Ash laughed, as Totodile licked his face. "Yeah, I've missed you too!"

"You did? Hurrah!" Totodile let himself be plucked off Ash's front, and bounced from foot to foot once he was set down. "It's been a long time since we journeyed together, Ash!"

"Yeah..." Ash rubbed the back of his neck, wincing. "Sorry about that."

"That's okay!" Totodile nodded, irrepressible. "It means I got a lot of time to practice my juggling!"

He peered around. "Ooh, new friends! You're big!"

Lucario nodded.

"And you're not quite as big!" Totodile cocked his head, looking at Togekiss. "Where's Togepi, is she hiding behind you?"

"No," Togekiss replied. "I am Togepi."

"...you used to be shorter." Totodile shrugged, and looked around again. "Who else is new?"

"Me?" Stantler asked. "I don't think we've met."

"Nice to meet you." Totodile offered a claw to shake, and Stantler lifted his hoof to match. "You've got huge antlers!"

"They're quite small, really..." Stantler replied, shaking his head. "I'm still young."

"So am I," Totodile shrugged. "What's your thing?"

Stantler concentrated, and a Ninetales shimmered into place next to him. It stood completely still, not even breathing.

"Whoa!" Totodile said, gaping. "That's so cool!"

Brock's actual Ninetales padded around them, inspecting her doppelgänger. "Not bad, though I see you still have trouble making it move."

"Yeah." Stantler let the illusion collapse. "I'm still trying to get that working."

"This one's much better, though!" Totodile said, pointing at Ninetales. "This one moves and everything!"

Ninetales thwapped him lightly on the nose with a tail. "I'm the real one."

"Oh!" Totodile nodded sagely. "That explains it."

He ran back over to Ash. "Let's go!"

"Someone's enthusiastic!" Ash smiled. "All right, come on."


"Come one, come all!" announced a female trainer. "Come and use a Fire-type Pokémon against my Skarmory!"

Jessie blinked. "That's not normal, is it?"

James shrugged. "Maybe she wants it to learn how to lose with dignity. Well, I've got a Fire-type. Growlie!"

The Arcanine burst into existence, and James gave him a scratch. "Okay, go!"

Growlie looked at the Skarmory, lip curling... then sniffed, and his attitude changed completely. He went from battle-ready to suddenly very happy, and he bounded off over a nearby hill.

"...that doesn't usually happen," James made clear. "Actually, that must mean-"

Growlie bounded back over the hill again, Ninetales running alongside.

"Hi!" Brock called, cresting the ridge, as his Pokémon and Growlie curvetted around one another. "I didn't realize we were so close!"

"Nor did I," James admitted. "Your Pokémon seems to have distracted my Pokémon."

Now reacquainted, the two ran up to James. "Hey, James?" Growlie asked. "Can we fight together?"

"What about it?" Brock said, putting the question to the Skarmory's trainer. "Want to give your Skarmory a real challenge? Two-on-one?"

The young woman – Miki – thought about that. "What do you think, Skarmory?"

Skarmory looked between the two Fire-types. "Skaar," it said after a moment, and took off.

"Right!" Miki pointed. "Iron Defence!"

Skarmory's feathers sheened with silvery light, and it cawed.

Growlie glanced over at Ninetales. "Shall I lead?"

"Go ahead," Ninetales replied.

Then they began to pace forwards, side-by-side.

"Fury attack!" Miki ordered.

Skarmory cawed, and swooped down on Growlie. Its beak glowed.

Growlie waited a few seconds, until the Skarmory was almost on top of him. "Now!" he said, jumping to his left – away from Ninetales – and drawing the Skarmory to alter course to deliver the attack.

Ninetales' fur crackled with tiny sparks. Five of her tails came up to her mouth, touched an orb of fire, and drew out five long arms from it.

Then the Fire Blast went off.

Skarmory heard the attack coming, and left off his attack on Growlie before more than a few blows had actually hit home. Climbing frantically, he got out of the fire blast basket with no more than a singed tail.

For his part, Growlie let the attack wash over him. "Nice," he said, once it ended. A Flamethrower returned the favour, and Ninetales' Flash Fire absorbed it just like his had.

