Queen Sunstar: Before we begin, let me explain a few things. I envision the Pokemon World run very differently than our own. Each region is overseen by the Champion and their Elite Four. Each member of the Elite Four is responsible for their part of the region, and are served by two gym leaders. The gym leader is the head of their city and surrounding areas. They are responsible for maintaining peace, balancing the budget, and are their city's defense. They decide when to quarantine, where money is spent, and sign city bills into laws. Each Gym Leader has access to powerful Pokemon only to be used to defend. These Pokemon are rigorously trained and are able to battle on their own. In this story, Dianthe is the mother of Clemont and Bonnie.

Zyta is a powerful dark and ghost Pokemon referred to as the dark horse Pokemon. She looks like a black Rapidash leaping out of the mouth of a Haunter. She is the opposite of Arceus and during their last battle, Zyta got a glacier dropped on her, sealing her under what would become Algid, the frozen region. She escaped, and after an epic battle, Ash asked her if she even knew the world she claimed to love. This led her to give up her memories and become an egg. She was taken in by the Swords of Justice where she hatched as a black Ponyta with white and purple flaming hair. Many see her the same way we see Satan. She will play a big role in this story.

Squishy and it's counterpart are the only ones safe from the Shadowing along with all of human kind. When they merge into any of their fusions, even the full form of Zygarde, they are no longer safe from the Shadowing. I'm still working out the Shadowing, and it will be explained in story.

Last thing. Each legendary Pokemon has a human guardian. Arceus has Delia, Ash's mother. He is also Ash's father. In his human form, he takes the name Satoshi. Bonnie is the guardian of Zygarde. Other notable guardians appearing in this story are N, guardian of Zekrom, and Lady J, guardian of Reshiram. Enjoy the story!

Clemont found himself waking up. A check of his watch revealed it was only 2:30 AM, much too early to get up. He sighed. Something had woken him, but what? He rolled to his side and tried to sleep. The feeling that something was wrong continued to torment him. Rolling back onto his back, he stared at the roof of the tent he shared with Ash. Maybe some fresh air would help. He sat up. They had made their camp in a forest clearing near a stream.

"Pika-Pi?" A tired voice asked, it's owner, a yellow electric mouse, rose and stretched.

"Can't sleep ether, huh, Pikachu?" Clemont turned toward Pikachu.

"PIKA-PI!" Pikachu screamed, fear in his voice. He darted over to Ash.

"What is wrong, Pikachu?" Clemont asked, turning to face Ash. He gasped, finally seeing why Pikachu was so upset. Ash lay curled up in the fetal position. His breathing was labored, and he was damp from sweat. Clemont reached out and felt Ash's forehead. He jumped back as Ash shuddered with a faint moan. Pikachu stared up at Clemont, worry in his eyes.

"It's going to be okay." Clemont reassured, "I need you to find me a washcloth. I'm going to go get some water. We got this."

"Pika!" Pikachu saluted as he turned and rooted into Ash's bag. Clemont took a flat bowl out and headed outside toward the river for water. Pikachu found a washcloth and gave it to Clemont when he returned with water.

"We have to cool him down." Clemont got the washcloth wet. Pikachu watched as the gym leader placed the washcloth on Ash's forehead. Ash lurched with a scream, shaking his head to try to dislodge the washcloth. Clemont grabbed it before it could go flying off. Worried, he checked Ash over, not seeing any wounds or reasons for Ash to react the way he did. A knock got his attention. He sighed. Serena and Bonnie were probably awoken by Ash's scream. "Come in." Serena and Bonnie both entered, Bonnie rubbing sleep out of her eyes. "You heard him scream." Clemont filled them in on what was going on.

"He doesn't look good." Bonnie pointed out.

"Pika-pi!" Pikachu dashed on top of Ash, his body quivering. He knew what was coming.

"Pikachu, what is wrong?" Serena asked.

