And here's the next chapter, kinda like a double feature since it's been a while.

Enjoy!~

*"bars" will be separating different scenes.

Disclaimer: I do not own pokemon and its characters, it all belongs to its respected owners. The only characters I own are Stephanie and others that will appear in the story.

The Hoenn Legend

Misty heart was still racing from her terrifying ordeal of a dream. She pushed away the top half of her sleeping bag and crawled to Stephanie. Once she got to her side she sat on her knees and waited a moment.

She was hesitant. But why? This was her best friend, even if what Shitenshi said was true she had to trust her, even if what she was ready to encounter was something unimaginable.

Stephanie moved slightly in her sleep making Misty keep stiff, but her body fell limp again. Misty shook away her sudden shyness and tapped her friend softly.

"Stephanie." She whispered.

However from the soft tap Stephanie did not budge. Misty repeated again as she shook her shoulder again with a little more force.

"Stephanie get up, I need to talk to you." She whispered again.

Again Stephanie didn't move, but in response she muffled out an annoyed moan and turned to her side covering her head with the top of her sleeping bag. She then mumbled something from under the covers that Misty could not hear.

Stephanie was always difficult when it came to getting up at anytime of the day. This brought back memories of when she and Misty use to have plans for early morning but she would still be sound asleep in her bed. And then on top of everything she was not a morning person.

Misty wasn't going to deal with her old habits when she has more important things on her hands.

Well I guess it's time for the old wake up routine, she thought to herself.

Feeling for her shoulders from the top of her sleeping bag, she grabbed her and made sure she had a good grip. Then she started to shake her rapidly!

Stephanie was suddenly up from the shaking as she jumped up crying out, "What!- What!-What!"

But before Stephanie could make any more noise Misty quickly covered her mouth with her hand. Misty sighed as she looked back to see if Ash or Brock woke from the sudden noise, thankfully they were both still sound asleep.

She turned back to Stephanie to see that her eyes narrowed in annoyance. She mumbled something under her hand as Misty motioned her to talk more quietly.

As Misty took her hand away Stephanie yelled in a whisper, "What the heck is it? It's the middle of the night!"

Misty responded the same, "I need to talk to you."

"Now?" Stephanie said rubbing her head.

"Stephanie it's very important, I'm serious." Misty answered strictly.

Stephanie looked at her friend as she heard the sudden change in voice, she was serious. She tossed aside her tiredness and was now alert for anything, more importantly for what Misty wanted to talk about.

The two decided to take a small walk from camp so they can have some more freedom of not speaking in a whisper. They both sat at the foot of the lake as Misty pulled her knees into her chest, she explained everything that happened in her dream. From waking up in the garden, her sudden change in clothing, and what Shitenshi explained to her.

When she got to the part to where the man was about to kill her she started to get upset again, Stephanie brought herself closer to console Misty as she wrapped her arm around her shoulder.

Once she finished they sat in silence for a moment. Stephanie looked out to the lake as the moon reflected off the water to brighten the area with its pale white light, soft ripples in the water bounced off the lake edge as Stephanie looked back towards Misty.

She finally spoke softly, "Stephanie I don't understand, I've never had a dream like that before, never in my life."

"That is very…strange." Stephanie managed to say. "Can you tell me more about the girl that you meet."

"Shitenshi was a protector of a village and a assistant for the royal family. I mean she was calling me a princess for crying out loud." Misty managed a small chuckle, "It was so weird…but she did protect me like she said she was suppose to."

"If she was able to beat that man the way she did then I think she was a good person." Stephanie smiled softly.

"She was…" Misty's voice faded.

Stephanie sensed that there was something she was not telling her. But in the back of her mind she tried and put the pieces together to see if anything that she encountered in her dream similar to her own, but none of it was. She would often be near the ocean or engulfed in water, but Misty was in a garden and being called a princess? If it was confusing for her she could imagine how it was for Misty.

Then again, Shitenshi did tell her of the sages and their important roles, so maybe it was the same somehow.

"There was something else." Misty said again.

"What happened?" Stephanie asked.

"It was someone, remember when I said that Shitenshi brought me to the front gates and there was a girl there…"

"Yeah." Stephanie said as she nodded her head.

"The girl, she was….you." Misty whispered.

Stephanie was brought back from what Misty just said as her eyes widened in shock. She tried to answer right away but couldn't think of any words.

Was it because she is linked to the legend as well as I am? She thought through her mind.

"Me? How?" Stephanie tried to act oblivious to what she was being told.

