"Nice to see you around, Dawn," Zoey said, holding up her hand for Dawn to clasp. "It was kind of odd to see what you guys have to deal with all the time, but pretty cool too. Or do I mean chilly?"

"Hey, you could have asked for a sweater," Candice pointed out. "It's not that cold in there."

"It's full of ice, Candice," Zoey retorted. "And yeah, I could have asked Mismagius for help… I'm just joking, don't worry."

"That did come across," Candice assured her. "So, you guys are both competing in the Grand Festival?"

"That's the plan," Dawn replied. "You know, if my friendship with Ash doesn't get us all in trouble."

"With him around I think it's people who want you in trouble who are in trouble," Candice chuckled.

"I… yeah, that sounds right," Ash said, after parsing the sentence. "I help my friends out if they're in trouble."

"And a lot of people qualify as friends," Brock put in. "I wouldn't have it any other way, Ash."

"Well, see you guys some time," Zoey added. "If you need help, you know how to reach me."


As the Coordinator left, Candice turned to look at her gym building.

"So, I mentioned this sky bridge idea I had," she said. "But another idea was that I kind of made it like a giant skateboarding park, only with loads of much more fantastic stuff like tunnels and ramps out over really high jumps – and, say, towers you have to jump between. What do you think?"

"I think it sounds great," Dawn answered. "It'd make battles really showy, and it'd give you a neat home field advantage too if your Pokémon know what it's like. But it would also mean bigger Pokémon would have more trouble manoeuvring around."

"That is a good point," Candice admitted, thinking. "What about if the high stuff is mostly around the edges, so there's still a big central section?"

"I'm a little surprised you're asking for our advice here," Brock said.

"Well, I like to rebuild it different every time, and it just got broken," Candice pointed out. "And it's not like I have unlimited ideas – or time, really, so I want to catch at least a few errors before I make them."

"Good attitude," Brock replied. "Especially as it looks like you've got a new challenger on the way."

They followed Brock's gaze, and Ash waved. "Hey, Paul!"

Paul looked up at Ash, nodded very slightly, then turned his attention to Candice. "I challenge you for the Icicle Badge."

Candice winced. "Sorry, uh… I'm afraid the gym's currently a bit broken. I'll be available in a day or two."

"I don't mind fighting in a gym that's a bit damaged," Paul replied.

"Well… you go have a look," Candice suggested. "See if you really want to go ahead with it."

Paul went through the door, then came back out again.

"How long will it take for you to fix it?"

"A day or two, like I said," Candice answered. "Then we'll be all ready!"

There was a faint rumbling as one of the fractured ice slopes gave way.

"A lot of the delay is to defrost it," Candice added. "To get that stuff out of the way."

Paul nodded. "Understood… Ash?"

"Yeah?" Ash replied.

"I'd like to challenge you to a battle some time soon."

"Sure, that should be fine," Ash replied. "When?"

"After I have the Icicle Badge, so in a few days," Paul replied. "And I want to request that you use a Legendary Pokémon."

"I guess that's fine, if you're sure," Ash agreed. "Latios, would you mind taking part?"

Latios destealthed in the middle of the group, making everyone without Aura Sight jump. "That sounds good," he squeaked. "It's been a while since I had a good serious battle – though Metagross is saying they want to battle everyone, back at the ranch."

"That sounds like a big project," Brock said.

"According to my sister, it took twenty minutes to persuade them that they shouldn't try doing everyone in one go – either consecutively or concurrently – no matter how much they wanted to test themselves," Latios supplied.

"You have a Metagross?" Paul asked. "That's new."

"Yeah, they kind of just… decided that I was the person to capture them," Ash said. "After challenging me to combat."

"Hm," Paul hummed. "Who did you use?"

"Himself," Lucario informed Paul. "It was very cool."

"...I don't think I really want to ask," Paul decided.

"Oh, how is Cranidos getting along, by the way?" Ash asked.

Paul thought for a long moment.

"Good," he decided. "She can handle the training, and that means she's doing well."

"It sounds like it's because she enjoys it," Brock suggested. "Your training style does work, but it's not for every Pokémon… different Pokémon react in different ways to the same training."

He was about to continue, but a throbbing hum began to pulse through the air – quietly, but still noticeable.

Candice noticed where it was coming from first, and shook her head. "Does that man ever phone ahead?"

Brock spotted it as well – the big, regular form of the Battle Pyramid, flying incongruously through the crisp blue sky over Snowpoint. "Not so you'd notice… he turned up at Pewter City, and the first my family knew was when he touched down."

