This is the ninety-sixth chapter in the Pokemon Heroes story. The Dark Signers will finally come back in this one, after not being seen since the third season. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon or any of the songs

(Opening song)

Brendan, May, and Dawn continued walking towards Olivine City. The city wasn't that far away. It was still the same day when they were attacked by the bounty hunters.

"We should be in Olivine in about twenty minutes if we stay on the path," said Brendan. "When we get there, I need you girls to stay in the Pokemon Center at all times. I'm going to head towards the Poketech Station to fix my Pokewatch so I can find out where Drew is."

"No promises," said Dawn underneath her breath with a small smirk.

"What?"

"I said yes," said Dawn. Brendan nodded and looked back at the map. Without Ash, Brendan was more quiet, since May and Dawn talked about girl stuff. He started getting so lonely that he started talking with his Pokemon instead.

"How long has it been since you told us we're almost there?" asked May.

"Two minutes," said Brendan. "I said we're gonna get there at some point. Just wait..."

"We're here!" screamed Dawn, and she took May's hand and they both ran past Brendan. Brendan looked up from the map and saw the city off to the distance. He could already smell the ocean. He looked back at his map.

"I guess my measurements were wrong," said Brendan. He rolled up the map.

"You two have to stay with me!" yelled Brendan. "I can't let you run around by yourselves!"

"Then catch up!" yelled May. Brendan sighed and ran after them.

The Ones You Care For

Ash, Drew, and Lnoki were lost. They traveled around the forest just to look for Brendan and the others, but thanks to Drew, they took a wrong turn, and now even Pikachu wasn't able to pick up their scents. What they didn't know was that the kids were already out of the forest and were on their way to Olivine.

"A tracker my ass," said Ash angrily. "You said you knew where we were going."

"Pikachu sent us to a dead end, and I helped get around it," retorted Drew.

"And tell me how that worked out?"

"It worked rather well," said Drew. "We got around it." Ash just wanted to throw Drew off a cliff, but with some self-restraint, he didn't. Lnoki was walking behind them at a slow, steady pace as he patiently watched the two boys bicker. He yawned.

"You wanna take a break?" asked Lnoki. "We've been traveling for hours."

"Not until we find them," said Ash. "I have to make sure they're okay. Are they picking up yet?"

"No," said Drew as he dialed the number of Brendan's Pokewatch. "I think it's still broken." Ash sighed and continued walking. Lnoki looked at him worriedly.

"We'll find them," said Lnoki. "You don't have to be too worried about them." Ash didn't respond. They continued walking on in silence. After a few minutes, Ash suddenly stopped.

"What's wrong boy?" asked Lnoki. "You see something?" Ash looked around.

"This feeling?" thought Ash, and the feeling came back again, but stronger. Ash looked in the direction deeper in the woods. His eyes flashed blue, and his eyes grew angry.

"Ash?" asked Drew, and then Ash suddenly started running. His sudden reaction shocked both Lnoki and Drew. Lnoki nudged Drew to get him out of his shock, and they both ran after Ash.

Ash kept running, even with the constant yelling from Lnoki and Drew. Pikachu was holding onto his shoulder tightly, not to get blown off by the boy's speed.

"Pika!" yelled Pikachu.

Ash didn't pay attention to it. He just kept running. The voices of Lnoki and Drew started to disappear.

"Where the hell are you?" thought Ash. "I fucking felt you. Where are you, dammit!"

"You feel that, too?" said Ritchie is his head.

"And there you fucking are. Where have you been since Saffron?"

"You're starting to calm down, so I don't need to be talking to you 24/7. Right now, I'm just trying to keep calm the amount of aura you're releasing when you're pissed. Anyway, I'm starting to think it wouldn't be a good idea to fight this guy. Not now."

"What the hell do you mean not now?" thought Ash. "I'm gonna freaking end this basterd."

"I can already sense who it is. You're not ready yet."

"It better be who I think it is. I've been waiting for this for a long freaking time," thought Ash, and he broke through the bushes and landed at a clearing. There, with his back turned to them, stood a Dark Signer with his hood over his head (A/N: Organization XIII jacket). The Dark Signer noticed someone behind him and he turned around to face Ash.

"My lucky day," said Ash. "I get to kick your ass, Roman." The Dark Signer just stared at Ash, and then slowly removed his hood. Underneath it was a man with white hair and purple eyes. He smirked.

