Note: Well, Ash is now the world champion in the anime, and the communities goin' nuts over it. It's great to see. Can't wait till the dubs out, probably sometime next spring.

Can't believe the show might be over, and I just got into the series just on time to be a part of it. Damn...

Anyhow, it has given me an idea for a post-journeys fic that I'll work on once Confluence is over. Something closer to the animes style and such. So I guess my fanfic-writing days will continue on for a while.

Anyhow, enjoy.

Hoenn chapter 5: Dedenn-end!

No matter where you are, know where you sleep.

This was one of the many rules that Sapphire lived by when she was doing research in the wild for her father. It was essential to have a safe and secure location to settle for the night. Passing out in the middle of nowhere could be quite hazardous, especially in areas where nocturnal pokémon were common.

She definitely wasn't used to waking up in a bed she didn't remember crawling into. Certainly not in someone else's house, and certainly not with her head resting directly on her boyfriend's chest, both of them snuggled under a soft comforter.

I could get used to this.

Her eyes adjusted to the light that poured in from outside. By the wooden lodging she assumed that they were still in the homestead. They must have both passed out the previous night. She was pretty certain that they almost all did. After Ash's little stunt on the roof, the entire night became a frenzy.

She probably should get up, maybe even see if and where the others were in the house. But she was just so cosy, and she wouldn't want to wake up Ruby. He would always go on about getting his beauty sleep or whatever else he would prattle on about. In her humble opinion, she didn't need it. She may have been biased though.

"Mornin' Saph."

"Morning Ruby." Looks like that wasn't going to be an issue. She turned to look at his face. Ruby was awake now, barely. His eyes were still half shut and his usually finely combed black hair was a tangled mess.

"We should probably get up and get ready," he said.

"Do we have too? Can't we just stay in bed all day? Why go climbin' ol' towers and stuff?"

"I thought you liked climbing things all day."

"Shuddup."

"What? Am I wrong?"

"Listen here," she crawled up to his shoulder. "Climbin' trees is all sorts of fun. But man-made buildin's? Yuck! Too symmetrical, and people always stare at ya when you try to climb em."

"Maybe they're just staring cause you're just so stunning."

"Alright mister," she poked him on his nose. "You need to get back to sleep. You ain't good at all this smooth talkin'."

"I think I'm pretty good at it, actually." His face was oh so punchable, in the best way.

"What am I ever gonna do with ya…" she sighed, closing her eyes for a moment. She could have easily gone back to sleep right then and there.

"Hey… we really should be getting up. What if senior Yellow finds out we've been sleeping in for so long?"

"Oh like senior Yellow's gonna be up before us! She was almost gone even before Ash's lil stunt."

"That's fair. I guess we can stay in for a few minutes."

A few moments passed of silence, Sapphire's eyes shut as Ruby stroked her hair. For a while the world just seemed to fade away. All they could hear were their faded breaths and the various chips and songs of the various bird-like pokémon that flew outside.

"Ruby…" Sapphire's voice came back to her, somewhat shaky. "Are you worried at all?"

"Worried? About… oh…" In the early morning bliss, he'd almost forgotten about why they were all here in the first place. "Yeah, sure. But it's not like we haven't dealt with stuff like this before."

"But it's… different now. All this mergin' business and all that. So many new people and pokémon all about. Just a month ago everythin' changed all of a sudden and we couldn't do a thing about it."

"That's true. But why does it matter? I mean we've met so many good people from that other world, right? If you ask me, it's been a pretty positive experience."

"I know, I know. Still…" She sighed. She wasn't sure why she was feeling so… on edge. "I dunno. Maybe I'm just being all worrisome for no reason."

"You're always worrisome. But that's only 'cause you're so observant. With those beautiful eyes…"

"You're really not good at this," she said, as her fears washed away in restrained giggling. She wasn't the only one, as they realized that they could hear similar sounds on the other side of the wall.

"Guess that's our queue to get up now." Ruby said as they kicked off the blankets.

It didn't take them too long to find out what all the commotion was about. Just down the hall was a sizable living room. It was modestly decorated, with various photographs of Draconid villagers hung on the wooden walls. A set of humble couches and chairs surrounded a small hearth, which at the moment was surrounded by May, Yellow, Serena, and around half-a dozen Draconid children. They were all intently watching Ash and Pikachu, who were lying on the ground next to them.

