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

19. Chapter 19

Hey all, its been two months sorry, writes block like you wouldn't believe and I'm still looking for that new job, I hope to have something within the next few weeks sooo… here's hoping! And a little note, I mixed up the meaning of a few words in a two characters description so I'll tell you what their update descriptions will be and the their on the list of fix its I'm going to do when I repost the prevue's chapters, see I'm going to go over the prevue's chapters and work over them for the third university of this thing and something else I have in the works so I hope you enjoy it all and this chapter! And I promise that I will try and have a new one out in August while I work on it and my three connected story project!

A red head in a blue dress with a black backpack on walked through Pallet Town and frowned as she stared around at what she saw, trees had fallen over and a few of the building here and there were damaged, people and Pokemon repairing them as others carried materials here and there. I knew that the hurricane was going to hit the town, I mean we get hit once every few years but this bad? At least most of Pallet's still standing and the recovery seems to be underway. She thought as she walked through the town and moved towards the commercial area and saw tents and people near Pallet House and smiled, something never changed.

As she walked up she saw people in line for soup and slipped into the restaurant and saw that people had pushed the a few tables together and a map of Pallet was on them. The Mayor and Professor Oak and Delia were talking as she walked over to them. The mayor was the same as ever, a man around Professor Oak's age, bald with squinty eyes and he was dressed in his customary white suit but he had a few signs of how the stress was affecting him as he rubbed his head with a cloth held in a shaky hand.

"….everything point to the hurricane just hitting us as a glance', I love weather reports so much. The damage to the school will have it closed for months and the only good point is that the way into town is fine but with the attack Viridian suffered I don't expect much help from them." The Mayor said as Delia reached over and patted his shoulder.

"Terry it could have been a lot worse, we're just lucky the school year is almost over, a few tests the kids could do at home while we can focus on repairing the school. And a few more hands to help out around town as runners or general helpers, well that's just as good." Pr. Oak said as he looked at the map and just sighed as he shook his head.

"If you didn't have the wires from your lab underground to those places we wouldn't have power Sam, and I know you had to have a hand in what's happening in Viridian, so do you know anything?" Mayor asked only for Pr. Oak to sigh and smile bitterly.

"You've always knew how to read me Terry, what gave me away?" Pr. Oak asked as he shook his head.

"You're not champing at the bits to go there and dissect them for starters Sam, so what do you know. If those things could attack the town while we're still recovering I need to know!" Terry demanded as he pounded the table. Pr. Oak just held up his hands before he started to speak.

"So far they haven't been seen away from Victory Road, and they think the den of these things is somewhere in the mountains there. And last I saw Lance had gotten involved and was putting together a strike force to kill them at their heart….Miss Joan, welcome back. If you're here then I suspect that either the airport or the nearby port is open or did you come by Pokémon." Pr. Oak said as he caught sight of Joan at the open door. Delia smiled and walked over and gave her a hug before pulling back.

"Joan, it's great to see you! But I wished you had come home to something in better shape." Delia said as she looked outside and saw the people sitting around or coming and going from the area around the restaurant.

"Yeah, when I reach Hamlin Island and heard about the hurricane I knew I had to get home so I put most of the product I brought onto a cargo plane and had my Lapras carry me back to shore. If everything goes right we should get it once the airport's open again and it's in refrigerated storage so there's that. Got a few samples though but where do you need me boss." Joan said as she looked Delia as she stepped back.

"In the kitchens, we're making soup around the clock and the mayor turned over the disaster supplies since the school's kitchens are damaged so we're it for everyone with damaged homes. And since the port was hit, which you had to have seen, the next shipment of food might be a bit late so let's hope that what's happening in Viridian is handled soon." Delia said as Joan nodded at her. So like the last time there was a crisis big enough that we had to become the town's kitchen then. And if their covering the food then we won't go under and we'll be able to not have to make bland stuff, good. Joan thought as she nodded to Delia as she walked away towards the kitchen.

"And on that note, what's the estimate on the harbor?" Pr. Oak asked as Terry sighed.

"The damage to the docks aren't that bad but we, and I do mean we three, have to decide if we should repair it. The materials needed could do a lot more and we don't know anything the harbor, got any underwater cameras we can us on Pokémon Sam?" Terry asked as Joan went into the kitchen and saw people moving all over, some checking on soups and others cleaning bowls and spoons as people moved about. One of them noticed her walking into the room and stopped, smiled and when others noticed, turned their glaze to the door and smiled.

Joan smiled as she looked over her kitchen and shook her head. "Well, what are you all standing around for? Get back to work you slackers! I want to know how long until the next batch of food is ready and how many bowls and spoons are clean!" She barked as she dropped her pack and grabbed a spare apron.

Albia carried a box of food as she walked back towards the kitchen, a frown on her face as she moved. The hurricane had speed up and she had been forced to bunk with Amanda and their plans to get that mime had failed. We have to find a way to get it alone, maybe if we can have a excuse to go into the woods with Delia we can split up and fake a Chimera attack or something, we have to get it away from Delia at the very least! She thought as she walked into the kitchen, stopping when she heard the cry.

"YES CHIEF!" She looked up at the cry and saw all the people get back to work, looking about she saw a woman with. So that must be miss Joan, if she was right then she's someone we can trust. She thought as she put the box down and walked towards Joan.

"You must be that new girl Delia took in, your names Albia right?" Joan said as she saw noticed Albia.

"Yeah, and your Joan right, it's nice to meet you." Albia said as she nodded.

"Thanks, so how's everything at the stores, you came back from there right?" Joan asked as she led the way to an empty station.

"Yeah, everything is going good there, we're only about halfway through the first row of supplies and well lunch should be soon. I saw that the works on the first few houses should be finished before nightfall and the lunch rush is probably a good hour or two away." Albia said as she followed.

Outside the restaurant Tom brought the building supplies down and wiped his forehead as he looked around at how much everyone was working to repair the damage and felt a little bit of nostalgia, he'd been a disaster volunteer back home for a good few years and this was what he did whenever something bad happened so he was used to the work and the fact that he was near his Queen was perfect. After everything he had learned, from the way she carried herself to the runes Sapphire saw on her, they were all sure she was who they had hoped she was. And now we just have to deal with that Mime and then stay on station until we get orders. I really hope we get the go ahead to take that bitch out for a proper sentencing back home. He thought as he looked towards the restaurant for a few more seconds before moving back towards a truck with supplies on it.

"So photo boy, saw you watching the House pretty hard, anything we should know about that?" A voice asked, causing him to look up at three men his age looking at him with hard looks and he swallowed, something telling him to tread carefully here.

"Guys, it's nothing really, I'm just a little shocked that the owner would volunteer her business so fast, most people I know would try and take advantage of this." Tom said as the three men started to relax and one of the smirked a little

"That's Mrs. Ketchum for ya! A heart of gold no matter what happens, and the last time this happened the emergency supplies were hit and she fed the town for a weak out of her own pocket!" The smirker said as another one started to grin as he picked up a bag of cement.

"Yeah but the mayor let her write it off as a tax deductible and she made it even last I heard, smart lady that one." He said as he cried the bag towards another part of the site. Tom looked at the last two and moved to help them carry something and decided to check and see what the town knew about her past.

"Say what happened to her husband anyway? I've never seen or heard anything about him since I've been in town, shouldn't she have called for him or something?" He asked and felt them stop and look at him over their shoulder, the looks on their faces

"She would if she could, but she and her son came wandering into the town with nothing but the cloths on her back and clutching her son." One of them said as they looked down and Tom felt a shiver of fear as he tried not to think about what the boss would do when he sent in the report about this.

"Old man Port, he took 'em in and gave the place to her when he retired. Whenever she tries and thinks about who ever she married she gets such migraines, I've seen her driven to her knees in pain." The other guy said as the first man came back.

"If anyone of us could figure out what happened to her and what did it, I think we'd all want five minutes alone with it each." The man said with a growl as confirmations came from all around them, Tom looking to see that the people around had stopped and heard what was being said before they all got to work.

The laughter caused him to turn and look at two young teens, one of them manage to wheeze out. "Remember what happened to the last 'false father' Ash dealt with before his journey? I still lose it when I go past that place!"

Tom looked at the kids before looking at the people who he was working with and one of them laughed darkly.

"Yeah, her son Ash really protects her, and he has a thing about getting revenge on people trying to use what happened to them as part of a plan to profit from them. And she's not so pure when people bother her son when they try to seduce her." Tom felt a little light headed as he slowly started to remember a few stories that had gone around the forces about how protective and inventive the boss was during his younger days when people tried to take advantage of those he cared for, and a few stories about the queen that were told in the dark places, stories of vengeance and mayhem that she had unleashed over her own journey.

"Daddy!" A voice caused Tom to look up and see Saph running towards him with Rachel not too far behind her.

"Hey Princess, how've you been?" Tom asked as he looked at Saph as she stood before him smiling at him.

"Great Daddy, Aunty and I helped feed the Pokémon at the ranch!" Saph said as Tom looked at Rachel who nodded at him and he smiled. With those two giving our guys the opening we have a few special spy cams to get a view on Oak, if he's connected the Order through that bitch then we have a new target before we leave here.

"Did you have fun and help your aunty out." Tom asked as he looked at Saph as he carried the bag he was helping move as they walked with him.

"Uh…. Mr. Sketch had to help me when the bag I was carrying broke, he thinks it might have gotten ripped a little when that big old storm came through, but he helped me clean it up." Saph said as they followed him, a smirk telling him all he needed to know

Broken Sting led the way as the grown pack moved away from the mountains. Healer rode on Dark Flare as Protector and Gazer walked next to Twin Sting as the other Goblins followed behind. I never knew that it feels so good to have comrades, I mean when Dark Flare started to travel with me, I mean I just felt that I had to go that way and found power to get me over the river and then I found those creatures attacking Dark Flare and then he joined me, something told me to spit that evolution serum over the meat I offered, I still don't understand how I grew smarter after he joined me, I mean before I met him I just existed, and not even those two made me grow. Broken Sting thought as it moved along its tail ached where it had been cut but it ignored the ache and moved on, not noticing the twitch his of his tail.

Protector walked with Gazer and frowned, something was wrong it could tell, but before Protector could even think about it a jolt of Aura hit it. [That traitor is after something, I don't know what but I know it only worked with our maker for its own benefit kindred.]Protector heard from Gazer and smiled, at least the way they could communicate had gotten a lot better but they still need something better, it could taste that there was something but he didn't know what it was. It gathered its thoughts and sent a bolt at Gazer who caught it in its hand.

[Your right Gazer, but we can't let that affect us, we have to move away from this place and maybe one day we can deal with those two, now we have to keep our own alive.] Gazer just kept moving and nodded, but its mind was a few miles ahead. Protector's right but by creation, I want to kill them. They led us to an ambush and if I didn't see the hole we would have been crushed, the kid didn't deserve to go out like that. Gazer thought as it looked back at the others and frowned, its eye saw something following behind them for a second before it disappeared. Gazer dropped back, slowing its speed until it was next to Dark Flare and sent a blast of Aura at it.

[We're being followed, do you smell anything?] Dark Flare kept moving calmly but it shot a look with its eye at Gazer who nodded. Dark Flare scowled flared its nostrils before its front paws flexed its claws before it sent a bolt back at Gazer as Healer looked on, wondering what was happening.

[Three of them at least, the metallic humanoid creature with spikes on their hands. They've been around others, very recent. Think they'll try and get us when we're weak?] Gazer heard and nodded before sending blots at Broken Sting, Protector and Dark Flare.

[I saw something and asked Dark Flare if it smelled anything, some of those metallic humanoids are following us, anyplace ahead where they can attack us?] Broken Sting kept moving and Protector stopped for a second before moving forward shooting a glare at Gazer who nodded back before turning back to the front. Broken Sting looked ahead and frowned as it remembered just what was before them. The river's deep enough for the little ones to be up to their waists to cross, and that's not counting me and Dark Flare, so that's where they'll strike. Its creatures not others like us so their Sire isn't behind this, one of the local powers Dark Flare told me about but why… we can make our stand at the river. It thought as it led the way, its damaged tail twitching in a way that it felt was important but why it couldn't say.

Farther back a Lucario frowned as it looked at the monsters they were hunting. Their lady had ordered the attack on the humanoid ones after they had lost but then one of the squads that went out and now their team of 3 Shadows [Lucarios] and 6 soldiers[ Machops] had found a party of the Ogre's spawn and two others. They had to be bringing the two others to a place the Ogre had instructed them to, if the Ogre was changing its tactics! One of the Shadows had gone to get reinforcements and the others had decided to attack. It felt a hand on its shoulder and saw the other Shadow look at it with a knowing look, guessing that it was worried about

"Luca cario." It reassured its comrade and nodded at it before jumping into the trees as the Soldiers moved through the trees, hoping to catch their prey. The first Shadow stayed, it thought it had seen something dart between the creatures but it was had to have been a trick of the light, it had no idea what else it could have been.

As the group moved towards the river Healer looked between Broken Sting and Protector, it was sure that they were conversing between them and it was sure it was about something important. As Protector moved a branch aside this time Healer was sure Broken Sting sent a broadcast to Protector as it passed by. It shot a bolt at Dark Flare and waited for a reply.

[Something's happening isn't it? Are we in danger?] Dark Flare kept moving and after a few seconds a bolt flashed to Protector who looked back at Healer who met its eyes with its own and after a few seconds Protector nodded twice at Healer and sent a bolt at it.

[Yes, we're being tracked by creatures, we're going to make it that we're going to cross but really we're going to face them there, stay near Gazer when it happens.] Healer heard and looked ahead with a thousand yard started before sending a bolt at Gazer.

[How many are there, can you see them all?] Gazer chuckled, Healer might not be that strong but that was nothing that a good blessing wouldn't cure! There was a great brain on that one's shoulder and it was smart enough to try and survive with all the information it could have. Gazer sent a look behind it, hiding it by making a few motions at Healer before sending a bolt at it.

[No, but Broken thinks we're almost to the river, get ready to stay to get off our friend. ] Healer swung itself off of Dark Flare and nodded to it when it looked back and moved to walk with Gazer, Gazer stopped and shook its head before moving again, a small laugh from the others causing Gazer to move forward with a spring in its step.

When Broken Sting reached the river it looked around, noting that the area was perfect for what they needed, the river was far enough from the tree line that they would see anything that charged them, nothing could sneak up on them and the river just had regular fish in it, no creatures or others. As the other Goblins moved towards the river Gazer walked ahead of the others and turned when one of them fell, clutching its arm. As it whimpered Gazer looked at it and sent a bolt at Broken Sting, Dark Flare and Protector.

[There's one of them in the second tallest tree to the right, another at the bushes near that rock!] Broken Sting raised its pincers and shot blasts of scalding water at the tree while Dark Flare shot flames at the bushes. As the top of the was blasted off by water and the bush caught fire, two Lucarios jumped free and stood by as eleven Machop in armor come out the forest. Healer moved behind Gazer and Broken Sting looked at the creatures before them and sent bolts at every one of its allies.

[Gazer, Healer stay behind and help anyone who drops back, Protector, Dark Flare hand the two leggers. Everything else, we handle the rest of those things!] Broken Stings orders were met with a roar from the Goblins, Protector and Dark Flare as they shot forward! Broken fired blasts of water at the Mahops as the Goblins charged, Protector ran at the Lucario from the bush as Dark Flare dashed towards the other one.

Protector slashed out with its glowing claws of one of its hands and the Lucario parried the blow with the spike on its right hand and shot out a fast left jab at Protector's head, but Protector dodged the blow and punched with its other hand and hit the Machop's left eye, scratching the organ and causing the Pokémon to cry out in pain.

Dark Flare charged at its target, sending blast of fire that caused the Lucario to jump and spin as it dodged the fire, firing a ball of blue energy that hit Dark Flare and forced it to stumble that turned into a roll that caused the fire of its mane to cover its body and shot at the Lucario, hitting it and burning it before Dark Flare go back to its feet and smirked as it saw its weakened foe.

