Cutter stared at the waves lapping at the side of the boat as he absentmindedly stroked Dolos, who pressed himself against Cutter's leg, purring softly.

"Pacifidlog straight ahead," Captain Cordon called out from his spot at the wheel. Cutter's head shot up and he scanned the horizon. Sure enough, just coming into sight, was a small town. For a moment, Cutter found himself in a state of confusion. The town was… floating?

The Professor must have been reading his mind because the younger Oak said, "the town is built on rafts and logs, tethered to the ocean floor below."

Cutter nodded and stood, making his way to the front of the boat to get a better look at the town. Dolos followed behind, hissing at his trainer, wanting the petting to continue.

The town didn't appear to be very large. Then again, he didn't see how it could be. It was in the middle of the ocean. "How does it work?" Cutter asked, looking back at the Professor, but it was Cordon who answered.

"This is the calmest part of the ocean in all of Hoenn. Not a storm or current within five miles of this place. They get all of their food shipped in from the mainland. There's a population of probably five-hundred or so. A couple of good trainers have come out of here."

Cutter turned back as the town grew larger and larger, and within minutes, the boat was docking and they were climbing off the boat.

For a moment, Cutter thought that he was going to fall, but Professor Oak steadied him with a tired smile. He looked older than Cutter remembered on Mirage Island.

"The Pokemon Center is right over there," Cordon said, pointing toward a red roofed building. "I'm going to get the boat all hooked up and then I'll be over."

Cutter and the Professor made their way to the Pokemon Center as best they could. The only way to get there was by traversing swaying bridges balanced on nothing but the ocean, and more than once Cutter's foot was submerged in the warm ocean water.

Finally, after more than one dead end, Cutter and the Professor reached the Pokemon Center. They approached the sliding glass doors and made their way inside. Cutter dropped his pokemon off with the attendant at the front desk as the Professor waited behind him, wanting to drop off Pachirisu as well.

"We will announce your name when they're ready," the attendant smiled. Cutter thanked him and decided to find the cafeteria. He didn't realize just how hungry he was.

"Mr. Robinson, came a voice from behind him, "I need to speak with you." Cutter turned around and there stood one of the most powerful trainers in all of Hoenn: The Champion, May Burch. She was tall, with shoulder length brown hair and piercing gray eyes. While initially she had been a top Contest Coordinator, she turned to battling in her late twenties, and she absolutely soared. The way her pokemon battled with the grace and elegance of Contests baffled opponents, allowing her to, more often than not, sweep them without losing a pokemon. If she was a good Coordinator, she was a Masterclass Trainer. "I'm sorry to have to break up this little family reunion, but the Hoenn League has to perform an investigation first."

"If you'll just come with me," Champion May said as she turned and walked down the hall. Cutter followed behind, turning into a small conference room when she did. Champion May closed the door behind them and locked it. She paused for a moment before unlocking it and opening the door. She pulled a pokeball from her belt and released her signature pokemon, a Blaziken named Ginger. The red and cream colored fire type was tall and strong. "Guard the door. Make sure no one comes by." Ginger nodded before turning away, eyeing the hall, as if daring anyone to come along.

"So," May said, sitting down across the table from Cutter. "Well, sit." Cutter complied, even though the nerves that flowed through his body made it almost impossible.

May twirled a pokeball in between her fingers. For a moment, neither of them said anything. Finally, The Champion broke the silence. "Lionel said that you've had something like this happen before?"

Cutter just stared at her. "Lionel?"

She sighed. "Yes. Lionel Reed, the Champion of your region?"

"Ahh," Cutter breathed. "Yes. When he wanted to interview me, he put me to sleep and had his Musharna look into my mind."

"Well, that's exactly what's going to happen here." May said. "If you comply. If not, it'll happen eventually, just much more of a drawn out process with the police and more League Officials and I can ensure you have your trainee position within your League revoked."

Cutter stared at her. "I wasn't going to deny it." She started laughing.

"I know, I know. I was joking."

"Sorry," Cutter mumbled. "I haven't been around people in a while."

May smiled and reached across the table, taking his hand. "I'm not Lionel. I know how to laugh." She gave it a squeeze before letting go. Cutter smiled. "So, this is Nadia, my Hypno," May said as the yellow pokemon appeared from the Pokeball. Cutter made eye contact with the Hypno. His eyes wandered down to the Hypno's pendulum, which was "You'll wake…" and Cutter drifted off before she could finish her sentence.

xx

Cutter's eyes opened slowly as he sat up, a trail of translucent drool connecting his lip to the cold metal table he was slumped over on. He quickly wiped the spittle away and blinked the sleep out of his eyes.