"Thanks," Ninetales nodded, and returned her gaze to the Skarmory overhead.

She inhaled, and fired off a Flamethrower.

Skarmory dodged it, sliding to the side and out of the way, and another burst of flame from Growlie made him slip lower still.

The two streams of fire curved around, sustained by the loping canines, and intersected just as Skarmory ran out of sky room.

The Steel-type rapidly heated to a dull red, then launched Swift stars at the duo and forced them to break off.

"Iron defence again!" Miki said, and Skarmory nodded. As it cooled, silver-sheen flashed on its wings, and it flew back up into the sky.


"What just happened?" Ash asked.

"Fire damages steel by making it weaker," Miki explained. "My Skarmory has learned to use Iron Defence to reverse the process, so single blasts of heat can't knock him out!"

"Right." Brock exchanged a look with James. "Uh... which one of us is in charge here?"

"I think they are," James replied, pointing at the two conversing Pokémon.


"Right." Growlie nodded his assent. "Okay, here we go!"

He blurred into motion, running off to the other side of the hill, and left Ninetales alone.

Skarmory took the opportunity, making an attack run. Ninetales shot flame at him, and he dodged with easy speed.

Growlie came bounding back over the hilltop, and jumped off. Skarmory aborted his attack run, rising up and out of danger.

Ninetales threw her head back, and launched off a Fire Blast. It rose into the sky, reaching up for Growlie's form on an intercept course – and exploded.

Her boyfriend put it to good use. Using the soft pillow of overpressure, he gained enough purchase for an Extremespeed and rocketed further into the air – abruptly looking down at Skarmory.

Before the startled Steel-type could react, Growlie released his own Fire Blast. The attack hit Skarmory, driving him down from overhead, and Growlie controlled his fall with the jet of flame to keep himself over Skarmory for the whole descent.

The sustained heat was bad enough, but then Ninetales – pacing them on the ground – leapt atop Skarmory as soon as he crashed to the ground and placed flame-enshrouded teeth near his throat.

"Yield."

Skarmory nodded.

"Good match!" Miki said, releasing another Pokémon. "Vaporeon, soak Skarmory for me as soon as that Ninetales gets off?"

Her Vaporeon did so, producing a huge cloud of steam and cooling Skarmory from an orange-yellow heat back to something much more safe. (It also extinguished the grass, which had been burning merrily.


"They work well together," Brock observed, as Growlie and Ninetales padded back over with heads held high.

"You're right," James agreed. "Well, that was fun."

Wobbuffet emerged from his Poké ball. "That was fighting flyer with fire!"

Several humans and Pokémon groaned.

It's been done, Psyduck remarked critically.

"Really?" Wobbuffet asked. "When?"

...never you mind.


"Okay, this could be tricky," Ash said, looking around. "Somewhere, there's a shiny Noctowl – and remember, he's clever."

"Yeah," Pikachu agreed. His cheeks sparked, and he started delivering a continuous light tingle of electricity into Ash's shoulder. "That should keep you from being caught in an illusion."

"Thanks," Ash replied. "Now, if I was Noctowl, where would I be..."

There was a loud thwack.

"Over there?" Lucario suggested. "It's as good a lead as any."

They pushed through the brush, and found a man flailing away at a – normal – Noctowl with a big branch.

"Go away!" he said. "This isn't for you!"

He turned, and saw the friends. "Aha!"

"Who are you?" Misty asked.

"I am Doctor Wiseman," the man replied. "I'm trying to catch an oddly coloured Noctowl which flies around here. It's very clever."

There was a hoot.

Wiseman turned, and saw an oddly coloured Noctowl flying around there. "Aha!"

He picked up a long pole, with some berries hung on the end. "Here you go!"

"Doctor?" Ash asked. "Why are you trying to lure a normal Noctowl?"

"No, this is the shiny one!" Wiseman said, looking at Ash with confusion. He then looked up at the Noctowl, which was eating the berries at high speed.

As he looked, it flashed, and reverted to brown in colour.

"Damn it!" he raged, snatching the berries back out of reach. "This always happens! I swear this Noctowl keeps outsmarting me!"

