Right in the centre of Johto, there is a mountain known as Phoenix Mountain. It is a dangerous mountain and most that climb it come back with no memory of what they did when they reached to the top. This caused people to believe that there was an evil power up there and so many people were too afraid to climb it.

But what really happened up there was Ho-oh, the legendary Pokémon, believed to be extinct by almost everyone and lived up in a cave at the very top of the mountain, would wipe their memory so they wouldn't remember seeing it.

A few months ago, however, Ho-oh had met the only humans it really trusted. Rick and Ash Ketchum. Rick was the greatest Pokémon Master in the World and always helped keep the legendary Pokémon safe and secret. His son, Ash, was the only human that shared a Pokémon's power, Ho-oh's power.

Presently, Ash was on vacation with his Pokémon on Seafoam Island and Rick was competing in the Pokémon Champions League to protect his title as the world's greatest Pokémon Master.

A large whirlpool began to appear in the sea near the Whirl Islands. Whirlpools were normal here in the Whirl Islands, but this one was about as big as the Pokémon League battlefield and the water in it was a pitch-black colour.

From the centre of it, five large orbs floated into the air. The sky clouded over with storm clouds and lighting struck, but there was no rain. The orbs began to swell up. After a little while they all exploded, causing more lightning to strike. When the blinding light disappeared, five figures were flying in the air. It was a Lugia, a Moltres, a Zapdos, an Articuno and a Ho-oh, but they were different. They all had black feathers and glowing red eyes. Zapdos let out a shot of black electricity, Moltres used a red flamethrower, Lugia used a red Aeroblast, Articuno used a black Ice Beam and Ho-oh used a black and red flamethrower. The Ho-oh let out a cry and flew up into the sky, followed by the others. It began to speak to them, when they reached the area above the clouds, and they all grinned evilly. The Pokémon all faced the sky above them and shot their attacks. The attacks combined and turned into a huge black beam and shot up and up into the sky.

Just then, the regular Ho-oh awoke from it's slumber in Phoenix Mountain. It narrowed its eyes and walked to the entrance of its cave. When it reached there it peered around. Even though it was hundreds of miles away, it could see black beam shooting into the sky. "So they have returned"

Pikachu, Cyndaquil, Totodile, Bulbasaur, Noctowl and Bayleef played on the beach at Seafoam Island. Because of the Pokémon Champions League, the beaches were very empty, which gave them plenty of room to play tag, build sand castles, go for a swim, race each other or just relax.

There was a Pokémon Center right by the beach and while the Pokémon played, Ash was on the phone talking to Rick.

"So how'd it go?" Ash asked.

"I protected my title" Rick said, grinning. "How are you and your Pokémon doing?"

"We're all fine, though I think they're getting lazy" Ash said. "I'm gonna start training again next week if...." He stopped in mid-sentence as he looked outside the window beside him.

"Ash? What is it?" Rick asked concerned.

Ash looked back at the videophone. "Look outside" He saw the large black blast of power was shooting up into the sky.

Rick looked outside and saw what Ash was talking about. "Whatta you think it is?"

"No idea" Ash opened the window and looked out. He looked at the beach and saw Pikachu was the nearest. "Pikachu!"

Pikachu had also been looking out to sea at the black beam. He twitched his ears and looked back at Ash.

"Round up the others and get to the Pokémon Center right now" Ash ordered.

Pikachu nodded and ran off to get the others.

Just then, the sky began to change. It seemed as though the sky was ripping apart in different places, revealing a pitch black, starless, sunless, moonless sky. The land began to fade into total darkness. Just as Pikachu and the others entered the Pokémon Center, the last bit of blue sky disappeared and the land was covered in darkness.

"Dad did you see that?" Ash said. Cyndaquil's flames burst from his back and lit the room.

"How couldn't I?" Rick had taken out his Charizard, whose flame was lighting the room for him. He left the phone for a second and turned on the lights. He came back to the phone and found that Nurse Joy had just turned on all the lights in the Pokémon Center. "I'll try to get over there as soon as possible, you wait at the Pokémon Center" And with that he hung up.

Ash put the phone down. He turned to his Pokémon and saw the worry in their eyes. "What's wrong?"

Pikachu looked out the window and then back at Ash.

Ash bent down and patted Pikachu on the head. "Don't worry, we'll figure this out. Everything will be ok"

Pikachu smiled but looked outside worriedly. Being a Pokémon, he could since things humans couldn't and he could sense that the Pokémon behind this were very powerful.

But what Pikachu didn't know, was that Ash could since the power too. He knew it was because of Ho-oh's power that lay within him. Thinking of Ho-oh, he wondered how his friend was doing.

He looked over at the clock on the wall. It was only 4pm.

"What could be powerful enough to cover the world in darkness?" Ash thought as he sat down on a nearby chair. He Pokémon walked over and sat on the floor beside him.