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

17. Chapter 17

I'M SO SORRY IT'S A MONTH LATE GANG! Sorry but real life hit me hard, I got a few plot bunnies stuck in my head for other stories and I need to find a new job. I'll try to get the next chapter out before March is over and I hope you all enjoy this chapter of my work. AND I'll post updates every Saturday on my profile so you guys can know what my progress is on all my work

Amanda sighed as she walked into her house as she stretched. After Agatha had left the restaurant a tour group had come in so they were so busy that she had had to wait some tables herself. Final an hour before her shift ended it had slowed down enough for her to return to her job as greeter but Albia had been thrown into the kitchen to watch a few dishes while Delia had taken her turn to make a few meals. When she had left Albia had only been able to throw a sheepish smile at her since she was being sent to check how much ingredients they still had. But given how many courses we sold today, I'm betting that we're running low on a lot of stuff. I don't think that we have had a day like today in years; I mean really what happened to cause this? Amanda thought as she leaned against the door and sighed.

"Thank Arceus we're getting a delivery tomorrow. One more group that's like today and we'd have to close down, we wouldn't have anything to make. Joan, when is your vacation done so you can get back to work?" Amanda asked as she walked towards her kitchen. Looking about she grabbed her Arcanine's bowl and put her favorite into it and put it down before grabbing Arcanine's Pokéball.

As Arcanine appeared and looked at its trainer who grinned at it shakily. It looked around and released it was night time, it folded its ears and looked at its trainer, wondering why it hadn't been let out to share lunch with its trainer as it usually did behind Pallet House.

"Hey girl, sorry I never let you out for my lunch break but all I had was a sandwich while I helped get some soup ready for service. Anyhow, as an apology I got your….favorite…." Amanda trailed off as Arcanine started to growl and turn towards the doorway to the kitchen causing Amanda to dive behind her Pokemon as it started to release fire from its mouth. Amanda rolled to her feet and looked at where Arcanine's head was pointed and glared.

"Okay, I don't know who the hell you are but I trust my partner's noise, so drop whatever your using or get a face full of flames!" Amanda demanded, only to hear a chuckle from nowhere.

"I know you were said to be a good trainer who trusted your Pokemon but damn girl, you really blow all my expectations out of the water! Most people who don't try the gyms never get instants like yours!" The voice caused Amanda to jolt and stare with her mouth open.

"Your….!" Amanda said as a Haunter appeared, opening its arms to reveal Agatha Oak as she looked at Amanda with a grin on her face.

"I hope I'm not troubling you by calling so late but a mutual friend of ours said I should talk to you. And given that she said you know her secret and I can feel that you know then I will be able to reveal my own, it's really be a while since I could let go around other people." Agatha said as she seemed to shimmer as she grew younger and taller! Her modest clothing seemed to shrink to a short skirt and tube tope that revealed a buxom figure as her hair grew and lighted to a blond that went to her bottom. Her shawl turned into a shimmering purple clock that went to the ground, Agatha grinned with purple lips as she raised purple painted nails as that pushed aside a lock of her blond hair she looked at Amanda whose mouth dropped open, bringing her hand to cover her mouth as she giggled. Oh when I get to let loose, really drop my 'mask' and shock people it never gets old, I just hope I can tell Sammy about this one day. Agatha thought as she looked at Amanda.

"Permit me to fully introduce myself; my name is Agatha 'Spectral Slayer' Oak, Mistress of Ghost Pokémon and Ascended Ghost Aura User." Agatha said in breathy voice that caused a shiver to go down Amanda's spine as she looked at the person before her in total shock. Okay, this is amazing and I guess that it's one more surprise that I can deal with. Amanda thought as she looked at the woman before her as the Haunter started to chuckle. Amanda said nothing and sat down at the table and gestured for Agatha to join her.

"So I'm guessing that this is something else Aura can do for you then?" Amanda asked as Agatha sat down and looked at her. Oh she is smart, with a few words she figured it out! If only my boy had met her instead of that witch! Agatha thought as she grinned at Amanda.

"Oh yes, not everyone works for this but if they try, they are able to Ascend and gain greater powers. Of course you have to know it's possible in the first place and that's easier said than done really, certain people that our little Electrical friend told you about made that knowledge hard to find, scum seems to want to keep that to themselves for some reason." Agatha said as she leaned back and smirked at the look her action had caused.

"Albia said she was being chased, and that she might have a problem with going through official channels for help but what do you know about them?" Amanda asked Agatha who scowled as she thought about what she knew about them. Just when you think that they weren't in your lands they had to prove you wrong, and to think I made a campaign out of destroying them in what I hoped was their last stronghold. And if they have infiltrated parts of the League fighting them will be tricky. Agatha thought before she sighed before replaying to Amanda.

"I know from a few documents I stole from them over the years that their old, as old as the first recorded Siege old. I tracked them down years ago to a training center in the Orange Islands and destroyed them; at least I thought I did. Besides Sammy who I kept out of it I had a few friends who I meet in a kind of Aura users tournament and together we charged the place and killed every human who lived there, freed all the Pokémon and got away clean. I don't know where these ones came from but I know we killed all the scum I meet once years ago." Agatha said with a scowl on her face as Amanda looked at her. So maybe she taught her daughter-in law about Aura, but that doesn't explain Mime or how she talked about Albia when Delia took her in, unless she's worried about Delia, I can see how that might be possible. Delia thought as she looked at Agatha and decided to risk asking what she was thinking.

"What about Ginny, did you teach her about Aura or did she learn on her own?" Amanda asked only for Agatha to look at her with a serious look in her eyes and a scowl on her face.

"What do you mean Ginny, that bitch knows how to uses Aura!?" Agatha demanded as Amanda winced as she realized that Agatha had no idea what so ever.

"Albia said Ginny felt like some of the people tracking her, the kind that you protected her from." Amadna said as Agatha stared as a dark purple aura started to form around her as Haunter gained a concerned look as its trainer started downright homicidal.

"That bitch feels like some of those scum bags?! I always knew there was something wrong with that whore but I never had proof about it but this time ohhh when I get my hands around her neck I'll!" Agatha said as Amanda started to wonder if she shouldn't have told her about this.

"I'm guessing that you've had a problem with her then?" Amanda said as Agatha turned to look at her with a crazed look in her eyes.

"A problem with that parasite? I always thought she was just a gold digging whore but she might be one of them, why when I get my hands around her throat I'll….wait, why aren't you reacting to this and what I'm saying? What do you know about that bitch that makes what I'm saying seem acceptable to you?" Agatha asked as Amanda winced.

"So I'm guessing beside the mastery of Ghost Pokémon you can read people pretty well." Amanda said as Agatha looked at her with a hard glare.

"Yes, yes I can. So enough stalling, what do you know about that bitch and why are you hiding it from me." Agatha demanded as Amanda winced.

"Okay, how should I say this, maybe just spit it out? How about that Mime that lives with Delia, it seems to be that its trainer is really Ginny and spies on Delia for her? And Albia and I think she might have something to do with Delia's memory problem." Amanda said as Agatha looked at her before bringing a hand to her eyes and pinched her noise and closed her eyes.

"I should have raised more objections when my boy told me he was marrying her, I mean I knew there was something about her I didn't like but everyone convinced me it was giving my boy away that caused me to feel that, but no in the end I was right, there was something about her, why didn't he…." Agatha went still as she let a few data points connect in her head and started to scowl and growl as she started to strangle an invisible throat.

"Oh that bitch, once I find a way to get my hands around her neck! The only thing she ever did that was good for this family was Gary and his sister were the only good things that woman probably ever took part in creating and…I have to make sure she's okay and not a clone of her mother!" Agatha said as she shot to her feet and started to shimmer before stopping. No, if I run off halfcocked Ginny will know something's wrong and there's Sammy to consider, I can't leave him alone with her. If half of what I'm thinking over is true, then I need to be here and take a look around the lab to see if she left anything there. Agatha thought as she turned back towards Amanda and regained her smaller form and glared at Amanda who paled as she looked back.

"Here's what's going to happen, I'm going to take a look around Sammy's place and I'll be back in a few days and then we'll talk about just what we all know together." Agatha declared as Amanda only smiled and when Agatha left the room collapsed next to her Aracaine who whimpered at her.

"I'm fine girl but I think I know more about why she was undefeated during her time as one of the Elite. Let's get some food and go make sure all the locks are working, okay?" Amanda said as she got back to her feet shakily.

Agatha moved down the lane, her walking stick out as she moved slowly to let anyone who saw her believe she was as old as she 'looked'. Of course she had to be connected to those bastards, Chimera Cult my foot! Oh Sammy, what kind of whore snared our boy? If she had anything to do with his death I'll strangle her, raise her spirit and torture everything I could about them from her before it destroy her utterly! No keep calm Agatha, keep calm and keep a smile on your face, later once you've got that bitch under your claws then you can show all your emotions. Agatha thought as she moved through Pallet Town towards Oak Labs, it took all her strength to keep the anger she felt from showing on her face. As she climbed the hill leading towards the labs she looked towards the ocean and the storm clouds she could even see at the horizon.

She turned and moved faster up the hill, she could feel the wind and detect a hint of salt in it, a see breeze was coming towards her, a sign that the hurricane would hit within the next day at least. As she saw the lab ahead of her she saw that the family car was gone and the lab seemed to be in a state of emergency with Oak's assistants and Tracy were moving everywhere, looking over papers and running out into the reserve to bring in Pokémon. Locking onto Tracey she figured he'd know what was going on.

"Sketchit, what the hell is happening around here, where Sam?!" She called out, smirking when she saw Tracey stumbled before he noticed her and ran towards her, stopping in front of her and held up a hand as he caught his breath before he started to speak.

"The Hurricane is hitting the area tomorrow morning at the earliest; we're bringing in all the Pokémon in the area to weather it. Prof. Oak went to sound the disaster alarm at town hall. He told us to make sure the ranch is ready by nightfall and I think we're about seventy percent ready. It would have been a lot easier if Ginny was here." Tracey rasped out as he looked down, not noticing the flash of pleasure that went over Agatha's face.

"Oh, where is my daughter-in-law, where has she gone?" Agatha asked with a smile that if he had seen it would have caused Tracey to run for the hills.

"She left this morning after you, something about a fundraiser for a school, said she was heading for the airport to fly to Unova. I hate to ask but those clouds are bothering me so would you and your team mind handling that colony of Psychic Pokémon by that lake near the Rock Pile?" Tacey asked as Agatha sighed and smiled back at him.

"Of course Tracey, just give me a minute to rest, these old bones can't move as fast as I used to!" Agatha said as she looked towards the ranches wild area. So the bitch ran away, fine that gives me sometime to gather everything I need to strike first against her. Run while you can, I will save my family from you and yours. Agatha thought as she moved into the wild spaces of the Ranch, thinking about how she would exercise the cancer that infected her family.

Salma walked through the Pokemon Center holding two trays as she dodged the people setting about. Half the people who lived in the part of Viridian the Chimera had invaded had to be in the Center trying to find a safe place to sleep as the last of the stragglers were hunted down and the town was secured. I can't wait to talk to sis about how she got involved with this, of course now that I think about it she probably was in the mountains at a post when the Chimera attacked. She always was the best at Dad's survival training so I wasn't too worried about her but why was she here, last I heard she was at C Island. Salma thought as she navigated to where she had left the kid. Anny looked up and Salma smiled when she saw the way the girl's platinum blond hair flowing out behind her and she smiled when she saw the food.

"Were you able to find your sister?" She asked before she took the tray from Salma and started to eat with gusto that worried Salma as she watched.

"Not yet but slow down kid, no one is going to take that away from you!" Salma said only for her eyes to widen when she saw the girl flinch, a pit forming in her stomach. Did she? She did….wait she's still wearing that raincoat fully buttoned, I really hope I'm wrong about this. Salma thought as she looked at the young girl. Anny looked at the way Salma was looking at her and shook her head fast.

"No he doesn't take food from me, it's just. It's been a while since my uncle had food like this for me, normally I just eat rice." Anny said as Salma looked angry and forced herself to hide what she was feeling so not to scare the kid. She said her uncle so what happened to her parents? Why is my bad feeling growing the more I talk to her? Salma thought as she looked at Anny as she slowed down and smiled as she ate.

"Well rice is pretty good if you cook it right, how do eat it normally?" Salma asked as Anny looked at her.

"I boil it in a pot, how else can you cook it?" Anny asked causing Salma to look at her, hoping that Anny was making a joke.

"I mean what do you cook with it, I put some nice carrots and sometime I have it with eggs." Salma said causing Anny to look at her in confusion, wondering just what the older girl was talking about. What is she talking about? Uncle told me the only way to make rice safe to eat is to eat it plain with nothing else? Anny thought as she stared in confusion.

"Doesn't rice become poison if you cook it with anything in the pot? What my uncle said is true isin't it?" Anny asked as Salma looked at her in complete shock before she smiled at Anny. I really need to find this uncle of hers and have a nice long talk with him; I think I'll ask Yuji and my sister if they want to come along with me when I do. Salma thought as she looked around and noticed some people with smiles on their faces and turned towards Anny and smiled down at her.

"You wait here, I'm just going to check out what's happening over there and I'll be right back okay, don't go anywhere." Salma said as she looked down at Anny who nodded back at her.

"Okay Miss Salma." Anny said as she turned back to her food and started to eat it, smiling as she ate. Salma looked down at the girl as she stood up and turned away, as she did so an unhappy smile grew on her face as she tried to keep the temper she had once been famous for. Finally she reached the people smiling and put her hands on one of their shoulders and smiled when all the people turned to look at her.

"Sorry to bother you, but I saw your looks and wanted to find out was the cause, so what's up?" Salma asked the three people who huddled around a radio. One of the people pointed down and smirked at her.

"The Hurricane that's supposed to hit is going to make landfall within the next day, once the winds hit the area the Chimera are gonna go splat!" He said with a smirk as the others grinned happily.

"Proving once again that nature is a killer, and that it doesn't care who gets hurt when momma nature is on the rampage!" A woman laughed as the others around started to smile and laugh, most of tham but one person who walked away with a sad look on his face. Salma extracted herself and walked after her, never noticing two other people had noticed the movement and moved after her, staying close enough to overhear but not close enough to let her notice that they could over hear her. As she reached him he was standing at a window looking upward and muttering under his breath.

"Stupid, so stupid. I know people have a low opinion of the league but I went over the math, it'll work and then what will happen to us? It won't work, this time nature losses." He muttered before jumping when Salma put a hand on his shoulder.

"You seem to have a problem, mind telling me about it friend?" Salma asked as she put pressure in her grip on his shoulder, causing him to wince and look at her. The two figures looked at her and one of them started to move towards them only for the other to intercept him and shake his head when the other saw him.

"What are you doing here?!" The one who was intercepted asked quietly as the other pushed him against the wall.