The Goblins clashed with the Machops as Broken Sting fired blasts of boiling water at two of the Machops that charged at it. When one got to close Broken Sting grabbed it around its neck and used it as a club on the other one until it felt the bones in its neck break and flung the body away, looking at it opponent and Broken Smiled when it saw the Machop favoring one of its arms. Taking a moment to look at the battle Broken Sting saw one of the Goblins fighting two of the Machops, swiftly dodging the blows until it was able to use its claw to cut one of the two Machops neck, releasing a torrent of blood that sent it to the ground dead, the other one backing up shakily. Before it could run Broken Sting scalded it and the Goblin nodded before running towards the others, hopping to help others.

Dark Flare looked at its opponent and shot another blast of fire at it that it blocked with a round energy shield it formed and kept between it as it moved towards the river, hoping to use the water to heal its burns. As it felt the burn flare again, it reached the water and jumped in, ducking under to escape from Dark Flare's sight. Dark Flare looked at the water and its checks bulged, before it released a large amount of fire that hit the river, creating steam as Dark Flare looked for any sign of its opponent, suddenly Lucario shot up from the river and threw a blue energy ball at it, the ball hit the ground and created a smokescreen that blinded Dark Flare. A sudden blow to Dark Flare's right side sent it flying, the smoke revealing the Lucario it had been fighting getting out of a kick and glare at Dark Flare, a superior smirk on its muzzle as it cracked its hands as Dark Flare got back to its feet and growled, flames coming from its muzzle before it lunged at the Fighting type.

Protector blocked a blow and punched at Lucario with its free hand and scored a cut above both of Lucario's eyes. As the blood flowed into the eye that Protector had punched, causing the Machop to wince in pain and Protector tried to strike that side, hoping to kill it before it could escape. I have to finish this creature, if they do have a bigger group then they might chase us down, and no matter how strong we are if they send numbers at us then they will eat us! Protector thought as it focused on the Lucario. The Lucario looked at it with its good eye as blood dripped into it, causing it to blink, giving the chance that Protector was waiting for! It dashed in and slashed its neck into ruins, red staining its fur as its arms went to it, hoping to stop the flow of its life blood before its body dropped to the ground. Protector looked around and saw Dark Flare was handling the last Lucario and it dashed to help, knowing once they were finished they could clean up the smaller ones.

Broken Sting blasted scalding water at the Machops as the Goblins finished them off as they were stunned and looked and saw Protector charge to help Dark Flare and roared as another Goblin killed a Machop, leaving only five of them for them to deal with before a blast of energy hit it as another Lucario and five more Machops charged out of the forest and Protector stopped before it was hit with an aura bolt. [Go help our comrade Protector, we can handle those things for as long as it takes you to help Dark Flare!] Protector heard before looked back and saw Broken Sting use its good stinger to jab at the Lucario as it blasted water at the charging Machops and nodded before dashing towards Dark Flare's battle.

Dark Flare spat a blast of fire at Lucario and grinned when the flames hit, forcing it backwards before Protector appeared and slashed its back, scoring bleeding cuts as the Lucario looked over its shoulder for a second, taking its gaze off Dark Flare for a single second, a mistake that would be its last. Dark Flare jumped straight at Lucario and forced it to the ground, and before it could react clamped its jaws around the Lucario's neck and blasted fire into it, ruining its neck and killing it. Dark Flare looked up from its kill and saw the remaining battle; Broken Sting was holding off the Lucario while the five Machop were firing blasts of energy at the Goblins who had moved to hide behind Gazer's shield as Healer used its powers on an injured Goblin's arm. It looked at Protector and sent an aura bolt at it. [Should we deal with the blue one or the others?] Protector looked at Dark Flare and pointed towards the Machops and Dark Flare nodded before it ran after Protector as they charged at the Machops.

Lucario dodged another blow from Broken Sting's tail and smirked before a cry from the Machop's it brought caused it to jump backwards and move so it could see Broken Sting and look at the Machops, causing it to wince as it saw Protector and Dark Flare wade into them. As the first one died the Goblins rallied and charged at the Machops Lucario knew the battle was lost. It had to retreat and tell its leaders what had happened, if those two were allied to the Ogre as the presence of its spawn showed then they had to be told. Lucario charged at Broken Sting, dodging blasts of water and jumped over it and shot into the trees as the last Machop died.

As the Chimera looked at the food they had earned Broken Sting saw Protector look into the forest and frown before Broken Sting sent an aura bolt at it. [Worried about the last one?] Protector heard as it turned and sent a bolt back at Broken Sting.

[We should leave as soon as we can, that one will be back with reinforcements before too long. So do you want anything?] Broken Sting looked over the food and wondered if it should change, just what it would take if anything at all.

Lucario jumped from tree to tree as it moved, hoping against hope that it wasn't being pursed. Even when it had gotten there with reinforcements they had still all been slain, only its quick thinking had enabled it to escape. As the Lucario jumped from tree to tree air it heard the sounds of something moving through the foliage below it and stopped, hiding in the branches of a tree until it could identify the source. It saw one of the Machops running for all its worth towards the base and frowned, this was a problem. That stupid Fairy that dared to care itself Champion had infected the army's leader with the notion that they should fight until they die, the story it had crafted to cover the fact how it had survived would be…. inconvenienced by another survivor, best to make clean it up here and now.

The Machop ran, tears running down its eyes as it moved. Once the first Lucario had died it had done its dutty and retreated back to the second muster point as per the orders given to it. it would wait until the sun rose tomorrow and then it would return to base if no one else made it there to tell their commanders about the threat that had taken out its team. A sounded ahead of it caused it to smile when it saw a Lucario, it had made contact with another squad. It moved towards the Fighting - Steel type but before it open its mouth the Lucario pointed a hand at it and fired a blue energy attack at it!

The Machop dodged the blast and when the ball hit a tree, the explosion told it that the Lucario was playing for keeps. "MACHOP?! MACH HOP MACHOP!" It cried as it looked at the Lucario and the Lucario only looked back before charging at the Machop, spinning and sending a glowing leg into the Machop's right shoulder, breaking it with a sickening crunch.

"MACHOP!" It cried in pain as it grabbed its arm and backed away, trying to think of anything that could save it. It looked around and saw a tree behind it, as the Luicaro moved closer the Machop swung a glowing fist into the tree and created a crater in the wood where the punch landed. The Machop moved swiftly to the side before the tree fell towards the Lucario. Lucario jumped to the side and looked for the Machop, trying to find its prey; it had to kill it before it reported back or the Lucario would die instead. A it looked around it closed its eyes to use Aura Sense, finally seeing the Machop it was fighting running away from in an easterly direction, but then it felt something above it. Before it could react a something flew straight from above it and hit its neck as Lucario. Lucario tried to remove the missile when it felt its neck start to burn and the area that burned increased as its sight darkened before it fell to the ground. The last thing it saw was a leg with talons covered in purplish feathers land on the ground as it felt wind.

Brock looked around the meeting room and frowned as he noticed Riley talking with Yuji. The mayor had organized the before the commotion at the entrance to Route 2 and he was worried about how that would affect the meeting. Two separate attacks by two separate Chimera, and the second ones were made of wood; I have never seen that before, never even heard of it. I mean I've fought Chimera that had plant parts but never a full body. Brock thought as he looked around and noticed Riley and Yuji gesturing for him to come over. Nodding at them he walked over and sighed.

"Hey doc, how was your day since we've been back?" Yuji asked as Brock reached them. Brock tried to smile back at them but he could only wince. A full day of healing and then a dissection on the sample and I looked over the video for the first one. The brain is something I'm worried about, how are the Chimera's genetics so uniform, I would think they would be a mess after even a few days of feeding. Brock thought as he looked at Yuji and just shook his head.

"The samples we brought back were identified as being related to the source of the outbreak, I'm to report this as the hospital's official stance; data gathered shows that the outbreak was an attack on the city by the Chimera. And there's what you and Salma got yesterday." Brock said as Riley sighed and Yuji nodded. Given what I saw up there and what Riley said about the seal I guess that those things were waiting for a chance to overwhelm their attackers. So they had or have no sense how many years have passed by them, and are attacking the greatest source of 'life' they could find for food, just great. Yuji thought as he looked around the room and noticed no one was paying attention to them.

"Yeah, that's going to be a problem, but we might get lucky. Listen I told the boss about how that scum tried to feed me to the Chimera up there and the bitch left Brock to die, said that they weren't what Karin thought they were, he might know something else but not on what I said." Yuji said softly as Riley looked at him before nodding and Brock looked at him blankly. Giovanni knows about what Kunz did, okay that's something he might bring up about Karin at the next Gym Leader's summit and might use that to make the others question her abilities. Overall that might be good but if she's really connected to those people then that might be bad. Brock thought as he tried to figure out what this might mean overall. Riley merely chuckled and nodded when Yuji looked at him.

"I thought you would, you owe him your loyalty, and there are your comrades at the gym to think about. Just please keep what I and my student are a secret, that's kept us safe." Riley said as Brock looked at him sharply before sighing and shaking his head as he realized that Riley was right. The gyms make is so trainers are loyal to their Leader, their City and the League, in that order, so of course Yuji would tell Giovanni that something happened up there, it's a joke to think otherwise. Still I just have to hope that nothing happens that might cause problems down the line, all I can hope for really. Brock thought as he looked at Riley and decided to speak up.

"Of course that's something, but what I'm worried about is how Albert is going to make a mess of this, and you know he will." Brock said as he scowled as he looked around the room and noticed representatives from the three main farms in the area as others turned and looked at them. "Want to bet how he's going to say that the farmers turned tail and ran when they should have stayed and fought?"

Yuji just scoffed and looked at Brock before he replied. "We are talking about the same idiot so no bet, he's going to make this so complicated."

Riley looked between the two of them and tried to make sense of what they were saying, he was having a hard time thinking that anyone could be so stupid. "Well maybe the meeting will won't be as bad as you think? I mean he had to have done something right at least once." Riley smiled shakily at the looks he received and Yuji scoffed.

"Listen, I need Rosette to talk about what happened to her, if she's up for it. When I talk about the cabin I'll look at you two, if she's up for it please tell her to nodded." Brock said with a sigh and turned towards the table and walked towards it, feeling that the meeting would begin soon. Riley looked at Yuji who had walked towards the door and he moved towards Rosette who was leaning against the back wall, she nodded at him.

"Have a good talk with them, and let me guess he wants me to talk about what happened when they attacked right?" Rosette asked as Riley looked at her and nodded at her, he was surprised when she smirked at him. "Good! I'll be able to get my side of what happened

Sorry Riley but you have to see him to believe he can even breathe right. And I can't believe that that idiot is a member of the Kanto Pokémon League. Brock thought as he drew out a chair for Pakwa who smiled up at him.

"Might kind of you doc, how ya been lately?" She asked as she sat down and her grandson nodded at Brock as he sat down next to her.

"Better Mrs. Fallsbloom. Just came down from the mountain a few days ago and its bad up there, really bad." He said causing her to sigh.

"Heard about that sonny, me and mine been dealing with those things that attacked us when we came into the city." She muttered as Brock just sighed and shook his head.

"How bad?" Brock asked as he frowned, wondering if this had anything to do with what Riley had told them.

"A farmstead destroyed while the family was taken their herd to their summer grazing, a farm attacked and drove 'em off. When we gathered to talk about it they sent a large group at us and one of those things ate a fire attack just outside the city. Have ya heard about what happened in Cerulean?" Pakwa said as Brock paled and turned to look at her.

Brock looked at Pakwa, a thousand thoughts running through his head and he prayed that he was wrong and their luck wasn't that bad. "I've been run ragged and I was only able to sleep a few hours last night, what happened?"

Pakwa shook her head and sighed. "Heard that a pack of Chimera attacked a school trip the local leader was helping chaperon, last I heard the whole city was locked down and they had already fought off another incursion. Say what about that friend o yours, Ash something?" Is he around here?"

Brock said nothing as he steeped his hands and started to think. If Misty held off an incursion then calling for help from her is out, she'll be focused on her home. I should call dad about that, if there's a threat to Pewter! Brock thoughts died as he sawPakwa look at him. "Ash is in Kalos last I heard, tackling the League there."

"If he was here I'd feel a lot better, what with how that boy and mine handle that bird." Pakwa said as she looked towards the door and nodded at what she saw. So Gio's made it, good. If we can start before that local idiot gets here then…hello why'd you bring the muscle boyo? She thought as two brawny trainers wearing dark shades and darker cloths walked in after Albert with two Machokes walking on the outside of their formation.

"So that fool's gonna use threats to try and get his way, hope Gio puts the brat in his place." Pakwa muttered as she fingered a Pokeball as her grandchild hand slowly rent to his own and readied himself for battle.

"I've got two good ones to defend and attack with, he leads, I protect you strike." Brock said to Chogan who grunt in reply and they both looked up as a he heard a commotion and saw Mayor Halford walk into the room with Jenny right behind him. He was wearing a green suit and his blond hair was messy, a sign that he hadn't had much sleep lately and his eyes were sleepy looking as usual but that wasn't a sign of anything. He exchanged pleasantries with varies people and started to walk towards the head of the table, nodding to either Brock or the Fallsblooms as he passed by them. As he sat down people quitted down and Brock saw the varies people and reporters who had come to see the official response sit down and frowned when he saw a figure in a cloak in the corner try and not be noticed, but Brock was sure he knew him. The screen on the wall hummed to life and Professor Oak and a woman in a simple purple dress stood next to him and Brock was a little shocked to realize she was looking at Agatha, former Ghost trainer of the Elite Four.

"Everyone welcome, and thank you all for coming. Viridian city has been hit by an viral outbreak and we've been attacked by Chimera but we're still strong! So let us begin before something else happens, like Team Rocket attacking or something. To start with I believe we should hear from the hospital's representative, Mr. Slate if you please?" Halford asked as everyone looked at Brock as he stood up.

"Thank you sir. Very well, I'll start with the basics. A few days ago around dawn a bio-organic hybrid spore of plant and animal matter came Viridian and started to infect all Pokémon it came in contact with within the city limits. The results were different based on Types and species; after a quick investigation the hybrid nature was discovered and I identified it as possibly being from a Chimera." Brock began as the people in the room looked at him and started to mutter among themselves, as he looked over the room he caught Rosette and Riley's eyes and smiled slightly when she nodded at him.

"We identified the mountains as the source based on wind patterns and I gathered a group of two gym trainers and two people who were identified as Chimera Hunters. We made best speed to a watch station on one of the mountains along Victory Road and found the station ransacked and a dead Insect Chimera we sent back with a member of the expedition. We were latter able to link up with Miss Zargo, who was stationed at the cabin, who will report one what happened there." Brock said as he gestured towards Rosette who straightened up and stepped forwards as people turned to look at her.

"Thank you; I am Rosette Zargo former member of the Kanto Guard. On the days before the attack we had been seeing strange migrations of Pokémon and I was sent out to do a survey by my leader. After a slow circle of every watering hole I discovered that even the animals were gone. I charged back to the cabin to give my report and before I could do anything a swarm of those things attacked me, for as far as I knew then I was the only survivor." Rosette said as she clenched her fists as she gave her report and was about to continue when Giovanni interrupted her.

" 'as far as I knew', by that turn of phase I can expect that you learned something." Giovanni said as Rosette looked at him before nodding.

"I was able to get in contact with my former commander and discovered that his son, the outpost commander was able to get away with his Pokémon and that both myself and the only other member there were given the blame. It's a bit of a problem because the other trainer had an Electrode who knew Explosion and they have a tactic that works most of the time, and the fact that they were still overrun is….concerning."

Brock jolted slightly and looked at her for a few seconds before his eyes met Professor Oak's and the two of them shared a silent conversation as they remembered a talk the two had when he had worked at Professor Oak's lab a few years ago. Maybe there is connection a between what they eat and how they change, but how did only one of their kind have that kind of….trap when something kills them. Brock thought as he turned back to look at Rosette.

Pakwa snarled under her breath and shook her head. "And since you survived after all, theycashed you out didn't they kid?"

