Hey y'all! Guess what time it is? The newest addition to the Chosen One's Wrath is here, and we've officially crossed a monstrous milestone! We broke 300,000 words with this chapter! Can you believe it? 300,000 words is simply unreal, and we couldn't have gotten to this point without your help. We're also closing in on 1,000 follows and favorites, so make sure you show your support further to help myself and the story!
By the way, happy 4th of July everyone! Its kinda poetic I finished this chapter up on a national holiday, considering the monstrous milestone I passed as well. My apologies for the delay of this upload; real life has definitely been grabbing me by the shoulders. I reaffirm to all reading though that, yes, I intend to finish this story.
I'll be frank, I expect this chapter to be much shorter than usual. This is a filler chapter of sorts, but as I was considering the rest of the story I've planned out, this is actually a very important chapter by a schedule's-standpoint. You see, I expect this chapter to essentially be 'The beginning of the end' sort of thing. While I still have a great deal to type up, I've completed a good amount of the arc's I had in mind for this story, and the main one's that are left are connected most directly to the main story.
Ergo, we're almost in the home stretch. Technically, we are in the home stretch. This chapter will inevitably set up some of the most important moments in this story, though the length of the chapter may be deceiving.
Anyway, enough insight, let's get on with the chapter. Enjoy everyone.
LegionZ Presents… The Chosen One's Wrath… Chapter 32
Last Chapter…
Ghost let out a bellow. "Finish it! Use Shadow Claw!"
"Quick, defend yourself with Dragon Claw!"
Cynthia's Garchomp rolled to its feet, intent on blocking the move. But it was too late. Its eyes bulged nearly out of their sockets when Ghost's Garchomp slipped underneath the move and delivered a critical blow to Cynthia's Garchomp directly in the chest. Cynthia stared at her Pokémon, who appeared frozen. A moment or two passed by with no action. Ghost stared at his own Pokémon, who had undoubtedly avoided the move from Cynthia's Pokémon.
What happened next appeared to be in slow motion. Ghost's Garchomp stood up from its position and looked at Cynthia's Garchomp. Then, it began to walk towards Ghost slowly, eyes never once looking back to its opponent. A small smirk came over its face. Then, Cynthia's Garchomp fell to its knee with a thunderous boom. A second later, it fell flat on its face. The official took one look and knew what had just happened could decide the tournament.
"Champion Shirona's Garchomp is unable to battle, Champion Ghost's Garchomp wins! Champion Shirona is out of usable Pokémon! Therefore, with a three to two victory, the trainer moving on to the semi-finals and the six-on-six battles is Ghost, Champion of Alola!" The crowd exploded into encores and whoops for their home champion. Ghost let out a relived laugh and wiped the sweat that had been forming on his brow.
He'd done it.
Ash wisely remained quiet during her soft speech.
"But…" she spoke again. "I spent years knowing I'd never be able to truly apologize to you. I spent years living with that guilt… I need to tell you Ash that I'm so sorry for everything that I put you through." Tears began to fall from her eyes. "I-I'm sorry for making you believe that I was playing with your feelings, I'm sorry for crushing your h-heart, I'm sorry for e-everything! P-Please forgive me Ash!" She cried, crumbling to her knees and weeping openly. After a moment, she felt Ash embrace her and she buried her face in his stomach to try and staunch the tears.
Ash said nothing for a few moments. Then, "I'm sorry too." The Princess of Hoenn looked up, surprise laced in her blue orbs. "W-Why? You already explained yourself… you h-have nothing to be sorry for."
"I do though. I could've checked on you. I knew you weren't with those bastards the day I was sent to die in that volcano. In the back of my mind, I knew it could truly be a misunderstanding that I was blowing out of proportion. But I… I-I couldn't let go of my rage. You suffered because I couldn't let go of the past. I couldn't forget what happened to me, and every time I laced up my arm, all I could do was connect you with those who made this happen. I'm guilty, and I'm sorry… so sorry."
The girl looked at Ash, who's eyes were also shining lightly. In one slow motion, she placed a hand on his cheek and forced him to look at her. She smiled weakly. "I forgive you Ash."
He sent a small grin back. "I forgive you too, May."
Present…
After Ash had given Max a serious scare which was more of a threat than anything else, he had returned back to the league where, for once, everything was normal… normalish. Since May had woken up and been perfectly fine, her parents came to visit her before she was permitted to leave the hospital. Unsurprisingly, Max was nowhere to be found when that had happened, despite Ghost's visit to him three days later.
Ash also brought in Abel to the league, knowing very well the boy could be subject to an attack from Flare as it had already happened once. The league's private ward was very nice and a sector of the first floor that usually didn't see too much action outside of Pokémon injured in combat. Abel was a rare exception, but the nurses there accepted him in with open arms. As Ash had instructed, both Bail and Arch, the security guards, had happily accepted getting to know Abel as he recovered from his horrific attack. So long as Abel was under league protection, it was highly unlikely that any attack would occur on the boy.
As for Ash and May, things were going surprisingly well a week after they made up. His battle with Cynthia had been just a handful of days prior, and they were spending the vast majority of their time together. July and Axel were still in Sinnoh watching Valor, Xavier had returned to the league but had taken a handful of days off to visit a friend in Kanto, and Zandra was still searching for the ever-elusive Serena. Apparently, Xavier had spotted the girl but lost her by the time Zandra and Lance had arrived on scene to find the brown-haired elite and their target of interest.
It wasn't clear to the elites why Ash needed to speak with Serena so much, but that would be revealed soon.
In any event, May and Ash were getting along nicely, spending a vast majority of their time together as he prepared for his upcoming battle. She was introduced to all of his Pokémon, who he told that she was in on his secret. A lot of time was spent on his deck, simply snuggling into one another's sides. A decent chunk of time was spent looking around ALT City and other shops in the area. And of course, a good deal of time was spent in the bedroom with the doors locked to uphold privacy for… certain activities.
They were growing closer by the second, Ash's confession to May being a springboard for their relationship. They finally had a shot to be Ash and May rather than Ghost and May… a true relationship. Of course, it was difficult for May to call her boyfriend Ghost in public now as she knew the truth about the Alola Champion. She'd desperately try to catch herself from slipping up in public, which was far more difficult than it sounded. Outside of that though, things were going smoothly for the two, which was a nice bright spot. Having a significant other by your side really made the journey more entertaining, Ash learned.