She got her answer a moment later when Ash convulsed violently, a thick foam frothing from his mouth. Quickly, Clemont and Serena pressed against Ash while Bonnie grabbed another washcloth. She began clearing the foam from Ash's mouth. The convulsions slowed to a stop. The three friends spent the rest of the night caring for Ash with Pikachu warning them before Ash could convulse again.

Morning dawned. Everyone was exhausted. Ash looked much better than he had during the night. He was sleeping peacefully now. Pikachu lay against him, his eyes nearly shut. Bonnie blinked tiredly. Serena was almost asleep. Clemont yawned.

"I think the worst is over." Clemont yawned, "What a night."

"Ugh, tell me about it." Bonnie agreed, "I really hope it's over."

"I agree." Serena added, "I need sleep."

"Pikachu." Pikachu yawned.

Before long, everyone had fallen asleep around Ash.

"No Pokemon I know of did this." Professor Sycamore stood before a glass capsule where an Absol was literally fighting itself. Froth bubbled from its mouth as it panted. It's body was purple instead of white, a purplish mist rising from it. It's eyes were wrong, being blood red with red discharge leaking from them. It lunged against the glass repeatedly between spasms of franticly biting at itself. Lysandre nodded in agreement.

"I'm still waiting for the results of the blood tests. Do you think it is a virus of some kind?" Lysandre asked.

"I don't know. It reminds me of Rabies, but Rabies doesn't cause changes in fur." Scyamore said.

The two men stood inside a med lab inside the vast Lysandre Laboratories. The room was set up much like a treatment room inside a Pokemon center. Whitewashed grey walls, cement floors, and exposed ducting gave off an industrial feel. Several lab techs ran tests and worked on computers. The Absols stats were displayed on a screen next to the capsule. It's heart rate was high.

"Boss, we found a second case!" A grunt ran over, "It's a Froufrou!"

Lysandre turned, "Wild or trained?"

"This one has a Trainer, sir." The grunt indicated the young boy next to her, "He says Froufrou stopped eating and drinking two days ago. Nurse Joy couldn't find anything wrong. This morning it's fur started looking like that." She indicated the Absol. "She still knows her trainer. Could this be a mutated form of Rabies?"

"I need a second glass capsule brought in." Lysandre knelt before the young Trainer, "Your Froufrou doesn't seem as far along as Absol. She will help us better understand what is going on. You did the right thing."

"We are trying to find a cure for this too." Sycamore added. "We need to try and stop this before it becomes an epidemic."

"That is my plan." Lysandre agreed.

"Sir, video call for you. It is Professor Oak. You said you wanted to contact him." A male grunt brought a tablet over. Lysandre took the tablet.

"Professor Oak. I'm Lysandre, Leader of Team Flare. I might have a problem on my hands." He pointed the tablet's screen at the capsule holding Absol, "I have a second victim." He pointed the screen at Froufrou, who was now in the new glass capsule. "Have you seen anything like this before?"

"No, I haven't. It does remind me of Rabies. I'm going to reach out to other Professors and see if someone knows something." Oak said, "It also reminds me of the Shadow Pokemon incident. None of the Pokemon acted like that though."

"My first thought was Shadow Pokemon." The boy said, "The bad people used a machine of some kind to turn Pokemon into Shadow Pokemon. I didn't think it happened naturally."

"A Shadow Pokemon is a Pokemon without emotion. Professor Krane knows more on this." Oak supplied.

"I have heard that it is possible for a trainer to create a Shadow Pokemon through abuse." Sycamore said, "But it is really hard to do."

"I would never harm or abuse my Froufrou. I've had her since I was two years old. I got to see her be born. She didn't come from an egg." The boy replied.

"A live birth." Sycamore pondered, "This could have something to do with this. Is Absol a live birth too?"

"We don't know. Absol was found by a Hiker and taken to Nurse Joy. Nurse Joy contacted me, and I went and brought Absol here." Lysandre explained.

