Interlude 2: The gather's arrival

Jenson looked ahead as Stadium Island grew from the horizon. White City was the one of the newest cities on the planet. Jenson could not wait to see it, so he came on to the deck of the large ferry to see as they approached. Releasing his slowking Mandarin on to the deck next to him he pointed at the sparkling white stadium that was built on the island.

"Did you know that Stadium Island was named after a ancient stadium on the island?" he asked his pokémon. Mandarin slowly nodded no. "The stadium was built over 3000 years ago, but no one knows how the battles or exhibitions in it took place," he said. "That is where we will meet those focus holders again," he said with a look of determination on his face.

"Funny that's where I am going too," said a female voice behind him. He turned and saw a young girl 13-year-old girl walking up to him. The red head spoke again saying, "It looks like I am not the only one going to be meeting the focus holders again," she said. As she was talking a head popped out of her green backpack. "I'm Ann," she said.

"I'm Jenson, and that's a nice magby you have there," he said pointing at the pokémon coming out of her backpack. "Did you breed him yourself?" he asked.

"Nope. I found Heatwave here, and have been taking care of him. And please don't try to change the subject," she said pulling the small fire type from behind her. "If you are going to the old stadium, I suggest you sign up and join up in the tournament. If not you will be thrown off of the island. The island only has room for trainers and their immediate guests. The only other people will be the island citizens," she said.

"I suppose, if I was here for another purpose that would be the logical thing to do," he said. *Um... why don't you just tell her what you came here to do Jenson? * Mandarin asked. [Because I don't know if this girl is on our side,] he sent. [Then I'll talk to that kid,] Mandarin sent back. *Hey, Heatwave is you human friend a good person? * He asked. *My mommy is the nicest, most patient and fairest person in the whole world, * he said looking away from the approaching docks. *Ok I think we can trust her, * Mandarin said to Jenson. Jenson just sighed as Ann giggled and said, "That's quite cute."

The ferry docked among a large amount of boats, some private while the varying leagues owned others. One of these was the Flying Pixie. Isaac looked at the arriving ferry and sighed. Undine walked to and asked, *Isaac what's wrong? * She asked. "I wonder if we are prepared enough," he mused. *Don't worry. We can take anything, * Eva said confidently from the door to the inner part of the ship. "Besides, if you doubt yourself, the enemy has already won, said a voice from behind her. From the shadows, Destiny emerged. "And doubt is one thing we cannot afford," said the shadow woman.

{A few weeks ago}

Isaac stood on the island beach waiting for something. The early morning sun shone in the tropical clear blue sky. The transparent sapphire water washed up and down as the white sand beach. He closed his eye and drew his sword. A flash of white light and a burst of heat was the only indication of the ember attack. He moved like white lighting and cut the large fireball in half, canceling the attack before it hit his back.

"Whoa Isaac! Your getting fast," Nina said walking up behind him. Isaac smiled at his ninetales friend and responded, "Yes I know. I'm glad I don't need that psychic shield anymore, or those fire proof pants!" They both chuckled. *Hey Isaac, can you show Eva that trick," Undine asked as she and her opaleon sister walked up. The vaporeon had told her about a certain feat she had seen the young trainer do with his light based powers. The dragon type eeveeolution didn't believe her sister, so they two came to ask Isaac to show them it.

"Sure why not. Here goes," he said. He stuck his sword in the ground and gathered light energy into his right hand. A ball of white light formed around it. He leaned back and tossed it into the air. The glowing ball detonated in mid air, creating the same affect as a large firework going off. "It's much more impressive when its done at night," Nina said. *See I told you he could do that, * Undine said.

"I suppose it is," said a voice behind them. The group turned around to find a lady dressed in black. Her piercing blue eyes stared into there souls. "My name is Destiny, and I would like to ask you a favor. Could you give me a ride to Stadium Island? Along the way, I could tell you some interesting facts," she said letting a charge of shadow energy flow through her.

