A little over 3 years ago, the Traveling Research and Excavation Department had returned to Headquarters for some rest but also to hand in the report on their findings, as the team leader; Dr. Norman Goruge, a male Mr.Mime; the excavation specialist, Dr. Paul Barden, a male Rhyhorn; the restoration and analysis experts, Dr. Julia Mayson, a female Kangaskhan and Dr. Zeiroff Rougar, a male Hypno, all went to the Director's office while the staff below were cleaning, repairing, refueling and restocking the mobile lab.  The receptionist; a Nidorina was finishing speaking to another team that was away before she sees them come in, "Welcome back, Team 18, Mr. Rutenin is waiting for you." she said as they thanked her before entering the office as the Director was on the phone at the moment, his vines moving about, writing, sorting and helping him drink his cup of coffee before he finishes the call and hangs up before turning around to face them, a stern-looking male Venusaur looks at them all before then giving a smile, "Welcome back, Norman, Julia, Zeiroff and Paul, please sit down." he said as the team sat down, "So your report?" Mr. Rutenin asked as Norman hands him the report, he began like every visit from a team to read the overall summary of how the team acted, worked together and cost of food and living expenses, Mr. Rutenin gave nods as he read while the team waited like usual before speaking as they watched then Mr. Rutenin's nods stopped and gave a slight confused hum which usually wasn't a good thing.

The air was slightly tense as Mr. Rutenin lowered the report a bit to look at them all w/ his stern eyes before he spoke, "... so, you all were doing fine... then Zeiroff... it seems you began to act out?" he asked as Zeiroff looks away a bit, "Norman... as leader, tell me what happened." Norman nods as he began to talk about their visit to Mount Silver, about the meteor crash site with no meteorite in sight but finding a shiny Ninetales frozen in a cave under a pile of snow, they took him to the nearby center and it seems he had amnesia and before saying anything more Zeiroff stood up and shouted, "He was faking it!"  "Zeiroff!" Mr. Rutenin slammed the report on his desk as he looked at Zeiroff for a good moment; Zeiroff grunts and sits back down as Mr. Rutenin told Norman to continue.  Norman nods as he continued saying that he had amnesia and Julia named him 'Silver', "Wait." Mr. Rutenin said, "You mean the mysterious Phantom Fighter Silver?"  "Yes, sir." Julia started to speak, "We believe that after we left him, he became a journey to find him again but on the way decided to become a battler." Julia said as Mr. Rutenin was still then broke into laughter from this, "Amazing, you find him in a cave under snow, half frozen and he awakens to be by far the greatest battler so far?  Tell me, is that also in the report?"  "The report has all details of our time watching over him as well as the new reports we heard of him." Norman said as Mr. Rutenin laughed some more at this odd but joyous news.

Zeiroff listening to the laughter was getting angry, cause it was almost like he was being mocked for not finding out the truth about the meteorite and about Silver, but after a moment Mr. Rutenin told Norman to continue and he did to where he got to where Zeiroff was trying to read Silver's mind, which also began to act out and started to become distant to the rest of the team when they arrived in Orre region, that after a few days he then was isolating himself in his room and then was sneaking out to the site to work alone, Zeiroff was gripping his fist tightly hearing Norman give the short version of what happened before soon stopping with them receiving orders to return, "And that is the short version, sir.  The report has the rest in full detail." Norman said as Mr. Rutenin nods a few times before then looking at the report and reading the first page once more before then setting it down, "Thank you, you are excused for now, but stay close as I might want to speak w/ you individually on other... details that need to be filled in, until then rest easy." he said as the team all thanked him then all left the office, Mr. Rutenin turned the page to the begin reading the full detailed report the Dr. Norman Goruge made on throughout their time on the field, he could see that things were well until that meteor crash site happened w/ the meeting of Silver and the slow but clear path that Dr. Zeiroff Rougar was taking after the 2nd attempt to mind read Silver.