Ash groaned, catching his breath after his latest bout of vomiting. The first time, Clemont ended up wearing it. Serena and Bonnie were with him. Clemont had refused to go near Ash after the first bout. Braxien was out of her poke ball. Being a healer, she was doing her best to help Ash. She was currently holding a cup of warm fluid. Looking at the cup, she was going to have to make another cup soon. Let's see, Oran berries for flavor, the leaves and juice of Pecha berries to calm the stomach, Razz berry to induce sleep, and Cheri berry leaves to ease breathing. Hmm, two Bulk Berries to reduce fever too. She sighed. Braxien hated the strong bitter taste of Bulk Berries. Talonflame loved Bulk Berries. He could chew the two Bulk Berries for her. She gave Serena the cup and left.

"Ash, I know you don't want to, but you need to." Serena held the cup up to Ash's lips. Ash didn't resist, finishing the cup before passing back out again.

"Should we send Clemont to go get Nurse Joy?" Bonnie asked.

"I've been thinking about it." Serena picked up the thermometer and took Ash's temperature, "Clemont! You need to go for Nurse Joy! Now!"

"I'm on it!" Clemont heard the urgency in Serena's voice.

Also hearing the urgency, Braxien made a quick change in her recipe. Talonflame sighed, proceeding to chew on a third Bulk berry at Braxien's look. He knew his fellow fire type all too well. Finished with the juice, Braxien carried the cup into the tent to Serena. Together, they woke Ash enough to drink some of the juice. He fell asleep again quickly.

Clemont had not gone very far when he came across Nurse Joy wearing her civilian outfit. She was collecting berries and herbs to make into medicine. Her Audino was holding a basket, and a Noibat dropped a sprig of Oran berries into the basket. Before long, two other Noibat delivered herbs to the basket. Nearby, a Noivern lowered a branch for Nurse Joy so she could collect the blooms on it. Nurse Joy smiled at the Noivern.

"Thank you for your help." She said.

"Nurse Joy?" Clemont ran to her, "I need help! My friend is really sick!" He explained Ash's symptoms, "Can you help us?"

"Lead the way. Audino, stay here and continue to collect berries and herbs. Noivern, find me some Bulk Berries too." Nurse Joy nodded to her Pokemon before following Clemont. They returned to the camp. Nurse Joy joined Serena inside the tent. She pulled out a recorder. She was required by law to make a record of all of her patients. She was also thankful that Sycamore had talked her into becoming certified to treat humans. "Patient's name is Ash Ketchum. Patient is 15 years old. Symptoms are fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, convulsions, and pain. Stomach is soft, no lumps. Lungs are clear. Heart rate is high." She took the thermometer, "last reported temperature was 106.2." She waited for the beep. "Current temperature is 107.8."

"He's getting worse!" Serena worried.

"I can't treat him with what I've got on hand. My Pokemon Center isn't too far. I'm going to have to go get my car. I'll be right back." Nurse Joy decided.

"We will pack up." Serena said.

When Nurse Joy returned with her van, everyone was ready to go. Bonnie rode up front while Serena sat in the back with Ash. Clemont sat behind her. Ash was laying on the seat, his head on Serena's lap. She stared down at the sick boy, absentmindedly brushing his bangs off his forehead. She noticed that his hair was damp from sweat. His breathing had become more labored. Ash had been fine the night before. Colds couldn't set in this fast, could they? Fear gripped her. Was she watching Ash experiencing his last gasps of life? She squeezed her eyes shut. She and Ash had finally become a couple, too.

Surprisingly, Ash had made the first move. Serena was pretty sure Clemont had something to do with it. He and Bonnie had secretly snuck away from them, leaving them alone in the Oran Town park.

FLASHBACK

As they walked along the waterfront at the park, Bonnie nudged Clemont. Clemont pretended to look around.

"Hey Bonnie! I hear there are Flabebè with rare colored flowers around here!" Clemont said, "Let's see if we can find them!"

