Sora was a welcome addition to the group.

Ash almost immediately took a liking to the new friend that literally fell out of the sky and came out of nowhere. In the two days it took their group of five to drive to Professor Krane's lab, they'd all gotten to know the spiky-haired brunette pretty well.

As well as one can get to know an amnesiac, that is.

Sora was a happy guy for the most part, looking to just go with the flow and journey where life took him. Granted, he hadn't remembered anything specific about his past outside of his two friends, but that was the feeling Ash got from him. Sora had a plethora of questions about Pokemon and the world they lived in, which Ash and Serena were more than happy to educate him in. At one point during their trip, Sora had Ash and Serena quiz him on basic Pokemon knowledge, such as type advantages and the like. While he was definitely learning, it would be quite some time before Sora was anywhere near someone of even Bonnie's level of knowledge. To his credit, he was always optimistic and eager to learn more about Pokemon.

The two days on the road were also enough for Ash to get a good look at everyone's Pokemon teams. After all, back in the days when he used to travel with Brock, Serena, and Bonnie - separately, of course - he'd always made it a point that everyone, Pokemon included, ate together. In a region as ill-reputed as Orre was, this tradition also doubled as an extra layer of security.

Years of being chased by the Rocket trio had taught Ash to err on the side of caution.

Ash had introduced everyone to his current roster of Pokemon. Along with those he'd already revealed, he'd also brought along Corphish. Having a water Pokemon on hand was always a good idea for a variety of reasons - especially when crossing a desert - and Ash always felt bad for neglecting the Ruffian Pokemon's training for a good number of years. Now was the perfect time to brush up on Corphish's skills and bring him up to par with the rest of the team. Gible was much the same way, usually kept on the sidelines - much to Ash's chagrin - so the Land Shark Pokemon was overdue for some quality training time. Pikachu and Charizard he'd brought along just in case things ever got particularly nasty and he needed some extra firepower. He'd been tempted to bring along another powerhouse like Sceptile, but his loyal Forest Pokemon deserved a break after his battle against the Alola League challenger. He'd retrieve other Pokemon later if needed once they reached a proper Pokemon Center.

Bonnie also introduced her other Pokemon, that being a shiny Phantump. Ash remembered meeting a shiny Phantump once during their travels in Kalos and silently wondered if this was that same one. In any case, Bonnie only had the three Pokemon with her, saying that she hoped she'd find some more cute Pokemon here in Orre.

He didn't have the heart to tell her that wild Pokemon were rare here.

Not that he could criticize her that much. After all, Ash had only brought four Pokemon instead of a full team.

Brock had brought along his Blissey, who had assisted him back when Sora was still unconscious. In addition to that, Brock had brought his Toxicroak, apparently having evolved from a Croagunk in the time since Ash had last seen him. Lastly, Brock had brought along a third Pokeball with him, but had abstained from releasing its tenant during mealtime for whatever reason. Ash had an inkling as to who might be in that Pokeball, but decided to keep his opinions to himself. He kind of wanted to be surprised, actually.

Serena brought with her her Kalos crew. Braixen had since evolved into Delphox, while Pancham still remained his cute and cuddly little self, complete with sunglasses. Sylveon was also in attendance, of course. Ash was glad to see that Serena stayed loyal and true to her dedicated performance crew, and he could even see that they were a fair bit more battle-hardened, likely due to the couple of years training in contests. It was comforting to see that Serena and her team had grown in strength - if not quantity - in the three years since he'd seen her.

Sora immediately got along with everyone's Pokemon, almost uncannily so. Even Charizard, who Ash had struggled with the most with loyalty and obedience, took to the spiky-haired boy like a Ducklett to water. Charizards as a species were known to only respect those who were strong. It had taken Ash ages to prove that he was strong and worthy enough to be his trainer, and Sora had somehow gained his respect almost instantly.

If he weren't so impressed, Ash would have been jealous.

"Are we there yet?" Bonnie droned out from the passenger seat. Dedenne, perched atop her head, looked similarly unenthused.

"Almost!" Serena said as she perused the map Ash had provided. "If I'm right, we should be coming up on it very soon."

"How are you doing back there, Sora?" Ash asked, twisting in his seat to address their newest friend.

Sora smiled and gave him a thumbs up. "Doin' great! Just getting to know Pikachu a little better."

Ash's faithful partner, who was currently seated next to Sora, threw out a peace sign towards his trainer. "Pika-pi, pika!"

"Glad to see you two are getting along so well." Ash chuckled before his expression turned just a tad mischievous. "Just don't go stealing my best friend from me, got it?"

"CHU!" Pikachu cried out, sending a small zap from his cheeks at his trainer.

"Yow!" Ash yelped, jumping just a smidge in his seat. Apparently Pikachu was not a fan of even joking about the idea of leaving Ash. That, unlike the electrifying punishment he was given, was a comfort at least.

Sora looked concerned for a moment before his expression softened. He let out a nervous laugh. "I don't think you have anything to worry about, Ash…"

"Arceus, Pikachu, I was only kidding!" Ash half-scolded his partner. He chuckled. "Point taken though."

