Ecruteak City outskirts.

The road to Ecruteak City, which had become an actual road rather than a grass field by now, was a rather silent one. Ash had been white as a sheet the entire time, so the others thought it best to remain silent. Their curiosity about whatever incident had happened between Ash and the Legends poked at their minds without mercy. Eventually, Gary was the first to break the silence. "Say, Ashy-boy," He said, wrapping his arm around his age-old rival. "You've been pretty quiet since you got back. What happened in there?"

Ash shook his head. "Let's just say the war's been tough on the Legends as well." Not wanting the walk to continue to be drowned in an awkward silence, Ash turned to Tobias and asked, "But what about you? Didn't you say something before I left?"

Serena's head perked up. "That's right! You said you had something to show us, right?"

Reminded of that, the ebony-haired trainer nodded, stopping in his tracks. The others followed suit. "I suppose I did, didn't I. Well…" A wry, shaky grin crept up his face as he gripped the edge of his robe. "It's a good thing we're not inside Ecruteak already, otherwise I'd have forgotten. But you need to promise me you guys won't freak out."

"Why would we freak out?" Asked Paul inquisitively. "Is it dangerous?"

Tobias frantically shook his head. "N-no, no! Nothing like that. It just may be...jarring." He shuffled slightly, hesitantly pulling at his robe. The other watched intently, leaning in toward him. As he pulled it out, a small, purple flying thing zipped out from inside it, perching itself upon his shoulder. Ash and the others felt their blood run cold when they recognized what it was. They could never forget one of those creatures responsible for the massacre of millions...including many of their friends.

Sheepishly, Tobias chuckled at the young Ultra Beast's antics. "This," He said, gently taking it into his hands and presenting it to the others, "Is Poipol." The beast chirped in response to its name. "That's what I call it anyways. I don't know what it's actually called."

Ash and the others were speechless. Most of them didn't know what to think or feel about seeing an Ultra Beast again. "It's, um," Started Ash, not knowing how to properly put his words. "...Really, um...cool?"

"I thought you all would be surprised," Tobias said with a weak chuckle. He smiled at the beast endearingly as it flew around his hand. "It makes sense. Thanks for not screaming, tho-"

Ash sensed a sudden flare of rage from Paul. When he looked over to him, he was trembling like a leaf from anger. "You," He hissed, drawing the others' attention to him, "Can't be serious! You protected one of those things?!" Fearful of Paul's shouting, Poipole dove back into Tobias's robe. "Those things are monsters! They killed millions, and you're raising one like it's a Pokemon?!"

"Paul, please," Intervened Ash. He gently summoned his Aura, but Paul ripped his arm away from him before Ash could touch him.

Gary looked at him oddly. "Weren't all of your Pokemon alright?" He asked. "What are you so mad about?"

Glaring at him, Paul retorted, "Should the deaths of millions not bother me just because they weren't personal? Don't they bother you?!" Gary had nothing to say to that.

Tobias, however, did. "...It was not by this little one's hand that they died," He countered, gently taking the frightened young beast into his hands. "It was Necrozma's fault that they died." Ash winced as he felt a tremendous hollowed sorrow from the former trainer before him. Taking notice, Serena looked at him with worry. Tobias then said something that made Paul second-guess his rage. "I lost everything in that war. My status as a trainer. My pride. My titles. And far more important than any of that nonsense, I lost my family."

He looked at Paul with long-dried eyes and said, "I lost everything. But how could I blame that on this little guy?" He sat Poipole on his shoulder with a heavy smile. "There's no point in pointing fingers now. Necrozma is dead-" He nodded to Ash. "-Thanks to you. And that's what matters. If we keep fighting, we're only extending the war."

Ash wished the Legends saw things the same way.

"...I…" Paul didn't quite know how to reply to that. He felt, all of a sudden, like his anger had turned in on itself. Like he was angry at himself for being angry, leading to mental paralysis.

Tobias chuckled. "It's fine. You needn't say anything." He nodded to the others and said, "Thank you for bearing with me. I know you must feel just like him, but I assure you, Poipole wouldn't hurt a thing." He gently caressed the small beast's head, earning what Ash and the others could have sworn was some odd mixture of a purr and a childlike giggle from it. Serena couldn't help but smile at it. In spite of the horrific monsters she knew the Ultra Beasts as, this one...was actually cute.

Piping his head up as he noticed something in the far distance, Tobias said, "Hey, I think I see Ecruteak not too far from here!" Without waiting for the others, he began walking towards it.

The others were left in a state of stunned silence as they absorbed everything that had just happened. "...I feel bad for him," Said Serena. "I couldn't imagine what it would be like to lose everything."

Paul allowed himself to sigh to break himself out of his silence. "I'll have to apologize to him later."

