"Gardevoir, use…" Max started.

"No!" Gary shouted. "Gramps is out there."

Gardevoir glanced back at her beloved trainer, unsure of what to do. In front of them Oak was facing the wild Pokémon across the lawn. He glanced over his shoulder at Gary an action that was met by a rumble of noise from their opponents.

"How can we reach him?" Brock asked. "If we don't attack then…"

"Wait." Gary said. "They'll want something, they cannot stand there forever. And this is the ranch, there are Pokémon around here that can help us."

"You're kidding." Misty said, staring at her boyfriend. "You cannot just wait here."

"What do you suggest then?" Gary snapped.

"Let me handle this." Max said quietly. "I'm the strongest trainer here."

Dawn sniffed her disbelief at that statement, but she didn't look around. Her eyes never left the battlefield in front of them.

"Max, you can't." May said. "Any attacks could easily get redirected to hit Professor Oak."

"Yes but…" Max started, but he was cut off by a deafening roar. They all spun to see Oak's Dragonite throwing himself forwards, not making any attempt to attack. The movement was met by an instant response from the wild Pokémon, attacks surging straight at the elderly researcher. A blue glow covered the battlefield as Solrock and Lunatone moved forwards, the strength of their combined Psychic attacks slowing down the onslaught. It was enough, Dragonite reached Oak a fraction of a second before the attacks hit, landing in front of his trainer and standing tall to protect him. The attacks hit in a crash nearly as loud as the one that brought them out and dust rolled away from the impact. Something flashed past the assembled trainers, over the laboratory and out of sight. As the dust cleared Oak and Dragonite were gone.

"Now can we attack?" Max asked.

"Yes." Gary whispered, shock almost paralysing him. Max started barking commands to his Pokémon, an action mirrored by the other trainers around him. The wild Pokémon seemed to wilt under the onslaught and started to retreat, driven back by the power of the attacks. As the humans started to step forwards, there was an echoing roar from the wild Pokémon.

Onix had moved to the front and his sheer size was providing a shield for his comrades to fight from behind. Attacks were barely fazing the huge Pokémon, and the retaliations were coming back with greater strength.

"Blastoise, use Hydro Pump." Gary ordered, releasing his starter. "Misty, give me some support."

His fiancé nodded. "Gyarados, Golduck, same with you. Aim for the same place."

The three attacks raced in but before they could hit Onix the Pokémons skin glistened slightly. The attacks crashed into him and he rolled backwards slightly but recovered fast.

"Whoa." James said from where he was orchestrating his own Pokémon. "How could that not hurt it? Aren't Rock- Pokémon meant to be weak against water attacks?"

"It is weak to them." Max said. "But that Onix is something else in terms of endurance. I'm not sure we have the firepower to beat it."

Almost to prove Max right, Onix started to slowly roll forwards, advancing on the humans and carrying Pokémon behind it.

"Any ideas?" Brock asked. "Max, you're meant to be some kind of genius at this."

"I'm not that good!" Max snapped, as he ducked an attack that missed his Pokémon and passed where his head had been a moment ago. "I'm not unbeatable."

"Combine attacks?" Dawn suggested. "All aim at Onix?"

"Might work." Misty said. "All ready? Attack!"

A torrent of strikes shot at Onix smashing into the Pokémon and sending him rolling backwards. As they faded Onix drew himself up to his incredible height and towered over the laboratory.

"Uh oh." James said. "I think we made him mad."

"Get out of the way!" May shouted as Onix came crashing down. The Pokémon smashed through the walls of the laboratory, crushing a small part of it under his momentum, but the Pokémon had managed to get out of the way. Onix withdrew once again, preparing for another strike.

"Onix is all that is left." Max said suddenly.

"What?" May asked.

"Behind him. All the other Pokémon have retreated. We've beaten them all."

"But not Onix." Misty snapped. "And I'd really appreciate an idea round about now."

Before anybody else could say anything a small Pokémon moved forwards, advancing towards Onix.

"Isn't that…" Brock started and Gary nodded.

"Yes. It's Gramps Porygon2. What is it doing? It isn't a battler…"

Porygon2 stopped just in front of Onix and gazed up at the giant Pokémon. Onix roared again and came crashing down towards Porygon2. Before he could make contact however, Porygon2 suddenly shot up into the air, sparks crackling underneath it. Onix crashed into the ground and looked up at the Pokémon that had just eluded him.

"Everybody, shut your eyes!" Gary shouted suddenly, realising what was about to happen.