{Present}

(That is how we meet destiny. She told us she two had met the focus holders, and that she knew that they had found four other trainers to help them. But she wouldn't tell us anymore then that. She mostly stayed by herself the whole trip,) Isaac thought. "Well let's go. We have to sign up," He said.

Elsewhere, Jared Murasame was trying to enter the registration hall. He had been waiting in a long line of people and pokemon. All of them were trying for the title of the most powerful trainer in the world. Rumor had it that even the elite trainers of Johto and Kanto had arrived and were going to take part in the tournament. Right now he was starting to get so impatient that he decided to ask his xatu Psyche to teleport himself in the building. But before he could do that, something happen in the skies above the crowd. He looked up and saw a speeding form land on the roof of the hall. (What the heck was that...) he thought. (I better check it out.)

Meanwhile on the roof, the pokemon trainer known as Kryis talked to her friend Screamer the mewtwo.

"Thanks for the lift Screamer, but next time could you be a little gentler on your landings?" She asked. [Sorry. I haven't really practiced flying this far. Still I got you here pretty fast!] She sent happily.

"Thanks, I better get inside, and you better get going. You don't want anyone to try to catch you," she said as she walked to a stairwell leading down into the building. Screamer nodded as she walked past, then quickly flew straight up into the air. The female mewtwo flew quickly out of sight just as Jared and his xatu landed on the roof as well.

"Hey, Miss! What was that?" he asked her retreating form. She turned and said "What was what?"

"That pokemon?" he asked his xatu perched beside him. [And don't lie I'm psychic] Psyche sent.

"It was a mewtwo, if you must known. I don't "own" her either so don't ask how I got one. She was just helping me out," she said with a quiet smile. She descended down the stairs and left the 10 year old and his pokemon on the roof. Jared and his pokemon looked at each other, then he recalled his pokemon and quickly ran down the stairs after her.

Later as Kryis left the building from a side exit door. She looked around the corner of the building and saw the line hadn't gotten shorter. (Whoa, a lot of people must be entering this thing. Still not all of them will be able to pass the elimination test,) she thought. She glanced at the ticket in her hand. (My test will be at the crystal hall. I better get going or I'm going to be late.)

The other five trainers where also going thru the same process and each had been assign to different halls. Isaac was assigned to the gold hall, Jenson to the sliver hall, Destiny to the blue hall, Jared to the green hall, and Ann to the yellow hall.

{The yellow hall}

Ann nervously walked into the small dome shaped building holding her small fire pokemon. Passing through the double doors, she looked around the yellow colored stadium. It was a plain, standard arena that just had the typical white rectangle and the two trainer boxes. This arena was designed just to test a trainer's over all performance, so each battle per hall was sudden death, a one on one pokemon match.

Ann walked into the white box closes to the door and placed Heatwave on the ground next to her. "Don't move," she commanded sternly. She looked across to other side of the arena and noticed her opponent walk through another set of double doors. He was a 13-year old boy with a yellow hat on. He had sandy blonde hair and was wearing a dark yellow shirt and blue jean shorts. He had white sneakers on and coal black eyes.

"Hello, my name is Yellow. I will be your test instructor for this match. It will be recorded and reviewed to see if you qualify for this tournament. We will each use one pokemon each and you are required to use the first pokemon you have either captured of received. Call out your pokemon and let the battle began," he said pulling out a pokeball.

{The gold hall}

Nina and Isaac entered the gold hall looking at all of the various gold trim. A 13-year old boy knelt in the square across from them. He had on a red jacket and yellow and black long shorts. He was wearing a red and gold cap, which covered most of his black hair.

"I'm Gold," he said while standing up. "You two look strong. Still looks aren't everything... Let's see what you have inside!" He said pulling out a lone pokeball.

{The blue hall}

Destiny waited in the teal color arena. Her opponent calmly sauntered in. He was a brown haired 13-year old boy wearing a blue shirt, blue jeans and brown boots.

