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

20. Chapter 20

I'M SO SORRY! This chapter just didn't want to write itself! And my RL has hit me harder and harder lately, I might have a new job soon and I have an interview schedule soon and….

Well this chapter just wouldn't write. I'm so sorry its two months late but I will try to do better for everyone who's following my story. Once again I'm sorry and I promise to have the next chapter ready by Halloween with a new AU of my story, chapters for my other series and maybe something else.

Gabby jumped from roof to roof as she smiled behind her helmet. She had stayed on the roof across from her old apartment until the fire tucks had arrived and moved off. As she moved over the rooftops she wondered about just what the organization were after when they sent those people after her. It doesn't make sense, they had to have noticed that those two scum who were 'disposing' my 'body' didn't come back, do they think that we all became Chimera food? She thought as she moved over the rooftops.

"Hikari-chan, how's the suite handling after your first combat with it?" Happy's voice came over Gabby's suites radio, causing Gabby to smile as she jumped.

"Just perfect Happy, you've done wonders! But how's the tracker, is it still on the move, and what happened at the apartments?"

"Still mobile Hikari-chan, and Shadow is right behind you coming in from the other side. And the fire fighters came and put out the blaze, but intersected radio traffic….your landlord is dead and they found the order member you killed in your room." Happy started to sound a bit, well nervous as if she was struggling with something. "And they found a lot of videos of his tenates showering and a lot of blackmail, seems he was renting out rooms for meetings and recording them."

Gabby scowled as she went over everything she knew about that scumbag and every interaction with him and felt dirty. I should have known when Kotaro found those recorders in my bathroom, I really should have. But why, was he just trying to make a quick buck, who the hell would…. I did see a car with markings that one time, but why there? Gabby thought as she landed on a roof top and moved to the edge, looking downwards at the city's streets as she tried to make sense about what she had just heard.

"I always thought that he was slimy….wait Happy how do you know what they found?" Gabby asked as she heard a weak laugh come from her com.

"I'll tell you when you get back here, remember you have to do now, he's stopping." Happy said fast before Gabby looked up ahead of her and saw she had reached the slums area of the city and pressed a button, causing a blip to appear on the inside of her mask and moved her head until it started to pulse as she was looking at a four story building.

Gabby looked at the building and activated her suits heat sensor and looked over the building, noticing that only the bottom two levels had people moving about. Okay time to dust off the old infiltration lessons, first identify the target and the security. So people moving about on only two of four levels, why? And what was did they teach us, 'the wild animals are also a resource'…wait, there are no wild Pokémon around here….were they chased out then the inside might be open to the sky, that's why they don't have look outs on top! She thought as she looked at the building and she felt a smirk forming as she stood there.

"Hikari, I'm on the other side of the building, ready to make some noise and hit this place, what about you?" Kotaro's voice caused Gabby to shake her head and look towards the building, readying herself to move.

"Shadow, I'm ready but there are no wild Pokémon around here, think they chased them off? And their only using the first two levels, why?" Gabby asked as she looked at the building, Kotaro laughed quietly as she waited for his reply.

"Yeah, sometimes groups in the underground chase the wild ones off but that bites them because sometime they come back in force, a few times I've heard about gangs being found by the police because of this. But with the sickness that hit the town, this probably won't happen for a while. But this is good, they must not have been here long; our target must have run to the only base in the city, we take it down they'll have a lot less forces around here. Ready to strike Hikari?" Kotaro asked as Gabby checked her blades and her other weapons.

"Yeah, rules of engagement?" Gabby asked as she looked towards the building as she prepared herself.

"Our target must be alive, otherwise make sure you stay alive. Your team, what's the composition?" Kotaro asked.

"A Loudred, a Gliscor and a Crobat." Gabby said as as she waited for the sign to strike.

"I'll hit the lower level, you attack from the top. Wait for the explosion then come in swinging….wait, something's happening" Kotaro said as Gabby tensed, looking down at the street as four people came out of their target.

Inside the building the Order member with the Abomasnow had just finished telling the others what had happened at the apartment and waited for their reply.

"Are you kidding me, he's dead!? Fuck he owed me 20,000 Credits!" One of them muttered as before one of the others hit him in the head.

"Not the time." Was all he was told when he glared at the one who hit him. He scoffed as the base's second looked at the comms tech.

"So the your leader and you split up, hope he's back soon." The commander of the group said as he tried to think about what to do. Why did those two want with the reporter? I know the rank and file were feed a story about how she tried to interfere in what she shouldn't but for all we really know maybe she was looking for a suspect at the motel. He thought as he looked around and tried to figure anything out. Looking around he tried to think about what they should do as he listened to the others talk before he made a decision.

"Everyone get ready to move, we leave at dawn. If the boss is back good if not we leave him, I'm not letting the Lady down are you?!" He roared to them.

"NO SIR!" They roared as they broke apart and the commander sighed and looked upwards at the office the leader had started to set up and sighed. So I have to destroy the computer before taking out the drives, but I'll wait until later. For now I'll get ready to move, wait I should send people to watch for him. He thought as he turned.

"Squad 2 go and prepare the vehicles, Squad 4 go and keep watch for his return. The rest of you emergency departure plan 3." He barked as he watched the others go about their orders and never reacted as he heard someone walk up behind him.

"You know…. I thought I saw him talking to somebody from the other faction from Sinnoh a weak back." A voice behind him caused him to sigh and turn and look at a man with dark skin in a black short sleeve shirt, shorts and boots and with a visor over his eyes below his green spikey hair. The commander just sighed and shook his head, not wanting to deal with this now.

"Morgan, not now please? I need to….hey what? If you saw him why didn't you say anything?!" The commander demand only for Morgan to shrug.

"I said I thought I saw him, might have been wrong, might have just been a girl he was hitting on." Morgan said as the commander only stared before he walked away. Morgan looked at him and walked away, a smile on his face. Of course the boss lady knows that you're working with Palmer buddy, don't worry your meet your fate sooner or later, maybe even tonight. Morgan thought as he walked away, finger a Pokéball as he did so.

Gabby looked down at the four people as they split up and moved away from her. "Shadow, I see them. Should we hit them or let them go?"

"Follow the ones going left, I'll take the ones on the right." Kotaro said prompting Gabby to move after her targets. She watched as they moved towards an abandoned building and one of them moved into it as the other moved away from it. Gabby marked the building and saw a mark that Kotaro had made and went still. The other two must be going to building to make an X with the target building at the center, are they watchers and if so what….their goal has to be that one. She thought as she moved ahead of her last target and waited once she reached her goal, a perch a few buildings down from what she hoped was the right building. Activating her visor she watched as her target entered the exact building and walked to a room on the third floor facing the street he had just walked down. He's watching the approach, then their waiting for someone but who….doesn't matter, we have to act. She thought as stood there thinking.

"Plan one is a bust, hit them fast and go for kill shots, this place is more important than I thought. Take him alive if you can but don't risk your life to do so. We'll take everything from it we can carry

Wait a second, got anything that can fire a Hyper Beam and get back to you with you?" Gabby asked as a thought struck her.

"Yes but….leave a clue for the local police, might get some people asking questions they wouldn't like…. Smart idea." Kotaro said before closing his comms as Gabby smirked and threw a Pokéball that released a small purple bat like with long, pointed ears, yellow eyes with red pupils, and two sets of wings with two claw-like fingers near the middle and no legs. As it took to the air it looked at her in confusion but sniffed and started to grin as it detected Gabby scent.

"Yeah it's me, long story partner but we don't have time. See that room on that building?" Gabby asked as she pointed at the room her target was in. "Wait a few seconds then fire two Hyper Beams into that then come to where you hear explosions and get ready for a long battle." As her Crobat bobbed in the air she smile and dashed over the roof tops, ready to strike.

The commander looked around his office as he tried to decided what papers to destroy next as he sighed, the talk he had with Morgan made him more worried than before. Was that guy really one of the boss's spies or did he just see him hitting on someone. I'll drop a line about it on my next message about it, he should tell me. The commander thought before he heard an explosion. That's from the Running out the room he looked across the empty space to the floor below and saw people had stopped moving and were looking towards suddenly the wall at the end of the hallway exploded outward. Turning he saw a man in a black bodysuit with a helmet standing there with a Rattata on his shoulder and a Noivern hovering behind him.

"SHADOW?!"

"FUCK THIS, I AIN'T FIGHTING HIM!"

"RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!"

As the people below him stared some screamed and three ran for the doors, as soon as they got outside three thrown daggers hit their heads and they fell to the ground as a lithe female in a white copy of Shadow's outfit landed and released a Loudred and a Gliscor.

As the commander watched his ten of his followers released their Pokémon, he saw three Beedrills, four Mightyena, two Beartic and one Abomasnow. Before more of his people could react three more throwing knives hit two of them in the head and one of them in the arm, causing him to drop the crossbow he was aiming at the female figure. Shadow looked at the Commander as he drew a sword and drew his own.

"Hikari, handle them down there, I've got this one." Kotaro said as the commander charged at him.

"Got it Shadow! Loudred, Echo Voice! Gliscor Launch Play" Gabby cried out as she threw a few daggers at the Order members, some of them falling back to get out of her range, but before their Pokémon could react.

"LOUDRED!" Her Pokémon cried out as it released a blast of pure sound that forced the Beedrill to doge before the Gliscor launched itself at them and grabbed two and threw them at the ground before spinning upside down and landed on the wall before it launched itself at the Mightyenas. As Gliscor attacked the Mightyenas it grabbed one and started to use it as a club, Hikari looked at the Beedrills and smiled. Perfect, I was worried about this for a while but I think we'll…what is that? She wondered as she noticed a collar on each of the Beedrill before the collar's started to spark before the Pokémon spasmed and screeched in pain.

"Get up you stupid bugs!" The cry caused Gabby to look at one of the trainers in the back and she noticed that the Com-tech was looking at him as well with a look of horror on his face.

"What the hell are you doing?!" The Com-tech cried out only for the Order Member to laugh.

"Using the Wakers to get these weapons back in the fight, what else you idiot!" Order Member said with a sneer.

"Weapons?! Those are Pokémon!" The Com-tech spat only for the Order member to look at him

"Of course their weapons you fool, that's all they are! What are you a level three or something?" he asked only for the member to look at him.

"No a level two….wait what does that have to do with it?!" He demanded only to dodge to the right as one of the female trainers tried to kill him with a sword. "What are you doing?!"

"Taking care of a problem, I thought only level five and over would be on this team, no wonder your weapon didn't have a collar." She spat as she pointed at him and barked a command. "Beartic, Slash that Abomasnow!"

"No Abomasnow get over here and use Protect!" The target cried as he backed away from the others with a look of fear on his face. As Abomasnow tried to move away from the battle Gliscor suddenly threw the Mightyena in its claw at the Beartic charging at Abomasnow. Before the trainers could react Gabby threw two knifes that killed both of the trainers that had talked with her target.

