A/N: Please read my Comment! Something you may find Interesting is in there.



Rain was lightly falling and the morning skies were filled with gray clouds. Veruka was still on the ground with Vincent on his knees beside her.

"Oh dear, this is why I detest violence some times." Lily said as she began making her way over to Vincent and Veruka.

Rex was surveying the whole event from a distance. Aaron was over by Nova.

"Okay Nova, I know it was everything goes. But that last hit was a little cheap."

"And like her head butt was as well. She'll be fine anyways."

"I still don't think aiming for the jaw with an attack like that is very honorable."

"You and your whole honor thing."

Lily had reached Veruka.

"Come on Veruka, get up your gonna get muddy down there." Vincent said

"I don't even want to get up; I don't even know if I can."

"All this because you lost one battle?!"

"You don't understand… I was the strongest of the team and I lost to a fool like her. It's a bad example to the team."

Rex was still watching Aaron scold Nova. "Well good to see Aaron is still as passionate to his honor system as usual." Rex looked over to where Veruka, Vincent, and Lily stood. His eyes shot wide open as he saw a massive amount of aura energy coming from Vincent. Rex closed his eyes and shook his head for a moment.

"Don't worry Vincent I'll patch her up good." Lily spoke, breaking Vincent's focus on Veruka

Rex opened his eyes again to see the aura gone. "My sense must be failing me, I coulda swore I just saw. But that wouldn't make sense they said he couldn't even use special attacks."

Lily held her arm over Veruka as before, it glowed white and the sound of a bell was faintly heard. Veruka's wounds all began to heal and her pain subsided.

"There you go dear, all patched up."

"Thanks." She spoke getting to her feet. "Now If you'd excuse me."

Veruka began walking towards the nearby forest. Vincent watched with his ear dropped and a confused look on his face.

"She's okay physically, but mentally she seems distressed." Lily spoke

"I've never seen her like this before Lily."

"She hasn't lost before either has she?"

"No…"

"Then she's taking it the wrong way then."

"I don't know what to do."

"If I was you I'd follow her, I'm sure you two are good friends at least despite what you told me earlier. Also might be a good chance for you to make a move." She replied with a smile

Vincent pondered for a moment. "I think I have an idea, I am gonna go after her but first I need to grab something."

Vincent went off towards the ranch house.

"What did you tell him Lily?" Rex questioned as he walked up to Lily

"What he wanted to hear, of course."

"And Veruka?"

"She went into the forest, I told Vincent to follow her."

"Firstly he went the opposite way, secondly you should respect the fact Veruka may want to be alone."

"Rex, my dear young Rex. You haven't been around as long as I have, trust me what I told him was the right thing."

"I personally think some alone time would benefit her just fine."

"My dear Rex, you don't understand that nobody really wants to be alone. Not Veruka, not master Pogy, not even you."

I'll cross my fingers for you Vincent. Lily thought to herself

Veruka had found a place to sit on a large flat rock in the forest.

She sighed "It seems stupid that I'm upset over all this. Everyone on the team has lost before, and it never affected them. Is it because I got beat by another infernape or because I got beat by somebody like Nova." She looked up at the gray sky, the rain had stopped a few minutes ago. "Even though I don't want to admit it to myself, I think I know why I'm so upset."

"Veruka?" A voice spoke from behind.

She turned to see Vincent, with the same express of confusion on his face as before.

It's because of him. She thought to herself

"You okay?"

"Does it really matter?"

"It does to me, and I think it matters to you as well." Veruka grew silent. Vincent approached her. "Can I sit down by you?"

"Do whatever you want."

He sat down on the rock beside her. "Level with me Veruka, why are you so upset over losing and be honest."

"I'm the strongest one of all of us Vincent. When I got beaten back there I feel like I let everybody down… some more than others."

"I don't think you let anybody down, you just think you did."

"Well I feel like I did."

"Don't think that way, you let nobody down today. If anything you proved you're just like any of us, and nobody is gonna look at you different." Vincent hesitated for a moment, but then reached out placed his hand on Veruka's face and coaxed her view towards him. "I won't look at you any different." He then wiped he halfway dried blood off of her face that remained from earlier.

"Truthfully I think that would do for me."

Vincent seemed somewhat surprised by her response. He then smiled and held out his arm. "Veruka remember what I told you a while back, not long after I had evolved?"

