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

26. Chapter 26

Sorry this is a month late, my muse died and then there was some problems in RL, and I'm pleased to report that I might have fixed my cash problems. I promise to give you the next chapter before the end of next month, but that's the best I can do. And I'm pleased to report I'm now using grammerly to fix my stories, so the grade of my work should be better in the future. And finally I want to say to enjoy my work guys!

10/17/2020 Sorry for being gone for the last two months with this story, I forgot about and writer's block sorry again, new chapter will out on Monday, and I will have a new limited AU of this AU out on Halloween in the morning

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Ash looked at around as they moved out of the city, a frown on his face, as they stopped at the corner he turned to the others, Pikachu riding on his other shoulder. "So where do you think we should go next? There's Lilly's contests to consider and then there's the gym challenge for me so any ideas?"

"With what I got I can check each Pokémon Center for Contests so anywhere is fine with me." Lilith said as Clemont looked down for a few seconds.

"There's a gym in Cyllage City." Clemont said softly and looked up as the others turned towards him. Clemont didn't notice only

Serena worked her Pokénav and brought up a map of Kalos and checked the routes and nodded. "It's in the Seaside sector, a bit far but we could make it there without too much trouble but how'd you know about it?"

"When mom was alive, that was the last vacation the family went on together. We were able to see the handover before we left." Clemont said and Bonnie smiled a little as she remembered it. "So do we take the bus or do we walk."

"A real journey is on your own two feet, but of course that was something Professor Oak said." Ash said and Serena laughed a little.

"So then I say walk."

"Even if we go slowly we'll still make it to the town before too long, and this way I could try and find any contests for my next Ribbon along the way!" Lilith said and Serena nodded.

"Then we walk, but which way?" Serena said and Clemont pointed to the street across from them. I might find what I want to do this way, that's something too. She thought as she looked around the road.

"That way, there's a Pokémon Center in the woods that we'll probably make it to before dinner if we leave now." Clemont said as he pointed towards a nearby clock and he grinned. "I had to rewire it a few months before I met you all, so I'm sure about the distance."

"I'll lead the way!" Bonnie said as she ran across the street with the others following behind, Serena closest to her. As Ash ran after them he heard a Meowth screech softly and turned, seeing saw a figure in a black cloak following in their wake. As he looked over his shoulder he saw the figure dart down an alley and Ash looked at it for a few seconds.

"Everything okay Ash?" Lilith's question caused him to turn towards his friends and see them looking at him and he shook his head and smiled at them.

"Yeah, thought I saw something. So anything we should know about this Center Clemont?" Ash asked as he turned his attention back towards their destination, putting the figure out of his mind for now.

"And over there is where I went to school! Nice place, good teachers and we could tell when the day ends by how much the shadow of the Tower would cover the classroom." Bonnie said having slowed down a few minutes of running and was now telling the others about various buildings as they passed them as they walked to the way to the forest Pokémon Center. Ash listened with one ear as Serena asked Bonnie about the teachers there and Lilith mentioned a few old teachers she had when she was around Bonnie's age. Ash's instants suddenly started to scream at him and he reacted by only his eyes widening and he stopped for a split second before he continued as normal, hoping whatever had set him off hadn't noticed him

After looking left and right he calmly took out his Pokédex and he opened it and used the camera on it to look over his shoulder, frowning as he saw the image had a person in it that he had seen before, the black-cloaked figure only now there was a friend with him. And here I hoped I was just nervous about those people who mutilated those Pokémon, when am I going to learn to notice these things sooner! Ash thought as he sighed and walked faster until he was next to Clemont as Bonnie and Serena led the way. Lilith looked back and frowned and slowed down, looking at a window until Ash and Clemont had caught up with her.

"We have a problem, two people are following us." He said softly and Clemont stopped for a fraction of a second before continuing and laughed a little and looked at the windows of a nearby store and shook his head as if he hadn't seen what he had hoped for.

"I saw them in the reflection, the ones in the cloaks right?" Clemont asked as Lilith spared a glance with her eyes at a store's window.

"Think that they're the people who attacked the lab?" Lilith asked as she looked straight ahead.

"I doubt it, how far do the city's boundaries extend?" Ash asked and Clemont had to think for a few minutes before speaking.

"I think to halfway to the forest on the route we're taking. The forest is big enough that there's a Pokémon center about a third of the way to the next city, it's considered pretty safe really." Clemont said and Ash nodded as Lilith looked between them, wondering what Ash was looking for.

"How far away is the Center from the forest's edge? Are there any places on the path that's out of sight of the city and anything else we should know about the forest?" Ash asked and Clemont answered automatically as he looked around covertly.

"A few miles in and there's a slop into the forest about twenty feet on the path, and sound doesn't carry very far for some reason, just part of the forest really." Clemont said and Ash nodded. "And we've gone too far to circle back for the Gym even if we could, anyway there from here would just lead into places for them to ambush us if we tried."

"Then there's no choice then, they'll be ready for us if we try so the only thing to do is spring the trap and try and survive this then." Ash said and Lilith looked at him with an approving eye.

As they walked Lilith tried to keep her emotions down at how Ash had just reacted to being followed, a smile threatening to break out from her. That's so much like the boss, he has to be the prince!

I just have to hope that sir Magnus finds a way to destroy the seals and he's freed, at least so that he can connect to Serena and May. If some people back home ever get their hands around the person who made that abomination then I doubt they'll live longer than a few moments. Lilith thought as she looked at the windows of the stores around and took note of who was following them in the window's reflection.

"We just have to move far enough to get away from them, if they ambush by the forest them all we can do is breakthrough, Lilly can you hold off from those that hit us from behind?" Ash asked as Lilith nodded at him.

"Yeah, I can handle it. You know I'm usually the one who breaks through the front and my cousin handles the back." Lilith said with a smirk and Clemont looked at her in concern.

"You've dealt with something like this, oh that guy you said wouldn't take no for an answer then?" Clemont asked and Lilith nodded.

"Got enough money to hire people to help him out, and they always came from far enough away that they never even heard about his previous attempts." Lilith said as she shrugged. "His family kinda runs the news back home and his dad kept any stories that went against him away from the public. He's not completely without honor, but when he obsesses over something well… one time he spent a month hunting for a rare plant for his mother's birthday, another he took a year to find a Pokémon egg for his sister, and then he spent three months tracking down this little girl who lost a necklace he found."

"So not complete slime then?" Clemont asked and Lilith shook her head slightly.

"No, not really. I used to think he was kinda funny but then he came to one of my shows and then well, he's obsessed with me. Once he sent me a room full of flowers, enough chocolate to chock a horse and well." Lilith just shuddered and looked down, shuddering before she looked up. "I don't want to talk about it."

"Sounds like a real character." Ash said with a chuckle.

"Yeah, that's true. And he's not that bad, just not my type. If he'd only meet somebody else and get over his obsession with me then maybe we could be friends." Lilith said as she shuddered. "His sister is okay, but…how should I put this…she's a schemer who always looks out for her family's interests."

"Is everything alright. you three?" Serena's voice caused them to look up and see her and Bonnie looking back at them with a concerned look on Serena's face and an inquisitive one on Bonnie's. Ash shot a look at Clemont and Lilith and Clemont nodded while Lilith looked around in front of them.

"Nothing….. it's just some of the same trouble from when you two went shopping with Nimue and Lilly." Ash said and Bonnie eye's widened as Serena's hardened.

"What's the plan then, go to Jenny or the Gym?" Serena asked before Bonnie shook her head before grabbing Lilith and Serena's hands and pulling them after her. "Bonnie?"

"Keep acting natural, we just have to try and spring the trap before its ready and deal with whatever happens, there's no other choice." Lilith said as Ash and Clemont moved after the girls.

"Yeah, we're too far towards the exit to the Route to make it back without a problem, so act like they've gotten one over on us, and be ready to fight once we make it to the right place." Bonnie said as she tried to keep a smile on her face. I wish I could do more, I mean Lilly just started to teach me how to defend myself but I never knew how right she was! Bonnie thought as Pikachu moved ahead, the others following behind, hoping that the figure they had seen hadn't picked up that they had noticed them, never noticing that they hand another individual following them.

Later after they had left the city and were walking towards the forest they needed to pass through they had seen four people in cloaks follow them out and as they passed by a few travelers moving towards the city Ash noticed that one of them had a look of fear on his face and was about to speak when one of the others pulled him along behind him, sending Ash a look of apology and worry but stared when Ash nodded and grinned back and let himself be dragged along.

"So I think that proves it then." Ash said as he watched the last of the travelers move towards the city and frowned when he thought he saw something moving in a nearby bush.

"We were right, I think they're just at the edge of the hill, want to call out to them or make it look like we're taking a rest here and wait for them to attack us?" Lilith asked and moved Bonnie between her and Serena.

"Let's force their hands then." Clemont said as his backpack released his axes as the others nodded, Lilith released her Nidorina and Liepard as she cracked her whip, Ash releasing Froakie as he drew his sword as Serena spun her naginata after she let Fenniken out. "We know you're there so come on out, we knew since we saw you!"

From the bellow the hill, laughter was heard as behind them the sounds of Pokéballs being released heralded the appearances of three people in black cloaks with a Machoke in front of them and from the hill jumped a brown humanoid Pokémon with an ovoid body with no neck or head with almond-shaped eyes with black spaces on the top of its torso and it had cream-colored, segmented arms and legs. Each hand had three fingers and each foot had three clawed toes. As the Pokémon stood there the laugher appeared, Darris with two other black-robed figures beside him, and in Darris's hands were two short swords.

"Well it was a spur of the moment, I actually thought we would need to watch the Gym, but if you're leaving the city then a beat down is perfect." Darris said as he spun his blades. "Of course if you lose an eye or two, that's fine with me."

Ash looked around at the people and Pokémon that were surrounding them as Clemont looked at Darris and scowled.

"I see that your Tyrogue evolved, and into a Hitmonlee, with how you favor power I expected as much. Tell me, the last time I beat you two, was it just weak from a training secession?" Clemont asked and Darris only looked at him with a glare.

"You're always so sure about everything! It was the best thing I ever did to accept that Quest to attack that brat sister of yours!" Darris spat and Bonnie tensed and Ash looked at him as Clemont's mouth dropped open in shock.

"You were behind those people who attacked Bonnie! Someone hired you, who!?" Clemont demanded as he gripped his axes and threw them down next to him as he released his Bunnelby. "That doesn't matter, no it does matter. One on one, I win and you tell me who hired you!"

"You're Bunnelby against my Fighter… Fine but we battle too!" Darris called out as he shot at Clemont as his Hitmonlee charged at Bunnelby.

"Bunnelby, stay away and use Mud Shot!" Clemont commanded as he grabbed his axes and blocked a stab from Darris's right blade and slashed back with his left arm, Darris pulling away as he tried to get behind Clemont.

Hitmonlee charged in and kicked out at Bunnelby but it missed as Bunnelby jumped over it and shot blobs of mud that pushed Hitmonlee back as Bunnelby moved around the battle zone, keeping away from Darris's followers and their Pokémon.

"Incredible!" Serena said as they watched the battle. As they watched Clemont called out a command and Bunnelby jumped towards him and as Clemont spun around Bunnelby and hit the axe's head and pushed off as Clemont spun and it dealt two kicks at Hitmonlee and sent it back only for Hitmonlee to lash out with a flaming kick and sent Bunnelby away from it. while that had happened Clemont charged and brought one of his axes down at Darris and the blow only missed by inches as Darris called out a command to his Pokémon.

"This is the strength of a gym leader; they're some of the strongest trainers and warriors out there, at least their supposed to be." Lilith said as she watched the battle in awe as Clemont tried to take Darris down.

