Green's POV

Through the pine trees I see a massive plume of water rise high into the sky. It seems to be a glowing a faint pink.

Then it crashes down into the previously calm lake, sending a shockwave of mist at us.

"What was that?" Gold questions and we go running down towards the waterlogged dock.

Water is still spilling down the shore and off the dock and returning to the lake. It's also still spilling off the two trainers.

"It was real training," I joke.

Serena and Ash's water type Pokemon watch on from the water. Minus Kabutops, their Pokemon are clearly a step above ours.

"Guess who won?" Serena asks but I'm pretty sure we can figure it out based on the skip in her step.

"A contest battle," Ash clarifies.

"I think that means the boys have to cook lunch," I chime in.

"But I didn't lose," The navy haired trainer argues.

"I could beat you anyday," I wave him off.

The two groan and make their way back to the cottage.

"SPHE!" A Pokemon's cry echoes from across the lake.

"Lapras!" Serena yells and jumps on its back.

I follow her and Lapras takes off across the lake. We follow the direction of the cry, which really travels across the lake.

"There!" I point to a blue blob thrown across the shore.

It looks like a tree has fallen on its tail, holding it in place.

"Hold on Spheal!" I yell and Lapras hurries us over.

Serena and I each grab a part of the fallen log and lift it off the Pokemon. It's hard to get a grip on the slimy log that was thrown out of the water but we get it up.

"Spee," It whimpers, a sad look in its big round eyes.

Spheal is a very spherical pokemon, the bottom half beige, and the top half light blue. It has two small fangs and a couple white spots along its back.

The water and ice types are usually bubbly and found in cooler climates. This one is far from home.

"Hi," I crouch down on the sandy shore and meet it at eye level. "Can I take you home so we can treat your tail?"

I point to the tail that has a large gash on it.

"Spee," It whimpers, looking down at the dark sand.

"It's okay," Serena joins me on the ground. Her warm smile perks the Pokemon's ears up. "We can wait a bit."

Spheal noticeably eyes Lapras who waits patiently in the water. It tries to move towards it but flinches in pain when it tries to move. It usually uses its short blue tial to move or roll around.

"I'm going to pick you up." I say softly and reach out my arms.

Spheal doesn't recoil and I gently pick up the surprisingly heavy Pokemon.

Serena leads us to Lapras and we make the short trip back across the lake.

"Gold!" I yell as we walk back into the cottage.

"Why are you yelling?" He complains and comes around the corner. "A Spheal?"

"Get my bag, I have some healing items in there," I say and he nods.

I set Spheal down on the floor and carefully bandage the tail with the supplies from Gold. Eevee and Litleo try to comfort the Pokemon that is still feeling the pain.

"What happened?" Ash asks from the near the stove. He seems to be watching something cook in the oven.

"Our battle may have gotten a bit carried away," Serena explains and takes a seat at the table. "A tree was thrown up in the water and landed on Spheal."

"Oh sorry Spheal," Ash comes over and pets the Pokemon's head.

"It'll be okay," I smile and do the same. "Your tail will be healed by tomorrow."

"Spheall! It gives its first happy cheer.

"Great!" I clap. "Looks like we have one more for lunch."

"Sounds good," Gold gives a thumbs up and makes his way to the kitchen. "We have lots of Pokemon food."

Gold and Ash fill a bunch of bowls and take them into the backyard, all of the Pokemon following them like a herd of Mareep. So many happy faces.

We spend the rest of the afternoon watching the Pokemon play, taking in the cottage lifestyle. Assuming everything goes well tonight, we'll be out of here in the morning.

The boys were also voluntold to make dinner so Serena and I could setup a campfire.

The firewood crackles and the smell of smoke fills the air. I watch each red and orange flame flicker within the stone lined pit.

I'm not the only one absent-mindedly staring into the fire.

Serena's long hair glows orange from the fire as it falls down her face. Her blue eyes watch the fire closely and her expression is blank opposed to her normal expressive self.

I leave my fold-out chair and join her on one of the fallen logs we use as a seat. "Hi," I take her attention away from the fire.

"Hi," She laughs.

"What'cha thinking about?" I ask. 

"What am I not thinking about?" She sighs which takes me as a surprise.

Serena always comes off so confident and put together.

"Is everything okay?" I watch her take a deep breath.

"Yea sorry," She shakes her head, stray strands of her hair finding my face. "The last few days have reminded me of the Lumiose City disaster we caught ourselves in."

"I was too busy having my own mental breakdown I forgot to ask how you were," I frown. "You and Ash have been through a lot."

"I should be more used to it," Serena's smile returns and she puts an arm around me. "And I'll always be there to help you through your breakdowns."

"Thanks," I look away shyly. 

"It's also a reminder of how many terrible things go on," She continues. "It's hard to focus on performing or coordinating when people are hurting. I don't know if that can be fulfilling enough."

The fire catches my eye again. She's right. I would have continued on with my life as normal, not knowing what goes on in all these Districts.

"Well you and Ash seem to be good at helping people," I say. "You already saved one region from disaster. Don't you deserve to do what you enjoy?"

"We do," She nods. "After we save this region of course."

"Of course," I shake my head in disbelief. "For a moment I almost forgot that's what we're doing. But if you and Ash need to get away we would understand."

"Good luck with that," Serena giggles. "No bad guy can escape Ash. We're not going anywhere."

"Good," I laugh with her. "I can't be left with Gold alone."

"We'll see about that," She winks cryptically, implying something I'm sure.

Ash and Gold arrive with dinner.