"Good morning, sleepy head," May smiled from across the table.

"How long was I out?" Cutter asked, his voice scratchy. He coughed to clear his throat.

"Thirty minutes," May smiled. Ginger was posted behind her, arms crossed. "Nadia got your story and we submitted it to our Hoenn League."

"What… what happened?" Cutter asked.

"What do you mean?"

"After the Professor and I disappeared. With Tycoon," Cutter said.

"Ahh," May sighed. "Yes." She paused, staring down at the floor. Finally, she looked back up at him. "They have several strongholds in Hoenn, Johto, Kanto, Sinnoh, and Kalos that we have not been able to take down. It seems that their numbers and strength are far grander than we realized. And for every stronghold and base of theirs that we do find, there are two more that we don't know about. They are growing at an incredible rate."

There was silence for a moment as Cutter let that sink in. Tycoon was growing and not even the Leagues in the various regions were currently able to stop them. "What are you doing?" Cutter asked, sounding much more abrasive than he meant to, but he didn't care. "One of my friends died in the boat explosion a few days ago." Cutter caught himself. Really it had been a few months.

"Mr. Robinson," May said, her tone fiery and dangerous, her eyes alight with passion. "That boat explosion was several months ago. You have been gone and we have been doing our best. You have never had to deal with an organization like this before. You don't know our protocol nor the measures we have to take. We must take into account the citizens of our regions, not to mention the environment and the pokemon living there." She paused and took a breath. Cutter stared up at her, his body shaking nervously. May, while a kind-hearted woman and terrific leader and Champion, could be scary. She opened her mouth and when she spoke again, her tone was softer. "Cutter, you have to leave this up to the professionals. I understand that you are a League Trainee, but most of us have been doing this much, much longer than you."

Cutter nodded softly, his eyes downcast, fixed on smudge on the metal table.

"I was your age when I first had to deal with this as well."

Cutter looked up at her. She was gazing past him and she looked tired and worn. "Really?"

"Teams Aqua and Magma were fighting to awaken the Legendary Beasts Kyogre and Groudon. Before then, they were merely myths, rumors, forces of nature. But when they succeeded in awakening them, our region was turned over on its head. It wasn't until the mighty Rayquaza descended from the heavens and stopped their brawling." May sighed. "It may come to that again. We may have to depend upon a god-like pokemon to save us, if Tycoon succeeds."

"What do you mean if they succeed?" Cutter asked.

"I have said too much. It is up to your League to tell you, if they wish to do so." May switched the subject. "But on the topic of your friend, Natasha Lexington, correct?"

Cutter nodded.

"She's alive. She escaped the boat before it exploded. Managed to save a couple of civilians as well, while she was at it." Cutter let out a breath, a sigh of relief, and his shoulders felt like a weight had been lifted.

"Where is she now?" Cutter asked. The Gallade sitting in its Pokeball at the bottom of his backpack suddenly came back to him. He had completely forgotten about the psychic type.

"She is in Slateport, where her family lives. And your family too, now, if I'm not mistaken."

"Mossdeep, I think," Cutter murmured, his heart fluttering. Natasha was alive! He couldn't believe it.

"Ahh, yes, Mossdeep. Well, just across the ocean anyway," May smiled. "Now, I think your family wants to see you. They have had a stressful couple of months without you. It's time for you to be officially reunited."

"They're here?" Cutter asked.

"No, no. They're back home. Mossdeep, not Slateport, I've recently learned," she winked. Cutter smiled, excited to see his family again. "Planes only come here every so often, simply because this town is floating on the ocean, so a plane will come tomorrow for us." Cutter opened his mouth, but, as if she had read his mind, May continued. "It's a private League plane. Don't worry. No chance of this one being hijacked." Cutter smiled softly. "Well, I think I'm done with you. I need to speak with Professor Oak. Go get some food from the cafeteria."

xx

Cutter sat at the video phone, rolling a tiny Pokeball in his hand. Inside of it was Rillo, his Flaaffy. His stomach fluttered, filled with Butterfree as he passed the Pokeball from one hand to the other. For some reason, he was nervous to see her again. Maybe it was because she had been on her own without him for several months, or maybe it was something else. He couldn't really put a finger on it.