"Loudred back the Abomosnow up, Gliscor Rock Tomb between us and them, one under me!" Gabby commanded as she ran towards her target. Her Loudred lunged at the still standing Beartic and crashed into it, throwing it onto its back. Before the Ice type could react Gliscor slammed a white glowing fist down onto the ground before stone pillars started to form, blocking the other Pokémon and trainers from the Com-tech as his Abonsnow moved in front of its trainer. As she ran towards her Pokémon some of the enemy trainers tried to grab her but her short sword sliced here and there, sending some to the floor with injures and killing two with slashes to their necks. As a rock pillar shot her upwards she spun in midair and threw six throwing knives and killed four of the enemy. As she landed next to the Comstech as her Loudred ran between the pillars before the final one came up and blocked the others on the floor from them she turned to looked at him as he stared at the wall, hearing the others curses and insult their Pokémon.

"Hey, you okay?" Gabby asked as she looked at the Comnstech as he stared at the dead body of the trainer who had shocked his own Pokémon.

"I thought they were trackers, the collars I mean." He muttered as he crouched by the body and fumbled to get off the watch the trainer had used. After a few seconds he gave an aha and pressed a button and the collar around one of the Beedrill dropped off and it flew backwards, hovering as it looked at two people. "They told me that they were for when we sent our Pokémon to track down things in the wild or they went after people, I mean I believed them."

"We can talk about that latter, right now we need to survive." Gabby said as they heard attacks started to hit the rock wall and two Fearow flew over the wall. "Poison Sting Gliscor, Loudred Hyper Voice!"

At her command her Gliscor pointed its claws at them fired white needles as Loudred screamed and forced the Fearow back.

Above them Shadow dodged a blow from the commander's sword and struck it with his own and pushed him backwards, frowning as he had heard what Gabby had and cursed under his breath, he hatted those things. So the scum are using the collars, great. Got to deal with those first… I think I can handle this alone, and Venomoth should be here soon. He thought as he dodged backwards and sparred a glance downward and saw the two Fearow move around for another attack and made a choice. With his free hand he signaled his Pokémon their orders and heard their confirmation before he charged at the Commander.

As they exchanged blows his Noivern and Rattata charged by them and attacked the Fearow and forced them to the floor and Rattata bit through its Fearow collar and jumped off it before the Fearow stared in shock at the remains of its collar. As it saw what had happened to its comrade the other Fearow bared its throat and Noivern bit the collar off. As the command looked down as the two Fearow hid with the Beedrill and he saw the Mightyena fire Dark Pulses at the wall he scowled as he noted the broken collars of the Pokémon behind the wall. I should have known that those monstrosities wouldn't be loyal without the collars, and then there's these two. I have to do something but what, what can I do?" Hethought as he dodged a blow he sensed coming at him and tried to figure out a way out of this.

"Cloyster, Icicle Spear on the Mights collars!" A voice bellow caused everyone bellow to turn as icicles shaped like spears flew through the air and broke the collars of the Mightyena's that looked down and turned towards the people who had tortured them. As the four charged at the humans a figure suddenly appeared behind two of others and silt their throats, gurgling as they fell drawing attention from the last three as the Mightyena attacked their owners.

"Morgan, what the hell are you doing?!" The commander bellowed as Morgan laughed as his Cloyster hopped over to him.

"My job, thanks for being such a fool these last few months, I was able to get so much information for my boss, I'd love to stay but we have to leave….Cloyster Teleport us home!" He cried before both of them disappeared from the building. As the commander blocked and struck at Kotaro he scowled as he heard the Mightyena's kill their tormentors and race out of the building, dodging a beam that hit the ground and they bounded into the city.

"Crobat in here, attack the Beartic!" Gabby cried out as her Crobat flew into the building as the Commander dropped back and snarled as he saw the last three members of his unit trying to get away. The commander scowled as he reached for a Pokéball and looked at the lower level. The best of my forces was a spy, the last three are nothing to talk about and theres the traitor and the bastard and his bitch, no choice. He thought

"YOU ALL FAILED! YOU KNEW IF YOU FAILED THIS WOULD HAPPEN!" He bellowed as he threw it in front of the last three. From it appeared a large red bipedal dinosaurian with a large head with a beard of white feathers along its jaw and five orange spikes resembling a crown above its eyes. It had two short arms ending in two black claws, and two powerful hind legs with three black claws each with plated, armor-like ridges cover its knees, back, and the top of its tail. Around end of its tail was a metal armor that ended in a spiked ball and it had metal armor on its chest and back that had a seat on it with a visor over its eyes and head. The Pokemon looked around in confusion before it spasmed and screeched as the Commander pressed a button on his watch.

"SLAUGHTER EVERYTHING!" He screeched as the Tyrantum looked at the trainers and roared, biting one of their heads off. The other two fell back and started to look for a way out as the last two Beedrill with collars on flew into the air.

"What did you do?" Kotaro demanded as he looked down at the battle as the two trainers threw out to Pokéballs and released two Machamp that charged at the Tyrantum.

"Meet my best weapon, the collars can of course be taken off so we built them into the new armor. It's just a prototype but we have wonderful plans for the weapons once a few….minor problems are dealt with. " The commander chuckled as he caught the Pokeball and dropped it, breaking it before he drew another sword and crossed them. "Of course that beast is so mad it'll escape to the city and slaughter most of the people, I wonder how the reporters will tell the tale?"

Kotaro just starred and before he activated his aura and embedded his blades with his Poison Aura and moved at the commander. I have to finish this one before she gets hurt! He thought as his blade slashed

Gabby saw the Tyrantum above the wall and swallowed. We can't let that think out into the city, we can't. Got to contain it. She thought as she looked over at the Comnstech. "Get away, I'll handle this. Gliscor, Rock Tomb wall all along the wall with the door, now, Crobat go high and start charging a Hyper Beam, Loudred get a Protect ready to tank and shots it makes!" She cried as she jumped to the top of the wall and looked around. she saw that the Fearow had gotten back into the air and Novorn had Rattata in its feet and was hovering next to them, one of the last two trainers was dead and the last one was backing away as the Tyrantum feasted on one of the Beartics before it raised its head, forming a ball of energy in front of its open jaws that grew until it was bigger than its head and it became a beam of energy that shot at the flying Pokemon, they dodged but the beam hit the formed a hole that the moon light shined down.

Kotaro sliced through the Commander's swords, his own glowing purple in the light of the moon as the commander looked at his blade before whipping his head to stare at Kotaro.

"Your…gurgle." The Commander gurgled as he brought a hand to his neck that Kotaro had sliced through as he began to talk. Looking at the battle he saw the Tyrantum had finished the last of the enemy trainers and threw itself at the new wall of rocks that blocked it from the street.Kotaro threw a Pokéball at it but the armor flashed and the ball dropped to the floor. No choice we have to kill it. Kotaro thought as he looked at the rampaging Despot Pokémon and clenched his sword as he looked at the monster as it rampaged, Gabby and her team and his trying to contain it. Venomoth choose that moment to fly in through the hole Kotaro had made earlier and hooved next to its trainer, cooing softly. Kotaro spared a glance at him and smiled, happy that it was safe and the tide was turning in their favor.

Gabby threw a knife at the Tyrantum and it moved its body and the Tyrantum spasumed as the armor it had on set a shock through it. Gabby gritted her teeth as she saw blood seep from under it and realized that the armor was bolted on. There's no choice at all, we have to kill it. But how, its armor blocks all the shots we can use. She thought as her Gliscor tried to hit its eyes as the beast tried to take a step forward.

"GET IT TO BACK UP, I'LL FINISH IT!" Kotaro called out as Gabby saw standing on the broken segment of the next floor. She nodded at him and barked her commands.

"Crobat, fire Hyper Beam! Loudred Echo Voice and Gliscor Acid!" She called out as she jumped backwards. Her Crobat fired a yellow beam of energy that merged with the purple liquid Gliscor spat from its mouth and the blast of sound from Loudred before the combined attack hit the Tyrantum and forced it against the wall bellow Kotaro.

Kotaro leaped and slammed his glowing sword into the Tyrantum's head and the beast went still before it crumpled to the floor. As Kotaro got off the beast and removed his sword from the dead body he looked at the comstech who stood there staring at him.

"Hikari go and see what you can find, leave anything that might point to these bastards being bigger beside the Pokémon over there. I'll get the collars off the last of them and they can all go, but as for you sir, I'm sorry about this, but we need to have a talk with you about your…former associates." Kotaro said as the man nodded as he recalled his Pokemon.

"From the waters we come, to the waters we return. A life is a gift given to us, in time we pay that gift back, some after a long time others short. The one who goes before us was an adventurous soul, one who wished to brave the unknown, to see beyond what was in our haven. May she have found all that she searched for in the Great Flow." Tiderea said. She was wearing a blue robe with a large blue pearl on the front. She stood in a chamber on the edge of a small river that led to a circle of stones under a glowing circle above the stones. As she stepped back from the edge of the water other people moved towards the water and put small boats onto the water, each one had a candle and a few small items on them. As the boats floated towards the stone circle Vivian clasped her hands as the people around her did the same as four women in similar robes as Vivian moved before the water and put their hands on it, a glow flowing from their hands to the stone pillars as the small boats moved into the circle. As they floated within in it a wall of energy formed between the stones and after the last boat floated within the ring a bubble formed and brought the boats through the glowing circle and out to the surface where they would float off, a small Aura gem in the boats would set them on fire after a short while.

Vivian moved through a cave as the people followed her, after a few minutes of silence they came to a door that she opened, revealing a darkened room. As she entered the room lite up and tables with food were revealed as the people came in and started to move about the room, getting food or talking about Nimue as they went. Vivian moved among them, giving well wishes to the mourners as she went.

"I can't believe it Vivian, I just can't believe Nimue went out like that." A gruff older man said as he sat against the wall, a tear dropping from his right eye.

"All are called back when they are, it is us who remain that deal with it." Vivian said with a bitter and sad tone as the old man sighed and shook his head.

"Didn't think that the Curse of the Underflow wouda gotten her though, she seemed stronger than that." The old man muttered under his breath

"The Curse of the Underflow? What are you talking about?" Vivian asked as she looked at the old man who looked at her and paled before stammering and walked away. Vivian looked after him and was about to follow him when she heard a crash. Spinning around she saw Tiderea with her right hand in a fist against a table. Coral was nearby trying to calm her sister down and sending looks around the room.

"Sis, this is a Rememberance, show some class!" Coral said as Tiderea just laughed and spun around, her eyes wild.

"SO WHAT, THAT BITCH WAS TOO STRONG TO GO OUT THE WAY THEY SAY!" Tiderea snarled as she looked at Coral. Vivian looked on, a frown forming on her face. According to what they said, Nimue was killed by that Chimera saving Tiderea, and given how those two always acted no wonder she's behaving this way. Vivian thought as people moved away from the sisters as Tiderea started to glow blue.

"And the Chimera ate her whole body, no way she died like that, she'd make a Shell and would have skewed its mouth!" Tiderea continued and Vivian stopped as she realized that Tiderea was right. But that would only have worked if Nimue was conscience when it ate her, and if she wasn't then it was the chance of battle or…that Chimera did it itself. Vivian thought as she swallowed, she would have to look into what happened later, what mattered now was to find a way to calm Tiderea down.

"Tiderea, that's no reason to act like this, calm down." Coral said as she raised her hands to her sister, two blue gemstones on her waist started to glow softly.