"Pyramid King Brandon," Paul said, frowning, then clenched his fist. "I'll challenge him first!"

"Watch out, his Regi are really hard opponents," Ash said. "Pikachu had to throw Registeel into a mountain."

Paul turned, looked at Pikachu, and tilted his head slightly – visibly trying to work out just how the small Electric-type had pulled that off.

Pikachu posed dramatically, emphasizing his muscles. "I'm stronger than I look!"

"That's not hard," Lucario said. "And didn't you use a railgun technique?"

"Spoil my fun, why don't you..." Pikachu grumped.

"It looks like it's going to land… somewhere near Snowpoint Temple," Candice judged, shading her eyes. "Or, at least, that's the only place he could land it around here without flattening a building."

"We'd better head over there," Brock said. "See if it's something serious."

"I hope it's not too serious," Candice replied – then blinked. "On the other hand, I suppose if something dangerous is going to happen to Snowpoint, having it happen while you guys are around is kind of the best option?"


"Denae?" Iris asked. "I've got a couple of questions for you..."

"Well, you're here to learn," Denae replied. "Ask away."

"Firstly, I wanted to know how come we're doing this at such an awful hour..."

"That's simple," Denae told her. "You've been training to be a Dragon Tamer for a while already, but this next step is about being ready to act any time. Trouble doesn't follow a schedule, so being able to do what you need to do no matter what – or how little sleep you've had – is key."

"Right," Iris said, yawning. "That's why you got me up just after I went to bed… so, uh, next question. Why are we doing it in here?"

She waved her hand around at the crazy landscape of the Reverse World.

"That Porygon you have from somewhere suggested it," Denae replied. "It sounded like a good plan to me, because it meant we could get loud without disturbing anyone too much."

Giratina rumbled.

Giratina would like to point out that he would appreciate it if you didn't damage anything without warning him first, Guanna noted. Damage to the Reverse World-

"-damages the real world," Denae completed. "Yes, and thank you both for the reminder. Tonight, though, I have something a bit different in mind."

She pointed at a nearby cliff, hanging over them without any visible support. "Iris – climb that cliff, but with the help of only one of your Pokémon."

Iris did a double-take, looking at the cliff, then frowned in thought.

"Right," she said, and sent out Excadrill. "What do you think? Let's tackle that together!"

Excadrill examined the cliff, then her, and gestured.

"Yeah, I did bring some rope," Iris replied, reaching into her pack and bringing some out.

Excadrill nodded once.

"Right!" Iris said, fighting down another yawn, and set off.

As they began climbing, Giratina swam closer to Denae and asked a question.

What are you going to do when she reaches the top? Guanna dutifully translated.

"I think I'm probably going to have her switch Pokémon," Denae replied. "The idea is that she needs to keep an eye on how tired her Pokémon are as well… I'm sure it'll be a useful lesson."

She frowned. "Though I did want to ask why you're here in Unova, instead of in Sinnoh where I understand you live."

Guanna began translating again as Giratina replied. My place of residence has moved to Kanto, I think. But I was interested in seeing what a dragon tamer needs to know, as my trainer has no formal training as one.

"Your trainer… Ash Ketchum, correct?" Denae asked, and got a nod. "Honestly, I don't know how he'd do on the theory aspects, but he's easily tough enough – and he rode Latios into space to help Rayquaza save the world. At that point to disqualify him would almost seem churlish."

Giratina chuckled.

I think that if Rayquaza had to pick anyone to be his trainer, Ash would be the one. But the Highest Flyer has always been independent.

"Some would say the same about you," Denae pointed out, turning to see how Iris was getting on – hauling herself with a will up the cliff, relying only sparingly on Excadrill to have him give her a lift over impossible sections or carve foot- and hand-holds for her. "I think you may actually be the most powerful Legendary Pokémon ever to be captured, at least in terms of influence."

Giratina nodded, and spoke softly.

I owe Ash Ketchum my life, twice over, Guanna translated, conveying the tone as well as the words. And I have learned much from him already. I do not regret my choice.

He shook himself a little and continued.

But it is a strange age, the Porygon supplied. Pokémon and humans are becoming closer than ever – aided not least by-

Guanna stopped, and emitted an electronic raspberry. How rude!

"What was it?" Denae asked, smiling.

Giratina called me a useful appliance, Guanna grumbled, as the enormous Dragon-type chuckled.


"So, last time we were here, there was a thing with Regigigas," Ash said.