Finally he stood and, without putting it off any longer, released Rillo. She appeared in front of him and for a moment, they just locked gazes, neither breaking it. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Rillo leapt forward into his arms and Cutter buried his face into the thick blue wool of her neck, tears he didn't realize would come rolled down his cheeks into her fur.

"Laaa," Rillo cooed.

"I'm so sorry girl," Cutter whispered. She responded by shocking him slightly. Cutter responded by squeezing her tighter.

They stayed that way for several moments, Cutter not wanting to be the first to pull away. After a minute, Rillo was the one to break the hug.

"How are you?" Cutter asked, rubbing a stray white hair away from her neck.

The Flaaffy sighed and looked at the ground.

"Hey, it's okay. I'm here now. I'm so sorry that I wasn't with you." Cutter lifted her chin and saw her eyes, wet and watery. "No, no don't cry," Cutter whispered, pulling her close again. "You'll never be away from me like that again," Cutter promised, and he meant it. He knew that technically Lionel had not given him permission to keep all of his pokemon with him until after he got all of his badges, but he didn't care. After being apart from Rillo for so long, he never wanted to be separated from any of his team again.

When they broke apart again, Rillo was no longer crying. Instead, a smile lit up her small pink face, and Cutter couldn't help but smile back.

xx

Cutter sat by the window of his room, stroking Rillo absentmindedly as he watched as his Carvanha leapt up out of the water before diving back in again. He had requested a room on the edge rather than interior just so Carvanha could be in the water whenever Cutter was in the room. He wanted the water-type to be in the ocean as much as possible, because once they went back to Johto, there would be no more oceans for a while for the Savage pokemon to enjoy.

Cutter pulled out the Pokedex and scanned his newest member of the team, finally getting a chance to look into it.

Carvanha, the Rough Skin pokemon. Carvanha is a water and dark type pokemon. Each school has its own territory. It is said to swarm any foe that invades their territory. Cutter chuckled at that, remembering the night when the pack of Carvanha attacked him and the Professor. On their own, this pokemon suddenly turns timid. This Carvanha has the ability Rough Skin and is a male. It knows the moves Bite, Aqua Jet, Swagger, Water Gun, and Agility.

Cutter closed the Pokedex and set it on the window pane. A pretty dismal moveset, he admitted, but Carvanha was still young, and according to the bit of research he had done while on the island, Carvanha had the potential to learn a good host of moves. He wasn't too worried.

He waited for the Carvanha to leap back up out of the water before calling out for him. Carvanha swam lazily to his trainer, looking up out of the water with big, red eyes that perpetually seemed to be glaring.

"How would you feel about a nickname?" Cutter asked.

The two yellow dorsal fins on top of Carvanha's body twitched slightly and his eyes looked up, unblinking. Cutter stared back, his eyes watering. He didn't want to break the staring contest. It was important for him to be the dominant one in this relationship, and Carvanha was still looking for any weakness it could in the young trainer. Carvanha would listen to Cutter, but he hadn't exactly warmed to him. That was something Cutter wanted to work on.

Finally, Carvanha blinked, acknowledging, even a tiny, defeat, before nodding. "Perfect," Cutter sighed as he turned away and blinked furiously, trying to return some moisture to his eyes.

He had had a lot of time to think about nicknames for the water type, and he thought he had come up with the perfect one. Carvanha apparently agreed as well, which surprised Cutter. He had expected Carvanha to be much more resistant to any of Cutter's initial ideas. He smiled as he typed the new name into the Pokedex, officially registering Carvanha as "Daku."

xx

Cutter wandered out of the Pokemon Center, wanting to head to the Pokemon Mart to find a pair of thick-hide gloves so that he could touch Carvanha without losing several layers of skin in the process. He had seen May on his way out and she told him that it was four bridges straight, two platforms left, one more bridge to the right, and finally it would be there. Cutter wasn't sure what that meant, but he was sure he could find it.

He released Daku into the water and smiled as the water and dark type dove deep into the ocean. Dolos sat on his shoulder, soaking in the warm, almost hot Hoenn sun. It was much hotter here than he was used to and he was tempted to take off his vest, but then he wouldn't have anywhere on his immediate person to keep his pokeballs. He needed the quick access to them, especially with everything going on.

Cutter reached up and stroked Dolos behind the ears, the dark type purring contentedly. Soft waves lapped up onto the bridge as he made his way from one platform to the next, the water barely touching his shoes before retreating back off of the bridge.