Dr. Norman Goruge was very thorough w/ his reports and Mr. Rutenin was reading it as if he was actually there witnessing it all, it took him well over 5 hours for him to finish reading it all that he sets it down and rubbed his eyes from it almost giving himself a headache, but once he had a breather to think he then pressed the intercom button and spoke to the receptionist, "Hanna, call the leader of Team 17; Dr. Norman Goruge, tell him I'd like to speak w/ him."  "Yes, Mr. Rutenin." she said as he released the intercom button, "... I will need to know what they think before I make my final decision." he said to himself looking out the window, "... this... will be a difficult decision to make." he said.  Moments later he was able to speak w/ Norman in private about what he thought throughout their time on the field, where Norman gave his truthful opinion on the matter but was then asked to give his thoughts on Zeiroff's new behavior after the incident near Mt. Silver, where Norman was uncertain to say but told the truth on the matter and when finished he asked him to send Paul in next, then when Paul was finished talking w/ Mr. Rutenin he was told to send Julia next to speak w/ her, where she also told the truth on what she thought while on the field and Zeiroff but also was asked on what she thought about Silver as she did spend the most time w/ him while he was recovering, but after talking w/ the 3 he took a little breather before then calling Zeiroff in to speak w/ him in private about his experience.

When asked about his thoughts of what happened on the field Zeiroff said that it didn't matter and that they need to capture Silver for interrogation about the missing meteorite, that Silver is faking and lying to them about his amnesia and that when trying to read his mind he saw something that wasn't natural in the least, but before continuing Mr. Rutenin told him to stop by slamming his fist onto his desk to give himself a moment to think, he then looks to Zeiroff w/ a stern yet concern look in his eyes, "Dr. Zeiroff Rougar... from what I've read, you seem to have a lot on your mind and probably have done far too much work that it has clouded your mind.  I'm afraid to say that it give me no pleasure in saying that... you are suspend from any further work for the next 2 months." he said as Zeiroff looked at him in shock as rage filled his body, "I will assign you to see a psychiatrist to help you relax and-"  "NO!!" Zeiroff stood up shouting, "You can't do this to me!  What about the meteorite from the site!  What about the lies that Silver is portraying!" he said as Mr. Rutenin replied, "What proof is there that he is lying in the first place?  Your theory about Silver being linked w/ the meteorite ca-" "Shut up!  I know he's lying!" Zeiroff said as Mr. Rutenin stood up, "If you don't take the offer for suspension then I'm afraid I'll have to fire you!"  "No need!  I QUIT!!" Zeiroff said as he storms off out the door, Mr. Rutenin breathed out a heavy sigh and sat in his chair wondering why Zeiroff became so possessed about the missing meteorite and the shiny Ninetales known as Silver.

It is now the present, the night sky was cool and calming with the stars shining in the sky and clouds gently rolled past the crescent moon, but it was anything but peaceful that night as the echoing laughter of Dr. Zeiroff Rougar was heard inside the mountain, to show Konjou, Rose, Chase and Julia were facing off their opponents; a Camerupt, a Lickitung, a Tangela and a Poliwrath.  Zeiroff spoke through the speaker, "Take them out, but bring that Ninetales to me hurt but still alive." he said as the 4 charge at them while Konjou and the others prepared themselves for the assault, Konjou seeing the threat of the 4 called out, "Be careful, everyone.  There stronger than normal, Rose, Chase, you both need to be especially careful." he said using 'Quick Atk' to spin and uses 'Iron Tail' to hit him back even though Poliwrath blocked it, Rose always prepared for a fight spins and open palm thrusts the Lickitung to use 'Shadow Ball' to his stomach making it push back to the side following with 'Pursuit' to strike him once again, Julia having fought some before was ready to take on the offensive, as she shoots an 'Ice Beam' at the Camerupt that growled as the shadow aura was stopping the ice from freezing him, while Chase on the other hand wasn't prepared as them in fighting against Shadow PoKe'MoN, the Tangela shouts as his shadow aura flairs up making dark vines similar to 'Vine Whip' stretch from his body and fly towards Chase, but at that moment Chase was then attacked with 'Shadow Hold' he then uses 'Feint Atk' to dodge then follows up with 'Fury Swipes' to attack the Tangela causing it to fall backwards and tumble on the ground.

