Indigo Plateau rose from the darkness like a fortress of ancient stone and modern ambition.
The twin Dragonites descended toward the complex, their wings catching the moonlight as they spiraled down toward the private landing pad reserved for Elite Four members. The buildings stretched across the mountainside—the Pokémon League headquarters, training facilities, administrative offices, and the grand stadium where championship battles were held.
He had been here before, in Red's memories. This was where he had defeated the Elite Four and claimed the championship title all those years ago. The halls had echoed with his footsteps, the battles had tested every limit of his skill and determination.
It felt strange to return as a visitor rather than a challenger.
Lance dismounted first, his cape settling around him with practiced grace. "Welcome to Indigo Plateau. Or perhaps I should say welcome back—though I suspect it feels quite different from your last visit."
Gold practically tumbled off Dragonite's back in his eagerness to look around. "This is amazing! The actual Pokémon League! Where champions are made! I can't believe I'm really here!"
"Try to contain yourself," Silver muttered, though even he seemed impressed by the grandeur of their surroundings.
The partner Pikachu surveyed the plateau with curious eyes, its ears twitching as it took in the new environment. It had never been here—the partner Pikachu was from a different continuity than Red's original journey—but it seemed to sense the significance of the place.
Lance led them through a series of security checkpoints, each one staffed by trainers whose Pokémon radiated quiet competence. They passed through hallways lined with portraits of past champions, their painted eyes seeming to follow the group as they walked.
Red's portrait was there, he noticed. A young face beneath the iconic cap, expression neutral, revealing nothing of the person beneath. It was strange to see himself—or the person he had become—immortalized in oil and canvas.
"The briefing room is this way," Lance said, guiding them through a reinforced door into a chamber that hummed with electronic equipment. Screens covered the walls, displaying maps and data streams and surveillance footage from across the region. A large table dominated the center of the room, its surface embedded with holographic projectors.
"Please, sit." Lance gestured toward the chairs arranged around the table. "What I'm about to share is classified at the highest levels. Normally, I wouldn't reveal this information to anyone outside the Elite Four, but..." He glanced at Red, something complicated passing through his eyes. "Given your involvement in stopping Team Rocket's original operations, and your apparent decision to reengage with regional affairs, I believe you have a right to know."
They took their seats—Gold bouncing slightly with anticipation, Silver maintaining his guarded posture, Red settling into stillness with the partner Pikachu on his shoulder.
Lance activated the holographic display, and images began to materialize above the table.
"Team Rocket's resurgence was not unexpected," he began, his voice taking on the cadence of a formal briefing. "After Giovanni's disappearance, we knew it was only a matter of time before remnants of the organization attempted to rebuild. What we didn't anticipate was the nature of their new operations."
The hologram shifted, showing surveillance footage of a laboratory hidden somewhere in the mountains. Trainers in Rocket uniforms moved between workstations, their activities focused on something that made Gold gasp and Silver's expression darken.
Pokémon. Dozens of Pokémon, confined in specialized containment units, their bodies wreathed in an unnatural purple-black aura.
"We call them Shadow Pokémon," Lance said quietly. "Pokémon that have been subjected to a process that closes the door to their hearts, suppressing their emotions and turning them into mindless weapons."
The footage continued, showing one of the Shadow Pokémon—a Sneasel, its eyes blank and empty—attacking a training dummy with savage ferocity. Its movements were mechanical, devoid of the natural grace that characterized its species. When the attack concluded, it simply stood there, waiting for the next command.
"The process was developed in the Orre region years ago," Lance continued. "An organization called Cipher created the first Shadow Pokémon, but their operations were eventually shut down. We believed the technique had been lost."
"But Team Rocket found it," Silver said, his voice tight with barely contained anger.
"Worse. They've improved it." Lance's expression grew grimmer. "The original Shadow Pokémon could be purified—restored to their normal state through patient care and exposure to positive emotions. But these new Shadow Pokémon..." He shook his head. "Our researchers have been unable to find any method of reversing the process. Whatever Team Rocket is doing to these Pokémon, it appears to be permanent."
The hologram shifted again, showing a map of Johto with dozens of red markers scattered across the region.
