Happy Friday and welcome to Chapter 5! Hope you enjoy it. Remember to leave any questions, thoughts, and comments as a review. Appreciate you. Happy reading!

Chapter 5: Way Down We Go

"We don't kill. We protect," Hugh glared at him.

Red looked away. "I didn't see the difference then."

Rosa stood between them. "Good people do bad things, too."

"Sis, that doesn't justify cold-blooded murder," Nate sided with Hugh.

"They're right, Rosa," Red answered. Rosa looked at him. His face looked like that of a guilty puppy.

"It's been three years since we defeated him. Why tell us now?" Hugh gritted his teeth.

Red looked into his eyes. "Ever since we returned, I've felt more like a ghost than a person. I know this is the most peace we've had in a long time, even with the splinter cells, but my mind still thinks we're at war. The things I've lived and done. I don't forget them. Nothing means more to me than all of you and the bond we share. It didn't feel right to hide it from you."

Hugh crossed his arms. "Grow up."

Nate stepped forward. "Red, let go. We won. It's over."

Red muttered. "What happens when the world doesn't need the Rising Volt Tacklers anymore?"

"Is that such a bad thing?" Rosa questioned.

"After what you did, I don't know if you can even call yourself one. You didn't tell us you killed Phantom because you thought we should know. You told us because you can't live with your guilty conscience. I believed in the values you embodied and followed you for it. You will never be Ash Ketchum," Hugh's anger grew.

"Hugh!" Rosa gasped.

Red hid his sapphire-like eyes under his hat. "I thought I did things right, so that we could live."

"We represent everything that the bad guys fear. Killing in cold blood. Wanting revenge. We didn't risk our necks in the past so you'd become the same as them," Nate also became frustrated.

"I said what I had to. I'm not asking for your forgiveness. This is over," Red made his peace with the consequences. The trainer left the room. He didn't look at Nate or Hugh in the eyes again.

Red pulled himself back from the memory. He clenched his fist, "I was afraid." As he crossed the sky with Charizard, he thought about his misdeeds. Everything he ever did was for his family. He killed Phantom to protect his family. He risked his life for his family. He allowed himself to suffer for his family. He'd never forget the first time he took a life for his family. "It was wrong then. It's wrong now," Red admitted to himself.

"I've got eyes on the target," young Red heard the voices of soldiers. Still holding his dead father's hand with tearful eyes, he stared at them. They were at least a dozen of them. Each of them pointed a Pokéball at him and Dialga. He looked back and forth between Ash and Omega's troops. They were ready to have him join his father if they had to. "Don't move, kid," one of the soldiers warned.

Red squeezed Ash's hand. Tears continued to stream down his cheeks when he glared at the pawns. "You'll all pay for this," Red stood up. His fists were clenched so tight that his fingernails dug into his skin and started to bleed.

The soldiers stepped back. "I said don't move!" the leader demanded.

Red's eyes filled with rage. "You're all going to pay!" The boy's gaze transformed from sorrow to anger. His sapphire eyes became steely and cold. Dialga stood up, noting the young boy's rage.

"Kill them!" the leader ordered.

Before they could throw their Pokéballs, Red attacked. "Dialga, use Earth Power!" The ground beneath Omega's soldiers erupted when Dialga roared. None of them had a chance to save themselves. They were at the mercy of Red's anger. Any that weren't killed by the attack would wish they had been. The leader dragged himself through the mud with broken legs, desperate to reach his Pokéball. Before he could grab it, Red placed his foot over the ball. The man froze when he saw the small boy tower over him. He couldn't tell if Red's face was wet from tears or the rain, but nothing washed away the wrath in his blue eyes. "I don't think so," Red stepped on the soldier's hand.

The soldier shouted in agony when he felt his bones snap, "Mercy, please!"

"Did you show my friends and family mercy when you attacked us?" Red moved his foot up his arm to crush his elbow.

"I'm sorry!" the man cried.

"Sorry won't bring my dad back," Red crushed his elbow. The remaining injured soldiers heard a crunch and watched in horror as Red tortured their leader.

Red's victim whimpered when the boy lifted him by his shirt, "Don't do this."