But as for Xavier's significant other, Malva was still MIA. She'd yet to turn up despite Xavier's rescue occurring weeks prior. Ash had a sneaking suspicion that the travel to see a friend in Kanto was more than what it seemed, but he doubted Malva would leave without any trace to leave for Kanto of all places. On top of that, he trusted Xavier to keep it real with him, especially after everything they went through to get him back. Still though, the radio silence, even from a person he considered his enemy, was nerve-wracking.
Finally though, the last bit of news came from the traitors. It seemed as though Ash's ploy was working nicely. Zandra had reported the traitors stocking up heavily on items, as though they were preparing for something. Ash had to chuckle at this, knowing they'd react in a way similar to the way they were acting now. The group seemed scared, frightened and always looking over their shoulders when in public. They were frantically whispering amongst themselves in a group, terrified of the man who seemed to know their secret.
Ash would gleefully enjoy a highlight reel or two of that if he had the time, but unfortunately, he did not. Stunningly, the semi-finals of the tournament came down to himself facing off against Max, but he didn't expect Gary and Trip to be facing off against one another for the chance to go to the championship match. The night after Ash defeated Cynthia, Paul and Gary had come over to celebrate the victories for the two while May caught up with her parents. There was plenty of whooping and cheers as the friends hung out, simply enjoying one another's company. Ash hadn't realized Gary was such a powerful trainer, but Paul seemed to be aiming to upend Gary as the better trainer in due time. Ash had commanded both of them to move to Alola, joking thoroughly.
Instead, Gary had revealed that he himself was planning to move to Alola full-time for training in preparation of winning a tournament. Paul had laughed at that and said that he himself was with Gary as well, both intending to move in with one another on one of the islands to further train. Ash couldn't have been more thrilled with this, knowing two of his best buddies were intending to move nearby. There would be plenty of cookouts and plenty of battles to keep all the trainers sharp.
For now though, those thoughts were put on hold as Ash had turned his attention temporarily to another issue; Aether Paradise. See, Ash hadn't forgotten that the mission to retrieve Xavier had nearly been a bust due to what appeared to be a mole in the system. Ash knew how badly this could be, and decided to make a pitstop to the place before he returned back to the league for a very important meeting.
It was no secret Ghost was commonly seen at Aether Paradise, and the receptionist merely waved him in once he was through the front door. A handful of minutes and some decent walking later and Ash found himself outside Lusamine's room. He was always in a slight deal of awe at the pure-white room, but strangely didn't find himself in awe this go-around. Why though, he was unsure.
*Knock Knock Knock*
"Busy." A feminine voice came from the other side of the door.
"Ghost reporting." Ash spoke gruffly.
A moment passed in silence before the door swung open to reveal Lusamine, who appeared as though she was in a rush of some sort. "Bad time?" Ash said with an eyebrow raised.
"Kind of. Energy ratings in the area have been acting up, and we're worried that this correlates to a potential Ultra Beast sighting." The blonde woman sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose irritably.
Ash's eyes narrowed at this, not liking the news in the slightest. "How bad is it? We haven't had a sighting since the tournament started. It's not normal, we usually have at least one a month."
"Indeed." She looked at him expectantly. "You know… maybe it's a good thing you're here right now after all."
The man looked to the side while holding eye contact, as if asking to elaborate. Lusamine got the message. "Look, think of it like this, the region where Ultra Beast's reside is a volcano. Every time they breach, it could be the equivalent of the volcano erupting. Assume that—" She stopped when she noticed Ash grimacing. Her hand flew to her mouth in an instant. "O-Oh! I'm so sorry, that was rude… beyond rude!"
The champion shook his head. "It's fine… continue."
The woman nodded, a bit red in the cheeks. "O-Of course… what I was saying is, because we haven't seen an ultra beast in so long, do you think it's a fair bet to say that the next Ultra Beast sighting we'll see will be a massive one? Since, after all, it's like we're building up to something massive?"
Ash nodded slowly, the logic making sense to him.
"Come with me. There's something you need to see." Lusamine instructed Ash to follow her, which he did. A few minutes of aimless walking through rooms filled with technology and some with Pokémon brought them to a room that was filled chock-full of computers. Though it looked as though the systems in operation would need at least a dozen people, Lusamine and Ash were the only two in the room at that present moment.
Lusamine bent down over a panel and began typing rapidly as the leader of the Alola region watched curiously. Seconds turned into minutes as Ash awaited Lusamine's obviously dire report. Finally, after what seemed like forever, Lusamine pressed a button with authority and a chart appeared. Ash's eyes narrowed as he took in the readings and visuals that appeared in a rush.
"Wait… what are these readings? We've never seen readings of this magnitude before, not even in theory."
Lusamine nodded. "Precisely why I fear that something is wrong. This has never happened before, not before you were champion, and not during your tenure as well. This is an event that could potentially overwhelm our countermeasures."
Ash shook his head before sitting down, fingers rubbing his temples irritably. "No no, it's more than just that."
The blonde woman frowned. "What do you mean?"
Silence for a moment from the champion before he spoke again. "Look. We've faced the best their dimension has brought us thus far and we've come out on top. We know this for a fact. Now, look at that reading. What looks out of the ordinary?"
Lusamine stared at the screen blankly. "Outside the massive, massive energy reading that could be enough to vaporize the region and the world as we know it?"
No reaction came from Ash outside of his words that he spoke. "Look at the energy readings by number."
"…one? So?"
"We've already faced off against the most powerful being. We know that these beings radiate abrupt spikes of energy rather that this type of consistent droning. This is even more out of the ordinary than ultra beasts themselves."
Lusamine shook her head and sat down on a swivel chair next to Ash. She pondered his words for a few moments, trying to take in the insight that Ash was dealing out. "A-Are you trying to tell me that the reading itself isn't an ultra beast?"
"Maybe. But we know it's a singular reading. We know that it could be anywhere, and that the reading itself may already originate from this world."
"Excuse me?"
Ash continued as though he hadn't heard her. "Wait wait, that is out of the ordinary. The reading may be from our world and not theirs. Look at the heat signature, it looks far more severe than we've—" The words died in his throat as a thought struck him like a ton of bricks.
'It can't be… No… It can't be…' Ash connected the dots little by little and realized what a horrible situation that the league was in if his suspicions were confirmed. A few moments passed with nothing but silence accompanying the two powerful icons of the Alola region. Lusamine suspected Ash had something to say but wasn't rushing him to reveal what he knew until he was prepared. A handful of seconds later, Ash spoke.
