"THIS ISN'T POSSIBLE!" Remus shouted to Harry over the roaring wind and pounding rain. He'd been offered the safety of below deck, where most of their party had taken refuge, but had refused. He claimed to Lance it was because he didn't want to let Harry out of his sight, fearing he'd be swept overboard by a rogue wave, but Harry had a feeling it was because Remus didn't want anyone to see him getting violently ill from the violent rocking of the ship. Already his guardian had heaved into the churning ocean his break, lunch, and most likely the dinner he'd have in a few hours, pleading the entire time with Reuniclus to not let go with his psychic grip. "THIS CAN'T BE REAL!" Remus shouted.

All around them was a wall of rain that lashed down so violently that any that had tried to stand under the clouds would have been torn to shreds by the torrents of rain. Of course it would have been impossible for any sailor to have gotten this far as the ocean currents had turned into swirling eddies that were determined to drive anything and anyone that attempted to cross them back the way they had came. The very sea itself had decided to drive off all interlopers and cordon off a section of itself from all but those who were worthy to travel upon it.

Harry, it seemed, had been deemed worthy.

The Black Fin, the boat Jonas had chosen for this trip, cut through the water. While the waves were stille very rough they were nothing like what surrounded them. Harry at times could see the ocean rise up around them at one time he saw a wave so large it hurt his neck to look at it. He'd thought for sure they were goners but then some force had caused the wave to ebb out until it was just hard choppy white… until it reached the other side of the boat, at which point it rose up once more like a mountain. The weather was better on their path as well. The storm roared around them but for them not a drop of rain touched the deck and the swirling currents turned into a fast rip tide that drove the boat all the faster towards their destination. The only water that splashed on them was from the seafoam crashing against the sides of the boat as it cut through the sea. Harry gripped the rail and looking above him, watching the clouds as they slowly parted, revealing the shining sun. They were in a bubble of safety while all around them the ocean was a maelstrom of danger and death.

Sirius, Jasmine, Jonas, Lance, and Clair had all decided to stay below deck while Harry and Remus s stood watching it all (well, Remus leaned over the rail and puked).

As for Jack…

"Sun is shinin' in the sky! There ain't a cloud in sight!" the Father of Johto sang as he stood at the wheel, laughing as he piloted The Black Fin towards a destination only he knew how to get to. Even without the storm it probably would have been impossible for anyone else to find their current path, as Jack Kenway was the only living human to make it to their final stop.

The Whirl Islands.

"It's stopped rainin', everybody's in a play and don't you know? It's a beautiful new day, hey hey!" He spun the wheel and the boat lurched to the left, Remus letting out a groan.

"We close Jack?" Harry called out, rubbing Remus' back as his guardian groaned.

Jack looked down and grinned, treating this all like a pleasure cruise. "We should be, though it's hard to tell at times!" Jack called out. "The island moves!"

"It moves?" Remus asked only to double over again and dry heave.

"As far as I can tell it does! Last time I was there I watched the sky and the stars definitely moved. For a few days I saw constellations that you can only spot from Unova. Then Alola! Could just be the island's magic altering what I saw, to make it harder to find it again without permission, or it just actually shift around. Never bothered to asked, as I figured my Master would let me know when he was good and ready."

Harry shook his head. "And you're sure we're welcome to visit?"

"If we weren't we'd have been shoved back already. Or worse! I think he's interested in you!" Jack suddenly laughed. "And he's been listening! LAND HO!" Harry looked towards the bow of the ship and though he knew mentally that when he'd last looked only moments ago there had been nothing but choppy waters he saw now that there was a large island with two massive mountain peaks jutting up from his forested surface. The sun seemed to shine all the brighter as Jack killed the engine, letting The Black Fin be eased in by the very ocean itself. He left his post and stuck his head below deck to call out to the others before hurrying over to Harry and clapping a hand on his shoulder. "Welcome to the Whirl Islands, Harry."

