Where am I? Light thought groggily as he regained consciousness.

Looking around the room, he realized his former allies had taken him to a hospital in Petalburg and were treating his injuries. When he tried to get up, Light found that he was handcuffed to his bed and unable to use any of his moves.

"Ahh! I see you're finally awake." Silver said walking into the room with Momo, Grunt and Nate in tow.

"What's the meaning of this!" Light cried angrily. "Why can't I use my moves?"

"You're being sedated." Momo replied.

"Let's face facts here." Silver continued. "You could easily beat any of us in one-on-one combat, so the only way we can keep you in custody is to do this."

"You're too powerful to be let loose." Nate elaborated. "You'd probably destroy the entire alliance if we let you free now."

"Why would I destroy that which I helped create!? The New Age Alliance is now a permanent good in this world, the scope of which is limited only by the person in control."

"Your plans for the Alliance were too extreme." Silver replied. "It requires a more temperant hand behind the wheel now."

"We could've talked about this." Light said, "You didn't have to attack me after we reached our goal!"

"You passed the point of reasoning a long time ago!" Grunt said accussingly. "You dropped a freaking cave on-"

Silver cut him off and said, "That's enough. I have some questions I need to ask Light in private. The rest of you return to your assignments. There's alot to do when you're organizing a new state."

'''"Yes Ma'am""" All three replied, Momo considerably less enthusiastic then the others, before exiting the room.

The NAA's new commander paced around Light's room, creating a tense silence that the prisoner was eager to dispel.

"So, what are these questions you want to ask me? How to be an effective commander?"

"No." Silver replied flatly, "In fact I don't have a single question to ask you."

"Then why are you still here? It can't be because of my magnetic personality because last time I checked, you hated me to the core."

"Oh I never hated you. Just your methods. This could've been done with fewer causualties a long time ago."

"Then why didn't you?" Light yelled back defensively.

"Because!" Silver replied at an equal volume, "Unlike you, I know the true nature of this world."

"True... nature?"

"Yes! Why do you think this entire war started after humans and Pokemon living in peace for so long?"

"Both sides grew fearful of-"

"Wrong!" Silver said cutting Light off. "Someone wanted it to happen."

"What are you saying?" Light cried in disbelief

"This entire war has been orchestrated from the beginning by a select group of people. People who are profitting off the fighting."

"A company started the war!?"

"Well there's a reason Rustboro City has never been attacked by either faction..." The shiny Eevee mumbled.

"Devon Corporation is behind this!?"

"Theough various shell corporations, Devon has been supplying both Pokemon and humans with supplies and technology, making huge profits along the way. And now thanks to you, they have a third faction to sell to."

"If you know the truth, you wouldn't buy from them unless..." Coming to a sudden realization, Light began jerking against his restraints and said, "You've been a rat ever since you came here! How dare you deceive my people."

"Yes. My mission from the beginning was to infiltrate the NAA and then remove you from power. But I truly did want to protect these men! One doesn't go up against Devon and win. All you can do is protect as many as you can, and weather the storm they've created."

"Why are you telling me this?" Light asked, calming down a little.

"I wanted you to understand that I still do hold the interests of the Alliance close to heart and that it will be in good hands... even after you pass."

"I pass!? You intend to kill me!?"

"It's already been decided by the Devon Corporation." Silver explained. "Two days from now I will declare you guilty in front of the Alliance and you will be sentenced to death. But your organization will live on, and you can now take solice in the fact it'll be in good hands." And exited the room.

A couple of minutes passed, allowing Silver's information to be processed before Light began mumbling to himself. "I guess this was a doomed endeavor after all. I never had a chance." Chuckling he continued, "It's ironic. All I wanted was to be a hero... and now I'm going to enter the history books as one of the villains. Hopefully someone will recognize the good I tried to do and emulate that themselves..."

Trailing off, Light slumped back into his bed and stared at the ceiling, slowly coming to terms with his fate.

A few hours passed before the room to his room was opened once again.

"H-Hello?" The newcomer said nervously.

"There's no need to be afraid." Light said, assuming it to be one of the hospital's staff. Sticking out his arm he said, "Do what you need to do. I won't harm you."

There was a second delay but instead of a needle prick, Light felt the stranger take his hand and pull him upright.

"I knew it!" She declared. "You're meant to ward off this darkness!"