Ash stayed silent as he looked on and nodded saw a few of the Machokes moving forward a foot here and there and saw long daggers being drawn by the robed figures and he tensed a little. "Get ready, there's going to be a problem soon."

As Clemont fought Darris, his opponent dropped back and threw his right blade at Clemont who dodged the blade and cursed as he saw Darris throw a Pokéball and released his Houndoom

"I thought this was a one on one match!" Clemont shot at Darris who only laughed.

"It is, one trainer against the other, I didn't say anything that I'd only use one Pokémon!" Darris said as Bonnie scowled.

"He's cheating!" She exclaimed as Ash looked on without saying a word. "Ash do something!"

"Stay back I can still win this!" Clemont called out as he spun his axes as he looked back at them. Ash said nothing and nodded as he looked on.

"There's that surety of yours, well this time I win! Houndoom, Flame Thrower, Hitmonlee, keep up the pressure!" Darris called out as he charged at Clemont. As Houndoom spat a spiral of flame at Bunnelby who dodged it only for Hitmonlee to kick it towards a bush! As the two Pokémon moved closer to their prey the bush started to rattle.

"Chespin!" A Chespin suddenly shot out of the bush and fired energy blasts from its horns at Hitmonlee and sent it back, giving Bunnelby the time it needed to fire a Mud Blast at Houndoom as Clemont laughed.

"I guess you didn't count on me getting help, did you Darris!" Clemont said with a smirk. That has to be the Chespin from the lab, why did it come here? He thought as he gripped his axes and looked at Darris who scowled at the way Chespin was dodging his Houndoom as Bunnelby thrust its ears at Hitmonlee.

"Who's Pokemon is that?!" Darris demanded as he backed off and put some distance between him and Clemont.

"If I'm right it's wild, I guess that even they don't like cheaters. Bunnelby, Chespin press the attack!" Clemont called out before charging at Daris.

"HHHHHIIIIYEEAAAHH!" Clemont roared as he slashed Darris's face in an upwards horizontal slash with his right axe. Darris cried as he dropped one of his short swords and grabbed his left eye. At the same time Hitmonlee and Houndoom hit the ground next to their trainer as Bunnelby prepared to fire another Mud Bomb while Chespin grinned as Clemont looked at Darris as his eye bleed. "I won Darris, now talk! Who hired you to attack my sister!"

"I don't have to tell you anything, everyone attack!" Darris bellowed and the robbed figures charged. Serena and Lilith both pushed Bonnie behind them and prepared to defend themselves when Ash reacted first.

"Pikachu, Thunder!" Ash barked out and threw Pikachu upwards. As Pikachu flew into the air the Machokes looked at him in confusion.

"PIKKKAA!" Pikachu cried out and released a massive bolt of electricity at the Machokes and knocked them out. One of the robbed figures ran straight at them and Serena appeared there ad sliced with her naginata and the robbed figured cried out and brought his right hand over his nose as blood seeped from his hand.

Darris and his followers recalled their Pokémon and moved away from the road as Ash and Clemont moved in with their Pokémon as Serena and Lilith backed them up with Bonnie between them.

Darris looked at them before a beeping sounded before he grinned at them. "See you later brat, I'm sure the officer will have a lot of questions for you! Retreat!"

"YES MASTER!" The robbed figures barked and one of them threw something down and whatever it was released a large cloud of smoke. As they coughed and fanned away the smoke they saw Darris and his followers running away from them. Ash looked back towards the city and squinted. "Looks like one of those travelers called the Police, want to stay and give a statement or move on? Given what Darris said I kinda think we should go myself."

"The person in charge of the station near this path was originally another person who I beat to become the gym leader and since I'm on 'vacation'….." Clemont said with a nervous grin as he recalled his Pokemon as Chespin jumped onto his backpack as Bonnie started to move silently towards the woods as Dedenne jumped into her bag. "I think that maybe we should not be here when they get here."

"In other words…." Bonnie said with a nervous look on her face. "RUNNNN!"

Bonnie started to run towards the forest with the others following, Pikachu running until he was next to her as Ash ran pulling Serena behind him with her Fenniken following after her as Lilith laughed a little as their Pokémon followed behind them.

"What's so funny Lilly?!" Serena asked as she tried to keep her feet under her as her Fenniken jumped onto her shoulder.

"Nothing, just I….. this is the second time we're running from the police, think it'll become a habit?" She asked as she ran, feeling giddy as her Leopard ran beside her as Clemont gave a little laugh as he caught up to her, a laugh that caused her to fight down a giggle.

"I don't know but for some reason, I think I'm having more fun than I have in years!" Clemont exclaimed as Chespin looked over his shoulder.

"CHESPIN!" Chespin called out as it held up its right arm into the air.

"And I think you've got a new friend!" Lilith said as Clemont looked over his shoulder at Chespin who looked at him with teary eyes and Clemont grinned at the Pokémon.

"Yeah, when we get to the Pokémon Center I think I'll call the Professor and talk to him about it, I will say this about traveling with Ash, it's never boring!" Clemont said prompting Ash to laugh a little as he let go of Serena's hand and she started to run as her Fenniken moved beside her.

"Well, it isn't boring that's for sure!" Serena said as she felt something bubbling up from within her and smiled happily, something telling her that this was where she was meant to be. As the sun started to set as they made it into the forest, a laugh resounded from deeper within the trees as a woman, a man and a Meowth ran into the trees alongside the path, the three of them getting lost within moments as they traveled deeper into the forest and losing Ash and his friends.

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Aagha down a staircase lit by glowing crystals and came out into an underground fighting arena; a square battle stage about fifty feet wide and long with seating twenty feet up of about ten five rows each. He walked down to the edge of the pit and looked around, hoping to find the boss of the pit, he had sent a message that he had a surprise for him. As the gate at one end of the fighting arena opened, three two-foot-tall creatures walked out into the arena. They were reptilian creatures with a single horn above their single eye and a mouth of simple flat teeth, their bodies were red with a raptor body shape with their tails ending in a bone ball, their feet were flat and it didn't have any arms. As Aagha looked on the creatures started to run towards him and as he looked at them he frowned.

"What are those things; I don't remember ordering anything like them before." Aagha muttered as he looked down at the creatures and a voice started to laugh behind him.

"Ahhh but you didn't, I made them. How do you like the first of my new series, the {[Trainitor]} Master Aagha? More specifically these are the current Red model." A voice caused Aagha to turn to see a sixteen-year-old boy in a white robe with the symbol of the Bloody Maulers on his right breast. He had short blond hair and tan skin that showed that he spent his days out in the sun. "For a first start, they might not be much, but I think that they're perfect for practice targets at the least."

"Maybe Ghalib, but what can you make; that casting method of yours makes you a tough opponent but making fighters for the pit…that was something that you promised me. So far..." Aagha trialed off as Ghalib chuckled.

"Aaahhh but master my skills are perfect for the task." Ghalib said with a smirk. "And these are but the first of my creations. Give me a bit of time to learn how to shape the process and one day I will make things that could stand toe to toe with the Legendaries themselves. But do use you're Elekid, that one is the best for these"

"Big talk, but let us see how they do. Go Elekid!" He called out as he threw out a Pokeball and his Elekid appeared on the battlefield with the Red Trainitor between it and the wall. Elekid was a yellow biped two feet tall with bulky oversized arms that ended in three claws, its body was round with black stripes near a black lightning bolt pointed upwards with two eyes bellow two horns that looked like electric prongs while its legs are black and its feet are rounded and toeless. "Elekid, start with Thunder Punch on the middle one then you can go wild!"

Elekid roared and charged at the homunculus as Ghalib started to chuckle.

"A perfect test master, after all, they…..give special rewards when one defeats them, but only if they are Pokémon." Ghalib said as Elekid charged and attacked with its right arm covered in sparking lightning bolts as it charged at the middle Trainitor and punched it, releasing an electric shock that combined with the punch sent it against the wall but its legs met the wall and it pushed off and shot at Elekid and spun around, its tail spinning at the Pokémon that attacked it, the ball at the end hitting the raised right arm of Elekid.

"The reactions are still basic, as are their armaments. I plan for the combat model to have better claws and either a spike or stinger on the tail, I haven't decided yet to tell the truth, and there's what Type the models will be to consider." Ghalib said as Eekid grabbed the tail and started to spin the Trainitor as the other two looked at what the Pokemon was doing and spat red embers at Elekid, only hitting the spinning Trainitor.

"So red is Fire element then." Aagha asked and Ghalib chuckled a little. As they watched Elekid threw the spinning Trainitor at one of the others and when its missile dropped its target, Elekid charged at the remaining one and slashed at the Trainitor's neck, score a hit that caused the homunculi to drown in its blood. "But its skin is a bit thin isn't it?"

"For now master, for now. Now for the first question I have found a few scraps here and there around here that might lead to the possibility of the color not being a requirement for elemental alignment." Ghalib explained and as the remaining two Trainitors got up and growled and charged at Elekid. "Now as for the second question, they are my first viable success, and the pattern I made to create them only gives basic armor, their skin is probably comparable to an earthworm, the most of the Aura I used to birth them went to my surprise."

"And the surprise is going to be worth it Ghalib? I could get anyone else to replace you here and have you sent to just trying to make something that will matter to me." Aagha asked and Ghalib chuckled.

"Wait until the first causality dies my master, the dying one isn't meat just yet." Ghalib said as the dying Trainitor started to spasm before it stopped moving and its body started to glow before it released a ball of energy that shot upwards. Elekid and the Trainitors moved away from each other and before anything do anything else the energy ball shot at Elekid and its body glowed yellow as the energy merged with the Pokémon. Elekid stood there and it looked at the other two Trainitors and grinned savagely and charged at them, the two charging at Elekid in turn.

"So that was the surprise then? What did it do?" Aagha asked and Ghalib grinned.

"When we discovered this place all those months ago master and you decided to make it our true base to get away from your father sight I explored until I came upon this place and a room full of decaying books and schemas, one of which was when they were killed to give their Aura to their killer. I think the schema and process were but a part of the ways to increase the power of whatever trained here. " Ghalib said and grinned at Aagha's expression as he absorbs what he was being told. "And if I'm right then it could be a process for blunt forcing the Awakening of a Human's Aura."

Aagha stared at Ghalib and grinned as he looked down at the battle as Elekid attacked one of the Homunculi and it dodged each blow by inches. A simple way to awaken Aura…..no. There has to be a drawback to this, my luck isn't that good. Aagha thought as he turned to Ghalib. "What do you mean, if your right?"

Ghalib spread his hands and looked at Aagha. "I am translating the text by myself master and even then it's broken apart, and there are still a few of the runes that I still need to translate yet…. So I might have an answer in a month, maybe longer if I can't find anything to help. I am betting on it being able to help humans awaken their Aura's based on the painting on the wall that showed what happened just now."

Aagha looked on and stared at the battle before him, impressed. I don't know what I like more, the fact that he was able to make something like this or that my beast is killing them. He thought as his Elekid had finally been able to grab one of the Trainitors and tear off its tail, causing black blood to pour out of the Trainitor as it stumbled and slumped to the floor. As Elekid moved towards the last remaining Homunculi the other one died and released a ball of energy that shot at Elekid, its body starting to glow as soon the energy merged with it. As its body started to glow it grew a foot in height as its two prongs rescinded and two antennae with bulbous tips where its ears should be, two long tufts of fur on top of its head as its head and body grew apart. Its arms lengthen and its arms lost its claws as they became hands as its feet gained three clawed toes on each of its feet, two in front and one in the back and it grew a slim long tail. As the glow died away it was revealed to still be yellow with a large, lightning bolt-shaped stripe on its chest, a V-shaped stripe on its forehead, one stripe on its side, a thick stripe down its back, two bands on each leg, several broken bands on each arm, and many rings around its long tail.