{The crystal hall}

Kryis stared in awe at the semi transparent crystal hall. She looked around the open area at the translucent walls. "Impressive isn't it?" Asked her opponent. She was an 11-year old girl with blue hair in two ponyta tails. She was wearing a long sleeve white jacket and had on a red shirt underneath. She had on yellow and black shorts and red, white and black sneakers.

"I'm Crystal, and I'll be fighting you. I'm pretty tough, so you had better give it all you got! You have to use the first pokemon you got, the one who knows you best. I want to see how close you two are!" She said enlarging a pokeball.

{The green hall}

A thirteen-year-old girl stood impatiently in her square in the green hall. Green as she was called flicked her short green hair out of her face. Her opponent suddenly just appeared in his square.

"I decided to make a entrance," Jared said with a large smile, his xatu somehow seemed to be smiling as well. Green just smoothed a winkle out of her black dress. Making a quick glance at her white shoes she looked at Jared.

"Good for you. Now if you're down showing off we will fight one on one. Don't think I'm going to go easy on you just because you're cute," she said with a coy smile. "Let's go!"

{The sliver hall}

Lila and Jenson entered through a pair of sliver-gray doors. The two companions walked to the sliver colored arena and onto the nearest trainer box. Across from them was a 13-year old girl in a black in read shirt with matching pants. She was wearing sliver-blue boots and had fiery red hair tied back into a ponyta tail.

"My name's Sliver weakling. If you want compete call out the first pokemon you received and defeat me. Of course you won't, but a least you can say you tried," she said pulling a pokeball out her shirt's pocket.

{Yellow Hall}

Yellow open the pokeball in his hand and released a pikachu out on the battlefield. Ann responded by releasing her first pokemon Etch. The smeargle looked around at his surroundings curiously. "Pikachu, Thunderbolt! We'll end this in one move!" Yellow cried.

"Etch, counter with your agility! Get out of the way!" Ann yelled. (Also this will give me some time to study their moves,) she thought. The painter pokemon darted out of the way of the electric bolt as it shattered the air and ground where he was. "Use light screen as well," she said.

Etch painted a transparent wall in front of him using his long tail. The pikachu used a quick thunder shock to try to hit him, but his new shield held out. *All right buddy, here I come! * He said as he charged the yellow mouse. The pikachu dashed toward him in a quick attack. As his enemy was about to almost hit him, he darted to one side and grabbed his tail in passing. Spinning around he threw the pikachu in devastating seismic toss. However he managed to use another thunderbolt in mid-air hitting Etch with a few thousand volts of electricity, blasting him back off his feet.

(Not, good. Etch may have a few tricks up his sleeves, but his defenses are still low. Another good hit like that and he won't be able to fight,) Ann contemplated.

"Pikachu, use agility too! I know you still can!" Yellow said tasting victory.

(Wait, I know! Pikachu's use sight to confirm there targets location. So if I blind him...) she thought. "Etch, Flash!" She yelled just as the pikachu started running toward him.

Blinding light filled the arena from the end of Etch's tail. *Hey, he stopped moving! * He exclaimed as the pikachu rubbed its eyes. "Then take him down, Nightshade!" She said. Black ghostly energy gathered around the end of paint bush like tail. A bolt of twilight energy fired from the end of it when he pointed it at the pikachu like a wand. *Take that! * He yelled as he blasted the pikachu out of the ring.

Yellow caught his pokemon before it could hit the wall however, sending them both to the ground. "Nice battle," he said recalling his pikachu and standing up. You know how pokemon act. You pass, go to the assignment building though the door I came in."

"Thanks, I guess. Heatwave, Etch let's go!" She said picking up her magby and walking over to her other pokemon. Etch wandered over to a wall and had just started to paint a red streak on it when Ann knelt and patted him on the head. "Come on. We can paint something together later on," She said quietly. The trio left through door as yellow watched.

