"Why do we have to do this again?" Brute Bonnet asked pushing a load of seemingly lifeless Pokeballs toward a deep overhang.
"Because nobody could find where Iron Treads went after he got punted by that fairy genie" Iron Jugulis replied as the pokeballs were sent hurling downward into the the shadows below.
Although the two Paradox Pokémon couldn't see what happened they heard the Pokeballs open but no Pokémon could be heard moving just a loud reptilian roar.
"What's down there?" Brute Bonnet asked. A loud crunching noise filled the shadows it wasn't hard to guess what was happening there.
"Iron Moth said they called it the black-winged king as long as we do" A load crunch cut off Iron Jugulis "That, it doesn't bother us"
The two set back to the base passing the mysterious laboratory remarkably clean despite having no confirmed inhabitants.
"What goes on in there?" Brute Bonnet asked.
"Don't know nobody Iron Bundle and Scream Tail say they saw someone through the window but nobody could confirm that"
"Anyways we got to get going the rings will be ready for us to travel through"
"Oh ya, what's that about anyway?" Brute Bonnet asked.
"Don't know Espathra just said something about cutting out the middle man for securing powerful legendaries"
"So according to my findings, the Tournadus and Thunderus were last spotted here" Ridley pointed at the map at the very base of Glaceado mountain.
Since they were fighting two legendary flying types Ash had brought a team that did well against flying and electric types along with his journeys/paldea mons. Pikachu (obviously) Lycanroc, Glalie, Donphan, and Krookodile, for type effectiveness, and Snorlax for overall special bulk.
"Okay everybody watch you're back we know Team Galactic has that Hisuian Zoroark so we got to be careful"
The entire area was empty aside from three empty cages filled with chains smeared with burn marks.
"Huh that's interesting," Iris remarked at the large circular burn mark in the ground.
A shadowy figure dressed in a black robe slowly emerged from the lake.
"Hey, what do you want!" Ash asked knowing they probably wouldn't respond.
The figure sent out six pokeballs Hisuian Avalugg, Sneasler, Ursaluna, Overqwill, and of all things a Regice and Raikou.
Before anybody could make a move the Raikou was already on the offensive with Extreme Speed launching into Ash's Krookodile.
The Regice also went on the offensive firing an Ice Beam at Iris's Haxorus. Ash threw out Snorlax, whose bulk and Thick Fat ability let him easily take the Ice Beam.
From behind Snorlax Donphan and Lycanroc were able to launch a Stone Edge that halted Regice giving Haxorus and Cinderace the chance to push back Raikou with Pyro Ball and Breaking Swipe.
Fairly common Legendary like these under a trio master weren't a particularly strong opponent for trainers on Ash's and Iris's level but it was the fact that this mystery trainer had them that was troubling.
Especially when Goh seemed to recognize them.
Goh knew that he had seen that face before.
He needed to get a good look at it. It was easier said than done when Glaile and Lucario were fighting Raikou and Ursaluna overpowering its Headlong Rush with Ice Beam and Aura Sphere only to get struck by Raikous Discharge.
He could make out a pair of sickly yellow eyes through the robes.
He remembered those eyes from when Team Galactic pulled him down into the portal.
Hisuian Zoroark.
Zoroark's ablity to disguise itself as people was well known but being able to act like one let alone command Pokémon was not.
"Hay no Finizen get back here!" Ash yelled as the Dolphin Pokémon popped out of his Pokeball and started attacking the Hisuian Avalugg with Aqua Tail which dinked off the massive ice table.
The Avalugg launched a Rock Slide at everyone Iris's Emolga was able to swoop in and get Finizen out of the way.
"Hey Finizen why don't you help me and let the bigger Pokémon fight the Avalugg okay?"
"Fin!" Finizen chirped.
"Alright see that man in the robes I need you to hit him with an Aqua Jet got that"
Finizen chirped and shot off toward the man avoiding the Sneasler as it was tackled to the ground by Donphans Rapid Spin.
The man's robes flew off as a malicious purple aura erupted from its body striking Finizen and sending him flying into Goh's arms.
Either way, the jig was up, and Hisuian Zoroark's ruse had been revealed.
A large golden ring appeared underneath the battlefield as all the Pokémon were returned to their Pokeballs Goh and Cinderace quickly scrambled to stop sinking into the portal.
The ring appeared different than the previous ones Team Galactic used it was a thick gold ring that shrunk down as soon as Zoroark was gone.
Goh remembered where he had heard about something like that.
The mythical Pokémon Hoppa's rings transported things across dimensions.
If they had that on their side, this was way more serious than they thought.
"Do you think we're going too far?" Stantler asked Magnemite.
"No, we went too far about an hour ago now we're just going to where they keep Cosmic Power Clefable"
Since Chein-Pao and Wo-Chein both had a weakness to fighting and bug types Inteleon had built a bunch of heracross-shaped scarecrows near Chein-Pao's tomb to scare them into a corner where they could drop a large piano over them knocking them out and letting them be captured.