"The Rainbow Yzerlock."
Silence. "What do you mean? What about it?"
Ash sighed and rubbed his temples. "This is going to be a bit of a shocker for you, but I'll break it down for you. I know you explained it before somewhat, but allow me to explain again. The Rainbow Yzerlock is a device that was hidden away for generations. It's foretold that this device prevented a great war and humanities extinction. The war, despite popular thought, was not between People and Ultra Beasts. It was between the Ultra Beasts and Pokémon. This war had many casualties, far too many casualties. Humans, who were allied with both Humans and Pokémon at one point in time, were forced to choose a side. After some time, an event shifted human's loyalties from neutral to those of the Pokémon. With the help of Descendants of Delveon, the Ultra Beasts were banished to their realm, where they lay in wait even to this day."
Lusamine's jaw had become dislodged at this news. Ash wasn't done though.
"If the Yzerlock could be found, controlled and fall into the wrong hands, the Yzerlock's controller could effectively enslave not only the ultra beasts, but the entire world as well. It was truly become Armageddon."
Lusamine spoke. "I seem to recall telling you a story like this not long ago… why are you telling me this now?"
"Because, I've been tracking the device's whereabouts for some time. I have authentic reason to believe that Team Flare may have a major hand in this. The Yzerlock was picked up on their radar years ago, but their prime leads to the device were lost in… unexpected circumstances. Just recently I got word of the device and began my search for the device as well, fearing the worst. Up until just now, I believed it had remained in isolation where nobody could possibly get to this device."
"Up until now?"
Ash pointed at the computer screen and shook his head. "I believed the device was in Lake Valor thanks to concrete information that I would trust any day of the year. In any event, I sent two of my finest to scout the location for any suspicious activity when the information I acquired also seemed to fall into the hands of Flare themselves. A decent amount of days have passed they were inserted in Valor. They didn't find anything out of the ordinary, no gear, no excavation team… it was all normal."
The older woman blinked, obviously not understanding the implications of Ash's words. "How exactly is that a bad thing?"
"The fact that nothing was suspicious is suspicious. For awhile, I just assumed they were making some sort of elaborate plan, but if Flare knew that we have the same information they did, I suspect the mouse would've rushed to the cheese. It's baffled me why they would make such an elaborate plan to get the Yzerlock when they may already have it— long story." Ash noticed Lusamine's look and cut her off swiftly before continuing.
"I'm just considering it now, but maybe Flare did all this to throw me off their trail. If they already had it, it has to be the only reason they'd do it. I just never considered that this was some part of a master plan, and because of that, who knows how much time I cost the league." Ash spoke grimly, realization slamming into him like a sack of bricks.
Silence for a moment or two. Then, Ash stood up abruptly. "I have to go, I need to put the league on high alert. You need to stay here and find the mole."
Lusamine suddenly perked up. "Wait… it… it couldn't be. Do you know if the device is activated yet?"
Ash shook his head. "No, if it was, there would have to be an Ultra beast outbreak awry and the world would already be plunged into Chaos. Why?"
Lusamine held a finger up in the air as if suddenly coming to a realization. She was back on the nearest computer within seconds. She began rapidly typing as though he life depended on it. She spoke with excitement. "Assuming everything you've told me is accurate, I may know if the Yzerlock was discovered."
"How would you do that?"
The blonde spoke, voice laced with eagerness. "Okay, we know there was a security breach here. There likely is still a security breach here. Now, that security breach could've downloaded anything they wanted and likely escaped. But, I'm the only one that can download and distribute freely. We know that if the breach is still here, they're likely still here for a reason." She turned back to her computer and continued typing rapidly.
"If this device is what's caused the surge we're seeing now, there's a good chance the device has always been emitting this particular power."
The man wasn't convinced. "Then why didn't we see it beforehand?"
Lusamine opened and closed her mouth. "Oh yes… that's peculiar." The duo was quiet for a brief second before Lusamine suddenly began nodding rapidly. "Wait… wait of course!" Ash glimpsed at her, waiting for her to reveal her realization.
"You're right, we would have seen this glow no matter what. But, we know this glow isn't an Ultra Beast. Therefore, this has to be the Yzerlock. But, if the Yzerlock is appearing now, then something has to have happened recently that caused the Yzerlock to become visible to these systems. Remember, there's been a dry spell; we've had no Ultra Beast sightings in forever. There's been no need for us to be constantly stalking the computers. Remember, mole may know of this. The time to get the information on the Yzerlock would've been recently, security would've been on low-alert."
Ash suddenly spoke, horror in his voice. "Y-You think that if Flare truly does have the Yzerlock, they got the location of the device… from here?"
"Why not? Doesn't everything add up?"
Ash shook his head. "No… not everything."
Lusamine countered. "How so?"
The raven-haired man was quiet for a moment before speaking again. "Well, for one, you were just talking about an event that would cause the Yzerlock to begin radiating this power. You said it yourself; otherwise we would've found the Yzerlock long ago. What kind of event could you be talking about?"
Silence. "Well, you know more about the Yzerlock than I do. List everything related to Ultra Beasts that has possibly happened as of late. What could possibly be connected to the Yzerlock that would make it activate?"
Ash tried to remember everything he could about the Yzerlock, plunging into the deepest depths of his mind to find the answer they were searching for.
Flashback… Chapter 26… Conveying with Arceus…
"Those who originally hid the device were pure of heart. They didn't want the device to fall into the wrong hands. Thus, they protected it with a failsafe or two. Firstly, as you well know, to hide the device without it falling into the wrong hands, the device was locked in a very secure bag and sent with a runner. There were ten runners total, and none had been told which bag had the device. Supposedly, all were locked with some sort of failsafe, and no runners could tell if they were holding the device. Each runner was told to hide away their bag in a spot nobody could find unless they were truly pure of heart."
"Secondly, the device could only be activated in a spot where Ultra Beasts were able to reign alone, supreme and peacefully. This way, even if one had possession of the device, it would not allow the user to gain immediate control of the Beasts. But, even then, the Humans believed one final security blanket was needed. And thus, they made one last lock; a key of sorts."
"They received word that one of the Pokémon that originated in the rebellion was a mix between Pokémon and Ultra Beast. There was a vast abundance of this Pokémon at the time, and they believed it's heart to be pure enough that it was worthy of unlocking the Yzerlock completely. This Pokémon was also what gave the Yzerlock it's name. It was rather fitting, if I do say so myself."
