In recent times, young Palkia had been introduced to his duty of overseeing the proper caretaking of space. Though quite adept at it from birth, he took little pleasure in the duty, even knowing of its importance. After all, it mostly entailed him sitting in an empty void with nothing but millions of creepy creatures his father called 'Unown.' Arceus had told him that, eventually, Palkia would grow strong enough that he could withhold the shape of space without even thinking of it or needing to be in this void, but was never clear on exactly when.

But he did his duty without voicing those complaints. After all, he loved his father dearly, and it was clear that upholding space was taxing on him. He always seemed tired, even when they played together. He had hardly ever moved from his throne. If he could help alleviate his father's troubles, even a little, he would do what he could.

The young Legend's eyes fluttered open, awakening from his slumber to see only the infinite expanse of black and pink coloring in every conceivable direction. Outside of the constant shadows of Unown swarms flying about, this was the only view he was afforded. With a sigh, he stretched his body to awaken his muscles and prepared to go to work.

Concentrating energy into the pearl in his arm, Palkia sent out a pulse into the void. It was invisible and intangible, yet there all the same. In response to this pulse, the Unown scattered and the pink color in the void reacted by straightening its shape from a blob-like mass into a pure stream that went on forever. Palkia always found it odd that he could not comprehend the stream, yet he could control it. As the avatar of space, should he not know what it is he controls?

Something out of the corner of his eye caught his attention. It was a long, serpentine shadow that raced across the pink stream, but the moment he turned to look at it, it crossed into the black void and became invisible. "What is…?" Said Palkia aloud. He sent out another pulse to see if the shape he saw would respond, but only hastened the pace of the pink stream's straightening and caused more grief for the Unown.

"I see you've already learned how to control space."

Palkia jumped back in shock from the voice. His fright only increased when he saw its source, and the chill of the void suddenly became colder. Towering over him was a red, black and grey serpent with a golden jaw. Six black tendrils with crimson spikes on each end protruded from its back, and the being's crimson eyes seemed to see right through him. Like it knew everything about the young Legend with a simple glance. Looking into them, Palkia felt a pressure unlike anything before that paralyzed him with fear. He tried to look away, but those eyes held him firmly in their grasp.

"Impressive," It remarked. "The first Palkia did not learn to control its powers until it was fully grown." Palkia's face contorted in shock, confusion and even further fear. The shadowy serpent seemed to know this as well, because he then asked, "Oh, has Arceus not told you about that?"

The name of his father invoked a small sliver of bravery in Palkia. "Y-you know my dad?" He asked, hoping beyond hope that he would not regret it. That bravery shattered like glass when the nightmare before him threw its head back and laughed.

The being asked, "Know him? Oh, he has kept you very much in the dark, I see. Even more than I expected." It leaned forward until its eyes met with Palkia's on an equal level. By now, the young Legend was shuddering like a leaf with fear. "Loathe as I am to admit it, he is my father too. To think he would hide two brothers from one another."

Now Palkia's mind felt like it was spinning in circles. "You...my what…?"

In response, the serpent smiled at Palkia. Whether it was genuine or a ploy to try and lower Palkia's guard, the young Legend didn't know. "This must be confusing for you, young one," It said. "Believe me, I was just as surprised as you when I found out. I knew Arceus was senile, but to replace a son…" Its smile disappeared, the thing's face wrinkling. "...You really just keep stooping to new levels, don't you?"

Clearing its throat, it addressed young Palkia once again and said, "I must apologize, Palkia. I came here for a purpose; a warning from brother to brother. You must not trust Arceus, no matter how friendly he seems."

"Wh-what?!" Cried Palkia. "Why can't I trust my dad? Who are you...and how did you…" Palkia averted his gaze more and more as he spoke, his bravado withering under the gaze of the shadow until his voice pittered out.

A low rumbling came from the being in the form of a mixture of a sigh and a growl. "...My name is Giratina," He said. "I am Arceus's firstborn. I am able to come here because I have learned to control both time and space to an extent. It was necessary to escape the realm our father banished me to, though it was only temporary until recently." One of his tendrils extended outward, seemingly carving a circle slightly smaller than Palkia out of nothing.

"Look," Ordered Giratina, pointing Palkia to the carving. "I have no doubt Arceus would try to make you see only what he claims himself to be now, but make no mistake. He is a tyrant who would cast away his own son if they crossed him!"

Palkia did not believe a word this 'Giratina' said. Not a thing he said made an inkling of sense, and the prospect of him being his brother was dubious at best. But when Palkia looked into the circle, the visions he saw… There was Arceus hovering over a Giratina that appeared smaller than the one beside himself. In his father's eyes, Palkia saw a rage...a malice unlike anything he had thought possible. Arceus spoke with such a boom that the young Legend himself could feel it.

The smaller Giratina cried up at Arceus for mercy, but Arceus's response came not even in the form of words. Palkia felt himself becoming sick when large, gold lashes whipped at Giratina repeatedly with such ferocity that the ground crumbled away beneath him. Arrows of Judgement rained down upon him fiercely, only increasing in numbers when Giratina cried out in pain and pleaded with his father again. The assault only ended when a void appeared beneath the yet-to-be Renegade and swallowed both him and his screams.

"I received this punishment aeons ago, only being freed of it recently," Explained the Giratina beside Palkia. "And my crime? Allowing humans to worship me of their own volition. What you saw there was the result of crossing Arceus in the slightest." Palkia shivered when he felt one of Giratina's tendrils touch his back. "I do not show you this only for the sake of scaring you. I want you to be wary around him. There is nothing he would not stoop to, no matter his promises."

Palkia backed away from the vision, shaking his head repeatedly and with increasing rapidity. "No," He said. "No...my dad wouldn't do this...he...he wouldn't!"

Giratina sighed, frowning at his brother. "I wish that were true. Believe me, I have spent my entire life wishing it was." He cast a fiery glare at the vision of the nightmare that plagued his every waking moment. "Every slumber I awake from where this remains a truth and not only a horrid dream is another dagger stabbing into me to remind me that my creator, your creator and the creator of all things in this world is lying, tyrannical scum."

He raised an inquisitive eyebrow at Palkia as he stared down at his shivering, meek form. "And speaking of lies...I assume he has not told you the truth of your own birth."

