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

23. Chapter 23

Found a few mistakes that I fixed, I was rushed I'm so sorry! I can only promise that in the future I will try to make sure I don't make those mistakes and apologizes for this, hope everyone in the USA treats the lockdown with the care it deserves and you all stay okay.

I'm so sorry guys, this is a month late and I'm sorry. The only excuse is that stress Real life problems and ideas for other stories kept me from finishing this, but the good thing is I hope to have the next chapter out before the month is up, I have a bit of material that I hope I can salvaged into another chapter and when it goes out I hope to have an announcement to make. And I hope you all stay healthy with that virus out there!

Sapphire looked around the city as she moved around Pallet in her Saph disguise as she thought about the time they had been in Pallet. The port had been fixed a lot sooner than she ever thought it would and she watched as supplies and the usual shipments that towns devoured daily came and went as she moved through Pallet. I'll say one thing about this town, the people are strong and resilient. And the people kinda grew on me, well most of them did. She thought as she moved through the town and listened in on the conversations.

"I heard that the meal tonight is the last 'free' one for Pallet house."

"So business as usual and the Town's back to normal."

"Have you heard about the trouble Viridian's had, what they're doing?"

"I wonder if this is the start of another Siege, I still have nightmares about the last one."

"Where were you when it hit, I was in Vermilion."

She walked like she was going somewhere and kept her ears open and moved towards the repaired port. As she crested a hill and saw the ocean she smiled as she moved towards the water, releasing a deep sigh when she reached the harbor and stopped by the water. I love this place, it's so wonderful! I think I'll retire here and get the girls to come here for a vacation once the job's done! And it would be good to have a few of us here to watch over her, but I'm not doing the kid transformation again, I hate having to deal with children, well most of them anyway. She thought as she giggled lightly.

"Saph, there you are!" A haughty voice caused her to turn and see two children, both of them JR trainers in all but name. Hana Borclon in her normal red dress with her brown hair in a ponytail on her right side and her twin sister Elena in her blue dress with her hair in a ponytail on her left side. Since the hurricane they had acted as messengers and lorded their jobs over the other kids who did either carrying things here or there or were general labor. From what she had heard they loved to bully those they saw as weaker than themselves and for some reason she had become one of their favorite targets.

"Well if it isn't the twins, how are you?" Sapphire asked as she stared at them with a smile on her face. There are some things I will never understand about kids, no people in other Regions. I never interacted with them before the storm and this isn't even rational. She thought as the twins looked at her.

"Fine, how's your dad and mom?" Hana asked with a grin, Elena only hid her mouth with her right hand and giggled.

"It's her aunt that here sister, the mother only comes here every few days. And with what's happening there, that's saying something about her parents' marriage!" Elena said as she looked at Sapphire with pity in her eyes. Sapphire internally sighed at this, the idea that her 'mother' worked in Viridian and was only able to get away every few days was something that she and the others had used as a cover but they hadn't thought how kids or others might see it, the Chimera attack hadn't helped it at all.

"And your dad is back in what was it…..Saffron or somewhere in the Orange Islands?" Sapphire bit back and Hana scowled and Elena looked at Sapphire growled at her.

"Why you…" Hana snarled as she moved but her sister threw her arm out and stopped her with a look.

"Enough sister we are the children of someone in the Upper class. The words of a vagrant aren't worth the air she breaths." Elena said with a pompus look on her face as Sapphire looked at the two kids and decided to throw out something that might get them to attack her and then she'd let them chase her away from town and use a few of her abilities to deal with them.

"A mother who lives away from her husband with her daughters, and I believe her hair is pitch-black, but what color was her husband I wonder?" Sapphire said causing both sisters to start growling as they stared at Saph.

"I think we should teach the little out of towner a lesson sister, I release you." Elena said as she stepped back and Hana shot at Sapphire, her arm back ready to strike. Sapphire looked around and noticed that she couldn't escape without showing her hand and knew that when Hana made contact with the illusion body it would break and then the game would be up. As she tried to figure out how to get out of this however, and before Hana could make it halfway between them suddenly!

"Water Gun!" A female sounding voice called out before a blast of water hit Hana and sent her into the ocean! As Elena stared in shock as her sister broke the surface of the water and looked at Sapphire and saw she was surprised too, realizing what had happened she turned her head and saw a girl about eight years old with short blue hair in a blue bathing suit standing next to a small blue monkey like Pokémon with a puffy, wave-like crest on top of its head.

"Youu!" Elena said before a bolt of water hit her, sending her into the sea next to her sister.

"My grandmother said this, if you can't say something nice don't say anything at all, and the first to attack others is usually in the wrong! When will you two brats grow up!" The girl spat as the twins moved towards the docks and the girl looked at Sapphire. "Come on Saph, let's get out of here!"

Sapphire ran away from the water and the girl and her Pokemon led the way as the twins got back onto land and looked after the two.

"When will our eggs hatch, I so want to beat that harbor brat!" Hana said with a growl as she looked after

"Have patience sister, soon we'll have our first Pokemon and then we'll be ready to show Pallet our might, and once we call in cousin Dario and he gathers the others, not even Ash Ketchum will be able to stand against us." Elena said as she looked at her sister who snickered back before she frowned.

"What about the Oak matriarch sis, and the old one, I've never been sure about them." Hana said as they walked away towards their home. "And the rumor is that Agatha Oak has returned to Pallet, if a member of the Elite it here, even a former one!"

"Rest easy sister, Big Sis says she'll handle the Oak matriarch, we just need to handle the Town and once we get her under hand, then we can move onto the secrets she's hiding." Elena said with a smirk.

Farther away Sapphire forced her form to pant as she stood next to the girl who had 'saved' her and smiled. "Thanks for attacking them Nerida."

"No problem Saph! Like Grandmother said; If you see someone in trouble, help them out!" Nerida said with a life as her Pokemon jumped about. "And Panpour loves to use his attacks to make people who bother others a chance to cool down!"

Sapphire force her Saph form to laugh and looked at Nerida. The girl described herself as a 'dock brat' and she liked to stay near the water most of the year and Sapphire had heard that she was the first person to go ice fishing when the nearby salt water lakes feed by the ocean when winter came around. And most interesting to her, whenever Ash came back from his journeys she was one of those that came and asked him for stories whenever he spent a day at Pallet House or when he was in Pallet Town during the annual festivals.

Saph looked at Nerida and frowned as she looked over what she was wearing and looked around. "Say, what's with the swimsuit?"

"Ehhh, they reopened the beach and I left my stuff in the locker I have there." Nerida said as she shrugged her shoulders. Sapphire looked at her and stared until Nerida started to chuckle and her Panpour just looked at her.

"You swam into the harbor and dired off in the sun, didn't you?" Sapphire asked as Nerida only chuckled and rubbed the back of her head. "Oh come on, why do you always do this? I mean from what I or my dad heard about you, you do this often, why?! Do you know how dangerous it is to swim among ships!?"

"Lighten up, I was swept into the marsh and went back down the wrong river to get away from a Sharkpedo." Nerida said as she held up her hands as "I swear Saph, lighten up, it's like talking to a teen with you sometimes."

Sapphire forced her illusion to put and cursed in her mind. She's right, but since I've met her there's just something about her that I can't help but protect her. I wonder if this is how the old mage felt when he found my sisters and me. Sapphire thought as she looked at Nerida and sighed. "Still you should pay more attention to that kinda thing, if you don't they have a habit to catch on you."

"You've seen that then?" Nerida asked as Panpour looked at her and Sapphire shook her head.

"Heard about it a few times really, and maybe an old story here or there." Sapphire said as she looked at the Panpour out of the corner of her eyes. "Say, I earned a few meal tickets with the work I did helping out, how about we got get your cloths and we hit the House, on me?"

Nerida smiled at Sapphire and Panpour laughed, showing both agreed and off they went.

As Guinevere hugged Delia goodbye she fought down the flush of revulsion with all the acting skills she had polished in school. "See you later D, I'm sorry but you know how it is. Get done with one charity and some others need your help. Still I can't believe that they had to close the airport before I could leave, but you know how it is."

"The life of a socialite is full of peril. Where are you going this time?" Delia asked absently as Guinevere looked at her with forced a smile on her face. Originally Delia had planned for Guinevere to help out with the final cooking before everything went back to normal but she had come in and said a charity needed her help and that was it

"I think its somewhere in Unova, you know how I am. All I saw was that people needed my help and I'm off!" Guinevere said with a laugh.

"Wow, to think you're still traveling at your age to help strangers, that's to be commanded." Albia said as she smiled, but inside she was boiling. Yeah, I wonder just what you're really doing you bitch! If only we had been able to get at that Fairy Type, but with you gone we have a better chance and more time without you here! Amanda thought as she watched, cursing the fact that the hurricane had hit faster so the plan she and Albia had made hadn't been able to work out.

"Come back as soon as you can!" Delia said as Guinevere got into the limo and waved as she closed the door. Delia turned away and looked over her restaurant and smiled at the people standing outside waiting for her. "Well let's get to work; this is the last day we're feeding the town, so like always lets end it on a high note!"

"Yes Boss!" Her employees called out as they all turned and walked inside, chatting with each other until only Amanda and Delia were left outside.

"Yes Amanda, is something wrong?" Delia asked as she stopped and saw that Amanda had remained outside.

Amanda looked at her before turning her head and looking towards the nearby forest. "When I was leaving last night, I thought I saw something in the woods. I went back there this morning before I came in and found tracks, I didn't recognize what could have come from. Don't want to make you worried but I saw that most of the marks were where they could look at the place we take our breaks our meals outback."

Delia looked at the forest and turned to Amanda and with a worried look on her face. "Was they any indications that someone might be playing a prank on us, hoping to get us to jump at nothing? I mean there's been a history of kids trying to make us think someone is watching us…." Delia trailed off as Amanda shook her head.

"First thing I ruled out, the tracks went deeper in, no way back to the town. Might be nothing, might be something. We always have a few problems after an event like the hurricane, don't we?" Amanda said as Delia nodded and looked towards the forest with a frown.

Delia looked down and tried to gather her thoughts. If something is in there then we can't go there this year, if something was brought from the ocean then we might have something that could kill a lot of people. But to put the town on lockdown after a hurricane, if it's nothing then the tourist board won't shut up, the airport was only opened today and the town does need the revenue….. Should I send her to the Professor and have her tell him? She thought as she tried to think of an answer before finally coming to a decision. "Tell the boys to start bringing out the fence for the back, I know we normally only put it up around fall or late summer but do it now, also the picnic, we'll have it at the park this year instead of the lake."

Amanda nodded as she looked at the forest before turning back to Delia. "Smart, I'll check and if I find anything we'll tell someone right?"

"The next time we see or send an order to the ranch have we'll tell Samuel, before then its business as usual." Delia said as she looked into the woods before going inside, Amanda staying behind for a few seconds, her eyes scanning the tress looking for something that she thought she had seen before walking after Delia.

As the limo pulled away Guinevere dropped her smile and scowled as she opened her briefcase and looked at the papers within. As she reread the pages her scowl grew as she absorbed what was on them before she slammed her right hand down on the door. "THOSE STUPID IDIOTS! If you have a base in a city you don't bring something that anyone can trace back to you!"

Guinevere scowled as the limo drove towards the airport, trying to figure out what to do. Clam down, calm down. So the Viridian police caught one of Karin's throwaways, it's not too bad. Send in a few Sanitizers and hope for the best, but the Fossil based one, maybe that could….yes; that would, no it will work. And then there's the other problem…..as far as I know the last facility we had in those mountains was abandoned by the last Siege, I know I didn't recover it, did one of the others? She thought as she tried to figure out what she should do.

Reaching for her phone she dialed a number and started speaking as soon as she heard the click. "Don't say anything, just listen! Send in two batches of flowers a small and a large. A get well to the center and a good work to the lab. Also tell the cleaners to make sure and to get rid of the remains from that party that was left out at the end."

"Of course milady, I will have the perfect arrangements prepared for them. I will contact you when the work is done of course and their reactions." A formal sounding male voice said as Guinevere looked up as the limo turned into the airport.

"Good, the results of a person's work should be rewarded. I'm at the airport, I expect good news once I contact you again." She said as the limo stopped and the driver's door opened.