"ELECTABUZZ!" The newly evolved Pokémon roared as it stood there with the mace tail still in its hands.

"Amazing, after such a short time it evolved. Perhaps that schema you found might be worth it after all, but the dead, can anything be done with them?" Aagha said tonelessly and Ghalib smirked, knowing from his town that his leader was pleased.

"A ritual I know can recover most of the materials that went into their births master, and once I knew what your Pokémon would evolve into I began to construct a few pieces of equipment for it." Ghalib said as Electrabuzz shot at the smaller homunculi and started to hit it with the tail in its hands and as the red-skinned thing tried to fight back it started to falter and after a few more hits to its head it died and a ball of energy was sent at Electrabuzz who roared and Aagha recalled it to its Pokéball and as soon as he had done so the other gates opened and three black five-foot-tall insect-like bipeds with four arms with three-clawed hand and two normal feet. Their heads had two compound eyes and four mandibles in a cross shape and it walked hunched over with the lower two arms used as feet.

"So those are still good for this then?" Aagha asked as the three Homonculi picked up the bodies and moved back through the gate and Ghalib nodded and looked over the stands and started to think. Give my beast a weapon, it might work after it gains a few more Moves. But a simple weapon or maybe a fold out? He mused as he looked at Ghalib.

"They are the last of those creations master; my newer helper creation will be able to do everything that they can and our plans to take over of this part of the Domain will move forward once the giants are ready." Ghalib asked and Aagha nodded.

"Good, so how did you handle the lockdown here?" Aagha asked as he turned to Ghalib who only shrugged.

"As well as could be expected, my master. I was able to finish the Trainitors and translate a few more runes. And I was able to finish most of what I need to make those pieces of Equipment I mentioned, but about the tail it used, will you like me to make a weapon for your Pokémon based on that?" Ghalib asked and hid a smile. I won't tell you that I'm already making a few weapons for myself, or when I am strong enough you will be put in your place, along with dear father. He thought as he waited for a reply.

Aagha looked down at his Pokégear and saw that when he had recalled his Electrabuzz it had brought the tail with it as Gear and started to think. Might be a good workaround its Type.

Something it could use to bash and damage Rocks and Grounds when it can't blast them, of course, there might be a bad side I'm not seeing. Still, maybe a good battle with that fool will be a good way to make my mind up. He thought as he looked up as he saw one of his minions walking towards him. "What is it?"

"The group you sent to get…..to get the sister failed master. Her uncle came and ….." The Bloody Maulerbegan before Aagha exploded.

"Her uncle?! I thought their parents were only children!"

Aagha exclaimed. So getting her here to force that punk to fight failed…okay maybe I should go and fight him now, keep up the pressure so he can't figure out what I wanted him to do. He thought as he nodded before turning towards Ghalib.

"Make a few more of those targets I just saw for the others, and a Ground-type for my newest, as for the party that came back tell them to rest, I'll debrief them once I get back." Aagha declared as he walked away.

"But master!" The messenger began but stopped when Aagha looked back at him.

"Whatever it is I'll deal with it when I get back!" Aagha barked before he walked away and towards where he knew a few more members of his gang were longing around. A good battle with that fool, he should be at one of the battlefields outside of town, I wonder how he'll try and deal with my evolved weapon. He thought as he reached the stairs and moved up them.

"And what did our leader not let you tell him? Ghalib asked and the message went still.

The messenger swallowed and looked at Ghalib who looked at him with a reassuring look. "That the group came back with a newcomer, somebody with a variant Pokémon that I didn't think existed anymore."

"So someone found an old egg and hatched it, what is it then?" Ghalib asked and the messenger swallowed and looked at him

"It was a Serviper, a Poison /Water one." The messenger said and Ghalib stared in total shock, remembering the pictographs that he had found in the deepest part of the ruins and he swallowed, wondering what this might mean for the Bloody Maulers.

Aagha walked through the ruins, a scowl on his face. If it's not one thing it's another. I mean the mourning period is over for the last High-Lord and most kids my age are going to get their Pokémon soon, those who found an egg in the wild have a leg up on the rest of us. And my gang is powerful enough that once we gain strength we have a chance of taking over this town and force that buffoon out! He thought as he walked into a room with members of his gang were all lounging around and either eating or watching a game on a TV on the wall.

"I need people for a raid, five at most!" He barked and as his minions jerked to their feet a few only looked at him in shock before five of them moved forward, causing Aagha to smirk as he snickered.

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Bahadur looked around the field as the kids and their Pokemon played together. As his Magby meditated next to him he smiled as he watched as it started to release a red glow every few seconds. This guy is going great with the Teachings. I think another weak at most and he'll be ready to evolve. And we might need the power boost if that idiot and his pack keep making more trouble, and his dad keeps shielding him with the captain turning a blind eye to their activities….. I swear it's the only fact that dad's business has contracts to take supplies out to the various mines that guy might have tried to take over. he thought with a scowl, a laugh from nearby caused him to look up and see some kids laughing at a joke that Etana had told and shook his head.

"That sister of mine, what a jokester hu bro?" Farbod asked and Bahadur turned and saw him leaning against a post with his Poliwag standing next to him

"Yes, she was, I must say that she hasn't matured from when we were younger." A voice said behind them and Bahadur hid a twitch.

They turned at the voice and saw a girl walking towards them. Bahadur hid a frown as Farbod started to blush. Of course, my day isn't complete without her coming around. He thought as he looked at the teen. She was a beautiful girl with light tan skin, a heart-shaped face with black eyes framed by her blue hair in curls that reached her shoulders. She was wearing a black sundress with exposed the valley of her large breasts and had white earrings on and carried a black parasol with a white gemstone spike on top and Bahadur looked at these items

"Hello boys, how have you all been? I was out of town for a week or so, anything new and juicy…. Is this your Pokemon Bahadur? Congratulations on finally becoming a trainer!" She said as Farbod smiled at her.

"Nice to see you Melike! How are you?" Farbod asked and Melike giggled as she hid her mouth, her eyes never leaving Bahadur.

"Oh so so. Nowadays with all the news as it is….have you heard?"

Melike asked and

"Heard what, that the High-Lord sent somebody down to look into the Devourer scare?" Bahadur asked and Melike turned to him with a frown on her face.

"No, they say that all the Highlords and the most prosperous city Lords were all called to the capital to be briefed on something, they say it could be anything from another Attack, a Chimera hoard to a Frankenmon sighting! And what scare?" She said and Bahadur tensed a little

"A few of the Maulers were hunting us and thought we might be out of town, they ran into something and were found drained. The town even went into lockdown." Farbod said and Melike gasped and looked at them.

"Oh my, I hope that there weren't any fatalities! Did they ever find out what had happened?" Melike asked and Farbod shook his head.

"No, but since nothing happened they lifted the lockdown since the investigator is here they might find out what happened." Farbod told her and Bahadur looked at her as she

"Well, that's something at least. See you later boys." Melike said as she walked off, Farbod waving with a smile on his face.

"Why do you keep acting that way around that little witch Farbod?"

Bahadur asked once he was sure there was no way his voice would carry to Melike. Farbod sighed and smiled in her direction.

"The heart wants what the heart wants bro, still why do you have to call her that?"

"Yeah's something about the way she looks at people, I can't describe it but everything is telling me that she's hiding something." Bahadur said and Farbod looked at him.

"…but everything is telling me that she's hiding something." Bahadur's voice caused Melike to frown as she walked back towards her home.

"Oh Bahadur, if you didn't have that kind of instincts then this would be so much easier, but completely not as fun." She giggled to herself as she walked. But I need a way to get around or have a way to move silently along the river, my little beauty works but sooner or later I'll need to move larger products. And then there's his sister to consider, she has talent. If I could be her big sister and teacher then I'll gain that much more power, power enough to one day become a High Lord! And the rumors about the Prince, I might be able to become one of his lords! She thought as she walked. A commotion ahead made her smile as she saw what it was about.

"Oh, this looks like it'll be good."

Etana looked at the kids as they played and smirked. I guess bro was right, going over here and making sure that the kids were okay was the right play to make the parents let the kids go, and the kids needed this. Too much doom and gloom ain't good for anybody. She thought as one of the kids came towards her and tugged her arms. "Sorry, kiddo but we gotta pack it up, and that's for all of ya! We all gotta get home to our family soon!"

"It's not that Ms. Etana, it's the dust clouds!" The kid said and Etana frowned and turned towards where the kid was pointing. She frowned and stood up and squinted her eyes and paled. "Kids, get the others, and go home, now."

"Ms. Etana?" One of the kids asked before she turned to them with a hard stare that scared them.

"Go, kids…Hey guys! We've got company coming!" Etana called out and as the dust moved closer.

As Bahadur, Farbod and Magby came over the clouds cleared and they were able to see that what was here was coming at them. As the dust settled they saw four members of the Bloody Maulers and Aagha riding on reptilian wolves the size of horses with grey scales as skin and red eyes, with the one Aagha was riding had a horn between its eyes and a small spiked ball on its tail.

"So what's up Aagha, and why are you here on those homunculi?" Bahadur asked as Aagha looked at him with a scowl.

"I wanted to do this at my place, you and me a final match after a grueling tournament tired your beast out before destroying you in front of everyone."

"My sister? What did you do to Kyra?!" Bahadur demanded as Magby started to growl as flames sprang to life in its paws as Farbod started to finger the Pokéball at his belt as his sister did the same.

"Nothing, at most I would have insisted she would be my 'guest', and sent you a picture of me with my hand on her shoulder, maybe with her monster at her feet knocked out." Aagha said conversely as Bahadur looked at him.

"Your problem is with me alone. So leave my sister out of it!" Bahadur snarled and Aagha and his minions laughed.

"And will you force me to handle that? Let's see. Two on those two, leave him to me! Go Electrabuzz!" Aagha snarled as he and the others threw out Pokéballs, releasing Electrabuzz and two Machop and two Cubone

"How's the blood fool evolve that mon of his so fast!?" Etana asked as Electrabuzz flexed its arms as it sparked.

"Good question." Bahadur said as he looked around at the Electrabuzz, deep in thought. I had to have been right they did find something out there! Some secret meditation method like what my uncle taught me so long ago. This will be hard but he might be able to handle this. But do I risk it? Bahadur thought as he eyed Aagha then let his eyes wander around and saw all the kids, some of them running away and others staring in freight. "And if we don't they might destroy this place."

Etana and Farbod looked at him and then around the area and nodded, both of them realizing that they didn't have a choice and quickly released their Pokémon.

"Magby we can take it!" Bahadur said before Magby charged at Electrabuzz.

"Let's go Poliwag, we'll draw some off and get the kids out of here!" Farbod said as he ran towards the kids who finally started to move, Poliwag following.

"Take'em Meditite, let's go, we'll hold the line!" Etana said as Meditite hovered in front of her before flying at the Machops.

"As we planned!" Aagha said and then the Cubones charged at Meditite and the Machops charged at Poliwag.

We're not that stupid brat, think we'll give you type advantage against us?

He thought as his own Electrabuzz charged at Bahadur's Magby.

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Farbod ran with his Water Type at his side and looked over his shoulder, releasing a curse as he saw the Fighting-types and two trainers on their homunculi steeds following them.

Okay, so then I've got those four to deal with, okay that's doable, but keeping these kids safe, that's going to make this harder. He thought as he moved.

"Keep moving kids, Poliwag keep firing Water Gun at the mounts!"

