A/N: I feel ashamed. It's been so long since I last updated. Bad me! (hits self) But at least I edited the early chapters.

But enough of that tangent. Here, now, is the fifth episode of The Silver Saga. I've been planning ahead for the story, and I'm thinking it'll take about 20 or so episodes. Now that's going to take a while...

Disclaimer: I own Silver, Naoko, the personalities of Lugia and Ho-oh, and the story. Everything else is not mine. But it will be...

Darkness of the Unown: The Silver Saga

Episode 5

Silver coasted in the air above Johto, his thoughts muddled and vague. The only things present in his mind were the words the Unown had said.

"Master yourself!"

"Find your memories!"

He didn't even know where he has flying to. But he reached the place all the same.

He touched down in Ecruteak City. His descent from the sky didn't cause any alarm-the city was known for people having strange powers. He walked slowly, as if in a trance, towards the north end of the city, where the Burned and Tin Towers stood. He flicked his gaze towards the burned-out shell to his left, but didn't pay it any further attention. Rather, he headed down the path leading to the Tin Tower.

The narrow dirt pathway twisted lazily through the woods that bordered the city. Several small shrines stood slightly away from it, some holding offerings left by visitors.

This is...a...peaceful place...

At the end of the path, a small building stood blocking the entrance to the Tower. Silver gripped the handle slot and pulled. It was locked. He gripped it again, and jerked it away from the wall, tossing it over his shoulder into the woods. He calmly strode into the building.

Twelve pairs of eyes glared at him as he entered. They belonged to the group of monks who guarded the tower. They had been sitting in a circle around the center of the single room, but now they stood facing Silver. One of them came forward.

"This place is off-limits right now!" he yelled as best as one could with the scratchy voice of an old man, "So leave."

Silver sighed and glared at the man.

"I'm afraid I need to go up there. So I have to ask you to get out of the way, old man."

The monk chuckled.

"Don't let this simple robe and wrinkled face fool you."

He took up a defensive stance. The other monks followed suit.

"You'll have a hard time getting through us, I assure you."

Begin Flashback-

A robed old man stood before a similarly clad young boy. The boy looked at the old man with a patronizing gaze.

"You're the sensei? An old man? This is cheap!"

The old man chuckled.

"That's what you think. I think you'll have a hard time getting through my teaching!"

End Flashback-

"...So that's it."

He threw his head back and screamed into the air.

"THAT'S IT!"

He lowered his head and began talking softly to himself, his speech interspersed with almost deranged laughter.

"So that's it...that's what they meant...I understand now...It's all clear..."

"This guy's crazy!" said one of the monks, looking somewhat frightened.

Silver fixated him with a dark glare.

"Exactly."

Naoko pulled her coat closer to herself. It had gotten windy a while ago, and it served to make the day even colder than it already was. But she pressed on regardless, slowly making her way through the city to the Tin Tower.

There was a flash, and the sound of an explosion filled the city. Naoko stopped where she was. Most everyone else did the same.

It came from near the Tower...

A large plume of smoke rose from the woods near the Tower, accompanied by the smell of burning wood. Naoko stared at for a while.

Did...he do this? Is he here?

She shook herself out of the shock she had received from the initial explosion and headed for the burning forest. In the distance, she could see the city's fire department was already mobilized to combat the blaze. As she drew closer, she could hear the sound of the hoses dousing the flames. By the time she reached the area, the fire had been fully put out.

She stopped short. The entire area was covered in debris. A massive swath of forest had been swept away, leaving only bare dirt where it had been. Everything that had been there was somewhere else. Some of it had even hit several buildings nearby, smashing windows, and, to her shock, embedded within stone.

It must have been him. Only he could have done this...

Silver left behind the wreckage of the building and continued on to the Tin Tower as if nothing had happened. He reveled in the new clarity he had found.

"It all makes sense now...by encountering and fighting those I knew in my past, I can increase my power now...that's why they always had me fight Lugia-to start the process. I can already feel myself becoming a little more powerful from that old man. Who knows how much I'll get from Ho-oh!"

He reached the door to the Tin Tower. A strong construction of old, hard wood, it was firmly locked. So he put a hand against it and shattered it into a thousand pieces. As he entered, he let out a long, chilling, insane laugh that rang out through the city.

Naoko heard the laugh and instantly fixed her eyes on the entrance to the Tower. She saw a small cloud of dust rise. She looked around. Nobody else seemed to notice. She dashed towards the tower.

"Hey! You! Stop! That place is off-limits!"

She ignored the calls and kept on towards the tower. She had to find him. Before something happened.

Inside the tower, Silver looked around. The Tower had been made to deter intruders, and was designed like a labyrinth, filled with traps and pitfalls and the like to keep intruders from reaching the top.

Silver pondered for a moment. He could just go through the tower normally. It wouldn't be hard to avoid the traps. But, that would be a waste of time. He'd take the fast route instead.

He crouched down low, and leapt straight upward. He crashed through the ceiling and continued upwards.

Naoko dashed through the ruined doorway into the tower.

"Allen? Allen!...Allen?"

The tower was deserted.

"But...he has to be here..."

Then she looked up and saw the large hole in the ceiling.

"He is here..."

At that moment, two police officers dashed into the tower behind her.

"Hey, you can't...what!"

The officer who had spoken stopped short upon seeing the hole in the ceiling. The other stopped as well, staring up at it.

"Oh, hell..." said the second officer, "you think this was done by whoever blew up the guardhouse outside?"

"I'd bet my life on it," said the first. He turned to Naoko.

"There's a very dangerous criminal in here. Get out now. You, call for backup."

The other officer nodded and took out his radio. This first drew his sidearm. He glared at the unmoved Naoko.

"Didn't you here me! It's dangerous here! Get out!"

"No! I know the person who did this. I can reason with him...And anyway, you probably don't know the way up the tower. I do."

The officer continued to glare at her. She glared back.

"...All right. Once backup gets here, you lead us up the tower. Then leave."

Silver crashed up through the floor of the highest level of the tower. He glided away from it and landed softly on the wood flooring. Before him stood his quarry.

"It looks like I've cornered you...Ho-oh..."

A/N: Dun Dun duuuuun! Silver's gone crazy, and it looks like he's about ready to fight Ho-oh! Uh-oh...that can't be good. Well, anyway, I'm glad to finally get out a new chapter, and I'm sorry to all of my loyal fans (not that there are many of you) who've been waiting forever for this. Hope you enjoyed it. Expect a new chapter...somewhat soon.