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

8. Chapter 8

Sorry it took so long, I've had a few problems with RL. And I reread my last chapter and changed a few things to make it flow better. And finally, for the money I'm going by Pokémon dollars from the game IE a shirt would cost 2,000 so Star quests level is going to be a bit screwy until I get a better handle on it. and I'm reclassifying this as a fusion so its under the regular category on Fanfiction so enjoy and my goal is to publish the next chapter before the month is out or the 1st weekend of next month

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Harley followed after Xion and Mohawk as he smirked. This was what he needed, some flunkies to do his dirty work. They wanted to teach Ash's new friend her place, he wanted that girl who got him disqualified out of the circuit, he was sure they could help each other out. Since they had left the contest hall they had quickly moved towards the outer limits of the City, entering a place goodie two shoes wouldn't travel. As they walked Harley saw women in low cut clothes and wearing heavy makeup become more common, but he noticed a man in a light green jacket was always watching them, sometimes they would notice the trio walking and look in fear at Xion. Looks like I chose the perfect pawn after all. The finals might be a bit boring without Ash in it but oh well, that's the way the cookie crumbles.

Finally they came to a rundown opera house where many trainers both male and female in light green jackets were milling about. When they saw Xion some cried out greetings but most bowed or saluted him. Harley saw the reactions to him and he started to worry about who he had chosen to use as a cat's-paw. He was led into a fouir and as soon as he walked through the doors two halberds with green gems in the axe head were crossed in front of him. He saw that they were held by two men in the same jackets as the people outside with black bandanas around their necks.

"So who's the outsider Xion?" A grave voice rasped from the far right. Harley's turned and saw a figure with bandages around his head, a tuff of white hair over his eyes dressed in dark cloths and a black bandana around his neck and in a dark coat.

"Merely someone who has some information about someone I trying to beat the gym. Let us pass, now." Xion said imperiously as he looked at the bandaged man. After a few seconds he nodded and the halberds were removed and the party of three walked through the lobby towards a double door.

"So whose mummy-boy?" Harley inquired as he started to finger a Pokéball as he watched the bandaged figure walk out of the room looking back at him.

"No one you need to know about, just tell what you promised and you might get through this with your skin intact." Mohawk said as he turned and glared at the Coordinator who smiled back. I think these guys are more than just a gang; I might have bitten off more than I could handle. But I'm a lot stronger then these fools think, if worst comes to worst then I'll get out of here escape and let Ashy handle the cleanup. Harley thought as he looked at Xion.

He was lead into a chamber full of noise; the gallery was setup with many tables before a stage with a thrown set up. Around the room were many girls in provocative cloths and makeup moving about, some by male trainers in green jackets and some carrying trays. The other two didn't even stop, leading Harley towards the stage and when they passed one of the girls with her pink hair in rings Harley noticed her eyes were blank, as if nothing was behind them. When the people around the tables noticed the party they went quiet and pointed towards him. On the thrown was a man a few years older with brown hair wearing a golden crown, a light green cloak over a green tunic and black pants. Leaning against the throne was a woman his age with her brown hair in a twin tale style wearing a black corset and tight leather pants, a stern look in her glacier blue eyes. She noticed the noise level dying and turned toward the gallery and frowned when she saw Harley. The man on the throne looked and gained a glare on his face when he saw the party moved towards the stage and sneered at Xion.

"Well brother you lost in the final round. How was the losers circle?" The man with the crown inquired as he stared down at the party form the throne.

"Don't bother our Xion that much about his loss brother Rex, I'm sure he's doing enough of that all on his own, but who is this one he brought before us." The woman said with a throaty pure as she looked at Harley and licked her lips.

"The person who beat you wasn't even from our town! But she had strong Pokémon and has a nice figure; she might be worth something after she's taught to respect her betters. I already sent some of our soldiers after both her and the other one." Rex said with a sneer on his face. Xion had a look of disgust on his face at the start of Rex's speech but a savage grin formed on his face at the end.

"Fine, but the bitch that beat me is friends with someone trying to beat the gym, I thought maybe dear sister Rebecca might like to beat him and take his Pokémon, and this one knows something about the punk." Xion said gesturing to Harley as Rebecca pouted at what she heard.

"Another no name trainer to beat? Please, their always so tedious little brother. What's the brat's name anyway?" She inquired as she closed her eyes.

"Ash Ketchum of Pallet Town." Harley's words caused her eye's to snap open and to perk up.

"Really?! HIM?! Oh this is great, to finally match my skills with an opponent worth of my time! This is great!" Rebecca cheered as she started to jump around the stage to the confusion of the people watching her.

"You know him?" Harley asked as he slowly reached for one of his Pokéballs as he looked around the room as he slowly moved away from the stage. Given what I've seen in here I think it's time to beat a hasty retreat. This might be the signal to leave fast. Harley thought.

"Yes, is this outlander important or something?" Rex demanded as everyone paid attention to Rebecca and were ignoring him, giving Harley some time to move farther from the stage and release a Pokémon quietly.

"Oh I've been following his career since the Silver Conference, he has a habit of trying the league he's challenging only with Pokémon he caught within that League's territory besides his starter. With this probably being his first gym I might be able to beat him." Rebecca said absently as she started to think about her battle against Ash. At the words Morhawk chuckled and turned to Xion with a smirk on his face.

"So we don't need, what the hell, where is he?" Morhawk words caused Xion to turn and notice Harley was standing with his hands on a Wigglytuff.

"I can see where this is going, I guess my plans to use you against the bitch was made in hast, so I guess I'll see you on the circuit Xiony." Harley said before he and his Pokémon both glowed white and they vanished from sight. Rex looked at the sport before he started to go red and gritted his teeth in his anger. Xion merely gave off a short chuckle at what had happened.

"So he had an escape planned in advanced to get away from trying to use us, I knew I liked him for a reason." Xion said with a smirk on his face, his words caused Rex to exploded with a roar.

"GET ME DAMAIN NOW! That bastard is to be found and brought before me! Xion, you are to leave the city tomorrow morning with your minions! Don't come back until the Grand Festival ends one way or another!" Rex said as he locked eyes with Xion who merely nodded and walked off with Mohawk following after him.

"What about Ash brother, I still want him." Rebecca said with a pout as her brother left the throne. The doors to the lobby opened and the man wrapped in bandages walked passed Xion on his way to the stage. He bowed and stayed that way until Rex acknowledged him.

"For now he's not a problem, so we'll leave him alone. Damian, I have a bounty to set, on one who made a fool of us."

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Brock ran from the Pokémon Center, glad he had taken the time to call home and asked for his Pokémon back, he would need them for the expedition. Now all that he needed was for Giovanni not to have left the gym for the day. When he entered the gym he moved away from the public areas and head straight for the office, he had to talk to Giovanni tonight, he just couldn't let it wait. He breath a small sigh of relief when he saw that Giovanni's secretary was still there, Giovanni never let anyone stay when he wasn't there, the onetime Brock was glad that the leader of the Viridian Gym was so paranoid. The woman had blue hair in a bun and he saw she had on purple lipstick and her glasses made her blue eyes stand out.

"Dr. Brock. What brings you to the Viridian Gym so late, I'm sorry but Mr. Giovanni is in a meeting and giving the time will most likely be leaving for the night once it's done." She said as she looked up.

"Giovanni is in there, right? Don't get up, I'll let myself in." Brock said and moved past her before the secretary could stop him but a second later she walked after him.

"Sir, as I said the Gym Leader is in a meeting!" Her voice cried out behind him as he reached the door.

"Then I'll join it!" He shot back as he opened the door, feeling her put her hand on his shoulder and start to pull at him. The large office was just like the last time he had been there, Giovanni was standing by the windows and by the desk was the silvery-blue haired figure of Karin of the Elite four, both turned their heads when they heard his voice, Karin looked confused over who he was but Giovanni had the looked like he had total control as usual, although Brock thought he detected a question in his eyes.

"It's alright Miranda; the doctor must have important business to discus with me to act so." Giovanni said as he gestured to his secretary to go back to her desk.

"Doctor, Giovanni? I don't think that I've meet this person before." Karin said as he noticed her observing him like a Meowth who had sighted a tasty looking rat.

"Miss Karin, allow me to introducing you to Brock of Pewter City, former Gym Leader and aspiring Pokémon Doctor studying at the local Pokémon Center. And given what he just did he has something important to talk to me about." Giovanni said as Brock bowed as he was introduced.

"I am sorry I barged in like this Giovanni, but it's an emergency. Giving what I need to talk to you about, it's probably a good thing that Karin is here, given her stance on Chimeras." Brock said causing Karin to jolt and Giovanni's eyes to narrow.

"Chimeras… Does this have anything to do with all of the… events that happened at the hospital today?" Giovanni asked as Karin turned to him.

"Events?" Karin asked flatly as her eyes narrowed.

"Since around eight o'clock this morning the Center was swamped with cases of Pokémon in deliberating pain. We were able to identify the infection vector as a windborne spore, further investigation showed that the spore had animal-plant hybrid proteins, and I've encountered a Chimera that used spores like this to hunt in the past." Brock said grimly as Karin started to pale.

"Windborne? There's a hurricane coming up the coast! If the spores survive that they could affect half the region!" Karin exploded as Giovanni frowned.

"And the League wouldn't do anything about it without proof." He said as Karin started to bristle.

"I know I've found that there are some idiots in the League since I joined the Elite Four, but with a threat like that doubled by a natural disaster?" Karin said in disbelief. Giovanni just shook his head as he slumped against the window.

