-24: Firestorm's group has arrived at the Charisific Valley, but danger lurks even there. A great battle is about to unfold...

Pokemon and all related trademarks belong to Nintendo. The story, its original contents and ideas, and any original characters belong to the author and cannot be used or reprinted without the author's permission.

The Chimera Saga and the Legendary Dragons belong to Theo 'Blitz' Leung and are used with permission.

(http://www.fanfiction.net/profile.php?userid=23675)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Christmas Plight

By Gregory Stephen nightdragon0@hotmail.com

Nightslice

"Why didn't you come for me?" She asked, standing before me. As I'd always remembered she'd looked. "Things haven't been good. I've been waiting all this time, for you ... "

"Kris, it's not like that." I begged. "I've tried. But I ... "

"I understand." She reached out a hand to touch my human face. "You have your own life now. Like I have mine. Farewell ... "

She turned and begun to walk away.

"Kris! No! Please! Don't go!"

Her form flickered, and then vanished.

That was when I jumped out of bed, sweating, but managed to keep myself from screaming out loud. It was the nightmare I'd simply dreaded.

I awoke this Christmas morning with both a sense of happiness and remorse. I'd come this far, having Hazuki with me. But Kris ...

I tried to shake the thought out of my mind. She certainly wouldn't hold a grudge against me, but I felt I wasn't trying hard enough. I'd been so absorbed in my own quests, regaining my Scyther form, unlocking my forbidden powers, protecting Hazuki from Team Rocket, that I'd forgotten the actual reason I started this journey.

Kris ...

What were my options? Sneaking into a Rocket base? If I knew where to find one, that was. I hadn't really considered these things earlier on. Now that I had my original form back, I didn't know where to start. I had a lead to collecting one of my remaining Forbidden powers, was there any point? I could become powerful enough to go barging into a base, but would I be able to find Kris?

"You have that nightmare again?" Hazuki asked, walking over.

"Yeah." I said biting my lip. I noticed the sun was streaming in through the windows. "Looks like I overslept too."

It was a great change, staying in a grand hotel for once. What's more was my ... well ... new experience last night. New as in human-to-human, that was.

"It's because of me right?" Hazuki said softly. "That you've been trying to look after me and not having time to look for ... "

"NO!" I burst out. "Sorry, no. It's just ... I was messed up from the start. I was never was good at future planning and now, I don't know where to go."

"Well, I can give a suggestion. We can explore that temple we were told about first. Then, I'll act as bait. Since Team Rocket is after me already, I'll …"

"No way! I can't let you do that!" I protested.

"Please. I'm not a poor defenseless little girl." Hazuki insisted. "I have to do something to help you too."

"Well, it might just work …"

"Great Yorukiru-san! We'll have plenty of time to come up with a way to attract their attention on our way to the temple!"

I grinned. Sometimes her optimism was quite inspiring.

"Then what are you waiting for? Better get yourself prepared, cause we'll be heading off soon."

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Firestorm

(Author's note: Just in case you're wondering, since this fic takes place BEFORE the TV series' episode of 'Charizard's Burning Ambitions', Ash's Charizard isn't going to be here obviously.)

"Dracia! Watch it!"

The female Dragonite swerved to the left, barely in time to avoid a rocky outcropping.

"Sorry." She whispered.

I had to admit, she was as much a daredevil flyer as me. Unfortunately, in human form, I don't have wings, which was my cause for concern. At least Aigul and myself were able to hold on.

It was Christmas morning and we were following Lisa and her Charizard, Charla on a winding path through the canyon. I could just feel that the Charisific Valley was close, and so was Jade.

Now, the problem was of how to get him to remember. I shuddered at thinking of what he nearly did to me that time he'd first lost his memory.

"Well, we're here." Lisa told us as we landed. We'd arrived at a lakeside decorated with Charizard statues. In front of it was a huge iron door that looked like it had been built into the mountain itself.

"Wow." I gasped as the door slid open.

"Hello Lisa!" Another green-haired woman greeted. She was a lot older of course.

"Merry Christmas, Aunt Theresa." Lisa smiled. "I've got some friends here I'd like you to meet."

They brought us inside the house and we detailed our problem. Theresa allowed Lisa and Charla to accompany Dracia and myself. The valley's caretaker knew a new Charizard that came in several days earlier had taken up roosting at one of the Western coves.