"We're here!" Brock shouted from up front. "I think this is the lab!"

Ash turned around to face forward again. Serena had glanced up from the map, choosing to fold it up upon seeing the shape of a large white building in the distance. Bonnie was practically standing up in the passenger seat, brimming with enthusiasm. Ash felt Pikachu bound up from behind him and scurry up onto his shoulder.

"Sure looks like it!" Ash proclaimed with a smile. "I hope the Professor's in. It would be a shame if we came all this way to find he wasn't here."

Serena giggled. "Well don't go jinxing it, Ash. You're just tempting fate when you say stuff like that."

Brock pulled the jeep up to an area just outside the lab, near a flight of steps leading up to what looked like a small courtyard. The front facade of the building was almost entirely glass, giving the facility a polished and professional look while simultaneously giving onlookers a peek into the inner workings of the lab. Ash could already tell that the technology inside far surpassed anything he'd seen so far, and it was evidently well staffed as well. Other regional professors had maybe one or two assistants with them, whereas this Professor Krane apparently had a full team assisting him in his research.

It was somehow encouraging and disheartening at the same time; was the problem with Cipher's experimental Pokemon that bad to justify an entire team of this size? It was good to see that the issue was apparently getting attention, but it was concerning nonetheless. He'd have to ask the good Professor more on the issue.

As the five friends exited their jeep, they were immediately met by a man in a lab coat, as well as a rather imposing-looking Machamp. Neither of the two looked particularly happy to see them.

"I'm going to have to ask you to stop right there, strangers." The man said, crossing his arms. "Who are you and what is your purpose here?"

"Oh, uhh…" Ash started. He wasn't expecting such an unfriendly reception. "Professor Oak in Kanto recommended we come see Professor Krane. Would it be alright if we saw him?"

The man seemed to give Ash and the others an appraising look before he pulled out a small device similar in size to a Pokedex. He pressed a few buttons, all the while glancing up at them as if to keep an eye on them. After a few moments, a voice rang out from the device itself.

"Krane here!" The voice called out. "Oh, Sebastian! How can I help you?"

"I'm here at the perimeter, sir." The man called Sebastian answered. "We have some people here saying that Professor Oak sent them to meet you?"

"Oh, yes!" Krane's voice cried out, sounding caught off-guard. "Please, please! Send them in, Sebastian. Oh, what are their names?"

Sebastian looked up at Ash and the others expectantly.

"Ash, sir. I'm here with Serena, Brock, Bonnie, and Sora." Ash quickly explained. "I don't think Professor Oak would have mentioned Sora. We just met him a couple of days ago."

"Hmm…" Krane's voice hummed over the device. "It should be alright. If Ash and his friends vouch for him, that's fine with me."

"Understood, sir." Sebastian said with a nod. "I'll escort them in."

"Splendid. I'll meet you at the front desk." Krane's voice said before cutting out.

Sebastian sighed before he looked up at the five of them again. His posture, as well as that of his Machamp's, visibly relaxed. "Sorry about that. We've had some security issues in the past with Cipher goons trying to break in."

"Cipher?" Sora asked. Ash grimaced, having realized that their new friend wasn't quite in the know regarding their missions here. Maybe he'd let the amnesiac know sometime once they'd gotten to know him better. "Who're they?"

"They're after the Professor's research." Sebastian grumbled as he led them up the steps and towards the building. "We've kept them away for the most part, but they're getting more bold as of late."

"Why are they after his research?" Bonnie asked.

"I think I'd better let the Professor explain that." Sebastian admitted. Even his Machamp looked similarly unhappy about the topic of conversation. "He'll be able to explain it better than I could."

Sebastian and his Machamp escorted the group of five through the front doors. There, Ash could really see the kind of facility the Professor had. It was a wonder of technology. Strange technological apparati lined the walls, with various monitors and other screens lining the walls. Researchers wandered from room to room, sliding doors opening and closing mechanically with a hiss. It was all very impressive.

A man with frizzy, brown hair greeted them at the front desk. He wore a pair of thick glasses that almost seemed to magnify his squinted, brown eyes. He also wore a white lab coat, underneath which was a green button up dress shirt. Together with the tan khakis and dark brown dress shoes, he certainly looked the part of a scientist or researcher.

"Hello there!" The bespectacled man said with a smile. "I'm Professor Krane. It's a pleasure to meet a group as talented and renowned as you."

Sebastian had a look of mild confusion on his face, as did his Machamp.

Krane seemed to notice this, as he briefly turned to address the man who'd escorted Ash and his friends in. "This is Ash Ketchum. I'm sure you've heard of him?"

"The Alola Champion?!" Sebastian suddenly blurted out, garnering the attention of the few other researchers nearby. He then nervously chuckled to himself, sharing a knowing look with his Machamp. "I don't think Machamp and I could have kept you away even if we tried!"

Ash simply smiled at their escort. "Don't sell yourself short! You and Machamp look like quite the team. Maybe we can battle later if there's time!"

