This episode is dedicated to the release of Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl.

Episode 136: Somewhere in Spacetime

In a high-tech facility, a machine is in the process of scanning an object. The object consists of several glowing red crystals linked together like a chain. A scientist asks wearily, "Are you sure this isn't going to blow up on us like it did last time?"

He's asking Looker, the International Police agent. Looker gives him a confident smile. "Last time it was a trap. This time it's the real-deal we're scanning."

The scientist isn't fully convinced. "If you say so…"

"Besides, if the rumors are true, then we need to know everything we can about this thing. That knowledge may be our only hope."

The entire room shakes violently. The scientist ducks for cover as he shouts, "It's happening again!"

Looker is blown back by an explosion.

A hole has been blown through the wall, and a woman stands amid the clearing smoke. "Hope, such a pointless emotion. Especially when there is none to be had." She speaks in a monotonous voice showing little emotion, though with a cruel inflection. She's tall, but young. The bangs of her fiery orange hair cover most of her forehead, cut flat at the bottom, while the rest of the shoulder-length hair sticks up in several disheveled spikes. Her flat brow lines give her the appearance of a permanent scowl. She wears a white, gray, and black formfitting jumpsuit that lacks a right sleeve and left leg. On her chest is a stylized yellow G.

At her side is an unusual Carnivine. It's colored mostly shades of red, orange, and yellow, and fire burns within its mouth. The smoke pouring from its mouth also indicates it as the likely culprit of the explosion.

"Get it." At her command, the Pokémon lunges forward and grabs the crystal chain in its mouth.

Looker, hurt by the explosion, looks up to her and says with a struggle, "You can't comprehend the forces you're dealing with…"

"No, you can't comprehend them, detective. I was raised to comprehend them. This chaotic world will be reborn, and he will return." She turns and leaves. As she does, a broken link of the chain falls from Carnivine's mouth.

Looker attempts to get up and follow, but collapses. He pulls out a communicator. "HQ, the rumors are true. Team Galactic has been revived." He passes out.

A Starly flies through the sunny sky. What a brilliant and shining day! A day like this can really make someone nostalgic. Seeing such a day, you would never believe what trouble lurks just beyond the corner…

Ash, Brenda, and Brock are walking down a street in a city, when they're interrupted by an explosion blowing out the wall of a building in the distance.

Brenda shouts, "What was that!?"

Brock surmises, "Something's wrong!"

Ash rushes ahead. "Let's see if we can help!"

They jump in through the destroyed wall and find Looker passed out. Brock says with disbelief, "No way! It's Looker!"

Brenda comments skeptically, "He is a looker, but is this really the time to be pointing out how handsome the passed-out guy is?"

Ash shakes his head. "No, his name is Looker. He's a member of the International Police."

Brock looks around. "This is an International Police station. Who would attack it? And why?"

Ash spots something shimmering on the ground. He picks it up and looks at the broken segment of chain as he realizes with horror, "Whatever the reason, it's not good…"

The police, both standard and International, canvas the area around the attack, looking for anything that might be important. Looker is sitting on a chair with a bag of ice held to his forehead.

Brock asks, "How do you have a piece of the Red Chain? I thought we destroyed it."

Looker nods. "It seemed as such, but a segment of the broken chain was retrieved by Saturn. After we arrested him, the fragment was taken into International Police custody."

Ash's arms are crossed. "Why would you keep it? We told you how dangerous the thing was. What it did to Palkia and Dialga. What it did to Azelf."

Looker doesn't look like he regrets it. "It was an object of incredible power and mystery. We had to hold on to it as evidence. I'm glad we did because we needed as much information on it as we could get."

Ash objects, "Except now it's in the wrong hands. If you had destroyed it, you wouldn't have needed it in the first place."

Brenda sighs. "You know, sometimes I get tired of feeling left out of stuff. What's this story? Something from when you two traveled in a different region?"

Ash nods. "Sorry, Brenda. Back when Brock and I were in Sinnoh we fought these bad guys called Team Galactic. They made this thing called the Red Chain and used it to control the Legendary Pokémon Palkia and Dialga in order to create a new universe."

Looker elaborates, "Their leader, Cyrus, felt we lived in an imperfect world marred by emotion. He wanted to create a new world without emotion. With the Legendary Pokémon of Time and Space under his control, he nearly did, until your friends teamed up with the Lake Guardians, Uxie, Azelf, and Mespirit, to stop him. In the end, he escaped into his new universe just before it collapsed."

