The Beginning in Kalos RIP

by BardofWorlds

As Ash attempts to win the Kalos League, he reunites with old rivals, friends and meets new ones while threats he dealt with and ancient forces begin to awaken from slumber, heroes rise to face them. In the end everything is connected and the destiny of many is not what they expect but one that they will love. Ash/harem Clemont/OC muilti story plot/ many stories united at the end

7. Chapter 7

So here's chapter 7 and I have an announcement, I'm cross-posting over at under the same name as here. That site was where I found some great authors and the guidelines and review system are a bit looser so check it, drop some reviews and check out my profile over there for updates on story progress and leave some reviews to let me know what you think about it. And I'm sorry this chapter is a bit late, RL hit me a bit hard lately and my muse was dead for a while, so sorry and enjoy and I'll try to get a new chapter as soon as possible

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"Come on guys!" Bonnie called as she ran head of the group as the party walked toward the Contest Hall. They had all been woken early and had met a mass of people who were going to the contest either to compete or watch, so after a breakfast they were now walking towards the contest hall. Lilith was smiling as she walked with them, she had released her Skorupi with orders to go to the boys shower and cocoon any black hair it could find and wait for her to get back in the vents. With some luck she would have a possible second hand DNA source to send home.

"So have you decided on what Pokémon to use yet?" Clemont asked as they walked.

"I've narrowed it down to two of them. I think I'll decide when I see what the competition…" Lilith trailed off as she saw the grounds in front of the Hall. An assortment of both male and female trainers were milling about, some of them with their Pokémon out and from what she was able to see the type that was most eminent were Fairy and Bug. Seeing what she was up against she mentally made her choices and a sinister smirk grew on her face as she before she felt a hand on her shoulder, turning to look at Serena who had a frown on her face.

"Are you okay Lilly? You're looking weird." Serena said as Ash and Clemont turned and looked at her. She quickly brought her face back under control and sent a small smile at her friends.

"I'm fine, I just made my choice on who to use in what round and I think I might have a good chance to win this thing." Lilith said as she gave a small laugh. Ash looked like he was going to say something but a sound to their left caught their attention.

"Watch Out!" A voice called before someone crashed into Clemont. Clemont opened her eyes and meet aqua green eyes under green colored hair on a heart shaped girl's face close to his own. Clemont started to blush when he felt their legs were interwoven together and noticed the girl's long hair was on his face.

"Are you okay? Here let me help you up." Ash said as he reached down and helped the girl to her feet. Now that Clemont could see her better the girl was around their age and was wearing a blue shirt and black tights with a helmet on her head. She had on rollerblades and giving the hill behind her the cause of their crash was obvious. She had a bit of blue lip gloss and looked like someone who would be at home in the wilds, but Lilith saw a hint of class in the way she held herself. A backpack and a small purse on the ground completed her outfit and a yarn showed she had rushed to get ready and leave where she had bunked.

"Sorry about that, you guys walked through my landing spot and I was in midair before I saw you. The name's Nimue Mistborn, and you can call me Nim." She said as she leaned against a railing alongside the hill and looked at the people before her, looking right at Clemont, not noticing the look Lilith sent her. Lilith threw her hand out and shot a smile at her when she turned and looked at her.

"Hi I'm Lilly! Are you competing or watching the Contest?" Lilith asked as she sent a forced smile at Nimue.

"Competing, so I guess I might be fighting you in the finals. And the rest of you are?" Nimue said as she shook Lilith's hand and saw Bonnie run to stand next to her brother.

"I'm Clemont, this is my sister Bonnie and our friends Ash and Serena." Clemont said as Serena bowed to her and Ash gave a wave. While the other started to make small talk with Nimue Lilith looked at the teen before her, something about her had her on edge, some feeling she last had back Home when... Lilith's eye's widened when she remembered when she had felt this last, was it possible, was she? Something about her stare got through to Nimue and she rolled past them toward the doors.

"Well it was nice talking with you all; see you on the floor and good luck with the others!" She called as she rolled towards the doors.

"She seems, nice I guess. Think her performance will be mobile?" Ash asked as he looked at where Nimue had been.

"No she a bit of class about her, I'm thinking the opposite of what we expect. She's probably going to be trouble if I make it through the appeal round." Lilith said as she went over what her team could do. A descision made she turned to Serena and Bonnie and smiled at them.

"So you two want to help me get ready?" Lilith asked as she smiled as she looked at them. Bonnie perked up and Serena returned her smile.

"So while the two of us help Lilly what will you two do?" Serena asked as she looked at Ash and Clemont.

"Me and Clemont will get some seats near the top or front, I'll leave my bag and go get you two after you're done helping her. Good luck Lilly." Ash answered as he and Clemont walked toward the entrance for the audience.

"Be good Bonnie." Clemont told Bonnie as he and Ash left the girls. Unseen by all a figure had heard the crash and had gave a start when he recognized Ash among the group, slipping into shadows cast by the buildings so he wouldn't notice him.

The figure walked into the light, revealing a man with purple hair in green cloths with a green hat looked at Ash and his group as they walked into the building. He had seen Ash and Clemont walk into the building and Bonnie and Serena walk after and a smile grew on his face.

"Well, well, well. Ash Ketchum's in Kalos! And either May May isn't with him or she's inside already. One thing's for sure, it will be quite a championship this year." He said as he strolled towards registration with a spring in his steps. Whatever he did on the circuit, he'll probably stay around for the championship.

Lilith smiled as she walked toward the check in station, she was traveling with the prince…no with Ash and some new friends and she was back on the Contest Circuit, this was one of her better missions ever. Now all she needed to register and she was golden. Bonnie and Serena walked behind her each with smile on their faces.

"Hello, here to register for the contests?" A woman with long black hair in a green tube top and skirt asked as she smiled with green lips.

"Yes, I'm Lil lly. Lilly." Lilth said as she handed over her Pokédex. She had changed her name and deleted the data about her home, putting down her home as a small island that Chimera destroyed a few months after she had 'left on her journey' three years ago. Those from the island had been relocated to the homeland so it and other locations like it were used for cover on assignments out of their lands, so it would stand up if people looked into it.

"Well you're registered. Here's a Ribbon Case you'll need, one side is for the Regular Ribbons, the other is for the Grand Ribbons. Your Pokédex will open the door to changing room 56, you have half an hour until the contest begins, and you need to select which of your Pokémon to use for each round, as of the rules for this Contests you can't use the same Pokémon in both rounds." The green woman said as she handed over a Ribbons case and Lilith's Pokédex. Lilith smiled as Bonnie grabbed her free hand and walked into the hall, this was going to be fun.

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Brock smiled as sipped a cup of coffee as he walked through Viridian City, he had a good talk with SandyLady last night, the weather was sunny for the next few days and today his favorite coffee shop had had a sale as part of their tenth anniversary celebration, today was looking to be a good one.

"Morning Doc, need a ride to the Center?" A voice caused him to turn and see Officer Jenny on her motorcycle giving him a small smile.

"Morning Officer Jenny, no, I think a walk is just what I need today, what about you having a good morning so far." Brock said as gave her a wave with his free hand.

"Top ten on the radio, a good breakfast and the weather channel said a tornado is due to hit the region in the next few days, so same old same old. I'm heading over to the airport to talk to them about when they'll have to shut down." Officer Jenny said as she shrugged.

"Expecting any trouble with that?" Brock questioned as he had a troubled look on his face.

"No more than usual when this happens. The egg heads at the league said they have a project to migrate the force of the wind, but you know how they are with their last project in Pewter City a few months back." Jenny said with a sight, drawing a wince from Brock.

"You mean when they tried to build a dam and caused a landslide that almost covered the city and caused the Pokémon in the mountains to attack the city because their food sources had been destroyed?" Brock questioned with dread. Sometime the League's projects worked and sometimes they ended badly for everyone around the site.

"Yeah so I better get to the Airport and check in on the Pallet office about a report I got about a Rattata horde that attacked two trainers, talk to you latter Doctor." Jenny said before she drove off. Brock gave a small sighed and walked off with a smile on his face. Talking with Jenny was one of the good things about living in this city, that and the Poker games she, his teacher and Nurse Joy got up to every weekend.

As he walked toward the Pokémon Center he stopped when he saw an ambulance speed past him around the corner leading to the Pokémon Center that filled him with a sense of dread. He broke into a run, dashing around the corner, seeing the Center's parking lot already half full of cars and people running toward the building holding their Pokémon, Brock stared at the scene before him to drop his cup and run into the Center.

Brock entered the building at a run and saw a scene of pure chaos! Doctors and nurses ran all over, with humans looking worried of all ages around the front chamber, his fellow students mixed around checking on the Pokémon. Brock hadn't seen such a scene of pure chaos in all his life. The only think this resembled were plague outbreaks he had studied in the past. Was this a new plague, a viral outbreak or was it a reaction to a fungal spread?

"Brock, thank Arceus you finally made it! I need you to handle any patients without a doctor or nurse looking over them! Once you've got a handle on what's wrong with the patient send them to a room with an empty bed and move on to the next." His teacher's voice called as Brock brought himself back to the present. I can think about this later, I have to help the Pokémon first. Brock thought to himself as he ran toward a Nidorina and her trainer. The Nidorina was lying down on a cart and her trainer was stoking her and whispering to her, she looked at Brock with relief that almost caused him to wince.

"When did she start to show symptoms, does she have a regular apatite when she woke up this morning?" Brock question as he started to examine the Nidorina before him.

"She was a bit sluggish this morning and she just passed out while she was eating breakfast, so she's been like this for about an hour, I came over as soon as I could recall her to her ball." The trainer told him as Brock shined a light into the Poison Pin Pokémon's eye. Not responsive to stimulation, sleepy and the moaning shows she's feeling some pain. No broken bones and no blood from the mouth, so maybe no internal bleeding. Brock thought as he felt along the Pokémon's limbs, whatever was wrong with the Pokémon, he would try to fix it.

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Nicolas walked out of the mountain with his Teddiursa at his side. The hunt was due to depart soon and his lord, no Good Sylvestre. This hunt was to let him see the person Sylvestre was and decide if he want to follow him, which had already gotten him major points for his honor and beliefs. Still the hunt would be a good chance to learn and make some allies, and talk away from the mountain. Some of the new members, he needed to talk with someone who had been here longer as a Knight, maybe they would know anything about where they came from.

"You must be the kid the boss said was coming with us." A gruff voice said to his right. The person walking towards him was taller than him, black hair in a topknot wearing a green cloak over a green shirt and pants.

"The names Dante, the tracker for this little jaunt." He said and offered his right hand. Nicolas reached for before a giant purple hand grabbed his hand and shook it vigorously.

"And this little prankster is my partner, Haunter." He continued as the Ghost type revealed itself as it laughed with a smile on its face.

"Pleased to meet you both. This is my partner, Teddiursa." Nicolas said as he recovered and his Teddiursa stared into the Ghost Type's eyes, the Haunter just smirked at the Teddiursa before the Normal Type held up a paw and let dark energy flow over its claws.

"Play nice you two, now come on, the rest of the party should be ready. And you need this." Dante said as he passed Nicolas a glove with a blue gem on the back. Nicolas just took the glove and put it on his left hand.

"So we will be using golems on the hunt?" Nicolas asked as they moved down the mountain toward the forest.

"We'll be riding on Lupine Chargers, there the best thing to ride on to hunt in the forest. And there they are." Dante said as he pointed forward, causing Nicolas to follow his hand.

At the base of the mountain was Good Sylvestre standing with thirteen Squires readying four Lupine Chargers, wooden wolf like golems with jade gems for eyes and claws and teeth made out of emerald colored crystals. It had a wooden saddle on its back with a blue gemstone just before the saddle near the neck of the neck of the golem. Also by the forest were 12 Carrier Lizards, golems made in the shape of lizards with wooden open boxes on their back.

"So we'll be using the Chargers to move and the Carriers to transport our bounty?" Nicolas said as the four of them moved toward the golems.

"Indeed, the Carriers and Squires will hand what we kill and defend it. With the three Chargers we will run down our prey and kill them." Sylvestre answered as he walked over and clasped Dante's hand.

"Thank you for coming along old friend, it will be better with someone like you along. And Knight Nicolas, I thank you for coming along on my punishment." Sylvestre continued as he led them the golems and directed them to one each.