Palkia whimpered, "Please stop...p-please just...leave me alone."

"...That," Said Giratina, shaking his head, "I cannot do… Knowing that I have a new brother, I cannot allow you to experience the same fate I did. Nor can I allow Arceus to lie to you and manipulate you like this!" The carving showed a different scene when Giratina touched it. Palkia recognized Arceus, looking tired like usual, but even more so. There were many others all around them, but the only one he recognized was Dialga. And…

Letting out a gasp, Palkia attempted to shut his eyes and deny what he saw. "Open your eyes," Commanded Giratina. "You deserve to know the truth. You must know it, and what Arceus truly is!" The young Legend's eyes slowly fluttered open, daring to look again at the vision if only to try to prove to himself that he was mistaken in what he saw...but he was not. Beside Arceus was another Palkia, collapsed, unmoving and much larger than himself.

Giratina said, "I believe I mentioned this earlier. You are not the first Palkia. The original one, the brother whom I grew up with...f-fell in a battle against a great evil. Arceus replaced him with you, young one."

Palkia winced, doubling over and trying to shut it all out. "Stop it, please!"

"I cannot!" Insisted Giratina. "I will not!" Palkia let out a gasp of fright when Giratina's tendril wrapped around him. He called out for Arceus, but was silenced when he was pulled toward Giratina's body. Palkia continued to cry out, thrashing wildly in a futile attempt to escape his brother's grasp. He cried and wailed, expecting to feel pain as he was attacked.

But there was no pain, nor attack. Giratina's tendrils wrapped around Palkia like a blanket, holding him tightly, yet gently, against him. Palkia expected to feel freezing cold, but...Giratina's body was warm. Nearly as much as Arceus's. "...I cannot stop," Whispered Giratina. "Not while you are in danger. I cannot let Arceus continue to manipulate you; to force you to live in the shadow of your predecessor. I...I cannot lose another brother."

Suddenly realizing what he was doing, Giratina unraveled himself from Palkia and backed away from him. "...I apologize for making you bear witness to those things," He whispered, turning away. A now very-confused Palkia tried to see his face, but his brother turned away. "But I needed you to see them. This might get me banished for good this time, but when I found out about you, I couldn't let you live as his pawn."

He turned toward Palkia slightly, but his face was still too shadowed for the young Legend to see. "Do what you will. If you choose to ignore this and live with Arceus...then that is your choice. But know that if he ever tries to harm you...I will be there."

Shadows overtook the rest of Giratina's body, causing him to fade from view. A surprised Palkia gasped, looking around for any sign of the large Legend, but there was none. He was alone again, but for the first time since he'd come into this dimension, he actually felt alone. Daring a look at the carving, Palkia was afflicted with the sight of Arceus's face. His eyes were red with rage and practically burning. Those eyes shook him to his core, causing him to tremble uncontrollably.

Palkia forced himself to turn away. He cried out in terror, then flew off into the void. Somewhere...anywhere but here. He couldn't stay here anymore. Pink energy sparked to life on his arm and, without even knowing it, he cut open a hole into the void and flew through, leaving the void of space devoid of its avatar.


"Blastoise, Hydro Pump!"

At its trainer's order. Gary's Blastoise sent a Rocket Grunt's Golbat sailing into the roof with a resounding thud. It let out a cry as its body bounced off the metal before succumbing to its injuries and falling unconscious, being caught by the Grunt's Pokeball beam before it could fall to the ground.

The Grunt sneered at Gary, then ran off behind his comrades and allowing another to take his place. The new one, like most of the others, greeted Gary with a disgusting smirk before sending out his Raticate.

Gary scowled, looking about the room for the umpteenth time to try and find a way out without success. Every exit was blocked off by innumerable Grunts. It was like trying to escape a Durant hive. "There's no end to them!"

"Keep steady," Said Paul beside him as his Drapion felled another enemy Ekans. "They may have the advantage in numbers, but they are pathetically weak." The Grunt he disposed of fled like the rest, being replaced with another fool.

With a smirk Paul would relish wiping away, the new Grunt said, "Pathetic, huh? You're gonna regret saying that when you're all outta Pokemon." Throwing a Pokeball into the air, he let loose a Mightyena that growled at Paul fiercely, frothing at the mouth. "You're outnumbered a thousand to three, kid, and one of you ain't even fighting! Why don't you just give up?"

In response, Paul practically spat out a laugh. "You don't get it, do you?"

Leering at the young trainer, the Grunt asked, "Get what?"

"The situation you're in," A mirthful Paul hissed back. "You're all as good as finished. Your stolen, untrained Pokemon all go down in a single hit. When they're down, what will protect you?"

The Grunt scoffed, the smirk returning to his face. It was so utterly disgusting that Paul's blood began boiling at the sight. "Hah!" He jeered. "That may be true, but do you really think you can-"

Cutting him off, Paul jabbed a finger toward him and snapped back with, "I can and I will. Like I said, your Pokemon are pathetic, but you're even lower."

"What was that?!" Cried the Grunt. "I may not be able to defeat you, but I can at least land a hit. No matter how many of us you take down, we'll all be hitting you at least once or twice before we go down. Sooner or later-"

Unable to stand his voice any longer, Paul ordered, "Drapion, Pin Missile!" Drapion's claws went white, grinding together to make a sound like groaning metal. When its claws slipped apart, a wave of ivory arrows were loosed from them before crashing into the unfortunate Mightyena.

When the dust settled, the Grunt gasped upon seeing their Pokemon lying defeated on the floor. "Wha-?!"

"You were saying?"

The Grunt looked up from his Pokemon to glare at Paul, finding the boy cross-armed and not even bothering to look at him anymore. "You can try to land as many blows as you want, but they're nothing. Do you really think that untrained Pokemon that were taken from their homes and probably forced to live in cages can fight properly? Let alone when they're taking orders from filth like you?"

Paul's foe growled in anger, balling his trembling hands into fists. He looked as if he was going to charge straight at him until Drapion held up its arm defensively. The proud, powerful Pokemon trained by two trainers melted the Grunt's will with a single stare, soon making him sing a different tune.

Backing away, the Grunt returned his Pokemon to its ball and said to Paul, "D-don't think this is over! You'll get taken down by one of us!" His last ounce of bravado was unconvincing, given that he was in the midst of running away as he said it.