"Okay!" Bonnie grabbed Clemont's hand and they both took off.

"Pika!" Pikachu scampered off after them.

Ash stopped to look out over the water. Serena joined him. Out in the water, a Sharpedo towed a boat toward a dock. Due to the shape of the harbor and the many underwater rock spires, boats were towed in by Sharpedo. These Sharpedo were bred specifically for work in the harbor. They were much smaller, but bulkier than those found in the wild. One Sharpedo leapt out and into the water. The harbor was also home to schools of Luvdisc, Carvanha, Seel, and various other water and water bird Pokemon. Ash put his hand on Serena's hand. Serena froze.

"You can relax. I promise I don't bite." Ash looked over at Serena, "I have never felt this way about a girl before. I think I'm falling in love."

"Who is the girl? Misty? Dawn? May? Iris?" Serena asked.

"It's not any of them." Ash smiled, "It's you, Serena."

Serena did something very shocking. She moved closer and together they shared their first kiss.

"Looks like the little kid has grown up!" They both jumped and pulled apart.

"Iris!" Ash sputtered, "For the last time, I'm not a little kid!"

Iris laughed, "I kid!"

"Serena, meet Iris, also known as the annoying thorn in my side." Ash rolled his eyes, "Iris, this is my girlfriend, Serena. So, last I heard, you and Cilan were dating."

"We still are. Remember Lady J and N? Well, N proposed, and she said yes!" Iris enthused.

"I was wondering when that would happen. They could barely keep their hands off each other." Ash chuckled, "It's hard to believe they once hated each other."

"Remember when they found out they were the reincarnations of the last Queen and King of Unova, and were bonded with Reshiram and Zekrom?" Iris asked.

"I'm afraid most of that incident is still a blank to me." Ash said.

"How come?" Serena asked.

"Well, I wasn't in my right mind. I got taken over by the Dark King." Ash explained, "Long story short, I nearly destroyed Unova."

"Any how, Cilan and I are going to Algid so Cilan can take the gym badge challenge and I can take on the performance circuit." Iris said, "We are here on layover. Nice seeing you again, Ash. Serena, don't let him get away. He is a fine catch if you ask me." She winked.

Serena opened her eyes. Ash had to get better. Nurse Joy pulled up to the Pokemon Center and parked. She ran in and returned with a stretcher. She put Ash on the stretcher and ran him into her center.

Once inside, Nurse Joy set up an IV, only for Ash to scream and lurch, the IV tearing out of his arm. A light touch brought about another extreme reaction. She was worried now. Ash's reactions to even the lightest touch was extreme. She knew this was not normal.

In Ash's mind.

So many voices. Ash's body was throbbing. He felt so hot. It was like he was laying in lava, and he was growing hotter by the minute. Pain pierced through him. He heard himself scream. The voices clamored in worry. Ash wished the voices would stop. Nausea gripped him.

"Keep fighting, my Prince!"

"Don't give in!"

"We're with you!"

You can do this!"

"Don't let the Shadowing consume you!"

"Would somebody please explain what the Shadowing is?" Ash thought out.

All of the voices went silent. Ash waited. Finally, a feminine voice answered.

"The Shadowing is a sickness. It renders a Pokemon incapable of feeing emotion and robs them of their soul. They basically become shadows of themselves. Once they have fully turned, they can't be changed back. They must be destroyed so they don't infect anyone else. Every Pokemon can be infected, save for Zygarde's cores. Your human half is fighting the sickness. My name is Zyta."

"So? I'll get better."

"We all are rooting for you."

It went quiet and calm. Ash embraced the quiet. Maybe now he could finally get some rest.

"Someone! Anyone! Help me!" This voice clearly belonged to a child Pokemon.

Ash sighed, "I hear you."

"You can really hear me?"

"Yes. Who are you?"

"My name is Chespie. I can't wake up! Mairin must be beside herself with worry!"