"But there are four Chargers?" Nicolas asked as he put the glove on the blue gem of one of the Chargers.

"The last one is for one of the Squires, so he has something to get us if they need us fast. Now come, our hunt shall be in the forests along Victory road itself, let us find our prey my friends!" Sylvestre cried out as he raised his rapier high to calls of agreement from the others as they all mounted a golem, with the squires ridding the Charger leading the other squires with the Knights in front the party set out for the hunting ground.

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Lilith smiled as she sat in the dressing room as Serena applied some lipstick to her face. Bonnie and Serena had help her get into her dress Serena had directed Bonnie in applying blush and mascara before she had gone to the bathroom.

"Thanks for this Serena; you and Bonnie really helped me out a lot. I have to say you have an eye for fashion and makeup." Lilith said as she gave herself a once over as her Pokémon's floated next to her. She had decided on one dress but Serena had helped her choose a necklace and earrings, and Bonnie had helped with her hair.

"Thanks, I told you about mom's career and well mom kind of trained me in the sport since I turned ten, and well, fashion magazines and books became an escape for me. And sometimes when mom had parties to go to some of her friends helped her put a mask on as she would say and they taught me a little bit about it." Serena said as emotions flew behind her eyes. Lilith looked at Serena with a blank face but inside she was frowning, Lady Carmila had taught her a lot about people minds and how to feel them, Serena felt had a few issues with how her mother raised her, what she was pushed towards but for all Lilith want to help her she knew that Serena had to work through it herself.

"Still you have a gift, you should think about it when you decide on your future." Lilith said as she gently squeezed Serena's shoulder who answered it with a smile. If what Lilith thought she felt when she meet her, her future would be in the Homeland no matter what happened, and she knew a few people who could do with an apprentice.

"Anyhow I think Clemont is going to like the way you look Lilly." Serena teased Lilith and was rewarded with Lilith blushing.

"And how would Ash react if you dressed up a bit Serena?" Lilith countered and laughed as Serena blushed this time. Serena grabbed a small pillow and hit Lilith on the head with it.

"Watch the face; I don't want to put this stuff on again so soon!" Lilith laughed as she grabbed for the pillow.

Bonnie ran through the hallway, dodging people in costumes and Pokémon as she moved back towards the dressing room. This was incredible, the costumes were so colorful and the atmosphere was amazing, she had thought that the Showcase was the only way to perform with Pokémon but this showed that there was so much more out there. Her attention was so caught up with what was around her that she never noticed the figure who stepped in front of her until she bumped into him.

"You should watch where you're going kid." A voice said as a hand reached down and Bonnie grabbed it. The person who helped her up was a purple haired man in green cloths.

"Sorry Mr. I want to get back to my friends and all these people in their costumes just took my attention." Bonnie said as she rubbed the back of her head.

"Just be more careful in the future kid, say weren't you walking with Ash Ketchum outside?" The man asked as he looked at her closely. Bonnie felt something about his look, something that felt bad, that reminded her of the feeling she got before those boys attacked her.

"Yeah, do you know Ash?" Bonnie asked as she slowly reached for her satchel and Dedenne, ready to release him and have him shock Harley.

"You could say that the two of us are acquainted. Say, what's your name?" The man asked as he looked at her. Bonnie looked into his eyes and she felt a twitch of fear, his stare was, there just was something wrong about it.

"My name's Bonnie, hello." Bonnie said as she put her hand on her bag over Dedenne, feeling him wake up from his nap, feeling Bonnie's fingers on him Bonnie could feel him start to tense, ready to protect her if needed.

"It's charming to meet you Bonnie. When you see him tell him Harley said hi would ya sweetie? Well it was nice talking with you but I have to get ready for my performance." Harley said as he walked off and waved goodbye while he whistled a tune.

Bonnie just looked after him and walked back toward Serena and Lilith, that person seemed to be a very strange and dangerous man. Ash had talked at supper about some characters he had met while on his journeys around the regions, but he never mentioned Harely.

"There you are Bonnie, are you okay?" Serena's voice caused her notice the hallway was almost empty and the people in the hallway were heading toward the far end while a few well-wishers were heading the other way.

"Yeah, I just ran into someone who knows Ash." Bonnie said as she grabbed Serena's hand and walked toward the stage area.

"Someone who knows Ash, what were they like?" Serena asked Bonnie as they walked out of the backstage area.

"He said his name was Harley and I guess he was strange. He had a look in his eyes when he looked at me, when he said he saw us walking with Ash earlier. I didn't like it, I felt scared for a few seconds." Bonnie said as Dedenne stuck his head out of her bag and looked at Bonnie in concern. Serena eyes gained a hint of worry as she heard what Bonnie had to say and looked around nervously, seeing no one looking at them she pulled Bonnie faster toward where they would meet Ash and Clemont.

"Enjoy the show you two." Nimue voice caused the two to turn and look toward the voice to see Nimue in her costume peering out of her dressing room.

"You look beautiful Nimue!" Serena said as she and Bonnie looked at her.

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Brock staggered toward the beak room, he had finally finished with all the patients and he needed something to drink. Entering the room he saw his teacher, Dr. Ryouta Panacelon, a man with black hair in a black smock and pants over a white doctor's coat staring at a map of the city on the wall, next to him stood his wife Sayeko Panacelon a nurse who specialized in viral infections. Since he had come for his residency here in Viridian those two had helped him and taught him a lot about Pokémon medicine and he hoped that the hospital would be able to handle this outbreak.

"Your tracking where they live to find a common denominator, it started near the mountains?" Brock said as he got a glass of water and leaned against the sink. This was basic procedural for an outbreak, and hopeful it wouldn't spread to the rest of the region.

"Yeah, I think so, but I've consulted with trainers and only a few of them were even near the mountains within the last seventy-two hours, and not enough for all the cases we've seen. I sent Joy to do some blood work when the first ten cases came in, so we should have the result in a few minutes. What are the basic symptoms you've seen Doctor?" Dr. Ryouta asked as looked at his student. Brock gave a small smile as his teacher's wife sighed and shook her head, him and his teaching moments.

"Well, all Pokémon I've examined generally seem to be feeling pain and all have other symptoms; all Pokémon with fangs that I've examined, their mouths are red and puffy, Koffings and Weezings are having trouble regulating their gases content and are stuck close to the ground. Most Nidorino or Nidorina that I've examined are lethargic at best, unconscious at worst. Most Flying types are losing their feathers, Fire Types are cold and a Beedrill-" Brock began to report when a woman with pink hair in loops wearing a nurse's outfit ran in holding a piece of paper with a shocked look on her face.

"Ah, Joy! Did the blood work show any common-"Ryouta started to say when Nurse Joy interrupted him.

"It's a spore! What's affecting the Pokémon is a kind of spore!" Joy cut in and slammed the paper she was holding on the table.

"A spore?! What kind of spore could cause these symptoms in all these Pokémon?! And what does that do to the origin point?" Sayeko exclaimed as she looked over the data on Joy's paper. Brock looked over the data and started to look over the genetic data. Brock looked at it and something about it looked familiar.

"I don't know. I had the computers to look for any other changes in their biochemistry, thankfully a Seviper who had coming in for her yearly checkup was the source for one of the blood samples, so we should know any other changes soon." Joy said as she wrung her hands.

"For now the best we can do is make them as comfortable as possible. Put them on generic anti-fungal medicines as their size requires and Brock; what's wrong?" Ryouta said as the other people in the room turned to look at him with looks of worry on their faces.

"This spore, I think I've seen something like it before but I can't remember where or when. It's on the tip of my tongue but I can't remember where." Brock said as he shook his head. Ryouta shared a look with his wife and sighed.

"Until you can remember keep yourself busy with the other patients, I'll go and get a timeline of the last 48 hours from the trainers who are still here after I call the local stations, I'll use my authority to have them put out a warning to tell people keep watch over their Pokémon for symptoms. Sayeko, I need you to start giving out basic pain medicine and Joy, start trying to identify what kind of spore it is, check everything for even a partial match." Ryouta said as he walked toward the desk and phone.

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A young teenage boy with dark skin and spikey white hair in a black cloak over black pants and a red long shirt a scabbard on his back ran between white brick houses with a smile on his face, dodging people in similar cloaks and their Pokémon as he ran toward a house by a river that ran alongside the village. An old man with a white beard, a bald head wearing a white robs sat outside a house with a staff as he watched the boats on the river.

"Elder, Elder!" The teen called out as he ran toward the old man who turned and smiled when he saw who was coming towards him.

"Ahh, Bahadur, I was wondering when I would see you today. I am sorry it took so long for your Pokémon to arrive." He said with a smile as he led Bahadur into the house behind him. In the front room, on a red pillow was a Pokéballl which the Elder walked toward and picked up. He walked back toward Bahadur and smiled at him.

"You have passed the Trials of the Blade, mastering your Aura and walking with the Fire within yourself. You have done well, and you have earned the right to be a train Pokémon. May this little one grow under your care, and may this Pokédex help you both on your journey." He said as he handed the ball to Bahadur.

"Go Pokéball!" Bahadur said as he threw the ball away from him, it opened and released his chosen starter, a Magby who looked unsure of its new trainer.

"Hello, we're partners from now on little flame, my name is Bahadur." Bahadur said as he crouched down and stuck out his right hand. The Magby looked hesitant before it smiled and grabbed its trainer's hand with a smile.

"I was surprised that you decided on this one to start with boy'o, I was sure you would choose the Water or the Ground, few choose the Fire in this land." The Elder said as he watched the two begin to bond.

"No, young Aagha's father said that he would arrange for his son's first Pokémon and said that his son had a specific one in mind for his starter, but I can tell you it was of the Ground. Now be off with you, watch yourself and enjoy the rest of your day my boy. And here's your new Pokédex, its scanner can tell you all you need about your Pokémon's move, and don't forget to link it with your Quest Scanner." The Elder said as he pushed the two of them out the door.

"Come on partner, I'll show you around your new home. This is Sola's Rest, a small town named for its founder. Chief export is food for our section of the Desert Domain, that's where we live the Desert Domain of the continent. A land of sand and scattered towns, the river and oasis's are our lifeblood, find a source of water in the badlands and you can sell it to the government or be set for years by making it a homestead or town. And maybe I should see what moves you have." Bahadur said as opened his Pokédex as he led his Pokémon through the town. He didn't notice a rodent looking teen with black beady eyes in a black hooded cloak looking at them from the shadows of a nearby alley.

"Aagha gonna like this, the chance to put that one in his place again and maybe scare his Pokémon's mind. Patrat, let's make some money." The teen cackled as he threw a Pokéball, releasing a Patrat wearing a collar with a blinking light on its back. Pointing at the teen and the Fire type he gave his orders.

"Go follow those two, when they head toward the training field send me a signal." With his orders given the teen scuttled into the shadows of the alleys, running toward what he hoped would be a good payday for him, not noticing someone had been watching him from atop the building. The figure was wearing a black cloak and with a nod to a Meditite hovering next to the figure they started to move toward a set of docks by the river.

The rodent reached a walled complex, moving toward the back he climbed up a fake tree and slipped into the compound. He ran towards a two story building near the wall and knocked on a door toward the back. A female figure with glossy skin and vibrant green hair in a maid's uniform with black blue eyes opened the door.

"Do you need to see the master?" The mechanical voice from the figure coupled with the skin and eyes revealed her to a Homunculus.

"No words for you, I wanna talk to your master Dolly." The teen said as he pushed past it into the building, he walked until he reached a large chamber with many teens in red cloaks over red knee-length tunics and were leaning against the walls while three teenage boys were sitting around a table with food on it, but all were watching four female homunculus with dark crimson hair wearing purple tube tops and pants dance while other homunculus in the same clothing move about the room carrying plates of drink and food to the other teens in the chamber. The teen sitting in the middle was a red head with red eyes and wearing a golden version of the tunics the others were warring. The two on his sides both had dark hair and wore black knee-length tunics.

"Are you having fun playing with your dolls, great master?" The teen's voice rang out causing the others in the chamber barring the dancers and servants to turn to look at him

"Rat, so do you want to offer me now?" The voice came from the teen in the golden tunic as the others let their boss speak.

