.

After much talk last night, the group set up some things. A small watch group to alternate looking into the strange things here. Gray had picked up Servine a few hours ago. She had fought a lot of pokemon as she wandered around the island. A small cave that was used as a ceremony was all she found suspicious.

The others were on the beach talking to people. Trying to convince them what was going. With Sabrina using her psychic power, it turned out relatively easier. Up until a woman came over.

"Maybe we just check out the water ourselves?" Clair asked. Gray gave her a nod and they went in. Abigal, Silver. Crystal and Joy stood on the boat and patrolled the waters topside. 'Hey.. what is this?'

'I do not know. But these pokemon looked malnourished.' Gray thought back to her. The various water pokemon not only looked malnourished, they looked withered a bit. 'They at least do not feel the same as the islanders and most of the pokemon there.'

'gray.. that Kingdra. I know it. It belongs to Lance.' She swam down to tend to the pokemon. Seeing it was family business, Gray left it alone. But he did read its mind. Lance was not here. In fact, the pokemon had not seen it in a few months. 'Hey, you Kingler over there!' Gray transmitted out.'

"Yes?" The largest Kingler looked up. It made no move to leave from the coral is was on. "You have food?"

'Food?' Gray was confused.

"Yes, food. It has been awhile since we have had an offering. Can not open the gateway without it." The Kingler was very calm. Gray focused and feel its aura going out. It was slow and controlled. It was like the Nidoking u0026 Nidoqueen in that dungeon he went to. Power and capable of great feats. Like keeping the pokemon that were in the water alive. "Give food and I will open it up. My people need it."

'Sorry, have none at this exact moment. But if you come up to the boat, I have some from Zubat remains.' The Kingler waved its claw around. A few Krabby swam up to Gray. 'Alright, I will be back. Do not need to enter this Gateway at this time. Need answers about this island, however.' It nodded.

"I will tell you now." Kingler could feel a change on the island. It was best to say so now and get the food. For some reason, it believed it could trust Gray. "The island is ran by the Fire G.o.d. Recently he returned after receiving some injuries. From what, I do not know."

Kingler shook its head. The body moving along with it. Gray would have laughed at the crab but held it in. Clair had used a pokeball and captured the Kingdra. Lance had released the Pokemon. One thing that he would not normally do.

Clair floated to the surface unmoving. Gray could see her trembling. So he left it alone. As someone with anger issues, it would be best to let her stew. or in his case.. go break something. The Kingler snapped him back out of his daze.

"It is the second time in the last 11 years it has been injured. The first time against some weird creature. Arrogant one for one thing. But that is another story old timer." The Kingler could tell Gray was older than he looked. How he couldnt tell or care. "The Fire G.o.d is able to become strong by offerings it is given. Both from humans, and from Pokemon."

'Aura energy?' Gray asked. He suspected another method, but hope to be wrong. Especially with how many people were on the island. 'People do not leave the island do they?'

"Aura energy? I do not know what that is. But life force, yes.." A few bubbles floated up as Kingler moved around a little. "..No one has left this island by boat or air in awhile. Not since the Fire G.o.d has been injured. It is a shame. he turned his life around when coming here. It was actually pretty nice."

'Right.' Gray tread water for a little longer and talked to the Kingler. After getting a satisfying amount of info, he made the decision to leave.

Gray swam back up and felt a tingling sensation. Servine was in trouble on the island. Pulling his backpack over, he removed the food and dropped it into the water. The Krabby's grabbed and swam back down.

"Go on alert. Something is happening. I am going to help Servine!" Gray used Teleport to leave the area. The others just looked mouth agape before getting to work.

.

-Reveal-

.

Gray arrived to find Servine seriously injured. Two pools of lava to the side and burn marks all across the area. She did, however, latch on to Gray when he was close. Her head resting on his shoulder like before.

"Just remain quiet. I am going to search your mind for what happened." Gray placed his hands on top and probed her mind. Servine's grip tightened instinctively. 'Take what you need to absorb.'

'No need. The sunlight is providing it for me.' Servine thought back. 'You will need your strength to fight.'

Inside her mind, the scenes played out.

.

-Sacrifice altar-

.

The two guards who watched the cave before was leading a group of tourist inside. The people were excited to go inside. Thinking it was all part of the festivities. Only one young man there was a skeptic. That was only because June had spoken heatedly to him before. But his sister was in the group. He couldnt not go. Plus the natives had said June was crazy a little.