Krane chuckled to himself. "Perhaps later. It's a good thing you came to see me first. Professor Oak and Lance each contacted me to let me know of your arrival. Please, come with me and I'll share with you everything I know."

Sebastian and his Machamp stayed put while Professor Krane led the rest of them down the hall and into an elevator, which brought them up to the second floor. Once there, they were led to what appeared to be a small conference or presentation room. This room was similarly equipped with monitors, but noticeably less lab equipment. Everyone took a seat around a large conference table, with Krane at the head of it.

"First things first, I want to thank you all for coming." Krane began with a genuine, appreciative smile. "I hope your visit here in Orre hasn't been unfavorable so far."

"Gateon Port wasn't that bad." Bonnie said with a shrug of her shoulders. "We got to battle somebody, even if they were really rude."

"Can you tell us a little about Orre?" Brock asked. "We were under the impression there was some trouble here."

Krane sighed. "Things haven't been great here in Orre for at least the past 15 to 20 years. Being a mostly desert region with few wild Pokemon was bad enough, but then we started to have some trouble. At first it started with regular, run-of-the-mill criminal organizations, but the local police were able to keep a lid on things for the most part."

"What changed?" Serena asked.

"About five years ago, a well-funded criminal organization called Cipher rose to power." Krane went on to explain. "Not in an official sense, mind you, but they had the power to effectively replace or bully any government officials into compliance."

"Sebastian mentioned them on our way in." Brock said, his arms crossed in thought. "What makes them so dangerous? I can't imagine they're ordinary if they amassed that much influence."

"Tell me…" Krane said, readjusting his glasses carefully. "... have you heard of Shadow Pokemon?"

Ash looked around at his friends. Yes, they'd certainly heard of Shadow Pokemon, thanks to that Zook character back in Gateon Port. Up until now, they'd just written it off as bluster or overconfidence.

"Yeah, we ran into a guy back in Gateon that said he had a Shadow Pokemon, but we didn't think much of it." Ash answered. "What are Shadow Pokemon, Professor?"

Krane leaned back in his chair and tented his fingers, his otherwise jovial expression settling into a scowl. "Shadow Pokemon are created by Cipher as an artificial, and cruel, way of strengthening the power of Pokemon. While the process is successful in that it makes them much stronger, it comes at a cost. In their own words, the process "shuts the door to their hearts." They become fighting machines, constantly angry and reckless."

Ash glanced at everyone around the table. Bonnie and Serena looked absolutely horrified at the prospect of a Pokemon forcibly changed in such a way, whereas Brock kept a steadfast look of determination and displeasure. Sora looked deeply troubled. Apparently the brunette had strong feelings on the matter, despite his relatively recent foray into the world of Pokemon.

"As I'm sure you're well aware, Pokemon are usually trusting creatures. Sure, wild Pokemon may defend themselves if they or their territory are threatened, but Pokemon usually don't lash out with the intent to kill." Krane continued, his brow furrowing. "Shadow Pokemon have no such inhibitions. Under a careless trainer's command, they will unleash their full power, regardless of the consequences. They will even attack other trainers if their emotions get the best of them."

"That's terrible!" Ash and Serena cried out simultaneously. The two glanced at each other, both startled that they'd voiced the same exact opinion, but otherwise turned their attention back to the Professor.

"Indeed it is." Krane agreed with a solemn nod. "That's what makes Cipher so dangerous. They mass-produce these Shadow Pokemon and hand them out to their allies. Unfortunately, these allies of theirs are just as dangerous and unhinged as the Shadow Pokemon they use. The local police just don't have the ability or power to stand up to them, so more often than not they have to turn a blind eye to anything involving Shadow Pokemon."

"Hasn't anyone tried to stop them?!" Ash exclaimed. The idea of people getting away with not only abusing Pokemon like this, but also exerting their power over others was something Ash could not tolerate. Ash felt a gentle hand on his arm. He looked over to see Serena gently clutching his arm, her eyes pleading with him to calm down. He took a deep breath and sat back down.

"Yes, actually." Krane replied with a faint smile. That seemed to shock everyone out of their initial reactions as they leaned in to hear more. "Five years ago, a young man named Wes took a stand against them. You see, he was a former member of Team Snagem, a criminal organization that used Shadow Pokemon. One day, he'd had enough of his employer's abuse of people and Pokemon alike and went rogue."

Ash initially had his reservations about this Wes character upon hearing of his association with Team Snagem, but after hearing that he rebelled against them, maybe this guy wasn't so bad.

"He rescued a young woman named Rui, who had the ability to detect Shadow Pokemon." Krane continued, his smile growing ever so slightly before setting into a mild scowl again. "You see, to the naked eye Shadow Pokemon look like regular Pokemon. There are no visual differences to tell them apart. Even their behavior could be written off as just very angry Pokemon if you're unsure."

"That's a useful ability to have." Brock muttered. "I imagine that put a target on her back."

Krane nodded. "Indeed it did. Wes was able to protect her, though, and the two of them went around Orre together and not only took down Cipher, but also rescued many Shadow Pokemon and purified them."