"Jade, have you thought about what you're going to do if you find your Charizard?" Lisa asked.

"Don't worry. I've got a plan." I replied. Unfortunately, it might also involve giving the girl the shock of her life.

True to its name, there were Charizard everywhere. Many of them looked up in curiosity at us, but did nothing more than that. I did understand what they were discussing. Apparently they knew Lisa and Charla and were wondering what purpose the 'other human' had here.

I ignore them however. My mind as firmly set as I searched out my lost friend. And I just knew it when I saw him. He was standing out on a ledge, together with a female Charizard.

"Dracia, drop me off here." I ordered.

Nodding, the Dragonite complied and flew back into the sky to wait with Lisa and Charla. Jade eyed me curiously as I approached. I wondered if he still remembered me after all this time.

"Jade …" I said softly. It was just as well that the others in the sky couldn't hear me.

He only growled in return, body tensing.

"Old friend. You … you … don't even remember me?"

Jade begun roaring. Lisa was apparently shouting something that I paid no attention to.

"It can't be Jade. Those memories were true. In your heart, you'll know it."

Jade opened his mouth and fired off a large burst of flames. However, I stood my ground, opting to believe in my faith. I felt the singe of the flames as they passed just inches away from my face.

"Jade, please … remember your true self."

He hesitated, a confused look showing in his eyes. Heaven knew what was going through his mind at that moment. Finally, he spoke.

[Jade? I … I …]

Then, I felt something was not right.

"Watch out!" I yelled, leaping forward and knocking Jade over, just as several shots hit the ground.

I screamed in pain as one got me in the right shoulder. My hand became stained with blood when I clutched it. Jade and the female stood up, glancing around for the source of the attacks.

"What the?! Who?" I heard Lisa yell. "Charla!"

I heard Charla's cry. I didn't hesitate the moment I saw them fall. I jumped off the cliff and morphed into my Charizard form. I caught them and dragged them onto a lower ledge.

"Jade? How?" Lisa gasped.

"I'll explain later." I growled.

"Storm!" Dracia called, pointing to a helicopter hovering nearby. It wasn't marked with a Team Rocket logo, but I saw a purplish one with an 'S' like symbol instead.

"The SF's!" I muttered. "Bastards, how'd they find us?"

"Huh? What's this?" Lisa reached up and pulled a circular, metallic object of her collar.

"A tracking device!" I realized. They must've gotten it onto her, sometime while we were walking through the crowded streets. Aigul and I had checked ourselves thoroughly, but not her.

"What? He can turn into a Pokemon?" A masked soldier with a machine gun leaned out of the helicopter's door.

"Who cares?! We have orders for dead or alive, and no witnesses." Another voice replied. "Even if it means shooting down every living thing in this blasted valley!"

"No! You can't do that!" Lisa cried.

"Stay down." I whispered. Then to the SF's, I yelled in anger. "HOW DARE YOU VIOLATE THE SANCTITY OF THIS PLACE WITH YOUR VILE PRESENCE????!!!!"

"Haven't you caused enough harm already?" Dracia roared.

"We have orders!" The SF soldier replied. "And nothing with stand in our way! Not even you, Chimera!"

"SILENCE!!!!!!!!!" I roared, charging towards the helicopter.

The soldiers opened fire.

"Integration!" I summoned up my Sacred Powers and threw off the lightning burst, canceling out their bullets.

The helicopter was swift enough to dodge the lightning blast, but not the Flamethrower that came from Jade. Another Thunderbolt from Dracia caused its engines to fail, sending it crashing to the ground below with a big explosion.

"Storm! Guys!!" Aigul called. Theresa and himself were riding on the back of a huge, old Charizard.

"They just came and threatened us at gunpoint." Theresa explained. "But Aigul's Pokemon managed to get us free."

"They've got several more of those helicopters in a group at the Eastern River." Aigul added in. "They're clearly intent on … capturing or killing all the Charizard here."

"What motive could they have for that, besides wanting me?" I wondered. "It doesn't make sense!"

"Who are these people?" Lisa asked as the aunt leapt down to her ledge.

"Scoundrels. Corrupted bastards that seek to destroy the lives of others." I said. "They're here … because of me. I'm …"

"No." Theresa put a hand on my shoulder. "I may not know much about you, or how you can become a Pokemon. But I know a good heart when I see one. Evil will be evil, no matter what form. Those willing to fight against it should not be the ones to blame."