"How about the location of your unworthy foe master Aagha; what would the location of that one and his first Pokémon be worth in coin?" the named Rat asked as he was meet with a smirk from Aagha and grins from those around the chamber.

"The chance to beat him is worth some coin." Aagha answered with a wicked smirk as the others started to laugh evilly.

"Serena, I'm over here!" Ash called to Serena and Bonnie when he saw them through the crowd. The smile on his face slipped when he saw the frown on Serena's face and the way she was holding Bonnie's hand. He looked at Pikachu who nodded at him and moved its tail toward the door. Ash forced himself to smile at Bonnie and pointed toward the open doorway to the stands.

"Clemont and I got some seats in the top row in the Center, why don't you go ahead of us and Serena and I'll go get some snacks? Pikachu, go show her where the seats are." Ash said, promting Pikachu to jump in font of Bonnie and walk off with her following him. Ash turned to Serena who was looking back the way she and Bonnie had come from, when she turned back to Ash and when she saw the look on his face she sighed.

"It's nothing, Bonnie just went to the bathroom and she ran into someone you know on the way back. She said he felt wrong to her so I just hurried over to you and Clemont." Serena said as Ash looked confused for a few seconds before he gained a resigned look.

"Someone I know? Someone who felt, it was here and near the changing rooms so they have to be a Coordinator, and it's a he….Did she say his name was either Drew or Harley?" Ash said as he looked worried.

"She said his name was Harley. Do you have a history with him?" Serena asked when she saw a scowl grow on Ash's face. Ash gritted his teeth as his mind boiled. It has to be that purple haired schemer! I just hope he doesn't plan to mess with Lilly because she knows me. He looked at Serena and saw the worried look on her face and adopted a small smile to put Serena's mind at ease.

"A Coordinator I traveled with had a rivalry with him that was all one-sided on his part, he went out of his way to attack, embarrass and sabotage her, and he might have even worked with Team Rocket once, I wasn't sure at the end. I just hope he doesn't decide to attack Lilly." Ash said as he looked around and notice the condensation stand.

"So I was thinking a small Popcorn for Bonnie, Clemont wanted a pretzel and you?" Ash said as he grabbed Serena's hand and walked toward it, not noticing the blush this generated as they walked.

When Ash and Serena returned to where he had left Clemont, Ash saw that Bonnie had looked calm and mouthed 'latter' in reaction to the look Clemont shot Ash. Clemont looked he would have said something when the lights started to darken as a spotlight shinned down on the green girl from the registration desk holding a mike in her hands.

"Welcome one and all the first ever general Pokémon Contest! Here in Kalos we have the Showcase, and while that well and good, it's for girls only! So to try something new in general, for the next year Contests will be held until the League Tournament where everyone in Kalos will vote to decide if this will keep going! For the Contests around this area I'll be your commenter, Leafra's the name so don't you forget it! The judges for this Contest will be Santalune City;s own Nurse Joy, the vice president Pokémon Fan Club Mr. Glomong and yours truly! And now may the Contest begin!" She said as the speakers around the stage boomed out her words.

After a few while Ash turned and looked at Bonnie's face, seeing the awe and wonder the performances so far had been breath taking to the girl, to Ash who had been to two Grand Festivals it was okay. But he looked up from his dex when he saw the lights dim, wondering who was up next.

"Well let's give a big hand for that performance! Up next we have Harely!" Leafra voice cried out as a spotlight shined on the entrance. Harely walked out waving a folding fan imperilessly at the crowd, dressed like a Pokélantis Senator in a green toga with a crown of golden leaves, his Cacturne at his side as they walked to the center of the stage and began

"First Spikes!" Harley commanded before his Cacturne started to spin, sending six green spikes form its body that formed a circle around the two of them.

"Grass Knot and Growth!" The command had the Cacturne eyes grow green as plants started to grow around the spikes before it shot the plants with a white beam that caused them to grow six feet tall around the spikes.

"Now Cotton Spore, like we practiced!" Harley cried out as he thrust with his fan closed as his Cacturne spun and shot white puffy balls that floated above the vine towers.

"Now finish it up with Pin Missiles!" With this command small white pins shot from its spikes and hit the puffy balls, bursting them apart, falling around the towers, creating a scene of an ancient senator standing in a green ruin while it snowed. The audience stared before they began cheering and applauding his performance.

Ash had to admit that he had improved, but sadly skills and personality didn't go hand in hand. Looking at the judges he saw.

"Impressive, quite a show. What do you think Nurse Joy?" Mr. Glomong said as he smiled.

"A truly beautiful combination of moves!" Nurse Joy answered with a smile. Harley gave an imperious bow as he walked off the stage with his Pokémon following him.

"Let's give it up for Harley everyone! And up next is Miss Nimue Mistborn!" Leafra said with a smile on her face.

"So what do you guys think, I'm guessing she has a biker costume giving how she bumped into Clemont." Ash said as he leaned forward with a smirk on his face. Clemont just blushed at the teasing as Serena and Bonnie laughed lightly.

"I have a feeling we'll be surprised." Serena said as she shared a look with Bonnie and both of them smiled.

Nimue walked onto the stage. She was dressed in a blue ballroom gown that showed the top of her breasts and shoulders, blue opera gloves and a dark pearl necklace falling toward her breasts. Her face had a light coating of aqua green lipstick on her lips and dark blue eye-shadow on her eye lids completed the look, her hair was an aqua green and trailed down her back in a braid. By her side walked a Golduck, while she stopped at the end of the end of the stage the Golduck walked to the center of the stage.

"Start off with a Rain Dance around you." Nimue voice range out like a melody as she stood at the stage's end. Golduck's eyes glowed and clouds formed with Golduck at the center with the clouds ending a few feet from Nimue. As the rain started to fall Nimue brought the fan to her face.

"Follow with an Aqua Jet to gather." She sang out. Her Golduck jumped up wards as water from the rain gathered around it. When it reached the apex of its jump Numue gave her next command.

"Now Psychic on water!" Golducks eye glowed blue and the water trailing behind it broke away and started to makes shapes as the Golduck started to fall.

"Now finish it with an Ice Beam!" The water took on its final shape before a blue beam freezing it into an ice Water symbol that the Golduck landed on with its arms folded against its chest.

The crowed was silent for a few seconds before they exploded with applauses! Joy had a particularly large smile on her face as she gave a standing ovation to the performance.

"I would have to say that was a wonderful set! A wonderful example of what training and practice can accomplish if you try! Mr. Glomong what do you think?" Nurse Joy asked her fellow judge as she sat down.

"I would have to say that was amazing! The Golduck is a wonderful specimen who has been trained to master its powers fully; I have to give full points on this!" He said as he smiled.

"Let's give a big hand to one of the best so far folks! And the last performance of the Appeal's round, give a warm welcome to Miss Lilly Nightbloom!" Leafra said as people quitted down for next

Lilith walked out. She was dressed in a ruby figure-hugging, ankle length dress that showed off her figure and had on pure white opera gloves. Her face had black obsidian lipstick and red eye shadow that gave her eyes the appearance of blue gems on red velvet. Floating next to her was her Misdreavus that slowly moved in a circle around her head. As she walked out toward the stage people were awestruck with the air of sophistication she gave off.

Clemont stared at Lilith with his mouth hanging open, a blush on his face as he looked at her.

"Doesn't she look amazing big brother?" Bonnie's voice snapped him out of his daze and saw that his sister had been watching Lilly closely since she walked onto the stage and hadn't seen his reaction, a small miracle.

"Yes she does look nice Bonnie, you and Serena helped her with it?" Clemont asked as his eyes drank in the figure Lilith made as she walked with her Pokemon.

"Only the makeup, Serena really knows how to apply it nicely." Bonnie answered, causing Ash to look at Serena with a question in his eyes; she sent him a look that they would talk about it later. I wonder what happened to tomboy Rena over the years? Ash mused as his thoughts went back to their youth.

When Lilith reached the middle of the stage she raised her right hand up and called out her first command.

"Will-O-Wisp, far." She called out in a silky voice. Her Misdreavus eyes glowed blue and nine blue glowing spheres of fire formed around it and started to orbit it.

"Charge Beam, spin." Lilith said before her Misdreavus spun counter to the orbiting spheres as yellow sparks started to form around it before a blast of electricity shot at the spheres, the fire gaining electricity and started to hover in place.

Lilith closed her eyes and nodded her head. She opened them when the spheres started to fall.

"Psychic." As soon as the word left her mouth the spheres gained a blue glow as her Misdreavus eyes gained the same color. The spheres flew to the top of the room and started to move about as the Misdreavus went a location at the center of the spheres.

"Finish, Dazzling Gleam." Lilith said as she opened her eyes and smiled. Misdreavus whole body started to glow and a rainbow blast shot out of its body and hit the sphere, destroying them and causing a rainbow of sparks to rain down around Lilith as her Misdreavus came to float behind and above her head.

People stared in awe, so enraptured in it they couldn't even move for a few seconds before they gave a standing ovation to the performance.

"MARVOULOUS! Simply breathe taking! A Perfect showing! What say you Nurse Joy?" Mr. Glomong commented as he stood and applauded.

"One of the best in the whole Contest, I will definitely be keeping an eye on her performances in the future!" Nurse Joy said as she joined those applauding Lilith as she gave a small curtsy and walked off the stage, her ghost type following after her.

Clemont was in awe of what he had seen, Lilly was amazing, there were just no other words for it. Bonnie smiled and clapped as Serena looked at the stage in wonder with a thoughtful look in her eyes. Ash smiled as he looked at the performance, Lilly was a powerful Coordinator, there was no doubt about that at least.

"Well that's the Appeal's round Folks, after a two hour break for lunch and we'll announce the scoring in an hour. After the break we'll have the top 10 fight it out in the Battle round, so for all the people who competed I personally salute you all." Leafra said as she gave a bow to the crowd. As the audience got up Ash motioned to the others to wait for the rest of the crowd to pass before they went to Lilith's dressing room.

Lilith smiled as she washed the makeup off her face in the sink in her room before she put her street cloths back on. She thought she had giving a good showing, and hoped she would make it into the top ten. I wonder what Clemont thought about how I looked? She thought with a blush as she finished putting her shirt back on when her door opened and Bonnie dashed in and hugged her legs.

"That was amazing Lilly! You were great out there." Bonnie said as she looked up at the older girl who reached down and rubbed her head.

"Thanks kid, but next time you should knock before you enter, I was changing, wouldn't want to catch me in my underwear would you." Lilith said as she looked at the smiling faces of her friends. Her words caused Clemont to blush which caused Lilith to grow a small smirk on her face at his reaction. Serena saw the byplay and gave Lilith a small playful smile.

"So how about I go grab some food and we'll eat here, it's a good habit to protect you stuff when he's around." Ash said as he and Pikachu walked off.

"He? He who?" Lilith asked as she looked at Serena as Clemont looked at Bonnie in worry before his eyes hardened and he turned to Serena with a bit of anger in his eyes.

"Is this connected to why Pikachu brought Bonnie to the seats?" Clemont demanded as Lilith looked at Bonnie.

"Bonnie ran into someone Ash knew, a Coordinator that Ash says doesn't mind pulling dirty tricks to get ahead. And Bonnie…" Serena trailed off as Bonnie put her head down, prompting Lilith to stoop down and pull her into a hug.

"I didn't like his eyes; there was something wrong about them and his voice, it was, I can't describe it. I just didn't like the feeling he gave off." Bonnie confided in the others as Clemont clenched his hands as he looked out the door, the anger on his face showing that he wanted to introduce this person to his axes.

Ash moved through the hallways carrying a few cardboard boxes with food a small smile on his face as he walked with Pikachu next to him, he had gotten a bit of everything and he hoped that the others would like something, now if he could just… he stopped when a voice called out to him

"Well, well. Ash Ketchum, never thought I'd see you again." The words caused him to turn and see Harley still in his costume a self-satisfied smirk on his face.

"Harley, and here I was wondering what the stench I smelled when I got to the contest hall was." Ash said dryly causing Harley to jolt and stare open mouthed for a few seconds before a grin stretched across his face.

"Well, little Ash is growing up, what a wonderful burn; do you kiss your mother with that mouth?" Harley shot back as Pikachu's checks started to spark. Ash merely used his foot to nudge Pikachu down the hall away from Harley.