Brenda shakes her head in disbelief. "You guys have told me about a lot of crazy adventures, but this one might just top them."

Looker continues, "Recently there had been rumors of Team Galactic returning. I wanted to be ready for them. That's why we were scanning the Red Chain."

"That's why you left the thing out in the open to be stolen," Ash corrects with a hint of disapproval.

Brock points out sternly, "That doesn't matter now. It's been done. And since it has, let's put it to use. Looker, did you learn anything from your scans?"

Looker nods. "We were able to confirm that, just as they claimed, Team Galactic did create the Red Chain from the Veilstone Meteorite. The fraction of the chain isn't going to do much, but it could hypothetically be repaired if they had more material to build with."

Brock ponders, "If I remember correctly, they said that the meteorite was made of the core substance of the universe. That can't be any regular meteorite."

Ash's eyes widen. "The core substance of the universe? As in the stuff the world is constructed from?"

Brenda gasps. "That sounds familiar!"

At the same time, Ash, Brock, and Brenda all announce, "Meteoric Shards."

Brock suggests, "If Team Galactic is looking to repair the Red Chain, they'll need Meteoric Shards."

Brenda adds, "And if you want Meteoric Shards, there's one place you can guarantee you'll find them."

Ash concludes, "With Team Planetary."

Looker raises a brow and says under his breath, "Team Planetary… Fascinating…" Then he says aloud, "There's a Team Planetary research lab in this city. I've been…keeping tabs on them for…another case."

"What do you think you're doing!?" demands a Planetary Grunt looking up at the Galactic woman, who is now flanked by two Galactic Grunts, each with a Golbat. "We need those Meteoric Shards to help people!"

The woman, who holds a canister in her hands, looks to the grunt. "People are beyond helping. You only waste your time."

"You'll regret crossing Team Planetary."

"Frankly, I won't. Your name says it all. Team Planetary is only concerned with events on a planetary scale. Team Galactic operates on a whole other level. We are concerned with nothing less than the universe itself. You are insignificant compared to us."

Three unusual Planetary grunts are huddled nearby, hiding from Team Galactic. A male one asks, "Do my eyes deceive me, or are the fashion freaks back?"

A female one responds, "Your eyes could never make up such a fashion disaster, and that's saying something. It has to be them."

A short one concludes, "So Team Fashion Freak has declared war on Team Copycat."

A Wobbuffet appears to announce, "Wobbuffet!"

The woman, obviously Jessie, shushes it and returns it to its Pokéball. "If that really is the case, that means we could just sit back and watch as the two of them destroy each other."

Meowth objects, "No way! We have to stop the fashion freaks at all cost!"

James prompts with curiosity, "Do tell."

"Remember, we took all the credit for putting the kibosh on those unfashionable phonies and saving the world of fashion as we know it. The Boss thinks they're gone because of us. If he were to learn that they still assaulted the good name of fashion, he would blame us for lying to him."

James points out, "Which we technically did."

Meowth counters, "It ain't a lie if no one's there to point it out."

Jessie agrees, "Let's make sure it stays that way."

"Team Galactic! Give those back!"

Team Rocket is surprised. "It's the twerps!" They look to see Ash, Brock, Brenda, and Looker run into the room. Even more surprised, they exclaim together, "It's Boxed-Lunch Guy!"

The woman looks to Ash with disapproval. "You're the child who destroyed Master Cyrus' plans." Despite the obvious words of hatred, she says this matter-of-factly with no emotion behind the words.

Ash nods. "That would be me. And who are you?"

"I am Venus, the secret fourth commander of Team Galactic. Master Cyrus kept me hidden so that I may enact his vision should things go wrong." She looks down to her Carnivine. "Stop them."

"What kind of Carnivine is that?" Ash pulls out his Pokédex.

"Carnivine, Tennoan Form, the Bug Roaster Pokémon and a Grass and Fire Combo-Type. When a Carnivine was allowed to grow in soil samples recovered from the planet Venus, this Pokémon was the result. Its saliva combusts easily, emitting a smoke that attracts its prey. Evolves into Carnivenus by leveling up at a volcano."

