Note: Sorry for the late update folks. Yesterday was my birthday, so I was taking it easy during the weekend.

I've also been enjoying Scarlet quite a bit, despite the performance issues (and make no mistake it is valid criticism, especially in the modern gaming landscape).

With the anime (likely) ending it's somewhat of a shame that we won't see Ash in Paldea. They'll probably be an influx of fics with that very premise. Might make that my next project after confluence now...

Anyhow, enjoy.

Hoenn Chapter 6: Null and Noivern!

"What… is that?"

The tower remained untouched, even after the massive amount of energy had been unleashed upon it by Rayquaza. From the point of impact May and the other trainers could see that a strange, blackened object was sticking out of the tower and had latched onto the end of the spear. It looked almost like a twisted arm, with crooked fingers arcing around the spearhead.

The spear dissipated, releasing Rayquaza from the grip of the tower. The legendary pokémon eyes widened with fury as it released a hyper beam directly at the arm. The arm was unfazed, absorbing the energy into its palms. The energy coursed throughout the tower before it retaliated, releasing the energy another massive explosion, knocking the mighty dragon right off and hurtling towards the ground.

"Rayquaza!" Ruby screamed as the legendary pokémon plummeted, hitting the beach with a loud thud. The blackened pool at the base of the tower unleashed a flurry of blackened tentacles, gripping onto Rayquaza's serpentine body. They began to sink back into the sludge, dragging the pokémon along with it. Rayquaza thrashed about, unleashing various beams of energy at the mass of tentacles to little avail. They were destroyed quite easily by the powerful attacks, though they soon regenerated and would simply grasp on to the freed sections once again.

"We have to help!" Ash called as he sprinted towards his Flygon, leaping onto its back and taking off almost immediately.

"Noi!" Noivern raced behind his trainer.

"Ya'll heard 'im," Sapphire was already on her Flygon as well. The other trainers quickly leapt onto their own Flygons as well. "We'll keep Rayquaza safe, Grannie!"

"I'm sure it will be fine. Might wanna keep an eye on that young man though."

With that the trainers followed, their faces tearing up as dust and rain pickled their faces. Their eyes stung and their focus blurred, the only indication that they were approaching the tower being the energy radiating from it becoming brighter and brighter.

"How are we gonna do this?!" Ruby wasn't exactly fond of reckless plans, even though he was no stranger to them.

"Just keep hitting those tentacles till it lets go!" Ash screamed. Perhaps an impulsive plan, but there was no time to think of something more nuanced or calculated. Not while Raquaza was seconds away from being absorbed into the abyssal substance.

The trainers approached the site of battle and began their assault. Individually they each took turns attacking the tentacles, the Flygon using a mix of flamethrowers and dragon breaths to destroy them.

"We're not fast enough!" May screamed as she pulled out a pokeball. "Gonna need some help. Go Altaria!"

Looking more like a large plume of white feathers then an actual dragon, Altaria shot out of its Pokeball ready to fight.

"Altaria! Aim for those black tentacles!"

Altaria joined in the firefight, though it would be optimistic to believe that a single Pokémon could turn the tide so easily. The feathery pokémon darted around lighting bolts and oncoming tentacle attacks with a surprising grace.

"Altar!" The pokémon unleashed a barrage of energy bolts at the tentacles. As the tentacles were either blown up completely or withered away in blazing flames, more would almost immediately spring back up. It seemed like they were merely slowing them down. Little did they realise that they had been slowing them down just enough.

Rayquaza unleashed another terrible howl as its eyes glowed a sizzling yellow, a swirl of electrical energy gathering around its palm. Another darkened storm cloud gathered above the tower, now casting a shadow over the entire beach.

"Everybody get outta here!" Sapphire quickly looped back as lightning strikes crashed around them. The others quickly followed as the bolts became more and more intense, slamming into the tower. The black sludge writhed, and the tentacles ceased their assault for but a moment. Rayquaza leered up off the ground and slammed its palm against the tower, sending a thunderous shockwave of electrical energy surging towards the entire structure.

A shriek that pierced the ears of everyone present. The tentacles folded into the structure, giving Raquaza just enough time to escape their grasp completely. The large pokémon retreated back towards the beach, but not before turning around to look at the trainers. For a moment time seemed to stand still as the dragon's eyes met each and every one of theirs, before he quickly disappeared over the horizon. The storm calmed down and the tower returned to a neutral state.

"We did it… huh…" Ruby said, catching his breath.

"Good job Flygon. You too, Noivern." Noivern flew next to Ash, nodding in approval. His attention however was focused on the cliff face where Rayquaza had disappeared to. The trainers were more concerned with the tower.

"What were those tentacles? In Mount Coronet we were attacked by those distorted trainers. But we never got attacked by the walls," Yellow said.

"Whatever… that is on the tower, Rayquaza doesn't like it. We gotta go speak to it." Ruby adjusted his hat. "Let's go see where it went off to."

It seemed quite… calm.

After the violent display it exhibited just moments before, Rayquaza sat peacefully away from the cliff's edge, its lower body coiled like a Ekans at rest. The legendary pokémon didn't move an inch as the trainers approached.

"Everyone be careful. We don't know what it's gonna do."

