Phoenix Mountain had been quiet sinch the day the sun was blocked out. The reason was that Ho-oh, the thought to be extinct legandary Fire Bird Pokémon who lived there, had left and travled to Seafoam Island to meet up with Ash and Rick.

After their defeat of the Dark Leganaries, the Dark Ho-oh had used all it's remaining strength to create five orbs.

Each orb was a blood red colour with a black centre and had a mysterious red glow around it. These orbs had the power to keep the world in complete darkness by using a black veil that blocked out the sun, moon and stars.

Ash had learned that in order for the veil to be lifted, he, along with Rick, Misty, Ho-oh and their Pokémon would have to travel the world in search of the five 'Orbs of Darkness' as they called them.

Fortunately it was easy to find the location of the Orbs because everywere they landed they created a large building. There were three buildings in the world. There was one near GoldenRod City, two Orbs lay inside. There was another near Celedon City, two Orbs lay in that one too. And the last and most important Orb was in the biggest building near Mount Silver. So Ash and the others knew were all the Orbs were.

Unfortunately, the buildings were full of traps, spells and evil Pokémon, set to gaurd the Orbs from enemies.

Nevertheless, Ash was willing to take on the challenge to try and save the world from eternal darkness.

A large figure could be seen flying across the sky above Seafoam Island. It had an goldish glow around it that showed it had brightly coloured feathers.

Down in the Pokémon Center, Ash was setting out some Pokéfood for the eighteen hungry Pokémon that belonged to him, Rick and Misty.

He placed the food on the ground and the Pokémon instintly began eating.

"After this get some sleep, we have a long journey tomorrow" Ash told them and was answered by a few mumbles. Ash smiled and looked at his watch. It was 21:30. He had decided that, sinch the normal clocks confused him because there was no sun, he was going to use a digital watch. He nodded and headed to the door of the Pokémopn Center. He spotted Misty getting ready for some sleep and Rick already asleep after an early morning and a full day of training his Pokémon. Ash walked out of the Pokémon Center. He looked up and saw Ho-oh flying around above them. He closed his eyes and concentrated. Soon his voice came to Ho-oh's mind. "Get some sleep Ho-oh, we'll be heading to Goldenrod early tomorrow morning"

The rainbow coloured Pokémon turned and flew towards the mountain, were there was a dark cave perfect for hiding.

Ash yawned and walked back inside. All the Pokémon were still eating their Pokéfood and Misty was now going through her stuff, making sure she was ready for the next day. Ash sighed and sat down on one of the chairs.

Pikachu finished stuffing his face and trotted over to his trainer. He jumped up beside him and smiled up at him with big eyes.

Ash looked down at Pikachu and shook his head. "Go on"

"Pika!" Pikachu cried happily and jumped off the chair and began to rummage around in Ash's backpack before he pulled out a small packet of ketchup. He let out a small "chu" as he began to eat the ketchup.

Ash yawned again and looked over at the Pokémon. They had all finish eating and were now curled up fast asleep, Cyndaquil staying away from Raichu, remebering when Raichu shock it a few weeks ago.

Ash smiled as Pikachu jumped onto his lap, licking some of the ketchup off his paw. Ash patted the Pokémon and leaned against the back of the chair. Before he knew it he was fast asleep.

When the sun would be raising at 06:00, Ash was sleepily trying to wake Rick and Misty while Pikachu was trying to wake the other Pokémon, receiving a jolt of electrcity from the sleeping Raichu.

By 06:35 everyone was awake and hastily trying to organise themselves, packing extra supplies and items that may come in use, though they really didn't know what they were going up against.

At 07:00 they all left the Pokémon Center and met Ho-oh, who was waiting patiently of the beach for them to arrive. Rick realeased his Pidgeot and Charizard and they stood beside Ho-oh.

"Ah, the great Pokémon air force" Ash said jokily as he walked over and climbed onto Ho-oh's back.

Pikachu jumped up onto Ho-oh's head while Rick climbed onto Charizard and Misty climbed onto Pidgeot.

Ho-oh spread it's wings and flapped hard, taking off into the sky. "Try to keep up" It grinned and with that it took off.

Charizard and Pidgeot took off after Ho-oh and Ash. After a while Ho-oh was forced to slow down because Charizard and Pidgeot were starting to get tired from trying to keep up.

They reached the outskirts of Goldenrod City by 10:00 and landed beside the strange black building that had been created by one of the 'Orbs of Darkness'.

Rick and Misty dismounted and Rick returned his Pokémon.

Ash dismounted Ho-oh and looked at the building. He took a deep breath and sighed. "Well, lets go"

The others nodded and soon they, along with Pikachu and Ho-oh, walked towards the huge door.

Ho-oh put it's beak against the door and pushed to open it. It didn't budge. Ho-oh pushed harder but still the door was shut tight.

"Great" Ash moaned. "No what?"

Ho-oh stepped back and ran forward, slamming the door with it's head, but it just stumbled back and shook it's head. It growled and reared back, opening it's mouth. A fireball appeared in it's mouth.

"Get down!" Ash yelled pushing the others away from the door.

Ho-oh realeased a Fire Blast that narrowly missed Ash and slammed into the door. There was a low rumbling as the flames swept across the door and then the flames shot through it, making a hole were the door used to be. Ho-oh grinned and looked at the others, who were looking at it strangely. "What? I got it open didn't I?"

Ash smiled. "Good job Ho-oh" He looked at the others. "Let's go find the Orb"

With Ash in the lead, they all headed into the dark corridor. As soon as Ash stepped foot into the building, torches lit up along the walls.

Ash looked at the torches but continued walking, keeping his eyes on the walls.

"Ash watch it!"

Ash looked ahead of him and jumped back as a blade swooped forward and narrowly missed stabbing him in the face. Ash sat of the floor and watched the blade go back into the roof and disappear. "This place must be covered in traps. Keep your gaurd up everyone" He stood up and looked up at the roof again before walking forward again, this time a little more nerviously.

Suddenly, there was a slamming noise and Ash looked back to see that bars had fallen behind him, blocking him off from the others. He felt the floor come out from under him and yelled as he fell, grabbing onto the side of the hole with one hand.

"Ash!" He heard Misty call.

"I'm ok" He called. "I think" He looked down and saw large spikes sticking up out of the ground. They had very dark red stains on them and Ash had a sickening feeling those stains were blood stains from earlier vistums who had come to explore the building. He felt his hand slip a little from the side of the hole. It reached up with his other hand and grabbed on to the side. He could still feel himself losing his grip and he was to afraid of slipping altogether to reach down and release one of his Pokémon.

Above him he heard a sound that told him Ho-oh flying. There was a smashing sound and Ho-oh flew past the hole. It must have smashed through the bars.

Ash felt himself lose his grip completely from the side of the hole and closed his eyes as he fell. He felt a hand grab onto his wrist and looked up to see Misty and Rick. He looked down and saw he was only a few centimetres from the spikes and gulped.

Rick and Misty pulled him up and he slumped down. "That.." He panted. "Was too close"

"Maybe this is a bad idea" Misty said.

Ash stood up. "No, we have to do this, right Ho-oh? Pikachu?"

The two Pokémon nodded in agreement.

Rick stood up. "Ash is right"

Ash nodded and turned to Misty. "You don't have to come if you don't want too"

Misty shook her head. "No, I'll come"

Ash smiled. "Well lets go get the first Orb of Darkness" He turned and began to walk down the corridor, Ho-oh helping them over the hole.

They had only been in there and already Ash had nearly died twice. Ash sighed, wondering if they were really gonna make it through the three buildings.