"Right," Suicune mused, padding alongside them. "And… Brandon has one Regirock, one Regice and one Registeel, correct?"

"That's right," Ash nodded. "Do you think that was involved?"

"It might," Suicune told him. "But Regigigas as a Pokémon are notoriously hard to awaken. They have a great inertia, which also means that once roused their momentum is enormous, but getting them going in the first place is difficult. The presence of three Golems at once might do it, but I would not want to bet on it."

The Water-type walked up a snowdrift and down the other side. "What else was going on at the time?"

"Hmm..." Ash frowned. "It was a while ago, so, uh… oh, yeah, that was one of the times we ran into Hunter J."

"Hunter J," Suicune repeated darkly. "Yes, she would be the sort to interfere with Regigigas. Dexter – please, reassure me. Is Hunter J still in prison?"

She is, Dexter stated. There are no worries on that front, at least.

"So what do you think we should do?" Ash asked. "I mean… is anything even going to happen?"

"With Regigigas, it would be natural to assume nothing is going to happen," Suicune said, looking distinctly relieved at the confirmation of J's incarceration. She glanced at Absol, pacing beside them. "Does anything appear likely to happen as far as you're concerned?"

"Nothing much," Absol replied, tilting her head a little. "Hmm… a bit of surprise, confusion… but aside from that, I don't detect anything major."

Brock waved Ash over.

"Don't forget, that could still mean Team Galactic," he pointed out quietly. "Absol can detect them, but only on short notice."

"Right," Ash agreed. "But… until then, I guess all we can really do is keep an eye out."

"And see how Brandon's doing," Lucario suggested. "I liked him. And his Golems."

"You couldn't understand his golems," Pikachu replied. "They spoke… what was it, some kind of computer code or something?"

"Ash?" Suicune said, getting his attention again. "I wanted to ask – why did you bring me over to ask? My brothers and I have all done our duty with running circuit on the Legendaries, so you could have asked any one of us."

"I… guess I just think you're the most sensible one," Ash replied, with a slightly awkward shrug. "I trust Entei and Raikou, but I think I'll understand your answer."

Suicune chuckled. "Good answer!"


Some minutes later, the friends were all staring at the door to the Battle Pyramid.

"Do we normally have to wait this long?" Suicune asked. "I seem to remember it being much quicker when we normally knock on the door."

"Well, sometimes someone's out, and you have to give up," Dawn replied. "But this time we know they're in..."

"Should we knock again?" Lucario suggested. "Or – no, I see now. They appear to be busy."

"Oh, yeah," Ash agreed. "I guess we must have arrived during Paul's battle."

"It makes a lot of sense now you say it," Pikachu noted. "Any idea how long we'll have to wait?"

"Not long," Ash replied. "It looks like someone's coming."

The door opened about ten seconds later, revealing Brandon's assistant Samuel.

"Sorry about that," he said. "I'm afraid there's a battle going on at the moment and I was a bit distracted watching."

"That's Paul, right?" Ash checked. "How's he doing?"

"Well, he should be finished fairly soon," Samuel replied. "He was doing quite well, actually – you know, considering."

"Considering?" Dawn repeated.

"Considering he asked to battle Brandon's best team," Samuel supplied. "This way, please."


By the time they reached the main arena of the Battle Pyramid, the combat was over – Paul just recalling his last Pokémon, a Nidoking sprawled against the back wall.

"The battle is over," Brandon declared, withdrawing his own Registeel, and considered Paul carefully for several seconds.

"You have a long way to go," he said, eventually. "But you'll get there in time, with persistence."

Paul's expression darkened.

"Is that about my brother?" he asked.

"Of course not," Brandon replied firmly. "Your brother is your brother, and you are you. The only way your brother matters to how I evaluate you is that he is clearly an important part of your motivation."

Paul looked away at that.

"I said you would get there with persistence, and I meant it," Brandon went on. "Your Pokémon have the drive, and the talent; they need more skill and more experience. Accept it; skill and experience are something you can gain with training, and if you make sure to keep the drive of your Pokémon undamaged they will become great."

"He's got a point, Paul," Reggie volunteered, from the side. "When Brandon beat me, what he did was to point out to me through that that I didn't really have the right mindset for what it would take to become a great trainer. But you do."

"I don't like that," Paul said. "You have talent too. Why can Brandon say you're not-"

"-because I'm not," Reggie replied. "What matters to me is just different to what matters to you, and I hadn't realized that."