Carnivine lunges at Ash. "Pikachu, Iron Tail!"

"Chu, pika!" Pikachu slams its tail down over Carnivine's head.

Ash reiterates, "Give us those Meteoric Shards!"

A Planetary Grunt says, "Thank you, you are doing a great service for Team Planetary."

"Don't make me sick." He looks back to Pikachu. "Use Thunderbolt!"

"Pikaaaa chuuuuu!"

"Volatile Gas." A purple smoke flows out from Carnivine's mouth. The moment the gas contacts Pikachu's electricity, it explodes.

When the smoke from the explosion is gone, Venus and the grunts are also gone. Ash isn't happy. "They got away."

Looker steps forward. "But surely not without a trace." He pulls out a slim case from a pocket, and from it he produces a pair of sunglasses, which he puts on.

Brenda comments, "Now you look cool, but how does that help us?"

Looker holds up a finger to silence her as he concentrates.

Brock explains, "The International Police have all sorts of crazy gadgets and tools. I imagine that's what Looker's using right now."

From Looker's perspective, his sunglasses have a heads-up display projected over his field of vision. It seems to be constantly running analysis of the surrounding area. Green-line virtual projections of indicators, data, charts, and graphs flash across his vision as he looks around. "Hello. What's this?" Looker's glasses show an outline of a footprint over where Venus was standing. A small smudge is highlighted on the back of the heel.

Looker leans over and runs his finger over a black residue on the floor.

Brenda asks, "What is it?"

Looker simply responds, "A clue." He observes it closely. "According to my readings, this is the type of oil used to lubricate heavy machinery. Seeing as this is a research station, it has no such use for oil like that. Therefore, Venus must have brought here from somewhere else."

Brock catches on. "And if she had the stuff on her boot, then that could be where they came from. Perhaps their base of operations."

Looker nods. "Exactly. Even better, headquarters should be able to analyze the oil and give us the exact brand, as well as a list of facilities nearby that use it. Within the hour, we'll know exactly where Team Galactic is hiding."

Inside a large transparent chamber, a machine arm pulls molten material from a crucible into a mold. Operating the machinery from outside the chamber is Charon. He laughs to himself. "Originally it took me weeks to construct the Red Chain, but thanks to recent advances in the field, all made by yours truly, I've cut the time for repairing the chain down to only an hour. For not the first, but the second time, I have resurrected the Red Chain, bringing it back into the present from the past. It's fortunate for you that you have such a brilliant scientist on your side." He grins broadly and laughs.

Venus doesn't look like she feels so fortunate. "Just be quiet and do your job, scientist."

Charon returns his attention to the forging of the Red Chain as he mutters under his breath, "Nobody has any respect for poor old Charon. You wouldn't be anywhere without my brilliance."

Venus hears this. She turns around to look at something behind her and says, "No, we wouldn't be anywhere without Master Cyrus' brilliance." In a glass case on a stand in front of her is a pale blue wind instrument with a red mouthpiece. "Master Cyrus, we will see each other again, and together we will form your new world. And it's all thanks to your last gift to me, the Azure Flute."

Who's that Pokémon!?

Even a casual swing from one of this Pokémon's large, axe-like arms is capable of delivering a devastating blow, dealing massive damage to the hardiest of opponents.

Ash and the others peek over a bush towards a nearby building. Two Galactic Grunts stand guard at its door. Ash comments, "This is it, alright."

Brenda asks, "Should we fight our way in?"

Brock shakes his head. "No. Surely, where those two grunts came from, many others have to be. We need a plan."

Looker grins. "Then it's a good thing I have one."

As Ash focuses on the guards, he asks, "What's that?" He glances back to Looker and is surprised to see a Galactic Grunt standing where Looker just was.

"I always dress to impress."

Brenda is impressed. "Wow, that costume is perfect. You look like the real thing."

Brock agrees, "Looker really is a master of disguise."

Looker explains, "I'll sneak in and make a distraction. Once the guards are gone, you three will be free to enter."

Ash nods. "Sounds like a plan."

Looker confidently steps out into the open and walks towards the entrance, but on the way, he collides into three Galactic Grunts, one of which is comically short.

At first, both Looker and the three panic briefly. Looker quickly regains his composure and says, "I was on my way to report with the commander. She requested my presence."

