Author's notes: My apologies for such a long hiatus, but enjoy nonetheless.


Those Who Witnessed

The sound of an explosion fills the sky, soon taken over by a loud roar amidst the distance. Lacea's ears prick up as she listens to the noises and screams. Without warning she charges off ahead at a fast pace, making Marcel, Tara and Román run after her as fast as they could.

"Lacea! Wait!" Lacea, though listening to Marcel, continues regardless in hope the humans could catch up. A slight shock wave travels through the ground towards them, only enough to tell them something definitely has happened. But then another shock wave happens after another explosion much stronger than the last, one that moves the ground slightly underneath them.

"What the hell was that!" Tara shouted before they quickly follow Lacea, now barking 'Deo' as if she has just been threatened. "Lacea calm down!" Tara watches as Marcel tries to calm her, holding his hand out to try and pet her.

"Labrude!" She wildly barked before growling at him, glaring with anger causing Marcel to back down, and then submitting with a whining after realising who she just turned on.

"Lacea! Are you, okay now." Marcel was still quite jumpy after the sudden intention for an attack, but now knows something terrible is going on after her sudden reaction to him. Before he could pet her though, she runs off again in the direction of the unknown noises she now hears, making them follow her once more. After a few minutes, they come across a scene of carnage and destruction; a blazing fire and a crashed aircraft within. Marcel charges towards the flames against Román's better judgement, and sees that someone is trapped inside a destroyed part of an aircraft that may explode at any moment. With blood oozing from the head injury and an arm twisted backwards out of socket, a bag is thrown out from the gap under the mangled metal of the plane into Marcel's arms.

"Please! Find, them!" The loud hissing that occurs before flame envelopes the remaining part of the aircraft, quickly ceases into an exploding fireball that only just misses Román when he dives to keep Marcel down and out of range. Tara thoroughly scrunches over Lacea to protect her; turning her back against the embers and smoke that surround them, but then the Labrudeo's ears prick up before she looks out across the ocean. Her barks soon inform those with her, that something is out there.

"Everyone! Split up! We must find whoever is still alive!" Marcel ordered. "I'll head along the cliffs! Tara! You can take the Oriage Woods! And Román! You have the ocean! Take Lacea too!"

"Right!" Tara and Román reply in unison, before they all throw their pokéballs.

"Adiemus go!"

"Jasenria I have need of you!"

"Let's go Coreonus!" They each shout at the same time before their pokémon manifest into the open from a ray of light. "We'll meet back here once we find them!"

"Right!" They each then go their separate ways in hope they will find the survivors from the crash, or so they would like to believe. Marcel refused to let the man who died down if he was sure that the them he referred to, are still alive somewhere. With the bag thrown at him just when the hissing began, he had told himself that he must return it to its rightful owner.


The only thing Ash could remember just when the plane got hit, was the fact that Pikachu had been in his bag ever since the dragon-type pokémon had been fighting. Free falling, he thought his end was imminent as the trees below him got closer. What exactly had been the cause of the fighting between the two dragon-type pokémon he never even knew existed? Will Pikachu survive the plummet? Why would their battle cause Pikachu to act the way he did? These frequently asked questions kept the thought of a dying fall at bay. Then the loud roar brought him back to the fearful recognition that he may die this time.

"Noivern!" The recognisable cry of Ash's Noivern gives him the hope he needs, as he sees him diving down to his rescue. The catch he makes is skilfully achieved, but then the trees become too near. Noivern does the only loyal thing he can; turn himself to take the full force of the collision to protect his trainer. Hatched from an egg Ash had imprinted on him right from the start, so in his mind he is doing the right thing of protecting his father. It had been very hard to avoid colliding with the trees; the adrenalin rushing through them until they both fall to the ground in this unknown region.

"Oof!" Ash grunted upon the collision, before crash rolling along the forest floor unable to stop himself from slipping down a deep verge. He cares not in the slightest with the pain, when he forces himself to stand.

Finally the branch gives way and Noivern free falls to the forest floor. "Vern!" He had cried upon crashing on his front; his upper left arm-wing broken; his right shoulder dislocated, and the effusing blood from the flesh wounds as clear as day. The painful cries start soon after from Noivern's direction, causing Ash to climb up to his pokémon's aid.