Scoffing, Paul shook his head. "Completely ridiculous." He glanced up at the Grunt set to take the last one's place and mused, "Maybe we ought to just open fire on them all before they can throw out their Pokemon," causing them to visibly flinch in shock.

That earned a chuckle from Gary. "I'd probably agree with you if we wouldn't have to push 'em out of the doorways." Then, something occurred to him. Turning back to Tobias, he asked, "Hey, can't you just play Oracion again?"

Tobias, much to Gary's disappointment, shook his head. "Unfortunately, it can't pacify humans in the same way it can for Pokemon. I don't know why that is. Even if I played it for their Pokemon, I fear that their refusal to battle might cause them to be harmed by them." He nodded up at the Grunts. "It would also work on your own Pokemon, which wouldn't be beneficial."

"What about that Beast of yours?" Suggested Paul. "Shouldn't it have some use if you're protecting it?"

A scowl crossed Tobias's face at that remark, but he withheld a distasteful reply. Though he didn't like it, he understood Paul's anger toward the Ultra Beasts. "I'm afraid not," He said, holding his cloak closer to himself. "Poipole's still young. It would get badly hurt if it tried."

A frustrated Paul growled, "Oh, come on! Isn't there anything you can do?"

A stray Poison Sting narrowly missed Gary's head though he wasn't too concerned with it. "Hey, take it easy, pal," He said to Paul. "Give the guy a break, and me a hand while you're at it."

Paul sent one last passing glance Tobias's way, then turned back toward the horde with a scowl. As Gary and Paul returned to the heat of battle, Tobias was left to his thoughts. Paul had a point. If he didn't have an adequate way of aiding the others, he was as good as deadweight.

Poipole flittered out of his coat, looking up at him with worry as if it could sense his ire. Heck, maybe it could and he never knew. But regardless of what it may have been capable of, there was no way Tobias was going to send it into battle if he could avoid it. But if Poipole couldn't fight and Oracion wouldn't work, then…

"I only have…" Tobias reached into his coat and pulled out the Pokeball of Pokemon Hunter J's ace, Salamence. "One option…"


Cassidy glowered at the trainers opposing her, but underneath the heated glares of both them and their Pokemon, she felt like she was being overpowered. "These twerps…!" Looking to her partner, she asked, "You ready?"

Butch himself was in a similar position, attempting to look as defiant as possible in the name of the glorious Team Rocket, but was clearly having doubts about battling the trainers. "As I'll ever be," He responded. The two nodded, then raised their arms to send their Pokemon into battle. Ash, Serena and their Pokemon lowered themselves into defensive positions.

"Houndoom, use Fire Fang!"

"And Hitmontop, hit 'em with a Triple Kick!"

The Houndoom's mouth began to burn with red-hot flames. It growled at its opposition before lunging at them. Hitmontop followed its partner by kicking off the ground, spinning its body in such a manner that it became nothing more than a vaguely-shaped blur to the untrained eye and raced after it. Ash merely nodded to Pikachu in response, earning one back from the yellow mouse before it rocketed off with Quick Attack.

Coupled with Agility, Pikachu blitzed the two Pokemon before they could even see him move. Dashing from place to place at sonic speeds, Pikachu attacked every inch of Houndoom and Hitmontop. When it ceased attacking, time seemed to catch up to everything that wasn't Pikachu himself and the enemy Pokemon let out gasps of shock as their bodies collapsed by themselves. To everyone else, it looked like a yellow and white dome appeared around the duo and then disappeared as quickly as it came, leaving only the collapsed Pokemon in its wake.

"Wh-what in the?!" Cried Cassidy. "Why did you two suddenly fall over?!"

Butch, who had blinked and missed the entire encounter, yelled, "If you two are slacking off at a time like this, I'm gonna kick ya to the curb!"

Houndoom and Hitmontop attempted to climb back to their feet to obey their trainers, but the action caused body-wide surges of pain that kept them still and made them cry out in pain. Pikachu, meanwhile, returned to his trainer's side. "Nice job, buddy," He commended, raising his hand for his partner to slap with his tail; their version of a high five. "You're getting a lot faster!"

"Chu-Pika!" He chirped, eagerly accepting his friend's commendations as he returned to Ash's shoulder.

Turning to face his opposition, Ash's smile swiftly disappeared once more. "You can't win," He told them, "And I'm not the type of guy to beat someone down who can't fight back. Why don't you just give up and tell the guys upstairs to stand down?"

"As if!" Retorted Cassidy. "Team Rocket is an esteemed organization! As high-ranking agents, do you know how bad it would reflect on us if we surrendered?"

Serena stepped forward impatiently. "What is it with you people? Why can't you ever admit when you've lost?"

Butch smirked at her and chuckled. "Hah! That's because Team Rocket never loses, brat!" Returning their Pokemon, the moss-haired man reached for a radio. "You may have lucked out with us, but let's see how you deal with all the Grunts!" Twisting a knob on it, he shouted, "All Grunts, re-"

An emerald blur rushed past him, taking the radio as it went.

"-port! ...Eh?!" Realizing that the radio was no longer in his hand, he cried, "What the-?! Where did it…?!"

Sceptile returned to Ash's side, looking to Ash for directions on what to do with the device in his hands. Ash looked up to the roof to gauge how the others were doing and was relieved to find they were uninjured. He took the radio and twisted the gauge to turn it off so the Grunts could no longer listen in. "The others seem to be doing alright," He said, handing it off to Serena. "Nice quick thinking, Sceptile. Now we can contact our friends if we need to."

After finally figuring out where his radio had disappeared to, Butch growled in annoyance. "You brats think you're so tough? Cassidy, call 'em in!"

"They'll just grab the radio again," Argued Cassidy.

An exasperated Butch retorted, "Then what can we do?! These punks got us outgunned and outnumbered!"

Echoing throughout the metal chamber, the Rocket duo's apparent salvation came in the form of chuckling from behind. Everyone's eyes shot up to the large screen at the room's end. Returning to the scene of the battle, the mastermind behind the operation atop Zero's birthplace and the grave of so many others reappeared. Dr. Namba leered over them, twisting his long, red moustache with a sinister smirk and a hot tray of tater-tots in hand, evidenced by the large cooking mittens he wore.

