Traveler

by The Straight Elf

Ash Ketchum has been determined to become the best since he was a toddler. He has his eyes set on a charmander, but a twist of fate led him to the humble Nidoran. Note: Mix between anime and the games.

39. Chapter 39: The Menace

A/N: Alright, here's the next chapter! It feels good to be back to my old high school update schedule. With any luck I'll be able to keep it up!

As I have in other more serious chapters I'll give you fair warning that this is probably one of the darkest in the story. There are more serious injuries depicted, although I tried not to get too focused on blood and gore. That's not what Traveler is about, although I did try to make consequences relatively realistic. I'd say the closest one to this chapter is Chapter 9, when Ash fought Executive Pierce in the Sevii Islands.

I will say it's good to get back to the action! I've tried to include a bunch of stuff in this chapter to keep it a little balanced (very important future events are hinted at in places and I'm curious to see what some of you will pick out) and I hope you can see the improvement of Ash's team.

Anyways, I won't ramble on. I hope you enjoy the chapter!

He'd never get used to just how easy teleportation could be. There was no discernible change other than the brand new surroundings. No light, no crack, no crashing to the ground feeling like you were about to throw up…it was smooth.

Then again, Ash did have to admit that the last only ever happened with Will.

It was almost unsettling to traverse space so casually. He felt as though he'd blinked and opened his eyes to an entirely new world.

And what a world this was. A dark scowl marred his face as his sharp eyes took in everything around them. It looked as though it had been beautiful at one point. He could imagine the familiar forests of Hoenn filling this shredded clearing – saw the splintered and smoking trees standing tall and straight in his mind's eye.

Ash grimaced as an acrid scent registered in the air filtered through the helmet. The sharp scent of iron and copper was a little too familiar at this point. His eyes widened as he looked to his right and saw the source looking at him with unseeing eyes. Right outside of a covertly hidden mine entrance that had been torn apart to expose its innards lay a Golbat ripped open by some unseen foe. Its eyes were glazed and its mouth fell open to expose the sharp fangs hidden in its maw.

A wave of nausea hit and he fought the urge to sit down. No, he'd seen worse than this. He'd seen death before…memories of the St. Anne flickered across his mind and Ash realized that that really didn't help.

He looked away. Ash didn't want to see the blood-slick organs of the dead Golbat. It was too easy to imagine it was an older Seeker crumpled awkwardly against a small ridge of pale grey stone.

Ash looked more closely at the area around him. Now he saw the still bodies that had hidden from his cursory glance.

A lone Skarmory tangled in the branches of a particularly tall tree, Houndoom with crushed chests and shattered bones, others with holes shot through them with deadly precision that had ended their lives in seconds.

He squeezed his eyes shut. He just needed a moment…

"No…" Ash looked to see Steven staring aghast at the carnage. His face was white. He thought his mentor's hands were shaking. "Not again. NOT AGAIN!"

Ash winced at the roar, raw with rage and despair and fear. His mentor stood still for a second before he released Metagross. His face was blank. Ash thought that might have been worse than the guttural cry from before.

"Contact the colony," Steven commanded. Metagross' eyes flashed red. They were focused on the entrance to the gutted mine. "Ash…we need Dazed and Plume. Sneasel too. Plume needs to scout and see if there are any survivors amongst the attackers that might have fled. If so, we need her to capture them."

He nodded dumbly and did as ordered. His friends appeared side by side in a brilliant flash of light. Dazed's eyes drooped even before she took in the scene around her…she'd known what to expect. Ash's mind must have been an open book.

We must stand firm. Despair has no room in our minds. It will not allow us to avenge this misdeed.

Despite her firm words Ash could feel Dazed's voice waver in his mind. Her focus had been broken.

"Calm," he whispered as he brushed his gloved hand across her shoulder. Though not normally one for being touched Dazed leaned into his hand for a moment before she seemed to regain a bit of her composure.

Thank you, Friend-Trainer.

He nodded. Ash glanced over to Plume and Sneasel. Plume met his gaze with her sharp eyes. She was ready to do whatever necessary. "Scout the area for anyone who is trying to escape. If you find someone make sure they don't get away…Dazed will alert us."

Plume took to the skies in a gust of wind. Ash almost stumbled backwards but caught himself. He couldn't afford a single slipup right now. Not when the stakes were so high.

Ash cast Sneasel a glance. The dark-type was oddly serious and was hunched, ready to spring into action the moment it appeared. His ears twitched constantly and a low rumble sounded within his throat. Every few seconds his head twitched towards the entrance of the mine suspiciously.

"What should –" Ash began, only to be cut off by a sudden eruption of sound and movement from the formerly silent mine. He snapped into motion and released Infernus and Torrent even as what must have been more than twenty Ninjask flickered out of the dark cave, buzzing frantically. "Infernus!"

Infernus roared an affirmative and quickly made to spray a searing blast of flame into their midst. They buzzed quickly out of the way for the most part, but a few were caught in the terrible burst of heat. Ash looked at them, afraid at what he'd find. He couldn't help but exhale thankfully when he saw they were just unconscious.

"Dazed, try and shoot a few –" Ash was cut off by a shake of Steven's head. He paid close attention to the much more experienced trainer.

"Not yet," Steven murmured. He glanced to Ash. "Have Plume follow them. Ancient reported Ninjask being used to overwhelm the colony's defenses. They'll return to their masters, no doubt."

Ash nodded to Dazed, whose eyes burned a brilliant blue for a single moment.

It is done.

Before he could say anything else a blue-black blur exploded from the gutted mine. Ash and his friends jerked back, surprised, but Metagross effortlessly froze them in shells of psychic power before they could attack the newcomer.

Stay your hand, Ash Ketchum. We are allies.

At the "sound" of Mr. Stone's Metagross he relaxed. His friends followed his lead, though Infernus watched the hulking metallic creature with a small grin and a familiar leer. Ash shot Infernus a look and the Magmortar groaned petulantly.

He turned back to the newcomer only to blink when they and Steven seemed involved in a very intense staring contest. Ash shook his head once he noticed their eyes glowing an identical fiery purple – a Psychic Link.

The Metagross' bloody red eyes – so dark they were almost black – focused upon Ash after a few more seconds. Steven massaged his temples wearily. His slate eyes didn't hold any particular focus as the link was severed.

Steven and Champion know what is necessary. Open yourself to me. I will share what has happened here.

Ash breathed in sharply. Did he even want to see the utter brutality that had taken place here? Did he want to see the desperate fight for survival, of Beldum and Metang overwhelmed and taken while their invaders were speared with beams of light or torn limb from limb by the furious defenders?

He finally nodded. It wasn't about what he wanted to see. It was about what he needed to see. His comfort didn't factor in at all. Not now.

His helmet detached itself in a single smooth motion human hands could never match. It settled in his hands – he wasn't sure how he'd known to have them outstretched like that – and he looked up at the massive behemoth before him. Metagross' eyes met his own and he felt as though every bit of him were laid bare.

It was unsettling and if his body weren't locked into place by whatever trance Metagross had lulled him into – and wasn't that impressive, catching him off guard that easily – he would've shivered.

A purple fire flooded his vision, blinding him from everything but the black eyes of Metagross.

See. Listen. Feel. Hear.

He was settled into the small corner of the mines he had claimed for himself. His mind saturated the colony. Invisible threads and bonds wound their way throughout their home. It bound Dumb to Awoken to Hive to Ancient. There were others but they were far away.

He allowed his body to fall into stasis. Movement was not necessary. He lived through the colony. He immersed himself in the mental web. He was Aware of everything now.

He did not feel the effects of time as the colony expanded. His awareness flitted from Dumb to Dumb, Awoken to Awoken. He knew what needed to be done.

He shifted as Eyes bound itself to the network more tightly than ordinary. There were threats. He knew where and what they were now. Shades to Silence the colony, sunder its cohesiveness. Unacceptable.

He was Aware. Diggers appeared above the mine. Shell's Awoken and Dumb intercepted them. Their location was marked in the web. They would feed the colony satisfactorily.

He recalled the Dumb. They would be inefficient in the open. The mine was their home. It would not fall. Not again.

He saw through Eyes. Dormant Dumb detected the invaders. Four humans in the rear. Commanders. Shades howled around them. Distorted Fire shielded them from whatever Dumb might be able to attack.

He dispatched Claw. The threats did not seem formidable. Their strength was focused on the mine.

He felt Shadow enclose the hive. His connection dimmed. His Awareness faded. It was there still. He bound the colony to his will. Cohesiveness was essential. He did not have the numbers his predecessor did. Nor the power.

He Bound seven Dumb to his will. Their capacity was added to his own. They cluttered to the ground. Their mobility was not essential to this task.

He focused upon his connection with Eyes. He shifted Shell's position in the web. Shell would be a sufficient defender. He left Hive only a few of the Dumb. He linked Hive to Eyes' network. Hive would summon help from the humans. He shifted the links so the Awoken were bound to Shell.

He was Aware again. The Shadow cast over the mine gnawed at his mental bonds. He bolstered them to sufficient levels. He pierced the Shadow and relayed through Eyes' network.

He had reached Champion. Through Champion he reached Steven. Through Steven he reached the Storm-Tamer.

He relayed everything he saw through the colony to Steven. Their positions. Their appearances:

The dozen slavering Shades that rushed forward in a pack. Claw intercepted them. They would be collected for stock later.

The Chatterers that flooded into the colony. The Dumb crushed them to the walls. Some of the Dumb were pried from the web by their sonic attacks. The night fliers had been too effective. Communication was compromised.

The flock of Ironwings that flew above. Their attacks were ineffective on the defense. He lost connection to a dozen Dumb and a single Awoken when Blades of Shade flew from the Ironwings. The line was sundered. He cut the compromised from the mental web when the Shade touched them. It was a corruption that could not be allowed to infect the colony in battle.

He must maintain communication. Steven listened through Hive.

He sensed a new addition to the area. The battle continued. The Dumb swarmed several of the invaders that rushed to take the Dumb and Awoken that had been cut from the web. The invaders died.

More of the invaders died. He turned Claw to the new arrival, a large metallic structure that hovered above the Ironwings, but the network was shattered for a brief moment. All he knew was light. Shockwaves rippled throughout the mine. Dust fell. Dumb collapsed, unable to sustain their levitation. Awoken shielded. He could feel that.

He linked the colony immediately. Many were unresponsive. His Awareness was not promising. The defense was shattered by the blast. Memories from an Awoken entered his mind and were processed. Shell was destroyed. Shell would need to be repurposed to renew the colony in the future.

Claw did not link. It had been severed. One of the Dumb detected Claw darkened by Shade. It was not safe to return it to the link. The Dumb and Awoken with it were bound to the ground, still. Unresponsive. Adhesive had entrapped the group.

He felt the last of the Awoken fall to the ground. It was robbed of its strength. Cut off from the colony. The Dumb around it collapsed. A Crawler darted in. Its claws and tail whipped to tap three more Dumb as they charged. They fell, motionless. Corrupted by the Shade.

Swarms of Buzzers darted through the mine. He felt his Awareness grow too loud. His links shuddered and faded. Only Hive and Eyes remained to him. The invaders were drawing near. He recalled Hive and Eyes to him. They had reduced several invaders to pulp.

They fought. The dangerous Crawler had threatened them. It retreated with one less claw. He desired to give chase – his Awareness returned. The Shadow on the mine had lifted. His power was restored.

He made contact with the Ancient Mind. With the Shadow gone the connection would not be in danger.

The colony surged to life. The invaders fled.

"How long?" Ash wheezed, eyes wide at what he'd just seen as he abruptly found his consciousness returned to his own body. It had felt like he'd been in there for at least half an hour, maybe more. "Do we have time?"

Steven almost smiled. It was about the closest thing Ash thought he could get from the former Champion at this dire of a moment. "You were out for ten seconds. A remarkably efficient form of communication, is it not?"

Ten seconds? Pathetic. And this is the pinnacle of their ability.

He nodded dumbly at Steven, too overwhelmed from the rush of foreign sensations and memories to even pay attention to whatever it was Mewtwo was troubling him with.

Despite himself Ash couldn't help but glance at Dazed. Her eyes briefly turned upwards into a smile.

Telepathy is far more effective than those strange noises you create with your face flaps.

Ash barely held back a snort. He didn't think Steven would appreciate it right now even though all he was doing was communing with Ancient. It wasn't exactly the most appropriate moment for him to be laughing.

Still he couldn't help himself…if he remembered correctly they were 'face-gashes'.

Dazed didn't respond but he felt a warm brush of amusement from her. He nodded to his friend one last time and shut his eyes as he waited. Ash didn't like this – he knew they needed information but he wanted to be moving. To be fighting. His palms itched underneath his gloves at this stillness.

He sighed. Well, at least he knew what had happened here. Metagross' – Ancient's, he corrected himself – knowledge had grown a bit fuzzier as the Shadow was thrown on the area and more and more dark-type attacks bombarded their shattered colony, but he still had a very good idea of what had happened.

Even a few days ago he'd found it hard to imagine how anyone could actually invade a Metagross colony successfully. Steven had been quite adamant about impressing their advantages into his head and now, seeing it from the Ancient's perspective, only hit him harder. That sort of cohesiveness…it was almost terrifying to watch, even from his side.

The Ancient killed enemies with no hesitation. The other leaders of the Hive were little more than pieces on a board for it to maneuver and direct at will. It was seamless teamwork, all bound up in a psychic web that linked every member of the colony to its leader.

All it had thought about was ensuring safety and the growth of the hive. Metagross were single-minded if nothing else. They were cold and dispassionate, devoted only to their own success. He considered it a very, very good thing they were anything but common.

Still, he was even more impressed with how the invaders had overcome it, disgusting as that thought was. They knew the weaknesses a lack of communication between the colony could bring and exploited it ruthlessly with dark-type and ghost-type attacks. They'd even set up some sort of dark-type or ghostly field somehow…that was something to look into. It seemed similar in concept to the technique he'd had Sneasel working on since the Indigo Conference. If he was lucky this might give him some ideas.

He shook himself straight. Focus. Ash really didn't need to be thinking of training right now.

No, he needed to think about his opponents.

Whoever they were – he'd seen the four men commanding the small army of pokemon through Eyes but couldn't really make out much of them beyond unadorned tan combat armor – they were extremely resourceful. They essentially had an entire army at their disposal and they hadn't even seemed too concerned with the absolutely brutal scale of the losses they'd taken.

Ash swallowed as he looked across the field. With Ancient's input he could practically see the battle taking place right in front of his eyes. With the Metagross' incredible recall lingering he could even remember what attacks had toppled which trees. The positions the Beldum and Metang had collapsed alongside the corpses of their foes were practically highlighted.

It was unreal.

He rhythmically tapped his fingers against the thin plate of armor on his thighs as he kept on thinking…this might pay off later. It seemed like they'd had plenty of numbers, though the colony had taken almost three quarters of them down from what he'd seen.

Ash couldn't help the grimace at the thought of all that death. It was such a waste. He might not know how they'd been pressed into service but it was hard to imagine any pokemon serving people like that willingly. Maybe their deaths were a blessing?

To be honest he wasn't sure if that was something he wanted to hope for or not. If their lives were so terrible even a brutal, savage end at the legs of a Metagross was better than continued existence he could feel nothing but pity.

Ancient had counted ninety-five pokemon of several different varieties. It looked like whoever this was had somehow captured entire flocks to press into their service…it was something he'd expect from Rockets.

An ugly sneer marred his face before he calmed down. They didn't know who this was for sure. Besides, he couldn't imagine the Rockets not showing up in uniform. They'd always like the world to know exactly who'd committed the atrocity of the week.

But if it was…well, he would have fun beating them senseless with his friends. Maybe he'd even get to shock one of them himself! Ash's hand itched towards his shock baton.

He'd just have to get through their army first. To be honest Ash wasn't that worried. Sure the flocks of Skarmory might be a problem – Skarmory weren't necessarily easy for Plume to handle, even with Heat Wave – but Infernus should be able to blast them from the sky. Torrent could even bring up an Ice Storm, if necessary.

Many of their Mightyena had been massacred. They were used as an advance force, thrown in blindly. Almost all of the broken bodies around the mine's former entrance were of their breed. They looked almost peaceful where they lay, though Ash found that thought completely ruined when he saw a Metang directing several Beldum in dragging the corpses into the remnants of the mine.

The Houndoom had escaped with a decent amount of their pack left alive. Torrent should be able to handle them, though he would need to have Tangrowth backing him up. A Houndoom's fires could be terrible weapons…

As far as he knew most of the poor Golbat and Crobat – the thought of Seeker being one of the creatures heartlessly thrown away on a suicide mission stung – who had been sent in were spread all over the mines. The Beldum hadn't been gentle in slamming them into the walls of the mine with as much force as they could muster. The same was true for many of the Ninjask, though he couldn't help but feel a little worried about the swarm that was still out here somewhere.

Those were the bulk of their forces. There had been individual pokemon mixed into it but he wasn't overly concerned about most of them. No, Ancient's memories had burned two very specific foes into his mind.

The first was that strange bug-type that had helped lead the charge into the mines once that energy blast stripped off the top of the mine. It…wasn't what he'd expected based on most of its type. That bug, "Crawler" as Ancient had named it, was very, very strong.

If its fearless entrance into the mines with claws snapping and piercing and a fiercely bladed purple tail hadn't told him that then the fact that it hadn't hesitated to face down three Metagross spoke volumes to him. It might've lost an appendage but just about any other pokemon that tried that would be splattered all over the ground.

He frowned as he considered it. What was that thing? It almost reminded him of Grey's Scolipede, though there enough differences to make it clear they were separate species

Scolipede was filled with eerie grace. He could still remember the uncanny way it darted and wove around every single one of Oz's attacks. Its skittering legs had been utterly silent. Its blades moved with impossible precision and blinding speed. When it had attacked Oz it was like a surgeon – or an assassin.

This new insect-like pokemon was something else. It had dark purple armor. Its body was segmented and heavily protected by the ridged carapace it bore. That hadn't cracked underneath the force of Eyes' glancing blow was telling. Though its physical attacks had done little to Metagross he had no doubt that it was absolutely lethal if it faced an unarmored foe. Not to mention that tail gave it a nasty advantage if it had room to swing it.