It's only been a few years since we last met, dear Sapphire. Though it's good to see that your instincts are as sharp as ever.

The deep, feminine voice echoed in the trainer's head. Ash immediately knew that it wasn't the voice of a distorted trainer. This wasn't an invasion of the mind, but rather the words floated gently along the surface of their conscience. And unlike the distorted trainers, they could clearly tell what the source of the voice was.

"Rayquaza… you can…" Sapphire stuttered.

Yes. Most of the ancient pokémon that you share this world with can as well. Though most of us like to keep to ourselves when we can.

"This whole time, huh? Even when we stopped the meteor?" Ruby asked.

As I said, we keep to ourselves if possible. It didn't seem necessary at the time, and considering that we managed to destroy it and the creature that dwelled inside, it seemed I wasn't wrong.

"So… it's really you." Ruby stepped up to Rayquaza, raising his palm. "It's good to see you again."

Likewise. With a smile Rayquaza brought its large head down, placing its muzzle on the trainer's palm.

To think that one day it would be you saving me. In my own rage and hubris I thought I could rid the invaders from the tower. But I underestimated its power.

"What is it?" Sapphire asked.

It's a wound.

"A wound?" Ash asked.

A wound in space and time. Pure dark matter of the world beyond, taken physical form.

"The world beyond? You mean the distortion world?"

Yes. The place that Giratina eternally resides. At least we thought.

"So somehow Giratina escaped and is the cause of all of… this…" Yellow said.

The merging of our worlds. Quite the conundrum we have all found ourselves in.

"So… your tower."

It has been plagued by Giratinas dark matter. But that's not all. There's something inside of it. You saw how it moves. Dark matter remains in a subdued state unless it has a host.

"What could'it be?" Sapphire asked.

I don't know… though… It's what draws me to the tower. It's something…. Familiar…

"We need to get inside that tower. There's something we need to get from it." May said.

Ah yes. You're after the shard of the distortion ball.

"You know about that?"

Of course. I was quite aware of Giratina's conflict against humanity. It had waged a vicious battle for many years before the creation of the distortion ball. In an age that predates the invention of your pokeballs, it was designed to trap any Pokémon against its will, even those who are as strong as I."

"Piika?"

Yes, little one, even one so opposed to staying in their pokeball.

Ash and Yellow turned cold at the memory of the chamber in mount Coronet. They could hardly believe that they had committed themselves to recreating such a device.

Do not hesitate now. With the power Giratina wields now, there is no other way to stop it.

"But how did Giratina become so strong?" Ash asked.

That I do not know. But its power must be great if it was truly responsible for our dimensions becoming one.

"One thing at a time. We need to get inside that tower. If it's like the catacombs in mount coronet, we can use this," Yellow said as she pulled out the crystal.

Hmmmmmm… what a strange crystal you have there.

"It can destroy dark matter, we just have to find its core."

Hmmm… Rayquaza pondered a moment. Let us gather our strength first. I will help you get inside the tower and retrieve your shard.

"Thank you umm… Rayquaza…" Serena said.

Ha…

"Hmm?"

To work with humans has always been such an odd experience. And now to speak to them… these truly are strange times.

"We have a lot of pokémon on hand, including the Flygon, maybe we can…"

The group split off, with Ruby and Sapphire preparing their assault on the tower with Rayquaza. Perhaps they should have been all listening intently, giving in their own feedback and ideas. May however was far more preoccupied with her Altaria, brushing down its now soot coated feathers.

"'Taria!"

"I know I know. You don't like being brought out by surprise but you're one of my best flying types! And I thought you would wanna see the draconid tower!"

"ALTARIA!"

"Okay so it's not exactly… in the best shape right now, but…"

"Altaria doesn't seem too happy," Serena chimed, walking up to the pair with Ash, Yellow, and Noivern.

Yellow moved up to Altaria, touching its small beaked head. The pokémon was taken aback by the sudden intrusion, though she felt like she could trust this girl, at least for now.

"You're quite fierce. Strong too. Huh… interesting."

"Interesting?" May asked. Ruby and Sapphire had informed her about Yellow's unique abilities, though seeing them at work didn't feel any less surreal.

"You've only had her for a few years yet her familiarity with you goes back… more than a decade ago."

"It's the Swablu you took care of. You found her again." Ash said.

"More like she found me. I barely recognized her, but she remembered me. Even after all those years."

"You saved her life. But more importantly, you let her go back to her family."

"And she came back to you when she was ready," Serena said. "Those experiences stick with you, no matter how brief."

"Noi!"

"Taria!"

The two pokémon chirped at each other for a bit. Noivern raised its wings high above its head, with Altaria following suit.

"Now what are you two doing?" May said with a chuckle.

"Looks like they're sizing each other up. Dragon pokémon tend to have big egos." Yellow said.

"Noi!" Noivern looked over to the group of Flygon standing near the edge of the cliff, its wings still raised high in the air. The Flygon simply shrugged.

"Maturity level might also have something to do with it…"

"You can say that again," Ash said as he turned to Pikachu, standing on Ash's shoulders with his arms raised as high as he could.

"Hey guys!" Sapphire called to the rest of the group. "Get'on over here. We think we gotta plan!"