"These are confirmed Shadow Pokémon sightings over the past three months. As you can see, they're becoming more common. Team Rocket is producing them at an accelerating rate, and we have reason to believe they're planning something big."
"The Radio Tower broadcast," Gold said, his earlier enthusiasm completely gone. "They were calling Giovanni back. You think he's behind this?"
"We don't know." Lance's admission clearly cost him. "Giovanni vanished after Red defeated him in Viridian City. No confirmed sightings, no communications, nothing. He could be dead, could be in hiding, could be orchestrating everything from the shadows. Without more intelligence, we're operating blind."
He leaned forward, studying the map. The distribution of sightings wasn't random—there was a pattern there, a concentration of activity in certain areas that suggested strategic positioning.
"What's here?" He pointed at the densest cluster of markers, located somewhere in the mountains north of Mahogany Town.
Lance blinked, clearly not expecting Red to communicate so directly. "We... we're not sure. Our reconnaissance teams haven't been able to get close enough to investigate. The area is heavily guarded, and the few trainers we've sent have been driven back by Shadow Pokémon too powerful to overcome."
"That's their base," Silver said flatly. "It has to be. That's where they're creating the Shadow Pokémon."
"Probably. But without more information—"
He stood abruptly, cutting Lance off mid-sentence. The partner Pikachu leaped from his shoulder to the table, its expression matching his determination.
"Red?" Lance's voice carried concern. "What are you—"
He pointed at the cluster of markers, then at himself, the message clear: I'll go. I'll find out what's there.
"You can't be serious." Lance rose as well, his cape swirling with the sudden movement. "That area is too dangerous, even for you. The concentration of Shadow Pokémon alone—"
He raised an eyebrow, projecting skepticism without words. Too dangerous? For me?
Lance fell silent, the unspoken reminder hanging in the air between them. Red had faced Mewtwo and won. Had defeated Team Rocket at the height of their power. Had trained on Mt. Silver for three years, pushing himself and his Pokémon to heights that no one else had achieved.
What could possibly be too dangerous for him?
"I want to come too," Gold said, standing up with determination that belied his youth. "These Shadow Pokémon—what they're doing to them—it's wrong. Someone needs to stop it, and I want to help."
"As do I." Silver's voice was cold but resolute. "Team Rocket is my father's legacy. If anyone should be responsible for tearing it down, it's me."
Lance looked between the three of them—the legendary Champion, the enthusiastic challenger, the vengeful son—and something shifted in his expression.
"Very well," he said finally. "But not tonight. You've already fought one battle today, and the journey to that location will require preparation. Rest here tonight. Tomorrow, we can plan a proper approach."
He wanted to argue—wanted to leave immediately, to strike while the iron was hot—but Lance had a point. His Pokémon were tired. Gold and Silver were exhausted. Charging into unknown territory without adequate rest would be foolish.
He nodded reluctantly.
"Good." Lance's shoulders relaxed slightly. "I'll have rooms prepared for all of you. In the meantime..." He hesitated, something flickering in his eyes that might have been nervousness. "I was wondering if you might indulge me in a request."
He tilted his head, inviting elaboration.
"A battle." Lance's voice was carefully controlled, but there was an undercurrent of intensity that couldn't be hidden. "Not a full match—I know I'm not ready for that. But a single bout. Dragonite against Dragonite. I want to see... I need to see how far the gap between us truly extends."
The request surprised him. Lance had been defeated by Red years ago—had experienced firsthand the devastating power that the Silent Champion commanded. Why would he want to revisit that humiliation?
But looking at Lance's expression, he understood. This wasn't about winning or losing. It was about measuring progress, about understanding where he stood after years of training and growth. It was the same drive that had pushed him to climb Mt. Silver in the first place—the need to know, to test, to challenge.
He nodded.
Lance's face lit up with something that looked almost like gratitude. "Thank you. There's a training arena nearby—private, away from prying eyes. We can battle there."
The training arena was a masterpiece of Pokémon League engineering.
The floor was reinforced steel, capable of withstanding attacks that would have cratered normal ground. The walls were lined with energy-absorbing panels that could contain even the most powerful moves. Emergency systems stood ready to intervene if things got out of control.