He had just made it to the third platform when the familiar roar of a plane sounded overhead. Cutter looked up, confused, but no plane was in sight. He thought that no planes were supposed to come until tomorrow. He shrugged and kept on.

He barely made it five more steps when a resounding boom exploded out and he felt a blast of heat wash over behind him. The resulting shockwave knocked him to all fours. He whipped his head over his shoulder and saw the platform directly next to the Pokemon Center on fire. A faint whistling sounded and Cutter watched as a large red and white ball fell from the plane and struck the next platform, the one closer to him. Another explosion. Emblazoned on the side of the plane was a deep red "T" that sent chills through Cutter's spine. Tycoon.

Cutter looked around wildly, Dolos had fallen off of his shoulder when the blast had struck. His eyes settled on the small dark type and he promptly returned him to his Safari Ball.

Cutter quickly sent out Nostradamus and Silver and called Daku up from the ocean's depths. Immediately, a wave of calm washed over him and Cutter silently thanked Nos for the assistance. Silver pressed the crest of his shell against Cutter's leg and Cutter rapped his knuckles against the rock type's shell in thanks. Silver rumbled in response.

"Silver and Daku, go put out the fires on the other platforms," Cutter commanded. "And Daku, make sure Silver doesn't fall in." Daku blinked in response before ducking back under the water, just a shadow under the surface. But he stayed close to the platforms as Silver made his way to the fires, making sure the rock type was safe. Well, Cutter admitted, safe might be a stretch. Making sure he didn't fall in, that was a better bet. Daku probably didn't care for Silver too much. Hell, Daku didn't even care for Cutter that much.

Cutter pushed the thoughts from his mind as he released Quagsire. At the same time, another whistle sounded out, this one much closer than the last. Cutter spun around in time to see another red and white bomb falling towards their platform.

Quagsire loosed a blast of water, launching the bomb, which Cutter realized now was either a Voltorb or Electrode, he couldn't tell which, back towards the plane, missing narrowly. The electric pokemon exploded in mid-air.

"Thanks Quagsire," Cutter smiled. "That's your jobs," he said, turning to Quagsire and Nostradamus. "Make sure no more bombs make contact."

Yes Father, Nos thought.

"Quwaa," Quagisre gurgled.

"But at the same time, try and knock that plane out of the sky."

Cutter glanced up at the plane to see a figure descending from it, falling rather quickly. At the last second the figure flipped forward and landed on the same platform Cutter was on. The man was tall and muscular and Cutter recognized him oh so clearly. Titus.

When Titus saw who it was his grimace turned upwards. "So we meet again," he snarled. Cutter looked around for May, hoping the Champion would come to help him.

As if reading his mind, Titus said, "Hoping for someone to save you? I'm afraid that won't be happening. Two of our other Officers are handling her right now."

Cutter gulped, believing that the brutish man was not bluffing.

"So," Titus drawled. Do you want to talk, or do you want to battle?"

Cutter stood his ground, trying to put off the battling as long as possible. His pokemon had won the battle last time, but Titus had been in a rush to leave. He didn't know if he could win a second time. "We have your pokemon." Titus's angry face turned into one of confusion, so Cutter continued. "Your Pachirisu." From confusion, to anger. "I didn't know a big man like yourself could have such a dainty and cute pokemon. Cutter didn't think it possible, but the man's face grew even more outraged.

"I left it behind, didn't I? It didn't do its job, and I left it behind. It's a useless pokemon."

Anger flared inside of Cutter, and even the pulsating red fury that Nos was radiating only furthered the feeling.

"Let's battle," Cutter snarled as he released Arbok, Patriot, and Rillo. Then, after a moment of consideration, let out Dolos as well, but held the small dark type in his arms.

Titus laughed and let out the same Manectric, Linoone, and Cacturne as before, then following them came a large water type that Cutter knew as Whiscash that slipped into the water, which Quagsire quickly followed, a huge flying type that Cutter didn't recognize, and a Solrock.

Nos, can you help pass my commands onto them?

Yes, Father.

And let me know if Quagsire is in trouble.

Yes, Father.

Then, all hell broke loose. Patriot, not easily forgetting Titus from the Tycoon base leapt forward, swinging an Iron Tail at the Linoone, which was intercepted by a spinning Solrock. Cutter watched briefly as Patriot grappled with the psychic type before turning his attention to Rillo, who was launching Thunderbolts at the flying type, who was dodging all of them, if only barely, before launching Air Slashes back at Rillo.