"You said a lot of things after you evolved."

"Then let me remind you." Suddenly Vincent revealed a cookie in his hand and brought it in front of Veruka as he placed his other hand on her shoulder opposite of him. Veruka moved her hands towards it knowing it was meant for her. "Life is wonderful if you have a cookie."

Veruka took it, and found herself unable to come up with anything to say. Only one thing came to mind. She wrapped her arms around Vincent and embraced him tightly. Vincent was stunned at first but soon wrapped his arms around her.

"You're a good friend Vincent." She spoke trying to hold her composure.

"And you're a good friend too, and a good leader also."

Vincent and Veruka both remained there. Vincent enjoyed her warmth, and the feel of her silky white fur. Veruka felt most of her tension slip away. Vincent had made all the right moves, and could basically have her wrapped around his finger. Veruka let go of Vincent and turned back forward.

"You know I think that's the first time you've ever embraced me like that."

"Well I think this was the first time you said all the right things as well."

Vincent stood up. "Well I think we should be getting back to the ranch now."

"Alright I'll agree."

They were making their way outta of the forest just as Celestine was returning to the ranch. Rex gathered the information Celestine had gathered and went into the ranch house to give it to the trainers.

Celestine quickly caught Both Veruka's and Vincent's eyes as they emerged from the forest.

"Guess she found Dark Oak." Veruka said

"Or maybe she couldn't find him and gave up." Vincent replied

"I doubt it when you think about it she hasn't been gone too long."

Rex emerged from the ranch house with Jenna, Pogy, and Rtas all following. Pogy recalled Lily and Rex to their balls and Rtas did the same with Bandit, Nova, and Aaron. All three trainers had thick coats and headgear.

"Grab your team Jenna and we'll get moving." Pogy said

"Right."

Jenna ran about the ranch picking which pokes to bring with her. She ended up bringing Vincent, Veruka, Napoleon, Cotton, and Rupert.

Pogy had taken a seat on Celestine as he looked over to Rtas who had brought his Tropius out again, but was going through his bag.

"Found it!" He exclaimed he brought out an ear wore Scanner. He placed it on his left ear and turned it on the small glass display screen came showing a few number.

"Where did you get that?" Pogy questioned

"Thel made it for me. It's just the same as his modified aura reader."

"Now if you can actually put it to use."

"Hey its working fine, in fact it's already giving me Celestine's statistics as we speak."

"Um why are you taking a reading of Celestine?"

"Because it gives me a read out on any Pokémon besides mine that comes into view."

"Guess Thel didn't work out the bugs on that part then."

"Okay I got everyone." Jenna said coming around the corner.

"Very good, we're off to Lake Acuity then."

Jenna released Matthew from his ball, and Rtas hopped onto his Tropius. Pogy was already in air and heading north.

"Alright Matthew, follow that Flygon." Jenna said hopping onto Matthew's back.

"Not again, not twice in two days." Matthew grumbled to himself.

Jenna and Rtas both lifted off into air and followed Pogy.

As they flew they all couldn't help but to notice black clouds far to the north, that became clearer as they went. It only took them about two hours to reach Route 217. To their disadvantage the normal snowfall was raging and the skies where a charcoal black. Celestine and Rtas' Tropius both suffered more than Matthew through the storm as both were less resilient to icy weather.

Suddenly a wall of clouds came into view. All three of them flew through the wall of clouds and emerged on the other side in one piece. On the inside of the cloud wall the air was calm, but the temperature seemed lower and the sky was still dark. They all landed on the lake's bank. They leapt off of their Pokémon putting their feet firmly back on the ground.

"Celestine's wings are halfway frozen." Pogy said inspecting Celestine who was shivering rather violently. Pogy recalled her to her ball. "I've been here before and it was never this cold."

"I Agree with you there Pog. You sure we didn't somehow get blown into Cocytus do you?" Rtas said as he recalled his Tropius.

"Hardy Har Har. Very funny Rtas." Pogy replied

"Sorry for the cold flight Matt." Jenna said recalling Matthew. "I agree with you two; this makes it seem warm up here any other time."

"Water is only frozen in certain places though." Pogy said inspecting the lake.

"Looks like we might have trouble getting across." Rtas said

"I'll have Lily carry us, she's a bit more sturdy than Celestine and snow isn't hammering down on us in here."

