"Wait- there's nothing we can do then!" Ash said.

"Not exactly," Celera said. "You could take out her Sableye or Shedninja before she can use Skill Swap, but I think we should have another plan in case she succeeds. Oh look- we're outside now."

The tunnel that Excadrill was making suddenly sloped upwards and they exited the tunnel.

They were in a narrow valley. There weren't any people or Pokemon around, and a small stream ran sinuously along the floor.

"I found this place some time ago," Celera said. "I don't think that Freyja knows about it since she isn't one for exploring." Her face fell. "I also buried Sheldon here."

"Who?" Ash asked.

"He was an apprentice of Arthur of the Elite Four," Celera said. "Like me, he tried opposing the Gym Leaders, but was wounded in a battle. I tried to help him, but he eventually succumbed to his injuries. I buried him here where his remains wouldn't be desecrated by others." She then turned to a small part of the wall, and gently tapped it. It crumbled to reveal a small hole. "This is a secret base. I think we should camp here for the night before we go to a mountain base where you can call your associates back home and ask for a Pokemon that can help you beat Freyja."

"I can do that?" Ash asked.

"Haven't you heard of the Pokemon Storage System? It was developed and is currently maintained by Selena." Celera asked.

"Sure I have, but that was back home," Ash said.

"Oh? You had one back where you come from too?" Celera asked.

"Mr. Jennings never mentioned it though," Ash said. "And if there is one, doesn't that mean that Selena can take the Pokemon."

"Don't worry, she can't steal anyone's Pokemon mid-transit- against the Accord set by the Gym Leaders, see a few of them like Linnea, Vanessa, and Wade have a large collection of Pokemon and would need use of it, but I don't think Marley or Thomdolt did which might explain why no one's bothered explaining it. So you can ask your aides to send you a Pokemon that can take on them."

"Oh," Ash said, suddenly very relieved. Nearby, Pikachu had fallen asleep.

"Long day, huh?" Celera said looking at the sleeping mouse.

"Nah, I think he was just on a sugar rush and it went away now," Ash said. His stomach rumbled.

"I have some food here that I nicked from the observation post," Celera said.

It was all mainly packed rations, after all, it was supposed to last for a long time, and not as good as the food back at the feast, but Ash was hungry and wolfed it down like it was gourmet. Celera had either already eaten or just didn't have an appetite.

And so, Ash tried to strike some conversation.

"Um, about those voices that came from the phone," Ash said. "I've been getting messages like that too." He played some of them on his Pokedex.

"Do you have any idea who they're from?" Celera asked.

"Nope," Ash said between mouthfuls, which was kind of rude but he didn't really care anymore. "Some people told me it was from Wade, and then they changed their minds, and I don't really know anymore."

"It was probably one of the Gym Leaders," Celera said. "Who else would have the expertise to hack your Pokedex, and have recordings of the Elite Four on hand? Only thing is I can't think of a single one who would want to do this, not even Wade."

There was a drawn out silence for a few minutes.

"During your travels," Celera asked hesitantly, "did anyone… did the Gym Leaders tell you what happened to the Elite Four?"

Ash, despite being nearly as dense as a rock, could tell that she was talking about her sister. "Umm, no, they said that no one besides Selena or the Eighth Gym Leader knew. I mean, even Freyja said that she thought it would have been hard to kill them." Ash didn't bother adding that she had also said that Selena would have probably found a way, because he didn't think that Celera needed to hear that.

"I see," Celera said, and her face visibly fell. "There is hope I suppose. Did any of them, perhaps, give some knowledge regarding the Eight Gym Leader?"

"No," Ash said. "They all said they couldn't."

Celera stroked her chin. "Quite an enigma. As far as a I remember, the Eighth Gym Leader was a man named Fredrick, and during my spying after the Elite Four fell, I learned that one day a mysterious man had suddenly appeared and defeated him, which was no small feat, given Fredrick's own prodigal skill. Several minutes after that, an explosion was heard for miles around which emanated from the Elite Four's headquarters. The very next day, this new Eighth Gym Leader had gathered the others and led them in a battle against the Elite Four. Why he did so- or why the others would support him in a suicidal venture is beyond me, though all I hear is that it was necessary somehow."

"It wasn't very suicidal," Ash said. "They won, after all. Maybe he had a plan or something."