Ash wouldn't make the mistake of taking it lightly. But the problem was that he didn't even know what it was! Ash knew he'd seen it before. He just couldn't remember where. In one of the League databases, perhaps? He'd looked through the registered pokemon of all the other Leagues' Gym Leaders and Elite Four…

He sighed. He'd ask Steven. For now maybe he could try to think of a counter to whatever had managed to throw the hole colony into chaos by shrouding it in the alien energy wielded by ghosts and dark-types. That would be crippling to Dazed. Ash scowled – the last time they'd faced anything like that was in the Conference against Michael. He didn't want Dazed to be that helpless again.

"Ash!" Steven frowned. He guiltily looked at the man. His mentor didn't seem too upset, though he was just a bit distracted when Juliet the Gardevoir materialized beside the former Champion. "Return your team. Ancient has pinpointed their location. Plume has found it as well, they say. We'll teleport just a little ways off. There's too much interference to get there directly and I don't want to risk an approach from the air with so many Skarmory and that airship about," he explained when Ash sent him a questioning look. "Ancient says we have time, though little to waste."

"Understood!" Ash quickly recalled his friends after giving them a nod. They'd be ready when they were needed. He slung his helmet back on, allowing it to seal for a moment as Steven offered some parting instructions to Ancient.

"…seal the area. Retreat into the mine until Roxanne and the Rustboro Gym Trainers show up. League forces will arrive shortly to search the area. Instruct them to remain here. Once both the Rangers and Roxanne arrive, send Roxanne to us with her Gym Trainers."

Ancient's eyes flashed before it smoothly levitated itself and flew back into the mine.

"Follow my lead," The older trainer commanded. Ash nodded quickly. He trusted Steven on this. "Good. When we arrive immediately remove Sneasel. Release any of the others you think can be stealthy. Dazed might not be useful until we remove this…Shadow…over the area. Stay back. I'll have Claydol remain by your side until the area is clear for Dazed."

Ash nodded again. Steven gave him a strained smile before he turned to Juliet. "Let's go."

In an instant they were miles away. Ash actually stumbled forward, though one of Steven's hands caught him around the collar and pulled him up. Once he was reoriented – he never thought he'd have to worry about Juliet having teleportation issues – Ash instantly released Sneasel.

The dark-type hissed quietly at something Ash couldn't see. His feather twitched and he huddled close to Ash. Sneasel's claws hung naked from their sheathes, ready to rend and tear whatever challenged them. Ash felt his own breaths come faster and faster…the pounding of his heart grew loud in his ears as he realized just how close they were to real battle.

It wasn't quite as exciting of a prospect as before.

He twitched when Metagross lumbered across the clearing. It was eerily silent as ever. How did they even do that? Even Sneasel couldn't sneak around so easily. Ash also decided to ignore the fact that Claydol had somehow appeared right beside him a moment ago without him noticing.

Ash shook his head. He glanced up and thought he saw Plume's shape wheel around thousands of feet above. She was safe. His heart slowed just a little.

But he couldn't rely on just Sneasel…

Bruiser, Seeker, and Oz appeared. They were all utterly silent, more than aware of the situation. Ash kept an eye on Steven, who had his eyes shut. His jaw was clenched tight. He looked ten years older like this.

It must be difficult for him to process whatever the Ancient was sending him.

"Stay quiet," he murmured to his friends. Seeker shivered…Ash felt guilt well up in his stomach at bringing her out in a situation like this. He swore to himself he'd return her in a moment. He just needed to be careful. "Can you tell if anyone else is around?"

Seeker relaxed just a hair as he soothingly brushed his gloved hand through her fur. Just the contact helped. She chattered as quietly as she could, sending out clicks of supersonic waves for echolocation. Oz stiffened. Her hearing was probably sharp enough for it to irritate her, though she didn't voice any complaints.

His littlest friend froze under his hand. Ash had to keep himself from squeezing her tiny little body out of reflex. "Where?"

Her snout wrinkled and her head pointed a little behind him. Whatever she'd detected was to his right. Ash stole a glance and caught a dull glint of dark purple hidden in the bushes behind him – he felt like he'd just been doused in ice when he saw a familiar bladed tail raised high, poised to cut down anything that drew near.

Ash scowled darkly once his heart stopped pounding quite as much, though it was still a steady drumbeat in his ears. He didn't show that he'd seen it otherwise. That strange, insect-like pokemon that the Ancient had faced was less than two hundred feet away – he'd picked out the unnerving sight of its sharp mandibles clicking together as it eyed him, like the purple creature was thinking about making him its next meal.

They made eye contact. The strange pokemon's mandibles fluttered frantically and its powerful legs propelled it straight at Ash as it made to attack, though it froze when Metagross' mighty shape twitched toward it. He turned to his team, about to order them to subdue the threat, when it seemed to decide this situation couldn't possibly go well for it (a wise decision, Ash thought) and scuttled away to flee the area.

Its flight could hardly be called an inconvenience to Metagross, who leisurely ripped a thick, pale tree out of the ground by its roots and hammered it into the creature's carapace. Ash heard a meaty thud as it landed heavily on its side, stunned by Metagross' unconventional bludgeon. The tree was cast aside instantly much like a human might toss a stick blocking their path.

"Good job, Ash," Steven smiled tautly behind him. The man's cold steel eyes laid upon the pokemon, which had been snatched up by several impossibly strong vines the instant it had fallen. "This is a formidable Drapion. The battlefield is much safer without it roaming free," his mentor said, satisfied. He watched it for a bit longer and his harsh mask slipped. "Aaron would be impressed."

"What?" Ash whispered to the former Champion. Steven just shook his head.

"My apologies, merely voicing my thoughts," Steven replied stiffly as he regarded the creature. His face was like a glacier. "It's a dark-type, useless for interrogation. Cradily, subdue."

Cradily, who seemed to have been hiding motionless in the trees a few dozen feet away from Drapion, didn't give any verbal response. It simply spat two fragile green pods near Drapion, which burst to release what Ash recognized as Stun Spore and Sleep Powder. Drapion was helpless to resist. One of the vines binding it extended and forcefully wrenched its maw open as another dusted some of the powder in.

When Drapion froze, utterly helpless, Cradily efficiently used Rock Tomb to bury the creature underneath the earth. Ash watched, both fascinated and a little horrified, as Cradily expertly shifted the earth and repacked it so that Drapion was sealed almost entirely underground. He would've thought it was a genuine tomb if it weren't for a few holes he saw pierced through the earth.

"It's still alive?" He directed to Steven. It wasn't exactly a question.

"I don't like killing when I can help it," Steven replied as he squeezed his eyes shut again. "We know the location. We'll reclaim it later. The Ancient says to go –"

"That way," Ash pointed his finger to their left and turned to said direction. "Seeker heard voices."

Steven nodded, his lips quirked. "Indeed," his brow furrowed, "Ash, release every member of your team capable of acting stealthily. You'll need to be prepared. Ancient can't help us farther than this – whatever Shadow they're casting over this area is disrupting the network."

"Got it," Ash raised his eyes to the sky. What he thought was Plume circled overhead. He shook it off and quickly released several of his friends. Torrent's eyes were hard. They softened for just a moment on Ash before he assumed his vigil and regarded the woods around them as though they were filled with enemies.

Nidoking was almost unnervingly still. His black eyes were narrowed dangerously and Ash could see his great nostrils flaring. Beads of venom dripped from his horn in preparation for battle. Ash even caught poison dripping from the spines on his back, coating his body and tail for whatever was unfortunate to get in his way. Ash couldn't even touch him right now.

Tangrowth appeared next, uncharacteristically quiet. It seemed he actually understood what was going on for once. Ash pointed at him and flicked his fingers over to the trees in the direction they were quietly approaching. His large friend took off with surprising speed, swinging through the air on a few of his vines that had latched onto several especially thick branches. In an instant he was gone, hidden in the trees much like Cradily.

He could hear voices now, though he couldn't pinpoint their position yet. Ash shivered as they crossed an unmarked threshold. An unnatural chill ran up his body, though he felt the Feather sear it away in an instant. Fog filled the trees, obscuring anything more than twenty feet ahead of view.

"Steven?" Ash hissed. The man was nearly out of sight, fading into the fog despite being less than ten feet away. It enclosed on them further and for a moment Ash feared his words had gone unheard.

Then Steven shook his head, though it was scarcely visible in the thickness of the fog. His face was set into hard lines as he muttered, "We're getting close. I don't think whatever made this fog is aware of us yet…"

Ash acknowledge his mumbled reply but grimaced when he nearly stepped into a wall of some substance he couldn't quite make out that had been erected between two of the trees on their path. Only a harsh jerk saved him from walking right into it.

He grunted as blunt claws dug into his arm just tightly enough to stop him in his tracks. Ash barely kept his balance and froze as Nidoking growled and spat a small stream of fire to illuminate the mist, though the reflective qualities forced Ash to squint if he didn't want to see stars.

Nidoking pulled him back even more and a terrifying rumble – well, to everyone but Ash – erupted from deep within the poison-type's thick chest. Ash paled slightly at the absolutely massive web he'd nearly stepped into. It was a pale yellow, almost cloudy, and blended in nearly perfectly with the sickly shade of the white mist.

Thankfully its weaver wasn't lying in wait but Ash's scowl twisted into something even darker when he noticed tiny arcs of electricity dancing through every string of silk.

Electroweb. That wasn't comforting. They'd have to watch their every step now. Whoever had decided to have it set up clearly didn't just trust the mist itself to be enough of a deterrent.

"Are you alright?" His teacher had slowed down. Steven didn't show much surprise when Ash quickly sidestepped around the trap and motioned at it. "Ah. Those are an annoyance. I'll have one of mine take care of them."

He dipped his head, accepting Steven's decision, and set his eyes forward. They reflexively flitted all over his range of vision in an attempt to pierce the veil around them. Ash didn't like this uncertainty. To be safe he allowed Nidoking and Torrent to take point. They could take a surprise attack or one of those Electrowebs much better than he could. Bruiser stayed by his side and Seeker clung to his back. She was utterly silent. Ash wasn't sure if her echolocation would even be useful with this fog and he wasn't about to let her fly around with all the dangers.

Ash took a moment to recall her. It was about to get too dangerous, though he made sure to lovingly stroke her soft blue fur apologetically before he did. The flash of light barely traveled in the mist.

Steven wasn't too concerned about it or the mist itself though, so he didn't worry too much. The fog was impossibly dense and paranoia set in on him despite himself – he swore he heard giggling and whispers in the distance once or twice, though they always seemed to vanish when he focused on it. More worryingly he heard buzzing almost all around them. His mind quickly recalled the Ninjask he'd seen earlier. They had the speed to cover the area drowned in fog and could probably ambush them easily.

Wary of a potential ambush he was careful to listen for the irritating buzzing that would herald a Ninjask's approach. They seemed practically everywhere in the fog, even with sound seemingly dampened.

"Ninjask?" Ash finally spoke to Steven, though he didn't bother turning his head to him. He could still hear him fine.

"Dealt with," came the casual response. Ash actually did look at his teacher this time, surprised. Steven raised an eyebrow. "Surprised?"

He shrugged. The lightly armored pads on his shoulders made it a little more difficult than normal. "A little," he admitted. Ash frowned thoughtfully, though Steven couldn't see it behind Ash's helmet. "Metagross and Cradily?"

It was a good distraction as they slowly trudged their way through the mist. Ash hadn't kept track of Cradily's position but if it could detect the Ninjask then it would probably be able to lay traps or otherwise disable them. He scowled when he realized he barely had an idea of Cradily's abilities – that needed to change.

As for Metagross…well, it always seemed to be involved in Steven's plans somehow. It was just too useful not to be.

"Correct," Steven's voice carried through the fog. It was slightly more distorted than before. Ash shuddered as he felt a sudden drop in temperature. His teacher didn't seem affected, despite wearing only his suit. "They're able to scramble Metagross' sensory abilities slightly, but Metagross is still able to report their general area even with the mist. Cradily's considerate enough to set up Stealth Rocks and other obstacles in their location. It slows them down enough to be subdued. Listen."

He did. Ash's brow furrowed when he didn't immediately hear anything, but a few seconds later he realized exactly what Steven wanted him to notice: a complete lack of the high-pitched whine that had filled his ears mere minutes ago.

"They're all gone?" Ash tested. Steven smirked. His breaths came a little easier through his respirator. "How many were there?"

"Indeed. The fog hindered them as much as it did us. They'd be deadly with their numbers and communication if we hadn't taken advantage of it," the former Champion lectured. Steven hesitated for a moment, though his voice was confident once he did deign to respond. "Sixteen have been subdued. There are still some Ninjask unaccounted for but I don't believe them to be in the fog."

Ash felt the Feather fill him with warmth as yet another shudder wracked his shoulders. It didn't banish the feelings of unease but at the very least it took away the stark chill that didn't belong in the tropical land of Hoenn.

Ash glanced to Sneasel. He was just a vague blackness near his feet. Sneasel's ears twitched constantly and he heard the dark-type release a low, threatening hiss. Despite his sudden noise of displeasure his friend didn't act so Ash felt himself relax, though he lightly tapped Sneasel with the side of his foot as they cautiously moved forward.

"Anything?"

Sneasel shrugged his small shoulders. His eyes were dark and he blew a tiny wisp of freezing air out of frustration. Ash nodded slowly. The dark-type knew something was out here, likely doing its best to keep others from intruding on whatever crimes they were committing up ahead.

Steven was watching. Ash felt his slate eyes burrow onto him as he bent to whisper to Sneasel, "Go ahead. Keep quiet. See if you can find whatever's making this fog – if you're caught run back here or signal to us. Be careful!"

His friend nodded and loped off silently. Ash marveled at his friend's stealth and looked to his mentor, who looked relatively comfortable despite the circumstances. Steven hadn't contradicted his orders so he assumed they were at least reasonable.

He noticed Ash's attention and nodded. Steven said lowly, "Sneasel might be able to find the source easier than Metagross. I believe it's a ghost of some sort. Metagross is able to maintain communications with Skarmory and Cradily but it's taking more effort than usual. Be alert."

Ash grimaced. He'd sort of expected a ghost or dark-type responsible for interfering with the colony's network. A powerful one, too. But he'd much prefer a dark-type. While dark-types were plenty dangerous on their own, especially one with the skill and power to erode the Metagross' mental webs and leave most of the Beldum twitching on the ground, ghosts were much trickier to fight against. His team really wasn't specialized to fight the mysterious creatures.

His eyes settled on Nidoking's back. He could barely see his spines now. The mist even thicker. Ash was careful to avoid stumbling over his friend's long, powerful tail…he didn't want anything to possibly give away their position.

"What's the plan? We have to be getting close," Ash directed back. His eyes were trained on Steven lest he lose him in the fog, which had grown consistently whiter and colder as they continued. He felt his body groan at the unfamiliar feeling. It was almost greasy as he waded through it and left a light tingling sensation on his skin. "And is this safe?"

Steven's lips moved but nothing reached Ash. The former Champion's mouth shifted into a frown at the realization but he calmly tapped a tiny device near his ear. Ash couldn't see the details but once Steven's voice scratchily reached his ears through his helmet Ash assumed it was a radio.

"…hear me?"

"I hear you," Ash said quietly once the dim light in his helmet signaling the radio was online blinked. He didn't want to accidentally blow up Steven's eardrum if his earpiece was set loud.

"Good. Metagross analyzed the fog before we entered. It's just a product of a very weak Ominous Wind," Ash heard. Steven seemed to be talking quicker now. "It's relatively harmless – safer than coming in from above. It's mostly a deterrent to wild pokemon and a way to dampen psychics. The League employs the strategy frequently. It's just enough interference to make teleportation inaccurate and dangerous."

Ash nodded his head along slowly with Steven's explanation. Even with the fog imparting an almost claustrophobic sense of unease on him and the radio starting to crackle with static he found himself soothed by the familiar drone of Steven lecturing.

Not to mention it kept him from obsessively worrying over whatever his team might be breathing in.

"How much further?" Ash inquired as he heard the radio crackle again. He needed to know what exactly they were planning before it outright failed…he'd heard that areas steeped in the strange powers of ghost-types could cause sensitive technology to fail. But he hadn't thought it would act this quickly. "Do you know their numbers?"

A slight pause.

Just as Ash feared they wouldn't be able to communicate further – Steven was barely visible as a pale figure and even Metagross had been nearly drowned out by the sickly white of the fog – his mentor's voice emerged from the radio, though it was slightly distorted.

"A little over a hundred fifty feet before the fog breaks. Metagross and the others have reported the fog is all clear. Sneasel seems to have broken through and is circling the clearing. It's large, looks like it was recently destroyed by something. Metagross has calculated it to be approximately…three hundred meters in diameter."

Ash took a moment to convert that. A thousand feet or something like that. Enough to have room to maneuver. That was a relief. Nidoking would have trouble operating in a forest and Torrent would be able to take advantage of the longer lines-of-sight. Plume would appreciate the open area as well. It wouldn't affect Tangrowth, Bruiser or Sneasel that much.

"—it looks like the four that attacked the colony are present," Steven bit out in a voice worthy of his name, "and seem to have the majority of their pokemon that survived on guard. At least fifteen Skarmory, eight Houndoom, eighteen Ninjask, and just two Mightyena. One Ariados is present as well. It's guarding the men that attacked the colony. No sign of the airship."

Steven fell silent. He couldn't but scowl. Those weren't too hard of numbers but Ash really didn't like that the airship they'd seen through the 'eyes' of Metagross was missing. That thing had some sort of weapon that practically vaporized the top of the mine. While plenty of pokemon could have done that, it would have taken a good bit of effort.

"Anyone else?" He edged. Ash wasn't sure he was comfortable with this break. They'd slowed tremendously in their progress through the fog in the last few seconds. "How could they escape? They can't teleport in this area, right?"

"No," the former Champion replied coolly. Too coolly for Ash's liking. The signal finally started to fail and he struggled to make out his next orders. "Ash, bank right forty-five degrees. Continue until you reach the end of the fog. Hurry. Attack on my signal or if we're detected. Take down as many as you can in the initial surprise volley. Twenty human contacts approaching. Seven Pidgeot, three Tropius carrying four each, the lead is on top of a Charizard."

Ash grimaced at the new arrivals. He had no doubt Plume was superior to them but that would be a brutal air battle…they'd have to strike quickly to neutralize as many as they could. Even with Skarmory at her side Plume would have a serious problem holding out against that many Pidgeot at once. They would at least be able to approach her speed if properly trained.