Arbok was wrapped around the Linoone, squeezing without abandon as the Linoone snapped and snarled at the poison type. The Linoone finally wriggled free and lashed out with a Shadow Claw that tore several protective scales from Arbok's hide. Arbok hissed and reared back, unfolding her hood. Linoone took one look and was entranced, swaying back and forth in time with Arbok. Then, out of nowhere, the flying type slammed into Arbok, throwing it into the water, and Manectric blasted it with a thunderbolt.

Cutter screamed "NO" and ran towards the edge of the platform, fumbling with Arbok's Great Ball. Finally, with hands shaking, he returned the sinking poison type.

He turned back to see Nostradamus struggling to hold off both the Manectric and the Linoone. Cutter's team was outnumbered. Silver and Daku were fighting fires two platforms away. He glanced over and it seemed that Silver and Daku were fighting a losing battle. The fires were still roaring on the second platform, and the third platform away had begun to sink into the ocean.

"SILVER, DAKU!" Cutter screamed. The fires would have to wait. He could only hope that the two pokemon could hear him. It was at that moment that he realized that Dolos was missing as well.

Manectric leapt over Nostradamus who was busy subduing Linoone with a psychic, and all at once, Cutter was alone with the electric type. He could no longer worry about Dolos. He had to worry about himself. The pokemon crept towards him with an odd smile on its face.

Manectric's maw opened and its teeth were enveloped in an electric energy. It hunched back on powerful legs, ready to pounce. It leapt forward, and Cutter threw an arm up over his head, as if that would help, but the Thunder Fang never came.

Cutter opened his eyes to see Quagsire grappling with the Manectric. Tears of gratitude flooded Cutter's eyes as Quagsire fought to gain the upper hand, all of Manectric's electric type attacks bounced harmlessly off of Quagsire's blubbery blue body.

Cutter looked up as a water gun from the ocean connected with the flying type. He looked back to find Daku launching Water Gun after Water Gun at the various opposing pokemon, but focusing mainly on the assaulter coming from the air.

Cutter looked back to the battle, hope starting to rise in his chest. The flying type, weighed down with all of the water from Daku's attacks, was starting to slow, its Air Slashes missing wildly.

Cutter pumped his arm as one of Rillo's Thunderbolts, strengthened by the water soaking the flyer, connected, sending it plummeting to the platform below.

But his hope was short lived. Solrock had Patriot encased in a psy energy bubble, the fighting type unable to move. Rillo, about to fire another Thunderbolt at the fallen flying type, was laid out by a Sucker Punch from the Cacturne, who up until now had been by its trainers side.

The two of them began to grapple, Rillo's electric type attacks doing next to no damage to the grass type.

A roar of reds and oranges flared up in Cutter's mind and he found himself both angrier than before, but also more open. He recognized it as Nostradamus's Miracle Eye. Cutter's eyes rolled back in his head, and he could no longer see the battle, only feel it through Nostradamus, as an extension of himself.

The dark type, previously unknown to The King, was picked up and slammed into the platform with such force that it broke through the wood slates and fell into the ocean below.

Nostradamus turned his attention to the psychic type assaulting The Playful One. Focusing all of his energy, he blasted a ball of ghostly energy, shocking Father who did not know that The King knew how to do that, slamming into the psychic and rock type, giving The Playful One enough of a window to escape. The King left his focus on The Playful One just long enough to see an Iron Tail slam into the opposition. The King could feel that The Playful One would win that fight.

The King passed over the flying type who was easily being overtaken by The Lightning, the one who should evolve but hasn't. It puzzled The King, but now was not the time to focus on that.

The Protector was battling with the normal type that The King had been fighting with previously, but The Protector could take care of it on his own. He would not appreciate if The King stepped in. Besides, The King now had much more to focus on.

The Jaws was fighting an even footed battle in the water with the pokemon of the same typing as The Oblivious One. No, that was not what The King needed to focus on. From one of the Black Aura'ed humans Pokeballs came a huge, angry pokemon, one that The King had no previous knowledge of. But The King knew that it would take everything he had in order to take it down.