Rosette nodded at Pakwa before she contused. "Yes mam, officially I was dishonorably discharged for fleeing in the face of the enemy, completely forgetting that I was away when they attacked and that I returned to an abandoned base overrun by said enemy. I escaped but the way we came from the Plateau was blocked so I tried to find a way around and then well I was rescued by two trainers who were passing by. A few hours later we ran into the Doctor and after extracting him and the sole remaining member of his expedition we left the mountain and returned to Viridian."

Giovanni looked at Rosette as the observers started to mutter amongst themselves at what she had said and started to think. So I was right, the guard is becoming corrupt, and then there's Karin and whatever she's involved with, and that's not counting the local police. Is there a connection between them and the false hunters? He thought as the Mayor spoke up.

"Thank you madam, I have to ask you to stop by at the main Police station later on and please repeat this so it can be entered in the official report, now about these things, what do we know about these Chimera?" Halford asked as she nodded at him and Brock stood back up.

"From the remains that were gathered we were able to identify two distant types, with a third that exploded when killed and then there is a feeling variant of one type. From the autopsies we were able to identify that their brains were malformed, the current theory is that is whatever's up there is a 'Minion Maker'." Brock said as people started to clamor all at once, the words causing fear among them. I can't blame them really, a Maker so close to the city, if we give it time we will be overwhelmed. This has to lead to an assault on the mountain; we have to kill it before it can kill us. Brock thought as he looked around and saw Pakwa rubbing her chin.

"I remember the Siege before the last one, a whole bunch of beasties came at us from the sea, took us most of the trouble to discover they had been attacking from a vector away from their boss's lair. With what you saw up the mountain, think it might not be the same this time?" Pakwa asked as the clamor died down. Brock shook his head and Pakwa just looked at him with her eyebrow raised.

"Then there's the trees to think about." Giovanni muttered as everyone around the table turned and looked at him, he saw their gazes and sighed before continuing. "Before the attack, one of the two gym trainers I sent with the expedition was attacked by the Chimera while carrying the corpse they found, one of the reasons we improved our defenses and were able to hold off the attack, Officer Jenny and I were checking on the fortifications and heard her cry for help. While we retreated we saw that all the trees were either dead or dying with silk connected to them leading towards the mountains."

"So these things are vamping plants? That's a new one on me." Pakwa muttered as the people started to mutter amongst themselves at this new revelation. Chogan moved his head closer to her and put his hand on her shoulder, causing her to look at him.

"Plants, think those things that attacked us were awoken because of that?" Chogan asked softly causing his grandmother to just sigh.

"Chogan, if those things were in the mountains then there's no way a force large enough to actually do anything that could have woken up all those things, it's gotta be something else." His grandmother chided him softly and he nodded. Grams right, maybe the fact that Nick is brainwashed or something is making me jump, we gotta find a way to get at him. Chogan thought as he looked up at the table.

"From my experience during the attack we should priories the horned ones first, they seem to be 'trainers' for the rest of them. Of course they have the habit of exploding when we kill them but what can you do?" Giovanni asked as Brock nodded.

"So we take out the trainers and they can only use pyshical attacks, and if we can take out their 'leader' then we could take them all out?"

"I'm sorry but I would like to bring up the fact that so far all the specimens that have been studied have been shown to be sexual immature. It stands to reason that yes, if we kill the 'breeder' then we will have a finite number of them to deal with." Professor Oak said from the screen as he

"But we don't know how these things reproduce, Insect based Chimera have been recorded to both lay eggs and live births so a survey of the mountain will have to be done after we kill them all." Giovanni said as mayor nodded and held his head. And that's

"And then there's what drove me and mine here." Pakwa said as she stood up, gathering everyone's attention. "For those of you who don't know me, I'm Pakwa, matriarch of the Fallsbloom Clan. We're one of the three heads of the local farmers, basically we're the ones they go to if they need help. About a week ago one of the families was returning from bringing their herds to their spring grazing and returned to find their place torn up. A few days later another family fought off these wooden humanoids that attacked them, and when we gathered together to talk about it they attacked us, thought we drove 'em off but they followed us here, that was what attacked us before the wall."

"So we have two force against us, the Chimera on the border of Johto and the Plateau and those wooden things that attacked the farmers, does anyone have any ideas to handle this?" Halford asked as he held his head.

"I think that a strengthen expedition should be sent back up and not come back down until all those things are dead. As for the monstrosities that attacked the farmers, I believe that we should fort up and protect ourselves until we could handle the Chimera. It might be a good idea to contact the league and have them attack first, let us hit them from behind." Giovanni said as Brock frowned as he let his eyes go to Albert's face as he saw the representatives face.

"Now Gio, please stop right there. I'll admit the town was attacked but we held them off. And while those things that attacked the farms; I must admit that they might, might be a threat we can handle them with our current strength." Albert intercepted as he stood up. Yuji scowled when the two trainers released two Machokes that stood next to Albert as he walked towards the front of the room. "All of us here, this is our city. I'm sure that we can handle whatever meager defenses those things can put up." Albert said as he turned around and looked at the table.

"You can't be serous?" Pakwa said as she just looked at the idiotic power play that this idiot was doing, she just couldn't believe what he was doing.

"I am, one should And if those wood things that attacked us I'm sure a few Fire moves will scare them off."

"A Fire attack was used against those things when they attacked our convoy before, and one of those things just absorbed it!" Chogan said with a snarl, but Albert continued on if he hadn't heard him, only sending him a look like he was an idiot.

"No matter what you think I am the League representative and I decide what is passed on to the League and I know that there is no need to bother the league with this." Albert said with a hard glare as the Machokes started to flex and squeeze their hands as people started to realize what he was really doing, the mayor starting to stand up as his face grew red and the others around the table started to stand when a voice cut through.

"Wrong!" A voice said as a figure in a dark clock from the back of the room interrupted Albert before he could say anything else. Brock's mouth dropped open for a few seconds before a grin formed, oh he couldn't wait to watch this.

"Excuse me? What did you say?" Albert asked as he looked at the figure as he walked towards Albert. Who in the name of Arceus does this fool think he is, how dare he talk like that to me! Albert thought as he looked at the robed figure as he walked towards Albert.

"I said your wrong you idiotic fool. I don't know how the hell you got assigned to this city but when I'm done you're be nothing more than a janitor at a garbage dump." The figure said as he walked towards Albert who stared for a second before he started to get mad.

"How dare you! Listen you little peon I am the voice of the League, if I wanted to I could make it so you never can legally train a Pokémon ever again, and who the hell are you?!" Albert demanded as the two Machokes next to him cracked their knuckles as the figure looked at them before he withdrew two Pokéballs and dropped them, out of which came a Dragonite and a Haxorus. As Albert and the two Fighting types jerked back Brock smiled evilly as he looked on.

"The Champion." The man said as he pulled his hood back to reveal Lance looking down at Albert's finger that slowly dropped and Albert stepped backwards as the two trainers who stood next to him blanched as their Pokemon looked at the two Dragon Types as they loomed over the two Machokes. Lance merely looked at Albert as he paled as he realized just who he had threatened.

"Cham Champion Lance, sir I wasn't aware you were in the area." Albert said as the two trainers stepped away from him and recalled their Pokémon.

"The representative is right about, we weren't told you were here and I don't remember hearing about a Dragon trainer among the defenders during the assault." Giovanni said flatly as the people around the room looked on in shock as they realized who had spoken up and was standing there.

"I came into the city after the attack; I was camping out in the mountains doing some training on a new move when I came across a few of these Chimeras moving towards the Plateau. After I dealt with them I followed their tracks, found the signs that an army had come through and followed them and saw the attack Viridian's end, dealt with a few that were trying to escape the battle and here we are." Lance said as he walked towards the chair Albert had abandoned and sat down.

Brock stared at Lance as he heard the others mutter as they took in what Lance had said, nothing about it seemed out of place but Brock knew, deep in his bones that Lance was leaving something out.

"So whatever sent these things doesn't know what happened to its forces, eh?" Pawka mused as she up the table as Lance nodded. Brock frowned, something about that bothered him, something he'd seen in the past…. He stopped and went still. Tate and Liza, that Chimera that attacked the city! Brock thought as he paled.

"Or it does and they were retreating because it saw no way they could win and didn't want it to be a total rout." Brock said as the people around the room started to mutter as some turned to look at him.

"You mean if this thing has any Psychic abilities….given how they've been acting maybe." Lance said as Giovanni looked at Lance.

"What support can we expect from the League?"

Lance sighed and shook his head with a smirk. "Bruno is gathering a squadron to lay siege between the mountain and the Plateau, I pupose that a small team be sent in to try and kill the 'breeder', any volunteers?"

"What about Viridian and the other threat, what will you do about that Lancy?" Agatha asked through the monitor. Lance turned and looked at it and smiled.

"I'll choose a small team and leave enough people to hold out and only leave after we make sure this city is locked down as tight as it can be old lady! And it's good that you're still breathing, your place was torn up when I found it." Lance said as he looked at her and she started to chuckle.

"Ohhh that? I just had a few visitors that were very rude; I showed them how to talk to their elders and sent them packing. I'd offer to come help but with the damage Pallet suffered from the hurricane its best that I stay here and watch over it." Agatha said as Brock felt a spike of fear and sought Pr. Oak's eyes who shook his own head and smiled, causing Brock to feel relief.

"Then here is what we'll do then. We'll make sure our defense are strong and Lance can choose the people he'll take with him back up there. Those who stay back will guard the two entrances to the city and the walls, they won't take my city!"

"I volunteer to try and find out where those things that attacked us have their base." Chogan said as his grandmother looked at him. "Well someone has to!"

"We'll talk about that latter, for now everyone thank you for coming, Brock, Giovanni and Mrs. Fallbloom, Mr. Fallsbloom will you please stay." Lance said as the people around the room started to leave. As they all left Lance looked at Rosette and knew he had to schedule some time to talk with her about how she was fired, that didn't sit well with him at all since he overheard it.

A man with tan skin in black pants and a red shirt with blocky designs on them walked through a busy market place with others dressed in cloths with designs similar to his went about their business. As he walked he stopped by a stand selling berries and looked over the and picked up one of them before throwing a small crystal pyramid to the old woman with loose white hair in a simple blue dress operating the stand who smiled at him.

"You're in a good mood today boyo, have a nice night, any dreams about her?" She asked as she looked at him with pale eyes only for him to laugh and shake his head. The old blind woman always seemed to have a lust for life that

"No, well partly I did. I was in this fog that I kept running towards her, I never made it to her but when I woke up I felt something, I think I'll be able to finally meet her soon." He said with a smile that caused the woman to laugh and reach over and slap his arm.

"GOOD! Bring her around when you find her; I want to get a good look at her!" She said as he laughed and walked off with a smile on his face. She's one of the best things in the city, she's fought against the worst threats and still helps out when she has to. He thought as he walked through the crowd and smiled. As he walked he was passed by young boys and girls with their Pokemon as they laughed and played. He looked upwards and saw a flock of Pidgey being led by a Pidgeotto and its Rider and laughed likely as he them, wondering if any of them were close to evolving and if they would get their own riders soon.

He looked around and laughed a little, this was a great day to be alive! They might be under threat of being discovered by those Warring fools, but the few times he had spied on the towns nearby showed that the so called nobles had sent the war into the shadows so that was okay with him. The Chimera were able to be handled and while the big one they held prisoner was always a concern, they had been holding it for years so there was that. Of course if the elders will just let us off the lease so to speak a good squad will probably be able to handle that Ogre and it seems to keep its spawn as lows so if we dealt with it. he thought as he walked through the city, a spring in his step as he walked, nothing could bother him today.

"There you are!" A young sounding voice said as causing him to stop in his tracks. Of course that has to happen. He thought as he turned and saw a young boy with a circlet around his head running towards him.

"No." He said as the boy reached him.

"Sir?" the asked as he looked up as he panted.

"I don't care, this is my day off. The war could have gone hot, I don't care. The Prisoner is awaking up, I don't care. Whatever has happened I don't care I'll deal with it tomorrow so if you don't mind…." He began until the boy interrupted him.

"The Old Warning, the first part has been identified and it has come to pass." He went still and turned and ran towards a building set against the crater's wall, the messenger running after him.

The sun shinned down into room with wide windows with a long rectangular table with a map of the local area on it, varies tokens showing where certain packs, groups or those of interest are located. Four people stood around it with an older looking man with tan skin in a white robe looking out the windows down onto the city below.

"Are you sure, completely sure about this?" The man by the window asked as he stood there.

"As near sure as I could my friend. The 'Patriarch' is the Ogre that has troubled us for so long, given the battle I saw and what it did." The Speaker was an old bald man with tan skin wearing white shorts, a white cloak and he had a purple sphere on a chain around his neck. He sat before the table and looked at a marker that corresponded to where the Ogre had its lair and frowned.

A man with tan skin in red light armor just shook his head. "But for the Patriarch to be that old monster, for years it's been raising spawn and sending them at us hoping to break through and release its kin, and we have seen it deal with uprisings. I can't see how it loose against one as it says in that line."

"But do we have any idea what the second line means, It of the Broken Weapon, who is that?" The last person, a woman with tan skin and white hair in a twintail style in a green jacket and grey pants asked as she looked down at the table. After all those years that is finally set in motion, what will this mean for us, will the Old Empire rise? She thought as she looked around the room and saw the faces of the others

"Lolita, I think it's the Insect Chimera the Ogre attacked in my vision, the black fire maned one had to be Night Flame so process of elimination…." The bald man said with a shrug.

The armored man looked at the man by the window and sighed. "Luis what do you want us to do, the final stanzas says our Prisoner will be freed, that would destroy us."

Luis turned back to the others and stopped when the doors opened and the man who the messenger had found walked in with a man with tan skin with black hair wearing a white robe walked after him.

"Diego there you all! I was wondering if you would ever get that message!" Luis said as Diego walked towards him and bowed when he stopped.

"My apologies father but this is my day off after all. So who's the Patriarch?" Diego asked only for the man in armor to snicker and share a glance with Luis who only sighed.

"The Ogre, it was the Patriarch, and the betrayal happened at a battle that cost about three fourths of its forces." The bald man said as Diego looked at him, his mouth dropping before he started to mutter under his breath.

"Wonderful, and here I thought that maybe one of the Harpies would be that, but their primarily 'female' so that was a mistake after all." Diego said as the man who had come with him started to chuckle.

"And It of the Broken Weapon must have been that Insect Chimera we saw a while back, I suppose the fact that the Ogre never came down is just part of fate's dance." The man said as Luis just sighed.

"We don't need this, with how the Harpies have been lately." Luis's words caused everyone there to scowl as they remembered the way the Flying type humanoid Chimera had been so active recently, attacking one of their farms and bombing the city, the Sky Riders had barely driven them off.

Diego looked at the table and saw the area where the Ogre lived and looked at the figures that represented the so called 'Queen' and her 'Champion', frowning as he looked at the other figures representing what packs there were. The Queen won't let a chance like this to put steel to the Ogre, it'll use it as a means to try and get the other packs to join it. And then there's the swamp to think about, what with the swarm there breaking up. Diego thought as he looked at the map and tried to think.

"What's on your mind brother?" The man who came with him asked quietly as the other four started to talk amongst themselves.

"The Queen, she'll use this as an excuse to gather the other packs to her banner. I'm worried about what the other packs might want from her for their loyalty." Diego said as the man looked at the map and frowned himself.

"Think she'll try and attack one of the farms, the Orchard might be at risk now that I think about it." The man said as Diego nodded.

"Emilio, do you think it's possible, could the Harpies have a part to play in the Warning?" Diego asked as Emilio looked at him and started to think. 'Gather a Horde of Others like itself', if the Harpies are part of that it would control the skies, but if they are betrayed in turn that might help us in the short term. Emilo thought as he turned and looked at the map.

"….if we can get the next squadron's training finished and in the air before anything else happens then I think we could handle the Harpies, and we might have to ask the Tropius heard to stay here for a while though." The bald man said as Emilo and Diego looked up from their conversation.

"The herd, yes if they wouldn't mind carrying a few weapons then we could station them by the farms and with a good gunner they could handle anything the Harpies could throw at them." The man in armor said as he started to smile.

"But if the Queen makes a move on them, they'd be grounded, so we'd have to put guards there just to handle that!" Diego said as the others looked at him before Luis nodded at him.