"The Pokemon League in both Kanto and Johto are rife with hardheads that will do anything to keep a panic down, even when the public should panic. If there is a single chance that people are wrong about anything, they won't act. A rumor I heard once was that they had to bring back physical proof during the Fifteenth Siege and even then the Gyms still had to act on their own authority." Brock said as he closed his eyes in pain.

"Rumor nothing; we did have to organize the raid on our own, they were all talking about defending, that all that was found was a staging area. Chimera with a staging area, I mean really! And the only thing those fools did was tell the public that they had everything under control while we did all the work and paid the butcher bill. But on another topic could this be connected to the hunt that brought you to my city? " Giovanni asked as he looked at Karin who just stared back at him before she shook her head.

"Maybe, but the beast I was after was an Electric one; it showed no Grass Type abilities of any kind. But it might have been saving them, we might have been downwind of it buts that's not important now. I'm here and able, what do you need from me Doctor?" Karin asked as she turned to look at Brock.

"Like Giovanni said, we need proof. I'm going up into those mountains, alone if I have to. I originally came to ask for any Gym Trainers but with you here Karin any help would you can provide would be appreciated." Brock explained as he gave her a bow.

"I don't know about Giovanni but I'll be glad to help. Just give me until noon tomorrow; I'll need to the time to call some League Hunters from my hunt that I know are still in the city." Karin said. Giovanni eyes narrowed for a few seconds, a reaction that both Brock and Karin missed.

"The Viridian Gym is always ready and able to meet any threats to its city. All the trainers who study here left for the day, give me until noon and I'll be able to send at least two of them and the rest will be on guard if anything happens." Giovanni promised as he led them towards the door.

"Thank you Giovanni, you and the Gym do so much for the city; I don't know what the city would do without you and yours." Brock said as he shook Giovanni's hand as Karin left the office before him, but after she walked a few feet she turned back toward the two of them.

"So then we'll meet at the Center at noon tomorrow, Dr, I wish you a good night's sleep, you'll need it I fear." Karin said with a grim look on her face and was met with a solemn nod from Brock and a narrowed stare from Giovanni.

Giovanni closed his office's door and walked to his window, looking down on Viridian City, his eyes able to pick out Brock running back toward his apartment and Karin looking back at the Gym before she walked toward the hotel she was staying at. Giovanni turned and walked away from the window and moved toward his desk. He sat down and opened his desk, revealing a Pokéball he picked it up and threw it, released a Persian that padded over to him and he reached down and scratched behind its ears.

"Well, that meeting was very informative, even beyond what it's true purpose was my friend. I now know what was so wrong at the Center, I was able to learn something about Karin and I found something that might some of our operations. All in all my friend, a perfect us of my time." He said as looked around his office with a smile before he reached for his phone, activating its intercom.

"Miranda, contact Sham, Butch and Cassidy and have them report for a briefing early in the morning, oh and post a notice that I need to talk with all Trainers studying here. And after that you may finish up any paperwork and leave when you're ready, I'll be working late tonight" Giovanni said as he sat down behind his desk.

"Yes sir and the confirmation for your reservation at the hotel in Celadon City came in earlier before Miss Karin arrived, I thought it would be… inappropriate to let her know of your plans." Miranda said, causing Giovanni to nod his head.

"Well done. And one more thing, contact Silver and tell him that he is to stay at the Indigo Plateau until he's contacted." Giovanni said as an afterthought

"Sir, don't let me think it's my place to how you are to utilize your son, but if he finds out you deliberately kept him out of something, if this has to do with whatever the cause of Brock's visit…." Miranda began before Giovanni interrupted her.

"A possible Chimera attack is underway; I want Silver to stay where he is to monitor anything the League does. Young Brock was here to request the help of the Viridian Gym for an expedition into the mountains to track down. Karin said she'll call some League Hunters who in the city." Giovanni said as he heard Miranda's chair move through his phone as she stood up.

"I'm sorry sir, but Karin said she'll call League Hunters who are in the city?! All the League Hunters that came into the City with her departed earlier tonight! Their heading toward Alto Mare to deal with a possible Water Chimera horde! It was a top level command made by the League!" Miranda interjected in total shock.

"Yes, and the only reason we know that is because we have a tap in the League's communications, a normal Gym Leader or Doctor wouldn't know that. But that information tells us that the Hunters don't come from the League, which given her polices on independents is interesting. That means that she has an alternate source of followers that we don't know about. A piece of information that has an impact on any plans that she is a factor in. But more worrying is that such a degree for mobilization went through the League so fast." Giovanni mused to himself as he called up all the data he had on the region around Alto Mare, he finally found a report on the activities of two thieves loosely tied to his organization, along with some notes by a certain trio. He had to reread the report trice before he was able to comprehend what was on the report. He leaned back and massaged his forehead as he started to curse. Why do I have such fools in my employment, why? To use that thing that way, I can't even begin to count how this would have impacted Team Rocket! Did those two fools think the League would sit back and let a city with such a weapon be conquered or seceded?! But maybe there's a way to use the principals involved.

"Miranda contact Dr. Zager and arrange a meeting for tomorrow. Tell him I have a new project to discus with him. " Giovanni said as he turned toward the window as he leaned back in his chair.

"Yes sir. If you don't mind I'll go and have housekeeping ready our overnight rooms, I think we'll need them before too long." Miranda said with a voice that promised she wouldn't leave before he would.

"Thank you Miranda, that's probably for the best. One more thing, I'll need someone to go over the activities of operatives Annie and Oakley before their incaution, try to find if they came across Alto Mare on a job for us, and contact our spy in the justice department, I need to know what prison their in." Giovanni said with a sigh as his Persian purred as it rubbed its head against his legs.

"Of course sir, but given the length of their careers both with us and before we recruited them it might not be possible to find what you're looking for." Miranda said with a sigh.

"Get division R2 to handle the research, have them send it to you and write up a summery for me. The possible Chimera attack takes priority over the report, nothing else is more important." Giovanni said before he turned off his intercom and walked back toward the window. Looking out he saw the lights of Viridian and thought about his past, about the Fifteenth Siege and the horrors of those days.

"If this is the start of the 16th Siege, this time this Gym alone will stop it." Giovanni vowed as he looked over what was his city, and promised to protect it.

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Lilith flew swiftly through the air, her wings carrying her toward her destination, confident in her Ghost Walker to keep her from anyone's sight. She had easily left the Center, telling the others that she was heading out for a walk to clear her head. She had declined an offers to join her, saying she preferred to walk alone to do some thinking, saying her walks let her focus and had found an alley to climb up and take flight from, making good time and she was already halfway to the local Gym when she spotted someone moving toward the same destination, Nimue, perfect. Lilith started to glide toward Nimue when she spotted a figure shadowing her. She flew toward a roof and landed, looking down upon the stalker. It was a male figure, wearing a light green jacket and bandana around his head, he seemed to be doing everything he could so that Nimue wouldn't spot him but he was pretty easy for anyone to notice if they tried to or had experience in detecting stalkers. She moved over the rooftops, keeping an eye on both Nimue and the person following her, observing that he never moved closer, falling back when they reached the plaza, but staying in the same position in relation to his target. When she noticed the green jacket look past Nimue, she followed his line of sight and saw another two men wearing the same colored jacket entering the plaza and saw all three move to surround Nimue in a triangle. Well this is interesting. Are these people from her 'Sisterhood' or are they from a third party? Do I go for a first strike or do I wait to see what they'll do first. Or Nimue will force the issue. Lilith thought as she noticed Nimue release her Golduck and Samurott, drawing a trident after she did so and turn around to the teen behind her. Lilith's eyes noticed two figures moving toward Nimue in the air and realized her next actions had been forced.

Nimue walked into the plaza where she was to meet Lilly and she noticed that she still had her stalker. Since she had left the Pokémon Center earlier she had been followed as she had moved through the town, she hoped it was just a fan but when he never moved closer and tried to stay at the same distance no matter how fast she moved she was starting to get worried. She noticed two more teens ahead of her in the plaza and decided that enough was enough; she had to force a confrontation. Releasing her Pokemon and drawing her trident, she trusted in them to watch her back as she turned to face the person behind her. She noticed that he was shocked by her actions, maybe she would get out of this

"Well, you've been following me for a few minutes now, were you waiting for your two friends to join you before you comforted me?" She inquired as she clenched her trident as she looked at the figure

"You were in the company of the broad we've got a score to settle with bitch. Ain't your fault but the boss says you're gonna get a new job to pay back your betters. So put that down before you hurt someone and we have to mess up your money maker. And recall those two, wouldn't want to hurt them too bad before they'll sold to someone better." He sneered at her as she went sill before her eyes narrowed. So these people aren't from my home, and their chauvinists, and a new 'job', I really hope I'm wrong about what that was. Nimue looked over her shoulder and meet the eyes of her two Pokémon's eyes and gave a small smile when they both gave her a small nod. She turned back to the person sneering at her and narrowed her eyes and spun her trident over her head before bring it down pointing right at him and saw him jolt at the looking in her eyes as she heard her Pokemon growl at the two people behind her.

"I'm gonna go with option two, beat you all down and turn you over to Officer Jenny to short out." Nimue said as she heard her Pokemon start to growl as they faced down the two people behind her. She was surprised when the person before her started to snicker.

"They always say that but we have ways to handle you bitches, we know how to make them do exactly what we want them to do. We train them up right." He leered as his eyes tracked something above her head.

"Mandibuzz, Air Slash!" Lilly's voice cried out from above her before two light blue glowing saw disc-like energy blades shot over her head her and caused an explosion behind her. Nimue turned her head and saw two Venomoths crash to the ground behind.