He looked over. "Oh, hey Ash. Good to see you again."

"Hey, Reggie," Ash replied. "Everything going okay?"

"Yeah, though I'm having to come up with new things to keep Cranidos occupied sometimes," Reggie answered. "That's the one you arranged with Paul, right?"

Ash nodded.

"Cool. And I know this is going to embarrass Paul..." Reggie glanced aside at his brother, who looked worried. "But this just now has really shown me that his meeting you has made Paul better socially without interfering with his ability to battle. So thanks all over again for that."

Paul muttered something unintelligible.

Then the building shook, with a sound like doom.

"What was that?" Brandon asked, looking around.

"It's not dangerous," Absol reported. "Can't tell you more than that, though."

"Perhaps we should go and find out," Suicune suggested. "I think someone else would like to come in the door..."


The building shook for a second time as the now-larger group reached the entrance hall, and Brandon opened the door with a pull.

Stood outside, mighty arm raised in a fist, was Regigigas.

"...well, that's unusual," Suicune noted.

"Regigigas," Brandon said. "Is something wrong?"

The Normal-type slowly drew back its fist, then brought it forwards again with ponderous might – hitting absolutely nothing, and not even getting particularly close.

Brandon tried again. "Why have you come here?"

When he got no reply, he turned back to look at the others. "Ash, you're a Legendary Pokémon expert. Do you have any idea what's going on?"

"Not really for Regigigas," Ash replied. "Suicune probably knows more than I do."

"Regigigas are normally docile Pokémon," Suicune supplied. "They can cause havoc when they're sufficiently motivated, but it takes so much to motivate them that it doesn't really come up normally."

"That doesn't make me feel very comfortable," Brandon admitted. "Regigigas is clearly motivated enough to come to the Battle Pyramid, and I'm not sure why."

"No," Regigigas declared.

"What?" Brandon blinked. "What did Regigigas say?"

"No," Ash translated.

"No what?" Brandon said. "Does that mean it wants something to stop?"

"I don't know," Ash replied. "We only have that one word, sorry."

"Which… isn't helpful," Suicune sighed. "I apologize, it seems I'm not helpful at the moment – we don't even know what Regigigas is not here for."

"The Golems," Regigigas stated.

"What did Regigigas say that time?" Brandon asked.

"The Golems," Brock answered him. "So… that's what Regigigas isn't here for?"

He groaned. "Because that's helpful..."

"Is this one of those challenges, where someone needs to prove themselves worthy?" Latios asked, scratching his head. "Because if it is, then it's kind of an annoying thing for Regigigas to do."

"If Regigigas only wants to answer questions about why it's not here, then I'll have to go down the list," Brandon decided. "Are you not in trouble?"

No answer.

"Are you not in immediate danger?"

Now looking worried, the Pyramid King looked over at Ash's team. "Ash, it sounds like there might be trouble. Can I count on you for help?"

"Of course," Ash replied.

Brandon nodded, then turned back to Regigigas. "Is it more than a mile from here? More than two miles? More than three miles? More than four miles?"

"What are you doing?" Paul asked.

"If Regigigas says no to one of them, that's an upper limit on how far we need to go," Brandon answered. "Is there trouble more than five miles from here? More than six miles?"

"Wait, you need to rephrase that," Dawn pointed out. "Of course there's some trouble more than five miles from here."

"Good point," Brandon agreed. "Regigigas, is the trouble you're trying to deal with more than five miles from here? More than six miles?"

"Nothing is wrong," Regigigas intoned.

Dawn translated that one, then held up her hands. "Aaand now I'm completely lost."

"Hmmm..." Pikachu said, thinking.

"If nothing is wrong, why are you here?" Brandon tried.

"I think I know what's going on," Pikachu called. "It just occurred to me – Regigigas reacts really slowly. So maybe we're getting our questions answered in order?"

Ash translated that, and Brandon considered it – then blinked.

"...but we've asked a lot of questions," he said. "And I can't remember which ones I asked first.

"Pikachu's suggestion has merit," Suicune decided. "We should wait until the questions are all handled, then we can have a proper conversation."

She held up a paw. "Do you have tea here?"


Some considerable time later, everyone was seated out on the porch. Samuel had found two tables and pushed them together, and a half-empty plate of biscuits graced the middle of each table.

Paul had left about half an hour ago.

"The Golems," Regigigas declared.

"Do those biscuits work with yellow tea?" Brandon asked. "This is a new variety on me."

"I don't know, I haven't tried one yet," Suicune replied.

