"It's the demon – get her!"

Rhyhorns thrashed through the forest shrubs, trampling across the ground as they pushed themselves to follow the shadowed form that swept across the tree branches above, obviously desperate to escape the rock Pokemon that chased after her from below. She was fatigued from the fighting she had done earlier that day, and now she knew she couldn't stay afloat for long, predicting that in only a few minutes flat she would be sent sprawling towards the ground from tiredness, and be picked up by the Rhyhorn clan that had misunderstood her to be an enemy.

Instead she forced herself forward with all she could, not wanting to turn to violence in order to escape from the Rhyhorns. She knew for one thing that she wasn't bad, only using her powers to stop the metallic Pokemon who had been forcing themselves into the region of Sinnoh for obvious destructive purposes. She was trying to find out where they had come from, although in the midst of it the Rhyhorn clan below had learned of them, automatically assuming that she was the one spawning them for evil intentions.

Due to the fact that they were spiritual, they assumed she was a demon from the bowels of the Underworld, seeing as how they hadn't seen her species anywhere else among the land they walked upon. In reality her species were spread throughout outer space, and she was the only one among her race to reach down to Earth when she had realized that trouble seemed to lurk upon it.

Of course, she regretted ever doing such a thing now…

"Can't you see I'm trying to help you?" she called out as she landed on a firm branch, sighing slightly, eyes narrowed with determination when she spotted the Rhyhorns surround the hosting tree. Her head darted around, her telepathic voice, which came out into the open rather than through the minds she wanted to make contact with, now emitting small growls of anger. The rock Pokemon below seemed to ignore her words, sticking with their own observations without even hearing one sentence of her alibi, their judgmental personalities showing through the sheer fact that her unique shape made them classify her as a demonic being almost instantly.

The tree started to shake, bringing her eyes to widen as she noticed that the Rhyhorns, their serious expressions not changing an inch, began to ram into its trunk, causing the leaves above to vibrate as if an earthquake was occurring. She struggled, desperate to hold back from giving in and defending herself with her psychic abilities, continuously telling her retorting thoughts that the Rhyhorn clan's stupidity was not something worth harming them over.

Then again…they were trying to kill her.

She eventually flew into the air, lingering fatigue making herself incapable of going any higher than past the canopying trees' leaves, and with no other options she slowly lowered to the ground, immediately rolling forward to take hidden refuge behind a log. She could feel the ground shake as the Rhyhorns approached, deep, booming voices asking one another where she was, while others continued to call her vile names under their breaths.

She stayed silent, slowly turning her head to allow her eyes to peer over the moss-covered edge of the log, slowly shifting her sight over the long line of Rhyhorns that were only a few feet away, oblivious of her short distance from them. With an uneasy, exhausted sigh she lowered herself again behind the log, tense, afraid to make movements beyond from her leaning position.

"Did the demon escape?" a loud voice more deep than the others called from the shrubs in front of the Rhyhorns. A tone of anger covered the owner's voice, although it was more in want for the current status report than anything else. Displaying slight interest she slowly rose her eyes over her log barricade once again, keenly eyeing the Rhydon that had emerged from behind the trees, his narrowed orb gazing upon the group of Rhyhorns in which he seemed to be the leader of. The only obvious downfall to him, she noticed, was the fact that a white bandage covered his left eye, most likely signifying that he had lost it in some sort of conflict a while ago.

The Rhyhorn closest to him stepped forward, his voice quiet like the cold air of the night that surrounded them. "Yes, Lord Bouldarin, the demon has got away."

The Rhydon, Bouldarin, snarled, although his anger didn't seem to be directed towards his clan members. The darkness of the dying day enshrouded the forest, the moon's silvery light shining across the ground in only some places since the canopying trees blocked most of it out, colliding with the visible obsidian that graced the area like temporary paint. She, all in the while, remained silent, mentally debating with herself if she should try to sneak out while the Rhyhorn clan was talking. However, she knew that a simple crack of a small twig would bring their senses to her, pretty much marking her capture right then and there. If she stayed in her current spot the same risks were still an issue.

No matter what way she went she was in serious trouble.

"Atsila summoned the demon to curse those robotic beasts among us," she could hear Bouldarin snarl to his comrades, and she didn't bother to ponder on who 'Atsila' was. She was very tempted to peak her head up and tell them for the fiftieth time that she had been actually trying to protect the area from the strange said robotic Pokemon, although she knew that such an attempt as retorting against a vicious Rhydon would be more harmful than helpful.