"This seems so sketchy." Robert said. His sister was just oohing and ahhing while they moved. Her festive demeanor was contagious causing him to relax. "You sure found an interesting vacation place, Tabitha."

"I know it." The girl respond with praise. She was very confident in her actions to stay on the island. "Told you those peo[ple were crazy. If this place was dangerous, the League would have stepped in already." The others nodding agreeing.

Servine stopped 15 feet away when they stopped. The two guards pa.s.sed them on to other guards inside. The four new guards were slightly smaller. In a dash, Servine shot forward to keep from getting caught by the first to turning back.

"Hmm?" Both felt a small bit of aura. They did a look around not finding anything. Servine had shot by to quickly for them to differentiate between the group. As the tourist moved forward, the two guards bodies changed. "Maaag..."

The both turned to Pokemon. They were Magcargo. Just really big ones. The bodies were 3x the size and the sh.e.l.ls covered more body s.p.a.ce. All the way up to the neck of the lava snail.

"..cargooo!" The heat in the area immediately shot up a notch. Servine was right to have shot pa.s.s. guarding the area was their top priority. Servine's head swiveled back to those in front.

The treck down was a hot one. But the people loved. The smog that hit them was poisonous. It caused a euphoric state. Servine was fine as she slithered down low. The escort guards were fine.

Moving down a path that descended, the area looked festive. Decorations, food, and a staging area. A few locals danced around singing the G.o.d of Fire. The flames in the pit kept rising in response. But Servine did not go there. It was dumb and would make it hard for her to escape.

'Hmm, those are a few other of the new people. But that pack of Houndoom said it was always a group of 5. This is way more.' Servine thought in silence. The conversation with the other Pokemon proved a good help. 'Oh, something is happening.'

The group of people were escorted to the pit. Under the dazed state, they danced happily along the rim. From inside, a fire erupted in the form of a bird. The entire area temperature increased. The locals fell to their knees crying. The sounds unnerved Servine.

'This is disgusting. These are not tears of joy or happiness.' She turned and left the area in pure abandon. 'I need to leave!' her senses spread for she could determine the best route.

"Ahhh!" A person screamed. "Ahhh" Then another. and another. The people were pushed inside. Servine did not turn to see what was happening. But her senses could tell. The clothes remained intact. But the skin and flesh burned away into ash.

"Swis.h.!.+" The ash swirled around and formed with the fire. The bird shape started to grow more.

"You cannot leave after coming down here. It is not nice." The flames said. The voice was seductive and full of power. "I am benevolent I swear on it." Servine was not hearing any of that.

With her position completely exposed, she struct the first pokemon near her. Two Geodude's were hit so hard with her tail, they shattered. This caused the cave to shake a little.

"Cras.h.!.+" The pieces burst into ash reforming. The new Geodude's were the same aura wise. That she could tell. But they were and smaller from coming back. Servine looked back and watched as the people who were sacrificed reformed.

They looked a few years older. The child in the group looked to be a teenager. His parents looked to be 5 years or so older. The middle-aged man in the group was now an old man.

"And have my life force stolen? h.e.l.l no!" Servine had built up energy to sprint pa.s.s. "Screw you!" Her voice was defiant as she shot pa.s.s. The ones she could defeat outright were taken down. Some did not reform, some did. 'That is just weird.'

"Fwooos.h.!.+" Two large Flamethrowers were launched her way. The two Madcargo's had cut off her path.

"Well.. s.h.i.+t." Servine prepared herself for a hard battle.

.

-Memory end-

.

The two pools of lava were from the Magcargo. They fought hard and put some damage on Servine. The lava pools were caused after she killed them. To prevent them from reforming, she used Giga Drain to absorb the aura as they reformed.

The back lash from the intense heat caused some burns but also disrupted the reforming. The Magcargo Exploded from the resulting struggle.

"It is coming." Servine turned to the cave. At the peak, fire shot out. It plummed into the sky. The clouds igniting from the intense heat. Strange lighting shot around the sky. It spread all the way to the barrier around the island. "I do not like this thing!"

.

-Ocean, Rescue boat-

.

The waves turned turbulent but the Rescue boat was still. However, pokemon of all types left the beach and rose from the water. Growlithe had already change to a pure Dark type and was ready. A firm resolve as he stared out.

