"BRING THEM BACK!" Ash shouted, attacking Arceus as soon as they landed.
"They were destroyed, it's not that easy." Arceus said.
"I DON'T CARE! YOU'RE ARCEUS! BRING MY POKEMON BACK!" Ash shouted through the tears.
"I told you there was a risk to this and that you should have gotten help when we started." Arceus warned. "They aren't the only ones gone though, countless other Pokemon and trainers were in those woods, but now you know why we can't let him get the plates."
"Fine, but get me backup, I can't do this without a full team, I'm calling Professor Oak." Ash said angrily.
"Ash, that's not an option." Arceus said, looking down.
"No." Ash said, his eyes open wide.
"It's taking everything I have to keep Sinnoh in place, but Kanto, Johto, and Hoenn, they're gone." Arceus admitted.
"No, no, no, they can't be gone. My Mom, Professor Oak, Brock, Misty, Tracey, May, Max! All my Pokemon!" Ash said in shock. "YOU KNEW THIS WAS HAPPENING! WE COULD HAVE SAVED THEM!"
"AND WHAT!" Arceus pointed out. "HOPE THAT MISSIGNO AND HIS FORCES NEVER ATTACKED THEM WHILE THEY WERE HERE! I PROMISE, ONCE THIS IS ALL OVER I WILL RESET EVERYTHING BACK TO THE WAY IT WAS, BUT FOR NOW YOU NEED TO KEEP CALM!"
"Once we save the world, this alliance is done." Ash said point blank. "I don't care what problems you have after this, that is your fight. Now go and get me some allies from somewhere that isn't destroyed, while I get the next plate and heal my remaining Pokemon."
"The next closest plate is in the mines south of this city, it is the Earth Plate, for the ground type." Arceus said.
"Snorlax and Kingler would've been great for that." Ash commented.
"I sincerely apologize Ashton, I promise I will bring them back when I reset everything, but just get the plate, I will find you help, the best trainers we can get." Arceus assured.
"Do that, I'll be back with that plate." Ash said, angrily walking off as Arceus stood there concerned about how they would proceed.
"Ashton, please I'm sorry for yelling at you." Arceus apologized.
Ash walked off angry at Arceus's actions nonetheless.
In Oreburgh Mine
"Alright, show yourself." Ash said, walking in anger on his face as he looked through the bottom floor of the mine. "I don't want to run around, just send out the plate Pokemon and let's get this over with."
"Get out. Get out!" A man exclaimed, in mining gear.
"No, I'm here to help, and I'm not leaving, not again." Ash said. "Sceptile be ready, locals said the gym leader Roark had been acting weird and he uses rock types, between that and the Earth Plate, this should be simple."
"Sceptile." Sceptile said, calmly standing next to Ash.
"Golem get them out." Roark said, as a solid earth Golem grew from the mineshaft.
"Sceptile use Leaf Blade!"
"Golem use Flamethrower!"
Sceptile's agility and dexterity allowed him to avoid the flames before slicing through Golem with ease.
"Sceptile use Leaf Blade again!"
"Use Flamethrower!"
Sceptile continued leaping in front of and behind Golem, keeping the rock type from being able to aim effectively, slicing through it over and over again until it's dirt like body finally collapsed back to the ground.
"I told you send out the Plate Pokemon." Ash said angrily.
"Rampardos, protect our mine!" Roark said angrily.
"Still not what I'm looking for, but no matter. Sceptile use Leaf Blade!"
"Rampardos use Avalanche!"
Sceptile dodged each rock, slicing through them before striking Rampardos, but Ash could tell he was getting exhausted.
"Sceptile return for now! Pikachu you're up! Use Iron Tail!"
"Rampardos use Earthquake!"
The mine shook as Pikachu leapt at Rampardos, striking it with an Iron Tail to the head, causing the Head Butt Pokemon to stumble backwards.
"Rampardos use Head Smash!"
"Use another Iron Tail!" Ash called out.
Pikachu leapt at Rampardos again, slamming his tail down on the rock type directly on the head, shattering the fake Pokemon into dust.
As Rampardos returned to the earth, the mine shook as Roark's form distorted.
"I told you to run, but now it's too late." Roark said, as the dirt and rocks of the mine enveloped his body, becoming a Tyranitar like creature.
"Pikachu enough, let Heracross deal with this." Ash said, having Pikachu be right next to him. "Heracross use Brick Break!"
"Taste Aerial Ace!"
The Tyranitar raced forward, exchanging blows with Heracross multiple times as both circled back coming to a skidding stop.
"We don't need to do this Roark, no one needs to get hurt, but I will if I have to." Ash said.
"You came here, I tried to warn you, this power it wants and it will get!" Roark exclaimed from within the Tyranitar.
"Yeah, I've had a long day, so that's not going to happen." Ash said. "Heracross use Brick Break!"
Heracross launched forward, striking the makeshift armor of Tyranitar breaking it apart and sending it flying backwards.
"Try a Stone Edge!" Roark called out, slamming their fist into the ground.
"Dodge it with Aerial Ace!" Ash called out.
Heracross sped through the shaft, dodging stones that were jutting out from every direction, swiftly avoiding each and every one of them before slamming his horn right into the Tyranitar, breaking the Earth Plate free as Roark fell to the ground, the dirt and stone falling off of him.
"I told you, this wasn't necessary." Ash said, scooping the plate up with his bag. "Don't worry, we'll make sure this get's fixed."
"What happened to my father, in Canalave, was it the same thing?" Roark asked weakly.
"Was your father Byron?" Ash asked.
Roark nodded.
"Yes, we already removed his plate and I will not stop until I fix this and return everything to normal, like none of this ever happened, this wasn't your fault, this fight, it's bigger than any trainer." Ash said, comforting Roark as he stopped moving. "Let's go," Ash said to Pikachu and Heracross, "Arceus will fix him when it's all done."
Back to the north of Oreburgh City
"Ashton, that was fast." Arceus commented.
"Yeah, well now that I know the opposite of what will happen when we don't get them, I'm not exactly willing to take my time." Ash said, opening his bag to reveal the Earth Plate. "I see you found us no assistance."
"On the contrary, I simply needed to wait until I could summon all four of them safely." Arceus said.
"And who is it that is strong enough to help?" Ash asked.
"You'll see, the five of you have quite a bit in common." Arceus said as four golden portals opened above them.
Current plate locations
With Ash and Arceus
Splash
Iron
Insect
Earth
With Paul and MissigNo
Pixie
Draco
Unknown Location
Dread
Fist
Flame
Icicle
Meadow
Mind
Sky
Spooky
Stone
Toxic
Zap