"Oh Fuck! Who the hell?!." The voice of her stalker caused her to turn and saw a shadowed figure drop from the building behind him as a whip shot out and hit his hand, dropping a Pokéball still in its small form. The figure walked into the light and was revealed to be Lilly, walking out with a confident look on her face that surprised Nimue.

"Now I wouldn't be the broad you were talking about am I?" Lilly purred as she cracked her whip as she pouted as her Mandibuzz hovered behind her. Nimue stared at the appearance she was gave off, gone was the Coordinator, here was a warrior who wasn't afraid to get her hands dirty with blood. Stalker stared in shock over who had dropped down; he looked like he sensed there was something different about her.

"YOU! You're the bitch the boss wants!" One of the two behind Nimue cried out as Lilly just spared him a glance.

"And why should the wants of someone who has minions who use Stun Spores to take someone matter at all to me?" Lilly's reply sent a chill down Nimue's spine. Nimue looked at the two Venomoths and noticed that spores from their wings on the ground and went still. So that's how they were going to 'handle' me. I don't want to think about how many people they've done this to. But these three are going down hard! Nimue thought as she snarled and made a choice.

"Golduck and Samurott, both of you, target the Venomoths with an Ice Beam, freeze them to the ground." Nimue commanded her Pokémon, both of them looked at the Bugs on the ground and realized the same as their trainer before both sent light blue beams at the wings of the Venomoths, freezing them to the ground.

Lilith smiled as the others started to curse when they saw what Nimue's Pokémon had done; she was starting to like this girl. But best to handle the immanent problem before they handled each other.

"You bitches always trouble your betters! It's up to men like us to make you act like you should!" Stalker growled as he rubbed his hand where she had struck with her whip.

"And you think your man enough to do that? Nimue, do you think you could handle those two while I handle this man? I believe that it should only take a few minutes at most." Lilith asked as she struck out with her whip, but Stalker dropped back and pulled out a hammer and ran at Lilith with a scream, Lilith dodging the blow with a graceful movement.

"Finish fast please; I was never good at mass combat." Nimue said as she looked at the other two teens who released two Yanma, a Heracross and a Paras, the one on the right grew a grin at

"Mandibuzz, sky high and range combat, keep that Paras back!" Lilith commanded. Her Mandibuzz flew above and the battle and started to fire Air Slashes toward the Paras, forcing it and one of the Yanma to dodge as the teen on the Right snarl at being ignored.

"Let's get both bitches for the boss; we won't have to go after that punk kid! Heracross Tackle the Golduck! Yanma, Quick Attack on the Samurott!" The one on the Right called.

"You Idiot, don't act on you own you fool!" Left screamed as Right's Yanma shot at Samurott trailing a white stream behind it while Heracross charged at Golduck

"Golduck, Psychic shield maneuver, Heracross!" Nimue called out. Golduck's eye glowed blue before a Heracross gained a blue outline and was thrown into the path of charging Yanma face first, knocking both out of the sky.

Lilith swung her whip and hit Stalker face, scoring a gash above his right eyes. She saw what Nimue had her Golduck do and added that to their talks, dodging to the right as Stalker brought his hammer down. She frowned as he tried to get her with a horizontal strike Time to call for help.

"Nimue, close your eyes! Mandibuzz, Sunny Day Flare!" Lilith called out, Nimue and her Pokémon had barley closed their eyes. Mandibuzz formed white orbs at the tips of its wings and sent them upwards, causing a large sphere to form that released a blast of light that lite up the town.

Ash looked out at the city as he sat outside the Pokémon Center, having left Pikachu inside with a bottle of ketchup. He was thinking about his battle at the gym and the message his Pokédex during the Contest, there was a quest with a TM that could help him gain an ace to use against Viola's strategy.

"I never knew that Pikachus liked ketchup that much!" Serena's voice caused as to look up to see her smile at him as she walked towards him.

"That's a vice that only Pikachu has. You know, we haven't had a chance to talk like this in years Serena." Ash said as he gave a small smile to her.

"You know I have been following you since you started your journey, I can't believe how far you've gotten in the Pokémon League Conferences you've been in. The top sixteen in Indigo and since then never lower than the top eight! People who have been in the League for years don't have that kind of record." Serena said as she sat down next to Ash.

"I've had a good team for each and every Conference. But how's you mom been, you guys did move to help her career. And how'd Tomboy Rena gain an 'eye for fashion'?" Ash said with a smirk, causing Serena to blush.

"She's been the champion in her sport for a while, she's think about skipping the next season and coming back for the championship races, as for the fashion it became an escape when she started to train me to be a racer a few years after we moved." Serena said as she put her head down.

"Did you ever talk to her about the training she was giving you?" Ash questioned with a frown.

"I couldn't, I knew that if I started I would just start insulting and cursing her about the move, I know that it made sense with the racing circuit closing down in Kanto, but deep down I just. I just missed…Pallet Town for months after the move but I've came to term with it after a while, I met some new friends and I dealt with it. But on a different subject, Lilly shared something that I think my mom might like being the spokeswoman for, a particular blend of tea that was delicious." Serena said as she perked up with a smile.

"I remember how she and my mom loved to have tea while the two of us used to play together back in the day, if it's that good maybe I should order some for my mom." Ash said as he smiled and put his arms behind his head. Serena gained a blush as she saw the figure he gave off with the moonlight shining down on him. Girl this is your chance to ask him on a date. Don't blow it. She thought as she looked at Ash and gathered her courage.

"So Ash, do you…" Serena began before a flash of light blinded her for a minute. Serena blinked as she stumbled and looked around as she regained her eyesight.

"What in the name of Ho-Oh!" Ash cursed as he rubbed his eyes.

"That was so bright, what was that?" Serena asked as she held her eyes. If someone did that for laughs I'll kill 'em and feed their bodies to Chimera. Serena thought with a glare as she looked around.

"I think you mean where that was Serena. PIKACHU! TO ME. Froakie, Fletchling get high and find anything that looks wrong!" Ash said as he released his two Pokémon. Fletchling flew upwards as Froakie jumped and grabbed Fletchling's legs until it could jump to a street lamp and started to look around as Fletchling flew higher. Pikachu ran out of the center and jumped onto Ash's should, looking ready for a fight.

"ASH! What was that!?" Clemont demanded as he ran out of the Center with Nurse Joy and his sister behind him.

"Not sure where it was yet alone what it was. But I think Fletchling has an idea where it came from." Ash said as Fletchling started to fly away from the Center, Froakie jumping after it.

"Come on!" Ash said as he ran after his Pokémon.

"I'm right behind you! Bonnie stay with Nurse Joy!" Clemont said as he and Serena ran after Ash.

"Clemont!" Bonnie tried to follow but Nurse Joy stopped her. Bonnie turned to look at Joy with tears in her eyes and was meet with a comforting smile from her.

"It's okay, trust in your friends to come back in one piece." Nurse Joy consoled Bonnie as they watch the three trainers run off.

Lilith smirked as she looked at the result of her actions. Right and Left were both blinded, along with their Pokémon. Stalker had reacted and closed his eyes and had fall back to his dropped Pokéball and put it away. Lilith decided to press her advantage while they had one.

"Mandibuzz, while we have an advantage, attack the Paras with Bone Rush!" Lilith cried out as she struck at Stalker with her whip. She spared a glance at the gym and noticed some commotion from it. Good, I was able to get some people to notice what was going on. The best results are if Ash and the others come looking for answers, never mind Officer Jenny.

Mandibuzz shot straight at the Paras, forming a light green energy bone in its right claw and bashed the Paras as she flew by the Bug type, after which Mandibuzz flew back into the sky. Paras had an eye closed and it looked like it was bleeding a bit, the Yanma tried to keep facing Mandibuzz as it climbed into the sky. Heracross meanwhile had gotten up and charged at Golduck who had met it fist to claws, exchanging punches and kicks while Right's Yanma had gotten back into the air. The two Venomoths were trying to get out of the ice while Left had finally gotten his eye sight back and his eyes went to the gym and cursed when he saw the lights coming on within.

"Yanma, Venomoth, Paras, return!" Left cried out suddenly, three red beams dragging his Pokémon back into their balls.

"What are you doing you idiot!" Stalker roared as he tried to strike Lilith, Right looked between him and Left in confusion.

"This mission was blown the second whip girl showed up! That flare will bring trouble, its best that we escape while we still…." Left began before the Gym's doors flew open with a bang.

"What's going on out here?!" A voice roared from the Gym to reveal the gym leader coming out with her a female trainer with beige colored hair and a kid with brown hair in a blue hoodie.

"Hey, what the Fuck are you Buzz Brats doing here?!" Viola demanded as she looked upon the plaza.

"I told you idiots we had to move, Come Out Scolipede, time to rampage!" Left bellowed as he released a Scolipede with a seat behind its eyes, which as soon as it appeared bent down to let its trainer onto the seat it was wearing. He had already put one of his arms on the seat when…

"Froakie, frubbles on his legs and arm!" Ash's voice called out from the darkness near the Scolipede before three puffy objects hit Left's leg before he could pull it away from the ground. Lilith grinned when she saw Ash lead the others out the darkness, Clemont with his Bunnelby in front of him, Fennakin in Serena's arms, Ash with Pikachu on his should, his Froakie on a street lamp and his Fletchling hovering next to it. Time for me to finish playing with this one and then handle the other two. Lilith moved straight at Stalker using the blind spot his wounded gave him to deliver an uppercut that knocked him out, looking up she saw the party from the gym start to release their Pokémon and start to move to back Nimue up.

"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE LILLY!?" Ash demanded as he looked around, taking in the scene before him. This feels a lot like what Brock, May, Max and I came across around Route 24, but it better not be for their sakes. Ash thought as he glared at the trainer and his Scolipede.