"You can purify Shadow Pokemon?" Bonnie asked hopefully.

"Oh yes, although doing it naturally takes time and effort." Krane said with a nod. "In order to purify a Shadow Pokemon, a trainer needs to spend time with it and slowly befriend it. You have to build a bond with the Pokemon and start to open the door to its heart, so to speak. Once it's almost entirely freed, the Pokemon is then brought to an old shrine in Agate Village, where it is completely freed of its affliction."

"Is that what Wes and Rui had to do?" Serena asked.

"Indeed." Krane replied with another nod. "It's a long and difficult process, but it is achievable. My research here builds on that. You see, I'm working on a machine that can purify Pokemon artificially and much more quickly, although regrettably, we aren't close to creating a functioning prototype."

Krane sighed and took off his glasses before rubbing the bridge of his nose. "That's why I'm thankful that the League has taken an interest in helping. At the rate that Cipher is producing Shadow Pokemon, we'll be in deep trouble before a prototype is even ready to use."

"I have a question." Sora said, raising his hand and breaking his silence. "I'm still pretty new to this, but how did Wes and Rui rescue the Pokemon if they were already owned by trainers? I thought stealing Pokemon was illegal."

Ash blinked in surprise. Sora had a point.

Krane pointed at Sora casually. "You're not wrong. Normally, it is, and technically it was back then too. Wes had to forcibly steal Shadow Pokemon from their trainers. Fortunately, I've convinced the local government to add a stipulation to that clause in the case of Shadow Pokemon."

"How did they do that?" Ash asked, shifting in his seat. This conversation was making him a little uncomfortable, but he knew it was important that he understood. "Even stolen Pokemon usually don't follow another trainer's orders unless they've been traded or told by their original trainer that they belong to someone else."

"They did so with this." Krane said as he pushed a few buttons on his watch.

With a hiss, a panel shifted back on a nearby wall, revealing a hidden compartment. Inside was what looked like a mechanical arm, with a metallic shoulder plate connected to a metallic cord that ultimately led to a metal glove. The glove portion had what looked like a blue orb on the backside of the hand.

"This…" Krane said as he stood up and retrieved the prosthetic from its mount. The others stood up and made to follow. "... is a Snag Machine. The original prototype Wes uses looks a fair bit differently, but ultimately both perform the same function. When a Pokeball is placed within the gloved hand, it is converted into a Snag Ball, which has the ability to steal another trainer's Pokemon as if one were capturing a wild Pokemon."

Ash was simultaneously horrified and intrigued by the piece of machinery presented to him. It certainly explained how Wes was able to rescue those Pokemon, but Ash couldn't help but feel terrified of what might happen if a criminal organization like Team Rocket ever got their hands on something like this.

"I originally intended to design this with a way to detect Shadow Pokemon, but I've yet to make any major breakthroughs, unfortunately." Krane admitted with a sigh. "We have a Shadow Pokemon on hand that we use for testing our purification technology and detecting ability on, but we can't seem to tune it to detect Shadow Pokemon."

"Can we see it?" Bonnie asked hesitantly. "I… I want to see one for myself, if that's okay."

"I was actually going to show a demonstration myself, actually, but thank you for asking." Krane said with a smile. He pulled out two Pokeballs from his belt and presented them. "Both of these contain within them a Teddiursa. One of them is a Shadow Pokemon and the other is a regular Pokemon. As you'll soon see, they are identical in every facet."

Krane then tossed both Pokeballs into the air, revealing a pair of Teddiursa. They both emerged from their Pokeballs and looked up at the group of humans assembled around them. Sure enough, both Teddiursa looked absolutely identical. Both were healthy, behaved mostly the same, and one certainly didn't look stronger than the other. Ash glanced over to see Bonnie barely restraining herself in excitement, clearly ecstatic at the cute duo standing before her.

"It's the one on the left."

Ash and the others, Krane included, wheeled around and stared at Sora, who was staring intently at the Teddiursa on the left. Professor Krane looked absolutely slack-jawed at the boy's observation, glancing back and forth between him and the Pokemon in question.

"I beg your pardon?" Krane asked, his expression a mixture of awe and confusion.

Sora suddenly looked very nervous with all of the attention focused on him. He scratched the side of his neck bashfully before pointing at the Teddiursa on the left. "That one has a dark aura coming off of it. I saw the same thing coming from Zook's Zangoose but I didn't know what it was until now."

"Amazing!" Krane suddenly shouted, abruptly breaking the tension and causing everyone to jump in surprise. "Sora, was it? You seem to share the same ability Rui does! You can see Shadow Pokemon!"

Sora casually put both hands behind his neck and grinned. "Yeah, I guess so!"

"That's… that's perfect, actually." Krane mumbled, talking less to the others and more to himself than anything else.

While Professor Krane was muttering to himself and pacing back and forth, Ash turned to Sora. "So that's what you meant by seeing an aura around Zook's Zangoose. You could see it was a Shadow Pokemon, even if you didn't know it at the time! That's pretty cool!"