"Aunt Theresa …" Lisa muttered.

"Thank you Theresa." I nodded, wiping a tear away.

"She speaks the truth." Aigul nodded, letting Serac and Mirage out. "Firestorm, you must take the lead. Do what you know you must!"

"This valley … this sanctuary … I will protect it! At all costs!"

I let off a thunderous roar that echoed throughout the valley. A call to arms, in which I implored my wild brothers to join me. My worries that they wouldn't listen were soon erased as dozens of responds came.

The Charizard of the valley had rallied behind me. I gave out more messages: who the enemy was, and to gather together.

It filled me with great pride as Jade stepped up beside me and joined in my calls.

The battle for our home had begun, and we would not be defeated.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jade

This human, he was different. Not like the woman and her niece, but something else. In front of our eyes, he became one of our own, a Charizard. With several cries for assistance, the valley had united behind him. We would protect our home from the humans who wanted to destroy it.

Firestorm … this being. Was he some kind of god?

I wasn't sure, but as I stepped up beside him, some feeling came over me. It was an odd one, a familiar one. Like I'd known him all along.

Jade … he'd called me that. Was it my name? How had he known it then?

The group of humans and the other Pokemon had a quick discussion. They needed someone to guard the young girl, Lisa and the wounded Charla.

My mate volunteered to stay behind with the humans and the non-flying Pokemon. We 'kissed' before I took off to join the rest of my brethren in formation. It was a massive, group assault against out enemies. Leading it was the elder, the Dragonite and Firestorm.

[Nice to fight alongside you again Jade.] Firestorm spoke to me as I flew up beside him.

[We have … fought together before?]

[Yes, but it was pretty different then. After this, you'll see.]

In my heart, I felt it was true. But there was no time for hesitation now. The group of flying machines came into view. And the exchange of fire began.

On Firestorm's cue, our formation split into a left and right group to counter attack with our flames.

It was an absolutely chaotic mass of aerial maneuvers. Bullets and flames were flying everywhere. The smell of blood, the screams and cries of the wounded and dying filled the air.

I flew on Firestorm's right side and provided cover fire. We each took out an enemy machine before splitting up as two more came. I led the one following me towards a mountainside and swerved upwards at the last instant. My opponent was not as skilled and the human crashed his machine.

I roared in triumph as I dodged the attack and took down another one bold enough to come charging at me.

We seemed to be diminishing their numbers, at no small losses to ourselves, but our opponents begun to employ more vicious techniques. Using electric bursts, steel nets and Pokeballs to capture us.

Firestorm too, seemed to grow more furious with each kill. He was like a flash of light, zooming around, ripping nets and smashing open Pokeballs, thus freeing our captured allies. Not even the electric blasts stopped his special techniques.

I watched in awe as he used his 'Spin Slash', curling up and spinning like a ball. He bounced amongst a group of four machines, taking all down with relative ease.

However, he fell out of the sky after that. I swooped down and barely caught him in time.

[Thanks.] He gasped as we landed on the ledge.

[Hey, you all right?] The Dragonite asked, hovering beside us.

[Yes, we're fine.] I nodded.

Our brethren seemed to have gained the upper hand. In all the chaos, I realized that Firestorm and I were on a ledge above where we'd left our allied humans. My mate had already dragged Charla into our cave for safety. The humans were still outside watching the battle play out in anticipation.

Then, one of the machines appeared next to them. A pair of armored humans with guns leapt out.

"Move!" The silver haired man yelled.

The Vaporeon and Ponyta followed him as he ran for cover. Lisa however, suddenly tripped. The young girl screamed in horror as one of the soldiers fired his weapon.

That was when Theresa jumped in front of her niece ... and took the bullets in the chest.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Aigul

Lisa's cry of grief was horrible to hear. Her aunt was dead, and watching Lisa crying and shaking her pierced my heart.

The SF soldier didn't stop, however. He was raising his weapon again.

And that filled me with rage. How could humans act this way to one another?

With a cry of fury, I sent a Psychic blast towards the soldier, throwing him roughly against a huge bolder. That got the attention of everyone nearby.

"This ... this HAS GONE FAR ENOUGH!" I roared.