"I was tracking another issue, but let's wait and listen in before we act." The interceptor said just as softly as the first looked conflicted but nodded at him. The man Salma had corned looked at her and sighed before he started to speak.

"I'm a scientist with the League; I'm part of the staff working on the project nearby. The break walls are just the first part of the plan to handle Tornadoes or Hurricanes, I've gone over the math and when the full plan works, the Hurricane won't even cause anything more than a strong wind that might rattle a few windows." The scientist said as Salma released him and looked at him in total shock. If he's right then those things might attack the town tomorrow while we're thinking that the elements might deal with them. Salma snapped back and shot a glare at the scientist who cowered from her.

"Did you tell anyone about this?" Salma asked and released a breath she was holding when he nodded at her.

"Yes mam I told Officer Jenny and she said she'd deal with it. A good evening to you." He said as he dashed away and Salma turned and walked back towards Anny. The two people who had overheard their conversation and nodded to each other before one of them gestured towards Salma and both moved after her.

Salma was deep in thought as she moved her mind a mess as she tried to put everything in order. She had lived in Kanto most of her life and knew all about league projects, some of them worked and some of them failed and that was how it was, some part of her didn't know what to expect but if something went right then maybe the winds wouldn't be so bad. Of course a League Project would work right when we don't want it to! I just hope the Chimera stay away to let us mount a defense. Salma thought as she walked towards Anny and smiled when she saw the young girl. She walked over and smiled as she sat down and Anny looked at her

"Is everything okay?" Anny asked as Salma picked up her tray and started to eat, after a few moments she looked at Anny and smiled at her.

"Everything is fine kid, I just saw something I thought I needed to check out, I was wrong. Say were your friends okay, I saw you alone in that store, were you separated from them?" Salma asked as she looked at the younger girl

"Uncle Homeschools me, so I don't have any friends really." Anny said as Salma was really starting to have a bad feeling about this all.

"What's your favorite class, I loved history." Salma said Anny who looked at the remains of her food before looking up at the older teen.

"Well I do okay at math and science, it's too bad girls can't become scientists, I'd think I'd be good at it….what's wrong?" Anny asked as she looked up as Salma gained a glare on her face for a few seconds.

"Nothing kid, I just realized that I need to have a long and spirited talk with your uncle, where do you think he is?" Salma asked as Anny looked up at her before speaking.

"He should be back once the travel ban is lifted; he went to Johto about a week ago." She said and Salma could barely hold in her rage at that comment.

"So who's been looking after you?" Salma asked as Anny looked at her and spoke.

"Myself, I'm old enough. And I had a bit of money left over from paying the bills so I went out for a burger since it was discount day." Anny said as Salma looked murderous before noticing her sister moving towards them with a murderous look on her face. Salma looked at Anny and smiled at her.

"I see my sister needs to talk with me, give us a few minutes would kid." Salma said as she got up and walked towards her sister. Rosette had a snarl on her face as and almost ran into her sister when she suddenly appeared in front of her.

"Jeez sis, what's wrong. You look like you want to murder someone." Salma said with a smirk on her face.

"If I did it'll improve the gene pool. How the hell did someone raise to such a rank with being so stupid!" Rosette said as Salma looked around and thought two people were trying to listen in on them.

"What happened, didn't you make contact with the Guard?" Salma asked, causing Rosette to scowl.

"Yeah, for my actions I'm to be dishonorably discharged." Rosette bit out before hugging her self. Salma stared in total shock and she thought she heard a muffled curse behind her for a second before looking at her sister.

"what? Why?" Salma demanded as Rosette just sighed.

"Because I, and this is a direct quote, 'Retreated in the face of an inferior enemy'. Those things over whelmed me and I was barely able to fight my way free! One person and their team can't hold back a swarm of Chimera acting as one." Rosette said as Salma stared at her before shaking her head.

"Can't you appeal to a higher officer?" Salma asked only for Rosette to just shake her head.

"The commanding general made the call and once the route to the Plateau is cleared to travel I'm to present myself for discharge. Yeah right, until the ban is lifted I'm staying here to defend this city." Rosette said with a hard look in her eyes. And after maybe I'll join up with those Guardians, might be something good to do with my life. Rosette thought as Salma looked at her.

"Well come on sis, let's get you something to eat and we'll bed down for the night and tackle this in the morning." Salma said as she grabbed Rosette's hand and pulled her towards the kitchen

The two figures who had been listing in on the girls looked at each other and one of them gestured towards a side room and they moved silently towards it, one of them closing the door behind them and the other hitting the wall with a fist.

"Its things like that that make me wonder why I try so hard to defend civilization!" He said as his clock revealing his carmine hair as the other one leaned against the door and sighed.

"Because for every stupid and idiotic person there is, there has to be at least ten more who deserve our effort Lance." The other figure said as Lance just sighed and nodded at him.

"Smart Looker, had thoughts like mine before old man?" Lance asked as Looker just chuckled and pulled back his hood and revealed his black hair and brown eyes.

"A few days and cases ended with me thinking like that, but what are you doing here, I didn't hear anything about you fighting the Chimera." Looker said as Lance chuckled sheepishly.

"I actually came here from the forest, I was chasing down a lead on Team Gaia and headed back to Viridian to try and catch their trail and slipped into the city during the last of the cleanup, you?" Lance said as Looker just looked conflicted before speaking.

"Shadow is in Viridian." Looker said causing Lance to go slack jaw before a hard look and he grabbed his right shoulder and glared into space. The two of them had crossed blades before, and Lance at least had a few scars that Shadow had given him. But the man had saved him a few times from Chimera, he had a particular hate for those things and given how old Shadow was he had to have been of age during the last Siege.

"That mercenary is in the city, why?" Lance asked as Looker just sighed and looked down.

"I have no idea, I was in the Den, just seeing if there were any underworld rumors floating about before I head back to base when Shadow came in and talked to the proprietor in his office. He left a few minutes later and said for him to call his brother here that he'd be there to trade information. If Shadow was looking into something I figured I find out what it was." Looker said as Lance looked around and tried to think of what Shadow was after. Okay he's a mercenary, but he's stopped more Chimera then most people know have been born. And a possible new Siege is starting just before he makes it here, is that a coincidence? Lance thought as he looked back to Looker who was still speaking.

"….and another thing, what we just overheard is a travesty! What the hell is the guard doing Lance? 'Retreated in the face of an inferior enemy'? If their overwhelmed their supposed to retreat and tell people to get away from the area!" Looker said as Lance just sighed and nodded his head.

"I know, but over the last few months there's been a change in the guard, a new general took over after the last one retired due to health reasons. He could be trying to flex his muscles, this is the first major incident in his tenure and he might be looking for a scapegoat to show the slow response." Lance said as Looker's mouth dropped open in shock.

"The old man retired, I never heard about that!" Looker exclaimed as Lance looked embarrassed.

"Yeah well the old man wanted it that way. Anyway, I'm planning on speaking going there and speaking up based on the reports that the locals send in, I've already talked to Jenny about the lack of preparation and it was the local represented that was the problem." Lance said as Looker started to think.

"The battle axe held them back?! We're talking about the same woman right?" Looker demanded

"Actually she's on vacation for the two months, touring the Orange Islands last I heard, it's somebody named Peck." Lance said as Looker looked shocked.

"But she never takes vacations…unless she's forced to. She built up the maximum again didn't she?" Looker asked as he sighed as he thought about his old teacher. Lance meanwhile started to think about everything that had happened. Looker's right, she never does this unless someone forces her, and near the start of the next Kanto Challenge, it doesn't make sense….wait Shadow here looking into something, is there a connection? Lance thought and glanced at Looker and made a semi painful choice.

"Look you handle the Shadow thing, I'll make it so I'm here officially and take part in any response they do. Good luck my friend." Lance said as he walked to the door, putting his hood back up as he did so. Sorry Looker but if something is rotten in the Kanto League then as one of the Elite Four I need to handle it. I think I need to look into anything that might have happened within the area lately, maybe even along the border towns in Johto. Lance thought as he slipped back in the crowd.

Looker glazed into space as he went over what Lance had just said. 'Good luck my friend" Lance what the hell? You realized something, something you can't tell me because…. I'm a member of the internal police. You think something is wrong in Kanto and you feel those of Kanto have to solve it, fine I don't know anything and I'll keep not knowing but come to me if its big. Looker thought before he reached into his coat and started to put on his disguise to head to the Den to wait for Shadow.

Four teenage boys in green jackets followed a man in his twenties in a green jacket and a wearing a green hat, all of them looking all about with a mixture of fear and worry on their faces as they moved through the city, lead the way as they moved through Oddysy Town, the dawn sun just coming over the horizon and the city just starting to wake up. They darted off the main road down a side alley and moved towards the abounded section of the city, passing woman in trashy looking outfits as they moved about, a few calling out offers for pleasure as the five moved past them, sensual smiles on the woman's faces as the five moved, a few of the offers caused one of them to slow down before being pulled along by the others. The leader looked back and scowled before he barked at the trailing one.

"Keep moving you fool, we have to get to the fall back point now!" The leader called back as he moved along.

"Ahw boss I would just need a half hour at most!" The one who had to be pulled said as some of the others started to laugh and chuckle at this.

"He'd just need at most ten minutes really chief, so why can't be let him waste some of his money and help a girl make a bit o money?" One of the others said only for the target of his joke to glare at him and grab him.

"Why you!" The joker was in danger of being punched when the leader turned back and grabbed the target and growl, causing all of them to look at him.

"Stop the bullshit and follow me now, if you want to rumble later then do after we get some idea of what we've got to work with and the damage to the cause." The leader growled as he turned around and the joker was let go. The party moved into an area of broken looking buildings with graffiti and broken windows. Finally after a few minutes they reached an abandoned junk yard and were about to go in when two Sythers dropped down in front of them and behind them appeared two Escavalier who hovered, leveling their spears at two of the trainers in green each, their lances glowing and ready to fire.

"It's okay guys, they're on our side." A voice from behind them caused them to turn and see a teen their own age appear out of one of the torn apart buildings. He wore a green vest and had a steel gray headband on his head and had a smirk on his face. The leader looked at him and stared before speaking.

"You! Then the signal to fall back was genuine, the boss really did the last resort? What the heck caused that? Did the cops raid us or something?" The leader asked as the teen walked towards the leader as the Bug Pokémon faded back into hiding.

"Yeah it was Alexandr, I was coming in when I saw the Volcanora released and that was after I saw the coppers just got there a few minutes before the last resort and our boys were already down when they got there." The Teen said as Alexandr winced as he tried to figure out what had happened. So it was true about the Volcarona, fuck I thought it was just something he said to make us sound more hardcore, something to make people quitting have second thoughts. Alexandr thought as he looked ahead blank, keeping his thoughts from showing as the others behind him muttered, one comment in particular almost caused him to turn and deck him.

"I always thought the mad Volcarona was just gossip, Rex really did something like that?" one of the five with him said to the others softly as the teen led them into the junkyard and the four Pokemon returned to their hiding places. As Alexandr followed after the person who greeted them when they got to the junkyard he heard a scoff behind him.

"Mon's are meant to be weapons, first and foremost. So what if he trained one to function the right way?" The teen who had been begging to visit with the girls said, causing Alexandr to fume on the inside. That ideology seems to be on the rise lately, why Sir Rex lets people like them into the group I don't know but I don't like it. Why did you and your wife have to leave us so suddenly Sir, couldn't you have stayed and taught your son more? Alexandr thought as he walked through the junkyard and passed through an opening in a wall of cars on their sides to an inner area.

Alexandr looked about and saw a warehouse in the back with teens in the colors of the Buzz Lords, Scolipede Riders, the Metalbuzz,, Poison Bleeders, and Psi-bugs stood around and muttering as he moved through them, hearing the rumors as he walked into the warehouse.

"I heard it was a whole band of Pokémon Rangers that stormed the place!" a grey jacked Metalbuzz said to Scolipede Rider

"Did you hear that the Den's set a bounty on Rex, something about him attacking the local's niece or something." A Poison Bleeder said to a Buzz Lord. Alexandr looked about and was about to call for quite when some else did it first.

A man with green hair in a ponytail wearing a jade green vest over a white t-shirt and black pants with a tattoo of the Bug Type symbol on his right check stood with his arms crossed as he looked at the people before him as he glared at them as they quitted down. His eyes went around the chamber and he mentaly went over who was here and who could be here and frowned. There's only about a third of the rest of the gang here, where the heck are the others? No choice I've delayed this too long already and at least I have a target to direct them at. He thought before he released a primal roar and everyone turned to face him.

"SHUT UP, ALL OF YOU!" He bellowed as he jumped onto a car set into the far wall of the warehouse to use it as a makeshift stage. As everyone saw who was there they started to mutter, surprised that they would see him of all people here.

"You all know me, Tiberius Gaulix, second in command behind the big boss Rex Tristo! A lot of you think I'm also supposed to be his bodyguard, and every one of you knows I'm the second best fighter in the team! And if I was there the brat wouldn't have gotten half as far as he did! But I wasn't there; I was taking care of the business that binds us all!" Tiberius cried out with a scowl on his face

"Look about you and what do you all see, you see, your comrades. The rest of the world would see the Poison Bleeder, Metal Stingers, Scolipede Riders and Psi-Bugs! But under everything we see friends and allies! No matter what we called ourselves we were all Buzz Lords at our core, no matter what the rest knew! We fought amongst ourselves to hide that so that when the time was right we would rise up as one and take back our city, take back all of Kalos and put it back on the right track in the name of the proper history and with our culture stronger than any another!" He bellowed only to be met with confirmations from the others.

"Kalos Proud!" One of Poison Bleeders said only to be meet with cheers as they looked at the speaker.

"Insects over all!" A Metal Stinger called out only to be slapped on the back by a Scolipede Rider who cheered as well. Alexandr looked around, barely hiding his dismay at the way the others were reacting

"That was the plan the Boss made, we would have ruled our lands when the glory of the warring period returned! But we've been stopped by some foreign scumbag who the boss wanted to raise to be a proper son of Kalos, him and show two broads the way they should act! And what did that scumbag do, hell the brat might even have some of our blood! But the boss was captured and our secrecy was broken by that same brat! And guess what boys, that scum bag and his friends are in this city! So what say you all, what do we do?!" The speaker roared out load as everyone started to riot before him.

"KILL'EM!" A Psi-Bugs member called out only to be met with roars of agreement.

"BREAK THE BITCHS INTO OUR TOYS!" Alexandr heard the teen he had led call out as the people started to roar out what they would do and shook his head and moved towards the back. The rest of the gangers never noticed that the some of their members had slipped out and caught each other's eyes and moved outside, lost in the fanfare the others were causing. As they reached the open space they saw Alexandr and moved towards him,

Alexandr looked about and mentally cataloged that he had maybe at best a third of the others who had come to the backup site with their Pokémon out and he looked around at their faces for a few moments before he spoke.