As Ash and the others started to crowd around Sora with words of praise or awe, Brock stood to the side. After a moment, he spoke up. "Something still isn't adding up though. Professor, didn't you say Wes and Rui took down Cipher? How can there still be Shadow Pokemon if Wes and Rui took care of the problem?"

Krane stopped his pacing and looked over at Brock, the excitement on his features giving way to a look of disappointment. "That would be because they came back. Wes and Rui dealt them a severe blow, absolutely, but the remnants picked themselves back up and started up again. Now they're back. Probably stronger than before, too."

"That would explain it…" Serena said with a sigh.

"Unfortunately, there aren't any trainers strong enough in Orre that can help fight back against Cipher." Krane said with a sigh and a shake of his head. "The League's help is appreciated, surely, but in the meantime we've got a number of Shadow Pokemon in circulation, with more being produced every week it seems."

Ash looked at his friends. He wanted to do something, but he wasn't about to drag them into any unnecessary danger, especially not after he swore to keep Bonnie safe. If he hadn't taken action during that last Pokemon battle, she probably would have been injured by that Shadow Zangoose.

Brock merely gave him a curt nod of his head. His older brother figure probably already knew what was on Ash's mind; that nod was enough to tell Ash that he agreed with what he was planning.

Serena gave a sigh at first, but then her eyes locked onto his and he could see a similar fire within them. He knew she wanted to do something too and would stick with him until the very end. She smiled and nodded as well.

Bonnie, ever the feisty one, looked just as determined. She even raised a fist similar to how Ash would do on occasion and nodded in kind.

Sora gave a serious smile, also nodding in agreement. Honestly, it looked like he was going to bound out of the lab and tackle Cipher himself if he could. Ash somehow knew he could count on Sora's support, which would be incredibly important given his newfound ability to detect Shadow Pokemon.

"We'd like to help, Professor." Ash said as he turned back to the Shadow Pokemon expert. "We want to help where we can, if you'll have us."

"Would you really?" Krane asked, his stern expression turning to one more hopeful. "I was content enough to have you pass along the information onto the League and maybe bring in some help, but this is even better! With your reputations and Sora's ability, I have no doubt you could make a huge difference!"

"We'll do everything we can." Ash said with determination.

"It will be dangerous, though." Krane warned. "Cipher and Team Snagem will undoubtedly try to stop you if they catch on to what you're doing. Be careful."

"We know." Ash said grimly. As much as he hated to admit it, he and his friends - Sora excluded - had their fair run-ins with criminal organizations in the past, so they knew what they were getting themselves into. Sora was not only suffering from amnesia, but also had no Pokemon. He'd be the one Ash had to keep a more careful eye on.

"I only have the one prototype, but I'm comfortable lending it to you all." Krane said as he went up to the mounted Snag Machine. He pressed a button on the shoulder, which caused the entire prosthetic to collapse on itself, the cable reeling in the glove until it folded onto the shoulder piece. "All you need to do is place this on your shoulder and press the button on the glove to have it form to your arm. Press the button on the shoulder to collapse it."

Ash suddenly felt very apprehensive about using the Snag Machine. He felt a little uneasy at the prospect of stealing another trainer's Pokemon. For years - literally since the beginning of his Pokemon journey - he'd thwarted attempt after attempt from various criminal organizations trying to steal or hurt his Pokemon. The Rocket Trio - despite their confusing, almost friendly relationship with him - had left a sourer-than-usual taste in his mouth at the whole thing. He hadn't seen them in years, but the memory of losing Pikachu was still all too real in his mind. He didn't want to become that.

Krane seemed to notice Ash's apprehensiveness and paused. "What's wrong?"

Ash gulped, trying to form the words in his mind before speaking them aloud. Fortunately, he didn't have to, as he felt a gentle hand rest on his shoulder. He looked over to see Serena giving him a comforting look.

"We've had to deal with Pokemon thieves for years." She explained. "The idea of stealing another trainer's Pokemon is a little off-putting to us, especially Ash. He's had to fight off thieves since the very start of his journey."

Krane lowered the Snag Machine as he paused. He seemed to have understood as he nodded. "I can understand that, and I'm sorry you had to suffer through that. If it's any consolation, my version of the Snag Machine will only work on Shadow Pokemon. Wes's prototype has no such restrictions, but I made sure to implement the necessary safeguards to prevent unlawful theft of regular Pokemon. I'll spread the word to local law enforcement to let them know that you and your friends are authorized to use this."

"Also we'd be stealing from the bad guys and rescuing those poor Shadow Pokemon!" Bonnie said as she clutched Dedenne arguably too hard. The poor Antenna Pokemon was visibly struggling in her embrace for a few moments before Bonnie noticed and eased up. "Imagine the pain they'd be going through under those bad trainers!"

"Won't you need that Snag Machine if you're going to make more though?" Ash asked, gesturing to the compacted Snag Machine in Professor Krane's hand.

Krane shook his head. "I have the blueprints locked away both in a safe and in my trusty ol' noggin here. I can make more."