Porygon2 started to glow, a light emanating from it, releasing it in a brilliant Flash attack. Onix roared, blinded by the power of the attack, thrashing about as he tried to hit something. Porygon2 drifted back down towards the level of Onix. Just a few feet off the ground, Porygon2 stopped and its eyes started to glow blue. As Onix started to get his sight back and stop thrashing about, an ice-blue beam shot away from Porygon2, hitting Onixs tail, completely encasing the lower half of the rock snakes' body. Onix tried to lift himself off the ground but found the back of his body unable to move. Porygon2 drifted away again, leaving a clear line of attack for the trainers.

"What just happened?" James asked as their most fearsome opponent looked almost immobile.

"Don't ask just yet." Dawn said. "Take advantage. All of us together, once more."

This time when the attacks raced in, Onix couldn't adjust his body. The attacks raced for the Pokémon's head, and there was a hint of fear in Onixs eyes. The attacks crashed home, sending Onix crashing backwards. As the dust cleared, Onix stood tall once again, but this time the marks of the battle were evident on the Pokémon. He bowed his head slightly before diving into the ground and disappearing in a cloud of dirt. When the dirt cleared, not only had Onix vanished, but also Porygon2, along with the rest of Professor Oaks Pokémon.

"Wow." Max said into the silence that followed. "That was…"

"Quite something." Brock said.

"But we drove it away." Max said, before glancing over to where Misty was hugging Gary. "What's wrong?"

Gary looked up, his entire body shaking as he looked around. He seemed to sag slightly after a moment.

"Gary?" Brock asked. "What's wrong? We're safe now."

"We are." Gary said, his voice cracking. "But where is Gramps?"

Mellanie looked around the clearing, sweat running off her in rivers. The heat of the burning trees was starting to get to her. Ash was completely focused, his eyes shut. She gazed at her tutor, the father figure in her life. She thought that she knew Ash reasonably well, knew what he was capable of, but this was something completely new. She had never seen anything like what he was doing. And to take on a Pokémon that terrified her was something else.

"There are some Pokémon coming towards us." Ash said quietly. "You'll need to deal with them."

Mellanie nodded as her Pokémon fanned out around her. She waited another few minutes but Ash jerked around suddenly.

"What's wrong?" Mellanie asked.

"They've stopped." Ash said. "Which makes no sense… Unless…"

There was a flapping noise as Gliscor descended from the sky. He hovered above the ground before casting a disparaging glance towards the burning trees and then back to Ash.

"Mellanie." Ash said quietly. "This is where you leave."

"What?" Mellanie asked in disbelief.

"Recall your Pokémon." Ash said. "This is my fight."

"I don't want to leave." Mellanie said. "I can help You said that we were..."

"No." Ash hissed. "This is beyond you. I can't risk you getting hurt."

"I…" Mellanie started, but it was too late. A white light engulfed her and her Pokémon and she vanished. Gliscor looked at Ash quizzically, head cocked to one side.

"Long range teleporting." Ash said. "It took Alakazam and Espeon a long time to figure it out, but they've gotten pretty good. But don't worry, I'm not going anywhere."

Gliscor dropped to the ground and stepped forwards. His eyes glinted with anger.

"You're mad at me." Ash said, his voice shaking with emotion. "You think that I betrayed your trust. That I broke our friendship. I came to your territory and attacked you without any warning."

Gliscor nodded, his body still appearing relaxed.

"But you started this." Ash hissed. "You are the one who didn't tell me everything you knew about Samuel Oak. You are the one who let your Pokémon attack those I brought here. You turned against me."

Gliscor leapt into the air once again, wings spread out, readying himself to attack.

"We don't have to fight." Ash said, his voice calmer, spreading his arms out. "I am here to bring about your submission. If you wish to submit without fighting you'll make that much easier."

Gliscor cocked his head to one side, dropping back to the ground. He stepped forwards towards Ash, hunching over slightly.

"I do not want to have to fight you." Ash said quietly. "We were friends for a long time. But I cannot tolerate you turning against me. So what will it be?"

Gliscor stepped forwards again, uncertainty etched into his features. Ash knelt down in front of the Pokémon.

"Please do not make me do this Gliscor." Ash said, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Join me once again. Tell me who is going against me. Do the right thing."

Gliscor reached up, his claw slowly moving towards Ash. As it reached the Pokémon Master's face it slowed, hesitating. The claw opened, and gingerly stroked the side of Ash's face. It moved around the bottom of Ash's face, extending towards his jaw. Ash smiled.

"See? We do not have to fight."

Gliscor leaned in, a warm smile on his face. A smile that turned to one of victory as his claw snapped shut around Ash's neck.