"Is it just me," Asked Gary, "Or did he seem...out of it, for lack of a better term?" He spun his fingers in a circle beside his head to imply that the former trainer had...cognitive issues. "Not that I blame him."

Shaking his head, Paul said, "Anyone that would raise an Ultra Beast couldn't be called wholly sane. But then again, what do I know?"

Ash asked, "Who wouldn't be after experiencing what he did?" He smiled down at Pikachu, rubbing his head affectionately. "I don't know how much better I'd be faring if I lost you guys."

Serena looked at him with shimmering eyes. "Ash…"

Ruining her moment, Gary chuckled half-mockingly. "Aw, ain't that sweet of you?" He took off Ash's hat and ruffled his hair, earning a laugh from him. "I'm glad to hear you care about us so much, Ashy-boy."

Before Ash could come up with a witty retort, Tobias called back to them. "What are you guys waiting for?"

Using his Aura, Ash snatched back his hat with near invisible speeds, much to Gary's shock. "We're coming!" He called back, racing after him. He beckoned the others to follow with the wave of his arm. The group followed him, running through the hollow winds of the emptier world toward an emptier city. Ash found the weight on his mind and heart had lifted, and though the difference was slight, that difference meant relief.

Ecruteak City

It wasn't long before they were face to face with Ecruteak City. Just before the entrance, a large open gate beckoned visitors in. Yet unlike the shimmering lively one of Goldenrod, Ecruteak's was wooden and worn down. It hadn't been tended to in months. "It's a shame," Said Gary as he looked at the once-welcoming sign. "I remember this place being beautiful when I first came through here."

Before anyone that may be in the city could notice, Tobias opened his robe and allowed Poipole to fly back inside.

Ash peered up at the sky-piercing Bell Tower. It was unlikely that Ho-oh had returned to it even after the war. Directly across from it, however, was the Burned Tower, which was what they were after. "Let's head in," He said, walking beyond the gate and into the city. "Team Rocket won't beat themselves." The others nodded and followed suit.

The first thing they noticed about Ecruteak City was a resounding...emptiness. There were only about a dozen people walking around and only a handful of them were talking. "It reminds me of Saffron City," Serena remarked sadly. "Back when Ash and I went there."

Gary nodded. "Saffron's just depressing nowadays. Real shame."

Shaking her head, Serena said, "Actually, this was before Necrozma came. It's a long story."

"Well," Said Tobias, "It's a story that's already peaked my interest."

Serena opened her mouth to tell them what had happened on that day, but Ash held his hand back to stop her. "Oh, right," Said Serena as she remembered Sabrina's...position. She wouldn't want anyone else knowing about what she did in her time of madness. "She probably wouldn't want us telling anyone."

Ash shook his head. "Not that. Er, well, that too, but there's someone coming."

A man in yellow and purple robes approached the group. He had yellow hair kept up by a large purple sash wrapped around his forehead. He also wore a purple scarf, though it appeared to be in tatters. It was none other than Morty, the former Gym Leader of Ecruteak City. "Hey," He greeted with a halfhearted wave of his hand. He wasn't even really looking at them. "You guys are trainers, right? It's nice to see the few that are still around. Unfortunately, the Gym's closed, so I can't…"

When he actually looked at them, his eyes went wide. He stepped back on trembling legs. "H-holy mother of Arceus. Ash?!"

Gary playfully elbowed Ash. "I think you got a fan."

Ash's eyelids drooped. He was not looking forward to having to deal with another one after how the last few went. "Hey, um…"

"Morty," Whispered Gary into Ash's ear.

"Morty," Repeated Ash with a nod. "You're the Gym Leader here, right?"

The blonde man shook his head in response. "No, not anymore. There are so few challengers nowadays that there's no point in upholding the gym."

"Same story as usual," Said Gary wistfully.

Morty nodded. "It's a shame that it's happened to so many, but I can hardly blame the trainers for seeking more peaceful lives after such an incident." He closed his eyes and was immediately brought back to the war. Attacks flying left and right from both sides. People and Pokemon dying en masse at his side. "...They had no idea what they were getting themselves into. Most of 'em were just kids, not soldiers."

He shook his head, faking a smile as he addressed Ash's group once more. "But enough about that. What brings the world's saviors to Ecruteak City?"

Ash wanted to protest that moniker, but decided against it. Instead, he decided to get down to business as soon as possible. "I heard Team Rocket was here," He told Morty, drawing his attention toward the Burned Tower. "Mr. Star said there were rumors of Team Rocket hiding in there. They're trying to wait for either Entei, Raikou or Suicune to show up so they can capture them."

Morty turned to the tower with narrowed eyes. "I haven't heard anything about that. To think those scum have been in my town right under my nose."

"We'll take care of it," Ash offered. "That's why we're here after all."