My body begun to glow with a bluish light, causing the remaining soldier to back away. I was aware too that my eyes would be glowing pure white. It was something I learnt that would make almost anyone hesitate.

Serac ran to my side, shaking her head.

"I'm sorry Serac. I have to. Now..."

Using my powers would almost certainly drain all of it. But I couldn't watch the destruction go on any longer.

Astonished cries and gasps came as I returned to my actual form. The form of a huge white aquatic bird; back lined with blue ridges; a blue 'mask' over my eyes. What the legends called the 'Guardian of the Sea'.

I am Lugia.

With a roar, I fired my Aeroblast, blowing not only the soldiers, but also the helicopter nearby into obliteration.

[Oh god.] I heard Mirage gasp. [You're him ... Lugia!]

<Yes, it's true. > I replied telepathically. <Urgh! >

I roared in pain as several bullets tore through my left wing. I hit the ground, turning towards the source of the attack, only to see a Thunderbolt hit the helicopter blowing it up.

"Leave Lugia alone you mother f***ers!" A fierce, female voice shouted.

<Serac ... >

With my powers rapidly weakening, she would've returned to normal. My suspicions were confirmed as she stepped up beside me. Not as the Vaporeon, but the human I'd first met.

She was a blond haired woman of 26 with a fiery glow in her blue eyes. Her shoulder length hair came over the silver cloak, the same one I'd adopted for my human guise. The rest of her clothes, long sleeves and jeans were completely white too.

"Lugia, are you all right?"

I nodded, turning my head to see Firestorm's, Jade's and Dracia's startled reactions. I would certainly miss being with them.

<I have to stop ... the SF's ... with everything I've got. >

"But you use up all your powers, then..."

<Serac, I thank you for coming with me. Now, you must go along your own path. >

"Lugia!"

<I'm sorry. I will ... miss you Serac. >

With that, I took to the sky. It was difficult ignoring her screaming my name, but I had to channel what powers I had left.

The sky turned dark and filled with storm clouds. Lightning began flashing rapidly. I sent out a telepathic message to all the Charizard and my friends to take cover. The combined force of nature's fury would be devastating.

The winds hollowed, waters rose and lightning struck. Every one of the remaining helicopters was struck down. All, except one however, that seemed stronger. No, not stronger ... it was psychically shielded. In the midst of casting my 'spell', I couldn't move or shout any warnings.

Otherwise, Firestorm, Jade and Dracia wouldn't have been there when the grenade went off in the middle of them. My storm now turned against them as they fell.

Stunned, Firestorm reverted to human form. Dracia managed to recover and dove down after Firestorm. Desperately diverting my energy, I used my telekinetic powers to hold him in the air so Dracia could reach him in time.

Jade hit a ledge that wasn't too far down, knocking him out. The remaining Sliph helicopter then swooped down and threw a net around Jade's unconscious form.

Firestorm's scream pierced even the booming of the thunder, but I could no longer control the storm. Nor did I have the energy to. As the last of my strength left me, I fell. At least I would land in the waters below.

I had come with the intention of helping them ... but I had failed. And I feared I had only made things worse.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hazuki

"Hazuki, there's someone following us." Nightslice whispered to me.

"What?"

"Shhhh!"

He led us off the street and into a large, multi story shopping mall. Nightslice put an arm around my shoulder to make it look like we were casually walking, but continued to talk.

"That big fellow in the brown trench coat and the thin guy in the blue business outfit." He whispered.

I gave several peeks backwards and managed to get both in sight.

"We'll split up. You go by this level and I'll head upstairs. Meet at the rear exit, but be careful."

"Will do." I replied.

He got onto an escalator going up and the business suit guy followed him. The trench coat fellow continued to follow me on ground level. I lost track of Nightslice as I weaved my way through the maze of shops. I kept ahead of the man until I accidentally walked into a dead end. I was about to turn back when the trench coat man came around the corner.

Heart pounding, I knelt down and pretended be tying my shoelaces. The man approached me.

"Excuse me." He said.

"Yes?" I turned my head up.

That was a bad move as he swiftly pulled something out from under his coat. However, the door of the shop next to me swung open smacking the guy in the face. I saw the glint of a cylindrical metal object as it went flying.

"Oh, I'm so sorry!" The female shopkeeper gasped. "Are you all..."