Ash was frowning, trying to register what the legendary Pokémon said.
"Because of these keys, I knew it was my job to prepare a warrior, a human who must do the impossible task of saving the world… should the need ever arise. This person had to be strong-willed, ambitious in the face of overwhelming adversity, and perhaps most importantly…"
"Able to easily bond with Pokémon."
Ash suddenly blinked as he understood the words Arceus was telling him. "… Me."
Flashback End…
"Well… I remember that there's three things needed in order for the device to be fully activated in our world. First, in order to find the device, one must be pure of heart. Second, the device has to be activated in a particular location that is connected with Ultra Beasts above all else. Finally, the Yzerlock has a failsafe; a key." The raven-haired champion recalled slowly, little by little.
Lusamine nodded carefully. "Alright, what does that have to do with any sort of event that could've given away the Yzerlock's location?"
Ash frowned and tried to summarize aloud. "Well, I'm not sure about the pure-of-heart thing. Maybe they found a way to bypass it? Maybe they tricked someone into finding it and stole it from them? I doubt the good professor found it out of the goodness of his heart. As for step two, it's possible that the bringing of the device here perhaps activated it's power, so maybe that had something to do with the intensity of the power. But… I don't think that's the primary cause of this force… no."
"Then what could it be?"
Ash opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out. Another flashback slammed into him like a tidal wave.
Flashback… Chapter 26… Arceus Conversation
Ash stared up at the legendary Pokémon, who seemed to be wearing an uneasy look on its face. "Delveon was part of the original revolution? The one where her own kind; the Ultra Beasts… slaughtered her friends and family?"
Arceus merely looked at him, and it further continued to fall together for Ash. "That's why you sent her to me, why she trusts humans but has a tougher time with Pokémon; it was the war of Pokémon and Ultra Beasts that eliminated her kind!"
"Oh, and there's more than that. You see, as she is expected to be the last Delveon from this universe, it means she is very, very unique. There was another reason I wanted her to be by your side." The Alola champion awaited the words of the God expectantly.
"I mentioned earlier a key would be needed to unlock the Yzerlock. While part of me was content in strictly keeping the key away from harm, I began to worry that if it was needed and that Ultra Beasts were able to flow into the world non-stop, the Yzerlocks power would have to be reactivated."
Ash blinked. "That means…"
The picture behind Arceus faded away and a clear cut picture of the Yzerlock was seen. Ash analyzed the whole device, looking at every cut, mark and crevice. It truly looked like a golden arm-gauntlet of sorts, one that would snap onto your wrist and leave your hand barren. As Ash continued his inspection of the device, Arceus' monotone cut his thoughts off.
"Look at the top of the device, Chosen one." Ash frowned but did so. He saw a small groove encased in the top of the device, like something round and circular was supposed to be placed there.
Everything clicked in a singular moment for Ash, disbelief coloring his features. "No! It can't be!" Ash stared at Delveon, eyeing the crystal on its head. His eyes then darted back to the crevice on the device. It seemed to be perfect.
"Delveon's rainbow crystal is needed to activate the Rainbow—"
He stopped, realization slamming into him. Arceus nodded. "As I said Chosen One, the device was named after the key; somehow, a Delveon helped the Humans banish the Ultra Beasts and end the war. Fitting, since they were at the very beginning, and fought on until the bitter end. You were selected to be the Chosen One, someone who could defend all the regions until their dying breath and have the trust of my children. With the title of Chosen One, I knew I should bestow upon you the very things you would need to activate or deactivate the Yzerlock in case the worst should happen."
Flashback End…
Ash's breathing suddenly changed from calm and controlled to rapid and faced-paced. Lusamine noticed the change of demeanor. "What? What is it?"
'Wait… that's it.'
"I know what caused the Yzerlock's position to be revealed in it's entirety. It was Delveon's arrival to our world. It makes perfect sense, it's the only event related to Ultra Beasts that's occurred in the past two months. When Delveon arrived, it allowed those pure of heart to find the Yzerlock. That's what Arceus meant when he told me it could be found. He didn't mean who would find it would be pure, he meant the one who was truly pure of heart could find it. When Delveon got here, I could find the Yzerlock."
Lusamine waved her hands like she was swatting flies. "Excuse me? Who said what?"
Ash continued, everything suddenly making so much more sense. "It also makes sense that if the mole was here before that, I wouldn't have known. That was before the mole was exposed. If Delveon, the key, appears in the region the Yzerlock needs to be activated, that would make the glow and energy appear on the computers. Now, the Yzerlock is probably here, in the Alola region. If that's true… all they need to activate the Yzerlock is Delveon."
Lusamine seemed to give up on trying to get Ash's attention and instead went back to typing on her computer. Ash continued his rant for a few more minutes as more thoughts came to him little by little. Eventually though, he looked over for the briefest of seconds and spotted Lusamine completely unaware of his speech.
"W-What are you doing?"
"Like I was saying before, if Aether Paradise was the hotspot of Ultra Beasts and the location of which Team Flare discovered the Yzerlock's location, then it's likely the mole fed them the information. We keep an incredibly detailed report of everything and everything that's searched her at Aether Paradise."
Ash blinked. "Which means…"
"Whoever looked up anything about the Rainbow Yzerlock, we're about to find—"
A cry from the end of the room cut them off. "Use Psybeam!"
In an instant, Ash tackled Lusamine out of the way of a pinkish beam that destroyed multiple computers in the room. Sparks and electricity were launched in all directions from the blast that narrowly avoided the duo on the ground. In a moment, Ash's hands were gripping two pokeballs and the room was alight with the glow of Pokémon.
"Garchomp, Sceptile, on me!"
The duo materialized and let out two respective roars. Ash waited for the smoke to clear and let out a growl when he did. "I should have known."
A young woman was standing there, sporting orange sunglasses and a sexy smirk that would make most innocent young men faint. Her long legs were covered by orange pants and an orange belt held the pants up. What really stood out though, was the blonde hair she was sporting. Lusamine stood up, her jaw ajar. "W-What?"
Star Withers, dressed entirely in Team Flare gear, smirked back at the duo. "Howdy boss. Care to meet my partner Vivillon?"
Ash growled. "You think you can beat me in battle?"
Star pulled down her sunglasses and merely winked at the young champion. Lusamine couldn't contain her shock. "S-Star? You're the traitor?"