"Why is it called the Whirl Islands where there is only one of them?" Remus asked, wiping his mouth with his shirt sleeve. Sirius, who was first to arrive back on the deck, tossed him a water bottle before moving to help Jonas bring up their bags. Remus took a large swig, swishing it in his mouth before spitting it overboard.

"Who said it was only one?" Jack said with a teasing grin, taking a duffle from Lance and slinging it over his shoulder. The boat shifted as the current, against all sense of logic, lightly turned them until the boat came to rest as a natural rocky outcrop that served a 'dock'. "Hold all questions for a few days… and keep an open mind." He tapped his head. "This place tends to…" He wiggled his eyebrows and vaulted over the rail, motioning for the others to join him.

"That explains so much about the madman," Remus muttered, Jasmine shooting him a dirty look. "Kidding!"

"Besides, he's always been mad," Lance.

Harry grabbed his own back, motioning for Hedwig, who'd finally emerged from below deck to take flight, and without a word moved to follow Jack.

The walk along the beach had been easy enough and the path through the forest was winding but, thankfully, rather clear. Despite the island appearing to be an unspoiled paradise the path was like one a trainer might find in a safari zone and it made their walk smooth as they wove their way through the dense foliage and up the sloping hill. Jack had taken the lead, warning them that so long as they stayed on the path they would be safe.

"You mean there are things that could hurt us here?" Sirius asked.

"Yeah but that isn't what you need to worry about," Jack stated.

Clair frowned, not liking how her husband was being less than forthcoming with information. "And what SHOULD we worry about?"

The Father of Johto rubbed his chin. "The path… isn't really here. Or it is but only because we need it. You go wandering off into the brush and I can't guarantee you'd find it again." Turning and seeing the blank states Jack rolled his eyes in annoyance. "It's Mirkwood, okay?"

"…huh?" Harry said.

"Mirkwood. Realm of Thranduil? The Hobbit? No one else read it?"

"No."

"No."

"Nope."

"No."

"Sorry."

"Nope."

"Sorry Jack."

"…bloody savages," Jack growled, turning away from them and picking up the pace a bit.

Jasmine chuckled. "You can tell us all about the wee folk later, da… how about cluing us in on where we are headed. We camping out here?"

"Not camping," Jack said. "We'll have a roof over our head." He crested the hill and paused, a grin blossoming on his face. The others came behind him and froze, gaping as they stared down at the valley before them. Bursting through the tree line, which was impressive on its own, with each rocky side of the valley anchoring it, stood a massive stone temple. There were no sign of gems or jewels or things of cloth upon it but such decorations would have been unneeded for such a structure. Its size alone was all the grandeur it needed. Even though the great stone structure was far below them just staring at it made Harry feel as if he were very small. Its strength and might, which came not so much from the design but from the sheer weight of the ages that radiated off of it, demanded the attention of all and it got it from each of them as they stood on the hill. This was something from a lost era, something locked away by time. It deserved respect.

"My friends," Jack said softly, almost reverently, "I give you the Hall of Speakers."

Harry remembered little of the walk down the hill and towards the Hall. It felt to him as if in one moment he was staring down at the structure and the next it was looming over him like some primordial colossus. Walking through the high stone doorway felt like entering a portal to another world and Harry adjusted the straps of his backpack and the handle of his suitcase a touch harder, needing something to ground him as his feet tapped against the old stone bricks that made up the Hall's floor. Jack led them with ease through the first wide hall, sunlight shining through open windows cut right out of the stone and illuminating small clouds of dust that hung in the air and plants that had managed to wiggle their way through cracks and crevices so they might adorn the ancient rock. Jack paused at a doorway before, without saying a word, nodding to them all and plunging through it. Harry was the first to follow and he nearly cried out when he found that the floor changed from a level plane to a spiraling stone stairway. It was only Lance's quick thinking and deft hands that saved him from a tumble. Harry gave his thanks before continuing on, ignoring Hedwig, who had flown back down to join them and was currently sitting on Mumik's back as he brought up the rear, who laughed at him. Down and down the group walked, the air growing cooler and the world about them darker with every step. Harry moved to release Ludwig but Jack turned suddenly and grabbed his hand, shaking his head almost violently.