I didn't wait for her to finish and dashed past both her and my fallen pursuer. In my mad dash, I was dodging and shoving people out of my way. Christmas presents and such items went flying as the people fell, yelling at me in the process. I didn't need to hear the thumping of his boots to know the man was chasing me.

I somehow got back to the central area of the mall, where an ice skating ring had been set up in the center. I could only think of dashing straight for it.

"Hey! You have to ... ugh!" I shoved the attendant out of the way, leapt over the bars and went running right onto the ice.

Of course, I went sliding like crazy, screaming. And knocking the panicked skaters down. The trench coat man came running as well, but he stumbled and landed on his chest, sliding forward, crying out in surprise.

"Kyle!" I released the Lapras.

[Whoa! What the?!]

"Never mind! Just help me!" I yelled, jumping and grasping onto his neck.

"Hey! No Pokemon allowed in here!" An attendant with skates on walked in front of us and yelled. "Uh-oh!"

WHAM!

[Sorry!] Kyle muttered.

"Stop! Come back here!" The trench coat man panted, frantically trying to get to his feet.

"Kyle, slow down!" I yelled.

[That's the problem! I CAN'T!] The Lapras replied. [WWWHHHOOAAAA!!!!]

"Kyle! Watch out for the wall!"

[OH shitshitshitshitshitshitsh...]

He smashed through the padded barrier of the skating ring and slid across the smooth, polished floor of the mall, causing the shoppers to flee in panic.

"Where you'd learn to drive?! The arcade?!" I yelled as he spun a full 360 degrees.

[I never did! Oh crap.] He noticed we were heading straight for a brick wall. [This is gonnaa hurt!]

BAM!

Both of us were stunned long enough for the trench coat man to catch up. He drew a pistol and fired up into the air, causing the screaming crowd to bend down and cover their heads.

"Nobody move and no one gets hurt!" He ordered.

"Augh..." I groaned as he approached us.

Then, I saw Nightslice. He on the fourth level, facing me. Meaning he was also at our enemy's back. He ripped off one end of a long cloth banner tied to the railing and grabbed onto it before leaping off. The banner held his weight as the descended, arousing astonished gasps from those who were bold enough to look up.

Using the momentum of his swing, he let go of the banner and launched himself into a flying kick. My attacker turned around, but didn't have time to fire his gun.

(Time stops as Nightslice's foot is about to make contact with the man's face. Viewpoint turns 180 degrees before time starts again.)

"Hiragh!"

"YYARGHH!" Cried the attacker as he went flying, losing his gun in the process.

"You all right Hazuki?"

"Yeah..." I nodded, recalling Kyle. Then, the business suit man came running down the stairs, also holding a gun. "Watch out!"

Nightslice spun to face the gunman just as he fired.

(Time slows down as the bullet approaches. Nightslice bends backwards and the bullet barely passes over his body. He then snaps back upright as time speeds up again.)

"What the?! How?!"

Grinning, Nightslice tossed a Pokeball. Seeing it, the attacker immediately began fumbling for his Pokemon. However, what Nightslice had thrown was an empty Pokeball, which smacked the man right in the face.

"Ha! I love that trick!" He laughed.

I'd been so busy watching him that I'd forgotten about the other attacker. Until he grabbed me from behind that was. Screaming, I stomped on his toes and pulled myself free in his moment of distraction. It happened that a zipper on my backpack got caught on his trench coat.

Nightslice came to my aid and sliced the tangled part of the coat off, shoving the man away. As expected, I saw the 'R' of the Team Rocket uniform under his coat. It wasn't much of a surprise for us now.

But the other man's reaction was.

"Team Rocket!" He growled. "You won't interfere with us this time!"

"Sliph bastards!" The Rocket agent cursed, retrieving his gun. "The girl is ours! YOU stay out of it!"

The Rocket fired several shots, which caused the 'Sliph' soldier to duck behind a wall for cover and return fire. They'd become so involved in their personal battle that they'd neglected both the other civilians and us.

"Let's go!" Nightslice whispered, grabbing my arm.

Melding into the midst of the fleeing crowd, we ran.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Firestorm

"Lugia!" I cried as I saw the legendary bird plunge into the raging river below. "No …"

That was the second friend I'd lost today.

I won't lose anyone else! My mind screamed.

Dracia threw me to the ground as several large rocks went flying.