"And how did you find yourself here, fall off a garbage tuck?" Ash commented with a deadpanned look on his face as he walked away leaving Harley to fume and stare after him.

Harley looked after Ash and snarled as he pounded back toward his dressing room. That little Kanto brat really has changed. I can't wait to smash that girls little Pokémon in the Battle Round. He thought as he looked at Ash over his shoulder.

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Magnus looked troubled as he walked through the hallway; he was troubled by the report he had received along with a scan of his sister yesterday and it was nothing but trouble. He had made some progress on his nephew's sealing and he had discovered that he was a least three sets, the first he had was sure of, the next halfway and the last was the hardest to identify. He had identified the first as an abomination that held back his emotional maturity but it had started to break apart and it was almost fully gone, something had happened that had broken it. He hoped that Camilla had found something; she had said that she was looking into his journey in more detail, maybe she would know. Delia's was even worse, one that took her memoires and another that was unknown to him, and that raised all sorts of alarms in his head.

Looking up he saw Camilla walk out of a room with a dazed look on her face, maybe she would know something.

"Ah, Camilla, found out anything about my nephew?" Camilla just walked on not reacting to his voice. Growing concerned he ran up to her and put his hand on her shoulder, causing her to turn and face him.

"Oh, Magnus, how's the work examining the young Princes seals?" She said when her eyes focused onto his face.

"Rather well, I've identified three arrays, one that seemed to be breaking down because of something that happened a few years ago if I'm analyzing it right." Magnus said, his words causing her to wince.

"Camilla, what did you find? If it's about what happened to him…" Magnus began before Camilla interrupted him flatly.

"He has zero self-preservation when lives are on the line." Camilla said as she started to walk down the hall.

"What did he do?" Magnus asked as a headache started to form.

"In the Rota Township he released the Lucario in the Lost Guardian's staff, led a party to invade the Tree of Beginning, discovered why the Guardian left and almost gave all up his Aura to revitalized the Tree." Camilla said as Magnus stopped and went white. He slammed his hand against his face and rubbed his forehead before he walked after her.

"I thought that his Aura wasn't 'awake'?" Magnus asked in confusion causing Camilla to turn and look at him with a haunted look.

"It isn't." She deadpanned as she walked on, stopping Magnus for a moment in shock before he moved to catch up with her.

"Why did the apple have to fall so close to the tree? I swear he's probably just like his father and mother combined." He moaned as they walked through the halls.

"What about Delia's seals? Have you identified anything about them?" Camilla question as they walked. Magnus noticed that they were walked toward the throne room, and after a few minutes of thought he decided to wait.

"I identified that she has two, one I'm sure of and the other I'll tell you and the boss when we meet up for the general briefing tonight. I only want to go over it once." Magnus said with a sigh as he walked.

"No spoilers old friend?" Camilla asked with a pout on thrown over her shoulder as they walked.

"None for you." He answered; sparking a laugh from Camilla as he walked in front of her to hide his smirk, glad that she was back to normal.

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The party that had sent out from Team Gaia's Base had been moving quickly and secretly through the wild and had move a good distance, the mountain the Base was in had disappeared over the horizon a few hours back. The time had passed with small talk and trail songs, a few times a few Flying types had flown low and gotten capture arrows shot at them, a few were brought down and one had escaped. The squires had added them to the cargo, and already one of the Carriers was full, a good start to the hunt.

Nicholas had mixed feelings about the traveling, it had let him learn about both Sylvestre and Dante, but the convoy's travel had given him anytime to talk to anyone alone, but once they set up camp it might give him a chance to talk to either Sylvestre or Dante privately, and he needed to. Going over his memories of interactions with the 'newcomers' he was sure something was up with them, but if his seniors were involved with it he then he might be in trouble if he brought it up. He looked down and saw his Teddiursa looking up at him and smiled at his Pokémon, at least he would have his partner with him if he needed to run, if Sylverstre was involved in whatever it was.

After a while of riding they reached a clearing in a forest near a mountain between them and Viridian City, and after a few minutes the camp had been set up and the Carriers had been 'parked' and Sylvestre started to lead Dante and Nicholas into the woods.

"Now if we find Beedrills, try to cut off their limb stingers at least, my brother said something about a ritual he needed it for. Dante take the kid toward the right and I'll go to the left, we'll do a circle and make sure the camp is secure before we go farther out." Sylvestre said as he melted into the trees, disappearing from sight in seconds. Nicholas looked at where he had disappeared and shook his head, Dante smirking at his reaction.

"Yeah, the bossman is good at that shadow stuff, now come on kid, let us see if there are any dens near our basecamp." Dante said with a smirk as they moved through the woods. With a small smile on his face Nicholas moved after him, a sense of wonder at the skill his would be lord displayed, and he hoped he would be able to talk to him about his concerns soon. He decided to take a chance, they were far enough away that if he needed to he could fight his way to freedom.

"Say, Sir Dante, have you been around the newcomers much?" Nicholas started as he walked slowly behind Dante.

"Not much, I'm on guard duty more often than not at the lookout on top of the base, Haunter can slip through the base and worn people if anything happens, why?" Dante asked as they moved through the shadows of the trees. Nicholas slowly moved his hand to his partner's ball and continued solidly.

"I don't want to make trouble where there is none, but I've felt something off about them. And the way some of them talk, I just wondering about how they're found and brought in, that's all." Nicholas said as he moved behind his senior.

"Off how? Wait a minute, what's this?" Dante said as they were suddenly engulfed in fog. Dante held up a hand and slowly moved forward until they exited the fog, entering a clearing with a large tree 50 feet high with a hollow three quarters up in the center of the clearing, all around were webs that went from the branches of the tree in the center to the trees along the edges and on the ground all around.

"What fresh hell is this?" Dante muttered as he drew his weapon, a two sided broad axe before he released his Haunter.

"Up, around the clearing and immaterial buddy, let us know if you find anything." Dante ordered as Nicholas drew his long sword and released his own partner.

"I don't like this; we should have seen this from the campsite." Nicholas said as they slowly observed the clearing.

"We wouldn't, look at the trees by the edge, you can see carvings on them under the webs; I think their Aura Seals." Dante said grimly as his Haunter went near the outer trees before starting to check the clearing for anything hidden.

"Who would make something like this, and why?" Nicholas asked as his Teddiursa moved slowly to stand infront of its trainer.

"The bossman's brother said once that Aura Seals are the most instinctive of all Disciplines, a Pokémon or a creature might of made this to protect its lair." Dante said grimly as he held his arm out to keep Nicholas and his partner from moving past him, his eyes on the ground before them, paying special attention to clumps of webbing.

"A creature? A Chimera. We're in a Chimera's lair, one that's able to use Aura Seals?" Nicholas whispered in shock as he paled before he started to look around the clearing in worry.

"Maybe, it might just be an old temple protected by Seals that something took over as a den by something, maybe Pokémon. But let's wait until my partner finishes his sweep, well leave after that but keep your eyes open in the meantime and stay away from the webs; I've got a bad feeling about it." Dante said grimly as he watched his Haunter move slowly around the clearing, keeping away from the webs as it moved about, finally it just shock it head-body and moved back towards its trainer, keeping overwatch over the others, following them as they silently left the area.

"Haunter's done, but that hollow is giving me a bad feeling, so let's get out of here, now and tell the bossman what's here." Dante said as he and Haunter slowly backed out of the clearing. A few minutes after they had left the clearing a human hand reached out of the hollow in the tree and grabbed the edge of the hole and a musical laugh echoed around the clearing.

"Come my daughters, there is new prey for us to hunt tonight; I wonder which of you will join your dear mother?" The voice rang out as all around the clearing large clumps of webs started to move.

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Brock walked through the halls with a tired smile on his face, it had been a long few hours but the patients were getting better. Blood tests had shown that the amount of the spore was decreasing in the blood of the Pokémon as time went by, a few more tests to find out what it did, and if the majority continued healing they would be able to send the majority of them home tomorrow. He still hadn't remembered where he had seen it but he was sure he would be able to eventually. I just hope that what I remember doesn't make this worse. Brock thought to himself as he walked toward the break room, hoping to touch base with his teacher. When he entered the break room he saw his teacher angrily staring at the map, his wife next to him with a sorrowful look on her face as she stood with him.

"I'm guessing that you found out something with the timeline?" Brock said as he came to the map and stood with them, his voice causing them to jolt and turn to look at him.

"Yes unfortunately. Whenever that spore infected them it had to have been between midnight last night to before eight this morning, when I don't know and given how fast it's going through them the League won't classify this as an epidemic, just as an outbreak." Ryouta said bitterly as his wife tried to comfort her.

"I don't agree with them dear but I can see where their coming from. So far all we know right now is that the spore causes pain and even then it doesn't last longer than a few hours. For a wind borne epidemic it's not as bad as it could be." Sayeko words caused Brock to frown as something started to echo in his mind.

"Wait a minute, wind borne? What did Jenny say this morning?" Brock stopped looking at the map before his face started to loose color. He dashed toward a computer in the room and started to navigate to a weather report.

"Brock, what's wrong?" Sayeko said as she and her husband moved toward him and started to grow worried.

"Oh by Arceus I was right." He said as he held his head as he stared at the screen. A hurricane was due to glance the region in a few days, going right alongside Cycle road going right at . When he and his wife saw what was on the monitor they both started to pale.

"A hurricane? I knew we should have watched the new this morning, I just knew it." Sayeko breathed in horror as she stared at the monitor as she started to feel faint.

"If there's another outbreak of this just before this hits the area, even if it doesn't migrate to humans the potential loss of life is massive. I need to contact Officer Jenny; she needs to be warned about this." Ryouta said as he massaged his head.

"If it migrates the deliberating pain and the winds, the potential loss of life I can't even imagine the scale." Sayeko whispered as she stared into space.

"Maybe the winds will cause the spore to die or be destroyed. That's possible right?" Brock asked as he turned and looked at the other two people, meeting their grim looks and looked downwards and released a sigh.

"We have no idea the shape or makeup of the spore before it infects a host, so maybe but with the symptoms I really doubt it. I don't know how this can get any worse than it is." Ryouta said as they looked at the computer, turning when the door opened and Joy came into the room, looking worried, her eyes meeting theirs and frowning when she saw their looks.

"I'm guessing that what I discovered won't be the worst about this thing." Joy said as she gave a small weak smile.

"What is it Joy, what did you find?" Sayeko asked with worry as they took looked at her.

"I'm still waiting on some results for the hormones and any affects the spore is doing to the body but I was able to identify hybrid planet-animal protean as a key part of the spore, I think that this was from a Pokémon. To be honest it reminds me of a Stun Spore I once looked at back during my school days, it was from a Paras…" She trailed of as Brock slipped from his chair as his eyes glazed over.

"BROCK! Are you okay?" Sayeko demanded as she went to her knees as her husband steadied Brock as she looked into his eyes. His eyes had that look in them when people were remember something that terrified them.

"That's where I saw it before; it was an incident that happened a few years ago in Hoenn, a Chimera that used spores to hunt had attacked a Nuzleaf." Brock whispered as the others exchanged concerned looks.

"A Chimera?" Joy breathed as the other three started to process Brock's revelation. Each starting to remember the horrors they had encountered accredited to those abominations

"Spores released from a source able to move; that would explain everything about how our patients were infected." Ryouta said grimly as he shook his head as he frowned.

"It uses the spore to disable its prey, the time limit is so they could infect an area and find food." Sayeko said in horrified realization as she held her arms, remember the last Chimera Siege.

"Think the League would reclassify this now?" Brock asked as he grimaced, remember some politicians he had met when he became a Gym Leader.

"Maybe if we bring back proof, but if this outbreak was, deliberate then I don't know if I could even go into the mountains while preparing for the Hurricane." Ryouta said as he shook his head.

"I'll visit the local Gym on my way home maybe they'll be able to spare a few trainers to join me on an expedition into the mountains to find the source." Brock promised his teacher who sighed.

"Thank you Brock, but we have a lot of work to do and few hours to do it in. Love, I need you to contact our suppliers, they should already be readying disaster supplies with the Hurricane coming in so arrange delivery for as soon as they can, Joy contact your sister in Pewter, we need her to send all the help she can spare, Brock I want you to keep during your rounds, check on every patient here and once your done head over to the Gym, that expedition has to happen, I'll head over to the lab and try to find a counter poison for this thing." Ryouta said as he led his team out of the room to do what they had to help their patients.