The raven haired trainer hands his girlfriend a plate and takes a seat on the other side of her from me.

"Thanks," I hold out my arms to Gold who is holding two plates.

"Hmm?" He tilts his head like an idiot. "These are both for me."

"Ha right," I stomp over to his chair and rip one out of his hands. 

I can feel his stupid smirk as I make my way back to the log.

Gold's POV

After a nice campfire dinner, it's time to get back to business.

The four of us ride comfortably on Lapras who's large shell has plenty of room. We wind between islands of pine trees and empty cottages.

A cool breeze blows by and we can hear the Noctowl beginning their day. There were a couple cottages with lights on but not many. The lake is dark dark without the light pollution, but Green seems to know the way.

I let out Lanturn to at least illuminate a bit in front of us.

Soon the quiet lake is filled with the sound of rushing water. 

"We're here," Green announches and Lapras comes to an abrupt stop. Thanks to Lanturn, I can make out the large splash of a waterfall, crashing onto exposed bedrock before spilling into the lake.

The large granite rocks allow us to stand close to the waterfall, however the water is still up to our ankles. I look up for a source of the water but the darkness hides the top.

""Here Gold," Green says in the warm glow of Lanturn's light.

The orange tinted sword seems to glow without the light and it feels heavier than it did before. I grab the hilt and give it a short swing through the air. It actually feels lighter when you swing it.

"Now what?" I ask, holding it up in a defensive position.

"Slam it into the rock," She says. "In this general area."

I raise an eyebrow but this isn't close to the strangest thing we've done.

I inspect the granite, looking for a good spot. There'a general low point that the water seems to funnel to.

My chest breathes deeply and I grab the hilt with both hands. "Here we go!" I yell.

The sword stings my hands as it clases with the rock, a sharp clang of metal ringing across the lake. But the sword slides in almost effortlessly after the initial impact.

I let go and the sword stands upright.

The world seems to pause.

No sounds of Pokemon, no sounds from Green, and no sounds of rushing water.

Nothing in the darkness stands out, Lanturn's light only showing the four of us crowded around it.

And a new glowing blue object.

"Lanturn can you give us a bit more light?" I ask and its head lamp brightens.

"Grrrr," The object growls as it steps into the light.

The object is actually a long blue horn, connected to a small beige horse Pokemon. It has a fluffy blue tail and mane that looks like a scarf. It's head is covered in a tuff of orange fur.

But most importantly is the bearing of teeth.

"You have some nerve!" It says telepathically and charges forward.

I instinctively grab the sword out of the rock and use to parry Keldeo's horn to the side. That was pure reflex because I've never held a sword before.

Keldeo swings its head back at me and I meet it in another clash.

My arms struggle to keep the horn from advancing any further and I meet the stare of the Pokemon's dark eyes.

"We aren't here to hurt you!" I yell as Keldeo backs up and tries another advance with its horn.

The clang of the sword meets the horn again, temporarily keeping me from getting shish kabob'd.

"You trapped me here!"  It screams into our heads.

I try to parry again but the horn slips along the sword and catches my arm.

"Gold!" Green yells as pain fills my arms and a small drip of blood starts.

"Pikachu use Thunderbolt!" Ash jumps in.

A flash of lightning brightens up the waterfall basin but Keldeo barely flinches. It does at least momentarily stop.

"We came to free you!" Green pleads with her arms out wide.

The mythical Pokemon's head turns towards her.

"The fourth Sword of Justice," Ash says and the Pokemon's eyes widen. "I met a Keldeo once. The forgotten sword."

I set the sword back down in the water.

"You weren't forgotten here," I say. "You were trapped by bad people."

The Pokemon doesn't respond as I walk forward. It lets me reach out and touch its soft head.

I close my eyes and let the vision take over.

A group of four Pokemon run through the forest.

The other three are giants compared to Keldeo.

There's a slender green pokemon, with fur that blends in with blades of grass. It has sharp pink accents  and a head that looks winged like an airplane.

The second is much more stocky, twice as thick as it is tall. It's brown and grey body looks like it is made of sharp rocks. It has two dark brown accents around its head like handlebars.

The final blue Pokemon is a bit of a middle ground. It looks strong and proud with gold and silver tuffs of fur that extend of its back and a tuff of white on its chest. It has two golden horns that extend of its head.

They effortlessly bounce through the forest, avoiding trees and rocks like nothing.

Keldeo struggles to keep up, stumbling over shrubs and bouncing off tree trunks.

The scenery looks eerily similar to where we are.

Behind them, a group of hunters come into view. They have Houndooms that are fitted with some sort of equipment and hover bikes that zip through the forest easily.

"You have to hide Keldeo," One of the Pokemon say.

"I can keep up," Keldeo responds.

"You can't," Another says.

"There's a cave up ahead."

"Let's split up."

Without further consultation, the Pokemon split. Keldeo follows the green one while the hunters follow the other two.

Keldeo is led to a cave and is ushered in by the bigger Pokemon.

"Wait here." It says.

Keldeo nods.

Time seems to fast forward until a large rumble shakes the cave. Keldeo stumbles to the ground and the cave goes dark.

I come back to reality and and try to smile. "They didn't forget you here," I say. "They were probably caught too."

"Then we need to save them," Keldeo says. "They need my protection."

"They do," I nod. "That's what we're trying to do."

I show the golden bracelet on my wrist. "We have to work together," I say.

Keldeo seems to hesitate but eventually a familiar glow starts. A light blue and orange orb floats through the air and onto my wrist.

"No one left behind," Ash smiles.