"Then, they drew up the Accord," Celera said. "It was clear to me that the Eighth Gym Leader was the ringleader behind the whole operation, which was why he got to style himself 'First Among Equals', but I couldn't find any more information on him, not even a description of what he looks like. I- and the rest of us who resisted the Gym Leaders- didn't dare wander near Selena's or his territory, because it was clear that both outclassed us as Trainers."

"I've never really thought of him," Ash said. "I mean, the one who's mainly been fighting with me is Selena, and he's been mentioned, but I don't think any of the others like him and he doesn't seem like much of a threat. Plus, they seem to think that he's very arrogant."

"That he is of course," Celera said. "Why else would he call himself His Majesty, the Emperor? That's a title only the Elite Four Champion should have." Ash remembered Mr. Jennings voicing a similar opinion.

"I heard that there wasn't a Champion for a long time," Ash said. "What was that about?"

"To become Champion, one would have to defeat the rest of the Elite Four in a sequence," Celera said. "After the very first Elite Four Champion left, none of the others were powerful enough to take the spot and they spent a good chunk of their time fighting among themselves. Although I think some of them may have been more powerful than the others, they weren't strong enough to beat each of their comrades in a row with no rest. People thought that Emily might shake things up, but it all pretty much remained in the status quo anyway even after she joined."

"Mr. Jennings told me there was a rumor that a new Champion had been chosen just before the whole mess started," Ash said. "Did you hear about that?"

"No," Celera said, looking surprised. "That's probably just a baseless rumor. If there hadn't been a Champion for ages, how would there suddenly be a new one? None of the existing members were strong enough to take the title."

"What if there was a new one?" Ash asked.

"For that, that person would have to defeat all eight Gym Leaders to gain the right to challenge the Elite Four," Celera said. "And I would've known if the realm had been united another time."

Ash didn't say anything, but something about Celera's words seemed off. He was sure that he had heard something different, or maybe, something that had been implied that contradicted what she had said. But he couldn't remember where he had heard it, or exactly just what he had heard.

The rest of the meal passed in silence.

Once the meal was over, Ash suddenly got an idea. "Hey- do you want to battle?"

Celera looked surprised. "A battle- you mean a Pokemon Battle? Why?"

"Well, you know, just a friendly one," Ash said. "Things have gotten so serious since I've been here, and all the battles I've fought have been with strange rules or against people I knew wouldn't be going all out. So I thought it'd be nice to have a normal one- between friends."

Celera blinked. She hadn't had a battle since Freyja, and that hardly counted as a real battle. However, she was suddenly getting an odd feeling. The same sort of thrill she had when she had walked into a patch of grass for the first time as a little girl. She smiled. "All right youngling, just don't expect me to go easy on you."

Pikachu had gotten up, but Ash wasn't going to use him first. No, he started out with his Fearow.

Celera sent out her Crobat. The two Pokemon began maneuvering in the air.

"Crobat! Use Air Slash!" Celera said.

"Fearow! Dodge it and use Drill Peck!" Ash said.

Fearow wasn't able to avoid the attack completely and it nipped it on its right wing, but it pressed forward and landed a hit with Drill Peck.

It was dark out, and this gave Crobat an advantage, but Fearow was still able to hold its own. Crobat should've had an advantage, being able to use Air Slash at a distance, but Fearow got up close and so Celera instead resorted to using Poison Fang.

In the end, the two Pokemon fainted together, though Fearow fainted seconds before Crobat did.

"Excadrill! Take up the mantle!" Celera said.

Ash was confused now. The Ground/Steel typing meant that most of his Pokemon would be at a disadvantage, so he chose to go with Arcanine.

"Excadrill! Use Dig!" Celera said, clearly hoping to finish the battle before a Fire attack could be used.

Ash though, was ready for that. "Arcanine, use Dig too!" Ash said.

Arcanine also burrowed under the ground, but it soon became clear to Ash that it was a stupid mistake: Excadrill would of course have the advantage underground, especially as neither Trainer could really give commands in this sort of situation.

After a tense few minutes, the ground erupted to reveal Arcanine being tossed by Excadrill. Excadrill was now going for Arcanine's exposed underbelly, but Ash was fast. "Arcanine! Use Flamethrower!"

