Gold's POV

"This is not good," I whisper to Green who's walking beside me.

We're currently following the Bug District Leader I just defeated. Professor Arthropod's back faces us, his white lab coat still on. He's leading us across one of Wimpod Cove's wooden bridges.

This one leads to a standalone piece of land, separated from the mainland by quite a bit. It's large enough for one big building but has steep cliff faces around the whole place that lead straight down to the ocean below.

"Why?" She whispers back.

"He knows why we're here."

Green's pale face scrunches up and I can feel her body stiffen. Her eyes are now glued to the Professor as well.

Automatic glass doors let us into the building. Unlike the rest of the town, it is a lot more modern. The big white windmill attached to it probably could've given that away.

There's a few lab technicians running around in their lab coats with stacks of books. Desks line the walls but nothing is organized.

It's too hard to decipher what they're researching.

The District Leader continues to guide us through without a word. It's agonizing.

"Professor if you're gonna turn u-" I get interrupted by him turning and putting a finger to his lips.

I go to respond but then he opens up a door to a staircase that goes down. Without another option, all of us go down.

The basement of the lab is much more organized. There's a few interesting machines with accompanying computers beside. There's a few models of a Pokémon I've never seen before.

"Sorry for the long walk," Professor Arthropod closes the door behind us. "There's no prying ears down here."

"What do you want?" I grit through my teeth.

He waves his hands defensively. "Sorry I should clear up something."

He takes a deep breath and scans the basement quick.

"I know Logan Cedar, and you're most definitely not him."

The four of us give each other worrying looks. "We can explain," Green steps up.

"Logan was actually a good friend of mine," The professor sighs and finds a stack of papers to rummage through. "As you may know he was a researcher too and we worked together occasionally."

"We did not know that," I glance at Green and she shakes her head. "Professor Cedar never talked about Logan."

"Makes sense," He picks out a paper. "Logan disappeared roughly twenty years ago."

"That's terrible," Serena says.

"Mhm," He hands the piece of paper to me. "This was the last thing we worked on together."

"Theory on absorbing a legendary Pokémon," I start to read and immediately stop.

The gold bracelet on my wrist feels a little heavier. Professor Cedar's research on Arceus wasn't just his.

"I don't know exactly what you guys are up to," The Professor says and makes his way back to the door leading upstairs. "But I have an idea and you need to do what you think is right. Genesect!"

After the Professor leaves, a Pokémon I've never seen before steps around the corner and towards us. It looks otherworldly, almost like a purple robot bug soldier.

Its body shines from the fluorescent lights and the missile launcher on its back is a little unnerving. Its large head is round like a disc with two red bug eyes that study us.

It doesn't seem enraged which is a nice change.

"I know this Pokémon," Ash steps up. "Genesect is from another time."

"The future?" I question and study the Pokémon.

"No the past," Green picks up a lab report.

"There's actually different types," Ash continues, looking around the room. "There's different drives that can change Genesect's moves."

"Like those?" Green points to some devices in a case.

"Yes!" The raven haired trainer exclaims.

"Gen," The Pokémon looks down at the floor.

Wonder why it looks sad?

I pick up one of the devices, a shining light blue colour. "Do you know this one Ash?"

He nods. "Chill drive. Ice type."

I glance to see Genesect twitching almost like a shiver but I can't imagine its cold. "Genesect doesn't like these."

"What are you talking about?" Green questions. "Aren't they for Genesect specifically?"

"No..." I walk up to Genesect, drive still in my hand. I lock eyes with Genesect and soon my thoughts aren't my own.

Cold.

Dry and cold.

There's nothing but sand and dust around. It's like a wasteland.

All that's there are four figures I can now recognize, Genesect. Or I guess Genesects.

Except all of them have different coloured drives attached to their backs. They face this way with determined faces before launching into the air.

They disappear into a bright white light.

"Ugh," I fall to the floor and come back to reality.

Genesect looks down at me.

"The drives aren't yours," I say and it nods. 

"Are you okay?" I feel a small hand grab my shoulder.

"Yea," I say and Green helps me up. "I think I just used a power. I got a vision like with Silvally. It was from the past. Where are your friends now Genesect?"

"Gen," It holds out one of its weird purple arms.

I grab it and here comes vision two.

The big ball of light explodes.

Wind knocks me or I guess Genesect down. Dust and sand blows by, hiding everything.

The vision fades in and out, until suddenly a wave of ice barrels this way. Jagged spikes form high into the sky until eventually swallowing everything.

I try blinking but all I can see is darkness. Just cold empty darkness, no noise, no light, nothing.

Until a small cracking sound starts.

Then a bigger cracking sound.

And then sunlight.