As she walked through the airport she never noticed she had a tail. As she walked by a group of three people, a woman with blond pigtails, an older man with white hair and a cane and a younger man with green hair. The younger man was helping the older man as the woman crossed her arms.

"Come on father, we'll miss our flight if we don't move!" The woman said as the younger man tried to pull the older man along behind her.

"Yeah, we even made sure I have the window seat so you don't have to look out it." The younger man said as they came closer to her.

Guinevere kept a scowl off her face as they passed her. Stupid idiots, why this part of Kanto has to only have this airport I'll never know! A sea plane would be better, maybe I should look into have an airship built, yes I could met in Johto at the border and fly safely. As she walked off the tail moved on after her, but neither noticed the family watching both of them as Guinevere walked towards her plane and the private section of the airport.

"Think that's about the Oak in Pallet Butch?" The woman asked softly as the younger man chuckled lightly under his breath as the older man snickered.

"Probably not Cassidy, I always thought the wife of that young idiot was suspicious with how they met. And the old man is strong but stupid." Butch said causing the old man to start chuckling.

"Don't count out Sammy just yet boys, I fought that old idiot in our younger days and he's a lot sharper then people give him credit for." The grandfather said as he looked towards Guinevere and forced a frown down.

"Still Doc, who do you think that tail is?" Cassidy asked as she watched the man follow Guinevere.

"Not our business, we tell the boss what we saw and we move on, I want to make it to Alto Mare before anything else happens." The old man said as he walked shakily off, Butch helping him as Cassidy led the way, a glance over her shoulder the only thing that showed her worries before they reached a turn, something causing her to stop and look around.

"Bathroom, be right back, I'll be just a minute or two, meet you at the gate." Cassady said as she left tem when she saw a woman's room sign ahead of them.

As she walked towards the bathroom Butch looked at her, a frown on his face as he watched her walk. I don't want to be right but I'm forced to think the boss was right, you do have a secret Cass, I don't know what I will choose at the end but if you've got a good reason then I might help you. He thought before turning as RWS add Butch thoughts about Cassidy

"What do you know about?" The older man asked causing Butch to turn his head sharply and look at him. He grinned and waved a hand. "I know your other mission, keep an eye on her, so think she's a traitor to us?"

"I don't know really, I've seen enough to think it might be a false positive but I'm not sure yet Dr. Namba." Butch said softly. You've saved my life enough to think you're not in this by choice if I'm right, if not then I don't want this to have been a double blind test by the boss we both fail. Butch thought ignoring the look Namba sent him.

In the bathroom Cassidy pulled out a burner phone and typed a short message and sent it off, her eyes burning as she grabbed the nearest sink and cursed herself. I hate everything about him and me, why did those bastards have to have been such slime! Cassidy thought as she started to put her phone away but a beep told her a message was sent back she read it to the end that had a picture of an four year girl with blond hair holding a teddy Pikachu and smiling at the camera. She splashed some water on her face and shook herself and dried off and walked out, back towards her comrades. Looking both ways she Guinevere at one end and Butch and the doctor were walking the other. As she looked at Guinevere as she walked away, it took all of her control not to run after her and capture her, and finally learn what connected her to those people.

"Coming Daughter?" The Namba asked loudly as Cassidy hesitated for a moment before moving after the two of them.

OOOOOOOOOO

Ash looked around as he waited for Bonnie and Max to finish being looked over. He looked around and saw doctors helping the people who had been injured by the Chimera attack. He frowned as he looked all over, something was bothering him but he couldn't quite tell what it was we were lucky, I mean something that strong should have…wait. Ash's thought

"You know I haven't had to fight a Chimera in a city for years now, and I always hate it. Last time was the worse before this." Felicity said as she slumped against the wall causing the others to look at her as Lilith chuckled a little.

"Tell me about it, but at least something good came out of that right?" Lilith said as Serena looked at her in total shock.

"What could have come out of fighting a Chimera?" Serena asked in total disbelief and Lilith only laughed a little.

"My partner evolved and I met my teacher who helped me become the Thespian I am today." Lilith said with a grin as Felicity snickered.

"Thespian?" Clemont asked as the others listened in, wondering what she meant.

"Pokémon Thespian, that's what people who do Contests, act or put on shows with Pokémon are called back home, most Coordinators from other regions don't put themselves into the actions they have their Pokémon do, we do." Felicity said with a laugh. "The motto back home is 'To live with our Pokémon not apart'."

"Most people can't seem to follow that philosophy you know, I think maybe I'd like to see that home of yours one day." Ash said with a nod as he rubbed Pikachu and looked up at him. Ash's thought were all over as he looked through his memories of the many Chimera he had fought over the years and he just couldn't think of a single reason that explained how the Aquarat Rex had acted. I can't lie to myself, that thing had to have been acting, then that means that something was controlling it. I don't like this but if I tell anyone while still in the city it'll be like that place all over again probably. Ash thought as he looked down at his partner, never seeing the look Lilith and Felicity shot at each other.

Serena looked around and scowled when she didn't see who she knew she wouldn't. so she ran after all, why should I be surprised! Those witches love to talk big but they run at the first sign of trouble! She thought as she looked at the clock and frowned at the time, Bonnie and Max's checkups were taking a bit longer than normal, she hopped they were okay. Ash had been struggling if he should bring up his fears about the Chimer and decided to bite the built and talk to the others about it when a commotion caused them to turn their heads and see Meyers looking around before

"Clemont I heard about what happened! Are you all okay, is your sister?!" Meyers asked as he grabbed Clemont's shoulders.

"She's fine dad, really! We've all been looked over by the doctor and she's the last of our group to be checked! We're fine really!" Clemont said as Meyers dropped to the floor, shedding tears of relief at what Clemont told him.

"Thank you, thank you." Meyers said softly as he closed his eyes and let his thoughts settle. I can't lose Bonnie or Clemont to those things, I can't. When Bonnie was attacked by those three and she never told us it took all I had to not to go out as Mask and beat them down, this time I have no reason not to! Meyers thought as he unconsciously clenched his right hand. "What happened, all the news is saying is that a Chimera swam attacked the Contest."

"Clemont!" Tara's voice caused them to turn and see her running towards them, a look of horror on her face. "I heard over the radio, Chimera attacked the contest!?"

Clemont nodded at her and "Yeah, from the tunnels leading out of the city….. And get this, there was still power going there."

"What!" Tara said as her mouth dropped open. "That's impossible, we don't, that can't be!"

"A Chimera fell onto the track and cooked Tara, it had power!" Clemont said as Tara clasped a hand to her mouth as she stared back in shock.

"What's wrong?" Lilith asked as the others turned to Clemont and Tara, noticing her distress. Clemont and Tara shot each other a look and she nodded after a few seconds.

"My predecessor handled the power department for the city, and we have records that that the substation for that part of town was shut down." Clemont said as the others looked at each other in confusion.

"Wait, records then none of you checked it out yourself?" Ash asked, Tara only shaking her head.

"It happened when we were kids, and the records were from a trusted source so nobody checked." Tara said before Ash scowled and May's breath caught in her throat as they both remembered something like this.

"So the power should have been off, but it wasn't…May think this might be a hidden town scenario?" Ash asked as May looked at him and sighed before nodding.

"Wouldn't be the first time people used ruins to make a life." May said as she shook her head bitterly.

"What do you mean hidden town? You've dealt with something like this before?" Meyers asked as everyone looked at Ash and May.

"We were passing through what we thought was a Swallowed Town in Kanto, we had gotten lost because of a storm and we came across the town and we found people who were there to do a survey to see if the town could be recovered " May said as she started to explain. "Of course the people captured us first; they had been in the town for a few days and were sure that they were being spied on."

"Yeah, according to reports everyone either died or escape so they were worried about looters, but then I noticed movement and Pikachu sent out a bolt and we caught a kid about a few years younger and his older sister." Ash said as he rubbed the back of his head. "Eventually it came out that people who were written off dead actually survived and they went underground literately. Since no one came back they thought the threat was still on and they learned to survive on their own and only came up to check over a few rain and solar collectors they set up. Last I heard they've reconnected with the rest of Kanto and were recovering nicely."

"So people could have repaired the substation, why and who?" Tara asked as Ash just held up his hands and shook his head.

"I'm not saying that, I'm saying that back in Kanto those people had set up hidden collectors using the wreckage for parts, here whoever it is, they might be using the wires that the city set up for their own needs, that could send power to the station right? And that could be why the station had power?" Ash asked as Tara nodded as Clemont remembered the map of the city's electrical grid.

"The cables for the station were all underground; it was part of a new ecofriendly inactive, I think that the city was going to upgrade the runs to the factories there after the station was open, use the station to pay for it really. If the substation has power being fed into it then maybe, just maybe." Clemont said as he

"But why would they…..hell it could be anything from an old solar panel at a factory whose owner died during the attack to an experiment to anything." Meyers said as he held his head in his hands. "It doesn't even have to be new; they just abandoned that part of the city, too far from the center and the tourists to even matter!"

"That's just what happens when a city's main income is from the tourists trader. I can't count the number of times that I've seen things like that over my journey." Ash said as he sighed.

"Yeah I get that. I mean you did say that you've dealt with people putting up false Quests before." Serena said as Meyers and Tara abruptly turned their heads to look at her before turning to gape at Ash who rubbed the back of his head.

"There you all are!" A voice caused them all to turn and see David and Kagero walking towards them, a bandage wrapped around Kagero's forehead and a few bandages on David's arms.

"We almost didn't find you, you all okay? Say where's the kids." Kagero asked as she looked at Serena for a second before turning to look at Ash. "They weren't hurt are they?"

"The doctors are giving them a final checkup, what about you two?" Clemont asked as he looked at their bandages. David laughed a little as Kagero giggled.

"We're fine; we just got a bit scuffed up at the end. Have you seen that girl, what's her name Éclair, around here?" Kagero asked as Serena huffed.

"She's probably burning tires back to her home as we speak, she might talk a good game but that's all. And I wonder how she earned those two Ribbons of hers." Serena said with a hint of disgust in her voice, a hint that Ash promised himself he would talk to her about.

"Seemed to be strong, but of course some people are like that." David huffed and

"The opposite of that one then." Felicity said as Lilith looked at her and her face went red.

"Please don't mention that idiot, please." Lilith begged as the others looked at her and Kagero laughed a little while hiding her mouth with her right hand.

"Ho hoho. What's the matter, a would be suitor that can't understand a no?" Kagero teased and winced when Lilith sank down into the chair and seemed to deflate as she sat there.

"Unfortunately." Lilith said as she hung her head. "The problem is that he has enough money to spend that he won't usually come at me one on one, he hires trainers to help him 'break my brainwashing' and there's a history of criminals using brainwashing back home so most people who get the Quests 'help' him sooo."

"How could the police at your home not thrown him in jail yet!?" Clemont demanded as Lilith laughed a little.

"Usually happens in the spaces between the cities and I always left him broken in the past, sometimes the people who were hired by him helped me." Lilith said as Felicity laughed a little. You had to bring him up cousin, really? Still I guess I had to tell Clemont about him sooner or later, and this was nice I guess. She thought before she heard a door open and Bonnie walked out of one and a moment later Max walked out of one father down the hallway. She watched as Clemont and Meyers rushed to Bonnie as May walked towards Max who flashed a thumbs up at his sister.

"How's my daughter, is she okay?" Meyes asked the doctor who laughed.

"She's in perfect health, a bit sore because of what happened but perfectly fine. The only thing is she might have nightmares because of what happened, I mean I would." He said as Meyers looked at him as Bonnie only looked pained, an expression of 'get me away from him' on her face.

"But otherwise she's fine, and can continue traveling with me?" Clemont asked and the doctor nodded and looked over his papers.

"Nothing at all even shows a single trace that something could be wrong, all in all she has a perfect bill of health." The doctor said with a smile. "And I would be willing to testify if I have to."

A bit farther away Ash looked at David as Kagero walked off to get a drink of water, Serena following behind to talk to her.

"So, that was interesting how your Pokémon's moves worked to lead up to that final one." Ash said to David as he laughed a little.

"Yeah, my dad always told me, let your opponent think a plan is rage and hit them with a serene strike. Want a go sometime? Someone with your record is somebody I want to fight." David said as Ash looked at him

"You know me?" Ash asked as Pikachu jumped onto his shoulder.