The Tropius wouldn't be nearly as dangerous, though he'd need to have Torrent or Infernus shut them down to prevent them from assisting in the ground battles. As for the Charizard…well, Infernus was the natural counter. A powerful fire-type could wreak havoc on any battlefield and he would rather have the only significant one be on his side.

Those thoughts continued rushing through his head as he quickly headed through the fog as fast as he could. He didn't hear as many giggles or whispers drifting through the fog. When he did it seemed like they were far away from him, exploring some other region enshrouded by the Ominous Wind.

Ash breathed deeply and cleared his mind. The fog was growing lighter. The radio stopped its crackling. If he wanted to he could speak with Steven, but he took the time to address his team first. They'd be responsible for the initial volley.

"Alright," he began. His voice wasn't as hard as he would've liked. Despite himself he felt his hands shaking just the slightest bit. Ash frowned and tried again. "Alright. Everyone, listen up. We're close to starting this."

They didn't respond but he felt Tangrowth's wide, saucer-like eyes on him from above. Ash glanced up and felt a warmth shoot up through his chest as a gentle vine curled around his hand. He squeezed it and mentally thanked Tangrowth – that really did help. Claydol, still silent and inconspicuous as ever just barely behind him, shifted slightly to avoid the appendage.

"Our first volley needs to be about taking down as many of the flying-types and trainers as we can," he exhaled. The chill had receded to the point he didn't even fog up his mask, he dully noted. "Plume has to have room to breathe…there's a new group that's arrived. They have Pidgeot, Tropius, and Charizard. It's impossible to teleport in or out of this area, so if we cut off the air they won't be able to escape except on foot."

Ash allowed the information to sink in and frantically made sure he had everything that Steven had told him in order. He couldn't mess this up. Not when his friends needed to know this – it could save their lives and the lives of the Beldum and Metang stolen by whatever disgusting group had taken them.

"Nidoking, Oz, and Torrent will be responsible for that," Ash explained quickly. They were nearing the end. "Thunderbolt and Shockwave should catch at least some of them off guard and maybe stun the trainers as well. Torrent, hit the Tropius with Ice Beam. Nidoking, take the Charizard first. Oz, use Lightning Bolt to take it out if you think it'll work. Tangrowth, you need to use Ancient Power to try and overwhelm whichever ones they don't catch."

Tangrowth gurgled softly and the vine wrapped around Ash's arm comfortingly. Ash felt a surprising grin come along. He looked up at his strangely serious friend and flashed him a thumbs up since his helmet kept Tangrowth from seeing his smile. "Be careful, buddy. And when that first wave of attacks hit try and grab some of the trainers. Make sure they don't get the chance to release any more pokemon."

With that the vine squeezed one last time before Tangrowth took off towards the light. Ash thought it strange just how quiet his friend was as he swung through the trees.

The clearing was close. He could see almost to the end. There were voices…he thought they were annoyed at each other. Ash's heart raced and his mouth went dry as he stepped into the last vestiges of the fog. He and his team prepared to gaze out at the clearing, see just who these scum were and he turned to Bruiser. "Stand guard and repel whatever comes our way, alright?"

He crouched and watched raptly as the fog cleared almost entirely and he could see their targets in the clearing. It was just as massive as he'd imagined and was mostly clear except for the stumped remains of hundreds of trees and vegetation that had been destroyed – some looked to have been burned, others looked to have been knocked over or torn clear out of the ground by some attack. At least his team would have clear angles, though Bruiser and any others that fought in close quarters would have to be careful about their footing.

Ash licked his lips to try and keep them from getting too dry. He peered to the real threats.

Four men clad in grey combat armor not too dissimilar from Ash's own suit stood about five hundred feet away, close to the center of the clearing. They were surrounded by a massive amount of pokemon – he noted they were mostly Houndoom, a handful of Mightyena, a few Ninjask still buzzing around the men's heads, and too many Skarmory to count leisurely circling low in the clearing – that stood at attention, though he thought that their eyes were oddly dull. Whenever one of the men shifted uncomfortably in the heat whichever pokemon were nearby flinched away.

Ash hadn't even realized his fists were clenched. Pity for the pokemon welled in his chest and he wasn't sure that he could force it down. Only a few pokemon seemed completely at ease around the four criminals. He was able to count a Seviper wound comfortably around one of the men's legs, a Golem to their side, and a fierce canine crackling with energy he recognized as a Manetric.

The lead man was slightly short and surprisingly wide, though Ash couldn't tell if it was muscle or fat. He imagined the former. His face was hard and calm. His only hair was shaved down to a short layer of light brown. Two pokeballs were clipped to his belt and a large Ariados was visible resting behind one of the stumps nearby.

His features darkened. That must've been the one responsible for the Electrowebs. They'd grown sparse after the beginning of the foggy zone but that could have easily killed or crippled Ash. Most of his team would just be injured, but their cries would have alerted the Ninjask who would've been aware of the Electrowebs' locations and known what that meant.

He felt white-hot rage spike at the thought of what would have happened to Seeker if he'd tried to have her scout ahead. She'd have almost certainly been killed by the traps or Ninjask. His friend was just too delicate to survive that sort of damage.

Ash breathed deeply. He needed to stay calm. He'd get his justice soon enough.

Overall the situation was manageable, he determined. Ash would have to do his best to ensure that the man wasn't able to release whatever pokemon was still contained in its pokeball. They would probably be tougher than the flock of Skarmory or the beaten, bruised remnants of the assault on the colony. That force was shattered. Half had been taken entirely by the Metagross and the rest bore wounds of some sort.

That thought raised a question – where were the Beldum and Metang?

He quickly found that question answered when one of the three helmeted henchmen to the back quickly responded to a barked order by the leader of the group. He tapped a button on his belt and four large boxes of plain pokeballs appeared…Ancient's calculations of the taken appeared in the forefront of his mind and Ash noted his estimation fell in line.

Not that there was any surprise there.

He glanced up to his right – east, he instinctively corrected himself – and grimaced as the sun shone brightly into his eyes. The visor of his helmet kept him from the worst of it, however, as it darkened in response to the sun's rays.

With that obstacle out of the way Ash could see the approaching group that Steven had mentioned, though they were too close together for him to make out much else. He scowled when he realized they were too far away for him to pick out anything interesting, though Plume might be able to help him.

Ash waited for them to get closer. That's when he'd strike – they needed to catch them off guard and keep those fliers on the ground. His pulse raced as he realized just how close they were to the action. His mouth tasted like ash and his heart thumped heavily against his chest.

In the meantime he glanced over to the ones who'd attacked the colony. Hate he wasn't sure belonged entirely to him heated his blood but he shook it off. Everything would be resolved.

But he frowned when the leader stopped his preparations for the approaching force and tapped his earpiece. He said something, looked to the skies, and his face hardened. Ash cocked his head, curious, when Steven's raised voice filled his ears.

"Ash, the Ariados is moving towards you – it was sent, looks like –"

His world was filled with light, fire, and pain.

Ash's ears screamed furiously at him as he fell, blinded, and slammed hard into the earth. His skin seared – he felt Fire surge within, crackling and burning hot at the sensation – and a loud scream he was barely cognizant of as his own ripped through the air –

He wasn't sure how long he hung in that void of confusion and pain but after an eternity the burns on his skin cooled. His heart pumped furiously fast and he dimly opened his eyes, rasping wordlessly as the wounds imparted by whatever just hit him made sure he felt them. Even still they felt distant, like they were happening far away and just barely reached his brain.

The boy groaned, eyes widened at the sudden wave of trauma that radiated over his whole body, and blindly reached for the ground. He could just barely feel that it was cool and damp through his scorched gloves…that wasn't right, his mind frowned through the haze.

His eyes were still mostly blind. What little he could see was dominated by stinging stars that flashed incessantly, reminding him of the brilliant gold that had been the only herald of whatever struck him.

He squinted. Ash grit his teeth through the pain as his dizzy head slowly focused and righted itself. Even with his padded helmet he could feel an awful headache rising, pulsing constantly to make sure he didn't forget about it.

That wasn't important, he realized as he clumsily pushed himself up on shaking limbs. His team…they were still out there. Lightning surged through him at that realization, bringing his body to some semblance of life. Ash breathed deep. He had to focus.

Ash tentatively moved his limbs. They protested and spitefully spat a sharp jab of pain but he didn't care. They weren't broken. He winced as he blindly reached up – why did he feel cool, damp dirt?

He pulled himself up forcefully. The pain only fueled his resolve and he snarled furiously at himself, furious at his body's weakness, until he stood again on wavering feet.

This wasn't how it was supposed to go. Ash growled at the sudden pain along his face as something with a cutting edge slashed him. He felt hot wetness ooze down his face just below the spot where his check had been carved open to the bone in Articuno's Blizzard.

"C'mon!" He roared, though it was little more than a wheeze. Ash looked up and saw light. More of the sharp glass or plastic or whatever stupid material his damned helmet was made out of cut him. He was in a hole. The sounds of fighting slowly filled his ears as he focused past the constant ringing assaulting his hearing.

His heart froze.

Ash couldn't hold back the scream as he unsealed the helmet and viciously tore it away from his armor. Some of the shards slashed him again but it wasn't important. They were superficial.

His mouth clenched shut and he took just a moment to take in the sight of his helmet as his vision focused – it was mostly intact but the clear visor that covered his upper face was completely shattered. Even the sides looked to have been warped.

He stomach churned as he realized what would've happened if he wasn't wearing a helmet. Then he grew furious and his blood burned violently as a huge gout of red and orange flame shot far over his prison, accompanied by a roar he knew all too well as that of a Charizard.

By the next moment he'd released the member of his team most likely to turn the tide of this battle…or so he thought. Ash wasn't sure if his team was winning or losing but he knew they could use the help against these numbers. Infernus would be invaluable for balancing out the sides…

Infernus appeared above the thin crevice Ash had somehow fallen into – Nidoking might be responsible – but didn't hesitate for a moment before he threw himself into bloody battle. Ash only got to see the briefest flash of a terrifyingly mad grin on the Magmortar's face before the air grew hot and his throat burned worse than ever before.

Ash's fists gripped his knees as he hacked wildly. His throat scratched terribly from smoke and painfully dry air and his only breaths were quick, gasping things. Everything hurt.

He didn't care though. His team was out there fighting…Ash growled when he realized they were alone. They knew the objectives but he had to get out of here!

Ash eyed Dazed's pokeball. She might not be able to teleport thanks to the Shadow draped over the area but she was powerful enough to help out. Dazed was still a potent psychic of extreme skill, not to mention she might be able to assist Sneasel if they found the ghost…

That burned another hole of worry into his gut as his mind grew clearer and clearer with the adrenaline rushing through his system. Ash glared up at the wall, dug his gloved fingers into it, and pulled himself up.

It almost felt like it would give with every motion and his body screamed at him to stop but Ash refused. Adrenaline propelled him further and further, transmuting every scrap of pain into renewed determination.

Halfway up something answered his prayers. Ash resisted as best he could when a blue fire flickered around him, though he relaxed when a chorus of voices, young and old and man and woman and child, sounded in his mind.

I am the one you know as Claydol. Relax. Your power is troublesome to overcome.

Ash's frenzied mind only gathered that it was an ally and it was there to help. He relaxed and allowed the power to smoothly carry him up. If they were in any other situation he'd be fascinated by the sudden weightlessness.

Claydol was right next to him when his feet landed on rough, scarred ground. Ash's eyes widened when he realized they were standing on the exact same spot that they'd been struck at, though it had discomforting cracks winding through it and patches ripped away or blackened by fire. More importantly, it was surrounded by an absolutely obliterated landscape for nearly fifteen feet around.

There was no sign of the countless tree trunks that had dotted the area. All the grass was disintegrated. The earth groaned underneath his weight.

I shielded us from the airship's ambush thanks to Steven's warning. It was an impressively powerful energy weapon, highly restricted by the League. Its damage is roughly comparable to a Hyper Beam from Lance's Dragonite.

A danger, for sure, but I reduced it to survivable levels. Well, not for you. Nidoking's quick thinking shielded you from harm. Since then it's fired liquid adhesive to keep us trapped, but that's child's play to block.

Steven survived the second volley easily, of course. Metagross reports that they're on their way.

Focus, Ash. Your team needs you.

Ash nodded dimly, barely registering a bit of shock at Claydol's relatively casual air, and focused. His eyes widened in relief when he finally looked towards the utterly familiar noise of combat, though not one he'd ever been involved with before.

His friends looked like they'd remained fairly close together. They were only around fifty feet ahead of him for the most part, just far enough to have escaped the crater from the sudden energy blast. As he watched they shifted fairly frequently, probably worried about being attacked again.

He squinted at the remains of a strange, foamy substance that covered the area around him. That must be the adhesive Claydol had mentioned. At least it looked like his friends had avoided it completely.

As he looked upon the sheer scope of the fight happening right in front of him his eyes widened for an entirely different reason.

Battle was joined. It was chaos. Ash had hoped it wouldn't come to this – when he'd been planning it everything seemed so simple.

So clean.

He knew there was danger lurking around the corner but in his mind everything had been prepared for.

A single strike from the airship had derailed that.

Most of the battle was kept to the middle of the clearing or back towards the side he assumed the enemies had been. He could barely see the four men bound tightly by vines that had erupted from the ground as nowhere, leaving their small army without their commanders. More importantly the additional pokeballs they carried on their belts went unused and their eyes were soundly shut. A shimmering golden cloud, the source of their paralysis, hung around the area and clung thickly to their bodies.

He didn't fight the spiteful jab that accompanied seeing the invaders of the colony so soundly beaten by Cradily. They'd never had a chance.

Ash couldn't see that much but his pride of what his team had done even without his presence practically burst through his chest. They'd closed ranks, ignoring their identities as individual fighters for the present.

Nidoking was towards the front. He roared with a fury Ash had only rarely seen before as he stamped his foot and a glowing line of yellow energy stabbed into the earth. Several Houndoom yelped piteously as they fell into the deep, black crevice Nidoking had shaped with Earth Power, though four others easily crossed the gap and ruthlessly ignored the pained cries of their fellows.

He didn't worry about Nidoking. Torrent, who was towards the back right of their small group, took a break from trying to bring down one of the five Skarmory dashing above dropping small, barbed spikes and hurling blades of wind from their wings, and viciously spat a thin, brutally powerful Water Gun that smashed into one of the canine's sides.

His victim whined before Torrent struck it again, this time leaving it unconscious.

Bruiser appeared from nowhere and smashed a glowing Focus Blast straight into the chest of one of the baying Houndoom. It snarled and breathed deep as it was slung away by the blow, causing its nostrils to billow smoke and embers, before it released a murky blast of fire far from its usual brilliance.

Ash cried out a warning but Bruiser didn't need it. He ducked under the deadly attack, ignoring the agonizing heat, and smashed one of his brutally powerful fists straight into the same spot the Focus Blast had reached. The Houndoom screamed and roared another snarling gout of fire – Claydol helpfully erected a shield around the twisting orange-red tongues – but Bruiser finished it off with a solid kick that knocked it clear over Nidoking's crevice, back to its own side of the arena.

He idly noted that Bruiser wasn't moving nearly fast enough to be using his Rampage. Bruiser wasn't exactly slow, but he wasn't practically teleporting.

Good. They'd talked about that before. Rampage was enormously powerful, sure, but it wasn't practical for a serious battle. If Bruiser couldn't maintain it any longer and was left exhausted and helpless…

He couldn't think of that. Not now.

Ash watched instead as Nidoking faced down the two Houndoom without a trace of fear. The only sign that he noticed them at all was the way his tail dragged back and forth across the grass, agitated. Blood and black fur covered the heavily plated muscle as it drifted side-to-side, signs of just how effective of a weapon the tail was.

One of the fire-types quickly darted to the side, right by the spot Oz had just unleashed a golden, crackling spear that fried one of the Skarmory and brought it down, but yelped in surprise for the briefest instant before it was smashed right in the ribs by Nidoking's enormously powerful tail.

Even Ash had to wince in pity as the Houndoom's body went flying away under the sheer force of that vicious blow. Nidoking wasn't one to show mercy to his enemies at the best of times, let alone in a situation like this.

The Houndoom didn't rise.

Nidoking roared again as the last Houndoom leapt at him, furious at the loss of its pack. Hellish light gathered in its maw and blasted outward, the cursed flames Houndoom possessed almost impossible to heal by any means, only to sear the ground at the angle where Nidoking's head had been literally instants before.

Ash could pick out the confusion in the feral creature's dark eyes moments before they were filled with terrible pain. Its maw opened and closed soundlessly as Nidoking mercilessly gored it directly in the stomach as it passed over his head.

He struggled to pick out what Nidoking had done. Finally he blinked dumbly when he picked out the tiny crevice lined with a sickly yellow that had opened directly underneath his friend's feet. It was just deep enough to drop Nidoking down a foot or so, enough distance for him to dodge the Houndoom's blackened fire and stab the canine in a single smooth motion. Houndoom landed silently in the dark flames it had just spewed, the eternal fires crackling dully as they surrounded it.

He didn't worry too much for it. They were immune to their own cursed fire, the odd blend of their fire and dark-types, but the poison would be dangerous. Ash frowned as the Houndoom furiously scrambled for footing and tried to loose one last burst of everlasting flame into its foe's back but felt relieved when Torrent helpfully froze its body with an Ice Beam. Its eyes shut as it crashed back to the ground with a new suit of ice.

With any luck that would stop the poison from progressing too far…

Sharp shrieks from the skies grabbed his attention – when he heard the agonized cry of a Pidgeot his heart nearly stopped. Ash held his breath as his worried brown eyes looked to the skies, which very nearly blinded him as what looked like a dozen Skarmory flew erratically in pursuit of a lone member of their species that easily kept ahead of them. It almost looked like the lonely Skarmory was toying with them.

Ash wished his visor hadn't been destroyed. Even as he thought it a film of psychic power settled over his eyes, making it a bit more difficult to see but also shielding him from the light reflected by the mirror-like armor of the Skarmory.

Steven's Skarmory looked to be handling itself well. Not that there was any surprise there. Ash blinked when it took a viciously sharp turn for such a large, heavy bird and opened its maw to unleash a blinding Flash Cannon that pierced the entire sky with a howl that stabbed into Ash's ears and twisted as the sound of grinding metal exploded.