Misty frowned, "It was you. Stephanie you're not telling something. Shitenshi also told me with the roles of the sages that she was one of them and that one was with me now, it can't be Ash or Brock so it has to be you!"

Stephanie waved her hands as she tried to calm Misty down, "Ok, ok, I can explain everything."

"Stephanie why didn't you just tell me from the beginning. You knew everything from the moment I started to talk about my dream didn't you?" Misty said with some frustration.

"Well not everything…" Stephanie said as she scratched the back of her head.

"I'm serious! How are you a sage and part of this ancient Hoenn?" Misty stopped herself from raising her voice even more.

"Shh, try to keep it down I think you're getting a bit too loud." Stephanie said as she looked back towards camp.

"I will get even more loud if you don't start to explain things to me." Misty said as crossed her arms.

"Alright, alright." Stephanie agreed quickly.

Stephanie knew Misty would keep her word so of course she had to agree, but how would she start explaining things to her. Even though she did understand the legend a little more then when she first encountered everything, she was still not comfortable with explaining things.

"Explain to me," Misty said again, this time her voice more calm, "I'm getting more and more confused and I don't even have the entire story."

"I will." Stephanie said. "But you have to bear with me because I'm just following what a historian was able to tell me."

"Ok then." Misty answered.

Stephanie took a quick breath as she started, "He explained to me that the time in which this legend took place was centuries ago. Back then Hoenn of course was a completely different world, along with humans and pokemon, some ancient writings even claim that there were people that held mystical powers, to the point that they had pokemon features. Along with that there were also demons that roamed the land that made Hoenn a dangerous place.

"Then one day a evil lord heard of the Hoenn region and wanted to over throw the power of the anarchy and claim the land as his own. As he became more powerful he started to threaten the region sending out his army to destroy and kill anything in its path – and they did.

"However before the evil lord even came into the region, the princess before the one mentioned in the legend, summoned help from the heavens and selected the chosen six that would become the sages. Each possessing the natural power of water, light, fire, earth, darkness, and spirit.

"As the legend goes, once the sages were at full power they brought down the evil lord and helped seal him away with the help of the princess. Once the battle was finished, as a show of gratitude Groudon, Kyogere, and Raquazza - the three pokemon that help create the Hoenn region, and are greatly respected in the legend – appeared and combined their powers into one object named the Pokeforce.

"The Pokeforce is said to be the most powerful spiritual object in the world. It has the combined power of the three legendary pokemon and if a human was to gain even one of the pieces they can become very powerful, however if they were to take hold of all three, they would become unstoppable.

"As far as the legend goes it just finished with the sages defeating the evil lord. However that's when the prophecy comes in, it says that the evil lord will resurface again and try and claim the Pokeforce as his own and the help of the six sages and three others will be needed. The princess will be guided by the six sages as then two will become one. That part I'm not really sure of, but that's what I was able to understand so far."

"Wow, that is complicated." Misty said as she tried to absorb everything that was just said to her.

"Yeah I know." Stephanie chuckled softly, "But if everything is true, I think that's when you and me come in."

"You and me?" Misty questioned.

"I think what you saw was a vision. I've been having weird and complicated dreams just like you had, but mine were of course different. One dream I could be walking on a beach towards a open village, and then the next I can be underwater breathing like its fresh air." Stephanie said.

"Yup that is completely different." Misty giggled softly.

"Tell me about it." Stephanie laughed slightly as well.

There was a small pause as a soft breeze past through the two, Misty looked up to the stars as she started again.

"For some reason, this reminds me of the time during the orange islands."

Stephanie tilted her head, "The orange islands?"

Misty looked at her from the corner of her eye before she faced her again, "Didn't you hear about it? It happened a couple of years ago, the weather everywhere started to change dramatically and pokemon from all around started to gather. It was because of a battle between Moltres, Zapdos, and Articuno."

Stephanie nodded her head as she started to remember, "Oh yeah, I remember now, Squirtle and the others were acting very strange to the point it was starting to worry me, I guess it was connected to that."

"I was traveling with Ash and another friend at the time and he was chosen for a ceremony for a festival that happened every few years. Nothing happened in the past years because it was only a traditional festival for the island and such, but it all changed on that day.

"Ash was called the chosen one and he had to collect three spheres from separate islands and bring them back to a shrine. With the help of a pokemon named Lugia he was able to complete it and it brought peace back to the three fighting pokemon." Misty finished.

"That's amazing, I never heard of that before." Stephanie said.

"I think at some point during all of that it kinda brought me and Ash a little closer," Misty fiddled with her hands, "I don't know, but I felt something." She looked towards Stephanie again, "You think I'm crazy don't you."