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Ash and Clemont had returned to their seats after eating and Lilith had gone off with Serena and Bonnie to put her makeup and outfit back on. Bonnie and Serena had returned to the seats later, having finished helping Lilith and returned to watch the Battle Round. After a few battles it was time for the final three battles.

"What a competition it has been so far! And without further ado, let's begin the quarter finals! First up is Mr. Harley VS Miss Nimue!" Mr. Glomong cried out as both trainers walked on stage in their costumes.

"Go Samurott!" Nimue said as she threw out a Pokeball, from which her Pokémon appeared.

"Appear, Wigglytuff!" Harley cried out as he did the same, releasing his Wigglytuff. Behind the judges a scoreboard appeared with both trainers pictures appeared. He smirked, he had this in the bag besides being a pretty fact this girl had reacted like she had never even battled in official tournaments before, and her Pokémon were probably trained by a relative who died or something like that. An easy win and then I'll crush ashy new friend. He thought as he chuckled to himself.

"Samurott, start with a Slash!" Nimue cried out. Her Samurott shot forward as its claws glowed.

"Dodge and Pound!" Harley command before his Wigglytuff dodged to the right and tried to deliver a devastating Pound attack on its horn. But Samurott dodge by moving its head back and sliced down with its horn, dropping his score by five points.

"Disengage up and Water Gun!" Nimue commanded. Samurott jumped backwards and shot a spiral of water that hit and cost Harley another five points. Harley gritted his teeth as his thoughts flew around his head. How is she this good, she was acting like she never had any official…. Could her skills come from unofficial matches, where how?!

"Move in with Megahorn!" Harley gritted his teeth as he tried to think of a counter.

"Dodge it and hit it with a Double Slap!" Harley commanded. Wigglytuff tried to dodge backwards but Samurott jumped and landed a glancing hit with its horn before it turned its head to throw Wigglytuff away from itself. Then Harely's score dropped a solid tenth as he gritted his teeth, the battle was not going the way he thought it would.

"A powerful hit." Mr. Glomong said as he and the judges watched the battle.

"So far that Samurott has shown to be trained to a wonderful slandered, I think if they move on we will have a wonderful final match." Leafra said as she leaned against the table with a grin on her face.

"Ice Beam! Hit it!" Harley cried out before his a light blue ball formed in front of Wigglytuff mouth before a white beam shot at Samurott.

"Samurott, counter with Razor Shell!" Nimue called out. Her Samurott drew both its seamitars and as they gained a blue glow before it used them to cut the beam in two, dropping Harley's score in half while her own dropped by a fourth. THAT'S IT! NO more Mr. NiceGuy, I am breaking this bitch so bad she quits!

"THUNDER!" Harley cried out in anger, causing Ash to harden his eyes as he watched from the stands, having heard that tone of voice many times before. In response yellow sparks danced around its body before a massive beam of electricity shot at its opponent. Nimue gave no reaction as she commonly intoned a command

"Protect." Nimue called before a light green glowing sphere formed around Samurott, blocking the attack, causing Harely's score to drop by twenty points. Harley turned to look at the board for a second and that was all Nimue needed.

"Megahorn, then finish it Scald." Nimue commanded.

"Dodge it then fire a Hyper beam!" Harley cried as he started to look unhinged.

Samurott ran towards its opponent as its horn gained a white glow and grew bigger, but the attack missed the Fairy type by inches, Samurott was able to stop right in front of the judge's table. Wigglytuff spun around and opened its mouth as a yellow-orange ball formed. Nimue's eyes had widened at Harley's command and made a choice, one that might cost her the match but she meet her Pokemon's eyes from where it was standing and saw it nod at her.

"Tank the shot and hire a Scald!" Nimue cried out. The Judges who had been frozen when they saw Wiggltyuff generate the glowing sphere pointed in their direction were shocked back to their sense when they heard what Nimue called out, looking at her before they wiped their heads to the battle.

"FULL POWER WIGGLYTUFF!" Harley screamed out as the yellow-orange ball grew in size before it shot a yellow-orange beam at Samurott, Mr. Glomong reacted to the attack by grabbing Nurse Joy and pulling her down and covered her body with his own as Leafra scrambled away, running for the opposite side of the stage from Samurott.

The Hyper beam hit and exploded, causing a cloud of dust to form that covered the entire back wall of the stage. Harley gave a smirk right before a stream of white water blasted a hole through the dust and hit Fairy type, knocking it out before Harley could cry out a command.

The dust dissipated and his score was revealed Samurott to be panting with one eye closed, barely standing. Behind it the Mr. Glomong helped Nurse Joy back to her feet and both of them turned to look right at Harley with looks of disgust and anger. Mr. Glomong turned back to Nurse Joy and exchanged a few words before he gestured at Samurott and Joy nodded with a grimace and picked up a microphone.

"We will be having a short recues to discuss the rules, please everyone stay where you are." Nurse Joy said frostily as Harley looked around and saw here and there were people looking at him with disgust over the risk he had taken with that last attack. Nurse Joy put down the microphone and walked towards Nimue who had run to her Samurott and was bent down and talking to it softly as she rubbed its chin. When Nurse Joy reached them she joined Nimue in a crouch and started to look over the Water Type.

"I don't get it what is Nurse Joy talking about, why are people so angry?" Bonnie asked as she saw that Ash had a look of anger on his face. Bonnie looked around and saw a few others who had looks of anger and shock on their faces but most people just looked confused. She turned toward Serena and saw the same look Ash had and turned to her brother for answers

"There are times when you shouldn't use an attack and times you should. Because Samurott was right in front of the Judges table if Samurott dodged then the Judges might have gotten hurt. What Harley just did was show the Judges he would do anything to win, even hurt someone. And that's the thing about Contests, you can lose points depending on what you do, not just what happens to your Pokémon." Ash said as he glared at Harley. Nurse Joy had finished talking with Nimue and nodded to Mr. Glomong who sighed and shook his head and turned to Leafra and after a few words Leafra nodded and walked to the center of the stage and held up a Microphone to give the ruling.

"After a long debate the judges have come to this ruling. While no single rule was broken, it has been decided that the attack ordered by Harley while not illegal it was not well thought out but by the contests rules he lost the battle before the last attack hit, but for his actions he has been disqualified from this competition, I hope he shows better judgment in the future. Because of the attack's range Miss Nimue has forfeited her next match out of concern for her Pokémon and has been awarded second place overall, therefore the final match is between the last two trainers in the Contest to decide who will win and who will be award third place, thank you for the wait." Leafra said before she bowed to the audience.

"So Lilly or her opponent will win this thing, hu? And with Harley disqualified he won't even get a single penny out of this and people will know how he acts, not to bad really." Ash said as he felt his Pokedex vibrate. He touched one of its buttons and promised himself he would check the alert latter and looked at Harley being led away from the stage, an air of anger about him.

"And it's Lilly against that Beedrill's trainer right, the guy who used a Dustox right, what was his name again?" Serena asked as Ash looked at her for a minute

"Xion, his name was Xion Tristo, and did you notice Joy's face when Leafra said his last name?" Ash asked Serena who shook her head and looked at the Judge's table, she looked back toward Ash and he could see that she hadn't.

"And here it is folks, the final match! This battle is for first and third place between Lilly and Xion! Good luck to both trainers!" Leafra said as pictures of both trainers appeared on the score board. Lilith walked out of one side of the stage and her opponent walked out of the other. The figure who walked out to battle was a male teen around Ash and the others age; he had brown hair and brown eyes, his costume of choice was a medieval archer's costume in green. Ash looked around and noticed some on the people faces were looks of anger

"Appear, Liepard!" Lilith cried as she released her Liepard.

"Fly, Beedrill! Xion commanded as a strong looking Beedrill appeared and started to hover five feet off the ground.

"Twinneendle, full strike." Xion cried out. His Beedrill shot forward, both stingers ready to strike. Neither Lilith nor her Pokemon reacted as the Bug type flew straight at its target. Suddenly right before it could hit Lilith gave her command.

"Jump and Thunder Wave!" At the command Liepard started to run at the charging Beedrill, jumped onto its head and spun in midair before it released a shockwave of electricity that drove the Beedrill to the floor where it spasmed as electricity danced over its form. Liepard landed and ran back toward the paralyzed Bug. The scoreboard behind the judge's table showed that Xion had dropped ten points while Lilith's stayed at one hundred.

"Beedrill! Get back in the air!" Xion cried in worry.

"Grass Knot, capture it!" Lilith said as she looked straight at her opponent. Liepard's eyes glowed green before ten green vines and erupted from the ground three each grabbed the stingers, one each for its legs and two around it abdomen stinger. As it continued to spasm its trainer's score dropped in half.

"Shadow Ball Barrage, mobile!" Lilith commanded. Her Liepard started to run around the trapped Bug and fired black balls of energy that drove down its trainer's score five points with each hit. Finally when it only had twenty points left the Beedrill stop its spasms and was able to break free and take flight, dodging the last sphere.

"Agility, get some range!" Xion cried, the command causing Beedrill to start to fly around the stage, always keeping its body and face pointed toward its opponent.

"Double Team, try to confuse it." Lilith called out as she tried to keep her eyes on the flying Bug. Liepard body started to glow white as it ran and soon a pack of Liepards was running around the stage trying to catch the flying Beedrill as he weaved one in front of the other until which one was the original was.

"Pin Missile, rapid fire! Try to hit it!" Xion called out as he tried to figure out a new plan.

Beedrill's stinger glowed white and shot multiple small white needles which destroyed a Liepard when they hit until it final hit the real one, knocking it down and dropping Lilith's score by ten.

"Giga Impact!" Lilith called out. Liepard glowed white as it raced toward the Beedrill and light yellow streaks surrounded its body.

"Try to dodge it!" Xoin cried out but before his Pokémon could move before its opponent jumped and hit the Beedrill in its chest, knocking it to the floor and winning the match.

Xoin walked off stage and walked to his changing room quietly with a look of anger on his face.

"Boss!" he looked up and saw a teen with his black hair in a mohawk wearing green sunglass in white clothing with a light green jacket running toward him.

"That little bitch had to have cheated boss, ain't no way you would have lost in a fair fight." Mohawk said as he fell into step behind him. Xion let his minion prattle on as he went over what he knew about the girl he battled.

"Wasn't that girl with the newest challenger to the gym?" Xion said as a smirk grew on his face.

"Yeah, she was boss, what ya planning." Mohawk asked as they entered the dressing room assigned to him. Xion smirked evilly as he turned to Mohawk.

"Just that maybe big sis would like to try the newest challenger, and maybe I could teach that little bitch some respect for her betters." Xion snarled as he went toward his cloths.

"If you're after Ashy, I think I could help you out." A voice from the doorway caused the two of them to turn and see Harley leaning against the doorway, a savage grin on his face.

"What's your angle?" Xion demanded as he looked at the purple haired Coordinator.

"Let's just say I always get even, each and every time." Harley said as he chuckled darkly.

"Lilly Nightbloom, Nimue Mistborn, I am proud to award the both of you a General Contest Ribbon. When you each win your next General Contest Ribbon you will be told the riddle to find out where the contest in the general area is being held, and please keep in mind that a new riddle will be handed out if you don't find out the answer to it before the Grand Contest. I hope I will see you both compete again at the Grand Festival." Mr. Glomong said to applause as he handed over a ribbon each to the teens still in their costume.

Nimue and Lilith both bowed to the crowds with their Pokemon and walked off the stage.

"I'm a bit sorry we weren't able to have a match, I might have learned a lot from you." Nimue said to Lilly as they walked. Lilith looked around before noticing that they in front of her dressing room and decided to take a chance. If I'm wrong I'll just daze her like I did to Alexa.

"Say would you come in for a moment Nimue, I need a bit of help getting out of this." Lilith asked as she gestured to the room, Nimue entered before Lilith followed her in and closed and locked the door.

"Sure, if you don't mind helping me when…" Nimue stopped talking when a black glowing hand was put on her shoulder and she started to glow blue her eyes widening as she registered the Aura use.

"I KNEW IT! WHO are you working for!?" Lilith snarled as she spun Nimue around and grabbed her arms.