"I don't want to have to say this but I will, each of you here with me are loyal to the ideals of Tristo family over Rex, right?" he asked only to be met with a nod from all of them.

"Yeah Alexandr, so tell us what you think we should do?" A Psi-Bug member asked as his Mothim hovered over him. Alexandr looked around and was shocked when he saw everyone was looking at him, he looked about and stared

"All of you, you put that much stock in what I think about this?" Alexandr asked in shock as he looked about, the echoes of what the others were calling back to Tiberius sounding all around them.

"Yeah Alexandr, you're the old man, you've been in the gang longer then even Rex, before he took over and it was just the Tristo guard, if anyone would have an impression that would mater it'll be you!" A Metalbuzz member in a gray jacket said as the others muttered agreements

Alexandr looked around at the people around him, shocked beyond words that they would take such stock in his option and took a deep breath. Forgive me sir but I can't do this, I won't be a part of it. Alexandr thought as he steeled himself, saying a short apology to his former masters under his breath before he opened and steeled his eyes.

"If Rex Tristo did what they said he did to that Volcarono, then he doesn't deserve our loyalty, let alone our time getting revenge in his name, personally I will be making my way back to the Tristo estate to find out what the truth really is. As for the others, they can do what they want. I…" Alexandr said before someone spoke up behind him, causing him to turn and stare in shock.

"Perhaps you should let him get enough rope to hang himself?" A voice asked from the shadows as a female figure in a shimmering cloak covering her whole body walked up to them. She only smiled at them with red lips as Alexandr looked at her in shock.

"Wait, aren't you one of Lady Rebecca's friends?" Alexandr asked only for her to smirk at him.

"If you mean am I one of the handmaidens of the new holder of the Key of the Lord, then yes, yes I am." She said only for Alexandr to stare in total confusion, only for understanding to spark in his eyes. He stared in total shock and shook his head, not comprehending just what had happened before he spoke in a horse whisper.

"He lost the Key because of his actions?" Alexandr asked as the others looked between the two people, trying to understand just what they were hearing. How, everything the master told me about it, the Key was neutral, it didn't care what its user does, how could Rex have lost the Key?! He thought only to stare as the woman before him started to giggle and look at him with a look of mischief in her eyes.

"He lost the Key in a bet, and he didn't even understand what he lost!" She said with a smirk on her face as Alexandr just stared in total confusion, shocked beyond words.

Rex smirked as he was marched through the station a smile on his face, already he was being transferred as he knew he would, soon he would be free. Those idiots still don't know that their big boss is one of us; I can't wait until I control this town, and then I'll make Jenny into my bitch and turn Voila into my bed warmer. Rex thought as he was led towards the back of the percent and looked up when his guards slowed down. He looked at Jenny standing next to a truck as three of his higher ranked followers were being put into a truck before it drove off. He smirked as Jenny walked towards him and stopped and looked at him before speaking.

"Last chance Rex, talk to me and you stay, don't and your go and have a much harder time with the professionals, I'm told that sometimes they break people like you so hard they spend the rest of their lives in asylums." Jenny said as she looked at him. Rex merely looked back and kept quit, his eye taking in the garage and he noticed a few more trucks being worked on and an empty space towards the back. Turning to Jenny he only sneered before he answered

"I think I'll take my chances with them Jenny, after all the stink of this place is starting to get most uncomfortable." Rex said as Jenny fumed before walking off and Rex was brought to the truck and pushed into it. As he was helped to his feet he looked about and saw only low level members of his group were with him for the ride to 'prison'. Of course that bitch wouldn't send me with some of my higher minions, still there seems to be a good number of them here. Once we're out maybe I'll make this bunch my new guard until we meet up with the others. Of course then I'll have to find a way to get the others out, maybe a little mayhem around town before we raid the place, putting a few down to show who really rules around here. Rex thought as his followers looked at him.

"How we gonna get out of this boss, we've got no mon or weapons?" One of them asked quietly as he looked back towards the front of the truck. Rex only chuckled as he smirked.

"Don't worry, we get far enough out of this city then we'll be rescued by our boys, they won't leave us to grow fat in jail!" Rex promised as the others grinned back at him.

"Yeah, a few hours and we'll be free and have a nice good story to laugh about!" One of the gangers said with a smirk as the others started to chuckle as the truck started to move. One of them looked towards the front and where the cab was and turned towards Rex.

"Nothing says we can't give our lovely chauffeurs a little tip does it boss?" One of them asked as the others started to grin evilly Rex looked at him only to start to smirk evilly back.

"Nothing what so ever, in fact how about you give it to them yourself! And did anyone see if one of them is a lady we should treat right?" Rex asked as the others started to smirk and chuckle darkly. A banging from the front caused them to turn towards the cab and a small window opened and a man's face with a scowl on it and he was wearing a blue police hat.

"Quite down the laughter back there or so help me I'll come back there and beat you all senseless!" He said as he slammed the door closed and huffed as he scowled out the front window.

"Why did I get stuck with prisoner transfer duty?" He asked only to receive a laugh from the man behind the driver's seat. He turned and scowled when he saw the lazy smirk on his partner's face.

"Maybe it's that we loaded up a truck with recovered eggs and didn't notice that the drivers weren't who took the truck out that morning?" The driver asked only for the passenger to scoff and look out the window.

"You remember how much damage that mad Pokémon did, I just wanted to out of there and back to the station before a new fire started!" The passenger said as the driver laughed as he stopped at a traffic light.

"At least we weren't transferred, all we gotta do is get these VIS to the jail and then get back and we're not subjects to an inquiry!" The Driver said as the passenger started to steam.

"I THINK IT'S AND OUTRAGE! To think that I would have anything to do with those gangs that I could, no that I would be bought to do their bidding for money, it's an outrage!" The passenger snarled as the driver only grinned as he put the truck back into drive and moved towards Route Twenty-Two.

"Well as my old grandma used to say, when you have people who don't trust ya, do what you can to prove them wrong! So let's do the job and show the force just what we're really made of!" The driver said as the truck left Santalune City and drove onto Route Twenty-Two.

Rex leaned against the window and tried to fit what he had just heard into what had happened to cause him to end up in the truck. So somebody stole some of the eggs we breed, how does that factor in to what happened at the base. That brat was only able to get so far because somebody destroyed the security room. So let's think, it happened before they were captured so he didn't have a reason to attack me then, was it part of a larger plan, did one of my orders cause him to look into my forces? Rex thought as he tried to understand just how stealing some eggs that the police confiscated fit into how his team was taken down. As the truck moved over a bridge the two people in the front cab never noticed a strange looking Zubat watched them.

They passed through the small town on Route 22 and drove into the wilderness. As they drove onward they never noticed that they were being followed. Rex looked out the back window, he didn't show it but he was getting nervous, he tried not to let it show but he was worried. They should have hit this thing by now, where are my men?! Rex thought as a clanging caused him and the ones with him to look towards the front and saw the officer who had had bothered them before with a mocking grin on his face through the window.

"Hope you've all had a good ride, because it's almost over! Enjoy the last time you'll all have in a motorized vechile for years, cause we're be at the prison in the next two hours!" He said as he slammed the window shut and the others started to look at Rex with worry.

"When do you think they'll get us boss?" One the gangers asked with worry as Rex gritted his teeth.

The officer in the front smirked and laughed lightly as the driver sighed and shot him a reproachful look.

"Must you needle them like that, the gangs have a bad habit of pulling off breakouts, and sometime they kill the people transporting them!" The driver scolded the passanger who only laughed.

"They usually do it a lot sooner and with how fast the transfer was, I think we're home free!" He said as they saw a covered bridge over a medium sized river. As they passed a thick group of trees a Rattata dashed at the van and jumped onto the front axle and started to glow white before it exploded, caused the truck to summersault and land on its roof.

From under the bridge three Scythers with metallic wing coverings on its back, their right arms being replaced with saw blades moved towards the truck as from the trees two Toxicroak with two purple liquid gas tanks on it back with tubes leading to nozzles on the arms where its spikes would be charged at the truck. As the Scythers reached the truck one of them moved forward and started to cut at the door, the sounds causing the people in side to start laughing.

"I TOLD YOU THEY'D COME AND GET US! Not sure about the explosion but this was a dammed good job!" Rex called out with a laugh to his voice as the people inside tried to

"I would savor the last few breaths if I were you." A woman's voice said softly as a teen in a black halter top and black mini skirt and purple knee high boots walked out of the woods behind the Toxicroak. She had on black lipstick and her pink hair was in curls and there was a hard glint in her black eyes as she watched the Scyther cut at the door way and smirked at it. This was perfect, killing those idiots in the security room was perfect, I was able to destroy their reaction and he destroyed them utterly. Now I get Rex as a Battler and the others can be spare parts or material. She thought as she looked on as the door was finally cutaway.

"Great job, I'm going to….." Rex trailed off as he looked up at the Frankenmon staying down at him as one of the Toxicroak pointed its arms at him and holes opened in its hands and a purple black gas suddenly shot from them at him, covering him and the ones within in smoke. Rex jumped up and landed away from the truck and looked around and saw the pink haired girl. Who the hell is she, wait that shade of hair, I know her! Rex thought as he realized who was standing before him.

"YOU! You're one of those bitches I broke, how the hell are you doing anything beyond what someone tells you and what are these things?" Rex demanded as the teen only looked at him and sighed as she drew forth two sai from her back as the Frankenmom moved away from the truck and looked at him.

"I had hoped to take you fast, but it seems your Aura gave you a little poison resistance, ah well, this is more fun!" She said as a manic gin formed on her face and she shot straight at Rex! Rex dodged to the left and grabbed a fallen branch and held it like a lance as he watched her. Aura what is she, wait I…that bitch! Rex thought as his broke through a block on his memory and remembered everything that had been taken from him. He scowled as two jade energy insect like wings formed on his back and what looked like an insect exoskeleton formed from energy around his chest and shoulders as an energy helmet with two beetle-like horns formed on his head. The branch he was holding glowed jade and an energy point formed pointing at the pink haired teen who laughed. She touched a gem on both of her sai and they started to glow red and an armor of purple energy formed on her chest, arms and legs. Around her forehead a circlet of purple energy with what looked like horns on it above her eyes formed and she grinned at him. Rex moved towards her when he felt two blows to his back, jumping to the side when he landed he winced as he looked where he had been and saw the two Toxicroaks standing where he was, blood dripping from the spikes on their hands.

"You know what I love about fighting people like you?! It's how easy it is, just make them focus on you and then strike at their blind spots, few of them ever dodge it in time." She said as Rex felt something hitting him as his vision started to darken.

"Poison, what are you some kindo f assassin?" he muttered as she walked towards him as he fell. He heard her laugh and he saw her walk towards him as his energy armor fell as he felt himself fade.

"Oh don't worry, you're not dying just yet, it's better for us if your alive when we can kill you." She said as he dropped to the ground. She looked at the five Frankenmon and looked at the and truck and sighed. She and pulled out three small steel bars with buttons on the sides from behind her back and pressed the buttons and the Scythers turned into energy and shot into an opening at the end. Putting them back from where she had taken the bars she drew out another and press the button releasing what looked like a Dragonair with two sets Fearow wings and four sets of pincer like metal legs on its underside, a saddle on its back.

"{[Gascroaks]} get the people out from the back and load them on {[Dragoncarry]}." She commanded as she walked towards the van as the two named Gascroaks entered the van and carried the gangers inside towards the Dragon Frankenmon. As she carried out her orders she never noticed a spy glass glinting farther up the river.

"Boss Zayn, any idea what we just saw?" One of his men asked with a gulp as Zayn tried to figure out what to do. Rex is dead, but this is too much. We can't take credit for this, better tell what we've seen and chart this up as another party finishing the job first. Still better record this, he's going to want to see what did this. Zayn thought as he watched the woman get on the Dragonair thing and recall the other three Toxicroaks things into the bars.

Lilith sighed as she stretched as she looked over what she would be bringing to the contest. Okay this time I'll be wearing my acrobatic outfit and that mask teacher got me for that ball. I think I'll try the Fire Bones this time and end with a landing. Lilith thought as she finished putting the last of what she needed into a small carry bag. She looked towards Serena's bed and sighed, after Bonnie had fallen asleep she had noticed Serena toss and turn throughout the night and she was worried about the talk her friend would have with her mother today. Lilith looked up as Serena walked out of the bathroom drying her hair in a towel as she looked at Lilith with a small smile. Lilith grinned back and put her right hands on her hips and looked straight into Serena's eyes and saw the indecision in them.

"Don't say anything, let me guess, you're worried that your mother won't really listen to you when you have your talk, right?" Lilith asked only for Serena to sigh and look away.Lilith looked at her and just waited for Serena to start talking again.

"I guess I'm worried that this will be like last time, she'll just listen, nodded and forget about what I'm talking about and treat me like I don't know anything. I mean I was telling her for years that I didn't want to be a Racer but she never listened to me." Serena complained as Lilith just sat and listened to her let out what was bothering her.

"Don't be too hard when you talk to your mom Serena, use the truth and talk to her. She might not have listened but all the time you talked, you never told her what you wanted to do right? This time you do and it'll be different." Lilith said as Serena looked at her and smiled; a confident look in her eyes that told Lilith that Serena would be alright. And this is good for my mission, an Aura Link to the prince will slowly batter down that seal and sooner or later he'll awaken Aura Abilities and I'll be one step closer to being able to talk to ever one truthfully. Lilith thought as Serena walked towards where she had put her cloths.

"Thanks for the pep talk Lilly, now all I need to do is get out my 'official cloths' and I'll be okay to go." Serena said as she hesitated before turning to Lilith, a frown on her face.

"Are you sure it wouldn't be better for me to go to your contest and talk to mom after its done, she'll be in a good mood after the race and I did promise I'd watch your…" Serena tailed off as Lilith looked at her with a flat look. Sorry girl but you need to handle this now before you try and put it off more than you should, this is like how cuz was about talking to Aunty about what she wanted to do. Lilith thought as she looked at Serena.

"Go and take Ash for support and talk to him after you're done with your mom. Its best to strike when the iron is hot as a friend of mine always says." Lilith said as she looked at Serena's reddening face. She walked over and hugged her.

"Just talk to her slowly and calmly. And I'll see you after I win my second ribbon!" Lilith said as she walked out the door and Serena watched her go. Okay Serena you just have to handle this and then, well you'll find your future out there. She thought as she got up and grabbed a dress to change into.

Lilith walked through the Center carrying her small bag and smirked as she walked; everything was perfect, with luck Serena wouldn't back down from talking to her mom and get her blessing to travel with them. And having an Aura Link with the prince will help with the seal; the sooner it breaks the sooner he can discover Aura and get back to his father with his mom. And I can show Clemont and Bonnie about it as well. Lilith thought with a light blush as she walked towards the front door.