"Yeah, the Silver Conference? I made it to the top Sixteen, but at least the guy who won was the person who beat my team." David said with a laugh. "And after that I found out about Pokémon Contests and the way to train a Pokémon to use their moves with skill instead of just throwing them around, it called to me, you know?"

Ash smiled and nodded, the ideas of the how of Pokémon Coordinator's something that had helped his training style evolve over time and he got it, not his thing but he understood it.

"Sorry to bother you, but that kimono is amazing, where'd you get it?" Serena asked Kagero as she turned and smiled at Serena.

"Nice isn't it, I actually made it myself before I departed to try the contests here. And I'm impressed, not many people know what kimono's are, most just call them robes." Kagero said as Serena nodded.

"Yeah, my dad….. his family was from Ransei before the storm wall was raised." Serena said as Kagero looked at her shocked for a few moments before breaking out in a wide grin.

"Then we're fellow descendants then, how wonderful! My parents both are, they're trying to gather as much of our people's old culture as survivors have remembered! What stories has your father shared…..?" Kagero trailed off as a flash of old pain came over Serena's eyes

"Dad died before I was over a year old, mom said something about someone trying to kill us and he saved us but lost his life." Serena said as Kagero looked shocked before a look of sympathy in her eyes and Serena shrugged. "I never really knew him you know, but whenever her wedding anniversary comes along mom always hides away. And I would love to know a bit more about my heritage beyond that marital arts scroll he left for me."

Kagero looked at her and frowned, something about that setting off a few flags, some of them good and some not so good. "Mind sharing your Pokénav number? I think I can call my parents and have them send a copy of what they collected over the years."

"I'd like that a lot." Serena said as she got out her Pokénav and smiled. Nearby Lilith listened to the conversations and tried to remember what she overheard and smiled.

"So do you think he's him and she's her?" Felicity asked, breaking Lilith's thoughts and she turned to her cousin.

"Who are you talking about Felicity?" Lilith asked only for Felicity to gestured at Ash.

"Ash and his mother! That they're who we think they are then, the both of them?" Felicity muttered softly as she moved closer to Lilith.

"Just get that sample I was able to get with my team home and a DNA test will confirm it, that is the most precious thing you have now." Lilith muttered as she nodded.

"Relax, it's in a locked bag hidden in my luggage, I'm flying out in a few days after I touch base with someone as a cover." Felicity said with a grin as Lilith just muttered under her breath. Looking around she saw Clemont sigh with relief and Meyers laugh a little as they finished talking with the doctor and she smiled, never noticing that Felicity was grinning at her or that someone had been watching the group since before Meyers had reached them.

As she walked through the hospital Flarera frowned at the results the higher ups had made. "She ran, she should have been expelled and told to try to earn a Grand Ribbon but they sent it to her anyway! Still I was able to have her recorded as the 2nd place winner and for their actions I'll be able to give the other three the 'extra' prize so there's that."

Looking forward she smiled as she saw the people she was looking for and smiled.

"There you all are, I was wondering how I'd find you!" Flarera called out and they all turned and saw her walking towards them and most of them frowned and she looked down and blushed. I guess I did change my cloths. She thought as she looked over herself in her grey suit and skirt with her glasses on. "It's me, Flarera."

At her declaration most people stared in shock and Bonnie rubbed her eyes while Felicity whistled.

"Talk about a style change!" Felicity said as she looked at her and shook her head.

"Yeah, when we set up the contests we kinda needed a way to get the hostess able to move about without someone following us so a fashonista friend of my sisters kinda helped give us a makeover for the contests. But could Lilly, David and Kagero please come here and hold out their Pokédexs?" She asked as the three looked at each other and held them out. Flarera smiled and tapped the undersides of all three of them with a small metal square. "The program I just sent to you will tell you about any new contests in the area of a Pokémon Center once you reach the wireless range of said Center. And Miss Lilly I have your grand Ribbon."

At this Flarera pulled out a small case and revealed a black ribbon with a white Zoroark head in the center.

"This is what the all Grand Ribbons will be?" Serena asked as the others looked down at it.

"Yes, each of the Grand Ribbon's will have a clip that has something to do with the riddle to find it, a way for this year to be something even if at the end it was a one off thing." Flarera explained as Felicity punched Lilith's shoulder, a grin on her face at her cousin's achievement. Flarera looked at them and smiled. "You were all brave and I hope to see you again at the Grand Festival, good luck."

"Not bad cousin, not bad!" Felicity said as Flarera walked off and was about to say something else when suddenly a beeping came from her person. Looking down she pulled out her Pokenav and swore. "Sorry, gotta run to make a bus that's taking me to a meeting with a designer for a costume for a vid, see you all again!"

Lilith shook her head as Felicity ran off and laughed. "That's Felicity for you, if she doesn't set an alarm she'll forget about it, crazy but a great person to grow up with."

"Well if she's leaving to catch a bus, then it's probably later then I thought. I think I'll move off too, I want to reach the next town before nightfall. I think I'll head north, see if I can find anything to help my style and team up there." Kagero said as she walked off and waved at them over her shoulder.

"I'm heading south; I've heard good things about the Fighting types down there, gonna see if I can add to my team." David said as he bowed to the others. "Hope to see you in the final Lilly!"

"Thanks, good luck!" Lilith called out and David smiled before moving away as Meyers looked down at his watch and sighed.

"I've got to get off to, a customer is coming in with a big order." Meyers said as he crouched down and gave Bonnie a hug before looking at Clemont. "Take care of your sister son and don't make me a grandfather too soon."

"DAD!" Clemont cried out as he blushed and Bonnie snickered and looked at Lilith who looked away and as Serena, May and Eve giggled a bit as Tara smirked and Ash just sighed and shake his head as Pikachu waved its tail.

"I should go too, I'll look over the records and talk to the town about the power in the abandoned sector and get back to you about it Clemont, good luck on your journey." Tara said with a smirk and a wave as she walked off. Clemont looked after her before he realized a few things and cursed.

"Wait a second Tara, you guys stay here." Clemont said as he dashed after Tara and grabbed her before pulling her into a side room that was empty. "Listen Tara, I remember the Old Man said that the tunnels that they made for the subway went close to the drainage tunnels, right?"

"Yeah, but what does that…!" Tara said as she went still and remembered the hole they had made when they broke in and her mind made a few connections.

"Yeah, go to my storage room on the third floor and set up a few of my defensive inventions down there, for now just cover the hole and keep an eye on it."

"Yeah, I'll see if I can make a few drones and send a few searchers into the tunnels, maybe I'll find nothing but I think I'll check it out." Tara said as she stared at him with fright. I'll lock down the whole floor and have the Magnemite guard all the staircases, I know I'll sleep better once the damage is repaired. Tara thought as she looked at Clemont. "Don't worry, I'll make sure everything is safe and the Gym is protected."

"I know you will Tara, good luck." Clemont said as he and Tara left the room and she walked off. Clemont walked back to the others. "Sorry about that, I forgot about some paperwork that I didn't finish before Clembot and never told her about it."

"It is getting late, is Max okay to travel?" Eve asked May who was about to say something when Max spoke up.

"I can sleep on the bus doc, when does it leave?" Max asked and Eve smirked at him.

"Soon, mind walking us back to the hotel and the bus stop?" Eve asked the others and they all smiled and Bonnie grinned as she looked at Max, not noticing the looks Clemont was sending her.

OOOOOOOOOO

Cleo looked ahead of her as the sun shinned overhead as she rode her Flygon as Asim and Mathayus flew next to them on their Flygon and Braviary respectively. They had been making good time and they had reached the river that would take them to Sola's Rest. This is perfect; I'm back in the field and a good old fashion investigation! No political garbage, what town wants this while that town wants that, trade between the Valley and the Plains. She thought as she looked down at the sliver of the Great River as they flew on their Pokémon.

"We're almost there! A few more minutes and we've made it!" Mathayus called out as he felt the wind as his Bravery carried him towards the town. It'll be good to see my cousin and his family again! Mathayus thought as he laughed.

Behind him Asim looked at him with a suspicious look. I still don't trust this one, but if he's only going to visit family, I just hope this will be fine. He thought as they flew downward and hugged the desert as they.

"I'll leave now, hope you both stay alive!" Mathayus called out as his Bravery banked left and flew towards the port. Asim looked at him as he flew and scowled as Cleo waved goodbye and they flew over buildings towards the government complex. They saw a few people wating outside the main building in the middle of a courtyard and Asim urged his Flygon to fly forward to help the illusion that he was in charge.

"I'm Marshall Assim, by order of the Highlord of the Desert, I'm here to investigate the possible Devourer attack." He declared as he looked down at the party before him. One of the was a large man with red hair in a blue robe and he urged a bald man with tan skin in a white robe with a blue sash from his right shoulder to the left of his waist with black boots no stepped forward.

"Hail Marshall, we didn't expect you. I am the mayor of Sola's Rest, Lord Torion Xylis." Torion said as he swallowed.

"Teens were drained of their Aura Mayor; of course the Highlord would be interested." Assim said as he looked at the Mayor before a person cleared his throat, causing him to turn to him, a member of the Protectors and by the rank and the ruffles on his shoulder showed he was the leader of the local branch. He had black hair and a mustache under his black eyes and stared back at Assim with a hard look to his eyes.

"My men are working sir, as we speak I sent members riding for every camp and have them checking every way station and stop from here to the mother river itself. If he's out there we will find him." The protector said as Cleo looked at him as Assim nodded.

"That's about all I can expect then. What about the witness, has he said anything?" Assim asked as the leader bristled and looked at him.

"The witness, he gave a full statement and we held him for a few days before we had to let him go." Torion said as Assim looked at him.

"He disappeared somewhere in the entertainment district, we have people looking but so far nothing." One of the other Protectors behind the leader said and the leader turned sharply and stared at him with anger in his eyes. The man was fat and small with brown hair and had a black goatee and wore a Protecter's uniform and had the ranking marks of a Sargent.

"Thank you….." Assim trailed off as the Protector saluted him

"Sergeant Garcia sir, happy to serve the Homelands!" Garcia said as he saluted Assim.

"And you are commander?" Assim asked as he looked at the leader who came to attention and saluted.

"Captain Nero Karnlad sir, when you sent that pulse that you were here I was relieved, we expect you a day or so earlier. Might I inquire what caused the delay?" Nero asked as Assim looked at him with a hard look.

"An event that I need to report to the Highlord as soon as possible. You have a Messenger Room in the complex don't you?" Assim asked as he and Cleo got off their Pokémon and recalled them.

"Yes sir in the government building. Permit me to show you the way myself." Lord Torion said as he led the way towards a three story building, the others following before Assim turned to Cleo.

"Yes, that's fine. Junia go and check out the hospital, I want to know everything when I met you there. I trust someone will escort her there?" Assim called out as Nero stopped and looked at Garcia who kept walking.

"Off course Marshall, would you like a coffee when you get there?" Cleo asked sarcastically and Assim only laughed, glad she remembered what they had talked about before the oasis.

"No, just the report." Assim said as he waved a hand. "You do know how to get there…no we wouldn't. Of course a guide might be easier on you….."

"Garcia go with her!" Nero snapped as he turned and walked after Assim, hoping to score some points with whoever Assim would contact.

"Yes Captain! Come with me madam, the hospital is in the port distract, and it's a good walk there. I have a Mudsdale we can use and we could get a saddle from the motor pool." Garcia said as he led Cleo away, Cleo looking at Assim and nodding at him.

"Thank you sergeant, so how is the city normally?" Cleo asked as she smiled at Garcia who laughed.

"The city is calm, a few contests between youths but I've never seen much beyond kids being kids, but there are rumors." Garcia said as he and Cleo walked towards the motor pool.

"The senorita seems spirited my friend, it must be interesting to have a partner like her. How long will you be here Marshall, I'm sure the High Lord has much for you to do." Nero asked as Assim looked at him for a few seconds.

"She's not my partner, she's my possible apprentice. I'm looking for my replacement so I can retire after she's trained up. And as for how long I'll be here, at least a month while I go over the case and the local area, and I have family to visit." Assim said as Nero looked at him and dropped back a step to think.