Ash scowled at the man when he placed the platter down and took a radio of his own. "All Team Rocket personnel, please report to the sixth basement." The old man grinned at them, content with the enraged looks on Ash and Serena's faces. "That," He said, "Was for my Rage Crowns."


Gary raised a brow as the Grunt he was currently battling suddenly stopped as another Grunt whispered something into his ear. A grin creeping up his face, the first Grunt turned back to Gary. "Well, this can't be good."

"On the contrary," Said the Grunt, "It's your lucky day. You're being spared the wrath of Team Rocket for now."

Paul noticed the sound of metallic footsteps. And rapid ones at that. The Grunts closest to them, and their Pokemon, were slowly backing up. "They're leaving," He told Gary. "Don't let them get away! Drapion, Pin Missile the roof!"

Drapion's claws alit, sending a flurry of needles into the air. However, the Grunts tossed up dozens of Pokeballs, releasing their Pokemon in the attack's way. Their Pokemon cried out their names in a manner that might have been fearsome until they realized an attack was headed straight in their direction. The Pin Missile hit them like a truck, causing them to cry out in pain and sending up a cloud of smoke.

"Those cowards!" Roared Paul furiously. He dove straight into the smoke without so much as a second thought and ignoring the enemy Pokemon as they fell around him. When he saw the first human-shaped shadow, he lunged at it, only for it to narrowly escape his grasp and slither off. He burst from the cloud, looking around madly for any Grunt, but was faced only with a now-empty room. The doors to the other hallways were shut tight.

In frustration, Paul pounded his fist against the door, then quickly backed up and called to his Pokemon. "Drapion, Brutal Swing!"

Nodding, Drapion rushed to the door, its spring-like arm pumped back and coated in dark energy. When its claw met with the metal door, a loud bang echoed through the room, but Paul scowled when the attack made no dent. "You tried your best," He said to Drapion as he returned it to its Pokeball. Taking out another, he said, "Now, Electivire, use Brick Break!"

Wasting no time, Electivire slammed the edge of its hand into the doorway the moment it was released from its ball. Still, the result was similar. There was a visible dent in the door, but it was tiny. "Nice work," Commended Paul as he stepped toward the door to inspect the damage, "But it's not enough. It'd probably take an hour to get through that." He turned to Gary and asked, "Any of your Pokemon particularly good at breaking metal?"

Gary nodded to his Blastoise. "You up for it?"

Nodding confidently, the tortoise Pokemon marched up toward the door and crouched over, aiming its cannons squarely on the mark Electivire made. Two potent jets of water in the form of its signature Hydro Pump shot out and crashed against the door like a wave. When it ceased the attack and stood upright to gaze at its progress, it frowned in dismay when it found that the mark hadn't changed.

"No luck, huh?" Asked Gary, earning a nod from Blastoise. "I see. Think you're up for a Hydro Cannon?"

Paul took note of the injury on Blastoise's shell. A slicing, piercing crevice and crack where Alain's Bisharp had unwittingly struck during the war. "Is it capable of performing such a powerful attack after a hit like that?" He asked, pointing to the mark.

As usual, this was met with a cocky chuckle from Gary as he scratched the underside of his nose; something that was mirrored by his partner Pokemon. "Blastoise here is one of the toughest Pokemon I've ever met besides the Legends. Ain't that right, pal!"

"TOOOIISE!" It proudly roared in response, ducking down to prepare to fire once again. Two jets of intensely-concentrated water burst out from its cannons, tearing through the air with a whistle and slamming straight into the door. But the mighty slab of metal did not yield. It did not creak or groan, let alone bend or show any signs of piercing damage. But Gary was confident.

Patting his partner's shell, he urged, "Keep it coming, Blastoise!"

Tobias watched on with mild concern and asked, "How long do you think it'll take?"

Gary shrugged. "Could be a few minutes, could be an hour." He smirked, seeing the worry on Tobias's face and added, "I wouldn't worry about Ash, if that's what you're concerned about. By the time we get through this door, he'll probably already have beaten them all."

"Regardless," Started Paul, "I'm not going to stand here and wait for Ash to do this all on his own. I've got a piece of my mind that I want to say to those Team Rocket pieces of trash once they're defeated."

Turning to the door, Gary noted that very little progress had been made. Though, it was hard to tell with all the water in the way. "Well, unless you have a better idea, I don't think you have much of a choice, pal."

Tobias looked to the Pokeball in his hand. "Unless…"

"You got an idea?" Paul asked him, hiding his eagerness as best as he could. That was, until he gazed at the Pokeball with eyes narrowed. "Hold on. Is that…?"

A bead of sweat dripped from Tobias's head as he kept his gaze fixed on the ball in his hand. "Yeah," He confirmed. "This is Salamence's Pokeball. Since I'm not exactly useful on my own, I thought that I could at least try to offer this."

An unsure Gary asked, "Can you control it?"

"I'm…not sure," He admitted, shaking his head. "But I was thinking." He tapped the floor with his foot. "Ash and Serena fell through here. That means they're right below us. If we can break through this instead of the door…"

Paul hit the palm of his fist in realization. "We can get right to them!"

Tobias nodded. "Exactly." Tentatively, he raised the Pokeball outward and inched his thumb closer to the release button. "Just in case this goes south, keep your Pokemon ready. I don't know if it will let me return it once it's out."

Nodding, Gary and Paul released the rest of their team, with Blastoise choosing to forego its assault on the door in favor of Tobias's plan. When it glanced back at the door, it found that it had indeed started to bend, but that was behind it now.

Wincing, Tobias hovered his finger over the release mechanism. "Get ready…!"

Paul, Gary and their teams crouched into defensive positions. A few showed nervousness, but the likes of Electivire and Blastoise were ready if the Salamence dared to try and attack their trainers. When Tobias pushed the button, the gargantuan form of the captured dragon reared its head. The trainers winced, expecting their ears to be assaulted by a loud roar. However, Salamence stood perfectly still. Its muscles did not even twitch. The only part of it that moved were its eyes, glancing about the room in search of something.