The Champion-level Skarmory flickered into dozens of illusory clones that darted erratically through the air, confusing the Skarmory that were already rattled from the Flash Cannon. That blinding blast of energy had taken down one of their number already and had sent the flock scattering to evade it…Ash felt a little ill when he saw the real Skarmory dive into one of the flock's members sides and pierce it with its viciously sharp beak.

Steven's Skarmory showed no hesitation in mercilessly goring another of its species. It mercilessly tore its spear-like beak out of its victim and set off into the skies with a powerful flap of the small armories that made up its rings. The clanking and scrape of swords against swords filled his ears, rising above even the clacking of the flock.

A pained cry was heard even where Ash rested and he winced as the heavy Skarmory fell through the sky. It crashed heavily into one of the Ninjask darting through the lower air to attack Oz and Ash felt bile rise in his through as blood and goop mixed.

He shook himself. This was not the time. He couldn't feel right now. He just had to act.

And then he grinned as he finally caught sight of Plume blurring through the air impossibly fast. It looked like she was only dealing with three of the Pidgeot now, though Ash didn't take the time to search for the others on the ground. His team must have managed to get off at least an initial volley in response to the ambush, though he supposed Plume could've overcome them herself.

She was certainly capable enough.

Ash couldn't help the little bit of mad laughter that belted out from deep in his throat when Plume flickered just a hundred feet above, banked at an incredibly sharp angle, then blasted a roaring Hurricane that warped the air pressure all around the clearing for a few seconds.

Dust kicked up from the battles below was swept away in a heartbeat. Pokemon beneath them cried out in surprise as an unrelenting gale ripped them from their feet onto the crumbling ground. Fires rippled and wavered before being dispersed into a thousand screaming embers.

Two of the Pidgeot shrieked – though the Hurricane left them mute from where Ash was thanks to the enormous howling spiral of air that swept them away into the hard ground. They laid still, though they were close enough that Ash could see they were breathing. Both had at least one wing badly broken – he turned away to avoid the sight for now.

The last shrieked furiously and blurred forward in a Quick Attack, appearing hundreds of feet ahead in the blink of an eye

Plume cried out and barely dodged the vicious beak of the enemy Pidgeot that promised to pierce right through her chest. Ash roared – a helpless noise lost in the din of the wind – but felt his spirits soar when Plume managed to edge just far out of the way to avoid it. Her absolutely massive talons raked the other Pidgeot's back, returning the favor, though the bird was so huge it barely flinched.

She shot away with a powerful thrust of her wings and Ash couldn't keep up with her as the other Pidgeot followed in pursuit. It was moving faster now, desperate. Plume had that battle, however. She was just too fast for the others to catch up.

A vicious roar rose above the rest of the growls and shrieks and howls that dominated the battlefield and Ash shouted out a warning to Oz when the Charizard he'd been so worried about spat a massive gout of fire from high above. It had to have been struck by at least one attack so far to leave it flying so weakly – the raging fire-type was practically wobbling in the air. The thin membrane of its wings flapped oddly, like it had been torn by a vicious slice.

Ash grimaced as Oz turned and his legs rushed him forward, though Claydol stopped him in his tracks. He struggled against the bonds and cried out again – she was only a hundred feet away, she could hear him – only to blink when Infernus appeared as if from nowhere in the course of the flame. He absorbed it with scarcely a wince and viciously fired back a crackling Fire Blast of his own.

Charizard's roar pierced through the cacophony like a hot knife through butter. It floundered in the air, eyes narrowed to slits in agony, but just barely managed to keep going as it spun wildly. The dragon's movements were slow and awkward, just barely enough to keep it above the rest of the fighters.

Infernus is putting his unruly attitude to good use. He's stymied the Charizard at every turn quite easily. He's managing to teleport short distances – fifty to a hundred feet – but I'll need to talk to him about it. That's too dangerous of a tactic for me to feel comfortable with.

He nodded, eyes narrowed as Infernus took after the Charizard. Several of the remaining Houndoom burst across the battlefield in pursuit. Ash frowned – he hadn't realized there were any left. Where –

White-hot hatred seared in his heart joined by an icy pulse of fury that shot through his mind.

His chest erupted into heatless Fire around the Feather. Lightning surged through him, sharpening his focus.

Twin azure suns that did not belong to Ash replaced his eyes.

They fell upon the twelve men garbed in concealing black uniforms that were much, much too familiar to both Ash and the terrible mind lurking in his own. The men froze as a great pressure weighed upon them but didn't bother to find the source. They were well-trained to remain so composed.

He could tell that they were confident in their defensive position towards the back of the clearing, clear of the rampaging army that had assaulted his family.

Right then Ash didn't care that they were releasing nearly thirty more pokemon between the twelve of them. His team would burn and freeze and shock them until they couldn't so much as twitch.

He cared only for the bright red "R" boldly emblazoned upon their chests.

Ash's teeth bared, he stepped forward despite Claydol's quiet protests, and opened his mouth to roar to his team the order to finish off the tiny scraps of resistance amongst the small army they'd just wiped out with ease –

"Ash! Stop!"

His body jerked to face Steven, who sprinted up from behind. The man's steel eyes were softened and his mouth was clenched tight into a firm line. He looked mostly unscathed as Metagross followed him, easily keeping pace. Its eyes flashed blood red at Ash and seemed concerned for the first time since he'd met it…though even through the rage gnawing at his sanity it was very clear that concern wasn't for Ash.

Despite himself, Ash froze. Something deep within him, something dark and terrible and vast like a burning blue sea drowning him within its fiery waters, urged him to slaughter the Rockets and their pokemon – everything weak and stupid enough to serve Giovanni's legacy.

He struggled for a moment, couldn't hear Steven's words even though he could see his mouth move perfectly, breathed in and out and in and out, and extinguished the twin suns that consumed his view of the world.

"I'm fine," he breathed as his will asserted its authority. Anger, fueled by memories and experiences the twelve-year-old boy would rather be hidden forever, ran strong but his mind was his own. Mewtwo's influence ebbed and flowed, struggling to push against his will, but with new resolution he controlled himself. His body was his own today, no matter what Mewtwo wanted. "What happened?"

"Listen carefully. We don't have much time," Steven said smoothly. He still seemed on edge but didn't waste time asking hows or whys. He was too practical for that. "The Rockets cannot be allowed to leave. Tangrowth and Cradily are in reserve. Cradily and Claydol will intervene if necessary, but I need you to stop them."

Ash nodded. That hadn't even needed to be said.

"We're fighting a well-known Pokemon Hunter. You've neutralized her forces, but she's not going to stick around," the former Champion's face darkened. He motioned up to an empty spot in the sky, though Ash's brow furrowed when he saw Skarmory, who had finished the rest of the Skarmory flock with Plume's help, fire a Flash Cannon at it. "Watch."

The air rippled around the seemingly empty spot and Ash picked out the outline of something vast and hidden before it quickly vanished again. Realization fell upon him suddenly…an airship. They were rare thanks to the ease of teleportation in travel, but he knew the Leagues maintained several as mobile operating centers. Looks like this Pokemon Hunter had seen their advantages.

"My remaining team and I will take care of that," Steven stated. There was no hesitation or doubt. Only grim certainty. "Control the situation here. Tangrowth is in the forest stopping those that ran. Cradily will prevent the Rockets' escape and safeguard the stolen members of the colony."

"Understood!" Ash declared. He turned to his team, who looked to have finished the rest of the Pokemon Hunter's army. Nearly fifty unconscious – or worse, he feared – bodies laid around the clearing from their work. It looked like there were just a few defiant Mightyena and two Houndoom left.

"The weapon…" Ash heard from behind him. Wary, he glanced up at the spot the ship was and grimaced as the burns and scrapes he'd been left with after the surprise attack from the Pokemon Hunter ached as a reminder. Steven showed no emotion as the ship's cloaking failed and two heavy metal plates began to pull upwards, exposing twin cannon barrels. "Ash, stand back. I hoped it wouldn't be ready again so soon. Claydol, get ready. Metagross…"

Metagross' eyes – the only part of it that even hinted at emotion – flashed with something Ash couldn't decipher as it moved a short distance away from the two. Ash quickly mirrored the motion, Steven's orders coming to mind. He was torn between watching the ship, fearful as it slowly turned to orient itself and the cannons moved closer and closer to aiming at his team and whatever Steven was doing.

Don't worry, Ash. Your team is alerted to the danger. Please release Dazed. Her power will be helpful – I don't want to risk my barriers being insufficient if the energy cannons go off.

He nodded, eyed his team and was pleased to note them slowly drifting apart. They were close enough to be easily shielded by Claydol and present a united front to the Rockets – he gnashed his teeth furiously at that reminder – but just far enough apart that if the cannons did pierce the barriers that they wouldn't all be hit.

Ash grimaced as he quickly released Dazed, whose eyes burned blue the moment she appeared. Her pendulum quivered, alit with a psychic flame. Dazed's eyes upturned just a moment as she looked upon him, though he soon noted that her pendulum grew brighter and brighter until it shone like a star held suspended in her hands.

Mewtwo. He almost found himself grateful for the shade of Mew's power supplementing Dazed's own, though thinking of it sent a fierce pain through his chest, like it had been clenched in a fist. Ash swallowed despite his bone-dry mouth and realized the pain felt all too familiar, although it vanished moments later with a mocking cry that echoed throughout his body.

A vicious cry shredded through the ringing in his ears and Ash bit back the urge to cry out as he recognized the screeching sound, reminiscent of metal cutting metal, when Skarmory quickly wheeled around after its last strafe around the stationary airship and fired another devastating Flash Cannon into its side.

Ash couldn't help but to be disappointed when psychic barriers erected by what must have been at least three strong psychics inside the ship just barely stopped the assault. Even with the explosion blocked the ship rocked heavily, buying a few more precious seconds for his team to prepare and for Steven to do whatever it was he had up his sleeve.

He wheeled around as the area behind him exploded with light and a strange power that brushed again his skin soothingly. The Song echoed in his spirit, orchestrated by whatever memory of Lugia remained, at the presence. His other Brands flared and he grit his teeth to prevent the feelings from overwhelming them as they mixed and mashed, barely kept in check.

"Steven?" Ash uncertainly called out to the former Champion. The man smiled peacefully, like the events of today had been cast off like a bad memory. One of his slim hands carefully held the fold of his suit open, revealing his plain undershirt and a well-hidden piece of slim jewelry pinned to the inside of his suit. The top shone with a brilliant white and would have momentarily blinded Ash if Claydol hadn't left the psychic shield over his eyes. "What –"

Don't interrupt. We don't have much time. Just watch.

He listened to Claydol, though very nearly reared back regardless when four strands of that same white energy exploded from the pin with a surge of power that left his hair standing on end. Ash was cognizant of seemingly everything around him for the briefest of moments as the energy wove its way through the air until it quickly buried itself into Metagross.

The air rippled. Ash watched Metagross glow a strange multitude of reds, purples, pinks, and oranges as the tendrils bound to the behemoth and left the world elsewhere dim and dull in comparison. Metagross' form shifted and Ash felt his breath hitch – what was this?

A hundred questions and thoughts and theories were run through and discarded in the eternity bound within the next few seconds of his life. Metagross' blindingly bright body twisted and rose into the air and Ash wasn't sure he liked the fact that for once he had absolutely no idea what was going on.

Power roared and he thought his mouth might have fallen slack as he watched this… miracle? Paradox? Ash wasn't sure he had words to describe this evolution that shouldn't have been. This evolution that the world knew to be impossible – no, not even impossible. Nonexistent.

He had seen things most people could never imagine. The ancient embodiments of Fire, Ice, and Lightning; Mew and its terrible Shadow; the brilliant Guardian of the Sea. All of the impossibilities seemingly paled in face of what was taking place right before his eyes, drawing his gaze despite the battle to come or the tumultuous tempest of conflicting emotion roiling within.

They were fantastical. Unexpected. In the end they fit neatly into the reality he'd constructed.

This – this evolution towered above that crumpled worldview and mocked him from its height.

And despite everything he'd just thought, he blankly noted that mere moments after Metagross had been consumed by whatever power was contained in Steven's jewelry the cloak of dark energy had dissipated into nothing. In its place was something easily recognizable as the Metagross Ash had come to know, yet what differences there were practically forced upon him.

It was like his eyes couldn't see anything but what had changed.

Metagross hovered now.

There were none of the subtle jumps and bobs he'd come to associate with most pokemon's levitation. It was tightly controlled with no real effort. Their massive, powerful legs looked to have been wrenched forcefully until they locked into place with two above Metagross' large head and main body and two below. The steely cross on Metagross "face" had lengthened and transformed into a brilliant golden emblem that locked into place above its bloody red eyes. A horn jutted just below the bottom of the cross.

The impossible shape of whatever this was ignored Ash. Steven did as well. The thin smile had left only to be replaced with cool assessment. Ash could barely fathom the seeming indifference Steven held towards Metagross' new form. "Metagross, your target is the airship's engines. You know the rest."

Ash finally wrenched his jaw closed and watched carefully, enraptured by this. Steven took a step back to stand by his side. He didn't bother to enlighten Ash as to what was going on, naturally.

"Railgun!"

His skin tingled as Metagross' eyes seemingly exploded with power and the crest glowed with such vigor it could be mistaken for molten gold. The strange new creature tucked its arms closer to the main body and an aura of psychic power rippled into existence around it, a bright red the same color as Metagross' eyes.

He nearly backed away instinctively as the power was shaped with disgusting ease. Dazed looked jealous.

Metagross' eyes were closed, though he could still see the glow behind them. The blood-red aura of psychic energy rippled and quickly smoothed over into something he could imagine as a drill…or a spear.

Metagross' body oriented into the direction of the airship that had just managed to steady itself, folded another layer of energy over its fiery aura, and Ash barely had time to feel a single enormous pulse of deep red light before Metagross vanished. He blinked, stunned, and then heard the vast clap of a sonic boom followed by the thunderous roar of an explosion the likes of which he hadn't heard since Shamouti.

Ash was dimly aware of the entire forest's sudden silence. His eyes locked onto the source of the explosion, which was marked by keening groans of metal, vast clouds of billowing black smoke beginning to waft from the airship's ruptured heart, and a scarlet trail of energy that traced Metagross' path through the sky.

Even the Rockets had stopped to watch the result of Metagross' assault. Ash couldn't see them well from this distance but they'd stopped releasing their team for the moment. The part of him that was the pragmatic trainer roared at him to order his friends to attack but he wasn't sure it would've done any good. He could see that every single one of his friends was frozen in awe, shock, surprise…whatever it was, they were drowning in it. They were still in a defensible position, safe from the Rockets.

Claydol would protect them from any stealth attacks – he watched the odd psychic leisurely float closer to his team.

For the moment he found himself staring at the falling wreckage of the airship. Metagross had traveled thousands of feet in what seemed like less than a second to strike at the mobile base with a force Ash wasn't sure could be rivaled by any other ordinary pokemon he'd seen. Ash could see the gaping hole ripped by the explosion of psychic power even now, so massive that even the clouds of smoke couldn't shield it from his view completely.

It fell slowly at first. Whatever tattered remnants of the engines were left by the terrifyingly swift and effective attack of Metagross roared furiously, then wavered as the strain of keeping the airship in the sky amounted to too much.

When they failed the airship dropped at a terrifying speed, slanted in the opposite direction from where Metagross had viciously slammed into it. It fell faster and faster and even began to fragment into two halves then four then countless as the machinery and structure of the ship started to be torn apart from the immense forces it was subjected to.

Ash's eyes caught a huge form explode from the wreckage, a trail of smoke following behind its sudden escape just as the red psychic energy had marked Metagross' path. He scowled when he recognized it as a Salamence – that could be dangerous.

There was something else on it…a person? Ash's eyes widened as he caught the slim form riding confidently on the Salamence's back as it shot forward at speeds Ash would've been stuck clinging to Plume for dear life at. All he could make out of the passenger was a long black coat that flapped wildly in the brutally powerful winds.

A red beam shot forth from somewhere on the ground and struck the underside of the Salamence with the eerie precision Ash could only ever attribute to Metagross. The dragon roared pain and fury and shock at the sudden blow, its vast wings flailing wildly to stabilize itself and the human rider nearly thrown from its back, and viciously spat a beam of familiar white power that carried the roar of a hurricane behind it from the displaced air.

Whatever explosion would have resulted was cut off by a deep rumble from the earth and a sudden trembling that forced Ash to stumble back – he barely caught himself before a sound nearly as loud as Zapdos' thunder shook the world…trees trembled, winds howled, and even the pokemon around him jerked for the briefest moments before the spell cast over the clearing was broken.

The airship.

He jerked to his team as the world caught up with the events of the last thirty seconds. Just as Ash ran to be closer to his team, to command them and direct them in defense of a numerically superior force, Steven's slim hand clenched over his shoulder. Ash could feel the ridges of Steven's rings dig lightly into his skin.

"What is it?" He growled. Not hostile, just impatient. Steven looked as composed as ever. "I need –"

"I'm going after J," Steven interjected smoothly. Ash fell silent. The former Champion released him and hopped onto Skarmory – when had the bird even shown up? – completely at ease with the bladed feathers all around him. "I'll return when she's detained," his mentor glanced coolly at the Rockets, who now stood surrounded by a small army, "but for now hold your position."

Ash nodded stiffly and didn't pause to watch Steven and Skarmory fly off towards the wounded Salamence. Questions ran through his frenzied mind and his curiosity begged him to find at least some answers from the silver-haired former Champion but Ash held his tongue. There wasn't time to waste and he doubted Steven would bother right now.

He did pause to glance over to the direction where the powerful dragon had flown off to, however, and a savage grin split his features when he saw that Salamence was still stuck in the same area. Wherever it tried to flee a seemingly endless stream of powerful red blasts intercepted its path.

He frowned when a small, dark purple shape appeared high in the sky seemingly from nowhere. Its body seemingly dissolved into the landscape around it, almost like it bore a cape of unnatural purple flames. Realization only set in when the entire atmosphere all around it distorted into a pale fog of sickly white mist, though now he could see it tinged with the same purple it seemed so fond of.

That must be the ghost that had caused them so much trouble. Ash found himself glad they wouldn't have to deal with it as dozens of Shadow Balls rained upon Metagross' position like dark hail. The blasts absolutely devastated the landscape wherever they landed, kicking up huge tracts of smoke and dust and splintered wood.

Then he smirked as a single red blast of psychic energy casually swept away the purple-tinged cloud of Ominous Wind and the ghost was left exposed to Metagross. Ash felt the agonized wail more than he heard it – the sensation piercing and so, so similar to the mysterious giggles he'd heard in the mist – that exploded from the ghost as its physical form was easily destroyed with a single strike.