Suddenly, his Secretary Bot appeared on its own on his wrist. Holo Alice bowed to Ash and asked, "If I may, may I explain the situation?" Without actually waiting for a response, the hologram turned to Morty and said, "Ash and his friends, at the request of Mr. Star, are currently embarking on missions to rid the world of Team Rocket wherever they should appear. They also seek to prevent any action on them, which involves generally aiding the public people and Pokemon alike."

"I see," Said Morty with a nod. "Then let me help you. I can't go with you all the way, but I can at least help to drive the ones here away." Ash smirked as he saw a genuine glint of excitement in Morty's eyes. He assumed it was the first time such a thing had happened in a long time. Morty pulled out a Pokeball and said, "Gengar and I have been raring for a fight for months. As Gym Leader of Ecruteak City, I swear I won't let this city fall prey to Team Rocket!"

Holo Alice turned back to Ash and the others and continued. "Of course, endangering the public would go against the directive of aiding in the world's recovery, so I am not permitted to allow you to endanger yourself."

Morty appeared rather dejected by that. "Oh...I see…"

"However," Continued the hologram. "If you would like to enlist to partake in these missions, I will transmit the request to Mr. Star."

The ex-Gym Leader shook his head, having something else in mind. "I'd come with you guys anyways, but Team Rocket could also be planning something with the Bell Tower."

"That's a good point," Remarked Tobias as he looked up to Ecruteak's remaining tower. "If they think they can capture one Legendary Pokemon, they'd probably try to go for another."

Morty snapped his fingers. "Exactly my point." He waved back to the group and began walking toward the proud tower. Over his shoulder, he asked, "If you guys get done before me, would you mind lending a hand with my own search?"

Before anyone could reply, Holo Alice spoke up and replied, "Mr. Star has not given any information regarding a secondary mission as of yet. Therefore, it would not be disruptive if Ash and his friends were to aid in your mission."

Raising a brow at the hologram, Morty paused for a moment and simply replied, "...Okay? Well, anyways, I'll see you later." With that, he waved them off and went on his way.

A frown planted on his face, Ash looked down at Holo-Alice and asked, "Why did you turn him down? He's a Gym Leader, not a random citizen. He could have been helpful with the mission."

The hologram bowed as a sign of apology, replying, "I apologize for any inconveniences this may cause, but my programming dictates that I dissuade aid from the public unless they are a part of Mr. Star's missions regardless of status. Our aim is to protect them, after all." Her image disappeared and reappeared facing the Burned Tower. "But that is enough talk. Team Rocket should be our top priority."

Ash opened his mouth to retort, but Gary clapped a hand over his shoulder. "It's a robot, Ash," He told him. "It's probably best not to argue with it." Shrugging with the disapproving shake of his head, Ash turned the hologram off.

When the group first laid their eyes upon the Burned Tower from just outside of it, they were astounded by how right the name was. Ash shuddered, remembering the time he, Misty and Brock mistakenly entered the place thinking it was the gym, only to get assaulted by a horde of angered Gastly. Serena cut off his unpleasant train of thought when she said, "They really do call it the Burned Tower for a reason." She wrapped her arm around Ash's and asked, "What happened to this place?"

Ash closed his eyes as he attempted to remember what the old story for the place was, but for the life of him, his accursed bad memory only left him with empty hands. Eventually, he just shook his head and said, "Dunno. I'll ask Morty later." Serena's expression flattened from dejection for a brief moment. She then attempted to step forward into the temple, but her arm caught on Ash's because he wasn't following.

"Ash?" She asked. "Are we heading in, or…?"

Shaking his head, he allowed his Aura to surface, prompting Serena to separate herself from him. "Let me have a look around first," He told her. "Just to see what we're up against." He knelt to the ground, sending a small white pulse across the Burned Tower's grounds. Gary couldn't help but snicker at the sight of Ash, encloaked in white light, kneeling like some kind of sage. As he scanned the area, Ash's brow creased in confusion.

Kneeling down to see his face, a concerned Serena asked, "Ash? What's going on?"

"There's…" Ash ran his hands across the ground, sending more of his Aura through it to scan it repeatedly. In doing so, he only served to confuse himself even more with each new pulse. He sensed the faint Auras of Ghost-Types, though those were always low in quantities of Aura. What truly bothered him wasn't by what was there, though there certainly was something remarkable. What troubled him was the lack of anything there. Anything human at least.

Eventually, Ash gave up on the scouting and stood back to his feet. "...No one there."

"Wait," Said Paul, stepping toward him. "There's no one in there? No Team Rockets or anything?"

Tobias looked at the Secretary Bots on their wrists curiously. "Could that Mr. Star guy have given you guys wrong information?"