Looking up she saw Clemont and Bonnie in their normal attire but Ash was wearing a black formal suite and a fedora hat on his head. For a few seconds she thought she was looking at a painting of Delia with her boss from years ago. Another mark that he's the one I thnk, no I know he is who he is; I have got to get a picture to send to Lady Camilla. Lilith thought as she walked towards them. Bonnie noticed her coming towards them and smiled, causing Clemont and Ash to turn and see her.

"So ready to go to Lilly?" Bonnie asked as she came up to her.

"Just finished, you ready to watch me win my next ribbon?" She asked as she looked at Clemont and smiled at her. She looked around for Pikachu and not seeing him looked towards Ash who caught her look and gestured back towards into the Center.

"Pikachu's getting his checkup and having a good rest, I'll pick him up after the ceremony, good luck Lilly." Ash said as Lilith nodded and walked out of the entrance with Clemont and Bonnie. Ash stayed there and checked his Pokédex, navigating to a few chat rooms looking for anything that he might need to know about the local area, not finding anything he checked up on a few rivals here and there hoping that one of them might be in Kalos. I guess that was to much to hope for, but maybe I'll find someone while I'm here, it's always better to compete against strong rivals. Ash thought as he heard a voice behind him.

"Sorry I…took so long." Serena voice trailed off as Ash turned and stared for a second. Serena was wearing a blue strapless dress that went to her knees and showed the blue stockings and blue heels on her feet. Her dress showed a hint of her cleverage and she had on blue lipstick.

"Nice suit." Serena said as she looked at Ash as he stood there before her. Where did he get that suite? He said he had formal wear but where did he? Serena thought as she looked at him and realized he had started speaking.

"Thanks, nice dress Serena. So think your mom will be done with her speech before lunch? And will you be able to talk to her" Ash asked as he gestured for her to follow him and he led the way towards the hall.

"No, she won't be too long. Let's just say I'll be able to talk to her before the race." Serena said with a mysterious smile on her face as Ash looked confused.

Serena looked at her mom give the opening address as she stood there in a beautiful blue kimono that she said had been a gift from Serena's father and smiled as she watched her mother finish up her speech.

"….So I am proud to say let the JR Rhyhorn Racing season begin! And as become our custom the season starts with the charity race! Good Luck to all Racers and hit the tracks!" Grace said as the people started to applaud as Ash gave a soft whistle. He leaned over to her from his seat and asked softly.

"When'd your mom get so good at speeches? Ash asked as he looked at Grace as she walked down from the podium and made small talk with varies people in suits or dress as the young racers behind her moved towards the exit to change into their racing suits heading to the starting line.

"Oh I think it was after she came in 2nd place for the second year in a row, and the only reason she didn't win that year was because her Rhyhorn was in the center, most of the racers Pokémon were actually. Something about a sickness that was like smallpox for Rock Types, so they used the points from the last race and the guy who won the cup that year was ahead of her by just one point that everyone, even the thought mom would have made up in the next race." Serena said as she looked at Ash and forced down a blush. He looks great in that suit, where'd he get it and why'd he bring it with him if he was just challenging the League, something to ask him about later I guess. Serena thought as she watched Ash before noticing he was looking at her.

"I'll go talk to her, and thanks for coming." Serena said as she got up and smiled at Ash who smirked back at her.

"Its fine Serena, I don't know what you need to talk to your mom about but good luck." Ash said as Serena smiled and walked towards Grace.

Grace looked up and saw the look on Serena's face and finished talking to the people she was with and moved towards a door to a side room where they could have a conversation.

"So what's up Serena, I'm guessing this isn't about training for next year?" Grace said as Serena closed the door and looked at her.

"I don't want to be a Racer like you mom, I don't know what I want but I know that much." Serena said as Grace sighed and looked at her with a bittersweet smile.

"I've known that for a while, I guess we just got into a routine and I've been trying to get around to talking about it with you, I'm sorry if I was…forcing you into following my path." Grace said only for Serena to sigh and look away.

"I wasn't really fighting you, I just…everything seemed so pointless and getting up early was good for me and the training helped me stay in shape. I don't want to challenge the leagues, I don't know what I want but I want to discover it for myself." Serena said as she held her arms and Grace looked at her. She's been thinking about this, I guess she just needed a kick start and

"What's different Serena, I know something had to have happened while you were getting your first Pokémon? " Grace asked causing Serena to look her mother in the eyes and respond.

"I fought off a Chimera; I was kidnapped by a gang and broke out after I watched a Gym Battle live." Serena said flatly as Grace stared in total shock at what her daughter said before laughing herself silly. Oh to think the apple didn't fall far from the tree! This is just like how I got into racing after I escaped from my parents' home back in Kanto. Grace thought as she looked at her daughter who looked at her with a worried look.

"Go, find what you want to do with your life. And I think you have some wonderful traveling companions who would love to have you travel with them." Grace said as Serena smiled at her mother and gave her a hug.

"And before I go you have to try this wonderful tea Lilly has, she says it's from her home and the people who make were trying to advertise it." Serena said as Grace perked up. One thing I can count on is that the two of us like similar teas; if Serena likes it then I have to give it a try. Grace thought as she looked at her daughter.

"That Coordinator friend of yours? I'll give it a try, might be something." Grace said as she led Serena back towards the main room. Serena smiled and thought about Lilly, wondering if she had won the contest.

"Well folks this is it, the final stage for the Odyssey Village Pokémon Contest! The performances have been wonderful and now it's time for the last battle, Lilly Nightbloom VS Jon Granittum!" The person speaking was a woman with red hair in buns wearing a red strapless dress with red lips. Lilith stood in a black tunic with a golden Rayquaza on it and long sleeves that hid her hands and black pants. Her opponent was wearing a grey tuxedo and had a black beard. He just smirked at her and shot her a condescending look.

"You got lucky so far little girl but I'm getting my 1st ribbon. Go Golem!" Jon cried as he threw out a Pokéball and released a Golem. Lilith just smirked and drew forth

"Let's let the result of our teachings tell, Mandibuzz take flight!" Lilith said as her Mandibuzz appeared and took flight.

"Golem, Rock Throw!" Jon cried, Golem tucked its limbs and head away and jumped at Mandibuzz as it flew in a circle around the battlefield.

"Toxic as it pass!" Lilith said as she watched Golem lung for Mandibuzz. Mandibuzz opened its beck and released a purple cloud that engulfed Golem as it missed hit the flying type. As it landed it shock and Lilith saw purple bubbles and lightning flow over Golem's body. As the Rock Type got back to its feet the scoreboard dropped a fourth for Golem and Mandibuzz's stayed full. Lilith let a smirk form on her face as she saw this and her opponent gain a grimace. How do I get around this, I need to do something to get a few points off her, I was hoping to save this, but no choice. Jon thought as he watched the Mandibuzz

"Flamethrower!" Jon said as Golem opened its mouth and spat a stream of red-orange flame that hit Mandibuzz and caused it to drop about a foot before it righted itself. Lilith winced as her score dropped a good fifth and Lilith spared a glance at the clock and saw the battle was still had three minutes and looked at Jon who smirked mockingly at her. Good he's thinking I'm loosen my cool, I just need to keep my face like this. Lilith thought as she did everything to keep her face looking downcast.

"Stone Edge, finish it!" Jon said with a grin that grew as two light blue rings surround Golem's body before shards of stone shot at Mandibuzz. Lilith let a grin form on her face as she realized he had fallen into her trap.

"Dodge it and Shadow Ball!" Lilith said as Jon realized he had been tricked. Mandibuzz stopped flapping its wings and dropped below the attack and opened its mouth and shot a ball of black energy at Golem that hit, Mandibuzz flapped its wings a good foot off the ground and flew upwards before Golem could react to her lowered altitude. Jon winced and looked at the scoreboard and scowled when he saw he had dropped down to only a third. As the battle reached the last minute Jon grimaced as he looked at Mandibuzz. No other choice, I have to use that tactic. I had hoped I could save it but no choice. Jon thought as he looked at Lilith.

"Sandstorm, then Rock Throw!" Jon called as Golem slammed its legs down onto the ground and a sand storm formed around covered the battle area. As Lilith raised her arm to block out the sand she tried to figure how to handle this. Just a minute left to go, got to hide it out. That's it! Lilith thought as she covered her eyes.

" Higher and Double Team now!" Lilith called out. Mandibuzz flew upwards gained a white outline and illusory copies of herself appeared. Golem flew out of the sand storm and hit one of the copies and fell back to the ground when a loud buzz sounded.

"BATTLE OFF! The battles done and the winner is Lilly Nightbloom!" The woman in red said into her microphone and Manidbuzz flew and landed next to Lilith as Golem looked up and Jon stared at the judges. Lilith looked towards the stands and saw Clemont and Bonnie smiling at her. Great, I've got my second Ribbon and can compete for a Great Ribbon! I only hope Serena and her mother had a proper talk and she can travel with us. Lilith thought as she looked at her friends before she walked towards the judges.

A woman with short blond hair in a bun in a green business suit, green high heels and glasses above her emerald green lips set into a frown walked through a hallway holding a tablet under her arm, the hallway had paintings of knights in armor with Grass Pokémon standing next to the knight. He's not going to be pleased about this, well he will with what happens to Rex but the rest he won't. Still the take is excellent so far and the races and games there's that. But the fact that he is in the region will be problematic if he's after something that could affect his plans. The woman thought as she walked through the hallways and tried to not to let her thoughts wanderer too much.

"Still why is he here, there isn't anything that would have caused him to come, nothing that comes to mind." She said as she tried to figure out the answer as she moved towards her goal; black double doors with a grass symbol painted in an emerald color. She stopped when she saw the doors before she shook herself. Get a grip, you knew this would be hard but he doesn't shoot the messenger, he does give the messenger a heaver job load but it's all worth it. As she walked towards the doors they opened by themselves and she walked into an office room with a computer on an oak desk with a black carpet in front of it and a glass door opening onto a balcony overlooking a forest.

"Ah there you are Jade, you have the final report on the Tristo situation?" A voice asked as the chair turned and revealed a bald man with a savage grin on his face dressed in an expensive looking green suite. Regan Protoflora smiled as he looked at Jade as she walked towards him.

"Yes Mr. Protoflora. The Lady Rebecca Tristo has assumed leadership of her family, so far the official word is she wasn't involved with the Buzz lords and Rex has been recorded as a misogynistic person hating anyone who wasn't born on Kalos soil. He was transferred earlier today to the Fangrock Prison; however I don't believe he'll make it there. Mr. Jarlson hired the Rampagers to make sure he doesn't tell the officials what he knows about the plans." Jade said as she looked at him, staying silent as he started to laugh so hard he had to lean against his desk.

"Oh Palvo, you wonderful idiotic berserker you! You could always be counted on to handle things in a perfect manor if someone could track it back to you! Perfect, with Rebecca holding down her family headship then I doubt the orders to them will continue, so then the Coastal

alliance will have a few less profits in the future! A good deal with someone in the Mountain

and I'll be able to bring the Central alliance higher and this time I'll be the Grand Leader! Perhaps I should contact a few of my associates and have a party to celebrate my good fortune! And is there anything else I should know about my Dear?" asked Jade who looked away before she spoke.

"There's a rumor sir; that the Battler is in Kalos. Someone said he talked to Joey at the Santalune Den." Jade said as she looked at him wincing. The man stared at her before shooting to his feet, slamming his fists into his desk as he did so.

"THE BATTLER, HERE?! Why, in the name of the Legendries would he be here?! The last reported sighting showed he was in the Decolore Islands!" He demanded as Jade looked at him before she looked away. She wouldn't know of course, she's just my secretary, and she's only been with me for a year now, what could have brought him to Kalos? Regan thought as he looked a Jade only for her to look down at her tablet before she looked up at him.

"Unknown at this time sir, only that the rumor says he went to the Den and paid with a coin for privileged information, what he asked about Joey is as usual up in the air, some say for sightings on rare Pokémon to the newest Black Bounty." Jade said as she looked at him as he stood up and started to pace back and forth as he started to mutter under his breath as he walked. He destroyed Team Plasma, could he be looking for the weapons that the Alliance sold them? He could be tracking down that old base they set up to condition Pokémon; did he discover a link to us, I know there was a rumor that someone was selling eggs from somewhere in the region, but who? Regan thought as he paced back and forth until he stopped and looked at Jade with a hard look.

"Ms. Jade I want you to check everything that hinted at an outer region trade both legal and otherwise. I want a report on every single profitable venture we have and compare the numbers based on last year's take. I want the reports from our bookies with my breakfast tomorrow and I want any news that might have caused that individual to come here and moved against the Buzz Lords as soon as you can find it." He said as Jade finished jolting down his orders and nodded at her.

"Yes sir; shall I have the chief make one of you favorites or do you want me to make a reservation at one of you restaurants?" Jade asked as Regan looked at her and sighed before shaking his head before he walked back towards his desk.

"No, no. Tell the chief to make me a few sandwiches and have them brought to me later. Oh and check the trainers who have registered for this year's league and identify any trainers who might reach the finals and send me their profiles, I'll set the odds to give to the bookies -tomorrow." Regan said as he started to call to work. Jade nodded and walked off, her own thoughts running wild, stopping at the doorway and turned towards him.

"What about the Pokémon Contests sir? Shall I look into that as well?" Jade asked as she looked back at him. Regan looked up and looked confused before he understood what she was talking about. Contests what is she talking about? Oh of course that's what she's talking about, I forgot all about it. Yes, something like that might help give me the Chair. He thought as he leaned back and nodded.

"Yes, yes. I want the record of all the prominent Coordinators and I want you check who has signed up for what might be the last Showcase year; it would be a perfect start for next year's earnings to see what odds the bookie will give." Regan said as he leaned back. Jade nodded and walked out of the room, once the doors closed she looked back with a look that hid her true thoughts. That scum sucker, I can't wait until I finally have enough to figure out who sold that poison and bring the pain down on them. Wait a little longer sis, I'll find a cure for you. Jade thought as she walked off towards her office.

In the office Regan started to look over data before smiling slightly. Perfect, the casinos profits are at expected levels and with the racing season starting soon I can't wait until I see the first months take! I love it when everything goes my way, even with that one wandering around I just hope nothing goes wrong. He thought as he turned and looked out the window and rubbed his chin as he gathered his thoughts.The Junior League was starting up and with the champion of the last year announcing that she would stay out of the next professional league the bets on her average this year would make him quite a mint. I love it when I collect on sure bets; it makes me feel so happy that I have those watchers and bugs in all the best racers homes. Regan thought as he called up a few more before calling up the local news and smiled at the headlines, 'Gang Swatted, Noble Arrested!', and started to chuckle he saw confirmation that the source many of the problems that had plagued him since he had taken over his sector of the Returners was finally going away forever.