Not that they would. This was a friendly match, a test of skill rather than a fight to the finish.
Gold and Silver had insisted on watching, claiming seats in the observation gallery above the arena floor. The partner Pikachu sat between them, still clutching its plushie, its eyes bright with anticipation.
Lance stood at one end of the arena, his Dragonite already released and stretching its wings. The dragon-type was magnificent—powerful, well-trained, radiating the kind of quiet confidence that came from decades of partnership with its trainer.
He took his position at the opposite end, reaching for Dragonite's Poké Ball. His own dragon-type emerged with a cheerful cry, bouncing slightly on its feet as it registered the battle arena. It noticed Lance's Dragonite immediately, and its expression shifted to one of competitive interest.
Two Dragonites, facing each other across the polished floor. Both powerful, both experienced, both eager to prove themselves.
But as he prepared to give the signal to begin, something strange happened.
The Mega Ring on his wrist pulsed.
Not the gentle warmth he had grown accustomed to—this was something different. A surge of energy that made his arm tingle, that filled the ring's Key Stone with light that shifted and swirled in colors he had never seen before.
And then the ring changed.
Where the Key Stone had been, a new gem materialized—orange and brown, swirling with draconic energy that resonated with the Dragonite standing before him. The ring itself seemed to restructure, its design shifting to accommodate the new stone with an elegance that spoke of deliberate crafting.
Draconite. The Mega Stone for Dragonite.
He stared at it, memories from his previous life flooding back. Pokémon Legends Z-A—the game that had been announced but never released in his original world. The game that had promised Mega Evolution for every fully evolved Pokémon, including those that had never received the transformation before.
Including Dragonite.
Somehow, the ring had provided exactly what he needed, exactly when he needed it.
His Dragonite had noticed the change. The orange dragon was staring at the new stone with eyes that grew wider and wider, its small wings quivering, its stubby arms beginning to wave with increasing excitement.
It knew. Somehow, it understood what that stone represented.
"Drago?" it asked, its voice rising with hope. "Drago drago?"
He reached into his pocket, somehow knowing what he would find. His fingers closed around a smooth, warm stone that pulsed with the same draconic energy as the one in his ring.
Draconite. A matching Mega Stone for his Dragonite to hold.
The dragon-type's eyes locked onto the stone in his hand. For a moment, it stood frozen, processing the impossible gift being offered. Then it began to bounce.
Not the dignified movement of a powerful dragon—this was pure, unbridled joy, the kind of excitement that a child might show when receiving the best present of their lives. Dragonite bounced up and down on the arena floor, its wings flapping, its voice rising in a sustained cry of happiness that echoed off the walls.
"DRAGO! DRAGO DRAGO DRAGO!"
Up in the observation gallery, Gold burst out laughing. "Oh my god, it's so happy! Look at it! It's like a kid on Christmas!"
Even Silver cracked a smile, the rare expression transforming his usually severe features.
Lance stared at the bouncing Dragonite with an expression of utter bewilderment. "Is that... is that a Mega Stone? For Dragonite? But that's impossible—Dragonite doesn't have a Mega Evolution!"
He approached his ecstatic Pokémon, holding out the Draconite. Dragonite stopped bouncing just long enough to accept the stone, cradling it against its chest like a precious treasure. Its eyes shimmered with what might have been tears.
"Drago," it said softly, looking at him with pure adoration. "Drago."
He reached out and patted its snout gently, conveying reassurance and affection through the gesture. You deserve this. You've worked hard, trained harder, earned every evolution you've ever achieved. This is just the next step.
Dragonite's response was to pull him into a hug—a crushing embrace that would have broken the bones of an ordinary person, but which his adapted body handled with only mild discomfort. The dragon-type's warmth enveloped him, its gratitude overwhelming in its intensity.
"This is..." Lance's voice was faint, his earlier composure completely shattered. "How? Where did you get a Mega Stone for Dragonite? They don't exist!"
He couldn't explain. Even if he could speak, he had no words for what had just happened. The ring had changed, had provided what he needed, had once again demonstrated that some force was watching over him and supplying tools at critical moments.
Arceus, probably. The same power that had placed the original Mega Ring and Charizardite X in his bag.
