Gold's POV

"What are we going to do with you?"

I'm not physically tied down to the hospital bed but it feels that way.

The man towers over me, his blue eyes studying me. His arms are crossed against the gold scales that make up his clothing.

Personally I can't get my eyes off the gold crown.

"Let me go?" I propose.

Silence. The people holding the glaring gold tridents twitch.

"Hahahaha," The man with the crown howls.

He continues to laugh and I try to laugh along. The others in the room clearly don't have a sense of humour.

"I like you," He wipes tears out his eyes from laughing so hard. "Everyone around here is so serious."

"King Mana," One of the soldiers in silver scale clothing say harshly. "We should not be wasting time with this child."

"Child?" I question and sit up, my body aching as I do so. "How old do you think I am?"

"Ten maybe?" The soldier replies with a laugh.

I clench the bed, ready to throw myself off at the guy.

"Now now," The King hushes. "We're all friends here."

"I'm not friends with him," I point the soldier's direction. "I don't even know his name."

"It's Sebastian," He growls. "You'll remember the name when I throw you in jail."

"Sebastian the Great, capturing hospital patients," I retort.

The King holds his face, shaking his head.

The hospital monitor beside me starts going off and I can feel my face starting to sweat.

"Stop!" The nurse in the purple scales pushes me back down to a laying position. Her long lavender hair hangs over me as she attaches sensors under the hospital gown. "He needs rest."

I shiver, hopefully from the cold sensors on my skin and not a terminal illness.

The King pulls up a chair beside the bed and takes a seat. His long white hair now tickles my arm. I much prefer the nurse.

"Sebastian, round up the guards and go do your rounds," He orders and all the silver clad people leave. "Sorry about him, he's a grump."

"I noticed," I watch them leave.

"But it comes from his love for this place."

"And 'this place' is where exactly?" I manage to do air quotes with my weak arms.

"I guess you wouldn't know," He ponders out loud. "Being from Sinnoh and all,"

That shuts me up.

Another day, another group of people figuring out my secret. I never claimed to be a spy.

"Don't look so worried boy," He chuckles. "I have nothing against the people of Sinnoh. However, the waters are too cold there so we stay away."

I raise an eyebrow and watch him get up.

He opens the dark blue curtains and reveals the outside world. A shining blue sky awaits outside. I can't wait to get back outside.

Most of the pain is in my upper body and head, I could probably run.

I lock eyes with the King...

and bolt.

"No!" The pretty nurse calls out as I burst through the door.

White marble tiles line floor of the fancy green brick walls. After a few turns I find what looks like a door outside and run through. A couple people in the lobby yell out but I'm not stopping until I figure out where in the Distortion World I am.

Sunlight beams down on me as soon as I get outside. I close my eyes, not ready for the brightness. A deep breath of salty air fills my lungs.

Very salty.

My eyes open and the clear blue sky appears. Except it's moving and filled with bubbles. Schools of water type Pokemon fly through the air above me, before disappearing into the blue.

The balcony I found myself on is made of the same green brick in the hallways. There are countless buildings, fountains, and onnings all made of the same material. It's all connected by waterfalls and aqueducts like one perfect system.

"What the Ducklett."

The King slaps his large hand on my shoulder. "Welcome to the Temple of the Sea."

Serena's POV

"May!"

"Serena!" The brunette's voice comes through the phone loud and clear.

A perk of knowing Green is that she has access to one of the few international phones in Elemente, one of which is in the Triton building in Los Lumeles. You just have to remember that they are listening to everything you say.

"It's good to see a familiar face," I smile. "I have so much to tell you."

"I bet," Her sapphire eyes smile back. She tightens the red bandana on her head and leans in. "So have you broken through the brick wall yet?"

I eye Ash across the room, lounging on a couch daydreaming. Thinking hard about something.

"Maybe," I wink and she slaps a hand across her mouth.

"No way!" She squeals. "How?"

"Sshh," I put a finger to my lips. "It's in progress. But we have been sharing a bed most nights."

May dramatically falls out of view of the camera and the microphone has trouble transmitting her screams. "In progress is an understatement," She comments. "You're halfway to home plate."

My face heats up. "W-what have you been up to?" I try to change the subject.

"I'm not done with you," She points into the screen with a determined look. May, like Ash, has one setting and that is high. "You've been in a secluded region for two months, I need more than that."

"There's only so much I can say in one phone call," I say while trying to think of what I can actually say. "Our friend Green has been travelling with us."

"Oh yea?" May asks. "What's she like?"

"She's really nice," I try to find her to call her over but she must've wandered somewhere. "Luckily she's travelled through a lot of Elemente so she's a great tour guide."

"Ash does always rely on someone to parade him around," May shakes her head. "He'd never be Pokemon Monarch or whatever without us to show him around."

"You're not wrong," I laugh. "Elemente is definitely different from other regions but there's a lot of great people and places here. We've been in giant tree cities, on a pirate ship, at a festival held on lilypads. And that was just one District."

"Sounds amazing," May awes. "I wish I could come visit."

"Me too," I frown. "Then we could really catch. I'll have to ask Green if there are any plans to have more visitors."

"You should!" May yells. "I'd come in a heartbeat. Alola is nice but I'm missing my favourite rival."

"You're in Alola?" I ask.

"Yep!" She smiles. "They're having their inaugural contest circuit so naturally I had to come and show everyone how it's done."

"How's it going?"

"There will be a lot of relaxing on the beach at the rate I'm winning," She smirks. "I'll have my five ribbons before Christmas."

"Don't get too confident," I shake my head. "You're starting to sound like Ash."

