Chapter 6: The gods of light and darkness.

After leaving the nursery our friends were travelling to the Sea House, Bill's home. In the horizon a beautiful beach stood proud, and they stopped to rest. It was too late to keep walking, so they decided to camp.

-Well, we have to search for some firewood; it seems we'll have a cold night.

-I'm going with Misty-Swan! – said Matt.

The swimmer took the girl by the arm and carried her away, while she insisted him to let her go. Ash whispered:

-That's no way to treat a girl…

-Are you jealous? – said Brock mockingly.

-Wh…what are you talking about? I'm not jealous of that guy! – said Ash nervously.

Matt and Misty were getting lost in a forest. Matt took Misty's hand by surprise, and she flinched.

-Don't worry; I just took your hand so we won't get lost.

-You don't need to do that so we don't get lost! I'm more than five, you know!? – said Misty. Matt stood in front of her and looked directly into her eyes.

-Matt what are you doing? You're scaring me…

-Misty, is there any boy you like? – asked the swimmer.

-Err… no… - answered a puzzled Misty.

Matt decided to surprise her with a tender kiss, but Misty ran away from her best friend. The trainer got deeper into the forest. Matt started following her, but didn't manage to reach her. After some minutes of looking without results, Matt decided to go back into the beach.

Ash and Brock noticed that Matt was back alone. Ash asked:

-Where is Misty?

-In the forest… - answered a saddened Matt.

-How could you leave her alone!? – said Ash.

-I thought she needed to be alone… - answered Matt.

Ash ran into the forest to look for Misty. He was looking for her for an hour until he heard a girl crying. Ash got closer without any doubts and asked her, smiling:

-Misty, are you OK?

-She looked at him while wiping tears off her face. Ash helped her get on her feet.

-I was very worried, don't you ever leave alone again – said Ash.

-Worried? You? – said Misty while kicking him into the sky.

-OK, OK, I get it! Let's go back with the others – said Ash, afraid of getting another kick. Misty smiled, and they both found their way back thanks to the smoke of the camp's fire. Next day, after having spent a relaxed night accompanied by the rush of the waves, they got walking again and arrived to the scientist's home. Matt seemed distant after what happened, and felt displaced because of how united Ash, Misty and Brock were. Then they arrived to the Sea House, and rang the bell. A soft voice asked:

-Who's there?

-We're Brock, Misty and Ash, do you remember us?

-It's been a long time! Come inside my friends, come inside!

The doors opened automatically and the lights switched on. They saw a giant Magikarp on the floor and they freaked out, but they soon found out that it was Bill trapped in a costume again because the zipper got stuck. The trainers helped him out.

-I don't think I've met you… - said Bill while shaking Matt's hand.

-That's true! My name is Matt and I help Misty with the gym.

Bill took them to a room where two big stones with a text written in them stood.

-Let me show you my biggest discovery. I've been investigating these two stone walls extracted from deep inside Mt. Moon, and I discovered a truly interesting story. Want to hear it? – The boys nodded, and Bill started reading:

"Thousands of years ago, light and darkness were together to create the variety of colours with which we see the world today. Both deities lived in perfect peace and harmony. The first human tribes that lived in the world recognised the power of the light and darkness Pokémon and they built huge and rich temples to adore them. But one of the priests who prayed to the darkness Pokémon wanted to control it, obsessed with his power. To do that, the priest poisoned the darkness Pokémon's mind to fight against his luminous counterpart. Long years passed until the darkness Pokémon succumbed to the poisonous words of his most dear friend. The darkness Pokémon, very demented and controlled wholly by the priest, wanted to engulf all light and to leave the planet in absolute darkness. The light Pokémon then decided to fight his best friend in order to save the world. After a ferocious battle which drought seas, broke mountains and ripped the land apart, the light Pokémon succeeded in confining the darkness Pokémon deep inside the land and taking away his powers. It's said that the darkness Pokémon's body is still deep below Mount Moon."

Everyone was shocked after hearing the story. Misty asked:

-Is that story true?

-The only proof we have is that this text was written before the year 3300 of the second coming of Arceus – explained Bill.

-Would it be possible that the darkness Pokémon is still below Mount Moon? – asked Brock, sounding worried.

-Maybe; but a private company just bought Mount Moon; I ignore why – answered Bill.