Dragonite finally released him, stepping back with visible reluctance. But its attention had shifted now, fixing on Lance's Dragonite with renewed intensity. It wanted to battle—wanted to show off its new power, to demonstrate what it could become.
He looked at Lance, raising an eyebrow. Still want to do this?
The Dragon Master hesitated. He had asked for a Dragonite battle, a test of skill between two trainers who specialized in the same species. But now the playing field had changed dramatically. Red's Dragonite had access to Mega Evolution—a transformation that Lance's Dragonite couldn't match.
But something hardened in Lance's expression. The fear that had haunted him since his original defeat was still there, but it was being pushed down, overridden by determination and competitive pride.
"Yes," he said firmly. "I still want to battle. Even if I can't win—even if the gap is even wider than I feared—I need to see it. I need to understand what I'm working toward."
He nodded, respecting the Dragon Master's courage.
They took their positions at opposite ends of the arena. Lance's Dragonite settled into a battle stance, its eyes fixed on its counterpart with wary intensity. His own Dragonite bounced once more, then forced itself to be still, its expression shifting to something more serious.
The Draconite had been fashioned into a simple collar—Alakazam's psychic crafting skills called upon once again—and now hung around Dragonite's neck, pulsing with anticipation.
"Whenever you're ready," Lance called across the arena.
He raised his left hand, focusing on the new stone in his Mega Ring. The connection was there, just like with Charizard—a resonance between the two stones, mediated by the bond between trainer and Pokémon.
He reached for that bond and pulled.
The light that erupted from Dragonite was different from Charizard's transformation—warmer, somehow, more golden. It swirled around the dragon-type's body like a cocoon, reshaping, restructuring, evolving.
And when the light faded, something magnificent stood in its place.
Mega Dragonite was larger than its base form—nearly twelve feet tall, with a wingspan that stretched across half the arena. Its orange scales had deepened to a rich amber, and new patterns of gold traced along its body like circuitry. Its eyes blazed with draconic power, and its previously stubby wings had expanded into massive, elegant structures that seemed almost too beautiful for combat.
But the most striking change was its bearing. Where regular Dragonite often seemed slightly goofy—friendly and approachable despite its power—Mega Dragonite radiated majesty. It stood like a king surveying its domain, every line of its body speaking of strength held in perfect control.
"By Arceus," Lance breathed, his composure finally shattering completely. "It's... it's beautiful."
His Dragonite—Lance's Dragonite—was staring at its transformed counterpart with an expression that mixed awe, envy, and something that might have been hope. If its partner's Dragonite could achieve such a form, perhaps someday, it could too.
"We're still doing this," Lance said, his voice steadying as he forced himself back into battle mode. "Dragonite—Dragon Dance!"
Lance's Dragonite began to move, its body swaying in the ancient pattern that boosted its speed and power. It was a good opening move, a way to close the gap between their capabilities before engaging directly.
Mega Dragonite simply watched, waiting. It didn't need to boost its stats. It was already beyond anything its opponent could match.
"Now—Outrage!"
Lance's Dragonite charged, draconic energy wreathing its body as it threw itself at Mega Dragonite with everything it had. The attack was powerful, well-executed, exactly what a trainer of Lance's caliber should be able to produce.
Mega Dragonite caught the incoming Dragonite in one massive claw.
The attacking dragon's momentum was arrested instantly, its Outrage neutralized by the simple application of overwhelming force. It struggled in Mega Dragonite's grip, but the hold was unbreakable.
Gently, he conveyed through their bond. Don't hurt it.
Mega Dragonite nodded slightly, then simply set its opponent down on the arena floor. It stepped back, spreading its wings in a gesture that seemed almost apologetic.
I could destroy you, the gesture seemed to say. But I choose not to. You are a fellow Dragonite. You deserve respect, not humiliation.
Lance's Dragonite stood frozen, processing what had just happened. It had been stopped cold—not by a powerful attack, not by a clever strategy, but by pure, undeniable strength that made its best efforts meaningless.
"I see." Lance's voice was quiet, but it carried across the arena clearly. "I see now."