The young blonde grinned. "I will be a part of Flare's new world, standing alongside our great leader. I can picture our ultimate rise now… it will be glorious, and all will bow to the might of our great faction."
Ash merely smiled. "And yet, I will have no trouble slaughtering you all."
Star shrugged. "Your power is nothing compared to our great device. You will be helpless as we overtake the world."
'So she wasn't standing there long… good.'
"You won't be here to experience it; Garchomp, Dragon Breath!"
"Hurricane!" Star reacted instantly. The two attacks collided and created a layer of smoke that caked the room in black. Ash didn't waste any time. "Sceptile, hunt! Garchomp, prepare to move!"
Sceptile sprinted through the smoke, trusting it's instincts to find it's target. Garchomp awaited Ash's command of movement as he gripped another pokeball on instinct and chucked it into the air. "Froslass, on me!" The Ice-Ghost type materialized and shrilly cried out. "Froslass, defend Lusamine in case there are more members of flare here! Lusamine, put Aether Paradise on high alert, Star needs to be stopped!"
In a rush, Ash had zoomed out of the room, hot on Sceptile's heels as the chase of a lifetime was about to occur.
Three Hours Later…
"The work you've done is invaluable to us, Ms. Withers. I will make sure you are rewarded for your actions towards our great era."
Star smiled as she spoke into the phone. "Of course, I would hope so."
"You're to receive all the credits we agreed upon immediately, once you can provide us with the bank account number."
Star was quiet for a moment as her eyes took something in. "O-Of course, yes, I will text you the routing number momentarily."
"Excellent. We will be awaiting your arrival in a few short days."
"I'll be there."
The static tone from the other side told Star all she needed to know. She let out a labored breath and allowed her eyes to roam wild. "T-There! I-I did what you asked! I did everything you told me to do!"
The blonde girl, for the first time in her life, was truly terrified. No, she felt as though her soul had left her body. There, surrounding her and watching with mixed looks, was the entire Pokémon league. She'd given them a fabulous chase and had been primed to escape Ghost's Sceptile and Ghost himself. Unfortunately, she'd forgotten a crucial factor; Ghost had recalled Axel Fractera and July Ruftulis to ALT City after their mission to Lake Valor had gone as expected.
She'd been ambushed by the two while attempting to leave the city and had been brought into custody with lightning-fast efficiency. She'd been beyond stunned by the maneuver of the elites and had a suspicion that they'd planned for contingencies such as their own. It hadn't really hit her until she was in captivity; the league was far stronger than she had originally believed. They were beyond powerful, and their leader was truly frightening.
Ghost… a man who defied all odds and seemed invincible. She'd gotten a taste of his battling style, and in a word, it was… well, relentless. As she'd been chased throughout the city, she'd lost not one, not two, not three but all six of her Pokémon to just his Sceptile and Garchomp. Well, more accurately, she'd lost half to Ghost's duo. The rest of the league had defeated her remaining three. It was July who'd made the ending move, legitimately tackling the blonde girl to the turf. Eventually, she'd been brought in and heavily interrogated by Zandra.
For what it had been worth, Star had been completely unfazed by Zandra's forms of interrogation and had remained unbroken by the pink-haired elite. The girl had stormed out in a fury, the doors slamming against the walls with vigor. The flare operative had chuckled to herself, knowing that if Zandra Polisik was the league's best, she'd be perfectly fine until she was rescued. It wouldn't be long before Flare noticed her absence.
The only issue? Ghost came in shortly after, and she found her resistance crumbling within minutes. He knew how to press all her buttons, and before she knew it, she was pleading with him to stop. Meanwhile, for the elites outside, none dared enter the room and attempt to watch as their leader extracted the information he needed. The screams of the Team Flare operative echoed from inside to outside, shaking the building as her cries plagued all who were nearby.
Minutes began to fade together as time passed little by little. Some moments later, the doors opened and Ash strode out, head held low and hat covering his eyes. Blood splattered across his clothes and on his face. The most notable thing, however, was the smirk that was practically dancing across his lips. The reactions from the elites were mixed; Axel's was once of indifference, July's mimicked worry, Zandra looked irate and Xavier looked pleased.
After making contact with Team Flare, the league successfully cleared out a major Team Flare bank account that apparently was funding a great portion of their entire operation in Alola. Unsurprisingly, Flare had tightened up fast and prevented further knowledge to fall into the league's hands. For the time being though, it was the elites that were in charge. This was because Ash had a separate mission to attend to. This mission would be an op that would hopefully give him a small edge over his competition.
Two Days Later… Kalos…
Lumiose City was a bustling affair of liveliness. It was the early evening, a soft orange sky painting a beautiful picture for the onlookers. On the outskirts of the city, a rather standoffish building was bursting with life. This building was a place where journey's began, legends were forged and legacies were created.
This was the Pokémon Lab of one Professor Sycamore.
The aging professor still had dark blue hair, the only difference being the almost unnoticeable greying hairs on the sides. He wore his traditional lab coat as per usual, but unlike most days where he found himself interacting with the Pokémon there at the laboratory, he was standing in his office that overlooked the city. His arms were crossed as he awaited his important upcoming meeting.
He looked out over the vibrant city and it's happy inhabitants. Lumiose City was the crown-jewel of Kalos, a beacon of light and hope for the Pokémon world. But, little by little, he was noticing just how the rest of the world began to catch up. It seemed as though that, despite all the good people in the world, the bad were in heavy preparation to try and overtake what was good and right in the world.
'Sir?' A female voice over his overcom buzzed in.
"Yes, go ahead." He spoke aloud.
'You have a visitor.'
"Send them in, thanks Betty."
Another buzzing sound rang throughout the room before it was nothing more than peaceful silence. He walked to the window and crossed his arms, deep in thought. The timing of the meeting was strange and unexpected to say the least. It had been awhile since he'd talked to—
"Professor?"
Sycamore turned in surprise, not expecting to see a blonde Gym Leader standing there with a look of bewilderment on his face. "Clemont? What are you doing here?"
Clemont looked at the Pokémon professor and laughed. "Hardy-har-har. Very funny Professor. I know it's been a bit since we talked in person but what was up with the distress call on such short notice? Did something short-circuit here that needs immediate attention? Well, doesn't matter, I'm here for it!"
The professor seemed to be in a daze of awe and bewilderment. He was silent for a few moments before chuckling softly and shaking his head. "What are you talking about? What do you mean, distress call?"