"Of course," Stephanie joked.

Misty playfully punched her arm as Stephanie leaned her head on her shoulder, she smirked as she poked her arm.

"I knew something was up."

Misty felt her face heat up and closed her eyes to try and control it, "Just don't tell him."

"Don't worry Misty you know your secret is safe with me." Stephanie smiled with a wink.

Misty smiled, the more she talked to Stephanie the more she feels like they never been apart for so long. But as much as Misty tried to think of the happy things, the story of the legend was still going through her mind.

"Steph, do you think….that this legend would come true like the orange islands?" Misty asked hesitantly.

"I have no clue," Stephanie said as she shook her head in defeat. "I told you all I know, but some how I think something is going to happen."

"What makes you say that?" Misty said.

"Just think about it, me and you had strange dreams that are somehow connected to one another. There are seven more people out there just like us, but I have no idea who the they are and I'm not even gonna start looking for them." Stephanie laughed slightly, she then snapped her fingers "That's right, the different tasks, each person - if they are a sage – must complete a certain task to be able to go to ancient Hoenn."

"Shitenshi said that, that's why she was able to be there." Misty said.

"Maybe it's starting – that's it, the legend must be going into effect again." Stephanie said as she sat up straight.

"But it happened so many centuries ago, how can we be in it?" Misty asked.

Stephanie didn't answer right away as she quickly, and quietly, went to her bag and took the small velvet pouch from the front pocket. She jogged softly back to Misty and sat back down next to her, she flipped her hair back as she untied the strings of the small bag.

She allowed the stone of fall into her hand as Misty looked at the stone in amazement.

"That's a beautiful stone." Misty said.

"This was the stone that started everything for me, I tripped over it and it gave me a vision, after I woke up it was near me." Stephanie explained.

The two looked at the stone as Stephanie held it with both hands. Then suddenly the core of the stone started to glow with a blue light. It got brighter as Stephanie held it in her hands.

Misty was taken back of what was happening as she asked, "What's happening?"

"This always happens when I hold it, that's how the historian was able to tell me that I was a part of all of this, it's like the stone knows the part that I have." Stephanie said.

"Unreal." Misty muttered as she looked at the stone again.

When she did Stephanie held out the stone towards her, but Misty pulled back instinctively.

"Hold it in your hands." Stephanie said.

Misty shook her head, "I don't know if I want to."

Misty was skeptical from the beginning and she didn't want anything else happening to her, even if it was just holding something, with her luck maybe something bad would come out from it.

"Don't worry it's not going to do anything to you, I promise, and if it does I wont let it hurt you." Stephanie reassured her.

Misty looked at the stone and then glanced up at Stephanie, she wouldn't let the stone hurt her? For some reason at that moment it reminded her of the dream, but as much as she saw the bad outcome of it, she still wanted to trust her.

Misty then slowly held out her hands and turned her head to the side. Stephanie placed the stone in the middle as the blue light faded once it touched Misty's hand.

The stone was surprisingly cold as Misty turned her head to look down at her hands. The stone sat perfectly in the middle as she cupped it softly, but nothing was happening.

Stephanie ruffled her hair as Misty titled her head; there was still no reaction. This has to work, Stephanie argued through her mind. If she was able to see and encounter everything that she did she has to be a part of it, I can feel it…

Then as if on cue, the core of the stone started to shine faintly. This made the two snap their eyes to the stone as the glow started to intensify. However the glow of the stone was different in color then Stephanie's, once the stone was shining brightly it gave out a dark sapphire hue.

"Stephanie, does this mean anything?" Misty finally spoke, as her eyes were still focused on the stone.

Stephanie kept her eyes on the stone as well but a smile started to grow on her face, she shook her head slightly as she smiled.

"I can't believe it, the old man was right." Stephanie said.

"He was?" Misty said.

Stephanie looked up at Misty as she nodded her head, "He said to keep on my journey and that if the prophecy was true it would lead me to the chosen three." She placed her hand over Misty's, "Misty this mean that you are just as important as I am in this, who knows who you could be in this prophecy, you need to come with me back to ancient Hoenn and help stop this evil lord that may rise again."

Misty couldn't speak she didn't know what to do. She shook her head and took her hand away from Stephanie's grasp. The stone fell on the soft grass as Stephanie could feel that something was wrong with her.

"Misty?" She asked in a worried tone.

Misty shook her head again as she held her arms together, "I can't do this…I'm never the one chosen for anything, Ash is always playing the important role not me!"