"Sounds like a smart Pokémon," Ash observed.

"Rather," Noctowl said, landing on a branch overhead.

"Aha!"

Wiseman ran over to the tree and started climbing it. The third branch he grabbed for was another illusion, and he fell unceremoniously back down the tree.

"Better luck next time," Noctowl observed, taking flight. "Know your enemy and know yourself, and all that."

As he went past, he helped himself to a berry from the stick.

"This could be tricky," Ash muttered.


"I challenge you!" Ash called.

"You do? Who are you?" Noctowl asked, flying around in a circle.

Ash grinned. "I'm Ash Ketchum! And I want to earn your respect!"

"Good luck with that, quite honestly." Noctowl bobbed his wings. "Very well, let's see if you can impress me."

"You got it!" Ash sent out Ivysaur. "Okay, Ivysaur, use Vine Whip!"

"Ash-" Ivysaur began.

"None of that!" Ash cut him off. "Just do what I tell you."

"...sure." Ivysaur's whips lashed out. Noctowl blocked one with a quick wing-flap, but the other wrapped around him just as he came down to land on a branch.

"I've got a good grip," Ivysaur said, dubiously. "But it doesn't-"

"Doesn't matter!" Ash interrupted. "Now, bring him over here so I can catch him!"

Looking even more concerned, Ivysaur reeled his vines back in.

-and Ash threw a Poké ball over his shoulder.

There was the unmistakeable sound of the 'ball connecting, a surprised screech, and then a dull thwap on the ground.

"...oh, right," Ivysaur said, as the illusion he was holding collapsed to reveal a bunch of berries and part of a tree branch in an elaborate decoy. "So you knew he was using an illusion."

"That's right!" Ash said, picking up the 'ball. "That do you?"

"...rather. Absolutely top hole, old chap." Noctowl shook his head, and perched on Ash's outstretched arm. "But really, Ash, did you have to hit me on the beak? That stung."

"I hit you with a Poké ball I was throwing over my shoulder," Ash reminded him. "I'm glad it worked at all."

"Well, I suppose it's lovely to be back. Why are we in the past?"

"Remember when we met a horde of Unown?" Ash asked. "And Mewtwo? And Celebi? And Latios and Latias?"

"I do." Noctowl's head went round in a circle. "Do you mean to say one of those was responsible?"

"No, it was Arceus and Dialga." Ash shrugged. "It's just that saying that straight off sounds like I'm insane."

"You are, at the very least, eccentric." Ivysaur waddled over. "Hi, Noctowl."

"Are you alright, old chap?" Noctowl asked, frowning. "You seem to have put on a beastly amount of weight."

"I evolved."

"Is that what they're calling it?" Noctowl flared his wings. "Well, to each his own. I can't have any business whatsoever with evolving. I evolved once – never again."

Ash sniggered.

"I must say, it's nice that you understand me now." Noctowl hooted, then took flight again. "Well, shall we go see the other chaps and chapesses?"

"Why are you talking like that?" Ivysaur asked, as he and Ash headed back to the clearing. "You're from Johto."

"So?" Noctowl flew around him, this time with a small illusion perched on his crown.

A top hat.

"A gent can dream, can't he?"

"Am I seriously the only one of your Pokémon who isn't strange, Ash?" Ivysaur asked.

"That's not fair, Ivysaur!" Ash said, shaking his head. "Admittedly, I can't think of anyone..."

He glanced down at his waist. "It's a compliment, really."


Near Viridian Forest, dark shapes moved on silent feet.

"Nearly there," one Houndour reported. "I found a road sign which mentions Pallet Town. It's just a few miles south."

"Good work." The alpha consulted the map one more time, then set it ablaze. "Now, follow my lead."

For the third time, there was a series of scratches at the door.

"All right, all right.." Oak yawned, pulling on a dressing gown. "I swear, getting an innocent researcher up at the dead of night... what do I pay Tracey for..."

He opened the door. "Who's there?"

The answer appeared to be that no-one and nothing was there.

Then there was a soft growl, and about eight pairs of eyes opened. White markings gleamed faintly in the night, and Oak abruptly realized what he was looking at – eight Houndour.