"You did send an urgent message to me and told me to get my ass to Kalos in record time, right?"
"Uh… no?" The Professor shook his head slowly.
The two men stared at one another, unsure of what exactly the confusion was that caused such a schedule conflict. It didn't take long for another player to enter the fray. 'Uh… sir?'
"Go ahead."
'There's another person here to see you.'
"Ah good, send them up."
Clemont raised an eyebrow, uncertainty rising. "Expecting someone else?"
Sycamore nodded. "Yeah, was pretty surprised to see you come in actually. Was expecting someone else."
The blonde gym leader spoke slowly. "Who?"
"Hello Professor!"
Clemont's eyes widened; he knew that voice. He turned and saw a gorgeous blonde woman standing there with blue eyes and a cute red miniskirt. "Professor, how are yo—" The words died in her throat when she saw none other than Clemont standing there looking just as gob smacked as she felt. It was horribly embarrassing, the two of them standing there looking like fish out of water.
Sycamore picked up on the tension and decided to wait it out, eyeing up the two carefully while planning his next words. For some seconds that droned on into minutes, nothing was said between the three, as if each person in the room was daring the others to say the first words. As fate would have it, Sycamore spoke first.
"I thought you two were on a consistent basis of speaking?"
Serena never took her eyes off Clemont, who mimicked her in all but tone of voice.
"We're not."
Silence. "Alright…" The Professor spoke slowly. "Serena, it was good to get your message."
"And it was good to get your message as well Professor."
The semi-balding man blinked. "I didn't send a message to you Serena."
"Like you didn't send a message to me?" Clemont sarcastically remarked. The professor opened his mouth and closed it, unsure of what else to say. Fortunately, the next words that were spoken were from the newest party.
"What are you doing here Clemont? Why speak with the Professor right now?" Serena frowned, crossing her arms while staring at him suspiciously.
"What about you?" Clemont fired back. "I haven't heard from you in years. What are the chances we both end up here, with Professor Sycamore at the same time? What's your angle here Serena?"
"I'm just here because the Professor sent me a message to arrive cordially." Serena looked a bit taken aback. "What about you?"
"The Professor told me the same thing." Clemont blinked. As if on instinct the duo looked to Professor Sycamore, who looked just as baffled as the duo. The trio looked to one another as if trying to figure out who was at fault. "Wait, if you didn't contact us, and we know we received contact from someone to come meet with you at the same time, then who could've been the one to organize it all."
A deep voice cut in. "That… would be my doing." The trio whirled to the entrance of the room where a young man wearing a red vest and dark jeans was standing pat. The three reactions were entirely different. Sycamore's was one of utter disbelief having never met the legendary figure that was Ghost. Serena's was one of shock, having not seen Ghost in quite some time now. Clemont, meanwhile, had a pretty good idea of what was about to happen given who he gathered into the same room.
"Who are you? You look… familiar." Sycamore frowned.
The young man bowed slightly. "Forgive me for my lack of decorum. My name is Ghost, I'm the Champion of the Alola region."
Sycamore's eyes bulged. "W-Wha… Champion? Here? You set up a meeting for us? Why? Why us?"
The champion didn't answer that particular question. Instead, he turned to Serena. "Ms. Yvonne. My deepest apologies for not keeping up consistently with you regarding your… favor." The girl stuttered. "O-O-Of course! I-It's no t-trouble!"
Last but not least, the Champion turned to the man who helped build the league and his great city. "Clemont."
"Ghost."
At the same time, Serena and Sycamore spoke. "You two know each other?"
Ghost's eyes never did leave Clemont's. "My head engineer, the man who built the league and ALT City from the ground up. But, more than just that, Clemont's a close friend."
For the first time in quite some minutes, Clemont smiled. "I appreciate that Ghost, especially given your history with friends." Silence for a moment or two. Then, Sycamore sighed aloud and spoke. "Not that I'm complaining meeting a trainer of legendary status, but why the cloak-and-gun to get us all together?"
Ghost wasted no time. "What I'm about to say does not leave this room, nobody can reveal the information I am about to divulge, is that understood?"
Sycamore looked bewildered. "Without any information whatsoever, are you serious?"
Clemont realized now why he had been placed here; Sycamore trusted him and Ash was looking to expand his allies. The blonde gym leader placed a hand on Sycamore's shoulder and looked at him. "Trust me Professor, he knows what he's talking about."
The man looked torn but in the end, he nodded slowly and looked at the champion. "Alright, I agree to this." Ghost turned to Serena, who also nodded.
"Who knows anything about the man named Ash Ketchum?"
The three reactions were different and yet completely unnoticed by the others in the room. Clemont's reaction was entirely indifferent, knowing precisely what Ghost's angle was about to be. Serena's was one of knowing, as far as she knew. Of course, she'd only been told part of the story and was only up to date with certain information. Sycamore, however, appeared to have placed some pieces together.
"Ah… now I see… you wish to know about our connections to Ash. It's such a shame what happened to him, he was a bright spot of this present until the fates took him from us. Why bad things happen to good people, I'll never know." The Professor spoke bitterly.
Ghost wisely remained quiet here, allowing the Professor and Serena to speak.
"It's a question that can never be answered Professor. All I can hope is that Ash is in a better place than the one he left." The gorgeous blonde spoke bitterly.
Clemont said nothing, merely glancing over at Ghost who wore a strange smile on his face. The duo of Sycamore and Serena continued talking for a handful of minutes until they realized Ghost was looking at them intently. The Professor recovered his manners in decent time. "F-Forgive us Mr. Ghost, what is it you wished to know about Ash?"
"Well, it's not what I want to know, it's what I want all of you to know."
The duo looked to one another before Serena spoke. "Alright? What is it? What's so important that you got us three specifically together?"
"Speaking of…" Sycamore spoke curiously. "Clemont. Why are you so quiet? It's strange to not hear you so talkative, especially when we're talking about Ash." Serena now turned to Clemont, a similar look on her face. "True, I know we haven't exactly stayed in contact over these years Clemont, but I know we both value Ash and what he brought." Clemont said nothing, merely eying up the duo. In the corner of his peripheral vision, Clemont spotted Ghost removing his hat and fidgeting with something in his vest pocket.
Neither Serena or Sycamore noticed Ghost and instead focused on Clemont, who still hadn't said anything since figuring out Ash was the point of conversation. After a moment or two of laying into the blonde gym leader, Ghost cleared his throat.