"Your right boyo, but do we have any other choices to make? Ignacio, I want the best defenders you've got ready to deploy as soon as we need them. Guillermo I want you to try and view the Ogre and the Queen, tell us if anything changes with them. Lolita I'm sorry but increase their training by and hour until the next class is ready. " Luis said as he looked at the city. "Everyone your all dismissed, carry out your orders. Diego, come and talk with me."

As everyone walked Emilo looked at his friend before leaving when Diego nodded back at him. Diego moved until he was standing next to Luis and sighed. "They just can't even give us a single day off can they?"

"That's our place son, we are the handle of the spear, we decided what happens and we can never rest for that privilege. It would be a little easier if I could stop being so concerned about the next generation though." Luis said as he looked at Diego who scowled back at him with a glare.

"I had a dream last night about her father, I think I'll see her before the Warning is done." Diego said as he looked over the city and looked towards the top of the crater and frowned. What is that, I know I saw something…

"Good, I was wondering for a while if you were just using the fact that you have an Aura Link as an excuse to get away from your mother's match making attempts" Luis said as he looked at his son and frowned as he saw him looking out the window and turned, trying to find what his son had seen. After looking over the city he looked up and saw Sky Riders flying towards the lip of the crater and frowned as he noticed movement in the city, people moving towards the edge of the city here and there. "What's happening down there?"

A sound of running feet caused them both to turn and look at the door before some pushed it open, revealing it to be Ignacio looking out of breath.

"SIR! The Tropius herd, it's here! They were attacked, one of them died to hold off the Ogre's forces!"

"It attacked the Tropius, why?! We made that alliance with that herd after we caught our prisoner and it never met them in battle!" Luis demanded as Diego looked concerned. Could this to be part of the flow of events that will lead to that ending, if the Ogre had his forces on a hunt before that betrayal… Diego thought as he followed his father as he ran out the room, promising himself he would protect his people.

Clemont threw a stick into the fire and frowned. The way Ash acted once Team Rocket appeared, he and Pikachu tore into those Buzz Lords when Jessie dodged that blow; it was like they had been fighting together before. But that doesn't make any sense at all! He thought as he tried to understand just why Ash had acted the way he had when Team Rocket had appeared. He looked up and saw Lilith going through a few exercises and smiled, she had told Bonnie that if she impressed her then she would have more than a blunt knife to practice with. As Bonnie finished the last of the movements Lilith had shown her, Lilith nodded at her and barked a command.

"Now, do all that I've shown you in order!" She said as Bonnie moved, going through a simple but elegant looking kata that ended with her kicking out with her right leg before she spun and punched out with her left before looking at Lilith as she panted. I was right; she does have an inner Mystical ability like me! She wouldn't have been able to do as well as she did without it. I wonder, is this what Milady felt when she found me, she did say my final test was to teach what I knew to someone, and maybe I found my student at last. She thought as she nodded at Bonnie before smiling.

"You did great Bonnie, if you don't mind I'd like to make you my student in self-defense, I think my style would work great for you." Lilith said as Bonnie looked thoughtful before smiling and nodding. Lilith reached over and rubbed Bonnie's head and Clemont smiled for a few seconds before his smile dropped as his earlier thoughts invaded his head, still trying to come to terms with what he had seen.

"You look like you have something on your mind Clemont." Clemont looked up to see Ash walking towards him. The group had escaped as the those Pokemon riders had appeared, Ash had grabbed his friends and move away from the city and into the wilderness in the direction of Lumiose City with Team Rocket on their heels. Sometimes during the run the two trainers and three Pokemon had disappeared and Clemont was a bit worried that they were waiting to ambush them but Ash had just laughed when he brought it up. They had gotten away and Ash had taken up the vanguard position and had watched them until they had been running through the wild for an hour before he had them slow down. Even now looking back at what had happened earlier that day he still couldn't understand why the Buzz Lords had been attacked by those three.

"Sorry, it's just….Team Rocket. When they attacked the Buzz Lords, you and they were acting like you've fought side by side in the past; I mean they're Pokémon thieves and the very idea! And why'd they attack the Buzz Lords, why didn't they help them!" Clemont exclaimed, going still as Ash started to chuckle, causing the others all to look at him as he leaned back.

"You're completely right! I can't remember the exact number but there have been times when I've fought back to back with those three and they've even saved me a few times." Ash said as the others stared at him.

"What?" Serena asked in shock as Bonnie's mouth dropped open. Ash just smiled sheepishly and looked at them.

"I don't know about how things back in this region, but back in Kanto I'm on friendly terms with a few minor gangs, and those three, Jessie James and Meowth aren't that bad, they just have a lot of baggage." Ash said rubbing the back of his head, his words causing most of the others to look at him with open mouths; Lilly was the only one who had a neutral expression. Okay, so maybe I won't send them to the boss, I'll just give 'em nightmares instead. She thought as she waited for the others to react.

"You are? But the way you handled the Buzz Lords." Clemont said with shock as he tried to imagine Ash talking to, let alone being friend with anyone like the Buzz Lords.

"They weren't a gang, they were a Team." Ash said as he looked up at the stars and went silent a few seconds gathering his thoughts before he continued.

"That's how a few people back in Kanto view things, Gang and Teams are different, gangs are small time and usually form from people who have issues with society or where they live, Teams are groups that form to bend society to their will. The gangs I'm friendly with well, one of them was just a group that that supplied old fashion medicines, folk remedies and the like that the 'modern' society doesn't believe in and the League won't accept officially. Another basically just ran a 'black market' because of taxes on foreign goods a local mayor set up because his relative had a store that only dealt in Kanto made stuff, heck the local Officer Jenny shopped at the market for Arceus sake and the last one were just a pack of trainers who like to dress in the punkish style and ride their bikes on this bridge to challenge trainers from out of town!" Ash said with a huff as he crossed his arms.

"But Team Rocket, how could you have every fought with those three enough to trust them to watch your back?" Lilith asked as she looked at Ash as she listened to what he was saying. It seems that Ash knows the difference between Associations and Villains and is telling the others about it, one lesson I won't have to teach after all. Lilith thought as she forced down a smirk, she had been worried about how she would ever find a way to tell them what Lady Camilla had told her years ago.

"Now don't get me wrong, I hate Team Rocket as a group, but those three are the exceptions to the rule. I know that those three are a lot stronger and smarter then they usually act, I've noticed over the years that they really only let lose when something is going against their principles, other times they just go through the motions, it's just a job for them really. I mean when I jumped for Pikachu they tried to stop me." Ash said as he looked about the campsite, seeing that the others were listening to him he found he had a choice to make. Those three are going to stick around so maybe I should share what I know about them, the general stuff at least. Ash thought as he made a decision.

"Those three…. All I can say is that all three of them really aren't as bad as you'd think. When compared to a lot of others, if someone is abusing Pokémon, people or animals and not part of Team Rocket, they'd stop them as fast as a member of the Police. They've all got their reasons for being Team Rocket members, even Meowth." Ash said as he looked up at the stars as the others looked at him.

"What reasons could they possibly have?" Clemont asked as he looked at Ash who responded with a somber look as Pikachu put its face down as he let memories play behind his eyes. Sometimes I really hate that I mentioned it to Happy that one time or saw that picture Blissey had of Jessie at that school, she really didn't deserve how that teacher treated her, but I am so glad Happy caused a little chaos that exposed her. Ash thought as he just sighed and gathered his thoughts.

"Well, Jessie was an orphan from around six or earlier, from what I've learned here and there her mom was her only parent and a member of Team Rocket who died on a mission. Tried to become a nurse but most schools wouldn't accept her, even tried to get accredited at a school for Chanseys but the teacher treated her like a Pokémon and well….you can guess the rest. James's parents are very rich in Kanto and wanted him to marry this girl who was very controlling, down to telling him to get rid of one of his Pokémon. Meowth learned to talk and tried to make it big to make this other Meowth he had a crush on notice him. Make no mistake, I fight them seriously whenever I find them up to no good, but against a greater or an even worse evil that's not a Team Rocket plot and they don't have orders to help them, I can trust them to not stab me in the back. Heck, to try and save the world once they almost committed suicide." Ash finished with a bitter smile.

"They did what?" Serena whispered as they all stared at him in total shock. Ash and Pikachu looked at the others and nodded solemnly as their friends stared at the two of them.

"As those three let go of Lugia's tail and they dropped down towards the ice, my heart stopped for a few seconds." Ash said with a solemn tone as the others looked at him. Well, well. Those three and their teams are a bit principled after all. I think I'll make a mention of them on my next report home…wait what!? Lilith thoughts died as she recognized the name Ash and dropped and they all looked at Ash in total shock.

"Wait wait wait, LUGIA?! As in the Beast of the Sea!" Clemont said with a Serena looked at Ash with wonder as Lilith's mouth dropped open.

"As in the Legendary Pokémon?!" Bonnie exclaimed causing Ash to chuckle as they all stared at him.

"DEDENNE DEE!" Dedenne cried out as it looked at Ash and Pikachu with stars in its eyes.

"Remember when the weather took a turn for the worse about five or so years ago? To make a long story short someone had captured a Zapdos, Moltress and Articono that protected or ruled three islands in the middle of the global current in the Orange Islands all as part of a plan to get a Lugia for his collection." Ash said as he chuckled.

"You haven't had a normal Journey at all have you?" Lilith asked as soon as she found her voice.

"Nope! And that wasn't even the last time I'd met a Legendary and I was involved in an incident that big." Ash said as he laughed as the others looked at him in shock. Pikachu nodded as Dedenne looked at Pikachu with stars in its eyes and the larger electric mouse only laughed at the reaction the smaller Pokémon had at what it was being told.

"Heck I even ran into Celebi three times, and saved him everytime!" Ash said as the others just looked at him and tried to understand just what he was saying. Lilith dropped to her knees, the shock finally getting to her. I thought the stories and rumors about his father were something, but he's protected Celebi? Lilith thought as the others just stared in total shock until Serena and Clemont exploded.

"Cele Celebi, as in the legendary Pokémon that can travel through time!?" Serena stammered as everyone looked at him in total shock.

"Have you experienced its ability, have you traveled through time, did you visit the future?!" Clemont demanded as Ash just smirked at him and Pikachu snickered.

"Well CELEBI never took me back in time." Ash said as Clemont calmed down until Serena spoke up.

"'Back in time', you just said CELEBI never took you back in time, then that means you have traveled to the past?" Serena said as Clemont looked at Serena before snapping his head around to look at Ash who rubbed the back of his head.

"Well, have you guys ever read the story of the Travel and his Thunder Beast from Sinnoh; that was us and well Dialga did that." Ash said as the others just looked at him, Clemont making chocking noises. Wait, that story is about how a traveler from a faraway land helped a clan's leader save Arceus! Lilith thought before she got up and walked shakily towards the tents.

"I'm going to bed before Ash reveals that he's save all of reality, so good night." Lilith said as she reached her tent. As soon as her tent flap was closed she started to stare into space and shake as she hugged herself as she went over what Ash had said. If he isn't who I think he is then at least we have to make sure he isn't on the other side; a trainer whose done half of what he said he's done could take out an entire legion if he ever work his Aura up. She thought as she got out her Pokédex and started to shakily put down what he had said, hoping to pass the file to the one of her own sooner or later.

Ash looked at Lilith's tent and shrugged his shoulders. "Well let's get to bed guys; I don't want to cause her to have a mental breakdown." Ash moved towards his own tent as the others around him looked at him with shocked looks that he implied that he had saved all of reality once.

"We've made it the next rest stop! We're landing before the camp!" Cleo looked downward and saw a modest sized ruin next to an oasis and a few tents here and there and she realized it was that archeologist that had petitioned to investigate the Domain's ruins. If I remember it right then they have to put up any travelers if they camp by a water source, given that we have enough food for the journey I guess we can stay and take advantage of it and bed down with others tonight. Cleo thought as she directed her Flygon to follow Asim's as they moved towards the ground. As the Pokémon landed a cry was heard from the oasis and Cleo went to a necklace under her shirt and channeled a little Aura to it and felt it wash over her as her disguise slid into place as her hair and skin lightened.

"I don't mean to second guess you Asi….Marshal but why are we stopping, shouldn't we continue on and make camp when the moon rises?" Cleo asked causing Asim to laugh a little before he shook his head.

"That's when you travel along the Great River 'Protector'. Out here in the Desert you have to understand when to make camp, and you always do so by a water source…. You know, you never told me what to call you…." Asim asked as a jeep drove away from the oasis towards them and he looked over how she looked, all in all okay and she would pass as a person who stayed outside but not the Highlord, so it would work.

"Junia, this is Junia your intern." Cleo said with a smirk as Asim just sighed. Of course she would be. Still it will let me send her to talk to people and try and figure this what's wrong at the Rest before something terrible happens. I mean first that den and we're still trying to relocate all the Pokémon there so the nerd squad can get in there to see what it was in that hollow. What was happening before colonization around here, really? He wondered as the jeep stopped close enough for the people to call out to them but still defend themselves, smart whoever was over there. A man about Cleo's age stood up from the jeep's passenger seat and cupped his hands around his mouth.

"HELLO, WHERE ARE YOU HEADING? OR ARE YOU HERE WITH A MESSAGE FOR US?" The man hollered as Asim smiled at the challenge. His Flygon growled low and he figured Pokémon were underground ready to strike if they proved they meant the people here harm and he grinned as he copied the challenger's actions and yelled back.

"WE'RE PROTECTORS, HEADING FOR SOLA'S REST ON A MISSION FROM THE HIGHLORD TO INVESTIGATE AN ATTACK, MIGHT WE BED DOWN HERE FOR THE NIGHT? WE HAVE OUR OWN SUPPLIES IF THAT'S A PROBLEM!" Asim's voice echoed of the sands and the person looked at the drive before sitting down and they drove towards the two travelers. The man who had called out to them was a man with tan skin, black eyes and brown hair dressed in a brown vest over a white shirt and brown pants. The person driving the jeep was a woman in a white sleeveless shirt and brown pants and had tan skin, short platinum blond hair and blue eyes. The woman whistled and around them two Excadrills, biped Pokémon with three red marks on the front of their dark brown bodies. They had three steel claws with two sticking blades out of the top of the middle claw; their heads were white snots under a steel blade twice as long as their faces with two smaller blades sticking out of the middle of it. The two Pokémon dug their way out of the dirt and looked at the two Flygon before the two people in the jeep recalled their Excadrills into their Pokéballs.

"Welcome to Dig site Charlie then folks! Sorry about the surprises but about a week back we were attacked by a few bandits that misjudged the boss's strength." The man said as he smiled smugly at them.

"You'll have to tell me about that friend, but why didn't you report it?" Asim asked as he glared at as Cleo walked over to their Flygon and started to unloaded their saddles. The man sighed as the woman took over.

"We beat em but all the Pokémon we were using as messengers were taken out and we've only had basic first aid for them so were keeping them in their Pokéball. We let them out for meals and they are recovering but well the doc doesn't want them to travel the distance it'll take to get back to civilization." She said as she shrugged in a 'what can you do' manor and Asim frowned as he looked at them.

"Why haven't you radioed for help?" Asim demanded as they climbed into the jeep and he frowned when he saw the jeep was Aura powered. Why the heck did they modify this thing, oh don't tell me that's why they didn't call for help! Asim thought as the man laughed and looked back at him as the girl started the jeep.

"The people who built this had a problem with Eclectic Pokémon or Aura users, radio waves don't travel far. That's how we found this place anyway, we had Pokémon fly around, charted the magnetic disturbances, went to the biggest one that we could find and went to the center." The woman said as she drove back towards the hill separating the oasis from the great desert, as they passed over the dune none of them noticed places here and there as sand shifted as robed figures moved the sand aside and followed after the jeep.

"Oh, my name's Cassim and this is Madeha, the boss is in the ruins and you two are?" The man, Cassim asked as the woman, Madeha waved a hand as she drove over a dune, revealing the oasis, tall trees around a lake for about a mile. A ruin with built with sloping lines and black stones was along a portion of the lake and stretched through the trees to the sands. Here and there along the water and tress they could see tents and a few trailers and other jeeps here and they with one trailer far away from the others. As the jeep moved down the hill and into the trees Asim frowned as he went over what he saw of the camp. Nothing there that could invite bandits, and people need a reason to attack someone, the expedition only set up on one side near the ruin so what reason did they have? Asim thought as he tried and failed to rationalize the attack.