"DON'T TELL ME TO WHAT TO DO SIS!" Tiderea snarled before she swung a glowing fist at Coral. Coral swung her arms to block the blow and a blue shield blocked the blow, but the force Tiderea sent Coral back a few feet before. Tiderea looked at her sister with a blank look before a look of rage swept over her before she threw back her head and screamed. "RRRRRRRRRAAAGGGGHHH!"

Vivian winced and reached for her Pokéballs before Tiderea flew at her sister who met each of her blows with an energy shield until a puddle on the floor grabbed Tiderea's legs and threw her backwards. Vivian looked on as Coral's eyes started to glow as she walked towards her sister.

"Now then sisters will you calm down or do I have to go as wild as you?" Coral asked as Tiderea slowly got up and looked at her sister before she was engulfed by a blue aura and shot at Coral. Tiderea swirled to the side and kicked Coral's back sending her against the wall as the people who had watched them started to run out of the room with a scream. Vivian watched the sisters fought, two blue streaks that bashed against each other as they destroyed the room around them.

Vivian watched them as they moved and she suddenly frowned. Something's wrong, those moves their countering each other perfectly. It's more like dancing then actual combat! Vivian thought as she watched the show the two were putting on, each move and technique the two of them using seemed to be about dealing maximum damage to their surroundings instead of each other. Vivian started to gather her wits and was about to step in when a tidal wave of water rushed into the room and pooled around the two sisters until both were nothing more than a head sticking out of a ball of water.

Into the room charged four women in blue leotards with shell like helmets that covered their eyes on their heads with each of them holding dual pronged spears and blue knee high boots on their legs. After the woman surrounded the two sisters another woman walked into the room. She wore the same as the other four with the exception of a blue green cap and her helmet revealed her eyes set in a hard stare at the two sisters.

"Tiderea and Coral Depthgem, why o why am I not surprised at what I'm seeing here? Even at a wake you can't let Nimue have the last word can you Tidey?" The woman asked as she looked at Tidera as she tried to struggle free.

"Let me down you stupid cop and I'll show you my last word!" Tiderea snarled as she tried to break out of the prison, her eyes gaining a blue glow until crowns were forced onto the sisters heads.

"Must you always do this sister, whenever you would get in trouble you usually drag me in behind you when I try and stop whatever you're doing!" Coral snapped as she looked at Tiderea who looked back at her sister with a look of scorn on her face.

"Oh don't act so innocent sis! Who's the one who tried to steal Nimue's old boyfriend before he came out of the shell!" Tiderea snapped as Coral went red as she opened her mother before both of the sisters mouths were covered by water leaving their noises free.

"You know I thin the two of you can rest your mouths. I think a few weeks meditating in the cells for a while, I'm sure you two can enjoy the solitude." The captain said as the spears of her four soldiers formed a blue energy sphere and the sphere two sisters were in were lifted and floated between the guards as they marched out of the chamber, Vivian thought she was seeing things but she was sure Tiderea smirked as she and her sister were taken out of the room. The captain looked around the damaged room and the food on the floor and sighed as she shook her head.

"I'm thinking this will take a while to clean up Miss Vivian?" The captain asked as Vivian snapped out of her thoughts and sighed as she looked around. Soup was spilled, breads were broken and crackers were all around them. All in all it might be easier to call in a Muk from the waste department to eat it all then spend more time on it.

"All in all I'll just need to clean up the plates captain, good luck holding them." Vivian said as she got to work, a frown on her face as soon as she heard the captain leave. They wanted to be captured! Why would they want to be sentenced to solitaire for weeks…unless they won't be in solitaire for weeks. But why what is the end game here and what did he mean 'Curse'? I think I need to talk to him about that, quietly if his reaction was anything to go by. She thought as she finished up and walked away from the room to call a trainer with a Muk.

Tiderea smirked as she and her sister were led into the prison complex and both of them were let out of the spheres, she landed on her feet but Coral landed on her rear.

"Couldn't you have warned me before you dropped us?" Coral whined as she got up and stretched.

"They had to make it real sister, and where'd you get those Shield Bracelets anyway?" Tiderea asked as Coral preened.

"I bought them a few days ago at the market, got a good deal for them too." Coral said with a smirk until a cleared throat caused them to notice that Matriarch Selene was standing before them, a serene smile on her face.

"I trust that you two are finished with your acting?" Selene said causing the sisters to nod. "Good….THEN GET READY! The fact that we never recovered Nimue's body is already making the rounds! Within the next few days the rumor that she survived will be brought up and gathers might start searching for either her or the sign of the Chimera that we said killed her!"

"Calm down Matriarch, we'll find her. And once you….adjust her memories of what she experanced in the outer world this and the next few generations will stay in our sanctuary." Coral said as Selene sighed and nodded.

"You must find her before anyone who doesn't know our truth discovers anything that shows she's still alive until we can fix her. Everything our ansectors have built is on you two girls, do not fail us all!" She barked as the sisters bowed with their right hand over their hearts.

"By your will we will succeed, by your leave we depart." Tiderea and Coral said in unison as they departed the room.

As soon as they left the room Coral started to smirk. I can't believe it, I finally get to see the main land and learn what's there and all we have to do it hunt down Nim! She thought as she looked at her sister.

Tiderea leered savagely as she led the way, her mind racing. Round two Nim, round two. And if you were so injured you lost a limb or two….well that's just a travesty, isin't it? She thought as she moved towards the portal they would depart from.

Cleo looked out from the jeep as the desert dwellers lead the way towards a small mountain illuminated by the moon. They made a strange convoy as they traveled through the desert, people in jeeps and on Pokémon, they had been moving since a short time after they had escaped from the Golems defending the Oasis Palace. They had all gathered as the sun set, most of them shaken that things like golems were real, and that the students were leaderless until Cassim had stepped up before Asim could even speak. The few machines they had with them had shown that the field that disabled most other electronics and scared off Electric Pokémon had be strengthened, with what supplies the group had they couldn't make it to any of the towns. Cleo was about to offer to fly to get help but she knew that if she and Asim did that then all who came back would find are the corpses of the students. Then the raiders had come forward and offered a rest stop and a chance to gather the water the students would need to make it out of the wild. After a short discussion the expedition had agreed to take a chance, Asim had sent her a look and she had nodded, and the two of them had come with the others.

"There's the mountain, once we're there we should be safe." She frowned as she looked back at Mathayus, their jeep was leading the convoy and

"And the expedition will be able to leave from this place once we're done?" Asim asked acidly and nodded back at him.

"Yes, you have my word. But since their leader was under the control of a Devourer, the most we will do is look over what they found and brought but they will be allowed to leave." Mathayus said as he nodded to Asim.

"Still can't believe that old bastard is dead, or he was being controlled. Still it makes sense if you think about it, I did wonder where he got the information about that place from." Madeha said as she stretched and stood up to get a better view of their desitnation.

Cleo looked at the mountain and wondered how they kept people from knowing it was there. It has to be Aura Artifacts, but how are they powering them? I know that this Domain was the hardest for people to make towns in but what could cause people to make something, why did they even make it? Cleo through as Mathayus pointed towards the mountain.

"There, to the left side, that the way into the caverns." Mathayus said as Madeha looked at the mountain with wonder.

"Are the caverns natural or did you make them yourselves?" Madeha asked as Mathayus laughed a little.

"Both, my ancestor found this place and it had a few caves along the side with hidden opening, perfect place to hide! Over the centuries we've built it up and tunneled up, down and around it and it's probably able to hold as many people as a small town." He said with a grin. Cleo looked at him and shot a look at Asim who nodded, letting her know he had picked up on the word ancestor as well. So besides being a leader he's related to someone who found their home, then he's important. That makes the fact his group were trying to keep that monster in the ruins asleep was a lot more important than I thought. Asim thought as he drove the jeep towards the side of the mountain.

The convoy entered a large cavern lit by crystals on the ceiling and after a few moments people and Pokémon came out of tunnels, some of them had weapons drawn but they lowered them when they saw Mathayus get out of the jeep and raise his hand. One of them seethed his sword and moved towards him, a brown colored Growlithe following behind him.

"Mathayus what are you doing back with these people, what happened?" He asked as he reached them.

"The sleeper woke up brother, but we're lucky, it seems that the apprentice betrayed his teacher and took his place." Mathayus said as the man looked at him before he started to curse and shake his head.

"Then all the golems that monster made are active then, he wasn't one to take betrayal lightly so you had to bring them here if they wanted to survive." The man said as he looked around at the convoy. Mathayus nodded and gestured towards a side tunnel as the expedition got out of their vehicles and the tribesmen who had guided them started to lead them towards the tunnel, Mathayus turning towards her, Asim and Madeha.

"Please, come with me, our leader will want a report and I think you two should tell her what you saw in there." Mathayus said as Cassim came towards them. "Will you come with us, I'm sure my….she won't mind someone else along and since you're the leader from what I can tell she'll want to talk to you."

"Well I suppose I should talk to the leader of your people, to thank her for the hospitality you've shown us at the least. Marshal what about you?" Cassim asked only to be ignored by Asim who looked at Mathayus in a level stare before looking at Cleo who nodded slightly.

"I'm not letting my apprentice alone with you." Asim said as he walked in front of Cleo and Mathayus nodded after a few moments. Mathayus led the way down a hallway and up a spiral ramp up three levels until they reached a silk barrier that Mathayus pushed aside to reveal a modest looking room with an open window that moonlight shinned through. At the center of the chamber was a lit fire pit with a tan skinned grandmother looking woman in a black robe with a black shawl on her head sitting with her eyes closed, next to her a small Pokémon that resembled a tan figurine made out of clay. There were arching, red markings over its closed eyes with a red stripe encircles its body and formed a ring on its belly. Its arms were flat appendages and a spike protrudes from the top of its head and another, smaller spike under its body. As the group moved towards the fire the grandmother looked up as they approached and smiled at them.

"Ahhhh. So your raid was repelled Mathayus. By the fact that these people are with you I would guess that the apprentice was the sleeper?" She asked causing Cleo and Madeha to stare as Asim eyes tightened and Mathayus just sighed.

"You've seen this then grandmother?" he asked causing Asim to stare at him before looking at the old woman in shock as he realized what he had heard. A seer, here?! This explains much about how the tribes can survive, they must have had people born like this to know when the old guards tried to conquer them.

"I saw many different version of what could happen after you were captured my boy, but tell this old woman what happened and introduce those you brought with you while you all rest a bit." The woman asked as she gestured for them to sit down around the fire.

"Yes grandmother, the attack went about as well as you suspected it would, but we had to." Mathayus said as the group sat down. "After the golems all woke up and attacked, we fought with the outsiders and then the apprentice and his partner escaped into the under river before we had to escape from the site."

"'Under River'?" Cleo asked as the old woman chuckled lightly as she opened her eyes to reveal milky orbs that looked right at her.

"Yes My lady, the Under River, one of the few relics of the old Empire that once ruled here." The woman said as Madeha straightened and looked at Cleo as she stared at the woman in shock. "In the ancient past, well before your people came to these lands this continent was ruled by those who would create the Devouring style, and then came the rebellion against these horrors that destroyed this place and took life from all but those who either slept or hide as our ancestors did."

"Then the Doc was right, there was a united culture on this continent that died out!" Cassim said as he looked at the woman who chuckled lightly.