"No," Ash replied immediately. Mr. Star was a pillar in his eyes. He knew that his information couldn't have been wrong, especially with everything he'd been shown so far. Though, as he recalled the lack of any human presences within the Burned Tower, his own doubts soon undermined his confidence in the old man. "...Not intentionally, I think."

Paul made his way to the front of the group and began climbing the stairs that led to the tower's interior. "There's no use standing around and thinking about it," He said back to them abrasively. "If there's no Team Rocket, then there's no threat. Let's take a look for ourselves."

Holding a hand up to stop him, Tobias quickly told him, "Hold on. Are we sure that Team Rocket doesn't have some sort of masking ability? They are lying in wait to try and capture one of the Legendary Beasts, after all."

Serena looked to Ash and asked, "Can they even do that? Isn't Aura their life force? How would they just...turn that off?"

"Now that I think about it," Ash said, looking down at his Secretary Bot with a perturbed expression, "Didn't Mr. Star say he took a sample of my Aura from the memorial? If he could do it, Team Rocket probably could too."

Hearing that, Paul made his way back down the stairs to the others. "I don't remember hearing that. Why would Mr. Star do something like that?"

Mr. Star probably wouldn't want him to tell them about that, Ash realized. "It...was for a good cause," He replied, trying to be as vague as possible. "But like most things he does, Team Rocket usually finds ways to turn them into bad things." His Aura flared, creating a barrier around the group. He eyed the desecrated tower with a hint of trepidation, not wanting to walk head-on into a trap. It was lucky for him that Paul had a better idea.

The purple-haired trainer tossed his Pokeballs into the air, letting loose his Ursaring, Ninjask, Torterra, Drapion, Gastrodon and Electivire. "If they have a sample of your Aura and can use it to mask their presence, they probably have a way to bust through a shield made out of the stuff. It's best if we just use our Pokemon."

As the others unleashed their own Pokemon, Tobias chuckled dryly. "Sorry, but I don't think I'll be helpful on this front. Poipole is still too young to fight."

They looked back at him awkwardly, pausing what they were doing. "...It's, um, fine," Replied Serena uncomfortably. "We obviously can't ask you to help...so…" She rubbed the back of her head awkwardly.

Gary decided to intervene for her sake. "Would you mind staying out here?" He asked bluntly. "It'll be dangerous without anything to defend yourself?"

Unexpectedly, Tobias smiled at him and replied, "Sure thing."

The group shared an uncomfortable pause for a moment, looking back and forth to one another. "Er…" Started Ash. "Well...we'll see you later. Stay safe out here, okay?"

"Will do."

A loud knocking sound from the Burned Tower alerted Ash and the others, as well as making Serena jump. "Let's move!" Paul called down to them. His Pokemon were already in the midst of entering. "That's enough waiting around."

"Well, you don't need to alert Team Rocket about it!" Serena shot back, earning a chuckle from Gary. She and her Pokemon hastily stormed up the stairs, though not before grabbing Ash and pulling him along. Gary waved back to Tobias, who returned the gesture, and followed the others.

When they entered, the group's Pokemon formed a tight circle around their friends and masters. The interior of the Burned Tower was far darker than the lack of a roof would suggest. Ash chalked it up to the countless Ghost-Type Pokemon floating about. Yet, they were not the current threat. Once upon a time, they might have been. But, as Ash lit the darkened temple with the light of his Aura, it became clear that the agitated spirits would be staging no attack.

They had a singular target in mind, whom Ash believed the ghosts would be delighted to be rid of. And rid of them, they would. Serena looked around the desecrated temple with worry. Even with Ash's light, the place was unendingly unnerving. "Can...can you sense them now, Ash?" She asked optimistically.

To her disappointment, Ash shook his head. "Still only ghosts, and…"

When Ash didn't continue, Gary leaned in toward him inquisitively. "And…?"

Ash's eyes wrinkled with confusion. "I sense...well, maybe I shouldn't speak about it. Just in case they're nearby." Gary noticed that Ash appeared to be staring at nothing rather intently. When they were ten, he would have never expected any thoughts to be running through his old rival's head. Now, though...well, it was unnerving how little thinking actually suited him. "But I find it hard to believe. If it's here and they are too, wouldn't they already be battling?"

Raising an eyebrow at him impatiently, Paul asked, "Who's here?" Then it hit him. "Wait, you mean…?!" He cut himself off upon realizing the meaning behind what Ash had said. Serena looked back and forth between them, confused. However, noticing that they were intentionally staying silent, she decided to do so as well even at the chagrin of her curiosity. It had to be for a good reason.

Her eyes went wide as she and the others found a giant hole in the floor. It was not the hole that she and the others were perturbed by, but rather, what was slumbering on the floor below. At the base of the Burned Tower, the Legendary Beast of Johto, Raikou, slumbered. It wasn't for long, though. Its head jerked and its eyes suddenly went wide. The beast snapped its head toward the now-wary group of trainers and roared.