"Lugia's storm is out of control!" She yelled over the howling of the wind.

"I have to stop it." I muttered. "But how?"

The ground in front of my feet begun to glow. I gasped as a stone tablet burst out from it. Something I hadn't seen in a while: a Sacred Skill imbued into the rock. Instinctively, I reached out to grab it.

I cried out as the energy flowed into my body.

"We must combine the three grand attacks of fire, ice and lightning." I shouted out the phrase that came to my mind.

"Thunder, Fire Blast and Blizzard!" Serac concluded. "I can provide the Thunder!"

"Then Blizzard's my part." Dracia nodded.

"Then … all together!"

It was strange seeing two humans throwing off Pokemon attacks, but together with Dracia's, the techniques combined into a new triple technique.

"TRINITY BURST!"

Contrary to the three attacks that made it up, this new Sacred Skills was a Normal-type move. They melded into a thick rainbow colored beam that flew up into the stormy sky. A bright light flashed as the clouds begun to disperse.

When the clouds finally cleared, the sun shone brightly down again. Unfortunately, only to reveal the aftermath of the battle. Like any war, there were the wounded and the casualties.

Serac and Dracia immediately took command to the situation, helping treat the injured and organize search parties. I, however, stood staring at the ground for a long while.

Then, I took my frustration out on the only thing I could: the mountainside.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dracia

"Dammit! Dammit! Dammit!" Firestorm pounded the stone wall with his fists. "Why?! WHY?! WWHHHYY?????!!!!!! DAMN YOU ALL!!!!!! YOU BLOODY F***ERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

I had been helping to organize the searches, but I couldn't stand his screaming any longer. I slapped him.

"WHAT THE F*** WAS THAT FOR?!"

"To bring you to your senses you fool! All the swearing in the world won't help Jade now!" I roared. Then, I lowered my voice, panting. "I'm ... I'm sorry."

The aftermath of the battle was truly a bittersweet one. We had won and discriminated all the SF helicopters except one. We'd suffered losses too. Many Charizard had been injured or killed. Aigul ... or Lugia was nowhere to be found. Jade had been kidnapped by the SFs, and Lisa's tragedy was just ... I couldn't find a word of it.

Lisa was still there, crying over Theresa's lifeless body that we'd wrapped in a white cloth. I was about to approach when Firestorm stopped me, indicating that he would do it instead.

"Lisa ... " He said softly. "Even saying that I'm sorry won't change anything. I don't expect you to forgive me. Perhaps if we'd told you everything from the start and hadn't been so stupid to come here, then … "

"No." Lisa said firmly, wiping the tears from her eyes. "Theresa believed in you. And so do I. You're not to blame for anything. Truthfully, we should be the ones to be thanking you. If not, we would all be dead now."

"Lisa ... "

"You see, there is something we didn't tell you either. Some people claiming to be from a private Research Company had previously wanted to set up a research center in this valley. Of course, since this is a sacred ground my aunt refused, greatly angering them. Those were those same soldiers that attacked today. I recognized the symbol. But I never thought, they would resort to something like..."

She hugged Storm and burst into tears again.

"Didn't you report it to the officials?"

"Aunt didn't see a need for it."

"I see." I nodded, stepping towards the pair. "Now, there's an even greater reason to fight them."

"No matter what they were here partially because of us too." Firestorm whispered. "It's our fault too."

"It's not." The now human Serac came towards us. "Didn't you hear what Theresa told you at the start?"

[Yeah. We've tried and maybe we've made some mistakes. But we have to keep moving on.] Mirage added in. [Now, it's for Jade's sake too.]

"Thank you all." Firestorm managed a smile. "Now, we have some details to fill up. Serac?"

"Yes, you want to know about Lugia and myself." Serac explained. "I really am human, as you see me now. I lived in the Orange Archipelago until that day when I was out at sea and a huge thunderstorm brewed up. I was tossed off my boat and I was swallowed up by the waves."

"And then?" I asked.

"I awoke underwater, facing him, Lugia. I was really scared and confused at first but he slowly explained to me about how he'd sensed a great disturbance in the balance of nature. He desired to check up on it, but he couldn't leave his realm in his true form and needed to borrow mine. It was the only way he could use his powers in such a manner without upsetting the spiritual forces."

"And so, you became a Vaporeon, a Pokemon and him a human by 'taking each other's places'?" I concluded.