"Hello there," he said, crouching down – and feeling a little silly, in Buneary slippers and a striped dressing gown.

One of the Houndour stepped forwards, and barked something.

"Oh, dear..." Oak looked up. "Damos?"

He said hello.

"Oh! Hello, then." He held out a hand, and the Houndour looked at it.

I don't think they understand the concept of handshakes, Professor, Damos observed quietly.

"Right, right. Sorry." Oak withdrew his hand. "What brings you here?"

The Houndour – presumably the leader – began to bark again, tail wagging back and forth slowly as he explained.

Let's see... Damos said. They're here because they heard about Oak Ranch from... should have guessed. Ash did it.

"You're right, that doesn't surprise me." Oak nodded to the alpha to keep speaking.

It seems that Ash saved his son – the one third from the right, back row. The Houndour weren't sure how to take that, but they've decided to come here while they make up their minds.. Damos paused. The alpha also offers to let you study pack behaviour in Pokémon.

"That's actually quite an interesting idea," Oak admitted. "I learned a lot from studying the Tauros, and not just how to repair fences quickly."

The alpha had said his piece, and stood in front of the doorstep with calm patience.

"How is the funding situation?" the Professor asked.

We are swimming in money, Damos replied. Even without the royalties from your radio program, when it starts, the sheer amount of grant and prize money earned from the completed Home Islands Pokédex is immense.

"There's still a couple of missing entries," Oak protested.

Yes. Two. And that will reduce to one as soon as the good Doctor Akihabara manages to complete his UpGrade package.

"Well, that's me told." Oak shook his head. "It looks like there's no problems here, then. Go ahead – it's around the back."

The alpha held his gaze for a moment, then nodded to him. He barked, and the pack set off for the ranch.


This Pokéathlon thing sounds like a lot of effort, Abra said.

"Yeah, it kinda is," Meowth admitted. "But-"

Abra Returned himself.

"Lazy so-and-so," Meowth muttered. "Okay, there's five kinds'a contest, with events spread out among 'em."

He scanned down the brochure. "Where was it... aha! There's Speed, Power, Skill, Stamina, an' Jump."

Arbok raised a tail. "Jump?"

"Yeah, not all of you are gonna be good at all of 'em," Meowth agreed. "There's ten events. Let's go down 'em all."

Weezing frowned. "Can I just float?"

"...dunno. Anyway. First event, Hurdle Dash. It's in the Speed an' Jump contests, and it's basically the hurdles. Faster is better."

"Why don't they just call it the hurdles?" Wobbuffet asked.

"'cause-" Meowth stopped. "Let me tink about dat one-"

"Dashed if I know!" Wobbuffet finished, laughing.

Gyarados gave him a whack with his tail, sending him wobbling back and forth.

"Right." Meowth looked down the list. "Next up is Ring Drop – 's kinda like sumo wrestling, but not really."

He glanced back up. "Remember, da thing here is teamwork – it's all groups of three. 'an this is a Stamina event."

Gyarados blinked. "Does that mean I can compete?"

For a moment, they all thought about what that would look like.

"We'll certainly try ta get you in," Meowth decided. "Let's see. Snow Throw?"

"Snowball fight!" Wobbuffet cheered. "Cool!"

More groans, and another tail-to-the-face.

"Basically. Dat's skill. Then there's one which is Jump, which is da Lamp Jump. Da more lamps you get in one jump, da better."

"I will dominate that," Weezing proclaimed. "I can float!"

"We're gonna need to check da rulebook, ain't we..." Meowth grinned. "Right. Then we got Relay Run."

Growlie looked smug.

"Yeah, ya big bad Arcanine." Meowth shrugged. "But it's a relay, so – like da rest – teamwork. That one's in Speed and Stamina."

The Scratch Cat scanned the rest of the list. "Running 'em off quickly – Block Smash... Circle Push which is another kind'a sumo... Disc Catch – guess what that one is... a flag capture game, 'an football."

"What kind of football?" Victreebell asked.

"Football," Meowth reiterated. "This ain't Unova or Orre, ya know."

"Then why didn't you just say Soccer?"