"Only the Master of the Hall can grant permission for a Pokémon to be released here," Jack whispered. "Hedwig, Xena, and Mumik are the only ones allowed for now."

"Then grant permission for others," Remus said, squinting in the dark.

Jack glanced at the other man and smirked. "I would... but I'm not the Master." He turned and, as if summoned by his next step, glowing blue light slowly began to pulse from what had been hidden openings in the stairway's walls. "I merely was invited here."

"Then... Lugia?" Harry asked.

"I am only the Modern Master of Speakers. My Master, the ancient and eternal master, holds domain here."

"Well," Lance said dryly, "only you would lead us into a temple controlled by a legendary, Jack. Let's hope he doesn't find us tumbling down stairs to be funny."

It felt as if they were traveling to the center of the earth. The air became colder and colder and the walls became slick with dew; oddly though the stairs did not and none of them were threatened with falling, not after Harry's near-tumble. At times the stairway would straighten out and level off and they would be in a hallway but Jack would always press on, never even glancing at one of the many dark rooms that bordered them on both sides. He merely pressed on down these halls before reaching the next stairway or, to be more accurate, the continuation. The blue light grew stronger and as they continued down Harry heard a faint sound that soon grew into a distant roar. Sirius muttered something about water and Harry realized that they were actually well below sea level. He would learn, much later on, that they had actually long left the island proper and were under the ocean, the mysticism of the Hall sealing it against the crushing depths.

Finally, after what felt like hours Harry stepped foot on cold wet stone and found no more stairs to descend. Instead all that waited him was a short hall, though with no other rooms on either side, another opened doorway... and a massive, illuminated ritual chamber. Jack placed a finger to his lips and motioned for them to drop their packs. Sirius looked about ready to burst, wanting to ask questions, but managed to remain silent and join the others in dropping off his suitcase and bag. Only then did Jack nod and, silently, lead them into the chamber.

At once Harry was reminded of the Chamber of the Unkown. The Chamber of the Speakers, as he would also learn later one was the room's name, was made of rock as well and felt as if it had been lifted also from some ancient time and plopped into the modern world. But where the Chamber of the Unown had felt like some wizard's sanctum the Chamber of the Speakers made Harry think of a lost religion's holy sanctum. The Chamber was circular and as they walked through the door Harry saw that what he'd thought was a hallway was actually a covered bridge that cut right through the massive waterfall that surrounded the entire chamber. The waters were clearly pounding down into the swirling water below but Harry found it all rather quiet; one might have expected to be deafened by the noise but instead he could hear his own feet striking the stone floor as Jack lead them towards the center of the Chamber floor. This too was decorated with strange runes and graphics that Harry did not understand, all of which pulsed with the same blue light as the stairwell. Glancing up Harry found it impossible to see the ceiling through the darkness above, which only contributed to the feeling that he'd left Earth behind and ended up in an alien world.

Jack held up a hand, motioning for them all to stop, before he took a step forward and, in a clear voice, stated, "I, Jack Alexander Kenway, have returned."

Nothing happened for several moments and then, to Harry's shock, a dark shadow appeared in the waterfall before the massive form of Lugia burst through. Harry felt himself tremble as he stared up at the giant Pokémon, eyes wide and unblinking as he took him in. Lugia's pale white body shone in the blue flickering lights and his massive, hand-like wings flapped several times before he settled himself down before them. The Legendary Pokémon brought his serpentine neck down, his stare holding each of them in place, and Harry was struck by the depth and wisdom that could be clearly seen in those eyes. Jack had called him the Ancient Master and Harry suddenly wanted to know all that Lugia had seen and what he thought of this world that man and Pokémon had created. Jack, like a pilgrim coming face to face with his god, fell to his knees and bowed his head in supplication.

"So you have, my student," Lugia said, his voice a rumbling, grumbling sound like stones rubbing against one another. "And yet I sense you have more to say than welcome and hello."