He looked up when his phone rang and smiled when he saw it was Palvo and smiled. So is he calling to tell me that he dealt with Rex or that his efferts to save him went away? Ah well he always was one of the few people who never gave me any problems so I do owe him in a way, I'll let him talk and lie to me, it'll probably give me a good laugh and I do need it. Regan thought as he picked up his phone and smiled.

"Palvo, my friend how are you, terrible what happened to Rex I was just starting to make a plan to get him freed when you called. If you have any…." Regan began before Palvo intruded him.

"Rex is dead, the truck he was in was attacked by….something controlled by what looked like a Joy!" Palvo interrupted him with a hard edge to his voice that caused Regan to jump to his feet as he tried to understand what he was hearing.

"What do you mean something? How…never mind that how did you find out about it?" Regan demanded as tightened his grip on his phone. What is this… is he trying to hide what he had done? No he wouldn't do that; it's completely out of character for him! Regan thought as Palvo started to speak.

"I sent in the Rampagers to deal with Rex's incarnation and they just sent me a video of what they saw, I don't know what that thing was but I wouldn't be surprised if it was dead, as in he moved despite being dead!" Palvo said as Regan stared at his phone in complete confusion.

Leaf looked about as people moved about as children and the elderly were getting on wagons and others looked around for any sign of the tree like creatures coming at them. The other night they had tried to attack the gathering and the farmers had been able to kill and drive them off, but when the hurricane warning had hit the area they had stayed at the meeting place once the all clear had sounded they all started to put all they had brought with them onto their carts to get to Viridian. She looked around as the families and their allies started to move, looking backwards as she was sure they had only driven those things off for a few hours at best. We have to move soon, we've been lucky but if those things come in force again I don't think we'd be able to handle it. She thought as she saw the families getting ready to move.

"Trouble Miss Leaf?" A voice asked and she looked up as Chogan Fallsbloom came up ridding on a Mightyena. She looked at him for a few seconds and noted the backpack on his back and the pockets on his Pokémon's saddle and sighed as she gathered her thoughts.

"We've been lucky, but I don't know how much longer it'll last. We have to move soon." Leaf said only for Chogan to start to laugh heartily. Leaf looked at him and he just grinned at her.

"Yeah, but we can beat 'em! Why I remember when Nicky and me helped kill that Chimera a few weeks before he disappeared on that quest of his. Shoulda gone with 'em, the hell with the harvest." Chogan said with a somber look on his face. Nicky, why would he bring up Nick, did she tell them about him? Leaf thought as she looked at him before they heard a laugh.

"You've always been a muscle head Chogan, but really, this takes the cake! If Nick wasn't there then I'd think you'd be dead already." A female voice said from behind them. Turning they saw Isa walk towards them with a smirk on her face as she looked at them. Leaf noticed a backpack with a quiver of arrows built into it on her back and a bow over her shoulder. Leaf looked at her and noticed a second Pokéball on her waist and turned towards the Flareblood contingent and noticed Holly had an axe on her back as she helped her family's allies into the wagons. All three of them have their weapons out, it could be nothing but after what I told Holly and how he mentioned Nick. Leaf said nothing but reached over and grabbed Chogan around his neck and brought him down to look her in the eyes. Chogan started to sweet and Isa started to move backwards but stopped when Leaf turned and speared her with a harsh glare that froze her in her tracks.

"What are you all planning?" Leaf demanded as she looked at both Chogan and Isa who both only started to sweat or look away. I knew I should have gone by without stopping but I had to say something didn't I, why can't I just let it go. Chogan thought as he tried to think of what to say.

"We're getting our friend back." Isa said after a few moments causing both Leaf and Chogan to look at her in shock.

"ISA!" Chogan said with horror that she spilled their plans so easily.

"Continue." Leaf said as she looked at the two of them and Isa just sighed.

"Nick wouldn't join up with a cult without those scums doing something to him. So the three of us are going to find a chance to get him alone and talk to him, find out what the story is. if we gotta bust some heads then so be it, but we will have the truth." Isa said as Leaf just looked at her and Chogan.

"And How do you all plan to find them, make me tell you where he was? Leaf asked only for Chogan to shake his head.

"The idea was to go and try and find Tea Gaia members and try and shake down where their all hiding. Once we know that we thought we'd stake it out and what for Nick to come out and act once we've seen him." Chogan said only for Leaf to look at them both before turning to look at Holly. They don't know where I saw Nick or how he was but their still willing to try and get their friend alone to talk, some loyalty. Still I can't let them go alone; I guess it'll be four instead of three. Leafthought as she looked at the two of them.

"Okay; new plan. You three help me get the rest of them back to Viridian then the four of us slip away and I'll take you to where I saw the lot of them fighting." Leaf said as Chogan and Isa looked at her in shock.

"Leaf, are you sure about that?" Isa asked as Leaf nodded.

"Yes, I can tell anyone who asks why we're leaving that I'm worried about some of the hermits around here and you can say you're going to keep me safe, I help enough people around here that they most would believe that." Leaf said as she noticed the last few people were getting on their Pokémon and she turned to them.

"I'll tell Holly about it on the move, get back to your people and keep an eye towards our rear." Leaf said as Chogan and Isa both started to nodded at her. Leaf released her Dodrio and led it towards the front and stopped next to Jed as he scratched an old looking Houndoom with a broken left horn and a saddle under its chin.

"Everyone seems to be ready Mr. Flareblood, I think their just waiting on you sir." Leaf said causing Jed to scoff as he stretched. As he stood up the Houndoom sat down and he got into the saddle and looked about.

"About time, why it takes so long just to get into wagons I'll never know. OKAY FOLKS MOVE IT OUT!" He bellowed as his Houndoom started forwards as the group started to move, the strongest trainers behind and to the sides as they moved. As they moved towards Viridian Leaf looked over her shoulder as she got onto her Dodrio and joined the rear guard as it formed up, looking towards the forest as they departed. As they moved along the road she looked towards the front of the group, never noticing one of the lone trees had a bare patch at the top that unfolded two wing like growths

A woman with brown hair with a single fringe at the center with two long side edges that ended above her shoulders wearing a sleeveless orange tunic with a black collar, white gloves with black fingertips, and white pockets and stripes over black cycle shorts, a mint green fanny pack, a green and white kerchief and black ankle socks and orange above white and black shoes was running through a busy city street. She dodged the people as she moved towards a Pokémon Center as she thought about everything that had happened to her. After she had split form Ash and the others she had gone on her own to do Pokémon Contests and had run into the Professor while doing a Quest to find a special flower. She had been there to track down a ruin in the same mountain and May's knowledge on the ancient alphabet of the Water People had surprised her and she had requested her for a Quest after the Contest season was done. One thing led to another and after two years she had become something of an apprentice of shorts to her and sometime in their first year together the two of them had fought off a group of bandits and gotten away with a scroll in a stone scroll case that had given the two of them a look at a possible undiscovered global civilization! There was a lot they couldn't make out but the study of it had led to an undiscovered port town in Hoenn near Lilycove City. They had passed through her home town and stayed the night with her family and Max had begged to travel with them for a while and their parents had agreed if he kept up his studies and took tests at every Pokémon Center, a failing grade and he was to go home. But, well he had really progressed; he had taken the test to become a Jr. Trainer and passed it with flying colors! Once they had reached Lilycove they meet up with the group and Max had been the one found the way into the hidden port.

They had then spent the next two months excavating the port before they had found the town's library and had found a tome that described when the meteor crashed that created the crater that Sootopolis City would be built in. And it described how the settlers fought off a Chimera that tried to eat them, a serpent of some kind that had almost killed them but they had won with the help of warriors and Pokémon charging from the shore at the beast, the likes of which had never seen before in Hoenn! That explained a few customs Sootopolis City had but the descriptions of the Pokémon had pointed them towards Kalos and they were going. Once the Pokémon Max had promised would be his starter would get there they were on their way and Max was to go home but she had a surprise for him that he was sure to love. I can't believe my parents said it was okay, I guess the fact that Ash is there might have made them decide it would be a good thing for Max to see old friends again, but why they think I'm going to go out of my way to see Ash is something I don't know. May thought as she ran, not noticing that as she ran she had gained a blush on her face.

She reached the Pokémon Center and frowned when she noticed how dead the entrance was, this time of year people were usually all around the room readying to travel the sea routes to Sootopolis City or on the Gym Trail for the next Hoenn League, what was happening. Looking around she saw people clustered around the rest area of the center and noticed Max was by the edges, a look of concern on his face and when he saw her he moved towards her at a dead run.

"May, have you heard!?" Max demanded as soon as he reached his sister looking up at her in worry that caused her to get a little scared. He wasn't this scared when Diaxis attacked City, what could be happening that caused this reaction? The only thing that ever got him this worked up was when! May thoughts died as she looked at her brother and felt a chill settle in her center.

"Heard what, Max what are you talking about, what happened?" May asked her brother as he looked at her before grabbing her and pulling her towards the front of the group until she could see the TV and the trainers clustered around it. May could see a headline that read 'Attack on Viridian", had something happened in Viridian, was Brock okay?

"Hey, turn it up!" Max called to one of the people around the who raised the volume as the lady reporter on screen started to speak, what she heard floored May.

"To return to our top story, yesterday a savage horde of Chimera attacked Viridian City. Thankfully the horde was beaten back with no fatalities among the defenders, which is amazing considering the plague outbreak that swept through the area recently among many Pokémon here in the city. The militia had been called up in response to what at the time thought of as nothing more than a few Chimera, but the sheer size caught everyone by surprise and the Mayor has closed Route 22 until further notice. League officials have not be reached for comment however the mood at the Indigo Plateau has been reported to be nervous as the area moves into a heightened state of alert as plans are drafted to deal with the problem. Is this the start of a new Siege, will the League move like they did during the last Siege? Only time will tell, but they've currently closed Victory Road and are readying for action, back to you in the studio." The reporter said as May sat back down as she remembered her chat a few days ago with the others and how Brock had been a no show. Misty said Brock contacted her about an expedition in the mountains to track down the source of that but he thought it was a Chimera, a single Chimera not a horde! Keep calm you're too far away to help out and you have to trust in his skill to handle it. And there's the local Gym too, they had to have survived. May thought as she felt Max grab her arm. May pulled Max away from the group of people and stopped where she could hear him and he could hear her. Looking down at him she winced at the worry she saw on his face.

"Brock's in Viridain isn't he May?" Max's question caused her to look down and she saw her brother look up at her with a scared look on his face. I have to get him calmed down, I mean he's only a year from starting his own journey and I can't give anyone a reason to suggest he heads home, I know people would use this against dad and the family. May thought as she looked down at her brother and forced a smile on her face.

"He is but you know how strong Brock is and he's at a city with one of Kanto's best gyms. It's like when dad help take out that Chimera all those years ago, trust in his strength and he'll be okay." May said with more confidence then she felt. I think once I can get away I'll log into the chat room and see if he posted an update or if Misty heard from him. I can only hope that the Chimera didn't come from the mountains. May thought as she tried to keep Max's spirit's up. Max smiled up at his sister and nodded to her.

"Yeah, your right sis! Brock could slaughter those Chimera with half a team! He's probably fine, heck I feel ashamed to have even been worried about him!" Max said causing May to laugh as she looked down at him with a smile on her face as she reached down and rubbed his head, he laughed and pushed her hand off.

"You care about your friends, it's nothing to be ashamed of Max." May said causing Max to grin checkily up at her.

"Like how you feel about Ash sis?" Max asked as May turned her head away and huffed with a blush on her face as May laughed. May looked back at her brother and smirked. Little pain, but I think I'll tell him the good news now.

"May, I talked with our parents and they said you can come with us when we head to Kalos, they think this traveling is doing great for you!" May said as s

"Max Maple please come to the front desk, your package has arrived, again Max Maple please come to the front desk, your package has arrived." A voice called out from the Center's loudspeakers and Max perked up as Max realized what he had been waiting for was finally here. She nodded at him when he looked at her and he smiled before he turned and ran off.

May watched Max dash off to the center's main desk to pick up his starter and she walked towards a quit place to call someone. Activating her Pokegear she moved to a number at the top of her contact list and called it.

"Doctor, its May. Everything is fine on my end and Max just got what we were waiting for, we can leave when you're ready to move." May said as soon as she heard a laugh from her gear.

"Excellent! I'm just handling the last of the paperwork to hand off the site to the team from the regions university and I should be finished by supper. We can move out tomorrow at the earliest if everything is finished on your end and I think the people are a perfect group." A female voice came over the phone with a happy tone to her voice.

"I thought you might take a little longer, what, did he come to take over?" May asked and was rewarded with a huff.

"No actually, she won a vacation to Alola of all places! Something about not letting me bothering her and went off without looking back! But I'm not convinced, I'm sure he's after something, I'll call a friend of mine in Alola and have him watched, I'll get proof about what he's all about sooner or later, mark my word!" The voice said as May covered and muted her gear so she could sigh as she thought about what she knew.

The two of them had been students and according to a few people she had talked to, they might have been more once. But according to the doctor a few artifacts had been stolen from a dig the two had been a part of and she still thought he had something to do with it. Since then she had been trying to expose what she called a stain on Archeology and May had to admit the circumstantial evidence had grown rather tall over the years and she could see how her friend believed that about him.

"I know you think the bastard's a profiteer doc, but you need to let it go or stop letting him bother you. Think what we're after, once you publish it, and then think of what you could do next. If you like I'll talk to a friend of mine about him; he has a few contacts in law enforcement so maybe some official light could do some good." May said as her friend stopped to catch her breath and May forced herself to relax, the next few months would be interesting.

"You're right, your right May. On a light note did you hear back from your parents, did they give their blessing?" She asked causing May to lean against a wall and smirk as she saw Max at the corner of her eyes coming towards them.

"Blessing received, but I'll tell him later tonight." May said with a smirk as she heard a laugh from her Pokégear.

Brock walked through the hospital as he went over everything that had happened during the expedition, he had spent hours after he made it to the Hospital to treat Growlithe but had only been able to make it comfortable before the other cases demanded his attention. He had spent the rest of the night running around helping the doctors pervade treatment for all the injured people and Pokémon and had only been able to get maybe two hours of sleep that hadn't lasted enough for him. He stopped outside a room and read the papers hanging on the wall and sighed as he moved on, at least the outbreak was dying down so that tracked with what he thought before he set out. He stopped outside the break room he and the others had made the plans for the expedition and entered, seeing Ryouta lying down on the couch as Sayeko poured herself some tea. As he entered the room he saw the others look up at him and Ryouta sat up with a smile on his face.

"So the conquering hero returns to this lowly place, how was the mountain wildlife?" Ryouta asked with a smirk on his face that earned him a slap from his wife.

"Not too bad, but I could have done with better travel partners really." Brock said as he went to the tea pot and poured himself his own cup. As Sayeko looked at him in concern Ryouta looked at Brock with a frown on his face.