But, from within The King came a pulling from The Father. The Illusion needed to be found and brought back to Father. The King switched focus quickly, scanning the platform, the Miracle Eye still in full effect, but fading, The King could tell. He could only keep the ability up for so long. Finally, his inner eye settled on the small dark type who had taken on the look of the normal type and was trying to get close to the human with the black aura. The King knew that could only end poorly. The Illusion was smart, but untrained. With a long-reaching Psychic, The King grabbed the tiny dark type and weaved him in and out of broken boards and brawling pokemon, setting the transformed Illusion back into Father's hands.

The King turned his focus back to the brute across the platform, the brute that towered over the human with the black aura by at least two of the human, that towered over even The King by several feet, and The King was tall. He had grown considerably recently.

The King disconnected the Miracle Eye. It was wearing him down and he knew that he would not need it to fight the giant. It was not of the dark typing.

Cutter slouched to his knees, his eyes rolling forward. Dolos was back in his hands. How did that happen? He looked around the platform, struggling to focus on the battle that ensued, but what finally drew his eye was a giant of a pokemon in front of Titus. Cutter gasped when he saw it. It was a Steelix, but it wasn't. It was a Steelix like he had never seen before. Where Steelix usually had thick, metallic stumps sticking out if its body, instead this Steelix had pink and yellow crystals, just as thick as usual. Its jaw was extended and sharpened more than the typical Steelix and there were strange blue circles along its body. Bits of rock and crystal floated around it, almost like it was a small planet. Staring it down was Nostradamus.

Something wasn't right about that pokemon, and Cutter didn't want Nostradamus to try and challenge it.

Father, I must, Nostradamus thought to him. A wave of calm flowed from the psychic and normal type, but it did nothing to help him. Then, their Mind Link was gone.

Nos, Cutter thought. NOS! But the thought echoed emptily in his head.

Nostradamus bound forward, throwing bits of wood and rock out of his way with his psychic abilities as he sprinted towards his biggest challenge ever. Cutter fumbled with Nos's Premier Ball, but the red beam of light couldn't connect with the Girafarig. Too much debris was in the way.

Damn it, Cutter thought as he began to run after Nostradamus.

"Your Girafarig is brave, boy. Shame I'm going to have to kill it. I could have made some good money off of it," Titus laughed.

From the corner of his eye, Cutter watched as the Solrock that Patriot had been grappling with fly into view, slamming into Titus. Titus fell and did not get up again. The Steelix did not notice that its trainer had fallen. Instead, with a huge, crystal tail, it swung out, tearing a huge gash in the wooden floor of the platform. Nostradamus leapt over the tail, assisted by his psychic ability before launching what Cutter thought was an attempt at Focus Blast at the Steelix, but it was small and missed wildly, flying straight up into the air instead.

The Steelix course corrected and flicked its tail upwards, connecting with a sickening crunch with Nos's midsection, launching Nos into the air. Nos fell and, with yet another crunch, Steelix's tail slammed Nos out towards the ocean.

"Quagsire!" Cutter screamed, pointing wildly at Nos as his partner skidded across the surface of the ocean before beginning to sink into the churning waters.

Quagsire threw the Manectric off of him and bounded to the edge of the platform. Manectric leapt forward and, with an Ice Fang, grabbed Quagsire's tail and pulled him away.

Cutter was panicking. With quick, heavy breaths, Cutter ran to the edge of the platform, kicking off his shoes as he ran, noticing that the gash in the platform had started to let in water. It wouldn't be long before it sank. Cutter ignored the icy cold of the ocean and dove in, swimming wildly towards where he thought Nos was.

Cutter felt a burst of water speed past him, but he didn't look up. He didn't have time. He had to get to Nos. He ignored the burning in his lungs that begged him for air and kept on.

Finally, he couldn't hold it anymore. He lifted his head up and grabbed a breath. He was halfway between the two sinking platforms and had no idea where Nos was. He swung his head around wildly, trying to find a landmark or something, anything that would signal where his pokemon was.

From the corner of his eye, Cutter saw a flash of white. Cutter kicked towards it as fast as he could, his legs burning with exhaustion. It was Nostradamus. But how? Cutter pushed the question from his mind and returned the Girafarig.

That's when he saw it. Daku. Daku had been pushing Nos to the surface. Daku had been the burst of water that sped past him as he swam towards Nos. It had been Daku. Cutter reached out and laid a thankful hand on the water and dark type, ignoring the burning of torn skin that Daku's Rough Skin ability awarded him.