Stephanie leaned forwards and placed her hand on Misty's shoulder, "But Misty this can be your chance to make a difference, not everything is going to go to one person, you can do something important for a change, don't you want that?"

Misty sighed as she lowered her head, "But why me?"

"I can't say, it's like me asking why I was suddenly chosen to become this sage. I didn't ask for this Misty and I know you didn't either, I know it scares you and to tell you the truth it scares me too."

Misty looked up at Stephanie, as her face was calm. She realized that Stephanie was in the same position as she was, but it never accorded to her that she would feel scared for any reason. She was always the type of person to put her friends before herself, the same with her emotions. But at that moment she could tell that she was feeling the same as she did, everything that was suddenly happening to her, it was affecting her the exact way.

She had to agree, but something crossed her mind, "What about Ash and Brock? I can't just leave them behind and go with you without explaining things to them."

"True," Stephanie said as she brought her hand to her face. "Maybe we can think of an excuse that is good enough…"

"I want to tell them the truth." Misty said.

This brought Stephanie out from her thought, "Are you sure?"

"Ash and Brock are two really close friends, almost like you and me. So if I'm going to do something and go somewhere I want them to know, because I know they would be worried about me…" Misty explained.

Stephanie smiled softly, "Ok then, it's going to be kinda hard but I think we can manage."

"Thanks Steph." Misty smiled.

As Stephanie picked up the stone an idea suddenly struck her, "Wait a sec, what if we test them too like I did with you." She suggested.

"I don't know…" Misty said hesitantly.

"Let's just try it, it wont hurt them. It's just going to be the same process as you, just to let them hold the stone." Stephanie explained.

Misty gave in. "Alright then."

"Great." Stephanie said as she placed the stone back inside its small pouch. "I think its better off to tell them in the morning, something like this we need them both to be alert."

"Yeah." Misty agreed.

Stephanie got up from the ground and held her hand out to help Misty up. She took her hand and nodded her head to thank her. Stephanie yawned into her hand as she held the pouch in her other.

Misty stopped before they reached closer to camp Stephanie saw this in the corner of her eye and turned back to her friend.

"Stephanie, if this man really comes back and gets his hands on the Pokeforce, is this region going to change?" Misty wondered.

Stephanie thought for a moment but then shook her head in defeat, "I have no idea, but if something does happen in the past it does affect our future…"

"Ok, I was just…" But Misty's voice faded as she began to walk again.

Stephanie wanted to say something to make her feel better, but at the moment she couldn't think of anything. She sighed mentally as she finally reached her sleeping bag.

She plopped herself to the ground making Misty smiled slightly. Stephanie winked as she slipped herself underneath the covers, as she fixed the top she saw Misty rub her neck slightly and then laid down.

Stephanie laid on her back to look up at the sky, inside she was ecstatic that she finally found someone else that was connected to this legend as she was, and even better that she was able to find one so quickly.

But what about the remaining two? For her sake she thought maybe it was best if Ash and Brock were involved as well, it would save her the trip of trying to find two more strangers. It would be like trying to find two needles in a very large haystack.

"Well, I guess we need to find out somehow." She said softly as she turned to her side and continued her much needed rest.

The bright sun was starting to peek from behind the forest as Pikachu twitched its ears and opened its eyes slowly. It stretched out on all four legs and then shook off its fur as it stood up to see Stephanie over the small campfire.

Pikachu walked up to Stephanie slowly and greeted her. Stephanie looked down to see the small mouse pokemon and smiled.

"Hey there Pikachu, I guess you smelled the food?" She laughed softly.

"Pikachu, pi." It replied.

It was then Ash pushed himself up from his sleeping bag and rub his eyes from his sleep. He looked around him and then towards Stephanie and Pikachu.

"Mornin' Ash." Stephanie said as she waved the spatula that was in her hand.

"Morning Stephanie." He replied as he stretched out his arms. "The food smells great."

"Just so happens I had enough to make my famous cheesy omelet." Stephanie grinned as she checked on eggs that were cooking, "It's almost done."

"Ok." Ash said as he got up from his sleeping bag.

Stephanie saw that the eggs were still cooking and decided to get up and stretch her legs, even from all her time traveling she had some trouble with cooking over a open flame, well the position that she had to be in to cook over it.

She arched her back as she saw Brock was starting to wake up as well, but as she turned to Misty she saw that she was still asleep. Stephanie bent down and to check that everything was still cooking evenly and then tiptoed towards Misty.

She knelled down beside her as she tilted her head, she could tell that Misty was still in her deep sleep. A wide grin appeared on her face as she thought of waking her up just like old times. Then again it would seem like a little bit of revenge, seeing that Misty did it to her during the middle of the night.