"Just a guess, but I think this was a kidnapping by the Buzz Brats, a local gang lead by an expelled gym trainer who are rumored to capture female trainers to 'break' them." Viola said with disgust as she starred down Right. Lilith saw Clemont frown and Serena start to go white in shock at what she heard, but Ash? Ash's head went down and for a minute Lilith thought he didn't understand what Viola said before his head snapped up and he had such a look of rage on his face that Lilith was sure she was looking at his father when he had pronounced sentencing on a child rapist back home.

"Pikachu, THUNDER ON THE SCOLIPEDE!" Ash roared as he released an invisible aura blast that Lilith noticed Nimue started at him. Pikachu jumped straight upwards as Froakie and Fletchling shot for the ground.

"PIKA-CHU!" The Electric type screamed as it gained a yellow glow before a massive bolt of lightning sparked from it and hit the Scolipede, shocking both it and its trainer knocking both of them out.

Right stood alone as his Heracross, Venomoth and Yanma fell back to stand in front of their trainer as he looked around and a crazed look came over his face.

"If any of you brats and bitches think I'll go quietly then you…"

"Thunder Wave, on all four." Ash interrupted in a deadpanned tone before Pikachu sent a Tunder Wave that paralyzed all three of them just as Officer Jenny rolled up on her motorcycle.

"I just know that this is going to be interesting." Officer Jenny said as patrol cars pulled in all around the plaza and officers moved to take custody of the incapacitated trainers.

"Okay Viola, what happened here?" Jenny asked as she walked over to the gym leader, her eyes locked on the Scolipede.

"I was in the gym with these two when we saw the flash out here; we came outside and saw three of the Buzz Brats attacking those two girls, once we got outside the trainer with the Scolipede released it and tried to escape on it before Ash over there arrived and stopped him." Voila said as she gestured to where Ash, Bonnie and Clemont had gathered around Lilith and Nimue.

"Guess I'll need to talk to them to get the full story." Jenny said as she walked towards them.

Lilith looked up as she saw Ash and the others came over to her and Nimue, she noticed that Clemont looked worried for her she gain a small smile.

"Am I glad you guys made it here in time to help out. I'm so happy you traced my flare back here." Lilith said with a smile on her face to the shock of Clemont and Serena while Ash gave a knowing look at her.

"You caused that flare, how?" Serena asked as she looked over Lilith to make sure she was okay.

"It was a move manipulation of Sunny Day that my teacher helped me train Mandibuzz after she evolved, as for what happened here it's a long story." Lilith said as she looked at her friends.

"I'm afraid that I'll need to hear that long story young lady." A voice caused Lilith and the others to turn look at Officer Jenny marching over to them with a stern look on her face, Viola following behind her with an apologetic look.

"Well for me, I decided to go for a walk after supper to clear my head and I saw Nimue here walking around. I was going over to talk to her when I noticed someone following her." Lilith began gesturing at the knocked out form of Stalker being collected by officers.

"I was worried so I decided to fall back on an old tactic my teacher taught me, 'strike from the high ground'. I used my Parkour skills to get up on the roofs and trailed Nimue silently as I could, when she got to the plaza I saw two others wearing the same color jacket as him move to surround her and then I noticed two Venomoths flying towards her. I had my Mandibuzz take them down and kept the attention of that one and Nimue held off the other two before I had my Mandibuzz make that flare with Sunny Day. Ash and the others arvived, Voila came out and we knocked the other two out." Lilith said. Nimue kept her face blank as she listened. She helped me out here, I owe her that much so I'll back up her story, but the two of us really need to talk to each other sooner than later.

"I had decided to go for a walk around the city, to think about some…personal problems…." Nimue began before…

"Oh for the…Boss, you gonna want to look at this." One of the officers taking custody of the trainer with the Scolipede called out.

"Stay here." Officer Jenny ordered as she walked over to the group of officers.

"What? I was trying to get a statement." Jenny said crossly, but when she saw the Black Scolipede tattoo on the trainers she went still before a savage grin spread over her face.

"A Scolipede Raider in Buzz Lord colors? And here I thought they were enemies." Jenny said dryly as she looked down at the trainer. This could be just what I need to break them once and for all. But I can't hold them in the city, send them to the Prison?

"He's to go into special confinement until I can 'talk' to him. The other two are to be sent to general holding. I want every public report to show two assailants only. We have to keep him on hand, this could let us break them." Jenny ordered as she ran back toward Ash and his team.

"Ladies, I'll need the two of you to come to the station tomorrow morning, something about one your assailants needs my attention." Officer Jenny said when she stopped in front of them

"Would it be okay if we do that before noon? I was going to offer Lilly a coffee on me since she helped me out." Nimue said as she looked at Lilly.

"Yes, that would be a perfect time for me. And I would love that coffee Nimue." Lilly said as she smiled, but her thoughts were

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Bonnie paced back and forth outside the Center, hoping her friends would come back soon.

"Come back inside child, your friends will be back when they are. And that flare had to cause Jenny to go and check it out. Regardless of how long it takes I'm sure they will be back." Nurse Joy said as she stood

"But what if they're hurt! What if they need more help than Jenny can provide!? If I'm not there to try to help I'll hate myself forever!" Bonnie cried as she looked at Joy with tears in her eyes.

Nurse Joy looked sorrowful before she saw something and smiled.

"It looks like forever is rather shorter than most people would have you believe." She told Bonnie who looked first at Joy and then turned to see Ash leading the others back toward the Pokémon Center. Bonnie just looked at them as her eyes started to water before she ran toward her brother.

"CLEMONT!" She cried when she reached her brother and jumped at him, throwing her arms around him as she cried into his stomach. Clemont just looked at his sister and rubbed the back of her head as Serena and Lilly both dropped down and put their arms over Bonnie's shoulders as Ash looked on with concern on his face.

"Hey Bonnie, we're all fine. Lilly and Nimue were in trouble but Ash and Pikachu handled it with just two attacks." Serena said a Bonnie regained some control of herself.

"Let's get you to bed Bonnie, you've got a test tomorrow and I think you'll want to pass this one." Clemont said as he reached down and picked her up, Bonnie putting her head on his shoulders.

Clemont closed the door to the room Bonnie, Serena and Lilly were using and gave a small smile as he sighed.

"I'm guessing there's a reason she reacted like that?" Lilly's voice caused him to look up and see her leaning against the wall with a somber frown, two cups of a brown liquid in her hands, one offered to him. He took it and sip, smiling when he tasted hot coco.

"There was an earthquake back home a few months back, a friend of hers was found afterwards unconscious, she still hasn't woken up." Clemont said as he leaned against the wall, Lilly standing next to him.

"But I'm guessing the quake caused them to be separated and the Bonnie blames herself." Lilly said as she closed her eyes.

"Yeah, they were coming back from a movie and I was right behind them when she left us to get something for her mom. She was talking about going after her but it was late and her friend lived nearby and the exact next minute the earthquake happened and I grabbed Bonnie and ran for….home and for the next week the whole city helped clean up, some people moving to refuge centers because of the damage to their homes, we thought her friend's family was one of them but when the school opened the next week she discovered that her friend was in the hospital. Of course I learned about the problems she had been having the next day but that's pare for the course I guess. Anyway, I'm going to head to the lounge and see what's on for an hour or so, what about you?" Clemont said as he finished his drink.

"I'll hit the sack early I think. Tell Serena what I'm doing if you see her and Ash for me will ya?" Lilly said as she walked towards her room.

"Good Night Lilly, I'll tell Serena to be quite when she goes to sleep." Clemont said as he walked off. Clemont turned back and saw Lilly close the door and he shook his head with a smile. Lilly is all heart and how she and Serena have been great with Bonnie. I think journeying with them will help Bonnie finally start to heal a bit and if she passes the test tomorrow I'll have a great surprise for her.

Once in her room Lilith looked at Bonnie and frowned when she saw the way Bonnie's face was as she cursed silently to herself. I knew as soon as I heard what happened from her brother that this would happen, maybe I'll be able to help her threw it, I know I'm probably becoming too attached to her, but I can't just walk away. My lady helped me out and like she said, pay it forward. She put her hand on Bonnie and as it glowed with a black aura Bonnie's trouble face became peaceful, prompting a smile from Lilith. She walked to the bathroom, opening the door and smiled when she saw her Pokémon had completed its task she had giving it.

Ash sat in a chair as he fumed, looking at his Pokédex as old memories playing in his head, the screams of those he had attacked with his blade and team, the horrors they had come across, it he was so caught up in his memories that he never noticed her until Serena had put her hand on his shoulder, startling him. He looked up and winced when he saw Serena's face.

"You okay Ash?" Serena asked as she looked at her friend. What happened back there, he was so enraged, what set him off?

"Yeah, it's just some memories from Kanto that won't go away, and no Serena I don't want to talk about them." Ash said as he looked away.

"I'm here if you need to talk Ash. And what were you looking at?" Serena asked as she sat next to him.

"A Quest that will give me a TM that will help Fletchling with Voila's strategy, it looks to be a simple Gathering why the TM." Ash mused as he looked up and saw Clemont walk in alone.

"lo Clemont, Lilly never found you?" Ash asked as Clemont walked over towards a group by the room's TV.

"She did, she went to bed early, so I told her that I'd tell you Serena. Hey, is the Baccer game on?" Clemont asked the people around the TV as he sat down before it.

"So about that Quest of yours, need help?" Serena asked as Ash stood up.

"Sure, but it's outside the town; and I'm getting a vibe that it might be a bit dangerous then it says." Ash said as he looked at her.