"I shouldn't have ta say it!" the Scratch Cat snapped.

"Question!" Wobbuffet raised an arm. "Are we trying to win, or trying to look good?"

"Ain't dey the same?" Meowth asked, confused.

"No, they're not!" Wobbuffet shook his head emphatically. "If we do badly but look funny doing it, that's going to make us look good. If we win after barely clawing our way back, that looks great! But easy victories are boring."

"...that's deep, that is," Arbok stated, to general agreement.

"Where'd ya pick that up?" Meowth asked.

"Here and there." Wobbuffet tapped his tail on the floor. "If we pay attention to that, victory is insight!"

Meowth looked suspicious. "...did ya just tell another pun?"

"Nope!" Wobbuffet told him.

"I'm watchin' you..." Meowth stated. He then turned to Cubone. "You okay? You ain't said a thing."

"It feels like a bit of a waste," Cubone said morosely. "Using our abilities for this... especially if all we're doing is deliberately making mistakes."

"I dunno," Meowth admitted. "Wanna talk about it?"

"...no." Cubone walked off.

"By da way," Meowth said, once she was out of sight. "If any o' you got any ideas how to help her out of dat funk, lemme know."

None were immediately forthcoming.


"Where, exactly, are we?" Cobalion asked.

Keldeo checked the map, then looked up at the signs. "I'm... not sure. All the signs are in a different language."

"Let me see." Virizion stepped up and examined the sign. "It says that the road we are on leads to Lumiose City to the north-west, and Santalune City to the south-east."

"Got it!" Keldeo looked at his map. "Whoops..."

He put his hoof on Santalune City, then slid it north-west. "Here's where we are."

The hoof then slid north. "And here's where the tunnel was. We've gone in the wrong direction. Sorry, guys."

"Don't worry, kid!" Terrakion consoled him. "Doing better than I would!"

"Thanks." Keldeo looked at the map again, and then his atlas. "Right, I think we just need to head east from here. To the rising sun."

Cobalion inspected his handiwork, and nodded.

Keldeo packed up the atlas, map and their small amount of spending money, and shrugged on the saddlebags he kept them in.

They were about to set off, when someone shouted for help.

"Quick!" Virizion said, leaping into motion. Her fellow Swords followed behind her.

"What about me?" Keldeo asked. There was no reply, so he shrugged and followed along behind.


"Come on, quickly!" Virizion said, trotting alongside a large number of Bunnelby as she led them away from the brushfire.

Behind her, there was the clash of swords and the occasional roar as her two fellow Swords fended off the pride of Pyroar.

Virizion hoped they were doing all right. Certainly, Cobalion and Terrakion were strong – but, well. There were a lot of Pyroar back there.

Certainly, they needed to be stopped – they were clearly causing fires without putting in the effort to be sure they wouldn't spread – but she was worried. For Cobalion, especially.

Finally, the Bunnelby reached a river, across which they hurried. Free from her obligation, Virizion drew her sword and charged back to help her comrades.

The fire had intensified even in the short time she'd been gone. In fact, it was starting to roar, and a breeze was freshening – drawing air in towards the dry vegetation.

This was probably going to result in a forest fire – maybe even a firestorm.

Then she was abruptly soaked.

"Whoaaa!" Keldeo's voice drifted down from overhead.

"Keldeo!" she called up. "What are you doing?"

"Hydro Pump!" Keldeo replied. "I've been working on it, but I can't steer great – whoa!"

Water went everywhere, sluicing into the inferno and producing great clouds of steam.

"Whatever you're doing, it's working!" Vizirion called. "Keep it up!"

Her reply was another soaking, and she caught sight of Keldeo rocketing across the path ahead... with water spraying from his hooves?

"Are you flying by shooting water out of your hooves?" she asked, not quite believing her eyes.

"Yea-aaaaah!" Keldeo disappeared off towards the fire, and then there was a loud thump.

Waves of water sprayed out in all directions.


"That was close," Cobalion said, once the fire had gone out. "Good work, Virizion, Terrakion... and Keldeo."

Keldeo beamed.

Then he glanced towards his back – his bare back. "Oh no! I lost the map – and our money!"

