Today we find our heroes at the edge of the northern mountain range of the Kanto Region, but what are they doing?
"I think we're here." Wally commented.
"What gave it away?" Flannery asked, looking at the giant pyramid.
"It's finally time for my last challenge." Brendan said. "Any advice Ash?"
"Don't lose." Ash said. "Look I've been lost on how to give advice this entire time, most of these trainers don't exactly use a formula for their Pokemon."
"Encouraging." Brendan said. "I wonder where Scott is?"
'SCREEEEECH!'
As if on cue Scott's vehicle skidded to a stop right in front of the group.
"Brendan, you made great time!" Scott said in surprise. "Brandon is still doing work right now though."
"What, hes not working, he's right here." Wally commented.
"Not our Brendan, their Brendan, the frontier brain." Ash remarked.
"And his name's not Brendan it's BrAndon with an A." Scott said. "He has a passion for archeology and is in the nearby ruins."
"Are we allowed to go in and see how he's doing?" Brendan asked.
"The ruins are open to the public, so I can't stop you, just be careful." Scott said.
Later, inside the ruins
'Ash, I feel I should warn you about our safety.' The Primal Force said.
"So you're still alive in there." Ash said.
"Ash, who are you talking too?" Brendan asked.
"The Primal Force, apparently he's still alive after everything." Ash admitted.
'I can't die.' The primal force said. 'At least not that easily.'
'Then whats the problem?' Ash asked, switching to mental communication.
'These markings, they are that of the king of Pokelantis. A disciple of Kyogre.' The Primal Force said.
'Just because his markings are here, doesn't mean that he's here.' Ash pointed out. "Hey Brendan what do you know about Pokelantis?"
"Pokelantis? Just that it disappeared a few hundred years ago." Brendan said. "Why does Groudon know something?"
"He thinks these markings belonged to their king." Ash said.
"I mean the chances that anything relating to the king, or even the king are here is highly improbable." Brendan said.
"I wouldn't be so sure, Brandon has been looking for these ruins for a long time." Scott said. "I believe he has the entire map of where Pokelantis once was drawn out."
"Incredible, I knew there were people looking into it, but I had no idea that anyone was this close!" Flannery said, as they rounded another corner.
"Hey up ahead, who's that?" Wally asked.
"Hey Brandon, I've got a challenger here for you." Scott said.
"Scott, this is hardly the place for a battle." The man said, turning around. "So which one of you four is here to challenge me?"
"I am sir, Brendan Birch of New Bark Town." Brendan said.
"Well then Brendan Birch, I should have you know that I haven't been beaten once yet." Brandon said. "And I'd be more than happy to have our match, as soon as I find the artifact I'm looking for, this is supposed to be the royal treasury from what I can make out, and the King of Pokelantis's Orb should be around here. Legend has it that the King himself held it for so long, part of him was left inside." Brandon said.
"That's not possible, right?" Brendan asked.
"Says the guy that can preform magic." Wally commented with a chuckle.
"I believe it to be myths and lies, but the thrill of the search is still there for me." Brandon said. "Sometimes it's about how you get to the end goal, not just what it is."
"Hey umm Brandon, is what you're looking for about a foot wide, and brownish?" Ash asked.
"In theory yes." Brandon said.
"Cool, I'll grab it real quick." Ash said, extending aura tendrils towards a sphere on top a pillar.
'ASH WAIT!' The Primal Force urged.
"ASH WAIT!" Brendan shouted.
As soon as Ash's aura tendrils made contact with the orb a shock went through them and to him as the tendrils turned a third colors of swirling black.
"I'm FREE! They thought they could imprison me, but now look whos laughing!" Ash said angrily.
"Ash, come on quit joking around." Flannery said.
"Silence wench!" Ash said. "Where are we?"
"Let me guess, we're speaking to the King of Pokelantis?" Brandon asked.
"Of course, are you on of my servants?" Ash asked.
"Not quite." Brandon said. "We're in your tomb."
"Ha! A tomb is for the dead!" Ash said. "Ohhhh, this body has some nice added bonuses." Ash said, as six aura tendrils came out of his back. "It is time to reclaim earth for the great Kyogre!" ASh said, as he rushed off.
"Seriously, this is starting to get old!" Brendan said, chasing after Ash.
"Come out my friend, I need your speed." Brandon said, sending out a dog like Pokemon.
"Wally, can Gallade get us out of here?" Flannery asked.
"Good idea, Gallade use Teleport!" Wally said.
"I guess I'm walking." Scott said, turning back towards the exit.
Back outside
"Ahh yes, the world may be different, but it is still ready for my masters return." Ash said, his tendrils lifting him high into the air.
"GRAHHHH!" Ash groaned. "Not on my watch! This body's already called for!" The Primal Force said, fighting for control.
"ASH!" Brendan shouted, making it out of the tunnels, seeing him rise higher and higher into the sky.
"What do we do? None of our Pokemon can reach him?" Flannery asked as she and Wally appeared.
"I don't know. I'm thinking!" Brendan said.
"Claydol grab him with Psychic!" Brandon commanded, stopping Ash's ascent. "Now bring him back down!"
Back in the air
"WHO ARE YOU TO DEFY ME!" The King of Pokelantis demanded.
"I'm the Primal Force of Groudon, your worst nightmare." The Primal Force said, struggling to regain control.
As Ash's body was lowered back to the ground Brandon approached him.
"Alright King, if you want to rule, you have to take out me, the Pyramid King!" Brandon said. "If you win, you can take my kingdom as a reward."
"And if you win?" Ash's body said.
"You release the boy." Brandon said.
"Very well, what is the competition?" Ash's body asked.
"A Pokemon battle, I assume he's a trainer." Brandon said.
"Yes, this boy has many memories of many tough battles, this will be child's play." Ash's body said.
"We'll see about that. Suicune let's go!" Brandon said.
"Sceptile come forth and fight for your new king!" Ash's body said.
"Suicune use Gust!"
Wind began to blow as Suicune's ribbons began fluttering, pushing Sceptile back with ease.
"Suicune, how'd he get one of those?" Wally asked, pulling out his Pokédex.
'Suicune, the Aurora Pokemon, a legendary water type. It races around the world to purify fouled water. It dashes away with the north wind.' Wally's Pokédex said.
"So Brandon's packing legendary power." Brendan said, watching intently, ready to step in if things got ugly.
"Sceptile use Leaf Blade!"
Sceptile rushed forward towards Suicune, readying an attack before striking down on the dog like Pokemon.
"Suicune use Ice Beam!" Brandon said.
With one shot Sceptile was knocked on his back, already slowing down.
"Sceptile get back up and use Double Team!"
A group of Sceptile appeared running back towards Suicune.
"Suicune use Gust!"
Suicune's ribbons fluttered about crazily as each Sceptile disappeared, launching the real one into the air.
"It's over, and last I checked Sceptile is the one defeated." Brandon said. "Time to honor your end of the deal. Leave the boy now."
Ash's body went limp as a dark energy dispersed from around him. Flannery rushed over to check on him, feeling his pulse and hearing his breath.
"He's alright, just passed out." Flannery assured.
"Good, now Brendan I believe you wanted a battle with me." Brandon said.
"Yeah, but I'd like to wait for Ash to get back on his feet for it." Brendan said.
"Not a problem, I still have some work in the ruins. Let's say in three days?" Brandon offered.
"Sounds like a plan." Brendan agreed.