"Oh yes, there was a great culture in these lands in the ancient past. But after a while darkness crept in by one who wanted an easy immortality, and thus were the Devourer's born." The old woman said as she looked around the rooms. "Still I didn't think that that this would be the road we would take, I glad my teachings made more of an impact on you then theirs did."

Cleo looked at Mathayus as he looked at her and something in her started to worry that they knew who she was, so great was her concern that she almost missed Assim's question.

"But what is this 'Under River'?" Assim demanded as security concerns for the Domain and his principle going through his mind.

"The ancients created many artifact and wonders that used Aura to improve life, one of the first were tunnels that connected to the sea and others that connected Salt from the water, leaving behind fresh and pure water that flows through tunnels with many openings, one of whichj goes to the source of the Great River and feeds into it. Those wonders are the way we always collect such pure salt to trade with your people milady." The old woman said as she looked at Cleo who looked shocked as Assim slowly reached for his Pokéballs until the woman held up a hand. "Calm yourself Marshal, not a single one of my people are a threat to you or the High Lord."

"High…High…High Lord?!" Madeha and Assim cried out in shock and looked at Cleo as she removed her necklace and her skin darkened and her hair changed color and she stood up straight from the crouch she had been in, revealing herself as she looked at the old woman as Mathayus stood and walked to stand behind her as Assim stood up and stood behind Cleo.

"I greet you, oh Leader of those who are called in your ways the Wastland Protectors, what knowledge I have of your tribes says they alone are led by you, the Blind Seer." Cleo said formally as Assim ahhhed.

"I received your greetings oh High Lord of the Desert Domain and I bid you welcome to our home. May this be a good meeting between us and led to a lasting peace and in time unity between ourselves." The old woman said as both Madeha and Assim looked on, sure that they were watching history unfold before them.

"You're a possibility seer, aren't you?" Assim said as he looked at the woman who giggled a little as Mathayus smiled behind her.

"Grandmother Nalia has shepherded our tribe for years. Many times her leadership has been the difference between life and death for us out here." Mathayus said with a grin as the others looked at him.

"Have Chimera been that much of a problem out here?" Cleo asked in horror as she cursed herself. I know I said I would only hold the position until someone else who could handle it came along but I thought my policies on Chimera tracking were working damn it! Cleo was so worried that she almost missed the sigh of Nalia as Mathayus looked embarrassed.

"No, not Chimera child; your work has slain most of them when they appear. I'm ashamed to say this but we of the desert…. We've fought wars between ourselves that you people never even knew happened. We are the descendants of rebels, survivors of the ancient empire those who hid, we don't trust beyond our tribes and battle has been the only way in some cases to solve our issues." Nalia said as the others looked on.

Cleo looked at the two people and her mind was going crazy. I know there's a lot about the desert tribes that we never knew, but this? I have to set up a time for them to come and talk with me, if this is as big as I think it is I need to tell the Master everything they'll tell me. She thought as she looked at Grandmother Nalia and "Where could he have gone, that….apprentice who escaped from the ruins. Who was and when did he come from?" Cleo question caused Nalia sighed and shook her head.

"The who is complex, we don't know his name but he was the apprentice of the Devour lord who ruled from around the oasis to the Great River. They were many 'Lords' in the mother Desert according to the old tales, but where he could go, I can't say. He could be going to a secruit base he or his master set up or trying to find others like him, I have no idea where he is going but I am confident that you will see him again." Grandmother Nalia said as closed her eyes and smiled serenely.

"If he is a threat I need to know more." Cleo said causing Mathayus to start to grit his teeth only to stop when his grandmother raised a hand.

"I saw a blue serpent join a bloody claw, I saw a flame grow stronger and gather to it a tornado and twin of blue and purple. What that truelly means my dear, I'm sorry but you will have to find out by but that is for tomorrow. For now, come and joins us for our evening meal, we'll give you all supplies and you can go back to 'civilization' in the morning." Nalia said with a chuckle as she stood up

As the group followed Mathayus and his grandmother away from the room Madeha looked at Cleo with a note of awe in her gaze. I can't believe that she's the Highlord, I can't believe it. I mean she would never do this? She thought as the Cleo put her necklace back on and her disguised reappeared.

"Surprising, isn't she?" Assim asked from behind them. They turned and looked at him and paled when they saw the smile he had on. "Now I trust that you two will keep who she is quiet, won't you?"

Madeha shivered at the tone as the two of them nodded, suddenly realizing that he was probably the Domain's head Marshal and she swallowed as she realized what he could do to them if he had to. They came a large chamber with the expedition sitting with the tribe's people as children either ran around with each other or talking to the expedition members as they ate. As they walked towards a group of their friends she saw Nalia and Mathayus gesture for Cleo and Assim to sit with her and her grandson.

"There you two are, we were starting to get worried!"

"Hey Madeha have you seen the patterns they use on their art, doesn't it remind you of something?" Another asked as she pointed towards pictures on the walls. Madeha looked at the paintings on the wall and recognized the patterns from many of the Doc's strange artifacts he had collected over the years and knew he and Grandmother Nalia had to meet.

"Anything we need to know Cassim? You and Madeha are kinda quiet." Cassim looked around at the others looking at the two of them and shared a look for Madeha and shook his head when he saw the look in her eyes.

"Nothing guys, nothing that might impact us." Cassim said as he started to make a plate of food.

After a while one of the tribesmen went to where Nalia was entertaining Cleo and Assim and started to talk to her quietly before gesturing towards a trio of fire pits and she laughed and got up. Everyone quieted down as she walked and with a smile she looked at the people as she sat down before the largest fire and threw a handful of powder into it, causing the flame to change color to a pure white with a purple center. As children started to gather Nalia chuckled, her voice seemed to echo around the chamber. "Well now everyone, its story time again, which one will it be this time?"

"How about the Rose and the Viper?" A man called out as his neighbors laughed and hit him on the shoulders.

"No the Brave Little Earth Hound!" A girl holding one of the Growlithes cried out.

"The Giant Slayer!" A child called out before everyone hushed and Nalia laughed a little.

"The Giant Slayer, that sounds wonderful. For our guests let me give some content, in the ancient past the Desert was the site of many city states, on this side they created Golems and the other side they made homunculi to fight each other, their Pokémon only existed to power their creations." Nalia began as the children smiled. Cleo looked at Madeha who had gotten out a Pokégear. She must be recording this, still this is amazing. If what she said about the past is true this has to be part of their history. Cleo thought as she leaned against the wall.

"In those days of old, our people were slaves who fought or worked for the pleasure of those who ruled, but this wasn't acceptable for him, not for Bahadur." Nalia words caused Cassim to twitch and his eyes to widen, something Cleo and Mathayus saw.

"He had always taken the hardest work, he had always tried to lift up the spirits of his fellows through their work and he was such a noble soul that even the guards who were loyal to the Lords looked to him as one who they would follow in a crisis. But one of the lords hated him so much, he planned Bahadur's death as a key component of a plan to finally break the deadlock between the forces of the Golem and the Homunculi. He made sure noble Bahadur was among those sent to make what the lord said was a monument in the shape of the Lord of the Skies Rayquaza but the truth was far different." Nalia said as she threw some more powder into the fire and the fire pit burst a green flare.

"The nobles sent their forces to fight as the time for battle came but those who worked on the monument stayed, something that hadn't been done, when the battle cry went up all came. And so Bahadur was not surprised when people began to disappear, he thought that they had merely left the site to join the battle but then an old man he knew preferred the act of making to destroying, thus did he start to grow concurred. He snuck out one night and followed the man tracks he found back towards the work site where only the vile noble and his people went, but what he found was a horror of the dead." Nalia said as she threw powder into the flame, turning it black as the children started to grow afraid, some of them grabbing each other as they listened.

"He found a pit of the dead, each body a single cut on the neck from where the victims had been bleed. Bahadur searched and found the Noble killing a captive with others chained up and realized the monument was in reality a giant golem. He staggered back and ran for the wild, hoping to reach the rest of the lords for such as the Vile one was doing was deemed illegal by all rules of war. But the Vile one had planned for this and Bahadur found himself under attack by the guards, for the Vile one paid their leader to make false claims that noble Bahadur was a spy. But one didn't believe this and fought with Bahadur to escape into the wilderness where he joined Bahadur when he heard the horror that the Vile one had done." Nalia continued as she threw white powder into the fire. The children looked at the fire as shapes of a white Rayquaza appeared as Cleo shared a look with Assim as they both began to worry that this had really happened, even Cassim was starting to look worried.

"Bahadur and the guard had many adventures and gained loyal companions, Pokémon and they awoke their Auras, all of them growing stronger until they confronted the Vile one. But while our heroes had fought to gain strength the Vile one's plan hand been finished. He had finished his Golem and when a cheramony for peace between the two sides of the River was to be held his forces appeared and started to slaughter them. As the survivors tried to escape the Vile one laughed but then Bahadur and his band along with a group of rebels attacked the great golem. Our heroes fought to the control center of the Golem and fought the Vile one in single combat as he friends held off the Vile ones followers as they finally finished their….one side hatred. As the Vile one died he ordered his Golem to dive into the sands to deny his creation to all but his decedent so Bahadur and his friends escaped to the skies, but this was not the last of their adventures, but those are stories for another time." Nalia said as she threw one last bit of powder and the flames died down, causing the children to moan as their parents started to gather them up and led them away towards a cave slopping down and people came and led the expedition away, Madeha talking excitedly about the story with some of her classmates, excited about the look into the culture

As the others left Cleo walked over to Nalia who sat and waited for her. Cleo looked at the old woman before she spoke. "That story, it actually happened didn't it?"

"Oh yes. We lost the particulars and the location of what side of the River it was but that was a true account all things considered." Nalia said as Assim felt faint as he thought about how powerful the golems that defended the ruins and a larger golem, a monument sized that people could ride in was somewhere out there?

"You have no idea where it is?" Cleo asked as Mathayus just shook his head.

"We searched for generations in the deep desert and many of our traders among the cities would camp outside the walls so their Pokémon would search but nothing. My dad thought it might be still moving out there." Mathayus said as he shook his head.

"The ancients were terrible, but they created wonders and terrors that even now are still following their programing." Nalia said.

At the ruins a slender humanoid golem of black stones walked into the chamber that the sleep pillar had been in and looked around before finding the body of August. It looked over him and released a beam from its head scanned the body from the feet up until it stopped at the chest and the beam caused a necklace to break through August's shirt to reveal a small black sphere with red glowing runes on it. the golem stared at the body until two blue stone golems walked into the room and picked the corpse up and followed the black golem out of the room. After a few minutes of walking the procession came to a Tyrantrum skull that opened to reveal a passage down that the golems moved through until they reached a chamber with a table with a black crystal above it. The golems put the body on the table and stepped back as the crystal started to release a black glow before a beam of energy was fired at the body that started to twitch as the skin stated to burn off as twin black glows started to form in the skull's eye sockets.

"I pray that that the worst doesn't awake in my life time." Nalia said as she moved away from the hall, leading the way to where Cleo and Assim would sleep for the night.