"And there we were. The Spearow were all gone and me and Pikachu lying down in the rain and covered in mud."

"Pikkkaaaa…"

"Weren't you and Pikachu hurt?!" one of the children asked, leaned forward and completely invested in the story.

"Oh, you bet."

"Didn't you wanna quit after all that?"

"I know I sure did. But then that's when we saw it…" Ash sat up. He stuck out his arm, pretending to reach for the skies. "The rain stopped, and the clouds parted, and there was Ho-oh flying right above us."

"Woooow," Several of the children awed in unison.

"How big was it?!"

"I bet it was as big as a plane!"

"Well… maybe not quite that big, but…" he was standing up now, his arms stretched out to his sides. "It was big…" He slowly walked around the children in a circle, with his arms outstretched, Pikachu mimicking him and following close behind. "And he just flew right above me. It was so majestic…"

"Majestic huh?" May said. Ash was always a bit over dramatic when it came to pokémon.

"Very. One of the most beautiful pokémon I've ever seen." And he wasn't one to mince words describing them, either. A handful of the children had started following his lead as well, and now Ash was now leading a small line of children walking around the table.

"Looks like everyone's cheery this morning," Ruby said.

"Morning junior," Yellow replied.

"Morning to you all," Grannie's voice called from the other side of the room. Ash and his small train of cohorts stopped their march. The children stood at attention.

"Morning kids. I have to ask you all to leave for a moment. I have some very important matters to attend to with our guests."

"But Granniiieee…" One of the children began to protest. A stern look from Grannie gave him pause however. The children simply bowed heads.

"Yes Grannie," they said as they left the room.

"You're not the only ones who were a little bit too tired after the festival yesterday." Grannie said. They noticed that she had a bowl of water in one hand as she moved up to the trainers. "You really stirred things up around here young man." She motioned towards Ash.

"Sorry. I guess I got… caught up in the moment."

"I'm sure Serena didn't mind one bit."

"Not at all," Serena said, her smile as wide as it possibly could be.

"But alas, we have business to attend to. You all want admission to the Draconid tower, correct?"

"That's right. According to Ash's vision, there's another shard in that tower," Yellow said.

"Ah yes. Personally, I am not aware of such a shard, but our tower holds many treasures that have been passed down through generations. It's likely your shard is in the treasury right at the top of the tower. Getting in there however might be a problem…"

"A problem? What's wrong?"

"The tower itself sits on the coastline, and has been guarded by the Draconids for years. It certainly is a sacred place, said to be where Raquaza slept for centuries before moving to its own holy tower in the sea, as Ruby and Sapphire here are well aware. A few of our trained villagers lived near the area, making sure the tower was maintained and safe from outsiders. We lost contact with them a few days ago…"

"Grannie…" Sapphire interrupted. "Why didn't you tell us this earlier?"

"I'm sorry my dear. Even after we all worked together to stop the comet all those years ago… many in the village believe that we shouldn't rely on outsiders to deal with our problems. But the situation is getting dire. We've already sent villagers to investigate the tower and they haven't returned either. That's also when we started getting reports of dragon-pokémon migrating to the area. Dozens of them by the day."

"This sounds bad…" May's concern was shared silently by the others.

"I know I'm asking a lot to send you all into that tower. But please… find my villagers and bring them back to me."

"Of course, Grannie," Ash replied without hesitation. The others nodded. "We'll find your people, I promise."

"Thank you dear…" She raised the bowl. "Come, let me grant you the blessing. It's but a symbolic gesture, but it's the most I can give you."

The trainers lined up next to each other. One by one, Grannie dipped her thumb into the bowl, and outlined a circular symbol on their foreheads.

"When the way becomes blocked by the darkness, may the Dragonlord's flame light your way. When the way becomes cloaked in uncertainty, may the Dragonlord's winds guide you home."

She bowed to the trainers, and they all bowed in turn.

"I bid you all farewell. Rest up here for a while, and we'll provide you with transportation to the tower. Consider this place your home." She made her way out of the room. "Good luck to you all."

The trainers stood silent for a moment, a feeling of dread hanging over them all. This simple retrieval mission just got a lot more complicated.