The fights between Konjou, Rose, Julia and Chase against the Shadow PoKe'MoN were very heated as Zeiroff watched from inside seeing them handle this better than previously thought, "Grr, this is not working out well..." he said to himself then when seeing that Konjou and Rose were double teaming for a moment he then remembered seeing her, "... isn't that Silver's little apprentice, yes, 'Fire Night Rose'... hehehe, I'm so brilliant." he said as he then uses an com-link to speak with his 4 Shadow PoKe'MoN, "Bring me that female Houndoom." he said as they all then stopped and faced Rose, the Lickitung and Poliwrath used 'Shadow Rush', the Camerupt used 'Shadow Blitz' and the Tangela used 'Shadow Rave' to where from the sudden change of their tactics Rose gasped, Konjou then appeared in front of them and spun around as his uses 'Fire Spin' to create a firewall surrounded himself and Rose, the Shadow 4 stopped from the fire as the Poliwrath then uses 'Shadow Sky' extending his shadow aura to form clouds, the clouds then caused unnatural black rain to fall from them onto the fire making it fizzle away until there was nothing left, but there was no sign of Rose or Konjou other than a large hole where they were as Konjou used 'Dig' to escape, but before they could react Konjou jumped back out spinning like a top shooting many star-shaped energy at the Shadow 4, it was 'Swift Atk' that made them grunt a bit from the attack, Julia helping Chase watched, "Wow, I heard he was good, but never imagined how good he really is in person." she said in amazement from the sight of Konjou's strategic battling skills.

The Tangela stomps it's foot as it's aura formed vines to begin stretching towards Konjou but was stopped by Rose as she uses 'Flame Charge' on it, but this also gave the Camerupt to use 'Shadow Blitz' on Julia and Chase blasting them back a couple of feet to the ground, while the Poliwrath uses 'Shadow Storm' as his aura formed into a tornado at Konjou causing him to fly into the side of the inner mountain with a loud crash, Rose looks to him, "Master!" she called out then was confronted with the Lickitung that uses 'Shadow Panic' on her as she gasped then falls backwards in a daze, she was grabbed by the Lickitung and was carried inside while Konjou then pushes from the wall as he charged at the Lickitung, but the 3 others attacked him again with their Shadow attacks against Konjou using a powerfully charged 'Dark Pulse', the impact from the attacks cause the 3 Shadow PoKe'MoN to land on the ground as Konjou does the same staring each other down for a brief moment, the 3 smirked then gasped as they fell to the ground unconscious where Konjou looked and saw that the Lickitung was gone with Rose, "... Rose." he said as he then headed towards the building but Julia called out, "Silver, wait!"  "I cannot wait, they have Rose and I promised to watch over her." he said as she stood up, "But you can't fight on your own, we need to regroup." she said touching his shoulder as he looked to her for a moment then walks to the 3 unconscious PoKe'MoN, he turned them onto their backs and pulled the pins from their bodies.

Once Konjou took them off he crushed them in his grip and tossed them to the side, "Alright then.  You 2 get these 3 to the center and call the Authorities once there, I'm going to get Rose back." he said to look at her with a determined and sharp look saying that he's not going to budge from his decision, "Do I make myself clear?" he asked, Julia in that moment staring into Konjou's eyes felt confident that she could trust him to handle what was inside Zeiroff's building, she breathed out a bit with a nods still concerned for his safety, "Good luck, Silver... get her back." she said with a soft smile before getting Chase to help with the 3 and took them all to the center to be treated and to call the Authorities.  Konjou watched them leave before turning to face the building and closed his eyes sensing the area and insides, he finds that the building is only a cover for the hidden base inside deep underground, "... guess I don't have to hold back then." he said, he took a stance crouching with legs spread, tails out in a pattern to keep his balance as if he was put his hands together and then began to breath in slowly and deeply, spreading his hands open as his chest pushed out some leaning back then leaned forward with an open mouth to spit out a yellow fireball, in the center it formed red markings like the Japanese symbol of fire as if he was using the move 'Fire Blast' as it glowed a little brighter, it then disappeared and as it changed to be like a needle and it zipped to strike the building then appeared to go through it, hitting the mountain wall on the other side and a shockwave pushed Konjou back a few feet.

