Dragonagi, Dragonagi 2 & Dragonagi 3

[W??d?r?ng?W?rd?W??v?r]

Chapter 5 : Christmas in July

Lance glided unseen through the shadows of a large city far away from the lands occupied by Dragonagi. He and his team were far from home. Almost a year now he'd led his unit through the lands and terrain's of Hoenn, Kanto, Johto, Gedyn and Quirinos, to name most, in the hunt for the fugitive Siryn. She'd been on the run for over a year now, causing trouble and leaving signature signs of her presence everytime. Sometimes it would be a devastated trainer, beaten and demoralized, or a couple of innocent bystanders, conned out of their Pokemon.

Expert researcher and all wise Sven and brown haired and tough Blue (as he was called) were his fellow agents on the mission and were always of tremendous help. Sven knew all there was to know and then some on Pokemon. Blue just seemed unstoppable in a Pokemon battle. Lance had it on good authority that Blue had accomplished everything there ever is to accomplish in the world of Pokemon battling. Sven was only a year into the agency and was immediately thrust into the mission with Lance and Blue. For his knowledge of the surrounding lands was imperative for their survival. Blue had simply volunteered to join Lance, who had originally chosen to proceed alone. It was apparent, Blue had a score to settle with Siryn.

The city, massive, sharp and hard was the perfect place for them to corner her. The three of them working together had failed to so far apprehend her successfully. But here in the city, they had an advantage. Closed in spaces. Lance received a COM link notice from his earpiece. 'Beep!'
He opened the signal, still walking slowly and carefully through the streets darkness, lighted by the odd street light.
"Speak." He opened as a pedestrian walked past him. Even at this time of night, people worked.
"Its me, She's spotted me as planned. She's running back to the hotel district. I'm pursuing."
"Don't lose her! Keep on her tail. Call me if something happens." Lance cut the link and opened another one up.
"She's moving. Hotel district. Be there when we arrive. This is it, Blue. I can feel it."
"Got it, I'm almost there. I'll wait by the Star Hote…" The voice almost finished when Lance's COM cut off and Sven cut in desperately.
"She's bolting! Lance! She's headed to your location! She's about ten minutes away. I can't keep up!" Lance could hear Sven huffing as he ran.
"On it. Keep me posted on which way she's going." Lance sprinted, cape billowing behind him, up the street. He ran on and on until finally a message came.
"I've lost her! Have you seen her?" Sven sounded puffed and wheezy.
"No. Where did you see her last?" He was determined not to fail again.
"She turned from Mlu Avenue into… Umbreon Street."
Lance checked his stride and stopped still. He was on Umbreon Street. He looked for a likely place to hide.

ThWaCk! Something cold and metal struck him on the back of the head and he went down, swiveling enough in the process to watch his would be attacker pitter patter away on soft feet.
He rose groggily to his feet and gave pursuit. She wasn't going to get away from him that easily. From behind him he heard Sven's tired steps pound up the street and try to catch up with him. Eventually he out distanced Sven and was alone chasing a shadow that disappeared every time she dived into an alley or another street until he turned into the same one. Lance continued to give Sven and Blue directions through his Com as he ran.

He ran until his muscles ached. His legs burned with lactic acid. Sweat dripped off his brow and his feet felt like lead weights. His clothes were soaked in perspiration, sticking uncomfortably to his slick flesh. She continued to keep a safe distance from him, yet she seemed to him to get further and further out of reach. But he ran on in hope.

The further he ran the more he grew angry. His anger boiled hotter and hotter with every step. He hated this woman for her devious tricks and her deceptions on innocents. Always leaving hints of her paths through lands to keep him and his unit interested, it was as if she liked this game. He suddenly stopped running as he came to an intersection. Every way he looked, he couldn't see her. She could have been anywhere. His brow furrowed in irritation, as he was about to take a wild guess and run left.
"I've got her, Lance. She's just dived into the first hotel she could find when she saw me. She's in the Lazy Lanturn."
"Be*pant pant* there soon." Lance trudged up to the hotel and saw the open front door swinging lightly. Blue emerged from the shadows a moment later chuckling to himself. "Had a bit of a jog did we?" He found Lance's midnight exercise quite funny. Lance shared the joke in good humor.
They waited a few moments while Sven caught up and they proceeded inside the double doors.

Lance knew Blue's real name. He knew Gary Oak well for they had been in Dragonagi together a long time now. Long enough to know that anyone new to the Agency wouldn't even recognize him. It used to be that Gary couldn't so much as move during the day without being mobbed by fans. His appearance had changed some since his days as a runaway trainer, having adventures with the legendary Ash Ketchum. He was sharper, some would say rugged to the point of grizzly. But Lance knew behind those vicious features a wise and powerful trainer lurked.

Lance snapped back to the present as he remembered their mission. Siryn. It turned out after a years investigating and tracking was a lot more than everyone had first perceived. The annoying trainer Valthor beat in his bid to track Senga was not as unimportant as he had thought. All signs pointed to Siryn being the right hand woman to Marcus. Every crime and wrong committed by Code Gravity led eventually back to her. She was only second to Marcus in authority in C.G.

Siryn waited. She sat, head just below the window facing the front door of her hotel room as the three agents slowly but surely had her cornered in the building. She was trapped like a rat. All her work had come to this. Siryn was devastated. The battle with Valthor a year previously was a joke. She had to take the fall and pretend to be something she wasn't. She knew Senga was caught if she didn't act. She had never felt so revolting as when she threw the battle with Valthor for Marcus to 'Keep her safe'. How lame.

She recalled how fun it was to single handedly deal death to the two ninja Dragonagi about a month before as they tried to assist in her capture. She knew they had found out her real role in C.G. once the E.N.D were involved. Those blasted ninja trainers are a tricky lot. They were always hard to spot in any environment. She was aiming for all four of them, but two was enough to halt their hunt for a few days at least. Close enough is good enough when it keeps you alive for a month longer. They should have bought their own water with them instead of drinking from the small pond she'd poisoned.

The lavish hotel, its beautiful purple patterned carpet and magnificent walled artwork would normally be something she'd stop to admire. But here tonight, she hated it as if it were her prison cell. She had bolted past the glitzy, soft leather couches and wall mounted touchscreen building directory without thinking to look where she was going and ran directly into a young man. Both were thrown down onto the beautiful tiles. She cussed him for his interference but had the presence of mind to pick his pocket in his daze and steal his room key as she picked herself up. She noted the room number on the key and went up the elevator and into the room leaving the fool to his own designs.

Lance led his unit through the foyer and to the elevator room where a young man stood, dazed and looking bruised.
"What happened to you?" Blue asked him suspiciously.
"Oh, a woman ran right into me. The silly person wasn't looking where she was going. And now it seems I've left my keys back at my room so I'm going to go and get them." Lance and Sven looked at each other ironically. Blue spoke first.
"Which room are you in friend?"

Lance knew Siryn wasn't about to go down without a Pokemon battle so he had his pokeballs at the ready as Sven and Blue kicked the door down. Immediately in front stood an infuriated Siryn, Pokeballs in hand.

In an emotion charged and no holds barred battle in which both parties suffered greatly, Lance emerged the victor, proving patience and technique wins everytime. He had complete faith in his Pokemon whereas Siryn seemed to doubt her Pokemon s ability to hang on.

Lance's Dragon type Pokemon, including his signature Dragonite, eventually destroyed Siryn's noise oriented Pokemon, particularly her Exploud, who seemed to take a liking to torturing his opposition with his shrieking and deafening attacks before defeating them. Her capture was a proud moment for the three men, who happily began escorting her back to the Dragonagi Light Complex.

 

[W??d?r?ng?W?rd?W??v?r]

Chapter 6 : The Replacements

Valthor didn't particularly enjoy his new post in the Dragonagi Light. 'Curse Xvax for claiming his holidays now.' he thought. Although Valthor was qualified for the position through hard work during his 'Advanced Leadership and Direction' classes, he never expected to be given such a job as this. He preferred being out in the world with his Pokemon Pokemon and with his friends. It did afford him some small opportunities however. Being confined to the complex meant information was easily accessible. It's what Dragonagi did most of the time, gathering information. Due to this, he was aware of the circumstances under which Dragonagi was in need of new Agents. Usually nothing untoward occurs to provoke recruitment. Usually it stems from a retirement or a small accident in the Scientology department of the Agency, mostly an experiment gone wrong with Snr Professor Larwood. Members are permitted to leave whenever they wish after a single year of service in the agency but it was very very rare indeed that an Agent would leave after that time.

No, this time it was due to two E.N.D. agents being killed in action while trying to track down a particularly insane criminal on the run. No one knew the exact details of their deaths since their Pokemon could not be found after their bodies were discovered, evidently poisoned. Valthor was too busy to deal with that for now. But he stored the information in the back of his head.

E.N.D. or Elite Ninja Dragonagi are extremely well trained and highly deadly individuals. It seemed armies of men could come at these super warriors and never lay a hand on them, such was their skill with the katana and their Pokemon. It was said they could walk on broken glass while dealing death to those that attacked them without making a sound. Their demise was most unexpected. Their remaining Pokemon were quickly given the choice to remain or be set free. Most Dragonagi Pokemon choose to stay and these Pokemon were no exception. When they were ready, they would stand and be eligible to choose another trainer within the agency.

By the end of the examinations, two likely candidates out shone not only the rest of the group but also the expectations of the recruiters, even Valthor. The first was a young and aggressive trainer, whose offensive and preciseness while using his Pokemon during the tests was remarkable if not amazing. His Pokemon seemed to match his own style of battling. He had a particular liking for his Aipom, who was startlingly well trained. This young trainer not only took it up to the others, who no matter what they tried, seemed outdone, he also seemed to take pleasure in his talent. When he heard individual results once the marks were tallied, he seemed to gloat and provoke reactions from nearby recruits, apparently thinking he was funny. His bright thinking and natural ability to see dangers almost before they reared their ugly heads saw him through with barely a lost mark. His youthful energy and never ceasing smiles made him a popular choice. This trainer's name was Ryath.

Something about the trainer spoke volumes to Valthor. He couldn't quite place it. Something about the look of Ryath was familiar. Valthor couldn't help liking the kid. He was a great trainer in the making and reminded him of himself.

Then a more mature, steady and graceful trainer by the name of Arken came through the exams quietly and without fuss. His Pokemon seemed to be a natural extension of his will in battle throughout the tests. He was a clear winner during the Mini tournament, defeating even Ryath in a tight final in which Noctowl featured brilliantly. Arken's Pokemon seemed calm, controlled and always steady. Where another's Pokemon might have panicked, Arkens prevailed. Valthor recalled his recruitment examinations and in particular his first placing during the Solo event. During the Mini tournament he had come a close second, behind the ever-powerful battler, Galita. And he'd placed first overall in that series of tests. Good times indeed.

The rest of the disgruntled recruits were dismissed and taken away by members of the Agency in groups of ten, one group at a time. Valthor guided the two newest members of Dragonagi to a small office for a debriefing and chat. They each sat down, Valthor behind a large mahogany table, featuring a cool Yin Yang pokeball design. The two new Agents sat opposite.