Mewtwo waved his hand, levitating a steaming cup of tea over, and Suicune took it carefully in both paws before taking a sip.

"Very nice, thanks," she complimented him, and put the teacup down before retrieving a biscuit. Breaking it in half with a delicate claw, she dipped one of the broken halves into the tea – taking care not to let her paws touch the liquid.

Withdrawing it after a second or so and taking a bite, she frowned slightly. "I fear it doesn't work, I'm afraid… I think it would work better with dim sum."

"I'm… sorry?" Brandon asked, confused. "That gang of criminals from Almia?"

"Oh – no, no, sorry for being unclear," Suicune chuckled. "I mean the food."

"That would make more sense," the Pyramid King allowed.

He shook his head. "You are not exactly what I imagined a Legendary Pokémon to be like in conversation – my own trio are stout battlers and fine Pokémon, but they are not exactly talkative."

"I think that is in their nature," Suicune replied. "Mewtwo, you have studied this more than me..."

I agree, somewhat, Mewtwo said. I think both of us would agree that Pokémon who we would expect to have the same nature can vary wildly, much as with humans – compare yourself to your brothers, for example.

"So, it's kind of… Legendary Pokémon differ as much as anyone else," Ash said slowly. "But because there are so many stories about them, the bits we remember are the bits which fit the stories and the rest of it gets kind of forgotten. Like how people think Absol are sinister, even though they spend most of their time trying to help people."

Exactly, Mewtwo agreed.

He paused. And I notice that Regigigas has not said anything for a few minutes.

"Right," Brandon realized. "So… what should we say?"

"I had an idea about that," Dawn told them. "We know Regigigas mentioned the Golems, right? So the first question would be asking if he – I, uh, guess Regigigas is a he? - wants to meet your Golem friends."

"That sounds like a good plan," Brandon agreed, and stood. "Regigigas – I am a Pokémon trainer who has Regirock, Regice and Registeel as part of my team. Have you come to meet them?"

"And, while we wait for the answer, might I suggest we try something else?" Lucario recommended.

"Someone's going to need to stay close enough to hear what Regigigas says, and translate it," Brock pointed out.

"True," Lucario agreed. "My idea didn't involve us going too far, don't worry."


"I have come seeking the Golems," Regigigas declared.

"What did he-" Brandon began, then stopped before it got treated as another question.

"He said he'd come seeking the Golems," Dawn told him.

"Hmm..." Brandon mused, thinking about the next thing to ask – trying to come up with a way to get the most information with the fewest questions.

As he did, Pikachu, Lucario and Ash faced one another down. They were tensed, ready to act on on a moments' notice.

Latios put a card down between them, adding to the pile.

Then another.

Then another – and there was a sudden blur of movement, all three slamming their hand, paw or tail down on the pile with a bang.

"Snap!" Pikachu called.

Ash and Lucario both raised their palms, revealing that Pikachu's tail had got in first.

"I think that puts me in first place," Pikachu said, collecting the eight cards he'd just gained. "Okay, Latios, next!"

"Regigigas," Brandon said. "Why do you seek the Golems?"


Ambipom whipped one of her hand-tails across, striking the tennis ball with a thwack. It curved away from her, tugged to the side by the string, and arced around in a half-circle – until Kari struck it with the flat of her blade.

The ball promptly and completely reversed direction, flying back towards Ambipom, and the Normal-type promptly swung to reverse it again – sending the ball back and forth between the two in a thwack-thwack-thwack sequence which built up more and more with each hit.

"Where did they even find the swingball set?" Dawn asked, watching.

"I think it was in Ash's bag," Brock shrugged. "With so much space, we may as well carry whatever might be useful."

"I seek the Golems because I am lonely," Regigigas declared.

"Huh," Dawn said. "So that's why."

She repeated what Regigigas had said for Brandon, and the Pyramid King frowned in thought.

"I might need to give this a few minutes," he said. "To decide what to say and do, I mean."


"Would you mind giving it a test?" Crobat asked.

"I wouldn't mind at all," Absol replied. She closed her eyes, and lay down.

Crobat landed just in front of her, cleared his throat a little, and began weaving a complex net of sound around her.

The trick had begun as echolocation, though what Crobat had done with it had left it almost unrecognisable. Instead of a single sound pulse to get information, or even a modulated one to get extra detail about the subject, Crobat's sound-waves were more like Supersonic – something which could affect another Pokémon.

Crobat wasn't out to confuse, though.