One of the other grunts chuckles and says, "Funny story, that's what we were doing as well."

They stare at each other for a moment suspiciously.

Then one of grunts declares, "You're no fashion freak!"

"Huh?"

The short grunt agrees, "Yeah, I've worn enough disguises to know one when I see it."

Together, all three exclaim excitedly, "It's Box-Lunch Guy!"

Looker instinctively denies, "I'm a Galactic Grunt not…Box…Lunch…Guy…?" He's now confused.

James removes his wig just enough to show his blue hair. "See, we're in disguise too. I guess great minds think alike. We're your old pals, Team Rocket."

Jessie complains, "As much as it offends me to have to wear such fashionly freakish style, we're in disguise too."

Meowth shushes them. "Shut your trap! Don't go blabbing our secret for everyone to hear."

Looker sighs. "Oh, it's only you three. Remember, my name is Looker."

Jessie grins. "While you are a looker, you'll always be Box-Lunch Guy to us." She winks at him.

James adds, "And we'll always be indebted to you for those wonderful box-lunches you gave us, so we're here to help."

Looker rubs his temple with annoyance. "You know what? This could work. What I need is a distraction. Something tells me that you three will excel at that."

James grins, "We will. 'Nothing but a distraction' is one of the kinder things anyone has ever called us."

Meowth adds, "You don't want to hear the less kind things."

Looker nods. "Okay, in that case, let's make that distraction." Team Rocket has already disappeared. Looker sighs. "Those three are a little too eager."

"Yoo-hoo! Over here!" Jessie shouts at the guard grunts.

"Do you have something to report?"

James nods. "We sure do. We'd like to report some intruders."

"Intruders? Where?"

Meowth leaps in. "Right here!"

All three cast aside their disguises as Jessie announces, "Listen, is that a distraction I hear?"

James continues, "It's speaking to me obnoxiously clear!"

"On the wind!"

"Past the stars!"

Meowth leaps in, maybe a little too excitedly. "In your ears!"

"Bringing chaos at a breakneck pace!"

"Dashing hope, putting fear in its place!"

"An interruption by any other name is just as sweet!"

"When everyone's sidetracked, our work is complete!"

"Jessie!"

"And it's James!"

"And Meowth, now that's a name!"

"Putting the fashion freaks in their place!"

"We're Team Rocket…!"

All three declare together, "In your face!"

"Wobbuffet!"

"Mime mime!"

By the time they've finished, they've been surrounded by a mass of Galactic Grunts. Looker grins to himself. "Why, I'll be. They actually pulled it off. That's got to be nearly every grunt in the building." He motions for Ash, Brock, and Brenda to follow him, and runs for the entrance, right behind the backs of the grunts.

As they run, Brenda asks, "Why is Team Rocket helping us?"

Ash explains, "If there's one thing Team Rocket hates more than us, it's Team Galactic.

The Galactic Grunts have called upon a horde of Golbat. A grunt demands, "What are you three doing here?"

Jessie proclaims, "I have come to give you fashion advice, because, honey, that blue bowl-cut with that white jumpsuit, it just doesn't do it."

One grunt seems to take offense to the statement. "I was told I look handsome…"

James laughs. "By who!? Your mother!?"

"So what?"

Team Rocket burst into hysterics.

Another grunt shouts, "Enough of this! Get rid of them! Air Cutter!" The Golbat all attack together with sawblades of air, rocketing Team Rocket upwards.

As they hurtle up, James ponders, "I wonder if the International Police would reward us for all the times we've helped Box-Lunch Guy."

Jessie points out, "The only payment valuable enough would be diamonds and pearls."

Meowth comments, "You're thinking too small. Try platinum."

Jessie and James consider this, then shakes their heads. They say together, "Nah, not interesting enough."

"And why not?"

Jessie asks, "Is platinum as brilliant as diamonds?"

James adds, "Or as shining as pearls?"

Meowth is confused. "Um…yes?"

"Wrong!" They shout together.

Meowth sighs. "You know what else is wrong?"

They shout together, "We're blasting off again!"

It's Kleavor!

Looker, still in disguise, leads the others through a corridor cautiously. Ash says optimistically, "I guess that Team Rocket's need to be the center of attention finally paid off. That distraction really worked."

Looker muses, "I might need to send them all a round of boxed lunches on me."

