Chapter 1 - New and old foes

Within the lowest floors of the Aether Foundation, there existed a large complex of secretive labs, the cold sterile white walls contrasting against the large dark cavern walls, all lit by flickering lights that let out a faint hum.

The young Master to be, Ash Ketchum crouched on a support beam, something about the Aether foundation had seemed suspicious to him, the way their leader Luscamine had talked about Pokemon had been strange, it greatly unsettled him. In all his years of travelling, he had learned that every region had its underbelly, and Team skull felt more like a distraction than any real threat. Ash had been watching one lab in particular for a while, the name on the door had caught his eye, Azoth. Something about that lab felt wrong, as though it was an affront to Arceus himself.

This lab currently had a lot of activity, scientists, grunts and researchers were hauling items out of the facility, bulky equipment, research notes and crates marked fragile, some of which rattled as a grunt lifted them onto his dolly. Ash heard an old, but familiar, high pitched voice. Turning, Ash saw someone he never thought he'd see again.

"Careful with that, this equipment is highly fragile." it was Charon, dressed in his old Galactic uniform and next to him, was that... Commander Mars, Ash definitely felt a sensation of dread, if they were going for the Sinnoh legends again, it could be disastrous.

"How's the progress coming?" spoke a new feminine voice, Lucamine elegantly strode into the corridor, commanding the attention of the Galactics.

"We're approaching completion, we should be able to depart soon." The old scientist replied.

"Excellent, I will be joining you in Sinnoh within the next few days, I trust you have everything you need?"

"Yes, we should do." Charon left shortly after this, leaving the last of the grunts to cart of the last few needed items.

Eventually, the facility was empty eerily quiet now, despite the faint hum from the lights and the occasional creaking of metal. Once Ash felt sure that they were all gone, he snuck out of his hiding spot and approached the suspicious lab. Naturally, the door was locked, but Ash wouldn't let that stop him. With a nod from his trusty partner, Pikachu leapt from his side and struck the door with a decisive Iron Tail attack which reverberated through the large chamber, shaking the place ever so subtly. Inside, the lab seemed strangely empty. A few stray papers were left laying on desks, and a stone sat on a pedestal. The rest of the room seemed deserted, for some reason, only adding to Ash's suspicions.

Most of the papers were meaningless scraps, filled with nonsensical mentions of "Infinity Energy" whatever that was supposed to mean, but one was interesting. it talks of how reality was built to balance itself, that certain systems exist to fix problems as they arrive, such as how the distortion world exists to fix issues within our world and that these forces are very strong and seem unavoidable.

Ash couldn't make much sense of this, but he does recognise the rock on the pedestal, he's not sure where from though until he reads the plack "Disturb not the harmony of fire, ice or lightning lest these titans wreak destruction upon the world in which they clash. Though the water's great guardian shall arise to quell the fighting. Alone its song will fail, thus the earth shall turn to ash..." Yeah, he'd heard that before but the name of the prophecy was new to him "The legend of Shamouti, Cinis Text" Ash didn't exactly like remembering that day, it was a painful memory, another time the world could have ended, Ash was disturbed by a voice originating behind him.

"Hey, what are you doing back there!" knowing that he was out of time, Ash turned.

"O-oh, hey there, I was jus-" Ash started to explain, then suddenly pointed towards the goon. "Pikachu, Thunderbolt!" Ash ran into the hall as the security guard flew back from the electric shock, knocking him onto the railing and rendering him unconscious. Another guard was soon chasing them and Pikachu's cheeks sparked with energy as he readied an attack. "No, don't worry about it just keep running!" he said, as Pikachu let the energy discharge and focused on running, Ash didn't want to risk getting swarmed by grunts in here. "No time for the lift," Ash commented, grabbing a Pokeball from his waist and throwing it ahead of them, as they reached the lift shaft and scoping up his partner. He leapt over the rails and onto the back of the materialising flying type. "Pidgeot, we need a quick exit," he explained, receiving an affirmative cry in response from the bird who flapped her wings, flying up the shaft and making a quick turn out of the shaft as they reached the harbour floor.

For once they actually made their escape relatively unscathed. Ash usually had a near-death experience while infiltrating evil lairs, the fact that he could identify a trend probably meant that he infiltrated too many evil lairs.

During the flight back Ash thought back on what he had seen in that lab. The notes those machines they were taking to Sinnoh, clearly, they were planning something big, probably world-destroying... again. Even more concerning, Ash was probably the only one who knew anything about it, He needed to make some calls.

Ash made his landing back at the professor's lab, Kukui had been kind to him while he had been travelling in Alola, admittedly there hadn't been much traveling to do in Alola the islands were basically just big circles to walk around, but being the site of his first league victory Ash had to admit, he grew fond of the region, but he had the feeling he'd be returning to Sinnoh soon. If Team Galactic were back that meant everyone was in danger, his friends, his mother and his Pokemon, and he might be the only one who knew anything about it.

"Ah Ash, welcome back!" Kukui greeted from the couch pen and paper in hand as Ash walked in. The professor seemed to be studying some moves from league matches.

"Alola, Professor," Ash replied, sitting down on the couch.

Kukui noticed the concerned look on Ash's face and put down his notepad, he could research latter. "What's up, Ash?" He asked the teen, who turned around in shock, having been surprised by the question.

"Uh, nothing, Professor!" he quickly lied, "Just figuring out where to go next..." Ash added, feeling guilty about the lies. "I uh… need to make a call..."

Far away on the porch of a sunny Villa Cynthia sat, relaxing. It was such a relief to be away from the stadium and all the media spotlight. She found it simply delightful just be able to sit back and relax on the deck of a villa, overlooking the quiet beach beside her property.

Suddenly the phone rang, piercing the sound of the waves crashing against the beach. With a sigh, Cynthia sighed as she reached over and picked up her mobile, Ash Ketchum? That was odd, they hadn't spoken in over a year, presumably, he had been too busy with his journey to contact her for a simple chat, then again she had heard he had just won a regional league. Perhaps he wants a battle?

"Hey, Ash." Cynthia casually greeted.

"Team Galactic is back." sounded out Ash's frantic voice.

Cynthia was instantly up, body filled with dread at the name. "W-what?"