"You two have done well to get here and I should point out you were clear examples of what we're looking for in the positions your expected to fill. You will be molded fin the role of an End Agent. Elite Ninja Dragonagi remains to this day the hardest and most physically demanding role in the agency. We have field Agents, Poke-training instructors, scientology, educational lecturers, in-house researchers, recruiters, Pokemon breeders and grounds keepers and the records departments just to name a few that I'm aware of. But none of these requires the physical guile you will need for End." He was slightly interrupted by two agents standing at attention outside the office door window. They stood silent, but their presence wasn't easily missed.

"Larissa, Chad. Please enter." The glum pair joined Valthor behind the table. Each was wearing pure black uniforms, which covered every part of their bodies except their faces. Arken noted even their faces could be covered at anytime by the fabric masks hanging loosely around their necks. Both saluted Valthor then walked around his desk and stood behind him looking analytically at the new members of Dragonagi. Valthor couldn't help but notice Chad didn't completely hide his grief over his recent loss. He and the deceased agents were together in that unit for over four years.
"These will be your unit superiors. Your unit will consist of the four of you. Larissa is the unit Leader. She calls the shots." Valthor tried to get proceedings going.

"Although I am largely unworthy." Larissa quickly pointed out in a soft wispy voice. Her long straight black hair was meticulously braided. Her dark eyes showed the most emotion Valthor had ever seen in an End agent. He didn't think it was possible to show so much sorrow as an End. "I would not be in the position of Leader were it not for my Commander and partners deaths at the hands of Code Gravity." Her sadness was evident and Valthor wished he could do more for his friend. She had done so much for him in his time at the agency. She had been the one to recruit him.

However, despite their mourning, Arken and Ryath were trained under Larissa and Chad's watchful guidance. The first thing Arken and Ryath were given was their dragon Pokemon. It was a lucky dip. Ryath seemed happy with his Dragonair and Arken was ecstatic about receiving the rare Milotic, both Pokemon beamed up at their new owners, glad for a change in scenery.

During their training, Chad seemed reluctant to call the pair End at all and found failure intolerable, often punishing his new unit members severely. His anger at the deaths of his partners left him irritable and he knew this. He and Larissa worked together through the pain of their loss, and with perseverance, they continued training their new partners until they were acceptable, if not incapable of hurting themselves in the heat of battle.

Arken watched and learned a lot from Chad who was a warrior through and through. His smooth movements and analytical gaze gave him the presence of a cat in a human body. He seemed ready to leap into battle while trimming a perfect miniature bonsai all at once. Larissa was taking the loss of their partners just as badly. She saw in her new partners extreme skill, but was forever reminded of her loss.
………………………………………………………………

The blue striped Houndour followed happily by Valthors side on the way to do some mundane task to fill some time. Valor was what his friends called him, a name given in honor of his courage in battle. He prided himself on the name bestowed on him by Valthor. He liked it.

His life in general he loved or else he would set off on his own. Being a shiny Pokemon many a passers by will ask about and dote on him, and he didn't mind that. For all his guttural growls and roars, he was a very tame Pokemon and loved the attention. His coat was well kept and his general appearance, though very fine, required no large amounts of maintenance. He rarely actually groomed himself.

There was nothing Valor enjoyed more than the freedom granted by roaming outside his pokeball, beside his best friend, Valthor. He couldn't imagine the closeness of the pokeballs walls being anywhere as close and warm as the closeness of being by his friend's side. Valor knew he would throw himself in the line of fire for his friend no matter the cost. He loved his trainer very much and understood him better than most would believe possible.

Countless times his courage had saved his friend, and there was never a time when he wouldn't do it. There was no obstacle he wouldn't cross to leap to his friend's protection. He'd battle in the fiery pits of h3ll for Valthor given the chance.

Valthor picked up his task sheet and went to work, Valor happily strutting after him and Miguel.

 

[W??d?r?ng?W?rd?W??v?r]

Chapter 7 : Clues

The pair of new agents sparred with every spare minute they had. Their katana swords ringing with every hard contact. Their practice sessions were violent and sometimes seemed more than just a practice. Often, instead of withdrawing once a stroke hit, Ryath would push more advantage and strike again, while Arken was thinking the bout was over and was preparing for the next. More than once, the two came to blows. Arken simply didn't trust the younger ninja who vividly reminded him of someone, but he couldn't place whom. The mere sight of the agent sparked a hatred in him he simply couldn't explain.

Chris and Ryath were the talk of Dragonagi. Both seemed to settle in extremely well. Chris was looked on with awe and made friends very quickly in the first week of his stay in the Agency. His quiet but friendly disposition combined with a cool attitude to life put him in good stead with both the more mature agents and the young. Many trainers asked to see his well groomed and shining examples of Pokemon, for who he happily obliged.

Ryath on the other hand had built more of a cult following. He was aware of eyes on 'the new End' agent and played to it. He proudly sported his new black uniform and made certain his End status was thrown in everyone's faces the moment an opportunity arose.

An example of this was while a third year Green Dragon Knight agent cleaned one of the indoor Pokemon pools with a long broom appliance. She was in the middle of her chore when she realized she needed another tool. It was on the other side of the lake-sized pool in a bucket filled with cleaning apparatus. Ryath was walking past when she politely asked him to help.

"Hey, Ryath! Ryath, could you please pass me my bucket?" she asked as she scrubbed away at the pool steps. He looked at her quizzically. Pokemon and people alike dropped everything and watched with anticipation and worry. Ryath had a small group of followers at this stage and they all predicted something entertaining might happen here. He looked down at the bucket, smiled pleasantly and picked it up. He walked alone to the side of the pool as she crouched by the edge of the water, broom in one hand, the other outstretched for the bucket.

"Here ya go friend" he said as he started to hand her the bucket. He thrust the bucket into her free hand, the momentum of the tool filled bucket carried her into the pool as he continued walking around it back to his cackling and guffawing followers.

SPLASssHhh!

His friends all cheered and hooted their appreciation for the joke while the glubbering agent struggled out of the freezing water. She was about to demand an explanation when she realized Ryath hadn't stuck around to chat and neither had his friends.

Such occurrences were not frequent, but prevalent. Arken helped find a towel for the poor agent and apologized on his unit member's behalf. He didn't find such a thing funny at all and felt utterly sorry for the shivering agent. That pool had been constructed for Ice type Pokemon such as Dewgong, Glalie and Cloyster.

Valthor continued small time jobs in the Dragonagi compound, as was usually the way when things were slow for the agency. There were never enough small jobs to be done. He and his unit were sometimes split up while there were no field missions for them and this was no exception. He and Miguel were teamed up to co-ordinate the relocation of an entire class of Science desks and equipment. They had arrived at the designated class just as the last of the students was exiting.

Valthor had just recognized the room as Professor Larwoods'. He smiled fondly thinking of what he knew of the professor. Larwood was a genius. He'd risen up the ranks and rungs of science faster than any other. He was destined to be the greatest Pokemon scientist in the field of Pokemon exploration ever. He was also one of the nicest, genuine and honest men around, before and after his accident.

Unfortunately he was so badly blasted by one of his own experiments that he awoke from a coma a different man in some aspects. He retained most of his genius but he was clumsier, more forgetful and some even avoid him saying he was a raving maniac. Valthor thought he was a great man who deserved his place in Dragonagi more than most. Larwood served as much as them.

He was thinking about Larwoods' most recent botched experiment, where several students emerged from the class bright purple and dazed, still tasting a bitter sour fruit taste.

He snapped back to the present. The last thing he remembered was looking at Miguel who had stopped two feet short of the door looking as alarmed as a deer caught in headlights. Valthor had his hand on the door and pushed it open "What is it Miguel?"

Valthor awoke, tucked tightly in an emergency ward bed. He looked over to the bed beside himself and noted Miguel was just emerging from a slumber also, covered in red stained bandages and swabs. Miguel looked like he'd just been blown fifty feet into the air and then dropped on a minefield. Suddenly, Valthor felt like he'd done the same. Blackness.

"He's coming round. Quick, the water." Valthor heard Erinn's voice echo in his head as he slowly regained his senses and bearings. He opened his eyes and noticed his blurry friends, Galita with a glass of water which he accepted gratefully, Erinn looking worried but happy and Miguel standing behind them looking murderous. Valthor only glanced at the hostile glint in Miguel's eyes briefly before being bombarded with questions from his two other unit members.
"What happened?"
"Miguel says an explosion occurred as you entered the science lab."
"Does it hurt?"
"Who's responsible?"
"Do you remember anything Valthor? Miguel says he remembers little."

He sat up to drink his water and clear his throat. He felt dizzy and lightheaded and saw his arms were bandaged up pretty solidly. He felt a bandage wrapped over and around his forehead and around his chest. He felt like he was a slab of wet clay. Nothing he'd ever done hurt this much before.

"Nothing." he responded groggily. He turned to his best friend "Miguel, you remember nothing?"
Miguel approached the bed and shook his head gingerly. "Nothing friend." He looked full of rage to the point the air around him sizzled. "Espeon and Houndour are in the care of Nurse Joy. They were lucky not to have been killed. Lucky they do not know how to open doors, or it would have been them taking the brunt of the explosion and not us…. well you."

"What explosion? What happened?" Valthor was beginning to think he might have been at the wrong end of one of Larwoods experiments gone wrong.
"Espeon was able to give me a warning just before you opened that door Valthor. He told me he was not sure it was wise. She seemed to smell gas."
"We smelt no gas Miguel?" Valthor didn't want to believe he was the recipient of an assassination attempt. Not in his own home.

"Espeons sense of smell is more acute than our own. I didn't have time to translate his thoughts for you before you opened the door and triggered off the explosion." Miguel seemed deeply shamed by his inaction. He felt very responsible.

"So this was a trap? We were supposed to die in there?" He was livid.

"It appears so" Galita offered. "You two have been out of it for two days now. It was touch and go there for a while but your obviously reacting well to Nurse Joys potions. While you were out I did a little investigating. Miguel says a student was leaving that room as you were heading towards it. You passed whoever it was halfway down the hall remember? Well, there was no class Valthor. That student wasn't supposed to be there. You MUST remember who that student was. Xvax has been notified and says he's cutting his holidays short for you."

Valthor searched his memory. He dug and dug some more. He rummaged and looked and searched and turned the incident over and upside down to shake the memory of the face of that student out of his memory banks. But to no avail. He slumped back into his double pillows dejected and frustrated.

"I can't."

 

[W??d?r?ng?W?rd?W??v?r]

Chapter 8 : In the name of Science

"Deeper!!! Must get Deeeeepeeer! We must get to the bottom!!!" Neonil screamed at his crew of Marines. They responded by increasing the power of the Submersible Starmie inspired craft, both halves of its star shaped exterior spinning wildly while the squeaky clean clear bubble within its center remained perfectly still, allowing the Professor to view all that the underwater high light beams would allow.