Brenda tilts her head quizzically. "Boxed lunches? I don't get it."

Looker shrugs. "I don't either."

Brock points ahead. "Looks like not all the guards are gone." Ahead are two more grunts standing on either side of a door.

Looker surmises, "That must be our destination, hence the heavier need to guard it."

Ash nods in agreement. "Makes sense to me. What are we going to do now?"

"Leave this to me." Looker steps forward and salutes the guards.

One of the asks, "What is your business? The Commander said she was not to be disturbed."

Looker responds, "I was asked to bring these kids I caught snooping outside to her." He beckons towards the others.

Ash, Brock, and Brenda do their best impersonations of prisoners, which aren't too good.

The grunts eye them skeptically. "I have received no such notice."

"You might want to double check."

Before the grunts can object any further, Venus' voice says over an intercom, "Let them in."

Looker does his best to conceal his surprise. Ash, Brock, and Brenda do a worse job.

The grunts step aside and allow the group to pass. They enter Charon's lab. The Red Chain floats in a suspension field opposite of them.

Venus says flatly, "Those clothes don't suit you, detective."

"How did you know it was me?"

"I read your file. Your known for pulling stunts like this. It was a logical assumption to make."

Looker rips off his disguise. "At least I don't have to wear those uncomfortable things anymore."

Charon chuckles. "And if it isn't the kids who ruined my last ingenious plan."

Ash gasps. "Charon, shouldn't you be in jail?"

Charon laughs gleefully. "No one has ever been able to arrest the brilliance that is Charon."

Looker explains, "Charon slipped away at some point while you were stopping Palkia and Dialga. The International Police were unable to arrest him like the three Galactic Commanders."

"Then we'll just have to get him too. But first, Pikachu, use Thunderbolt on the Red Chain!"

"Pikaaaaa chuuuuuu!" Pikachu's lightning bounces harmlessly off a barrier surrounding the Red Chain.

Venus sneers at Ash. "I loathe fighting. Master Cyrus taught me that fighting is but one example of the corruption that lives within the human heart. But, if you leave me with no other choice, I will fight you. I will do whatever is necessary. I owe that much and more to him." She beckons for Carnivine to move forward.

Ash shouts back, "And we're willing to do whatever it takes to stop you! Pikachu, use Iron Tail!"

"Carnivine, Fire Fang."

"Chu, pika!" Pikachu swipes its tail at Carnivine from the side, but Carnivine opens its mouth and bites down on Pikachu. "Pika!"

Pikachu struggles, but manages to push its way out from Carnivine's mouth. It looks singed by the Fire Fang.

"Pikachu, there's no way she's going to risk damaging her own lab and equipment. We should be safe to use Thunderbolt against Carnivine this time!"

Pikachu nods. "Pikaaaaaa chuuuuu!"

"Did you not hear what I just said? I'll do anything. Use Volatile Gas." Once again, Carnivine spews a purple smoke which explodes on contact with Pikachu's electricity. Everyone is blown back.

The explosion clears to reveal the lab the roof has been blown away. Charon coughs through the smoke. "Sure, go ahead and destroy my lab. Nobody thinks about how poor old Charon feels."

Venus gets up as well and grabs the flute from earlier off the floor. "Enough of this. The time is at hand. I will wait no longer."

Unable to get back up yet, Ash grunts from the floor, "What's…that?"

"This is an ancient Hisuian artifact. Created from the same material as the Red Chain, it allows one to call upon the creators themselves. This is the Azure Flute. This is how I will rescue Master Cyrus."

Ash is shocked. "Rescue Cyrus? How is that possible!? The universe he created, it collapsed! I saw it myself!"

"No, it's still out there, somewhere in spacetime. All I need is Palkia and Dialga to call it to me. With the Azure Flute and the Red Chain, that is what will happen. Master Cyrus discovered the Azure Flute when researching the Pokémon of Legend but didn't know the music he needed to play. I have discovered the notes. Now I can call upon the Legendary Pokémon anywhere, even beyond the Spear Pillar. Palkia, Dialga, I summon you!"

Looker shouts, "Don't!"

Venus lifts the flute and blows into it. Moving her fingers across the various holes to create different tones, she produces a series of hollow, otherworldly notes. As she plays, an energy seems gather around her. Her hair and clothes shake, as if blown by wind. The flute glows.