"Working for, your awake and not from the Sisterhood?! How, all other Aura users died out because of the King's weapon besides us!" Nimue stammered as she met Lilith eyes in shock. The shock caused Lilith to let her go.

"Sisterhood? I think the both of us need to talk, tonight? Near the gym?" Lilith said as Nimue gave a shaky nod.

"Lilly are you in there, Bonnie and I are here to help you." Serena's muffled voice called from the door. Lilith shot Nimue a look and was met with a nod.

"Thanks Serena, I didn't think you two would come so I asked Nimue for help." Lilith said as she walked toward the door. When she opened the door and let them in.

"I was able to talk Clemont into it since we saw Harley leave earlier." Serena said as she and Bonnie entered the room

"You were great in the Appeals Nimue, and you both battled great!" Bonnie cheered as she looked at the both of them.

"Say I have an idea, giving the time how about we all go eat at the center, Ash has a spice topping that you have to try Nimue." Lilith said as she shot her a look that Bonnie and Serena didn't see.

"It would give us a chance to talk more, so I guess that's okay." Nimue said with a small smile as her thoughts were trying to deal with the reality that was Lilly Nightbloom. There are still Aura users besides us out there. I knew we should have gone out into the world more. If sis sends hunters after me it might be something if Lilly is on my side, but how she confronted me means she's fought other Aura users, I need to know the truth. She thought as she looked at Lilith out of the corner of her eyes.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Bahadur smiled down at his starter as he led him over a bridge ten feet wide and thirty feet long with the sun starting to set. He had spent the last few hours get to know his Pokémon and show him his new home. He thought a few times something might have been following the two of them but he was probably seeing things or had seen something scrounging for food.

"And that's our town in a nutshell. The last place I want to show you is right across the river, . It's just within the field Casters setup to keep out Chimera and Pokémon swarms out, not that it works all the time so a few years ago local militia set up some lookout posts along the river on the opposite shore. It's a field where local trainers gather to compete with each other and where the town has its annual adulthood ceremony." Bahadur said as he led his Pokémon towards the field.

"The only problem I have with the town is the Bloody Maulers, a gang of hooligans led by the son of the town's biggest merchant. The merchant is an okay person, his son was raised by his ex-wife before she died last year, and since he came to town I've been butting heads with him at least once a weak. Since he's become a trainer I'm sure he'll be around for a battle sooner or later." Bahadur said with a grimace before two figures his height in red cloaks with pulled hoods over their head appeared before him at the end of the bridge, a male Nidoran and a Stunky by their trainer's sides respectively.

"And these are the Bloody Maulers little buddy." Bahadur said as his right hand slowly went to the sword on his back.

"Now normally I would fight you on my own, but with my partner here how about we put a rain check and have a battle tomorrow?" Bahadur said as Magby started to growl, only for his words to cause smirks to erupt from on the faces of the people before him.

"How about we have a battle right now? Go Sandile!" A voice from behind caused Bahadur turn his head and saw Aagha throw a Pokéball that released a Sandile wearing a collar with a grey stone on it. By his side were the twins, one had released a Phanpy and the other had a Roggenrola out. Behind them were four other wearing red cloaks each one seemed to leer at the Bahadur and his starter.

"Aagha, didn't the beating I give you with our weapons earlier this week give you anything to think about?" Bahadur asked as the cloaked figures started to snicker as Aagha's face grew red.

"YOU SHUT IT; I WAS GOING TO BEAT YOU ON MY OWN BUT NOW! Khadim, Charandas, send your Pokémon to help mine beat that Fire beast black and blue! Once it's down we'll give Hero boy here a few scars!" Aagha bellowed as the named trainers looked at their Pokemon and nodded at them. Bahadur's Magby shot it's trainer a troubled look and was met with a weary grin.

"This is going to be trouble partner." Bahadur gritted his teeth as he looked at the two trainers behind him and started to inch toward the river, hoping to jump onto a passing boat to get away or to at least gain some range.

"Not if you got some help bro! Poliwag; use Water Gun aimed at the Roggenrola!" A male voice cried out as a spiral of water from the river hit the Roggenrola, stunning it and damaging it greatly.

"We're helping too! Night Slash on the Phanpy, Pidove!" A musical voice called before a gray, pigeon-like Pokémon with a black glowing wing hit the blue ground type with its wing, sending it flying at the rock type, sending the Roggenrola flying out over the river.

"Meditite, grab that Roggenrola with Confusion and use it as a frail on the Pokemon behind Bahadur!" A female voice called out before the Roggenrola glowed blue and was thrown into the Nidoran and the Stunky.

"YOU THREE!?" Aagha snarled as he spun and looked at three figures walking out of the alleys. The male figure was wearing a black cloak, had blue hair in a ponytail, blue eyes and had a smirk on his face. He wore a black cloak over a blue shirt and black pants and sneakers, on his back were two short swords.

The first female had a voluptuous figure and dark crimson hair in waves that went down her back, jade eyes while the only makeup on her face was navy blue lipstick. Her black cloak was over a brown tube top and brown pants and shoes, on her hands were clawed gloves with navy blue stones on the tops of them.

The second female had a slender body with blue hair in rings on the side of her head and blue eyes with a fierce glint in them. She wore a black cloak over a grey shirt and grey pants and boots, on her legs were black greaves. Next to her floated a Meditite who eyes were glowing blue.

"Good thing sissy was practicing her parkour and saw our least favorite rodent spy on you bro." The male said as he crossed his arms as a Poliwag jumped onto the bridge and go into formation with Magby as the girl's Pidove landed on Magby's other side.

"What's the play Bahadur!" The voluptuous girl cried as winds started to gather around her hands. Bahadur looked around, noting that the Roggenrola was knocked out and the Nidoran and Stunky looked to be near the point to take them down, while the Phanpy was standing next to Sandile while the four behind them started to release their Pokémon; two Cubone, a Gligar and a Machop. He shot a look at his Magby and saw it nod at him with a smirk on its face.

"Ruchika and Pidove, you two back up Etana and Meditite to take the Pokémon behind Aagha! Farbod, you and Poliwag use range combat on the two behind me. Me and Magby will take out the two in front of us!" Bahadur called out as he made a plan to get out of this conscience.

"Pidove, aim a Combined Gust at the Cubones!" Ruchika said as she thrust her hands forward, a blast of wind flying towards the cloaked trainers and their Pokémon.

Pidove had shoot off the bridge and throw a small blast of wind at the Pokémon, the winds combined and formed a small hurricane which threw all four of the Maulers's Pokémon a few feet off the ground. The trainers drew cudgels and ran at the three trainers. Etana released a small laugh and smirked at their actions.

"Catch one of the Cubones and us it as a frail!" Etana said as she shot forward and spun around, kicking out with her right leg and hit one of the Maulers's in the head, knocking him out. While this happened one of the Cubone's gained a blue outlined and floated upward before it was thrown at the Gligar and Machop, knocking out the thrown Cubone and the Gilgar. Farbod drew his two short swords and ran towards his sister, blocking a blow of the Maulers's sent at the back of her head, after which he was dealt a devastating kick to the side of his head, leaving only two more for the brother and sister to deal with.

"Poliwag, stay back and Water Gun anything that moves toward the boss!" Farbod said as he slashed at the gang member he was fighting. Poliwag in response to the order shot a spiral of water at the other end of the bridge, forcing back the Pokémon there.

"Let's do this partner! Flare Blitz!" Bahadur said as he watched the battles around him.

"Mag by Magb!" Magby cried out with courage as flames started to form around him.

Magby covered himself in flames and shot at the Phanpy and threw a punch at it, sending it flying at its trainer sending them both back into the trainers behind him when it hit him. Magby had turned toward the Sandile and cried out a challenge.

"Flare Blitz? His beast knows that move!?" One of Aagha's bookends demanded as the three stared at the Pokémon Battle. Bahadur merely smirked as he looked around at the varies combat happening around him. With some luck we'll get out of this in one piece.

"We got some more coming at us Bahadur!" Ruchika voice cut in and Bahadur turned toward her to see ten more members of the Maulers's running toward the fight with their Pokémon out. Bahadur merely gritted his teeth and looked

"Breakout time guys! Magby, attack with me!" Bahadur said as he turned away from the town and ran toward the field. Magby shot in front of him and punched the Stunky, knocking it out and opening a path for them.

"Breakout!?" Aagha snarled before he started to glow blue before his body was slammed to the ground.

"Like this fatty!" Etana said as she jumped over the prone figure as her before she jumped and knocked out one of the Maulers's at the end of the bridge as her Meditite floated after her, Ruchika meanwhile shot a blast of wind behind her to assist her in jumping over the river while her Pidove flew next to her and Farbod ran over the bridge as his Poliwag fell in behind him.

"Magby, Smog, make it nice and big!" Bahadur said as his friends joined on the other side of the river. Magby released enough smoke from his mouth that

"Pidove Gust, blow it at them!" Ruchika command before her Flying type beet its wings and sent the smoke at Aagha who was being helped up by his minions.

"Come on guys, we'll make for the front of the village!" Aagha heard Bahadur shout out through the smoke. As the smoke cleared he saw his followers gather at the bridgehead and moved back toward the town.

"You two idiots follow me; we'll cut them off at the town's entrance. Five of you go after them, we'll pincer them between us, some of you help those fools knocked out here back to the house, the rest guard here." Aagha commanded as he ran through the streets, his Pokémon at his heels. Eight members and their pokemon ran across the bridge, three stopping to help their comrades up and started to help them back toward their base. When all was said and done two gang members were left at the bridge, each with a Cubone standing guard. After a while the one on the left turned to his comrade and asked a question.

"Hey, did you notice the hair on that wind girl? Looks like the boss's dolls." One said to another before a blast of wind hit the person who he was talking to as a water spiral hit his friend's Cubone. Turning, he and his Ground type saw the people the rest were after, before he could do anything Etana shot forward and dropped an axe kick on his head and knocked him out before Poliwag shot another Water Gun at his Pokémon knocking it out.

"He has 'dolls' with my hair color?!" Ruchika demanded as they walked back into town with her Pidove on her right shoulder as she fumed. Those bastards had better have been talking about toy dolls and not the other kind. If he has a single Homunculus with my color I'll strangle him.

"It seems we have something to look into then, if they are those kind of 'dolls' where would he even get Homunculus like that anyway, there isn't anyone with skill in Alchemy to make humanoids in town and gossip would of talked if he brought packages that size from the river barges." Bahadur said as they moved towards their homes.

"No one who advertises that they have that skill anyway, no one knew that you were a Wind Auralist until you blew those people trying to grab you away, right Ruchika?" Etana said, causing Ruchika to give a silent nod.

"Yeah Windy, we'll tackle those brats tomorrow, see you two later, we'll meet at our place, see you around guys." Farbod said as he and his sister recalled their Pokemon and ran towards their home, leaving Bahadur and Ruchika alone. After a few minutes of silence between the two of them Bahadur decided to break the silence.

"So thanks for the help you and the others gave me." Bahadur said as he scratched his head as he looked away from her with a blush on his face. Ruchika looked at him before she blushed and turned her head away from him.

"You're a friend to us all, when Etana and her brother came across me and said that the Rat was up to his usual tricks I knew I had to help. And I realized you would end at the training field since you gave me the same tour when I moved here a few months ago, so we bear feet to the bridge." Ruchika said as they walked toward the residential district. Eventual they stopped at an intersection and just stood there for a few minutes/

"So I'm over here and you're over there, I guess we'll meet at the twins place tomorrow to decide what to do." Bahadur said as he started to walk toward his home. Ruchika looked conflicted for a second before she decided to do something.

"Wait a second." Ruchika said as she darted after him and grabbed his arm.

"Yes…" Bahadur trailed off when Ruchika darted forward and gave him a kiss on the check.

"Goodnight Bahadur." Ruchika said with a blushed before she ran off toward her home.

Bahadur just stood there and rubbed the check she kissed for a few seconds and didn't move until she was out of sight.