This deep, nothing could be seen more than ten feet in front of you. The crew of the WaterFox were aware of this, but dared not tell Neonil crashes would be near unavoidable at this speed, for fear of his wrath. Neonil was a frightening man, maniacal, insane and unafraid of letting anything get in his way of a scientific discovery. He was tortuous on his crew and even meaner on his lab Pokemon. He treated Pokemon as if they were common test subjects. Torturing them in the name of science.

He felt the submersible slow it's decent and flicked his gaze on the captain with wrathful intent in his eye.
"Why have we slowed, Zaff!" he hissed.
"Sir, we've reached the bottom." Zaff disliked this Neonil more than any other he'd ever captained a ship for in his life. He admitted it. The guy gave him, a cold-hearted pirate and leader of curs, the heevy jeevies. The so-called scientist was a raving psycho, and he seemed to have even less mercy on life than even he. As Zaff always said, 'You don't deal with lunatics.' but this time was different.

He'd been well embersed for this mission and couldn't refuse the large amounts of money thrown his way and the opportunity to hit the bottom of the deepest ocean known to man. They'd been heading down for well over a week now. Even though the machine they were in seemed to be holding up as well as they were told it should, he couldn't shake the feeling out of his head that it wasn't the ship, or even the weird frothing loony screaming orders that the danger was coming from. But it was from outside, in the depths of this ocean. That's where they should keep their eyes peeled.

Since they'd started this voyage they'd spotted many species of Pokemon. Common at first. Tentacruels and Magikarps, Goldeen and Horseas for the most part on the first day. Then the Pokemon slowly began to disappear and become rarer. Humanoid swimming Golducks and massive graceful Wailords, horned Seakings and giant flying Mantine cutting their way through the ocean depths. But as the days progressed and the water became near black, so too did the Pokemon become stranger and more mysterious.

It became evident that some of these Pokemon were centuries old and so far unseen or unreported for there were glimpses of such things as Zaff didn't want anything to do with. A giant glowing fluorescent orange Eel with a gaping jawline and five-inch fangs slithered past during the fifth day. The end of the sixth day produced the glowing white spiked tail of some massive beast. All they saw was rough fins, powerfully propelling this monster Pokemon through the water.

This seventh day brought each and every crewmember to their knees. Not in a frightened prayer, but because something big and something scary not only charged the ship, but also collided with it, sending each of them onto the floor. Were it not for the quick thinking of Neonil by switching seats with the unconscious electroray operator and sending the beast sliding away with a few too many blasts from the pulsating weapon, they would all surely be drowned. The electric gun was also a toy created by the square, so he knew exactly how to use it.

"The bottom? HA! Perfect! Keep her steady, Zaff. Forwards we search! It's around here somewhere." he checked some gadgets and digital dials on his power board to see their location. "And Zaff… watch out for those rocks. Now's not a good time to hit one." He pointed this out mere moments before they almost hit a sharp knife edged rock. The bottom of the ocean, mere meters from their craft was jagged and dangerous. Razor sharp points threatened to rip open the hull at any time.

They reached a large cave entrance and Neonil ordered them in. The cave was huge, easily able to fit in five WaterFox's across and ten up and down and who knew how far it went in. As they searched, the WaterFox's lights lighting up the surface below them, Zaff couldn't help but admire the beauty of it all. The inside of the cave was wallpapered with a mixture of small and giant crystals, all reflecting the light back at them and around the cave, lighting it up almost perfectly. It was like being under the stars on full charge.

Zaff watched Neonil gaze in wander at the cave, hungrily licking his thin lips and trying to see deeper in. "Deeper Zaff. We're almost there." Zaff noted the fact this last was whispered. Was Neonil afraid of awaking something? Disturbing this, a peaceful cave, when he'd committed such crimes much worse? He heard the scientist mumble to himself in his excitement and fear.
"… could still be here… don't care what Marcus says..." This didn't sound too positive.

After navigating their way through to the rear of the cave it was plain for all to see what it was Neonil had come for. Zaff resisted the urge to kill him here and now for its possession. It was beautiful beyond compare. Its power filled their hearts and souls with childlike love for life by simply being near it's magic. Zaff cried openly, as if a child once more. He felt so alive.
……………………………………………………………

Neonil hefted the handgun. It was as he'd pictured it. He flipped open the fist sized hatch where any other gun would have had its bullet chamber. This one however had a clear bubble like chamber, allowing enough room for his newest discovery. The ammunition.

Within his laboratory, assistants and Code members alike watched him put their masters plan to action. Neonil walked over to where his sublimely finished stone lay. He mumbled to himself.

"Ah yes, my beauty. You will have a home. Do not fret. I will keep you warm and occupied for the rest of your days." he lifted the stone from its resting place, finely polished and gleaming with an eerie baby blue light all of its own. He opened the hatch on the weapon just a little more to make room for the stone and placed it within, allowing the guns automated sizing feature hug the rock just enough to stop it from moving around. He closed the hatch with a tiny echoing 'click'.

"May I present to you all… My De-Evolution Gun!" Neonil accepted his rapturous applause and bathed in his glory, and the glory of Code Gravity. It was a triumph.
…………………………………………………………………

Miguel awoke from a terrible dream. It was as vivid as if he were there even now. He was a helpless baby Pokemon, wandering the forests alone and frightened, vulnerable to any predator, when a dark mysterious man captured and tortured him, forcing him to scream in agony for the rest of his childhood days.

 

[W??d?r?ng?W?rd?W??v?r]

Chapter 9 : Suspicions

Head Director Xvax returned to Dragonagi seriously disturbed. Not for the first time, it was associated to Valthor and Miguel. He had been enjoying his holidays watching the internationally acclaimed Kimono Girls shake their thing on stage in Mahogany Town when he got the word of an assassination attempt on one of his most important investments. He was back in Dragonagi in four days and as usual, took total charge with signature authority. His thorough investigations came up with little other than the confirmation that Larwood had not been responsible for the gas and that Valthor had not been given the task of moving the science room to another location by anyone officially.

The order, in the shape of a written notification looked authentic but Blue Dragon Knight Supervising Director Mlu denied having written it out. It was a fake. No one disbelieved Mlu for she'd only been in Dragonagi for over 12 years and had served it long and faithfully for the whole time. No one dared doubt her word.

Valthor and Miguel were both up and continuing as normal now and were always closely tailed by the ever loyal Erinn and Galita, who refused to be persuaded otherwise.

"No chance guys. There ain't no order you can give to stop me from doing this. Accept it and carry on Valthor." Galita spoke for both Erinn and himself as Erinn nodded to make sure they knew. Valthor wasn't worried about them following him everywhere, as much as worried about his reputation within the Agency. He was fooled. Duped by whoever almost killed him. And now he needed to be babysat. How embarrassing. His pride was hurt and he wasn't afraid to show it.

He and the rest of his unit were snappy and vigilant all the time, unhappy that someone within the complex had tried to harm them. They were happy to accept that when an assassination fails, there is normally more to follow. Galita and Erinn were ready for whatever came their way.

"Hi Valthor, how's things?" asked a friendly voice. It was Larissa, Chad, Ryath and Arken. All looked fit and healthy and looking like they had just come from a particularly long and tough training session. Larissa looked as stunning as ever.

"Hiya Larissa. Things are ok. I'm feeling much better now thanks. I see your new recruits are coming along fine. How's things with them?" He smiled to the pair.
Chad felt obliged to answer this. "They're going quite well. Arken and Ryath have both developed a knack for the positions. You chose well, Valthor." Chad meant this. He was really proud of how they'd turned out.
"Well, if anyone can teach them the ropes, its you two. I don't think Dragonagi has claimed to ever being to rich in talent in the End unit."

Valthor sincerely meant this. Larissa and Chad were rarely seen around the complex as they were always preparing and training hard, both with their Pokemon, and with their ninja skills. Valthor imagined how much Arken might have changed over the past few weeks, under the guidance of the two Ninja. He looked if possible, even more mentally strong and physically agile. Ryath had evolved from the small rangy teen who came in without a reputation or a past and looked sharper, more disciplined, yet he retained his boyish good looks and cheery smile. It was he who spoke next.

"I heard about what happened. That's gotta be weird doesn't it Valthor? I mean, being targeted by some unknown person or organization for assassination cant be good on the old self esteem right?" He seemed genuinely concerned.

Valthor was a bit put out by the forwardness of the question. "Er, well, yeah. It kinda sucks. But at the same time its nice to know I've got complete lamers setting these kinds of things up, Ryath. You see, these people who have tried to have me killed won't succeed, because they've got the wrong guys trying to kill me. They've failed once already, so they are obviously beginners and pretty poor ones at that. So you don't have to worry about me. You should worry about the other guys once I get my hands on them." Poor Ryath appeared to be even more concerned for Valthor now.

Valthor was indeed right in thinking Ryath looked deeply concerned by what he'd said. Throughout his speech Ryath seemed to get redder and redder and it looked like he was feeling sorry for even asking such a bad question. But it wasn't worry or concern on Ryaths' face. It was pure hate.
………………………………………………………………

Meanwhile, thunderstorms like never before blew boulders off cliffs and ripped trees, roots and all straight out of there secure ground. Intense pulsating bolts of static rolled along the cliff faces and along the grassy plains. Concentrated rains and hails flooded and mauled green hills. His thunder clapped and his lightning struck randomly in every direction, showering the ground with dust and rubble. Powerful blue white blasts could be seen for miles and miles in every direction and heard almost as far. Pokemon that knew this as the Thunder Hound's dwelling were aware that the odd storm might break out should he be angered. None of them predicted this **** on earth.

But this mattered to him not the least.

"No oNe TaKeS RAIKOU BY SuRPRiSe!!!" he bellowed at his attackers, lightning illuminating his bright yellow form and striking dark stripes.

How they found his location was something he would figure out after he dispensed with these puny humans. What they planned to do once they had found him, he was yet to see. He stood on all fours surrounded, which was nothing terribly frightening. 'That one in the white lab coat orders the others. What's he saying I wonder. He rallies them. They fear him. What is it he grasps? A gun! Hrm, guns do not harm me for I am above such feeble measures. Why do they just stand there? Can they not see I can destroy them should I wish? Perhaps I should make an example of the white coat.'

Raikou shifted fearlessly to face Neonil, thunder clapping overhead, deafening the men stupid enough not to apply their headgear properly to their ears. Lighting flashed here and there regularly and viciously, instantly blinding those who didn't attach their eyewear properly. Neonil had to make sure the hit was at his head in order to take effect properly. Raikou stepped forwards.

Neonil powered up the stone, allowing its powers to surge through and build inside the gun, which would then harness the power, concentrate it and throw it directly at the target. The gun chamber started to glow pale blue, slowly brightening and raising its power as the gemstone prepared itself. Several of his men's Pokemon threw halfhearted and empty moves at the Legendary Dog. None of them so much as scratched him. Raikou was above such folly. Neonil desperately willed the gun to hurry up and load as Raikou addressed him.