"I'm Asim, this is my intern Junia, and I think I'll need to talk to your prisoners." Asim said as they drove through the trees.

A few minutes later they pulled up and Cleo looked around at all the people as they moved, some of them were clustered around a hole dug near away from the water by a stone slab and others were looking at the walls and some seemed to be arguing with each other. She saw Machamps, a few more Aracaines and Excadrill digging here and there as people either looked at them or moved about the camp. Her breath caught in her throat as she saw a herd of Tropicis at the far side of the lake drinking as

"Amazing isn't it?" Madeha asked from behind her. Cleo turned and looked at her, seeing Madeha looking at the ruins with a look of wonder in her eyes.

"We think this was the residence and lab for a caster from before the Colonization. There are a few statues here and there that are amazing. And in the forest there are still marks form a great battle that had to have happened before this place was abandoned." She said as Cleo looked at her. Asim looked around and nodded before he turned to look at Cleo.

"Junia go and give our respects to the team's leader, I'll go and talk to the prisoners." Asim ordered and Cleo nodded as he walked off, Cassim being shanghaied as his guide. As he walked off he saw Cassim looking over his shoulder back at the girls as they walked into the ruin.

"Keep your eyes on the road Romeo! And she has someone already." Asim said harshly as he pulled Cassim.

"Why are the good ones always taken by the time I met them?" Cassim asked as he walked towards the lone trailer.

Cleo looked around as she walked into the ruins and smiled as she looked about. The outside might have been made of black stone but the inside was a beautiful red and white. Here and there were humanoid statues built with blue stones and white hexagon gemstones in the statues open palms with large spherical gems of some kind in their chests. As she walked by them she bit back a shiver as the two women passed them. Madeha looked at her and smiled bitterly.

"Felt a shiver didn't you? A few others said the same thing; the Doc thinks it's an old and decayed Rune chain." Madeha said as they stared at the statues.

"Has anyone found the source of the chain?" Cleo asked as Madeha just laughed as Cleo blushed at how naïve the question was. That was probably what they looked for first Cleo, of course they tried to find, if this place was Aura powered after all these years. Cleo thought as she realized the implications of this place and promised to have the Protectors send a 'guard' force to keep others from taking the bounty this place offered.

"Nope, personally I think it's a repair chain that gathers stray Aura from people as they came in under those things, inspired me to look into making something like that, course I'd need to personalize it to each place I set it up at, but something to think about hu?" Madeha asked as she led the way away from the statues. Cleo looked back over her shoulder and frowned, was that flash of sunlight glinting off the statues eyes. Turning back around neither of them noticed that one of the statues moved its head to look at where the two had gone as the other statues started to move.

A man stood before a door with hieroglyphs and blue gemstoneson it that went down in two rows as he tried to translate the hieroglyphs. He was wearing a grey vest over a black shirt and brown pants, he was bald with a short mustache and tried to puzzle them out, at his side was a reptilian wolf like creature with two raised ram horns. Okay let's start over from the beginning, what do you know? These are basically the same hieroglyphs you've studied before let's take it slow. Now these represent…... He thought as he jolted down a few quick words and started to try and figure out the code behind them.

"This…. okay so the first combination reads 'Blood-lord opens/seal away?' no, that last symbol must mean something else, I have wondered if the combination about is key, I thought that the language is a lot more complicated than a lot of people believe, but what is this? What could it mean?" He muttered to himself as he looked from his notes to the door and tried to think of a connection. I have to open this door, this was why I created this expedition ion the first place, this is the result of years of work I can't fail now! He thought as he looked at the notes he had jolted down so intently that he never noticed that he had visitors before one of the called out loudly.

"There you are professor! I knew you'd be here!" A loud voice caused him to jump and clutch his heart as he tried to get his heartbeat under control. It has to be her, doesn't it? He thought as he turned around and frowned as he looked at the woman before him, not evening seeing the other person who was standing next to her.

"Miss. Madeha! I have told you time and time again, don't do that!" He said as he looked at her before noticing the woman standing next to her and looked at her for a few seconds before realizing he didn't know her and looked at Madeha with a frown,

"This is Protector Junia, she and her teacher Asim dropped by on Flygons earlier; he went to talk to our captives while she came to greet you. Junia this is our the expeditions leader, Hans Terfold." Madeha said as Cleo bowed to him.

"Greetings Professor, let me just say it's a pleasure to be welcomed to your camp. It is well appreciated that you let us rest before we continue on our journey." She said as she reached out her hand toward him, him taking it and shaking it.

"Well met Protector and I'm not a professor, just the head student whose thesis proposed that this place was here. And it's a true pleasure to have law enforcement here! I hope there are more of you then just you and your teacher?" Hans asked as the reptilian wolf sniffed her.

Cleo only winced as he shook her hand and noticed he had on a chain necklace under his shirt. "Sorry sir the two of us are just heading towards Sola's Rest to investigate an incident there. We saw the oasis had people and decided to see if we could join your camp for the night." That's a Terror Hound, not particular powerful but didn't Assim say once that all homunculus could have custom abilities based on what's used to make it? And that chain around his neck, a Sight Share gem, but where's the controller? She thought as she looked at him.

"Well of course you two can! I don't suppose you could let the rest of the domain know we have captives when you reach your destination would you, we don't….have?" He trailed off when he saw a blue light on Cleo's face and he slowly turned to look at the door and dropped his jaw. The gemstones on it had started to glow blue and slowly a line of energy was formed between them and the door swung open down the line.

Asim walked with as he went over just what he would do when he met the prisoners, Cassim leading the way as he walked ahead, talking about the attack as they moved.

"It was strange how they attacked us see, they came at us when we were making supper, if the boss didn't have someone looking at the painting on the second floor we wouldn't have seen them coming! And they seemed to attack our tents and leaved our rides alone, but the professor thought they were looking for any artifacts to sell." Cassim said as he led Asim to the trailer. Two persons and a Machoke were standing guard outside and one of the looked towards Cassim and Asim as the two walked towards them.

"Cassim; who's the newbie?" The guard asked as Asim looked him over and identified him as a jock, probably came along to help his grade. Asim only looked at the guard who met his stare before starting to stammer and pale as he walked backwards until he hit the trailer.

"A Protector and I'll be talking to your captives." Asim said as he walked past them and into the trailer to see three men with tan skin in dark clothing with tattoos of symbols in a line across their brows. He looked at them and frowned when he saw the tattoos. "You're from one of the native tribes aren't you, the Desert Lords?"

One of the three jerked forward and glared at him as the others looked at each other before the first sank against his bonds. "Yes we are. If you know who we are then you must know what we do."

Asim nodded and locked eyes with the man. "I know that you protect Ancient sites, you stay by yourselves and you have a central city hidden somewhere in the Domain. What's so important to this place to get you to move, what are you protecting?"

At his words one of the other two started to struggle as he stared at Asim with anger and rage in his eyes. "Protect?! This hell!? This is one of the ancient horrors; a place where the seal on the monster that destroyed us before you all came here is maintained! And if one of them is asleep here!"

"Quit brother, you know we aren't to talk about that!" The other said as the leader looked at Asim and watched his reaction.

Asim looked at the man before turning towards the leader who looked back. The tribes of the desert call Devourer 'the sleeping horrors', and the old stories, they say that the mad were the source of Devourers lore, they said they found ancient knowledge that 'spoke' to them from artifacts… could this place! "Answer me truly, does this place have knowledge related to the Devourers?"

"Yes, more to the point if the knowledge is right then then there's one who knows that hellish power is in a deep sleep in there." The leader said as Asim looked athim and tried to make sense of what he had just said. He heard a scuffle behind him and turned to see the guard from before looking in with Cassim standing next to him.

"A Devourer, here? Come on how could one of them be 'asleep' here, before we came here they were Pokémon but they weren't even scared of the ruins!" The guard said as Asim looked at the man and started to think. Their against the Devourers more than any other people who know about them, and he said they attacked the tents so then maybe it was to drive the dig out of here…. But could it really be the case, there's only one way to know for sure. Asim thought before he slowly drew a knife that he put it next to the man's neck. The guards and Cassim looked at him in shock as the man and his two comrades merely looked at him with hard glares.

"Swear on your lifeblood and the mother river that you attacked to drive them out of here, that you weren't after their lives." Asim said as he held his blade steady.

"By my name, by my lifeblood, by my Aura and the mother river, the attack was to drive them out of here before they broke the door at the center of the ruins." The man said as he looked at Asim before a flash of blue light from outside blinded them.

"What in Arceus's name?!" Asim said before one of the guards cut in.

"That light, it was from the ruins!" He said before the struggling of the captives caused them all to look at the three men who had looks of terror on their faces.

"You have to releases us, he's free! We have to kill him before he reawakens his golem!" The man said prompting Asim to start cutting him free.

"This is amazing, I was right! This proves my theory, the ancient ruins of the Desert Domain they are the remnants of a people who could travel the world!" Cleo heard the August say as she looked around the room. They had entered the room a minute ago to see a room full of paintings of Pokémon found in Kalos and Unova, skeletons of Kabuto, Armaldo around the room and an Aerodactyl skeleton hanging from the ceiling with a large blue pillar in the center. As Cleo looked around the room she tried to figure out just how the door had opened on its own, but she just couldn't.

"August, I'm sure your excited but remember the first lesson, 'if something happens and you don't why you leave the area', I mean shouldn't we investigate before entering a new room?" Madeha asked as she stood by the doorway looking around. Cleo looked from her to the August who looked around the room with a hungry look on his face with his Terror Hound waiting near the doorway. As she watched him she frowned, was she seeing something or was one of his hands near his chain necklace.

"Don't worry my dear; I'm sure that won't be a problem for much longer." August said as he walked towards a blue pillar. She was here before so that new girl….she has to be descended from that line, to think it survived! Oh he will be so happy once he sees her! He thought as he looked at the pillar

"August, we have to get out of here, it's almost sundown, and the professor said that we shouldn't work through the night." Madeha said as August ignored her for a few seconds before calling back to her.

"Just stay there my dear; it won't be much longer till I'm done." August said as Cleo looked at what was happening as she started to feel a chill in the air. Wait 'longer till I'm done'? What he's mean, it's like he…no, it can't be, the University would have caught it before he's been given command here. Cleo thought as she slowly backed towards the door. Before she could pass the threshold a growl caused her to look at the Terror Hound as it got back to its feet and stare at her.

"Please stay right there my lady, my patron will like to decide what to do with you once he's awake. I was wondering how to open that door, but to think that one of his bloodline survived!" August declared as he removed his necklace from under his and revealed an aqua colored gemstone with a blue spark at the center of it, his back to the two of them.

As his attention was on the pillar as he walked towards it Madeha silently moved her hand towards a Pokéball on her belt and frowned when she heard the sound of stones hitting stone. Turning she paled when she saw one of the statues from the entrance was moving towards them. No choice, I have to handle that these things fist and deal with the Homunculus second, good thing I have my partners with me. Madeha thought as she threw out two Pokéballs. From one came a large dark grey and white bear like Pokémon with a large white belly with its fur from its back forming a dark grey coat, a thin-stemmed shoot with two leaves in its mouth, its head white with the area around its eyes black. Next to it a smaller humanoid Pokémon with a round, red and black head like a helmet with a golden double-headed axe blade down the top center of the head, with yellow lines where its red shoulders met its black body, its lower arms white with metallic hands that resemble gloves, with retractable, blades, two blades encircling its torso above its red legs.

"GO Pangoro, Bisharp! Bisharp handle the Terror Hound, Pangoro take down that golem!" She called out as her Pangoro roared and charged, meeting it fist to fist as Bisharp attacked the Terror Hound, only for it do dodge and spat a ball of black fire that exploded when it hit the Steel Type, sending it flying against the wall. Pangoro was doing no better as it saw other golems walking towards them and its hands started to feel wet, straining its self it pushed the golem out of the room and closed the doors to the chamber, holding them closed as the golems started to try and force them open.

"Pangoro, keep them out, Bisharp are you okay?" Madeha cried and was relieved when Bisharp nodded and she looked into the room as the laughter of the crazy fool inside gave her pause for a second.

"No matter what you do, I will still win! Nothing can stop me!" He said with a crazed edge to his voice as the Terror Hound charged at the Bisharp with glowing horns when suddenly a large Krokorok suddenly appeared and punched the Terror Hound, sending it crashing into the skeleton of a Kabuto. Snarling August turned and saw Cleo wielding a staff as the Krokorok growled as she moved closer to him.

"Don't forget about me, I don't know what you were talking about, but if you think I just stand there pretty you're so wrong." She said and looked surprised when he laughed.

"Do what you will, it's too late!" He cried as he put the necklace against the large pillar and it suddenly released a blue flash of light that blinded them.

"I still don't know about this, the boss should be contacted." The guard said as he and Cassim followed Assim and the three desert dwellers. After the flash the leader of the desert dwellers, one Mathayus a saber and released a large biped Pokémon, with fluffy white fur on its belly and fringing its face like a beard, its head had a plate of beige armor, similar to a helmet. It possesses a prominent domed, beige armor-like shell, trimmed with red and green bands; the green is on the outermost edge and four large spines jutting out of the back and its arms had spike shields near its three clawed hands. The other two had released two Brelooms and drawn two axes and moved after their leader as they moved through the camp, all three were worried.

"One of them let him out, we have to hurry!" Mathayus said as he ran, his Chesnaught following behind him

"Let who out, I'm trusting you but I need to know what we're dealing with here." Assim said as they rushed through the camp.

"Hell, we are dealing with a true monster!" Mathayus said as they ran. "The Devourers you've dealt with, most of them learn how to from teaching artifacts left behind. This one, he made some of them, our history tells that he was a master golem builder and when the end came, our records say he and his student put him to sleep and the student sacrificed to activate an Aura Rune that killed all the people around the oasis but left the Pokémon alive! My clan has been guarding this place since then, we were trying to drive you out so he would stay asleep!"

"WHAT THE HELL ARE THOSE THINGS!?" A cry ahead of them caused them to look up and Assim cursed as three of the same stature Golems were walking out of the ruins, one of them pointing at one of the students and fired a blast of water at him, sending him flying a good ten feet as the golems moved towards the people. As Assim watched more golems came out of the building as what looked like decorations pulled themselves from the walls, blue serpent like constructs with sapphire eyes.

"We fight through them brothers, arise!" Mathayus called out a roar was heard as from the trees more robbed figures and Grass Pokémon charged towards the golems. Mathayus was about to join them when Assim turned him around.

"THOSE PEOPLE, THEY WERE HERE TO BREAK YOU OUT AND CHASE THE EXPIDITION OUT OF HERE!" Assim demanded as Mathayus just nodded at him.

"We do what we must to keep the threats of this island asleep, we can talk later we fight now!" Mathayus said as he turned back and charged at the golems, Assim followed behind him a moment latter

When the light died something flew into Cleo and knocked her to the floor. She looked down at a green small round cactus like Pokémon with a golden crown around its head with two club shaped limbs ringed with four dark green spikes and two small cone shaped legs. She looked down at the Cacnea as it cooed at her before growling as fog started to seep around her and it jumped in front of her as her Krokorok fought off the Terror Hound. She looked towards where the Pillar was and saw smoke where the pilliar had been, August was on his knees as if in worship.

"Master, I heard your commands, your call through the ages and I have done it! And I have a sacrifice here, a descent of those that sealed you!" August said as his Terror Hound broke off from its battle with Krokorok and Bisharp to guard August as he kneeled, a red energy shield forming to keep them out as Cleo watched. "My only desire master is to serve you as your student."

From within the fog a blue energy lance shot out and pierced Augusts heart, his Terror Hound dropping to the floor as the energy shield dropped and something was heard slithering on the floor and Augusts's body was dragged into the fog as a chuckle was heard.