"Poliwag!" Poliwag called out as it jumped and spun, blasting a spiral of water at one of the mounts and its rider, one of the Machops intercepted it and held its arms in front of its face as the water pushed it backward.

"Stop those brats from getting out of here!" The Mauler on the right behind the Machop that intercepted the attack barked at the other ganger who nodded and spurred his mount on towards the fleeing kids.

"No, Poliwag stop them!" Farbod cried out as he drew his short sword and slashed down and tried to stop him and slashed the Chimera's right back leg, causing it to stumble, the ganger almost falling out but he stayed in the saddle and snarled and threw drew a mace from his back and turned his mount around and charged at Farbod. As he looked at the ganger he heard a cry and looked over his shoulder and saw the other Machop kick his Poliwag towards a wall to the right and dodged the charge of the ganger riding the injured Chimera as the other one and his Pokémon moved past them after the children. "Damn it, Kids run!"

"Don't worry; we'll only hold them until our boss is done with that brat, of course, you're knocked out." The first ganger spat and Farbod snarled and charged at him his blade meeting the club with a clang as his Poliwag shook itself back to its senses and dodged a blow from the remaining Machop.

"Freestyle Poliwag, I'll handle this scum!" Farbod called out before he charged at the Bloody Mauler and his mount. Poliwag nodded and dodged the blows that the Machop used, a strange feeling growing within it. As the Machop attacked fiercely Poliwag jumped backward and once it was far enough away it fired a ball of energy that created clouds ten feet up and soon ran started to fall around them. "Wait, Rainy Day?"

"So what do you think your monster is doing? Think it will have an easier time….what is that?" The Mauler muttered as he looked beyond Farbod. Farbod raised his sword and saw his Poliwag had gained a blue energy outline and was dodged each blow easily as it slapped Machop with its tail and Farbod laughed a little as he watched. "You…..! That's the reason, it gives that thing of your's power in the rain!"

"Yeah, but deal with me first!" Farbod snarled as he charged at the mounted ganger and slashed down with his blade, the ganger blocking the blow and when his mount tried to slam its head and neck into Farbod he dodged the blow and slashed at its neck, scoring a hit that caused the homunculus to cry out in pain as its black blood oozed out.

"Black blood…but that's not….where did that thing come from!"

"So you know something, that's surprising. Something to tell the master about, after you're my prisoner of course." The Mauler said as the rain continued to fall.

They stared each other down, not moving an inch until the ganger spurred his mount to charge at Farbod again.

Farbod snarled and waited for the charge to pass near him and dodged to the side, slashing at the homunculi mount and tore off one of its back legs and sent the Mauler tumbling to the ground.

As the homunculi whined in pain as the black blood gushed forth as it lay the ganger looked at it and threw a black stone that burned the homunculi, causing it to scream in pain as it slowly broke apart and the remains evaporated as Poliwag and Farbod only watched in shock.

"What the hell did you do?!" Farbod demanded as the ganger only laughed and looked at where his mount had been.

"Followed orders brat, if that thing I was riding was injured, do a mercy kill and sanitize the site." The Bloody Mauler said nonchalantly and Farbod growled as he gripped his sword.

"Of course none of that matters, all I have to do is take you down."

"Then we'll take you out first! Poliwag, fire, and freestyle!" Farbod roared as he charged at the Ganger as his Poliwag fired a Water Gun at Machop and soon he and the Bloody Mauler were locked in combat.

As the Machop blocked the Water spiral it grinned and felt something in it, and waited for

"Trip it up!" The Bloody Mauler barked and lunged backward and kept an eye on the battle when suddenly the body of the other Bloody Mauler came flying and hit him, the other Machop being hit by the other Fighting-type, sending all of them to the ground before roots suddenly burst out and tied both the gangers and their Pokémon. Poliwag and Farbod just stared in shock, so shocked that as the clouds above them stopped raining they never even noticed.

"Hey, aren't you one of my nephew's friends boyo?" A voice caused Farbod to turn his head and stare at who was walking towards him and his Pokémon.

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"Meditite, try to grab one of the clubs!" Etana called out as she watched the two Ground types battle with her Pokémon, her eyes on the conflict. The two Cubone kept a grip on their club bones and despite Meditite's efforts, all it could do was dodge the blows from the Ground-Types. Seeing one of the Cubone raise it's right leg as the limb started to glow she tensed. "Meditite, go up!"

Meditite thrust a psychic blast downward and 'jumped' upwards into the air before the ground started to shake as the Cubone slammed its leg down. Etana barely kept her footing as Meditite hovered and dodged the thrown clubs from the Cubones. Great, and we can't count on type advantage, okay. I just have to…... She stopped thinking and threw herself to the side as one of the Bloody Maulers rode his mount in a charge at her, she cursed.

"Hey, battling here!"

"And take out the trainer to take out the Pokémon, or give it someone to defend and get taken down!"

The Mauler behind her called out as, causing her to grit her teeth and loo around

"Should have known scum like you would stoop that low!" Etana snarled and gritted her teeth. How can I get around this? Etana thought as she tried to figure out a way around this problem and felt her Pokémon reach out with its mind to hers and smiled as she received the knowledge her partner sent her. Sending the plan Etana dashed towards one of the walls with her Pokémon and the two Ground types following her. As she jumped onto the wall her Meditite floated after her and as the two Cubone followed them Meditite hit them with a shovel that someone had left out, the same shovel that Meditite had seen when it had dodged the strikes from the Cubone by hovering above. As the two Cubone's flew backwards in the air the two Bloody Maulers reared back and looked back towards where they had left Aagha, Bahadur and their Pokémon and it seemed to her that they were considering going to help their leader, maybe handle Magby and let Electrabuzz handle her and Meditite. "Cowards."

"What was that girl?" The Bloody Mauler on the right growled and the one on the left looked around and forced a grin down as he saw their Pokémon get back to their feet.

"You heard me, what were you thinking, gonna run to your boss with your tails between your legs?" Etana asked and she kept her face expressionless as she saw that her words had worked and the two Bloody Maulers were glaring at her, right was even growling.

"So what are you gonna do, turn tail and run like cowards?"

"NOBODY CALLS ME A COWARD!" The one on the right bellowed and charged at her with his friend right behind him, their Pokémon having gotten back to their feet and charged with their trainers.

"Suckers." Etana muttered softly with a grinned as she watched them move closer before barking a command as she jumped at them. "Far Jump then grab and bash!"

As she flew through the air her body gained a blue glow and suddenly she was thrown at the two gangers and spun her leg around and kicked both of them in the head, sending them off their mounts and to the ground. Before their Pokémon could react both of the Homunculi mounts gained a blue glow as Etana landed and the two creatures flew through the air and hit the two Pokémon, penning them to the ground, the blue glow continued as the two Cubone struggled to get free.

"That's my part of this done, all that's left to do it for you to make a touchdown B." Etana said as she looked down at the two gangers, hoping that her brother was okay.

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Bahadur kept his eyes as his Magby dodged Aagha's Electrabuzz as it trailed sparks from its arms with each blow. How did he evolve his Pokémon…. Okay, this has to be the same day that it evolved, so maybe we have a better chance than normal… so what can I do? He thought as he let his eyes wander over the field, taking in everything hoping to find anything to use. "So what was your plan, capture me and then what, you have to know I'd talk to my parents about it?"

"With no proof and the fact that the Colonel 'likes' my father more then you, well that's that. I'd have a thousand people who'd say I wasn't there, and then what will the Protectors do to you?" Aagha asked and Bahadur snarled under his breath as he saw the truth in the scum's words.

As he moved his hand towards the sword at his waist a blade flew through the air and hit hear his Pokémon, startling it enough for Electrabuzz to hit Magby with a Thunder Punch that sent it flying to the right, away from where Etana and her Pokémon were battling. "Give up now and all that we'll do is break one of its limbs!"

Bahadur only glared as he watched Magby get back to his feet and look at its trainer and saw the look of pain in Bahadur's eyes. It turned and saw the Electrabuzz and it felt something grow within it as it looked at the smug look on Electrabuzz and Aagha's faces. Magby felt its energy with hit a wall of all things as it tried to drag up its strength, it knew instinctively that if it broke through it then it would have more power, what and how it knew this it didn't know but it that sure that all it was the truth.

"Maybe I'll only beat you up before I have my beast knock yours out first instead of after, this way it can see what a disappointment it is!" Aagha said with a smirk as his Electrabuzz started to snicker. Magby didn't hear what Bahadur said next, it felt the wall break then it felt a rush of power and strength flow through it.

Magby suddenly roared, causing everyone to look at it. As they watched it glared at Electrabuzz and charge, roaming and starting to glow red as it moved. It started to grow before their eyes, gaining double its height and ending at four feet total. The light died down to reveal that its body had become red with yellow flame designs along the bottom half and its head grew two lumps from its forehead that each ended with a yellow flickering flame. Its shoulder had become yellow and its arms had gained red rigid scales that covered them its hands became five clawed fingers. Its shoulders and thighs are yellow, and its red feet have two, clawed toes each and around its ankles were metal shackled matching the one around its neck.

"Magmar!" The evolved pokemon roared and glared at Electrabuzz as Aagha stared in shock.

"How'd that happen!?" Aagha demanded only to chock as Magmar suddenly shot at Electrabuzz with flames covering its hands and punched the Eclectic type, sending it backwards and crying out in pain as it gained a Burn that sent it to its knees. "NO!"

"Flame Thrower, now!" Bahadur called out as he shook his head to clear his mind and get his focus back.

"Mag!" Magmar roared before firing a spiral blast of fire that threw Electrabuzz back and caused Aagha to glare at the Fire Type as it waited for Electrabuzz to react. Before they could react the bodies of two of the Bloody Maulers, the same two who had chased after Farbod were thrown onto the ground near Aagha and then a Bravery flew by and screeched as it landed on a wall, looking right at Electrabuzz with a steady gaze.

"I wouldn't try anything boyo, that's my nephew's Pokémon your fighting lad!" A voice caused them to turn towards it and see Farbod and Mathayus standing next to Mathayus's Chesnaught with had a savage grin on its face.

"Who the hell are you?!" Aagha asked and turned towards Bahadur as he gasped.

"Uncle Mathayus, what are you?" Bahadur asked as he stammered in shock.

"My brother sent me to find you lad, and what was keeping you." Mathayus said and looked at Aagha. "And what would you be doing to me nephew, and since those colors are the same as the fellows who attacked me nephew, you the boss?"

Aagha saw his minions getting back to their feet, the lights on their Pokéballs telling him that their fighters were down and that this plan was done. Of course, the uncle will come looking for his nephew, he couldn't stay at his nephew's house to surprise him, couldn't he? How can we get out of here besides that trick, no choice then. He thought as he looked around. "Get us out of here you fool!"

Before anyone else could react a blue glow appeared around the Maulers, their Chimera and Pokemon before they disappeared, one second they were there the next they were gone.

"Teleport, I wonder how that happened?" Farbod asked as he walked over to where Aagha had stood.

"The right Gear or Pokémon really, that's all it takes. Who were they anyway; you'd need resources to make something like that?" Mathayus asked as he removed the bandana and revealed his white hair as he looked around.

"Aagha and his punks; they call themselves the Bloody Maulers." Bahadur said as he checked over his Magmar, not noticing that his uncle had gone still before his eyes hardened and he growled a little under his breath. "So what are you doing here uncle?"

"A few things, I rescued/ helped out a few people and when I heard they were coming here I decided to come along and check in on the family." Mathayus said absently as he looked at his nephew. So they're the scum that grandmother saw. I won't let her die, I promise. He thought as he grinned. "But that's not important boyo, how about I get you home so that we can have that good meal that your ma promised?"