Eventually, its eyes landed upon the Pokeball in Tobias's hand. As silently as the dragon's massive body would allow, Salamence turned toward Tobias, making the black-haired trainer flinch. Poipole let out a terrified squeak before ducking back into Tobias's cape.

Tentatively, Tobias raised a hand. "Um...hello," He greeted. Immediately, Salamence's eyes became transfixed on his hand. It raised its neck straight, standing as tall as possible. Paul and Gary flinched, nearly ordering their Pokemon to attack until they saw what it did next. When Tobias retracted his hand and ducked down, Salamence followed suit, lowering its neck and body until it was eye-level with its new trainer.

Tobias raised a brow at this inquisitively. "Does it...respond to hand commands?" He raised his hand once again, causing the giant to stand up again. And again, he lowered it, and it followed. Wherever Tobias moved his hand, the dragon's gaze and body followed. "Huh. I guess it does."

Gary dared a chuckle, relaxing his rigid stance. "Heh. Maybe it's grateful that we saved it from those creeps."

"...No," Said Tobias to the contrary, "I don't think that's it." As he looked into the dragon's eyes, he found that its pupils were extremely diluted. Its focus was as rigid as could be. But in those eyes, as clear as day, was a fiery rage...and fear. "It's...actually afraid of us." He looked down to its Pokeball and raised it up to the dragon's head. It kept still, but its eyes shifted focus from Tobias to the ball. "Could it be that it was trained to obey whoever held its Pokeball?"

He lowered the object, holding it close to his pockets. If he misread the situation even a bit, then putting the Pokeball out of Salamence's view could be deadly. But if that was the case, he still had a weapon of his own. Placing the ball inside of his pockets, he took a leaf out of the other. Salamence kept still, but now had its gaze traced upon the new object.

Tobias looked up at Salamence with a smile he hoped would comfort it. "Salamence," He said, making the dragon's eyes immediately flick toward his face. "You don't have to worry any longer. No one will hurt you now. Not J. Not any poacher. Nobody. I'll make sure of that." It was an empty promise. Tobias knew that better than anyone after bearing witness to the fate he sent his old team to. Still, he needed to make sure his foolishness didn't lead to the demise of anyone else, so he brought the leaf to his mouth and played.

When the first note met with Salamence's ears, it twitched in fright for but a brief moment before retuning to its stone-solid stature. "Poor thing," Tobias thought to himself. It was clear that Salamence did not know what to make of it. If it found any pleasure in the song, it dared not show it. The fear in its eyes intensified when it had realized that it moved. Slowly, Tobias began to make his way toward the dragon, his footsteps matching with each note of the song.

Tobias raised a hand, then gently lowered it. Salamence obeyed the order, bringing its head down to meet its new trainer's eyes. When his hand met with the dragon's rough scales, they felt far colder than Tobias expected. It was absolutely terrified, but did not shiver like a normal Pokemon would. It had likely been trained to obey every command in a brutal uprising for it to be this scared but be even more afraid of showing it.

Slowly, Tobias caressed the dragon's scale, bringing his hand up to its neck. Its heartbeat was as rapid as a Bullet Seed. He brought his hand upward, soon landing on Salamence's forehead as the final note took place. "It's okay," He said, snapping the dragon's gaze back to him. "You don't need to be afraid any longer. I promise." Bringing the leaf up to it, he chuckled and said, "That song was called Oracion. A song that can enchant the heart of any Pokemon and end any conflict between them."

The silence in the room allowed them to hear what was happening below all of a sudden. Sounds of orders and attacks flying left and right, dulled by the thick metal that separated them from it. "Oh no," Said Tobias. "The fight's already begun." Looking up to the dragon, he told it, "Our friends are in trouble down there. We'll need to bust through the floor to get to them. Can I count on your help?"


Pikachu nailed an enemy Arbok over the head with an Iron Tail, plunging its head into the floor. However, he hadn't noticed a stray Fire Blast from a Houndoom until it was already on top of him. He leapt away, but it was already so close that it wouldn't have mattered. Pikachu closed its eyes and arms, bracing for impact when a Light Screen appeared in front of him and took the shot.

"Fable!" Cheered Serena's Clefable, flashing him a thumbs-up. The yellow mouse thankfully returned the gesture, but his ears perked up when he heard something approaching. A Golbat descended upon Clefable from above with a Cross Poison attack. It would have been deadly had Pikachu not swiftly zapped it out of the air.

"Nice work, Pikachu!" Commended Ash, earning an appreciative 'Pi!' from his partner. "You too, Clefable! Can I count on you both to keep Serena safe for a minute?" When the two nodded and jumped to Serena's side along with her other Pokemon, Ash turned his attention to the sky and whistled, calling, "Noivern!"

Immediately, the loyal wyvern Pokemon, who had returned after making sure the storekeeper was safely outside the city, batted away the horde of Zubats that surrounded it and made a nosedive toward its master. When Ash leapt onto its back, it swerved back up over the heads of the sea of Team Rocket grunts, taking a few of them and their Pokemon into the air behind them with the sheer force of the wind they carried with them. However, this quickly made them a target.

Noivern skillfully bobbed and weaved through the array of ranged attacks sent their way, occasionally sending down a Dragon Pulse to get them off their backs for a moment. Meanwhile, Ash scanned the battlefield in an attempt to locate Cassidy and Butch to no avail. There was only the infuriating face of Dr. Namba, cackling proudly as he watched the chaos. That laughter, that horrid, damnable laughter...reminded him of that madman Charon all too well. And he couldn't take it anymore.

Ash scowled at the man, infuriated. Sensing his intentions, Noivern nodded without hesitation and sped toward the screen. When they were close enough, Noivern leaned forward and Ash kicked off of its back to leap at the screen. Coating his body in Aura, he aimed to silence that maddening laughter once and for all. Dr. Namba only seemed to realize what was happening for a brief moment.

"Wait, wha-"

Coating his fist in a brilliant, ivory sheen of Aura, Ash plunged his arm straight into the giant monitor and shattered it, sending web-like cracks all across its surface. The room was left in darkness in the absence of Namba's face, only illuminated by the special attacks of the warring Pokemon. Ash hung from the hole he had made in the screen, dangling limply.