"Hey guys I think we got company." Jenna said pointing out towards the lake.

Pogy and Rtas looked out to the lake. An oversized Honchkrow carrying a Weavile were heading straight for them.

"Dark Oak corps. So much for our surprise attack, get your teams out now." Pogy said

Jenna threw her five pokeballs releasing her team. Rtas sent out Bandit, Nova, and Aaron. Pogy threw up three pokeballs, out of them came Lily, Rex, and finally a Charizard.

"Wait, you had a Charizard with you the whole time?" Jenna questioned

"Actually I took advantage of your PC to transfer him here. Considering Volkhan here part of my special forces so to speak."

The Honchkrow dropped the Weavile off on the shore with them and then continued to circle overhead.

"Guys, leave me some support and I'll handle these two myself." Rtas said

"Fair enough, Jenna have Napoleon follow by water, me, you, and Cotton will get carried by Lily and Volkhan here over to the island. We'll go straight after Dark Oak ourselves."

Lily picked up Jenna and Cotton and carried them across the water, followed by Napoleon, Volkhan, and Pogy.

"Bad time for this but like can we put past events aside and be able to work together for this?" Nova asked Veruka

"Works for me." She replied

"Bandit! Hold your position and swords dance." Rtas exclaimed. Bandit complied and fell back and summoned transparent swords around him that began to clash together. "The rest of you go at them."

They all charged forward. Rex and Aaron went straight for the Weavile. Veruka, Nova, Vincent, and Rupert were set on the Honchkrow.

'Take the left." Rex said to Aaron

They split into two different direction and charged the Weavile. The Weavile split into a dozen copies. Both Aaron and Rex went in and start striking at the Weaviles. Every Copy they brought down another popped up.

"Veruka like give me a lift, I'm bringing this turkey down!" Nova exclaimed

"Gladly!"

Veruka knelt down and put her fist together. Nova leapt placing a foot firmly on Veruka's fist. Veruka swung up giving Nova a larger jump. Nova landed on the Honchkrow's back. Her fist became engulfed in electricity and she began swing away at the Honchkrow, each hit forcing the Honchkrow lower.

The real Weavile leapt out of the copies and launched a Focus blast at Aaron. Before Aaron realized the real Weavile had leapt out the focus blast hit him full force sending him flying back a few yards. Rex rushed forward at the Weavile with incredible speed. The Weavile launched forward extending its claws as they became covered with ice that form into sharp point. The two collided. Rex managed to get a good hit off but the Weavile across made a clean cut on Rex's Shoulder.

Rex came to a stop and turned back to face the Weavile. The suddenly a sharp pain rushed through his left side. The shoulder where the Weavile had hit became frozen at the joint. "Damn it I can't move my arm!"

The Weavile charged forward towards Rex with one fist still in the form of a sharp ice shard. It was cut off straight in its path by Bandit. The shard simply bounced off of Bandit's steel body.

Nova was still pounding away at the Honchkrow. The Honchkrow forced it's self back up despite Nova's blows. It quickly did a roll catching Nova off guard tossing her to the ground below. Nova landed in a pile a deep snow to her luck. The Honchkrow then made a turn and then made a swift dive down towards Veruka, Vincent, and Rupert. They all quickly dodged the swoop. The Honchkrow flew back and hovered only slightly above them and unleashed a dark pulse. The pulse knocked all three of them to the ground.

Pogy and Jenna had reached the island and began running to the cave. Right before they reached it a Tyranitar emerged from the cave.

"Crap, he was expecting this too." Pogy said

"Go get him guys!" Jenna exclaimed

Napoleon charged forward with a stream of water and slammed into the Tyranitar. The Tyranitar was unfazed and took hold of Napoleon and tossed him back towards the others. The Tyranitar slammed one of its feet into the ground causing a trail of large point rock to burst from the ground heading straight towards Jenna and Pogy. Lily quickly flew in front of them and slammed her tail on the ground, sending a large stone of her own up out of the ground blocking the trail of stones.

"Good job Lily."

Volkhan charged forward as his body was engulfed in flames. The Tyranitar panted itself and place and stopped the Volkhan in his tracks. They both battled with great force one trying to push back the other. After a few moments the Tyranitar won the struggle and brought Volkhan to the ground. Lily rushed in and slammed into the Tyranitar with a fierce ram, freeing Volkhan from the Tyranitar's grasp.