"Darkness? What the hell are you talking about?"

"My name is Ashley White and I can see people's auras." She explained while taking off the captive Meowth's cuffs. "Since I was born, there has been a darkness hanging above us. For a while I thought that would never change. But six months ago, the darkness began to fade slightly."

"That's about when-"

"You formed the NAA, correct. As your success grew the darkness faded further and further until it was merely a gray tinge in the sky. But yesterday, the darkness came back with a vengenance. I knew something had happened."

"Yeah the Alliance turned on me. But what makes you think I'm supposed to get rid of this darkness?"

"Even now, with the darkness spreading , the air around you is surprisingly pure. Only you have not been affected by it. Now quickly we have to get out of here."

"Do you have an escape plan?" Light asked "Because I'm still deadweight at this point."

"I was sooort of hoping you'd be able to help with that." Ashley said. "I was only able to get up here thanks to that Servine."

"Momo?"

"Yeah I think that was her name. The blue tinge to her aura said she was sorrowful and would be willing to help. So I asked and she gave me your room number and the keys to your cuffs."

Thanks Momo.

"So what's our plan to escape?" Ashley asked.

"If we can make it to Petalburg Woods I think we'll be home free. How do you feel about heights?"

"I don't have a problem with them why?" She replied as Light dashed toward the window. "What are you doing?! We're on the second floor!"

"You said you didn't have a problem with heights." Light said as he and his new comrade jumped through the second story window. "And this is the shortest distance between here and the Woods."

An alarm was already sounded by the time the two of them hit the ground and began dashing toward the forest with NAA soldiers in tow.

"I don't suppose you can lay down some suppressing fire?" Light asked weaving between various attacks.

"You sure you want to do that? They're only doing their job."

"I'd do it myself but I still have drugs in my system." He replied, narrowly avoiding a Flamethrower from a closing soldier. "It's the only way we're getting away!"

"OK. Aura Sphere!" Turning around, Ashley fired the attack at the closing soldiers in an attempt to slow them down.

After a couple more attacks, it soon became apparent that the Aura Spheres were slowing Ashley and Light far more than their pursuers.

"There's only a couple hundred more feet left!" Light yelled, "Cut the attacks and make a run for it!"

The fugitives began their final dash toward the forest but still had soldiers biting at their heels.

"We're going to make it!" Ashley proclaimed.

"I don't think so." Came a voice from above. Just before the two could complete their escape, Nate descended and blocked their path. "You will pay for your sins!" He said before charging his former commander.

"Get down!" Came another voice from the forest. "Eruption!" It yelled, striking Nate at full force and grazing a large portion of the pursuing soldiers.

The confusion caused by the unexpected Fire type attack allowed Light and Ashley to slip into the forest undetected and complete their escape.

"Good job having an ally waiting for us here." Light said, "It was a smart plan."

"I hate to tell you this but whoever just saved us isn't with me." She replied. "I told you back at the Hospital I didn't have an escape plan."

"The girl's right. I didn't come with her." The voice replied.

"Who are you!? Did Devon send you!?" Light yelled into the forest, paranoid that the corporation had sent his executioner.

"Why would I be working for Devon?" The stranger replied, stepping out of the forest to reveal himself as a Typhlosion. "What use would they have for a bounty hunter?"

"A better question would be what does a bounty hunter want with a disgraced New Age Alliance commander?" Light shot back.

"We can lay all of our cards on the table later. Once the confusion from my Eruption dies down, they're going to be combing the forest for you two." The bounty hunter said, "We need a place to hide."

"My place is just down the road." Ashley cut in. "We should be safe there for a while."

"Thank you Miss..."

"Ashley." The Aura User said holding out her hand, "And who might you be?"

"You can just call me Volc." He replied, firmly clasping the outstretched hand.

AN: Hey guys. I'm back with an early Christmas present for you all: A new Chapter! The third arc is starting with a bang with a new crew forming around Light and the truth of the New Age world revealed. How many of you saw it coming or did I catch you off guard? Leave a review with your thoughts and comments.

What's Light's game plan now that he's escaped the NAA? Why did Volc help them escape? Will the Alliance retaliate? Find out next time on Pokemon New Age!

PS: There are still two OC slots still available if you want to see yours appear in Pokemon New Age. There is one Pokemon slot and one human slot remaining. Check Chapter 17 for details.