The black screen served as a mirror, illuminated by his Aura and allowing him to stare straight into his own eyes. "Why?!" He cried, pounding his free hand into the glass. "Why did I do something so stupid?!" He had only realized that he could have attempted to get more information out of the doctor after the fact. This entire facility was driving him mad. No doubt Serena was having it just as tough. And poor Hydreigon. He hadn't seen him during the battle, and while he had no doubt the powerful hydra was alright, this place couldn't have been good for him with how close he had been to Zero for the short time they'd known each other.

Ash hardly noticed when Noivern swooped by, carrying him by his free hand out of the hole. He merely looked down on the battlefield beneath him blanky. His anger was surging, driving him to the point that he could feel skin breaking in his shaking fist. Yet, his will to fight was waning. Seeing so many Rocket Grunts, he began to feel like his actions were a bit futile.

Since starting these missions, he hadn't seen so much as a single Nova Branch member, let alone anyone of substance in their ranks. And what would be done with the Grunts once they were inevitably defeated? Jailed? There were hardly any Officer Jennies left. He couldn't imagine the ones in this city were capable of taking in the hundreds of Grunts below him.

It wasn't enough to jail them. It wasn't enough to put all these people in prison cells for the rest of their lives, because in them, he felt a rage similar to his own within them. Many of the people below him had likely lost almost everything, if not everything, five months ago. Team Rocket probably offered them a secure job where none left existed elsewhere. This monstrous organization had been there for them where no one else was.

This had to change. This whole cycle of people losing their lives and turning to crime, of Pokemon being exploited, of people losing their jobs because there are no people left to work them, of crime raking in these people by the thousands every day and making the innocent who just want to live their lives as best as they can suffer until they have no choice but to join them. It all needed to end...but for now, he had to stop them first.

Ash tapped Noivern's leg when he spotted Serena. Nodding, Noivern released his hold on his trainer. A horde of Zubat and Golbat rose up from the crowd to intercept him, but Noivern dive bombed past and assaulted them with a searing Flamethrower. Ash shielded himself with Aura and penetrated the flames, landing by Serena's side and placing his back against hers.

He asked, "How are you holding up?"

Serena groaned through clenched teeth. "The Team Rocket guys here aren't anything like the ones we fought here before. It's almost too easy, and I know I'm not the strongest trainer out there." She gazed out into the crowd almost wistfully. "These people, they're…"

Nodding, Ash replied, "I know exactly what you mean. I can't imagine many of these people have been with Team Rocket for long. A few weeks, or even days ago, we could have passed some of these people on a sidewalk."

"I...don't know what to do," Serena admitted. "Obviously, we have to defend ourselves, but after that… How can we stop them?"

"...I don't know," Ash told her truthfully. "All I know is that we have to keep fighting. To stop this as soon as possible, it's the only way."

Ash was about to leap back into the fray, but stopped suddenly. He sensed something within Serena. When he looked at her with only his Aura, he found a cyan flame. It was tiny, so much so that it was barely visible, but there all the same.

Looking upon her with a slack jaw, Ash murmured, "How is that…?"

Something from above made a thunderous thud that resounded throughout the area. Ash, Serena and even a few of the nearest Grunts looked up at the sound. Then came a roar that was far more defined, making the room shake slightly. Another thud ensued with even greater force. And then another, and another. Each one was louder than the last, eventually catching the attention of everyone in the room.

One Grunt, fed up with the noise cried out, "Good Aura, what is that noise?!"

The ceiling above their heads suddenly splintered, nearly blinding a few Grunts and their Pokemon when rays of light shined down in their faces. The next roar was utterly deafening, forcing everyone, man and Pokemon alike, to shield their ears. Sensing danger, Ash swept Serena off her feet and roared at everyone to move out of the way. A giant, thick chunk of metal fell from the ceiling. The Grunts screamed in terror as it descended upon them, but Ash sent a wave of Aura through the ground that gave them enough of a boost to barely escape the falling metal by the hairs on the back of their necks.

However, their problems did not end there. The nearest Grunts' faces paled as a massive Salamence hovered over them, standing atop the slab of metal that nearly crushed them. Its piercing glare made them completely stiff under its pressure. Recognizing it, Ash and Serena paled. Their Pokemon turned their attention away from the Grunts, eyeing their trainers but not willing to make any sudden movements for fear of setting the beast loose.

The fears of Ash's crew faded when Tobias revealed himself, standing on the dragon's back. Paul, Gary and their Pokemon leapt down from the ceiling and onto the makeshift platform Salamence had made.

Smirking at Ash, Gary said, "You seem to be doing alright without us, Ashy-boy."

Paul eyed the surrounding Grunts one by one, feeling the fury he'd felt earlier welling up again. "Leave the rest to us. I'm not through with them yet."

Tobias hopped off his newest companion's back, gently petting the scales of its massive forearm. "It's good to be back. Ready to give 'em hell, buddy?" Salamence responded with a silent nod. Tobias grinned and turned toward the crowd of Team Rocket Grunts who were now regretting some decisions. "I don't envy your position. Let's go, everyone!"

Salamence reared up on its hind legs, letting loose a powerful gust of wind with its wings that blew dozens of the Grunts and their Pokemon off of their feet. Some were swiftly knocked out by crashing into the back walls while others weren't as lucky. Gary's Blastoise retreated into its shell, using Rapid Spin across the field and knocking away anything unfortunate enough to be caught in the crossfire. One such Pokemon, an enemy Swoobat, was grabbed out of the air by Electivire and slammed into the floor before it sent a wave of lightning across the ground, shocking many into unconsciousness.

While Gary, Paul and Tobias ravaged the enemy forces, Ash slinked off through the crowd in an attempt to locate Cassidy and Butch once more. He cursed himself for not sensing their Aura earlier. It would have been a tremendous help now. Most of the Grunts either ignored him in favor of the rapidly-approaching Pokemon of his friends or were foolish enough to try and stop them, quickly resulting in them being pushed aside.

But no matter how much he looked, he never found them. They had gotten away, and he destroyed the only way to find them again. He could have asked the doctor so many things, like where other Rocket bases were. "Why do I have to be such an idiot?" He mumbled to himself.

Resigning himself to battle, Ash caught the attention of the surrounding Grunts by letting his Aura flow outwardly. One by one, his Pokemon took their spots at his side upon feeling his Aura's call, with Pikachu being the last one to make it. Hopping atop Ash's shoulder, Pikachu sparked his cheeks at the enemy threateningly.