Magnus sighed as he leaned back in his chair. He had spent the last three hours looking over everything he could on Aura Tattoos and he was no closer to finding out just how to break the seals on his sister and nephew then when he began. After everything he had expected to have had something by now, but nothing. I don't like this at all, the Order is very frugal in their Aura use so what, what is this an experiment or something else. Did they find a lone sect and take the knowledge but how did they learn to use these to hold back what he is, I mean my nephew's not human so how? He thought as he looked over what few notes he had made and sighed as leaned back looked up at the ceiling.

He got up and started to move about his room, walking around a model of the continent and started to mutter to himself as he walked by towers of books, strange looking floating stones and models on small tables as he tried to figure anything out. What is really bothering me about this, really? He thought as he walked around his study as he tried to think about the problem about what was holding Ash back. Suddenly he walked into a surface and he looked forward and saw an energy barrier in front of him. He stepped back and turned around until he saw a humanoid fox Pokémon with a yellow face and a robe of red fur holding a branch, its eyes glowing.

"Delphox!" Delphox said with a deadpan tone as its eyes stopped glowing. Magnus shook his head and stepped backwards before the wall could disappear and he would fall face first to the ground, frowning at his Pokémon.

"Delphox, what were you thinking? Why did you make me walk into a Protect?" Magnus asked as he looked at his Pokemon and when it gestured towards a flashing light on a machine on the wall he frowned again and looked at his Pokémon. "We will be talking about this later."

He walked towards the machine and pressed a button and turned as a hologram of Camellia still in her dress appeared in front of him.

"Ahhh Cam, how's the desert and how was the party?" He asked with a smirk forming only to fall when he saw the scowl on her face.

"The party and the host were bearable, at least until the homunculi transformed." Camellia said as Magnus went still and looked at her with shock in his eyes.

" 'the homunculi transformed.' Are you saying that they….changed? How many and what model types" He asked as memories played behind his eyes as his Delpox started to growl. Camellia nodded as Magnus started to pale.

"There were three models that I saw change and then a fourth appeared. Humanoid Maids, they grew claws and ram horns, Beast type Flower Cats with strange collared flowers grew saber fangs from their mouths, and green vine and mouths from the flowers and Avian type Song Wings that grew larger, spikes from the middle of their wings. And then there was this ten foot tall reptilian biped, I haven't seen such combat model Homunculus in a long time." Camellia said as she looked at him. Magnus frowned as he listened, something about that sounded familiar, something about it made himthoughtful as he tried to figure out why. What is it; something is bothering me about this, but what. This is just like the tattoo's that are affecting my nephew…wait tattoos? Why did I use that word, well of course it's because of them….that's it. That's what bothering me about both things, but their all dead, aren't they? He thought as he paled and his eyes widened as Camellia watched.

"What is it Magnus, what's wrong?" Camellia demanded as she looked at him.

"It was an adventure Delia, Vlad and I had during that summer you spent on the circuit, it started innocently enough, a quest to go into the mountains to find wild flowers, we came across Homunculi, Inscet models that grew horns that shot lightning." Magnus said as he looked at Camellia as he tried to explain what he realized. "It was the first time we met those things, but then we came across their controllers, a strange bunch that hated Pokémon and used a kind of Aura Tattoos to give them abilities of both Casters and Auralists, and remember those Homunculi that attacked the entire continent during that year's Grand Performance?"

Camellia looked at him and remembered the old rumors that had gone around during that summer, and the strange Homunculi that had attacked before her turn. "Those things, they were like what I faced at the party? All these years I thought they were just artificial Chimera that went wild, I always wondered why there were so many of them." She mused causing Magnus to laugh.

"It would be a lot easier for us if that were true! Of course the three of us found a few things from the combat, my partner evolved and we found enough clues to let the Vlad's dad and his team find out about the conspiracy behind them. I always though they killed everyone involved, which is very bad if it's true." Magnus said as Camellia looked at him as she tried to understand just what he was saying.

"Why would that be….that means that someone else found out how to do what they did to make those homunculus, what did they do?" Camellia asked as Magnus got a chair and sat down and looked at her.

"Truthfully I don't know, I mean after that quest the only way we were involved was holding back the attack, I never looked into it after I became one of the Elite. I mean I had so much to do back then, research and development of my chains, my team needed to be built and Homunculi; well they always rubbed me the wrong way. I think I've actually gone out of my way to not learn about them." He muttered as he looked at Camellia who only smirked back at him, part of her happy to know that a genius like him had something he didn't want to know about. Camellia went still as she frowned as she remembered something and looked at

"I remember that a faction was trying to take over, something about how all Pokémon were Chimera spawn and they were here to cleanse the world? They, the makers, they all believe that?" Camellia's question caused Magnus to sigh and shake his head.

"The leader and about a third of them all sure, but the others? It was a lot like Delia's and her kid; something fucked over their heads and used the same kind of seals to keep them from getting back their memories. And the scum used those poor souls as canon folder, throwing them at our side with their Homunculus to break us according to the reports." Magnus said with a caused Camellia to wince and start to curse under her breath. Fuck, this might be bad. If they used the same sealing method! Camellia thought as different scenarios went by as she tried to figure out the worst thing that this could be.

"How bad was it, really and how bad could this be?" Camellia asked after she gathered her thoughts. Maguns looked at her and sighed as he tried and succeeded at what this might be.

"According to the old man when I took over his position, that was the worst uprising his generation ever dealt with, and helping those few people they had been able to save, a nightmare. He always wondered if they got all of them, the best thing is that one got away and our friends found them." Magnus said as Camellia raised an eyebrow at him.

"And that's the best case why?!" Camellia demanded only to go cold at the look Magnus sent her.

"Then our friends created those rune chain tattoos on their own, and who knows what else they might have hidden away." Magnus said as Camellia paled before shuddering, terrors she dealt with over the years flying past her eyes.

"And I thought I had enough nightmares from that quarter already, thanks. And to think I thought the most trouble we would have was the fact that the lord of this city is making a rail line to the Doman's capital." Camellia said only for Magnus to look up at this and frowned.

"He has the Domain's Highlord permission right….wait this is the Desert Domain, Lady Cleo is hands off, as long as no life forms are hurt she's okay with it right?" Magnus asked as Camellia nodded, looking thought full as she brought a finger to her mouth.

"He said it's only in the planning stage, but well that was before the Homunculi all changed, think its connected?" Camellia asked as she pondered what this twist might mean to the grand picture. I know Chiyo is taking her student to investigate him on the down low, maybe I should check the high. I think I'll talk to him as my official position tomorrow, see if I can't shake anything out if him and look at the official report. Camellia thought, her mind going in circles until Magnus coughed and she looked up.

"I'll be seeing you my lady, I have a few old records to look into. May your day be hassle free." Magnus said formally as he got up and bowed to Camellia who curtsied back.

"May your hunt for knowledge be fruitful my lord." She said just as formally and looked at him with a demure look that only held for a few seconds before she started to laugh as he joined her.

As tears came from his eyes he got up and shut down the call, still laughing as he walked out of his office and was able to get control of himself after a few more seconds, his Delphox following behind him as he walked. Ahh Cam, never change beautiful, never change. Still this is good, if I have a way to study something like theirs then I can break it! He thought as he walked through the castle, moving downward towards the dungeon level, finally stopping before a door with a scanner next to it. He put an Aura empowered hand on the scanner and the doors opened to reveal rows of shelves with boxes, each box marked with a year or a sentence to tell what they held. He sighed and looked at his partner who sent him back an equally resigned look and both of them started to walk towards a table and looked at the room around them.

"Let's see, I think the old man said he put all of the reports in their own box, but would that just be the master list or everything." Magnus muttered as he walked down a row and finally found the box he was looking for. He frowned when he realized how light it was and sighed as he put it on the table. Opening the box a small binder was revealed and he shook his head as he took out the binder and opened it. "Let's see, "Bios of the leadership', no….. 'Tactics and mission data recovered', no….ah here we are 'Aura Tattoo's and treatments given to victims', it's in the second Aura row, box near the end."

Delphox eyes glowed blue and a box floated to the table and Magnus nodded to it as he grabbed the box and put it down before he opened it and looked down a mass of folders, each with a name as a label and he just sighed. Of course they would have put all of the files together; I guess I have a long night ahead of me. Magnus thought as he looked over the files before he pulled one out at random and sighed. "At least this might tell me who to talk to about how to break those seals at least."

She blinked her eyes as she woke up and moved her right arm up towards her face and saw that from her elbow down her arm was a strange red metal with a red gem set into the back of the hand that shined a soft red. She looked over herself and saw that her lower legs and other lower arm were made from the same red metal as her right arm and she was wearing a skin tight white body glove that highlighted her sensual figure. She blushed as she looked over how she looked and frowned when she realized that she felt what the metal fingers that grabbed the material did. Wait, how can I feel this, I thought prosthetic limbs couldn't feel! What happened to me, wait who am I? She thought as she realized she didn't know who she was as she walked to a window and saw what she thought was the ocean until it changed to a view of a deep forest for a few seconds before she saw wide plains. She noticed that she could see her reflection and saw that she had red hair and on her forehead was a crown with crimson red gemstones above both her red eyes.

"Where am I?" She asked herself. Okay think….who's thinking? She thought as she tried to gather her thoughts and realized that she didn't know who she was. she got off the bed and

"How are you milady?" A voice asked from her left. She turned and saw a red robed figure with a visor where its eyes would be and a staff in its right hand.

"Who are you? Who am I?" the woman asked as she looked at the robbed figure.

"You are you, your body belonged to a woman who had been raised to be a fanatic for our enemies we captured. During her interrogation a Psychic bomb in her/your psyche destroyed who you/she was and implants that they had set in you damaged your body. We, that is, the organization I represent repaired you." The robbed figure said as the woman dropped back and stared at him. "From what we were able to discover about her before the bomb went off she/you were a fanatic who

"If I/she was an enemy why on earth wouldn't you let me/her die? What do you have to gain from this?" The woman asked with a confused tone.

"We stop them from accomplishing their objective, we save a soul that they would have damned. We save a soul who might join us." The figure said as the woman

"Join you I, don't even have a name , how the hell could I even begin to help you people

"Then you feel nothing about those who twisted your former self? Nothing about how they made her a monster, a killer? Nothing about how they used and killed her/you?" The robbed figure asked as the woman started to think and growled as she listened to him. He's right, everything he's saying makes sense.

"When can I start?" The woman asked only to stop as she realized she didn't have a name to use.

"As soon as you're are ready my dear…." The man began only for her to inturped him.

"Whatever her name was, that not me, I'm someone new." The woman said as she looked over her arms and at her reflection in the mirror. I'm not her, I've been….changed. I'm a new being totally unaffiliated with my past self besides the body I have and even it's been changed a good deal from its 'factory make'. She thought as she looked at her arms and decided she needed more information and made a decision.

"Very well, might I just the name Infernina." The man said as the woman looked at him.

"Why that name?" She asked as she looked at him.

"During your….recovery we unlocked your Aura, the energy that is the reason Pokémon can do elemental attacks. Everyone is born with an inner element sleeping within them, yours was the Fire. Think of your new arms and imagine energy flowing into them." The man said. The woman looked at her arms and did as he instructed and she saw her arms generate a red glow that felt comforting to her as she stood there. The glow died down and she looked at him with a proud look in her eyes, feeling at peace as she looked at him.