"WhaT HaVe You TheRe HuMaN? WhaT Do You HoLD iN ThoSe QuiVeRiNG HaNDS?" He stepped closer still, looking quizzically at the white coat and trying to fathom what the weapon could possibly be. Why did it spark such curiosity in him just by seeing it? Its brightness and design was humorous to him. How it glimmered in the rain.

'Such a strange sensation. But even amidst these curs I feel more obliged to play with them than banish them. What does he wait for? Oho, I see, the weapon is charging. Well, I will remain here until it does. It should be fun to see what happens. Aha, a green light has appeared upon the weapons handle. Should this mean it might at last be ready?" Raikou sat on his haunches and tilted his head trying to interpret why he found his demise something to be curious about. 'It is some magic. A trick! I must….Ack!'

Neonil fired, thankful that the De-Evolution stones' powers were enough to render the Legendary Pokemon gullible and childishly curious enough to remain docile the closer he shifted. The magical luminescent beam struck true and its wavy, bubbly pink and blue length sunk deep into Raikou's head. He recoiled harshly, landing square on his back, paws folded in pain as he tried to make sense of what just hit him. The men gathered around him to bare witness, as he lay there semiconscious.

Dazed, Raikou started to shrink. His beautiful sharp mane dissipated. The surrounding thunder and lightning ceased altogether as he reverted into a puppy-like form. No matter how he tried, he couldn't think clearly. He looked up to the tall form of Neonil, bottom lip quivering and his gigantic puppy eyes burst into tears. He wailed and wailed and cried and screamed as Neonil gathered the helpless pup and caged him then transported him back to his lab never feeling as alive as he did then.
…………………………………………………………………..

Suicune strolled the forests, drinking his fill at a river in a secret location he called home. From above, Suicune was nearly invisible where he stood. He and the river shared a similar trait. Both were made of water. Both were transparent blues and both supplied life to the Pokemon of the forests. Pokemon dwelt there in the forest in peace, Swellows chirping, Ledybas crawling, and thousands of other Pokemon all living, as they should, in perfect harmony. Suicune s' long river-like mane flowed smoothly down past his hind legs. Just before he went to maintain the next river a few miles south of his home, he cautiously sniffed the air.

Something unfamiliar pricked his nose as he sniffed. Then he recognized it. Human. More importantly, it was human fear. Suicune, like the rest of the legendary dogs preferred as little contact with them as possible. On rare occasions, if he saw one lost, he might feel obliged to assist. But never directly. He'd rather have his obedient forest dwelling Pokemon fraternize with humans than do it personally. Suicune saw the humans approaching. They came from the opposite side of the river, about ten of them in total. All were wearing outlandish and rather untidy clothes. Some started to release Pokemon as they watched him, whispering and ordering their violated Pokemon. They were keeping their eyes on him at all times. Their beady, menacing, evil eyes.

Some of the Pokemon released looked at their masters as if to say "Are you serious?" but with a kick or a curse of encouragement the Pokemon advanced ahead of their masters. Suicune watched them, knowing their intentions were not going to be beneficial to himself, such was his assessment. One man stood at the fore of the group. He wore a white lab coat and wielded a weapon of strange design and aura. Suicune could sense the gun from where he was more than fifty feet away, separated by the river. He sensed alien magic's, ancient magic's. At the white coats' barked order the men advanced through the rivers foot high currents and over to his bank. They began to circle him when he decided it was nigh time to run. Something here wasn't quite right. He'd deal punishments later.

"Kill him!!! Get him!!! Rip Him to Pieces!!!" the white lab coated one screamed insanely.

 

[W??d?r?ng?W?rd?W??v?r]

Chapter 10 : DogNapped

Suicune ducked and weaved through the forests kind trees, which did their best to cover his tracks with their leaves and trip and snag those who pursued. Pokemon in trees and burrows watched scared as the men pursued on foot, each one barking orders at their respective Pokemon as they skipped and flew through the forest. One such Pokemon, a Rapidash, galloped before the rest and kept pace with Suicune. The red maned horse kept pace with ease, its beautiful white and red frame built for sustained bursts of speed. He watched the stallion as it reared before him and blocked his path teeth gritted in determination.

"I could destroy you Fire Horse." He said matter of factly to the fiery maned and tailed Pokemon.
"Nothing you could deal could match their punishment for not acting upon orders, Legendary pig." The Rapidash spat back in Poke-talk. Suicune doubted that.

Suicune leaped towards the Rapidash, spewing a fountain of Hydro pumped water at its torso, sending it tumbling helplessly into a tree trunk that did its best to catch it within its hardest knots.

But the Rapidash had done its work, for before Suicune knew what had hit him more Pokemon had come to the fray. As he ran, a Pinsir knocked him over from the side, its serated clawed hands reaching for him as he fell. He tumbled and rolled smoothly to his feet only to be pounced upon from behind by a dark Scyther who held him fast as the humans finally began to catch up. The Scyther pinned one half of him down while the Pinsir held his other as the white coat finally approached, weapon in hand. He heard chuckles from the humans as he unleashed another tirade of hydro pump at the Pokemon holding him. The Scyther hissed at him in hatred.

"Tsk Tsk Suicune. Surely you know when you've been beaten." Neonil hissed through his cruel smile as he struggled and growled fearfully.

"You cannot harm me Human. As we speak Pokemon of the forest come to my aide. Do not let your guard down so quickly." Before he'd even finished, a massive Ursaring, giant and wise loomed behind Neonil, his bear-like features muscular and powerful. Several Stantler and other forest dwelling Pokemon of mature, strong and powerful make, started to approach the scene to assist the friend of the forest and giver of life. One of the humans' Pokemon, a Persian leapt sharp claws bared, upon the Ursaring, who was closest to Neonil. Ursaring calmly and easily swatted the cat out of the air and into a bush of thorns, never taking his eyes off the threat before him.

A mighty battle ensued, wild Pokemon against Code Gravity's. Blasts, beams and explosions of all sorts blew their region of forest apart. Human and Pokemon alike were charred, frozen, pounded and drenched in a matter of seconds. Trees were reduced to wood chips and smoldering heaps. Finally the Ursaring, who seemed mightier than his friends and foes beyond compare, lurched out of the throng towards Neonil who stood over Suicune, gun swinging wildly around, alert for coming foes.

"Do not come a step further!" Neonil screamed. "Or I will kill him and the rest of you with him!" and with this he aimed the barrel of his weapon at Suicune between the eyes, who by this stage was in a wondrous state of intrigue and happiness. He couldn't seem to think clearly. Neonil fired directly at Suicune s head and he instantly started to shrink, lose his mane and de-evolve.

Nothing but a puppy Pokemon remained, baby blue and looking amazed. Bright eyed and dazzled by the simplest of things, one of Neonils henchmen picked it up by the scruff of his neck and threw him inside the cage that held the puppy Raikou, who was blissfully sleeping, unaware of what happened just now. The cute and wide-eyed puppy shrank back from his captors to the back of the cage and cried quietly. Those battle-weary wild Pokemon, both entranced and mortified by this development, disappeared to deliver the terrible news to their friends. They had fought as hard as they could but ' Suicune was lost.'

Miguel awoke again in a terrible state. His moaning and gasps for breath were loud enough for Valthor this time and he was by Miguels side when he finally awoke, drenched in sweat and sticking to his soaked sheets. He cleared his damp hair from his face, revealing glazed and bewildered bright green eyes. He looked at his concerned friend. "We have a royal visitor this morning." Even he wasn't totally sure what this meant.
………………………………………………………….

The Dragonagi Pokemon handlers had more experience in their field than most Pokemon trainers dreamt possible. Head Pokemon Handler Zinne was given a rather unusual and rare opportunity. He was handed the task of treating the one and only Entei. Once in his long and distinguished career, Zinne had the chance to witness a Pokemon known only as 'Ho-oh', but that was a long long time ago when he was merely an apprentice, trying dismally not to get in anyone's way. Even then, the sighting had been pure chance. The observation crew was simply transferring their office to another location when the beautiful and rare Pokemon glided past riding the air currents a magnificent stream of rainbow waving behind it. It was more exciting than his wedding day just seeing that small distant glimpse.

Now he was faced with heading the biggest healing operation he'd ever seen. Something deep inside connecting his heart and lungs stiffened as the limp form of the flaming legendary dog was carefully lifted into his emergency ward. He couldn't put his fright and awe into words if he tried. The six assistants struggled and strained with their load as they placed the still form of an obviously exhausted Pokemon onto the biggest bed available.

He had prepared the bed void of any flammables. Its coat was a combination of reds and oranges, his body brutally strong to look at. They quickly made room for Zinne as he inspected the Pokemon, using special gloves made for handling such high temperature Pokemon. He probed and poked in silence as the poor beast breathed erratically, eyes closed and plainly low on energy. The ward cracked into action.

"Peartree, get me two hyper potions and one of those full heals. Robin, could you be so kind to retrieve my pack from the third draw down and remove from it a small viol marked Megafuel please. Hazel, Campion could you escort your dear friend Daphiel to the sink, he's about to be sick." All his commands were smooth, precise and carried out without question and in no time at all. The potions were applied and Zinne had to force the weak Entei to swallow the concoction from his pack marked 'MegaFuel'. But once the great hulking flame Pokemon had the liquid downed, things changed quickly.

Entei snapped his eyes open and sprang off the table, roaring his fury at being so rudely awoken. He backed off into a corner defensively. Although still remarkably weak, he was about to send this foreign room to the pits of **** and back when he realized these people weren't the ones he'd been running from for over a day and a half. Fatigue, dizziness and light-headedness setting in, he noted directly in front of him was he who made him drink the awful tasting but marvelously silky warm liquid. He grunted as he realized he was replenishing. Healing thanks to these humans. Thanks to that one quietly telling the others to leave. 'He doesn't want to frighten me. Hmph. With the amount of fear I smell on him, it's a wander I can smell anything else at all.'

"Are.. are you feeling better Entei? Did you like my potions?" The man asked softly.
Entei stretched his front and back legs testing them in a show of strength for the amazed man. He could smell the wonder and amazement for his own beautiful existence. Entei had no problems letting the man bathe in his glory.
Entei groaned in pleasure at being so marveled. "YeS. THaNK You…errr?" Entei waited for the introduction.

"Erhem, Zinne. My name is Zinne." the agent stammered.
"YeS ThaNK You, Zinne. You HaVe DoNe Me a GreaT SeRViCe ThiS DaY."
Zinne was in shock. He was actually talking to the great Entei in his own office. People roam the lands forever searching for just such a Pokemon and here was this one, dropped right on his doorstep. He watched the beauty and majesty of this magnificent specimen in complete unhidden awe. Then it dawned on him.
"Entei… What happened to you? How did you end up at our Head Quarters? Who did this to you?" Zinne was amazed at his own forwardness. He wanted to help this great Pokemon in any way he could. He noticed quite the crowd gathered outside his office door.