Except I wasn't feeling any relief as Genesect climbed out of its icy chamber. It was sad.

Instead of sandy wasteland, it's an icy one. And the other four Genesects are nowhere to be found. All that's there are four metal devices sticking out of the ice.

This time coming back to reality hurt a lot more.

"I don't like this," I fall back over, holding my head in pain.

"What did you see?" Ash asks.

I open my eyes through the pain and try to reach out for Green's arm to help me up. As my maroon sleeves roll up my arm, I notice a purple marble on my bracelet.

"Genesect was separated from its friends," I answer. "Kind of like me."

The lab goes silent. Guess I'm doing all the explaining.

"You feel lost here," I say to Genesect who confirms with a small nod. "I'm sure a lot of people in Elemente feel that way right now."

"Are you talking about people split up by the districts?" Green questions.

"Yea I'm sure there were people who had to choose what District to live in," I explain.

"You're right," Professor Arthropod makes a return. "Sorry I never really left, my curiosity got the best of me."

"So families were split up? Serena asks, her usual smile replaced by a frown.

"Many," The Professor sighs. "Of course people could go see each other in the Capital but even that is not encouraged anymore. There were many families who had to choose where to live based on one partner's District and abandon the other."

"He's right," The other Elemente native agrees. "I know people who have never met their grandparents or cousins because they're from another District. It would've been the same for me if my Dad didn't, you know, have his privileges. I kinda forgot about that."

"I discovered Genesect on an expedition mission in the Ice District," Professor Arthropod walks in closer. "I had a feeling there were more Genesect out there."

"Why don't you go look for them Genesect?" Ash asks.

"President Triton designated Genesect as the Bug District's legendary beast," The Professor sighs. "It took a lot of work to keep it from escaping at the beginning but I thought it just got used to being here so I've let loose. That just means its given up."

"You can't give up Genesect," The raven haired trainer exclaims. "Your friends are out there."

"Can't you let Genesect leave?" I ask.

Genesect turns towards the Leader.

"No," He says and we all start to protest. "A District losing its legendary will bring a lot of attention to the legendary beasts of the region and I'm assuming that would interfere with your plans."

We look between each other. "He's right," I sigh.

"Genesect," The Professor puts a hand on the Pokemon's shoulder. "We have a lot of equipment here. Maybe we can use the drives to detect your friends. Then someday we can go get them."

Genesect looks at me and I nod.

"We'll look too," I assure it.

Ash's POV

"I don't want to get up," I groan, a pulsing ache in my back telling me to go back to bed.

We stayed all day in that lab going over reports and messing with equipment. My body is not made to sit at a desk all day.

"Poor Ash," Serena giggles and rolls her eyes. "This is why you need proper posture."

"Or I'm allergic to paper."

She throws her pyjamas on the bed before going to fix her hair in the mirror. I'm surprised they were able to fit a mirror in this room. The Pokemon Center really went all out.

Serena's hair always looks so nice. It shines in the morning sunlight reflecting off the ocean.

"Come on Ashy-boy," She teases and drags me off the bed.

"Where did you hear that?" I question, feeling my eyes widen.

"May wasn't your only old friend I ran into in Hoenn," Serena winks. "Who knew you were the second most famous trainer from Pallet Town?"

"He better watch out next time I see him," I grumble and get up. "I'll have to battle him and remind him who's better."

"Of course," Serena smiles. "Now go get ready, you have a battle to win."

"Right!" I exclaim and hurriedly go to change.

Within minutes I'm back out onto the battlefield, standing where Gold was yesterday. I now get what he was saying about getting dizzy. The turf field hanging in the air gently sways like a boat.

"'It's time to conquer my second type!" I proclaim to my opponent.

Professor Arthropod smirks, holding his first pokeball. His lab coat moves with the breeze. "Don't underestimate me Ash. You're going to see the best the bug type can offer."

"I hope so!" I yell and release my first Pokemon. "Leavanny I choose you!"

"Pika!" Pikachu gives a cheer from beside me. I know he's just itching to get to the Electric District.

"Accelgor," He releases his own bug type.

Accelgor hovers a couple feet in the air, grey silk forming the cocoon like bottom half of its body. Two long pieces flow in the wind like a cape. Its head is pink with two vertical green stripes. Accelgor is currently crossing its arms and glaring at my tall bug type.

All I remember about Accelgor is its speed. I can't let it be in control.

"String shot let's go!"

"Dodge and Body Slam."

Leavanny creates a long string and swings it at Accelgor who moves so fast it momentarily disappears. It flies around the string and hits Leavanny in the torso.

The collision takes both of them across the field, but Accelgor is the only one to get up and fly away. Leavanny struggles to its feet but its strength was never its defense.