Nero glanced at the back of Assim's head and forced a frown down. If he's looking to retire I have to 'find' what attacked those teens; that could be just the feather in my cap that might help me get his job. With how new the High Lord is and the fact she said she's just a place holder I could maneuver myself into that office or a Lordship without too much effort. Nero thought as he grinned, never noticing that one of his subordinates had heard and was grinning as well.

"Here we are sir, here we are!" The mayor said as he opened a door to reveal and empty room with a red circle and a blue circle painted on the floor, runes around them and on the walls. Nero moved towards the door when Assim threw out his arm and turned to him.

"Stay here." Assim said before he entered the room and closed the door behind him. Nero scowled and nodded to one of the officials who flicked a bead on a bracelet and Nero smiled. Perfect, I knew that would come in handy one day! He thought as he looked at the door.

Assim looked back at the closed door and flicked his eyes around the room, noting that it was as bare as most of these rooms were, never noticing a camera set against one of the grills in the floor, grills set to let air into the chamber. As he walked towards the red circle the blue circle lit up and a Protector appeared and saluted him.

"Marshal, good to see you sir. We've received your message and we're building up the force to blockade the oasis as we speak." The Protector said prompting Assim to nod.

"Good, make sure you all stay out of the ruins and work on stopping any golems that try and break out. Make sure all the vehicles are Aura powered and no Electric Pokémon are part of any of the teams sent in." Assim ordered as he tried to remember the problems the student expedition had encountered.

"We're working on that boss, I expect a few days and we'll be mobile." The Protector said looked conflicted. "Also one the Elites was at a party at Port and…..it was attacked by war Homunculi."

"What!" Assim demanded as he looked at the Protector who shook his head.

"The Highlord and High Caster weren't even there yet boss, it was a party the City Lord had to announce a rail line he's building to the Domain Capital." The protector said as Assim stared as he realized what he had just heard.

"Haven't people tried that already and failed?" Assim asked with a frown.

"He says he won't make the mistakes that people did and has ways around the problems. It's still in the survey stage but he has confidence it'll work." The Protector said with a shrug and Assim cursed the thinking of politicians that they could do better than others who tried the same thing.

"That port…. Isn't that the place where that pirate has been attacking that Lord's shipments?" Assim asked as he remembered a few reports that had crossed his desk.

"Yes sir, and he's saying she was behind the attack. No evidence or for or against, but my gut feeling is the Lord knows why it happened and isn't talking." The Protector said as his image rippled and Assim frowned.

"Something wrong on your end?" Assim asked before the Protector looked concerned.

"Are you sure, that happened? Sorry sir, a report just came in about a ship that was found adrift by a patrol from Port." The Protector said and looked at his left. "The report says it was a cargo ship from the Valley heading to collect a cargo from us, orders boss?"

Assim stared and started to think, lost in his thoughts. I don't like this, it could be anything from pirates to Chimera… but we have to handle that oasis, I mean a living Devourer woke up, there might be more there. But the plan! He thought before he made a choice. "I want a platoon to head for the Port now, fast and true! The orders are that the barge will return to the Capital and the royal Caravan will be transported to the Port. The Platoon will be added to security and I want boats out searching the shoreline by sunrise tomorrow!"

Mathayus moved through the crowds as he headed towards the docks, a smile on his lips despite why he was there. It's been a few years since I've been here, didn't that punk say that he'll become a trainer this year, wonder what he choose, still that little gift I have for him will probably make his day! He thought as he nagivaged the crowds until he stopped, his eyes seeing a flash of black hair and he turned and saw Kyra walking with a bag and her Minccino on her head. He was call out to her when he saw her being followed by three teens in red cloaks.

He stared after them, remembering the vision his grandmother had told him about before he had left coming back to him and his face became a scowl as he realized that this might be something to do with it.

"I don't know who you scum are I'm not letting you take me niece that easily boyos!" Mathayus snarled as he moved after the gangers following Kyra.

Kyra hummed to herself as she moved through the village, happy that things were getting back to normal again. This is great! Everything is back to normal and mom felt safe enough to send me out to get food for super, everything is great! Now if brother can't be bothered by that idiot and his gang. Kyra thought as she walked.

"Minc Minccino." Minccino suddenly said and patted her head on the left side and she looked at a window and saw some of the two of the Bloody Maulers in the reflection. Kyra looked at the window nad noticed a

"Your right Minccino that would be a good gift for momma, but it's a bit outside of my price range….Maybe brother will chip in with me?" Kyra said normally as she looked at the window before she moved on. Why are they after me, I mean I'm his sister… but this is different, they've never attacked kids like me before. She thought as she moved through the crowds, her eyes darting about and hoping to find a Protector or something she could use to get away, only to see another Bloody Mauler at the other end of an alley grinning at her.

She moved along the shops and in a window she saw that the two Bloody Maulers who had been following her had been joined by the one from the alley and she swallowed. Looking about she moved calmly towards her where her brother and his friends liked to hang out and hoped that they were there. As she moved towards the bridge she saw another Mauler on the other end and stopped for a moment and looked over her shoulder and saw the other three coming towards her as the one on the bridge started to move and ran towards the open sand and the outskirts on the east side. As she ran she looked over her shoulder and saw the Maulers running after her and the one from the bridge the closest and she looked around as she reached the outskirts of town and saw a maze of back alleys and abandonded buildings she could lose them in.

The ganger from the bridge looked at Kyra as she ran from him and cursed when she slipped down a back alley and when he reached the opening she was gone, open holes big enough for her to run through on both sides of the alley led into the buildings and an another alleyway far enough down for her to have made it. The brat is smarter than any of us thought. Simple mission to get some leverage over that punk my foot, the boss is not going to like this! He thought as he turned and saw the other three catch up. "She's in the back alleys, split up and find her!"

As the one from the bridge ran down the alley he looked around and saw a foot print leading towards into the building on the right side and released a Pokéball, from which came a small light brown humanoid with two small spikes on its back and a short tail wearing a skull with two rounded horns on the top of its head and a tooth-like point on the lower sides, its hands had two claws on them and its feet had a single claw and it held a bone as a club in its right hand.

"Cubone, go we're hutting a girl and a Minccino!" He barked as his Cubone saluted him and dashed into the hole. He dashed towards the alleyway way and saw it led to a dead end caused by a partially collapsed building falling onto the other building, he greeted his teeth and fallowed after his Pokémon, signaling the others that he thought Kyra had gone into the building on the right side. "Cubone; make holes big enough for me to walk through and let's find them!"

Farther in the abandoned building Kyra heard the sounds of smashing behind her and moved faster through the hallway and winced, Minccino following behind her and looking back the way they had come.

"Keep moving Minccino, we have to get away from them and try to find a way to one of the local Protectors." Kyra said as she moved, a crash behind causing them to freeze and turn to see a dust cloud forming in the hallway. From the cloud came the Cubone and as it looked the other way from them Kyra hopped it wasn't after them but as it turned its head and looked at them it went still before it reacted.

"CUBONE!" Mauler's Pokemon cried pointing its bone club at them.

"Run Minccino!" Kyra cried as she ran down the hallway as Minccino stayed where it was before following after Kyra as Cubone chased them as the Mauler came into the hallway and saw them.

"She's over here guys, cut her off!" He called to the outside and ran after her. Kyra moved into through a doorway and saw that the wall the door was set into was cracked and she saw a chance.

"Minccino, Hyper Voice on the wall right above the door!" Kyra called out and prayed her plan would work.

"MINCCINO!" Minccino screamed, firing a whire energy beam that caused an explison when it hit the wall and caused the celining to fall and block the doorway, leaving a small gap at the top of a rubble that formed, only big enough to peer through. Kyra didn't wait and ran down a through a doorway that led back in the direction they had come, hoping to slip by those hunting her.

As Kyra moved back into the alley she ducked down and heard something fly through the air and looked and saw a Bloody Mauler and a Cubone standing at the alley's mouth, a smirk on his face as he looked at her.

"I knew you'd double back, it's what I would do. So the easy way or the hard way?" The Mauler asked and Minccino stood infront of Kyra and the Mauler sighed. "Hard way then, Cubone, Bone Club."

"Cubone!" The Cubone cried as it dashed towards

"Dazzling Light!" Kyra commanded and hoped it would work.

"Minccino!" Minccino called as it ran at Cubone and formed a rainbow colored sphere around its body and slammed into Cubone before it could hit it with is bone, the resulting explosion sending it flying back towards the Mauler.

"Your stronger then you look, but then you're brother is too. But I just have to hold you here before the others get back, to say nothing about the guy who chased you into that building." The Mauler said with a grin. "But they'll come back to me victoruios, get that thing Cubone!"

As Kyra watched Cubone charge at Minccino she grimaced. He's right, he can play for time and we lose! I have to find a way out of this, I just have to! She thought as she looked around and noticed a few hole into the building on the opposite side of the alley from her but before she could even move.

"Rock Tomb Cubone, keep them here!" The Ganger ordered and Kyra went still in shock. How did he know!? She thought but before she could even speak.

"Cuuubonne!" The Cubone cried as it slammed a foot down and suddenly holes into the building on the left side were blocked

"Like I said, what I would have done." The Mauler said with a deadpan stare and he then looked down beyond her and went still when she saw another Bloody Mauler with a Nidorino coming towards her slowly.

She looked around, hoping to find anything she could use when she saw another Bloody Mauler and a Machop come from behind the first Bloody Mauler and then suddenly a crash came from the right building above them, a cloud of dust forming that from which the first Cubone appeared and slammed its bone into Minccino and sent Minccino flying until it hit a wall and slid to the ground.

"Minccino!" Kyra called out as she ran towards her Pokemon and picked it up and hugged it close to her as she looked down the alley and saw the gangers chuckling and she looked around, trying to find anyway she could get out them out of there in one piece.

As the Mauler's Pokémon came towards them Kyra she backed up and hugged Minccino and looked around, content to struggle until the end help arrived. The Maulers at the alley walked towards her and smiled evilly, knowing that there was nothing she could do to stop them when suddenly!

"Let's go, Chesnaught!" A voice roared out and everyone looked towards the speaker. A Chesnaught appeared and charge the Maulers and flung their Pokémon away as a figure appeared behind them with a Braviary hovering above him. "Now why would you all be attacking a little girl all alone?!"

"What's it to you….." One of the Gangers began before Kyra called out when she saw him.

"UNCLE MATHAYUS!" Kyra called out as she saw who had come and saved her.

"Uncle?!" Another of the Maulers exclaimed, a sinking fealing growing within him and swallowed.

"Still just one man and two more Pokémon, get them!" The Cubone trainer ordered and the Machoke charged at Chesnaught and the Nidorino looked at Bravery.

"Wood Hammer Chesnaught, on muscles! Bravery use Brave Bird and carry!" Mathayus called out. Chesnaught roared and charged at Machoke as its hands started to glow green and punched Machoke, sending it flying past Kyra into its trainer. Braviary cawed and flew straight at Nidorino as blue flames covered its body as it flew straight at Nidorino and dodged at the last minute and flew at the Bloody Maulers.

"Somebody hit that bird with an Electric attack or something!" One of the Gangers cried out as it dodged Bravery as it flew past them and the flames died down and it grabbed Kyra who cried as it carried her back to Mathayus as she held her Pokémon. Dropping to the ground she looked at her uncle as he smiled at her before turning towards the battle, his grin turning savage.

"Get back here partner!" Mathayus called out as Machoke tried to grapple with Chesnaught and suddenly Chesnaught grabbed Machoke's hands threw it into the right building, creating a cloud of dust that covered the alley and caused the Maulers to choke. As the dust died down the ganger who had followed Kyra into the building was revealed to be in the room Machoke had broken into when it was thrown and looked out into the alley and paled as he saw the look on Mathayus's face.

"Frenzy Plant; Demolition!" Mathayus barked.

"CHESSNAUUGHT!" Chesnaught roared as its eyes glowed green and suddenly all around the alley roots burst out and the buildings on each side started to shake as roots burts from the walls.

"Move!" The first Cubone's trainer called as he ran away from Mathayus, the others and their Pokémon following after him. as they ran he looked over his shoulder and hid a wince as the roots started to erupt out of the abandoned buildings and shivered as he moved, thinking about the look Mathayus had and praying that he wouldn't do that to him one day.