Entei began with a grudging and powerful growl-like rumble. He started hesitantly, slowly warming up to explaining his experience. "I WaS HuNTeD DoWN aND TaKeN BY SuRPRiSe. HuMaNS aND Pokemon aLiKe TrieD To CaTCH Me BuT TheY WeRe uNSuCCeSSFuL, aS You CaN See. I WiLL NeeD SoMeWHeRe To StaY FoR aWHiLe. I WaS ShoT BY a STRaNGe BeaM aND I CaNNoT QuiTe FiGuRe ouT WhaT iTS DoNe To Me, BuT I'M SuRe iT WaS MeaNT To ReVeRSe MY aGiNG PRoCeSS. I FeeL SoMeHoW YouNGeR… MoRe aDoLeSCeNT. I WaS ChaSeD aND ChaSeD aND MeN iN a TruCK RoDe Me DoWN. I CouLD HaVe SwoRN WhaT I SaW In The BaCK oF ThaT TruCK a PaiR oF. . . WeLL, iTs iRReLLeVaNT. I'M HeRe NoW." Disturbed, he slumped down dejected and deep in thought.

Zinne was completely taken by surprise. The great Entei needed Dragonagi? He almost seemed to show reluctance to reveal his need for assistance. Could this giant actually be afraid of what that gun could have done to him? Suddenly Entei, who by this stage was seated on his haunches and watching Zinne speculatively, looked past him to the door, which swung open.

Valthor and Miguel came to a screeching halt as they saw the massive bulk of Entei within Zinnes' very own office. Miguel cursed to himself in shock and Valthor stared wide-eyed. Houndour and Espeon both immediately bowed their heads in respect, keeping their front ends lowered to the steel floor as they watched on.

"VaLTHoR" Entei spoke his name as if it was common to know it. He spoke it in gentle greeting and gave a tilted nod of acknowledgement as he did so.

"You know my name?" Valthor was surprised at the calmness of his voice. Miguel tried, but he couldn't seem to stifle the shiver that worked its way down his spine by simply being within patting distance of one of the great Legendary Dogs.

"I KnoW YouR NaMe aND I KnoW WHaT You DiD FoR MY FLYiNG BReaTHRen oVeR a YeaR aGo. I NeeD YouR HeLP NoW aS You HeLPeD TheM TheN." Entei sounded completely humble. He showed Valthor utmost respect.

"Of course Entei. Anything. As Dragonagi, I am bound to serving you. I serve Pokemon and defend them to my death. What is your will Entei?" Miguel understood Valthor, as did Zinne. Dragonagi had one main ideal. To protect Pokemon. No matter what was being done, if there was a Pokemon that an Agent could help, he must drop his current job and assist the Pokemon regardless the cost. Anyone in the agency would have done the same.

"PRoTeCT Me."

 

[W??d?r?ng?W?rd?W??v?r]

Chapter 11 : Independence

Xvax was immediately informed of the situation and made sure all of Valthors unit had their duties taken over by other agents. Theirs was a more important assignment. Valthor had never been prouder to be a Dragonagi Agent. Never before had he been so envied, so looked on in wonderment. Agents shook his hand in welcome and praise. His word was never questioned and his every command was acted upon as if lives depended on it. Erinn and Galita were both greeted warmly by the Flame hound and though nervous at first, they both quickly became welcome invisible shadows for him. As Valthor would escort Entei around the complex with Miguel walking quietly behind, Erinn and Galita would cover both the rear and front respectively in expert manner. If someone was going to try to capture this Pokemon, it wasn't going to be on their watch.

By the second day within the complex, Entei was becoming bored with the whole plan. He knew it was safer here than anywhere, but he couldn't help getting snappy at his friends, often claiming they were babying him. He apologized sincerely straight after and let them know he was just worried for his brothers, Suicune and Raikou for some reason.

Valthor gave him the tour of the Pokemon habitats at which he was thoroughly impressed. Valthor explained the work involved and the way in which the Pokemon within the habitats actually maintain them with there own inner magic. The balance was something many outside Dragonagi were not aware of. Without the Pokemon, the habitats would slowly die off. Entei was beginning to see how much he'd underestimated the wisdom of this ancient organization when his thoughts were interrupted by a visitor, four of them to be precise.

"Valthor! How's the new patient?" Larissa called cheerfully as she, Chad, Ryath and Arken halted their morning jog for the welcome chat and joke at Entei's expense.

"Oh you know, he grumbles a bit. But you learn to ignore him."

"I'm RiGHT HeRe You KnoW." The dog mumbled irritably.

"Really? Wow, has he like… battled for you yet? Are you gonna keep him?"

"Nah, I'm not sure I want him. Besides, he'd just complain about how easy his opposition is."

"I HeaRD ThaT." Arken and Ryath, who were immensely impressed by this find up close, chatted to Galita and Erinn, who approached from both in front and behind respectively.

"So Erinn, do ya think you could take him on?" Arken asked excitedly.

"Yeah, like, where does he sleep. He's gotta have an enclosure all to himself right?" Ryath asked this eyeing the beast sideways and being eyed back just as suspiciously.
"Nah, I wouldn't wanna hurt him anyway" "HeRM, LiKe You'D LaST Two SeCoNDS." "And no Ryath. He doesn't sleep with the other Pokemon, he sleeps in the old burnt out lab room. He seems happy there and it's nice and quiet. No-one can hear his rumbling snoring there since everyones sleeping quarters are on the opposite side of the Complex."

"I HaVe a CoLD. I'M NoT WeLL YeT." Entei mumbled to himself as he sat down letting these old friends chat away.

Arken and Valthor shared ideas for a new Dragonagi Pokemon stadium tournament and revealed what each had been up to over the past few weeks. Meanwhile Galita and Erinn both bragged about being sole protectors of the "greatest Pokemon to ever grace the floors of Dragonagi" to Chad and Larissa, who acted as if it happened everyday and that they had more important things to do anyway. Chad in particular seemed defensive about his role in Dragonagi at the moment.

"I mean sure, things are slow, but at least we're going to be warmed up and prepared for if something serious happens." He emphasized serious as he glanced at Entei who looked a bit put out.

That night around midnight, Valthor lay awake in his dorm bed. Lying opposite him, laptop sitting on his legs and typing away in his own bed was Miguel. Miguel never failed to out distance Valthor in the staying up stakes, but Miguel worried about Valthor tonight, for he seemed disturbed. Disturbed enough to remain solidly awake. Miguel closed off his link with a Heonn stone collector, switched off his internet connection and closed his Laptop.

"You might as well scream 'I'm Worried!', Valthor. What's wrong?" No one read Him as well as Miguel did. Even through his apparent 'Darkening', Miguel still always had time for a chat before sleeping.

"Its just that, well, Entei has been getting so much better lately you know. He's been here three days now and each day his strength returns and grows. He seems so determined to get better."

"You think you're gonna miss him once he's gone?"

"No, no nothing like that. I mean, we've grown to be friends over these past few days, but it's not that. Its like, well, theirs something missing. Like theirs something he's not telling us you know? Whenever he's questioned about the chase, he seems to draw a blank on a certain part. He comes up to the truck that was chasing him and then kinda goes all twitchy and thoughtful."

"You think he's in danger still don't you." He meant it more as a statement than a question. Valthor answered carefully.

"Whatever or whoever was after him must have been pretty serious about it if he ended up on our doorstep so close to death. He must have delivered quite a few deathblows before he decided to run. Can you imagine what it must have taken to get a Legendary dog so beaten? I just wish I knew where to start in finding the men who did this. At least we know he's safe here for now. No one could find him where he is now."

And with that comforting thought, Valthor and Miguel went to sleep, confident their mission was going to be a complete success.

Valthor awoke to deafening sirens and red alert lights flashing in his eyes. A young agent screamed through the dorms as fast as he could. He pulled open the dorm door and boomed the words Valthor dreaded most.

"It's TERRIBLE! Entei's been STOLEN!!!"
…………………………………………………………….

Xvax delivered the news personally. It was his decision and although he had fought with the board to be lenient on Valthor, it seemed that they were in poor spirits of late. He waited as Valthor absorbed the adjudication on his failure. He watched as his favorite agent turned a pale shade of purple and red as the news sunk in.

"We're all Demoted?!!!" Valthor lay back on his bedroll as Miguel, Erinn and Galita let their jaws drop.

"Now, it's not as bad as it sounds. They wanted to take away your uniform altogether. I was lucky they didn't fire you Valthor. I fought hard for this punishment. It could have been a lot worse." Xvax knew nothing but the truth would sate Valthor and his unit. He hated his superiors for making him deliver this news and punishment personally. He dutifully removed a ribbon of rank from each agent and departed to let them chat.

Galita and Miguel roared in frustration.

"Its not fair!!!" Theirs no way we could have slept down there. How did anyone get down there in the first place?!" Miguel was trying to understand the proceedings leading up to his demotion and not liking where it was taking him.

"This is ridiculous!!!" Galita was furious, as were they all. "This is obviously an inside job, Valthor. No one could have simply 'Guessed' Entei was in that lab. Someone had to know! Who was on guard down there?"

Miguel answered. "Arken was given a chance to lead his first unit that night. He and three others were on duty. But he says he and his unit were doped. He looked pretty groggy when they were found. A test showed traces of a drug used for tranquilizing Snorlax evident in their bloodstream."

Erinn was both calm and controlled about her demotion. She felt it was more her fault than anyone's and accepted her punishment.

"Arrgghh! We can't just let this slide Valthor! We should find the culprit and hang them from the roof! We have to save Entei!! And I think starting with finding Code Gravity is the best start! They MUST be behind this!" Galita was starting to raise his voice as angrily as he'd ever.
"I don't know guys, maybe we should think this…" Erinn began to council, but Valthor interrupted her.

"Yeah! We leave tonight. We will need the best Code Gravity hunter with us if we're gonna do it right. We need Arken." Miguel pointed out.
"We don't want to alert anyone. This is our secret mission. Our deliverance. These guys are going to pay. Miguel, I think you know what to do." Valthor hinted to his friend who nodded and immediately went about contacting Arken through his laptop. A few minutes later, he looked up.

"He's in."

An hour later, outside the Dragonagi compound and within the bright morning of day, Arken approached the four. Arkens' Noctowl sat upon his shoulder, body bobbing rhythmically to his every step, watching wisely. Ryath strode happily and smiley alongside them. Flicking a pokeball in the air between steps.

"Whats this? You've brought a friend?" Galita joked happily.

"Yeah, he was with me when he saw us messaging each other and I had to take him with us. He won't be a bother." Arken seemed as if he wasn't totally sure. Ryath pretty much bribed him to take him.

"A bother? Pfft! I'm gonna be a great help. You just watch and see! My Pokemon are going to be your saviors! Haha." Ryath, dressed all in black ninja garb in contrast to Arken, who wore his blood-red armor and cycloptic visor, smiled cheerily at the bemused trainers.