(She doesn't seem to care about battles. So why is she here?) He thought. (Why?)

{The gold hall}

Isaac and Nina watched in awe as the large firebird circled in the air above them. "Ho-oh's quite impressive isn't he?" Gold said.

"Isaac, you do have a plan don't you?" Nina asked looking at the legendary firebird.

"Two words, confuse ray," He whispered to her before she went out. [Remember, your more agile them him, so use that too.] "I believe in you."

"Thanks for reminding me," she said sincerely.

The Ho-oh landed as Nina trotted over to her side of the line. *Your no match for me fire dog, * He said. Nina just smirked and said, "We'll see.

"Ho-oh, Earthquake!" Gold ordered. The large bird flew up a short distance into the air. Then he came back down and landed on the ground hard. Cracks short across the ground toward Nina, who safely jumped into the air. Her eyes started to glow a strange black color. A hazy disruption in the air was the only sign that she used confuse ray. By the time she landed the ho-oh didn't know which way was up.

"Ho-oh, use Earthquake again. Don't let her get away!" Gold said. The large rainbow bird tried to comply, but when he came down again he landed right on his side!

"Nina, quick Dig underground," Isaac calmly said watching the flying/fire pokemon stand back up and try to fly away. But he couldn't for his left wing was injured. Nina burst from underground and hit him right in the chest sending the larger pokemon back toward his trainer.

"Your pokemon looks pretty hurt. I not sure we should continue..." Isaac said eyeing the ho-oh's broken wing. Nina paused and waited to see what would happen next.

"Relax, Ho-oh Recover," Gold said. The rainbow bird started to glow a bright gold, then with a deafening cry straightened his wings out to his sides. Win the glow faded, his wings were whole again.

"Shall we continue?" Gold asked with a smirk. "Gust." Nina had no time to dodge the huge tornado that was sent her way. So she simply roared. The burst of air from the Roar canceled the whirlwind. The firebird however, used the distraction to become air borne. Flying high he attacked with multiple Fire Blasts. Nina darted across the arena, dodging blistering flames and massive explosions. After one near miss sent her flying back toward Isaac.

"Do you have another plan, or am I on my on for awhile?" She said after tumbling to a stop in front of him. Isaac gave her a small smile and said, "Don't worry and Dig underground to avoid the fire. After that attack with Scared Fire."

"I'll try, but I won't make you any promises," she said light-heatedly. Running back toward the center, she jumped into one of the holes she made in the floor. The ho-oh missed again as he strafed her. As he was pulling back around, Nina burst out of the ground to his side. Fire warped around her as she rose from the ground turning her into a fox made of flames. Releasing blast of holy fire, it arced right into the ho-oh's side, blasting him out of his flight. But before hit the floor, he pulled up out of his dive.

*Nice try. But let me show you a real Sacred Fire, * he said. Flying to the very top of the dome, he spread his wings and tail to there fullest. Fire burst along his body creating a miniature sun. "Now Sacred Fire!" Gold screamed tasting victory.

The bird complied by exploding in a flash of heat and light, creating tears of flame that rained down on the floor blasting everything on it. Nina rolled to the side and narrowly avoided the follow-up earthquake. She shakily stood up on her feet and glared at the firebird. "I'm just getting started," She said. The Ho-oh looked impressed.

"Gutsy ninetales you have there," Gold said. Suddenly the area darkened, as energy gathered in Nina's mouth. "Hyper Beam!" Isaac said. The blast of physical force shocked both the opposing pokemon and trainer. It blasted the bird pokemon into the roof and held him there for a full eight seconds. After the beam dissipated, he crashed into the ground.

The two pocket monsters stared at each other from across the dusty floor exhaustedly. *Not...bad...fire...fox, * he said gasping. *For a girl. * Nina was shocked by his narrow-minded comment. "Finish this with another blast of Sacred Fire!" Gold commanded desperate to win. Isaac didn't know what to do for to him Nina had reached her limit. The room's temperature started to rise as fire again surrounded the ho-oh. He lifted off the ground. But Nina was oblivious to this.