"Nice to see you again, Ash Ketchum," said Roman (A/N: Same looks he has in Yugioh 5Ds)

May placed her stuff on her bed. She jumped on it and grabbed the pillow and hugged it.

"I need you two to stay here," said Brendan. "I'll be back in a few hours."

"Why can't we go with you?" asked Dawn. "What if I want to see what's inside Poketech?"

"You wanna?"

"I couldn't care less about it," said Dawn. "Can we at least go into the city to hang out while we wait for you?"

"It might be dangerous."

"We'll be fine. We'll just be in the city for about an hour and come back here before you do. We promise."

Brendan thought, and then sighed.

"Fine," said Brendan. "But only if you come back before I do. Also..." Immediately, Dawn and May ran out of the room before Brendan could finish.

"Thank you, Brendan. Love you!"

Brendan watched them go. He then looked at his Pokewatch and closed their room door.

"Time to get this thing fixed."

May and Dawn were at an ice cream shop. They both ordered milkshakes and took the tables outside the shop. Dawn was looking at the brochure in the town.

"Next, we should head towards the Lighthouse," said Dawn. "I hear that it has an awesome view. I wish we could head towards the ocean and have a swim, but too bad it's Sharpedo season."

"Too bad," May repeated. "What time is it? Aren't we supposed to be heading back to the Pokemon Center?" Dawn looked through the shop's window to see the clock. It had already been an hour and a half since they left the Pokemon Center.

"Um, no, not yet," responded Dawn. "Poketech is always busy. If you don't make an appointment before coming in, you would have to wait in a waiting room for about two hours. Then it would take you another thirty minutes just to have your Pokewatch fixed. I know. I've been in one with Brendan to get our Pokewatches. Let's at least have another hour having fun."

"Alright," said May. "Doesn't matter to me. He's your boyfriend." Dawn smiled and took another drink from her milkshake. A question had been in her mind for a while, and she wondered if it would be okay to talk to May about it eventually. She had her chance to talk about it back in Ecruteak City, but it got interrupted.

"Hey May," said Dawn, getting May's attention, "Are you and Ash together now?" Dawn was expecting a nervous reaction from May, but instead got a smile.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean you and Ash and been together a lot lately, and awfully close. I saw that kiss on the cheek you gave him outside Saffron. Did it mean anything?"

"Of course it did," replied May.

"What?"

"I like him."

"You like him?" asked Dawn, her curiosity rising. "You mean like like, or just like?"

"Like like," said May. "Aren't you supposed to know this type of stuff already? You already have a boyfriend." Dawn just stared at May as she took another drink. She could hardly believe this.

"Have you kissed him yet?" asked Dawn. She was once again expecting a nervous reaction, or May saying that she hadn't.

"Of course."

"Holy shit!"

"How many times?!" asked Dawn as she stood from their table. May started counting with her fingers.

"I'm gonna say twice," said May. "One when we were in Snowpoint City and the second one was when we left Goldenrod City and headed toward Gardenia Town."

"Why haven't you told me about this?!" exclaimed Dawn as she finally broke. "I've gotta tell Brendan. Where is my Pokewatch? I never thought Ash would be a romantic type of guy."

"He is," said May. "He may not look like it, but he knows how to really treat a lady."

"Why was this a secret?" asked Dawn.

"Well, I wasn't supposed to tell anyone," said May. Dawn then suddenly stopped her rambling and excitement and looked down at May.

"You weren't?" asked Dawn as she sat back down. "You promised Ash, didn't you? You weren't supposed to be telling me? I hope I don't get you in trouble."

"Don't worry," said May as she finished her milkshake. "He doesn't care anymore about that."

"How do you know?"

"Because I do," said May. Dawn took another drink, and she stood up to throw her drink away. She then walked over to Dawn and took the brochure from her hand and looked inside it.

"We're heading towards the lighthouse?" asked May. Dawn was thinking. After all this time, her suspicions were right. She smiled. She always knew Ash and May had feelings for each other the first day she met them. She turned to May.

"Let's go."

Ash angrily stared at Roman. Roman kept on staring at him. He turned away from Ash and continued walking away.

"And where the hell do you think you're going?" asked Ash.

"I've got better things I should be doing now, Ketchum," said Roman. "I have no time to be playing with the likes of you."