"Lilly and I fought off a Chimera, I think I could take a simple quest." Serena answered him with a small smirk on her face.

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Cleo was wearing a tight brown sleeveless dress that showed off the valley of her cleavage with a slit on the right side, each step she took showed off a white stocking clad leg while her arms had white opera gloves with two bracelets of brown stones. Her lips were painted a ruby red and she had brown gemstones in her ears. She walked through a party full of people dressed in the fashion of high society, dresses and tuxedoes; classical opera music was playing as people danced with each other. Cleo moved around the edges of the crowd, dodging men in tuxedoes who came to try to get her as a dance partner.

"Miss Ro Clor; good evening." A voice caused her to turn to see a butler with black slicked hair in a tuxedo wearing a facemask.

"Parden the interruption, but a caller is waiting to talk with you on the balcony, he said to tell you he is a RockDoc whatever that means milady." He said causing Cleo to blush as she walked towards the doors to the balcony. Finally I get to meet him! After so long I can finally see who gained my heart with all our talks.

Cleo had reached the doors stopped before. With one action I will finally get to meet him. With a tembling hand she and was about to open them when suddenly….

"Lady Ro Clor! Lady Ro Clor!" A voice called forcing Cleo to shoot up from her bed. What! I was…it was a dream, a wonderful dream.

Cleo looked around her room; she noticed her Krokorok was waking up as well, rubbing sleep from its eyes.

"Lady Ro Clor, please. I'm sorry to wake you but the Marshall Asim said you ordered us to wake you if any information came about the cave, we think we have a lead!" The voice said as Cleo looked at her door scowled at it.

"Good for you." Cleo said as she lay back down. Wait the cave?! Cleo thought as she shot up from her bed, her eyes wide open.

"I'll be there as soon as I get a robe." Cleo called out as she got out of her bed and rushed to her closet for a robe, her Krokorok shaking itself awake.

Asim paced back and forth in front of the map of the territory with a worried look on his face, a report on the table from the guards the source. This is impossible, where could that thing have come from? And I don't trust the reason they gave to the guards, my instincts are telling me something is rotten in the Rest, I might need to pay a visit to my sister's family, undercover of course. He thought as he looked at the map and frowned.

"I want a report Marshal, what has happened that has caused you to wake me." Cleo's voice caused him to turn and see Cleo walking into the room, her Krokorok by her side.

"My Lady, I'm sorry to wake you but once I saw the report I knew I had to." Asim said as he bowed to her. Cleo walked to the table and looked over the map

"What has happened in my realm Marshal, at such a late hour?" Cleo demanded as she looked at him.

"It was a disturbance across the river from Sola's Rest, Milady. When the local militia went to investigate it was discovered a party of trainers and their Pokémon had been drained of their Auras. The wounds matched the Pokémon from the cave." Asim reported as he passed her the report.

"So whatever broke out from those ruins has moved through the desert and ended at a town in the frontier? And what else Marshal?" Cleo asked as she kneaded her forehead.

"A member of the trainers stayed back and saw what drained them. It was identified as a Golem of some kind." Asim said as he looked at the map.

"A Golem that was able to drain Aura?! I must profess that I don't know much about the lore of Casters in general, but even that sounds…." Cleo started to say before someone interrupted her.

"It is impossible my lady. All known knowledge says that that is impossible." A voice cut in from the door, causing all to turn and see a man with red hair and a short red beard walk into the room. Her was wearing a gold robe with a drawn hood and carried a short staff ending in a circle. His black eyes swept over the hall as he walked to the table.

"High Caster Zubair, please share with us your thoughts on the attack." Cleo commanded imperiously, but Zubair only shared a look with her, he knew that his interruption needed a command to pay him back and gave a short nod.

"All Golem craft knowledge says that a golem cannot absorb the Aura of living creatures on their own, the Aura given to golems through a crystal is changed and becomes neutral Aura which it then can use. Something that could drain Aura is completely unknown and has….Disturbing implications that I would advise that all reports about this subject be sent on to Castletown, we….should not keep such knowledge to our chests." Zubair said as he meets his lady's eyes.

"And then there are the people who were attacked my lady. I don't trust the reason they gave the militia about why they were out there. Everything is telling me something is wrong at the Rest." Asim cut in causing her to turn and looked at him, causing him to go to attention as she gazed at him. Cleo turned her attention back to the map and looked down her territory,

"Marshall Asim, how long would you say it would take to prepare my personal barge for a trip along the Great River?" Cleo said as she walked around the table. Asim shared a confused look with Zubair before he turned to his.

"Milady, I believe that if everything was going as the mechanics report, they should be finished with the final checks sometime tomorrow. What are you planning?" Asim asked as he started to gain a worrisome thought.

"Tuya is back from her last assailment isn't she? And Marshal how long since you've seen your family, not since they moved Sola's Rest I believe." Cleo said as Asim started to pale, while Zubair just gave a small smile as he started to understand her plan.

"Marshal, I believe you have earned a working vacation. Please asked Tuya to join me for a late breakfast, and Zubair, I need you to prepare a few Illusion Jewels, you know the type, and I will have orders for all of you in the morning as well. Now I will be retiring to my room, and perhaps I will be able to get back to that dream." Cleo said before she walked out of the room.

Asim waited until she was gone before he turned to Zubair who smiled at him. Asim just looked at him blank faced.

"It looks like you have another mission with our Lady my friend. Chin up, at least you get to visit your family." Zubair laughed until he saw the smirk on Asim's face.

"And you will be taking a relaxing river voyage, first stop the Domain's City of Scholars and her." Asim said as he smirked evilly. Zubair lost the color in his face as he went still.

"Oh dear, I wonder who has the better mission between us?" Zubair wondered as he looked on as Asim walked off.

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"You two found a clearing hidden by Seals? With a giant tree in the center, the entire area covered in webbing?" Sylvestre asked as the hunting party sat around a fire, their golems forming a circle between them and the darkness of the woods.

"Don't know what to think about it boss, my instincts were screaming at me to leave and Haunter didn't find anything there, but we left in a hurry." Dante admitted as he stared into the fire.

"'Only the Virtuous may travel Victory's Road'. That's a saying older then the Indigo League, at least according to what learned from my brother when we set the base up. I wonder, the term Virtuous was once used for Aura users in the olden days, could there be a connection? Something to tell my brother, but I'm worried about what made those webs in the first place." Sylvestre said as he looked over his shoulder. Nicolas looked worried and decided to interject his thoughts.

"Could have been Pokémon, could have been insects." Dante said gruffly as he stared into the fire.

"Webs that size and the amount we saw?" Nicolas asked as he looked at Dante with a touch of shock in his voice. Sylvestre threw a branch on the fire and snorted causing the people around the fire to turn and look at him.

"It could have if that place was left alone for centuries, maybe. Me and Dante were part of an expedition once that broke open a tomb, had so many webs we thought a swarm of Galvantula had turned it into a nest, turned out to be insects only. Or it could have been a Chimera." Sylvestre finished with a frown on his face; his words causing the squires to start to murmur among themselves, all of them looking out into the darkness with looks of fear on their faces as they.

"Perhaps we should set a guard or put the golems in watch mode or something?" Nicolas asked, causing Dante to look at him. Dante spared a look at Sylvestre who didn't react to anything, merely looking at the fire.

"The kid's right, a watch would be a good idea." Dante grunted as he stood up and looked into the darkness. Nicolas looked relieved that someone had agreed with him and saw Sylvestre nod.

"I agree and I think we'll move on in the morning, the bounty we gathered already puts us ahead of the plan I had for the hunt anyway. Dante my friend, you're in charge of the schedule." Sylvestre said as he walked toward his tent.

"Right then, here's how it's gonna be. Groups of three for each patrol around the camp; one group circles the camp, one stays awake to guard the camp and the others sleep until the patrol group comes back after circling the camp twice, wakes three people who guard while the guard group goes on patrol, while the former patrol group sleeps. Those on hunt duty tomorrow get last patrol, Sylvestre, the kid and me have the midnight patrol." Dante said as he looked over the group. Above them a crude wooden insect connected to a white string leading into the darkness watched over them, spying on them, feeding what was said to its creator.

Three people walked through the woods each one dressed in a long clock with a hood, each of them holding a long sword and shield as they moved, looking all around for any signs of movement.

"Another lap, brothers, and then we can sleep, I'm getting tired." The leading figure said gruffly.

Sounds ahead of them caused them to look and see plants start to shake as a figure dashed into the clearing. Moonlight revealed the figure to be a buxom woman in a torn kimono that revealed the tops of her breasts, her right thigh and leg. She had full lips and her black shiny hair fell down her back in waves, a scared look in her black eyes. Her eyes saw them she gained a look of hope on her face as soon.

"HELP ME, CHIMERAS ARE RIGHT BEHIND ME!" she screamed as she looked at the three people. The three figures looked at each other and nodded. The leader of the three moved forward and moved the woman behind him. The other two moved forward and

"Don't worry mi 'lady, the three of us will get you to safety. Just stay back and get ready to run if they get past us." The leader said gruffly as he joined his two comrades. The plants around them started to shake as

"Thank you so much. You're all so brave and strong, perfect to feed to my girls." The woman behind them said with a sinister chuckle.

"Wait feed?" Leader said as he started to turn before a gurgle made him look to the left and saw two black spider legs piercing his comrade's body where his lungs would be. He followed the legs and went white when he saw that they had come from over the woman's shoulder, a woman who now had a sinister grin on her face.