(Did he just say what I thought he said? Did He Just Say That? THAT'S IT!) She thought. Red energy surged through her creating an aura of flames the same color around her. The area darkened as her eyes started to glow orange-red. The symbol fire types appeared on her forehead in red light. At the same moment, the sky key started to glow softly as well. "Nina," Isaac whispered in awe. The two pokemon released their attacks with two cries. *Sacred Fire! * He said. *Hyper Flame! * She screamed.

The cone of flame she shot out cut through the blast of fire. It splashed over the bird and kept going, blowing out through the wall behind him. The charred bird collapsed in a faint.

"Y...you...passed," Gold stuttered as he recalled his pokemon. Nina smirked took two steps to a surprised Isaac, and then collapsed herself. "Great job Nina. I knew you could do it," he said walking up and kneeling down to scratch that place behind the ears.

"Yeah for me. I want a full body treatment at the nearest poke-spa," she said tiredly. "That sounds reasonable," He said recalling her temporarily. Gold stared after them as the walked out of the hole in the wall.

{The blue hall}

Destiny stood and coolly started at Blue her returned her basilisk gaze. After a moment he glanced away from her intense blue eyes. "If you're ready, pokeball go," he said releasing a blastoise into the center of the ring. The well muscled and highly leveled creature stood firm on his stocky legs ready for the up coming fight.

"Attack Spectre," she said. The gengar came out with out the trademark creepy grin. Instead it had a black frown and its red eyes seemed to burn with crimson fire.

"Your gengar looks very strong, but he is no match for Blastoise," Blue said. "Call your pokemon back and forfeit. You can't win, and you pokemon will thank you for it later," she stated. "You wish," he said. "Blastoise, Foresight!"

While this conversation was going on Blue's blastoise was steadily getting more anxious looking at the staring gengar. The rival pokemon seemed to just stare into his soul. He however immediately followed the command that was given despite his fears. The scarlet beams illuminated the black ghost, making it more solid, but it didn't flinch from the light.

"Hypnosis," Destiny hissed. Spectre silently complied, sending out sleep inducing waves. But the blastoise ducted his head into his shell and canceled the effects.

*You'll have to do better then that, * he said from his natural armor. The ghost replied by sending a Nightshade into him. The bolt of supernatural energy knocked the sturdy turtle of his feet and twelve meters back.

"Don't just lie there, get up and counter with Hydro Pump. Knock it out with one hit," Blue ordered. "That foresight was the only attack you will hit with. Spectre, Pain then Psychic," she said. As the turtle got on its hind-feet large cannons, emerged from its shell. It fired two huge blasts of water. However Spectre didn't dodge. He fired two thin ruby beams from his front paws that split the water apart. The beams hit the cannons the water fired from and the screaming started.

{Attack: Pain Type: (Dark) At: 160 Ar: 100% A scarlet beam of dark energy is fired at the target, stimulating all of the target's pain receptors. The target collapses in agony, making it easier to finish them off. Always flinches.}

The large pokemon fell on the ground, twitching and crying out as every neuron his body burned. Blue with shocked speechless one of his prize pokemon was reduced to a sniveling wreck. Before the dark energy wore off, allowing him to order another attack, Specter's eyes started to glow an indigo color. Mentally lifting the convulsing water turtle, he blasted him into the roof with a wave of psychic energy. As the victim was falling down, the ghost vanished and appeared above the failing target.

"Finish it with Darkness Bullet, and if it still wants to fight Terror," she calmly ordered. Shadows collide in the gengar's right paw. Spectre pointed his arm at the failing blastoise and fired a blast of pure shadow energy. It struck the turtle, blasting him into the floor. The blastoise could barely stand up out of the small crater he made in the ground. He looked at the ghost with a look of pure rage and frustration.