"Our brothering clans," Bouldarin told the others as if he was making a quiet speech, "from across the land have suffered from the chimerical beasts of metal, and I know that Atsila is the one to blame for this!"

The Rhyhorns roared in agreement.

"He must pay!" the Rhydon hissed. "Our clans have been at war since one of his metallic monsters killed my son! We will attack – we will avenge my son's death!"

His clan roared again, and she could feel herself shiver slightly. Bouldarin was blaming this 'Atsila' and his clan for the robotic Pokemon that had been appearing lately? From what she observed of them so far the robotic Pokemon were far too advanced to be created from the claws of naturals, and she couldn't shake the weird feeling that a higher organization was behind this.

Nonetheless, she knew that Bouldarin was blaming Atsila for supposedly summoning her, and she was apparently the demon behind spawning the murdering robotic Pokemon. It was facts like these where she despised being unique among the organisms on Earth, but she knew she couldn't leave without answers to the origins behind the abnormal robotic Pokemon. Her curiosity was getting the better of her –

"It's the demon!"

She cringed, snapping her head around to come in eye contact with a Rhyhorn that had stepped around the log, and was now staring wide-eyed at her. Immediately coldness enshrouded her muscles as she felt Bouldarin snarl, "Catch her then!"

With tired, aching muscles, she struggled to return to her feet, breaking out into a run as she tried to escape from the Rhyhorn clan that was chasing her, Bouldarin leading the waves of rock troops across the forest grounds in the exact same path she was trekking. With another snarl she turned to the left, her stomach burning as she felt her leg muscles begin to give out, weakening from exhaustion. She strove herself to keep them working until at least she was out of the Rhyhorns' eyesight again.

However, they seemed even more determined than before to catch her, which they showed through the fact that their stomps followed only a few feet behind her.

The hanging leaves of the surrounding trees slapped across her face as she practically pushed herself through the nature, despite that soon, gasping for air, her muscles stinging entirely, she collapsed onto the forest floor, her eyesight becoming foggy. By the way the stomps around her grew louder and stronger, and the way a rugged, stone-colored form stepped in front of her, she knew that Bouldarin was staring down upon her with anger.

She eventually felt Rhyhorns lift her up onto their spiky backs, all in the while of Bouldarin muttering, "Take her to the haven and keep her imprisoned."

Before she knew the slight breezes of slow movement graced her face as she felt the Rhyhorns who were carrying her begin to stomp towards the designated location. She wanted to fight back; she didn't want to be punished for a crime she wasn't even committing.

But Deoxys couldn't do anything as tiredness deluged her muscles, her last drops of energy depleting…

…as well as her consciousness.

Morning soon took over the sky, dubbing the overhead atmosphere a bright blue as albino clouds slid across its surface, the sun sending its golden rays of light upon them like a godly eye. The land below also awoke alongside the day, glowing bright with life as the loner inhabitants of the forest walked out of their various havens and stretched out their cramped limbs. With sighs of freshness they then ran off to start their daily routines of the day.

The same went for Atsila's clan, who greeted each other warmly before the females of the group tended to the town infants, others venturing into the fields to pick fruits from the outside trees. The 'hierarchy' members of the town quickly made their way to the chieftain's wooden temple, their quickened steps causing the bridges they crossed to shake vigorously as they rushed towards the said location.

Already within the torch-lit room sat Atsila the Charizard, while Raikou, Suicune, Mewtwo, and Jeff and Skyler stood beside him, feasting upon the large array of fruits that had been placed on the table in front of them. The chieftain of the tribe smiled warmly as he kindly offered a piece of his fruit to Ulrik, who was sitting on the opposite side of the Charizard's throne, his narrowed eyes observing the Pokemon that entered the temple rather than focusing on the meal in front of him. Shadow, who was sitting in the corner, remained silent, lingering worries of Atsila's son, Flame, occupying her mind.

"Have you come to a decision yet, Chief Atsila?" Mewtwo asked from the far side of the table's left end, sticking a small piece of fruit into his mouth in a civilized manner, while Jeff and Skyler, who were next to him, were stuffing their face with the delicious juice, causing even Raikou to stare at them in bewildered awe.

The wise Charizard nodded, adjusting the feathered garments that covered his horns. "Yes, I have decided that we will go with Jeff's idea and send a Pokemon to negotiate with the Rhyhorns." He popped a piece of fruit into his mouth. "We will do it at sunset."