"I have to," Red took the knife strapped to the man's belt and used it to stab him in the abdomen. The man felt his life slip from him as his vision turned dark. The last thing he saw was Red's penetrating stare. With the man dead, Red turned to the other crippled members. "Dialga, Flash Cannon," Red pointed at the survivors. They begged the child to spare them, but the pleas fell on deaf ears. Dialga's Flash Cannon turned them to dust while their screams turned into echoes in the wind. Red fell to his knees and fainted. He knew what he'd done was wrong, and he didn't regret it.

When they found him, Brock and Misty assumed the dead soldiers were killed in a firefight. No one suspected that a ten-year-old boy was capable of such violence, and it remained Red's secret long after their victory in Unova. The only person he ever shared the traumatic event with was Rosa and received a slap for it. He deserved it. He acknowledged that, but Red believed he'd learned his lesson too late. The damage was done. With his family gone and his friendships estranged, Red had little left. Nonetheless, he'd hope to make things right someday.

(Music: Cultivating Madness)

Red eyed the area below. "We're here." Charizard descended near the ruins of the Malamar's lab. The infrastructure was burnt to a crisp, and there was little left intact. Fortunately, Red only needed to revisit the chamber. "Thanks, Charizard," Red returned the Fire-type to his ball. Upon his descent, he found the room in better shape than most of the base. Most research was ash, but the equipment still seemed functional. Red kneeled to examine the time machine built by the Malamar. This is definitely Baltoy technology, Red confirmed by examining the hieroglyphics used to design it.

Suddenly, Lucario emerged from his ball. "I said so, didn't I?"

"You enjoy eavesdropping, don't you?" a sarcastic Red smirked.

"I might see something you don't," Lucario crossed his arms. "For instance, if the Malamar did use this time machine and the base failed to detect the reading, then they used an energy that we know little to nothing about."

Red rolled his eyes, "I know, Lucario. That's why I'm here. To learn more."

Lucario snatched the satchel from Red. "Except the answer has been with you all along." Lucario opened the Scarlet Book and Violet Book to show the chapters focused on Tera Energy.

"Tera Energy? That's impossible. Tera Energy died out when Area Zero was destroyed in the war," Red argued.

Lucario disagreed. "The Malamar had these books for a reason. Why would they take an interest in the works of Turo and Sada if not to learn? They might've been investigating the terastral phenomenon under our noses the entire time for the very purpose of remaining undetected."

Red took one of the books from Lucario and raised his eyebrow, "You believe they somehow rediscovered or recreated Tera Energy?"

"Turo and Sada theorized Tera Energy was tied to Arceus's plates. Heath claimed the energy came from a Legendary Pokémon. Something tells me that Tera Energy wasn't bound to Area Zero. Whether they found more of it or replicated it, I do not know." Lucario closed his eyes.

Lucario's trainer shifted his attention back to the time machine. "If they used Tera Energy to power this thing, then it would explain how they dodged our radars." Red stepped up to the platform. "The other question is how would that work?"

"We'll be lucky if we learn something from rummaging around," Lucario also stepped on. Suddenly, the Scarlet Book and Violet Book started to glow. A force field sprouted around them, and the time machine activated.

"What the?!" Red was startled.

"We're trapped!" Lucario tried to punch through the barrier.

Red saw the platform light up. "Is it working?" The light from the machine became so bright that Red and Lucario were forced to cover their eyes as the energy swallowed them. It was a warm power that traveled into their bones. They closed their eyes as they felt their bodies become lighter than air. It was as if their essence got flung from one point to another. When they felt their feet on the ground again, they wobbled. "What happened?" Red opened his eyes and discovered they were somewhere else.

"This isn't the Malamar's lab." Lucario noticed the room was in stable condition and everything was where it was. However, the room was less of a lab and more like a mansion foyer collecting dust. "Where are we?" The Aura Pokémon was confused.

"The mansion on Cinnabar Island, three years after Ash Ketchum won the World Coronation Series," a girl's voice answered.

"Who's there?" Red and Lucario stood back to back.

Lucario growled. "You're saying we're back in the past?"

The voice snickered. "They managed to lure you after all. A shame it came with their sacrifices." The mysterious stranger stepped out of the shadows. Her eyes were sapphire-colored like his. Lucario and Red stared with wide eyes.

"Sapphire?" Red thought he saw a ghost.

"It can't be." Lucario believed his eyes deceived him.

Sapphire smirked. "It's nice to finally meet you, Red. I've heard so much about you."

"No, you're not Sapphire. You just look like her," Red recomposed himself.

