"RUN!" Trap Ash shouted, watching the giant Pokemon land in the arena, heading straight for Pokemon Master Ash, as he banged on the side of the tree.
As the tree shook from the Pokémon's attack Trap Ash could hear a giggle high above him and Pikachu.
"Who's there?" Trap Ash asked, taking an offensive position.
"I'm not a threat." The voice said with a giggle.
"Yeah, I've heard that one before." Trap Ash said. "How about you show me who you are, rather than just speaking."
"Where's the fun in that, besides I'm not here anyways." The voice said.
"Then how about this, who are you?" Trap Ash asked.
"I am the Bringer of Emotion." The voice said. "I won't try to convince you I am an ally as we have separate goals from each other."
"How about this, do our goals line up?" Trap Ash asked.
"They do, but they are not simultaneous goals." The voice said.
"So we have aligned goals but they aren't the same and completing one doesn't mean completing the other." Trap Ash said. "Are you why I can't leave this tree?"
"Yes, I needed to speak with you about our goals." The voice said. "And I knew if I let you out you would try to find or attack me."
"Smart, I'm not a fan of things in my head, so how do our goals line up?" Trap Ash questioned.
"The Plates." The voice said. "They are a precursor for who is to come."
"Arceus?" Trap Ash asked. "So they aren't here yet?"
"Arceus and another yes." The voice said. "There are still sixteen plates in this world that were scattered upon your arrival."
"Do you know where they are?" Trap Ash asked.
"No, but you know how to ask." The voice said with a laugh.
"Right." Trap Ash sighed, placing a hand on the ground. "I need to know where every Elemental Plate is located right now in this world."
A map formed on the inside wall as it began glowing, showing the location of each of the plates.
"Alright then, photo time." Trap Ash said, pulling out his Rotomphone, and taking a photo of each areas maps.
"There is something here, in the Fieldlands." The voice said. "Someone you know, but they have been corrupted and changed by being brought here."
"Where?" Trap Ash asked.
"An island between the two land masses, one of their Pokemon is waiting for you there." The voice said, the spot glowing on the map.
"But how do I escape from here, this tree is still solid, and everyone is gone." Trap Ash said.
"A hollow tree has no roof." The voice commented, a bit of light shining down from up high.
"Of course." Trap Ash groaned. "Dragapult I need a lift!"
Trap Ash held onto Dragapult as the dragon type rocketed upwards through the tree, narrowly avoiding the branches before shooting out above and into the night sky.
"There, that pillar of flames, that's our goal." Trap Ash said, seeing the mass of flames on a nearby island.
A few minutes later upon landing.
"Well well well, look who survived the recreation of the world, I would have thought you died on top of that mountain." Paul said maniacally. "Too bad you came here just to be ended, my Pokemon are supercharged from that wave of negative energy and even that Infernape of your's can't stand up to mines awesome power!"
Paul's Infernape let our a roar, purple and black flames shooting out from it's body.
"Maybe, but just like you, I've got a bag full of tricks." Trap Ash said, recalling Dragapult. "Greninja let's go! Use Water Shuriken!"
Greninja flipped over Trap Ash, unleashing a Water Shuriken that pushed Infernape back a few feet before the fire type destroyed the construct.
"Infernape use Flare Blitz!"
"Greninja use Double Team!"
A team of six Greninja surrounded Infernape as it struck through one after the other, dealing small amounts of damage to itself in the process.
"The difference between us has always been clear. You choose violence as the only way to win, but I've learned that sometimes you need to be patient and clear your mind." Trap Ash said, controlling his breathing.
"Infernape use Focus Punch!"
"Greninja use Water Shuriken!"
Ash and Greninja fell into sync with each other as Greninja was coated in a jet of water, pushing Infernape back as the Battle Bond was formed.
"Now Greninja use Water Shuriken!"
"Infernape use Flamethrower!"
