'Another stressful day it seems.' Lance was tired. He hasn't slept in over 24 hours, travelling, holding press conferences, meetings with other Champions and Regional Professors. Now this? Before he could continue, his Pokèwatch started ringing, which was surprising. 'Who is it now?' Picking it up, he was surprised it was Samuel Oak, the Kanto Regional Professor. Thankfully, Oak had understood his reasons and didn't cause too many problems.

"Professor Oak, how can I help you."

"Hello Lance. You look tired." Lance sighed at that. "Does it show that much?" Oak chuckled lightly before growing serious. "Unfortunately, this isn't a social call." 'When is it?' Was Lance's thought. Professor Oak was known to be someone who only called if needed something, otherwise weeks or months could go by without anyone knowing what's going on with the old man.

"Do you have access to the Kanto Regional News?" "…. Oak what happened." "Turn on the News Lance and see for yourself." Lance quickly turned on the TV and reached the Kanto News. "-ems like someone or something has found a Team Rocket base and completely decimated it. Warning, graphic images will follow, parents please make sure your children are not in the room." With that, the camera switched to what used to be an abandoned factory, burned down and the worst part were all the bodies thrown around.

He could see over two dozen people, missing limbs, some having their insides spilled while others missing heads and, in some cases, top or lower parts of their bodies. Some seemed to have been burned alive while others crushed under a huge force. Lance had never seen such a sickening sight. The camera then switched to the entrance of the factory were another horrific sight laid. Above the door, was a body mutilated beyond belief. Every limp, from head to toes seemed to have been cut off and nailed in perfect formation of the actual body with a few centimetres in between. On the stomach of the Team Rocket female Admin, which you could tell by the uniform barely clinging on to her body, there was a few words carved in the flesh. "I am back."

"Oak…what the actual fuck am I looking at." Oak sighed through the call. "I don't know Lance. I really don't. This...This is something I haven't seen even during the Kanto Civil War. But this isn't the only thing." Lance rubbed his forehead in despair. 'Oh Arceus. The world is going to shit. What I wouldn't give for a blessing from Ho-Ho or Cresselia right about now.' "What happened now."

"Delia is dead." Sometimes, Lance wondered what would break him. Would it be the pressure of the Dragon Clan? Or the pressure of holding two Regional Championships and uniting two Regions? No. Those were nothing to the one sentence Oak spoke. Instead of answering, Lance fell back into his chair in shock and horror. "…You don't think…" "Team Rocket did indeed attack Delia, I found the evidence. The house was blown up and that was said to be due to a gas pipe incident. However, Ash Ketchum is alive and under my wing."

Lance gulped. "That's good. It's sad that Delia is dead, really is. She was an amazing woman for sure…But if Ash is alive, does that mean we can rule him out?" Oak shook his head. "I don't know Lance. I haven't heard from him in years. We both know he could have easily done this and worse. But I don't know. The message indicates it and the swiftness of this attack nearly straight after the murder…It does indeed point to him but also doesn't."

Lance nodded. "Yes. He would have informed us and/or would have acted way sooner if he knew that Team Rocket had an active base. That and no one could miss that beast. But again we don't know his mental condition…. In this case, we can't put a verdict. I'll try and find him but no promises. There is so much going on Oak. The world is growing darker. First the bombings, then the murders and now this? What are we to do?"

Oak sighed, "I understand your…apprehension Lance, but this is something that we have to act on. We can't allow this to continue so loosely. I suggest call in all Champions, Elite Fours, Regional Professors and the Manager for a meeting to sit down and discuss proper action. We need to act. And if you can get him to come…that could change everything."

Lance grunted, "Alright then. I'll set everything up. Details will be discussed before the appointed time obviously. Kanto has the support from her sister Region for sure. Now it's time to see how everyone else is doing."

Pallet Town

Oak closed his monitor and sat back in thought. Seventy years ago, when he was still a young trainer a civil war broke out in the Kanto Region. It was war between Vermillion City with Viridian City against Cerulean city which had the support of Pewter, Lavender and Fuschia. Saffron chose to stay out of the conflict which didn't work out, when Cerulean decided that they were being cowards and raided the city. Cinnabar Island was supporting Vermillion due to the boats and due to Pallet Town being a part of the Red-Thunder Contract which tied the three cities together. Celadon played both sides until it couldn't and was forced the heel by Vermillion.

Commerce City was taken over by Lavender Town for a while, While Camomile Island also suffered siege under Pewter. It all ended when Vermillion called upon Cameran Palace of Rota to use its significant military force to finally take over Cerulean City and bring an end to the war. The atrocities committed had been many and widely spread. Children and females taken as slaves for labour, while young men were killed, and the elderly left to drown in the sea. Cerulean had grown tired of it's third-grade power in the Kanto Region and had decided to become the first one to unite all under the Sea Kingdom as they dubbed it.

Oak was lucky that he was in Pallet Town himself when Cerulean was attacked. Reports say that the Gym Leader of Vermillion summoned Zapdos to fight Articuno, Cerulean's chosen Legendary Banner. While many people didn't believe it, Oak did. He had heard the roars and cries from miles away, seen the sky light up in thunderous power while a blizzard raged across the lands. It was a truly terrifying sight. One which granted him his best friend.