"Then I am Infernina." The woman…no Infernina said as she looked at the man nodded to her and gestured as a screen activated across from her bead and a tablet came up from the floor.

"Welcome my dear Initiate to the ranks of the Science Arcana, please use this tablet to select your first partner Pokémon from the list of who's available."

"Thank you…. You know I never got your name. and 'Initiate'? " Infernina said as she sat down on the bed and started to look at what Pokémon there were

"You may call me Magi Torcono, I am one of the lead scientists and medical officers of our group and Initiate is the first rank." Torcono said as he walked out of the room, leaving Infernina alone to think over what she was doing. So the first thing I will ever remember is choosing my first Pokémon, I think I saw a tv show about this once. She chuckled before looking confused before shrugging and looking over the Fire types.

Outside Torcono walked away from the room, his attention on reports he was seeing from his visor as he moved and sent replies mentally. The contingent watching the route into Kanto will intercept any and all Chimera while trying to stay out of sight of any reaction forces sent against them. Final construction work on the superstructure finished; all forces to be sent to work on other final work, all level 4 technicians are to report to the engine chamber. All patrols are to increase to level 3 and increase range from ship by fifty percent. He would have continued but a voice shocked him.

"So our new comer is up already, she believe everything you told her?" The question caused Torcono to pause both his walk and his mental communaction as he turned and saw a man in a dark cloak covering his body, his face covered and a single red eye blazing from the hood.

"Yes she does and was told was the truth, is there a problem Zoku, are you afraid that one like you has appeared you might no longer be as valued?" Torcono asked as Zoku scoffed before he moved away from the wall and looked at him right where his eyes would be.

"Only that this is a dangerous game you decided that we would play, picking her out as one of the warrior division while having her

"We have told her the no lies, she has the rage we saw directed at her former masters, there is no problem." Torcono finished as Zoku started to laugh a little.

"And if she learns that the mind wipe is a result of our methods and a combination of her fightning against us and not a result of their actions?" Zoku asked only for Torcono to look at him with a flat stare from his visor.

"From what her former memories tell us the manta she tried to use to hold us back was something she was taught would create a wall, not us the energies of the process to turn her into a living bomb. I told her the truth as we know it, I see no reason for her to turn on us." Torcono said as Zoku turned away from him and started to walk towards another hallway. "Where are you going?"

"I got the orders to keep the Chimera from getting into Johto, figured I try out the modification my Mightyena got and get a few kills while I'm at it." He said as he walked, stopping when he was at the edge of Torcono's hearing range. "You know, my teacher told me once, there are three truths; yours, mine and the truth itself. I wonder what our girl will do when she finds out what the third truth is." Zoku walked off after this, leaving Torcono to stew in his thoughts as he stood there.

After a minute Torcono walked off, reengaging his cybernetics and looking over the reports. Intelligence report on recent activity at mouth of valley, send to all departments that need it. Resupply request approved, party to be sent to local Den to trade newly captured Pokémon for funds request approved.

Zoku moved through the corridors and tried to keep his rage down. I joined up because these idiots will give me revenge against my former masters, she's been drafted and mind wiped, not that we don't do that to our recruits but never to one who's going to be one of my rank. Still I'll just keep an eye on her for now, and strike if she's a traitor like I think. He entered a large garage and moved towards a group of trainers on bikes and got on one, driving it with the trainers following him out into a wilderness and drove towards Kanto, his scanners ready to detect any Chimera they could find.

The moon shined down on a lake with a square building on an island in the center, search lights from smaller buildings along the shore lit up the waters around the island. "This is it, that final mission we did in Kalos got us the final piece of intelligence we needed." A figure in a black full body cloak said to twenty others dressed like it. As they looked at the lake they noticed lights and activity at ship's dock on the opposite side of the lake with a medium sized cargo ship that was being loaded by a crane.

"There's our target, the Prison of Zogrolo. It's the best international prison in the world; we've fought hard to get anything on this place so listen up for the review. The guards all have three Pokémon in common, a Gallade for short range, a Golisopod for long range and a Haxorus to carry them. Individual above sergeant rank might have Pokémon they've trained themselves. The radar allows them to see anything that flies, the island has lookout stations to see any boats that might try and make it there but we've found their Achilles heels, the first is a tunnel that leads to the island, it starts right there." The leader said as he pointed at the bottom of the cliff they were on.

"Taicho, what about the other end, they can't have left something like this free, it goes against everything this place is supposed to be!" One of his underlings asked

"The tunnel was made by a Chimera at least a century before the prison was constructed, I've scouted it out and nothing there even says that they know it's there. But that brings me to the second weakness; the ship." The Leader said as he pointed at the docks. "To keep the chance of someone taking the prison from the inside and holding out for long they only have enough food there for at most two days and resupply every night with a midnight shipment."

"So we infiltrate the lake and move under the ship while it transports the cargo and move against the guards when the ship docks. An explosion will sink the ship and cause chaos we can use, all we have to do move is wait as it sinks and then we can strike" One of the others said only for the leader to shake his head.

"No, the guard stations on the edges of the island all have sonar and the ship goes around the lake, total trip time half an hour, too long for any tricks we have to stay under it, no what we will be taking advantage of are two packs of Water types that have a rivalry here, Tentacruel and Tentacool and their rivals, a family group of the Totodile line lead by a Feraligatr." The leader said as he activated a holo map and two points on opposite ends of the lake appeared on it. "They both prey on the flora and fauna around here and they have fought each other over forging locations and with luck and two lures we can bring them to the ship when it reaches the docks."

"How boss, what will they do for us?" Another of the cloaked figures asked only for chuckles to come from the leader.

"I already dropped a lure for one and fixed the . In an hour once the ship is within the range of the Feraligatr pack they will detect a smell that will tell them there's food around the ship, and once the ship reaches the area of the island a device will activate that calls in Tentacruels. It takes about a half hour to get through the tunnel I found, half with me the rest stay here. Team one, with me. The rest of you, once the Pokémon packs meet, use your Noivern's to attack the island, make as much chaos as you can but come back alive." The Leader said before he dropped off the cliff face, five other figures following behind him as they moved downwards, all of them moving as quietly as the grave as they

By the ship the last contain was loaded on and the foreman sighed as he looked around. "Well that went easier than I thought it would."

"How so boss?" A voice from behind surprised him and caused him to jump before he turned and saw one of his workers standing there. The foreman sighed and shook his head.

"Don't sneak up on me, and it's because the crew all came down with food poisoning so a new group had to come and take over for the next few days." The foreman said as he looked up at the ship and frowned as he noticed a few of the sailors looking down at them as they worked. A cold feeling went down his spine as he turned and looked at his workers, forcing a frown off his face. "Come you idiots, keep it up, move the empty containers into the trucks! If we make it back to the office before too much time has passed I'll ask for a bonus for you guys!"

"GOT IT BOSS!" His workers cried out as they started to work a little faster as they went about their duties. As he moved he felt someone looking at him and it took all he had not to let whoever it know he felt it, but slowly reached for his belt and the Pokéballs there, ready to strike and defend his people if he had to, and he felt he would have to.

Above the dock in the ship's bridge a midget with blond hair in a grey outfit looked down and smirked a little. So far so good, all we have to do is take the stupid prison and then we grab those three, get aboard the ship that'll come and then we can get back to base. He thought with a smirk that fell when he looked at the foreman."So we've got them all fooled boss." A voice behind him caused him to turn and saw a man in a sailor's outfit.

"Maybe for now, but call team three and let them know to hold 'em until we pull out, I don't want anything to go wrong, tell them to use the Team Galactic uniforms we brought. And are our targets where their supposed to be?" The midget said with causing the other to snort.

"Our man on the inside was able to send them to solitary. But do you think anyone would even believe that the remnants of those idiots would even be able to do this?" The speaker asked as the midget snorted.

"If we take their leaders with us then they will, and they just need to think so long enough for us to leave the region aboard our ship, and sinking this thing will buy us time. Cast off, remember to go exactly as the helmsmen said to. " The midget explained as he looked at the other who only nodded after a few seconds as they locked eyes until he saluted the midget.

"By your orders Commander Carr." He said before he walked away, reaching for his radio as he did so. "Team 3 Stickup is ago, prepare for deployment using cover Stars, repeat cover Stars. All personal ship is in motion be careful"

Carr looked at the leader as he gathered his people to their trucks and Carr locked eyes with him for a few seconds before he got into his truck and drove off. "That one is going to be a problem."

About half an hour later, Carr looked ahead at the ship moved towards the docks and smiled. So far so good now all we have to do was rush the guards when they take off the cargo then rush the prison on my Steelix, one good Flash Cannon and we're in. He thought with a smirk before the ship suddenly lurched to the side and crashed into the docks.

"What the hell? Report, what was that?!" Carr demanded as the ship lurched again, sending him to the floor. Carr got back up and he stumbled to the window and paled; outside on the docks Tentacruels led Tentacools against the guards Pokémon from one side as Croconaws swarmed from the other while a Feraligatr fired an Ice Beam at a larger Tentacruel who formed a Protect and fired white needles at everything on the docks.

"What kinda hell have we stumbled into, this was a simple extraction mission for Arceus sake!" Carr snarled as he moved towards the door out of the bridge. "We're abandoning the plan; we're just going to rush. Team 1 with me, we'll wait for an opening and go. I want the rest of you to follow after us, somebody contact team 3 and call the ship now for a pickup in the courtyard after that activate the Jammer, everything else is abandoned, do not get captured!"

Outside the guards fought against the attacking Water types and the leader snarled as he looked at the two swarm leaders fought as their packs raided the docks. I haven't seen it this bad in years, I can't believe this. He thought as his Gallade kicked away a Tenticruel as Pin Missles from Golisopods in the rear gave them cover.

""Boss what's happening, what could have caused the two packs to attack at the same time?" One of his men asked as his Haxorus formed a Protect to tank Water Guns from a few of the Croconaws as others pushed an empty crate into the water and a few Totodiles carried it away, something new for their nest most likely.

"Nothing I can think of and the ship has a new crew for this run but what could they have done?" The commander began as he looked around. Taking a look at the docks he swore as he tried to figure out a plan. Okay so the 'maws are the problem and the others are gathering around that side of the docks, they can give us cover while we retreat, yes that could work. He thought as he nodded and made a decision "Never mind I want you to contact the prison, tell them we're falling back once the crew is off the ship, I want the long range radio up and running as soon as possible, tell them we've lost the ship and to prepare the secondary boats for emergency relief."

"Got it boss!" The guard said as he activated his radio and winced when a screech came from it. "What in the name of….!" He began before a Steelix exploded out of the ship with trainers on its back as Golbats swarmed out of the ship, at least half of them carrying trainers to the shore. As the Steelix flew through the air the dropped trainers moved towards the prison, releasing Raticates and Beartics as they ran, the Beartics calling up snow storms that caused the guards and attacking Water Pokémon to brace themselves as the snow

"This is a breakout! They must have caused the packs to attack so they could have an easier time attacking the prison!" The commander snarled as he looked at the wall of snow forming between them and the prison. "Nothing to do but deal with this here, once they leave we go!"

Back on the mainland the truck convoy had stopped and the leader was looking through a pair of binoculars at the island, cursing as he did so.