"Don't you dare walk away from me!" yelled Ash as he surrounded his fist with aura and threw a punch at Roman's back. Roman was just pushed forward. He didn't fall down, or even looked damaged. He turned back to Ash.

"Stop pestering me, boy," said Roman. Ash charged towards the man again, but Roman took a step backwards and Ash went past him. Roman kneed Ash and took his hood and threw him against a tree. Ash quickly got up.

"I've been waiting to kick your ass for a long time," said Ash.

"I've noticed I haven't seen you since Ecruteak City," said Roman. "I see you've turned into a Nobody. Are you ready to join The Dark Signers? You're filled with nothing now."

"Shut up," said Ash as he stood and stretched. "I've been training long and hard since that day. I'm ready to kick your ass now."

"I don't have time for you," said Roman. "I have much more important matters to take care of." Roman started walking off, but once again took a step back, and Ash came with his Aura Blade in his hand and he swung it at the man. Ash turned to deliver another one, but Roman quickly blocked the blade as he quickly materialized his curved, long, purple blades on his hand. Roman smirked.

"A Ketchum never knows when to quit, do they?" asked Roman.

"Hell no."

Roman moved out of the way, and Pikachu came crashing down in the spot he was standing with its iron tail. It looked sternly at Roman.

"Fine then," said Roman. "Bring it." Ash and Pikachu charged towards Roman and swung their weapons, but Roman either blocked or dodged the attacks. Roman blocked Ash's Aura Blade and kicked the boy aside. Pikachu's iron tail did no effect on him, because Roman caught it, and held the Pokemon by its tail.

"Let go of it!" yelled Drew as he tossed out a Pokeball, and out came Flygon. "Flygon, use Dragonbreath." Flygon shot the hot, dragon type move at Roman, who easily deflected the blow with one hand. He dropped Pikachu to the ground, but before it could move, Roman put his foot on it to prevent it from moving, and then he looked up at Flygon. He quickly created a dark ball and threw it at the Pokemon. The speed of the ball coming towards it was so fast even the Pokemon couldn't dodge it, and it got hit and fell to the ground.

"Flygon!" yelled Drew as he ran by his Pokemon to check on it. Drew then glared at Roman.

"Get off Pikachu!" yelled Ash as he took his Aura Blade and swung it at Roman, who blocked it with his own weapon. Roman put his hand in front of Ash's face, and a huge wave of dark energy collided with the boy, sending him flying towards the ground. Roman then kicked Pikachu aside.

"Is that it boy?" asked Roman. "Have you had your fun yet?"

"Screw you man," said Ash. He de-materialized his Aura Blade and ran towards Roman with an aura covered fist and punch Roman, who deflected it with his elbow and kicked Ash on his side, but he stayed up. He threw another, but with every hit, Roman kept blocking it. Ash was amazed. Usually, he actually had a fighting chance against Roman, but now, he was like a Caterpie to Roman. Roman surrounded his arm with his power and slammed Ash to the ground. He prepared to put his foot on the boy's head, but was suddenly kicked across the face, staggering backwards. Lnoki had saved Ash, and the man bent down by the boy.

"That was reckless, idiot," said Lnoki.

"I've got this," said Ash. "I'll just send out Grovyle and..."

"That wouldn't be very smart," said Roman. "The one thing I enjoy the most is ripping a Pokemon's body limb from limb." Ash groaned and tried to stand up, but Lnoki tried to hold him down.

"Let me take care of this," said Lnoki.

"Fuck off," said Ash as he smacked the man's hand away. He turned to Roman, who was just staring at him.

"Why do you keep fighting?"

"Because I wanna kick your ass."

"Why?"

"The hell do you mean why?!" yelled Ash. "You tried hurting May. I'm gonna enjoy murdering you, basterd!" Roman shook his head.

"Silly boy," said Roman as he turned away. "You don't have the power to stop me."

"The hell did you say?" asked Ash as his eyes turned blue.

"I said you don't have the power," said Roman. "You're just a kid. A kid who wants to try to stop a group of adults. You should just give up. The Dark Signers have no business with you. We only have an interest to capture Ho-Oh, even if we have to kill her daughter in the process. If you leave now, we won't bother you anymore."

"YOU SON OF A BITCH!" yelled Ash, and he covered his body in aura and charged at Roman. The speed he was going in was blowing everything away. Roman was also surprised, and he was actually going to get hit, but suddenly, someone swiftly kicked Ash aside, and he went through six trees that tumbled to the ground. Roman looked at his savior, and saw another Dark Signer.