Ash shook himself clear as he took position behind his team. Most looked back to him for the briefest moment and grunted or nodded or grinned – Infernus, of course, Ash smirked – before returning to the uneasy standoff with the hordes of Rockets.

He found himself pleased with their current arrangement. It would work well to hold against the Rockets, even with the slightly increased distance they'd put between each other to protect against the airship's energy blasts. Only Plume, Sneasel, and Tangrowth were unaccounted for…but he couldn't think of that now. They were fine. Had to be.

Nidoking stood proudly at the tip, standing guard just a few feet behind the fissures he'd wound expertly throughout the battlefield. Dozens of pokemon lay within, helpless to escape. More would join them.

Bruiser stood to his left. The area around him was clear of bodies – he'd cast them into the pit or across the fissures.

Infernus was on the opposite side of Nidoking, little bursts of flame and smoke escaping from his nostrils as he practically shivered with glee…Ash couldn't help but note he'd kept every single one of his battered opponents draped around his "zone". Most were terribly burned. Others still twitched occasionally, though Infernus just laughed and bathed them liberally with a spray of fire. He snorted when he saw that Infernus quite purposefully stood atop the Charizard he'd ripped from the skies earlier.

The middle line was mostly clear of the undisciplined army that had broken like waves against high, clear walls of stone when faced with Ash's vastly superior team. Their bodies were either hurled away or never made it there in the first place.

Torrent and Oz made up the rear line. Each held devastating potential for widespread destruction as well as precision strikes against any particularly troublesome foes. Neither were quite as formidable in a close-quarters situation as the front line and knew that fact well.

Oz might reach that point one day but for the moment she was content to rain terrifyingly effective bursts of electricity upon whatever foes demanded her attention. Ash had watched just how effective of a fighter she had become as she paired her newfound strength with her years of experience fighting in her old herd of Electabuzz.

Torrent had concerned himself mostly with the rampaging, brutish pokemon that had assaulted the front line. Oz had taken the fight to the skies and he'd watched her strike down at least six different Skarmory from afar with her Thunderbolts and Shockwaves.

It had left a great warmth in his chest that had nothing to do with the Feather.

He flashed a smile at the backs of his friends and cast a wary glance at the Rockets. They were utterly still. Their pokemon had arrayed into lines clearly designed to deliver effective volleys of elemental attacks against his team to cover their physical attackers.

Despite that, they made no move. Ash didn't like that…he didn't expect a fair fight from the Rockets and he doubted they'd be content to allow him to determine the pace of their confrontation. They made absolutely no attempt to engage or negotiate.

"Why isn't anything happening?" He muttered to Dazed. Hopefully her telepathy would have granted her some additional information. Ash fought the urge to cross his arms as he regarded the Rocket pokemon. They were well trained. Disciplined. It was surprising for the Rockets but he'd make do.

Ash counted their numbers to rest at a little above thirty, though he noted a few he'd seen before had vanished. Dazed would know if they came and Claydol was ready to help so he wasn't too worried.

Most were what he would've expected from Rockets, especially after reading Steven's reports. Three Muk oozed around at the front lines, given a wide berth by the others. They huddled so closely to their kin that Ash almost would've mistaken them for a single huge specimen. He grimaced at the hint of rotting garbage and sewage and decay that registered on his senses even with the distance separating the two sides. It was a thick, tangible thing. Ash felt a little sick when he could taste it, like the noxious odor had nested onto his tongue and formed a greasy layer.

A lone Vaporeon was curled around one of the faceless Rockets' legs. It looked like it was taking a nap, not seconds or minutes away from a fight. Ash frowned – that might be one of those odd, disturbed pokemon that had come to be truly loyal to the Rockets.

He couldn't count the specific number of Granbull lined up in the front. Their huge heads were all pointed directly at Bruiser, Infernus, or Nidoking. Long strings of drool dripped from their slavering maws and each pawed the ground impatiently. Ash pitied any of them foolish enough to challenge Infernus or Nidoking.

Several Yanma and one remaining Ninjask swarmed through the trees, flitting through the branches so quickly he couldn't hope to catch them. Ash glanced to Dazed and she nodded, instantly transmitting his orders to Infernus.

There were around five odd pokemon that almost reminded him of a Drowzee set up just behind the front ranks. He eyed them for a moment before he recalled their species – Grumpig. Not especially common as fighters thanks to their lack of raw power and docile personalities. Still, any psychics were a threat to be reckoned with. At least he wouldn't have to worry about them teleporting.

Another group of Rhyhorn, Sandshrew, and even a lone Golem were set to the side, at roughly sixty degrees to his right. They were almost inconspicuous, though Ash had no doubt they'd surge forward terrifyingly fast the moment battle began. He frowned – hadn't Steven's report mentioned those species being taken from a breeding facility?

If those were the unfortunate pokemon he'd heard about he shuddered. They held their bodies loosely, like they didn't even have the energy or will to stand up straight. Whenever the Rocket in charge of the group shouted something at the group it flinched back as one. His blood boiled and a steady pounding drummed in his ears.

The others were hidden. He thought he counted a few Voltorb, Electrode, and Magneton in the shadows but there were others in the way so he couldn't be sure. It didn't help that he could definitely see a pair of razor-sharp claws of noxious gas and leering eyes hidden in some of their shadows. One of the hidden Haunter winked at him and tauntingly licked the air – he shuddered as memories of Petrel's Haunter replaced it for just a moment.

All of the hidden ones – of which he could just barely make out vague silhouettes or gleaming red and green where the sunlight struck their eyes – were spread out to cover a little more than a semicircle. Ash's team would have to cover a large area to take down all the attackers, who would probably attack from range while most of his team was forced to first acknowledge the Granbull and Muk.

Not a bad strategy, he grudgingly admitted. It was simple but effective.

His friend didn't look at him as she polished her pendulum. It shone so brightly that it cast the area in icy blue light even beneath the white of her mane. Ash cast aside any reservations he had about the source of that immense power for the moment.

They're waiting for their assassins to strike. Their thoughts scream of fear. They wish to kill you and avoid a battle they fear they will lose. Pure foolishness, of course. You will never die – not while we are here.

Ash's lips quirked up at Dazed's confidence. He easily mirrored it as he regarded his team in the formation they'd adopted amidst the piles of unconscious and beaten bodies they'd easily repelled before.

"Assassins?" He frowned. Ash barely stopped himself from suspiciously glancing to the sides for any approaching pokemon. It wasn't like he was actually surprised. The Rockets wouldn't hesitate in stooping so low. To be honestly he would've been a bit disturbed if they hadn't – that sounded much odder now that he actually thought about it. "Are they taken care of?"

Dazed's eyes twitched upwards.

Of course, Friend-Trainer.

He smiled back. Why did he even need to ask?

The Brat proved capable. Four were dispatched by the Rockets. Those same four were dispatched by the Brat. Three were sent to attack from the air. They did not break past the trees.

"Good," Ash murmured softly. He pitied the Rocket's pokemon – how could he not when Seeker was proof of their depravity towards their "weapons"? But they had to be taken down before they could be helped by the League like Seeker had. "Do you know their plans?"

Dazed ceased polishing her pendulum. The icy fire that consumed it – he struggled to avoid remembering the last time he'd seen the source in person and still couldn't help the crushing pressure that mockingly gripped his heart – wavered briefly.

No, Friend-Trainer. My apologies. There…there are too many. I can grasp at our foes' thoughts but my focus is incomplete. I cannot drown out the mad chorus their twisted slaves wail.

He found that he hated the Rockets more than ever at the confirmation of the mental state of the opposing pokemon. Ash's teeth were bared in a snarl and Fire raged within.

Ash and his friends would finish this. They would bring justice.

This was why he'd joined the League.

The Rockets were trapped between him and the forest. Their fliers were struck down and they seemed to know that something much worse than Ash lurked in the wilderness behind them.

They will fight to the last, like cornered prey. That is all I may decipher. Should they fail here a fate worse than death awaits.

"Good!" Ash grinned dangerously. His fists clenched. "Then I don't have to worry about them running away!"

Dazed nodded, her eyes flashed, and like an unspoken signal his team attacked. Ash was blinded by the sudden explosion of destructive power – his mind couldn't possibly process the sudden trade of blows after the initial blasts of a Sludge Bomb (a twisting Triad of Flamethrower, Ice Beam, and Thunderbolt trailed after it, finishing several of the Granbull in a single explosion of heat, frost, and electricity that staggered those around it), Shockwave, Blizzard, and Focus Blast that crashed against the suddenly shifting line of Rocket pokemon like an avalanche.

Infernus appeared behind the enemy lines, undaunted now that the ghost responsible for the Shadow had been defeated. Ash couldn't hear the roar sure to be on his lips over the sudden din of a firestorm that exploded from the Rockets' rear and devoured the entire forest around them in a hurricane of smoke and twisting tongues of flame…he heard a distinctly human scream even amongst the crackle of branches and trees as the water within boiled to steam.

His stomach lurched as the sickening smell of burnt meat crossed the air to brush against his nostrils. It was quickly overwhelmed by the pungent scent of smoke that was downright pleasant in comparison, though the bitter tang of ozone and cool, refreshing gusts brought on by Torrent's raging Blizzards cleared it away.

Nidoking in particular stood out as his most fearsome protector let out a dark, forceful rumble that quaked the earth all around – the grass winding through stumps trembled in its wake and Ash even saw several of the Granbull sprinting at him slow their pace and shift uneasily. The hulking poison-type's back and spines shone with the toxic poison that had leaked from his skin, glistening in the light even as he reared his head back and spat a mass of thick, clumping purple ooze that landed in the rear, near the Rockets.

It splattered all over the back lines and covered several pokemon in a radius of about five feet, though it sizzled and clung to one of the Rockets who frantically tried to get the sprayed venom off of his clothes before he suffered real damage. Already the man's reflexes were slowed and he wavered on his feet, dizzy and exhausted from the poison's sudden effects. It ate away at his clothes and skin just barely, though the real danger behind it was if it got into your body to disrupt your systems with the heavy, clumping liquid.

A Kadabra that had been invisible before was illuminated briefly in the shadows as its eyes flashed to sweep the toxic sludge off of the Rocket, though it screamed when Infernus decided to manifest directly behind it with an ugly grin before he painfully jabbed it with his claws. Electricity surged through the Kadabra, overwhelming it, and Infernus playfully kicked the psychic forward into the rest of the goop before he raised one large cannon and sprayed a small Flamethrower into it, the glowing stream of flame just large enough to burn the Kadabra and boil the sludge.

Coughs and cries spread throughout the Rockets, whose pokemon had only just managed to turn with the sudden ambush before Infernus teleported a few feet away into their midst, as the toxic sludge spread throughout the air in a heavy purple miasma that'd leave everything that breathed it in slow and disoriented.

And then, after a long moment where the Rockets scattered to and fro to escape the toxic mist, the counterattack began. One lead Rocket, though he looked as anonymous as the rest of the criminals, roared something Ash couldn't hear, and every single Rocket pokemon rushed into action in a dark horde. Aside from the charging howls of Granbull and Muk and the sudden surge of electricity, he saw at least four smaller squads directed by a lone Rocket attack from every direction…

Psychic barriers flashed madly, almost randomly to his eyes, and Ash's ears suffered dozens of screams of pain and roars and screeches as the pokemon of each side attacked each other with mad devotion or just madness…the Rocket pokemon blurred to the sides to be stopped by flurries of Focus Blasts from Bruiser, or were slowed underneath the jagged arcs of icy energy that erupted from Nidoking's horn, freezing long trails of air around it before each arc impacted a Rocket pokemon and the land around them. Tree trunks froze and exploded in a flurry of splinters as they were flash-frozen, leaves were frosted over with delicate white, and he could even see the forest floor itself crack where the Ice Beams landed.

His eyes physically couldn't keep up as he did his best to keep up with the entire battle. Ash allowed his gaze flit and forth and quickly realized he could only catch the barest glimpses of the conflict raging around him – Torrent summoning a keening Blizzard that froze the Golem rolling at him and several Sandshrew in their tracks in addition to a good portion of the forest beyond, Infernus breaking formation to charge forth into the small group trying to attack from their side and gleefully spraying vast plumes of flame that seared dozens of his enemies at once and left grass and trees and plants blazing and smoldering like torches, Plume diving down from the heavens to disintegrate one of the Muk oozing towards Oz into a small horde of tiny, confused Grimer with a brilliant white lance of energy that briefly outshone the sun.

A sudden whirring attracted his attention and his eyes widened as Oz windmilled her arms so quickly he couldn't even track their motion as anything but a circular blur of black and gold and the luminescent aura of electricity that built up with every passing second. A Granbull that had been sent from one of the squads attacking from an angle snarled and leapt towards her with gaping jaws, sensing easy prey, but before it could get close it whined piteously and flew nearly thirty feet away with a long, shallow cut carved into its chest from an unseen force. It collapsed, black spots already forming on its chest where its blood vessels had been ruptured by the lightning-fast attack. Plume's screech split the sky as she ascended high into the air, eyes sharp and focused on any way she could help.

Oz fairly glowed now, just a dark shadow standing inside a golden, leaping aura barely restrained by her own will. The sharp tang of ozone dominated even above the smoke rising all over the battlefield or the noxious remnants of the Sludge Bomb, or even the metal he knew was blood.

He barely had time to shield his eyes before she screamed – or that's what it sounded like. It was stunning – even through Claydol's psychic equivalent to sunglasses all he could see was stars as amounts of electricity he couldn't even fathom were channeled into the largest Lightning Bolt Oz had ever produced. Dazed twitched by his side, though she didn't utter any complaints.

And then a thunderclap boomed like an avalanche and Ash's ears felt like they were being pierced by knives and twisted, his hair raised, and he struggled to stand steady against its force. Instincts he'd buried long ago cried out for him to flee, to escape the reach of the creature that had just hurled a spear of lightning into the midst of the enemy horde – the air rippled and warped behind it, unable to remain stable underneath the immense temperature of the controlled plasma.

The Lightning Bolt did its job well. It didn't hit a single enemy fighter, but lanced right between the group of Grumpig raining rainbow-hued Psybeams and constant barrages of pale pink blasts of energy (Power Gem, he thought) onto Nidoking, who handled what little of the assault got through Dazed and Claydol's psychic barriers with ease.

When the Lightning Bolt found its mark the world flashed. A huge geyser of dust and the scorched, tattered remnants of bark and wood kicked up even as remnants of the vast spray of electricity arced wildly, striking several other unprotected foes that twitched steadfastly under the pain, before settling into the dirt.

He pumped his fist when he realized the Grumpig had all been defeated – the force carried by the explosion had hurled each several feet away and many carried burns characteristic of something as powerful as Lightning Bolt. "That's it, Oz!"

Oz stiffened at the praise and he caught one of her gleaming fangs exposed from his vantage point – she was smiling.

Then the battle resumed unheeded and Ash found himself completely and utterly lost.

There was too much too fast. It could be hard to keep up with the insane speeds and reaction time of his team in single battles…with every single one unleashing the full force of their elemental fury or forcing each and every Rocket squad back all he could do was stand still and watch for threats hitting his team from behind. It felt like every time he blinked the entire battle had entirely changed…for the Rockets, at least. His team stood steadfast and strong except for Infernus, who had rushed into the heart of the Rockets from the rear and tore them apart from the inside.

Ash didn't bother with verbal commands and just thought what he wished for his team to do – for Oz to back away as a Murkrow shot out of the trees to her left aimed directly at her, or to have Nidoking loose yet another Earth Power to carve the ground out from underneath a Voltorb spinning dangerously close – and found they were all followed as Dazed transmitted his thoughts to the relevant team member.

He grit his teeth as the Rocket pokemon fell quickly…they might be stronger than the undisciplined army the Pokemon Hunter possessed but against his team that hardly meant a thing.

What could these numbers – less than fifty, he thought – do against Torrent's Blizzards which left half the clearing and entire groups of Rocket pokemon covered in frost? Or Infernus, who had reduced most to fleeing in terror the moment he had summoned a terrible cloak of raging flame before savaging everything he could reach with a laughing grin on his lips? Or Nidoking, who had left their entire side of the clearing so unstable random spots crumpled and fell beneath a pokemon's weight?

Nothing. It wasn't even fair – not that he bemoaned the fact right now. Ash just wanted this to be over quickly. He couldn't wait to get his hands on these Rockets.

So he waited and did his best to keep track of everything – his team was doing extremely well in their first battle of scale, so the frequency of heart-wrenching moments of worry were few. All he could do was help his team to predict attacks they might've missed otherwise.

He kept his eyes locked on the Rockets. They had spread out, probably getting ready to flee. There were still a few pokemon hanging back, each probably more potent than the ones they'd sent to try and circle around to attack him while the rest broke against his team's defenses.

Plume could take care of any who ran. It looked like Infernus had cut off the main group's escape – it was hard to run when there was a wildfire crackling and billowing smoke behind you – but the others might try to slip away in the confusion. Besides, Tangrowth and Cradily were somewhere out there.

It wouldn't be long now. Most of the opposing force made new piles of stunned, unconscious bodies around his team or had slipped into the crevices winding their way through the clearing –

Friend-Trainer!

Ash didn't have time to whip around before a white flash came from behind him and a wave of force slammed into his back. He groaned as his earlier injuries screamed anew but paused when he didn't even fall to the ground. Wary of any new surprises he turned and, seeing a smoking husk of what was once a Voltorb encased in a condensed sphere of psychic energy, sighed.

One had gotten through. And it had paid for that success with its life…what a waste. Ash grimaced as Claydol and Dazed, the only reasons he felt comfortable standing without more of his team at his back, allowed the barrier to fall. The dead Voltorb fell as gravity reasserted its hold and clunked heavily on the torn tree trunk beneath it.

He stared, helpless to look away. The Voltorb's shell was blackened by the force behind the lethal version of Explosion – he could only imagine the pain that poor Voltorb went through as it was forced to use its own life as fuel for one last attack. With the way it had been contained the blackened husk had been practically ripped apart…little fragments had broken off when it landed heavily upon the stump.

There was death in his eyes. Ash's upper lip curled into a vicious snarl. "Infernus! Get the Rockets!