Daku shook slightly and Cutter caught the message. He grabbed onto Daku's twin yellow dorsal fins and the Carvanha sped him back to the platform, back to, relative, safety.

Cutter clambered back onto the platform and thanked Daku before turning away. He then turned back, but Daku was gone, speeding away towards the behemoth of a Steelix, firing water guns as he went.

Cutter's pokemon had effectively taken down the rest of Titus's pokemon, and they were all now focused on their final and greatest challenge.

Quagsire and Silver worked together to blind the steel type, Quagsire launching Mud Bombs and Silver blasting Sandstorms into the behemoth's eyes. Patriot leapt around Steelix's body like a jungle gym, landing Brick Break after Brick Break into every part of Steelix that he could. Rillo was throwing Thunderbolts at Steelix's gaping maw and Daku loosed Water Guns at every opportunity.

But still, even with all of his pokemon working together, they were still fighting a losing battle. Steelix's body twisted just as Patriot landed on a new metallic segment, sending the Passimian to the ground. The steel type followed with a hefty Iron Tail that would have taken out Patriot had Daku not fired a water gun that connected with the fighting type, throwing him out of the way. The Iron Tail connected with the platform and a tremor rippled across it, throwing Cutter to the ground as more water gushed in from the gashes in the platform.

Then, out of nowhere, a Blaziken that wasn't quite a Blaziken leapt into the fray. It moved with speed unlike anything Cutter had ever seen, and even though his eyes couldn't quite follow it, he still couldn't look away.

He couldn't look away until May appeared silently behind him. She laid a hand on his shoulder and he jumped. When he saw that it was just her, he calmed, although his heart-rate refused to slow.

"Return your pokemon," she commanded. She was no longer the giggling girl he had chatted with earlier that day. She was a Champion in charge.

"What's up with those pokemon?" he asked, gesturing towards the brawling pokemon that did not look quite right.

"I'll explain later. Return your pokemon. I have to get you out of here." Her voice was unwavering and Cutter complied immediately, his pokemon protesting as they disappeared into their pokeballs.

Her Hypno Nadia appeared silently next to them. Then, with an odd tugging and the feeling that he might vomit, Cutter disappeared from the platform.

They reappeared just a second later, and Cutter fell to his knees, coughing and trying not to throw up.

"It will pass," May muttered, her mind other places.

Finally, once Cutter felt as if he would not lose the contents of his stomach, he spoke. "What happened out there? Where are we? Who…"

May cut him off. I'll explain shortly. I have to go. And then, with no noise or flash of light, her Hypno transported the two of them away, leaving Cutter alone with Dolos.

He pushed himself up to his feet and set the dark type on the floor, but commanded him, "stay with me. Do not run off."

Dolos nodded and rubbed against his trainer, purring at him.

Cutter looked around, taking in his surroundings for the first time. He was in a giant hall completely undecorated except for a single desk at the far end, next to a giant set of beautiful wooden double doors. Sitting at the desk was a woman. She had not noticed Cutter or the scene that had just transpired with the Champion. She was busy typing something furiously on the computer.

He made his way to her and, when he was close enough, called out, "hello?"

She jumped slightly and let out an "oh" before standing up and regaining her composure. "How did you get in here?" Cutter noticed that her hand was on a pokeball at her waist.

"May brought me here. I was in Pacifidlog when Tycoon attacked." Suddenly, Cutter felt very tired and a wave of exhaustion washed over him.

"I see," the woman said as she brought him a chair. Have a seat."

"Can I heal my pokemon," Cutter asked, remembering Nostradamus being thrown across the ocean by the giant Steelix that wasn't quite a Steelix.

"Yes, yes. Give them to me, I can take them to our resident staff of Nurses and Doctors," the woman said. "I'm Dot, by the way," she added as she took his Pokeballs, leaving him with just Dolos.

She scurried away, opening the giant double doors and Cutter called out, "the Girafarig in the Premier Ball. He's hurt." Dot nodded in understanding and disappeared.

After a few minutes, Dot came back and told him his pokemon would be alright. Other than that, she wouldn't tell him anything, not even where they were. It wasn't under her jurisdiction, she informed him. He figured they were in Ever Grande City, the home of Hoenn's Elite Four and Pokemon League, but he couldn't be sure.

He was going stir crazy. He tried sitting, and standing, and pacing, but nothing was really working. After a while Cutter asked Dot if there was anywhere that he could train Dolos, and she led him through the double doors to a small practice field.