"Noivern!" He worriedly shouted after a gasp, but stumbles down again due to the damage he has sustained to most of his side. "Ah!" He holds his injury and screams in pain, hoping it will subside so he could reach his Noivern. Then the ground moves slightly underneath him; Noivern suddenly cowering with his good arm-wing wrapped around him at the front.

"Noi, noi!" Noivern started crying in a repetitive manner, for as long as it will take for Ash to reach him.

Ash's attempts continue much to the agony he feels, and a distant explosion until finally he reaches the edge where he struggles to hold on, only staying put until the pain subsides. A short moment later, a snake pokémon he has never seen before quickly heads to his pokémon, where his first intention was to stop it harming Noivern at all cost. "Stay away from him!" He loses his hold when the dry roots snap from below him, causing him to gasp with his arms in the air. Within seconds his left arm is grabbed in a monkey grip by a girl about his age looking down in assurance that he is safe in her hands.

"I've got you!" Tara's voice quickly eases his worries before he is helped over the edge, Ash using his good arm that is not in her grip.

"Let me, go! I must tend to, Noivern!"

"Really! You force yourself and disregard my appearance!" Ash continues much to Tara's dismay, but suddenly stumbles into her arms. "God! Just, lean on me! Please! I'll take you to him!" Noivern was still in agony; now with tears rolling down his cheeks and a howling of pain. Despite the fear he had felt not long back, a countenance of depression is all he gives knowing that he may never fly again. When Ash finally reaches his pokémon he instantly hugs him with thanks for saving his life.

"Thank you Noivern! I owe you one, big time!"

"Noi-vern." He wanted to hug his trainer, but the pain was just too great for him to even move. Though rubbing his head against him gave them both a much needed comfort that instantly soothed. Tara quickly searches through her bag for anything that may help them both out, like bandages and a healing paste for example. Once finding the necessary items, Tara quickly tends to Ash's Noivern. She is the only one out of her friends who carries healing remedies and bandages, and is always shopping for necessary supplies to treat all manner of injury when she can.

"Is he, friendly?" Ash knew the question was directed at him, and assures his Noivern that she means no harm.

"Noivern, trust her. She means no harm, to either of us." Tara is given the all clear and trusting stance from the new pokémon, ensuring her that he will accept any way to ease the pain.

"I apologise as this will hurt my friend." Noivern instantly goes into a submissive state, to make things easier for the new human he trusts as Ash painfully rests on the nearest tree stump. "Adiemus!"

"Adera!" The Aderalite slivers over when he is called.

"Check the stranger for any damage please. I'll be with him in a moment." Adiemus complies before heading to Ash.

"Adera-ader." Ash lifts his top with his good arm where he feels the most pain, so Aderalite begins using his tail like a feeling stick on all of the human's side. There he could see a dark bruising forming, unsure what to do about it and a major agony at the boy's ribs.

Noivern wails in pain when Tara pushes his shoulder back into place, stomping his foot on the ground. She checks his broken arm and sets it back with a thorough twist, which indeed makes his roar sound out and the tears flow again. All the time Tara feels guilty in causing more agony, but concludes the aid with the bandage tying and the healing paste on the wounds. A slow lick on her cheek from the pokémon and a purr of thanks meant her aid came through. She then heads to Ash, where Adiemus shows her where most of the trainer's pain came from; poking the bruising and area of pain with his tail much to the boy's painful annoyance. Tara rubs the paste on his flesh wounds.

"Can you breathe?" Ash nods in agreement. "Breathe deeply and slowly, for your ribs may need pushing back into place." Tara informed. Though the pain was completely excruciating, Ash's ribs soon push back into their right position, where Tara tightens bandages across his chest and ribs to secure their new position. Ash knows a full hospital check up at the nearest Pokémon Centre is in order, but he has no idea where he is. He turns his gaze to the girl.

"Thanks a lot, for your help! What's your name?"

"Tara!" She helps Ash to his feet. "And you are?"

"The name's Ash Ketchum, from Pallet Town."

"I've heard you are meeting with Professor Aspen at Sacriotu Airport."

"You know about that!?" Ash was surprised as he is walked to his pokémon. With a loving cuddle between them, Ash carefully reaches for Noivern's pokéball. "Are you okay to return to your pokéball Noivern?" Noivern nods in agreement, before tapping with his nose on the button and disappearing back inside.