"Yes!" He said quietly with a goofy grin on his face as he threw an arm up and ran toward his family's house, his Magby by his side as he ran. He didn't notice a 3 foot tall black bird with no beck and a single ruby in the center of its head had watched the kiss and flew off when he went to his home, not noticing the spy.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

"…And that's it my Lord. The shoreline patrol has discovered nothing and lookout ships have seen nothing like what the specimens retrieved. Giving where the things were discovered I personally think we should keep up the new actions for at least a few more months at the least. I heard Lady Joy is trying to find out where the corpse were born and if that can be found a team could be inserted to try and track down the maker." A blond man with green eyes in black full plate armor said as he gestured to a holographic map of their lands.

"What composition of the team would you suggest Mordred?" Dracula said as he sat upon his throne as his inner court stood around the room.

"I would prefer to wait and see what Joy discovers, the location would affect what team and the tactical situation on the ground is first." Mordred said as he looked at his master.

"Thank you for the report Knight Commander, and finally Magnus, what have you discovered about the problem to return my son and Queen to our shores?" Magnus winced at the hope in his friend's voice; this was going to be bad.

"On the subject of my Nephew, he has three chains of seals on him." Magnus started, stopping when he felt Dracula's Aura spike and pressure start as he saw cracks form on the arms of his throne.

"One has started to be destroyed, the result of an Aura surge during a life threatening event he was involved with, it was to restrict his emotional maturity. Another is holding back his ability to use Aura, and the final one I am unsure of, but I think part is holding back his heritage as your son." Magnus said as he braced himself as the others around the room did the same.

The eruption of Aura from their master destroyed his throne as he stood up, a piece of it flew by Magnus and cut his right check. Given the reaction he had when they were first taken and the fact that the anniversary is almost here, it was better than he feared.

"And Delia? What has been used on her then?" Dracula asked as his eyes started to glow black as the pressure seemed to increase.

"I have identified two sets on her. One holds back all her memories of the Homeland. And I don't understand the last one, but her abilities are fighting back against them. If our agents in Pallet could find a way to cut on seal, I think over a year she would destroy them on her own. Then we would just need to spark her memories and she would be as she once was." Magnus said as Dracula walked to stare at the painting of him and Delia. He just stood there, thinking before he finally came to a decision.

"Camilla, you are to send a courier to join the team, a strong trainer, one who could be inserted into their cover easily. Someone skilled in battle able to hold their own, and could get Delia out of danger in a hurry. Magnus, spare no resource in finding out what the seals are, even check the Forbidden Archives if you must." Dracula commanded

"I will need a few days to go over who to send my lord, but it will be done." Camilla said with a curtsey as Magnus bowed.

"By my oath my lord, I will find out what we need to know to get my sister home, I will use anything and anyone I must." Magnus promised as the briefing ended.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Albia put her backpack down on the bed in the room Delia had said she could use. When Delia had heard that she had been staying at the Center she had called Joy and cursed her out for a few minutes for not telling her where her new hire was staying. She had been infuriated that Joy had let the girl stay there without letting Delia know about it. Albia just looked around the room and was soon lost in her thoughts. A whole room for myself, I've never ever had a place just for me back at the orphanage. Maybe I can make a home for myself here after all.

"Well welcome to Casa de Ketchum, we hope you enjoy your stay." A voice broke Albia out of her thoughts and she saw Delia watching her with a small smile on her face.

"I can't thank you enough for letting me stay here Ms. Ketchum, really I can't." Albia said as she looked at her boss.

"Don't worry about it, I can tell you're a good kid no matter what your running from, and yes I know that you're running form something." Delia said as she met Albia's eyes, only for the younger girl to look away. Delia looked at her and sighed.

"The only thing I need you to tell me is if you think you lost what was after you." Delia said and was met with a nod from Albia. Delia smiled at that, if Albia trusted her enough to tell her that then there was hop that she would trust Delia enough to tell her story when she was ready.

"Well then I'm making pizza, do you want any toppings on it?" Delia said as she grabbed Albia's hand and pulled her toward the kitchen.

"No, I prefer plain pizza to tell the truth." Albia said as they walked toward the kitchen.

"Well the kitchen is over here on the ground floor, the laundry room is in the basement and my room is up there on the second floor with my son's room." Delia told her as they walked.

"This place started to feel empty when Ash started to travel, even when Mimmy came it's still pretty lonely at night and during the bad winters being so far out of town so having others here is kind of nice. And please Albia, call me Delia." Delia said with smile as she opened the door to the kitchen.

"Still, thanks again for letting us stay with you and Mimmy, Ms. Ket… Delia." Albia said as she smiled before walking into the kitchen, Delia following behind her.

"Like I said I appreciate the company. Now the dishes for Pokémon in that cabinet there and the Pokémon Pellets are in that cabinet." Delia said as she moved about the room, Albia following in her wake like when Delia had shown her the kitchen in Pallet House.

Later after Delia and Albia were done eating, Albia had offered to do the dishes and her Pinser was finishing up its own meal. The Mr. Mime that Delia had sent looks at Albia when the humans were looking at the TV or each other in a way that Pinser didn't like. Flaaffy was standing by its trainer, having picked up that its teammate didn't trust the Fairy type for some reason and shared a look with the Bug, come nightfall they would be ready if it tried anything.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

A boy with brown grey hair in a blue karate gi block a Lucario with a scar on its left check punch with an open fist and grabbed its arm with his other hand and threw the Steel type down the field, as soon as he let go he shot after it and drew back a fist that started to glow blue. The Lucario rolled when it hit the floor and jumped to the side when it got back to its feet, dodging the boy's fist which hit the ground and formed a small crater, sending shards flying from the point his fist hit the ground. The Lucario threw a kick at him which he blocked with a gauntlet on his right forarm before he shot forward with his left arm hitting below the Lucario chest spike.

"That's enough you two! Cameron that was a good use of your Aura to power that punch and on the shoulder throw, and Lucario good recovery, but next time try to dodge backwards, not to the sides." A voice called out and both human and Pokémon stopped, drew back and bowed to each other.

"You sure master, I think me and my partner here can go a bit longer today." Cameron said with a smirk on his face as he looked as he looked toward the voice. A figure in a blue gi walked next to a strong looking Lucario wearing a bracelet with a stone in it. As the Lucario that had spared with Cameron bowed to its elder the man reached and patted Cameron on his shoulder.

"I'm proud of you Cameron, since I found you last year you've learned how to use your Aura and understood the philosophy of our order faster than I did when I was in training." He praised his student who blushed and looked away.

"Aahh, Master Riley, don't say that, you'll give me a big head." Cameron said in embarrassment, prompting a laugh from his teacher.

"Come on, the stew should be ready so come on." Riley said as he walked back towards their home. Riley had found Carmon a few months ago when he had come across the boy and his team battling a particular tough Dark type Chimera. Cameron's weapon, a hammer had been broken and before Riley could attack with an Aura Art Cameron had struck the Chimera with an unfocused Aura Punch that rocked it back and stunned it long enough for Riley to get behind and cut its head off. Riley and his team had gotten Cameron and his team to safety and he had told him about the Power of Aura, of the Aura Guardians. He had offered Cameron a chance to train as a Guardian and the boy had jumped at it, he had even said he had been looking for a purpose for his life. And the boy had flourished; he had taken to the teachings like he had been born for them.

Riley smiled as they entered the base built in the southeastern section of Mt. Coronet near Oreburgh City. The Aura Guardians had set this place up back when the order was more numerous but when they were attacked fifty years ago; a lot of Guardians and their families had died, his master had been the only survivor, escaping to this place were copies of most of the knowledge they held, training mostly with a bit of the order's history. He knew the knowledge was missing something important but he had no idea what.

Heading toward the kitchen he passed one of the chambers holding relics, he was so deep in thought that he needed a minute to notice that his student and their Pokémon weren't following him.

"Master isn't a blinking light in this room a sign a Seal was broken?" Cameron said hoarsely as he stared into the room, the words caused Riley to pale and dash to the doorway, looking into the room and saw the flashing light illuminate the darkness. Walking into the room he reached a shelf and picked up a small pyramid and feed some of his aura into it, which lite up with the same four symbols on all sides. He frowned as he read the symbols; 'horde, spore, pain, plague', these was going to be a problem.

"Well sensei? Does it say where the seal is?" Cameron asked from the doorway.

"The only thing the symbols do is to describe what was sealed; and one of the words used is 'horde' which is going to be a problem. Sadly I think the knowledge about where the seal is was lost during the attack." Riley said to his apprentice with a sigh.

"Damn those scum! What the fuck were they thinking, attacking the Aura Guardians!? We stay out conflicts between regions; we only attack Chimera and criminals who are a danger to humans or Pokémon! What reason could they have had to do it?!" Cameron said with rage as he punched the wall in anger.

"If I knew who was behind the attack I would question them very severely about it." Riley said as he scowled at the memories of finding the old headquarters in ruins, the corpses and how his teacher had passed on before passing him directions to this place and warning him about "Those who hide in the Light", he still didn't know who they were but he had tried.

"Come on student, let's eat our dinner and I'll plan what to do after." Riley said as he led his student and their Pokémon towards the bases dining room/ ketchen.

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Shadow reached the outskirts of Lavender Town as the sun started to set and moved through the slums by jumping from building to building until he reached a building overlooking a ruined staircase going into the earth. Outside stairs was a heavily muscular man next to a Machamp with sunglass and iron knuckles in each of its hands. As Shadow dropped the Machamp looked at him and nudged the man next to it. The man looked at shadow and reached for his pocket slowly as he looked at Shadow as he walked toward the stairs.

"Hey man I don't want any trouble ya hear me." The Bouncer said to Shadow as the Machamp started to pose. Shadow didn't break his stride and when he was right before the stairs he stopped. The Bouncer had a knife half drawn and looked at him with a concern, was this a raid?

"In Shadow and Darkness does the real money Flow." Shadow said before he walked past the Bouncer who relaxed at the password Shadow had given. He sent a small frown at the Machamp and was met with a confident smirk in return.

"Hey, next time come here on the ground so I can see ya sooner, ya hear me Merc?" The Bouncer called down to Shadow who walked into the Den; Ghost Station. When he reached the bottom he walked to a wall at the end of a small hallway and opened a door, entering a saloon full of rough looking trainers of both genders, a few Team Rocket grunts sat around a table playing poker and a few women dressed in tube tops and short skirts grouped near an open doorway along one of the walls, a TV behind the bar with a man with slick black hair in a bartender's uniform watching it with a Granbull, both of their backs to the doorway.

The noise dropped when one of the people facing the doorway fell out of his chair causing people to turn and some to go pale and caused everyone there to slowly reach for their Pokéballs or weapons until the man behind the counter slammed his hand against the bar.

"I don't need to remind anyone here that any violence not in self-defense results in being banned from this Den and its services for a year, do I?" His gruff voice cut through the tension like a knife through butter.

"But it's Shadow! He's one of the strongest bounty hunters out there! We have to strike first to even have a chance to keep walking free…" One of the Rocket grunts choked out before Shadow raised both his hands, each empty.

"Not here on a hunt, I'm here for information. I acknowledge and respect the neutrality of the Dens." Shadow cut in as he walked towards the bar.

"See you idiots; he's here to use the Den. Granbull watch the bar, you, Shadow? Come with me." The man said as he got walked toward a door next to the bar and entered an office with a large mainframe, a computer on the desk behind which the man sat.

"Information, so what is it you're after. Chimera bounties, a new Black Lister came out near Pewter, normal bounty, got a new one near Dark City; the Yaz expelled a student who tried a coup, might get something for him if the League wants to know any Yaz secrets." The man began before Shadow put his hand on the table.

"Karen of the Elite Four, I need everything you have on her Joey." Shadow said as his face locked on the man's who went still.

"Karen of the Elite, what's brought her to your attention? People who enter the League usually have everything known about them from where they went to school to what they ate the day they left home as a trainer. And to the public she is a friend to all worthwhile charities, someone who helps the helpless and a patron of those who hunt Chimera. But…" Joey trailed off as he started to look sheepish.

"Joey, but what?" Shadow said as he crossed his arms.

"She's a specter. She came out of nowhere and went through the gyms like a bullet, she moved faster than she could with the help of any Pokémon she's known to have or with a boat or car and qualified for the league within the last month before the tournament for a new member of the Elites." Joey said with a sigh as he leaned back.

"So do the Dens have anything not available to the public?" Shadow questioned as Joey found Shadow's masked and leaned forward.