From Absol's point of view, she was suddenly a moving auditory viewpoint – travelling at what seemed like a steady speed through a market, with different voices coming closer and then dropping away behind her to either side.

"I think you will like this deal!"

"Come and buy my silks, they are wondrous!"

"Shoes shined, shoes shined, any time you want!"

Absol turned her head, and the sounds changed to match – some becoming louder, others becoming quieter, and a few shifting from one ear to the other.

"This is very impressive," she said, eyes still closed. "I think this test is a success."

The sounds vanished, and Absol opened her eyes to see Crobat raising a wing to his throat.

"Are you all right?" she checked.

"It's okay, I'm still getting used to doing it," Crobat explained. "The downside is that it takes a while to construct the whole sound environment… I need to improve it a lot more before it's anything other than a party piece."

"Still deserves praise," Absol smiled. "Good work."


"Okay, so… we know Regigigas has been lonely," Brandon said. "And he wanted to spend time with my Golems… but..."

He frowned. "Suicune? What does Regigigas actually do?"

"Regigigas placed the continents in their fit places," Suicune answered. "And by that I mean Regigigas, plural, rather than singular. There are many, and they are all around the world where they rested when their labours were done."

"Right," Brandon replied, thinking. "So Regigigas don't do anything currently?"

"One did help us out when everything was collapsing in Gracidea Vale," Ash supplied. "But I think that was just because it was nearby and helping."

"That's a good point," Brandon said. "Thank you, Ash."

He frowned. "I was wondering what would be best to do to keep Regigigas happy without causing too much disruption. I know it might sound a bit selfish, but I'd rather not have to say goodbye to Regirock, Regice and Registeel."

"That is not selfishness," Suicune supplied. "To have earned the allegiance of three Golems – and your Heatran, as well – you are clearly an able and deserving trainer, whose Pokémon respect you."

She gave a graceful shrug. "I think that your Golems would prefer that you consider whether they would make the choice themselves."

Brandon considered that, and nodded. "Thank you."

He approached Regigigas. "Regigigas! I ask that you listen to what we can do, before deciding which you think would be best!"

The Pyramid King began counting off. "I could promise to come here to visit every so often, so you got to see my Golems at least once every few months. I could ask them whether they would rather leave to join you. Or you could come with me, in the Battle Pyramid – though you would have to leave Snowpoint Temple behind. Either as my Pokémon or just following me from place to place."

Spreading his hands, Brandon looked up. "Which do you prefer?"

Once he'd said his piece, silence fell – apart from the occasional whack where Gabite was playing dodgeball with Buneary, Croagunk and Geodude.

"Is this what it's like having a conversation with someone on Mars, Mewtwo?" Brock asked. "The time delay?"

It has some similarities, Mewtwo agreed. After a certain point it's easier to do it desynchronously – like online messaging, I suppose. You don't hang around waiting for the response, you record a response and send it, and you can do something else in the wait time."

"Huh, that does make sense," Brock said, rubbing his chin. "It's a lot easier than just having awkward pauses everywhere, and otherwise it's kind of like sending letters."

Regigigas moved, drawing their attention, and shifted to examine Brandon more closely.

Then he turned and ran off towards Snowpoint temple, with a WHAM wham wham sound receding into the distance.

"I… don't really know how to take that," Brandon admitted. "He didn't say anything, right?"

"I didn't hear anything," Ash supplied. "Regigigas are really fast when they're warmed up, though."

"I suspect they originally awoke more quickly," Suicune said. "But yes, they are fast and powerful once readied."

She frowned into the distance. "I'm not sure what's going on here, though..."

Regigigas came sprinting back towards them, raising clouds of dust and smashed ice as he came, and as he got closer they noticed a large chunk of ice under his arm.

"Huh," Suicune muttered, tilting her head. "That looks a lot like the pillar of ice that Regigigas has in his inner chamber."

The Normal-type charged past them into the Battle Pyramid, then emerged at just as high a speed sans ice pillar.

"I… think that might be your answer," Dawn said. "He seems to be moving in."

"Oh," Brandon blinked. "Okay. I… that was not what I expected."

"I'll… go and check where would be a good place for Regigigas to stay," Samuel volunteered. "There should be somewhere on the lowest deck where the floor can take three pillars and Regigigas without much trouble."

"Thank you," Brandon said. "And thank you all as well for helping me understand what was going on."

Regigigas shot past with a rock pillar, dropped it off, then ran back again.

"No problem!" Ash replied. "You needed help with a Legendary problem, and I… kinda help out with a lot of those anyway."