He looked at his watch and remembered that the time of his daily experiment had arrived.

-Guys, do you remember the Pokémon that appeared in front of the lighthouse and sang melancholically?

-Of course I do! - said Misty. Everyone else nodded, except for Matt.

-I also advanced the research of his language, and I managed to create a machine that imitates his sounds. My hypothesis is that if we start up the machine and the Pokémon hears familiar sounds, he will come closer to the lighthouse.

-Cool! I always wanted to know what Pokémon it is – said Ash.

The trainers went to the balcony and started up the machine. At the same time, a Gyarados-shaped submarine came to the surface. Inside it there were two kids (Jimmy and Jenny) and a Persian.

-Did you hear that? They're going to capture a mysterious Pokémon! – said the pink-haired Jimmy.

-The boss will surely promote us if we give her the Pokémon as a present – said Jenny.

-Let's capture him as soon as he gets closer, purr! – said the Persian.

-Having a transponder fitted to them without them realizing sure paid off… - said Jenny, laughing.

Some minutes later, the trainers and the scientific saw a shadow getting closer from the horizon. It seemed like the mysterious Pokémon was answering their call. When it was close enough to the house, he tripped on a big boulder.

-Gosh, he sure is a big and stupid Pokémon! – said Jenny. – It's our chance to capture him. Jimmy, shot the electrified net.

-Why me? Do it yourself, you have passed a lot of days without doing anything!

-Do it I say, and be a gentleman! – said the purple-haired girl.

Jimmy stood up, pressed a button and then a torpedo came out of the submarine. As soon as the torpedo hit its target, it engulfed it with the electrified net.

-What happened? He needs our help! – said Ash.

Before Ash could tell Pikachu to attack, Misty took out her Starshe to help that mysterious Pokémon.

-Starshe, use Iron Tail! – said Misty. Starshe obeyed and freed the Pokémon.

-I can't stand these pesky Trainers; they don't stop interfering with Team Rocket 2.0's plans! – said Jenny.

-I can't stand them either, purr! – said the Persian.

Jenny then took out Sharpedo, and her Mega-Necklace started to shine as her Pokémon changed to his Mega Evolved form.

-Mega Sharpedo, use Water Gun against Starshe! – said Jenny.

-Starshe, counterattack with Hydro Pump! – said Misty.

Both attacks collided, making the waves rise with the energy. Then Misty said:

-Starshe, Hyper Beam!

Starshe's attack provoked an explosion that sent Team Rocket flying.

-Team Rocket lost again! – said Misty mockingly.

-They even copy our lines, purr… - said Persian.

-Well done Starshe! – said Misty, hugging her Pokémon.

Meanwhile, Ash tried to catch a glance of the Pokémon with his binoculars, and then he gave them to his colleagues so they could see the Pokémon too. When they all saw him, Ash said:

-Look, I've made a drawing of the Pokémon as a souvenir, what do you think?

(Copy this link in your search bar if you want to see this draw: /p/FrpxTA )

-It doesn't look like him at all! – said Misty while punching Ash's head.

-It's a pity, but it seems it won't be today when we'll discover the identity of this new Pokémon. I won't lose my hopes; I want to continue my research.

-You do well wanting to continue, but promise you'll keep us up to date – said Matt.

-In the next few weeks I'll continue researching in my Saffron City lab. If you go there, remember to pay a visit!

-Of course, Bill. It'll be a pleasure visiting you! – said Ash.

The trainers said goodbye with a smile. Matt and Misty were behind, talking. It was at dusk when Matt decided to talk with Misty.

-I'm sorry about what I did the other day, it wasn't right to steal that kiss.

-It doesn't matter now – said Misty smiling.

-Hey Misty… I have to ask you something. What do you feel for me? – said Matt.

-Matt, I see you like a brother. A person who I can trust and who has always been by my side, be it in good or in bad moments – explained Misty.

-Misty, I see you like more than a sister. I'm… I'm in love with you. I want you to be by my side to protect you forever. – said Matt.

-I can't promise that, Matt. But what I can promise is that you can always trust me and that I'll be with you whenever you need me – said Misty, smiling sincerely at him. Matt smiled too.

-I did everything I could, now I must carry on and think that I can trust her and she can trust me – thought the trainer, feeling satisfied.

So the trainers continued travelling towards Neoball Island to participate in its famous Pokémon Champion