Ash's words were heeded immediately. Infernus grabbed a Haunter that tried to rush him while he was distracted with one of his altered claws, spat a Flamethrower into its eternally grinning visage, cast it aside before it could disperse, and vanished.

He watched eagerly as one of the Rockets in charge of the group containing the Golem and Sandshrew screamed. The man cried out something Ash couldn't make out before Infernus tauntingly tapped the Rocket's chest with an electrified claw – an icy fire burned in the back of his mind as the tall, thin Rocket collapsed in spasms.

The furious trainer – his anger ebbed just a bit when he saw Dazed eying him oddly, her pendulum blazing – frowned as he looked back to the main group – what was that?

Ash frowned at a sudden motion just barely at the edge of his vision. He turned, saw a rush of blackness crawl across the clearing under the light of the midday sun. Reflexively he tried to move to the side, but before he could do a thing the rush of shadow shot underneath his legs and he screamed – what was this what had happened why did his back burn with liquid fire and why did he hear the clacking of mandibles from behind him by his back there was a glow of bright blue a scream in his mind and his ears he was on the ground now, a weight it hurt something stabbed him –

Frie…-Er! wake! Ash!

His eyes slid open at the broken whispers that filled his thoughts…whispers that he wasn't sure were his own. He laid still on the ground. It hurt. There was fire in his back. His heart beat and the fire spread. It was heavy in his veins, like lead. Everything hurt. What happened?

That's enough. Dazed, control yourself. Inform Nidoking he won't be helping anyone by breaking formation and charging over here. Get Sneasel off the Ariados. Now's not the time to be eating, no matter how thirsty for blood he may be.

A familiar chorus of voices spoke as one, projected into his mind. Ash tried to push himself up…his chest burned hotly. His limbs screamed but he got his face off the ground. His muddled head just saw a bit of green and brown – tree trunks? – and a slick, smushy brown clump of gunk all around him. It smelled bad. Almost as bad as the burning garbage.

That's enough. Best not to think of what you're laying in…

The voices were oddly calm as Ash bit back a scream. The fire in his back had spread through his body. The pain sharpened his senses and he wheezed for breath. Seconds stretched into eternities.

Hmm, Dazed was right. You are more dramatic than I expected. Quiet down, Ash.

Ash groaned. His chest burned hotter than his back. His skin tingled. His breath was cold. Something laughed at him. That made him mad. It laughed harder.

Don't worry, that Ariados is suffering more than you right now…wait, correct that to suffered. I'm very sorry that it managed to attack you in the first place. It is my fault. I should not have allowed myself to become distracted by the battle when your safety was my priority. The Ariados was cunning and I believe specialized in circumventing psychics, but that is no excuse. Steven would hold me to a higher standard than that.

He tried to move again. He failed.

Stop that. I'm doing what I can. It's fortunate Sneasel intervened in time – Dazed and I could do little against the Ariados. It was shrouded in a cloak of distortion. Our powers could do nothing in the time it needed to strike you down in some sort of petty revenge.

Well, that's my supposition. It's difficult to read such strange creatures and that one was truer to its base nature than most. Fascinating, really. It's a shame I couldn't spend more time analyzing it…

The voices were growing dimmer. Something deep within him, something primal, shuddered at the realization. Ash mumbled into the dirt.

Use your words, Ash. Now, I'm very sorry but this may hurt. Though probably less than the low dosage of Ariados venom, I suppose. It might be a useful distraction.

His thoughts pondered that, then the whole world burst into clarity as something very cold and very sharp stabbed deeply into his hip, forced in so powerfully that it pierced through the heavy cloth with ease. Ash's scream wracked his body and, combined with the shudders left by the burning lead in his body that seemed to grow less and less apparent with every waking moment, forced spasms through his limbs. Ash thought his heart might burst as it beat faster and faster and faster like a mad pounding of drums.

Ash drew in a deep, rattling breath. His teeth felt cold. His eyes opened and the world was finally clear, though most of his attention was focused around the absolutely massive needle embedded deep in his hip. A new substance, not quite as heavy as the cooling lead rushing through his bloodstream, felt especially thick inside him.

But he could accept that after the torture it had just saved him from. He reached out with shaking fingers and squeezed the needle of the Antidote. Another rush of thick ice pulsed into his blood and he quickly yanked the needle out. Ash eyed it nervously, the old anxiety about needles rearing its stupid head.

He was still weak. Ash grimaced when he tried to pick himself up off the ground and failed. His back still hurt.

He tried again, once again with the same result. Ash grimaced as his hands slipped out from under him and he landed in…goo? The boy cocked his head to the side as he stared dumbly at the oozing brown gunk that clung lightly to his gloved hand, though horrible realization set in quickly as some of Claydol's comments came together.

Bile rose up in the back of his throat. Ash scrambled away as quickly as he could, newfound adrenaline rising quickly as he realized just what it was he had been laying in. The slick, stinking goo still covered his front, though a psychic brush from Dazed helpfully wiped most of it onto the ground. He gratefully nodded at her, to which she merely shrugged back.

She looked uneasy. Ash shook his head. He was just happy he'd managed to keep his breakfast in his stomach. Even now his mouth watered the way he knew it would when his gut wanted to expel everything in it. His vision was woozy and he knew his head wasn't quite on straight.

Then he looked to the side, ignoring a few sounds in the distance that didn't seem that important. He could only focus on one spot at a time.

Unfortunately, he chose to lay his attention on the massive arachnid that attacked him. He promptly threw up. Ash's eyes watered as a terrible, bitter smell wafted into his nose. His mouth was bone-dry and tasted terrible. His throat begged him for water every time he swallowed.

He didn't care. All he could look at was Ariados – or, rather, what had once been Ariados. Sneasel hadn't been kind when he'd appeared from nowhere and savaged the creature who'd dared to strike Ash.

Ash didn't want to describe what little was left. Not much of Ariados was still intact.

Sneasel preened when he saw Ash staring at Ariados' remnants. He snickered whenever he took breaks from cleaning brown ichor and little bits of exoskeleton off his luxurious black fur. His claws were pure white, like they hadn't just torn an unfortunate killer to shreds.

Overall his friend, the one Ash had raised from birth, looked very pleased with himself. Ash managed to smile back – though it was more of a grimace – and wasn't even sure what he was thinking right now. So many emotions and thoughts and they were all muddled. It was like he was watching his life from a movie theater, like he wasn't even here.

"Thank you. You saved my life," Ash croaked. Sneasel paused in licking his fur and regarded Ash with cheerful slit eyes. The dark-type cocked his head puzzlingly for a moment before he innocently reached behind him and offered up the head of Ariados. His stomach lurked again at the neatly severed head, staring at him with blankly purple eyes.

Sneasel frowned and offered it to Ash more forcefully. The dark-type's tongue licked around his mouth, clearing away some more gunk, before he cocked his head farther to the right. He looked confused.

"How about you keep it for now?" Ash held back his grimace as he swayed lightly on his feet. He tried not to hurt his friend's feelings by outright refusing the morbid trophy. Sneasel looked too happy to do that. "I don't know – I don't…"

He staggered away. Bruiser caught him and held his small body carefully. Ash took the support gratefully – he could barely stand. Whatever Ariados had done to his back still hurt terribly. If it weren't for all the adrenaline going through his system Ash wasn't sure he'd be able to stand.

Bruiser's reptilian face was stretched tight, though Ash sensed a great and terrible anger hidden beneath the façade of self-control. The Machoke was still shaking slightly. Ash didn't think it was just from the fight he'd been in.

"Thanks," he gasped. Ash looked around slightly dazed. His body tried to give out. He wouldn't let it. His eyes set on Claydol. "What –"

Don't strain yourself, Ash. Ariados managed to lightly penetrate your armor. You have a minor wound in your back, although the main issue was the venom. Fortunately Ariados venom is covered in standard League inoculation for new trainers so you weren't in much danger of death. Steven ensured I could operate Antidotes and other medical supplies, however, so I took the liberty of taking one of yours to fix you up. I hope you don't mind too much.

"It's fine," Ash coughed. He wasn't entirely sure he hadn't drifted off into some sort of delirious dream. This just didn't seem real. Everything had happened so quickly…

Yes, the effects of pain and traumatic events on the mind are interesting. If it helps, the incident took roughly seventy-six seconds starting from the foiled assassination attempt with the Voltorb and ending at the point you regained your presence of mind.

Ash nodded slowly. His throat hurt too much to try and speak. Claydol was perfectly capable of reading his thoughts anyways. No point in wasting his breath on anyone but his team.

Indeed. You have some Ariados on your face, by the way.

He numbly took the black cloth courteously levitated over to him with shaking fingers. Ash robotically wiped his mouth and nearly gagged seeing how much of the slick brown substance came off. Thankfully he couldn't smell it very well at the moment.

Then he froze. His fingers played over the cloth and realization set in. "Where'd you get this? Are the Rocket –"

Yes. I didn't think our new guests would need their hats where they're going.

"New guests?" He muttered, though Bruiser helpfully pointed to behind him. Ash turned back towards where the battle – how on earth had he forgotten that?!– and blinked. "It's over?"

Finally.

Dazed spoke into his mind this time. She shuffled over to his side, polishing her pendulum in her snowy white mane all the while. Her gaze softened when it rested on him and she gently reached out one of her lightly furred yellow hands to brush against his cheek. He smiled at his friend at the brief contact, though she practically drooped.

Are you well?

The normally smooth voice was hesitant. It broke a little with every syllable and Ash could feel the control that went into keeping the projection stable. Even so it "echoed" far more than it had since she'd first begun to explore the art of telepathy.

He flashed her a smile as he leaned heavily upon Bruiser, who was practically squeezing him. "Don't worry, I'm fine. We all are. We won."

Dazed closed her eyes.

Yes. Yes we did.

Ash comfortingly patted her shoulder before he looked back to where the rest of his team was. Nidoking seemed to have taken Claydol's orders to heart despite the absolutely murderous look he wore. Even Ash had to force back a jolt of fear at seeing his friend standing to the side of a line of Rockets frozen in shells of psychic power.

It wasn't the rage that shocked him so. No, Ash had come to expect that from Nidoking when something threatened Ash. Nidoking was his ultimate protector, his fiercest blade and staunchest shield. Whatever happened Nidoking would be there with a roar of rage embodied by vast Earthquakes and winding cracks in the earth that would devour the threat like great gaping jaws.

What scared him – what struck him deep to his core – was the emptiness lying behind Nidoking's deadly gaze. It was like nothing kind or thoughtful or proud lurked within his body, just an avenging will that would stop at nothing to rend its targets limb from limb.

But then it was over. The dark warrior hidden in Nidoking was still there but it was quieted. Nidoking's massive frame slumped, his armored shoulders held low in relief. Even Nidoking's powerful purple tail swayed lightly back and forth like an excited Eevee's.

He smiled and waved at his friend, though he couldn't spare a moment as he came to rest in front of the Rockets. Every bit of warmth vanished, replaced by a grim mask of certainty and satisfaction.

"You're finished."

The closest Rocket – he smirked when he realized the short, squat grunt was the only one missing the hat – couldn't say anything with the psychic shell imprisoning him. Despite that the hateful glare shot his way made Ash feel all warm and fuzzy inside. He snickered just like Sneasel, ignoring the pain and mental fatigue he'd built up over the past day.

Seeing the Rockets like this made it totally worth it.

Ash turned to his team and grinned wildly as that raw, primal feeling of victory rose up within. It beat out the pounding ache in his head by a wide margin. Nidoking stopped snarling and growling quite as much – Ash counted that as progress. Torrent just rumbled back from his position low to the ground, his levitation not quite as sturdy as usual after he'd essentially held half of the battlefield on his own.

"Thanks, everyone," he said quietly after he'd calmed down some. Ash frowned when he saw that not all of his friends were quite as happy with their victory as he was – Dazed still looked guilty, Nidoking like he was going to gore one of the Rockets (Ash wasn't entirely sure if he'd stop him, which left an uncomfortable weight in his throat), and Infernus looked bored as he paced around the captured Rockets. "I know it wasn't easy, but we've won. You all – you did great. I couldn't have asked for better."

He got a few nods. Torrent levitated up behind him and took his vigil when it was clear Nidoking didn't trust himself to do so. Ash greeted the Kingdra with a pat on his smooth scales and turned to their prisoners, not entirely sure what he was supposed to do with them while he waited for Steven to get back.

Maybe he should put them to sleep? That'd keep them from being a nuisance, though it would take some time and it seemed like they were already handled.

A low, guttural chuckle broke him out of his pondering. Ash sighed at the source. Why wasn't he surprised? A bored Infernus was never a good thing. It was clear he hadn't enjoyed the battle very much when not a single pokemon lasted more than a few seconds.

And, as if to punish the Rockets for daring to waste his time with such pitiful opponents, Infernus taunted them.

All he did was shake his head as the Magmortar's body flickered before his body heat grew so immense that it warped the air and ignited a cloak of flames around him– Ash shifted away uncomfortably. It irritated his burns and the dry air made Ash feel every single one of the cuts, scrapes, and bruises he'd collected today.

Infernus prowled along the line of Rockets with a cruel leer. Each of them could only move their eyes, which were bulging grotesquely with fear, and did their best to avoid looking at the Magmortar. Finally he stopped in front of a lone Rocket near the center of the line and grinned right at the only Rocket that didn't seem petrified by him.

The Rocket didn't keep his bravado for long. Infernus allowed his fires to slowly die until he was only just hot enough to keep things uncomfortable. He stepped close and stared right into the pale man's eyes, which squeezed shut moments later under Infernus' interested look.

Ash frowned as Infernus raised one of his cannons and it shifted into something closer to a real hand. He tapped a single blunt claw against the Rockets face thoughtfully and the man shook – Ash almost started to feel sorry for him. If only he wasn't a Rocket.

They deserved worse. He wasn't even being hurt thanks to Claydol's protective shells covering them. That kind of psychic power would have no trouble stopping heat.

Infernus cocked his head. Moments later his hand shifted right back into a cannon right against the Rocket's face. The man hesitantly opened his eyes, only for an audible moan to escape the psychic cage's bounds as the Rocket even managed to twitch one of his fingers. He must have finally been worried.

The Magmortar grinned. His cannon brushed down the Rocket's protected face smoothly and nestled it flush against the man's quivering throat. Ash could see the air around him warp and a low roar sounded in the cannon – light sprung from it, though no flame danced out to devour the prisoner whole.

"That's enough," Ash finally said – if he didn't stop it now then Ash knew Infernus would just keep taking things farther and farther. His friend instantly dislodged his cannon and waved at the Rocket like they were old friends before he left to skulk around the battlefield. With that issue finished he looked back to Dazed, who took a few seconds to look him in the eyes. Ash frowned but decided he could fix that problem later. "Can you ask Plume to track down Tangrowth? I think we're done here."

Of course, Friend-Trainer.

Ash graced her with a quick smile and turned away. He limped forward and thanked Bruiser again as the Machoke easily supported his weight. Bruiser's grip was almost too tight but his friend seemed to know his limits.

"I wonder what Steven's doing," he murmured. His eyes were cast to the great billows of smoke that had shaped into a large cloud slowly dissipating into the atmosphere. The Pokemon Hunter's ship had crashed there and Metagross was probably still lurking about somewhere.

He wasn't worried about Steven. The former Champion didn't need anyone's concern. Steven was impossibly strong even normally with his team at his back. With Metagross somehow evolved into an even stronger form (and wasn't that going to frustrate him until he got answers) and on the back of the strongest Skarmory Ash had ever seen the man was fine.

Steven wasn't the type to make rash decisions, regardless. If he thought he would be in actual danger from the Pokemon Hunter and what remnants of her team had escaped with her then he wouldn't have flown after her.

That didn't mean he wasn't a bit curious – Ash had to admit that would be an amazing battle to watch. Better than his, at any rate. He might've never been involved in anything on this scale but the battle was…easy.

Ash took in every single one of his teammates, even Nidoking who had stalked off somewhere. He could hear the loud crack of trees shattering in the distance and the heavy crash whenever one toppled. His face tightened – he needed to talk to Nidoking once his friend was finished taking out some frustration and they were safe.

He took in the heaps of unconscious bodies that encircled the small, protected zone where Ash's team had made their stand. Guilt like heavy lead settled around him seeing so many pokemon utterly crushed. Ash wasn't sad that they'd been beaten, but that they'd been in a position that put them here in the first place.

"Claydol, can you tell if any are…dead," Ash muttered the last word. His hands distractedly tapped against his thighs as he turned his back to most of the evidence of their conflict. It was a little harder to breathe than before – he anxiously tugged back the cloth of his armor to give his neck some room. Torrent saw it and moved closer, settling against Ash's side to comfort him as best he could.

A pause.

None are dead.

He exhaled, relief clearing some of the guilt away like wind blowing away a suffocating fog. Ash shut his eyes and relaxed. The Rocket pokemon would survive. They could be helped.

Some are barely hanging on, however. I believe some of their injuries may be fatal. Others might be crippled for the near future, though once they're rehabilitated it should be possible to cure their injuries with Ditto cells.

Every bit of relief he'd just felt vanished and dread filled him. He'd failed in that sense, then. Some might say death was preferable to being stuck as a slave to the Rockets, but not when a new chance was right around the corner. Ash caught Torrent and Bruiser glaring at Claydol but couldn't bring himself to care as he spent a moment wallowing in the realization they hadn't come out completely on top.

It was stupid, he knew, but Ash couldn't help it. He'd won, but it was an imperfect victory. Maybe it was naïve of him to think he had even a slight chance of escaping this without anyone being crippled or killed but what could he say?

When he fought someone in an arena it was clear-cut. You either won or you lost. They were absolutes. Out here it didn't matter how good you were. Absolutes faded into vague shades of grey and all you could hope for was to save as many as you could.

He'd take that to heart.

Claydol's massive body shifted slightly under the force of Ash's team's frosty stares and Ash vaguely noted it started spinning slightly faster than the usual.

I could be wrong. Perhaps they'll all live and be happy!

Ash scoffed and rolled his eyes. Claydol's terrible attempt at comforting him at least distracted him from the realization some of the Rocket pokemon wouldn't leave this clearing. He twitched nervously and raked his eyes over the dozens of defeated pokemon. A terrible, morbid curiosity fell over him as he started to count them – how many of them had he robbed of life? How many was he responsible for? Were –

Stop it. Do not be drawn into that trap. What's done is done, Ash. You have done well today, despite many unfortunate setbacks. Some of your former foes will die, most will live. Take comfort in the fact that their pain is ended, whether by the hand of one of your pokemon or by being granted a brighter future. In the future I have no doubt that many will regard this day as one of the best in their lives. Take solace in that.