The others all ready to do some damage. The good news was the Taillow had finally evolved. Sabrina's Swellow and Pyron had trained them well enough. With the large flock of Swellow, they would rage a hard battle to protect the s.h.i.+p.

The Vulpix remained on their backs to do some major damage. Once they ran out of energy, they would land on the beach to continue from there.

Crystal and Silver were on standby with their pokemon to add backup. But with the increase in Pokemon, they were going to have to join the fight ahead of time it looked like.

"Doood!" Pyron flapped his wings looking at the large group. His Blessings ignited as he bathed in light. He evolved into a Pidgeot. But he was twice the size as one. Holding back his evolution the last few levels pushed him hard. But this was to much at stake. "Piiidgeoot!"

"Fwoos.h.!.+" Using Brave bird mixed with flame at the tip, he shot forward cutting right through the others. He felt the intense power by Gray. t.i.tan, the Nidoking wouldn't be able to make it to him in time.

Misty's Suicune, Combusken, Starmie, Golduck, and the Piplup girl were near him. Her other Pokemon patrolled the waters.

"Get to the boss. I will get there soon enough." t.i.tan bellowed. It's voice causing the Pokemon that heard it nearby to whimper. "He better be alive when I get there!"

"You got it dood!" Pyron did a spiral as he Drilled Peck through those that got in his way. A lot of them caused a lot of trouble. But not enough to stop him.

.

-Altar are

.

"Head to the beach. We are getting ready to leave. Tell the others to get ready." Gray ordered Servine. He used his herbs on them both. Enough to get her battle-ready. It would still take a bit for him to, however. "s.h.i.+tty poison."

"I.. will not leave you against that. Unless." Servine looked to see Sabrina run up with Misty. "Hmm decent enough. Heading out." Servine nudged Gray's neck and slithered off.

"Ha. Ha... ha.. what is going on?" Misty asked out of breath. Both she and Sabrina were covered in wounds. "The people here have gone crazy."

"Dawn and Gary are on there way as well. The people were instructed to leave however. They just gave us weird looks." Sabrina said. She was more composed but looked a mess as well. "Clair was able to convince some of them. The ones who got here after us anyway. They are heading to the beach."

"that is good. That boat they arrived and ours is the only ones that will get us out of here." Gray gave them a once over before looking back. "That is a lot of fire.."

"Ccccaaaww!" A loud screech pa.s.s through the area. The fire pa.s.sed around then collected to form a Ho-Oh. The only thing Gray could tell from down below, was that is was arrogant and a deep-seated hatred from inside him. The memories from the Lake pokemon and Dianchie sent him into a rage.

"This f.u.c.king b.a.s.t.a.r.d...!" Gray could feel his aura starting to burn up. The poison burning up from the intensity. Around his body, his aura swirled. before seeping back in. "We need to move. Now!"

"We cannot just leave." Misty argued. Gray ignored her and turn to run. The premonition of death was bogging down on him. But it was not his death, someone else's. "The people and pokemon will need help!"

"Your loss. Try not to die like the rest of the islanders1" As Gray ran, he could feel Sabrina going through his memories. He was not wasting his psychic energy to inform them. He said run so they should run. That simple. "Your strong so good luck. My pokemon are more important than these people." The bubbles started to pop up one after the other. Gray ignored them.

"We should leave Misty!" Sabrina yelled as she shot off. "This place is a sacrifice ground. If we are caught in it, we will die to!" Misty ran after a few seconds of hesitation.

A few Magcargo attacked them. Gray did not take any chances.

"Just Die!" He sent a blast of psychic energy destroying their minds. No point in whittling down the bodies. "Confusion!"

"Bwoom!" Every Pokemon in the way had their minds shattered leaving empty husks. They did not turn to ash. A few Tangrowth made it out. Gray could not exploit the weakness like that on them. The weird tentacles they had disrupted psychic attacks some. Enough to not waste the effort.

Up above he could see Pyron flying there way. Seeing he evolved was a relief. But not the feeling that built up behind them. Ho-Oh was building power and would be able to move soon.

Clair flew pa.s.s in her Pokesoul state. She was in a complete rage and ignored Gray reaching out to her. Pyron was the same way after it got close enough. The blessing it received from Fearow egging it on.

