot on her shoulder and said as he lowered the sunglasses.

"Well, well, well, this has got to be a little embarrassing for you, Eris."

"Untie me you son of a bitch!"

"Nah, I think I'll just leave you tied up for a while." He grinned and kneeled over next to her. She hissed at him and he just smiled once more and she said. "Let me go! Stop being a little shit and untie me so I can kill you!" Ash rose up and while still looking at her he said in a serious tone. "Why end it so soon? I'm just starting to have fun." His smile only managed to anger her further but Ash just fed off her anger. At the roof of the museum Petrov saw the fall of their plan but the old man had one last trick up his sleeve.

That net that wrapped Eriscordia was especially designed to capture Pokémon but not capture them like a regular trainer would. The net just subdued the Pokémon and prevented the creature from using any attack, since both Eriscordia and Ash had the same traits of a Pokémon they too were affected by this net. Petrov also had a similar gun like the one in Ash's hands so he aimed it at him and shot him with a net. After he saw Ash go down he released a Skarmory from a pokeball and as soon as the giant metallic bird materialized Petrov climbed on it and swooped down right next to Eriscordia.

Once in the ground he took a switchblade and cut Eriscordia lose. Once she was up she looked at Ash who was snarling at them and kicked him and said something in a strange language. Officer Jenny and the others saw what had happened so they ran out of the bank and raced to the fountain in the plaza. Before they could reach the plaza Eriscordia picked Ash up and took the switchblade from Petrov and put it to Ash's neck.

They all stopped dead in their tracks and Eriscordia laughed out loud and said. "Now that things are as they should have been we'll take our leave. I suggest you people do the same." Petrov and Eriscordia backed away and they dragged Ash with them. Afraid of what they might do to him Pikachu let out its most powerful Thunder attack and as the powerful thunder raced down on them Eriscordia lifted her arm and created a barrier and the thunder was stopped cold by it.

Officer Jenny, Nurse Joy, Dante, C.J., Karin, Pikachu, Brock and May watched as Ash was dragged away and into the museum. As soon as the doors closed they reacted and began to panic. Dante cursed out loud and Officer Jenny shook her head in disappointment and said. "What are we gonna do?" Karin was baffled by how they were reacting. When May was taken Ash came up with a plan and didn't panic or make it seem like it would be hopeless to rescue her. Karin walked in front of the crowd and said as she looked at each of them.

"I can't believe you guys! You're making it seem as though there is nothing we could do to get him back. We have to do something and we have to do it now!" C.J. didn't know Ash at all but he certainly knew from what he just saw that he was gutsy and determined so he stood next to Karin and said. "Yeah, when she was kidnapped he didn't mop around. Kid took action and came up with a seriously killer plan. You ask me I say that dude has guts." After hearing Karin and C.J. the others were encouraged and acknowledged what they just heard and came up with what they hoped would be a full proof plan.