Infernape sent out a stream of flames that Greninja blocked by turning his shuriken into a shield, spinning it to disperse the flames.
"Greninja use Night Slash!"
"Infernape use Acrobatics!"
Greninja ran forward, creating a shadowy blade as he closed in on Infernape, the fire type flinging his body around, narrowly dodging the blade with each slash.
"Now use Water Shuriken!"
"Infernape use Focus Punch!"
Greninja leapt backwards, landing on the water as he sent out a shuriken at Infernape, knocking the fire type towards the beach.
"Greninja use Water Shuriken!"
"Infernape use Flare Blitz!"
Infernape rushed forward his speed keeping him above the water as he pushed back against the watery attack, knocking the fire type into the waves below.
"Greninja use Cut!"
Greninja leapt beneath the waves, spinning towards Infernape in a screw like motion, slamming his blade into the fire type as the water around them began to boil launching Greninja back into the air with a shadowy aura erupting from the waves as Paul disappeared.
"Okay, not our weirdest fight, one of the weirder ones, but still not the weirdest." Trap Ash said, returning Greninja and sending out Dragapult.
Back at Jubilife Village
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU LOST HIM!" Coordinator Ash exclaimed, as Pokemon Master Ash sat down.
"Look, he went into the tree and then I couldn't figure out how to get him back out." Pokemon Master Ash said angrily.
"I'm going to go find him." Seer Ash said.
"No, we'll send some in the morning, if he's had as much experience as he says he's had, then he can survive a few hours out there." Ark said.
"Look, we have other problems, I found a plate, and there was text on it." Pokemon Master Ash said. "And now I can't see the words on the plate."
"Not necessarily a problem, more confusing than anything." Coordinator Ash said. "I'd still say Skirt being stuck out there is our most current problem."
"What's confusing exactly?" Trap Ash asked walking in.
"ASH!" Seer and Coordinator Ash exclaimed.
"So you found a plate?" Trap Ash asked, sitting down with the group.
"Are you going to tell me where you were?" Pokemon Master Ash demanded, pulling out the two plates.
"In the tree, talking to a being of emotion, learning where the plates were." Trap Ash said. "Also Paul is sort of here and maybe alive."
"Okay, we have disappearing words, and somehow that is the strangest sentence we've heard today." Ark said.
"I fought Paul's Infernape and when we defeated it, they both disappeared in black smoke." Trap Ash said. "But what is this about disappearing words."
"Seriously, are we just ignoring the disappearing trainer?!" Ark asked.
"When the plate dropped there was golden writing on it, but I can't find it anymore." Pokemon Master Ash said.
"Rotom, can you scan this?" Trap Ash asked.
"Hey I'm the only one who can tell Rotom what to do… oh you have a Rotom Phone." Ark said, as Trap Ash's phone scanned the two plates.
"Yeah, my Rotomdex stayed behind in Alola and worked for the Aether Foundation." Trap Ash said, looking at the scans. "Alright, whatever words you saw they don't exist anymore."
"I'm telling you I saw words on it." Pokemon Master Ash said.
"I'm not saying you didn't, I'm saying that whatever you saw, there are no etches or indents, or bevels anywhere to have any symbols representing letters." Trap Ash said. "But don't worry, we have sixteen other plates we can check." He added, showing the map projected onto the wall. "There are a few others in the Obsidian Fieldlands, so I say we start there."
"We can check out that one on the other mountain tomorrow." Seer Ash said.
"I'll tag along, we should keep with the group of two for now." Coordinator Ash said.
Trap Ash's Current Team and Their Moves
Pikachu: Thunderbolt - Quick Attack - Iron Tail - Discharge
Dragapult: Dragon Darts - Phantom Force - Dragon Dance - Psychic Fangs
Infernape: Flamethrower - Mach Punch - Dig - Flare Blitz
Torterra: Frenzy Plant - Stone Edge - Earthquake
Greninja: Water Shuriken - Double Team - Night Slash - Cut