He walked forward, stopping beside his Dragonite and placing a hand on its shoulder. The dragon-type looked at him, its expression carrying questions that words couldn't capture.
"It's okay," Lance said softly. "There's no shame in this. Some opponents are simply beyond us. What matters is that we keep training, keep growing, keep reaching for heights that seem impossible."
He looked up at Mega Dragonite, at Red standing behind it, and something in his expression shifted. The fear was still there—it might always be there—but it had been joined by something else.
Respect. And beneath that, a spark of hope.
"Thank you," Lance said, bowing slightly. "For showing me this. For proving that there are still peaks to be climbed, still limits to be broken. I thought I understood what you represented, but I was wrong."
He paused, seeming to struggle with his next words.
"You're not just strong. You're... you're what we should all be striving for. The bond between you and your Pokémon, the power that comes from that bond—it's not something that can be achieved through training alone. It requires something more. Something I'm still learning to understand."
The Mega Evolution faded, Dragonite returning to its normal form. But it stood taller now, prouder, as if the experience of transformation had left a permanent mark on its bearing.
Lance recalled his own Dragonite, holding the Poké Ball for a moment before clipping it to his belt. "Get some rest tonight. Tomorrow, we'll plan the assault on the Rocket base. Whatever they're doing to those Pokémon... it ends."
He nodded in agreement.
The Shadow Pokémon. The Rocket base. The threats that Lance had warned about. All of it was waiting, demanding attention, requiring action.
But for now, he would rest. He would let his Pokémon recover, let his mind process everything he had learned, let the weight of the day's events settle into something he could carry.
Tomorrow, the fight would continue.
Later, in the quarters that had been assigned to him, he sat by the window and stared out at the moonlit landscape.
The partner Pikachu was curled on the bed, already asleep, its plushie clutched tightly. Its breathing was slow and peaceful, undisturbed by the concerns that plagued its trainer.
Shadow Pokémon. Pokémon with the doors to their hearts closed, their emotions suppressed, their very souls corrupted by a process that might be irreversible. The thought filled him with a cold fury that was difficult to contain.
He had seen evil in this world—Team Rocket's cruelty, the casual way they treated Pokémon as tools to be used and discarded. But this was something worse. This was the deliberate destruction of everything that made Pokémon what they were. The bond, the connection, the love that existed between species—all of it erased, leaving nothing but hollow weapons.
It couldn't be allowed to continue. Whatever it took, whatever he had to face, he would put an end to it.
The Mega Ring on his wrist caught the moonlight, the new Draconite stone glinting with subtle energy. Another gift from whatever force watched over him. Another tool to be used in the battles ahead.
He wasn't alone. He had never been alone.
Somewhere, Arceus was watching. Somewhere, destiny was unfolding according to a plan he couldn't fully comprehend.
But he didn't need to understand the plan. He just needed to follow his heart, protect those who needed protecting, and trust that his strength would be enough.
Tomorrow, he would face Team Rocket.
Tomorrow, he would see what horrors they had created.
And tomorrow, he would make them pay.
In the Hall of Origin, Arceus observed the events at Indigo Plateau with deep satisfaction.
The Draconite worked precisely as intended, Dialga noted. His Dragonite's Mega Evolution is stable and powerful.
He will need it, Arceus replied. The Shadow Pokémon are only the beginning. The forces behind their creation are far more dangerous than Team Rocket alone.
You still haven't told us what these forces are, Palkia observed, a note of frustration in its voice.
In time. All will be revealed in time. Arceus's golden light pulsed with something that might have been anticipation. For now, it is enough that he prepares. That he grows stronger. That he builds the bonds and gathers the allies he will need.
The Dragon Master has accepted his role, Giratina noted from the shadows. He will fight beside your chosen one when the time comes.
Yes. As will the others—Gold and Silver, Ash and his companions, all the trainers who are touched by Red's presence. They will form a network of strength, a web of connections that can withstand the darkness ahead.
The viewing pool showed Red sitting by his window, staring at the moon, his expression hidden but his determination palpable.
Sleep well, my champion, Arceus said quietly. Tomorrow begins the next phase of your journey. Tomorrow, you face the shadows.
And tomorrow, you take the first step toward your true destiny.