Napoleon charged in again with another aqua jet. The Tyranitar was still off balance from Lily's ram, and the aqua jet knocked it to the ground. Napoleon then threw a frozen punch into the Tyranitar's torso. The Tyranitar knocked Napoleon away with its tail and got back to its feet.

"Lily outrage!" Pogy exclaimed

Lily charged at the Tyranitar and slammed the Tyranitar with her tail, knocking it to the ground. She then slammed her tail down onto the Tyranitar, causing it to emit a roar and faint.

"Got him!"

A purple light engulfed the Tyranitar briefly and it got back to its feet.

"What?" Jenna spoke

The Tyranitar roared and then charged at Lily, ramming into her sending her flying back a few yards. Volkhan unleashed a torrent of flame from his mouth, consuming the Tyranitar with them. Boulders flew out of the flames and slammed into Volkhan and Napoleon. The Tyranitar emerged from the flames with a roar.

Bandit charged the Weavile, its claw becoming a metallic color. It went straight through the Weavile and the sound of a bullet striking metal was heard was heard. The Weavile collapsed on the ground.

"Awesome work Bandit!" Rtas exclaimed

A purple light engulfed the Weavile briefly and it got back to its feet, with no sign of injury.

"What the heck?!"

Bandit charged again in the same manner as before, and struck the Weavile with another bullet punch. Once again the Weavile collapsed to the ground and a purple light engulfed it and it stood right back up.

The Honchkrow gained some height again and then turned back towards Veruka, Vincent, and Rupert. Its body began to glow like flames for a few moments then it made a fierce dive while still in this form. Veruka and Vincent dodged, where Rupert was hit head on by the attack. Rupert was thrown back into a pile of snow. The Honchkrow regained its height again, and at its peak it turned to Veruka and Vincent once more. It began flapping its wings fiercely and sharp shards of ice formed in the wind it generated and blew towards Veruka and Vincent. They both leapt out of the path of the shards, however one of the shards managed to make a small slice in Veruka's left arm.

"Alright if you won't come down here, then I'll just have to clip your wings!" Veruka exclaimed

Veruka focused energy into her hands and unleashed a focus blast at the Honchkrow. Just before impact the Honchkrow generated a barrier in front of its self, the focus blast hit it with full force and the Honchkrow remained unharmed. The Honchkrow dove towards Veruka. She tried to get away but the Honchkrow took hold of her by the shoulders and lifted her into the air as its claw dug into her flesh.

"Veruka!" Exclaimed

Rex watched her being lifted up. "Damn it if only I could move my arm."

"Let her go!" Vincent yelled, as fear and anger overtook him.

Rex turned to look at Vincent and his eyes shot open as widely as possible in response to seeing the massive Aura he had saw before surrounding Vincent.
Vincent instantly pulled his arms back and moved his hands close together. He then thrust his arms and hands forward and a large aura sphere launched out from them towards the Honchkrow.  

Rex's eyes were still wide s could be, as knowing Vincent couldn't even use special attacks to see Vincent launch an Aura sphere larger than his own.

The Aura sphere slammed into the Honchkrow, causing it to drop Veruka. It plummeted into the freezing water of the lake. Veruka closed her eyes tightly as she fell bracing for impact.

"Veruka!" Vincent yelled running towards where she was falling. His speed was far greater than usual. Vincent got right under Veruka as she was only a small few yards from the ground. She slammed into his extended arms and brought both of them to the ground. Veruka took minimum damage from the fall thanks to Vincent.

Bandit charged forward at the Weavile and slashed in an X shape sending it flying back. As the Weavile was still in the air flying backwards from the impact, Bandit rushed forward at a high speed and hit it with another bullet punch and sent it flying into the nearby brush.

"Awesome job Bandit!" Rtas cheered

Bandit took a pose expressing that he was unimpressed.

Lily, Napoleon, and Volkhan all charged at the Tyranitar with their own element attacks respectably. The three of them together sent it flying back into the rock wall of the outside of the cavern. The Tyranitar was engulfed by a purple light and pulled itself out of the wall fully recovered. It focused energy into its claws and then launched a massive focus blast at the trainers and their Pokémon. Cotton leapt into the path of the focus blast and took it head on. She fell to her knees barely able to hold herself up as her body became reflective. A Focus blast twice the size of the one the Tyranitar had launched, launched from Cotton and slammed into the Tyranitar sending it flying back against the outer cave wall. It fell off the wall face first on the ground, but this time the purple light didn't appear.