"Eh, no problem!" Terrakion announced. "We know which way to go, we'll get on without! We head east, right?"

"I..." Keldeo looked downcast, but then nodded. "Yes, that's right."

"Then that's all we need." Terrakion nodded firmly.

Cobalion gave his assent, and Virizion made it unanimous.

"Let's go, then!" Terrakion added, lumbering into motion.


"I wonder who they were," Gary said, as the four strange Pokémon disappeared before he could get close.

I know.

Umbreon blinked. "You know, Dee? How? I thought Dexter never got to Kalos."

He didn't. But those are Unovan.

Gary took out his 'dex, and watched as she cycled through images.

They're Legendaries from Unova.

Dee cut to one particular image – the wounded Keldeo, being fed back to health alongside Ash and his Unovan friends.

Ash helped them. Keldeo especially.

"You already said that, when you mentioned they were Legendary Pokémon." Gary sighed, and hefted the bag he'd found. "Maybe this saddlebag is theirs, then... it's got Unova-printed money and books in."

Umbreon laughed. "Send it to Ash when you get the chance, he'll run into them sometime."

"True."


"...so, anyway," Ash finished. "The Unown thing is pretty soon, Dexter says. So be ready, okay, Charizard?"

He took his finger off the record button. "Done."

Sent. Dexter's lights flashed. Pretty soon is right – we're only a mile or so away, and on schedule.

Brock nodded firmly, and unclipped his crowbar from his belt. He hefted it, and gave a few practice swings. "I'm ready."

"That poor girl," Misty said. "I hope we can help her quicker this time."

"So do I," Ash agreed. "She's not getting my Mom, though."

(Actually, Delia Ketchum had stated her intent to stay over a hundred miles away until the whole thing was thoroughly solved.)

"Do you want to call on anyone else?" Brock asked. "Now you've got the chance, I mean."

"Yeah, actually." Ash frowned, then flipped Dexter open again. "Professor?"

A moment of static, then Oak appeared. "Yes, Ash? You're near the Hale manor?"

"That's right, Professor," Ash agreed. "I might need reinforcements in a hurry. Can you get everyone ready?"

"I certainly can, my boy," Oak agreed. "I'll let everyone know. Oh – do you want me to ask the Houndour pack?"

"...so that's why they asked where I lived!" Ash said, pleased to have worked it out. "Please ask them, yes."

"Okay." Oak turned away, then back to the screen. "Be safe, Ash."

The link cut off.


Molly Hale lay back against the furred bulk of her papa.

"Papa?" she said, raising her voice.

Yes, Molly? replied the Entei. What is your wish?

"I love you, Papa," she said, nestling a little further into the warm fur. "But I want mama as well."

Invisibly, the Unown considered how to interpret her request. Thoughts and concepts flashed between them like lightning within a thundercloud, invisible except by their consequence.

Molly's favourite Legendary Pokémon was Entei. But she liked all three of the Beasts.

A consensus was reached.

Hidden Power, given strength by endless hordes of Unown and form by the wishes and desires of a heartbroken young girl, crested and solidified.

You will have a mother, Molly, Entei told her. I, your father, to protect you; a mother, to nurture you; an older brother, to fight for you.

"Really?" Molly said, smiling. "Can I see mama now?"

You can, said her mother.

"Mama!" Molly said, getting up and running forwards. Entei rose and padded behind, alert for any danger.

"I missed you, mama," Molly said, hugging her mama's cool blue leg. "I'm glad we're a family again."

For you, anything, the Suicune said, nuzzling her.

Anything at all, echoed the Raikou who had followed her in.

"Who are you?" Molly asked, curious.

I am your older brother, Raikou informed her. You will never be in danger again, not while I keep you safe.


AN:

Here we go. M03.

I've also... rather amped up the challenge level.

Looking at the rest of the events... Totodile and Noctowl are back. Totodile was easy, Noctowl I had a bit more trouble with. And there's the Pokéathlon – Wobbuffet has a good point here.

Meanwhile, the Swords of Justice got lost, and Gary is Still In Kalos.

Oh, and a bit of working together from Growlie and Ninetales.