"At this point I think it's Ash's job," Brock added. "The League and Battle Frontier thing is and was sort of a sideline."

Regigigas arrived with a steel pillar, put it next to the other two, then ran off.

"...wait, we saw all the pillars," Dawn said. "What's this?"

They watched as Regigigas vanished off towards Snowpoint temple, then came back a minute or so later with a box.

This time, when he entered the Battle Pyramid, he did not come out again.

"I think that was whatever possessions he wanted to take with him," Lucario said, after a few seconds.

"I kind of wonder what they are, now..." Brandon said to himself.


"That was nice," Dawn pronounced. "We got to do a good deed, and say hello to Brandon again…"

"Much nicer than dealing with Hunter J," Ash agreed. "But, now I'm kind of wondering… we're going to reach Michina soon, right?"

"That's right," Brock confirmed. "And that's… going to be all sorts of a headache."

"Wasn't that the one where you changed history?" Absol asked. "I remember you mentioned it. Something about having gone back in time to save Arceus and ending up creating a legend?"

"Yeah, but this is what worries me," Brock replied. "So last time, Arceus had been misled and was trying to destroy Michina to get payback, but Dialga sent us back in time to fix things. But this time around, things… seem to already be fixed? I think? But that might mean we don't go back in time, and if we don't go back in time then what happens to the us who were already there in the past, when they go forwards in time?"

He waved his hand. "And if we're not back there because we didn't go back, then things won't be already fixed and so we will need to go back in time! It was confusing enough when we changed history but we got back to the future before the change did, so we saw time changing around us, but at least then Dialga was involved. But now?"

Absol blinked.

"I… think this one might be a bit beyond me," she admitted.

"There was what Celebi said, once, isn't there?" Pikachu suggested. "About how if you don't have a headache, you're understanding time travel wrong?"


"...problem is really about the projectile, more than anything," Pikachu explained, as they walked along the road. "I can fire something magnetic with a coil-gun or something conductive with a rail-gun, but most Pokémon aren't really either. So I need some way to make it so it does work for them, but it seems kind of odd – and awkward – to carry around a big iron bar to hand them."

"Pity, I like the idea of a ring-out by firing the other Pokémon off the map," Lucario said.

I can do it, if I wish, Mewtwo noted. I tend to prefer fighting in a different way, though, if only to keep in reserve the ability to simply pick up a Pokémon and throw them away.

"I can see why that would be a thing to use in only really serious situations," Brock agreed.

"Excuse me?" a voice asked. "You are Ash Ketchum, yes?"

Ash turned. "Yeah, that's me – wait, I know you… Looker, right?"

"It is me," Looker confirmed. "Though I am unsure how you knew my name, it does not matter now. I wished to speak to you about a matter of the greatest importance."

I'm sorry, I don't think we have been introduced, Mewtwo said. I am Mewtwo, Legendary Pokémon. Yourself?

"Well, as you have heard, I am called Looker," the man replied. "I am with the international police, so it happens. And I have been investigating a problem in Sinnoh for some time, which I was hoping you could be of assistance with."

"In case anyone is wondering, it's okay to talk to him," Absol supplied.

"Well, I guess we wouldn't mind helping," Ash replied. "What brings you to Sinnoh?"

"Ah, it is a long story," Looker told him, heading over to a nearby boulder and sitting down. "It is not, perhaps, one which I have been assigned to specifically, but it is one which I decided required my attention, yes?"

"Yes?" Ash repeated, a little confused.

"Good," Looker pronounced. "Now, I will not bore you with the details of how, but it has become apparent to me that there is some major criminal activity going on in Sinnoh which simply has not come to the attention of the authorities."

He waved his hand. "I do not mean Team Rocket, of course. Team Rocket is known of, yes, and what they do is clear. This other thing… is not. And it seems that people do not pay attention to them."

"Wait…" Brock said, frowning. "Do you mean Team Galactic?"

"Who are Team Galactic?" Absol asked, worried. "Why haven't I heard about them before now?"

"You have," Dawn told her. "They're just really easily forgotten – whenever we tell someone, they just forget."

"Hmm, interesting," Looker said, frowning. "That there is an actual villainous team involved would make sense, but this talk of forgetting… it is worrying to me. How is it that you can remember?"

"We got involved in a time travel thing," Ash answered. "And part of that involved Uxie, Mesprit and Azelf, so some of us can remember Team Galactic even with whatever it is going on."