Jack didn't mince words. "I come for two purposes, Master. To repent and to present those I have trained to learn under you, so they might finish their training. My child, my brother, and my newest student."

"Hmmm... repent you say?" Lugia's head twisted and he looked not at Jack but the others. "What has he done?" Lugia asked Harry and the others. They were silent, startled, and Harry nearly started when he saw Lugia actually roll his eyes. "Come now, come now... you wish to be Speakers but can not speak even in your tongue?"

Clair stepped forward. "When I was harmed by a Pokémon controlled by a… creature… that has targeted the region of Avalon my husband attacked it, using his Speaking ability to try and force it to kill himself."

Lugia narrowed his eyes at her, his great head rushing forward, over Jack until he was nearly touching Clair. The Lady of Kenway didn't budge and stared him down. "So hostile so quickly? I have not judged him… yet."

"When one is attacked the other moves to defend," Clair said without flinching. "I understand that he has broken one of your rules but when it comes to us no law matters save one: We are Pack… we defend our own."

Harry watched Jack cringe.

Lugia, however, merely huffed. "You are as stubborn as my student." He slowly pulled away until he was able to stare at Jack freely once more. "So you have abused our gifts and tried to do the unthinkable. But you understand why what you did was wrong… and offer no excuse."

"Yes, my master," Jack said humbly.

"Then you shall repent as such: aiding me in the task I will undertake concerning these three… and when the moment is right… you will put away your fear and embrace who you were born to be." Jack flinched at that but before Harry could ponder what that meant Lugia had turned his gaze on him. "Harry Potter… step forward."

The young man stared at Lugia, shocked the legendary knew his name, but he quickly mustered his courage and moved to stand parallel with Jack. After a moment an urge hit him and he knelt beside the Father, bowing his head. He could feel the great winged Pokémon's gaze on him, judging him and weighing his very soul. He did his best not to wiggle or twitch but to instead allow Lugia to do whatever it was he had to do before he could decide Harry's fate.

"You are a magnus," Lugia said. It wasn't a question.

"Yes. I've bonded with Hedwig, my Hoothoot." He nodded to just behind him where his clever bird had decided that Mumik, who was also bowing to Lugia, was no longer a fun perch and was now resting on Sirius' shoulder.

"And now you seek to master what my student calls 'The Art of Speaking'?"

Harry nodded. "I know it is unheard of for one to learn more than one Art-"

"What do you think of prophecy?"

Harry's words stumbled on his tongue at the sudden change in topic. He glanced at Jack who looked just as startled then at the rest of the group who could only continue to look at Lugia, they themselves offering no help as to why Lugia had made such a comment. So Harry found his only choice was to answer honestly. "I think prophecies are a dangerous thing." Lugia gave him a look of intrigue and Harry, emboldened, continued. "Remus, my guardian, told me the story of Oedipus last year. Both he and his birth father fought to defy a prophecy only for their actions to make it come true."

"So you believe it set in stone? That fate has determined each of our destinies?"

"No," Harry said, shaking his head. "Because I also know that there have been people who have twisted prophecies purely to get them to fit them and their situations. Finding even the most unlikely of reasons to justify their actions by claiming it a matter of prophecy or that they are the ones spoken of in said prophecies when it is clear to all but them that they are just grasping at straws. I... I don't claim for a second I am smart enough to know if a prophecy is true or not... but I am smart enough to know to be careful when it comes to them."

Lugia, after several long moments, finally nodded his head. "Then you are wiser than most. It is unwise to dismiss a prophecy but also unwise to let it govern you completely."

"Exactly," Harry said in agreement, still wondering where this was going.

"Did you know that there is a prophecy concerning my student?"

Jack winced (which he seemed to be doing a lot of) at that but Harry nodded. "Cynthia, his friend, told me. She said that on some distant battle field where heroes lie and when knights battle spirits someone with the blood of the House of Ironside would rise up and reforge the Line of Kings. It is called 'The Promise'." He looked at Jack, who was clearly very uncomfortable with this line of talk. "I know that Jack doesn't believe the prophecy is about him."