"Again Accelgor."

"Defend with Slash."

Before Accelgor could bowl through Leavanny again, the grass type gets its two long arms out in a defensive pose. They struggle as Accelgor crashes into them but Leavanny holds strong.

"X-Scissor!"

Leavanny's arms grow brighter and Accelgor's eyes widen. It tries to back away but can't get out of range.

Leavanny throws out her arms and slashes Accelgor with both, sending it high into the sky before crashing down. I can't let up.

"String shot, keep it there for Leaf Storm!"

This time the long white web connects and wraps around Accelgor. It struggles but all it can do is wiggle around on the field. It can't avoid the huge storm of sharp spinning leaves Leavanny sends towards it.

The leaves rip apart the string shot but also deal a ton of damage to Accelgor. It lays there defeated.

Professor Arthropod returns his Pokemon and brings out a Pokemon that is going to cause a lot more trouble. Volcarona.

This Volcarona is huge. Like Accelgor, it also hovers above the ground thanks to its six flaming red petals that look like a flower. I don't know exactly how it works but I guess they're wings. They hold its black and light blue beetle body in place, which leads to its white silky fur and two red antennae. 

A fire and bug type is going to make this tough. But when does type advantage ever matter to me.

"Okay Leavanny get ready."

"Fiery Dance!" 

The ocean breeze goes still.

Volcarona's petals become flames and it dances across the field. I'm too mesmerized to counterattack and there's nothing I can do to stop the pillars of flames erupting from the field. 

Leavanny eventually becomes a target of one of the pillars and succumbs immediately to the flames. "Thanks Leavanny," I return it.

"Heracross I choose you!"

My bipedal scarab beetle Pokemon comes out, its hard cyan shell ready to go. Hopefully it can resist the flames.

"Volcarona it's time for an encore, use Fiery Dance!" The Professor yells.

Volcarona starts its ritual again.

But not this time.

"Get in there with Aerial Ace!"

Heracross' horn glows as it runs through the field, avoiding spinning pillars of fire. It somersaults out of the way just before becoming a toasted beetle.

It reaches Volcarona and strikes its flaming body. Immediately all the fire dissipates as the fire and bug type recoils.

"Yes! Now Brick-"

Heracross recolis in pain as flames engulf it. 

Burn.

"Flamethrower!"

The flames just never stop. Volcarona uses Heracross' flinch from the burn to add more fire to the fire. Heracross faints from the pain and now I'm down to one.

"It's comeback time. Ariados I choose you."

 My newest Pokemon appears, the spider Pokemon ready to attack. I can't get close to Volcarona so I need to play back.

"Volcarona use Flamethrower."

The bug type shoots out a stream of flames but they're not going to hit.

"Ariados jump off the field!"

Professor Arthropod's eyes widen as my bug and poison type drops off the field.

"Poison sting!"

Nothing happens.

I'm sure there's a lot of confused looks around.

Then it happens.

Ariados comes flying into the air, using its string to swing off the hanging field. It takes Volcarona by surprise and shoots tiny purple stingers at it.

The needles cause Volcarona to shriek in pain.

"Hit it with Flamethrower quick!"

Volcarona musters up another burst of flames but Ariados falls below the field once again. 

The battle pauses until Ariados shows back up to fire more poison sting attacks. 

I let this continue until purple bubbles float out of Volcarona and it appears more sluggish. It may have burned Heracross but now it's poisoned.

"Okay that's enough," The professor declares. "Flame Charge!"

Volcarona rushes towards Ariados who begins to fall below the field again. But it's not stopping at the edge.

"Get out of there!" I yell but it's too late.

Volcarona nails Ariados and sends it barreling towards the ocean. "Ariados!" I cry.

Volcarona quickly dives towards the Pokemon and catches it with its petals. It brings the fainted Pokemon back up and I return Ariados with a quick thanks.

I lost.

"What'd you think of that Ash?" Professor Arthropod walks forward. 

It's hard for me to take my eyes off the ground and face him.

I'm supposed to be the best battler in the world but I couldn't even make it to his third Pokemon.

"I wasn't strong enough," I mumble.

"That's not it," He says and I manage to look up at him. "The Leaders of Elemente are THE best with each type. It was a honour to see your battling firsthand with some of the tricks you pulled. But these battles aren't the type you can just walk into and win."

I take a deep breath and my mind drifts to that battle in Snowbelle City.

This is no time to give up.

"I got it," I smile. "I hope you're ready for a rematch?"

"Right now?" The Professor chuckles.

"Ash!" Serena runs onto the field.

I turn back to the Professor. "No I need to um- slow down."