"Murdering whore!" He cried as he raised his sword before a line of webbing shot and hit his sword arm and pulled him backwards, forcing him from his feet, before he could try to get up he was wrapped in webbing that immobilized him. He looked and saw two vines were chocking his remain comrade which lead to ten foot spider like Chimera with large flower on its back. He went white when he saw the bushes part to reveal other spider Chimera. He felt a hard hand on his chin and his head was forced up to look into the black eyes of the woman who smiled at him before she thrust her hand into his chest and pulled his heart out. As his vision darkened he heard the woman let out a startled cry before she started to curse. He cries were the last thing he heard.

"They're not made of meat?! What are these abominations?!" She spat as she saw the prey she and her daughters had been stalking dissolve until only the cloths and weapons remained. She looked at her girls and saw the confusion in her eldest eyes and cursed. She focused her power and repaired her cloths and formed her armor over her feet and arms and walked away from where the camp of the intruders was.

"Well girls it seems our hunt for a new home will take place now and we'll eat on the search." She said as she walked into woods, the spider Chimeras following her.

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Ash stretched as he walked out of the cafeteria with a smile on his face. After last night a good sleep and breakfast was just what he needed. The memories were still there but they had faded and he could deal with them normally. He walked down the hallway and saw Serena and Lilly walking towards him.

"Sure you want to come along with me Serena, it's probably going to be pretty boring." Ash said when they fell in step behind him.

"Yeah, it'll give me some time to think about my future, I don't really have a goal for my journey yet." Serena said as they walked towards the front of the Center. Nurse Joy was behind the counter and smiled as they approached.

"Hello Nurse Joy, I know I need to check with you before I can take the Quest, right?" Ash said as he

"Please select the Quest you wish to attempt and put your Pokédex on the pad please so I can check your qualifications please." Joy said with a smile on her face as she pointed at a lite pad. Ash set his 'dex down and when Joy saw his list of accomplishments she did a double take and started to look over the data more intently. After a few minutes Ash shared a look with Serena and Lilly and Lilly gestured towards Nurse Joy.

"Uh, Nurse Joy?" Ash asked, startling her. She blushed and looked down at her desk. She input a few commands into her computer and a ding and the pad's light dying down caused Ash to take back his Pokédex.

"I'm sorry; yes you have all the necessary qualifications to undertake this quest. I've loaded a map that will lead you to where you need to go. The target is a crystal at least two feet tall." Joy said as she looked as with a look to her eyes that Serena definitely didn't like.

"Thank you Nurse Joy, is there a time limit?" Ash's question caused Joy to look back towards her computer as she looked up the information the person who posted the Quest had given.

"According to the paperwork you need to get it back here by tomorrow at the latest. Good luck and have a nice day." Joy said with a smile as Clemont and his sister came walking towards the desk.

"Hey Clemont, Bonnie how are you doing?" Serena asked as Lilly smiled at Clemont.

"Fine Serena I slept great. And you have a test ready for me Nurse Joy?" Bonnie asked with a smile on her face as Clemont handed some papers to Joy. She looked it over and gave Bonnie a small smile and noticed Clemont winking at her.

"Yes I do, there's a room set up for home school testing. I hope you have good luck and have studied well. Please follow me." Nurse Joy said with a smile to Bonnie. Bonnie handed over her bag to her brother and gave a small smile.

"Well, here I go." Bonnie said with a small smile on her face.

"Good Luck Bonnie, I'll be here when you're done." Clemont said with a smile. Bonnie walked holding Nurse Joy's hand down a hallway.

"Remember to take your time and good luck!" Lilly advised as they wish her good luck. Ash and opened the map data and winced a bit at the distance they needed to travel.

"We should get moving now if we want to make it back by nightfall Serena." Ash said as he turned and walked towards the exit.

"Well I guess we'll see you later, have a good day you two." Serena said as she followed Ash out of the center.

"Well I have to get over to the station to talk with Officer Jenny and then Nimue owes me a coffee. I know Bonnie is doing that test and Serena's joining Ash on his quest but what about you Clemont?" Lilly asked as she looked at Clemont.

"I'll be staying here and finishing up a blueprint for an invention I've been working on and finishing up some paperwork I have to finish. Have a good day Lilly." Clemont said as he walked towards a nearby table.

Lilith saw Nimue waiting for her after she had finished talking with Jenny, Nimue looked nervous as the two locked eyes but gestured to Lilith to follow her, not words passing between them as they walked. Lilith's eyes noticed a few people in light green jackets following them and made no outwards reaction that she had seen them. After a while they stopped in front of a quiet little café and Lilith walked over to a table away from other people so they could talk quietly, while Nimue walked to the counter and ordered two coffees for them. Nimue put Lilith's cup down before her and add two cubes of sugar to hers and silently stirred her cup.

"So….Where did you learn? Who taught you, I thought the Weapon killed everyone not behind protection and wasted the abilities of those who survived." Nimiue asked as she looked at Lilith

"At my home, a place far away from Kalos, from my teacher; but giving what I know and with what you just said I'm guessing it has to do with the Emperor's Weapon, right?" Lilith answered her as she sipped her drink. Nimiue looked at her shocked before she started to chuckle.

"I guess the elders were wrong, the Weapon only affected Kalos alone. According to the history I was taught the weapon stole the Aura of Pokémon closest to it, and sent out an energy wave that counteracted the abilities of any humans who used Aura, the feedback caused the lucky ones to die, and the unlucky ones to live with their Aura so reduced they could barely survive. When my ancestors came out of hiding everyone who knew about them thought that they had died with all the others and with the war, they decided to let them keep believing it. Over the years they turned their home into a place they could live and survive on their own. Over the years we started to use our abilities for our own goals, turning away from the Nation and becoming insular, isolated." Nimue said.

"But then since you're out here, I guessing you escaped from there, and the name Sisterhood is giving me some concerns about where you come from, giving a few groups my people have fought." Lilith said as she locked eyes with Nimue who winced.

"Yeah, our name. That happened about five hundred years ago. A movement started to go back into the world, to teach how to use Aura again, the person who championed the cause was a young man named Emrys Aquatron and…" Nimue trailed off as she saw that Lilith had gone white.

"Emrys Aquatron!? He came from your home?!" Lilith exclaimed in shock as she stood up from the table. Lilith remembered where they were and looked around, noticing that some people had turned and looked towards them because of her outburst, but most looked away when Lilith glared at them, but her eyes noticed some people at a table outside looking in. Turning back to Nimue, Lilith saw her staring shock before she shot up and moved her head closer to Lilith's.

"How do you know about Emrys!? I only know about him because I started to look into the past after a remark one of my teachers made once!" Nimue demanded.

"Tell me what you know and I'll tell you what I know, but sit down before we attract more attention than we already have." Lilith said as she gestured around the café. Nimue spared a glance around and sat down with a blush.

"I don't know much, and a lot of it is second hand at best. The story goes that for at least three years Emrys championed the cause and many young men joined his movement, until finally what was supposed to be a debate erupted into a battle that almost destroyed our settlement. When the dust cleared Emrys and his core followers had disappeared. For the next two generations we watched for when a force he or his heirs would raise to conquer us, the victors of that battle were sure it would happen. Those sentiments and a few other events caused a change in how we governed ourselves, since then the leader has always been a woman and men were forbidden to train in Aura or even control Pokémon." Nimue finished with a sheepish look on her face and it was Lilith's turn to stare in shock before she gained a glare on her face.

"Forbidden to… of all the stupid things I have ever heard in my life. Anyway Emrys came to my homeland when a patrol ship found him chained up on a golem in the shape of a ship. The records say he was so weak he could barely speak, and they only knew to call him Emrys because of a tattoo he had. He was examined and it was discovered that someone had shredded his memories, the poor bastard never got them back but they never bothered him much according to the stories. To cut a long story short overtime he became one of my home's defenders, eventually he join a group that became folk heroes, and even today their memory is honored. The number of plays written about how he got on that ship, I can't even count the number. But what about you, why aren't you at your home?" Lilith said causing Nimue to stare.

"That's something I'll need to wrap my head around. But me, a while back we salvaged a ship that had a satellite dish that we use to find out about the world's current events; one of the times we recorded a Grand Festival. I feel in love with the sport, I practiced on my own and eventually thought to leave and try it out myself. According to the rules anyone can leave if they want to, but that was a lie that they told us. After I got out into the sun I was jumped by a branch of my homes lawkeepers, it seems that the law allowing people to leave is ignored 'for the greater good', instead they imprison those who want to leave. I think they have a way to implant memories that tell how terrible the outside world was. I was able to escape by prioritizing flight over combat and I think I lost them in Coumarine City." Nimue said as she finished her coffee.

"What Aura abilities do they use, all Water? And how self-sufficient are they, really?" Lilith asked as her mind went over what she was being told.

"Before I met you I thought I that Water was the only style that survived, sure we have a natural born once every hundred years or so but they never leave behind any ways to train when they passed on, to say nothing about when their alive. And I don't know about that, two subs tried to flank us when we were escaping, where they came from I don't know." Nimue admitted as she looked across the table.

"So what's your plans now?" Lilith asked with a frown as she absorb what she was told as she stood up from the table. The home of Emrys alone, a group of Water users operating along the Kalos shore, and never found a way to train the other elements when Naturals are born means someone needs to investigate that place.

"Keep doing contests until the Grand Festival, and I'll go from there. I'm thinking I'll stick to the east and south areas of Kalos, might be safer in the long term. But be careful, if they sense your abilities, they might try to capture you." Nimue said as she looked around the café, seeing a few people their ages outside wearing jackets the same color as the people who attacked them last night. She turned sharply to Lilith and saw a look of acceptance in her eyes.