Spectre smiled, a sight to inspire fear in the foolish, and absolute dread in the wise. Suddenly the whole stadium turned pitch black. The blastoise and Blue started screaming.

{Attack: Darkness Bullet Type: (Shadow) At: 750 Ar: 100% a blast of shadow energy is shot into the target. The shadow energy shoots through them doing internal damage.

Attack: Terror Type: (Ghost) At: 406 Ar: 100% this moves true nature is unknown. All that can be said is that somehow the targets worse fears damage them in the pitch black. They are reduced to a shivering shell of themselves. }

Just as quickly the lights came back on. Blue was staring dead ahead, his face a pale white. His pokemon was in its shell, which was trembling.

"Return," he whispered. Destiny recalled her pokemon and walked by him.

{The crystal hall}

Crystal stared across at Kryis who was nervously looking at the pokeball in her hand. Crystal smirked and cried, "Let's go suicune!" The pokeball opened to reveal the cat like water pokemon.

"I'm not sure about this, but I feel I have to do it," Kryis said. "So here goes, come on out, Hydro!" she cried releasing her wartortle. The blue battler looked at the larger water type and smiled. *I've got this one, no problem, * she said to her friend and trainer. *Yeah, right. My level has been rated at 32. You can't win, * said the suicune. *But mine's level 90, * she retorted.

"Enough talk, more battle," Crystal said becoming impatient. "Suicune, Cut!"

The aurora pokemon swiftly rushed the turtle type and slashed at her with his claws. Hydro ducked into her shell and the attack glanced off. "Nice Withdraw," Crystal said, "But it won't help. Whirlpool!" she said. The suicune jumped away from the withdrawn wartortle and fired a stream of water, which wrapped around the target pokemon and rose up into a waterspout. "I have you," Crystal said. "No one has escaped this attack."

"There is a first time for everything. Hydro, Rapid Spin!" Kryis replied. She complied by shooting out of the waterspout, a spinning disk. She slid across the wet floor and slammed into the suicune.

"Now use our special strategy," she ordered. Hydro popped out of her shell and stood on her back feet in a ready stance.

"Ice beam before they do," Crystal said. The water cat fired a beam of condensed cold that froze Hydro on the spot. "Ha! I win," Crystal said.

"Not yet! Skull Bash," Kryis said smiling. Hydro jumped over the frozen substitute, and came down head first toward the surprised suicune. He tried to fire a hasty Aurora Beam, but Hydro reached him before he could sending him back through the air.

"Now, Confusion," Kryis said. Her pokemon's eyes started to glow an eerie red. But before the attack was launched, Crystal said, "Mirror Coat!" The blast of tele-psychic energy fired from Hydro, but of entering the suicune's mind damaging him, it wrapped around him creating a bubble of energy.

"Quick, deflect the mirror wave away from you with your own Mirror Coat," Kryis cried. The trapped energy surged away from the suicune back to Hydro in the form of a large sphere of psi energy. But she just turned her back to it. It hit her hard shell, and surprisingly was sent back up toward the ceiling, blowing a hole in the roof.

"Nice, but can you counter this? Rain dance!" Crystal ordered. Her suicune's eyes started to glow all blue. An azure blue aura appeared around him. Cloud's formed in the dome and it begin to rain.

"Hydro Quick! Knock it out with a Mega Punch!" Kryis said panicking. The sturdy brawler tried to comply but the rain and a swiftly dodging target made it hard to accomplish.

"It's over. Finish this with a Hydro Pump," Crystal said with a smirk. The suicune vanished into the misty rain.

"Hydro, listen out and use Detect. I know you can win. When he attacks, hit him with all you got!" She said at first quietly, then shouting. For a few minutes all that could be heard with the sound of rain hitting the floor and flesh, then an intense blast of water fired from Hydro's side. The wartortle jumped out of the way. Then while she was still in the air, a blue glow surrounded her. All of the rain suddenly stopped as it was pulled toward her. Even the moisture that had soaked into both Crystal and Kryis was pulled in to the attack.