Ash leaps up and lunges at Venus in an attempt to yank the flute out of her hands. "Stop!" The Azure Flute explodes with light, throwing Ash back.

When the light subsides, two vortexes have opened in the sky above Venus, one pink and one blue. The sky above has become cloaked in storm clouds that spiral around them.

Ash gets back up and demands, "What do you think you're doing!? The last time Cyrus tried this, he almost destroyed the world! Why would you do this!?"

"You wouldn't understand. Master Cyrus had a vision for a better world. A world unhampered by the corruption of human emotion. Master Cyrus taught me to suppress my emotion and seek purity of heart, but despite all my effort, I can, even now, feel the cold fingers of anger and hatred claw at my mind. I too am imperfect. I owe my life to Master Cyrus, and I intend to repay that debt. If the world must be destroyed, so be it. A better, more perfect world will be born from its ashes, and Master Cyrus will be the one to forge it." She looks to Charon. "Scientist, deploy the Red Chain."

"It's time to show my brilliance yet again." He punches a command into a control panel beneath the field that holds the Red Chain. The field drops and two sides of the chain launch at the two vortexes. The chain splits into two, and each segment encircles the rim of the vortex. They orbit faster and faster as they transform into red energy.

Ash shouts, "No!"

Within the circle of the Red Chain, the vortexes explode out and take form. Seconds later, phantasmal astral forms of Palkia and Dialga have appeared. The ground shakes violently at their appearance. The Red Chain reforms as an intricate ring structure around each of their waists. Both Legendary Pokémon roar.

Ash says with disbelief, "Palkia… Dialga…."

Venus holds up the glowing Azure Flute and shouts, "Palkia, Dialga! Emerge and bring back the perfect world created by Master Cyrus! Bring back Master Cyrus to me!" Her emotionless façade seems to be cracking.

There's a powerful shockwave from the Legendary Pokémon as they solidify. They roar again. Each one sends energy to a point between them, which merges together to form a spacetime bubble.

Ash shouts, "We have to stop them! If we all attack the Red Chain, we can free Palkia and Dialga like we did before! Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"

Brenda and Brock throw Pokéballs, sending out Kappaqueous and Blissey. "Water Gun!"

"Egg Bomb!"

"Carnivine, stop them! Power Whip!" Carnivine whips one of its tendrils at the attacks, sweeping them all away.

Looker is glancing down a handheld data pad. "We have to stop this fast, or the new universe will reach critical mass! When that happens, we're all done for!"

Venus looks up at the budding universe. She cackles with glee, losing all control over her emotions. "It's beautiful! This is what true perfection looks like!" The sillohette of Cyrus begins to form within the bubble. "Master Cyrus!"

Ash shouts, "Pikachu, we have to beat Carnivine! Use Volt Tackle!"

"Pika, pika, pika, pika, pika…"

Carnevine spews the purple smoke of Volatile Gas again.

Ash shouts, "Shut it off!" Pikachu cancels the electricity around its body but keeps running. Once it passes all the way through the smoke, Ash shouts, "And back on!"

"…pika, pika, pika, chu!" Pikachu rams into Carnivine, knocking it out.

"Everyone, we're clear!"

"Egg Bomb, again!"

"Water Gun, go!"

"Let's step it up, Pikachu! Hallowed Lightning, full power!"

"Pikaaa, pikaaa, chuuuu!"

All three attacks hit the Red Chain around Palkia.

Venus shouts, "Stop! What are you doing!? You can't do this! Master Cyrus!"

The connection between the Red Chain around each Legendary Pokémon causes them both to explode, shattering into thousands of insignificant pieces. Palkia and Dialga roar in a terrible rage, angered at having been pulled into this world.

"No!" Venus reaches out for the bubble. Tears fall from her eyes. She pulls out the Azure Flute, which now glows a sickly color. "There's still a chance! The Azure Flute can still influence them!" As she prepares to blow into the flute, she suddenly collapses.

Looker stands behind her, having just delivered a karate chop to her back. He catches the flute as it flies from her hand.

The spacetime bubble has collapsed down into a black hole. A tremendous force vacuums up anything not attached to the ground.

Brock shouts, "It's like last time! The new universe is collapsing! It could take our world with it!"