"I saw them on the walk here." Lilith said as she met Nimue's eyes.

"Do you have a plan that doesn't involve any danger to civilians?" Nimue asked as Lilith started to lead her out of the café.

"Ash and Serena left to do a quest this morning, so the best plan I have is to head towards either the Police station or the Center and hope we make it there." Lilith said as they walked out of the Café.

"How about we go cloths shopping, there a boutique I heard about when I saw a tourist brochure that's just farther down there." Lilith said loudly as she pointed towards where the Pokémon Center was.

"And I think there's a cloth store, I need a few supplies for a costume for my next Contest." Nimue said absently as they walked slowly so the people tailing them wouldn't try anything.

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Shadow moved quietly over the rooftops as he headed toward the Den, the sun behind him as he ran. The sooner he got done with his business the sooner he could get back to Saffron City and investigate just what they wanted there, if the intel he was given was true. He couldn't trust it completely; people like her always had another reason for their actions, that was something he learned since he started his mercenary work. The more power people and the cleaner they looked, the worse they were and the more dirt a person had on themselves, sometime they were the kindest of people. But really, he had to….THERE SHE IS!

He went dead still and looked down at the figure of Karin walking through the people, some of them noticing her and staring with stars in their eyes as a member of the Elite Four walked by. He moved over the rooftops, moving so he would be out of sight of the road but able to keep her in his sight and followed her as she walked towards a motel and moved towards a block of room hidden from the road. He landed on the roof and saw in the back lot twenty trainers and Pokemon, some of them wearing that symbol on their cloths.

He raised his left arm and started to clench his hand in a specific pattern, activating the camera in his gauntlet, any bit of evidence of a connection was something he could trade to Joey, the more info he could get from him and he might share with his family, the bigger the chance a reporter might stumble upon it if they use the Dens to find a story.

"Listen up! I need at least two of you for an undercover work and I need five of you for a search and destroy mission!" Karin barked when the trainers registered her.

"What is the mission Mistress?" An overly muscular trainer asked as he bowed to her, that symbol around his neck on a chain, a perfect picture that would get questions asked about who Karin was if they ever saw them.

"There is an outbreak among Pokémon in this city; a doctor thinks it might be connected to a Chimera." Karen said as a ripple passed through the trainers. Shadow went still as his right hand went to his left shoulder, his scar itched.

"Our orders milady?" Muscles asked as the trainers quieted down. She looked over them and Shadow the looks of respect

"The two of you who volunteer for the undercover portion of the mission must be ready to take them out if this is part of an Order faction's plans. The secondary group will be a kill team. If there are Chimera's at the heart of this outbreak, you are to kill, destroy and bring back a sample of the spore." Karin declared. Shadow tensed as he took in what she said. Unconsciously he reached for a throwing knife, one throw and she would be ended, just one throw. Wait, she said 'factions'. How deep does the hole go, what don't I know? He wondered as he looked.

"There are details to discus, but let's deal with our spy first." Karin said. Shadow went still before he noticed a commotion as near the other side of lot. Two trainers appeared dragging a woman between them. She had brown hair and was wearing a green vest over a green sleeveless shirt and white pants, when he saw her brown eyes his own widened behind his helmet.

"Gabbs, what the hell?" He whispered as he stared in shock.

"Well now, a reporter has come calling, haven't you heard the saying a Meowth that goes into the Chimera hole gets eaten?" Karin asked as she looked at her with a smirk.

"I was just checking if the motel had any vacancies, really do you people have to treat a woman this way?" Gabbs asked as she looked around, but smiled slackly when one of the trainers holding hand an audio recorder to Karin mearly pressed play.

"'There is an outbreak among Pokémon in this city; a doctor thinks it might be connected to a Chimera.'" Karin's voice came out of the machine before Karin broke it in two.

"A little bitch spy dare to listen in on her betters?" Karin purred as she looked at Gabbs who looked sheepish.

"My, my, should a member of the Elite Four really be talking like that." Gabbs asked as she tried to get some control back. Karin just at her before she gave a smile that Gabbs returned shakily. Karin just continued to smile before she gave Gabbs a devastating punch to her gut, knocking her out. Karin just looked at the knocked out woman and quickly found her wallet which she took before she turned and gave her orders.

"Take her outside the city limits, make it look like something killed and ate her. The rest of you, decide among yourselves the two who will join the expedition and who will form the kill team." Karin said walked away. The two trainers walked away carrying Gabbs toward a car.

Shadow looked downward; noticing Karin had walked off alone. I could attack her and capture her; I might be able to find out enough to end this, but Gabbs. Shadow looked toward the two trainers carrying Gabbs and turned his head to look where Karin had walked off. He just shook his head and moved away from the lot; move over the rooftops to find a place to release his Pokémon

"I'm always pulling you out of the fire aren't I Gabby." Shadow said as he jumped over a gap between buildings.

"Noivern, Take flight!" He cried as he released his Dragon type.

"Noiv noiv?" Noviern wondered as it looked around before it looked at its trainer.

"We have to save Gabby old friend, she's gotten in trouble again, this time she spied on them" Shadow said as Noviern looked shocked before it adopted a look of rage as its eyes started to glow white.

"So where should we drop her, by the river or in the woods?" One of the two trainers asked the other as they got out of the car.

"The woods, give the elements time to do their stuff." The other said as he walked to the door.

"Too bad, she's a looker, think the boss would mind if we do her before we kill her?" The first asked the second with a grin.

"DNA might lead back to you, you moron, and then what do you think the boss will do to you?" The second snorted as he opened the door. Gabby shot out of the car and was halfway to the trees before the two could comprehend it.

"THE BITCH WAS FAKING IT! Mightyena go, TIME TO HUNT!" The second trainer snarled as a grey and shaggy black furred Pokémon appeared from a thrown Pokéball.

"We got a human we've got to chase down Migtyena, WE HUNT!" He snarled as he got on its back and it dashed into the forest carrying its trainer.

"Wait you bloody fool! Wait!" The reaming trainer called out as the Pokemon and its rider disappeared between the trees.

"That stupid idiot, he has to run after her and he's the one carrying the radio to let the others know what happened." The remaining trainer spat as he started to walk after his comrade.

"Thanks for the information." The trainer heard before a pain in his chest caused him to look down and see a blade sticking out of his body. As his sight started to darken and he fell to the ground, the last sight he ever saw was a black suit figure dash into the woods.

I knew there was something about her I didn't like, but she'll kill me over this? I guess Kotaro was right, sticking my nose into this stuff would get me killed eventually, but if I can get away, I'll have one heck of a story! Gabby thought to herself as she ran as she through the woods, using every skill she had learned at the Fuchsia Gym during her youth.

Bouncing off a tree she moved deeper into the woods, hoping to lose the trainers when she heard the howls of the Mightyena caused her to move faster. She did not have a single Pokémon, she had been stripped of her short sword and she was in a forest dodging a Pokémon that if she was right it was a Mightyena, which was so not good for her prospects of survival.

She ran through the woods before she noticed that the sounds, she couldn't hear any birds, animals or Pokémon. She was starting to get worried but when the sounds behind her grew, so with no choice she moved deeper in, not caring what branches she broke in her run.

The Mightyena carried its trainer as it speed through the foliage, the human on its back looking about for any signs of his target's passage. Dam bitch playing hard to get! I'm gonna take my time with her now. He thought with a snarl as his Pokémon dashed through the woods, not noticing the noise of the forest had died, so enraged that he never even wondered where his comrade was.

Shadow jumped from tree to tree, hoping to make up for the head start the bastard tracking Gabby had on him, hoping he would be able to save her. But it was going to be a reunion that he desperately didn't want. He stopped on a branch as some of his memories of his youth passed through his head, the many sparing matches he and his friend had with each other. He jumped from tree to tree until he landed on a branch with a stone set just above it in the trunk of the tree. He looked over it for a few seconds before he moved closer to it and recognized the symbols on it. An old form of the original Kanto language, he remembered his mother had studied it and he had picked up a few things about it. This is a boundary marker, it's a warning about… Grass types? No, but then if that means 'Tree', then this reads…. He read the hieroglyphs for a few minutes before he shot to his feet and ran past the stone, his hands falling to his blades as he moved, his senses heightened by his Aura. As he passed a tree vines shot from it toward him, but before they reached him he spun around and slashed with his twin short swords, slicing off part of the leafy vines. He ran at the tree and as his blades gained a purple glow he sliced the tree in two, resulting in the tree releasing a screech that trailed off as the vines went still. Shadow stared at the tree, notating the fleshy mouth on the back of the trunk, with the vines sporting from above the mouth. So this is one of them. The hieroglyphs said that a 'Mother Chimera was born of wood, a force to awaken when the Mountain of Plague stirs'. Could this be connected to the reason behind that expedition, but I can try and figure this out later, I have to find Gabby.

Gabby ran she could hear the Pokemon and its rider now; she had to move she had to get away. She turned her head to look behind her and never noticed the root that tripped her, sending into a small hollow with a large tree at the center of it. Gabby tried to get up when a shadow passed over her and she saw the Mightyena and its trainer standing ahead of her. The trainer got off his pokemon and glared at her

"I was going to make it fast, but now I think I'll take my time with you." He snarled as Gabby felt his eyes roam her body. Gabby stared before she gathered her courage and raised her fists. If I'm going down I'm gone make him work for it.

Her actions caused her opponent to snicker.

"You know I like it when they have a bit of a fight in them." He commented as he walked towards her. Gabby stared at him before him before her eyes widened as she looked behind him.