"Is that part of the reason why only one of the people who went up with you came back with you even though you only sent one of them back with that sample?" Sayeko asked softly as she looked at her husband as Brock sighed. I know we promised Riley not to say anything but I need to tell them something, and I can bet that Yuji is telling Giovanni something. Brock thought before he made a choice.

"They were supposed to be veteran Chimera Hunters, but they broke when we were attacked. Last I saw them they were running in the direction of Johto, and I hope the Chimera got them." Brock said as Ryouta and Sayeko looked at Brock in shock before Ryouta started to swear.

"Of all the….! How the heck could such scum stay alive after everything that happens to good people I will never know!" Ryouta said as he got up and started to pace back and forth as Brock winced, hoping that Ryouta would never learn the truth about what had happened up there if such a small part of it caused him to react like this.

"How was what Salma brought back, did you learn anything?" Brock asked the one question he had

"The specimen was in a word, interesting. The brain was malformed and had spots on it; I can't describe it better than that, I have no idea what affects it had on the subject. The rest of the body was checked over in the remote theater, and I only found two interesting points, care to guess?" Ryouta said as Brock started to think as he remembered the battles he had with the Chimera. Okay, think. The strain that I sent back all attacked on the ground, none of them flew until we stated to move down the mountain then the other must be…Brock thought as he looked up at Ryouta.

"I would have to think it's the wing cases on their exoskeletons, were they ornamental and the other I would have to say it's something internal." Brock said causing Ryouta to grin at his student.

"Correct, the Chimera's organs were in perfect health except one. I've only seen something like it when an organ stopped working. Really I've never seen anything in any corpse I've looked at before. You know, that reminds me about an investigation I assisted with years ago." Ryouta said as Brock and Sayeko looked on as they both braced for one of his long stories. They never noticed the look in Ryouta's eyes as he observed them and the hint of mischief in his eyes. I love it when those two react to the change of me telling one of my stories. Still I should keep it to the present and not think about the past. Ryouta thought as he hid a smirk as he thought their reactions.

"Still that's something that I think I should talk about later. Brock I need you to check over the condition of the patients on floors five upwards. Sayeko would you mind checking on how much supply we have left for Potions and bandages please, I'll check the condition for the patients on floors four down." Ryouta said as his wife and Brock both jolted and looked at him and hid their grins on Ryouta's actions.

"Got it Doctor, I'll work my way down and see you later sir." Brock said as he walked out the door. Sayeko walked over to him and kissed him on the check.

"I'll check the store room and call the Pewter Center once I'm done and see if I can't order whatever we're close to being out of and I'll see you back at our rooms." She said as she walked off, a swing in her step as she left. Ryouta looked at the door before he sighed and walked to it and locked it before he walked towards a computer and inserted a USB device he took out of his pocked and called up a file and looked over what was in it. As he read what was there he just sighed and typed out a few words and saved and closed the file, he nodded to himself as he slipped the USB Stick back into his pocket and walked to the door and opened it and left the room as if he hadn't done anything at all. I don't know what it is your hiding, but I know you are, I'm not sure how many you are or why but we will find out. Ryouta thought as he walked towards the stairs.

"I tell ya boss, those two who Karin sent with us weren't who she thought they were." Yuji said as he stood before Giovanni's desk. Yuji had signaled Giovanni during the cleanup after they had pushed back the Chimera incursion he had information that Giovanni needed to know as the Gym Leader and to keep it quiet that Yuji had signaled him.

"In what way, they weren't Hunters? I wouldn't think one of the Elite Four would send ordinary trainers on a possible Chimera hunt?" Giovanni asked he raised an eyebrow as Yuji gained a look of anger. I was wondering about those people, giving the report Sham sent back about the Pokémon abuser and the fact they needed a burner lab and Joyful to be sent to do surgery on them. If those people that Karin is connected are willing to go that far then for the greater plan to work we need to identify how big they are, and they can't take Saffron Courp no matter what. I know I promised not to move some of my people in but maybe I can get more people to be stationed at the Parlor, maybe reinforce them and have one of my Executives stationed there. Giovanni thought as he listened to Yuji.

"For one the bastard who went with us tried to feed me to the Chimera and the bitch ran out and left Brock to die alone! And there are a lot of those things up there boss, I don't know how many but it seems like they just exploded out of nowhere, killing and harvesting the mountain, heck their even taking the life force from the plants somehow!" Yuji said, causing Giovanni to jolt and look at him with a hard glare

"I know how that sounds sir but I found some dead trees with webbing on them and tracked the strands to a cave some of those things carried a giant version of them out of a cave. Of course that was when he tried to feed me to them by caving in the mouth of the cave when the procession was half way out of it. And I don't know about the other but he did it as if he planned to do so." Yuji said as he locked his eyes with Giovanni. Giovanni looked at Yuji's eyes and saw the truth and passion in them and nodded back before speaking.

"Okay, let me see if I'm understanding what you're saying; those two who Brock reported had died really tried to sacrifice you all and you don't know if they did so on orders, am I reading between the lines right?" Giovanni asked as he turned and looked out at Viridian, keeping his face from Yuji so if he reacted he could hide it.

"Boss I can't tell you how it felt when that one brought that swarm onto my head! If I hadn't been in hard terrain and had a head start I would've been eaten by those things! Thankful I killed one of their leaders, oh yeah; they have a range that they need to be in for their minions to use their attacks, that's how Brock survived too!" Yuji said as Giovanni nodded before he remembered he had turned his chair.

"I thought that the horned ones were having an affect based on their actions during their attack, but if they're not the highest caste in this swarm or whatever this grouping is." Giovanni muttered as he looked out at Viridian. Of course she would send in some people buy did they have to try and kill Brock? The secret that causes them to kill people, he must have it but the observation I've had on him has shown nothing so either he just discovered what the secret is or he can hide a lot better than I think he can. Giovanni thought as he made a decision and turned around. Before he could say anything Yuji looked straight at him and spoke.

"I saw something being carried by some of those things with hands, it might have been the leader of these things, and it looked like it was a dedicated breeder boss." Yuji said before Giovanni nodded at him.

"Yuji, go and get some rest for today, tomorrow I want you to go to the northern barriers and stand guard. The Gym will be closing our 'official' capacity until the Chimera are all dead. Tell Miranda to come in when you leave, I have a few notes for her to take for the announcement." Giovanni said causing Yuji to salute him and walk out the room, Miranda coming in after a minute carrying a small tablet.

"So, did Karin send forces from that source or regular Hunters?" Miranda asked as she brought up her clipboard and looked at Giovanni, who only looked at her with a 'what did you think' look.

"Yuji said that they tried to kill both himself and Brock, but the why was to save their own skins. I so doubt that. Have the watchers on Brock increased if he survives the coming days, I want to know if he does anything that different. And the other two who came, a teacher and student who practice a martial arts that's had a small dojo, I want to know anything you can find about them." Giovanni commanded as Miranda nodded and tipped down his commands.

"And commander Sham is ready to report sir, shall I have her call by phone or should it be in the command post?" Miranda asked as Giovanni looked at her.

"Just have her send in a summery; I can get the details later. But what about any other defenders that held back the swarm; were there any useful prospects?" Giovanni asked as Miranda smiled at him.

"A few of the gangs tried to run, but a surprising number stood their ground and held the line as it were. Most of the leadership ran or escaped the city and the few survivors are being gathered up by a group with a star as an insignia of all things." Miranda said as Giovanni looked thoughtful. I thought that more of those people would stay and fight, but then true cowards always run away. Wait…. Why did the police let? Giovanni thought as he sat up and looked at Miranda with an intense look.

"Why did the gangs even have to do that, I would think that the police would have tried to hold off the Chimera. No no, please don't tell me." Giovanni said dryly as Miranda looked down and called up a report and frowned as she read what was on her tablet.

"One of the police Captains held the forces that were supposed to make the barrier there back, they only made it there a few seconds before the attack hit. The excuse was he had been given a tip that a few of the gangs were going to ambush them when they got there, something about not believing that the Chimera would attack and thinking it was an excuse to attack them." Miranda said as she looked up with a frown on her face, her words caused Giovanni to frown and turn his chair around, looking out at Viridian as his thoughts raced. So now we know one of their people in the police or someone who was that stupid! I don't know what I want to be true; of course this would happen during an assault on the town. Giovanni thought as he stared out the window before coming to a decision.

"Butch and Cassidy are still on standby for their mission, aren't they? Until the travel ban is lifted I want them to check on the gangs with a full loadout, but tell them to keep out of sight but be ready to help them out if any of the local law enforcement decides to make trouble; that Captain especially, tell them to take all of their Pokémon with them. And I want that captive brought in and interrogated, heavily. And have a closure announcement ready, one of the Siege ones we prepared, surprise me which one you use." Giovanni ordered as Miranda nodded to him.

Music from drums and flutes were being played as the sun shined down on the people. People were lining up along the road, watch as a parade moved towards the dock. Flower petals drifted down among the people lining the procession, at the front were four female Pyroar's with golden headdress on pulling a float with a raised dais on it with a woman in a formal white dress wearing a gold head dress and a mask with gems stones around the face while she held a raised scepter decorated with rubies. All that could be seen of the woman wearing the mask were her bare arms and the beads in her hair. Behind the float were twenty women in white dress and headdresses danced holding large fans with the symbol of the domain on them as soldiers with spears held upright moved behind the float moved towards dock. Behind the float were people holding poles holding up regal looking boxes, each one had pictograms of Pokémon that lived in the Domain on them and behind the people holding them were men and women in black cloaks with swords in sheaths on their back marching with male Pyroars on both sides and above them flew Flygon trailing streamers from their tails. And finally behind them was High Caster Zubair on a floating platform in his best robes and holding a book with red, blue and brown in a triangle formation.

Zubair waved as he floated towards the dock with a grand smile on his face but on the inside he was cursing up a storm. Why did that idiotic marshal have to have family in the Rest, why couldn't it have been around the Peak that had been where the attack happened? And of course I'll have to deal with her when we get there. Zubair thought as he waved at the crowd lining the street with people on the roof tops looking down at the precision with awe.

"Keep it up Zubair old bean, this bit of theater is so no one knows where the girl is, so grit and bare it." He muttered to himself as he looked towards the end of the precision and saw a large ship waiting at the docks. It had golden sails and paddles ten feet above the water and there was one every ten feet for a total of ten of them. The ship itself was about fifty feet high and one hundred feet long with a golden Rayquaza at the front with a silver Latios on each side of it. The bridge was located thirty feet behind the golden Rayquaza and was a single story with wide windows on the sides.

He grinned as the procession stopped and the woman on the front float stood up as the music stopped and walked down from her throne as the platform he was on moved towards her float and stopped in front of her, he bowed and she nodded at him before she stepped onto it and he willed it to float higher as the people carrying trunks moved towards the ship.

"Ready to start acting my dear?" Zubair asked as the woman waved at the crowd of people below them.

"Are you ready to meet you're would be lover again Caster boy?" The woman asked with a soft spoken voice. Zubair fought back a wince and knew she had scored a point with that comment.

"Not really but we all have to do our part High Lord." Zubair said causing the woman to chuckle and the gems on the mask started to glow.

"MY PEOPLE! I DEPART FROM OUR WONDERFUL CITY TO VIST EACH ONE OF OUR SISTER CITIES, TO MAKE THE BONDS OF OUR DOMAIN THAT MUCH TIGHTER AND OUR BONDS THAT MUCH SURERE! I SHALE BE BACK WHEN I HAVE FINISHED VISITING EACH OF THE GREAT CITIES! UNTIL I RETURN MY SENSCHAL SHALE PROTECT YOU ALL, MAY I RETURN TO A CITY THAT IS MUCH MORE RADIANT THEN WHEN I LEAVE IT!" Lady Cleo Ro Clor's voice came from the woman and projected to all the people who responded with cheers as the music started up again. Zubair willed the platform to move towards the boat and landed on the deck. From the ship away from the people a man in a blue uniform with a white vest and gloves with a black hat walked towards them and bowed to them.

"Lady Cleo Ro Clor, High Caster Zubair, I am the First Officer, Jonathan Glor. The captain has ordered me to bring you to your rooms, the ship is to depart once the last of the cargo has been loaded on board." Jonathan said as he looked up from his bow. Zubair wordlessly cast a spell that poked Cleo's back and she jolted in place.

"Thank you, you may rise. Please give the captain our regards once you have finished." The masked woman said as Jonathan straightened up and saluted her.

"By your will, High Lord." He said as he turned and led the way towards a two story structure built into the main mast. They walked down a staircase and she looked about and kept quit, the real Lady Cleo had gone on this ship once before and it wouldn't do for her to ask questions that she might have asked once before. I should have talked to her more about this, I should have asked what she did the last time she was on this ship but live, learn and deal with the problems you find or make as the old man used to say. She thought as she looked up and saw that Jonathan had stopped before a set of double doors.

"Here is your suite sir and madam, the room to the left is for the High lord and the right is yours High Caster. I will be back just after five to get you both for supper and the captain wishes that you enjoy your stay." Jonathan said as he bowed and opened the door to a chamber with a diamond chandelier and a large TV in front of a couch and paintings of desert Pokémon in a blocky style on the walls. The two people walked into the room and Zubair threw a crystal sphere upwards and when it started to float he shot it with an energy bolt that caused the crystal to release a pulse that caused a few places around the room to emit smoke and he sighed as he walked to one and pulled it up revealing a small microphone.

"More of the same, when will we be done with finding some of his old tricks." Zubair said as Cleo walked towards him and looked down.

"More of that old spymaster's work; what you didn't check the last time?" Cleo asked only for Zubair to sigh.

"Last time it was for that plague after she was in office for only a weak, I think you joined up a month after didn't you? Now I go and make sure the ring is ready for supper, make sure you don't order anything your allergic to." Zubair said as Cleo laughed and rubbed her head.

On the opposite side of the city from the docks Asim waited for Cleo and sighed as the music from near the water and the parade was heard as he read from a hand held device. He stood in the shadow of a rock as two Flygon with saddles on dozed in the sun. He glared at them with a look of anger as one raised its wing to shade its friend and he cursed.

"Damned idiots, why couldn't the local Protectors have dealt with this and kept the kids inside the town, when I get there heads will roll." He muttered as he finished reading the last report and couldn't believe the sheer stupidity that he had seen, the 'Rest was at the near absolute limit of the Great River side channel and the only people who really went out were explorers looking for new resources from the Aura Surges in the deep desert or people hunting ruins but the Rest was supposedly a place that was peaceful, if a new gang was growing then he would have words with the leader of the Protectors there. I know the last Chimera horde was destroyed half a year ago on the other side of the Domain but that's no excuse for laziness! I will be having words with them before I'm done if I'm right about them! He thought as he just sat there and fumed as he tried to think of any other reason that might account for what he was seeing.