Raikou, who was right by Atsila's throne, slowly muttered to the chieftain, "Don't mind me asking…but how did your wife…um." He lowered his eyes in the act of pondering for the right words. "You know..." He appeared afraid to finish the question.

Atsila sighed, catching the implication of what Raikou was asking. "A while ago…" he began, his voice loud, which brought the silent attention of not only Raikou but the others around them. "…Bouldarin's clan and mine used to live in peace. We shared food and territory, and traded with one another for whatever supplies the other had to offer.

"Eventually, though, something happened. I am not quite sure what, but when my wife, Scalene, went out to explore the forest, she never came back. I spent days searching for her, and eventually ran into Bouldarin, who revealed that he had killed my wife, and muttered that he only wanted to return the favor. I was shocked, and before I knew it our clans no longer shared, but instead fought over the resources of the forest."

Raikou frowned in bewilderment. "What did Bouldarin mean that he was just 'returning the favor'?"

"I do not know, Raikou," Atsila murmured, sadness gracing his tone. "He still slew my beautiful wife, though, and therefore up to now I wanted to avenge her." He turned his nearly-closed eyes to Jeff, who had returned to eating quite vigorously. "I know that your friend is right, though, that I should not thrust my clan into a mess that involves only my sorrow, despite that the Rhyhorns have taken quite a few loved ones from our town ever since the death of my wife."

He returned his eyes to Raikou, his tone softening. "I have agreed to negotiation, and hopefully Bouldarin will do the same, although I will never forgive him for what he did…"

The thunder tiger nodded, understanding completely, feeling sympathy for the old chieftain, despite that he agreed that solving the conflict among the clans with words would be better than doing it with violence. He couldn't help but wonder what would convince Bouldarin to kill Atsila's wife and start a whole war, definitely when the said Rhydon had been described by the Charizard chieftain to be usually kind and honorable.

"Who are you going to send to negotiate?" Suicune cut in from beside Raikou, who turned to look at her before nodding slightly and returning his eyes to the Charizard. Mewtwo, Jeff, and Skyler seemed to do the same, like Ulrik, who shifted his eyes towards Atsila, as did Shadow out of obvious curiosity. The Charizard didn't seem to mind the sudden gain of attention, and only adjusted his sitting position among his throne as he stretched out his long neck.

"We all know that Bouldarin is the act-before-you-think type," Atsila replied, tone firm, "therefore I doubt that any normal Pokemon we send out to negotiate is going to come back alive.

"However, every clan in this forest respects the Legendaries. If Suicune and Raikou go, then Bouldarin will force himself to heed of their words about my tribe, and since they're one of the creators of the world he might be influenced to resign the peace treaty if they command him to do so."

Raikou and Suicune nodded, agreeing with Atsila's statement. Mewtwo crossed his arms, somewhat contemplating if he should go, although he knew he would probably spark fright within the Rhyhorn clan because he was a Pokemon whose species was unknown to most, definitely since he was the only one of his kind. Atsila had recognized his similarities with the goddess Legendary, Mew, and therefore the Charizard quickly assumed that he was friend. Despite this, Bouldarin sounded like he wouldn't be the type to give in so easily…

"Mewtwo," Atsila called, earning the manmade Pokemon's attention. "I know what you are thinking – that Bouldarin will consider you an off-worldly being because your species does not go on past yourself. It will probably be good for you to go anyway, but stay out of sight, only coming out if danger is to occur."

Mewtwo nodded.

Jeff and Skyler exchanged glances, and the Roselia eventually muttered out, "Uh…what about us?"

Atsila chuckled slightly, his eyes turning soft as he gazed upon them. "Why, you can go, too, young ones, but it will probably be best if you stay out of sight, so hide with Mewtwo."

The Roselia and Flygon grinned as their own sign of approval, while Mewtwo was very tempted to bang his head against the wall out of misery.

Raikou slowly breathed in, taking in the cool air of the day as he sat on the balcony right outside Atsila's temple, which granted him a clean view of the peaceful sky above. He was somewhat worried for his and the others' safety, constantly wondering if they were going to be all right during the negotiation, definitely since they were going to travel to the Rhyhorn clan's haven to talk with them in person. He also couldn't help but continue to wonder about Bouldarin's possible reason behind killing Atsila's wife, Scalene.