To keep his mind off of everything, he worked with Dolos. They didn't work on any new moves, instead focusing on stamina and increasing the power of current moves. Since Dolos was a dark type, he didn't have any of the troubles that Bellow had when learning Feint Attack, and Dolos had it mastered without a mentor. It just wasn't terribly strong. Their biggest obstacle was Ember. It was the weakest of all of his moves because Dolos wasn't fire type as well, and Ember was just a weak move in general. Eventually they would work it enough for it to become Flamethrower, but for now they just needed to improve it for what it was.

xx

Several hours later, Cutter and Dolos were laying on the floor of the practice room, completely exhausted, when May walked in. There were bags under her eyes and a large burn on her left arm. She definitely looked worse for wear, but still, when she spoke, there was a sort of joyful charisma to her. She knew that as the Champion she had to keep up that façade of hope for her people.

"Mr. Robinson," she said, holding up her hand before Cutter could say anything. "I will explain." And she did. Tycoon had known that both May and the younger Professor Oak would be in Pacifidlog that day. They also knew that her protection would be limited because of certain, previously thought secret, movements going on in the north of Hoenn by the other four members of the Elite Four that required more man power. Champion May suspected a leak in their intel. Everyone in The League would have to be investigated. Tycoon expected a much more overwhelming success against May and the Professor and, May told him, it was largely thanks to Cutter that they did not experience one. He had taken one of their main officers and diverted his attention. Otherwise May would have had to deal with three, not two, and the Steelix would have come out much sooner. Titus had not seen Cutter as a true threat and, as a result, saved Steelix. He never expected Cutter to prevail against his pokemon.

"And that Steelix?" Cutter asked. "And your Blaziken?"

May paused, considering her words. "Mega Evolution. Have you ever heard of it?"

Cutter thought, maybe the words had passed him by at some point, but he had no information on it. "No," he answered.

"Well," May began. "Certain pokemon are capable of Mega Evolving. It's like evolution, but it is much, much more powerful than your average evolution, and it is only temporary."

"Temporary?" Cutter interrupted.

"Yes. Once the battle ends, the pokemon reverts back to its original form. It is not permanent. But these super-powered evolutions are not accessible to just anyone. You need both a Key Stone and a Mega Stone. Key Stones are held by the trainer and are used to trigger the evolution. Mega Stones are held by the pokemon and react to the Key Stone. Key Stones can trigger any Mega Evolution, but each pokemon has to have a specific Mega Stone. Like my Blaziken has to have a Blazikenite in order to Mega Evolve. If my Blaziken was holding a Steelixite, then it wouldn't work. Not to mention you have to have an extremely tight bond with the pokemon in order for it to work. Not every Blaziken is capable of Mega Evolving."

There was a pause before Cutter said, "Mega Evolution. Wow."

May nodded. "It is extremely powerful. We did not expect for anyone in Tycoon to be able to yield that type of power. They are much more powerful than expected. We are going to have to be extremely careful, yet we need to start making much more tactical and calculated attacks. We cannot continue sitting around." May bit her lip, deep in thought, apparently having forgotten that Cutter was there. He could only imagine how much stress he was under.

"So only Pacifidlog was targeted today?" Cutter asked, his parents in mind.

"Yes," May replied, his question bringing him back to reality. This was a concentrated attack. The rest of Hoenn is fine."

Her watch beeped and she examined it before looking up at Cutter. "Some people are here to see you."

Cutter followed the Champion through the double doors, Dolos at his heels, into the giant hall once more. Standing in front of the desk, a face stained with tears was his mother and next to him, with much drier eyes, his father.

"CUTTER!" Mrs. Robinson screamed, throwing her arms around Cutter and squeezing the breath out of him. He returned the hug as best he could and weathered it, knowing he owed at least that to his mother. He hadn't spoken to her in months. He suspected that they thought he was dead. Having a son come back to life, that must be a wild ride to go through. And then hearing that your son was involved in a giant, life threatening battle the day after he was found to be alive? That couldn't be good for his parents health.

Finally, she let go, and his father took her place. After a minute, he didn't know if the tears were his own or his father's, but he didn't care. His mother joined in, and Dolos, not wanting to miss out on the action, scampered up Cutter's leg and perched on his shoulder, watching curiously what was going on. Even though Hoenn, Johto, and the world at large was at war, Cutter was happy in this tiny moment. It might, he figured, be the last glimpse of happiness he might have with his family for a while.