"Tch," Gray could feel the sinking feeling building. "They are buying us time."

"You mean.." Sabrina did not like his tone. "Gray we can not leave them behind."

"Then don't. Go back and die with them." Gray said coldly. He wanted to go back and fight to, but that was not the case. To much rode on getting the others out of here. Namely Gary. Inside of him was a method to allow perfect travel through dungeons. One of the things Rafael transferred to Gray. "Grrr dammit! Stupid people."

"What do you mean stupid people?" Sabrina asked.

"The people helped sacrifice each other to Ho-Oh. Some willingly at first. Others.. confused due to the smog that seeped through the place. But even then, they knew in the back of their mind." Gray said angered.

"Why?" Misty asked.

"Immorality. As long as they offer up to Ho-Oh, they can live forever." Gray shook his head as he felt the battle heat up behind him. The lod sounds caused his anger to rise. The poison was refined and caused his aura to change faster. "But it is a trap."

Making it into town they stopped. Gray's Nidoking and June's Nidoqueen were fighting back to back. But it was not pokemon. It was people. The swung using swords and spears. The material was made of pokemon parts. It was doing some damage.

"Fight back!" Gray ordered.

"Grrrooo!" t.i.tan roared blasting the people away. The pressure from his attack sent them through the buildings. He turned to gray in worry. "I didn't know what to do. They are being controlled."

"Never do that again. Even if your enemy is controlled your life is more important. If one day I am controlled by something.. and become you, enemy. Kill me." Gray said sternly. t.i.tan flinched but nodded. "why are you here?"

"To bring help. The others are securing the beach with the one they call Gold." t.i.tan smacked his tail into a person that reformed and attacked him. They did not get up this time. "Growlithe told us to make it to you after that."

"Hey!" June came running up with a yell. She was fused with Chroma's Leafeon form. The energy she released prove Chroma was back. "What we have?"

"Get Gary off the island and as many as you can." Gray said to her.

"He refuses to leave. Vicntii tried to go fight on its own but Gary stopped him." June's tail swished a bit. "Your brother will not run from a fight. especially with what is at stake."

"I am going to beat his a.s.s later!" Gray's voice came out in a dual-tone. "Fine then, we can all go back and get killed togethor. When the entire world builds up in dead bodies, I am not taking the blame for this." He gave a shrug and ran back.

"It is not gonna be that bad." Sabrina said. Gray looked at her in the corner of his eyes. She felt the contempt. "What!?"

"Someone is going to die here. I already saw the end of it. Just do not know who." Gray's hands tightened up. "With what is going on with Clair and how Dawn is acting. It will mostly likely be one of them. It is blocked to me in a way. p.i.s.ses me off. If we leave this island, we will be fine."

"Well Clair is not related to you, so it will not be her. And Dawn is not either." Misty said. She felt it was a little off. "Future Sight generally works on those close to you. Neither of them have been that long."

"Dawn is family because of a grandparent. Her grandmother gave birth because of my foster son." Gray said in a dual-tone. "She technically fits the bill. Claire's pokesoul is there because of me as well. Someone that I helped raise is inside her."

"I guess that is true but you are forgetting something closer." Misty added. Her voice sounded as cold as ice but it was still pleasant to hear. "They have not been here the longest since you have been here."

"She is not talking about Growlithe." Sabrina said. Eyes glowing as Empress used her power to speed them along. "I am here, but someone else is not."

They arrived just in time to see Pyron and Clair knock Ho-Oh down. The two had spent the battle pecking away at him. Tearing out his feathers to keep him from flying to high or fast. The wings had several tears and made it difficult for it to dodge. However, it was recovering. The people in the area were not.

"Bang!" Pyron had delivered a brutal Wing Attack to the back. The edges tipped with steel cutting across the side deeply. Compliments of the coupling with the Skarmory in the past. Ho-Oh recovered letting loose a Fire Blast.

It missed thanks to Clair ramming into Ho-Oh's back. But Gray felt it. The dread coming back to the forefront. The Sky lit up like a beacon. The heat was stifling. But lasted only a few seconds.

Pyron lost his flames and withered slightly. He was exhausted. In the blinding light the others couldnt see. Once it cleared, it was to late. Ho-Oh had used the move Ancient Power along with the power of the island.

Pyron fell from the sky with a hole in its chest.