"I guess I can do it." Ash said with some reluctance. "You're right. Those Shadow Pokemon need help and Cipher needs to be stopped."

"Excellent." Krane said with a nod. "If you'll hand me your Pokedexes, I'll give you the authority to use the Snag Machine and rescue Shadow Pokemon."

Ash, Serena, Brock, and Bonnie all brought out their Pokedexes and handed them over to Professor Krane, who walked over to a computer terminal located next to where the Snag Machine was housed in the wall. After a few minutes of computer work, he handed them back to their owners and looked expectantly over at Sora.

"If you'll hand me your Pokedex, Sora." Krane said, holding a hand out.

Sora mareepishly rubbed the back of his head. "Yeah, about that. I'm not a Pokemon trainer."

Krane simply blinked, as if he was trying to digest the information. "Would you like to be?"

Ash couldn't hold back the smile that threatened to envelope his face right then.

"O-oh!" Sora sputtered, clearly caught off guard by the question. He looked at everyone else, who all gave him nods and looks of encouragement. "Sure! I'd like that a lot!"

"Ooh, it's been a while since I did this last. A brand new trainer. How exciting!" Krane exclaimed, rolling his wheeled chair over to a nearby cabinet. He began to rifle through it excitedly before he pulled out what looked like a Pokedex, but one that looked sleeker and more futuristic than the ones everyone else had. "Here we are! This is a Pokedex of my own design. It has a PDA, or Pokemon Digital Assistant, built into it. PDA's are a multi-functional tool that let you make phone calls, answer emails, and even open a holographic map of Orre and other regions. I've even included a PokeTransfer system to allow for exchange of Pokemon with licensed Professors!"

Ash could only stare, slack-jawed at the curiously compact device. Modern technology never ceased to amaze him.

"That's incredible!" Ash exclaimed as he stared enviously at the new Pokedex. "Science is so amazing!"

Bonnie and Serena seemed to stifle a laugh at that comment, but Ash paid it no mind. Krane motioned Sora over and the two of them began to fill out his personal information into his new Pokedex. They hit a snag when Krane asked him where he was from.

"Uhh…" Sora stammered, clearly uncertain as to how to respond.

"Sora's got amnesia, so we don't know where he's from." Bonnie explained.

"Oh." Krane said, looking rather surprised. "Hmm. That is a dilemma."

"You can change it later, right?" Ash asked, drawing confused looks from everyone present. "Just put Pallet Town in for now and once he remembers where he's from, we can come back to you and fix it!"

"I suppose I can do that." Krane admitted, nodding along. "That works for me."

Krane finished inputting Sora's information into the computer and then disconnected his new Pokedex. Krane then swiveled around in his chair and snapped his fingers. "Actually, how would you all like a new Pokedex? I can guarantee you that my model is much better than those antiques you have now."

"Yes please!" Everyone said at once.

After several minutes, during which Krane transferred over everyone's data from their old Pokedexes to their new ones, Krane handed them their new Pokedexes with a satisfied look on his face. Everyone opted to hold onto their old Pokedexes for sentimental value, but otherwise accepted their new devices with gusto.

"And there you have it!" Krane exclaimed, beaming with excitement. "Not only do you now have state-of-the-art Pokedexes, but now each of you is authorized to wield and use the Snag Machine. I, and all of Orre, are counting on you."

"You can count on us." Ash said as he took the Snag Machine from Professor Krane.

"Uhh, Professor…" Bonnie began, looking somehow hesitant and confused at the same time. "Does Sora get a starter?"

Sora furrowed his brow, obviously not understanding what she meant. Everyone else did, though, and now that he thought about it, it did strike Ash as odd that Krane didn't give him a starter Pokemon.

Krane looked very mareepish as he scratched the back of his head. "I, uhh… wasn't expecting any new trainers so I don't have any new Pokemon to give out as a starter. I'm really sorry, Sora. I can put in a request, but it will take some time to find a suitable starter for you."

Sora looked rather caught off guard by the news, clearly not expecting that a starter Pokemon was normal. "That's alright! I wasn't expecting to become a Pokemon trainer today, either!"

"I can contact you all on your PDA's when I find a starter for you, Sora." Krane continued. "In the meantime, maybe the others here would be willing to teach you a thing or two?"

"Yeah!" Bonnie exclaimed, bouncing with excitement. "We'll teach you everything we know, Sora! Maybe we'll find a Pokemon for you while we're traveling!"

Ash shared a knowing look with the Professor, who bit his lip, understandably hesitant to pop the youngster's bubble. Ash decided to rip the band-aid off and do it himself. "Bonnie, wild Pokemon are rare here in Orre, right Professor?"

"I'm afraid so." Krane sighed. "There are some spots here and there where migrating Pokemon may visit every now and then, but it's very inconsistent. I wouldn't hold your breath."

"Aww…" Bonnie groaned. Brock gave her a comforting shoulder pat. "Well, if we find one, Sora gets first dibs!"