"So my old master left one of these behind, I am so glad I was able to get my counter chain ready before I killed him." A pompous sounding voice said as the smoke started to clear and it revealed a serpentine Pokémon It's mostly black with silver hexagon markings on its top with various purple scar-like marks and silver bumps where its body meets the ground; it had two silver fangs and a silver coloring from its underjaw to its 'neck' and a sharp looking tail colored blue. Behind it was a man in a blue robe with a silver headdress on his head and an arrogant look in his black eyes as he bent down and removed the necklace from Augusts neck as he looked at it. "So the old idiot was planning on that chain killing me, 'you'll be fine, you will build my kingdom while I sleep'. As if I could every listen to him and trust him, right Serviper?"

"Serviper." Serviper hissed as Cleo brought her arm up her Pokegear scanned the Pokémon. The man looked at her and smirked.

"Serviper subtype detected, Water Secondary detected." Her Pokegear reported as she looked at him.

"My you do look a little like her." He said as he looked her over, feeling slimy as his eyes slid over her form. She paled as the energy harpoon drew out a blue ball that he pulled to him and ate. Oh by the River he's a devourer! And this fog, its cold he couldn't be… Cleo thought as she looked at him as he sighed.

"Ahhhh. The taste of Aura at the point of death; nothing like it in the world!" He said as he shot a blue energy bolt at the Terror Hound causing it to spasm before it got back to its feet, a blue glow trailing form its eyes as it glared at the two Pokémon before it and the energy shield snapped back into place. "Rejoice woman, the great Raafid has decided you shall become his concubine!" Raafid said as he pointed at her with a scepter that he drew from his back. Cleo just looked at him dumbfounded before she started to glare and got back to her feet, a definint look in her eyes. "So you'll be defiant then, good! The best flowers are always ones that have been put in the proper vase, Terror Hound, bring her to me." Raafid said darkly as the Terror Hound started to move towards her before the Cactus raised its arms and fired muiltiple energy blasts from it at Terror Hound and one of them broke off one of its horns, the energy wall dropping as its horns sparked.

"You'll fight with me?" Cleo asked Cacnea and smiled when it nodded at her. "Okay Krokorok, use Brick Break on Terror Hound, Cacnea keep doing what you did before!"

Her Krokorok charged at the homunculus with a glowing arm and slammed it into the Terror Hound, sending it to the floor and its other horn to break off. Raafid looked on and sighed.

"What a problem, to think the great one must use such inferor products, but do with what you have. Serviper; Element Pass; Water!" He commanded. His Serviper angled its head up and spat out a glowing blue energy ball that Raafid drew to him and ate, an aura of blue energy forming around him. "Terror Hound, push that bitch to the floor, Serviper Hydro Pump at Krokorok!"

Terror Hound roared and charged at Cleo before Cacnea raised a green glowing arm and suddenly roots burst form the ground and grabbed Terror Hound as it tried to move. Serviper opened its mouth and fire a torrent of water in a spiral at Krokorok, Cleo could only watch

"Bisharp Intercept it with Iron Defense!" A voice called out as suddenly Bisharp outlined in light blue and was between Krokorok and the water spiral, it just splashing around it as the Bisharp glared at the Serviper as Raafid looked at the Steel type before looking out the doorway with Cleo doing the same. Madeha stood there with a scowl on her face and a ball of red golden energy forming in front of her outstretched hand.

"Don't forget about me, me and mine are still in this!" She called out a she clenched the ball of energy and fired a blast of electricity at Raafid who only sighed and held up a hand and caught the electricity in a water sphere that he then pointed at the wall next to him and the ball become a beam of blue and yellow energy that destroyed the wall, revealing an inner courtyard that Raafid started to walk towards, pausing when he reached the hole.

"My masters creations were in destroy mode when I betrayed him, everything living within the ten feet of this place are a target, if I were you I would leave soon….and prey you never meet me again, oh and Terror Hound to me." He said as his Serviper followed after him and the Terror Hound finally broke free and charged after him, the pounding from the next room causing Cleo to look up at Madeha who looked back as she looked at the doorway and her Pangero.

"After him, call back your Pangoro! We can't let the others come in here, it'll be a slaughter!" Cleo said as she picked up Cacnea and ran towards the hole with her Krokorok, Madeha doing as Cleo had said and following with her Bisharp a few seconds later, all of them hearing the doors holding back the golems crashing open.

Assim slashed out with his daggers and broke a serpent golem's head off its body and jumped backwards as he dodged a water strike from a statue golem and looked about. The some of the desert dwellers were pulling the expedition back to their vehicles and getting them out of there as the rest fought off the golems as Assim, Mathayus and their Pokémon tried to break through to discover what had happened inside. This isn't working; we have to get in there! If she's hurt I won't ever forgive myself! Assim thought as he dodged a serpent golem and slashed its head off. Suddenly the golems all turned their heads and moved towards a Terror Hound Homunculus that charged from an entrance to a courtyard. As the Homoculus attacked the Golems two spirals of water hit the golems, destroy some and forcing others back. They saw a man in a blue robe wearing a silver headdress walk out behind it with a silverfish Serviper following behind him.

Mathayus stared in shock, not believing what he was seeing. That's the apprentice but didn't he die when he set off the chain, what happened back then. Mathayus shook his head and charged at Raafid who met the blow with his scepter, locking eyes with the man who only looked intrigued at who was fighting him.

"So that tribe survived after all, I thought master killed you all." Raafid said as Mathayus snarled at him.

"We thought you gave your life for that monster, how are you alive?!" Mathayus demanded as Raafid laughed and spun them around until his back was to the lake.

"Oh I just betrayed that one before he could betray me, do take care to survive the golems! Terror Hound, get as many of those golems to fight you then Explosion!" Raafid said as he broke away and ran towards the lake with his Serviper behind him, jumping suddenly to dodge roots that tried to grab him. Turning Mathayus saw Cleo with a Cacnea in her arms, a Krokorok, a Bisharp and Madeha following behind her. They were all of running out of the courtyard with more of those golems chasing them.

"GET OUT, EVERYONE RUN! THOSE THINGS WON'T STOP UNTIL EVERYTHING IN AN MILE IS DEAD!" Cleo cried as she ran towards the tree line. A splash caused Madeha to see Raafid and his Pokémon gone, a ripple on the pond's surface the only clue to where he had gone. Mathayus looked at the ripples for a few seconds before turning noticing the others breaking off combat and the Terror Hound was charging at a large group of golems. As he realized what was happening, Mathayus saw the others looking at him, searching for any sign of what to do.

"RETURN TO THE DESERT MY BROTHERS, RETURN!" Mathayus cried as he ran a scowl on his face as he moved, stopping when a jeep stopped in front of him with Assim behind the wheel and Cassim behind him.

"Get in, we'll grab the girls and anyone else and get to the far side!" Assim said before Mathayus got into the jeep and recalled his Pokémon. As they drove away Mathayus looked back as the Terror Hound exploded and he cursed his weakness.

As the moon shined down on the city, two figures moved over the rooftops and stopped overlooking a block of apartments across a street. The first figure made a few signs and the second nodded and jumped over the street with the first following behind as they landed on the balcony of one of the apartments. As the moon shinned down the figures were revealed to be Hikari and Shadow.

"So how do we do this, was there a security system?" Shadow asked as Hikari stood in front of the door. She shook her head as she moved her arm back and shattered the glass door and slipped into the room with Shadow following behind her.

"Nope, its set up for the front only, I think the previous landlord was lazy so I was looking for a better place if I was going to be stuck here." Hikari said as she moved towards a vent on the floor and removed the covering and pulled out a small box. She opened it to reveal two Pokéballs and a USB stick that she put into a pocket after she attached the balls to her belt. She looked around the room and frowned, she had come here because of her investigation into who she now knew was one of the Order, but she thought they would have come back and checked out if she left any evidence leading back to Karin. "This doesn't make sense."

"What is it?" Shadow asked as he moved his right arm around the room, a scanner set into it scanning for any electronics and he frowned as he saw the results on his mask and understood what she was thinking. "There's nothing you didn't leave, what did they just decided not to come or were they killed by the Chimera before they could make it here? And your 'previous landlord?"

Hikari shook her head and looked around her room for the last two months and spoke absently. "Yeah, the guy was sleazy, one of those people that's just in it for the money. Did the absolute minimum and tried to keep from doing anything at all. The new girl actually hired a handyman that's been great, even fixed a leak in my shower…." Hikari stopped and when she started to feel Shadow release some killing intent. Turning to see him standing still she started to say something when he touched his gauntlet and suddenly her mask showed her a view from Shadow's scanner showing a blip in her bathroom causing her to go still. That perverted bastard! Is it a camera or a microphone, but why the bathroom?

"Was that the only place that he worked on here?" Shadow asked as he scanned the room, hoping he wouldn't find anything as a sliver of rage burned in his heart.

"Yeah, I was going to have him come and replace the lights in the kitchen next, they died a few days ago, but I heard a rumor that someone might be transferred to another station and I wanted to see if I had a chance before I called him." Hikari said as she started to scan as well, absently hoping to have a reason to go and have a talk with him. She went still when she scanned the front of the apartment and detected three people coming towards them. What did Sarah say about this, how to activate the radio and turn off external coms…got it. she thought as she pressed a button on her right wrist and looked at Shadow. "Shadow, switch to internal coms and hide in the kitchen, I'll hide in the bathroom, let's see who they are first."

"Got it Hikari, make sure you strike fast if they're not just thieves." Kotaro said as he slipped into the kitchen and hid in the shadows. As she slipped into her bathroom she heard a sound from the hallway and the sound of voices coming towards.

"So you haven't heard from those two since they took that reporter chick to dump her somewhere?"

"No, probably had another job to do and might have gotten caught up in those things attack, and the boss lady already left for Saffron, something about checking the preparation for the op."

"And how'd you know that idiot, I didn't think you were that high up the ladder."

"Well somebody gotta operate the comms for those people!" Gabby heard the door to the room open and after a few seconds she heard the sounds of two people moving around.

"So we just have to find the bitch's clothing and then we can leave, right?" a gruff voice asked as

"Yeah, stupid bastard had to have gotten the chance to the good job of cleaning out the fridge." Another voice said as Gabby slowly moved one of her hands towards her blades and moved slowly back from the door and reached for her other Pokéball.

"Go signal is the slightest hint of an opening, ready?" Kotaro's voice came over her comms and Gabby tensed.

"Ready, got one who works their comms, will try and take alive if possible." Gabby said softly as she heard them move towards the bathroom.

"Oh, don't forget to get the bitch's toothbrush, we've gotta sell the story right the first time." Comms guy said as Gabby heard someone walking towards the door.

"Yeah, Yeah I'll get it." The other one said as the door opened. Before the person could react Gabby shot forward with her knife and stabbed him through his heart and pushed him to the floor. The other man only gawked at what he was seeing, staring in total shock at what was had happened, not believing his eyes at the feminine figure in white holding a bloody blade.

"WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?!" He cried out in shock as Gabby sprung to her feet she threw out a Pokéball releasing a purple, bipedal Pokémon with a square build, a large mouth and two short stalks that support its circular ears with black and purple rings inside them.

"Loudred?" It rumbled as it looked at the two people before realizing who Gabby was and growled at the Order member who finally grabbed a Pokéball and threw it.

"Go, Vigoroth Scratch attack!" He barked as Vigoroth shot at Loudred with glowing claws.

"Echoed Voice, knock em out, rampage time!" Gabby cried out as the Comms guy looked at her in shock.

"LOUDRED!" Her Pokémon cried before it fired a blast of sound at the charging Vigoroth.

Back in the kitchen the last of the three Orders members looked up at the sound of a crash and subconsciously changed his stance.

"WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?!" As soon as he heard the cry of his teammate and the crash that followed he jumped backwards before a throwing blade sunk into the floor where he was standing.

"Magmortar, go! I'm bringing this place down!" He called out as a Rattata and a trainer in a dark bodysuit suddenly appeared in the kitchen.

"LOUDRED!" A roar from the bedroom caused him to turn and that saw his partner's Vigoroth crash through the wall and he saw a woman in white with a bloody blade attack one of his partners as the body of the other one was on the floor. A screech from his Magmortar caused him to turn and pale as it put one of its arms over its eyes as the Rattata landed with its tooth bloody. We have to get out of here, we can't fight in this wreck of a room, we need space, up or down. He thought as he reached into his pocket and threw down a black ball that caused a cloud of smog to form and block the sight of everyone in the room.

"Magmortar, Flame Charge to the right, We're going up, follow me!" He barked. His Pokemon reacted and charged towards the doorway to the hall, fire covering its form as it hit the door way and burst through, fire still burning from the broken door. As he ran out into the hallway he moved towards the stairs, hoping to get to the roof and he hoped that idiot would lead the people to the ground he would escape easily over the roofs on his Pokémon.

Gabby ran out into the hallway after Kotaro and looked at the hallway as the flames started to climb up the walls. Shit, shit! I can only hope that the fire department will get here and the last people in here will get out

"How many people are one this floor and why aren't the alarms going off!?" Kotaro demanded as he looked at the hallway. I know those people are destructive but something like this, how many people could they kill, and why haven't the alarms gone off? He thought before he heard Gabby's reply.

"Nobody above us, but there are people below. Last I saw there were a mother and daughter on two floors down and the supper was living with his niece. I heard the owner was going to turn this into a hotel and was phasing people out, my lease was up in two months, and as for the alarms, I thought this place was up to code. But what do we do, up or down?" Gabby asked as she scanned towards the stairway and saw two people, one moving up and the other moving down.

"Sacrifice play, he called that out so we would hear, we need to wake anyone that might be here up, Happy should have called the police so we have minutes at best to handle this." Kotaro said grimly as Gabby nodded.

"I'll have Loudred Roar and wake anyone up and we have to split up." Gabby sad as she crossed her arms and her helmeted head looked at him, Kotaro only nodding after a few seconds.

"Nothing else we can do, I'll catch the guy going up and you make sure the bastard with the Mamotror isn't trying to set the building on fire!" Kotaro said as he ran towards the staircase, his Rattata on his heels.

Gabby stood there and sighed. We've got to work on acting as a team, but that can happen later, for now we have work to do. She thought as she turned towards her Loudred who smirked at her. "Roar." Gabby said as she activated the sound blockers that she had asked Happy to add to her mask

"LOUDRED!" Her Pokémon screamed and as soon as its mouth was closed she started to scan below and saw two people getting out of beds and smirked when they moved towards the hallway.

"Good, hopefully they'll head to the street. Come on; let's have our friend take us down." She said as she ran back into her old apartment, deciding to take the fast way down.

As the order member ran down the stairs with his Vigoroth by his side he really hoped that he'd be able to get away. This was supposed to be a simple retrieval, but that idiot had to kill the supper and then those two, who are hell are they, I gotta get back to the others, they have to know about this. And going up after a flame user, no way in hell and I that stupid.

"Gliscor!" A voice from above him caused him to turn jump to the side as a large purple pokemon with two large pincers as hands, its tailed ended in two barbs and on its back above its wings was the woman he had been fighting with her Pokemon hanging onto the purple one's tail.

"Shit, how'd the bitch follow us? He said go up." He muttered as he looked at her as she jumped from her Pokemon and her Loudred released the tail.

"So you went down instead of up, will you surrender or will you make it ….fun?" She asked with a robotic sounding voice as she stood as her two Pokémon. He gritted his teeth and threw out a Pokéball. What appeared was a large bipedal creature covered in shaggy, white fur with its hands, feet, and tail colored dark green on its back were four green spikes that resemble pinecones, as it stood up a cold breeze started up and snow started to fall around them, her own Pokémon wincing as ice hit them.

"Loudred, attack the Abomasnow, Artic tactics! Gliscor, take out that Vigoroth!" Gabby cried out as she dashed at the Order member. He barely dodged her as he moved backwards as she slashed at him with the blunt side of her blade as his two Pokémon tried to react and defend themselves before hers were on them. Gliscor crabbed Vigoroth and threw it against the building while Loudred charged at the Abomasnow and fired a Flamethrower at it that caused it to step backwards. As Vigoroth saw Gliscor move towards it and its teammate under fire it felt a rage it had never felt before and exploded.