 

[W??d?r?ng?W?rd?W??v?r]

Chapter 12 : The injured Ursaring

They immediately traveled by air to Celadon City, where Arken was positive he knew a Code Gravity base was located. He was, as a matter of fact, headed there just before approached by Valthor all those months ago back on the Saffron City skyscraper rooftop. He felt he was a different trainer now. A more cautious and complete trainer. His Pokemon over the months had trained as hard as he did. But they trained under his own instructions and flourished under his care.

They landed down in the main square of the city and as usual, Valthor, and Miguel were in instant culture shock. The hustle and bustle, the closeness of person to person and the noise a city that size was not to their liking. Everytime they were confined to the compound for periods of time, they found adapting to city life difficult and stressful. Eager to get into action, Valthor prompted Arken to lead them to the outpost. They passed all manner of people, none more prevalent than those dressed in neatly trimmed suits and colorful ties. Valthor knew he could never miss the crammed car parks and temptation of delicious fast food.

Galita suddenly made an observation as they followed Arken and Valthor who led the party. The question made absolute sense to him until he asked it.

"Why don't we ever drive a car? In fact where are all the cars? We're in a city." He seemed deeply curious about this. Erinn, Miguel and Ryath all looked at him as if he'd sprouted an extra head. He was evidently going insane. Finally Erinn's logic prevailed.

"Duh Galita. This is a Pokemon story. No one has cars." Miguel and Ryath both smiled and nodded knowingly at Erinns wisdom and accepted these words. Her thinking was sound as far as they were concerned. Galita looked at her skeptically. She drilled home her point by speaking to him as if he were a vegetable.

"Well, Galita, do you think Ash Ketchum drove a car?" Miguel and Ryath laughed as they all continued walking. Galita mumbled something inaudible about that possibility being pretty good.

Finally, entering a small dull-lit alley between two tall buildings, the six Agents halted midway, outside a rusty metal door. Their guide signaled this was the hot spot. Arken put his ear to it and tried to listen but to no avail. He couldn't hear anything. He looked at the lock thoughtfully and proceeded to pick it with expert ease. The lock clicked open. With nothing else for it, Valthor gave Galita the signal to charge the door and all six agents fell in prepared for whatever lay within, Pokemon following suit bravely.

Pokeballs at the ready, and Pokemon wildly looking for a target, the agents assessed the situation as well as they could. Their eyes darted here and there searching for signs of danger. Valthor thought the room was eerily warm.

"Its empty?" Arken was in shock. He was sure Code Gravity in Celadon was based in this building. He'd seen maps and plans all pointing to this exact place. It was a textbook hideout.

"Empty." Valthor nudged a small can of soda onto its side and he dipped a fingertip into the resulting puddle. He looked up half-puzzled, half-suspicious.

"What are you doing?" Ryath asked even more puzzled than his friend.

"Its cold." Valthor scanned the large empty room for more clues, as did the rest. Miguel was ruffling through a folder of documents on a table while Erinn and Galita tested the handles of two other doors and Arken stood perplexed in the middle of the room trying to figure out what he read wrong on the plans.

Erinn managed to open her unlocked door and they all followed her in single file through it. Erinn, followed by Valthor (Valor in tow), Galita, Miguel (Espeon on tow), Arken and tailed by Ryath tensely stalked the dark red carpeted hall to its end, where Erinn once again went through the door, unhindered. Miguel whispered to Arken behind him.

"I thought we had ourselves a Code nest here." For Miguel, this seemed a bit too easy.
"I don't know whats going on. This ones different." He whispered back confused and angry. He smelt a trap.

Stepping through the open door, the group came to stand at one end of a large high roofed and skylighted room. The skylights lit only those parts of the floor the sun sliced through the glass with, painting two bright windows of light on the ground ahead of them. The rest of the chamber, which was about ninety nine percent of it, was pitch black. Ryath was about to open the door they came in from to allow more dim light in when it abruptly closed and locked them in. He felt more than saw that all their faces had darted in his direction.

"It was self closing." He explained himself.
"Espeon and Valor say they can't see anything in this two toned light." Miguel whispered his Pokemon message.

"Everybody stay behind me and be quiet." Valthor breathed to his friends. No matter how many seconds slid by, their eyes simply couldn't adjust to the two contrasting light levels. They all searched in vain from their positions in front of their locked door for another means of escape, when they could all clearly hear the sounds of shuffling feet from ahead of them. Houndour growled menacingly. Then just as loudly, Valthor heard the sounds of shuffling feet from behind him, quickly sliding from his six o'clock, around him and into the darkness ahead. They were not alone in this hall.

Grouped together, Valthor led his friends into the light supplied by the nearest skylight. Having no other plan, they all followed his lead without question. He knew he was endangering his unit and the two others and he knew they were all afraid, especially since now they could see nothing but the light pouring in on them from above. Fear cold as ice spread through every part of him for he clearly heard laughter coming from directly in front of him, then from all around. The lights flicked and blinked on and he was face to face with his worst nightmare.

"Miss me Valthor?" Senga flicked his pokeball eye level in the air and caught it. Myth, Swoon and Ambre flanked him. Behind them and surrounding his unit and Arken were about twenty trainers. But for some reason, none of this suddenly mattered. He was infuriated by something more devious. Smiling cheek to cheek, Ryath stood at Sengas' side.

Thin skeletal fingers grasped the airborne pokeball.
"I certainly looked forward to this moment my pathetic little weedles. Surely you didn't think you'd rid yourselves of Code Gravity that easily?" Senga relished the look of despair on Valthors face. It sent warm shivers through him.

"You're sick Senga!!!" Galita taunted him angrily.

"Shut your mouth, before I have my dark Banette do it for you. Just like in the tournament last year." Myth intervened emotionless. Void of feeling. He wanted these people dead as soon as possible. Galita wasn't going to debate the fact Myth had cheated in that battle, switching a fainted Pokemon with one that was identical in looks without the judges seeing midway through.

Erinn tensed as she saw the situation spiraling out of control. Valthor and the boys shared no love for Senga and his Code Gravity members. She had vivid memories of when Senga had actually defeated her in a close battle. He had actually beaten her. Erinn never lost. Senga and his gang were cold-hearted killers. And nothing she could think of seemed to be a non-violent way out of this. A shadow glided across the window of light provided by the above skylight.

Arken was dumbstruck. He hadn't seen this coming. How could he have been so stupid? He cursed himself for his trust. His lack of foresight. Valthor looked at him as if to say "Outpost huh?" which only made him curse the harder. Arken felt even more embarrassed than back at Quirinos. Arkens worst nightmare was being relived right here and now. He was going to be destroyed again.

Miguel conversed with his Espeon, gathering as much information as he could about his foes around him in every direction before the battle erupted. He had so far calmly determined each and every Pokemon carried by Senga and his three vengeful friends through his Espeons' reconnaissance. The other grunts he didn't care about. He'd rather go down battling the main threat. This time, Miguel wasn't going to play. This time, Espeon and his party were going to deal some permanent damage. In the back of his mind, he thought he saw something-birdlike fly overhead.

Galita was ready. He'd calculated that since their escape from Chromex Prison, none of these lamers could have leveled their Pokemon up or had time to train them significantly. Whereas he and his friends had used over a year to alter and train there own. He had his hands readied at his pokeballs, strapped by his torso, prepared for when the battle began. In the corner of his vision, he too saw a small Pokemon fly near the above skylight.

No matter how he looked at it, this was ending in bloodshed. Valthor couldn't see any way out of it. Senga threw down a series of pokeballs and in less than a second all **** broke loose.

"Houndour! Gooo!" Espeon threw a black and blue wavelike psychic blast, knocking down three trainers in one go. Senga released a mighty Machamp its muscular four arms pumped, Seviper its long slippery body coiled for striking and Nidoking its massive bulk primed for pummeling, each proceeding to attack randomly. Erinn and Galita released their Pokemon in defensive formations against the tirade of Pokemon thrown by the Code members. Bright and dark blasts lit up and threw the room into darkness all at once. Bricks were chipped and metal bent and melted. Pokemon from both sides threw their might and power at its foe. Arken and Ryath flew at each other, katana swords in hand, steel ringing on contact as their respective Pokemon battled unsupervised, unprompted. They knew what to do. As he and Senga dueled, something pricked the small hairs on the back of Valthors' neck as a small, long tailed Pokemon glided overhead.

 

[W??d?r?ng?W?rd?W??v?r]

Chapter 13 : Soul Stone

Watching, MeW could see the Dragonagi members' defense holding weakly, slowly being driven into itself, destined to be crushed. MeW watched as the Code Gravity members doubled their efforts in doing harm to these valiant trainers, who so valiantly held their formations. But this intrigued MeW less than the man in the doorway at the other side of the hall did. The man holding the gun. The gun which glowed light blue. Light blue like his rock. This man was large, at least six feet high and broad shouldered. He wore a smart black and orange suit made of fine fabrics and he glared upon the battle scene, waiting. MeW knew this mans soul by looking at him. His soul was black as the darkest realm and as cold as the Icy cave. MeW knew the terror this man had been behind in the course of his life. But MeW didn't fear him.

MeW hovered above the skylight and looked at the gun analytically, thoughtfully. Finally, MeW found what had been pulling at it all this time. There was MeWs' rock. MeW looked unhappy as it noted the rock had been fashioned smooth and unnaturally round. MeW, small white tail and cute form crinkled up in what can only be interpreted as determination and anger, was going to get its rock back.

Valthor's Pokemon were defeated, the carnage ended. Miguel's Pokemon had long been recalled, battered and beaten at last, his Espeon licking its wounds within the safety of his long leather overcoat. Galita stood over his fainted Pokemon protectively daring any of the Code members to come a step closer. Erinn helped the limping, bleeding Arken, sword still in hand, back to his feet as Senga and his gang grouped in to deliver their revenge. A final grouped attack.

"Fufufufu. You should have known better!" Swoon snickered tartly. She flicked her long red hair vainly. Her prediction of Valthors demise coming true. This would be the sweetest victory of all.

"Feel my wrath Valthor. You've had this coming a long time!" Ambre roared as hostile as always. She was finally going to pound this weed. Destruction was her specialty.

"Your battle has only just begun Valthor. I'm gonna make you suffer!" Myth clenched his fist in fury. Hate consumed him and his Pokemon, a ghostly smiling Haunter, its form semi transparent and dark, and its eyes full of evil. Dark blood pumped through his veins. He was finally going to have his retribution. Nothing could stop him.

Senga shifted forward before Valthor and his spent friends. He glanced at Ryath who slumped against a wall, trying to halt the flow of blood from his various wounds. Most of them pumping freely under his hands pressure. Senga looked horror struck. He wasn't succeeding in blocking all of them.

"You two, Help him!!!" He ordered two of the remaining gang members. They hastily went to the young villains' aid. "You're going to pay for that, Arken!! No one attacks my brother and lives to tell the story!!" he shrieked as he and his gang moved in for one final attack. Arken closed his eyes in preparation for his last moment alive.

"No!" Above the clattering of pokeballs and shrieks of rage a voice boomed. "Senga, stand down. I have a better idea." a calm, reverberating voice ordered, and Senga instantly bowed his head and retreated, as did the rest of Code Gravity.