"I knew there was something wrong with those people, I knew it!" He snarled as he looked back at his trucks as his people looked at the island.

"What now Boss, do we head back?" One of the drivers asked only to wince at the look his leader sent him.

"If their tough enough and planned enough for that to happen I'm more worried about what they have planned for us, how's the radio?" He asked only for the person he asked to shake his head.

"No good Boss, can't get anything, must be somekinda jammer or something." Their leader looked around and got out a map and looked over the route and smirked as he found what he was looking for. The best place for an ambushing force to hit us would be the pass, but that place there, there's enough space for us to circle and defend. That's the best we can do, I just have to hope we can hold out until they're done at the island or the forces there beat them off. The leader thought as he looked around.

"Everyone back in your rigs, we're making for that rest stop before the pass, once we're there circle formation!" He bellowed as he got in his own truck and led the way towards the area he had chosen. I just hope I can get my people out of this alive! He thought as his truck led the way towards what he hoped would be a defensible position.

The Team Rocket looked out from the places they had chosen to strike from when the convoy went through the pass waited with breath. The leader moved as he rubbed the cloths he was wearing, not understanding why they had to change into Team Galactic uniforms but ready to cause some carnage. I just hope I can kill a few of those scum. He thought as he licked his lips as he waited. He looked at the lookout and smiled when he saw her start to giggle, the sign he was waiting for.

"There our piggies, and their…not coming." One of the rockets said as she looked through her binoculars.

"What do you mean they're not coming?" The leader growled as he looked at her. The lookout kept watching the convoy and spoke with a confused tone.

"Their putting their trucks in a circle, what are they planning?" The leader went still as he heard the question and then he started to charge towards the path they had taken to get on top of the pass, bellowing as he ran.

"They know we're here. ALL FORCES ASSUALT WE TAKE THEM NOW!"

The convoy leader looked out at the forest around them from within the circle his people had made of their trucks and frowned. I hope I'm jumping at straws, but I doubt it. He thought as one of his drivers came towards him.

"Still think they'll hit us boss? The smart thing would be to run or take pot shots to…" he began before

"CHARGE!" A voice screamed from the trees as Pokemon charged out at them.

"Nope, I really think they will. Let's go Tyranitar!" He bellowed as his Tyranitar appeared and led the charge of the convoy's Pokémon at the attacking force.

The cloaked figures ran through the forest and paused when they heard an explosion far off in the distance. Raising a hand the leader called for them to stop and jumped into a tree and looked towards the island's shoreline. He saw the freight ship floundering and frowned as he saw wall of ice and snow blocking the path to the prison. Someone else is making a play on this place, we need to move if we want to rescue the Master. He thought as he looked down at his followers.

"Others are attacking the prison, we move now!" He barked before he dashed towards the prison with the rest of his party following behind him. after a few minutes more they reached the prison and heard the sound of battle on the other side and noticing that the walls were empty on their side, the Leader signaled the others to follow him as he scaled the wall and held up a hand to stop them from moving beyond him.

"We don't know who or what is behind this, we move and stay in the shadows until I decide we don't. Watch for any camera's and keep out of sight; if need be we only have to get the Master and not our target." He barked before they jumped off the wall and dashed towards the prison.

At the prison Carr smirked as a Hyper Beams from a few Raticates broke the walls and the Beartics charged at the guards Pokemon as he moved into the prison itself as the rest of his team dealt with the guards he led three people in. Inside Carr ran along the top walkway and looked down at the criminals within, some part of him wondering if they should let them out to further cause confusion. If we can let them out after we leave, we might have another smoke screen. He thought as they moved towards the section of the prison their first targets were in. After a few minutes they came to a room with two four cells, three of the occupied. One had two girls each in their late teens; one with blonde hair in large curly buns and the other with short lilac hair and the next cell had a man with red eyes and long, pale green hair, with two locks of it sticking out by his eyes and a man with glasses and blonde hair and wears a blue cowlick around his head. The last cell had a small older looking man with a blue green beard. They looked up as Carr entered the room and one of his followers went to the electric lock and connected a wire from a tablet to it and started to try and unlock the doors.

"Commander Carr, what are you doing here?" The blond asked as her cellmate looked at the work being done on the lock.

"We can talk about that later Annie, for now how goes the work on the lock?" Carr asked as the tablet suddenly sparked and the person holding it dropped it, cursing as he did so.

"No good boss, they've got something that fries anything without a security handshake protocol in it and from what I saw before it booted me out its set not to open until sometime tomorrow." Carr winced at the report and sighed.

"Someone tried to get out a few years back, so they switched over to this method. Last I've been able to figure out they set it up for when the freighter docks for a few hours." The blond said as he lay back down on his bunk as the green haired man snarled.

"Smart scum them. So how'll you getting us out of here?" The man asked as Carr looked at him and sighed. So much for the quiet approach, I just have to hope that we can get away without any problems. Carr thought and he was reaching for a Pokéball and released a Forretress that floated towards the bars.

"Annie, Oakly you two get back, a good Rapid Spin and Iron Defense combination will work like a buzzsaw." Carr said before he stopped when they all heard a throat was cleared from behind them. Turing Carr saw a group of figures in cloaks standing there with two Bisharps and a Heatmor in front of them.

"If you want to do that, fine but I have a better way." The leader said as the blond and green haired man both grabbed the bars of their cells.

"Who are you?" Carr demanded as he signaled his men to prepare for battle as his Forretress floated to hover in front of him.

"Another party that wants those two. And are prepared to release the people here that you want if we might take those we want and leave with no trouble from you." The front cloaked figure said as he pointed at the two men as Carr looked at them and gestured for them to try it. The leader gestured for one of his men to move towards the wall and connected a wire from a tablet. After a few seconds the bars on the cells started to move upwards and Carr looked around and turned to them.

"How'd you get the handshake to do that?" Carr asked as the cloaked figure seemed to smirk at him.

"Tracked down the people who installed the security system here and got a copy of the master key. Off course since we opened these doors the rest of the cells will open in about half an hour or less." The leader said as he bowed to the two men as they got out of the cell. "It has been to long master."

"Good job Shadow Leader, good job. I must confess I didn't think I would get my freedom so soon." The green haired man said as the blond man just smirked behind him. Carr looked at the two men, something about the blond haired man bothered him.

"Come commander Ghetsis, you and sir Colorless just need to follow us. I trust we won't have any trouble with yours?" The Shadow Leader asked Carr who nodded at him.

"No. Annie, Oakley and then there's you mister Phantom. If you could come with us please, we'll get you all out of here." Carr said as he the Phantom nodded and Annie and Oakley followed after him, never noticing the Rockets Carr had brought weren't protecting them but had instead taking under their control. As they ran through the prison the sounds of chaos came as inmates were freed and started to riot.

"I'm guessing that neighbors are fighting a bit more than usual?" Carr asked as he led the way towards the roof.

"No more than the usual problems and gangs really." The Phantom said as he looked down from the walkway as one inmate jumped onto the back of another trying to strangle him. "The riot in the mess hall earlier this weak might have add to the pressure through, someone got knifed."

Annie looked down at the prison as the airship flew away; her eyes locked onto the other party as they moved towards the small mountain, explosions here and there marking the route they were taking. What were they doing here, what were they after? And this is a lot more than I thought the boss would send for the two of us. She thought as she looked around the cabin and tried to smile at another Rocket member only for the person to glare at her. Suddenly she was grabbed and thrown to the floor and felt cuffs being put on her arms.

"Hey! What the hell is this?!" Oakley demanded farther down. Turning her head Annie saw Oakley being held against a wall as handcuffs were put on her arms as the Phantom looked on with a look of interest.

"This is why we got you out of prison my dear, this isn't a rescue but a capture." Carr said as he floated into view on one of his Forretress as he chuckled. "The boss really wants to know just what you two were planning when you attacked Alto Mare, and he needs to know as soon as possible."

Oakley's eyes went wide with shock before she glared at Carr. How did they find out about that? Do they know about our heritage? Oakley thought as she looked at Annie as

"That's well and good but why did you spring me, not that I'm complaining but last I checked I wasn't one of you all." The Phantom asked as he stood there and watched Carr.

"You were freed because we needed a smokescreen, that and we have a bargain with your niece, we spring you and we get a discount with her services. She said to give you a message, 'while you couldn't get the Crown, we have the Book', whatever that means." Carr said as the Phantom looked at him before grinning. Carr turned to the sisters and smirked, glad his mission was over. I can't wait to get back to Viridian, once we drop those two off then I can relax. Carr thought as he walked towards the cockpit. As he walked into the cockpit the pilot turned to look at him.

"Glad you're here commander, the convoy was giving our people trouble last I saw." The pilot reported as Carr just sighed.

"Send up a black flare, we're done here." Carr said as he walked back towards the rear, hoping they would be out of range of anyone who could track them soon.

Ghetsis looked on as the airship flew away and smiled. I was in there longer then I thought I would be but I'm free and ready to strike again, this time I will succeed, I will rule all of Unova! Ghetsis thought as the Noviorn landed before other Shadows who bowed as he and Collorless got off the Pokémon.

"This is perfect, I did think that I was stuck in that place to long. My loyal…!" Ghetsis began as he turned only for a blade to be driven through his body. "Why?" He gasped as blood came out of his mouth as Colorless chuckled.

"Don't be too surprised, after your failure did you think we would let you live?" Colorless said as he watched as the Shadow Leader withdrew the blade and flicked it clean. "The only reason we brought you with us and the Shadow's said as they did inside was for a smokescreen. Thank you so much for all that you did, when I conquer the world I'll be sure to have you be remembered as a grade-A fool."

"We found something interesting in the last region we were in boss, something that might you might like." Shadow Leader said only for Colorless to smirk as he stretched.

"Later my friend, later. For now would someone just take that body and drop it two towns away near a carnivore's den. With luck the authorities won't find it until we're away. I trust the rest of the team is waiting for us?" Colorless asked as he

"Yes sir, however most of those people who followed the false ideas have been trying to take us down, I estimate we lost about thirty percent of what forces we could call on." Shadow Leader said as he lead the way away from Ghetsis, a Shadow picking him up and carrying him away as the others moved off away from the lake as the freighter burned next to the island the prison was on.

The convey leader looked out from behind the destroyed truck as his Tyranitar panted in front of the convoy's Pokémon as the last of the enemy retreated from them, running into the trees as their ship neared the forest. Boss looked around and saw his own people helping each other back to their feet as their Pokémon fought the fires.

"Take stock of what we have, as soon as we have what we can salvage we make for the port, the buildings there and the lake will let us survive until help arrives." The boss said as he looked towards the forest as the ship flew away, a frown on his face. This whole thing was too much for Team Galactic to have done unless they're a lot stronger than most people think they were. We have to survive until help gets here and tell them what we saw; we just have to hope there are no Chimera around here. He thought as he looked at the ship as it flew away, snapping a picture of it as it left.