"Ew," May rolls her eyes. "Don't fall in love with me then."

"What are you guys talking about?" The raven haired trainer walks up. "Hey May!"

"Hey!" She yells back. "I'm stealing your girlfriend."

"I won't let you," Ash wraps an arm around me and sticks his tongue out at his former travelling companion.

May's jaw drops.

I probably should've at least mentioned we did progress to the part where we're actually dating.

"The phone must've froze," Ash waves his hand in front of the screen. "Anyway Green said that Eric is finally ready for our battle today so let's go train."

"Okay," I nod. "Bye May, I'll call you next time I can."

She manages a wave, still not believing that I broke through to Ash. Glad someone understands how hard that was.

"So Eric is finally going to battle you?" I ask.

"Tonight," Ash answers. "Apparently he was busy with some other stuff the last couple days and wanted to make sure preparations were in place."

"Preparations?" I question. "Or hanging out with Green?"

We've seen very little of both of them.

He shrugs. "I'm just excited to battle again. If only Pikachu could battle."

I pick up the electric type from Ash's shoulder. "That would be unfair," I scratch Pikachu's cheeks. "You'd make quick work of the water types."

"I don't know," Ash starts to laugh. "He doesn't have a great record against water type gym leaders."

Here comes the thunderbolt.

Gold's POV

I follow the King through the Temple of Sea. We walk over bridges, through little tunnels, and around canals. Some with water and some empty.

"How about you introduce yourself?" The King asks.

"I thought you already knew who I was?" I question.

The King runs his hand under a fountain we pass. "The memories held in water can only tell us so much. I want to hear from you."

"My name is Loga-"

"I meant the truth," He shakes his head.

"Gold," I correct. "I think, still getting through a bit of amnesia."

"Nice to meet you Gold," The King offers a hand. "I'm King Mana."

"This is your kingdom then?" I ask.

"Not exactly," He brings us to a balcony that overlooks a town square with lots of people walking around. "The Temple of the Sea belong to the Manaphy. I'm the leader of the People of the Water, who are sworn to protect Manaphy."

Looks like I might be able to get a legendary spirit here.

"I see," I nod. "So you're not affiliated with Elemente and President Triton?"

"No no," He waves, accidentally flicking his hair. "The Temple of the Sea belongs to no one. We've just been stuck here for some time."

"President Triton doesn't even let you guys leave?"

"Not exactly," King Mana sighs. "We can't. The Temple of the Sea moves with the ocean's currents but needs a Manaphy to lead it. Our last Prince left on its coming of age journey so we've been in Elemente waters for quite some time now."

"That's unfortunate."

"No kidding," He laughs. "When a Manaphy leaves, it leaves an egg behind to hatch into the new heir. Except it's been almost three years and the egg still won't hatch."

The birth of a legendary Pokemon probably requires a blessing from Arceus I'm assuming. With Arceus captured and weak, I'm sure it's not in a position to be creating legendary Pokemon.

"We've tried everything to get the egg to hatch," King Mana leans over the railing. "Our canals are starting to dry up and the surface of the water gets further everyday."

"Good to know I'm on a sinking ship," I sigh. "That's two this week."

"The water told me you're a Pokemon Researcher," He faces me with almost a pleading look.

"Was," I correct. "Before the whole amnesia thing."

"Your knowledge is still inside," He points at my head.

"I can give it a shot," I agree. "Not that this was ever my expertise either."

"Come on," He leads me down further into the temple.

We emerge into a circular area, surrounded by tall pillars of the prismarine brick. Statues of Manaphy are placed at the four cardinal points, each in a different pose.

Manaphy looks like an adorable stuffed animal. It has two big eyes on its round head, with a long fin extending out behind it. It has two small fins for arms and its small torso has a big red gem. I only know its red because each statue has a ruby encrusted in it.

In the middle is a fountain with multiple waterfalls pouring into it. A blue egg, about the size of a watermelon is nestled in the water. It has a bright red circle with yellow surrounding it. I'm no expert but looks like a Manaphy egg.

I'm still wearing the hospital gown only so no need to worry about taking off any clothing before walking through the pool. It's only ankle deep so it doesn't reach the fabric.

"This is it," The King crouches beside the egg.

I join him and study it. "I'm assuming you've tried heat, walking around with it, and talking to it already."

"Yes we have," He nods.

That's the extent of my knowledge on Pokemon eggs.

The gold bracelet on my wrist dangles as I reach down to touch the egg. It's cool surface slides along my fingers.

What catches my eye is the dim glow of my bracelet as I trace circles around the egg.

What if?

I close my eyes and try to focus on only the egg and the bracelet.

The endless void usually seen when closing my eyes is replaced by the four spirits I've collected so far. The marbles spin slowly in the void but then a fifth one appears.

It's dim but I can make out the colours. Blue, yellow, and red like the egg.

Manaphy's spirit.

Except this one is not for the taking. It's for the opposite.

This may cost me a spirit.

I focus on the four spirits I have and they glow in my mind. The glow gets brighter and I guide it towards Manaphy's spirit.

It's hard to explain but I'm sweating from the effort it's taking to make this happen.

The light reaches Manaphy's spirit and my vision goes white.

I open my eyes in shock to see the egg also glowing brightly now. Along with my bracelet which is showing its true form, Arceus' rings.

The egg glows for about a minute before dissipating into a Pokemon.

Manaphy.

I lock eyes with the King who appears as dumbfounded as I am.

"I just hatched a legendary Pokemon," I mumble and look at my bracelet.

That's with only four spirits.