A cascade of lightning erupted from the beast, scraping all along the cement walls of the floor it had been sleeping in. "Ursaring, Protect!" Ordered Paul. At his command, the ferocious bear Pokemon brought its arms up to guard itself, summoning a large green barrier around the entire group by doing so. The lightning raged against it, though Ursaring luckily managed to hold its ground. "Good work," Commended Paul, turning back to Raikou. "Why is it attacking us?" He asked Ash. "Aren't these ones supposed to be skittish?"

Ash frowned, staring down upon the Legendary Pokemon. Suddenly, as if to voice his thoughts, the Holo Alice on Serena's wrist activated on its own, nearly making the girl jump out of her skin with fright. "It appears to have been critically injured," Spoke the hologram. "Perhaps it fought off Team Rocket on its own and was sleeping off its wounds?"

"Maybe," Replied Ash, summoning his Aura. "For that last part at least. But those wounds aren't new." He narrowed his whitened eyes down at the rampaging beast. There were deep-seated bruises and scars lining its body. Its fur was messed up and more spiked than usual; in random, curly patterns rather than its usual spiny posture. One of its large, blade-like fangs had been chipped off as well. "They're fairly old ones. Probably from Necrozma."

The raven-haired boy winced, feeling slightly woozy all of a sudden. Serena instinctively grabbed his arm. "Ash?!" He cried. "Are you alright?!" He'd been using his Aura a lot today. Mostly in an attempt to halt the fiasco that was the Hall of Origins meeting. Now that he thought about it, he hadn't seen the Beasts of Johto there.

"Y-yeah," He responded unconvincingly, shaking his head to dispel his dizziness. He placed a hand on Ursaring's barrier, immediately dispelling it and replacing it with one of his own. "I'm gonna head down there and help it."

Paul protested fiercely. "You looked like you were going to pass out for a second. If you go down there like that, you'll get fried!"

Ash merely replied, "I'll manage."

He hopped down to the tower's basement, shrouded in his ivory Aura. Upon contact with the otherworldly mist, Raikou immediately recognized it from Ash and ceased its outburst. Above, the others sighed in relief, though they still watched on with baited breath. "You think it'll attack him?" Asked Gary, looking at his Nidoking anxiously. "It stopped for now, but those injuries may make it more hostile than normal."

"Raikou looks like it knows Ash," Serena pointed out. She looked into its deep, amethyst eyes. It stared at Ash intently, but not like a normal wild Pokemon would when cornered. "It almost...looks like it recognizes him."

Ash slowly held out a hand, heavily infused with as much Aura as he could muster without passing out, up to Raikou. It merely continued to stare at him without moving. Taking this as a cue to move toward it, Ash gently slid his foot across the concrete flooring. "Hey there," He said gently. "Seems like you got roughed up by Necrozma, eh? Well, maybe I can help."

He soon closed in on the thunder beast, coming close to the point where he could almost feel its spiked fur. Yet, the nearer he drew, the more it seemed to lax in its stature. He figured this to be the work of his Aura. "I'll help ya best I can," He told it, holding his whitened hand to it. A low, rumbling sound escaped Raikou's throat as it closed its eyes.

Upon touching his hand to Raikou's forehead, the Aura was immediately sucked onto the beast's body and sent a pulse running all across it. Where that pulse touched, Raikou's wounds appeared to heal. Feeling his stamina leave him, Ash immediately pulled away and fell onto his back, wincing. He heaved for air, finding that the world around him was swirling like a Whirlpool attack.

"A-Ash!" Cried Serena, Paul and Gary. Their eyes widened with horror further as Raikou appeared to spasm in the same way as Ash. Thunder raced from its fur once more, though now it came in small, random streaks before cutting off all of a sudden. Fearsome growls and gurgled roars exploded out from the electric beast en masse.

Gary stared at it with a different horror than the others. "It...looks like it's struggling to hold itself back. It doesn't want to attack!"

"Whether it wants to or not, when it lets loose, it's going to go off like a bomb!" Paul countered. He glared down into the pit, preparing to order his Pokemon to attack. "And we can't let Ash stay down there when it hap-"

He cut himself off when he suddenly heard the sound of a whistle from behind. He, Serena and Gary turned back to its source, finding a shadowed figure walking toward them from the dark. It was Tobias, holding a leaf to his mouth. Somehow, he was using it to produce the grandest piece of music they'd heard in their lives.

"Tobias?" Asked Paul. "What are you doing here?"

"And what in the world is that music?" Followed Gary.

A betoken Serena looked on in awe with wistful, shimmering eyes at Tobias as he passed the three. "It's...beautiful."