He sighed, though relented to Claydol's logic with a short nod. Ash fell silent and crossed his arms as he looked out at the forest considerately. Brief flashes of light emanated from miles away and low booms followed suit seconds later – an instantly recognizable Flash Cannon exploded out of the treetops and lanced far, far into the sky like a shooting star returning to the heavens. The silver light pierced straight through the shades Claydol still kept manifested over his eyes and he grimaced.

"Can you do anything for the injured?" Ash finally asked of Claydol. He had to do something. This stasis was killing him – his fingers twitched inwards, desperate to avoid staying idle and useless.

His team was silent, mostly. As far as he could tell none had been hurt beyond glancing blows – though Oz looked like she'd been knocked on her back with all the dirt, grass, and random bits of bark captured in her fur – and were just tired. It might've been far worse if not for Claydol and Dazed ensuring solid psychic walls blunted much of the Rockets' assault.

Claydol floated over to him. Its spinning "faces" made a full circle around the field before they spoke again.

Yes. I cannot help the dark-types but it's not overly difficult to place the most desperate in stasis. I'll keep their wounds sealed until the League arrives. Please don't distract me. This will require an immense amount of focus.

Ash nodded. "Thank you, Claydol."

There was no response. The powerful psychic was seemingly as lifeless as he would've expected if he'd found it laying in a ruin. Ash sighed and grimaced as his legs ached with the strain of supporting him. Without the adrenaline pumping through his body he felt every bit of the pain and weariness he'd neglected until now.

"Can you put me down?" He whispered to Bruiser as his head pounded. Ash felt a little dizzy. His friend nodded, reptilian face drawn tight as he gingerly helped Ash over to one of the relatively untouched stumps laying around the clearing, and ensured Ash smoothly sat down.

Ash closed his eyes – after the day so far this felt amazing. Bruiser stood raptly by his side, mirrored by Torrent. "Thank you," he said as he stretched out his legs, finally free of having to work and run. Ash grinned lightly up at his friends. "I'll have to spoil everyone tonight – you did great. We did good today, guys."

Twin nods in response. Bruiser pounded his chest with his fist and even grinned at Ash despite how tense he was – though he did reach out two massive fingers and pluck Ash's own hand away from his chest as the boy tried to return the gesture. Ash frowned but Bruiser shook his head.

Torrent just shook the entire stump – and the ground around them – with his deep timbre. Ash fancifully considered it to be just as primal and forceful as a tsunami crashing into the shore…as thoughts of the sea slipped into his mind the Song's notes drifted through his mind.

He wished he had the Flute right now. It always calmed him down and Torrent absolutely loved it when he played. Even though Ash personally considered himself completely terrible with the instrument something about the notes always soothed the Kingdra – all of his friends liked it, really.

Except for Infernus. Whenever his fingers clumsily danced over the Flute to play Lugia's Song – it always came easiest to him, like he had learned it many years ago and he just needed to remember – the Magmortar became even surlier than usual and stalked off into the woods.

Ash couldn't help the smirk that stretched his face. Infernus always was bad about holding grudges – apparently he'd bruised more than just his body when Lugia had casually swept him aside back at Shamouti.

What made it worse was that Infernus was quite literally at his peak there, so he'd naturally take it more personally when –

"Magnificent!"

He whipped around, startled. His friends did the same and that put Ash on edge – he didn't like it when even his teammates were blindsided. They were able to sense things long before he could hope to detect them.

Ash rose – Bruiser didn't stop him.

The source of the muted voice made itself clear. His eyes locked onto the shape gracefully stepping out of the last vestiges of the Pokemon Hunter's fog with practiced ease, the dark silhouette finally recognizable as that of a woman. She came from the direction of the smoking airship's wreckage.

He winced as he craned his neck to get a better look at her. She was still far enough away that he couldn't make out very much. It looked like she was fixing that particular issue, however. The woman didn't hesitate in coming closer and closer until she was only about twenty feet away.

"Who are you?" Ash demanded as he raked his eyes over her warily. Bruiser was tense, as was Torrent. Dazed just polished her pendulum with a tad more care than usual. His head cocked to the side as he examined her. "Are you from the League? I expected more people for all this."

She laughed, a pleasant, lilting noise that lingered in his ears for a few moments. It was…nice. "Oh no. I'm afraid I'm just a traveler. I've been looking for someone out here and I'd hoped I'd found her. You are quite the surprise!"

Ash regarded her again, a bit surprised at the faint traces of a Kalosian accent – the last person he'd met from Kalos was that blonde girl at Professor Oak's camp a few years ago. This woman's accent was hardly noticeable however, just noticeable as tenser pronunciation and sharper precision. She spoke slowly, like she had to think about every word before it could leave her lips.

He wasn't sure if he liked her answer or not. If he were wandering by he would come to check a battle like this out, but he was self-aware enough to know that he wasn't exactly like most trainers. A normal person would've gotten away and perhaps informed the League.

And then he hid a frown. Were people even allowed this close to the Stone family's Beldum colony? They couldn't be more than a few miles away after Juliet had teleported them. He'd have to ask Steven once he returned. Steven should know if they needed to make the limits more apparent to passersby.

He took in her appearance more fully. Ash absentmindedly lingered a bit more than was necessary. It looked like she was in her early twenties or so. She was obviously older than the average traveling trainer – most had settled down somewhere or worked for the League by that age – but there was something about the woman's presence that left him unsure.

Overall he didn't exactly mind looking at the strange woman, he decided. Her dirty blonde hair was fairly short, cut to just above her shoulders, and bleached from long exposure to the sun. A small sunhat – more practical than the massive, floppy ones he'd seen some women wearing in Hoenn – sat atop her blonde head, though it didn't hide her features from his view.

She was pretty in a striking sort of way – tan and bold. Her face was relatively clear save for a few small, thin scars on her cheek that reminded him of claw marks, though he could hardly see them thanks to the gentle smile she wore.

Her clothes didn't attract his attention for long. Just a plain black tank top and khaki shorts that rose high enough that she could run easily – and it looked like she took advantage of that. She was probably in as good of shape as Karen even without the extensive training Karen went through as a member of the Elite Four.

Yes, he could see her roughing it. She wasn't exactly dirty, but it was impossible to keep to as high of standards as you could in civilization. Ash was honestly in about the same condition – sweaty and with a little grime after the weeks with Steven, though at this point his own blood and armor covered up everything.

"Did I pass your test?" The woman's laugh rang in his ears. Ash flushed. She graced him with a teasing smile and tucked a few errant strands of blond hair behind her ear. The hair on the back of his neck stood up. "But I must say, this scene is most impressive. Did you defeat these brigands yourself?

Ash shook his discomfort off. He took a moment to glance back at the scene of destruction behind him…it was only now that he realized just what it must've looked like to a bystander. What trees and vegetation weren't smoldering softly were smoking, and the heaps and heaps of pokemon and winding fissures that had collapsed nearly a hundred square feet of earth were outlandish by most standards.

"My team did," he replied tersely. She didn't appear at all discomfited by his hard tone. All he got was a bright smile that fit too well on her tanned face. It didn't belong on someone who walked in on a scene like this – most people would at least be on edge around him. This woman was too confident. He didn't like that.

"An admirable attitude!" The woman remarked. She shifted slightly closer. Ash frowned, though she didn't appear to notice. Her eyes were hidden underneath her sunhat. He cocked his head as she cocked her head and lazily placed a hand on her hip at she peered around the clearing before her gaze leveled on Ash. "Yes, I can see that you're closer to your brothers and sisters than most…"

Ash nodded and relaxed just a hair. With that attitude she wasn't likely to be a Rocket, at least. "I'm guessing you are as well?"

"Indeed!" Her head bobbed up and down. The woman bared her white teeth at him in a friendly smile – it hid her scars quite nicely. She lifted her head and he finally met her dark green eyes. The shade reminded him of a leaf. "Ah, I have been so rude! Please forgive my awful manners. Ma mère would be so disappointed. My name is Jacqueline! It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance!"

He felt a little more comfortable now and smiled back, though he didn't move to approach her. Ash didn't want to irritate his wounds any farther and wasn't sure he trusted this strange woman – Jacqueline, he corrected – that much. Plus, to be honest, he barely trusted his own legs with the way his vision swam.

Instead he inclined his head slightly and remembered his manners. Ash held back a grimace. His mother would probably scold him if she knew just how hard it was for Ash to recall them. It was so much easier being around pokemon. "It's nice to meet you too. My name's Ash."

She looked at him measuredly then graced him with another tinkling laugh. Jacqueline's lips curved upwards. "Ash…that's a nice name. You seem familiar."

"I placed highly in the Indigo Conference last year. That might be it," Ash folded his arms. Her eyes lit up and her mouth shaped into a small "o" of recognition.

"That is it!" Jacqueline exclaimed even as she seemed to take a renewed interest in his team, though it was clear they didn't appreciate the interest. She murmured a quiet apology that kept them calm, though even Bruiser was obviously on guard. "Yes, Ash Ketchum. That is your name, no?"

He nodded. "That's right," Ash acknowledged. He idly scratched at his covered wrist as Jacqueline made a noise of approval. He wasn't sure if he was okay with the anticipatory glint in her eyes…it was like looking into a mirror. "I didn't know they broadcasted to Kalos."

A frown marred Jarqueline's face and she quickly shook her head, though she didn't display any other markers of stress. She twisted her hair around a gloved finger. "Ah, no, I have not been home for many years now, I am afraid. It has been a long time. I simply caught it when I was in Rustboro. The Conferences are a guilty pleasure of mine, see."

"Guilty pleasure?" Ash echoed. His brow furrowed. He'd heard the Conference described as many things but "guilty pleasure" was a new one.

The blonde waved his question off. "A story for another time! It is a personal thing. But yes, I remember you. Your team was quite impressive – you work with them well. The League saw that as well, I believe?" She pointedly glanced at the League insignia stamped onto his combat suit's chest. It wasn't much of a question. "Though I suppose the proof of your bonds is all around us, no? It is a shame so many of the innocent were hurt…"

Ash recoiled – well, his face twisted into a fierce scowl that Jacqueline paid absolutely no attention to – and frowned. "I did my best – I didn't want to hurt them!"

"I was not attempting to attack you," Jacqueline apologized. Ash frowned – when did she move? He could've sworn she was farther back last time he'd looked at her. She seemed completely unaware of his concerns, though, and stared past him right at the imprisoned Rockets. Even their eyes were shut now, and they showed no response to her fierce glare.

For just a moment her face twisted into an ugly snarl, something fierce and primal, then she expertly smoothed the emotion out of her face. All that remained was a dangerous glint to her eyes. "You did quite well. I watched the care you took. Even after your injuries you were merciful when you could allow it."

Ash felt like the crushed and splattered remains of Ariados mocked him then. He couldn't help but slip his focus over to the ravaged corpse of the arachnid that had very nearly killed him.

This odd newcomer was sharp enough to track his gaze. Her face softened ever so slightly. "A shame, but I would not begrudge you that life. Your family fought for you, as any good brothers and sisters would. As you would for them."

He nodded dumbly, a bit uncomfortable at the dark turn the conversation had taken. Still, he didn't stop it. Ash could handle a bit of discomfort and Jacqueline didn't seem like an actual threat. She could've attacked him from the trees if she were. He hadn't even known she was there – and that brought another of her enigmatic hints to the forefront of his mind.

"Why are you here?" Ash rasped, dissolving into a coughing fit as his injuries made themselves known. Jacqueline arched an eyebrow, obviously surprised at his bluntness, though it didn't last for long.

Her response was a bit of a surprised.

She laughed.

Ash scowled – was she not taking him seriously? She raised a small hand to placate him. "Peace! I did not mean to offend. I was merely surprised…it has been a long time since I have had someone ask something of me so plainly. It is appreciated."

He waited.

Jacqueline folded her arms and she lowered her head to regard Ash more seriously. One of her fingers brushed one of the pokeballs on her belt and he tensed, though he quickly he realized it was just a matter of habit. He did the same thing on occasion.

"I will be candid with you. It is clear you are no mere boy to be led easily astray," she said seriously. There was something hard in her voice and it took Ash a moment to realize she wasn't angry. Jacqueline took a deep breath. "I am here to ensure justice is served!"

"Justice…" he trailed off curiously. He watched raptly and fell silent. Jacqueline smiled before she continued.

"Justice," Jacqueline echoed. She paced back and forth, reminding him more of a caged Umbreon than anything. Ash found himself briefly distracted by her movements. She moved with grace of the sort few humans could ever achieve. Not quite the fluid steps of a trained fighter like Bruno or Koga, but the casual air of someone with complete confidence in their own body. "See, Ash, my employers do not like Team Rocket. What those cretins do is…disgusting. My employers will never allow their sins against pokemon to go unpunished."

Her eyes blazed and a savage smile split her bronzed face into something dark. "I am the same. And I am more than happy to be the instrument of that justice. Team Rocket will not be allowed to fester like they have elsewhere. Not when I am present."

"So why didn't you help?" Ash asked, motioning to the widespread destruction around the clearing. He wasn't sure it would be easily habitable by pokemon for some time after what his friends had done to it. "You could've saved lives."

"Oh no," the blonde chuckled wryly. "If I was involved I wouldn't have been saving lives." Jacqueline frowned over at the unconscious pokemon. Some had begun to rise, but very quickly realized it was better to just stay still. "The innocents, yes." She stared past Ash at the Rockets. "Their tormentors, on the other hand…"

Ash frowned. This conversation was devolving rather quickly. Jacqueline was dangerous, he realized. He'd suspected it before, but the casual way she spoke of ending lives – something deep within him still recoiled at the concept – left his eyes barely narrowed. It didn't help that he wasn't altogether able to disagree with her. "We could have used your help, Jacqueline."

"Silly boy!" Jacqueline laughed. She looked at him fondly. "You don't want my help. Not yet," she finished with a despondent sigh. The woman waved at the clearing his friends had quite nearly obliterated, including the hundreds of smoking trees Infernus had seared. "Regardless, you had it well in hand. You did not need help. By the time I would have stepped in that friend of yours had already gone after my main target."

"The Pokemon Hunter?" Ash frowned. He eyed Jacqueline curiously. "I thought you said the Rockets –"

She waved his question off, though she did grace him with a smile that didn't make Ash feel quite as warm as when she'd first showed up. "A mere task…though one I would enjoy. No," a dangerous grin darkened her eyes, "my chosen quarry is rather more interesting."

Then she deflated, looking like the sunny girl she'd been when she arrived. Jacqueline shook her head and ran her fingers through her blonde hair. "But now I see my presence here is unnecessary. Steven Stone is much more capable than I."

Ash filed that away for future reference. It was the first crack in the confidence so seemingly intrinsic to her personality. She didn't seem intimidated by Ash in the least but Steven at least seemed to keep her on edge.

He didn't know who Jacqueline was, exactly, but at least she wasn't some sort of insane Champion-level opponent who'd arisen from nowhere.

The woman readjusted her sunhat. She inclined her head just a fraction. "And if I am not needed then it is best that I leave," she sounded almost disappointed. "It was a pleasure meeting you, Ash. I thank you for saving these pokemon…"

Ash nodded stiffly. He wasn't sure how he felt about her leaving as abruptly as she'd entered. Jacqueline was obviously dangerous – every little thing she did left him ill at ease. At the same time, however, he would rather her wait until "That's not something I need to be thanked for."

"I know," he received a bright smile for his answer. Despite himself Ash felt his cheeks warm. Jacqueline laughed. "Oh yes, I truly do. You are a good one, Ash. Don't lose that," she finished more seriously. The blonde turned away and folded her arms. "But I must leave, indeed. There are pressing matters I must attend to."

He frowned at that – should he try to stop her? It would only take a word to his friends, though at the same time he was hesitant to do so. She hadn't done anything hostile. Besides, she clearly had a pokemon of her own. Ash was too unsure of just how much offense she'd take to that.

Jacqueline walked away and he noted again just how smoothly she glided through the relatively unscathed portion of the clearing she'd entered from. She was heading straight for the airship's wreckage and –

Bruiser grunted and quickly pulled Ash to him, hiding him protectively underneath a bulging grey bicep almost as thick as Ash's torso. He squeezed the boy just hard enough to keep him still as a sudden roar echoed throughout the entire clearing, a pained howl that left a taut frown on his face.

That was the cry of a Salamence.

It came from far above. Ash craned his neck to look into the blindingly bright sky, eager to catch sight of the fearsome dragon the Hunter had escaped on, when a blinding beam of silver shrapnel exploded into his field of view like a howling hurricane, pierced through one of the clouds that had appeared after Infernus' relentless bursts of flame, and struck something unseen in a vast explosion whose shockwave nearly knocked Ash off his feet. Only Bruiser's powerful arm kept him stable.

Ash squinted and saw something – a blue and red comet with a pale, armored belly – fall from the sky at a breathtaking speed. Worried lines creased over his features as the trajectory it was on carried the creature in a corkscrew motion to land just a hundred feet away.

"It seems I am not useless here after all!" Jacqueline piped up from behind him. Ash barely thought about it as he realized just how hard that Salemence was going to hit. It had fallen from nearly a thousand feet up.

He reflexively squeezed Bruiser's arm for support.

Seconds later the impact left the clearing in shambles – he could barely see the Salamence's silhouette as it landed with enough force to absolutely pulverize a human's fragile body, though all it did to the mighty dragon was knock it unconscious.

Infernus roared, Dazed's eyes flashed – her pendulum darted to the left in her grip, and the clouds of dust and shattered stumps and grass were swept away in the same direction – and Torrent levitated just a little in front of Ash. Claydol was still utterly silent.

He learned forward to see more when a figure garbed in a long, black coat that almost looked like a dress staggered drunkenly from the site, coughing out a lungful of fine dirt that had been breathed in.

Ash found it hard to believe anyone had survived at all from such a hard, chaotic impact. They must've had safety measures in place for such a possibility – Ash thought of the ambush, the armies of pokemon, the willingness to flee immediately once things got out of hand.

Yes, he thought darkly, he could imagine the Pokemon Hunter being prepared for almost anything.