"Doesn't believe... or hopes it isn't," Lugia rumbled, glaring down at the Father of Johto. "Still, perhaps he is right. Perhaps the conditions have not been met. Perhaps in his next life." Lugia murmured to himself for a moment before locking eyes with Harry once more. "Did you know there is a prophecy concerning the one you battle now and seek to defeat? The Spiritomb that calls himself Voldemort?" Harry shook his head and Lugia shifted his great bulk, wings flexing as he spoke. "I'm not surprised... I imagine Voldemort, if he has heard it, would not want it known. The prophecy in question was given by Morgana Le Fay herself on the eve of her final departure from Avalon to the one known as Merlin. He had lamented his failure to defeat Voldemort, only able to seal him away, and feared for the world. Merlin was old at that point and knew that he would soon move on to the next great adventure. He was afraid though that the world would be unable to defend itself against the likes of Voldemort when he was gone. Le Fay was then touched by something... from beyond this world. Something even beyond myself. She gave the prophecy only to two: Merlin himself at that quiet dinner, just the two of them... and to me, when she stood where you stand now and begged me to make sense of what she had learned." Harry heard the others behind him gasp but he forced himself not to turn away from Lugia, focusing on what the legendary had to say. "I warned her of what you said, that prophecies were a tricky, dangerous thing, but even so I committed the words to memory, for I knew that one day they would be needed."

The blue glowing lights dimmed and Harry found himself staring into Lugia's eyes, the legendary pokemon's irises radiating an ancient power that captivated him, allowing his words to reach not just Harry's ears but his mind and soul.

"Rejoice! The one to vanquish the Dark One will come... born to the flower that thrice defied him. Born as the seventh month dies. The Dark One will mark him as his equal. Marauders will protect him...and the crownless shall guide him to the end. He will master what the Dark One can not... and either must die at the hand of the other, for neither can live while the other survives. The one to vanquish the Dark One will be born as the seventh month dies..."

The final words seemed to hang in the air, like a heavy curtain that had fallen upon them all. Harry could hear the harsh breathing of Remus and Sirius and the Kenways and Lance but he himself couldn't bring himself to take a breath. It felt as if each word had been a blow, knocking the air and sense out of him until he stood like a stone statue, lifeless and cold. He wondered if this was why Jack fought so hard against 'The Promise'. And then the blue lights began to glow fully once more and the spell was broken, the world returning to normal as Harry doubled over, holding his knees with his hand as he panted.

Lugia, unconcerned, continued. "I told Morgana that while I could not answer her question I would know when it was coming to pass …when I laid eyes on 'the one'. The scales would fall from my eyes and the truth would be revealed. And so... it has." He swept his gaze over all of them as he explained. "The Flower that thrice defied him."

"Lily," Remus choked out, tears in his eyes.

The Legendary Pokémon nodded sadly. "Yes. Remember that too, Harry... that fate had a plan for your mother and it was not one of happiness and victory in the end." Harry swallowed, managing to stand straight once more, and Lugia continued. "Born as the seventh month dies... your birth date, of course."

"Marking me as equal is him wanting my body to be his new one," Harry said before looking at Sirius and Remus. "And the Marauders now protect me."

"And the House of Ironside, the last kings of our world, will be your guide." At that Jasmine nodded her head firmly even as she fought to fight back a sob, a watery smile on her face.

"But I still don't understand!" Harry cried out. "The prophecy says I'll master what Voldemort can not. Does it mean Speaking? Because Tom Riddle was a Speaker and Voldemort was able to take over him!"

"Speaking is only part of it," Lugia said firmly. "Young Jack calls these 'the arts' but that is a modern term. In my time, before I became as I am now, they were known as something else." Jack's head snapped up in shock and from the way Sirius and Remus had gasped Harry sensed that what he was about to hear was something no living ears had heard in some time. "What has Jack told you is the purpose of the Arts?"

