Jasmine soon caught up to the rest of the group.

'Are you okay?' asked Dawn.

'Yeah, don't worry.' She replied quickly.

'But what about those people in black? What about them?' asked Ash.

'Oh, they'll be fine, just soundly sleeping for half an hour. We should be okay until then.' Jasmine stated.

'Okay, you've got to tell me what's going on. What's happening?' said Ash.

'Not here, we'll land first.' She replied.

She then proceeded to lead the group over the sea to a fairly wooded area, far away from Iron Island and the danger there.

They soon landed in a forest clearing, devoid of any signs of human life, pokémon hopefully the only life here.

The group immediately thanked the flying pokémon and returned them to their pokéballs. As soon as this was done, Ash brought up his question again.

'So, what is happening? What's going on?' Ash asked again.

She motioned for them all to sit, implying that it would be a long story. Soon they were all sat in a tight circle and Jasmine was ready to begin. Everyone leaned forward expectantly.

'Well, I guess to put it simply…' she trailed off, trying to think how to best put her words, 'Okay, I am an Aura Guardian.'

Everyone stared at her in a shocked silence, except Riley, who already knew.

After a few moments of this, Ash broke the silence. 'Wait! What, really?'

'Yes, I am.' Jasmine replied. 'But that's only part of it. You see, there is a whole group of Aura Guardians called the Aura Institute.'

'Okay, that I didn't know. Wait, really?' asked Riley.

'Yes.' She replied.

'So, I'm guessing you're one of them?' asked Ash.

'Again, yes.' Jasmine replied again.'

'Sooo…'

'What we do'

'Yeah.'

'Well…' Jasmine thought 'Does have fun count? Well we learn stuff, recruit people, top secret stuff, I guess? Yeah.'

' "Top secret stuff?" What's that?'

It's top secret.'

'Oh.'

'Okay, so, who are the people in black?' asked Brock.

For a moment, Brock could see her tense up. For less than a split second, her hands clenched up, her brow furrowed, her mood seemingly angry. Then, just as soon as the moment came, it left, leaving her usual unwavering self.

'Those people… they're big trouble.' She began.

The groups attention was now solely on her, eyes fixed, breath baited. She began.

'Well, there was once a time when the Aura Guardians were united, unrivalled, unchallenged. But only a few years ago, something happened, I don't know what, and A-… someone left the Institute. For a while, no one heard from him, but several months later, he approached the Institute, asking the Aura Guardians to join him cause, with the promise of a new and better world.'

The clearing was silent now, the new information sinking in slowly and the enormity of the danger striking fear into their hearts.

Jasmine carried on. 'At first, no one would join him, thinking his ideals ridiculous. But after a while, our members started leaving the Institute who were tempted by the offer of a fresh start, to right the wrongs of the world, but then more and more people left. That evil organisation grew to rival the Institute. And then…'

She paused, looking down, sorrow evident in her voice. The others noticed this too, beginning to wonder what had happened to make her sad like this. Finally, she spoke up again.

'One day, they came back to the Institute and broke in. Went straight to the room where all the Lucarios and Riolus live until we give them to our members. They took them all. The fighting in the room was loud enough to alert us of what was happening, but we couldn't do anything to help them. They raided the entire building for any more Riolus or Lucarios, taking many from our members. And just as soon as they had come, they left. As they did so, they announced that they, Team Aura, would reshape the world with the power of Aura into a better, happier place. I think that sounds absolutely ridiculous.'

'So, if Team Aura stole all the Riolus and Lucarios, what about yours?' Riley asked.

'I hid Lucario in his pokéball and hid in the secret rooms of the Library.' Jasmine replied. 'They didn't find me, and even if they did, they wouldn't consider me a major threat, being the fourteen year old girl I am.'

'So you're going after these people to get the pokémon back?' Asked Ash.

'And hopefully disband them, yes.' She replied.

There was a silence, everyone considering the scale of the problem. Finally, Ash broke the silence.

'So, can I come too?'

Jasmine was silent for a moment, contemplating the proposal, before finally answering:

'No.'

'But why not?' Ash pleaded.

'Just too dangerous, I'm afraid. This is my problem and I don't want to get you into a bigger mess that I've already got you in.'

But Ash was insistent. 'But I really want to help you! I think it's horrible when pokémon are mistreated like that and I really want to rescue them!'

This time, Jasmine thought longer about this question than she did before. After a little while, she answered.

'Well, I suppose I can't change your mind and I can't stop you doing what you deem right. In that case, if you want to come, you can.'

Ash let out a whoop of excitement. 'Yeah!' Dawn raised her hand.

'Can we come too? All of us?'

'Only if you want to come.' Was her reply. Soon the whole group of friends had volunteered to come along, wanting to set wrongs right. While everyone had an animated discussion about kicking bad guy butt, Jasmine stood and raised her had for silence. Everyone grew quiet and began to listen. She started to speak.

'Since I only know the general area of Team Aura's headquarters, we will need to travel via pokémon somewhere else so my computer can get a better reading. We will be leaving now.'

'What? No sleeping or rest?' Ash exclaimed.

'Let's think about it this way. The sooner we can bring about the downfall of Team Aura and return all of the stolen pokémon, the sooner you can sleep in late.'

Ash had a very sudden change of heart.

Everyone boarded their respective pokémon and rose into the air. Jasmine rode in front on Togekiss, leading the way.

'To Snowpoint City!' she cried.

The pokémon and riders soared away into the distance and rising sun.