"A problem boss Asim?" A voice asked causing him to turn and see a woman with tan skin and short white hair. She was dressed in a simple white top and pants with sandals on her feet and three Pokéball on her waist. A marshal badge was on her right shoulder and she had a black headband around her forehead with a white gemstone on it.

"Nothing more than the freaking reality of this tells me that I have got to look into all the Protector branches with a fine tooth comb. Something like this would never have been allowed to happen at any of the major cities, unless standards are a low looser at the frontier." Asim said with a scowl that shocked Cleo. He wouldn't say such things unless he really believes that, what has happened to my land? Cleo thought as she squared her shoulders and looked at Asim and spoke with a hard tone to her voice.

"How bad is it Marshall?" She asked, not as a young girl going with her superior to do their job but as the High Lord of a Domain. He looked at her and felt a trace of pride for how she was acting, seeing what his old friend had seen when he made her the High Lord and why he had decided to stay and work with her.

"It's bad enough that I can't see how it could have happened in any of our towns! I mean a possible Devourer is the best answer they have, where could they have come from? I can't wait until I get there and can start shaking out the truth for this. I mean throwing Devourer actions out because they don't have better answer?" Asim said as he passed the reader to her and she looked it over and frowned, noting that the attack was within the range of the protection spell to keep wild Pokémon away and the strength of the spell, at least the reported strength.

"I think it's a good thing that my mask isn't rated as a Caster, this way I can walk around and take a few shadow readings, but if a Pokémon did this where did it come from?" She asked as she handed back the reader and he sighed.

"I can't answer that, and they reacted by turtling up. So if there was something hunting out there it's had time to learn where it could hide or found a new den. And that's not talking about how there's been enough time for nature to hide any tracks it might have left." Asim said as Cleo looked down and frowned at something in the file.

"And why those kids were out there is really flimsy, think their hiding something?" Cleo asked only for Asim to snort.

"Of course they're hiding something my lady! Another reason that I'm happy my brother has his family there, I can ask my neice and nephew about any of the local rumors." Asim said with a slight grin on his face as he walked towards the two Flygons, Cleo following behind him.

"Still how long will it take to get there by Flygon?" Cleo asked as Asim started to chuckle lightly.

"Oh a day or two for sure, I think we'll sleep at this rest stop at one of the smaller oasis tonight, if I remember right we should get there by supper if we leave now." He said as they got on the Flygon and the Pokémon flapped their wings.

As her Flygon flew upwards she looked towards the dock and smiled, the ship was leaving and she was heading towards Sola's Rest. Sorry about this, but I so need a few days to get back to my roots, do a little investigating and visiting one of the few frontier towns left I can't wait! And if one of my towns are falling behind in safety standards, I need to know, but still this will be fun. Cleo thought as she smiled before flying after mount Asim.

"So that's all the food we'll need until we reach…?" Serena trailed off as Ash finished putting his portion of the supplies into his bag and looked at her with a grin. After they had returned to the Pokémon Center and changed back into their normal cloths, picked up their Pokémon and congratulated Lilly on winning her second Ribbon, Ash had volunteered to get supplies for the road and Serena had joined in. He had mentioned he had a few lessons he had learned on the road to share and she was ready to learn.

"It's not until we reach something Serena, it's how many days we can go without foraging in the wild, or how long we can make it last with what we gather from the land around us. That's what you need to learn to be a professional trainer and traveler!" Ash said with a chuckle. Of course I won't say that I learned a lot about teaching someone how to travel from what I taught Iris, for all her thoughts that I was a kid she sure didn't know much about traveling. Guess those classes I took in the Orange Islands from Drake after I won really paid off over the years. Still why does Pikachu have to have such a sweet tooth? Ash thought as he looked at his starter who walked blissfully beside him.

"But why did you buy three bottles of Ketchup?" Serena asked as Pikachu perked up at this. Ash laughed and reached down and rubbed Pikachu's head.

"Let's just say you don't want to know what Pikachu is like when he goes cold turkey and leave it at that." Ash said as he led Serena out of the grocery, only to get a deadpan stare from her as he laughed at her reaction.

"Oh just wait until one of your Pokémon develops a favorite thing to eat then talk to me about it." Ash said with a smirk as they moved along the streets as Serena looked at him with an 'are you kidding me' look.

"Okay I'll grant you that I don't have the experience to talk about that but what else do you need to be a professional traveler as you called it?" Serena asked as she looked down at Pikachu. I guess I can see that, if any of my team develop a favorite food then I might make sure we have it, but really does having a favorite food really….okay I guess if you think about it that might affect the what you carry while you're traveling. Serena thought as she listened to Ash who

"There are four things in my book; point one you need to be able to defend yourself and a weapon, 'your blade could save your life'. Point two always have your Pokédex in scanner mode to notice if anyone published a warning or emergency quest, 'the life you save could be your own' as Professor Oak said to me once or twice. And point three; you should have or find a goal to work towards." Ash said as they reached a light and Ash suddenly stopped and looked around. Serena stopped and after a few seconds detected what Ash had, the sounds of a chase and after a few seconds she found the source, a girl with blond hair in waves that went to her shoulders in a white shirt and skirt was being chased by people in green jackets, in a bag around her waist a white Pichu pocked its head out and looked behind them, its checks sparking in alarm.

Serena gasped in shock when she got a good look at the girl and recognized her straight away. That's! But why is she being chased, they couldn't know who she is; any gang would have a larger force if they knew who they were chasing. Serena thought as she stared, not noticing Ash grinned as he turned to face her before frowning for a few seconds as he noticed the look in her eyes. So I was right, she does have a few secrets that she doesn't want others to know. Well I have the Crown of the Sea and a few others, so I'm in no position to talk or have an issue but this is a perfect way to show the last point. Ash thought before whistling sharply, when Pikachu and Serena looked at him he smirked and started to move parallel to the people chasing the girl, Serena following and Pikachu jumping onto Ash's back.

"And now for point four Serena, if you see something you think is wrong while you're traveling, don't be scared to stick your noise into anything that doesn't concern you if you think you should be involved!" Ash said as he started to speed up, Serena right behind him, a smirk growing on her face. Hang on girl, you were the reason your brother saved us before, this time I'll save you. I just hope Ash doesn't ask how I know her; I don't think I want to explain why I was kidnapped before. Serena thought as she for her nagitina on her back as she ran after Ash who was reaching for his sword as Pikachu started to spark.

"Don't worry Pichu, I won't let them take you!" The girl said as she ran. She turned her head and moved faster when she saw they were getting closer to her. Tears came out of her eyes as she went over what had caused this to happen to her. She and Pichu had just been going shopping to make some Poképuffs for her brother and his teammates when she noticed the two of them were being followed. She had turned and hadn't liked the way the men in green were looking at Pichu and had tried to runaway but they started to chase her, she could only run and hope she got away, she was too far away from her brothers territory for word of the chase to reach but it was the start of the both seasons and who would try anything, who was chasing her?

"Pic?" Her Pichu whimpered as it thought about how it could help its trainer.

"This little bitch is really making it a lot harder on herself then it has to be, isn't she?" One of the green teens asked his friend as they ran. His fellow grunted and drew forth a club and grinned at his friend.

"Give her a beating then take the Electric thing to sell on the open market, nice. And if we knock her out we can get even farther away before someone figures out what happened." He smirked at his friend who grunted back. Might even bring the bitch with us, if we're rebuilding then we need new servants and teaching her a trade might do the whore some good. He thought as he ran after her, a smirk forming on his face as he ran. He smirked as he watched the girl ran blindly and down a side alley that he knew was a dead end and felt a thrill, the chase was over time for the fun part.

As she ran down the alley she felt her face fall when she saw the brick wall in front of her. Turning around she saw the two people who had been chasing her. She angled her body so her bag was against the wall as the two entered the ally with smirks on their faces as one of them leered at her.

"Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. I was just going to take your Pichu but I think you'll be coming with us little girl." One of them said as the other started to snicker as they both drew forth two batons as they walked towards her. She covered against the wall as they walked closer, hoping something would stop them from hurting her and taking her partner.

"Pikachu, Thunder!" A Male voice called out behind the two and before they could turn.

"PIKACHU!" Something cried before a blast of electricity suddenly hit the pair and as they fell to the ground two figures dashed past them to stand in front of the girl they had been chasing. The girl looked up at a boy holding a sword with a Pikachu on his shoulder and a girl wielding a naginata with a Fennekin next to her who when she turned her head to look at the around she recognized the face!

"Serena!" The girl cried out is shock and smiled when she saw her. The boy looked back and smirked as he looked over the girl.

"So you do know her, something you want to tell me Rena?" The boy asked as Serena looked at him and the younger girl saw Serena wince a little.

"I'll tell you and the others everything latter Ash. Don't worry Hanna, we'll keep you safe." Serena said as she spun her naginata around and pointed it at the two gangers as they got to their feet. The two looked on as the gangers looked down and one of them snarled.

"I don't know who you two are but if you don't want problems you'd better stand aside and give us the brat behind you!" One of them snarled as Ash merely looked at them and his Pikachu sparked from its trainer's shoulder.

"Let a girl be taken by two people of unknown belief and from what I've seen is completely against my morals, please you must think I was born yesterday. And bashing goons is something I love to do." Ash said as the gangers growled and one of them looked at him with an inquisitive look.

"We're with the Buzz Lords, you don't wanna mess with us!" One of the gangers snarled as Hanna huddled behind Serena and whimpered.

"Oh the Buzz Lords hu? I thought I destroyed you all when I raided your headquarters back in Santalune City." Ash said dryly and Hanna looked up at him as the two gangers stared at Ash and looked shocked.

"THAT WAS YOU?!" One the gangers cried as they both looked at each other and started to laugh.

"Real funny brat. There's no way, lets show him what we think of jokers Heracross let's fight!" The other ganger cried as threw a Pokéball that released a strong looking Heracross that took a step forward.

"Durant go!" The other cried as he released a steel Bug type. Serena looked a little concerned before Ash just reached over with his free hand and squeezed her shoulder.

"Serena you and Fennekin handle the Durant, Pikachu attack Heracross with Iron Tail!" Ash said as Pikachu jumped off his shoulder and shot at the Heracross, spinning to slam a steel grey colored tail into it, sending it flying backwards and hit the ganger and sent him backwards out of the alley, Pikachu charging after them. Ash shot Serena a smirk before he ran after Pikachu and slammed his shield at the other ganger who dodged and followed after Pikachu who shot a bolt of electricity at the ganger and his Heracross, send them away from the alley. Serena took a deep breath and looked at the ganger before her. This time he's going down, not me! Serena thought as she gripped her weapon tighter as Hanna held onto her legs.

"Fennekin use Ember!" Serena called as she looked at the Durant as Fennekin started to inhale before it shot small orange sparks at the Durant, scoring hits at on it.

"Durant, use Vice Grip!" The ganger cried and the Iron Ant Pokemon shot straight at the Fire-Type with its mandibles open as Fennekin stood to meet its charge. Serena dodged to the side, pulling Hanna with her before she barked a command.

"Dodge it then Ember!" Serena called out. Fennekin dodged at the last second and shot more orange sparks as it was in the air, hitting the Durant on its back, causing it to stumbled and hit the wall. I can do this, just keep my eyes on the trainer and Pokémon to keep them from checkmating me and this time I won't go down. Serena thought as she looked at the ganger and noticed he looked like he was considering running after Ash and she knew what she had to do.

"Hanna, Fennekin follow me, but stay back a bit Hanna, and once we stop use Ember again Fennekin. HIIIYAH!" She cried as she ran at the gang and sliced down at him with the flat of her naginata's blade!

Ash heard the sound s of combat behind him as Pikachu kept up blasting at Heracross as its trainer finally made some space between him and his Pokémon and looked at Ash' sword and shield and looked down at his baton and cursed. I need something with more power, something bigger. He thought as he looked around and saw a pipe on the ground and looked back towards Ash and smirked.

"Heracross, use Megahorn!" He cried as he lunged for the pipe. His Heracross shot at Pikachu with its glowing horn.

"Dodge it using Agility to get away then use Thunder!" Ash called as he dodged to the side. Pikachu shot straight at Heracross and dodged around it to before sending massive bolt of electricity at the Heracross but it turned around with its glowing horn and absorbed the electricity. The ganger looked up with the pipe in his hand and saw Pikachu on the side across from its trainer and saw his chance. Perfect, the punk had to have heard about what happened to the base, there's no way our luck is that bad. I just have to knock out the punk and then use him to make the bitch give up! I just need to keep the Pikachu away from us! He thought as he looked

"Close Combat!" He called as he ran at Ash with the pipe raised to bash in his head. Ash looked and met the blow with his shield as the Heracross charged at Pikachu who dodged its blows. Ash moved backwards and slashed at the pipe with the flat of his blade and the ganger barely held on to it. Ash slammed out with his other arm and tried to hit him with a shield bash but the man dodged it. He's not too bad, but he's a thug only. I need to either hold him off until Serena beats hers or scare him off. Ash thought with a smirk as he slashed at

"Pikachu, get back and use Electro-Ball!" He called out as he pressed in on and tried to get the pipe out of his opponent's hands. Pikachu jumped backwards and started to form an eclectic ball on its tail that he threw at the Heracross. The ball hit the Bug Type and blast the Pokémon backward and it fell far behind its trainer who had moved backwards to get out of range of Ash's blade. He looked down at his Heracross and looked back towards Ash and Pikachu as the two of them moved towards them, both inching forward slowly as he looked back at the two of them and looked beyond them towards the alley and cursed. The ganger thought as he looked at his Heracross who got back to its feet and looked at Ash with a scowl on his face. I gotta wait for him to beat that girl and get at the punk from behind, that's all I can do now! The ganger thought as he looked at his opponents.

"Focus Blast!" He cried as he looked about for anything to throw at Ash.

Serena sliced down with her naginata and the ganger dodged backwards as she tried to get him. He dodged and threw his baton at her and grabbed a trashcan lid to defend himself with.

"Flash Cannon that thing you idiot!" He screamed as he blocked Serena's weapon. Serena turned and saw the Durant against the end of the alley and she saw Hanna right behind Fenniken! She grabbed Hanna and pulled her against the far wall of the alley before barking a command.

"DODGE IT!" Serena screamed out, but Fenniken had seen what Serena had and planted its feet between Durant and both Serena and Hanna and waited for the blast. Durant opened its mandibles and shot a steel grey blast of energy at Fenniken who waited and suddenly a turquoise force field appeared in front of it, blocking the blast. Serena stared in shock at what had happened, wondering what her Pokemon had done.

"That was Protect. Quick, the Durant might be weak, a few more attacks and you've won!" Hanna said as she pulled at Serena's shirt. She's right; this could be my chance to finish this! Serena thought as she looked at the ganger before barking a command.