Kryis and Hydro smiled. Kryis picked up her somewhat tired pokemon and walked out the back door. (I hope she makes it...) Crystal thought. (I hope they both do.)

{The green hall}

"Nice bird you've got there. Is that your first pokemon?" Green asked.

"Nope," Jared said recalling his xatu. Psyche is my fourth. My first is dear friend Sarah."

*You're the boss," Sarah said starting the battle off with a storm of razor sharp leafs.

"Block with vine whip!" Green countered. Her huge pokemon responded by whipping the projectiles out of the air with strong vines. "Now Attract!" Green said blowing Jared a kiss. Green's pokemon gave Sarah a sunny smile, and struck an odd pose. It seemed the air sparkled around him.

(Wait, it is sparkling around him. I remember. Attract releases pheromones that affect other pokemon of the opposite gender.) Jared thought quickly as Sarah started stare stupidly at her opponent. "Sarah snap out of it! You don't need a flirty guy like him! Light Screen for the love of Mew!" Jared said. (I'll just cut the connection) he thought.

His pokemon lazily put up a shimmering wall of light as Green ordered her pokemon into to a Double-edge attack. The massive structure that was the venusaur hit the shield dead on. It held just long enough for Sarah to shake of the effects of Attract.

"Sarah Counter," Jared said just as the screen broke. The two grass pokemon collided with a bang. The venusaur was sent flying back from the counter force, as was Sarah from the Double-edge. They both hit he ground heavily.

"Sarah if you can, Razor Leaf!" Jared asked hoping the enemy wouldn't be able to block. His hopes bore fruit as this time the razor leaf storm hit home.

"No, I won't lose," Green said throwing a mini-tantrum. "Sunny Day! We'll finish this." Her pokemon roared as a bright light shone down from the ceiling over the two combatants.

"SOLAR BEAM!" They both cried. The two grass starters fired a beam of grass and light energy at each other, blasting twin furrows in the floor. The beams collided in-between them. For a moment the two beams were even, but that would change.

"Sarah Return," he said asking her to give her all. Inside of Sarah memories of all the times she shared with Jared; he battles, the food, the fun, the sun, and even the rain and tears. Suddenly her beam of energy surged pushing the venusaur's back until all of that energy collided with him, blowing him back and out of the match.

"Come back," Green said recalling her pokemon. "Nice try." Jared walked over and petted an exhausted Sarah. "I knew you could do it. I'll take you some were you can relax," He said to her calling her back.

"Your pretty good cutie, go show off for the others," Green said as Jared walked pass her. "I will," said the ten year old as ran out the doors.

{The sliver hall}

"If you have to prove you're strong, then you really aren't," Jenson said calmly. "Instead, one must know the are strong then they will be." "Whatever weakling. I call on your power, Lugia" Sliver said. "Ok, let's go Mandarin!" Jenson said releasing his slowking to face off against the mighty psychic bird. *Go for we know you can win! * Lila cheered.

"Not likely, Aeroblast!" Sliver ordered. The lugia responded by firing the beam of compressed air toward the Royal pokemon, But Mandarin didn't panic at the sight of the glowing, yellow death beam. Rather, he crated a shimmering shield in front of him. The Protect blocked the large but narrow beam with seemingly no effort.

"Future Sight! We may need it later," Jenson cried. *All right here goes, * Mandarin whispered. His eyes flashed a glowing blue as he released a burst of mental energy into the future.

"You two don't have a future, Giga Drain!" Her pokemon opened his mouth and a strange green glow surrounded Mandarin. He quickly felt weaker as a huge bubble of energy left him and entered the lugia. While he staggered back from the hit, his adversary attacked with a Gust. The tornado of wind lifted him off his feet and helped him on to his backside roughly. Sliding to a stop in front of Jenson he straightened his headgear and looked toward his opponent.