"Team who?" Looker asked, paused, then held up a hand. "No, do not tell me. It is clear to me what is going on."

He closed his hand, leaving just one finger pointing up. "We are talking about something, but it is something which we cannot properly talk about. Thus it is very dangerous, simply because we cannot know what it is doing."

Looker rested his elbow in the palm of his other hand. "What this means then is that I must continue my investigation, but be careful about how deeply I go. I must build up an outline of where something is not, rather than go in to look where it is."

"That… sounds impressive," Brock said. "I mean, a lot of people have just forgotten about this kind of thing after we've explained it, and that includes Legendary Pokémon."

"Hmm..." Looker mused. "Perhaps it is a part of being an investigator, I am quite used to feeling around the edges of a problem.

"You can probably talk to Cynthia about this as well," Ash told him. "And, actually, there are some Rocket guys who could help you out. The ones with the Meowth."

Looker took a note in a spiral-bound notebook, nodding, then flipped the page over and made several more notes.

"I think it seems that I will have a lot to look into," Looker decided. "Thank you for your help, I see I was right to think you were the person to ask."

"Why did you choose to ask Ash?" Dawn inquired.

"It is because of how he is around when many of these odd events happen," Looker answered. "There is something which causes damage on Iron Island, unexplained despite the witnesses, and Ash Ketchum is there. There is some kind of unseasonal rainstorm at Lake Valor; Ash Ketchum is there. Some important objects disappeared from a museum with nobody the wiser; the same."

He gave Ash a nod. "Please understand – I do not think you are involved yourself, because other events happened when you were nowhere near. But I made the guess you would be helpful, and I can see I was quite correct."

The detective closed his notebook, and stood. "I am afraid I have little time to spare, but since I have taken your own time I must offer you something in payment."

He frowned, one hand on his chin, then brightened. "Perhaps you would accept a lunchbox?"


"That's good," Denae said, nodding. "You dealt with an unusual type of terrain inventively and with the help of both your Pokémon."

Iris smiled, glad for the praise, though most of her attention was on recovering her breath after another exhausting bout of physical training.

After making sure she wasn't gasping any more, she raised a hand. "Where did you even find a three-dimensional maze of roots?"

"I asked Giratina to look for something interesting," Denae told her. "There's nothing wrong with using any of the available assets, after all."

"That makes sense, yeah," Iris admitted. "So, uh… right, what now? I think it's about time to eat… though I'm nearly out of rations."

"That's actually not a bad thing, you brought enough for several days," Denae assured her. "I didn't tell you to, so it shows you're getting used to bringing what you need automatically."

Iris smiled at the compliment. "So… it is time to eat, right?"

"Yes, and we should be heading back some time today or tomorrow," her tutor told her. "It's been quite a demanding field trip-"

Iris snorted at the description, then blushed slightly.

"-and you've held up very well," Denae continued without a pause. "I'm impressed."

Excuse me, Guanna requested. I'm afraid Giratina has an appointment elsewhere. If you want a home portal he'll have to generate it soon.

"All right," Denae said, nodding. "It's a little earlier than I was hoping, but it should be fine to head back now."

I'll go and give him his alert call, Guanna stated, manifesting the blue-pink vector body of a Porygon and floating off around the small island of terrain they were currently resting on.

"This has been an amazing experience for me, as well," Denae told her pupil. "I never believed I'd have a chance to spend so much time visiting the home of one of the Creation Dragons…"

She shook her head. "It's always good to have new experiences, but this is a really new one."


Giratina, this is your twelve hour alert, Guanna stated. You wanted to know when Ash and his friends were going to reach Michina; they'll set out for the day in twelve hours.

"I did, yes," Giratina said. The golden-armoured dragon frowned for a moment, then nodded in realization. "Ah, I see, the time zones."

Yes, Guanna confirmed.

The Porygon emitted an electronic noise. By the way, how are you intending to get back to Sinnoh?

"Travel in my World is somewhat easier than in the world of humans," Giratina replied. "I will simply fly at maximum speed directly towards Sinnoh; I have no need to follow the curve of the surface."

He coiled, shifting to fly back towards the Dragon Tamers. "But first I should send Iris and her companion home."

Or, Guanna noted, and this is just a suggestion, you could transit through to the human world, then you could use the transceiver that I have, then you could set off from somewhere like Pallet Town, or Twinleaf Town. Or Ash's pocket.

"That would be somewhat less tiring, yes," Giratina admitted.


AN:


So this is, somewhat, a breather chapter. That's because of what's coming next...