Iron Island

Barry was training his Empoleon and his new Heracross on Iron Island. Everything was going well, but then something odd happened to Empoleon. First blue electric sparkles appeared over Empoleon, paralyzing it. Then it's eyes glowed blue and it started to attack Barry and Heracross.

"What's going on?!" Barry gasped. "What's gotten into you Empoleon."

Empoleon didn't answer. He simply resumed his attack. Something was very wrong.

*Meanwhile, back in Canalave City...*

The gang waited for the boat to Chocovine Town.

"My next gym battle is taking place in Snowpoint City." Ash informed Dawn.

So the gang would head there after the Chocovine Contest.

Nurse Joy then approached them.

"You have a phone call." She told Ash.

It was from Barry. Ash showed him his Mine Badge and Tomo did the same.

"You two are my rivals." Barry stated.

"Anyway, we have a problem." He told them that his Empoleon and the other steel type Pokemon on Iron Island were going crazy.

"How about you? Are your Pokemon okay?" Barry asked.

"We're fine over here." Ash replied.

"Then that means it's only happening on Iron Island." Barry said.

Ash felt something was off.

"Barry stay there." He said. "We're heading over there to help. Right guys?"

The other three nodded.

The plane for Chocovine would be delayed. The gang wanted to know what was happening on Iron Island.

*Over at the pier...*

Team Rocket was in their submarine, waiting for the gang to leave and get on a boat. This was their way of following them. Right now they saw the gang board a ferry that would take them to Iron Island. The ferry soon left port and they followed it in their submarine.

Ash was worried about what Barry said and so were the others.

Once the ferry arrived at Iron Island, the gang immediately went to the Pokemon Center to meet up with Barry. But he wasn't there.

"If you're looking for Barry, he went to find out what's going on with the Pokemon." Nurse Joy told them.

The gang saw tons of steel type Pokemon in the center and they were in a lot of pain. It was a horrible sight.

"I'm glad I sent Probopass back to the gym a while ago." Brock said.

Ash and Tomo were glad they didn't have any of their steel type Pokemon either.

"Come on." Ash turned to the others. "Let's go find Barry and figure out what's happening here."

The others agreed and they left the Pokemon Center.

The gang soon walked up the rocky terrain of Iron Island. Ash knelled down to the ground and placed his hand on it.

"What are you doing Ash?" Dawn asked him.

"I'm going to see if I can feel anything strange about this island." Ash answered. "Just in case there's something about Iron Island that may be the cause of the Pokemon's strange behavior."

Everyone stayed quiet while Ash closed his eyes and concentrated with his psychic powers and then used his aura next.

"You feel anything Ash?" Brock asked.

"Yes. I was right. I felt something weird in the ground." Ash stated.

"What is it, Ash?" Dawn asked.

Before Ash could answer her question, a few Diglett popped up out of the ground. They seemed to be running away from something. A Lairon who had gone berserk had come out of the ground and it was tackling rocks. The gang took cover immediately to not get hit by the rocks.

"That Lairon is in pain." Ash said.

"It's like the other steel types." Brock said. "Lairon must be going on a rampage to block out all it's pain."

Ash didn't want to sit around and just let Lairon continue going on a rampage.

"I'm going to stop it." Ash said. "Come on out Pikachu."

Ash and Pikachu ran towards Lairon.

"Pikachu, use Hidden Power." He said.

Pikachu released a hidden power and it hit Lairon.

"Now Brick Break." Pikachu struck Lairon hard with his hand and Lairon was knocked out.

"I'm sorry I did that to you Lairon." Ash apologized. "But I had to stop you from going on a rampage like that."

Unfortunately more trouble came the gang's way. A Steelix, a Metang and some Skarmory turned up and rock type Pokemon were running away from them.

"This is bad." Dawn said.

"What do we do?" Tomo asked.

"We need to find Barry as soon as possible and then find out what's going on here." Ash said.

It was far too dangerous for the gang to stay where they were now. And it got worse when a Aggron appeared.

Just then a man and Lucario appeared and Lucario knocked Aggron out. To Ash's surprise it was Riley.

"Riley, it's been a while." Ash said.

"Hello Ash, it's been a long time since we last saw each other." Riley said. "And I can tell your aura has become stronger. How is Riolu?"

"Riolu is good, but he's a Lucario now." Ash informed him.

"I'm happy to hear that." Riley said.

"These are my friends and brother." Ash introduced Tomo, Brock and Dawn to Riley.

"Oh, so he's the one who taught you how to use Aura?" Dawn asked.

"Yes, he is." Ash nodded.

Riley and Lucario led the gang somewhere safe so they continue their conversation.

"I had a feeling that I might see you here on Iron Island, Ash." Riley said.

"Oh yeah, I remember you telling me that you live on Iron Island, Riley." Ash said.

"That's right." Riley nodded. "And I love it here, especially as it's perfect for a steel type Pokemon trainer like me. But now my home and the Pokemon are in danger because of these strange circumstances."

"I must ask, how come Lucario is alright as it's a steel/fighting type Pokemon?" Dawn asked.

"That's because of it's aura." Riley answered. "The aura prevents it from going crazy like the other steel type Pokemon."

Ash then told Riley about Barry and the reason they were on the island.

"I haven't see anyone here yet, but we better look for your friend now." Riley said.

*Meanwhile...*

Barry and his Heracross were running away from some wild Magnemite who were firing off Thunder Shock attacks. They came to a cliff and Barry had to jump to get away from Magnemite. Heracross carried Barry while flying. While the two were flying Barry noticed some cranes.

"What's that?" He asked himself.

Suddenly he and Heracross were tackled by a Skarmory and they crashed towards the ground. But instead of landing on the ground, they landed on Jessie, James and Meowth. Team Rocket had made it to Iron Island and were exploring the island too. Barry remembered Team Rocket and told his Heracross to get ready to fight them.

At that time Riley and the gang were on the move again.

"Riley I felt some strange waves coming from within the ground." Ash said.

"Those were low frequency sound waves Ash." Riley said. "Lucario and I felt them too. These sound waves are covering the whole island and it only affects steel type Pokemon. It also has a reverse effect on the bodies of the steel type Pokemon; that's why their sensors have been altered. That's why they don't feel pain when they bash into rocks."

"But they must feel pain after all the crashing into rocks they do." Tomo said.

"All the more reason to find out what's happening here." Ash said. "Riley, please tell me you know the source of these sound waves."

"Sorry Ash, but Lucario and I are still searching for the source." Ash felt disappointed.