"End this with another Giga Drain!" Sliver ordered. Suddenly a blast of energy from out of nowhere smashed her pokemon into the ground. Jenson waiting for this ordered "Shadow Ball!" Mandarin complied by creating a ball of ghostly energy in his right paw. Throwing at the rising lugia, it hit the bird and detonated with a purple black explosion.

*Yeah! I knew he could do it! * Lila said. "It's not over yet," Jenson said to his cheerful bellossom. "I can still sense his mind."

"Your right, the true battle now begins," Sliver said. "Recover." A strange glow was seen through the smoke. With a burst of power and song, the dust cleared to reveal Lugia well and whole. Eyes glowing blue the two psychic types prepared for battle again.

"Mandarin, Disable!" "Lugia, Thunder bolt!" The two trainers shouted. Mandarin's Disable hit first. He effectively knocked out the lugia's ability to heal him self. But the price he paid was the fact that he could not dodge the electric bolt that surged through him. Shaking from the hit, he quickly used double team on a psychic impulse sent to him from Jenson. Splitting into eight images the lugia quickly lost him.

"Mandarin, Swagger!" Jenson ordered. All eight Mandarins started to wave and make faces at his opponent. Angered and confused, the lugia took flight out of the circle of slowkings.

*I'll just blast all of you! * He said in his music voice. He then fired Zap Cannon after Zap Cannon. Each sphere of electric energy just passed through the target leaving the real Mandarin unharmed. The real Mandarin smiled and hit him with an Icy Wind attack in the back. The blast of cold stunned the large bird, long enough for him to be hit with a follow up Blizzard. The storm of ice and snow blasted him back to the ground in front of his trainer.

"There is no way we are going to lose to this weakling and his dopey pokemon. Use Rain Dance, then Hydro Pump to end this!" Sliver screeched. "There's always a way," Jenson whispered as the rain started to fall. He bowed his head and closed his eyes.

[Mandarin, when he attacks, hit him with our secret attack,] Jenson sent. Mandarin stood stock still in the now heavy rain. The lugia started to pull water to his hovering form. Power started to surround Mandarin as a violet aura surrounded him. He too closed his eyes as the lugia rushed toward him in a waterspout. Suddenly he snapped his head up and his glowing eyes opened as the symbol for psychic types appeared in the red gem in his crown.

"THIRD EYE!" Jenson screamed as a huge beam of psychic energy shot from his crown, which blew the lugia out of his attack, into the wall, and into unconsciousness. Mandarin set down as Jenson walked up to him. Lila danced around them in the light sprinkling humming to her self.

"Nice job my friend," he said. *Thanks, but I don't want to fight anymore giant birds any time soon, * the slowking replied. *I'm exhausted. * "Ok, I'll remember that. I'll take you someplace relaxing around here," He said. *Thanks again, * he replied recalling him self. Jenson and Lila walked pass an annoyed Sliver who was grumbling at her recalled pokemon.

"How did I lose to a weakling like that?" They heard her cry as they left the building.

Kain watched the six trainers relax and wait for the start of the games inside of a mysterious pool. He watched Ann and Etch paint the sun setting over white city as her pokemon played on the hill they were on. He watch Isaac, Nina, V2 and the others unwind in a spa/hotel. He frowned when he saw Destiny meditating in the old stadium with her pokemon. And smiled when he saw Jared and his group look around the empty main poke cup stadium in awe. He wondered when he saw Kryis playing the violin in her room with her pokemon listening. And he smirked when he saw Jenson and his pokemon having dinner with some officer Jennies, who asked him questions about the Cherrygrove City Jenny who was his mom.

"So these are the gatherers of prophesy. I wonder if they will really make all of the difference between life and death? Whatever happens it shall be interesting," he said as his vision faded to black.

"Interesting indeed..."