"Zubat, Screech!" The Rocket grunt was the only thing standing between me and the Doctor. I used Psychic to fling both of them aside and wrench the door open. inside the room was... no one. Not a soul there. I slammed my fist down on the wooden desk hard enough to crack it. I had seen the madman run into here, I know I had. These white walls must hold some sort of trap door, or something. I scanned the walls, trying to find any indication of a trap door, or anything.

Suddenly I felt time freeze, and Dialga stepped halfway out of a time portal. "The legends meet tonight." Dialga receded onto the blue, glowing portal and restarted time as normal. Absol rushed into the room, panting.

"Shadow... Lucario and Gallade... In danger." My eyes widened as I nodded, then closed my eyes as I Transformed into a Lucario and scanned the compound with aura. I found them both and opened my eyes as I dashed into the hall in their direction.

(This time I have a reason to Page Break)

"Now, Gallade and Lucario. Tonight, meet me at the Celadon City Pokemart. We will discuss the terms of an... agreement." A Cipher Peon spoke to the two Fighting types.

"What happens if we don't?" Gallade asked.

"Then your blood will spatter these white walls. We wouldn't want that, would we? And tell your Absol friend to join you."

"... Fine."

"Good. Now, I will be taking my leave, take care and remember my deal!" The Peon was already out the door when the Shifter walked in.

(Page Break-a Rooni!)

"Gallade! Lucario!" I shouted, then noticed the Rocket grunts holding guns to each of their heads.

"One move and they die, Shifter. Your choice." The grunt was arrogant, but foolish. I used Teleport to get behind the grunt threatening Lucario and used Slash to cut his throat. I then Teleported behind the other grunt and stabbed him in the back with Night Slash. Both Gallade and Lucario dropped to their knees and took deep breaths.

"Are either of you hurt?" Both shook their heads. "Good. Now-" Absol ran into the room, ready to kill.

"Relax, Absol. He freed us." Absol sighed, then started yelling at them while I stood by, chuckling.

"You idiots! You knew there were too many for you to take on, but you just charge on in anyway!"

"Hey, you ran!"

"I ran to save your sorry arses!"

I separated the Blade and Disaster Pokemon. "Alright, that's enough. Let's just get out of here and set up camp."

(I should really stop this. I have a problem)

"This is a good place. Has a stream, mostly flat, let's set up camp." Setting up camp involved clearing a small area and building a fire. By this time, it was getting late so I decided to "turn in for the night". I really contacted the legendaries and met them in the Hall of Origins.

(P.O.V Change: Third Person: Gallade/Lucario/Absol)

Gallade got up from where he "slept" on a branch and shook Lucario. He cracked open one eye and spoke two words: "I'm awake."

Gallade jumped down and shook Absol awake. "Huuummm... Wha?"

Gallade spoke. "Shadow wants us to complete a training exercise. Tracking." Absol nodded and stretched. The three set off, with Gallade and Lucario pointing out false clues until they got to the Celadon Pokemart.

"Uhhh... why are we here?" Absol asked, mildly concerned. Gallade grabbed him and held his muzzle closed. With Lucario's help, he carried the Absol into the darkened Pokemon Mart where they were met by a black-suited Peon.

"Ah, good. You're all here. Now we will discuss a few... terms. First, when the Shifter attacks a Cipher base, turn on him." Absol fought free of Gallade's grip for a second.

"Why would we ever turn on him?"

"Because, if you don't agree to, we kill them." The Peon gestured to three glass tanks which held an Absol, Gardevoir, and Lucario.

"No!" Gallade yelled and charged toward the glass tank that held Gardevoir. The Cipher Peon pulled out a gun and loaded it, leveling it at Gallade's head.

"You want to save her? Be my guest, get the both of you killed. I don't really care, either way. So what will it be?" Gallade slowly stepped back to his two partners. "Hmm. Good choice, at least by my opinion. Now, to all of you, what will it be? Will you walk out, leaving your loved ones to die? Or will you agree to my proposition, and betray the Shifter? If you stay with him, you lose everything. Your lives, your loved ones, everything. If you agree to my proposition, you see your loved ones again, and you go free. But the choice is yours." The Cipher agent was insane. All three of the Pokemon standing before him saw that now.

"May we discuss it first?" Absol asked.

"Discuss all you want, we still have hours before sunrise. Take your time."

The team of Pokemon fighters gathered in a group in the shadow filled building. "What is our choice?" Lucario asked, clearly torn.

"Is there even a choice? He has my son. I lost him once, but I will not lose him again." Absol stood adamant, refusing to reconsider.

"He has my mate as well. I regret it, but we must agree to his terms." Gallade, in any other situation, was the most loyal Pokemon one could ever find, but in the eyes of losing his mate, he crumbled.

"And betray the only one who understands that we are not what we look to be? How do you know that is your mate, Gallade? Or your son, Absol? He cannot possibly have my daughter." Lucario burst out.

"How do you know that, Lucario?" Gallade was suspicious at this point, but was willing to let Lucario explain himself.

"Because I watched my family burn. My mate was burned alive, and my daughter died in my arms. They cannot possibly have her. Besides, would your mate recognize you through the years of scars and the change of the Shadow? And Absol, would your son recognize you under the black fur and red eyes? We must face it, we are different than we were, and hated among humans and Pokemon. And why would the madman let them go? With them, he gains an edge with which to control you forever. Why would he ever give that up?"

"Still, if there is even a whisper if a chance to save my son, I will take it. Even if he never knows it was his father, I will still do everything in my power to save him." Absol was clear, and he would not give up on his family, no matter the cost.

"Fine. Betray the one that saved you, that took you in, that gave you all that you now have."

Gallade walked over to the Cipher Peon. "We will accept."

He chuckled. "Good. A family man, eh? Very well. I will tell you when the time comes. Ta-ta!" The Peon walked off into the dark alleyway beside the Mart and disappeared.