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"Damn!" Aagha snarled as he and his minions reappeared back at his home. As he looked around he noticed that there were only three two beside the one he was riding. "What happened to the other two?"

"Mine broke its legs, had to sanitize it boss."

"Mine got it's head cut off before that Grass Type and that old man threw me into him."

"Wonderful, so what about you two, why did that girl give you trouble?" Aagha snarled at the last two of his followers.

"She tricked us boss, threw our mon back and when we attacked her she knocked us off our rides and then

"And that brat's monster evolving death caused mine to be stunned enough for him to pull off a win, never mind the burn on mine." Aagha muttered before throwing a berry to his Electrabuzz

"I believe that your foes were just stronger than your plans allowed them to be." A voice behind him caused him to turn to see a man in a cloak standing next to Ghalib who smirked at him

"Who's this?" Aagha asked as he glared at Ghalib who grinned back.

"Someone who has an offer for us that I bring to you master, I believe that you will like it once you understand everything about him." Ghalib said as he bowed towards his leader.

"A travel who passed through here long ago good sir; currently I'm trying to find a place an…. Acquaintance of mine is staying at." The robed figure said and gestured towards Ghalib next to him. "Our friend offered your help in exchange for my own with

"So you think that you can help me beat that white-haired brat and those scum that's around him?" Aagha asked and the robed figure tensed and before he started to release an air of malice and chuckle darkly.

"White-haired… my friend I believe that I have much I can teach you about my power, you and your elemental beasts." The robbed figure said as a blue Serviper came out from behind him and release a blue energy orb that the figure took in his hand and started to absorb. Aagha and the others watched and Aagha started to grin a little, like the feeling that his destiny had just changed.

"Welcome to the Bloody Maulers I will introduce you to the others…" Aagha said as he extended his hand when someone interrupted him.

"Master Aagha! Your father is calling you sir, something about a party sir." One of Aagha's Maid Homunculi said and Aagha dropped his arm before facepalming and groaning.

"In a few days once this is done. For now, Ghalib get him some new clothes and get him up to speed with the social situation around here." Aagha said as he turned and walked away, a scowl on his face.

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As a woman with green hair wearing a red one-piece swimsuit walked along a boardwalk overlooking a beach full of people she sighed as she moved, her mind elsewhere as she looked at the ocean. Great, just great. The final day of my vacation and the fair's coming in next week! Well nobody could predict that rock slide and I guess that I had a good one. At least I was able to stay away from him for a few days. She thought as she shuddered. She sighed and as she looked around the beach and smiled as she looked at the setting sun in the distance. "All in all this was perfect, I had a nice few days off and I finished that book I was always planning to, and I caught a new Pokémon for my team."

As she looked over the beach as the sun started to set as people either started to get out food to cook or pack up she smiled as she stretched and turned around and walked towards one of the nearby changing rooms.

"I wonder if I can get away with giving myself the festival patrol? If nothing else happens around here maybe." She thought as she looked towards the city and

"JEEEEENNNY!" A voice caused her to sigh and turn towards the scream to see a woman her age with brown hair in a page boy style, square glasses on that show her red eyes, and wearing a police uniform running towards her from the city.

"Linda, what I'm on the last day of my vacation! What is it?"

Jenny asked as she looked at the woman as she panted as she

"We found…. I needed to tell you….." Linda panted as she caught her breath.

"Linda please, take a breath and get yourself under control and tell me what you found," Jenny said and Linda started to breathe easier before she looked at Jenny and slowly brought her head to Jenny's ear.

"We found another Widow kill, the hotel on 9th," Linda said and Jenny stared at her before scowling and looking towards the hotel.

"Fuck! Okay, give me a few minutes to grab my jacket and we'll go!" Jenny said as she rushed towards where she had stashed her jacket as Linda looked over the beach and people turned away from watching them. She frowned as she saw two women in bikini's get out of the water, for a few seconds she thought they had bags at their sides. I gotta be wrong, I mean why would people go swimming with bags…..they could have been looking for shells or anything else but those looked a little too big for that….what could the reason be? She thought as she looked at the two figures before they slipped into a crowd and she lost them, trying to remember anything that she could about what had bothered her about the two of them but then suddenly she shook her head as she forgot what had been bothering.

"Let's go Linda, you can give me the details on the way." Jenny's voice caused her to turn and see Jenny in a black jacket and shoes and nod before heading off, feeling like she had forgotten something important. As they passed by they saw a flyer with a strange symbol of a red volcano with two 'legs' under the words 'Water and Fire Circus, come one come all'.

A man in a police uniform stood outside a motel with tape across two poles a doorway and sighed. "It was the boss's last day off too, I guess she can make them up when the circus comes to town."

The door opened and a man in a lab coat came out and moved aside the door and started to dry heave as he tried to keep it together.

"Bad in there?" The policeman asked and the lab coat nodded at him.

"It's terrible, I can't even think about how the hell this was possible. I'm not an expert but I can't even think of what kind of poison could do this to a person." The lab coat said and shuddered and looked at him with a

"Yeah but that seems to be the way this killer can do it." Jenny's voice caused the two of them to turn and see her and Linda walking towards them, a frown on Jenny's face. "Who is it and what do we have?"

"It seems the victim was a male in his thirties. I don't have anything but so far from what the paperwork says this guy was from Unova."

The policeman said as the lab coat straightened up and looked at her. "And according to what I saw the way this bitch killed him was slow and he was tortured for a while before she killed him, at least I think so given the ropes unless it was something kinky."

"And the way he died?" Jenny asked causing the lab-coated man to pale a little.

"It looks the same as the last few mam; I'd need to bring the body back to the lab before I can know for sure, but the way the body was the muscles tensed so much they broke the bones, then the heart speed up until it burst and while that happened the brain cooked itself." The lab coat said as Jenny looked into the room and saw a body covered by a tarp leaking blood onto the floor. As Jenny looked around she spotted a camera and for a moment felt a spark of hope.

"What about the camera's, did they see our killer?" Jenny asked and the policeman shook his head.

"Sorry boss lady but the entire electrical grid is dead, the computer system for this place was destroyed and the owner is dead. And there's another problem…" The officer said looking away with a frown.

"What is it?" Linda asked and looked into the room, she started to look around and then a hanging wire connected to a dead light that had been pulled from the wall across from the bed caused her to frown as she looked at it. "And why'd she pull the light out?"

"That's the problem. This place was used by the owner to collect blackmail on the guests, at least I hope that's what the hours of tapes were for."

The officer said as he gestured towards the other rooms. "From what the early investigation shows each room is wired with cameras and microphones under the bed. That's how we discovered this, someone found the owner dead and we saw a dead camera in his office."

"Any chance this bastard was uploading the video to offsite storage?" Jenny asked and the policeman shook his head.

"From what I can tell this is completely analog. The tape for this room was destroyed with the others for the floor. Whoever this bitch is she knows how to cover her tracks." The lab-coated man said and Jenny looked around and noticed a few people on the other side of the parking lot and a few kids of various ages.

"The other guests, what do want to do with them and their belongings?" The officer asked and Jenny sighed.

Jenny looked over the people and came to a decision. "I want all of them taken away from this place, have a few officers watch them pack up their belongs beforehand. Collect every name and where they were staying and then I want everyone who was on the ground level interviewed about anything that they might have seen about our victim. Once everyone's gone I want the body to be brought to the lab and the body examined."

"Got it boss lady, I'll get on it." The policeman said as he saluted and moved towards the people. "Okay people hi, so the decision has been made for you all to move to another building. One officer will go with you into your rooms and watch as you pack your bags up and collect all your belongs, now we'll start with the upper floors before doing the ground."

"What's going to happen to this place?" Linda asked and Jenny sighed. That's the million-dollar question, isn't it? I guess that maybe the next of kin if he has one, but maybe…. Jenny thought as she turned towards Linda.

"I don't know, but if the owner didn't leave a will then this place might become the property of the city." Jenny said as officers started to lead a few people towards their rooms. Linda looked at the people before looking towards the streets when she saw a flash of blue hair that bothered her for some reason.

Along the street, Coral looked at the people, and police grouped around the motel and sighed. "Looks like that one is dead, too bad.

I always hated him but then he was one of the only eyes out here we could talk to."

"Think she went to him for papers sister?" Tidera asked and Coral laughed a little.

"Given what choices she had that's probably what happened. Think they'll find out about us from him?" Coral asked and Tidera looked at her sister for a few moments before nodding. "Yeah, so we need to handle this on top of everything, wonderful."

"Any idea where he hung his hat sister?" Tidera asked ad Coral looked around before nodding.

"I think it's by the river to the north, we should make sure nothing else is there that might…. Lead back to us." Coral said as she looked down at the clothes they were wearing and frowned. The two of them were wearing blue sundresses and short heels. "After we get more stylish clothing sister."

"We have a few items to sell for our starter funds. The local Den?" Tidera asked and Coral nodded as they walked off.

Joey cleaned a glass as he looked around his bar, so far his business had been slow, those noble punks were staying away from the town and he liked that, most of the time. It's almost getting bad enough that I might have to make this place public like that cousin of mine in Unova. I guess I could do better as a restaurant and keep this place as a meeting place for deals. But I'll need capital for that, where could I find that? He thought as he looked around and sighed. "And that's the problem."

A door opened caused him to look up and see two teenage girls in sundresses with blue hair and he frowned. "I don't serve kids ladies, and kids don't know about my place so how'd you find out about me?"

"A flow from the ocean to the river good sir." One of them said and Joey stared at them and nodded.

"So two of you people then, wonderful. What can I do for you?" Joey asked and one of them moved forward. "Need a new shipment of parts, I might have somebody within the next few days. Here about a new Pokemon Egg or two, I heard a rumor that that might have possibilities?"

"Not today, we need IDs, two Pokédexs that would pass, a line on a good clothing store that sells riding gear as well and we need to sell a few items on the quiet side." The

"Got a shipment of those a few weeks ago, but it'll be costly, and of course there's the fact I have a limited supply sooooo." Joey said with a grin and the girl on the left sighed.

Two large pearls and five strings with smaller pearls on them were put on the counter and he whistled. "Okay, that's good enough. The big ones will give you the two dex's, and I'll give you about let's say 800 Pokedollars for the necklaces each, deal?" Joey asked as he looked at the items with a blank face.

"We need more for the strings." The first said and as the other looked at the first with a scowl and Joey nodded.

"Fair, the most I can give you is maybe 900 each, so about 45 collectively, deal?" Joey said and the teen nodded.

"Deal, but we need one more thing in exchange, directions for the cabin the owner of the motel on what was it sister, the sign said 9 or was it 10?" The first asked and the second put a finger to her mouth before she nodded after a few moments.

"9 sister, it was 9. and something to destroy his home, a bomb of some kind." The other said and the first nodded.

"That fucker, what he do?" Joey asked as he looked at the two sisters. "What did he do that caused him to come up on your radar…..is he one of yours?"

"Was, from what we overheard he's dead and we have to clean up after him." Tidera said and Joey looked shocked for a few seconds.

"Always didn't like him, sure I'll give you the address. Give me a few seconds and I'll be right back with the cash." Joey said and walked away, a smirk forming as he relished his good fortune as he opened a door and closed it behind him. Back behind him the second girl looked at the first.

"Coral, are you sure…" Tidera began before her sister interrupted.

"Yes Tidera, I am. Now be silent, lets not give him anything more then we have already." Coral said and gestured to her sister as Joey came back into the room carrying a case and a bag.