"What the heck are you looking at… " He trailed off and his own eyes widened when he saw the scene before him. His Mightyena was suspend in the air covered in vines, its muzzle wrapped shut. He stared dumbfounded before two more vines wrapped around him and no matter how he struggled.

"Bastard! Melt it out you fucking dog, melt it with Toxic!" He snarled before purple sludge dribbled out of the Mightyena's closed mouth before it was brought behind the large tree and a powerful bite was heard, causing the trainer to struggle even harder. Gabby just stared, not noticing a vine moved towards her before it grabbed her legs. She grabbed at the vine but she pricked her hands on a thorn on the vines and started to feel sleepy. When she heard a snort from the trainer who had hunted her she struggled to look at him.

"At least you'll die too bitch." The trainer muttered as they were brought closer to the tree. Before Gabby could try and say something back a blade flew through the air and cut through the vine holding her, dropping her and sending her towards the forest floor. Before she hit the ground a man in black grabbed her and when vines came towards them white crescent shaped energy blades destroyed them. Gabby looked up and noticed a Noivern standing at the edge of the hollow.

"Hey, what about me you idiot, drop the whore and help me!" The trainer called out to Shadow. Shadow turned back towards him and noticed a large flower growing on one of the tree's limbs. He looked at the trainer as he was brought closer to the tree and threw a blade that hit his head, killing him instantly. He turned back towards Gabby and noticed her eyes and opened one of her eyes to look closely at her iris. Gabby tried to struggle and get out of the arms of the person holding her when his voice caused her to stare and in shock she lost the fight with the poison.

"Hold on Gabbs, I'll get you to someone who'll help you." The voice of the figure caused her to reach out and put her hands against the right side of his helmet. He grasped it in his right hand and she was shocked at what she realized about the person holding her.

"Kotaro?" She whispered as she lost the fight to stay awake.

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"This is your pilot speaking; we're on final approach to the Sea outside Cherrygrove City. Once again my apologies for the closing of the Viridian airport, I hope that that unforeseen event hasn't affected your opinion of our Airline and I hope that you had a pleasant flight." Riley opened his eyes and noticed that that Cameron was still awake reading the book they had taken with them from the storehouse, a tome written by the ancient guardians in a code that he had taught Cameron their first month together.

"Find anything?" He inquired of his student. Cameron looked up and closed the book and put it away with a troubled look on his face. He looked at his teacher and signed that he would tell him when they were away from other people. Riley was worried, Cameron usually told him anything when he discovered it no matter who could overhear it, what he found was probably very important.

Riley lead Cameron through Cherrygrove City they had exchanged a few signs, what he read filled him with fear. Riley paid attention to everyone he could see as he and Cameron moved, he saw no one who tried to follow them and his abilities detected nothing out of the ordinary, but he did he noticed a few people watching the plane when it landed. Cameron grabbed his arm and gestured towards the town's Pokémon Center but Riley shook his head and gestured towards Kanto, they had to move on. Once they had left the city Riley turned to Cameron and looked straight at him.

"We're as far from other people as we can get, what did you find in the tome?" Riley asked as they stopped.

"I found mention of the Light Protectors master, of their origins." Cameron's answered caused Riley to stare in shock as he remembered what he had been taught about them. A splinter group that delved into the worst of practices, a group that had been thought destroyed many times but had always comeback. They even had once breed a Chimera for creation's sake, what could they have to do…Wait a second their origin? They were that old? Riley's thoughts stop cold as he went pale.

"What does it say?" He asked as he tried to calm his heart and clenched his hands.

"They were created because of a Chimera strain that according to the book conquered much of Kanto in the distant past. After a town was purged and the Guardians discovered that other Chimera fought against them a movement began by a Guardian whose family was among the victims, fight fire with fire. The book goes on to say that overtime the Guardian gathered a following of those like him, people who had lost loved ones and wanted to keep the deaths of humans down. The other guardians saw the fight as more important, but then one battle saw a Chimera attack the horde using something called an Aura Equipment that gave it energy with each kill it made. The explanation that was given to the leadership was it was a prototype that the Chimera stole when they tried to kill a straggler of a 'sun' before the battle happened." Cameron explained.

"Don't tell me they bought that explanation!" Riley spat at what he had just heard.

"It goes on to say that the Chimera that attacked the horde broke the lines and let them move into the territory that the strain had claimed and start to take back Kanto but they were told to take better care of their experiments. The writer said he didn't believe the explanation and that he found others who felt as he did. Together they started to track the Guardian and his followers and when the final battle against the strain was won and they were sealed away they discovered that they had created the line breaker Chimera. The rest of the Guardians tried to bring them to judgment but they fought back and most of them escaped. The writer says when he was confronted the Guardian said this, 'Thus do we swear to use all weapons to fight against the abominations. No sacrifice is too great, no cost too great, no action will be taboo. We swear to forever stand against the Evil. To forever Protect the Light!' That was the last time he and core followers were ever seen." Cameron said as he shook his head. Riley took what he heard and starred into space, his thoughts racing. To finally know where the Protectors came from, master did you know? But wait, why would this be written in the tome under the same chapter as the seal…. He went still and turned to his student.

"So the seal was holding back the last of this strain of Chimera. Does it say if any of these…. Proto-Protectors were involved with the sealing?" Riley asked Cameron flatly.

"Some of them were, why is that important master?" The answer caused Riley to hang his head and close his eyes.

"Second law of Sealing, it can have as many monitoring artifacts as the maker wants, but they have to be prepared before the sealing takes place. And given what they had written, how they wanted to use 'fire against fire'…." He trailed off and looked at Cameron who started to think as his mentor looked at him.

Cameron turned away from Riley and mentally cursed how Riley liked to make anything a teaching moment, citing that Aura Guardians needed to react to the unexpected when they encountered them. Fight fire with fire. Fight like with like? Riley started to pale and looked horrified as he turned back towards his teacher.

"They created a Chimera horde to fight a Chimera horde?" Riley cried out incredibly in shock.

"I think we should get to Kanto as fast as possible, we'll find out when we get there. This is a good chance to practice the Far Runner technique until night fall." Riley said as he started to run, Cameron running after him.

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Brock walked out of the Center with a backpack on and saw two people waiting for him. The first was a man in a red jacket and blue pants with his black hair in dreads that framed his face. The other was a woman with blue hair in a top knot wearing a red jacket, blue shorts and blue leg warmers. When the woman saw him coming towards him she nudged the man and gestured towards him when he looked at her. He smiled and walked over towards Brock and extended his hand.

"Dr. Brock I presume? I'm Yuji, this is Salma; Giovani sent us to join your expedition. Have the people Karin said would join us arrived yet?" Yuji inquired as Brock shock his hand.

"No, and I haven't heard anything yet. We'll wait another hour then move out; there was another outbreak earlier this morning so we have to find the source or rule out the mountains as soon as possible." Brock said grimly. The two gym trainers shared a look and Salma stepped forward.

"The gym has air filters do to an attack by a swarm of Pokémon a few years ago so our own Pokémon haven't been affect, has it gotten that bad?" Salma asked as she looked at the Center.

"Yeah, so far no humans were affected but my gut tells me it's only a matter of time until that happens. I've gathered enough supplies to last us three days up there, I'll give a general briefing once the others get here." Brock reinsured Salma before noises to their right caught their attention. They turned to see two people riding Pokemon coming their way. A leonine Pokémon with a dominantly red mane with gold streaks was carrying a woman with red hair flowing down her back and red eyes. She was wearing a red cloak over a black shirt and pants. A Rapidash was carrying a man who looked like he was related to her. He had red eyes and short red hair and was wearing the same as the woman. The man and woman got off their Pokémon and she walked forward and gave off a small smile.

"Hi, sorry if we're a bit late, had some paperwork to finish, you know how it goes, the name's Agalia and that's my brother, Kunz." She said when she reached them.

"You're not. Gather around, I'll tell you what we're doing." Brock said as he led the four trainers towards a table where he put a map of the local area down.

"According to weather research if the spores were wind borne as we believe, there are three locations we have to check. The first is a cliff just outside of the city; the second is a ledge about halfway up the mountain and the final is the summit. It's around Noon now; we reach the first stage around nightfall." Brock explained as the others looked and nodded.

"According to what we were told there's a possibility this was caused by a Chimera Doc.?" Kunz asked with a gruff voice. Brock looked around the table and saw the concern and decided to tell the truth as he knew it.

"I had an encounter a few years ago; a Chimera used Stun Spores to hunt, while the spores have a few organic proteins a Chimera hasn't been ruled out or disproved as of right now. That's one of the main goal of our expedition, to find out just what released the spores and deal with it." Brock said with a sigh.

"Do we have enough supplies for the trip?" Yuji inquired as he traced their route.

"Enough to last a weak incase anything happens, and I know how to scrounge in mountains so we should be fine." Brock answered.

"Then there's nothing else to do but embark, shall we mount our Pokémon at the city's edge so we don't alarm anyone?" Salma suggested as Brock put the map away.

"Best thing for us to do anyway." Agalia said as the party started to walk towards the mountains, each taking care to keep their thoughts from their faces. As they moved through the city none of them noticed a figure in black shadowing them on the rooftops, his gaze fixed on the brother and sister.

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P A /bardofworlds for special rewards for all patrons

Aura Technique; Ghost; Ghost Walker; covers user in illusion that hides person from sight but does not make user immaterial despite name

Aura Equipment: Illusion Jewelry: Aura Equipment that puts the appearance of a person behind an illusion that changes small details of a person, hair color/ eye color/ marks on body, lasts as long as Aura is feed to it.

Aura Technique; Basic; Far Runner: Technique that keeps stamina up as long as Aura is used, has multiple applications outside of travel