"Pardon."
The trio looked to Ghost, who was no longer wearing his hat and seemed to have something in his hand. "I keep forgetting my manners… please go on, Mr. Ghost?" The balding man apologized yet again.
The young man with bright blue eyes smiled. "I would initially tell you that I'm far too young to be called 'Mr.' anything. I would also tell you Ghost is just fine. But… given the scenario and reason for me calling you all together, I suppose that wouldn't do either." Ghost held up a small device and pressed it. In an instant, Ghost's appearance changed. His light-brown, raven-style of hair and blue eyes morphed. His hair color darkened considerably and his eyes changed from blue to a light auburn.
For a moment or two, nothing was said between the four of them.
It was Serena who realized what had happened first.
She let out a strangled gasp as her hands flew to her mouth, disbelief written all over her beautiful face. "N-No… N-No… It can't be… I-I-It…" The tears began to flow freely as she fell to her knees, hands still covering her mouth as she struggled to process her emotions. Meanwhile, Professor still looked as though he hadn't truly processed what had just happened in front of him. Instead, the champion spoke for them.
"You can call me Ash."
Sycamore's jaw properly unhinged as Serena officially lost the battle with her emotions. She let out a wail as she realized that the man who she'd loved once, the same man who she'd believed had died at the hands of those who could've once called him a friend, was alive. She grabbed his ankles and held on for dear life, as though if she let go reality would snap back and show her the mirage. Sycamore was shaking his head, shivering as though he had seen a dead man walking before his very eyes. How true and ironic that analogy was. Ash's eyes met Clemont's, who merely smiled and nodded his approval, knowing very well that Ash was revealing himself for a good reason.
The sobs of Serena and the labored breaths of Sycamore controlled the tempo of the room as both tried to control their emotions. Within a handful of minutes though, they were both able to speak.
"H-How… How are you alive? I saw you fall…" Serena whispered.
Ash merely smiled. "It was a divine act of Arceus himself that kept me alive. For, obvious reasons, I had to remain in hiding. I had to make everyone believe I was gone." He was quiet for a moment before he placed a hand on her shoulder and smiled. "I know it wasn't your choice Serena. I know you were forced into the betrayal." The girl gave him a teary smile, one that showed pure relief.
"Ash… I… It's great to see you." The Professor spoke, a genuine smile on his face. "I know it wasn't like we kept in constant contact all those years ago, but the entire world felt the ripple of your fate Ash. I… I don't know who's aware that you're alive, but I think I speak for everyone when I say that we're beyond overjoyed that you're alive and well."
Ash gently leaned his head over towards Clemont, who was grinning sheepishly. Serena was stunned. "C-Clemont? You knew?"
"And that, I did." The man admitted sheepishly. "Ash entrusted me with the information that he's kept so close. I truly can't thank him enough for everything he's done. After what happened with Bonnie, I was in such a dark place. I needed guidance and he was there to help me as Ghost. Eventually, he revealed himself to me as well. It was, well, life-changing. I needed a friend in my most desperate hours." Clemont turned to Ash, who nodded approvingly. "I owe him more than I can possibly describe."
Serena looked a bit miffed. "Why couldn't you trust me?"
Ash spoke bitterly. "Because for the longest time, I believed you truly did backstab me that fateful day."
Sycamore cut in. "Excuse me? What's all this talk about betrayal and backstabbing? Where is this coming from?"
"Professor, you may want to sit down. Serena, it's time you knew all the details too." Ash spoke again, not sounding overly optimistic.
Time Skip, An Hour Later...
The entire room could feel the tension in the room, thick enough that it could be carved with a knife. Sycamore was in disbelief while Serena too looked like she was hit by a semi-truck. "I… I can't believe it. I always knew Samuel was a man who craved and lusted for power but, to dominate the entire world?"
Serena mumbled. "You-You went through so much to get here Ash. I don't even know what to say."
"I do."
The group turned to Clemont, who had spoken freely for the first time in seemingly forever. "You brought us all here for a reason, and my guess is that it's got something to do with everything you just revealed. So, let's hear it. What's the deal?"
The trio looked to Ash, now revealed and back to his standard attire. "You're correct. All three of you have certain tasks."
"Professor, I need you to tell the Professor's everything I just told you, and only the professor's that's it. Can you do that?" Ash spoke calmly.
"Of course. Of course I can!" Professor Sycamore nodded, suddenly filled with newfound confidence. Ash nodded. "Excellent. I'll relay the complete plans here once I explain everything else. Clemont, can you take over security protocols across every camera in ALT City as well as Lumiose City?"
Clemont frowned. "I can, what are you thinking?"
"Well, I think that there may be a connection between Lumiose and ALT City. I just haven't found it yet, but if there's anyone who could that's not a member of the league, it's you. Do you think you could devote your time to find out any and every pattern?"
Clemont nodded. "Absolutely. Consider it done."
Ash turned to Serena last. "I think the toughest job is for you Serena, do you think you can do it?"
The blonde grinned, eyes still semi-red from crying. "Name it."
Two Days Later…
"We're dead. So, So very dead." Max was pacing the room in a blind panic.
"How on earth could he have found out?!"
"Serena said he contacted her too, he's coming for all of us!"
The traitors were scrambling both physically and mentally. It was a day of reckoning. Somehow, someway, Ghost had given them a wakeup call.
A Handful of Hours Prior...
Max Maple was sitting in his hotel room relaxing, knowing he was living the life of a true champion. He was in the final four of a legendary competition. He had a girlfriend that made boys swoon. He had proven he was a powerful trainer. Now, all he had to do was crush two puny trainers who stood in his path and he'd effectively become a legend amongst legends. There was nothing that could stop him now.
Abruptly though, the lights in the room cut off. "Hm?" The young boy muttered in bewilderment. "A power outage? Now?"
A voice swept through the room. "Not exactly."
Chills were instantly launched down his spine. Max whirled around, panic surging through him like a tidal wave. "Y-You!? Again!? What do you want!?"
Silence. Then, grim words. "Your time wears thin Maple. You're going to fall sooner than you think."
Max yelled to the seemingly empty room. "That's what you think. You may have gotten the best of me once, it's not going to happen again! Just try to stop me!"
A humorless chuckle echoed throughout the room. "You believe you will become champion? You believe you have a chance to overtake my throne?"