"Here's the money with the Pokédexs, and the bag is an extra. One nice firebomb that will get rid of the entire cabin, now just remember it takes about five minutes for it to be set off. And there's a branch of Trainer's Outfitter on Main Street, just go back to the beach, walk towards the Route and turn at the Beach Dinner, it's at the start of the next street over." Joey said as he put the case on the counter and opened it, revealing the money and the Pokédexs. "Now the dex's are set so you can put your name and where you set it up is the city you're from so good luck. And from what I know about the area one of the local streams is just at the cabin's perimeter, run past the trees to the right of it and you can travel by the water."

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"Can't believe that we're stuck with this rookie." The speaker was an older man in a police uniform with blond hair with streaks of grey and a beard talking to the person driving the car, a younger man with red hair who looked like he was fresh out of the academy.

"Come on partner, we're heading towards a building that might have a clue to Widowmaker, what isn't there to be happy about!" The Rookie said and the older man sighed.

"Look kid, unless the second victim was using those tapes for blackmail the chances of him having them at his place are slim to none. This is just busywork." He said and looked out the window as they moved along the road through the trees. "I didn't think that there was a place out here."

"I think this place was set up by the old mayor, I remember my dad was part of the team that cleared the road. I think he said there's a stream that leads to one of the main rivers that goes to Lumiose City." The Rookie said and the older man snorted.

"Great, just great." The officer said and shook his head. I'm starting to think this bastard is bigger than I thought. A river that goes to Lumoise, that's perfect. Dock at a boat near a path in, get to one of the airports and you can go anywhere on the planet. I'm starting to think this guy might be a bigger slime then he seemed. He thought as he looked ahead and squinted. "What in the?"

As the car pulled up to a normal two-story wood cabin with a bare yard and a dock with a speed boat lashed. In front of the cabin's door were two women in blue bodysuits with helmets with black visors and white knee-high boots on standing on the porch of the cabin who were looking at the car as it pulled up. "Get ready for trouble rookie."

An older man in a policeman's uniform got out of the passenger side as a younger officer got out of the driver's side.

"What do we do Coral?" Tidera asked and Coral scowled under her helmet.

"Keep our helmets on, don't let them see our faces and once we're away from here we catch other Water Types if we can find them. We've set the timer, so all we have to do is to hold them for a few minutes and then we escape on our Araquanids." Coral said as the car stopped a few yards from them. As two men in police uniforms got out Coral looked at the younger one and noticed how he was looking over her figure and grinned.

"Ladies, I'm going to have to ask that you tell us who you are?" The Older officer asked and Tidera stepped forward.

"We're a couple of travelers and we lost our map a few days ago… we went over the falls on our boat and we were lucky our clothes were in waterproof bags so we changed into our riding suits and followed the stream against the current." Tideral said and Coral nodded as they walked off the porch and looked at them.

"We were trying to get to Cyllage City, we found this cabin and came to get directions, this wouldn't be it would it?" Coral asked and the older man shook his head.

"Nope, you're on the outskirts of Ambrette Town. And this is a crime scene so I'm going to have to ask you to leave please." The younger officer said as the other one looked at them and for a few seconds Coral thought they were in the clear when the older man spoke up.

"Why aren't there water stains on your boots?" The older man asked and Coral went still.

"What?" The rookie asked and his senior continued.

"I know those boots; my niece got a pair. Those boots dry fast on the inside but they take a weak for the water damage to go away if you don't do anything or dry them out." The older man said as he looked at the two girls. "They're perfect for traveling but they get dirty as heck in a day, and the boots are only that white after you get them for the first day."

"Wait, then that means!" The Rookie said as he whipped his head towards the two teens.

"Barbaracle go!/ Stand Barbaracle!" Coral and Tidera called out as they threw out two Pokéballs. The two Barbaracle were both wearing a bracelet with a blue stone on each arm who stood there and loomed as the Rookie starred in shock.

"I told you there was something wrong with them rookie!" The bearded officer said as he threw out his own Pokéball and released his partner, an Arcanine as the rookie released a Machop.

"Water Gun on the dog!" Coral called out as she looked at her sister. "What do we do?"

"Get in there with Razor Shell!" Tidera ordered. "We fall back and recall them!"

As Tidera's Barbaracle shot at Machop and when it was close to the Fighting-type it swung out with its right arm as its claws started to glow and water shot from the river and made the blade claw attack long, Machop barely dodged it as Coral's Barbaracle shot a spiral stream of water at Arcanine that swelled to the size of Arcanine's body, hitting and sending the Fire-type back and slammed into the patrol car, breaking the glass as the Pokémon hit it. As the rookie looked on in shock the older man went still before he suddenly gritted his teeth and stared at them as he spasmed his arm and a dagger slipped into his hand discreetly.

"So you two are some of those witches." He growled softly causing the rookie to look at him, confused by what he had heard.

"Partner?" the Rookie asked but he was ignored and his senor kept his eyes on the two teens.

"We're taking these two out partner, this is what we've trained for! Go, active Boiler with slash and help the pup!" The older man said.

"Arcanine!" Arcanine roared as it shot off the car and breathed a blast of fire that it charged into, causing the fire to cling to its body as it charged at Tidera's Barbaracle. Before it could reacted Arcanine slashed with its claws and flames trailed behind it,

"What in the name of the waters?!" Coral stammered and this caused the older man to throw his dagger at her but she dodged it. "HEY!"

"Don't you dare you witch!

I was right, you are connected to those scum!" The older man said with a snarl. "I've hunted you bitches for over sixteen years, I don't know what but after all this time I will have answers!"

Tidera looked at him and moved away and grabbed her sister. "Barbaracles, united and form Protect Wall! We're leaving!"

The two Barbaracles moved backwards and formed a shield in front of their trainer's moments before the cabin exploded, sending the officers and their Pokémon to the floor with ringing ears.

As he tried to get his senses back to normal he saw the two teens running towards a group of trees.

As he got back to his feet he saw the flames covering his Arcanine die down as it get up and move stumbling towards him, as it reached him he leaned on it. "Thanks partner, but we've gotta get moving. If they…the river. Their going for the river!"

As the Rookie got back to his feet he saw his partner and his Pokémon move purposely towards the trees and he went to his Pokémon as it got up and cooed at him. "Good to see you in one piece, but we gotta move!"

As the two of them moved after their partners they reached them after a few moments, both of them looking towards a river bend and cursing. "By Arceus, this is just great. I had that slime ball in interrogation two months ago! If I had pushed harder then maybe I would have had something! Wait, the camera's in the car, it had to have seen what happened before

"Partner what was that, you threw a dagger at a suspect?! And the way you reacted, who were they?" The rookie demanded and the older man looked at him.

"That rookie was an old nightmare of mine that a lot of people didn't think was real." His senor said as he turned around and moved back towards where the cabin had been. "The dead idiot had to have had something or they thought he did, we have to head back, I'll ride to town and you police the site, or if we're lucky the radio still works so we can call for help."

"It's gonna take hours for that partner, and if they come back they'll beat me. How about we see if I can't get the radio working in the car at least first?" The younger officer suggested and the older man looked down the river over his shoulder and nodded.

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Farther down the river past the turn, the two teens were riding two dark grey arachnoid Pokémon with a water bubble around their heads and a light green spinneret at the end of their bodies. They had six light green legs with opaque bubbles around the joints and the tips were dark gray. Their heads had two blue eyes with a line down their center and three-pointed, blue bumps on top of their heads within the bubble and their mouths had four fang-like projections on the underside of their heads. Each of the two Pokémon were wearing a saddle that let the teens riding them lay their bodies down and grip a handlebar as their Pokémon jetted along the water, a blue gemstone on the saddles glowing softly between the handlebars.

Tidera looked over her shoulder before turning to her sister. "Tell me that he didn't know about us sister, please!"

"I know sister, this doesn't make sense!" Coral said as she kept her eyes on the river. I don't get it, I've looked over the reports on the cities near Home and there hasn't ever been a single indication that someone knows about us! The way he was talking he's been looking into us for years! I have to tell the matriarch about this! She thought as their Araquanid's carried the two of them along the river and she forced herself not to think about it. "For now we continue our mission and hunt down our target! We just have to get back the other way when this is over!"

"Yeah, if someone is watching for us we have to send all our agents in that city to the depths, we can't leave any links to our home! But who or what killed him?" Tidera asked and Coral shook her head

"Him…, oh that agent. I don't know, but if the local lawkeepers came to look over his home then maybe it's a good thing we destroyed it, if he produced anything about us!" Coral said and Tidera shuddered.

"For now we think that nothing can find our home, so let's do our mission and tell the lady about it!" Tidera said as they rode their Pokémon along the river, hoping to find an out of the way town finish setting up their covers and to buy food and sell a few items to finance their hunt for Nimue.

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Nick blinked as he slowly came back to consciousness as he tried to figure out where he was. what happened to me, I don't….wait ... Holly, ISA! His eyes snapped open as he remembered what had happened at the ruins and what he had realized about the body he had been controlling. Looking around he saw he was in a glass tube filled with a strange blue liquid and he had on a face mask that let him breathe. Looking down he saw he was in a green bodysuit of some kind as he moved his arms he clenched his fists and started to pound against the glass as he struggled to get free. As he struggled he started to feel sluggish and tired, something was whispering to him, telling him to surrender and sleep, maybe his friends would come and join the Team, be enlightened and become Knights and Ladies. As the whispers came into his brain Nick went still before his eyes narrowed and he started to thrash around, a red glow starting to form around him before, growing brighter as seconds flew by.

"Not…..while I…..draw BREATH!" Nick bellowed out into the liquid as a force within him woke up and suddenly a flash of flames exploded from his body and the tube broke as he fell to the ground with the liquid spilling out. As he lay he suddenly found it harder to breathe but he tore away the face mask and started to breathe better and shakily got back to his feet.

As his vision cleared he found he was in a chamber with nineteen more of the tubes and against the far wall in front of him was a door and to his right were lockers with numbers on them. Looking around he saw a number '5' on the tube he had been in and moved the number '5' locker and saw his supplies and his two weapons, a sword that he had gotten before he had set out on the Quest that had led him here and an old dagger his grandfather had given him when he had become a trainer. As he swiftly put his old clothing on he looked around the room and saw that five of the pillars had people in them and swore as he tried to figure out what to do.

What was that….wait that was Aura energy, people can use Aura like Pokémon… of course a lot of the people here can… where am I, okay Victor said that the tunnel was going to be in the bottom level so maybe I can find a way down and…..where is he, where's his 'ball and the fruit!? Nick thought as he looked through the locker to find his partner's Pokéball and sighed when he found it before gasping as he saw it was empty and held his head as memories caused him to frown. Taking out a red gemstone on a bracelet he rubbed it and smiled. "I hope that you are okay buddy, I could really use your help soon."

He put it on his left wrist and turned towards the door, never noticing that the red gemstone flashed as soon as he fastened it.

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A figure within a cave with animal bones and half-eaten fruit stood up from where it had been sleeping and looked towards the cave mouth as it felt something. It got to its feet and moved towards the cave mouth, a strange feeling telling it that sooner or later it would be needed. As it got out of the cave it spread its wings, the light from the flame on its tail the only light source in the cave. It reached the cave mouth and flexed its wings and arms before roaring before taking flight, not sure where it was going but it knew that it had to help its trainer.

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Nick moved towards the door and when he saw it start to open he slipped behind a pillar and saw a person in a green robe walk into the room in a bored manner and looked at the closet tube holding a body. "Let's see, you're fine as usual. Once again I'm stuck down here doing nothing but looking over these poor souls. I mean one of the Templar could do it! but I had to lose that coin toss!"