Just then the "fire" symbol appeared on the mountain's side as if it was stamped with a giant burning branding iron was used, it glowed red and steam came from it while the needle sized hole through the building was a bright red dot, it then burned a bit brighter as it then was getting bigger to the point that it was literally melting the building, it exposed the hidden elevator shaft as he watch then ran and jumped over to then go down the shaft looking downward as he fell, the building soon stopped melting the bright red coloration faded to its original gray as it was now quiet outside.  Meanwhile inside, Zeiroff walked to greet his hostage as the Lickitung came and placed Rose on the table as she was still dazed, Zeiroff laughed as he then gave her a berry as the Lickitung finished strapping Rose down before she came too, "Huh?  What happened?"  "You are in my lair, miss Fire Night Rose, apprentice to Silver." he said laughing a bit to himself as Rose struggles, "Grr!  Untie me or I'll break free!" she said as he waved a finger, "Uh, ah, ah, you are not going to break out of them so easily, you are going to help me in telling me everything you know about Silver." he said as she scoffs, "I won't tell you anything!" she said sneering as she tries to burn through the bonds but they didn't burn, "Darn it!" she said as Zeiroff laughs a bit, "You can't break out of those so easily, also being in this case you can't attack me.  But when I said you were going to tell me... I didn't mean you had a choice." he said taking out one of his pins as she gasped, "Now... hold still, my dear." he said.

Zeiroff places the pin on a special port over her chest as he chuckles but before pressing the button the alarm rang as he looks to a monitor, Konjou stood there as the building was melting with Zeiroff in surprise and Rose smiling, "Master!" he then grits his teeth as he sees Konjou jump down into the elevator shaft, "Silver... you truly are a thorn in my side." he said growling then breathes out a bit, "No matter... I'll get what I want soon enough." he said to turn and look at Rose, "with you help." he said to press a button to seal the pin as it begins to descend towards her chest, "What?!  No, please, stop!" Zeiroff laughs as she then feels the pin pierce her skin making her scream in pain as it descends then clamps onto her, the serum then was dispensed into her veins that rushed and filled her heart as her body was tense all over, Konjou still falling opened his eyes wide then became sharp as he moved into a skydiving position, then he uses a mixture of fire, flying and dragon type energy into his 'Hidden Power' that creates a powerful jet-like propulsion, all the while she was screaming her tears quickly formed and ran down her face as it continued until the pin glowed a bit, Rose felt her heart hurting as she was trying to resist but it was tightening to the point that she was feeling numb all over, her feelings for her family, friends and especially for Konjou were being sealed away by the second leaving only anger, aggression and bloodlust for battling strong opponents while her mind was also being ensnared to be under Zeiroff's control.

Just at the moment Konjou stopped using 'Hidden Power' and opens his mouth with a focused energy orb to use 'Hyper Beam' straight down, the attack destroyed the elevator and the doorway as Konjou spun and lands with great force that shook the ground before standing up and walking out from the dust, Zeiroff looking at the monitor growled, "Damn you, Silver." he said as Konjou looks at camera then walks forward, "I'll have to leave here soon... but not without giving you a special gift." he said laughing to himself, "Fire Night Rose, I think it's time that you and Silver should get back together again, but this time... I want you to break him." he said as Rose sat up with eyes opened to be in a trance state then glowed with a purple glow.  Meanwhile outside the Lickitung was faced against Konjou and uses 'Shadow Panic' on him but Konjou seemed unfazed, Konjou looked at the Lickitung with a serious look then gives a look of a killer causing the Lickitung to freeze in fear, as Konjou took a step as the Lickitung then sees him suddenly appear before him a few feet away before getting the pin pulled out, he screamed from the pin having been pulled off him as the serum spews out as he fell to the ground now unconscious, Konjou crushes the pin to then hear Zeiroff speak from a speaker system, "Very well done, Silver, you took out my little minions without hesitation, all to get your precious apprentice, yes?"  "Rose is not just an apprentice to me; she is my friend and traveling companion.  Now release her or else." he said.