"What happened exactly?"

"Mairin was upset and wanted to be alone, so I decided to go explore. I found a lab and I went in. Humans were forcing a small green Pokemon to merge with copies of itself. Well, what they did backfired, giving me a green glow. I managed to free that Pokemon before ending up here."

"I don't know how I can help you." Ash felt like he was being cooked alive, "I'm not well at the moment, but once I can, I'll help you."

The thermometer beeped. Nurse Joy checked it and sighed. It now read 111.5.

"I need you to respond to treatment, Ash." She whispered.

Several large fans hummed as they blew cold air at Ash. An IV dripped cold saline into Ash's tortured body. Several injections of morphine had taken the pain away. Ice packs lay on his body.

"Joy."

Joy turned, "Sycamore. I haven't gotten any new cases." She noticed that the Professor was staring intently at Ash. "He is very sick. His fever is dangerously high and so is his heart rate."

Ash's eyes flew open. He snarled, foam dribbling from his mouth. Sycamore grabbed and pulled Joy away from Ash's flailing arms. The boys amber eyes looked wrong. They were red, and red tears were starting to bleed from them.

"We need to restrain him!" Sycamore felt sick inside. This sickness had sickened a human. This was bad, so very bad. Joy managed to get restraints on Ash. The boy hissed, trying to bite her. "It's sickened a human! I want him moved to Lysandre Labs. I've got Pokemon showing the same sickness!"

"Call Lysandre! Get it arranged! He is better suited to this than I am!" Nurse Joy nodded toward the phone, "I'm putting the center into quarantine!"

Sycamore made the call. Before long, several teams of grunts arrived. The entire center was emptied of everything. What could be burned was burned. A grunt team wearing red hazmat suits moved in with a stretcher to collect Ash. A second team suited up like the hazmat team but in what could pass for red space suits moved in carrying tubs of bleach and sprayers. They would hose down the center in bleach, and handle clean up.

Nurse Joy, Sycamore, Bonnie, Serena, and Clemont were led to a van were they climbed in. Clemont was given a sheaf of papers to go through.

"You want me to issue a city wide quarantine? I don't have that kind of man power!" Clemont looked up, "Mother won't allow it. Three cases isn't enough."

"This is very serious, Clemont. We need to contain this epidemic now while we can." Sycamore reasoned.

"Three cases is not an epidemic. If I allow this to happen and no new cases come up, people will think I overreacted." Clemont explained, "Quarantining Luminous City did nothing during the Zyta's Plague pandemic, nor during the Influenza epidemic."

"You should at least quarantine the Pokemon Center." Sycamore responded, "Maybe the street it is on too?"

"That street contains popular shops, and I don't need a mob of angry shop owners on my hands. I will order the Pokemon Center itself quarantined." Clemont knew that the professor was worried. "I have to think about how this will affect us financially. The tiny budget I've got isn't going to make a dent. I'm going to have to convince mother to open the reserves." He was already developing what he called the budget headache.

They arrived at the lab. Lysandre was waiting out front. He went to the stretcher containing Ash after it was brought out of the ambulance. Xerosic joined him. Again, Ash lashed out. Lysandre grabbed the sick boys arms and held him down. A grunt brought out a c-spine and placed it on Ash's neck, thus preventing him from sinking his teeth into Lysandre. Xerosic readied a syringe.

"I'm going to try to knock him out! He's behaving just like Absol is!" Xerosic inserted the needle into Ash's arm and injected the contents into Ash. Within moments, Ash went out.

"I want him restrained at all times." Lysandre picked up the remains of the original restraints, "He broke out of these. This has got to be some kind of variant of rabies."

"I'm still waiting for that centrifuge to finally finish with separating the blood. I fear you may be right. If it is, we are screwed." Xerosic responded, "I want him moved to my lab and restrained. Use the chain from the Lake Trio."

A grunt saluted and took Ash away.