Continuing to whistle into the leaf, Tobias approached the edge of the floor and came to a stop. Even through his distorted senses, Ash could hear the song. It felt...not unlike his Aura, but oddly different. Clutching his head, he eventually managed to sit up and turn to the song's source. His eyes went wide suddenly. "That song...it's…!"

Raikou appeared to have calmed down somewhat. The rampant sparks of electricity that ran across its fur dwindled until they ceased altogether. So too did Ash's Auric healing, taking with it many, though not all, of the wounds Necrozma dealt it. It craned its head up toward Tobias curiously, staring silently until Tobias ceased whistling.

When he was done, he smiled down at Ash and Raikou. "Oracion," He said. "That's the song I played. It's said to be able to calm anyone who hears it and stop any conflict." Noticing Ash's expression, he said,"You appear to know it, Ash. Has it gotten published or something?"

Before Ash could stutter out an answer, a renewed Raikou raised its head to the ceiling and roared, making Ash nearly fall flat on his face. It crouched down and leapt onto the upper floor on the opposite side of Tobias and the others. The proud beast sent a glance down at Ash, then up to Tobias, and nodded silently. Then, quick as a bolt of lightning, it disappeared from sight.

Serena immediately jumped down to the lower floor, ignoring the pain of landing on concrete to go to Ash's side. "Are you alright?!" She cried, looking him over frantically. "You didn't get electrocuted, did you?!"

Ash stared at her blankly for a moment, still stunned by the entire prior ordeal. His silence was broken by his own short laughter from Serena's antics. "Y-yeah," He replied with a reassuring grin. "Thanks for being worried, but I think I'm fine now…" Turning his glance upon Tobias, he added, "Thanks to Tobias."

Mimicking Ash, Serena asked, "What was that, by the way?"

"Oracion," He said once more. "Didn't I already say it?"

She shook her head. "Not the name! How did that song...fix everything?"

"I'm curious as well," Added Gary. "Songs like that could really help gramps and I back at the lab when the Pokemon get rowdy."

Tobias opened his mouth to reply...then closed it. Ash sensed something within Tobias, but in his fatigued state, he couldn't figure out what emotion it could be. "...We should save the explanations for later," He told them, looking around at the Burned Tower's interior. "There are better places for that than an old, tired place like this. Plus, I don't know how long Oracion will keep the Ghost-Types docile."

Paul immediately turned back toward the entrance and tapped on his Secretary Bot to activate it. "Tell Mr. Star that the mission is complete."

"Hold on," Interrupted Gary. "How so? We still haven't found the Team Rocket guys."

Turning back to him, Paul retorted, "They've already been dealt with, thanks to Raikou. Raikou's been healed as well, and the Burned Tower's status was confirmed. Ho-oh hadn't been seen for ages until Necrozma showed up, so Morty probably hasn't found anything."

Holo Alice bowed and spoke before Gary could. "Understood," It droned. "I will report to Mr. Star immediately. He should have a new mission after tomorrow at the latest." The hologram then disappeared, leaving the area dark once more. Paul called to the others over his shoulder. "The mission's done! Let's get out of this place and back to the Pokemon Center!"

As the group exited the Burned Tower, they could have sworn they heard thunder off in the distance, yet there wasn't a cloud in the sky. They shrugged it off, chalking it up to their imagination. "Hey!" Called a familiar voice. Turning toward it, the group found Morty rushing over to them. "I didn't find anything in the Bell Tower. What about you guys?"

Gary looked to the sky and replied, "We found Raikou in there, but no Rockets."

Morty's eyes went wide, looking up at the Burned Tower. "Raikou, you say?! It's a rare occasion indeed when one of the Beasts of Johto visits it. What was it doing there?"

"Resting," Spoke Ash. He was being supported by Sceptile and Serena. "Five months wasn't anywhere near enough to heal the wounds it got from Necrozma, so my guess was that it was trying to sleep it off."

Clapping a hand on the boy's shoulder, Tobias said, "Thanks to Ash here, we were able to alleviate some of its wounds. Though, it has left him in quite a state as you can see."

"Well, I thank you for your aid then, Ash," Morty said appreciatively. "But what of Team Rocket? Was there really nothing there? It seems odd that Mr. Star of all people would have wrong information."

Gary chuckled as he imagined the faces of the poor Team Rocket grunts when Raikou actually showed up and mopped the floor with them. "They were there," He told Morty. "It's just that they got their butts handed to them before we even got there." He held his Secretary Bot up for the ex-Gym Leader to see. "That's what our intel tells us, anyways."

Morty shrugged. "It makes sense that they lost. A Legendary Pokemon cannot be bested so easily."

Shaking his head, Ash replied, "No, we just got lucky this time." Morty and the others turned their attention upon him at that. Ash recalled what he'd overheard about Team Rocket and the Nova Branch. They were able to fight Legendaries on their own. Lucky didn't even begin to describe it. If Team Rocket had sent actual soldiers, then Raikou likely would have already been in captivity long before he and the others arrived.