Marcus honored them with his commanding presence. Beside him stood the famous scientist who'd created the de-evolution gun. His mouth quivered with delight. He licked his thin bloodred lips in excitement that in contrast with his pale pasty skin made him look more sinister than ever. His white lab coat almost tripped him up as he pushed a large trolley laden with three small cages, each one containing the scared and tiny bodies of the legendary puppies. Each one whimpered in fright, as they smelt the open wounds and resulting blood. As far as they were concerned, this place was bad.

The two forms struck fear into even the Code Gravity members. Neonil for his sickly ghostly and skeletal appearance. Marcus for his sheer weight in power. They controlled this battle. And they knew they demanded the fear and adulation of their men.

"Welcome to my humble abode, Valthor." Marcus approached, his finger tight on the trigger of the glowing gun, which lay relaxed pointed at the ground by his side. The group of battered and bruised trainers and Pokemon, unable to find any way of escape, watched him.

"I had hoped to see you at a much later date, but as you are so eager to visit, I had a little party planned for you. I hope you liked it. It's going to be your last" With no further words he aimed his de-evolution gun coldly at his nemesis' head and pulled the trigger without so much as blinking. Killing was second nature to Marcus.

MeW, using 'extreme speed' glided swiftly through the brittle glass, as if it were air and flew into the rays' path catching its force full on its stomach. MeW hovered stationary, the only one not surprised by the weapons ineffectiveness in babifying itself. Unaffected, MeW faced Marcus and his gathered henchmen with an irritated expression on its face. MeW, concentrating with little effort, held out its left paw slowly, as it glided carefully towards the shocked man. Marcus glared at his scientist, Neonil, who stared panic eyed at the failure of the gun. He didn't understand why it didn't effect the Pokemon. It always worked!!!

Marcus had no idea where this Pokemon came from, or why it was there. All he saw was a dangerously powerful Pokemon aiming its arm in his direction. He fired another blast of de-evolving beam into MeW. The beam struck and seemed to splash off. MeW simply looked up at him and retaliated. It wasn't happy about the use of his rock.

"Mewwww!!!" It screamed as it threw its mind at the physical form of Marcus. The sheer force of the psychic blast rushed the air past everyone's faces as if twenty heaters had just been lighted. It propelled him across the room into his band of followers who were unable to hide their fear of this obvious threat. MeW held out its arm again only this time, not waiting for a response. The men and women of Code Gravity lay there paralyzed with fear thinking the worst. Hoping for a quick death.

MeW took hold of the gun with its mind and loosed it from the mans grip. It floated midair, then emptied itself of the rock contained within. MeW wandered where it had gotten to. The rock glided over to MeW who pocketed it in some unseen pouch relieved and turned to the now saved humans who called themselves Dragonagi.

Galita and Erinn had no time to bask in MeWs beauty and power. Assisted by Miguel and Arken they collected all the pokeballs of their enemies and stowed them in a spare pack. Erinn and Galita, with the help of their Pokemon, kept the captured menace in a corner. None resisted more than speaking a few choice words. Most starred fearfully at the wonderful Pokemon in the room with them.

Valthor stepped forward for MeW who was looking in his direction for a moment. Finally, He noticed it wasn't him MeW was looking at, but Espeon, directly behind him. The two were conversing, and from the look on Miguel's face, his Pokemon was relaying everything to him. Miguel was smiling openly. He summed up for his unit leader.

" MeW says he must call upon a friend of ours. He says not to be frightened." And with that, MeW suddenly sent out a wave of psychic power, it was invisible and subtle, but everyone in the room felt its immense power. Like a ripple in water, but tearing through their very bodies and spirits. It was like looking upon the ocean, and although unseen, they knew within that psychic wave were many many depths of mysteries.

Without another second passing, a small speck of piercing bright white light appeared before them. It grew as big as a family table and just as round then stopped growing altogether.

"Biiiii!!!"
From within, Celebi flew at full speed into Valthors arms who embraced his old friend as happy as he'd been the first time he'd seen it. Celebi was so happy to see all his old friends again, it had almost forgotten MeW was even there, who was excitedly watching and mentally joining them in their moment. MeW was easily caught up in moments of emotion such as this. Celebi, light green and tiny antenna sitting on his head, rejoiced at seeing his fellow Psychic Pokemon. The two joined minds and communicated. What was said was past through each mind in a matter of seconds, and could not be interpreted exactly, but Miguel later told Valthor it went along the lines of this.

"Greetings friend Celebi, healer of the forests, traveler of time and rider of its waves."

"Greetings to you MeW, Psychic child eternal, my friend and my family. Why have you summoned me?"

"The time has come. We must act."

"But to interfere is not our function, MeW. I wish it were so. I am sorry. I cannot." Celebi sounded these words, to Espeons reckoning, like they had not been spoken for the first time.

"You have felt first hand these humans hearts. They beat like ours, like I have said. I feel much akin to them. They deserve our help."

"MeW, we cannot interfere. Your are correct. These humans are beautiful and I love them as I love you, but we cannot act for them alone. We do not exist for them like that." The words sounded rehearsed, as if spoken often.

"I do not ask for us to act for them, friend Celebi, but for myself. Do you sense that which I hold?"

"Yes. You have on you your soul stone. Why is it not on its shelf below the ocean?"

"Something dire has occurred. The Guardian no longer dwells there. My rock was stolen. I have just now acquired it from these bad seeds." Espeon couldn't fathom what "the Guardian" could be when Miguel asked.

"They have directly threatened you friend MeW?"

"Albeit unintentionally. They were not aware of the power they held within their very hands. They were not aware that they held my soul. Such is their nature not to look before they leap. But as you can imagine, a threat nonetheless."

"Yes, MeW. You're correct. What have you in mind? Deliverance?" Espeon let Miguel know just how much she wanted to stop listening in at this point. Listening to two Pokemon talk of death as freely as this was not to her liking.

"Thoth." Espeon then found it disconcerting to hear the two Pokemon laugh uncontrollably and gleefully for a few moments until it was Celebi who regained its composure first and continued. Both were in jolly spirits. It was strange to hear Pokemon communicate with such caring and so much love all at once, while talking of punishment.

"Oh beautiful MeW. You make me laugh so. Very well, I shall assist you. Lend me your power MeW. I shall make this so. Let there be humans on the darkness of Thoth."

"Thank you Time rider. But first I need you to assist me in the undoing and misuse of my stone. Its path back to me was a long one."

"Of course, MeW."

 

[W??d?r?ng?W?rd?W??v?r]

Chapter 14 : Mew Music

Valthor and his unit watched as MeW and Celebi joined tiny hands and faced the forgotten but ever curious pups. Peering from within their cages, they seemed unable to avert their stares. Three pairs of baby blue eyes glued to the two small Pokemon as they began to charge their powers, weaving a spell of such intricacy and precision that no other Pokemon could possibly conceive its detail. Suddenly, quietly but rising in volume, a beautiful and childlike melody, both astoundingly simple and complex, could be heard coming from MeW.

The pups ears pricked up as they listened, calming their tense minds. Its sound soothed every inch of Valthors being. Its every note like a burden lifted. It was a beautiful sound and one no one who heard it could ever forget. The spell was thrown over the three pups like a blanket, clearly visible to all in the room. The blanket was made of hundreds of marvelous twinkling stars, twinkling energetically and wonderful waves of rainbows, all blending together, and lighting up every face in the room in a colorful display. It was a dazzling display of Pokemon magic at its most potent. Something never again to be experienced ever again.

Valthor and his friends, and even the criminals in the corner had completely forgotten whatever was on their minds before. Now they were all fixed on the transformation before them. All couldn't believe what they were witnessing. MeW psychically probed and unlocked all three cages, floating the three pups out onto the bare floor as each began to grow. None looked frightened anymore and all seemed drowsy. As the blanket absorbed itself into each pup, they grew and matured, producing their great manes and sprouting their brutal forms back to their former glory, each one as deadly as the other. Each shook off the magic's effects and shivered for a moment before lifting their fully-grown heads up to face everyone. They looked as noble and kingly as the next. Valthor almost wanted to bow for them and get on one knee.

"You're all going to pay for this! Your all fools!" A weak and guttural voice spat from the corner where every Code Gravity member had been gathered. It was the bloodied and pale form of Ryath. He drooled and frothed, wrath masking his fear well. He looked hellish, the wounds delivered by Arken obviously disabling him, but not completely finishing him off. His eyes were riddled with insanity.

"Yeah, you heard me. Fools! I easily tricked all of you into believing I was one of you. No one thinks a guard would dope himself and his own unit to let their precious guest get kidnapped. Well, believe it! I did." Entei moved menacingly towards the blood soaked form of the ninja, claws stretched out and gleaming deathly shiny in the light.

"Stay away from me you stinking Dog! You deserved whatever you got with Professor Larwood. I'm sure he gave you all a lovely time in his lab. Hehecoughcough." His laughter deteriorated into a rasping and bloodied fit of coughing. He didn't cough long however for Entei swooped over his body roaring his vengeance and with one foul sweep of his forepaw, Ryaths' existence ended in a spray of sticky mess. Senga wretched as he watched his nephew's execution.

Entei coldly turned to the gathered members of Code Gravity, who all cowered behind their master. Marcus stood, barely showing emotion of any kind. He breathed calmly, waiting and watching. Evaluating his every chance for escape, of which he found none, he smiled evilly. Of all the ways he'd predicted this project to end, this was not among them.

"You waste your breath testing the air for fear from Me, Entei. I fear you not." Entei had to hand it to this human, he was not afraid. "Were it not for the confiscation of my pokeballs, I'd battle you into the ground and your brethren with you right now. You're head would be a mighty trophy to hang on my wall. One of many great Pokemon to fall at the hands of Marcus. Prove me wrong!"

Entei listened to his taunts unblinking and replied without hesitation once the sharply suited man had finished. Entei wasn't so easily fooled into being angry.

"Hrmf, I don't do requests." He turned his back on him and strode to his brothers who kept their eyes on Marcus and his fearful gang.

MeW and Celebi floated smoothly in front of Marcus just as he'd taken a step in preparation for a last ditch effort to wrest his pokeballs from the pack not ten feet away. He stopped dead in his tracks at their glares of defiance, their small forms blocking the way to his powerful Pokemon.

Clasping hands once again, the two ancient Pokemon intertwined their powers. MeW lent his every spark of energy and guidance to Celebi, who with no small amount of struggle and intense concentration, opened up a particularly special and far-reaching portal. The air screamed around them as the Portal opened up. Its blackness swirling and calling invitingly to all around it. MeW concentrated with Celebi to hold open the portal, as the three legendary Dogs had the pleasure of coaxing the band of evil doers into it, with one tactic being throwing their pack of pokeballs into its pitch black interior. Once all were within its vast darkness, Celebi snapped the gateway shut gratefully and slumped to the ground exhausted with MeW who rested alongside equally energysapped.