"Vigoroth!" It screamed as its bowed suddenly started to glow white as it grew, it gained two feet and its body gained muscles as it bulked up as a small tuff formed on its head. As the glow died down it was revealed to have changed color to a brown color and it had become an ape like Pokémon.

"Slaking!" It cried before it charged at Gliscor and grappled with it. Gabby and the Order member stared in shock at what had happened and suddenly she kicked him between the legs and he went to the ground in pain. Slaking tried to move to help its trainer when Gliscor opened its mouth and shot white needles at Slaking point blank and it shook itself as purple bubbles appeared around it.

Loudred jumped at Abomasnow with a white glowing fist and punched it, sending it backwards, it looked at its opponent as the snow storm continued and its trainer spared a glance at the battle as he tried to get back to his feet as Gabby tried to hold him down. I've got to get out of here, if the other one comes back then I'm screwed! The only thing to do is escape, but I have to get this bitch off me! He thought as he struggled and grabbed her arms.

"Abomasnow, Bullet Seed on the one fighting Vi-Slaking! Slaking throw!" He cried as he threw Gabby away from him and moved backwards as he rolled to his feet. Abomasnow spat three glowing seeds that shot at Gliscor and all three hit, causing Gliscor to wince, giving Slaking the opening it needed to throw Gliscor away from it. Gabby dashed backwards and held her blade up to defend as both Slacking and Abomasnow moved to stand in front of their trainer who turned paled when he looked over Gabby's shoulder.

"Abomasnow, Mist!" He cried out as Gabby started to hear sirens in the distance. Abomasnow breathed out a white cloud that hid them from view, a few seconds later the hail died down and as the mists cleared away the trainer and his Pokémon were gone.

Gabby turned behind her and saw a firetruck coming towards her, recalling her Loudred she got back onto her Gliscor. "Up buddy; time to fly."

"GLISCOR!" It cried as it raised its tail as it started to glow and slammed it against the ground and catapulted them into the air.

Within the stairway Kotaro stopped and looked at the railings, he was sure it had melted a little. Looks like the bastard really did go up instead of down, makes me wonder how he'll get away. I just hope that Gabby caught that guy. So let's see if he has what he has planned. Kotaro thought as he ran towards the top with his Rattata by his side. "We're going to

As the order member barreled onto the roof he looked around and smirked as his Magmortar followed him. good, we are low enough for a 'rocket jump', now all we have to do is make it another building and then I can get out into an alley and get away. He thought as the two of them moved towards the edge when suddenly a beam of energy shot past them. Turning quickly both trainer and Pokémon saw Kotaro and his Rattata standing by the door, the rat pokemon's teeth gleaming.

"I don't suppose you'd mind letting me go, would you?" He asked, walking to the left with his Magmortar following behind him as Kotaro moved to the left and his Rattata followed.

"No, I was hoping to find the other one, but you'll do. Before I'm doing your tell me all about your organization and how you all are connected to the Siege." Kotaro said as the Order member stiffened and stared at him in total shock as he went still.

"How ….how can you know that?" He stammered as his Magmortar started to growl as he looked at the man who grinned and starred at back as he drew a short sword.

"The Aura is with me." He said as he and his Pokémon shot at their frozen opponents. The Order member barley dodged and drew forth a long dagger and parried the blow as his Fire type tried to slam one of its arms down onto the Rattata that dodged the blow and shot a blast of energy at it that caused it to move back. As the trainers exchanged blows the order member was barely able to believe what Kotaro had said. That's the ancient oath of those idiots, he couldn't be one of them, we're the only successors alive; the Chimera got the others when they were weak! I have to get away, I have to get back to the others and tell them! If we can recruit him, tell him the truth from whatever lies he's been told about us then. The order member thought as he lunged backwards and out of range of Kotaro's blade as he started to pant.

"Wait, Wait! If you truly are connected to them then please, let us stop! We're both members of groups that kill Chimera and you've had to been lied to, surely there's a way to work together?" He panted as Kotaro looked at him as their Pokémon fought, Rattata lunging at Magmortar with glowing fangs and bit its right leg, Magmortar throwing the leg in question out and Rattata flew into the air, summersaulting back to the ground and dashed to its trainer's side as he held up a hand. This is interesting, maybe I could learn a few things about the Order this way, if my hunch is right then this will explain a few things. He thought as he sheathed his blade and stood straight, his masked head starring at the Order member.

"I had a mission to investigate the woman in the apartment, and based on your talk you had something to do with her, so talk." Kotaro said as he looked at his opponent, wondering what he would say.

"That bitch? She tried to get in the way of killing those things in the mountain, and when she tried to run away she killed herself by falling off where she hid! It wasn't our fault but those bastard reporters would have crucified us and we can't have that now, this could be the start of a new Siege!" He said as his Magmortar moved next to him as he looked at Kotaro who only nodded.

"So you got rid of her body and were going to destroy her clothing, thinking that someone found it while leaving her body where it was, another life taken by the Chimera." Kotaro said as he absorb. That's not what happened, but does he truly know what happened or is he just telling what he was told? Just when I thought those bastards couldn't get any more evil. He thought before a sudden blizzard started to blow from the ground. As his head whipped downward the order member grabbed onto his Pokémon's neck form the back and barked a command.

"ROCKET!" His Magmortar ran towards the edge and jumped with its arms back and shot flames from its arms to fly through the air. Kotaro and Rattata stared until they noticed that the flames had started to burn the roof top.

"My target got away, but I was able to get a tracker on him. the last few people in the building are out and the fire fighters are here, what do you want to do now?" Gabby's voice came over his radio and Kotaro looked around and saw a helicopter coming his way. Recalling his Rattata to its Pokéball he released his Noivern and got onto it before he activated his own radio.

"Head to the second rally point, we'll not done with our work just yet." Kotaro said as Noivern took flight and flew away from the building. "And Hikari, good work tonight."

As the moon hung overhead as the residence of the city lord was lit up like a bonfire as soothing music from birds with gems on their breasts flew above people in formal clothing and dresses as they moved around a courtyard with hanging lights. Around them moved large cat like creatures with flowers on their backs as people danced or talked as feminine looking figures in maid uniforms carried plats of food or drinks here and there. Sadri Don Rodruss stood farther back and smiled as he looked at what he had worked towards for the last few months, and it was everything he had thought it would be. All that was left was for that idiot Francisco to leave the city once his scrap heap of a ship was repaired and never bother him again. And if a miracle happened and he catch that pirate bitch then he would just be dealt with.

"Great party my lord, truly wonderful." A seductive voice said he turned to see Orchid walking towards him in a mermaid dress that exposed her breasts perfectly in his optioning.

"Ahhh Orchid my dear! How is everything, any reportsI need to see." Sadri asked he offered his arm to her as Orchid smiled serenely.

"No my lord, the VIPs are on their way here and I've already sent a Maid for your daughter, so everything is fine." She said as she took his arm and they walked through the yard.

Nudara looked over the party from her room as she finished putting on the last of the jewelry her father had sent to her and fought down a scowl. As if I needed something else to show how that bastard sees me as just a piece for his glory. She thought as she looked at the Aura grown yellow crystal in the shape of her father's sigil, a yellow star with a black center. "And the fool wonders why he hasn't be offered Ascension yet. " She muttered as she looked at herself in her room's mirror, she was wearing a yellow ballroom gown that would have been more appropriate for a courtesan, the fact that it only covered the bottom half of her breasts and the slant cut on the right side and left her shoulders bare was something she would deal with. A chuckle from her Bellossom caused her to look at her and smile as she watched her Pokémon eat Pokéblocks as she sat there.

"Remember girl you're going to be with me for the entire time and we'll be eating a lot of little things, so enjoy that plate." Nudera said and felt a bit of a joy at the look her Pokémon sent her and smiled.

"My lady, your father is calling for you!" A voice from her door caused her to stand up and move towards it, a blank smile appearing on her face as she walked. Time to act once again. She thought as she opened her door and smiled at the homunculus there. "Where is my lord father?" She asked the maid homunculus as she opened.

"He's near the front, he wanted you with him when he makes his speech." The maid said as she looked over Nudera and nodded. "

Nudara sighed internally as she smiled and received greetings from the party goers as she walked through the garden, an aroma from the feline homunculus making it hard to keep a scowl from her face as she walked. Bewitching Aroma Flower Cats dad, really? If I didn't have that training dad could have found out everything he needed to get rid of his pirate problem with a few questions. And to think I had a smidge of respect left for him…still I just have to get through this night and then I can make an excuse to leave, maybe a trip to the capital to see a show or spend a while there. She thought as she listened to the conversations around her as she moved.

"Have you heard, the Highlord is going to be having a reception here in a few days' time?" A woman in a red dress said to another woman holding a black fan in her gloved hands

"And Lord had this party planned as the social event of the year for a while, that's going to hurt him a bit." The woman holding the fan said as she used it to hide her face.

"Did you hear about how she made off with the full cargo, looted the ship down to the nails she did!" A man said

"No doubt the Lord is going to make mention of that pirate that's been hitting his shipments lately." A man replied as a he picked up a glass from a passing server. Nudea frowned as she passed by, sure that anything her father did would be problems for her.

"Nudara, Darling! There you are!" A voice caused her to mentally sight. Here we go again, the bimbos three. She thought as she forced a smile as she turned and saw three girls her own age walking towards her with three Pokemon following them. A girl wearing a red strapped gown her short black hair and was wearing a tiara was followed by a Pidove that hovered behind her while a girl with purple hair in a green gown with voluminous sleeves was followed by a Espurr while a girl in a shoulderless black dress with long red hair was followed by a Pichu.

"Maddie, Claire, Paulina, how are you?" Nudara asked as she fought down a scowl as she looked over her 'friends', each and every one of them trash that deserved to be thrown into jail.

"Oh Nudera you can't believe how hard it's been lately, mother said that I couldn't get a new necklace because of my grades." Maddie Vol Clou'dra said as she shook her head as her Pidove landed on her shoulder.

"HO HOHO! You should have gone to my study group Maddie, maybe then you might have passed." Claire Lacrada laughed as her Espurr bowed to the others as she

Paulina Saliemdra just sighed as she fanned herself as her Pichu jumped to her shoulder. "It's too bad that hunk Francisco is being sent after that bitch Nightsprout, hu sister? I was thinking about asking if he'd mind taking me here as my date." She said cheekily as the other two sighed and Nudera just smiled at them.

Claire just sighed and shook her head. "Mmm, I'd love to spend an evening with Francisco, he always seemed so strong."

Nudera just smiled while inside she was scowling. Of course these three would be after that idiot playboy. Why did I ever like these three, maybe they weren't as vapid as they are now then? She thought as she tried to keep her thoughts off her face. "Well father had to do something after he failed the way he did, and I think the punishment fit the crime so to speak, I'm sure in a few weeks he'll have a plan to catch her."

"The one good thing is that Mr. Rainbow hasn't been here yet or his sister is keeping them away from us. Remember how he tried to court you before Lilith won that contest and he was 'struck by her beauty'?" Paulina asked as Nudera smiled and started to mentally apologies to Lilith for going to that show with him to distract herself from his 'courting'.

"Announcing the Ladies Camellia, Chiyome and Tsubaki!" A voice said causing them all to turn their heads towards the garden's entrance and Nudara smiled. With luck they'll take up those people's attention and I can slip to the walls. Nudara thought as everyone turned and looked towards the voice.Camellia was wearing a shining black strapless dress with a slit on the right side and wore a black gem that rested on her breasts with a powerful looking Mandibuzz hovering next to her. On her other side was a woman with blue eyes and purple hair in a simple bun with two hair pins with purple gems on the end wearing an elegant looking kimono with a red sash with an Arbok behind her. Next to her walked a girl Nudara's age with black eyes and purple black hair in a simple kimono that reveled a hint of her breasts with a green bipedal, reptilian Pokémon with a slender build with two purple wing like structures on its shoulder and a red palmate leaf with three prongs on the end of its tail and it had two arms ending in three digits and two tiny claw like feet. The three of them walked into the grounds and Nudera saw her father walk towards them and bowed when they stopped, Nudera moved to join him, knowing that this was what he wanted her to stand by her.

"Oh how wonderful that you all made it! When you said you were coming I was overjoyed, with all the rumors that have been coming all over lately I wasn't sure that you would come." He said as Camellia smiled, revealing a fang that caused Sadri to suppress a shiver of envy.

"Oh we were in the area and when I heard about the Highlord would be here in a few days I just knew I had to come. My friend and her student are here for a little desert conditioning but well, I was able to convince her to they should have a little fun beforehand." Camellia said with a little giggle.

"Then it is my gain madam! But about those rumors that have been flying everywhere, I don't suppose you'd be able to say anything about them. Why I've heard everything from Chimera breeders in the ocean to Frankenmon attacking a city. Why the rarest was they finally found our Queen!" Sadri said with a laugh that died at Camellia and Chiyome both looking at him with a hard strange look to their eyes that caused him to slowly swallow and start to feel sweet going down his forehead.

"Yes there have been rumors, there always are but I can't say anything really, there's nothing to say really." Camellia said as she looked at Sadri and he swallowed as he saw the look in her eyes.

"Of, of course madam, I'm sorry but if you don't mind I have a few things to go over, Nudara would you mind showing them around?" Sadri said as he backed away and moved towards the mansion.

Nudara after her father before turning towards the three and bowed her head again. "My apologies for my father, might I interest you in some refreshments?"

As Nudara led them away the three girls who she had talked to before were looking on and Claire sighed. "To bad Sir Mordred isn't here, I would have loved to see if the rumors about him and Lady Chiyome are true!"

"You mean the rumor about their possible love triangle between him, her and sir Magnus?" Paulina asked as her Pichu looked around before nudging her head with its tail. She turned her head and followed its gesture and paled. "Oh no, there they are."

Maddie looked at her before following Paulina's gaze and sighed at what she saw. "And here I was hoping he just said they'd be here for saying they'd be here, I hope our girl doesn't kill him."

"So your father, is he always like that or have we caught him at a bad time?" Tsubaki asked as she followed after Nudara who only sighed. I could tell her how he really is, but I do owe him a bit so maybe I'll try and put a good spin on him. She thought before she smiled over her shoulder.

"He's not that bad most of the time, but yes to both really." She said as Tsubaki walked next to her.

"How so, what happened?" Tsubaki asked as she looked at Nudara as they walked. So far she doesn't seem to a 'normal' noble teen, vapid and stupid. From what I heard about her she seems like someone who would be but why isn't she? Tsubaki thought.

"Well, did you ever hear about the pirate Nightsprout?" Nudara asked as she led the way.

Chiyome looked at Nudara and kept a frown off her face as she looked around and noticed the Maids here and there. As she looked at one of them she noticed something flash in one of their eyes as it passed by and for a second she went still.

"Something wrong?" Camellia asked quite as Chiyome tensed slightly before relaxing as she grasped her hands together as she continued walking.

"All the Homunculus in the maid uniforms, I thought I saw something in one of their eyes for a second. " Chiyome said quitly as they followed Nudara through the garden. Camellia looked at the Maids as they passed by them and Camellia looked at them and activated one of her Aura skills and frowned as she looked at the energy flows with in the Maids. Where did I see that flow before, when did? Camellia thought before a voice called out.

"Nuddy, darling!" Nudara went still and sighed. Of course I have to meet her, couldn't go through the party without running into the Victoraris twins. She thought as she turned towards the voice.

A girl who looked to be about fifteen with her platinum hair in a ponytail with a silver crown on her head above her eyes wearing a white dressed that hugged her curvy figure walked towards them with a gray slender feline Pokémon with a crescent shaped head with two white-tipped ears and a white muzzle and its tail was a curved spring ending in a white fluff point. The teen came and caught Nudara in a hug and pulled back, a smile on her face that reached her bright blue eyes.

"Luciana, it's good to see you. Where's that brother of yours, is he here as well?" Tsubaki asked with a slight tremor in her voice causing Luciana to turn and look at the other three people around her target.

"Oh my! Lady Camellia, Lady Chiyome, how are you? And there's Tsubaki, but where's Lilith?" Luciana asked as she looked around, trying to see if she could find Lilith.

