The first thing Zax noted about the Shadow Realm was that it was cold. Then he landed in the realm itself. The smoke had cleared from all of the explosions and there wasn't a Shadow in sight for the time being.

Omega coughed as he got up and Alpha helped Jet up. Zax surveyed their surroundings. There were giant obsidian black pillars running all over the place. There didn't seem to be an end to the maze of pillars. Black mist surrounded the edges of his vision.

Zax attempted to tap into what Marshadow had told him about the place. Many pillars had mine systems or villages in them, and there was no bottom or top to the realm.

"Alright team, we need to be quick. The sooner we find Marshadow the sooner we can put an end to all of this." Zax told them. His team responded with various forms of affirmation.

Zax started forward, there was no source of light yet he could still make out his surroundings. Everything just had a vague sense of clarity to him.

The Zangoose led his team down the quiet and desolate pillars, occasionally a pillar would run into a larger one and they'd have to climb over the massive stone blocks. Before long Alpha was already in the mood to complain.

"How much farther until we find Marshadow?" Alpha groaned, trailing behind the rest of the group.

Zax shrugged and didn't turn to face his lifetime friend. "I don't know, all I know is that he's close to the Phantom King's throne. So we have to move towards the center.

In the center of the realm was a massive wide pillar that cut through the world. Zax could faintly make out the outline of some giant box but he had no idea what that could be.

Jet slithered around rolling his eyes at his cautious Durant friend. Omega was checking every crevice he could reach for potential attackers lurking around.

"Hey Zax," Jet called. "Do you remember back when we used to all be rivals?" Zax nodded, in fact, he thought about back then all the time. "And how we battled in that tournament to check out those scientists-man those were the days."

"Of course, that was also when all of our friends were murdered in one night," Alpha added. "It was a good campfire though."

Omega ran up to the group to join the conversation. "That was back when we met Flutter. I can't believe how young he was back then. He hadn't even evolved."

Zax turned to face his team. The friends he'd known for so many years. All that they'd been through had led to this moment. Back then, when they fought over petty family rivalries everything had seemed so simple. Zax couldn't decide if he would change anything if he could. So many of their friends had died yet so much good had come from that one event.

Zax decided to speak his mind, "Honestly I do miss how easy it was back then. We could just take on missions and move at our own pace, but we did what we had to do and we'll keep doing what we have to do. Right now, we have to stop these Shadows so all the Pokemon on Malena and even the world can have the opportunity we didn't have."

Alpha nodded. "I'd drink to that. Especially if it means we get to burn some more Shadows."

Omega sighed, "Honestly Alpha I'm worried you won't be able to adjust to not having a constant enemy." The Durant looked ahead of them. "Guys, here comes trouble."

Zax followed the Steel and Bug type's line of sight to see a group of Shadows and a Chandelure flying at them from the center pillar. Zax was also able to recognize how close they were to Marshadow, they'd just need to beat these Pokemon.

"That's the Spirit Master right?" Jet asked as the ghost Pokemon and his small army approached them. Zax looked at the details on the Chandelure. The Pokemon closely resembled a chandelier. However, instead of lights at the end of its arms, there were small dark blue flames. The Pokemon's head was a dark purple, abnormal for a Chandelure.

Omega got ready to jump up and attack the Chandelure. "Yep, that's him."

Alpha looked down at them dumbfounded. "Spirit Master?"

"Are you kidding me?" Jet asked. "We've explained this, like, eight times! An incredibly powerful Shadow took over the mage that was unfortunate to get pulled into this realm when they opened the first portal. Now he can raise spirits of the dead and force them to fight for him. We have to stop him and quick."

"Ohhh that guy. Alright, it's time to torch him!"

"Don't do that! He's a fire type!"

"Oh come on! You guys are such buzzkills!"

"Enough! They're here." Zax interrupted the ensuing argument.

The group ran at the enemies, cutting down shadows and getting close to the Ghost and Fire-type Pokemon launching flames at the group. Omega burrowed underground and leaped up behind the Spirit Master. A Shadow leaped in his way and Alpha launched a burst of fire at the creature, dissipating it and letting Omega grab the Spirit Master in his pincers.

Zax let his claws glow a dark black as he and Jet leaped into the air, Jet slapped the Chandelure in the head with his tail as Zax brought his claws down onto the Spirit Master. The Possessed Pokemon was launched into the ground and a cloud erupted around them as they landed.

The team regrouped and set their sights on the little cave inside the center pillar where Marshadow was being held.

"Alpha you almost cooked me alive, you ought to be more careful with that fire of yours," Omega told his friend.

Alpha grunted a "Sorry" but he didn't seem very concerned.

Suddenly they heard a sound come from where the Spirit Master had been tossed into the ground. Various Pokemon they'd battled on missions began to appear, their bodies were a translucent purple. Zax managed to recognize a few enemies like the Garchomp from Dragon Mountain but many others had slipped his memory.

"Of course, all of our old enemies." Alpha groaned. Zax didn't doubt they had a chance to win but they'd likely be so worn down that it may not even matter.

"And all your old allies too!" A voice so old and familiar cut through the groups' dread. Zax turned and saw all of their old Guildmates standing behind them. Their allies' bodies were a translucent blue. Friction stood front and center. The Raichu was a mouse-like Pokemon had dark orange skin with crystal blue eyes and large light yellow airs. Friction stood on a large yellow tail like a surfboard and floated in the air.

Friction had been the Guildmaster before Zax and he aspired to be as great as she was.

"Friction..." Jet murmured. "Everyone, you're all back!"

James the Flareon nodded. "That Pokemon opened a gate here, and we would never leave our friends to fight alone!"

"Now Bolt Guild members! Let us attack with everything we have! For our friends!" Chime the Chimecho cheered, and the old Guild Members charged at the enemy Pokemon. Friction chose to linger for a moment.

"Zax, oh I'm so happy to see you! I've been wanting to tell you how- oh look a rock!" Friction pointed at a stone pillar far away from them. "And wow that's some dark mist right there..."

Zax couldn't help but smile, this was the Friction he knew. "Er Friction, you were saying?"

Friction paused and remembered where she was. "Yes, I wanted to tell you how proud I am! You've done so many great things for the Guild Zax, I wouldn't have it any other way. Now go save that Marshadow. We'll hold off these Pokemon for you! We're all cheering you on, as a matter of fact, I think some very important Pokemon decided to help us." Friction motioned to the crowd and Zax finally saw it.

Omega's mom, Jet's mom, and Zax's mother and father were all battling against the enemy Pokemon. When their parents had died in the attack on Central Town most of the four of them had stopped living with their parents.

The levity of their parents being dead however hit them the hardest out of everyone's deaths after Shadow Rayqauza had been stopped. Now seeing them battle alongside the guild, it gave Zax the strength he would need for the battle ahead.

The group stood there for a few minutes, just watching. Friction went to join the battle and the Old Guild made quick work of the spirits. More Shadows flew down as reinforcements but they didn't stand much of a chance against the veterans.

Eventually, they came to a silent agreement to move on, turning to face Marshadow's prison. The Usurped King had suffered for more than long enough. As the group ran to his position Zax caught a look at Alpha, his friend was good at hiding his emotions but he was in clear distress. Then Zax realized why, out of everyone that had shown up Alpha's parents didn't appear.

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And that is all for this chapter! I know it took a very long time to get out but I'm back now and I'm going to try and release at least two more chapters while I have winter break. I'm also sorry this chapter was a little short but I hope you all enjoyed the return of many old characters.

That's all for this chapter. Thanks so much for reading and have a great day everyone! Bye!