"I know I do. You should know your days are numbered Ghost, I'm coming for you and your league." Max spoke arrogantly, a smirk coming over his face for the first time in their conversation. Another chuckle from the champion. "Funny, I would say the same to you regarding your little posse."
Footsteps were heard clattering slowly somewhere in the room. "Let's talk about the champion role. I hate to break this to you, but not really; winning this tournament will not give you instant champion status or nothing of the sort." Max doubled-back in disbelief.
"W-What?"
"You actually believe that you'd just become a champion simply by winning in a tournament? What an idiot you are. It's actually a bit remarkable how someone so ridiculously inept can make it so far in a tournament." Ghost taunted with a bit of glee.
"That's a lie, you're making it all up!"
Another snark from Ghost turned into one of seriousness. "Well, even if I was, it's not like it matters. First, you're not going to beat me in battle. I'm going to bury you so badly it will take years to find your body. Your Pokémon will not be far behind you; I find it amusing that you believe you have a chance to win. Second, you won't become champion even if by some grace of Arceus itself you win this tournament, as it's not how the league works. How unfortunate." He walked slowly around the room, allowing the suspension to ramp up.
Max couldn't tell where Ghost was based on his movement, but it didn't take him long to hear the words next to his ear. "Last but not least, let's not forget the past."
The young man jumped a few inches in the air, startled to say the least. He turned to the noise, but nobody was there. "Past?" Max questioned. "What past?"
Ghost uttered two words. "Ash, Ketchum."
Max Maple merely growled at this statement. When he spoke aloud, it came out far more tentative than he intended for it to be. "W-Wha… What d-do you mean?"
Nothing was spoken for a moment. Then, more footsteps were heard, followed by words spoken with malice.
"I know you killed him. I've told you this before. Did you think I was bluffing? I told you everything you needed to know." The ominous voice spoke.
Max found his footing. "But you haven't turned me in. You haven't turned in any of my friends. This can only mean one thing; You have no proof of it. The courts won't listen to anyone without some kind of evidence, and even you know it!" A laugh escaped Ghost's lips from the corner of the room. The say the situation was dark and eerie was a drastic understatement. The laughter continued for a handful of minutes before Ghost spoke, darkness coloring his tone. "You believe I would be doing all this without any proof?" Max said nothing, sweat beginning to bead down his forehead slowly.
This time though, Max knew where Ghost was speaking from. Granted, the Alola Champion had finally emerged from a dark corner of the room. "Kalos. Volcano. Betrayal. You had the nerve to call him a friend only to push him to his demise without a second thought. You, along with his other friends, murdered Ash Ketchum." The champion took a step closer to the boy, who looked visibly intimidated. Ghost spoke slowly, putting emphasis on each and every word. "Remember those words I told you? I. Was. There." More footsteps slowed pattered around Max, who could feel an eerie sensation gnawing at his senses.
"I want to know… why."
He had tried this approach before. It hadn't worked then, and the intimidation didn't seem to work now. Max gripped a pokeball, prepared for battle. "I don't know what the hell you're talking about you bastard. Get the hell out of my room."
Ghost said nothing for a moment or two before eventually breaking the silence. "It seems you've made your decision… very well. Mr. Maple, since it seems as though you won't be cooperating, I'll let you in on something; my entire league is aware of your actions against Ash Ketchum. Your entire group will be tried, you will be found guilty, and you will be thrown in jail for the rest of your lives."
Ghost took two steps closer, his red vest coming somewhat into view. "I will allow you one final battle; your battle against myself. I am here to tell you that, no matter what happens, victory or defeat, I will be arresting you for your actions. You will not be able to win the tournament no matter what becomes of our battle." Max's breathing began to get rapid as panic set in slowly.
"N-No… that's a lie! You can't issue direct arrests!"
A laugh escaped Ghost's lips. "And yet, I got Damien Dark arrested immediately after my battle with him. He's been tried, he's been found guilty of Pokémon abuse, and he's going to spend the rest of his days rotting behind bars." Max appeared to be paralyzed in fear, not moving as Ghost slowly approached him. Speaking directly in his ear, Ghost whispered.
"Imagine what I'm going to do with you and your worthless posse when you get convicted of first degree murder."
Max couldn't help but shudder. "I'm going to give you the offer I'm going to give your friends; the same one I gave you before: confess to the murder of Ash Ketchum, and I myself will lighten how hard I will push you in the courts. Should you choose not to confess, I will humiliate you all one by one in the courtrooms, but not before messing up your lives as best as I possibly can."
Ghost turned and walked to the room's balcony. He turned back to Max, who was still frozen in place, pokeball in hand. "You have until the day before our battle to decide, at midnight." He took three steps towards the railing and spoke again. "Oh yes… don't worry about telling your friends… they're about to find out the same as you."
Max watched in abstract horror as Ghost leapt off the edge of the ledge and into the night sky, as though a mass-murder had escaped into the darkness to continue his reign of terror. Max dimly felt a trickling liquid spilling down his left pant leg; he was too engrossed in realizing the horrific truth.
Ghost, his nemesis, thorn in his side, and most feared trainer in the world, knew his darkest secret. The realization slammed into Max.
Ghost was coming for them.
AN: Andddd that's it folks! Hope you enjoyed the chapter! My apologies again for getting it out much later than I had hoped to get it out, but it developed nicely. If you enjoyed the chapter, please make sure to follow and favorite the story as we push closer and closer to 1,000 followers and favorites.
I'd like to thank LeafGreene01 for catching a crucial detail I forgot about going back to chapter 23. I don't generally miss a lot of plot-line details, but it was one I completely whiffed on, and I appreciate the review that reminded me of my gaffe.
Andddd as it rains it pours; one of my most faithful readers Temporal King caught another huge mistake of mine in this chapter. Guess I'm getting sloppy. Thank you everyone who's been sending me housekeeping notes; you're all contributing to this story and I seriously appreciate all the love and support!
Speaking of, this chapter had a lot more housekeeping than I thought it would, but hey, I guess it's not always a bad thing. Now, Max is very much aware that Ghost is on his trail, and Ghost has given him an offer. Max needs to decide; call Ghost's bluff or accept his offer. Which will he decide? You'll have to keep reading to find out.
Thanks so much again for waiting everyone, I appreciate all the love and support that's come my way, and sorry again for taking awhile to respond to PM's and reviews as well. Hopefully I can get back on track, but I'll have to take it day by day. Thanks everyone, till the next one!
LegionZ