Giovanni sighed as he finished looking over the last few papers and leaned back with a frown on his face. What is going on, why did they kill that land lord? Who killed him, what is happening in my city? He thought as he gazed over the Viridian skyline. Jenny had been meeting with him and Lance when a report had come in about a fire at an apartment complex and then he had requested to talk privately before continuing and Jenny had obliged, paling when they had finished their talk, she then had made up an excuse to leave and that worried him, what was so wrong that she felt she had to do that? As soon as he could he had gotten Lance to leave and contacted his people in the force who had sent him a copy of the report and it had been almost as bad as he feared given Jenny's flight, a search of the complex had found the dead body of the owner, recording equipment for most of the upper floors including a few rooms he had retrofitted into meeting rooms and a damaged apartment with another dead body. "That he was recording everything in his building is a reason for the lower gangs to kill him but the timing doesn't fit, not with the damages everything took from the Chimera attack….but then that could have been used as a smokescreen? And then there's Karen's 'Slayer', Yuji said that the one with him tried to kill him, is there a connection?" Giovanni muttered to himself as he looked into space, his mind creating and discarding scenario's as he tried to make sense of what he had learned.

"This is bad, and to think I was going to have Miranda go there to look it over as a meeting place in case of emergencies. If he put down that Miranda was going there….Jenny might have a few questions for her." Giovanni said as he leaned back. Of course the fact that a few lower members who don't even know who I am went there to see if he was making it into a brothel. But of course the fact that Team Rocket has members here might be something to change, sending everyone who went here to the Saffron base to prepare for the raid on Slyph Co. that I know is coming to take advantage of the chaos, might work out better that way.

A beeping brought him back to reality and he turned to his computer and opened the file and sighed as he saw who it was from. Of course those three would send a report today. Just what is it this time, can those ever do anything right? And from Kalos, that place is deader and as unimportant as the Orange Islands. He thought absently as he opened the file. As his eyes moved over it he stopped and went back over it before as he paled as he read exactly what his agents had sent.

"Well it looks like I was wrong about Kalos being unimportant, if one force like this is there, then there are more. A Bug-Type gang with brainwashed servants and they were being led by a former noble. And that's not even counting the preserve, if half of this is true…." He trailed off and rubbed his eyes and tried to think about what he should do. Carr's already on mission, Butch and Cassidy are going to Alto Mare, maybe Sham? No I need her to keep a hold on that one, so who… of course I can use him.

"Connect me to Pierce, now Maranda. I have an emergency mission for him." Giovanni said into his intercom.

"Yes sir, also the airport has been reopened and Dr. Z had request departure clearance for his team, something about the next festival will soon start there and it would be a good cover for them." Maranda's voice carried over as Giovanni nodded.

"Approved, also use account zero nine for that and account one ten to get a ticket for the plane to Kalos." Giovanni commanded as he leaned back and looked out the window. I don't like this, I don't like it one bit. The fact that according to them it happened to a sanctuary that the Rangers backed, I might need to look them, but they've always seemed to be

"Master, what are you orders?" Pierce's voice came over the phone and Giovanni smiled. Ahh Pierce, one of my most loyal underlings.

"You are to head to Kalos and contact our operatives in the region for a debriefing on the Preserve they included in their last report and then you are to go there and collect samples of the water and life forms there." Giovanni "After which you are to take the spoils that the operatives have gathered and return them all to headquarters, and don't worry about finding them, you've worked with them in Unova."

"By operatives I take it you're talking about that trio are you sir?" Pierce asked with an exasperated tone as Giovanni chuckled a little.

"They might not be the best of my agents but they are some of the most innovative and they come across some jewels here and there." Giovanni said with a small laugh as he thought about those three. I still wonder about their long term chase for that child's Pikachu, but their covert ops skills are among the highest in my employment. They come across such interesting things over the years so I've let them do and this proves it once again. He thought as he looked down at the phone. "This is one of those times. Do you accept the mission I have given you?"

"I accept the mission, send me the all the data and I'll put together a small team to sell the idea I'm a tourist." Pierce said as Giovanni smiled. Good, with this once we get a sample of that material our own we can compare it to that other source.

"I expect to hear from you as soon as you have the samples." Giovanni said with a hard tone.

"Of course master, I'll have a report for you within the next few days." Pierce said as he closed the connection.

Giovanni smiled as he looked over Viridian, his hand going to his shoulder as he remembered what he had fought so long ago, that monster that wasn't a Chimera. If this is related to those things then I might have a new avenue of investigation. If those scum are active internationally, I don't know how we could handle them if that's the case. Giovanni thought before he heard the door to his office open and saw Miranda standing there, a look of alarm on her face as she held a tablet in her hands.

"Miranda what is…." Giovanni began before he was interrupted by her fanatic voice.

"Master Giovanni! It's unheard of! A building in the slums had, at least twenty people were found dead! And there they found a dead Tyrantum in cybernetic armor! The the police contact the Gym for help!" Miranda said as Giovanni stood up, his face going red as he glared at her as his mind worked out what that could mean.

"Miranda get Yuji and Salma, you're all going with me to the site. I assume Jenny called us." He said as he rushed to the door, Miranda following into step behind him as he rushed through the gym's office towards the street. As she walked after him she sent to quick messages to Yuji and Salma and sighed when she saw the reply from bother of them.

"Yes sir, she contacted us and from what I overheard that the hospital and Mr. Lance was also contacted, something about a symbol that he instructed watch for." Miranda said as Giovanni led the way towards the door, Yuji and Salma waiting for them.

"What's going on boss, I still have to pick up my team from the center before to long." Yuji said as Salma just sighed and shook her head before she gained a scowl.

"Yeah and I have to get back to Anny before to long, I don't want to let the kid wake up alone!" Salma said

"What's going on is we're going to the sight of a massacre. At least twenty dead in the slums. According to what I was told most of them were trainers!" Miranda said tartly causing Yuji and Salma to stop and share a look for a few seconds before running after them as moved to catch up.

"If that's true the why are we going with you boss?" Yuji asked as they moved towards a car.

"Yuji, you're coming because you're a tracker, Salma because you can talk to anyone and get them to tell you what you want them to. We need to know everything you can tell about me about this." Giovanni said as they got into the car, Salma and Yuhi in the back with Miranda driving with Giovanni next to her before they drove off to the sight

Jenny looked around the room and sighed. I so don't need this now; at least that idiot is gone. Still what is it about this that brought Lance here, no matter who he's here as? Jenny thought as she looked at Lance as he walked through the carnage and looked at the body tape, trying to figure out what she had no idea as he moved towards the stairs to the upper level. She looked at the dead Tyrantum and frowned, that was something she had no idea what to do with, cleaning up the body would be hard enough, explaining just where it was from would be a nightmare, and the fact the it had eaten someone was going to be trouble. Of course if it was an ordinary Pokémon but something like this, I don't even…. She thought as she looked over the room, the outlines of the bodies of the dead trainers were bad enough on their own but the damage from the battle that happened here told you're a conflicting story.

"Quite a mess isn't it?" Giovanni voice caused her to release a relieved sigh and turn to look at him and Miranda who looked around at all the body tape with a sick look that seemed wrong to her for some reason. She shook her head and walked to him, banishing the thoughts that almost made themselves known to her.

"To put it mildly! From what we've been able to tell that thing was killed with a swift strike with a blade of some kind that went through the armor like it wasn't there. And that's not the worst of this debacle." Jenny said as Giovanni looked around the chamber, seeing the stone pillars, the broken holes and turned back to Jenny with an inquisitive look. Jenny merely pointed towards the Tyrantum and Giovanni looked at it before turning back to her.

"What about the Tryantum….wait the armor. Tell me it's not bolted on." Giovanni said as he held his noise as Jenny nodded. Okay so that was a mercy kill but why. Who are these people too have a Tryantum that they could throw away…wait. Giovanni thought as he went still as Miranda gasped.

"If that thing had gotten out to the general area of the city, it would have been a blood bath!" Miranda stammered as she looked at the corpse of the Pokémon.

"That's what I thought as soon as I saw it, we don't need this with the attack we have planned to launch tomorrow." Jenny said as she looked around the room, her eyes landing on Lance and frowned, wondering what he knew that he wasn't telling.

Lance looked around the office and frowned. This doesn't make sense, none of this does. They never treated anything living creature like that, ever. Could I have been right, are they not as united as they seem? Lance thought as he looked around the room and picked up a few papers here and there, a frown on his face as he tried to make sense of it.

"What's this, 'Sinnoh stronger then prev…' 'Gambler making moves towards….' What is this?" Lance muttered as he read the papers and tried to understand just what he had found. I have to get this information back to base, if we can figure out who theses mean we might just have a solid lead on finding out who they are. He thought as he walked out of the room as he concealed them in his cape. He looked down and saw Giovanni and Miranda talking with Jenny and frowned.

"Maybe I should have told her not to contact anyone." Lance muttered as he looked at Giovanni, all those reports he had seen over the years flashing through his mind. I know that Giovanni's hiding something, but what I don't know. I do know he's used the gym's office as his 'personal' business, but that's not exactly illegal. He thought as he walked back the ground floor, Giovanni looking up as Yuji came up to Giovanni.

Giovanni signled him to talk later and turned to Lance. "Ahh Lance there you are. I was just talking to Jenny about this monstrosity."

Lance scowls as he nodded. "Yeah. I can't believe that I've ever seen something like this before. I've already areanged for the local hospital to handle the dissection, with luck we'll soon know where this thing was born and who could have gotten it." Lance went still and turned to Giovanni who looked back at Lance for a few seconds before he realized what Lance didn't say

"Ahhh. The fossil revival process always leaves a mark that tells where it happened, doesn't it?" Giovanni asked as Lance cursed in his head, his only reaction to nod. Giovanni kept his poker face up, a few missions he had planned being scrapped.

"We'll deal with this once we kill those things in the mountain; I trust you're ready for the march?" Lance asked causing Yuji and Giovanni to both nodded.

"Just a few more minor preparations that we should probably go and deal with now. I merely came to make sure that a Chimera hadn't gotten past our defenses" Giovanni said as he turned and started to lead his people away. Lance watched them go, more convinced than anything that Giovanni was hiding something, something important.

As they walked out of the room Salma fell into step behind them and Giovanni waited until they were away from the police before he started to speak. "What did you find?"

"The cops are canvasing the whole area but there's nothing alive here and that ain't normal boss, at all. Even if the town was attacked by Chimera the buildings around here should have at least a few Pokémon." Yuji said as Salma nodded.

"I went and did a circle around the block boss, somebody attacked two buildings and the only other place that showed somebody had been there were in an X shape with that thing in the center." Salma said as they watched a large truck move past them. "The cops found two people in the destroyed rooms both unconscious. They're being brought to the hospital under guard, I get that someone's going to talk to them once they wake up."

Miranda shot a look at Giovanni who nodded his head and sighed. This proves it; Karen has to be one of them. I know I didn't ask her too much about what their after in her city but I might have to. One thing for sure our next date will be very interesting, of course it's to see a play but needs must. Giovanni though as he and his group walked towards their car.

Miranda looked down at her tablet as it dinged and smiled as she read the message and nodded. "Sir, I just received messages from those three groups you were worried about. They picked up the people they needed to, that doctor friend of yours is on his way and your assistant has departed on vacation safely."

"Problems with your other job boss?" Yuji asked as they reached the car. Giovanni merely smiled.

"Just a few minor points, Miranda drop Yuji off at the Pokémon Center would you?" Giovanni said as they left the area.

Aura Artifact; Shield Bracelets: Aura Artifact that form energy shields from users own Aura