"Did we beat it?" Pogy questioned

As soon as Pogy finished speaking and ear piercing screech came from the cave. Three black beams of energy shot from the cave entrance. One hit the Tyranitar making it turn into black energy and was pulled back into the cave. One Beam went into the lake's waters and the other into the brush on the lake's bank. The two beams rushed back to the cave entrance. A Piercing red eye cut through the darkness of the cave. It emerged from the cave, in a Gray wore cloak. Only the one wide open blood shot eye was visible through the open space in the hood.

"Dark Oak!" Pogy exclaimed

Jenna was somewhat petrified, finding herself unable to move or speak. It was the first time she saw Dark Oak in the light, the darkness within the Old Chateau had veiled his appearance.

"Leave…Don't…interfere…"

"It ends here Dark Oak!"

"I…hurt…friends…"

"Volkhan!"

Volkhan prepared to expel flames from his mouth. But before he could darkness shot out from Dark Oak blinding them. When the darkness subsided, Dark Oak was gone.

"Damn it!" Pogy exclaimed kicking a nearby rock into the lake.

"I'm sorry he got away." Jenna spoke

"It's not your fault, just to have been so close."

"So that's what he really looks like huh?"

"Yes, suppose. I wouldn't say for sure until I saw him with that cloak on."

"Don't trouble yourself we'll get him. I know we will." Jenna looked around to see the cloud wall that surrounded the lake beginning to part. "The clouds their breaking."

"It's because he's gone now. The storm outside the walls has must likely subsided now as well. It's already getting somewhat warmer here."

Jenna just noticed it but it wasn't as cold as it was a few moments ago. "I can't believe he can cause the weather to act this way."

"I can, I may not know what he is. But I know he does this stuff."

Vincent sat up from the ground. He shook Veruka was on top of his legs. "Veruka! Are you alright?"

Veruka moaned and opened her eyes. "Vincent? Did you?"

"Yeah, I caught you."

"I mean did you use an aura sphere just then?"

"I'm not sure but I think I did. It just happened"

"Thank you, I guess you saved me this go round."

"I think that may be twice now, the least you could do is give me a kiss."

"Dream on."

"Can't blame me for trying, but are you alright. Even if I caught you it was a pretty far drop."

"I'm fine." She winced in pain; she then noticed the spot on her arm that was sliced from the Ice shard earlier.

"Oh no, you're hurt."

"It's nothing but a cut."

"Your shoulders have claw wounds as well."

Pogy and Jenna carried by Lily landed on the lake's bank.

"You guys get him?" Rtas asked

"No, he got away."

"Bummer, but hey we're all alright."

"I suppose."

"Sir."

Pogy turned to see Rex, his left arm was limp and the shoulder was partly frozen from the wound he received earlier.

"Rex your arm."

"It's nothing sir."

"You call this nothing." Pogy replied getting down to his knees and inspecting the wound. "It's a hella deep cut, froze down to the joint as well. Can you even move it?"

"No sir, but I have something I wish to discuss with you."

"It can wait, first we get your wound and the other's wound handled."

"Yeah Nova and Aaron both took some nasty hits." Rtas spoke "It looked like Rupert and Veruka took some hits too Jenna."

Jenna ran over to Vincent and Veruka.

"Cario.' Vincent spoke out to Jenna

"Glad to see you alright Vincent." Jenna took a careful hold of Veruka's arm and looked at the cut. "The wound has froze, not very good. Looks like we're gonna have to take you to a Pokémon center for this.

"Cario!"

Jenna turned to look at Vincent who was over at a pile of Snow pulling at Rupert's legs. Jenna ran over and took hold as well and pulled a halfway frozen Rupert from the pile.

"Alright I'm gonna put all you back in your balls, until we get to a center."

Jenna recalled all three of them back into their balls. Rtas had dug through another snow pile and found Nova and recalled her to her ball, he had already got Aaron and Bandit.

Jenna walked over to Pogy. "I think its best that we take everyone to the center in Snowpoint City."

"I agree."

Pogy recalled Rex to his ball. Rtas, Jenna, and Pogy began their walk to the town.