"Are you responsible for bringing us here?" Lucario asked.

Sapphire nodded sideways. "You brought yourself here. I had nothing to do with that. Admittedly, I did hope you would arrive."

"Who are you, and why did you want us here?" Red was cautious.

The Sapphire lookalike crossed her arms. She appeared smug. "The truth is I'm the culmination of Professor Turo and Professor Sada's research into artificial intelligence."

Red clenched his teeth. "You're an android."

"But why modeled after Sapphire?" Lucario tried to make sense of it. The Aura Pokémon and Red positioned themselves around the android in case she tried anything.

Sapphire ignored Lucario's question. "I have to thank you, Red. If you hadn't saved the past, the good professors' innovation wouldn't have paved the way for my existence. I'm here because of you," Sapphire spread her arms.

"What's your endgame?" Red didn't like her arrogance.

The artificial intelligence pointed at him. "I'm here to finish what was started."

Lucario noticed a radar hanging from her belt. The Fighting-type spoke. "You were built in the past by the Malamar to carry out Omega's mission. Is that it?"

"Aren't you a smart jackal?" the woman looked back from the corner of her eye.

"That means we were transported here so you would kill us," Red stepped back. He felt his body bump into something.

Lucario's eyes widened. "Watch out!"

Red leaped away when a Pokémon drew its blade, slicing off a sliver of his hair. "I'm curious to see what you are made of, Red. You're here a little earlier than desired, but we'll put that extra time to use," Sapphire gave him a menacing stare.

"The Iron Valiant," Red recognized it from the Violet Book.

"A Paradox Pokémon," Lucario acknowledged.

Red smirked, "It's part fairy, so we have the advantage."

Sapphire disagreed, "You should know that types don't decide the outcome of a battle."

"You'll regret bringing us here. We'll put an end to your plans," Red flashed a cunning smile.

"That so?" Sapphire waved her finger back and forth. Her taunt sent a chill down Red's spine. "Iron Valiant, use Spirit Break!" The Fairy-type Pokémon took its double-edged blade and attached each end to its arms. It made a fierce sprint toward Red.

Not so fast! Lucario used Extreme Speed to stop the attack with its paw.

Red clenched his fists, "Lucario, use Flash Cannon!" His friend opened fire on Iron Valiant, but the agile Pokémon backflipped away from harm.

Sapphire raised her eyebrow, "Is that all you've got?"

"You wish," Red snapped. Lucario gathered aura on its paws and fired at Iron Valiant. The Fighting-type unleashed a powerful volley, but Sapphire's Pokémon slashed through Aura Sphere with ease.

"Fine, we'll play rough." Lucario growled. Red's Pokémon used Extreme Speed to get up close. When he prepared to strike, Iron Valiant caught his fist with its blade. "What speed!" The jackal was startled. Iron Valiant swung its other blade using Spirit Break, but Lucario ducked and slid away.

Sapphire raised her fist, "Show them a real Aura Sphere." Iron Valiant fired Aura Sphere with precision and quickness.

"Counter with Aura Sphere!" Red sweated. Lucario raised its paws to shield itself with Aura Sphere. A millisecond slower, and the attack would've landed.

"Don't let them catch their breath," Sapphire was entertained. Iron Valiant released its volley of Aura Sphere on Lucario.

"Dodge, don't counter!" Red had Lucario preserve its power.

Iron Valiant fired Aura Sphere through the mansion as Lucario dashed on the walls and hopped between the floor and ceiling. When Lucario got within range of Iron Valiant, it slid across the floor between its legs. "Flash Cannon!" Red saw their opportunity. Iron Valiant used its blades to shield itself when Lucario fired Flash Cannon. The Steel-type attack blasted the fairy Pokémon into the ceiling.

Nevertheless, Iron Valiant pushed itself off the ceiling and landed on one knee. "Clever," Sapphire noted.

"We haven't even mega evolved," Red didn't hide his confidence. He chuckled.

Sapphire nodded, "That's true, but we've been holding back as well."

"Huh?" Red got caught off guard.

Iron Valiant detached its blades and formed its double-edged weapon. The Paradox Pokémon used Double Team to surround Lucario. "Not good," Lucario groaned. Sapphire snapped, causing Iron Valiant to use Hypnosis.

Red shouted, "Be careful!"