Arcanine opened its mouth and bathed its opponent in flames as Excadrill's claws went for his stomach; as a result of which Excadrill fell to the ground- its attack thwarted completely.

"Arcanine! Another Flamethrower!" Ash said.

Excadrill didn't survive this one, and was down for the count. But Arcanine was also pretty beat up, so Ash withdrew him.

"Skorupi! Go!" Ash said.

Celera sent out her Dugtrio, and this time the match was in Celera's favor. A single Earthquake was enough to defeat poor Skorupi.

Ash knew Grimer would probably meet the same fate, so he instead went with Pikachu.

"An Electric type?" Celera asked. "Brave choice."

"Pikachu and I have beaten Ground types before," Ash said. "And I'm not going to let a Type disadvantage stop me now! Pikachu, Iron Tail!"

Dugtrio's Earthquake was useless as long as Pikachu was in the air, and Iron Tail landed. Hard.

Still, Dugtrio took the hit and countered with a Fury Swipes, but unfortunately this led to it getting Paralyzed.

"Argh," Celera said. "Use Earthquake again! Take it out!"

Pikachu wasn't able to jump away in time, and moreover, Celera was lucky. The Paralysis didn't seem to affect the Dugtrio for the time being, and Pikachu took the hit, which knocked it out.

"Pikachu! Return!" Ash said. He didn't have any Pokemon that could avoid that Earthquake, so he knew he would have to be fast. Then an idea struck him. "Arcanine! I choose you!"

Arcanine, though battered and bruised, was still standing. "Arcanine! Use Extremespeed!"

The attack was enough to take the weakened Dugtrio out.

With a smile, Ash remembered what had happened once when Max had asked Brock what Extremespeed did, and Brock had replied, 'It's when a Pokemon's speed goes to the extreme.'

How Ash missed them.

Celera sent out her Weezing. "Weezing, Sludge Bomb!"

Arcanine wasn't able to dodge the attack in its weakened state, but might have even survived, had the attack not inflicted it with Poison as well.

And so, Ash's fourth Pokemon was also down. He then sent out his Haunter.

"I see, brilliant choice," Celera remarked. "After all, a Ghost type is immune to both Explosion and Self-Destruct, moves that a Weezing would obviously know and use in case things went bad. No wonder you're a Gym Leader."

"Oh, well, that's just how I roll," Ash said, not bothering to point out that he had just chosen Haunter on a whim, not because he had thought his strategy so far ahead.

"Haunter! Use Shadow Ball!" Ash said.

"Weezing! Sludge Bomb!"

The two Pokemon continued to bombard each other with attacks, but Ash had the upper hand thanks to the fact that Haunter was also a Poison type. Weezing held her ground bravely, but it became obvious that she couldn't resist forever, and the inevitable happened and she fainted.

"Well, I think you've just beat me," Celera said, though with a broad smile on her face. "I can't remember the last time I had so much fun though!"

"I won?" Ash said. "You don't have any more Pokemon?"

Celera shook her head.

"Well you're pretty good too," Ash said. "I lost four Pokemon before you did, so if it was a four-on-four battle, you'd have won."

"Yes, but I raised only four Pokemon so they were stronger, while someone raising six divides their attention, so that evens it out," Celera replied.

"Oh," Ash said. Back in Kanto and most of the other regions, his battles had been with people who had the same number of Pokemon, and that was what was considered fair. Maybe things were different here.

"Not to mention I wouldn't have won if I had been challenging you," Celera said. "Then you'd be able to use your special rules of both the Badges, and I'd be defeated easily then."

It had gotten very late out, so after healing both of their Pokemon Ash and Celera nearly collapsed on their makeshift beds and fell asleep.

A/N: Julie Togepi, thanks for the review, and it makes sense if you might not have guessed it right if you've only seen the anime. I don't remember Shedninja ever being used in the anime (though it was in a movie once) and the anime has always been wishy-washy with using Abilities, sometimes they work, sometimes they don't.

JayFan67, I hope Ash's plan doesn't disappoint. All he has to do is find a PC box and then transfer Pokemon before Freyja finds him and voila, he's won. At least, that's Celera's plan. And unfortunately, plans have a tendency to not work as they should, though I won't be giving away any spoilers.

Thanks for reading, and do please review if you like!