As he along the tubes he never saw Nick move closer to him, drawing his dagger as he moved, a strange feeling that Nick felt before he broke the tube he had been imprisoned in sweeping over him and suddenly he knew what he could do with his weapons, a grin forming on his face as he moved closer.

"Let's see, so far everything is perfect, and our next customer is…!" As he stepped into the liquid he looked down and then up moments before Nick had was suddenly behind him and brought the dagger to his throat.

"You even breathe wrong to me and you're done." Nick said softly as the robed figure tensed.

"What…how are you up, did you break out on your own, but that's impossible! Just wait a seconds friend, we put you into that to heal you. I know from my own experience that the first hour or so you're out your memories are a little jarring but please trust me when I say that we just want to help you!" The figure went silent as Nick brought the dagger closer to the figure's neck and drew a line of blood.

"You can waste my time or you can tell me this, how high up are we in the mountain, how close is the way up and out?" Nick asked and the figure tensed as he tried to turn and look at him.

"You remember what your clone did, how!? I this isn't how it's supposed to be!" The figure stammered and Nick only growled and looked at him.

"That doesn't matter, tell me how to get out of here and maybe I won't kill you." Nick said and the figure stayed silent. "Well!?"

"You can't get out, if I can talk with our master then I can probably give you better accommodations, you could become a leader of the Team! How about it?" The figure said as Nick stayed silent. Of course your just a slave, once I get an opening I'll knock you out and when we dissect your memories we'll know how you got out and how to make sure it doesn't happen again! The figure thought before Nick continued.

"I was captured with a fruit, where is it, it was shaped like a pyramid so where?" Nick asked with a growl.

"The Decade Fruit, we used it a few days after you were captured." The figure said and Nick growled and the figure paled. "But we recently found an Orchid of them and brought back twenty, I know three of them were used already and the rest are down the hall to the right in the third door, fifth basket second row."

"Good, now the way up?" Nick asked and the figure tensed. "Tell me."

"Go back from the door with the fruit and you can make it to a stairway up to the servant's tunnels and after that follow the markings that looked like a tree to get out." The figure said and fought down a grin.

Nick looked at him and felt that he was telling the truth and nodded. Bringing his dagger away he brought its hilt down onto the figure's head and soon undressed the body and tied him up with some rope he had and moved away into the complex after slipping the robe on. Stopping by the doorway he was told about he went into a room full of fruits and berries. Moving towards the place he was told he found over fifteen of the Decade fruits and put all of them into his backpack and grabbed a few barriers before moving away from the room, hoping he would find the way to the waterfall. As he moved through the complex he came across a few people here and there who went about their tasks and he kept his head down and moved like he was sure of where he was going. After a while, he started to hear a roar behind him and knew that they had found out that he had escaped.

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"What do you mean someone escaped from the pillars?" The Chancellor demanded from the Templar who bowed before him and the Queen. "How did, no that's not important! Who is it?"

"The records show it was the one named Nicholas sire, the one who led the crusade against the wood Homunculi." The Templar reported and the Chancellor stared at him in shock before scowling.

"So that one is loose, well that's not so bad. He's probably confused about where he is, if we can capture him before anyone else can find him then this won't be a total mess." The Chancellor said and then turned to his young queen as she made a flower crown. "My lady, don't worry about this. Once we capture him then he'll be put back into a tube and that well be that."

"My lord, there is a problem. From what the Artesian said he remembered what his body learned." The Templar said and the Chancellor stared and the Queen's hands stopped moving and she looked up as well.

"What, but that's impossible!" The Chancellor said and he swallowed as he felt the Queen's eyes on him.

"Indeed my Chancellor. The way that we did this scheme was so that we could create a force that would not weaken; a force to whip clean our home shores of all others." The Queen said with a hard voice that didn't match her young body. "An army that wouldn't age, a force that could be respawned and powered by those in such chambers, chambers that you told me that no one could break out of once they were in them."

"My Queen, please. Once we have him I will study him and find out what has caused this error." The Chancellor said and swallowed. The mixture is supposed to keep them asleep within them, what could have allowed him to stay awake? Once I find him I'll find out if I have to kill him to do so. He thought as he went over what he could do. "Give me but the day my Queen. Once I can gather the others within the base I will have him in our hands. Perhaps the other knights and factions within the team"

"Do not Chancellor. What must be done first is that his leader…..Good Sylvestre I believe….. and his forces and those of his rival do not meet our escapee." The Queen said and the Chancellor swallowed as he saw the look in her eyes. "I want them sent out and only our Templar to find him. Once he is caught I want him brought to me, I will blank his mind so you can get him back into another tube, one of the isolation ones."

"But surely such a one as this would be a most powerful fighter my lady!" The Chancellor protested but she raised her right hand and a pink ball of energy formed on it. "My Queen!"

"We cannot take the chance that he can escape from whatever you put him in, this way we can still have a use for him. you will tell the others who search for him that he has been driving mad, this way no one will believe what they hear." The Queen said with a hard edge to her voice as she looked at him. "This is my command Chancellor, do not forget what you owe me."

"Of course my queen, I will go and make sure that your orders are carried out." The Chancellor said as he bowed and moved towards the door. How could that figurehead give orders I haven't talked to her about, I don't like this. Wait maybe this is because of what happened, yes it's probably an old order I gave her and forgot about, that has to be it. He thought as he walked out of the room and the doors closed behind him. After he departed the Queen looked at the sole remaining Templar and nodded.

"You are to go to the Factory and order our attack on Pallet is moved up, once the last of the larger Carriers are ready I will choose those who will carry out my will." The Queen ordered and the Templar nodded. I wonder how that fool will justify my actions; there is no fool like a fool who thinks he's in control. She thought as she looked around her court and nodded towards the eye tentacle that waved at her. "Don't worry, if that one goes and checks on my sister then all that will do is show that everything is normal, he'll never know the truth about us."

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Nick moved through the tunnels and looked around, hoping to find any clue to how he could get to the escape tunnel, hoping that it was finished by now.

"Hey!" A voice caused him to turn and see two other robed figures coming towards him and he moved his hand closer to his dagger. "Didn't you get the news, someone psycho broke out and we need to find him. They say he's going for the main entrance!"

"My apologies, I heard about that and thought he might be going for the new escape tunnel and well." Nick said as he lied through his teeth and the other looked at him funny.

"Escape Tunnel? Oh, you must mean the ambush tunnel." One of them said as the other looked at his comrade and frowned.

"I thought it was the evacuation tunnel?" The other one said and the first scowled at him.

"No, it's for ambushing people who attack us, get them from behind." The first said with a growl and nodded at Nick. "Smart thinking brother, we've been instructed to search but let's go there and one of us can guard that exit and then catch him between us all."

"My idea, I'll do it but I'm a bit turned around, I can't focus I'm sorry to say. My work is on usually other levels." Nick said and the second laughed as the first led the way.

"You're lucky then friend, the two of us are down here most of the time." The second said as they walked through the tunnels and came across a natural tunnel. "Say what got you down here anyway?"

"Lost a coin toss…. I don't want to talk about it." Nick said as the second one laughed and shook his head.

"Never gamble with duties my brother, that's what's got the two of us stuck here for a month." The first said looked around. "We'll head back and see if he's down any of the other tunnels, good luck and call out if he comes towards you and remember; he's mad." The First said and the two others moved off. Nick waited until they were out of sight before he turned and ran down the tunnel.

"What do you mean, you found someone who said he was down here because of a coin toss?!" a man in a blanket asked the two people Nick had been talking to, five Templars standing guard behind him as he glared at them.

"I mean we ran into him a while we were looking for the escapee. He seemed to be on the level and he had a good idea, so the escapee might have found a way to the new tunnel. So what if he was down here because of a gamble with about duties?" One of the two said and the man in the blanket went red before he exploded.

"Because I said that before that mad man knocked me out and stole my robe, that has to be who it is!

Go, go!" The man spat at the Templar, two of them running after him and another two running towards the stairs, the last one staying with the other three.

"Why didn't you stop him then!?" The man in the blanket demanded as he held it closed as he stood glaring at them.

"He didn't seem to be too bad, a little nervous but we all were." The second of the two men said and the man with the blanket looked at them a look of pity.

"Well that escapee could hurt a lot of people, he's mad! It's the result of an attack one of those things did to him before they were driven back." The man in the blanket said and sighed. Okay then he didn't say anything, good. If we can catch him before he gets to anyone who shouldn't know then this whole situation will just be something to laugh about. He thought as he looked at the two others as the Templar behind him loomed over him and he smirked as he saw them sweet.

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Nick ran down the tunnel and frowned as he reached a T intersection and looked down the right tunnel and saw it slop downward, he brought his right hand to the tunnel wall and felt soft dirt and realized that this was man-made. What is this, I thought we were on the bottom floor, why is it going down even more? I mean if they made this tunnel to escape in, but if they didn't! If they found the cave that was behind the waterfall by accident while they were making this tunnel then maybe that's why they said it was for ambushing in case of attacks, but why are they making it then? What are they planning? Nick thought as he stood there, and looked the other way, smelling a hint of water coming from that direction. "That has to be the way out, but do I dare…no that's how I got caught by those guys."

As Nick tried to figure out what to do he heard the sounds of pursuit from the complex and made a choice, running towards the water smell. As he ran he looked back towards the complex and saw two Templars coming towards him and he moved faster, hoping to get away and that the others understood what he had told them.

"THERE HE IS, DON'T LET HIM GO!" A voice behind him spurred him to try and go faster, that strange feeling that he had felt since waking up was stronger again and he felt himself moving faster. How am I doing this, I mean I feel okay but this is better than I thought I could do! Nick thought as he ran down the cave, the sounds of the waterfall ahead his only sign that he was on the right track.

"SHIT HE'S ACTIVE, POUR IT ON!" Behind him the voices caused him to grit his teeth and move faster, hoping that he would be able to get out okay. As he reached and jumped through the waterfall he saw the sun setting and he landed on a rock and move to the left bank and turned, drawing his sword as he stood there waiting. As the two Templars moved out of the cave with their weapons drawn he gritted his teeth as he watched them.

"If you think I'll be tricked like I was last time, think again!" Nick said with a growl and the two Templars nodded.

"We figured out when we talked to the artesian who's robe you stole. But just give up." One of the Templars said as the other moved to the side and seemed to be lining up a shot with his weapon. "We just have to hold you until the others get here, do you really think you'll get away?"

Before Nick could reply the other Templar fired a blast of pink energy at Nick with his halberd. Nick dodged to the right and then the first Templar charged at him and slammed down with its halberd's blunt side. Nick dodged and slashed off the arm, the shoulder pouring out a blue liquid that slowly stopped flowing as the wound closed up, the liquid flowing downstream and Nick stared at the Templar in confusion that slowly became understanding.

"So you Templar are the same as that false body of mine, but you know what you are, don't you?" Nick said as the armless Templar picked up his weapon as the other one spun its blade around and looked at him. Nick spared a glance at the cut arm and saw it was still solid and cursed as he figured out that it could be reattached. "And I'm guessing that you all have the same alibies, any sense of pain or pleasure?"

The Templars said nothing as the maimed one shot at him and started to slash with his halberd, Nick dodged the blows and felt that strange feeling move towards his arms and he let and sliced down, a streak of fire flew from his sword and hit the maimed Templar and it released a screech as it burned to ashes. Fire, that was a Fire attack, and I did that… I might make it out of here after all! Nick thought smirk and looked at the last one who only looked at him before smiling as it looked up. Nick heard a stone falling behind him and moved his sword up so he could look over his shoulder and saw more Templars, at least then of them with what looked like twenty Knight Stalkers.