The trainers decided to make some calls before heading out to the tower. Ash and Serena were assigned to check in on the lab. They retreated to their shared room, sitting on the bed while he held out his phone in front of them. It rang for a few minutes before it was finally answered. On the small screen appeared Clemont, blackened soot marked on his face and lab coat.

"Hey! Perfect timing!" he was enthusiastic, more so than one would expect considering his current state. "I have Bonnie on hold. Just wait a second…"

After a handful of button clicks, the screen split into two. A young girl appeared on the secondary screen. She was significantly younger than the other trainers, with blond hair similar to Clemonts.

"Ash! Serena!" Bonnie said, ecstatically.

"Pika!" Pikachu hopped into Ash's shoulder, opposite Serena.

"And Pikachu!"

"Bonnie! How's it goin'?" Ash asked. Bonnie had become a full time pokémon trainer just a few years ago. It was crazy to think that she was still under the age of ten when he travelled with them during the Kalos circuit. The girl seemed to be somewhere outside, likely sitting on a log.

"Just taking some time off. Finished the Vertress Conference a few weeks ago and I'm spending some time with dad. Big brother's supposed to be here too!"

"Come on Bonnie you know what's going on. This is important!"

"Oh, I'm sure it is…" She said, her sly grin an all too familiar sight for those present. "Glad I was home when the merging happened. Can't wait to see my look-a-like pop up one of these days…"

"Dedenne!" They heard a squeaky voice just out of Bonnie's view.

"Of course you wanna say hi," she said as Dedenne climbed up her arm and onto her shoulder as well. The Pokémon looked like a little Pikachu, with a slender tail and orange colouration.

"De! Dedenne!"

"Pika! Pikachu!".

"Dedennes looking as strong as ever," Ash said as the Pokémon engaged in fervent conversation. "Hey, you never showed me which pokémon you chose from professor Sycamore. Why don't you let 'em out too."

"Right, well…" she turned her head to something off camera. "I requested something a bit different. Hey! Come over here!"

They could all hear the sounds of large footsteps approaching Bonnie. It was something big. Really big.

"You remember my friends, right?" She turned the camera. All they could see was a massive black eye.

"You're standing too close to the camera! Back up a bit!" Bonnie commanded. The figure obliged, backing away from the camera, revealing itself as a Tyrantrum! The massive red Pokémon showcased its massive jaw, with a large white mane that punctuated its prowess.

"Tyrantrum!? Like the one you raised from a Tyrunt."

"Yep! The exact same one. The day I became a trainer I got the professor to contact the scientists at the fossil research lab. They actually wanted me to take Tyrantrum on my journey! Said it would make for some good research."

"Tyrantrum!" The Tyrantrum deep bellows sent shudders down their spines, even from several oceans away.

"That's…. quite the starter you got there…" Serena said, clutching Ash's arm. She didn't even realize what she was doing. Bonnie did, however.

She always noticed.

"Well, I won't keep you here forever. I'm sure y'all have some world saving to get going to. Just remember to keep an eye out for someone pretty for my brother!"

"Really, Bonnie?" Clemont whined.

"Haven't given up on you yet, big brother."

"Some things never change, huh?"

"I guess they don't," Ash chimed.

"Remember what I told you Bonnie. You see anything strange out there, you contact me right away," Clemont said.

"I will. See ya!" Bonnie exited the call, and Clemonts screen grew to fill in the space.

"I guess I should let you know that the crystal synthesis is almost complete. Just a few more tests and we should be good."

"That's great!" Serena said. "We're heading to the Draconid tower in a bit. The village Elder told us the shard Ash is looking for should be there."

"Okay, but be careful. We started getting some strange readings from that area."

"Readings? What kinda readings?" Ash asked.

"Well… just last night when we checked our digital maps, we noticed that where the Draconid tower should be is… nothing."

"Nothing?!"

"It's been wiped off the grid. It's gone."

Those who lived in the subtropical Hoenn region were no stranger to stormy weather. During the wet season, massive thunder clouds were a common sight. The storm that had gathered around the Draconid tower was already bad enough for anyone on the ground. It was so much worse in the sky.

And today, of all days, the Hoenn skies were quite unforgiving.