Brock chuckled. "Sounds good to me. It's only fair that Sora gets the first one, if we find one."

"Just maybe make sure it's not a Shadow you're getting him as a starter." Krane nervously laughed. "They need an experienced hand to take care of them. No offense, Sora."

Sora waved him off. "None taken!"

With that matter settled, Ash looked down at the collapsed Snag Machine resting in his arms. He took a deep breath, mentally preparing himself for the responsibility he was about to take on. To forcibly take another's Pokemon. It was such a strange concept to him, and frankly he wasn't sure if he'd be able to do it. However, when he remembered what Bonnie said, that those Shadow Pokemon were undoubtedly suffering not only under potentially criminal trainers but also by virtue of being Shadow Pokemon. To have the door to one's heart closed like that couldn't possibly be good for a Pokemon. They could be in pain, for all he knew.

It was worth it. If he could save them, he would.

He carefully positioned the device onto his left shoulder and pressed the button on top. It hummed to life and immediately latched onto his shoulder with firm straps. Once it was secure on the shoulder, the glove portion opened up and slid down his shoulder, guided by the cable connecting it to the shoulder piece. A series of lights lit up and scanned over Ash's arm, mapping out the shape and size of his arm and hand. Once it was complete, the glove portion opened up and conformed itself to his hand. With the device firmly attached, it stopped whirring and became silent.

Ash flexed his hand and swung his arm around to test the device's feel. He could definitely feel that the Snag Machine was on his arm, given its cold metallic texture, but it moved almost perfectly in line with his regular movements. There was no resistance whatsoever. While it would definitely take some getting used to, he knew it would only be a matter of time until he forgot it was even there.

"There!" Krane exclaimed with a smirk. "Fits like a glove, doesn't it?"

Ash nervously chuckled, raising his hand and flexing it again. "Heh, yeah I guess so!"

Krane then turned to everyone else in attendance. "If and when you decide to try it out, it will adjust its size to fit your arm, so don't worry about whether or not it will fit after being used by Ash."

"So where should we start, Professor?" Bonnie asked, eagerly opening up her new Pokedex and displaying her new holographic map. Her eyes sparkled at the demonstration of Orre technology in front of her.

"Well, you're likely to find trainers with Shadow Pokemon scattered all over Orre." Krane explained as he walked up alongside Bonnie. He started pointing to various cities and towns on the map. "Pyrite Town is a bit of a slum - not to mention the Under - so you're likely to encounter some rougher characters there than you would at, say, Phenac City. I wouldn't suggest going around and challenging every shady-looking trainer, though. Just travel and battle trainers like you normally would, but keep an eye out and snag Shadow Pokemon if and when you encounter them."

"That's a good point." Brock said, cupping his chin. "We might have some strong Pokemon, but we won't last long with the entirety of Cipher on our tail. We'll have to be careful about this."

"Oh!" Bonnie abruptly exclaimed, putting a finger in the air. "We almost forgot!"

Everyone looked over at Bonnie, not quite sure where she was going with this and what they had possibly forgotten.

"Sora, don't tell me you forgot about your friends!" She scolded the spiky brunette. She turned to the Professor. "Professor, have you seen or heard of a Riku or Kairi around here in Orre? Sora doesn't remember much but he does remember his friends."

"Oh?" Krane said, looking over at Sora. "What do your friends look like?"

"Well…" Sora began, looking mareepishly to the side. He almost seemed hesitant to recall them, which confused Ash a little. Wasn't he eager to reunite with his friends? Maybe they could jog his memory.

"Riku's taller than me, maybe about Brock's height and has white hair. He usually wears black and white clothing. Kind of looks like a thug if he scowls." Sora smirked at that last descriptor and snickered a little. "He's my best friend, though. I'd like to see him again, but I don't know if he's even here…"

"What about Kairi?" Bonnie asked. Meanwhile, Serena actually seemed to have written down Riku's description in her new Pokedex. Ash smiled, knowing how much value Serena placed in friendships. He'd no doubt she would do everything in her power to reunite Sora with his friends.

"Kairi… well, she's about Serena's height, maybe a little shorter. She's got red hair which goes down to about her chin in length. She wears a lot of pink." Sora began, his expression noticeably brightening as he went on to describe his friend. "She's super nice and friendly. She's got these really blue eyes and a really great smile…"

Sora started to trail off and look off into the distance at this point, which did not go unnoticed by anyone in the room. Brock had a gentle smile as he seemed to recognize the look on the brunette's face. Serena was starting to blush and Ash could swear he saw her glancing his way every now and then. Bonnie, for her part, had a grin on her face that would put a Gengar to shame.

Ash wasn't an idiot. He'd been called dense before, but even he could see that Sora had feelings for his friend Kairi. The three years since his adventure in Kalos had brought a bit of maturity with it. He'd even been on a couple of dates but nothing really seemed to click for him.

He'd seen some of his friends form relationships with each other since then. May and Drew. Kiawe and Mallow. Tracey and Oak's granddaughter Daisy. He even heard Misty had reconnected with Rudy some time ago. While Ash wasn't an expert when it came to romantic relationships, he could pick up on some of the signs at this point.