"Adiemus!" She holds out her arm so the Aderalite can hold on for the journey back."You did great! If it wasn't for you, I may not have found these two."

"Aderalite!" He rubs his head with his trainer's happily.

"Come! I must get you back to the meeting point." Tara concluded,

before she walks back with her bag on her shoulders to the location of the crash sight.


Misty blacks out the moment the aircraft is hit by the unknown attack, with no recollection of what is happening right now and the wound on her head bleeding profusely. She plummets with her bags down towards the sea a small distance from any coastal land, disappearing under the ocean just as her Gyarados dives in to save her. Swimming in her direction he wraps his body gently round her limp state before taking her back to the surface. That is when he hears the loud roar in the distance. Many senses overwhelm him, confusing him to a major extent where he is unsure on how safe the region may be, what creatures live in the sea. He stays there unmoving afloat on the raging sea, unsure why there is a fire on land.

Floating on the current he tries to wake Misty held in his embrace by nudging his head with hers, but then notices a ray of silver light that seems to strike something behind the cliffs. The woeful fear he feels within moments after the attack, causes him to cry persistently as if he is calling for those of his kind. These calls continue for almost four minutes, until he sees a faint fireball on land just occur. The little light that entered his eyes and the second he had to spot movement, his instant loud roar is soon aimed in the direction of the land.

Lacea is adamant that she had heard a distressing roar out in the ocean just after the explosion, impatiently waiting for the human to tie a rope round her, Jasenria and himself. When at last he had things secure, she quickly charged into the sea caring not in the slightest how much she is pulling.

"Lacea! Whoa! Don't forget we're tied to you!" The simple reply he gets is a few barks, before he ends up swimming in rapid strokes as best he could in time with Croagard. Lacea would not slow down for she knows there are possible lives at stake, but then the storm nears as soon as they reach the deeper ocean. Lacea has the stamina and strength to swim through rough waters as does Jasenria, but Román starts to tire. Gyarados seems to notice that three figures are coming towards him. Unsure what they are he readies himself to attack, opening his mouth and building up power. All three see a light coming at them from a distance, and Román seems to recognise what attack has just been unleashed.

"Guys look out! That's a Hyper Beam!" Lacea quickly swims to evade the attack, then becomes irked at whatever tried to attack them.

"Labrude!" She growls upon nearing the large pokémon, hoping it may have done something. Her reply is a loud roar from the serpent, making her ready herself for an attack as Jasenria hides.

"Lacea you can't! He has been raised very well!" He takes out his pokédex and uses it to record the pokémon he sees.

"Gyarados, the Atrocious Pokémon! With its vicious temperament, it is wise to keep clear at all cost for its Hyper Beam can destroy anything it hits. Its jaws are known to crush rock and its scales are harder than steel. It is a Water/Flying type." The voice from the machine stated, but Gyarados started readying another attack just as both Román and Lacea notice a girl he was holding with his tail.

"Uh! Hydro Pump! Gyarados, stop! We're here to help you!" Labrudeo swims away to evade the attack as both Román and Jasenria dive under the sea. They return to the surface just as Lacea readies herself to attack. "Lacea no! Bite will do nothing! He is too strong here!" Then the storm suddenly bears its rage upon them and Gyarados unintentionally loses Misty from his grasp when the tidal waters take her under as strong winds buffet the pokémon. Roaring with anger he dives underwater hoping he will find her again.

Jasenria rapidly dives and leads both her trainer and the Labrudeo to where Misty had been sinking, quickly grabbing her as Lacea swims underneath to stop her sinking further. After Román had a hold of her too they all work together to bring her back to the surface, but Gyarados is stressed that Misty could not be found, and was too frightened to continue when he surfaces against his will. Breaking the waters of the ocean, he soon sees that the strangers have her safely in their grasp, giving him the remedy of calmness he needed.