Stephanie leaned in closer to Misty's face and poked her softly.

"Hey…" She said as she waited a moment and poked her again. "Hey…" She repeated as she tried to contain her sudden urge of laughing.

Misty scrunched her eyebrows and moved her head in annoyance, but she still kept her eyes closed. Stephanie continued to poke her as Misty was finally starting to wake up.

"What?" Misty mumbled as she pulled the covers over her head.

"C'mon, wake up." Stephanie whispered as she continued to poke her.

"Steph stop poking me!" Misty grumbled from under the covers.

"No." Stephanie answered as she poked her more, "You're pokeable." It was then she poked Misty in a spot that made her jump suddenly.

Stephanie laughed, "I still know where your ticklish spot is." She said through her laugh.

Misty threw the cover from over her and started to push Stephanie's hands away.

"Stop it!" Misty yelled out, she then stopped as she sniffed the air, "What's burning?"

Stephanie froze and turned her head quickly back towards the fire, "Oh crap the breakfast!" She said as she stumbled to get up from the ground towards the now burning food.

Misty shook her head, "She seriously hasn't changed."

After the four got ready for the new day they all sat around to eat breakfast. Stephanie tried to play off that didn't mind eating burned food, so she decided to take. It wasn't all that bad - even though she was making faces as she ate it.

Ash and Brock laughed it off as Stephanie scratched the back of her head. Misty smiled as well but as much as she wanted to enjoy it the only thing that was on her mind was the conversation that she was Stephanie had.

She tried to play it off for the time being, she knew that her sudden change in her mood would spark off questions from Ash and Brock.

It was not long until the four were finished with their meal. Stephanie volunteered to gather and clean the plates as the others started to pack their bags and clean up the area.

Misty had just finished packing her bag again when she saw Stephanie handing over the now clean plates. Stephanie smiled as she then looked over to Misty, she nodded her head softly almost like telling her silently that it was ok to talk.

She had to get it over with. She walked up to Ash and Brock and just started to speak.

"Ash, Brock, I need to tell you something." She started.

"Yeah Misty?" Ash said.

She didn't say right away after that as she thought of a way to start the conversation. She shook her sudden shyness and looked at the two again.

"There's somewhere I need to go with Stephanie." Misty said.

"Really?" Brock said.

"But it's hard to explain…" She mumbled as she thought of something else, she could tell that she as being fidgety with her words and it was probably making Ash and Brock wonder. So she thought of another excuse.

"I'm going to go with Stephanie on another journey…" Misty finally said.

Brock nodded his head as he took in what she said, however Ash looked at her questioned.

"So fast? I mean I thought you were gonna stay with us." Ash said.

When Misty heard Ash's reply it suddenly hit her, he wanted her to stay with him. I'm such an idiot! She screamed in her mind. She held her head as she mentally punished herself. Stephanie knew she was in a tough situation and took over.

"I think I can try and clear this up a bit." Stephanie said as she waved in.

Misty looked at Stephanie from the corner of her eye as she shrugged her shoulders in defeat. It was better for Stephanie to tell them from the start.

"Let's see how I can put this," Stephanie said as she held her face in thought, "Let's say there was a story about something that happened here in this region and there were certain people that had to come and join in helping."

"Like a movie?" Was Ash's only answer.

Stephanie laughed slightly, "Well you can see like that," She sat down on the log behind her and crossed her arms. "I think you guys wanna get comfortable for this one…"

Next time on Saving Hoenn: Legend of the Pokeforce

"Wow, that was…interesting." Ash said.

"Told ya it was a lot." Stephanie smiled slightly.

"So what do we have to do now Stephanie?" Misty asked.

"The historian said that we have to head north to a temple, and this stone is suppose to show the way." Stephanie said.

Suddenly the stone started to shake violently and shine brightly, Stephanie held on to the stone with both hands and tried to stop it from moving, but as she did a light surrounded her and started to lift her up in the air!

"What's going on!" Stephanie yelled.

Misty grabbed on to Stephanie's waist and held on as Ash and Brock took on her legs.

"We'll get you down Stephanie!" Misty said as she pulled.

But the force was too massive as Stephanie was lifted higher and suddenly pulled into the direction of the forest.

"Don't let this thing take me!" Stephanie cried out.

"Next time, "Traveling to Another era." See ya soon...hopefully." Stephanie said.

Chapter 5 end

well that was another long one, hopefully it wasn't too confusing for some, but either way it would be more understanding as the story progresses.

So until then, please Review :)