"Sorry that I got here so late," Ash told the Grunts, earning looks of confusion from them. "If I had gotten here earlier, I could have saved you from this."


The defeat of the Grunts followed swiftly. They were backed into a crowd and surrounded, every single one of their Pokemon either lying in defeat around them or back in their Pokeballs. A few looked around for any blind spots to try and flee, but it quickly became clear there was no hope of escape if the glares of their enemies at every turn were any indicator.

Ash sighed. After a head count, he was able to confirm that Cassidy and Butch were not among these Grunts. They had escaped, and he'd let them. Turning on his Secretary Bot, he told Holo-Alice, "Call Celadon City's Officer Jennies."

Like usual, the hologram nodded and bowed. "As you wish."

"What should we do with them?" Asked Serena. "Do we just keep them here until the police get here?"

The two were alerted by Paul's voice. "Actually," He said, "Didn't you two say you had history with this place? If there's something you two need to do, then I'll take care of these creeps."

Ash and Serena looked to one another oddly. "Er, thank you, Paul," Said Ash. "You sure you can-"

"Don't worry about me," Paul said flatly, turning away. "Just...do what you need to. I've got a few words for them I'd like to say."

Ash nodded to him gratefully. "Well, thanks regardless." He turned to Pikachu and said, "Think you can help hold down the fort while I'm gone?"

Pikachu nodded eagerly, hopping off Ash's shoulder and patting his chest proudly. Ash and Serena chuckled at that. "Thanks, buddy."

With narrowed eyes, Ash activated his Aura and looked about the area for an exit. There was the staircase that the Grunts had used to get down here, which had been hidden behind a wall until their arrival. Across from that and underneath Dr. Namba's screen, there was another on the wall to its right. He figured that was the best place to start.

As he and Serena began to make their way toward the door, Ash felt a tug on his shirt. It was Hydreigon, who looked to Ash pleadingly. "...No need to ask," Ash told it with a smile, gently patting its back. "You of all Pokemon deserve to know where Zero came from."

Paul watched the three descend, and when they were out of sight, he turned to address the Grunts with a glare that could kill. Even some of the older ones among their ranks flinched and averted their gazes. "What," He started, "Is wrong with you?! Do you have even the slightest idea of what you people are doing to the world?! Some of you might not care, pieces of filth that you are, but can any of you even fathom how many people and Pokemon died just to keep you all alive?!"

Most of the grunts stayed silent, unable to meet his gaze, while others merely whispered under their breaths. One,however, stood up in spite of the growls of the Pokemon that surrounded him. "You haven't the slightest idea how hard things are!" Cried the Grunt. He was much older than the others. "You claim that Team Rocket is ruining the world even though they're one of the only organizations actually helping common folk like us survive!"

"You're wrong," Paul shot back. "Mr. Star and New Goldenrod City are proof of that. There are plenty of jobs and plenty of opportunities to make more. Now more than ever is the time where people like you should be doing exactly that, but instead of finding ways to combat Team Rocket by giving the people around you alternatives, you took the coward's way out."

Paul spoke with such venom in his voice that the old man quickly found that his small burst of bravado was swiftly dissipating, and he looked away in shame. But Paul was far from done. "You're pathetic!" He yelled, earning winces among the Grunts. "You took the easy route: lowering your heads and obeying the ones that oppressed you. After all the people who died so you...we could live, how can you live with yourselves?"

He pointed into the crowd from face to face, each one shying from his gaze in shame. "I know many of you lost loved ones five months ago, so what I'm about to say goes double for you. You're all traitors to humanity, and to this world! This is not the future they died for!"


Ash held Serena's hand tightly as they stepped down a jagged piece of stone. He had somehow forgotten how Charon detonated the base previously. Maybe the explosion had only reached a certain height, but it had done a great job at getting rid of the base it touched. Which begged the question: why did it still smell so bad? Could it be that Charon, monster that he was, set the explosions above the basement in such a way that his horrific experiments and their legacy would still be down there? Ash wouldn't put it past him.

"You two doing alright?" Ash asked Serena and Hydreigon. They nodded, but it was clear they were lying. Their eyes watered from the stench, and Hydreigon currently had the bottom lips of his other two heads covering their noses. It would have begged the question of whether or not Hydreigon's sense of smell was tripled if they didn't have other things to worry about.

Wiping away her eyes and trying not to inhale too quickly, Serena replied, "Y-yeah. I'm doing alright for now. Just...a bit dizzy."

Ash frowned, wishing he could do more for her. Evidently, an Auric barrier didn't do much in the way of blocking smell. There was still much he didn't know about his own power, but needed to if this waking nightmare of a world was ever going to change.

He asked, "But are you okay in...that way. Y'know?"

Serena glanced away from Ash, instead looking down into the seemingly-endless spire of rock and metal that was their stairway down into the pit. "...Are you?" Hydreigon made a low, sorrowful grumble under its breath and looked away.

"...Fair point."

As the trio began descending once more, Ash remembered a trick Riley had used the last time they were here. It was some kind of bubble that let them float down a large flight of stairs without harm. The problem therein was that, the further down they went, the more he began to feel something even more foul than the stench. There were spirits, and angry ones. After how they went out, they could hardly be blamed.

"...Hey," He said, gaining their attention. "I...really can't stand this place much longer. In the interest of getting out of here as quickly as possible, I'm going to try something to get us down there quicker." Serena went to reply, but stopped when she saw how pale his face had become. Wincing, he told her, "Just...keep your eyes closed when we're down there."


Once the day's dawn, and the dawn of Celadon's Team Rocket station, fell upon the city, the Grunts were in the midst of being arrested by the local Officer Jennies. There were only three left in this city. And yet, many of the Grunts had allowed themselves to be taken in willingly, their wills crushed by Paul's venomous speech. Others, however, managed to escape into the city's shadows before the Jennies or the surrounding Pokemon could notice. They were slippery like that.

Ash gritted his teeth as he watched a young girl, who couldn't have been any older than six by the look of her, run up to an Officer Jenny and latch onto her leg as she handcuffed a female Grunt. Apparently, it was her mother. A shiver ran up Ash's spine when the Grunt told her to let go, believing she deserved the punishment. Serena had gone to comfort her, but Ash couldn't bear even looking their way.