"Gyarados come on! Storms here are devastating!" He knew the pokémon was too stressed to stay underwater, and knows it is not native to his region. "Follow us to the shore!" Gyarados is calmer than he has been since the strangers first appeared. Unsure where he is and why the storm had been so sudden, he could only trust the human and strange new pokémon to keep his Misty safe. But even so, they struggled with the buffeting winds and never seemed to near the land at all. Instantly he knows that there are lives now in danger of loss, and against his better judgement out of instinct carries Misty, Román and the Labrudeo between his head and crest in the direction of the land. Croagard simply speeds on beside him keeping her pace.

Though the land nears, Román understands that they are way off course from his previous set out point, but the good news is that the storm will not hit the coastline making travel even more dangerous than out in the ocean if it did.

"Phew! Thanks for the lift Gyarados!" Román thanked before carefully carrying the girl to the ground and checking for vital signs as Jasenria appears to try and help. He fears the worst when the girl has no breathing, instantly going into mouth to mouth resuscitation. "Come on! Breathe!" Pumping her lower breast he tries forcing the sea water out; Gyarados starting to rage thinking he has not done enough and Lacea getting worried before barking continuously at Gyarados under threat. Croagard uses her water gun, but that just makes things worse when Gyarados goes to swipe at her with his tail.

"Croa!" She hides behind her trainer in fright.

"Lab! Lab! Lab!" Román having heard enough, bellows at the top of his lungs to silence them.

"QUIET!" This was all he needed for the girl to suddenly recover, coughing and spluttering. Román turns her head to make it easier for the cold salty water to leave her lungs and breathing canals, and for both Gyarados and Labrudeo to finally calm down.

"Uh! What happened?" She tiredly questioned, weak from the accident. She tries to rise up from the sand, but then the pain on her head starts where Román gently pushes her back down. "Ow! My head."

"Not yet!" He pauses before checking her temperature, being careful with the wound on her head. "You have been in a plane accident." Gyarados lowers down his head in a loving manner, rubbing and breathing against the head of his trainer Misty but he seems to have a trickle of a tear beneath the rage he still feels deep down inside.

"Hey, Gyarados." Misty greeted him carefully and quietly, holding his head between her hands. She is soon lovingly licked and the wound casually cleaned before Román ties a bandage round her injury. "Thank you all."

"Are you nauseous? Dizzy?"

"No."

"I'll help you to stand." Román carefully brings Misty back to her feet, helping her to balance with his weight, though she turns her attention to Gyarados watching curiously in hope she was fine.

"How long has Gyarados been out?" Her question was directed at the stranger.

"Ever since we found you in the ocean, maybe before. Is he yours?"

"Yes!"

"Then I can only assume that he is the one who caught or found you when you fell from the plane."

"I don't remember anything."

"You don't? Hmm!" Román pauses in thought. "You must have been unconscious ever since the explosion, or you blacked out."

"Explosion!?" She is quickly worried. "What about Ash, Brock and the others.

"I cannot say for certain that they survived the crash or not. The two pilots though, didn't make it." He soon remembers what he agreed with his friends, to meet back at the crash sight. "But right now, we need to get back to the crash sight."

"Why?"

"My friends Tara and Marcel should be there waiting for me to return with you." He starts to walk forward with Misty and Lacea, Gyarados following them in the ocean.

"How did you know there was a crash?" Román coaxes Jasenria to his shoulder, and she rides there joyfully as they continue.

"Thanks for your help Jasenria." His pokémon We heard a quaint sound of an explosion while walking through the Oriage Woods. Lacea here then starts acting weird after we all felt a shock wave through the land underneath us. She lead us to the coast where a plane was aflame. That's why we know there had been a crash."

"Shock wave?"

"That's right. It was a tad strong underneath us, and straight after that Lacea turned wild." He then looks at Misty's Gyarados. "Your Gyarados had also acted strangely, with the fear he had for the ocean at the time we arrived and found you both."

"But. Gyarados doesn't fear the ocean. He never has."

"It was more for you I think, but nonetheless he had still been frightened of the ocean. Refusing to stay under for the length of time he may be used to back at home."

"Hmm!" Misty seemed a little worried, remembering her past fears with Gyarados and then at the time the three team rocket sidekicks were battling him. She still feared Gyarados at the time, but the moment she went to protect him, had been sent into unconsciousness by a tackle attack. This caused Gyarados to rage and win the battle, where he also gained Misty's trust and friendship. He has been loyal to her ever since. "Return Gyarados. Thank you for everything." Gyarados willingly abides and goes back into his pokéball without any hassle after Misty hugs him, kissing him on his nose. "Which way do we need to go?" Misty finally asked.