Ash shouts back, "But only Palkia and Dialga can stop it! And they're in a rage! Last time we only calmed them with the help of Uxie, Azelf, and Mespirit!"

Looker holds up the Azure Flute. "We have one other option!"

Brenda asks, "But how will we use it? We don't know the notes!"

Looker turns to Charon, who waves awkwardly at him with a silly grin. "I suspect he does." He shoves the flute into Charon's hands. "Play the melody to calm them."

"Why should I?"

"Because if you don't, this entire world, including you, will perish."

"Anything in the name of science." He chuckles.

"Fine. You want to advance your science? Play the melody, I'll make sure the International Police cooperates with getting you any research materials you request while in jail."

"Oho? A quiet place to study for as much and as long as I wish? That, or my research ends now? Hmm…"

"Do it now!"

"Oh fine." He puts the flute to his lips. "I must warn you; music was the only class I received less than an A in."

Everyone shouts together, "Charon!"

He plays a tune similar to what Venus played before. It seems to have an immediate effect on Palkia and Dialga. They freeze up.

A new vortex opens above the two Legendary Pokémon. A golden light filters down from it. The light washes over Palkia and Dialga, soothing them.

Looking up to the vortex, Ash notices something moving. "Huh?" For a brief moment, a white body can be spotted, but it's obscured by the bright gold light. Moving his attention back to Palkia and Dialga, Ash steps forward and shouts, "Palkia! Dialga! We need your help! Don't let this world be destroyed! Please! Save us!"

Palkia and Dialga look down to Ash, then to the raging black hole. They both roar and their gemstones shine brightly, letting lose a light show of pink and blue light. Palkia swipes its arm to attack the black hole with a slash of pink. A Spacial Rend. Dialga roars fires a blue stream of energy at it. A Roar of Time.

Then from the vortex above, a wave of golden arrows of light rain down on to the black hole.

Brenda asks with shock, "What is that!?"

The three attacks combined cause the black hole to explode and dissipate into nothing. The ground stops shaking and the storm clouds clear. Palkia and Dialga roar one last time, before they begin to fade away and vanish into the vortex above them. The vortex closes.

Brock says with disbelief, "We did it…"

Ash grins up at where the vortex was. "Thank you. All three of you."

Brenda questions, "All three?"

Ash grins at her. "It's a long story."

Looker announces, "And now it's time to put an end to this one." He turns around and gasps. Charon is passed out on the floor, the Azure Flute is gone, and Venus and Carnivine are missing. "What?"

Ash asks with worry, "What happened to them?"

Looker slaps Charon to wake him up. "Charon, what happened? Where'd she go?"

Charon chuckles. "Nobody cares about poor old Charon." There's a click. Charon looks down to see handcuffs on his wrists.

"Except for the ones who want to see him in jail. This has been a long time coming for you." Looker sighs. "It would seem Venus got away. With the Azure Flute too."

Brock points out, "At least this time the Red Chain was completely destroyed. There's not much she can do without it."

Looker adds, "She's on the top of the International Police's Most Wanted list. She won't be able to avoid us for long. We'll get her. Thank you for all your help." He looks to Ash. "That's twice you've saved the world from Team Galactic. It's an honor to fight by your side."

Ash smiles at Looker. "And it's a pleasure to work with you."

Looker heads off with Charon in tow.

Brenda asks, "With Venus still out there, do we have to worry?"

Brock suggests, "The past will always return. We've just got to be ready for it."

Ash looks off towards the horizon. "I'm ready."

The past isn't always such a bad thing. Sometimes it can be a great feeling to simply relive memories of our past. Bask in the nostalgia as you're whisked to the past, transported to another time, another place, somewhere in spacetime! Be ready for it, on this brilliant and shining day!

Venus stands alone in a dimly lit room, cradling the Azure Flute in her hands as she rocks back and forth. She rants quietly to herself, "Master Cyrus… I was so close… I'm sorry…" She laughs randomly, then returns to silence. She seems unhinged. "I can't give up." She suddenly shouts, "I won't give up!" She shakes her head. Low volume again, "But the Red Chain is gone. How can I find you without the Red Chain?" She suddenly realizes something. Loudly, "The scientist! He said the Red Chain was brought back from the past! The Red Chain still exists!" She looks down to the Azure Flute. "The Legends! The Legends tell me the way!" She cackles hysterically.

To Be Continued…