Zeiroff laughs, "Well, unlike yourself, I am a much more generous PoKe'MoN when asked for something, but I'll only give her back if you tell me the truth all those years ago; what did you do with the meteorite?" he asked while Konjou thought to himself that he couldn't believe he was still asking that, wanting to know that answer, but decided to answer his question even though he wouldn't believe it while closing his eyes, "... there was no meteorite... but-"  "LIAR!!  There was a meteorite and I'm sure you did something to it!  I'll get the answers, one way or another!" Zeiroff shouted as the door opens to show Rose standing there before Konjou as he looked at her, "Rose, are you alright?" he asked to where she didn't reply but instead growled as the dark aura was forming around and Konjou gripped his fists, "Zeiroff... you bastard." he said to himself as Zeiroff spoke, "Your little 'friend' is going to make you tell me the truth, even if she has to break your limbs, one by one." he said laughing as Rose screams a battle cry of rage with the aura surrounding her as she uses 'Shadow Blitz', Konjou saw her come as he then closed his eyes and prepared to defend himself by first dodging her first, Rose kept coming at him as Zeiroff laughed, "You can't do it can you?  You can't hurt her cause she is your star pupil.  Better just surrender or risk hurting her." he said laughing all the while with Konjou and Rose were fighting against one another as she continued to strike with a barrage of 'Shadow Blitz' attacks.

Konjou continued to dodge her attacks while trying to speak to Rose with telepathy, but could sense that it was going to be a little more difficult than he thought before then gripping her wrists and holds her to the wall, while he then looking at her to use 'Hypnosis' as she tries to bite him and move her legs but his tails were pressing against her, she was resisting but then was starting to slow down as the hypnosis was starting to take effect, Zeiroff watched on getting rather angry at this change of development, "Silver... fine.  Hans prep the chopper." he said to his Delibird servant bowed, "Yes sir." Hans said as he left to the copter while Zeiroff packed his briefcase, "Telling me such a lie, me; Dr. Zeiroff Rougar, that there was no meteorite at the site... well, if you survive from this." he said as he turns a dial with words lighting up to say 'Armed' and walks through a doorway, "Then I'll listen to your story... when your under my control." he said holding a remote as the door closes behind him, Konjou continued to focus putting Rose to sleep as she was struggling less and less until her eyes then closed, Konjou breathed out to then put a hand on the pin and her head, he looked at her for a moment then closed his eyes and begins to go into her mind and her heart to try and free her, but he only heard Zeiroff's voice was telling her to break Silver by fighting him so that he could get the information he sought from him.

Konjou easily broke the repeating command of Zeiroff as the serum was starting to leave her mind alone but when sensing her heart, he sensed there was darkness all around and a sense of nothing has consumed her from the inside out leaving her with only anger and bloodlust, it was just like he felt before with the others; no remorse, no soul, just pure rage and an endless thirst to fight and destroy their opponent, he didn't want Rose to suffer much longer as he began searching for any part of Rose that laid within her, but he needed to be quick as Rose was starting to awaken while looking deeper and deeper into her heart, he stopped for a moment to see what appeared to be a bubble with Rose curled up inside talking to herself, "It's stronger than I am." Konjou got closer and spoke, "Rose, wake up."  "I can't fight it." she said as he touches the bubble, "Rose, look at me and listen." he said as she lightly opened her eyes as they were foggy, "... who's there?"  "It's me, Konjou." he said as she blinked, "I can't hear who's there... I can't see anything.  It's stronger than I am." she said as Konjou spoke again, "This is not the Rose I know." he said as she lifted her head up a bit, "The Rose I know, is stronger than this, she was determined to prove herself worthy in order to train under me." he said as she looked at him with eyes widening a bit, "She was willing to do anything to fulfill her goal, following her heart and do anything I said to improve herself." he said.

Rose's eyes were becoming clearer as the words were finally understandable, "She have endured much while training to become as strong as she is now.  Able to handle anything that stands in her way." he said as he held out his hand, "Are you that Rose?" he asked as Rose blinked and opened with renewed vigor and hope as she uncurled herself and reached to pop the bubble and take his hand in hers, her color returned as the space around her lit up and she was feeling her heart, mind and spirit begin to spring to life again, Konjou gripped the pin as it released Rose's body and he pulled it off her as she woke up gasping for air, then coughed as he caught her while she was spitting up the left overs of the serum the filled her system for a time, Konjou held her as he rubs her back, "It's alright, Rose, you're safe now." he said as she breathed a little heavily but then looks to him and lightly smiled, "Thank you... master." she said to then close her eyes and rest for a moment while Konjou held her close.  Just then Konjou's ears perked up as he listened and heard beeping and sensing the area around them saw that there were bombs about to go off, Konjou picked Rose up and scooped the Lickitung with his tails as he then began to head to the elevator shaft; Zeiroff at the chopper with Hans had already gotten to the surface and began their take off, Zeiroff looked down at the damage Konjou made as he sneered and looked at the remote for a moment, "Pity about this place... but... there is always another lair to go too." he said.