"...I think these grunts acted by themselves," Ash told Morty, a frown upon his face. "If the orders came from their boss, then…"

Seeing where Ash was coming from, Serena nodded and finished his sentence for him. "These ones were just small fry? Figures." She chuckled. "If those three are common among the grunts, then it's no wonder they weren't successful."

Morty gave her a quizzical look. "Those three?"

She shook her head. "It's nothing important."

"Well," Said Morty. "I should hope so. In any case, I see that you're tired, so I'll stop with the questions." He turned his head to a large, artistic building not dissimilar to the Burned and Bell towers, just without the tower aspect. "Over there is where the Kimono Girls do their dance performances. If you want, you can relax and watch the show. They'd be glad to have any costumers these days." With that, he waved to the group and walked away.

Shrugging, Ash's friends began to walk toward the building to see exactly what it offered. Ash, however, did not. He merely stared at the building silently and with furrowed brows. Serena fell behind the others when she realized Ash wasn't following. "Ash?" She asked, returning to his side. "Is something wrong?"

He let out a long-winded sigh, attempting to step forward only to trip over himself in his exhaustion. "A-ash!" Gasping, Serena stepped forward, managing to catch him before he fell. "Are you alright?!"

Ash's eyes were wide, still locked onto the building. Visions of the past, his original journey through Ecruteak and his meeting with the Kimono Girls before, flashed before his eyes. He didn't know why it was happening, and trying to reason why only served to make his mind swirl even more. Was it his Aura doing this? That time...seemed so far away now. It felt nearly alien to him. He recalled it clear as day.

The youngest of the Kimono Girls was trying to evolve her Eevee, and after one of the endless fiascos with the Team Rocket Trio, she did just that. Ordinarily, that would just be one memory of a million, which made it all the more confusing as to why this memory in particular now...haunted him. "...I'll have to call Brock sometime," He said aloud.

Serena looked at him with concern. "What?"

Snapping back to reality, Ash forced himself back to his feet. "Th-thank you," He said, shaking his head. "I'm probably just tired after using my Aura too much."

On his wrist, Holo Alice suddenly appeared. "Serena, Ash," It greeted with a bow. "Mr. Star has received the message and is now issuing a call. Will you accept?"

Unmarked Island Facility, Hoenn.

Flames. Horrific, hellish, choking fire. That was all he saw. Whenever he opened his eyes, he felt them burn as if he was on that island again. When he closed them, he could see Moltres's wing descending upon him again and again and again. It never ended. The flames were everywhere, consuming his mind, body and soul. The flames had burnt his body black. Black like obsidian, dark as the sky he saw every waking and sleeping moment. The sky surrounded by Moltres's flames.

He thrashed wildly in the healing tube he floated in, even at the expense of his various life support systems. The waters he was submerged in could no longer dull the pain. It was smothering. Crushing, even. With his blackened hand, he tore off his breathing mask. With the other, he ripped out a large metal needle that was jammed into his back, uncaring of the blood it took upon its exit, and jammed it into the glass that ecased him.

When the glass shattered, he fell to the container's grated floor. He was only able to keep himself upright with sheer willpower. Every bone in his body screamed at him to fall, but he would not. Dropping down to the floor, he found that he was not bothered by the sensation of broken glass on his bare feet. Either his obsidianized skin was too hard for it to pierce or the pain of the fire put whatever pain the glass could bring him to shame.

It was then, as he stumbled about the laboratory room, that he realized he couldn't see. "Why are the li-ngh?!" He clutched at his throat. His voice...was not his own. It sounded ashy and deep, but he was confident that he had never touched a cigarette in his life, let alone smoked one. It had to be the work of those damnable flames.

"You shouldn't be walking around like that," Spoke a voice that was familiar to the burned man. "Frankly, I'm surprised that you even can walk. Your recovery wasn't supposed to be finished for another year or so."

A low, scratchy groan escaped the burned man's throat. "Lee," He spoke simply. "Why are the lights off? I can't see a thing."

Christopher Lee did not reply at first, contemplating his next words to come as gently as possible. "Mr. Harper," He said. "I'm afraid, after your battle with Moltres...your eyes could not be saved."

The burned man recoiled at that, clutching at his face. He recoiled again when he did not feel skin, but stone. "What happened?" He asked with shaking breath. "Did Moltres do this to me?!"

"That he did," Answered Christopher Lee, "But you will receive your vengeance in time." He looked to the destroyed recovery tube with disdain. "It would have served both of us better if you stayed in there. A human cannot survive long in your state." The fat man eyed 'Harper' up and down, a deep-seated frown crawling down his face. "You are a very valuable man to us. Almost to the extent of Ryder and his squadron. That's why we've been putting so much into keeping you alive."