The trainers figured that the Draconids transportation would likely be unorthodox. They didn't expect to be flying on the backs of a pack of Flygon. The insect-esc dragon type pokémon were quite larger than the average Flygon, yet they glided through the biting wind and rain with ease, even while carrying nearly double their weight on their back.

"Pikaaa…." Even while clutching onto Flygon back alongside Ash, the little pokémon looked all too serene as lightning and thunder cracked around them.

"Glad to see you're enjoying the trip," Ash tried to speak to Pikachu. Despite being right next to him, he doubted the small pokémon could hear. He couldn't even hear himself over the raging storm.

No one else bothered to say anything during the trip. Grannie led the group, flying on a particularly large Flygon that commanded the rest with ease. The trainers held steady, strapped to the pokémon with large harnesses specifically designed for stormy conditions. Admittedly, they all questioned the reliability of such devices, the fear of plummeting below the clouds ever present. Perhaps a near vice-like grip on the harness wasn't necessary, at least according to Grannie, but they were sure it wouldn't hurt.

The storm died down as they got closer to the tower. The clouds still loomed overhead, though they're colour began to shift from a cacophonous charcoal grey to a more matted, bluish fog. Grannie stopped mid-flight. Her head swung back and forth. It seemed like she was surveying her surroundings, but all anyone else could see was an endless blue abyss surrounding them.

"We're not alone…"

"What do ya mean Grannie?" Sapphire asked, gazing at the blue skyline.

"This energy… it's draconic in nature… " She patted her Flygon on its neck. Only she could hear the low rumble it emitted. "The Flygon sense it. This energy is drawing in the dragon-type pokémon. There's some surrounding us already, just out of view."

"There is?" May frantically looked all over. Not a single pokémon in sight, yet now she could feel hundreds of eyes staring back at her through the clouds.

"They're just watching… for now. Come, we're getting close to the tower."

They flew on, not one saying a word. They caught glimpses of the pokémon that were keeping an eye on them, with the occasional wing or tail creeping out of the fog. They were being followed. Worse still, they could hear the calls of various pokémon. The cacophony was overbearing, full of battle fuelled roars and pained cries in equal standing.

"Here it is… the… oh dear!" At one point, the Draconid tower would have been a phenomenal sight. A massive cylindrical structure was carved in stone, sitting next to the blue Hoenn ocean and backdropped by a large shale cliff face. However, the majesty of the tower was drowned out in a dark coating. The blackened substance that Ash and Yellow had seen in the Coronet Catacombs had engulfed the entire structure, the leaking sludge pouring onto the base of the tower. The surrounding areas, a massive beach of stones, was teaming with dragon-type pokémon of all types. Belligerent blue Garchomp tussled with the ever-fierce Dragonite as the snail-like Goodra prowled. Worse still, some of the pokémon were covered in the black sludge itself, battling the non-tainted pokémon with unmatched aggression. The trainers landed over a small hill overlooking the area. They promptly dismounted the Flygon.

"Oh no…" Serena gasped.

"This is gonna be… complicated," Ruby said.

"Guess this is why yer friend said they couldn't see the tower on their scanners. But where's all this comin' from?" Sapphire asked. She turned to Grannie, who to her surprise was looking away from the tower towards the sky behind them.

Guess she can't bear to look at it. Couldn't blame her really. This used to be a sacred place after all.

No. It is a sacred place. There was no reason to believe that they couldn't figure this out. She could see it on the faces of the other trainers. They couldn't just sneak in and take the shard. They had to figure out how to stop this.

"Hey Ash, is this the same stuff you found in Mount Coronet?"

"It is." Ash was certain.

"Alright, we need some sort of plan. If it is the same stuff, then maybe the crystal can help destroy it." Yellow pointed towards the tower. "If I had to guess… the core of this is in there."

"Alright. We have to make it into the tower, but we don't have the crystal."

"Children, I am enthused that you are committed to saving our tower, but perhaps you should aim to pay more attention to your immediate surroundings."

They turned towards Grannie, and finally saw what she saw. A large figure quickly descended upon them.

"Take cove…" Ash's panic quickly faded as he got a better look at what was approaching. Clearly a pokemon, with a bat shaped head and blue colourations patterning its blacked winged body.

A friend.

"Noivern!" Ash raised his arms with elation as the pokémon landed next to him.