Mathayus looked down at his niece and picked her up and turned away as the buildings started to fall apart. "Let's get out of here before the Protectors come little princess. That brother of mine won't ever let me hear the end of it if you're caught by something I did."

"Now what you idiots, what are we gonna do now?" The Mauler who had chased Krya asked as they stood around the outskirts of the city and looked around. They had ran until they reached a gully and hid there, leaning against a dirt wall with a cave entrance nearby

"The boss is not going to like this." The Machoke's trainer said as he hugged himself and tried not to think of anything about the battle.

"Yeah no kidding. I mean getting that kid was part of forcing that punk into the Fighting Pit, him against a few Battle Homunculi would have drawn a good crowd!" The Nidorino trainer said as he

"But who the hell was that Uncle!? I thought the parents were only children!" The second Cubone exclaimed and the others nodded. "And did you see what he had that Chesnaught do?! I didn't think Grass moves could do something like that

"Perhaps I can help you then." A voice from within the cave caused them all to turn and look at the cave mouth before looking at each other. After a few moments of silence the second Cubone trainer got up and walked to stand in front of the cave as the others readied their weapons and Pokéballs

"Who's there!" The second Cubone trainer demanded and a chuckle came from within.

"Come and see, perhaps you'll be saved after all." The voice said and the Maulers looked at each other and walked to the mouth of the cave and saw a figure standing there within the cave just beyond the light.

"A traveler from afar, one who can tell that you all are my kind of people." The figure said as he walked out with the hiss of a snake like Pokemon from within the shadows. As the trainers stood there peering back at him he raised a hand a sphere of water formed and he seemed to radiate smugness at those watching him. "Scum of the earth, people not afraid to break others to get what you want, exactly the kind of people I love to work with."

"Whoa boy, that's a good Mudsdale. Here we are madam, the hospital!" Garcia said as his Pokémon slowed down and he gestured towards a three story building of white stone. "Not what you'd expect out here, it has four stories underground and the other buildings are for operations and specialist care for Pokémon and people long term."

Cleo looked up at the building and saw the three other ones behind it, each made of the same white stone and a small garden with a few cacti and a small fountain. "Then one of the buildings back there is the one I want then?"

"Yes mam the one on the left, their Pokémon are in one of the underground floors." Garcia said as he gestured to the buildings as he listed their functions.

"Thank you sergeant, will you becoming with me." Cleo asked as the Mudsdale leaned down and she got off, Garcia scratched its chin before recalling it into its Pokéball and nodded.

"I probably should, my captain might like a report on their prognosis, after you Madame." Garcia said with a bow and Cleo laughed a little.

"Thank you sir, but what can you tell me about the victims? Why were they even out there in the first place?" Cleo asked and Garcia looked frightened for a few seconds.

Garcia looked around and leaned towards her. "You didn't hear it from me, but I think they're gangers."

"There's a gang here?!" Cleo demanded and Garcia nodded back at her.

"Rumors mostly, the only thing that they all agree on is their name, the Bloody Maulers." Garcia said as he looked around. "It's mostly tags here and there really, but yeah the rumors say that there's a gang and that the same someone always stops them."

Cleo looked at him and forced a scowl off her face. Why the hell haven't I heard about this, I know I sent out an order that any signs of gangs are to be reported! She thought as she tried to keep her anger down. "So there's a gang around here and a person stops them, and all in all your captain does nothing about it?"

Garcia looked down and sighed. "There aren't any witness willing to come forward and the rumors always peak when some new tagger makes a new symbol. The captain says it's just kids being kids but I don't know."

Cleo looked at Garcia and nodded, walking into the complex. I think I need to talk to Assim about this as soon as possible, if this gang is anyway connected to what happened, we might have to do something about it. Maybe a force could come here on one of the ships and…no martial law is the last resort, I won't go down her road, if something happens here we'll deal with it. She thought as she walked, never noticing the way Garcia was watching her.

Garcia looked at Cleo and kept his face blank as he watched, his eyes noting the glow flowing form her illusion charm. I don't know what your hiding Madame but I think I dropped enough clues. With luck the Marshal will move against that idiot and find evidence of what the 'honorable captain', his brother and nephew are really doing here, I hope Bahadur isn't too mad at me if they track him down. Garcia thought as he walked with Cleo towards the long term care building, suddenly a buzzing caused him to bring out a battered Pokégear and activate it. "Sargent Garcia at the hospital, come back."

"Garcia, thank the River! Listen, a few abandoned buildings in the east were just torn apart by giant roots, the Commander wants you to get over there and take control and lock down the area!" A voice came over his Pokégear and Garcia cursed and released his Mudsdale and turned to Cleo.

"I'm sorry senorita but it seems duty calls, good luck with yours." Garcia said as his Mudsdale dropped down to let him get on.

OOOOOOOOOO

Squall smiled as he looked at the lighthouse of Ca'Volg's signal with relief, after an attack by Chimera, having to beach the ship to repair it and another attack, they were there. I don't want to think what it would have done to our reputation if we hadn't made it in time. Still we made shipment even after all that trouble with the Chimera and after we send the warning out for the local waters I think I'll look for a nice cargo that's going out there, Kanto or Johto maybe. He thought as he

"That was a longer voyage then I thought our first trip would be brother!" A voice caused him to turn and see Doubar climbing up to stand next to him on top of the bridge.

"How's the crew doing Doubar, anyone jumping ship besides the short timers?" Squall asked as he looked out as they sailed closer to their destination.

"I mentioned you were planning on a longer voyage for our next trip away from the local area and surprisingly a lot of the crew was interested. Not suppressing with that." Doubar said with a scowl down towards the chimera corpse leashed to the side of the ship.

"'If a horde does come from the seas, all upon are called to arms.' The old law, some of them want to be gone if the call is sounded." Squall said as he shook his head. I can get why they'd want to be away from what might be another Chimera horde, and if we're far enough away and have a contract then we won't be drafted, and then there's the fact I'm here again. Squall thought as he nodded and looked down towards Ca'Volg, his face unreadable. "Doubar go and get ready to unload the cargo once we make it to port in about half an hour, I'll head back to my room in a bit, remember I was hurt if they asked where I am."

Doubar nodded and moved away, leaving Squall alone as he looked towards Ca'Volg, his emotions tormented as he looked at the city, his thoughts going to his past. As he stood there he saw flashes of memories that caused him to grit his teeth, the pain and rage he they caused him made him not notice someone had appeared on the deck behind him until two slender arms hugged him from behind.

"So we're back here hu?" A seductive sounding voice asked as Squall grabbed the arms and nodded as he felt a head rest on his shoulders. "I knew we'd be back sooner or later, never like this though."

"We have others with us this time my lady, and those people aren't in power anymore." Squall said as Samelia sighed.

"I know but after your mother died and they came to take us, how we fought our way free and maybe it to Uncle's caravan and everything." Samelia said as memories went through her head and she scowled." If that BITCH lived then she'll be trouble, more than that fool you fought at the last tournament."

Squall mind went back to his past as he remembered. "Your right, but this is…..!"

"I know my love and the chance to pay our respects is something I've wanted for years. But we can't let them win, ever." Samelia said as she hugged Squall.

"I'm sorry, but this was the first cargo we could get and we had to be out of there before anything else happened, you know he would have found some way to blame us!" Squall said as Samelia sighed.

"I know, that fool is really becoming a problem. Once we get out to see we have to try and keep track of him somehow." Samelia said as Squall nodded.

"I know. Firouz and Doubar will handle the cargo and the union, I told Firouz to go looking for a cargo to carry off the land, Doubar will handle loading and the two of us will head towards the remains and pay our respects, dress like we're jumping." Squall said as Samelia kissed his check and laughed.

"We're having a picnic for our date, at the first town with a park we get to once we leave here." Samelia said as she moved away, leaving Squall to stare at the lighthouse alone. After a few seconds he brought out a pendent on a chain from under his shirt and looked at a small blue sphere on it. As the light caught it he thought he saw a black star within it and sighed as he put it back under his shirt.

Doubar walked through the ship and frowned as he reached the corner and saw a few of the crew standing outside of the one of the holds with a scared look. "What seems to be the problem gentlemen?"

As one they turned and saw Doubar and went to attention. "First mate, no problem sir, it's just…this is where the scientist had us put the dead Chimera."

"That old story about how a dead Chimera can revive after a few hours? I went over every body, cut off their heads and removed the hearts myself." Doubar said as he huffed and looked at the people before one of them contained.

"Thought I heard something in there last night."

"Never trust Chimera remains, me grandma always told me that. Always burn it down and salt the earth to end them."

"That's enough of that you three, yes three!" Doubar said forcefully. "Now get to the main hold and make sure everything is ship shape there, go!"

As the three crewmen moved off Doubar looked at the door and felt a flash of uneasiness before he shook his head. "Don't believe what you can't see boyo, always try and see the truth. Pops, why did you have to raise me to be me?"

Douboar opened the door and walked into the room and looked about, frowning as he did so. The room was empty except for the corpses of the Shellmen and the Horned Serpent, and the frozen horned Shellman was still frozen, and he shook his head as he walked up to it and. "I don't know why you bothered brother but a bigger bounty will be good for the crew and supply rise, with your plans."

As Doubar stood there he let his eyes wander around the room until he stopped and frowned. He walked towards one of the bodies and nudged it with his foot and shook his head as he looked down at the blood that was staining the deck. I could have sworn that it stopped bleeding before we brought it down here…we weren't gentle, we probably opened a wound that didn't kill them, you think after cutting their heads off and draining their blood there wouldn't be any left but then these are Chimera, who knows what mutations these things have. He thought as he looked down for a few more seconds before turning and walking away.

As soon as he left a small three foot long snakelike shadowed form surged from the darkness of the room towards a grate covering a vent and spat a blast of a black liquid at it. As soon it hi the metal it started to bubble and soon the grating was gone, the liquid having eat it away. The shadowy form slithered into it and moved towards the bowls of the ship, trying to find a place to hide away.

Doubar looked around as he came out onto the deck and smiled as he saw that they were just passing the lighthouse now. As the Graceful Traveler moved into port he saw a few of the sailors on the varies ships stare in horror at the Horned Serpent that was lashed against the side.

"It seems we not so inconspicuous after all my friend." A voice behind him caused him to turn and see Firouz looking out at the city as they moved closer.

"A Chimera against the side of the hull, I wouldn't thing so. Still this will get the ball rolling at lot faster, that's why brother had us do this." Doubar said as Firouz nodded. "I will of course take the lead, unless you want to do it?"

"No thank you!" Firouz said as he held up his hands. "Something like that is best left for the 1st officer; remember to say the Captain is injured right?"

"Yeah, I don't get why but if brother wants that to do it I will." Doubar said as he looked towards the docks as they sailed closer.

"Think it has to do with their pasts before they met us old friend." Doubar said quietly to Firouz who only snorted.

"I'll go check on how their moving the cargo to the unloading hold, good luck." Firouz said as he walked off. As the ship sailed towards to the peer he saw a commotion as people gathered, kept away from the waterline by a line of Protectors as a group forced their way throught the people and pass the line, moving towards them. In the lead was an official in a blue robe with the Valley Domain symbol on the front with a large round hat on his head. He had black hair in a beard and was followed by others in similar robes without hats and a few military men. As the Graceful Traveler pulled up to the dock Doubar saw a crane farther back and nodded, glad they modified the ship to have a place to open the cargo holds to load and unload, no matter how much it cost them to change the ship.

"Time to play the game." Doubar muttered as the ship stopped and the deckhands threw the mooring lines down and a staircase was brought up so they could disembark.

"What is this, I demanded to know what this is now!" The official at the head of the group as Doubar walked towards them. Doubar frowned and noticed that the official had a crazed look to him, no doubt that this was going to cause him a lot of trouble but Doubar was in no shape to let him use any of his as a scapegoat for this.

"I'm Doubar, 1st officer of the Graceful Traveler, a free trade ship from the Desert Doman. We have a cargo to deliver to one of the local guilds." Doubar said calmly as he looked at the people before him, all of them staring at the Horned Serpent in horror. "A few days in we were attacked and had to set aground for about a day for repairs. Once we got underway we were attacked by that thing and a few others it carried. We came to deliver our cargo and report the attack, as per the charters that all ships sign when they register."