The burned man turned toward Lee using his voice as a reference point. "...How long?" He asked. "How long do I have without it?"

Chuckling, Christopher Lee twiddled with his goatee. "You need not worry about that," He replied. "You are much stronger than I anticipated to be moving around like that. Any normal man would be dead." He tapped a button on his brown suit, ushering in a call to the scientists elsewhere in the facility. "If this works, we may have another member to add under Ryder's command."

"Not interested," Hissed Harper. "I will accept any equipment you give me, but only so that I can tear that damned bird's wings off!"

Christopher Lee chortled in amusement. "Is that so? Well, regardless of your intentions, you will get your chance at vengeance only when the opportunity presents itself. In the meantime, you will follow my orders." The burned man went to protest, so Lee took out a match from his pocket and cruelly ignited it, causing the burned man to recoil and scream in terror. He cowered from the flame, scrambling backwards and covering himself with his arms.

"Look at yourself!" Berated Christpher Lee as he doused the lighter and pocketed it once more. "If this pitiful flame is too much for you, how will you stand up to Moltres's?!" The burned man, still heaving for air, made no reply. "Hmph. You will overcome that fear in time. Power is fear's destroyer, after all." He heard the sound of footsteps approaching rapidly, so he took out a syringe filled with an odd, green liquid. A wide, dark grin tore across Lee's face from ear to ear.

"You were already a match for the Legends before. I cannot wait to see what else I can turn you into!"

Author's Note

Creator: Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but updates will be considerably few and far between from now on. College just started up and I'll be busy every day except Saturday most likely. There's a possibility that I can work on Friday and Sunday, but the first week has already been hellish, so I doubt it. I must also apologize for a shorter chapter. There will be longer ones for Ash in the future, but this one needed to be short for plot reasons. I also wanted to show off that Ash still has his limits. Him beating Regice was lucky, and it's something he wouldn't be able to replicate.

Hydra: Well that's it for this one. It was a lot shorter than the last, but that's to be expected since the last one was so long. By the way there was a glitch that occurred when uploading the last chapter so if you haven't read it yet MAKE SURE YOU DO.

Creator: Now for the SUPER reviews!

British-Vulture: "Sorry, was a bit busy with College and ruining Torres' CRISP WHITE SHEETS that I may have forgotten to write a review for last chapter. If I did. Did I? My memory has been garbage after my throat went to hell.

Anyway, seems Mew ain't as much as an Alpha Bitch as I thought. Though, seeing as how she's an implied, *cough* established *cough*, manipulator, I'm not trusting her anytime soon. It was extremely, EX-FUCKING-TREMELY satisfying to see the Hell Hunters get their Just Desserts. One got fucking eaten alive like it was a Scarab Beetle scene from The Mummy. Another probably got Loki'd by Regigigas, and one got the same fate as Scar.

I am curious to see what Mew has planned, and hope the kid don't get killed later on.

Oh, who am I kidding? He's gonna die.

I really enjoyed this chapter, see you next chapter.

Et tu, Brutus?"

Creator: It's no problem, my guy. Just glad that you're reading and reviewing at all. Trusting Mew right now is about as bad of a mistake as you could make. She's definitely not evil, just going through some things. Things that may or may not spell good news for Shaun. I'm glad you enjoyed the hunters' fates. We wanted to get rid of them quickly to set up some things later on and alleviate your guys' memories because memorizing their names was probably annoying, right? But as for Shaun...am I the kind of writer that would kill a kid? Thanks for reviewing as always.

Hydra: bro don't worry we definitely feel ya with the whole college thing I still have to do some accounting work today. But anyways this chapter was so intense I was so happy when the hell hunters finally got what they deserved. Mew is absolutely terrifying when she's out to kill bro, let's just hope Shaun can survive because it looks like she finally found someone to "take care of".

DarkPugLord23: "Yes! My boy Regigigas makes his appearance, and quite the epic one as well. So satisfying to see a brutal end to the Hell Hunters; poetic justice at its finest. I do hope Shaun will be okay, but his fate remains unseen for now."

Creator: We were hoping to still keep Regigigas hidden after that chapter, but I guess we made it too obvious.

Hydra: Rip Raphael though he got absolutely annihilated such a fitting way for how horrible he was. I feel bad for Shaun because if Mews obsessive tendencies are anything to go by then… well it probably won't end well, hopefully he can escape.

Creator: Sorry again for the short chapter, but there will be better ones to come. College ain't fun, but it certainly is necessary. See ya guys later. Thanks for reviewing.

Hydra: that's all for this one folks. Also don't expect updates to come as frequently as usual we'll still be working on this, but college just started as well and homework comes first you understand.