"Where are you going?"

Sonia stopped walking and looked around to find where the voice in her head was coming from. She stopped turning when she saw Espeon gazing at her.

"Sorry?"

"I asked where you are going." Espeon said, flicking her tail.

"I… You were following me?" Sonia asked, flustered.

"No." Espeon said, but didn't elaborate.

"I was just going for a walk."

"With your Pokémon?"

"I'm getting into the habit of taking them with me."

"Are you aware that Ash is away at the moment?" Espeon asked.

"Yes?"

"He is off dealing with a situation. He would prefer if you would remain here where you are safe."

Sonia smiled warmly. "Don't worry about me. I am completely capable of taking care of myself."

Espeon seemed to consider it for a moment before nodding. "Fair enough. Enjoy your walk."

Sonia turned and walked away, heading for the edge of Mystery Island. She was wondering what that was all about. Was Espeon keeping tabs on her for Ash? She thought that she had the Pokémon Master's trust, but now she wasn't so sure. And if he was suspicious of her… Sonia clenched her fist slightly. She wasn't ready. All of her preparations and she wasn't ready yet. She needed just a little bit more time. She reached the edge of the island and knelt down, brushing some dirt off the cliff and into the ocean. The response was almost instantaneous, a white light engulfed her and she vanished.

Sonia reappeared just outside a small wooden hut. She looked around but the entire area was surrounded by steep cliffs. There was no obvious way down to where she was. She turned in a full circle admiring the hideout. It was almost perfect – nobody could reach it on foot without huge risk of injury and from the air the hut was sufficiently small that it was likely it would blend into the ground around it.

"Cleffa?"

Sonia knelt down and smiled at the Pokémon that had appeared next to her.

"Yes. This is perfect. You have done more than I could ever have asked for."

Cleffa bounced in happiness.

"We are nearly ready." Sonia continued. "There are just a couple of things for us to do before we can strike."

"Cleff?"

"I'm afraid so." Sonia said. "The Pokémon Master is more capable than we realised. We need to take away his ability to fight."

"Cleff, Cleffa?"

Sonia sighed. "I know. I have a base to operate from now, somewhere he can't touch me. We have hordes of Pokémon ready to stand by us, to stand by you. But he might be able to hold us off long enough. I have one more thing to do before you can move."

Cleffa seemed to consider Sonia's words before nodding. A questioning look came over the Pokémon's face.

Sonia let a smile creep across her face. "I know his greatest weakness." She said.

"Cleffa? Ffa, Cleffa?"

"Tell me." Sonia said. "Before you became what you are today, you must have had a nest mother."

Cleffa nodded, uncertainty evident.

"What would you have done if somebody had taken her? And held her?"

Cleffa smiled as the realization hit. "Cleffa?"

"Yes." Sonia said. "Once we have the Pokémon Master's mother, we will be ready to strike."

Ash rolled backwards in a fluid movement, Gliscor's claw missing its target. He came up, eyes glowing a furious blue. Before Gliscor could recover from his attack, energy poured from Ash, sending the Pokémon flying. Gliscor smashed into a tree, punching straight through it and hitting another tree behind it. As the Fang Scorpion Pokémon slid to the ground, Ash advanced, power rolling off him in tangible waves.

"It was a genuine offer." Ash said, fury evident in his words. Gliscor was slowly struggling to his feet, trying to get airborne before Ash could reach him. "I did not want to fight you." Ash continued as he stopped in front of Gliscor and reached down, hauling the Pokémon into the air. "But you have forgotten why you were loyal to me."

Ash pulled Gliscor towards him, holding the Pokémon inches from his face. For once Ash let his usual shield drop. The scars that covered his body became apparent, scars that he usually kept hidden. As they became evident Gliscor tried to struggle, to wriggle out of the grip of the human.

"You forgot what I am." Ash roared as he threw Gliscor with all of his strength. Gliscor sailed back across the clearing, smashing into the ground once again. Before he could react, Ash was there again, ready to strike. But this time Gliscor tried to hit back.

Gliscor's tail glowed a bright purple as it jabbed forwards, trying to catch Ash in his midriff. Ash's arms came down, blocking the attack. Gliscor flapped his wings desperately, trying to get some distance from his opponent but Ash's fists shot out, scoring a series of blows that Gliscor was not quite fast enough to block. Gliscor stumbled back, trying to find an escape for the onslaught. His skin glistened slightly as he tried to Harden against the attack, but it seemed to make no difference. Ash's rage was pouring out, all the fury he had been containing after the attacks on him and his friends. His fury at Gliscor's betrayal, his anger at the attack on Professor Oak, his fury at his helplessness after the attacks on the Kanto region. It was all being taken out on Gliscor who had no way to escape, or even to alleviate the onslaught. Each attack that Gliscor was able to redirect sent the power behind it shooting away, battering whatever it hit. Trees fell under the power of the attacks, the ground was churned up by the power passing over it.