Suicune soon emerged from the cloth that hid the entrance into Atsila's temple, escaping the deep conversation Mewtwo and the others (excluding Raikou) had begun with the Charizard chieftain, and enjoying the quiet time that the outside gave her. She watched in interest as the Pokemon of the clan tended to their daily duties among the tribe, some carrying food into their wooden homes, others repairing damages to the rope bridges and ladders that served as the townspeople's way to get around.

Turning her eyes to the side, she slightly widened them when she spotted Raikou sitting on the edge of a platform that had been carved out of the tree beside Atsila's haven to serve as a balcony of the sort. She cocked her head before slowly making her way to her counterpart, smiling when he turned his head to eye her softly, and she soon walked closer and sat beside him.

"What's on your mind?" she asked in a quiet tone, and Raikou turned his eyes downward, his expression darkening with slight seriousness, although his worried orbs seem to conflict with it.

"I've just been thinking that…" He paused for a moment, as if mentally debating if he wanted to continue with his sentence or not. "…well, if the maker behind these robotic Pokemon were able to captures the Legendaries, then what does that say for a now-normal Pokemon like me? Am I even capable of accomplishing such a task as saving the beings who control natural balance?"

Suicune hummed to herself, focusing her eyes on the sky above as if looking for guidance, or was simply lost in thought. "You know what Darkrai used to always tell me?" she eventually mumbled out, her eyes still glued to the atmospheric ocean above.

"Always scratch before you sniff?"

Suicune snapped her eyes to him, but not before rolling them playfully and nudging him slightly in the foreleg, which he grinned like an immature child. She couldn't help but love his stupidity at times, although she was aware that he was just joking to ease up the mood.

"No," she then replied, and she slowly shifted her eyes to him, which the serious, yet assuring glow that radiated from them seemed to convince him to cease his joking antics. With a sigh she added the correct answer, "It doesn't always take a Legendary to be a hero, Raikou." She turned her loving eyes to him, and he slightly gaped his mouth at her words, blushing slightly when she placed her paw on his. "But it does take a hero to be a Legendary, and any Pokemon who's not afraid to accomplish what has been placed in front of him will be a hero no matter what is said."

Raikou smiled slightly, comforted by her words. Without warning he leaned in and brought her into a nuzzle, which convinced her to scoot closer to him until they were able to rest their heads on top of each other's.

Terotrey Horrifiance brought his maroon-colored eyes to the Rocket grunt in front of him, awaiting for the current field report, which the grunt held in paper form in his gloved hand, his eyes scanning it, searching for the most relevant information. The darkness of Terotrey's office engulfed him and the grunt in ebony, although small lamps that sat upon the tables in the room radiated with light, appearing as orbs of gold within the sea of black.

The scientist leaned against his desk, becoming impatient as the grunt stumbled over his words, nervousness leaking from him. It seemed that everyone in the organization was more afraid of Terotrey than Giovanni Rocket himself. Of course, Terotrey didn't mind this since he thought intimidation was one of the best ways to get what you want, although the way the grunts around the building always squeaked in fear whenever he walked passed them started to get annoying after a while.

"Get on with it," Terotrey ordered in a calm tone, and the grunt jumped slightly before quickening his reading speed. The silver-haired scientist shook his head in disappointment, although he quickly rose it when the grunt began to speak.

"Our sources have finally located the main distance range of the mysterious Pokemon who's been attacking the robots in Sinnoh." With a shift of weight between his shoulders, the grunt continued. "We have pinpointed its exact location, which is now some sort of cave within a forest at the northeastern part of the region by the coast. And…"

"And?"

The grunt cleared his throat. "The robots seemed to be attracted to that area, and when we looked into this some more we discovered that there are power waves similar to a Legendary radiating from somewhere in the forest."

Terotrey's eyes widened, and somehow he knew exactly that the said power waves belonged to the Legendaries he had been searching for – Raikou and Suicune.

"Commands, sir?" the grunt asked.

Terotrey shook his shock away, and instead quickly replied, "Get a helicopter to take a squad over there and recover the strange Pokemon -"

"Right away, sir!"

" – and make sure there's enough room on it for me."

The grunt quirked his eyebrow, his hand only a few centimeters away from the door knob since he had been in the act of leaving. However, he only turned his head to eye Terotrey, who was approaching him with his expression more stern than before.

"If those power waves belong to who I think they belong," the silver-haired scientist began to explain, "then I want to be there to ensure the capture of them."

The grunt quickly nodded before leaving, and Terotrey only turned to face his desk, his hands behind his back, eyes remaining narrowed.

"Raikou and Suicune…you're not escaping from me this time."