"Just a few observations we've made. Her team is interesting, at least according to my bro in Viridian. He thinks her team's compositing is telling, her Murkrow isn't evolved but her Vileplum is, which is surprising since both need a stone to do so and she's supposedly a Dark type specialist and then there's her vocabulary, she uses some phasing that is from Unova so she spent a lot of time in the more populated areas there. She knows people consider her a beauty and knows how to use it, so she grew up around people not related to her, so she wasn't homeschooled but there no school records with her name on it anywhere in Unova." Joey said as he scratched his chin.

"Would he have anything you don't know, in his private files?" Shadow inquired, causing Joey to stare at him. The private files were unique to each Den, and to get at them was as unique as the Dens themselves, sometimes the trouble wasn't worth the effort.

"Anything you want you'll have to trade for, and he only accepts info about the target you want on. So if you have anything we don't know about her, I'm afraid that that is the only way he'd let you into his files." Joey finished before Shadow nodded at him and turned and walked to the door, stopping before it.

"Let your brother know I'm coming to talk with him, that I have a photo that proves Karen isn't all her public persona shows her to be." Shadow said as he opened the door, Joey standing up sending his chair scrapping back.

"You know something about her we don't!?" Joey cried out in shock, not caring that his voice carried through the room. Shadow merely waved his hand before he left the office. As he walked through the bar to the door the TV was finishing the nightly news.

"…And now an announcement form the Pokémon Center in Viridian City for all towns, homesteads or travelers in the Hurricanes path, keep your Pokémon in their balls tonight or close your windows if your indoors. A wind born epidemic has hit the Viridian area that started either early this morning or late last night, affecting all Pokémon. Be advised that all Pokémon types are affected by this and if your Pokémon seems to be in pain call the or take them to the nearest Pokémon Center. Coming up the play season for the Celadon Theater has been announced, what will they perform on opening day?" Shadow stop at the door when Viridian City was mentioned, leaving the bar once the report was done, not noticing someone had noticed and figured out why he had stopped.

A man with a beard all over his face in a torn shirt and pants sat in the corner finishing up his food and got up after Shadow had been gone for an hour, leaving just before Joey came back to start to close up for the night. He shot the Bouncer a wave as he walked out of the underground, stumbling and leaning against one of the buildings before stumbling off. After a while he left the area where the Bouncer could see him, started to walk normally and a Croagunk wearing a high tech-collar holding a folded dark brown overcoat dropped down and walked next to him, handing over the overcoat.

"Shadow left the city already? And he's after a woman." The man muttered as he ripped his beard from his face, revealing a clean shaving face and brown eyes. Seeing his Pokémon nod at his question he sighed as he put his coat on and closed it, covering up the rips and walked toward the main part of town.

"I think we should head to our room and depart in the morning; it's going to take a while to get to Viridian from here with that hurricane coming in." He said as he and his partner walked toward the Center.

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"…Theater has been announced, what will they perform on opening day?" Riley turned off the TV and turned to his student with a bitter smile. So he was going to Kanto.

"Well' it seems I know where to I need to go." Riley said as he walked toward a phone on a table.

"What's this 'I' Sensei? If you think I'm letting you go alone your so slow a Slowbro will evolve before you think something else." Cameron said as he came back into the room with an ancient looking tome.

"And like one of our predecessor wrote, don't fight a Fire Chimera without a Water Type. So let's find out which seal is busted and what they did to fight it and seal it away." Cameron said as he put the book onto their table as their Pokemon came into room carrying the soup they would have for dinner. Riley just shook his head and walked over towards the table and started to look over the entries, each one a threat the Aura Guardians had forced behind seals, wondering what was threating Kanto and if they would be able to handle it alone.

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As the full moon rose in the dark of the night illuminating the desert, the five red cloaks of the Bloody Maulers members were obvious as they dashed over the sands. Their boss had ordered them to do a circlet of the area then head back if they didn't find their targets before they reached the bridge he had walked off muttering about getting a way to communicate better. They passed a pack of Cacnea coming back from the river, and saw a flock of Doduo led by a Dodrio head toward the front of the town. The mission leader merely looked an out over the sands as they ran, their Equipment letting them move as easily over the loose sands as he scowled, their boss vendetta against Bahadur was against all reason. Why the hell did we have to go this way, I mean that brat had to have escaped from us already. I mean if we didn't find them by now they had to have made it to their homes by now. He thought as he looked at the desert nightscape.

"Leader, we're almost back to the bridge so maybe they doubled back when they got out of our sight?" One of the grunts said, he ignored them, the grunt was probably right but they had to get to the bridge and then they would be able to go home and sleep. Coming to a decision he signaled his team to slow down and turned and

"Okay gents, the targets are probably in their homes in their beds; so let's make hast to the nearest bridge back into town and tell anyone who asks that we couldn't find them and…." The leader began before he was interrupted.

"Is that them over there? Over by that abandoned lookout hut near the hills?" One of the grunts asked as he pointed toward a nearby lookout hut, turning rapidly the leader saw a form in the shade cast by said lookout hut on top of a nearby dune. Signaling his team to follow him, they moved silently toward another dune to get a better view of what was in the shadow. Lying down on the sand they were able to get a better view and saw that the figure was taller than any of their targets.

"It's just one, and the figure is wrong, it's not them. Still any tribute we could bring back to the boss might make his night, what say you gents?" His question was met with grins as the others around him started to chuckle.

"One of you stay back and hide in case this one's too strong and beats us, you two of you hit 'em from behind after me and this one hits him from the front. And remember, all but the hider release you Pokémon." He said as he released his Pokémon, a Machop as the rest released their Pokemon; a Cubone, and two Stunky as he led one of them toward the lookout hut. When the two of them and their Pokémon were within ten feet of the shadow he decided to call out to their target.

"Okay bloke here's how it's gonna be, you drop your valuables you got and run back to town, move fast and we might not take any of your Pokémon." He sneered as he and his men moved to attack. The figure in the shadow said nothing as the gangers stated to get angry at the silence from their victim.

"I said drop your valuables NOW! A wiseguy hu, Machop; fire a Focus Blast at the punk!" His Machop cupped its hands and formed a sparking light yellow orb of energy and shot it at their victim. Before the sphere hit its target the figure raised a hand and a brown energy blast destroyed the sphere.

"An Auralist?" He stammered as he and his team drew their weapons, cutlass as they moved apart from each other, their Pokemon taking point before them. The Cubone had taken a step forward before a golden rope flashed out and wrapped around it, and before it could start to struggle a brown glow formed around it and was drained into the rope, drawing a cry of pain that ended with it limp in the rope before the rope uncoiled and dropped the Pokémon to the ground.

"What the hell, what did that thing do to my Cubone?!" One of the Maulers's cried in shock as he stared, so caught up that he didn't notice another golden rope shoot out and wrap around him. As soon as it wrapped around him a blue glow formed and drained away, so fast he couldn't even cry out in pain.

"What the Fuck!" One of the Stunky trainers said as the gangers backed away from the outpost in horror.

"I thought all the Devourers and the lore about their training were destroyed years ago!?" A voice croaked out in terror as the Leader starred in horror at what they had run into, a horror that parents used to scare kids to behave, this just couldn't be real.

"This can't be happening man, this can't be happening!" He spared a glance at one of others who looked like he was having a nervous breakdown. He needed to find a way to either get his people away from here or pull off a win soon.

"Pull yourselves back together! We got to buy some time, poison the fucker!" The Leader ordered as his Machop

"Got it Leader, Stunky use Poison Gas." The Maulers who had managed to keep calm while being terrified ordered his Poison type which released a green fog from its mouth at the figure which was quickly engulfed in the fog. The trainers grinned; even a Drainer would be affected, unless it had eaten a Poison Pokémon.

"Good work; shoot a Focus Blast at the fog Machop!" The Leader command his Pokemon, who sent a blue sphere which caused an explosion that engulfed the figure and the hut.

"That had to have gotten the bastard leader! Nothing living would have…" The Maulers member trailed off as the fire from the explosion caused the figure to be revealed. The figure that was revealed wasn't human at all, nor was it a Pokémon. It was a golem 5 feet tall humanoid figure made of a golden stone with blocky limbs, the ropes that had drained the were but two of eight on the arms of the golem that moved back and forth like they were alive. On its chests were 20 clear stones, two were lite up, one brown and the other blue. Its face had two blue gems for eyes and a painted frown.

"What is this thing?" The trainer who had started to lose it started to back away before two of the golden ropes wrapped around him and his Pokémon and drained them of the outline that appeared, the golem's chest gaining a blue and purple glow from two of the clear gems.

"Machop, fire another Focus Blast! We have to force it back!" The leader cried out as his Machop formed a blue sphere between its hands and thrust its hands at the golem.

"Back'em up Stunky; fire a Toxic at the thing!" The remaining Stunky shot a purple liquid from its mouth from the golem's other side. The golem raised its hands to catch both attacks and while the Focus Blast was drained away, the Toxic melted the arm to the elbow.

"We have a chance, we….." The ganger trailed of when the arm flashed brown and its arm was regenerated before their eyes. He just stood there before two of the golden ropes wrapped around both him and his Pokémon, draining them of the glow that formed around them. While that was happening he noticed that the golem's chest didn't have a brown glow on its chest. It's using the drained Aura to heal itself, maybe I have a chance.

"The gems on its chest, that's where it keeps the Aura it steals, aim for its dammed chest!" The leader called out before a rope wrapped around his Mahop, causing a ruby glow to form before it was drained away. He had a bare second to think about it before a golden rope coiled around him and drained him of a blue glow. The golem scanned the area before it started to walk off into the night away from the town, farther in the direction of the mountains their unexplored slops and peaks.

The lookout had stared in total shock at the battle that erupted before his eyes, total shock that four trainers and four Pokémon had been defeated by a golem so fast. He heard a noise behind him and saw lights over the river in town; people had seen the explosion and were coming to investigate. He moved towards his comrades, he had to get rid of their cloaks; they would be a few friends out for an evening run, not members of the Bloody Maulers. And he could blame it on the Cacnea they had seen, a Leech Seed did the same damage as that golem's ropes did so he might be able to sell it. He was in such a hurry that he never noticed black bird like shadow against the moon had been watching them since they had confronted Bahadur, a silent observer that had seen the whole battle.

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Mr. Mime walked through the house silently, a frown on its faces as it thought about how it would have to deal with having another person in the house. When that woman's brat was around it had to act the part of a happy house keeper, with him gone a simple command and she did the house work and treated it like a king when they were alone. Now a new trainer was here he was back to being a servant, he was looking forward to the seeing the tainted bitch in her proper place again. He walked to the phone and dialed his trainer's number quickly; she had to know about the girl.

"Delia what is it? Why did you call so late?" Ginny's voice asked worriedly when someone answered the phone.

"Mime mime mime" Mr. Mime answered

"Mime, what the fuck is the matter, what happened…oh no, that bleeding heart took someone in again didn't she?" Ginny snarled as her voice turned vicious.

"Mime." Mr. Mime said as he nodded.

"That new girl, right? The wanna be cook. Start to carry a recorder with you and drop it at the exchange point behind the house when you water the berries. Act like a fucking servant, don't do anything that would let the brat figure out anything about you, got it?! Now let me sleep you stupid Fairy." Ginny said before she slammed down her phone. Mr. Mime just looked at phone with a scowl and marched back toward where it slept, so much for that.

He was in such a state that he didn't notice that one of the girl's Pokemon hiding in the kitchen stand up and look toward the phone, a hard look on its brown face. It looks like that bitch Oak was involved with Delia's blackouts and was the one who really controlled the Fairy Type. Looking down at a recorder Flaaffy had giving it, it had to play it back for its trainer tomorrow, and let Amanda hear this too.

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P A /bardofworlds for special rewards for all patrons

Trial of the Blade: Homeland term for the Defense Treaty, a test to prove they have mastered the use of their chosen weapon

Homunculus: Creation made by Alchemy which can be design to any shape, though a basic limit of 10 feet tall, controllable by artifact in shape of anything from a ring to a statue, limit of ten per control artifact

Alchemy: Aura Practice of infusing Aura into chemical mixtures and molds to create potions or Homunculus

Devourer: Forbidden Style of Auralists; drains others of Aura to power their abilities, higher tiers need to kill others to advanced their abilities, and kill Pokémon to gain their element. Has become a horror story for the Homeland