He did not envy the inevitable Bonnie teasing that would likely follow his new friend.

Ash wondered if he'd ever find someone. The closest he'd really gotten to that kind of connection was with Serena, and that hadn't gone anywhere outside of that kiss before she caught her flight those years ago. Now that he thought about it, that was when he started to understand romance a little more and mature as an individual. In hindsight, she clearly had feelings for him, but that was three years ago. While he wouldn't mind something with Serena, there was no way she was still interested. Three years was a long time, and a beautiful woman like her was probably taken.

*Ahem.*

Professor Krane cleared his throat, snapping Sora - and Ash, coincidentally - out of his daydream. "I can't say that I have, unfortunately. Orre's a pretty big place, but if I hear anything, I'll give you all a call on your PDA's."

Sora gave an appreciative smile and a light bow. "I appreciate that, Professor. Thank you."

Krane smiled. "Don't even mention it, Sora. You're already doing me a huge favor with that ability of yours. It's the least I can do. That said, maybe try asking around Pyrite Town or Phenac City. Agate Village is kind of small, so I doubt anyone would have seen or heard them there."

"Pyrite Town looks the closest, so we can start there!" Serena said, pointing at her map.

With that, the group began to funnel out of Professor Krane's laboratory, each thanking the good professor once again for his help. They also waved goodbye to Sebastian, who Ash then promised a battle with during their next visit. The man looked simultaneously overwhelmed by the request but also eager for the opportunity to battle him.

As the quintet piled into their jeep and rode off in the direction of Pyrite town, which Brock estimated would take them the better part of a week to reach, Ash couldn't help but feel a little trepidation at the task ahead of them.

There was no Pokemon League. No gym battles. Not even any contests or showcases for Serena. Their official job was to scout out the region and figure out how the League could help it out. Unofficially, they all knew they had to do something about Team Snagem and Cipher. There was no way the League was ever going to have a chance at helping the people of Orre if those two organizations kept some semblance of power. The threat of Shadow Pokemon was just too large for ordinary trainers to handle. At the very least, they were going to have to soften those crime syndicates up a little so that Lance and the G-Men could move in.

He was just glad he had friends to help him with this monumental quest they'd just agreed to undertake. Speaking of said friends…

"So Sora…" Bonnie started in her typical teasing tone. She unbuckled herself - much to Brock's irritation - and turned around in her seat so she could see the people sitting behind her. "Is Kairi your girlfriend?"

There it is.

"W-what?!" Sora stammered, face flushing beet red. "S-she's not my girlfriend! She's my best friend, but she's not my girlfriend!"

"You can't have two best friends." Bonnie continued to tease. "Best means better than all the rest. There can only be one best. If Riku's your best friend, but you're also super close to Kairi, then she should be your girlfriend. It only makes sense."

Ash looked over at Serena, who was sitting next to him in the second row of seats. Her face was blushing a little again as she made eye contact with him. He gave an awkward smile, which she returned before the two of them started snickering at Bonnie's teasing. Even Pikachu started laughing. That girl sure knew how to lay on the heat.

Once they'd gotten the laughter out of their system, Ash sighed.

Despite the stakes, he knew he was going to enjoy this adventure of theirs.

A/N:

I imagine there's quite a few questions regarding this chapter.

First things first, yes I decided to make Sora the Rui of this story. I mean, let's face it; he's a Guardian of Light and has always been very in tune with the hearts of others, so it's not too Farfetch'd (heh) to think that he'd be able to sense the darkness in their hearts and see Shadow Pokemon for what they are. There's also a more concrete reason why he can see Shadow Pokemon, but that will be revealed at a later date.

I also made some changes to how the Snag Machine works. For one, I removed the Aura reader, which in canon allows the wearer to detect Shadow Pokemon. This was partly to give Sora a function in this new group dynamic so he's not just along for the ride. Also, in this iteration of the story Krane and his lab haven't quite figured out artificial purification, so it stands to reason that their methods for identifying Shadow Pokemon aren't quite up to snuff either. The other change I made was how the Snag Machine is equipped and deployed, because Orre is a technologically advanced region; I took some creative liberties.

No, I didn't give Sora a starter. For one thing, Krane wasn't expecting a new trainer, so it stands to reason that he wouldn't have a starter on hand. Sure, he's got the Teddiursa duo, but he needs those for advancing his research on detecting Shadows. He needs both; one for a control and the other for an experimental. That's basic science for you.

Some of you suggested that Sora get an Eevee like how Michael had one in XD, but I didn't want to play too much into the expected. Sora will be getting his first Pokemon sooner than you'd think, but his roster won't be your typical Pokemon team. Gotta mix it up somehow, right?

I also felt the need to explain in-universe the realistic ramifications of people just going around and snagging Pokemon in a world where that kind of thing is illegal and/or frowned upon. So yeah, Ash & crew were going to need some actual authorization and permitting to allow that kind of thing to go on without getting law enforcement involved.

'Til next time!