Just then Julia and Chase return with the authorities as the chopper was flying off into the distance, Zeiroff presses the button to cause the underground base to explode all the way up to the top and spurted like it was a volcano erupting, that even the cavern spouted with flames preventing anyone from entering for a few seconds until it was clear, Julia called out with concern, "No, Silver!!" she said as a fire truck appeared with Blastoise and Wartortles came and began to put the fire out in the cavern, at that moment Konjou; carrying Rose in his arms and the Lickitung in his tails walks out and gets them into the ambulance and were driven back to the center.  2 days pass as Rose was sitting in bed, “Master, I’m feeling much better now.” She said as Konjou looks to her as he was sitting in a chair, “I know you are Rose, but Nurse Joy said you need more rest, besides it’s only until tomorrow, then we can go.” He said as they look out the window at the Elekid and Donphan leaving together happy they were well again; Rose looked down for a moment, "... Konjou... I... I'm sorry I wasn't strong enough to fight off its influence.  I really tried... but it was..." Konjou touched her hand holding it as she looked to him blushing, "Admitting defeat, is just another step to improve oneself further." he said as she nods, "... I still feel it inside me, will the shadow ever go away." she asked gripping his hand shivering a bit.

Konjou feeling her nervousness lightly lifted it, "Everyone has a shadow inside that they must face, it's only after we confront them that we decide how to wield it." he said as she closed her eyes for a moment thinking she understand what he meant but still thought about it, just then Chase enters with arms open and flowers in one hand, "Oh my sweet darling Rose!  I'm here to bring you great cheer and happiness, not only by bringing you flowers, but to bring you the greatest gift of all!  Me." he said with a grin and raised brow, Rose replies by punching him in the face as Chase chortles, "Ah ha, that's my gal." he said before falling to the floor, Julia giggled as she came in, "I'm glad to see you are doing well, Rose."  "Yes, I should be leaving here tomorrow to continue training." Rose said as Julia nods, "Well, I want to thank you all again for assisting me in taking care of Zeiroff's base, at least for now." she said as Konjou then spoke, "An what did the 'Black-market Criminal Prevention Agency' say about the destroyed lair?" he asked as Julia spoke, "They say there isn't anything left to salvage that would be of much use to us, so we're still at square one."  "Don't worry... Zeiroff will be stopped sooner or later." he said as Rose nods, "Yeah, we're more prepared this time for him next time we face him." she said as Julia chuckled, "An I hope you'll help me again to stop him." she said as Konjou and Rose nodded with Chase sitting on his knees gives a thumbs up and a slightly weak smile.

The next day, Rose was discharged from the center and they were packed and ready to continue on their journey as they shook hands with Julia, "Take care, my friends.  I wish you luck on your journey." she said as Konjou nodded his head and Rose smiles, "Thanks, Julia.  Take care."  "Yeah, babe, see you later." Chase said as he winked and began to walk but Julia spoke up, "Silver?" she asked as Konjou stopped to look at her, "Yes?"  "Silver... I just want to say that you are truly a wonder.  At times, I felt like you needed someone to watch over you... but from what I've seen, I feel you aren't like the rest of us PoKe'MoN." she said lightly gripping her chest a bit then smiled brightly as she looked at him, "Of which I am glad you are as great as you have become since our first meeting." she said as he smiles a bit, "Thank you, Julia.  But I'm only as great, as those that know me well enough." he said looking to Rose for a moment then to Julia, "Well, I'm glad you found some friends.  Especially someone like your pupil, Rose.  It doesn't take a genius to see that she loves you, have she told you yet?" she asked as Konjou shook his head, "No, when she's ready, she'll tell me." he said as Julia smiled and hugged him and he hugged her back then bid their good byes and went their separate ways, Rose knowing she could use shadow type attacks made her feeling a bit uneasy but with Konjou to help her learn calmed her, while the 3 knew full well that Dr. Zeiroff Rougar and his Z-Pins were still out there waiting to appear once again from the darkest parts of the world that was the shadows.