It was a woman, he could tell, and Ash frowned at some sort of strange gauntlet she wore, though it looked heavily damaged from the landing. The woman was limping heavily and cradled the arm that bore the strange device gingerly – he winced when he saw it was at a terribly unnatural angle, like Fergus' arm when Mewtwo broke it.

Ash didn't acknowledge the dark smirk threatening to take over his face. It wasn't his own.

"Stop!" He roared, and the woman reflexively jerked her head up to look him in the eyes. Ash blinked in surprise at her features – even with innumerable cuts and a massive blue bruise covering half of her face he could make out familiar sharp, pointed features and a head of tousled silver hair.

If she suddenly pulled out a Metagross Ash was going to be pissed.

"You aren't getting away! Torrent, Dazed!" Ash snarled, realizing that this woman was responsible for everything that happened today. The attack on the colony, the death of so many broken pokemon…he felt a spike of hate directed at the Pokemon Hunter when he realized she was the one that had nearly killed him.

And worse, his team.

Dazed's eyes flashed and her pendulum bounced madly in her grip, but nothing happened to the woman as she looked over in his direction and paled visibly even behind her bruised face. Ash frowned as Dazed cocked her head and lowered her pendulum. It wasn't often she was surprised enough to show even the faintest sign.

His teeth bared much like Nidoking's, and he nodded to Torrent. Even if she'd somehow proved immune to psychic powers there was no way she would stand up to one of the strongest of his friends. Torrent rumbled and turned dismissive red eyes onto his target as a sphere of compressed air suddenly shape itself on the tip of his snout, howling wildly as the frozen winds twisted faster and faster, little flecks of frost and ice shaping as the temperature all around fell nearly fifty degrees in a single second.

Torrent wouldn't hit her head-on with it. That'd be a death sentence – even this relatively weak Blizzard would flash-freeze her with just a few seconds' exposure. But the Kingdra was plenty skilled enough with his Blizzard to simply make it impossible to escape. In her condition she was hardly capable of walking, regardless.

A gust of cold wind swept through the clearing and Ash visibly shivered, though more due to the sudden merging of himself with the cold air than anything else. For just a moment he felt it as an extension of himself, a wild gale whistling through the air carrying something strange and quick in its wake.

He shook the strange feeling off – he silently found himself frustrated with his inability to quell the merging brought on by Articuno's influence – and grinned as Torrent loosed the howling gale.

With the new control brought on by Steven's extensive training it was something to behold. The white storm of sharp ice and subzero temperatures erupted in a tightly bound funnel that seared Ash's lungs with the bite of cold when he breathed in, despite him being several feet away. Crystals of frost trailed the howling Blizzard, glistening like diamonds hanging in the air in its wake.

Grass was encrusted in crystal, tree trunks groaned and creaked as they expanded, and the ground itself was so cold it hissed and cracked until it had very nearly sundered beneath Blizzard's path.

And, just like that, it was over.

Ash gaped as a familiar curved shell of green – it wasn't a full sphere, he noted, unlike most uses of Protect – shimmered into existence from nowhere moments before Blizzard would've passed by the woman and left her immobile from the cold. A terrible fury rose up in him and he bared his teeth even as he saw the unexpected source appear moments later.

He couldn't track it well – it was a mere blur, and all he could pick out was a wild mane of white fur pulled back by the impossible speed of the newcomer, like it was carried by the wind itself. The creature was blindingly fast, almost as if Plume had managed to convert her speed to the ground as well.

The Pokemon Hunter, who had taken the unexpected opportunity to limp farther away in her long black coat (it must've been absolutely sweltering in the Hoenn heat, he noted) froze for a moment as the blur whipped around her. Her whole body stiffened for just a moment before she collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut.

Ash blinked. His friends didn't seem any better. He grew slightly concerned – and wasn't that surprising, him even being slightly thoughtful about the still Pokemon Hunter – and eyed her as closely as he could.

"Do not bother, Ash."

He whipped around wildly to face Jacqueline. She was closer than she was before and he stiffened. Her hand was on her hip and she regarded him with something akin to pity.

"You killed her."

It wasn't an accusation. No, only a resigned statement of fact left his lips. Ash stared at Jacqueline. He didn't know what to feel – it was like there were too many things tumbling around in his head and not enough time to process them all.

He dimly realized he felt vaguely nauseous. It was like he wasn't even watching the scene from his body anymore. The clearing was little more than a vague blur – the only thing his wide eyes flitted between were the still body of the black-clad Pokemon Hunter and Jacqueline's light frown.

Ash had never watched someone die. Not even on the St. Anne…

"Some live, some die," Jacqueline said quietly, like she was quoting something she'd heard long ago. She looked away from him. "So it goes."

Ash didn't say anything. He didn't know what to feel. Should he feel angry that Jacqueline had killed the Pokemon Hunter when he was about to take her peacefully? Glad that the Pokemon Hunter who had ruined so many lives was gone? Sad about the loss of life, no matter what it was?

But right now he was just numb. Even his friends didn't move, not sure what to do in this situation without Ash giving them a direct order. They were as lost as he was, though not for the same reason.

"I cannot save many," the blonde woman told him. Her voice was a little dispassionate now. "Not many humans, at least. But how many pokemon's lives may I save by killing her? She was a plague and it fell to me to be her cure."

"I was going to stop her!" Ash's fists clenched. A spike of fury pierced the wave of numbness that had fallen about him like a cloak. "She couldn't have gotten away! You didn't have to kill her."

Jacqueline cocked her head as she regarded him, still totally at ease with the situation. It wasn't quite as interesting as it had been before. "Perhaps not. The League would have taken her, yes. You did well. But can you blame me?"

Ash didn't answer that. With the whirlwind inside of him – he almost felt like the powers within were reaching out to steal his mind away piece by piece – he didn't even know the answer to her question.

A Shiftry appeared by her side so quickly Ash couldn't even catch the movement. It regarded Ash dismissively with its fierce yellow eyes, though its gaze lingered on his team warily as it huddled close to Jacqueline. He noted its large, leaf-like hands – male, he knew, the cold, instinctive thoughts a bit of a comfort right now.

"Ah, dear Corin!" Jacqueline crooned to the Shiftry. She lovingly ran her fingers through its flawless white mane and it looked up at her with something he could only describe as complete and utter adoration. "You did most well! I do believe you have earned quite the celebration tonight!"

Shiftry keened happily and leaned into her touch, like it was the only thing that mattered in the world. The guardian of the forests didn't even pay an iota of attention to Ash or his team – he felt tempted to order an attack and subdue the two, but then he remembered just how quickly Shiftry had stolen the Hunter's life.

No, not now. Not when he was this close and Dazed's shields would do absolutely nothing to stop it. Ash looked worryingly at Claydol, who still hung suspended motionless in the air. It might be their only hope right now – Torrent picked up on his object of focus and nodded, starting to drift closer to the Champion-level fighter.

Dazed was frozen. The glow in her eyes and had dimmed and she looked at him with something he knew to be fear. That cut through the fog in his mind and he turned back to Jacqueline and Shiftry with narrowed eyes.

"This is Corin, one of my dearest," Jacqueline introduced Ash to the Shiftry once she realized he was looking at her. A smile played upon her lips and she lightly tapped the grass-type on the shoulder. It quickly gave Ash a quick bow, though didn't hold it for long. "He likes you."

That snapped him out of his funk and Ash eyed the deadly Shiftry dubiously. It watched back coldly and he heard a cold wind hiss from behind it. The wintery air brushed against his skin and he suddenly felt wrong – he looked at Dazed and saw that she sagged with exhaustion.

"A simple precaution," the strange blonde woman explained. She'd lost some of her playful air and looked at him sharply when he scowled. "You have nothing to fear from me, Ash. You aren't my enemy."

He nodded, going along with her game for now. Ash knew he was dealing with a very, very dangerous person. The careless confidence she wore like a badge of honor made sense now.

Ash casually glanced around. His team was here for the most part. Ash could pick out Sneasel hidden in the tangle of trees about a hundred feet behind her, ready to strike if it came down to a fight. Infernus proved again he had a surprising capability for stealth – he knew the Magmortar had to be around here somewhere but couldn't see even the hint of a glow.

Nidoking was nowhere to be found. Ash was a bit worried about him but thought it was probably best if his overprotective friend wasn't present, especially in the volatile state he'd been in after Ariados attacked.

Could he take Jacqueline? Ash thought so. No matter how strong she was – and he really had no clue, though Shiftry was certainly impressive – his team would be an enormous threat, especially with only one pokemon. He had complete confidence in his friends.

Then again, he hadn't known Shiftry was around either.

Nothing good would come out of a confrontation, he knew. They were too close right now and he didn't want to see any of his friends hurt today. Besides, she hadn't tried anything against him.

He didn't like that she'd killed the Hunter.

Ash knew that now, despite still regarding the dead woman with contempt. But now wasn't the time to try and take her in. Not with his team roughed up from their earlier victories and an opponent he knew practically nothing about.

The scrape of countless swords carving against each other filled his ears. Ash didn't need to look for the blindingly bright reflection of Skarmory in the air to realize who was arriving.

Skarmory must've been miles away to just now be arriving, Ash realized. He frowned when he realized just how impossibly difficult hitting the Hunter's Salamence with Flash Cannon must've been. Even Plume couldn't have done that.

He decided to attribute it to a combination of Skarmory's immense skill and Metagross' annoyingly excellent coordination.

Jacqueline took a few steps back, a guarded look in her green eyes. Shiftry's leaf-like hands twitched and he caught sight of a razor edge shaping. She shook her head and the bladed leaves slowly softened.

"I must take my leave. Farewell," Jacqueline said quickly. She graced him with one last sunny smile before she took off into the forests, quickly putting her long legs to use. Ash watched her go, conflicted. He saw a flash of familiar scarlet light, a black shape spreading its wings, and the two were gone.

She was confusing and he didn't like that in the least.

Skarmory shrieked and landed near him on a relatively stable patch of land. The bird's wings were carefully tucked away as Steven, practically hidden by the blinding glow reflected off Skarmory under the sun's light, slipped off smoothly.

"Ash!" He rushed over, glancing over the boy worriedly. Steven clasped one of his shoulders as he examined him – Ash felt a little uncomfortable. It was like Steven was trying to pick out some gaping wound. "Are you okay? Claydol reported her presence – did she hurt you?"

He took a step back from the former Champion. Steven's blatant concern was just…wrong. Before he answered he stared suspiciously at Claydol. Had it known what was going on?

Of course. I was distracted, not blind. The situation just didn't demand immediate attention.

Ash rolled his eyes. Why had he expected any differently? Then he mentally frowned. Could Claydol even see?

If you can't even recognize a simple figure of speech perhaps you're the blind one. Or suffering from a head injury. You've had a long day.

A familiar chuckle graced his mind but Ash quelled the sudden intrusion viciously. When an impatient cough demanded his attention he looked to Steven bashfully and got down to business.

"No," Ash shook his head. His injuries screamed at him now that he didn't have an actual distraction. "She just wanted to talk – who was she?"

"Jacqueline Durand," was all Steven said on the topic. He seemed a bit relieved, if the slump of his shoulders told Ash anything. Ash thought this might be the most open Steven had been in weeks. "I'll explain more later, I promise."

Ash nodded, accepting the situation for now. Weariness fell heavy upon his shoulders and he looked around at the battlefield again, taking in everything he could. It would be branded into his mind for weeks to come. He pointedly ignored the Hunter's corpse – he didn't want to see evidence of Jacqueline's murder.

"The Pokemon Hunter's dead," Ash muttered. He bent his legs a bit and Bruiser took the hint, lowering him gently to the same stump he'd collapsed on earlier. Dazed shuffled close, as did Sneasel as he loped over from the bushes as cheerful as ever.

He closed his eyes as he stroked the soft fur between Sneasel's eyes and gained a throaty purr for his efforts. As he realized what he had just said he finally felt the weight of failure – he should have been quicker. Perhaps then the Hunter would still be alive and in their custody.

"I know," came the quiet response of Steven. He sat down on another stump a few feet across from Ash. He still looked utterly pristine in his suit, like he hadn't just fought a trainer with pokemon powerful enough to support the assault on a Metagross colony. "I'm sorry."

Ash's head jerked up. "Why?" He scowled and looked to the side where Ariados' remains were smeared. Disgust – at himself, at the situation, at all of this – reared up inside him.

Steven frowned and stroked his chin thoughtfully. "It wasn't supposed to happen like this," he admitted after long last. It sounded almost like a confession. "When Ancient contacted me I was careless. I besmirched my duty as your teacher. And for that I apologize."

He just waited. There was more to this. Steven fidgeted. He toyed with one of his plain steel rings and watched it pointedly.

"I didn't think," his mentor shook his silver head. Ash thought he heard something like guilt slip through Steven's composure. "This…I did what I could. I left my team to make sure you would be protected. But you weren't ready for something like this yet – I should've had you remain behind to protect the colony and dealt with this myself. I'd hoped to turn this into a learning experience for you. It grew beyond that the moment it escalated into a pitched battle."

Ash cocked his head quizzically. He felt a little dizzy. "But I won!"

Steven chuckled wryly and cast his gaze across the clearing reshaped by vast storms of wind and frost and fire, torn apart and collapsed by earth controlled and directed like another limb. "I suppose you did."

The former Champion sighed. His face aged a decade with that single breath. "You did well, Ash – fantastic, even, and I don't say that easily. I'm proud of you. But the fact remains that I was irresponsible with your safety…look at yourself! You're half-dead from exhaustion and there's still Ariados venom coursing through your veins – it's a miracle you're still conscious, even with Claydol's help!"

He flinched away from the impassioned spiel. It didn't help that Bruiser had nodded along with Steven as he placed a massive hand on Ash's shoulder.

"I'm fine," Ash grumbled, ignoring the way he irritated his scraped skin. He rubbed Sneasel a little harder – the dark-type hissed happily and crawled deeper into his lap. "You don't need to worry about me, Steven."

"That fact that you can even consider saying that right now proves my point," the older man disagreed. He shook his head and paused to pat Skarmory when the fierce bird demandingly thrust his spiked head into Steven's lap. Steven regarded Ash with surprisingly soft eyes. "It's easy for me to forget how young you are, Ash. You're mature and experienced for your age. I won't demean you by ignoring your achievements and treating you like a child, but I will take responsibility."

Ash shied away from Steven's impassioned spiel. It was odd and unexpected. He wasn't sure he liked the man's concern. Sure it showed that Steven at least cared – even now the Steel Master was examining his multitude of injuries with a discomfited frown– but it was unfamiliar.

People weren't normally concerned for him – they didn't need to be. Ash knew he and his friends were strong enough to stand this. He had survived events that had threatened the entire world. Compared to New Island or the Shamouti Incident this had just been a friendly neighborhood spat.

His mother was worried about him, but that was special. That was who she was. The same went for Professor Oak.

Ash didn't need Steven to be worried about him. He was fine. If he could get through other battles then he could handle this.

"What happened to Metagross?" The question burst from his lips. Steven raised a silver eyebrow, surprised, but acquiesced to Ash's change of subject. "I've never seen anything like it before."

"You wouldn't have," the former Champion chuckled. His fingers unconsciously traced over the spot that strange piece of jewelry was hidden in his suit. "It's not something we try to spread around, as you might guess. The Leagues would rather keep that sort of power under wraps. If the wrong people tried to harness it…"

He nodded slowly. Yes, he could imagine. Metagross was a powerhouse before the strange metamorphosis – with it the metal behemoth had proven to be practically unstoppable.

It was an entirely different level they had tapped. The power that radiated off of Metagross so casually had practically left him shaking just from remaining in its presence.

Then again, that might be from the concussion he might have. Ash shook it off, wincing as the blow to his head from the Pokemon Hunter's energy cannons ached. That would be annoying if it stuck around for long.

"Ash?" Steven's voice sounded. He glanced over at the man, who looked a little worried. "I told the League to bring medics. We'll get you checked out before we return to Rustboro."

He dimly nodded. Ash shut his eyes and smiled as he felt the steady plod of Nidoking's massive frame come up behind him. Hot breath brushed against his back and he didn't even care that it hurt when Nidoking gingerly brushed his back with a dull claw.

"Hey buddy," he grinned. It hurt a little bit. Ash decided to let the topic of Metagross' impossible evolution go for now – he had more important things to take care of. "You feeling better? You missed some excitement."

Nidoking chuffed and licked the side of Ash's face. The massive tongue left his skin tingling from the tiny levels of toxins spread throughout every bit of his friend's body but Ash was used to it by now. He just smiled and reclined, allowing his head to lean heavily against Nidoking's thick hide.

Everything was okay now – Plume's cries weren't too far away and Ash thought he heard Tangrowth gurgling far in the distance.

The injured pokemon, Jacqueline, the dead Pokemon Hunter, the dozen questions lying on the tip of his tongue…they slipped away like they hadn't been a concern in the first place.

A red haze covered his vision even through the black of his eyelids, though Ash suddenly couldn't find it in himself to care as a deep-seated exhaustion made itself known.

Something buzzed on the edge of his darkening consciousness – this feeling was familiar, somehow.

"Rest for now, Ash," he heard Steven whisper. Skarmory's sword-like feathers clanged against each other roughly and he heard the quiet crinkle of Steven's suit as the man stood. There were voices in the distance now, unfamiliar. "I'll take care of the rest. When you wake I'll answer all your questions, I promise."

Then, moments later, "Thank you, Dazed. Keep him relaxed but don't let him fall asleep. I'm still not sure if he's concussed…"

Ash didn't register another word as he blissfully slipped away into a limbo between the dreaming and waking world. Even his injuries couldn't touch him here. The piles of the wounded and dead that haunted his every thought drifted away.

For just a time, he was at peace.

A/N: Well, this one came out a bit faster than usual! I'd like to thank everyone who read and supported the last chapter – it really helped to inspire me to write this chapter in a reasonable amount of time, though it did end up taking me longer than expected! I hope everyone enjoyed it!

As always, please leave your thoughts in a review! I'm happy to answer questions and address concerns that you might have, especially if they're just plot points I'll be revealing in the next chapter.

I have to admit this is one of the chapters I'm especially interested in getting responses from. I've been playing around with my writing style a bit to see what works so I'm curious to see if anyone noticed a difference. Plus this is the first time I've ever written a battle this large and I'm not entirely sure I managed to pull it off satisfactorily.

Anyways, originally this was going to be about ten thousand words longer but I decided this was a good stopping point. I think chapters just tend to be overwhelming past the thirty thousand word mark.

Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed this chapter!