"If you put it that way, yes. We spent a while helping each other adapt to our new forms, and he took on many of my human traits. Besides, none of you ever noticed how 'Aigul' is 'Lugia' spelled backwards."

"Man ... I didn't see that." Firestorm put a hand to his head.

[Jeez, and it was rather simple too.] Mirage sighed.

"Well, I was never good at coming up with names. Anyway, it was tough at first, but we soon became really close. We journeyed to where he sensed the disturbance and that was how we met up with you."

"I see." Firestorm nodded.

"I still feel as if, there's some link between us." Serac said, closing her eyes. "Even now, I get the feeling he's all right, back in there amongst the deep blue sea, recovering."

"Remember, we couldn't find him anywhere when we searched." I said. "Perhaps he had enough strength left to teleport back?"

"I feel so too. However, Lugia won't be able to help you now." Serac said sadly. "Which is why I wish to carry on what he intended. I'm sure I drowned back in that storm, but Lugia brought me back. And somehow, I have the ability to throw Thunder attacks around. Besides, I can't stand around and do nothing with those SFs around."

"I want to come along too." Lisa said, standing up.

"No!" Everyone protested at once.

"You're needed here." Firestorm told her. "Much more than ever now. You have a duty here to carry on what Theresa has done."

"I understand." Lisa nodded. "I also realize that you have noble intentions no matter what. You're so much like the great dragon in the stories that created this valley."

"Wait a minute, what story?" I asked.

"Oh, there was an old legend that during a great battle in ancient times, a dragon with a heart of gold was struck a mortal blow by her enemies. This valley was supposed to have been where she landed and died. But they say her spirit lives on, and protects the valley even today. But it's just a story."

"They say there's a bit of truth behind every legend." Storm spoke. "That Sacred skill was hidden here."

[It must've been one of the legendary dragons of light who died in the war.] Mirage said. [Could it have been the Normal elemental dragon Grix told us about?]

"It's quite possible." I replied.

"Then, we've been truly blessed to have met the legend's descendant." Lisa smiled.

Charla, with her left wing and shoulder in bandages, roared in agreement.

"Only now, we have no idea where to go." I commented.

"Actually, we do." Serac said, holding up the small tracking device. "Remember this? With some equipment, I could rewire it to work in reverse. So we can track them instead."

"Sounds like a plan." Storm nodded. "Lisa, I also have to ask you to keep our story to yourself, out of the public's view. There's no telling what might happen if the world found out."

"You have my word on it." Lisa said firmly. "Then, you'll be heading off?"

"Yes. The sooner the better." Storm replied, shaking her hand. "I'll come back some day to see how you're doing."

"I assure you, this'll be a better place than ever when you do. Right guys?"

The other Charizard in the valley responded by firing off their Flamethrowers. And so, our parties said our farewells and departed.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kyle

"Sliph are also our enemies?" Hazuki was asking.

"Yeah, seems like it." Nightslice nodded. "Although I'm not too sure of the details. But we're got even more problems now."

[If you ask me, it's making my head spin.] I sighed. [Maybe I should've stuck to thinking like a Lapras.]

Both them and the Pokemon were riding my back down a river. Riptide was swimming beside me in the water. Having gotten out of the town, we'd spent a few days on traveling down river, heading towards some old ruins Nightslice wanted to explore. It wasn't officially marked on the maps, but Nightslice had done some research, both around town and on the Internet.

He seemed confident about where we were going and naturally, we followed our 'fearless leader'. This river was supposed to lead to a series of underground caverns beneath a remote mountain, known as Senkrad.

"It's hard to ignore it when you're a human at heart." Hazuki said, brushing my neck.

[Yeah...] I muttered. [But don't bother. I'm fine as I am now. It was actually kind of fun knocking all those people down.]

"I can imagine." Hazuki giggled. "Nightslice, you were really cool with all those moves too."

"Hahaha, I walked past a video shop showing scenes from the 'Matrix'." He replied. "You can say I was inspired."

[Guys, looks like a cave head!] Luminair barked.

Indeed, the river led right into it. And that was where I had to go.

[I hate caves.] I whispered to myself.

Well, if you were turned into a Lapras and stuck in a dark cave for 15 years, you'd understand me. Still, if you gotta do something, you gotta do it. Let's go...