"Shit," thought Drew, trying to stay in the sidelines. "Now there're two of them." The Dark Signer straightened up and faced Roman.

"I ordered you not to follow me," said Roman.

"I had to," said The Dark Signer. "This was a risky mission you wanted to go on alone."

"Are you questioning my methods?"

"Not at all, master," said The Dark Signer as he looked towards Ash. "That boy's got more power than we think he has." Ash tried getting up, but fell back down. Drew went by his side to check on him. Lnoki prepared to attack the two Dark Signers, but waited for an opening.

"I can take care of myself, Saix," said Roman. The Dark Signer pulled down his hood, revealing the man with long blue hair and his stern expression (A/N: Looks just like the Organization XIII member). Roman sighed.

"Fine then, let's go."

He opened up a portal. Saix nodded, and they both pulled their hoods over their heads. They prepared to walk into the portal, but Roman stopped and looked at Ash.

"My real mission was to see you again, Ketchum," said Roman. "I wanted to see for myself if you've grown, but I can see that you haven't. I thought since you beat my fellow Dark Signer Drew, you've grown stronger because you've turned into a Nobody."

"What?" asked Drew, hearing his name. Ash forced himself up with his arms.

"He's talking shit, Drew," said Ash. "Don't listen to him."

"I'll see you another time, but try to get stronger the next time we meet," said Roman. "If you don't, then protecting your friends, protecting the ones you care for, will be nothing but a dream."

"Shut up," said Ash as aura started to cover his legs, and his teeth got sharper.

"It's true," said Roman. "You'll watch everyone die before you. You'll watch May die before you, just like the last time."

"SHUT UP!" yelled Ash as he charged towards Roman again, and his arm was engulfed in aura, and his hand had turned into a claw. Before he made contact with Roman, the man quickly turned and materialized his weapons and cut Ash, gashing him from his right shoulder down to his lower left side. Blood started exiting his body, and he fell to the ground.

"ASH!" yelled Lnoki, and he charged towards the Dark Signers.

"I didn't cut him too deep, so you should easily stitch him together," said Roman. "Goodbye, Ketchum. Even with Ritchie returning to you, you're still weak." They both entered the portal, and it disappeared, making Lnoki miss them. He slammed his fist on the ground, and turned to Ash and sighed. Drew was thinking, feeling some kind of nostalgia.

"Ritchie?" he thought.

"Finally I got this thing fixed," said Brendan as he walked towards The Pokemon Center. "Now I just call for Drew, and everything will be okay." He entered the building and went towards their room.

"Hey girls, I'm..." said Brendan before he noticed that no one was in the room. There was no sign anyone was in there since he left. He sighed.

"I knew it."

He walked outside The Pokemon Center and sat on the bench by it. The sun was beginning to set. After waiting about an hour, he saw May and Dawn walking towards the Pokemon Center with fashion clothes on them and bags on each hand. They were talking and smiling. They hadn't noticed Brendan yet. Before they entered the building, Brendan made himself known.

"Ahem," said Brendan. They both stopped and looked at the boy. They just stared at him.

"And who might you be?" asked Dawn. Brendan stood and took their hands and walked into The Pokemon Center. They entered their room and he closed the door.

"You two were supposed to be here before me."

"I know, but we got sidetracked," said May. "We, um, the line at the mall was too long, and then we had to get into the lighthouse where, um, the line was too long there too."

"There's no line at the lighthouse," said Brendan.

"We won't do it again," said Dawn. "We promise." Brendan sighed.

"I should've known they were gonna take long," thought Brendan, and he turned to them. "I've got my Pokewatch fixed. Now we can contact Drew."

"Great, let's do it right now," said May.

Lnoki continued putting bandages around Ash's chest and stomach. They were all quiet. Ash was the quietest, just staring at a tree. Drew was quiet because he was thinking. What Roman had said made him get curious.

"Hey old guy," said Drew, "what did that guy mean when he said Dark Signer Drew? There's a Dark Signer who has my name? And what about this Ritchie? I feel like I know him."

"I have no idea who this Ritchie is," said Lnoki. "But this Dark Signer named Drew is just a nickname he gives to another Dark Signer Ash killed."

"Ash killed a Dark Signer?" asked Drew. "How come I never knew this?"