"Ember, keep it up!" Serena called as she spun her naginata and stabbed forward at the ganger. He blocked with the lid as his Durant tried to get its energy back before Fenniken shot an Ember attack straight at its face, knocking the Bug type to the ground. The ganger just looked at Fenniken and swiftly raised his Pokéball with his free hand and recalled his Pokémon and turned to ran out the Alley. Serena dashed at him and brought the other end of her weapon down on his head, knocking him out. Serena breathed heavily as she looked down at the ganger as Hanna started to hug her as Fenniken came back to prance around its trainer.

"You did it Serena, you both did it!" Hanna said with a laugh as she finally relaxed.

"Pichu!" Hanna's Pichu cried out in joy from the bag.

"Fenniken, Fenn!" Fenniken cried out as it celebrated their victory. Serena looked around and tried to find anything to hold the ganger down and gave up after a while

"Hanna, stay with me and keep an eye out behind us, Fenniken go help Pikachu!" Serena said as Fenniken bounded out of the alley, the rest of them right behind it.

Ash watched as Pikachu dodged the blows of the Heracross and raised an eyebrow when orange sparks flew by him and hit the Bug type. He looked to the side and saw Fenniken charge past him to stand next to Pikachu. He looked over his shoulder to see Serena and the girl they had come to help come out of the alley and Serena joined Ash with her weapon pointed at the last ganger who grew angry as he realized what had happened. That weakling lost against her?! I need to get out of here, the hell with collateral! He thought as he looked at

"HERACROSS, EARTHQUCK!" He bellowed as he grabbed for his Pokéball. Heracross slammed a glowing fist down against the ground before shaking started and bricks fell from the buildings around them. Ash dropped his sword and grabbed Serena and Hanna and pulled them to him and put his shield above them as Pikachu started to jump about and used Iron Tail to slam anything that he thought might hit the humans. The ganger recalled his Pokémon and ran away, leaving his fellow to his fate. Serena felt the shaking stop and blushed when she realized she was pressed against Ash who had reacted to save her….and Hanna of course.

"You okay Serena?" Ash asked as she turned her head to look at him and Hanna peaked out and made a noise, causing the others to turn and see two police officers running towards them with looks of anger on their faces. Ash sighed as he realized he was going to be blamed for something again. I hope I'm not arrested again, that's always so hard to handle for them when they realize I was just defending myself. Ash thought before the police reached them.

Ash looked as the officers put the one ganger into their car and drove off. When the police had arrived they had been full of anger, thinking Ash had been part of an unofficial battle that had ignored all the safety rules but when Hanna had piped up that he and Serena had saved her from people trying to kidnap her and steal her Pichu they had changed their tune. The ganger in the alley and been taken into custody and once they realized he was a Buzz Lord they that had grabbed him and forgot all about Ash and Serena. As they drove off a minute after the ganger was in their car Ash just shook his head.

"Why do I have the feeling that those aren't the best and brightest?" Ash asked with a slight scowl on his face as Hanna just sighed. Serena looked a little conflicted having come to this town a few times and year and never had any problems but she and her mother had only been here a day or two at most.

"Brother says they care more about appearance then actually doing their job, but most people around here have learned to live with it and help each other." Hanna said as Serena looked at Hanna and took her hand and Ash started to lead the way back towards the main part of town.

"And I bet you never leave the area where you can get help easily then." Ash said dryly as Hanna nodded and Pichu dropped its head back into her bag and came out holding a damaged Pokégear.

"PICHU!" Pichu said as it revealed what it had brought out. Hanna laughed and tapped her fingers together and looked away.

"I could usualy call for help but my gear broke and there was a sale at the farmers market today and well." Hanna said as Ash just chuckled and looked at her.

"It's about lunch time, you two want to get something to eat somewhere, I'm sure you know where the best restaurants around here are?" Ash said, not noticing Serena fighting down a blush.

"Thanks but I gotta get home, my brother is terrible around the kitchen and I wouldn't trust him not to burn the house down without me." Hanna said as she ran off. Serena looked after her and Ash gave out a small sigh and looked at Serena with a smirk.

"So what's her connection to those Street Racers, I never figured that part of this thing out." Ash said as Serena jolted and looked at him in shock.

"How did you know?" Serena asked as she looked at Ash.

"I've dealt with a lot of people on my journey, solved a few mysterious along the way. You learn to read people after a while. You reacted when you saw her, a look that told me you know her, the connection to the racers was a guess, but given the Pichu and one of the groups ride Electric Pokémon is seemed logical." Ash said as Serena looked at him in wonder.

"It's a complicated story and it's not one I'd like to talk about where people can overhear us, maybe when we're on the road?" Serena said with a small smile, which grew when Ash nodded.

"You can tell me or not tell me, I just want to know if whoever she tells about what we did might cause trouble for us." Ash said as he started to lead Serena back towards the Pokémon Center.

"No, he won't cause any trouble at all for us, might stop us as we're leaving town to thank us but he won't trouble us." Serena said as she followed Ash, looking towards where Hanna had gone and hoped for the best.

Hanna ran through the town, a small smile on her face. It was great to see Serena again, and Ash was so cool! I hope brother isn't to mad about what happened, I should have taken someone with me but this place is usually perfectly safe if I leave his territory. Hanna thought as she ran. After a while she finally made it back to her 'neighborhood' she moved towards her home, heading towards the abandoned industrial sector she stopping before a two story tall wall and opened the door and entered a small courtyard with a medium sized Pokémon battlefield by a lake and a modest two story block house near a one story tall factory. The factory had reflective panels on it and she noticed a few Magnemite floating here and there by the panels. She looked about and noticed a teen with pale skin and short black hair in a white vest over a black shirt and black pants was tinkering with something that looked like a saddle that would fit against something round.

"Hi Amp, do you know where my brother is?" Hanna asked as Amp turned and whipped his forehead and smiled down at her.

"Should be in the main hall looking at where the next race will be and trying to choose who to send to it. Man can you believe the first one was straight through town? I can't wait to see how this season will go!" Amp said as he laughed as he looked down at her and frowned when he noticed a few scoff marks on her cloths. She wants to see the boss, that means something happened. What happened to our little mascot, none of those bastards better have better tried to hurt her! He thought as he looked at her and gained a scowl on his face.

"What happened to you while you were out there?" Amp said with a blunt as he looked at her. Hanna just looked at him and laughed lightly as she tried to move away, only to stop when Amp reached out and grabbed her arm. She looked at him and just smiled shakily at him and that was when he knew that something had happened that would make the boss mad.

In a room in the blockhouse a TV showed the Rhyhorn track and a highlight from the charity race and a laugh was heard from a figure sitting at a table near a fridge. The person who was laughing was a teen about sixteen years of age who was wearing a black shirt and pants and a white trench coat was on the back of the chair he was sitting on. He had short blond hair and blue eyes that shinned with laughter as the TV Showed Lyn accepting a golden trophy as a green wreath with purple flowers was on her head.

"Man o man, I am so happy that Saint-Julia won this, that scum Keanu was so sure he'd win when I ran into him a few days ago." He laughed as a low chuckle caused him to look to the side and see a woman about his age with long platinum hair that went to the small of her back dressed in a tight black shirt, white elbow gloves and black pants. She had on crimson lipstick and yellow eye shadow and looked at him with her right eye closed.

"Happy that you're would be rival might have a hard time this year Bolt?" She asked only for him to send a laugh back at her.

"Beat, the day that fool is worthy to clean up after the Rhyhorns will happen before I pay an attention to that scum. And after all the trouble he gave us in the off season I want him to hurt." Bolt said as Beat only sighed as she rubbed her right wrist as she remembered the battle they had with Keanu and his muscle, she had to admit her boss was right about something. Personally I would have loved for him to have been thrown out of Kalos, but hey pain's good too. Amp thought as she leaned against the wall and watched the news move onto the next story, the words 'Chimera in Kanto' coming up on the screen as the door slammed open and Amp walked in with Hanna following behind him

"Het little sis, good shopping trip….okay what happened?" Volt asked as Hanna rushed at him and hugged his. He looked down at his sister and patted her head and looked up at Amp who sighed.

"The kid was chased by remnants of the Buzz Lords before two people saved her, and get this. One of them was that girl who was captured with Hanna the last time!" Amp said causing Volt to start to feel rage as Hanna buried her head into his body. Beat just stared in total shock at what she had heard and looked at the younger girl in sorrow. Why the hell do things like this have to happen to the kid, I mean she helps out around here and takes treats she makes to the orphanage every week and this keeps happening to her at least once every few months! Beat though as Volt rubbed Hanna's back before looking at Beat.

"Beat, go and tell Pulse I need to talk to her, Amp take Hanna to get something to eat." Volt said as Amp shepherded Hanna away towards the kitchen. Beat turned towards Volt and crossed her arms.

"Let me guess, send out the drones to find where those scum are and strike once they leave the city?" Beat asked and smirked when Volt nodded. Good, the boss is smart enough to plan before acting, another reason why I follow him. Beat saluted and walked out into the yard and moved towards the factory, a smirk on her lips as she fantasized about what they would do to the Buzz Lords once they found them.

"I can't thank you enough for making sure my boy was okay after he was hit by that 'needle girl, you ever come round these parts again you stop and visit us, ya hear me!" A grief voice said as Nimue vision started to darken. At least I got away from the island before I died. Nimue thought before she heard a voice clearing.

"Dear, I would let her go before we have to resuscitate her." A voice said before Nimue suddenly found herself back on her own feet. She breathed deeply for a few seconds before looking towards a laugh and glared at Loïc as the boy rubbed his head sheepishly will next to him a girl about nine years old with dark skin like him but gray hair in two fluffy buns on the side of her head in a teal shirt and a black skirt bowed to Nimue as a woman in green dress and shoes with dark skin and short grey hair looked pained as she watched. Nimue turned towards the man who had hugged her, a man in a blue coat, shirt and pants with black hair who laughed as Nimue looked up at him.

"Sorry lass, but really I can't say how much I appreciate you getting my boy to the Center." The man said as Nimue finally got her breath back and straighten up.

"Yeah Mr. Archibald I get it. But really your son tried to save my life before that…thing attacked us." Nimue said Archibald looked over at his son before sighing. Can't believe that there really are things, but what are they. I need to contact Jenny over in Santalune, if one of them goes towards the city I don't know what we'd do. He thinks as he watches his kids talk with Nimue as she finished gather up what she had dropped when he had hugged her.

"Well thank you for dinner last night, Mr. Archibald, Miss Martine. I haven't had a meal like that in a long time." Nimue said as she looked at the family. Martine smiled at Nimue and she hid a bad feeling she had. This girl is running from something, she's hiding a lot but I don't think she's done anything wrong. Martine thought as she looked at the teen.

"We'll cheer for you on the contest circuit, I hope you'll make it to the Grand Festival sis!" The younger girl said as Loïc.

"And you got our numbers in that gear o yours girl? I expect you to call us if you ever see us as a near contact!" Archibald said with a smile on his face as Nimue looked at the family with a smile on her face.

"Thank for the encouragement Mackenzie and I will Mr Archibald, goodbye!" Nimue said as she walked away from the family and headed towards Route 21. As Archibald watched her go he frowned as he saw the look in his wife's eyes and grabbed her shoulder, causing her to look at him as he brought his head closer to talk without letting their children overhear.

"You think she's running to, don't you?" He asked as he felt her tense up. She sighed and nodded as she leaned against him.

"I can't see her having done anything illegal, abuse?" She asked him softly only to tense when he snorted.

"She's strong so no I'd worry about anyone who tries to do that to her. I think it might have been lies she running from. Whatever she's running from, she's going it alone." Archibald said with a sigh as he looked after the Water Trainer.

Nimue looked over her shoulder as she left the hamlet and sighed. Those people were very friendly, I wish I could have stayed their longer, but I can't. They might find me if I stay in one place to long, I need to keep moving and get enough money together to get out of this region, maybe Alola or someplace by the water. Nimue thought as she walked along the path and sighed. She looked up and stared in awe at the blue sky and laughed.

"Just walking under the free blue sky is so amazing. In the caves it was always so dark or a pale light was the only source we had. This world is wonderful, that's why they call the day we enjoy the present; it's a gift." She said as she listened to the songs of birds and the wind through the tress. I'm so glad I decided to start my journey over here, it was hard learning to survive on my own but I'm glad I did what I did. Still my escape could have been better planned. Nimue said as she rubbed her right side and felt a small scar she had gained during her flight from her former home.

She looked upwards and gazed on the road and smiled. The one thing she would never get use to was all the colors, back at her home there were only shades of blue, black and grey. The green and colors of the plants were wonderful, she wouldn't tire of them before she died, and that was something she was completely sure of. As she turned the corner she stopped in her tracks as stared at what she was seeing, not sure if her eyes weren't playing tricks on her.

Ahead of her was a truck on its roof with its back doors cut open, she stared for a few seconds as she looked around. This has to be for a TV or movie set, right, this can't be real…it's real! She thought as she stared at the scene before she ran towards it, throwing out two of her Pokeballs as she ran, her Goldduck and Samurott appearing and running after her as they rushed towards the truck. She reached for her Pokégear and Archibald's number and quickly dialed, glancing into the back and seeing an empty space she moved past it, stopping when she was able to see into the front cab and saw two people passed out upside down.

"Didn't expect to from you so soon lass, what…." Archibald began before she inturpted him

"I found a truck upside down, two people are in it and something cut the back door off!" Nimue said in a rush as her two Pokémon took up flanking positions as she looked at the two people and tried to see if they were still breathing.

"What the….Lass stay right there I'll be there soon with help!" Archibald said as he hastily hung up. Nimue looked around and looked towards the bridge, hoping that the river didn't feed into the same water system that she had fought the Chimera in. She heard a low moan and looked in the window and saw the driver was coming to and he looked around, seeing her he cranked open the window and started to speak.

"The people….in the back." He whizzed out and she shook her head.

"There's only you two here." She said, he closed his eyes and passed back out. She thought she heard something behind her and turned around to face the forest, hoping nothing would attack them. A rustling in the bushes caused her to slowly stand and look towards where the sound had come from and saw a Rattata pecking out from the bushes. She started to relax when she noticed something was off with how the Rattata looked. She stared at it as her Pokémon gathered around her, ready to strike if it moved at them. The Rattata put its head away and Nimue relaxed as she heard the sounds of cars coming. She turned and saw three police cars pull up but winched when she saw a green truck park behind the police cars and a man carrying a camera get out. She winced as Archibald got out of one and rushed towards her with the others from the cars run towards the trapped officers. They'll find out I'm still alive after all, I have to get stronger to stand against them, I won't be 'Cleansed of unworthy thoughts' I'd die for real first! Nimue thought as she recalled her two Pokémon, content to training harder than before to stay free.

"I guess no good deed goes unpunished after all." She muttered as Archibald reached her and looked at the truck.