"Okay, who's first?" Nick said and the Templars are started to chuckle.

"So there's that the fire that made him more than a Footman! I think I like this one kindred!" One of the Templars said as Nick listened and moved so he could watch the ones above while using his sword to watch the one behind him. More than a Footman, so the reason I was in that room that was practically bare of people was that I wasn't one of the rank and file? What are they after, these things aren't the original Team Gaia, how did they even here, where'd they come from? Nick thought as he gripped his sword and prepared himself.

"Surrender, this is only going to go one way…!" The Templar that started to speak suddenly collapsed when an arrow hit his throat.

As two of the Knight Stalkers went still two more Templars collapsed as their heads rolled off their bodies! As four more of the Knight Stalkers stopped moving suddenly Chogan appeared from nowhere amongst them and started to spin his sickles as they drew back.

"Sorry, but a friend of mine was kidnapped, you wouldn't know who did that would you all?" Chogan asked with a growl as a Zoroark and a biped light blue frog-like Pokémon appeared at his side. The frog Pokémon had a light blue body with dark blue marking covers its head and forms a three-pointed mark down its upper back. Its eyes protrude slightly from the top of its head and each has a backward-facing spike above it, the eyes themselves had yellow sclerae, black irises, and white pupils. It has a white bubble scarf, dark blue hands and circular toes, and white circular fingers. "Because me, Zoroark and Frogadier really want to know who took him!"

"Get away from my brother!" A voice behind him caused him to turn and see Holly slice the head off the Templar behind him.

"Get them!" A Templar roared and as two of the remaining Templars charged at Chogan with two golems each attacking his Pokémon as the other charged at Holly and Nick. As arrows starred to hit them a war cry caused Nick to smile as Franz and Chesnaught charged along the river shore towards them. Nick charged forward with Holly behind him and as they reached the Templars Franz and Chesnaught bulldozed their way towards them.

"Hey Flareblood, have a nice vacation?" Franz asked as he slashed at a Templar who blocked the blow as the Chesnaught used a Knight Stalker as a club on another golem.

"Not too bad, meet some people who wanted me to join this club, wouldn't take no for an answer, real geeks man." Nick said as he cut the head of a Templar and two Golems stopped moving. As arrows flew at the Templar and the golems stopped moving after a few minutes the battle was done, decomposing Templar bodies and Knight Stalkers standing as the trainers panted and Nick looked at his friend.

"Nick!" Isa's voice caused Nick's heart to skip a beat and he looked up at the opposite side of the river and saw her looking down with Leaf, her Dodrio and Kimi next to her. The girls went down the bank Isa charged at him, grabbing him in a hug as she reached him as the others gathered around him, crying into his shoulder. "You were gone so long, we thought you were dead, then those wood things attacked and I….. I was so worried."

"Yeah bro, we were getting worried, what happened?" Holly said and Nick sighed.

"It's a long story sis, wait Grandma, is she still hanging on?!" Nick asked and Leaf nodded.

"Yeah, she's weak but I've been able to treat her, she's still in danger but I was able to at least slow her deterioration down." Leaf said and Nick sighed.

"Thank you! I did it, I found the fruit gramps said would work, then those scum jumped me." Nick said as he held Kimi and they all looked at him. "But there's a lot more of those guys, we've got to get away from here before someone else gets here."

A sudden screech caused them to look up and see something flying above them. As they watched it hovered in front of the setting sun and they saw it was a seven-foot long bird made of black stone it had a normal bird head ending in a curved beak with two curved horns pointing forward and two eyes made out of yellow stones and a green gemstone set in its chest, its wings and tail had feathers of what looked like crystals and it had two short legs that ended in four talons in an X shape.

"What is that?!" Leaf asked as she moved backwards and her Dodrio growled and looked at the golem as it hovered before them. As it looked at them Leaf sensed something from it, a strange feeling that she couldn't describe beyond what she felt in a thunderstorm and being in a forest on a mountain. Nick held Kimi closer to him and looked at the construct in surprise.

"A golem, those Gaia scum all have a lot of them, but I never even heard of a flying one!" Nick said as he stared at the construct before it flew down at them and as it passed overhead they were carried backwards a foot or more as it curved around and Franz stared.

"Let's take it, with Fearow and Charizard we can ground that thing!" Franz said as he looked at Nick and frowned.

"I don't have Charizard with me." Nick said and the others stared at him. "When they caught us, when there was no way for me to get away, so I told Charizard to leave me… I guess he never came back home?"

"Then it's on us. Fearow go!" Franz called out as he threw a Pokéball. What was released was a brown avian Pokémon with a vulturine neck and broad, powerful wings and a pointed, pink beak and a decorative red coxcomb on top of its head above its narrow eyes. There were cream-colored shaggy, feathers at the base of its neck and covering the upper portion of its wings and the tips of its flight feathers are the same color. Its sharp talons are pink; with three toes pointing forward and one pointing backward. "Fearow, use Drill Rush!"

Fearow cried out and shot at the golem, its beak starting to spins like a drill. Before it could make it more than halfway the golem's horns started to glow yellow moments before a blast of electricity hit Fearow, causing it to cry out in pain as it fell from the sky.

"Fearow no!" Franz cried out.

"Frogadier, catch Fearow!" Chogan called out as he looked at the flying golem as it turned towards them.

"Froga!" Frogadier called out as it dashed towards Fearow's falling body and jumped and caught the flying type. As the others released their own Pokemon Nick wished that his partner was here. I hope you got away Charizard, I really do. Nick thought as he looked at the Golem and tried to figure out what to do next when the golem flew by overhead and beat its wings as it passed and sent four of its crystal feathers flying like missiles, each one hit a Knight Stalker and were absorbed into them. As the group watched the Knight Stalkers starting to move as their eyes glowed yellow.

"It's controlling them! Breloom let's go, start with Iron Tail. We'll hold these things off, take that thing down!" Isa called out as she released her Pokémon as she pulled her bow apart into the two swords and she charged at the Knight Stalkers as her Breloom jumped and spun, it's tail glowing silver and it hit an immobile Knight Stalker and took off its head.

"Zoroark fire Dark Pulse at the flyer!" Chogan called out as he slashed off another of the immobile Knight Stalker's head and winced as he saw the flying Golem fly higher and curve around for another run on the 'dead' golems.

"Zoroark!" Zoroark screeched as it fired a beam of purple circles at the golem as the others attacked the Knight Stalkers. The flying Golem dodged the shot and fired six more crystal feathers at the Knight Stalkers and Breloom jumped into the air and spun around its tail swung out and threw three of the feathers to the grounds before one of the yellow-eyed Knight Stalkers jumped at it and body-slammed Breloom to the ground. Before it could do more than raise one of its arms Nick was there and slashed its head off and dodged a blow from the headless body as it stroke all around it as Breloom moved away as Nick stared in shock. I thought these things died when their head was destroyed, does this mean that the ones the Templar's use are different….what are they planning, what's their end game? Nick thought as he moved out of range of the headless golem before Breloom bashed one of its legs off. As they watched it try and pull itself along the ground Nick swallowed and prepared for a harder fight then he thought it would be.

"Dodrio, fire Hyper Beam!" Leaf's voice caused Nick to turn and grin as he saw Lead ridding her Dodrio, Dodrio standing on the right ledge and it fired a Hyper Beam at the flying Golem, tearing off half of its right-wing.

"Yes, we can beat that thing!" Holly cried as they watched it crash near the Knight Stalkers until one of the yellow-eyed ones ran to the bird golem and when it reached it the bird golem lunged up and grabbed it in its right talons. As they watched the bird golem started to glow blue before its damaged wing regrew itself with a crystal-like material and screech as it took off, the Knight Stalker decomposing as it was dropped. "It can regenerate itself?! Fuck!"

"No, it can't." Nick muttered as he watched the bird golem fly above them, the winds from its wings buffering them. It needed to drain that Knight Stalker before it was able to do that, then if we can take it down and keep the 'Stalkers away from it then we have a chance, but we need something, anything to turn the tide! Maybe if I can do what I did before then maybe…. Nick thought as he gripped his sword, watching the bird golem, waiting for an opening for him to attack.

A roar sounded moments before the flying golem was engulfed in flame! It beet its wings and the flames died down and the others stared at it.

"Where'd that come from?" Holly asked and gasped. "Wait, could it have been?"

"Charizard." Nick said as he looked where the flames had come from and saw an orange draconic, bipedal Pokémon flapping its wings. It had a cream underside from the chest to the tip of its tail. It had a long neck, small blue eyes behind slightly raised nostrils, and two horn-like structures protruding from the back of its rectangular head. There were two fangs visible in the upper jaw and on its back were two large skin wings with blue-green undersides and a horn-like appendage juts out from the third joint of each wing. A single wing-finger is visible through the center of each wing membrane. Its arms were short and skinny compared to its robust belly, and each limb has three white claws. It has stocky legs with cream-colored soles on each of its plantigrade feet. The tip of its long, tapering tail burns with a sizable flame. It looked right at him and he saw a look of joy in its eyes and Nick felt tears come from his eyes.

"Charizard, Charizard!" Nick called out and his partner roared back, a feeling of election and joy that his partner was still around.

"Nick, we'll handle the rest of these things, you and your Partner handle that flying thing!" Franz called out as he sliced off another Knight Stalker's head. Nick looked at Charizard who nodded as it kept one eye on the bird golem and Nick tensed.

"Okay, let's roast this thing! Fire Flamethrower at the claws!" Nick said as he pointed at the golem with his sword.

Charizard reared its head back then it shot its head forward and fired a spiral of flame that hit the right claw and as the flame engulfed the claws and they started to turn red and started to drip apart. Nick grinned and stared at the golem as it flew down above the river and then flew along the waterfall, steam coming as it used the water to cool down and save its remaining claw.

Leaf watched as the Golem flew back around as Charizard flew after it. How did it know to do that, how smart are these things? No, could it know how to do that, wait is someone controlling it, where are they…..the eyes maybe it's like a drone? Leaf thought as she looked around, trying to find anyone and swallowed as she saw lights farther away near the mountain, and if they weren't coming towards them. "Guys, we gotta go now! Others are coming!"

"Charizard, let's finish this! Use Dragon…whoa." Nick trailed off as he watched. Charizard had opened its mouth and formed a multi-colored energy orb, then the orb shot at the flying golem and then the orb became a dragon-shaped energy beam that hit the flying golem and exploded. Everyone was blinded and as their eyesight came back they heard the sound of a splash. Once their eyesight came back they saw a wing of the flying golem sticking out of the water and Nick stared at Charizard as it landed before him and grinned. "When'd you learn Dragon Pulse?"

Charizard looked smug before Leaf whistled. Looking up they saw her climb onto her Dodrio and look down at them. "We gotta go now, I can see fires coming closer!"

"Come on, there's that old place a few miles from here that we can hide from them, it's a small cave set in small hill pointing towards Viridian. Follow me!" Chogan said as he got onto his Mightyena and it bounded away out of the river valley.

Nick got onto Charizard as the others followed after Chogan. Before he took off he looked at the fires and for a second felt a strange twinge; Sylvestre and Dante had tried to teach someone who they had thought was both younger and not as strong how to stand on his own, and they weren't scum.

"Come on Bro, I don't want to have to save your ass again!" Holly called out from atop her Druddigon.

"Let's fly partner!" Nick said and Charizard roared and took off. As his partner carried him away he looked over his shoulder at the light source as it got closer to the waterfall. Sorry you boss, but I don't know what they'll tell you what happened to me but it was something. Hope you and the big guy are as in the dark as the others, maybe we'll see each other again someday. Nick thought as Charizard carried him after their friends and family.