"And that's mine!" A voice from behind the group as a large fat man in a green robe with a blissful smile on his pushed his way in. "I hope it wasn't damaged at all?"

"No sir, everything was fine last I saw it, the damage never made it to the hold and we kept them out of the ship." Doubar said as he bowed to their client who laughed.

"Perfect my boy, perfect! I don't have to tell you how much this bothered me! With the….problems Sadria has been having with pirates lately I knew having a third party transport my shipment was the perfect choice!" The fat man said as he laughed a little. "Oh my apologies for interrupting, but my company needed this please excuse me."

"Of course, of course." The official said as he looked at the corpse on the side of the Graceful Traveler, an ember of fear growing within him. Another horde, from the sea this time? With everything that's happening I know that this is so not what we need or can handle now. The official thought as he looked at Doubar's face. "And of course the standing bounty on Chimera had nothing to do with bringing this in?"

"Well I wouldn't say that." Doubar admitted as he looked at the man who chuckled lightly.

"Basic bounty, as of now the Valley Doman doesn't have anything special or any Black Marks on file." The official said and paled when he saw Doubar smirk.

"Good. We've got a live one, frozen solid. Seemed to be the sub leader of those that attacked us, I believe that's a class five bounty." Doubar said causing the official to start to splutter as Doubar only grinned back at him.

A few moments later the officials had walked off and Doubar had moved the bounty to the ships safe. As the crane moved and the crew of the Graceful Traveler moved about as a door in the hull opened and revealed a group of crates. As the crew went about their work no one noticed two of them sneak away down a side street as the rest of them went about unloading the ship, no one but a single person who had been watching from the rooftops.

OOOOOOOOOO

"Goodbye!" Bonnie called out as she waved as the bus pulled away. Max leaned out a window and waved back, May smiling as she looked at Serena and Ash as they stood behind Bonnie with Clemont and Lilith.

"It was nice to see Ash, even more amazing that we both knew him." Eve said as May sat down as the bus moved on, Max in the seats behind her. May nodded and looked at Eve and frowned.

"Doctor….Eve. When I read the book it mentions a rat Chimera 'queen' that destroyed a city, could those things have been related?" May asked Eve quietly and Eve sighed and nodded to her.

"No one knows how old Chimera can get, some people think their immortal. But if one of its….creations escaped that could be the source as well, but this is good in a way, we're on the right content at least." Eve said as she shivered as May looked at her with concern.

"Eve, if half of what was written is true and what we're chasing down is!" May began before Eve put a finger on Mays lips.

"I know, but you read how they did it. Putting aside the fact that if it's true, then everything about early Human-Pokémon interaction is recorded wrong' if it's being left on its own!" Eve said as she looked at May. "And if we bring it to anyone's official attention we run the risk of those people trying to stop us."

May nodded and looked away, her hands clenching as she remembered those people and what they represented. I hate it but she's right! After they almost bombed us while we were leaving Johto I can't even think about what they won't do. May thought as she released a sigh and looked at Eve. "There's no easy answer is there?"

"No, we don't have one; all we can do is keep going and find the truth. Once we get there and talk to the person we're after, I just hope that he'll still have what we need." Eve said as she leaned back and closed her eyes and put on some headphones to help her fall asleep. May looked at her teacher and looked away, conflicted feelings in her as she felt pain for not telling Ash what they were really after but how could she, part of her didn't believe in what they were really after. She tried to sleep, but the Chimera that had attacked the Contest was on her mind, That Chimera that we fought, it was so big so of course everyone things it was the Master of that swarm, and how they killed each points in that direction but something about it bothers me. But at least I got to meet that one of Ash's old friends he used to talked about. May's thoughts went all over and towards strange places as she unconsciously smiled.

"Say, do you think we can go to the conference once it comes around to see Ash in person?" Max asked abruptly pocking his head over May's chair to look down at her. May looked at him and smiled back.

"I already looked into that Max, the tickets aren't on sale until a few months so let's see if we're still here then." May said as May started to snicker and she frowned at him. "What?"

Max kept snickering and looked at her with a smirk. "Notice that you didn't doubt that Ash is going to be able to get in on time?"

May turned away from him, blushing as she ignored Max as he laughed and got out a book to read, chuckling at embarrassing his sister.

Ash looked at the bus as it drove away and sighed. May and Max are safe and gone, so there's that but I can't stop thinking about the attack, I mean I've been through worse but that was so…..fake is the only word I can use. Ash thought as he looked towards the abandoned sector of the city and Lilith noticed his gaze.

"What's wrong, the Chimera?" Lilith asked softly as Ash nodded as Clemont listened in.

"I can't believe that thing was the creator of the others, it didn't act like one would have, it just stood there and that liquid it used, none of the others even had a variant of it, I just don't believe it." Ash said as Clemont looked at him and Lilith nodded.

"I talked to Tara about it; I've made a few blueprints for inventions over the years and a few can be used to check out the sewer system. She said she'll make a few and drop them into the area and get back to me about it, and that the work on fixing the door is going smoothly." Clemont said as Ash

"Say, how about we see professor Sycamore before we leave the city?" Serena asked as she looked at the others, who looked back at her. "Mom gave me a box of macaroons that she baked a few days before so maybe it would be good to see him and share."

"Almost lunch time, even if we just stop by him there's a good little café near there that's a bit hidden." Clemont said as

"Out of the way, out of the way!" A voice caused Ash to experience a feeling of déjà vu before Pikachu jumped from his shoulder and someone crashed into him. As he lay on the ground he started to have flash backs to his time in Unova and sighed.

"This wouldn't be Bianca, would it Pikachu?" Ash asked as the others looked at what had happened in shock.

"Pikaaa." Pikachu said with a deadened ton as the person who had run into him started to realize who she had sent crashing to the ground.

"Pikachu….? Ash? How have you two been!" The person on him said as she got up and the others stared at her in shock. She was a woman a few years older than the teens with blond hair

"Hello Bianca, what brings you to Kalos, trying the League here?" Ash asked as Bianca got off him and he got up and stretched.

"Let's say that my dad didn't get better after all." Bianca said as the others looked on in confusion. "Oh where are my manners, I'm Bianca nice to meet you all."

"Guys meet a friend of mine I met in Unova, Bianca. Her dad's very overprotect, at least I thought he was." Ash said as he gestured to the others. "And this is Serena, and old friend of mine from my childhood. Lilly's the girl with black hair, a coordinator and the brother and sister are Clemont and Bonnie respectively."

"Nice to meet you all! And he's not overprotective, more like so controlling that I didn't start my journey until ten years later." Bianca said bitterly with a scowl. "I went home to think about where I wanted to go next and I caught him sending an application to a local match maker and well I escaped a few days later!"

Lilith looked at her with a knowing look as Serena, Bonnie and Clemont stared with their mouths open, Dedenne staring up wards in confusion as Pikachu just growled as Ash put his hat over his eyes.

"And here I thought better of him, you know?" Ash said with a bitter tone as he shook his head. I thought he was just overprotective, but that, if I see him I'll break him. Ash thought as he looked at Bianca as she smiled bitterly.

"PIKA!" Pikachu exclaimed as he nodded.

"Well I was able to slip away to the Islands and catch a Pokémon to ride from island to island and well, thankfully I still had an account I set up on my journey, I was able to grab a ticket here and have been surviving ever since." Bianca said with a sigh. "I'm currently undertaking at a Quest to make a meal for the local Professor, and I got a bit turned around."

"We're going to see him before we move off, so how about you come with us?" Bonnie said as she looked up at Bianca who smiled down at her.

"Thanks, I appreciate it a lot." Bianca said as she released a breath. "I didn't know how I'd find that place, my Pokédex is off, I'm using my trainer card and ID to accept Quests."

"Your dad had a tracking lock on your dex?" Ash asked in shock. "But only the police can do that!"

"We and the Chief of police for my hometown is dad's friend so there's that." Bianca said dryly.

"I hate those people so much. You would not believe the insane things I've seen over the years." Lilith said with a hint of disgust in her voice.

"Well enough doom and gloom, this way to Professor Sycamore!" Serena said as they moved off, Bianca stayed still for a few seconds.

"Sycamore? It can't be." She muttered as she moved after them, a strange feeling in her heart.

OOOOOOOOOO

"I was right!" Meowth's voice caused Jessie and James to look up from their packing to see Meowth staring at a screen on a laptop with an awed look. "There was something different about that Blaziken!"

"What do you mean chum, what Blaziken?" James asked as he and Jessie moved toward Meowth.

"Remember that Blaziken that save Ash when he jumped after Pikachu?" Meowth asked as he looked up at them. Oh this is amazing! What a world we live in! Meowth thought as he snickered and rubbed its hands together. "Well I thought something was wrong with it, maybe a trainer gave it a die job or something but it was there!"

Jessie shivered as she remembered reaching for Ash as he fell, a cold feeling forming as she missed. "I had nightmares about that for a week, I didn't exactly see it clearly, what exactly was different about it?"

"Well take a look!" Meowth said as he turned the laptop around and showed a picture of Ash and Pikachu being caught by what looked like a Blaziken and James frowned as he moved his head closer.

"Where'd it get those flames from its wrists, and are its legs black?" James asked causing Jessie to look closer and frown as she saw the same thing James had.

"Meowth, what is this?" Jessie asked as she looked at the Blaziken and frowned.

"I was looking it the city news and saw an article about a phantom trainer called Blaziken Mask and his Blaziken, its rumored to be able to become what they call Mega Blaziken! It's not a normal evolution, it only happens during battle and improves a Pokémon's abilities, they call it Mega Evolution!" Meowth said as he grinned at them. "And guess what; according to this the local professor is the one who's studying the process!"

"The local professor, the twerps probably moving on to the next gym and looking for contests for that girl….. I think a day to raid the lab is…..a productive turn for us, don't you?" Jessie purred as James grinned and rubbed his hands. A way to supercharge Pokémon, that's something I know the boss would like! She thought as James looked into space and smirked.

"Yeah, a quick raid sounds like a good bit of work." James said as he looked around the room and put his notebook away and smiled. I made good progress on my surprise for them, a few more months and a few more pieces of tech and I'll have a nice little surprise to show the others. He thought as he

"So lest plan it out first and then strike!" Meowth said as the others grinned and they stared down at the map he brought up on the laptop.

OOOOOOOOOO

Ash looked at the Bianca out of the corner of his eyes and frowned, not completely liking the way she was reacting to knowing about where they were going. Why do I have a feeling that this has to do with her past? He thought as they walked through the city towards the lab.

As they reached it and saw the doors closed Serena frowned as she looked at the doors, hoping that Bianca had taken a true Quest. "I hope the Professor is here."

"Why wouldn't he be, I mean he made the Quest and I got it from Nurse Joy?" Bianca asked absently as they all looked at the doors.

"If I remember right I helped him add an intercom to the doors just about…..here." Clemont said as he looked a small metal square and tapped the screen. "Professor, hi sorry to bother you but are you in, my friends and I have a gift and a Trainer is here to see you."

"Come right in, I'll meet you at the doors!" Professor Sycamore said as the doors opened and Bianca stared at the intercom for a few moments and followed after the others towards the main doors. As they reached the doors they opened to reveal the Professor. Bianca gave a quiet gasp and stared at him as he noticed the five trainers ahead of her.

"Well if it isn't Ash, Clemont and Bonnie, good to see you, how's Froakie been? Oh, Serena and Lilly are with you? I didn't expect to see you five together!" Professor Sycamore said as

"Hello Professor! My mom said that she mentioned she made great macrons and she promised to give them to you the next chance she had and I forgot to give

"Macrons? Oh you're Grace's daughter! You know you look a bit like her but I didn't make the connection… so one of you took my Quest?" Professor Sycamore asked and Lilith started to laugh a little.

"No actually she did." Lilith said and gestured behind her.

"Who…" Professor Sycamore began but went still as he looked up and saw Bianca standing there. Bonnie looked between them and decided to introduce them to each other.

"Oh this is a friend of Ash's, she said you gave out a Quest for someone to come and make a meal for you?" Bonnie said as she pointed at Bianca behind them and Sycamore followed her arm and stared. "Her names…."