So now all they need to do is wait.
Once again Flygon and Magnemite had called the plan " a ridiculous waste of time" and unfortunately they were proven right.
When a giant golden ring opened up in the ground swallowing the scarecrows into its gap.
"Great going Inteleon" Iron Valiant sneered.
"Freeze in the name of the law" Inteleon ordered at the ring. Then Wo-Chien, Chi-Yu, Tornadus, and Thundurus came out of the ring that closed behind them.
"Of course, there is no need for an unchecked sense of authority so I'm just gonna back up now"
Inteleon jumped out of the way of the Windbolt Storm, Bleakwind Storm, Flamethrower, and Giga Drain jumping behind a large rock.
So they already had Wo-Chien great.
With Inteleon out of the way, the four legendaries started walking toward Chein Pao's tomb.
A Flamethrower and Foul Play broke the seal to the tomb.
A loud cougar-like growl echoed from the tomb Chein-Pao shot out of the tomb slicing everybody with Icicle Crash.
Only for the four to gang up on it with their elemental attacks.
"That's it I've got to do something"
"Wait no Inteleon get back here!" Flygon called out but he already fired a Snip Shot into the sky to get their attention.
Tornadus was about to respond with an Air Slash a Springtide Storm blasted over him causing him to miss the attack by a meter. However, the intense chill gave him a good idea of how strong it would be.
Enamorus, Landorus, and Ting-Lu appeared over the Tomb and flung themselves at the Team Galactic-controlled legendaries.
Inteleon and the others watched as the all-out fight ensued a Rock Slid from Ting-Lu crashed into a Flamethrower from Chi-Yu.
The legendary all launched their storm attacks at once blowing around a storm of sand as the fairy, flying, electric, and ground moves blew across the battlefield.
"Look over there" Iron Thorns pointed to a new ring opening a portal that Espathra came out of.
Espathra darted into Chein Pao's tomb Inteleon and the rest following her.
"Freeze in the name of the law!" Inteleon fired a Snipe Shot that Espathra blocked with protect.
"Why do you always try and stop me from achieving my goals" Espatha threw out a Pokeball which a Regirock popped out of.
"Well for starters the fact that you and your organization seem to constantly be finding Legendary Pokémon from"
"You just can't fathom the new world that will create" Espathra responded cryptically with A Superpower Regirock was able to break into the tomb walls pulling out a solid white crystal.
"Well we've got you surrounded so I don't know how you're gonna get the Ice Tera Crystal out of here"
"That's what you think" Espathra replied coldly.
Below Espathra and Regirock another portal opened up sending the two of them down back to where they came from.
"Not so fast after them" Intelon grabbed onto the ring keeping it from closer and letting everybody go through after Espathra.
The portal had sent them to the middle of a laboratory that was observing a large genie Pokémon its six arms confined in chains it appeared to be under a trance as it wasn't fighting back in any way.
Wherever it had sent them to wasn't prepared for them since the various scientists began panicking and running for their life.
The Regirock swung at them with Stone Edge all that did was completely destroy the floor causing them to fall to the level below.
"You dense piece of rock!" Espathra scolded returning it to the Pokeball "Perhaps this will serve us better in this terrain" Espathra threw out another Pokeball from her talons a Genesect popping out of it.
Genesect fired a Zap Cannon at them Flygon stepped in the way the ground type not taking any damage.
Genesect went for Bug Buzz which Iron Valiant stepped in the way of Quad resisting the move talking negligible damage even from a legendary.
It then went for Flame Charge which Iron Thorns stepped in the way of.
This pattern continued until Genesect was backed up against the glass.
Great Tusk charged at it with Headlong Rush the metallic bug dodged it but it succeeded in breaking the glass.
"Why do we even bother with you!" Espathra opened another one of the portals taking Genesect with her.
With Draco Meteor and Bullet Seed Flygon and Greedent were able to break off all the chains on the legendary.
Now freed it began to thrash around widely opening up portals all around it transporting the entire posse and the entire level of the building somewhere else.
When they came through the portal they found themselves in the depths of area zero.
"Hey guys you might want to move out of the way"
"Why's that Frogadier?" Stantler asked.
"That" Stantler pointed to the shadow rapidly appearing above them.
Ting-Lu, Chein Pao, Landorus, and Enamorus all fell nearly on top of them.
On the other side, two more portals opened up delivering the Paradox Pokémon, Tornadus, Thundurus, Wo-Chein, and Chi-Yu.
The Portales continued to open at random above them bringing random things like parts of buildings, vehicles, and plants into the crystalized depths of area zero.
No words were exchanged as everybody flew into an all-out brawl.
End Credit Song-Toca Toca by Fly Project (I also picture it playing during the beginning of the next chapter)
Mainly set up for the next chapter which sets up the final for the Inteleon storyline.
Since it's a two-parter next part should be out soon.