The nimble Lucario avoided the Psychic-type technique. "You won't put me to sleep. I refuse to lose!" Lucario leaped into the air to fire a shower of Aura Sphere on the Iron Valiant copies. The copies countered the attack using Spirit Break and targeted Lucario. Using Extreme Speed, Lucario held his own in hand-to-hand combat against the multiple Iron Valiant at once. When one of the copies tried to impale him, the Aura Pokémon snatched the blade and used it to fend off the copies. It slashed every copy until the real one remained. "Not so impressive without your toy," Lucario glared at Iron Valiant. His opponent didn't say a word. Instead, Iron Valiant slammed its fist into the ground using Spirit Break. The shockwave of fairy energy caused the ground to crack, targeting Lucario. The unexpected technique caught Lucario by surprise and knocked him back. The jackal dropped the blade, allowing his foe to retrieve it. Iron Valiant pointed the blade at Lucario's chin while it lay on the ground.

Red grunted, "No, Lucario." His anger turned to alarm when he felt an arm wrap around his chest.

"You were so distracted with your friend that you forgot to watch your back," Sapphire smirked. She placed her hand on his head to channel aura.

The trainer wrestled against her grip, but her android physiology made her formidable. "What are you doing to me?" Red felt her energy.

"See for yourself," Sapphire whispered.

Red saw visions of a familiar setting. It appeared to be in the past. "The Strange House," Red mumbled. He saw blurred images of a shadow holding a needle.

The silhouette resembled Charon. "Don't worry, lad. This will only hurt a lot," the crazed geezer cackled. Red felt as though he was reliving the moment when they injected the syringe.

"There's nothing quite like torture, is there?" Sapphire mocked him as she held her grip.

Red felt someone lift his head after he got electrocuted. "We could have made such a team, you and I," the man disapproved of his condition. He knew those orange eyes and gray hair from anywhere. "Omega," Red muttered, paralyzed by Sapphire's aura.

Sapphire nodded, "Pain incarnate."

"Why?" Red uttered. He no longer knew if he was asking Sapphire or Omega.

"Tell me where Dialga is, and I might spare one of your parents," Omega negotiated.

"Never. You'd use it to kill them both," a half-conscious Red answered.

Omega conjured a blade using aura, "Sharp as ever. You've been a worthy adversary, Red. Unfortunately, our time together nears its end." The villain exited the room but not before taking one last glimpse at his plaything. Red never forgot the smirk on his face.

Red fell on his knees, "I hate you."

"Hate comes naturally, I understand," Sapphire agreed.

Before, she could show him more. Lucario tackled her away from Red. "Leave him alone," Lucario growled. He raised his paw at her.

Sapphire rubbed her head. "Meddlesome thing."

"What did you do?" Red stood up, regaining control of his mind.

"I jogged your memory. That's all," Sapphire shrugged.

Red rubbed his head. "I would've preferred if that stayed buried."

"We're not finished," Sapphire warned. Iron Valiant swung its blade at Lucario and Red, but the pair moved away.

Lucario cursed it. "Does its stamina ever run out?"

Red didn't like their odds. "We need to get out of here."

His companion also saw no other choice. "Allow me," Lucario took the lead. The Aura Pokémon used Extreme Speed to fire Flash Cannon from various angles to serve as cover for their escape. Sapphire and Iron Valiant dodged the barrage, but they were pinned by the Steel-type's blitz. Lucario took Red by the hand. "Hurry!" The Pokémon used Extreme Speed to escape through an opening in the ceiling, leaving Sapphire and Iron Valiant in the crumbling mansion.

After Lucario trekked enough, they stopped in a forest. The pair dropped to the ground in exhaustion, panting for air. "That was close," Red recognized.

"Too close," Lucario wiped sweat off his forehead. "I also got a hold of this," the Aura Pokémon revealed.

"It looks like a radar," Red studied it.

"Any guesses on what it reads?" Lucario was puzzled.

Red turned it on. "No clue, but as it so happens, there's a reading not too far from here. If they were tracking something, then we should look into it. We might get answers on what that android is planning."

"We should hurry then. As they say, no rest for the weary," Lucario remarked.

"Or the wicked," Red got up.

At the mansion, Sapphire eyed the hole they escaped through. "Soon, Red. Soon." The android noticed the radar on her waist was missing, but she was amused. They'd meet again.