"Gliscor!" The Pokémon burst out in desperation, but Ash was beyond reason. Primal rage dominated the attacks. Gliscor continued to try to block each of the blows coming from the Pokémon Master, claws able to deflect many of them, but never quite enough. Gliscor continued to give ground under the pressure as Ash pressed the advantage, refusing to give Gliscor any way back into the fight. Gliscor started to growl in panic as he was backed up against a tree and Ash continued to attack.

Ash roared in anger as his fist came crashing in, but Gliscor was able to dodge. Ash's strike blew the tree clear from the ground, sending it crashing into the forest. Gliscor tried to wriggle away, but Ash recovered too fast. As Gliscor flapped his wings to gain lift Ash swung a leg, kicking the Pokémon into the air and sending him crashing into the ground. As Gliscor struggled to get up, Ash's mind flashed back to a conversation he had with Espeon.

"Are you sure you can handle Gliscor?" Espeon had said.

"I've done it before." Ash answered calmly. "And he has betrayed me. He has turned away from me. This is a score I need to settle."

Espeon looked at her master sadly. "I know. But try to remember, just because he turned against you, it doesn't mean he is like all the others that left all those years ago. I know that there is still some unfinished business there."

"That is what you think this is about?" Ash asked in disbelief.

"No." Espeon said. "But I would be shocked if it didn't have any impact."

"I assure you" Ash said. "This is completely different."

"I hope so." Espeon said.

Ash considered what his Pokémon was saying. "You think I'm still angry?"

"You were never angry." Espeon said. "But you were hurt."

Ash nodded slowly. "That hadn't registered in the slightest."

As Ash strode after the fallen Pokémon a small part of his mind reflected that whilst he had been right, Espeon may also have had a point. This was nothing to do with the Pokémon that had left him years ago, his friends abandoning him. But he could not deny that Gliscor was taking a lot of punishment that could have been intended for other targets. Yet even as Ash registered this thought, his anger caused him to speed up as he advanced on his foe. As Ash reached Gliscor he snapped a hand out, grasping the Pokémon. Gliscor tried to raise his claws in defence but he wasn't quick enough.

"Nobody betrays me." Ash shouted as his fist burst straight through Gliscor's defence and pinned the Pokémon up against a tree. "Nobody turns their back on me. I give you everything."

Before Gliscor could say anything else Ash threw the Pokémon across the clearing, into the remnants of the trees that Mellanie had set on fire. As the Pokémon crashed to ground Ash turned and started panting. He looked around to realise just how far he had driven Gliscor, and how far he had thrown the Pokémon back.

Gary ran through the laboratory. He heard a loud crash behind him as he knocked something off where it had been sat, but he didn't care. As soon as Max had said that he thought he had seen something go flying over the laboratory, Gary was off. Misty had said something behind him but he hadn't heard it. He burst through the front doors of the laboratory and looked down on Pallet Town. The sleepy town didn't seem to have reacted to the battle that had raged along the edge of it. There was movement in the town but nothing else. Gary's gaze ran across the town, searching.

"Gary!"

Misty came running out after her fiancé, skidding to a stop next to him. She reached out and held his hand, turning him slightly towards her.

"Red, I need to…" Gary started, but Misty stopped him with a hand. She reached out and hugged him, pulling him close for a moment before releasing Gary and turning away.

"I know." Misty said quietly. "But you won't find him like this."

"He can't have gone far!" Gary protested, but Misty shook her head.

"You're not thinking straight." She said softly, concern in her voice. "Think of the power of those attacks. If that was what sent him flying, he will have gone a long way." Misty trailed off, but Gary knew there was more.

"What?" He half growled.

"I…" Misty started, before breaking off. "I worry about what condition he will be in when we find him." She said, her voice dropping almost to a whisper. "Not much could survive that kind of explosion."

Gary stared at his fiancé before turning away and looking out across the town again, his gaze searching frantically. Movement in the sky caught his gaze and his heart leapt, only for him to realise that it was a Togekiss soaring into the sky.

"Togekiss will find him."

This time it was Dawn who stepped out of the laboratory. She gestured behind her. "I think you broke something by the way."