Every wail from the little girl sent pangs of sorrow through Ash's body. That was the curse of Aura. The girl, the Rockets, the Game Corner...this day entirely...it was all so tiresome. Maybe they could bring the girl along to New Goldenrod and find a care center for her until Team Rocket was done for, but there was no way he was going to let a child like that grow up in a world like this without a parent. No way. Here and now, he was going to set the first domino that would end this chain.

He brought his arm and the Secretary Bot up. "Holo-Alice," He said, "Tell Mr. Star that the mission is finished...and that I'd like to talk to him. I have an idea."


Author's Note

Pokextinction fact of the day: In order, the Pokemon who Aura bestowed his power upon in order goes as follows. First was Ash's Talonflame. Aura determined that its death would have grief-stricken Ash into staying home for a time, preventing him from being where he needed to in order to stop Necrozma. Having opened this bond made it easier to do it repeatedly, so it was given the power to save Ash and, to Talonflame's belief, avenge him.

Second was Rayquaza because his death would have plunged the Hall of Origins into nigh-irreparable chaos that would have amassed fear among some of the lesser Legends, making it more difficult for them to stall for time during the war.

Third was Zero. Were it not for her sacrifice, Necrozma's fleet would have decimated the world's surface. It's likely that there would not be a home to return to. Still, her name is largely unknown to the public, and her actions on that day were only remembered by Mewtwo.

Finally, Deoxys. Feeling pity for Deoxys due to his past with Necrozma, Aura bestowed more power to him than any other Legend, Ash himself notwithstanding. But because only Ash was a suitable vessel for that amount of power, it broke Deoxys's mind over time until the only thing he could say was his objective: stopping Necrozma and avenging those who fell to him.

Aura also protected some of the survivors. During the war, he was very indecisive about bestowing power unto those fighting because it wanted desperately for them to survive even though it knew their fate, but was unsure of how much power he could use to save them that he would need for the battle against Necrozma.

Creator: Much faster than last time, eh? I happened to have an unexpected burst akin to the days of my writing prime and pumped out over four thousand words out in a single night while writing this chapter. Here's hoping I can do it again later. I know this chapter is titled Nightmare's End, but don't think that means things will get any easier for Ash and friends. No...their suffering is far from over. That's what happens when you have an evil bastard for an author. After all, people rarely have only one nightmare.

Hydra: It was quite nice to actually release this chapter a lot faster than what is normal for us. Hopefully you guys enjoyed it, I must say my favorite part was probably that beginning scene with Palkia and Garatina.

We're liking the reviews for this one, so here we have…

Amourshipper35: "Wow the god Pokemon came to help wow and wow."

Creator: Wow and wow he did help indeed, wow. Wow, I wonder what else Arceus will do? Especially now that his son is gone. WOW...

Hydra: lol Yes he has indeed come to help, but what will happen next? FIND OUT NEXT TIME ON TOTAL DRAMA ISLAND!

British-Vulture: "This time on! Pokéball Z!

Arceus destroys Christopher Lee with facts and logic, Yveltal is in serious danger (seriously, don't hurt best boi), and my faith in humanity has been , I found a new running gag for these Review things! And I have quite enjoyed seeing Lee being fucking dunked on by not only Arceus, but also all of the I personally think Lee is a bitch-ass motherfucker and a coward with his use of Yveltal as a hostage. (SERIOUSLY, YVELTAL DIES, I RIOT).

In all seriousness, I really enjoyed this chapter more than the others so far, if only because I got to see Lee squirm like the rat he is. Good luck with the next chapter, lads!

Also, I don't have a new cameraman."

Creator: "Attention Team Rocketers. If Pokemon were really made to serve Team Rocket, then why did I create them before you? Checkmate, Rocketers." -Arceus Shapiro.

...and oh, I will hurt best boi. A lot. What's the gag you found by the way?

Hydra: I'll admit it has really sucked not being able to talk about Yveltal much since all the way back in chapter 10, however that might change very soon...

DarkPugLord23: "Did I ever say that I enjoy comeuppance? Especially of a villain who in my opinion, is a disgusting, pus-filled bubo, who has all the wit, charm and self-possession of an Alsatian Dog after a head swap operation. Seriously though, everyone was having a good time, Arceus was happy for once and then Christopher Lee just had to go and be that one guy who ruins it for everyone. He's like that type of person who'll ruin a good joke just because he wasn't in on it.

All in all, I can't wait for the next chapter (however long it takes), and Arceus is a good dad to humans, change my mind."

Creator: Would you believe me if I told you that, in the context of this story, Arceus was once an even bigger bastard than Lee and could have became even worse had Ash not saved him in the Jewel of Life movie?

Hydra: I think this chapter was really good in showing just how ruthless Christopher Lee can be and not in the physical way, but more so in the mental way where he'll do anything to get in your head and make you do something rash.

Leafy: "Ooooo lee chu messed up big with mocking Yveltal in front of Xerneas. She's maaaad. Also happy with the chapter. An all out Arceus one was needed to how the pain he's experiencing and his emotions and personality is changing. Loved that old woman too making jokes and teasing Arceus hehe. And ffs Lee you need better material to convince the masses its going stale dude. Loved the chapter and excited to hear/see what arceus thinks of Mewtwo's message owo. End of review leafys hungry and gonna make a sandwich, love chu all and the fic, baiiiii!"

Creator: This reminds me of that meme with the crow that does stand-up comedy and is booed because it has no new material. That's Lee. For now. Let's just say that Arceus was lucky with this particular group of people.

Hydra: Christopher Lee took a gamble thinking that he might be able to sway the townsfolk by bringing up the same old argument, unfortunately for him it didn't work, but he will not make the same mistake twice let me assure you.

Creator: Next time on Pokextinction, we find ourselves returning to a certain Bug-Type Legendary...and maybe we'll finally get to see what happened to a certain other Legendary who hasn't been around for a while. Fancy a guess, anyone?

Hydra: Well well it looks like thats it for this one. It was a doozy to write for awhile but after we got half way it was easier. Anyways I hope you all enjoyed this one and we'll see ya on the next one bye bye.