"We'll have to head up the cliffs before we get to the edge of the woods. You don't mind a climb do you?"

"The amount of time I've been walking lately, a climb is nothing."

"Okay. I'll stay with you so you don't get lost."

"Alright." They all head back to the cliffs ready for the climb back to the plane crash.


Brock never thought the explosion would happen so fast. Unable to reach either Ash or Misty even if he skydived to them, for they were just too far at this time. What became of the two pilots he did not know, for the fireball continues towards the land a few thousand feet from where they had been hit. He tries to control his descent so he could land in the sea, but the stray part of the aircraft came careering in his direction. Thinking this would be his last time alive, he braces himself for the impact. That is when his pokémon Steelix suddenly appears around him, caressing him with a steel shield as the aircraft piece crashes into them. The force of the impact pushes them dangerously towards the high cliffs, causing Steelix to turn near impact to take the full collision so his trainer Brock is unharmed.

The landing is the least of their problems but the crash causes Steelix to uncontrollably crash roll along the top of the cliff, throwing Brock away so he is safe from harm. Brock screams in pain when he finally stops against a stray rock, charging to Steelix's aid when the drop nears.

"Steelix!" He falls on his front in pain from his right leg, winding himself as he glimpses the moment Steelix falls down the drop and disappears with a frightened cry. "NO!" Hearing a splash he fears the worst for his pokémon, but can do nothing with his leg injury that will not even let him walk without any pain. The loud roar forces him to cover his ears, where he also notices the fire on land. Just when he thinks things would calm down, a bright silver light close by forces him to cover his eyes to avoid being blinded. That is when he sees the two dragon-type pokémon very close and their sheer sizes. They are still fighting and both look badly wounded because of it. A quick glance over the edge, and he could see the pure white with gold detail amongst the bleeding scars, but for some reason there was no movement. The sounds of a helicopter start up though faint, though Brock could not help but notice that the unmoving pokémon had its glance fixed on him, almost without emotion other than pain and sadness. Suddenly a mysterious voice echoes within his mind.

"Please. Stay hidden. They will find you." A strange aura forms around Brock, making him hide behind a large boulder atop the cliff as though his body had been controlled. The pokémon still looks to where he is, and informs him on what has happened. "I apologise to all of you, for why you had been struck by Lunes's Lunar Ray. He is being controlled against his will, by an evil organisation in this region Criolu." The masculine voice pauses. "I am Solos." Brock stared awestruck when the pokémon simply read his mind. "The name of this organisation, is..." His voice suddenly fades away as his eyes close at the same time Brock's close; a fiery coloured tear flowing down his cheek. In a few minutes the helicopter arrives to view the spoils, and Lunes flying off in the direction the helicopter goes carrying its prize. The tear that fell, lands on the ground where Solos had once been before a loud explosion wakes up Brock. He sees the faint glow of the fireball in front of him, and soon the reality becomes real.

"No. Those innocent lives." He instantly clenches his teeth together when he moves, but forces himself to stand and limp to where his Steelix had fallen. Searching around the area, he could not see any sign of his pokémon in the waters down below. "Steelix!" He bellowed in hope his pokémon would hear him, but he receives no reply. He tries again by looking down closer to the edge, but a loud voice calls to him from behind.

"Stop!"

"Huh!" The edge from underneath him starts to crack from the stress it is receiving. It gives way almost instantly under Brock's weight and he falls with it.

"No! Coreonus catch him!" His Lizarsisor charges to grab the young man on the arm with his jaws. Marcel follows and they both help pull him up to safety. But the greeting they had expected only came out in painful groans, as Brock holds his leg in sudden excruciating pain. "Your leg! What happened?" The young man did not answer, he was too worried about Steelix.

"Please! Save my, Steelix!"

"Huh!"

"He fell, and landed in the water! It will kill him!" Marcel quickly charges to the edge of the cliff with a rope out. "But!"

"We'll come back for you!" Marcel complied. "Coreonus! Meet me at the bottom!"