"You didn't need to know," said Lnoki. They went back to being quiet, but then Dawn's Pokewatch in Drew's pocket started ringing. Everyone turned to Drew. He pulled it out and saw the number, and his eyes widened.

"It's Brendan," he said. He answered the call.

"Drew?" asked Brendan. "Please tell me this is Drew. Don't tell me he got mugged."

"Yeah, this is Drew," said Drew.

"Drew!" yelled May through the Pokewatch. "He's okay!"

"You better not mess with my Pokewatch," warned Dawn. "I want it back!"

"Well hello to you too," said Drew.

"Where the hell are you?" asked Brendan.

"I'm with Ash and..."

"You're with Ash?!" yelled May. "Where is he? Let me talk to him."

"Um, okay," said Drew. "Hey Ash, May wants to talk with you." Ash turned to Drew, but then turned away.

"I'll talk with her later," said Ash. "I'm not feeling so well right now."

"How did you get to Ash?" asked Brendan.

"They found me beaten up in some bushes," said Drew. "I'm with them now, so it's okay. Where are you guys, and what happened?"

"You don't remember?" asked Brendan. "I guess you hit your head too hard. But let me say to Ash that before he says anything or freaks out, listen first. Okay, here it goes. We were attacked by bounty hunters."

"What the hell?!" yelled Ash as he quickly snatched the Pokewatch from Drew. "Who were they? I'm gonna kill them. Where are you guys? I'm coming for you!"

"Did Brendan say to listen first?" asked Dawn.

"We're okay," said Brendan. "We've traveled to Olivine City to be safe. It was those bounty hunters we met before, with the guy who killed that Geodude. While we fought, Drew was blown away from an attack, so we were worried about him. They broke my Pokewatch, but I got it fixed."

"How far is Olivine?" asked Ash to Lnoki.

"It's about two days away," said Lnoki. "Drew got us lost, remember?"

"We're fine," said Brendan. "You don't have to come get us. Ash, you have to continue your training. Don't waste your time on us. We'll be okay. I promise. I'll protect May and Dawn."

"But-"

"No Ash," said Brendan. "You're training. I promise I'll protect her. If they show up again, I won't hold back this time. There's something I have to settle with them, and I want to be able to do it. Just trust me. Do you?" Ash bit his lip. He didn't know what to say.

"Are you saying you don't trust your friends?" Ash remembered Lnoki asking him. Ash lowered his head.

"Yeah, I trust you," said Ash.

"Good," said Brendan. "Oh, and also..."

"You talked with him too much," said May, and Ash heard her punching Brendan across the face and taking the Pokewatch.

"Hey Ash," said May. "Are you okay?" Ash didn't respond. He stared at the Pokewatch.

"Ash, you're there?"

"I'm here," said Ash.

"You sound sad, are you okay?" asked May.

"I'll see you another time, but try to get stronger the next time we meet," Ash remembered Roman saying to him. "If you don't, then protecting your friends, protecting the ones you care for, will be nothing but a dream."

"Ash?"

"I'll be back, May," said Ash. "I'll be back as soon as I'm done with my training. You have to be good to Brendan while I'm gone. I'll be back. I promise."

"Um, okay," said May confused. "Did something happen?"

"Nothing," said Ash with a smile. "I'll talk to you later."

"Okay," said May. "Be careful. Take care of Drew for us." Ash waited for May to hang up first, and she did. He then put the Pokewatch down. They once again were in silence, and then Ash turned to the other two, still with the smile.

"So when are we gonna go train?"

(Ending song)

Next Time on Pokemon Heroes:While Ash is training, Green comes and meets Drew once again. When they get lost together, Drew is about to experience true hell with her, and she's not gonna let him get away from her. Will Drew survive, and how will they work together to find Ash and Lnoki? Next Time: Drew and Green 2.

That was that chapter. I've decided that I'm gonna change my profile's information, since I've looked at it and realized how lazy it was describing myself. Starting next week, I'm going to include fun facts, and a chapter schedule, where it will include the titles of future chapters and a one sentence summary about what it could be about. I'll also give a description of myself, since you guys know nothing about me, like what shippings I like and the ones I hate (but I will not reveal my gender, for reasons in Pokemon Heroes that might be sexist, and I don't want to show dominance over one gender. I'm not that type of person). The schedule is getting back on track, so expect a chapter next Monday. See you next week!

Read and Review please :-)

(Views: 3,170)