"She's not around, I sent her out on a…. journey to try the contests in another region, she still has a bit to learn." Camellia said as Chiyome giggled lightly.

"A bit to learn sister, she just wanted to get away from the stalkers, didn't she?" Chiyome said with a giggle as Nudara watched as Tsubaki looked embarrassed.

Camellia laughed lightly. "Well….. maybe your right about that. On a separate matter my dear, where did your father acquire all those Homunculus Maids? I don't recognize the maker." Camellia asked Nudara as one of the Maids passed by.

Nudara looked at it as it walked and saw none of the few marks that such constructs have and frowned as well. "You know, I don't know. I was at a house I use for studying, a small one farther out along one of the side channels of the Great River really, and I came back to all of my father's preparations done, the Maids, Song Wings and Flower Cats were already here."

Camellia looked at a Maid as it passed, a bad feeling growing as she looked at the shade of its hair. I think I've seen that shade on a homunculus before but when, what is it about them that's causing me this feeling of distress. She thought as she flexed her fingers reflexively as she moved her left hands towards her right a wrist absentmindedly.

Camellia looked around and frowned when she noticed that the Flower Cats were gathering together and the Song Wings were flying around a stage that the Lord Sadri was walking towards.

Sadri smiled as he looked around, this was perfect! Sure his business was under siege by that witch of a pirate but he would bounce back! Already he had a few possible deals in the works that would give him more than enough capital to set up a Black Bounty on her and then…well then he'd show her just how mad he was. He

"You attention please, thank you." He said as people turned towards him. "Welcome one and all to my wonderful party, I hope you've all enjoyed yourselves! I decided to arrange this gathering to announce a new project I've authorized! The great river has always been the fastest method next to Pokemon for traveling through the Domain and what we can be sent is always constricted by time, but no more! I am proud to announce that I have begun a project to create a twin rail line to the Capital of the Domain!"

As soon as he announced just what he was building people started to applaud and cheer. Camellia looked on with a neutral expression and Chiyome brought out a fan from her sleeves that she used to hide her face, but her eyes were hard.

"I might be confused, but wouldn't something like that need the permission of the boss to go ahead?" Chiyome asked quietly before she felt Tsubaki grab her arm, and suddenly she felt this echo of rage, causing her to look at her student and notice the glazed look in her eyes as she looked at Nudara. And what's got you so worked up kid? Chiyome thought as she tried to understand what her apprentice felt from Nudara.

Nudara just looked on with a neutral look as inside she was shaking. Of course, that explains why the last few shipments were what they were. Just when I thought you couldn't get any slimier. She thought as she looked at the stage as her father stepped off and started to talk to other people, some of them fellow merchants that wanted to know more details, others trying to see how they could benefit from it.

Camellia was about to walk over when the sound of bodies and glass hitting the floor was heard as the song that had been sung died abruptly. As the people looked around the Song Birds dropped to the ground as the Flower Cats and maids hit the ground before their bodies started to shake. As she watched the homunculus she suddenly realized when she had seen that shade before. "Weapons free!" Camellia cried out as she drew her whip as her Mandibuzz picked up what her trainer had and flew upwards.

"What is it Camellia, what are they?" Chiyome asked as from her sleeves two fighting claws appeared as her Arbok started to hiss as people drew back as the

"The homunculus, their like the things Delia and I fought years ago! Their activating a kind of 'Rage death' form, their mutating and they'll kill everyone here!" Camellia cried out as people started to back up as their Pokémon cowered or stood in front of their trainers as here and there men and woman drew a variety of weapons. Nudara cursed under her breath, her eyes darting here and there as she reached for her Pokéballs, wondering if she should try and use them to defend herself, cursing the fact that she didn't have a weapon on-hand to us. Of course 'Nudara' doesn't carry a weapon, oh but if I just had a blade! She thought as she watched the thrashing homunculus. The Flower Cats were growing saber fangs as vines shot out from the flower as a mouth formed from the petals, the Song Wings were growing bigger as spikes from the middle of their wing while the maids had claws grow from their fingers as ram horns grew from their heads. As the first Flower Cat got to its feet a crash from the manor caused them to turn and see a fourteen foot tall black biped tailed reptilian with three horns on its face, one above its noise and the other two growing from its checks. It had a line of spikes down its back to its tail that ended in a club with its arms ended in four clawed hands that sparked with electricity.

Sadri stared in total horror as he stared at the reptilian homunculus as he saw a future where he was penniless and on the streets. If they find out that I bought these Homunculus on the black market, they could find out about my other business, then I'm ruined! Wait, there's still that! He thought as the homunculus on the ground got back up and started to look around at the party guests, some of them had their Pokémon move to defend them or drawn weapons. "Orchid my dear, I think we have to do that emergency plans that you suggested."

"Already done sir, now all we have to do is survive this." She said as the homunculus charged at the guests as she drew two fans from her back that flicked open, a metallic sheen at the edges. She flew forwards and slashed two of the Maid's neck as she moved by them, Sadri looking at the carnage and cursed as he knew that this was going to be hard to explain.

Camellia slashed out with her whip as her Mandibuzz fired a Dark Pulse from its mouth at one of the Song Wings and flew at it before using its beck; she tore the wings from it and sent it to the ground. Chiyome moved swiftly and slashed at anything that she could reach, Nudara moved backwards to dodge a Flower Cat's vines and her Bellossom spat a purple blob that hit it that caused its vines to start to smoke, causing her to smirk as she when she saw it. The cats are weak to poison attacks! Just have to wait for them to figure it out, 'Nudara' is a low level performer that wins a few contests here and there, and always by 'luck'! She thought as she watched the battle, hoping one of the others would notice what she had.

Tsubaki saw Nudara smirk and forced a frown down as she watched Nudara, wondering why she hadn't called attention to what had happened and decided to try another Poison move. "Snivy us Poison Sting on that one!" She cried out as she pointed at one of the Maids as her Snivy jumped up and shot white needles from its mouth at it. The Maid screeched and moved backwards as the needles hit its skin, smoke rising from where they had landed.

"POISON, THEY'RE WEAK TO POISON!" She called out loudly as she activated her Poison Aura and slashed at a Song Wing as it passed by her, smiling as she cut off one of its wings and it thrashed on the floor before going still. "Damage them enough and they die like anything else, great." She said as she moved towards a three Maids she saw Nudara eyes lock on hers for a second, another sign that she was more then she tried to appear.

"Claire come on!" Madeline called out as she pulled Paulina as their Pokémon tried to hold off a Flower Cat and a Maid, Pichu sending sparks at it as Espurr used Psychic to grab anything to throw at the maid as Pidove sent used Protect to defend their trainers.

"But Espurr and the others!" Claire said as she looked back at the Pokémon.

"We'll recall them when we're farther away, we have to move now!" Paulina said looking back at Claire who held her hands. Paulina looked at Claire then she looked over what Claire was wearing and felt something in her grow cold. "Claire, you have her Pokéball right, right?!"

"It's in my purse which is in the coat room." Claire said as she looked away from the reddining face of Madeline who exploded a second later.

"CLAIRE!" She screamed as she looked at her friend who cowed away from Madeline.

"Well I got a new bag with ball holders on it recently, I figure I'd make it part of my regular outfit but just handed it over when I reached the party without a thought!" Claire said before a cry caused her to turn and saw Espurr flying backwards as the Maid kicked it away from the battle before it moved after it. "Espurr no!"

"Pichu, Grass Knot that Miad!" Paulina commanded, prompting Pichu to raise its tail that glowed green before roots burst out of the ground and grabbed the Maid's feet, giving Espurr the opening it need to 'grab' a table and sending it crashing onto the Maid's head, sending it to the floor.

Before it could get up, Claire grabbed a chair and started to beet it until it stopped moving, Claire huffed before noticing Madeline and Paulina were looking until she finally snapped. "What, that thing tried to kill my little Espurr, I'm not letting that go unpunished!"

"Girl, you're crazy, really, really crazy!" Paulina said as Madeline looked around and noticed that there were pockets of defiance forming, all they had to do was get to the nearest one and they could survive. If we can keep this up we'll live through this, I just have to keep these two with me! She thought before she looked at Pidove as it was starting to sweet and wince. "We need to move now, grab your Pokemon and we run to that group!" She said as she pointed towards a group froming by the stage as they fought off three Maids, but before they could act on what she said, vines from the Flower Cat shot out and slammed into the Protect, breaking the energy shield and moving towards the girls!

"Tauros, Take down!" A voice called out before a quadruped bovine Pokémon with two horns and a light brown fur on its body and face with a thick, darker brown mane from its neck to its front legs crashed into the Flower Cat, sending it flying away from them. The girls saw that the Tauros had a harness on that had three canons; one on each of its sides and one on its back that followed its head.

"Ladies, I hope your all right, never fear, the man destined to be a High Lord is here!" A pompous sounding voice said causing the three teens to wince.

Chiyome looked at the Reptilian Homunculus as it stayed back and fired a few roars that seemed to command the other Homunculus; its seemed to know what to do to keep the pressure on the humans, but how? I don't like this, these things, the change and the way that their so weak to Poison? And it's too smart, Homunculi are weapons, they can't think like we can, even humanoid ones only have an echo of sentience and a limited response range. She thought as she tore apart a Flower Cat's neck before looking around, noting a few groups had been formed here and there, some people defended others while some tried to escape alone. "I haven't seen such chaos since the invasion." She muttered as a screeched caused her to turn and see Camellia walking towards her, her whip having destroyed a Song Wing as she panted slightly.

"At least there's a limit to these things, right?" Camellia said before the larger reptilian homunculus roared to the sky and charged at a gathering of people and lunged for a man who it bit into his right shoulder and threw him into another group of party guests as more homunculus charged at the downed people as their Pokémon tried to defend their trainers. That thing, what is it? It's too powerful for this to be a hit, what in the name of Arceus is the reason behind this hell! She thought as she looked around the carnage, hoping to see anything that might explain what was happening. She saw three Maids and two of the Song Wings move towards the Reptilian Homunculus

"Keep your head in the game Camellia! Arbok, Acid on that Flower Cat!" Chiyome cried out as she blocked a claw slash from a Maid, her Arbok then spat a stream of a purple liquid at the Maid that screeched as it dissolved into a puddle.

Camellia shook her head and locked eye with her Mandibuzz and charged at the reinforcing Homunculus. "Mandibuzz, Toxic on the Song Wings, back me up!" She cried her whip flashed at the Maids as Mandibuzz fired a black liquid from her mouth at the Song Wings as she flew at them, scouring hits on some of their wings, sending both of the Song Wings to the floor, screeching as they fell.

The Reptilian Homunculus roared as it turned to them with bloodied teeth as it leered at them. Chiyome fought on, dodging vines from a Flower Cat and sliced its head off, however the body stayed upright and a vines shot out from the stump but Chiyome dodged backwards and slashed down with her claws, sending a purple energy wave that cut the Flower Cat down the middle, the parts bubbling as they dissolved. Camellia moved by her and slashed out with her whip, entangling one of the Maids and sending it into a Flower Cat as her Mandibuzz shot a Toxic onto the both of them, their screeches as they 'died' music to Chiyome's ears.

"Let's not be let them get ahead of us partner; use another Acid on the big one!" She called out and her Arbok spat another purple liquid stream at the Reptilian Homunculus only for it to raise its arms and a shield tanked the shot, the liquid falling to the ground as the women watch with shock. Camellia looked at the giant homunculus and saw something on the back of its hands through the shield and frowned. That has to be the source of this shield, but how can we get by it? Camellia thought as she looked at the Homunculus before suddenly.

"AURA CANON MAX!" A voice barked and three dark purple energy beams shot over them and hit the Reptilian Homunculus on its right side and tore the arm away from its body. The Homunculus roared in pain before it raised its remaining hand a half shield formed and moved until it covered the top of the monster to horizontally. The two women and their Pokémon turned to see the Tauros with the cannon harness on and next to it was an older male teen with short platinum hair in a black tuxedo with a small white cape.

"I hope you ladies aren't to hurt." He said in what he hoped was a cool tone but one that came off pompous and arrogant. Camellia only stared at him, starting to regret having come here if he was here before she turned and saw the Reptilian Homunculus's spines start to glow and it to head was pointed at the teen.

"Alfonse you idiot, don't grandstand!" Camellia cried out only for Alfonse to look at her dumfounded before the Reptilian Homunculus opened its mouth and fired a green beam that shot straight at him.

"Pidove, use Protect and block that beam!" A feminine voice cried out as a Pidove flew in front of Alfonse and his Pokemon before it generated an energy shield that tanked the beam.

"Pichu use Grass Knott on that thing's tail!/ Espurr use Psyshic to force it down!" Two voicecs called out before roots grabbed the Reptilian's tail and forced it the ground before its body gained a purple outline and it crashed to the ground.

Camellia and Chiyome turned and saw Madeline, Claire and Paulina directing their Pokemon as they looked out from behind an overturned table, Camellia only looked at them for a few seconds before she looked at the Reptilian as it tried to get back to its feet and the shield moved to cover its front as it tried to get back to its feet or at least point its mouth at them. As Mandibuzz flew to get a better angle to attack it a Song Wings flew at her screeching and fired a white beam! Mandibuzz dodged and Camellia looked around and saw the homunculi around the garden were converging on them causing her to stare. How, what changed….the big one, its commanding them all! Camellia thought before she lunged to the side and saw the Reptilian was moving its head to look at her and cursed, wondering how they would survive this.

"Grass Knott Bellossom, around its mouth!/ You two Snivy!" Two voices cried out before green roots shot out of the ground and went around the mouth of the Reptilian Homunculus, forcing it closed before the beam it was building up caused its head to exploded, killing the monster. Camellia looked around and saw the other Homunculus dyeing as she watched and sighed. All around the garden the guards that had been trying to defend were moving about and trying to get some semblance of order back. Tsubaki walked over to her master and Camellia, Nudara trailing in her wake, a soft scowl on her face.

"A thousand apologies about this my lady, I knew I should have been more on top of where my father got the extra Maids." Nudara said as she bowed to them, her Bellossom following her example. Out of the corner of her eyes Camellia saw Alfonse bow to the three girls and walk towards his sister, his Tauros being recalled as he walked.

"Don't apologies my dear, assassinations attempts are always the fault of those who plan them, not the victims." Camellia said as Nudara looked up with a small smile.

"Yes, that's true. And it was great that you found that those things were weak to Poison attacks and thanks for the blade." Nudara said, handing Tsubaki back the knife she had been given before walking away, her Bellossom following behind.

"It was lucky that you did discover that thing about Poison attacks apprentice." Chiyome said to Tsubaki who only looked at Nudara.

"She noticed the effect Poison moves had on the Homonculus first." Tsubaki said as she watched Nudara talk with her 'friends'. Chiyome and Camellia looked at her student and turned towards Nudara and smiled slightly.

"That's….interesting. I think I'll have to ask my people to go over her file, and what is bothering you?" She asked Camellia as she picked up the arm of the Reptilian Homunculus and frowned as she looked it over.

"That shield, then the attack it did and finally calling the other homunculi, that's concerning even if you don't count counting the way they all….transformed." Camellia said as she her hand adopted a black glow she touched the back of the hand and the arm started to dissolve until only a blue gem was left. I think I need to let Magnus take a look at this, maybe he'd know something. Camellia thought as she looked around and turned to Chiyome as she she brought out a hand mirror to look over her face.

"Chiyome, I think you need to do a little infiltration around here." Camellia said, Chiyome only nodded as Tsubaki sighed and looked at the teens as Alfonse walked towards his sister.

"So will it be in the light or in the dark taicho?" Tsubaki asked as she looked at the teens.

Aura Powered; An engineering modification that converts the fuel source to Aura energy, while in use mainly in the shadows and individual use, various societies have hidden variations of this to power vehicles or facilities, in the case of the Order they have anti tamper devices installed that destroy the power source if people try to hotwire any

Aura Equipment; Sight Gem; A gemstone on a chain that lets Homunculus Fighter see what their creatures see, usual paired with a controller

Colonization; Term for when the ancestors of those who founded the Domains came to their new world in the ancient past before the Treaty of Defense was created