"Noi!" Noivern called enthusiastically in turn, bringing his head close to his trainer.

"Good to see you," Ash said, rubbing the pokémons muzzle.

"Guess this one of yer Pokémon, eh?" Sapphire asked.

"Yep. I travelled with Noivern during my journey in Kalos."

"Hey Noivern. Long time no see," Serena chimed. Noivern turned around to look at her, smiling in turn. That's when she noticed that there was something around the pokémon's neck. A small note and capsule was attached by a small leather necklace. She plucked off the letter and capsule with ease.

"Looks like you got something for us," Serena said. She opened the letter first. "Hey guys! We finally finished synthesising the crystals and figured you might need it back asap. The Birches were busy (as always) so the Oaks sent us a 'messenger' to help deliver it. They felt it would be appropriate considering you guys are going to the Draconid tower. Good luck, and stay safe. - Clemont."

She opened the capsule. Inside were both the crystal and Noivern's pokeball. She tossed them both to Ash.

"That's one problem solved. But we still have to get to the tower." Ruby chimed. "So we can't fly in… and I'd rather not take the aquatic approach…"

"Noivern!" Noivern suddenly turned his head to the sky, towards the ocean. A massive thundercloud had formed over the area, far darker than the surrounding blue clouds. Yellow lightning crashed within the cloud, which slowly approached the area. Both trainer and Pokémon flinched at the thundering booms that blasted out of it. Even the distorted Pokémon took pause in their rampages to witness the ever-looming behemoth.

"What… is… that?" May stuttered.

No one else uttered a word. They didn't even notice that Grannie had stepped past them, her hands clenched, and head pointed towards the ground.

"Oh, hail the merciful lord. The great bearer of storms and the true sovereign of all dragonkind."

Her hands raised to the sky as the heavens ripped open. The great green dragon swirled its serpentine body with grace, unleashing a furious roar that tore through the soul of every living creature present.

"Rayquaza…" Ash looked at the legendary Pokémon with a profound respect. Almost everyone present had witnessed its power first-hand in some capacity, but this was… different.

The legendary pokémon surveyed the surrounding area as the groundside pokémon looked on, swaying its long neck back and forth, almost as if it was looking into the eyes of the other various pokémon. It let out another bellowing roar, causing all of the unaffected pokémon to flee the area. They either ran or flew in all directions as the distorted dragons attempted to give chase.

"But which one…" Ruby tried to get a good look at the Pokémon as it guided along the battlefield. He didn't know if the Raquaza from Ash's world was any different from the one that he and Sapphire had fought with all those years ago. Yet this one's power was unlike anything he had seen before. Even while it was mega-evolved it hadn't radiated with such raw power.

"Don't look to surprised children." Grannie still hadn't raised her head. "The world is full of pokémon that have existed before recorded history. And the truly ancient ones conceal powers far beyond our comprehension. Such power is only revealed when their ire is truly drawn."

"Even the meteor…"

"Not even the meteor was noteworthy enough for the Dragonlord's true wrath. Though perhaps that was because he had faith in you and your friends."

Lightning bolts crashed around the entire area. Howling thunder and lightning blasted rock and sand into the sky wherever the bolts landed. Any distorted pokémon caught in the storm was almost completely annihilated on impact.

"Look! The tower!" Yellow called.

The black sludge around the tower began to convulse and pulsate, like a massive snake was squirming underneath the surface, wreathing, and writhing throughout the entire structure. Rayquaza's attention shifted to the tower, its attack briefly halting. Most of the distorted pokémon had turned to blackened blots on the ground already. The remaining few had already scattered or opted to shuffle aimlessly about.

The storm continued to intensify around Rayquaza however, with electricity continuing to surround the pokémon. It raised its right arm, electricity gathering around its palm. The energy contorted and extended in its palm horizontally, taking the shape of a spear of pure lightning. Rayquaza launched itself from its cloud. It glided through the air, arching its small arm back and slamming the spear into the tower with a massive crash. The tower ignited, emitting a blinding light around the entire area like a tiny electric sun.

"Wow…" Ash was in awe. He'd met his fair share of legendary pokémon in his travels. The power of such pokémon was always something to both behold and fear. But Grannie was right. It was nothing compared to this.

Truly legendary.