"Bianca." Professor Sycamore said breathlessly, sounding completely shocked. Lilith looked at Bianca and noted that she was as shocked as he was at seeing him.

"Hi August." Bainca said as she smiled at him shakily. "It's been a while."

"You two know each other?" Clemont asked as Bonnie looked at them and grinned a little.

"I used to live in the same town, I went out on my journey and well here I am now." Professor Sycamore said as he looked at Bianca and she looked back. "But what are you all doing here together?"

"We were in the area and the last time my mom told me to give you some macrons but I forgot, we were in the area and I thought now would be the best time." Serena said as he awed and nodded.

"And I needed to talk to you Professor, my second is taking over and well I had to go over a few things with you." Clemont said as Sycamore turned to him.

"Oh you're the gym leader; I didn't recognize you last time. You know it's almost lunch time, I have tea set up in the other room, there are other cups there, how about you all go wait there while I help Bianca make a few sandwiches and we'll meet you there." Professor Sycamore said absently and Bianca nodded and followed after him, both of them silent as the grave as they walked through the laboratory. Ash looked at the others and shrugged at the others.

"I guess they have history then." Clemont said with a confused note to his voice.

Lilith chuckled a little and looked after the two had gone. "I'll say! So I wonder, think he might like that blend I shared with you Serena?"

"Maybe he will, I know I loved it." Serena said with a giggle and Ash looked between them.

"What blend Lilly?" Ash asked and kept any reaction as he saw Lilith go still and turn to him and smile.

"A flavor from my homeland, I'm trying to get people out here to know about it." Lilith said as she tried not to sweet, already feeling worried about what affects the tea could have on Ash giving his condition.

"Why are you?" Ash asked, knocking Lilith off balance for a few moments, all she could do was look at him and blink.

"I'm sorry?" She asked as soon as she got her bearings back.

"Why are you trying to get it known beyond your home, what's your connection?" Ash asked as they walked towards the room and saw a small table with chairs and a teapot on a platter.

"Oh, that. well it's from my master's family really; they were farmers and her grandfather crossbreed the tree the leaves are from and it's a local favorite." Lilith explained absently as she put down her bag and brought out a small black paper box. "We've been trying to get trade out into the wilder world for a while and I figured I'd take a bit when I left home and give out samples."

"It's really quite something." Serena said with a smile as she remembered when she first tried it. as she put down her macrons they never noticed something was watching the box from the window.

OOOOOOOOOO

"So!" Bianca said as she stood in the kitchen making a meal as Pr. Sycamore stood behind her and got the plates out. "How have you been August?"

Augustine 'August' Sycamore could only keep his back to Bianca as he tried to decide what to say. "I've been great, I became one of the youngest professors and I have a good life here, my nieces are usually here and well, their assistants but their cousin on their mom's side is getting married and their the bridesmaids and ah, they have a reunion before it soooo, you know."

"Bobby's girls are you assistants, I can't believe those kids we used to babysit are sol old now….. I haven't heard from him in years, what's he up to, he get that restaurant of his going?" Bianca asked as she chopped the food and tried not to turn around. Keep it together Bianca, so you're making lunch for an old friend you used to have a crush on and someone you haven't communicated with in ten years. She thought as August laughed a little.

"It's over in Kanto, he's actually thinking about opening up a second place of all things in Johto!" August said causing Bianca laughed as "You know I'm surprised you took the quest, you never replied to any of my letters." August still had his back to her and never saw her go still and drop the knife she was using.

"Letters, what letters?" Bianca asked as she felt a sinking sensation.

"I always sent letters back to you, we all did. Didn't you get them?" August asked with a frown as he turned to look at her, growing alarmed as she started to pale.

"But I never…DAD!" Bianca snarled as she realized what had happened. That scum sucking old bastard! He's my oldest friend, why the hell did you think you had the right to keep letters from him away from me! Bianca thought as she tried to get her emotions under control.

"Your dad, he…..why would he have done that?" Augustine asked as he tried to understand what she was saying. "I mean he was a little overprotective, wanting you to wait a year before leaving on your journey but…."

"Ten years I haven't heard from anyone one of you all for ten years, all I had was memories of you all." Bianca said as August turned around slowly to watch as she held herself up against the counter.

August stared in shock and horror at what he had heard. "If I had known, if any of us had known about it B, we would've come and seen you, you know that right?"

"Thanks for the sentiment, but did any of think about contacting me any other way after you all left besides the letters?" Bianca asked as she started to get

"All of us tried. Whenever we called he said you were either out traveling in the wilderness or away, I remember Sonia talking to me once, she was in Unva about two years ago and called him wanting to get in contact if you were still in the region so you two could plan a spa day together, she said your dad said you were in the Decolore Islands for some reason or another." August said as Bianca just started to cry, having thought that her friends who had left had forgotten all about her. "Bianca, Bianca it's okay."

"Ten years." Bianca said brokenly with her head down.

"Bianca?" August said as he watched her, a terrible feeling growing within him. She flung her head up and August went still as he saw the tears at the corners of her eyes.

"For ten years all I had was my father and that town, I thought you had all forgotten about me and every letter I tried to send I guess never made it to you, for ten years he kept me locked away in that town! And before I ran I found out he was talking to a match maker of all things, he wanted to tether me to that place for all of time!" Bianca said as she broke down, August grabbing her in a hug and letting her cry as he held her.

"If we had known, if i had even a whisper of it I would have slaughtered my way to make sure you were safe." August said as held her and scowled as he heard her cry. I knew there was something wrong with him, I just knew it! I had to let the others know, he hasn't contacted me so he wants her escape quiet, and I'm a Proffesor and she's well past legal age to be able to go out on her own… I just can't think of a reason he thought he could do that and get away with it. He thought as he held her. Before he could think about it more they heard an explosion at a different part of the lab.

"Oh What now? Bianca are you…" August began before she interrupted him.

"The Pokémon could be in danger!" Bianca said as she got up and dashed out towards the garden. He stood there for a few seconds before he followed after her, a familiar feeling growing as he ran after her.

The two of them ran until they reached the lab and stared in shocked horror. Standing there were five four foot tall steel gray robots with blocky bodies with four legs attached to the waist, two in front and two behind with two arms in the normal location that end in three clawed hands, their head a single eye set into a spherical head. They moved through a hole in the wall with two people in red robes that hid their forms standing behind them with two Mightyenas with metallic looking paws and a steel gray unicorn like horn on their forehead. Bianca stopped breathing when she saw some of the metallic paws had blood dripping down from where the metal met flesh, her hands flying to her mouth as August realized what she had.

"WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO TO THOSE POKEMON!?" August demand as he saw the Mightyenas. Behind them Ash and the others appeared and he gasped as Pikachu started to spark and he looked around the garden and saw the robots and Pokémon.

"Professor Sycamore identified, Drone units, Mecha Pokémon move to 2nd step of plan; capture." One of the robed figures said robotically. The robots and the Pokémon moved towards the trainers and Proffessor and Ash gritted his teeth.

"Pikachu, Electro Ball in front!" Ash called out as he looked at the robbed figures.

"PIKA!" Pikachu cried as it shot an Electro Ball at the ground before the robots and Pokémon and the explosion created a dust cloud that

"While their stunned, get your Pokémon out and get the ones in the garden to safety!" Ash barked as Bonnie ran by with Deedene running ahead of her towards the lab's Pokémon

"Go Fenniken!" Serena called out as she threw out her Pokéball before drawing her weapon

"Nidorina, Liepard show time! Liepard defend Bonnie! Nidorina lets brawl." Lilith commanded as her Pokémon appeared.

"Go Bunnelby!" Clemont said as he threw his Pokéball dropping his backpack and pulling his axes from it.

"Go Emboar!" Bianca said as she drew two throwing knives as she got into a loose stance to throw and move.

"Garchomp come out!" August commanded as his Garchomp was released.

As the dust cleared away the robed figures saw that Ash and the others had released their Pokémon with Lipard standing in front of Bonnie, its tail arched like a scorpions and ready to strike as Pikachu stood at the front of the pack of Pokémon, his checks sparking as he growled with Emboar and Garchomp flanking him with Fenniken standing behind them next to Bunnbly and Nidorina, behind them were their trainers, each with their weapon drawn with only August without one and the 'wild' Pokemon of the lab running away from the robes figures and their minions.

"Resistance above projected estimates, Pokémon units isolate target and drone units demolition protocol." One of the robed figures intoned as the robots moved towards the fleeing Pokémon as the cyborg Mightyenas moved towards the group. Ash spared a look between the robots and the cyborg Pokémon and made a choice.

"Pikachu we'll handle the Mightyenas!" Ash said as Pikachu looked back and nodded.

"Ash!" August tried to say before he stopped and looked on as the robots and cyborgs moved closer and looked closely at them before looking at his friends as Ash and Pikachu moved to attack the cyborgs. Well he might give me some time; that command 'demolition' does not give me a good feeling….. the Pokémon I was looking after, their what's important so we have to defend them but who…Lilly's two Pokémon look like they have experience and Bianca had great aim when we were growing up… yes that could work. He thought as he looked at the others. "Clemont, take Serena and your sister and get the Pokemon inside the lab! Lilly, Bianca stay here and help me keep those robots off them! Garchomp, fire Dragon Rage!"

"GARCHOMP!" Garchomp screeched before it fired a blast of blue energy at the robots as they came at them. Clemont looked around before nodding and moving off, shepherding the girls away from the battle as

"Got it Professor, come on Bonnie!" Clemont said as he backed up and gestured toward the right as a robot charged past them to the left and he stared at it for a few seconds before he reacted. "I'll go and stop that thing, you guys handle the Pokémon to the right, get inside when the last one is in yourselves, Bunnelby follow me!"

"But Ash!" Serena said as Clemont ran after the robot with his Bunnelby following him.

"We'll back him up if he needs it, get the Pokémon to safety! Liepard go with them, Nidorina fire Ice Beam at the bots!"" Lilith said as she looked at Ash as he and Pikachu charged the cyborg Pokémon. He has got to be the boss's son; he's the only person I know who would ever do something like this! Lilith thought as she watched Ash charge with Pikachu. Nidorina fired a blue energy beam at one of the robots and froze it solid.

Serena stopped for a moment before nodding and running towards the stray Pokemon with Bonnie following behind her with Liepard between her and the robots with Dedenne sticking its head out of Bonnie's bag and looking at Ash as he charged.

---

Ash looked at the cyborg Mightyenas and gritted his teeth. Okay, these are different from that thing those two sent at us back in Johto, but they might be partially the same so force. He thought as he looked at the two cyborg Pokémon charging at them. "Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"

"Pikaaaa!" Pikachu screeched and fired a massive bolt of electricity at the Mightyena's and one of them moved in front of the other and took the full force of the blast and screeched in pain. As it fell to the ground the other jumped over it and Ash met it with his shield, using its momentum to changing its course and keep it away from Pikachu.

As the first cyborg convulsed Ash looked at it before ignoring it and focusing on the last one as it tried to get back to its feet and Ash sliced down with his sword it caused sparks to form from hitting the metal parts and he grimaced.

"Pikachu, Thunder on the one still moving, lets deal with it while the other is down!" Ash commanded and moved backwards holding his shield up and kept his eyes on both Cyborgs but moved to the side suddenly as he sensed something coming up behind him, narrowly missing a blow from one of the robbed ones, with the final one looking towards the inner laboratory.

"Trainer identified as possible source of the unknown strength displayed here, identifying….. Ash Ketchum of Pallet identified." The robbed figure by the hole said as the other figure held up two metallic claws from its. Pikachu shot a bolt of electricity at the second cyborg Pokémon and looked at Ash who looked at the first robed figure.

"That's my name, but who are you two and what the hell did you do to those Pokémon!" Ash barked and the figures ignored him and the second only at Ash.

"Identity unimportant, trainer in process of being deleted, primary plan commencing." The second robed figure said and charged at Ash only to be met by his shield and Ash slashed at it with his sword, revealing a metallic armor on the chest. "Trainer stronger than expected, reworking algorithm to deleting variable."