"He believes that Man and Pokémon were once one and the same. That something happened to split us and the Arts allow us to reforge the bond."

"And he is correct. But what he's failed to realize is the reason why no Master, not even myself, has fully reformed to bond: the Arts are not separate but are of three equal but separate parts: Body, Mind, and Soul. The Magnuses and the Benders are of the body. Veelas, Speakers, Draconids, and the Dream Walkers are of the mind. And the Aura Knights are of the soul. In the time before time truly had meaning a different name was given for these three classes of arts. The name was chosen because each one, on its own, was empty... for life could only beat back death when all three are complete. Lack one..."

"What... what was the name?" Harry whispered.

Lugia smiled. "The Hollows. He or she that can master the three will be master over death itself and be able to end the one that flees from death... the one who claims all… the Death Eater." Lugia rose up to his full height, spreading his wings wide. "REJOICE! THE MASTER OF THE DEATHLY HOLLOWS HAS COME!" The entire chamber trembled and Harry whipped around; he couldn't be sure but he thought he could hear a multitude of voices calling out his name, a ghostly choir proclaiming him as their champion. The waters in the chamber lessened until they were but a trickle, revealing the deep caverns the waterfalls had hidden. Jack rose to his feet and Jasmine hurried over, Harry taking her hand and giving it a squeeze as Remus, Sirius, Clair, Lance, and Jonas stood and joined them. "Come Harry Potter... it is time for you to embrace your destiny."

And with that Lugia turned and flew down one of the tunnels...

...and Harry, with his family both new and old beside him, followed after.

The End

Harry Potter will return in 'Harry Potter and the Order of Moltres'

~MC~MC~MC~

Author's Notes: I'll try not to go on too much with these, as I want to let this chapter settle. The song that best represents The Hall of Speakers would be A Journey In The Dark, namely when Gandalf reveals the pillars and the great Dwarven City. It has an ancient feel that I wanted the Hall to have… that this was a place that was lost and only Jack's coming brought it, and Lugia, back to the modern world.

Speaking of Lugia, it was important that he feel… powerful. I wanted this to be something grand, something significant, meeting him. This is the Pokemon who, through his teaching of Jack, altered the fate of the world once. And now we see that he has played a role in the world before. I wanted him to feel like the Bendu… something that could be good or evil and yet neither. The one in the middle. The watcher of the world.

People have wondered about the Hallows for some time (or as they are called here, the Hollows… not a spelling error so don't send me reviews claiming I made a mistake). Though that died down when I revealed the title of the seventh book would be "The Hour of Legends", which made people wonder if I would deal with them at all. Now we see I will but, as with much of this story, they are altered. Where in the HP Books they are three mythical items given by death to the Three Brothers here they are revealed to be the Three Classes of what are now called the Arts: The Mind, the Body, and the Soul. Mastering all three (thus three of the arts) will allow one to be the Master of the Deathly Hollows and have the power to defeat Voldemort, the death eater and he who claims all.

We also get a book early the prophecy. I know some wondered if Harry, due to him being also a member of the House of AZ, would be the King Who Was Promised but here it is confirmed that it must be one of the House of Ironside… and Lugia believes it IS Jack. He has merely refused to accept fate and now fights the prophecy. Once again, we see in Jack a mirror of one of the major forces of light and dark… this time the dark. Jack, like Voldemort, fights the prophecy. We'll see if he succeeds where Voldemort, in the books, failed. But back to Harry's Prophecy. A few lines added to make it clear that it is Harry and Harry alone destined to defeat Voldemort. I love the Books hinting it could have been Neville but in this series Neville is already a well developed character and I felt no need to add that. Thus why I altered the reason his parents were targeted by the Lestranges.

I will be taking my normal break between chapters as I want to try and get Book 1 of 'A Man of Iron' done at long last. Those readers have waited almost 4 years, I owe them that much. But in Late September, Early October Harry Potter and the Order of Moltres will be published.