"I don't care." Gary said, his voice sounding incredibly tired as the adrenaline started to wear off. "But thank you Dawn."

"No need to worry." The coordinator flashed him a smile. "If he is out there Togekiss will find him and bring us to him."

Before Gary could say anything else, May and Drew emerged from the laboratory.

"The one time I don't have Beautifly on me." May said, the grumpiness evident in her voice. "Otherwise I'd send my own Pokémon out."

"What about Max?" Drew asked.

"I think his Pokémon are pretty battered." Dawn said. "He's treating them."

"Why are his anymore hurt than ours? Togekiss is out searching." Drew said.

"Because Max let his take the majority of the hits." May snapped. "His Pokémon threw themselves in the way of attacks to protect ours."

"Sorry…" Drew said, backing off quickly.

"It doesn't matter." Misty said. "We don't need Haunter."

She raised her arm and pointed into the sky. Togekiss was swooping back towards them, clearly excited.

"Let's go." Gary said, but Misty held out an arm.

"Drew, May, stay here. Make sure that the laboratory is still defended." Misty ordered.

"Why?" Drew asked.

"What if they come back?" Misty asked. "We need to know we can retreat here."

"Retreat?" Drew snorted. "We aren't at war Misty."

Misty didn't smile. "We might not be." She said. "But something is very wrong, and we need to make sure that we have somewhere that is safe. We will bring the Professor back."

May dragged her husband away, pulling him inside before he could say anything else to antagonise Misty.

"What about me?" Dawn asked.

"You are coming with us." Misty said firmly, her voice laden with authority. "Togekiss is your Pokémon, you should be there as well."

Ash stopped panting and looked around at the destruction he had wrought. He sighed as he walked slowly towards where he had thrown Gliscor. He supposed his anger probably had gotten the better of him, but it had worked. Gliscor was surely beaten. Very few Pokémon could endure an onslaught of the kind that he had unleashed. Ash stepped over a fallen tree which had huge hole in it from where it had been caught by the power. He glanced down at it and conceded that his anger had more than gotten the better of him. The part of the forest that he was in was lucky to be standing. But if Gliscor had been able to survive the attack, the Pokémon would surely have resurfaced by now. As Ash reached the edge of the burnt area he looked in. There was a small glow in the centre. It could be embers that hadn't quite burned out yet, but it seemed to be just a little too strong. Ash realised what it was a split-second before the Hyper Beam shot out towards him. Pure instinct caused him to throw himself to one side, aura flowing away from him in an attempt to redirect the attack.

It nearly worked. The majority of Gliscor's attack was redirected but a small bit caught Ash. It sent him spinning as he fell to the ground, but it didn't break through his defence. Ash rolled and was on his feet in an instant, assuming a defensive posture as Gliscor crawled out of the remnants of the tree Ash had thrown him into. He looked at Ash, ready for more battles and shook his head, almost in disbelief.

"Glis." The Pokémon said heavily, flopping down, his claws the only thing stopping his face from dropping into the mud. "Gliscor, Gliscor."

Ash lowered his arms and stepped forwards. "You surrender?"

Gliscor nodded, his head bowed in defeat. The marks of the battle were evident, bruises all over the Pokémons body. There was what appeared to be a dark liquid dripping from a series of cuts down one side of the body. Gliscor coughed suddenly and more of the liquid fell from his mouth, pooling at the ground. Ash looked down at his defeated opponent, coughing up blood on the forest floor.

"It would appear that you have won." A voice said. "Congratulations."

Ash turned to see Espeon prowling towards him, Alakazam on one side and Meganium on the other. Mellanie was just behind them, looking around at the devastation that surrounded them with a slightly fearful expression on her face.

"Yes." Ash said, before frowning slightly at Meganium. "Why has…"

"Meganium come?" Espeon asked, her voice disapproving. "Because I suspected you might attack Gliscor a little too strongly."

Meganium moved past Ash and took Gliscor in her vines, pouring energy into him. Ash stepped forwards and held a hand out, putting it on the side of Gliscors head. Sending his aura out he realised how much damage he had done to Gliscor. Quickly he started to heal the wounds that could prove fatal, leaving others to heal naturally. After a couple of minutes Ash took his hand away and gestured for Meganium to release Gliscor.

"Ganium?" She asked.

"I know he's not fully recovered." Ash said wearily. "But he will survive. And perhaps this time he will learn what it means to go up against me."

Meganium nodded and lowered Gliscor to the ground. Ash knelt down next to the battered Pokémon.

"Alright Gliscor. It is time you talk. Who caused you to turn against me?"