"That's going to be a lot harder than you think!" Ash barked as he met a right claw with his sword and looked at the robbed figures and his eyes zeroes in on the claws. Those can't be gauntlets, they move too freely….what they did to the Pokémon, they did to themselves. Ash thought as he paled and gripped his sword harder. "You both….you gave up your humanity!"

"Humanity is but the beginning, power is all that matters, you're efforts will be negated and our plans will succeed." The figure said as its clawed hands started to spin and charge at Ash who dodged and sliced off the right arm at the elbow. "Reworking threat rating."

"Yeah you do that, Pikachu Thunder on the one with both arms!" Ash said as he looked at the figure that was by the hole and dodged to the left before Pikachu sent the bolt at it. so it saw the negative ions, so going to be a problem. Ash thought as he watched the second robed figure stop its arm from bleeding and charge at him with its remaining claw and traded blows with Ash one of Ash's slashes cut away part of the robe and revealed sickly pale skin. "Pikachu, keep it up, keep that one from moving in!"

OOOOOOOOOO

A small bipedal, mammalian Pokémon with light brown skin and darker arms ending in three fingers with three triangular markings around its face below a tough, green shell that covers from its head to halfway down its tail, the tail is green with the ending tip an orange color, its face is oval with brown eyes and a triangular red nose above rodent-like incisors and on the back of the shell is a spike that splits into three parts and four leaf-like spikes form an X on the shell around its face, its feet end in two long claws. In its fingers is the box of macaroons Serena had, a grin on its face as it ran towards a small bush, not evening notice the battle around it. It went into the bush and put the box down and rubbed its fingers together and smiled.

"Chespin!" The Chespin said as it sat down and ate one of the macaroons and was going to grab another one when suddenly the bush was yanked away. Turning it saw a metal leg and looked up and saw one of the robots looking down at it, it's single eye looking down at the Pokémon and suddenly brought down its right fist and suddenly something grabbed Chespin and rolled before getting to his feet. Chespin looked up and saw Clemont and stared in awe.

"You okay, just wait a bit and I'll get you to safety." Clemont said as Chespin looked in awe at him. Before the robot could move Bunnelby jumped at it and started to kick with its legs and Clemont dashed past them and grabbed his axes from the ground and turned around, charging at the robot. "Bunnelby, down!"

Bunnelby jumped away and Clemont cleaved down with his axes and sliced off its left arm and Chespin looked on in awe before an explosion ot their right left caused them to see another hole formed in the wall and two more of the robots walking through it.

"You gotta be kidding me, more of them?!" Clemont said in exaperatuion as he dodged backwards and Bunnelby kicked the robot they had been fighting head off. As it slumped to the ground it started to glow, shocking Clemont and he cursed. "Bunnelby back away!"

Bunnelby jumped upwards the robot exploded before Clemonts could get away sending him flying! As he layed on the ground and Bunnelby watched as the two new robots walked closer towards its trainer suddenly white energy spheres hit them, destroying one of their heads and causing it to exploded.

"Chespin!" Chespin said as Clemont got up and looked at the remaining robot and realized what had happened.

"That's it, Bunnelby fire Mud Shot at its head!" Clemont said with a laugh as

"Bunnelby!" Bunnelby said before it formed a golden sphere between its teeth before the sphere split and shot at the remaing robot, turning into balls of mud that splattered all over the robot and covered its single eye.

"Now Chespin, do what you just did and aim at the same place!" Clemont said as Chespin nodded and fired another blast from its three spikes and sent white energy orbs at the robot and before it could get the mud off its head was hit. As the head was destroyed the last robot started to glow and self-destructed. "That's it, if we can take out their heads then their battery runs wild and it causes and exploded! If the others know…come on Bunnelby!"

As Clemont ran with Bunnelby following Chespin looked from the macaroons to where Clemont was and followed after Clemont after a moment of indecision.

OOOOOOOOOO

As Garchomp blocked a claw strike from one of the robots Emboar bashed another one as Nidorina stood between the robots and the Trainers as they looked towards Ash as he dueled the robbed figure, the sickly white skin of his face having been revealed, a bald head with metallic things set against or in his skin as he duel with Ash causing August to stare in horror as Lilith tried to keep her bile down.

"What is he?" Bianca asked as she brought a hand to her mouth as her Emboar fought one of the robots, August staring as well. That…! this is so far beyond prosthetic limbs, where could they have come from and what do they want from me or the lab? He thought as Garchomp spun and its tail pushed the robot backwards as Emboar picked up its opponent and threw it towards the robot that Nidorina had frozen and when it got back up it swung one of its arms and broke the ice holding its fellow and freed it.

Lilith looked at the freed robot and she heard an explosion in the distance that caused her to look towards where Clemont had gone and she hopped he was okay. "Nidorina, use Toxic on the one that got freed, try and aim for its head!"

Nidorina shot a stream of a black liquid at the robot's head and the metal started to melt before the robot started to glow and exploded, causing the robot that had been standing next to it to fall as its right leg was blown off and it tried to use its arms to pull it towards Emboar when Lilith who had been starring in shock reacted. "Nidorina, Toxic again, just like last time!

Nidorina fired another blast of the black liquid at the damaged robot and its head started to sizzle before it exploded!

"Lilly!" Clemont's voice caused her to turn and see him running towards them with his Bunnelby by his side. "The heads, take out the heads and they explode! We can beat these things!"

"You heard him Garchomp, Dragon Rage on target at the head!" August said and Garchomp jumped back and fired another orange energy beam that destroyed the head and the body exploded.

"Emboar Flamethrower same target!" Bianca said as her Emboar inhaled and fired a blast straight at the head and Bianca was sure she heard the sound of glass breaking moments before the robot exploded.

"Come on, lets help Ash!" Clemont said as he ran toward Ash, the others following with Garchomp and Emboar leading the way.

OOOOOOOOOO

Inside Serena and Bonnie got the last of the Pokémon form the garden into the inner laboratory and Bonnie looked back towards the garden, a Pokéball in her hands as she stared. She looked up as she felt Serena put her hand on her shoulder and felt Liepard rub against her.

"We have to stay here and protect the Pokémon Bonnie, we just have to trust that they'll be okay." Serena said before she looked away and stared in the same direction as Bonnie had, doing everything to keep the worry off her face. Oh stay alive guys, I don't know what I would do if you died! She thought as Bonnie nodded and looked around the room.

As Bonnie watched the Pokémon huddle she nodded. Serena's right, they all are strong and all we can do is protect the Pokémon….what's that? Bonnie thought as she closed her eyes and cupped her ears and listened. After a few moments she turned and looked at the inner laboratory and frowned. "What's that whirling sound?"

"What whirling?" Serena asked before she and Liepard heard it and turned their heads towards a room. As the Pokémon noticed their interest they moved away from it and Serena gulped and tightened her grip on her nagatina and moved away from the door. "Stay here Bonnie."

Serena opened the door and Fenniken followed after her into the darkened room. As she looked around she moved silently, not turning on the lights to try and catch whatever was making the noise unaware. She moved through the room towards a light in the distance and peaked and saw something connected to a computer system and stared at a small black metal triangle drone hovering in midair with an arm connecting it to the computer. That has to be connected to the attackers, then was that all red hearing, was this their true target? I can't turn away, we have to stop them and its only one thing. She thought as she looked down at Fenniken who growled and she smiled down at her Pokémon.

"Ready…. Fennekin Ember!" Serena cried out. Fenniken spat orange sparks that hit the drone as it moved away from the computer. The sparks caused the drone to tumble and Serena felt that they would win when suddenly.

"AAAAHHHHH!" Serena screamed as she felt something shock her and she felt to the floor. she struggled and turned her head and saw three needles connected to wires were in her right arm. She followed the wires with her eyes and saw another drone. It had another one guarding it… is it going to try and take me out or knock me out? She thought as she noticed the second drone had a buzz saw on its arm. Fenniken dodged a trio of needles from the first drone and saw the second drone shoot out a minuscule rectangle connected to the wires and turned toward Fenniken. Serena tried to struggle to call out when suddenly help came.

"Flabébé Vine Whip!" Bonnie's voice came before a green vine hit the second drone and sent it to the floor. "Now Dedenne, Tackle the one that's down!"

"Dedenne!" Dedenne ran into the room and jumped at and off a wall and shot at the downed drone and slammed into it as it tried to rise into the air and Serena heard a crash. The first drone dodged a lung from Liepard and flew away into a vent that had the grill cut away and the lights turned on and Bonnie dashed over to Serena and helped her to her feet.

"Are you okay Serena? I know you said to stay with the Pokémon but when you screamed." Bonnie said as Serena leaned against the wall closest to her. Serena looked down at Bonnie and smiled and rubbed her head.

"You did the right thing; I probably would have done the same." Serena said as she struggled to catch her breath. What were they after, why did they even do this? She thought as she moved towards the door, pulling the needles from her with a wince. "Come on, we need to tell the others about this."

OOOOOOOOOO

Ash lunged and the robed figure blocked with his remaining arm as Pikachu dodged a blow from the second cyborg Mightyena as the first was still down. Ash felt his blood boil and the rush of personal combat that he got sometimes and felt that strange ache at accompanied it and looked at his opponent and wondered just how much longer their battle would last.

"Objective reached, stall tactics ending. MCR105 leave sleep mode and assisted MCR104." The robe figure at the hole said suddenly and Ash felt himself grow cold. What did he say?! Ash thought as he spared a look towards Pikachu as he dropped backwards and saw Pikachu being led by the attacks from the second Mightyena towards the first.

"No Pikachu, don't go towards the first one!" Ash cried as he hastily blocked a blow with his shield as the robed figure he had been fighting surged forward. Pikachu looked towards the fallen cyborg and dodged away as it got back to its feet and charged at Pikachu as the other one moved faster, both of their front paws glowing silver as they attacked. That's Metal Claw! But Mightyenas can't learn that move! Ash thought as he dodged backwards and gritted his teeth.

"Possible removal of enemy ally, time not needed to be recorded." The first robed figure said as the second moved backwards and his own claw started to glow silver.

Enemy ally; that's it you were all buying time! And I helped you do that!" Ash said as he eyed the claw and felt something. That looks like Metal Claw…..whatever they did to the Mightyena to let them use Metal Claw they did to themselves, that means I was right they did replace their arms with replacement parts! Ash said as he prepared to fight what might as well be a humanoid Pokémon.

"Emboar, Hammer Arm!" Bianca called out and suddenly Emboar was there and slammed a glowing white arm into one of the Mightyena and flung it away towards the hole in the wall. Turning Ash saw the others rush towards them and smiled as he looked back at towards the others and saw them rushing towards them with their Pokemon, Bianca throwing one of her knives at the figure Ash was fighting who blocked with his claw and moved towards the hole as four more of the robots charged from it.

"THEY EXPLODED WHEN THEY LOOSE THEIR HEADS, GET AWAY!" Lilith called out and Ash paled and moved to the sides as Pikachu moved to the other side as the robots moved between the two of them.

"Pikachu Thunder full charged!" Ash barked before the others could even say anything.

"PIKACHUUU!" Pikachu cried as he fired a massive bolt of electricity that hit all four robots and caused sparks to flow over them as they fell to the ground, smoking before they exploded. Clemont and August only stared in total shock at Pikachu's power but Lilith and Bianca ran through the hole with their Pokémon and saw the two robed figures ride the Mightyena towards the outskirts of the city.

"Fuck! They got away!" Lilith said as she walked back through the hole and towards the others. "I heard the sound of sirens, I guess the local police are coming and….Serena what are you doing here?" Lilith asked as the others turned and saw Serena, Bonnie and the Pokémon that went with them coming towards them.

"It was a distraction, they sent in these drones to access your computer professor!" Serena said as she panted and August looked shocked, wonder just what they had been after to have done this.

OOOOOOOOOO

OOOOOOOOOO

Swallowed Town; Town destroyed by Chimera, sometimes used as den by Chimera and destroyed when found to be case

Grand Ribbon; Kalos Pokemon Contest Year one version; solve riddle to get to contest, Ribbon looks takes elements from riddle

Storm Wall; Wall of storms around Ranti, wild Pokémon and Water Chimera keep people from breaking through

Messenger Room : Room made with Aura Runes to allow instantaneous communication between two points, an Aura Tech 'Telephone' able to reach all over the planet to another Room.