"Lizar!" Coreonus speeds off down the cliff to the sea below as Marcel dives off. He hits the water within seconds and instantly sees a strange form nearby. Scouring it he could see it was a pokémon, and quickly wraps the rope around most of its body before tying it and meeting his Lizarsisor at the shore.

"Ready Coreonus!" He gives the rope to Coreonus before tightly grabbing the rope himself. "Pull!" They both pull with all their strength, hoping it is enough to pull the huge beast out of the water. All the strength more or less came from Coreonus, with his body much more muscular than most other first forms. After a tense few minutes while Steelix easily slides along the shallow bed, the pokémon is safely on shore. Breathing dangerously slowly with a shudder or two, Marcel understands that it is a rock-type pokémon and knew why the young man had been so worried. He unties the rope for the next phase in the pokémon's recovery "Cover him with sand Coreonus, and I'll return with the young man as quickly as I can!"

"Sisor!" Coreonus nods in agreement before doing as he was asked. Marcel is well known for his skills in understanding what natural remedies help wounded and dying pokémon. If he could, he would never use any man-made item unless absolutely necessary. He quickly runs back up the cliff after collecting a large dead branch from the ground. He knows what he must do, to help the pain from the young man's leg subside. After reaching him, he helps him to a seating position against a rock.

"This is going to hurt sir, but I must splint you leg."

"Very well."

"Can you straighten it?" Brock slowly straightens out his leg though the pain was strong, while Marcel snaps the branch in two equal pieces. Placing one on one side, he ties the rope in a reef knot at both ends before securing the other half on the left side of his leg. Tightening the rope is excruciating for Brock, but he knows his leg will not heal without the aid Marcel is giving him. When the aid is finally finished, Brock is helped to his feet.

"Please. Tell me Steelix is safe."

"Coreonus is covering him with sand right now, so the after effects of his submersion should start to cease round about now."

"Thank you..."

"Call me Marcel."

"Okay. Thank you Marcel, for everything you have done for me."

"Don't mention it. I'll help you to your Steelix." Though the walk is slow and careful, they eventually reach Brock's pokémon where he instantly caresses Steelix who gladly welcomes the comfort. He has both the new pokémon and Marcel to thank as well, for if it had not been for them helping him, he would have possibly died in the shallow waters of the ocean. Brock is amazed with how quickly his pokémon has recovered, a trickle of a tear forming from his eye and flowing down his cheek with the joy he feels.

"Steelix. I'm sorry I couldn't get to you. I feel so ashamed. But thank you for protecting me during our descent. If you hadn't appeared, I would've possibly died from that plane piece." Steelix simply nudges Brock gently on the side of his face, before tapping his pokéball with the end of his tail and disappearing back inside to rest knowing they both are safe.

"How do you know your Steelix anyway?" Marcel curiously questioned.

"Since I was a child. But Steelix was an Onyx then. My, father gave him to me, as a gift. I've cared for him ever since. But the moment I saw him evolve, made me grow so much closer to him."

"So you have a very strong history with each other.?"

"Very strong. But, what are we going to do about, Lunes and Solos."

"Huh! Lunes and Solos? Who are they?"

"The two dragon-type pokémon we found battling, and the reason behind the plane crash, why I became separated from my friends Misty and Ash." Marcel seems to listen now with wonder. "I must find Solos. Something terrible is happening. And that mysterious organisation is behind it. Solos tried to tell me, but then I fell asleep after his voice faded."

"It contacted you?"

"Mm-hmm." He then remembers where Solos had fallen. "Please. Help me to where I saw him?"

"But. Don't you want to find your friends first. I had planned for us to meet my friends Tara and Román back at the plane crash. I must know everyone is safe."

"If things have already been planned in advance, I will not stop you." He pauses to rest against Marcel. "I'll go back with you." He then sees Ash's backpack on Marcel's back. "Why have you got Ash's bag? Is he alright?"

"The pilot from the aircraft threw it towards me, just when the plane blew up into a fireball. What is in there?"

"Ash's Pikachu. He has had him since his journey began five years ago."

"I've already told myself I will return it. But let's get back and hopefully meet them, if my friends have found them safely." Brock agrees with him before they continue on towards the crash sight. Coreonus is coaxed into having a ride on his trainer, but he simply shakes his head and continues walking along the ground back to their destination.