Everyone seemed amazed and confused, and happy all at the same time.

"Where were they sent?" Valthor was shocked at this course of action. He'd had himself prepared for transporting the felon's back to Chromex Prison. Now he'd just witnessed two of the strongest Pokemon ever known combining powers to send his worst enemies somewhere obviously far away. The power of their magic still had him tasting strange "alive" currents in the air. It was as if the air itself was happy to have witnessed what occurred. Happy to participate.

It was Suicune who answered, although none saw his mouth move in speech. His words were smooth as the water through a river, ever running, and timelessly wise.

"They have been taken far away, to Thoth. Thoth is an evil place, more so than your minds can comprehend. It is where the Pokemon known as Dark originate. But far worse things abide there also. Worse by far. A more terrible fate I cannot imagine for those wretched souls. They are surely doomed." Suicune turned his nose up at this.
Miguel seemed thoughtful. This place sounded fun, but he was more worried about the plan of punishment by the Pokemon. He was looking forward to punishing them himself.

"Will they live their forever? Will they be able to return?" It was Raikou who answered this time. None could doubt it was, for his voice crackled and sizzled as if static, powerful and supreme.

"They will survive long into history there. Time moves hastily there and even if they do find a way out, they will be aged far greater than you will have. The foul beasts, which call Thoth their realm, will no doubt rule them, thus giving them no chance for retribution here. Such things crawl in that damned place, that I was glad to see the back of. Pokemon they be called, though in form they are not so beautiful as those we have amongst us." He gestured with his head to MeW and Celebi, who giggled.

Erinn couldn't hide her disgust for the place called Thoth. She was feeling sick thinking about a place that makes the legendary Dogs sound disapproving.

"What is Thoth? It sounds like it isn't a natural place."
This time it was Celebi who replied, its voice deep, echoing, as if bouncing off of the walls of time itself. He, like the Legendary dogs, spoke kindly and humbly.

"Oh, Erinn. As fair as you are wise, you never cease to amaze me with your thoughts of curious logic. You are right. Long ago was Thoth created by an Overseer of great power. Created for the purpose of containment for all things deemed unworthy by nature. Of course, Nature resides here and places far distant. Little can I tell you now, for these things are not yours to know. But know Thoth is not a place for such fair people as you."

The question hung on Valthors mind. Overseer? Deemed unworthy by nature? Who?

Suicune and Raikou looked severely bored. Both looked at MeW imploringly who flicked its head towards them, evidently hearing their thoughts. Reacting, MeW mentally prepared itself, whipped its long tail, slapping the floor, finishing off a spell of transportation and blinked the two hounds away in a heartbeat. First they were there, then they weren't. For a couple of seconds all that remained was a bright white outline of where they were.

Galita, who was totally obsessed with these great Pokemon was sad to see them go without so much as saying good-bye, and swore on an oath to see them again one day. Maybe even catch one or convince one to join his party of Pokemon. It seemed like it was something that he felt destined for. Their farewells continued.

Each member of Valthors unit said good-bye to MeW and thanked it gratefully. MeW was more than happy to share a hug and a word or two with each, who were extremely honored to have talked with it. MeW was so kind and cute, none of them hesitated when he hugged them warmly.

MeW and Celebi both hugged as old friends and MeW parted without another word, its cute form gliding so fast out of the buildings skylight that it took the humans a while to realize it hadn't actually shattered. It simply passed through it. MeW flew far away, positive it would see those humans again one day, hoping they remain as fair and wonderful as they were right then.

Celebi and Entei stood facing each other inside the sky-lighted room. The two conversed before Entei was blinked away back to his fiery volcanic den, somewhere only a select few know about. Miguel later told Valthor the conversation was easier to hear than the previous.

"My brothers show little gratitude for your help, Time rider. I thank you on their behalf. Their pride hinders their duty. You have done us a great favor today." Entei sounded both submissive and respectful.

"Thank MeW, noble Entei. It was the Eternal Child who summoned me here." Celebi responded equally as respectful.

"When will MeW ascend…?" Celebi interrupted Entei here, much to his annoyance. This question had been on his mind for a while.

"Tut tut Entei. Our eavesdropper may be invisible to you, but I see you Espeon, seer of the future." Espeon almost snapped his link shut to the two at this point, pure shock claiming her. "We shall discuss that subject another time Entei. Is there anything else before I say my good-byes?" Entei looked at Espeon at this news and didn't take his ancient giant eyes off the seated Pokemon until the conversation was over. He seemed disturbed by his inability to sense the psychic Pokemon, his brow furrowed. Espeon pretended not to notice the suspicions aimed at her. She was still youngish for a Pokemon and still coming into her powers.

"Just know that one day, when you and yours finish your duties for the Overseer, I will personally welcome you back to this realm in this time so that we might talk over a meal. I owe you that much." This seemed to be a joke between the two ancient Pokemon for Espeon let Miguel know they laughed here openly. They laughed wearily as if a great thing burdened them.

"See you then, Entei and not a second sooner." That was when Entei was blinked away in a flash of bright white light. A white shadow all that remained of him for a couple of seconds.

 

[W??d?r?ng?W?rd?W??v?r]

Chapter 15 : Destiny

Marcus followed by a weeping Senga, a weary Myth, a sniveling Swoon and grimacing Ambre stumbled through the blackness of the portal into an almost darker environment. The eight others followed timidly looking at the great leader of their gang for a sign of hope.

Dark gray stone and dry dirt covered the planet for as far as the eye could see. Leafless blackened trees, like dark skeletons spotted the uneven surface here and there. Great shards of the dark earth jolted up through the already uneven ground like fingers trying to reach the ski. The hellish blanket above them was made up of massive dark red and black swirly wisps of cloud, both raining down in places with fire and lightning respectively. Mist, dark red like floating clouds of blood drifted here and there, as if alive and seeking something along the ground.

But none of this compared to the terror of the realms inhabitants from their vantagepoint on the hill. All gasped in horror as it registered in their minds just how dead they all were. Marcus was glad Entei was not there with them, for he would have at that point smelt the sickly sour smell of fear on him then. He looked down at the backpack, roughly thrown by Suicune into the portals depths before they entered. Pokeballs had rolled out and settled next to it. As one of the nightmares roared mightily not far away, Marcus took charge.
"Grab your pokeballs. This isn't over." He braced himself for the upcoming war.

Back at Dragonagi Headquarters, Blue and Sven questioned their new prisoner. During the interrogation Blue couldn't resist letting Siryn know the latest news about her ex-boss.

"You do realize Marcus and the rest of Code Gravity are as good as dead don't you? Surprised to here this? You shouldn't be." He saw pure disbelief on her pale face. Siryn's stay at Dragonagi hadn't been pleasant in the least. Sven and Blue had made certain of that. She had proven to be a most quiet visitor. "Doubt me do you? I'd bring MeW and Celebi in here to prove their handy work, but I guess that's not going to happen. Lets just say they aren't coming back anytime soon. Where they are, even the legendary Pokemon dread. It shouldn't be long before the remnants of your little organization are completely mopped up for good."

It turned out one Code Gravity member survived the battle in the Celadon warehouse. A grunt no less. She had survived only to be taken by the Dragonagi Agents into Chromex penitentiary where Siryn found her in a state of psycho shock. Apparently no-one talked or associated with the weird Code Gravity member because all she ever did was ramble about MeW and Celebi, the "death Pokemon".

This proved Blue's story, enraging her to no end. She vowed to avenge her boss and continue Code Gravity once she was released, One hundred and ten years from then.
……………………………………………………………

Erinn, her newest year of holidays well and truly earned, swam and dived in the shallow forest pools of a beautiful untainted forest somewhere in the Kanto region. She chatted with a newfound friend. Her Wailord and Politoed played and swam with her, laughing and splashing happily in the crystal clear pond. Her beautiful Ampharos and Arcanine chased each other energetically and leapt upon each other through the lush undergrowth in a mock fight as her Vileplume jumped off an overlooking cliff, clinging gleefully to a vine and dived in, splashing everyone. Erinn was having the holiday of a lifetime.

Suicune made certain, Erinn would not be disturbed on these holidays. He watched over her, talked with her and played with her Pokemon, feeling much more at ease with this human, than any other. He hoped all humans were as beautiful as this one some day. He splashed at Politoed who laughed merrily with a "LiiiiPoli!"
…………………………………………………

Miguel, receiving generous promotion along with his fellow Unit members to above that which they started with a year previously, smiled at his wonderful Espeon.
"Isn't it beautiful, Espeon? It's where I'd like to be born if I were a Pokemon. You must be very proud of your birthplace." He was very envious.

He and his party of Pokemon, his special Espeon, shiny Flygon and Marill, Umbreon Dragonair and Sableye, all stood on the dream-like plains of the Dark Star Realm. Its dim lighting and dark exterior was the only thing it shared with the horrid realm, Thoth. It was a magical place of magnificent berry growing trees that sprouted brightly glowing flowers, lighting pathways. The sky was a deep marine blue and its stars shone a rainbow of colors. The Pokemon that resided there in its dark forests were numerous and mysterious. Some curious about this light fleshed two legged Pokemon with green hair, some more menacing than Miguel would have thought.

Miguel was in heaven. He'd traveled this magical plain once before with Valthor as his companion. It was only accessible with the psychic ability of those born there, like his Espeon and Sableye. This time, he had the rare privilege of having the creature that created the realm as his guide, hovering beside him excitedly.

"You read my dreams when you made this place, MeW. You read my dreams."
……………………………………………………………

Galita, using his holidays as only he would, battled his heart out in the final of a major Pokemon battle tournament in Gedyn. His battles had consistently been a perfect mix of tactical excellence and offensive prowess like nothing anyone in the realm had ever seen before. Record crowds gathered to watch him and his major draw card.

He had never felt so free and never known being a Pokemon trainer could be so much like a dream come true. His graceful and deadly Scizor fought valiantly in the final and had been the key to most of his victories so far. He was a beautiful green gold color and all in his party knew he was an exceptional battling machine.

His Glalie took an unlucky one hit KO by his final opponent but Galita, only one Pokemon left, smiled devilishly, loving the look of fear upon his knowledgeable foes' face. His next Pokemon may have been new to his trainer, but he by no means was new to this. He laughed in pure ecstasy.

"I Choose You! Raikou!!!"
………………………………………………………………

Arken, wounds fully healed and with a clear mindset walked the dirt path with Valthor to Quirinos. His pride was of no consequence, his dignity something he had never lost.

"Dunsparce should be migrating soon." Valthor noted referring back to his days as a Pokemon Ranger.

"Really?" Arken continued walking, his mind on other things and nothing all at once. He struggled to find something to say to his new friend, for they had talked the whole trip, both on the ground, water and air currents.

"So….What do you think everyone else is up to?" He finally asked for lack of a better subject. Valthor looked at him as he contemplated his answer.

"Oh, You can bet they are bored out of their minds."

This settling their blank thoughts, they trooped on, blue striped Houndour rolling his eyes as he followed.