However, this was different. This wasn't city vs city. This was war between order and chaos. He just hoped no Gym Leader went about supporting Team Rocket. Otherwise… the idea of a second Civil War brought a shudder to him. Shaking his head, he forced himself to get up. 'Time to educate a young mind.'

He walked out of his private office and into the lab to find said young mind for the first time ever, reading a book that wasn't a schoolbook. 'Huh…miracles do happen.' Thought the old man jokingly. "Good morning Ash. I hope you slept well. Today will be a busy day." The boy looked up and nodded quickly, before jumping out of his chair and closing the book, leaving it on his appointed desk. 'Myths and Legends, Beyond Space and Time, The Unravelling of Life and Death. A very interesting book.' "So tell me Ash, do you understand what the book is saying?."

Ash looked taken aback by the question before thinking…'The chapter I read was an introduction to Legendaries and what they are. Legendaries are not normal Pokémon but beings that were created with the sole purposes of keeping order to nature's chaos. The best example would be the three Elemental Birds, Zapdos, Moltres and Articuno. Even though they were considered 'weak' Legendaries, their control over their respective elements was beyond any normal Trainer Pokémon. Zapdos could not use Thunderbolt, no he used Storm Call which brought dozens of Thunderbolt like attacks on multiple enemies or even one single enemy. The amount of power and control over the element of electricity required for that was phenomenal and no other Pokémon that was trained by a human has ever achieved that.'

"Yes Professor. The Author spoke of the basic differences between normal Pokémon and Legendaries for the introduction using the three Elemental Birds as an example. He mentions of a more in-depth book he released speaking of the fundamental differences between these normal and Legendaries." Oak nodded, pleased. Surprisingly, a lot of people who believed in the Legendaries thought of them as mere Pokemon who had powerful attacks and what not. However, that wasn't anywhere near the truth.

"Nicely done Ash. Yes, I know that book. I believe that with your monthly allowance, you might be able to buy it in a few months should you use your money wisely. Now, today I won't be giving you much homework, since I am a bit too busy with recent event. However, this doesn't mean you can slack off and in fact I want this to motivate you even more. Usually, in Pokémon College's they always hand out a starting project called, 'Basic Pokémon Training schedules'. This is usually for a Trainer to research and find out which method of training should be used with his Pokemon. Now since by that time, Trainers have a minimum of Six Pokémon, it requires a month. However, I will be giving you five days. Starting from today, which is Monday, you have until Friday to come up with a good enough project not only for Charmander but for you as well. Throughout that time, I will be handing out separate and smaller quizzes for you so you don't lose focus. Now, is that clear."

Ash gulped at the big task ahead of him but steeled himself and nodded. If this was for him and his partner, he would do it and he would do it great. He won't, he can't sit back. He needed to become strong...

Oak Branch

Gary grunted as he finished doing his last set of push ups. He had started basic training as soon as he left his grandfather's house. He knew his old man was tough as nails and wouldn't expect anything less then perfection from Ash. The amount of progress that Ash would go through will be phenomenal and he won't be pushed back because he was weak. He'll manage on his own…Well his own, meaning using everything his Gramps already taught him.

Sighing, he rolled his shoulders and picked up his dumbbells, 'No way Ashy-Boy is gonna beat me.'

Green Gardens

Leaf burped out loud after finishing her cake. She was finally able to get over the stupid emotional rollercoaster of what happened. 'Damn bloody assholes. Making me cry like a little girl. I'll show them…After another cake.'

She had already trained today, but still her mum always said that the best medicine for emotional turmoil is chocolate or cake, so Leaf combined those two and ate chocolate cake and my oh me was it delicious. Today was the last day of emotional turmoil anyway. She couldn't allow herself to get fat and slow. That wouldn't fit the lifestyle she is planning to have. No, she needed to be fit and ready. Plus, with all the training she did, a couple of cakes wouldn't do any harm whatsoever.

Unknown Location

"Sir…One of our bases was hit and everyone was killed. Admin Ariana was found dead. How do we proceed."

"…Proceed as normal Psion. No need to let trash get in the way. Their job was clear and not exactly significant to my greater plans. Professor, how goes Project X?"

"It goes well Sir. All readings are as predicted, and everything is going according to plan. We expect the project to be fully complete within three months."

"Hmm… Indeed. And you? How goes it."

"…I still don't understand why I just can't attack. But it's alright. No danger, nothing exciting. The new rule kinda gets in the way but nothing we can't handle."

"Indeed. The reason you can't attack is obvious. My plans are more important than your inability to be patient. However, this rule can be used to our advantage. This means more freedom for us. Psion, contact base RECK. Tell them to start their operations. Professor, you have one month to get the expected results, otherwise I'll have to find someone more fitting. And you. Keep your mouth shut unless you want me to shut it for you…permanently. Now leave me. I have business to attend to."

With those final words the room emptied apart from the figure in the shadows remained silent.

Mount Silver, Pokemon Ranger Park

A few miles away from the Ranger Park was a small encampment of Team Rocket. The head of this Operation, Turner Oval was currently shouting out orders to the grunts, "Come on you bastards! Move it, we must get there ASAP. Once we manage to get the Park, rare Pokemon will be ours for the taking and with those, Team Rocket will grow stronger in numbers and strike greater fear in the hearts of people!"