"Charizard, Fire Blast!"

"Charizard, use Dragon Claw!"

The two Charizards faltered at their injuries before leaping into the air. The black Charizard roared, exhaling blue flames. Its claws turned bright green as it dashed forward. The other Charizard blasted a huge five-pronged star of flame.

The sun was shining brightly, perhaps too brightly. Nevertheless, the audience ignored the heat and were on the edge of seats. The scoreboard only showed the tip of the exciting battle—both Alain and Ash were down 5 Pokémon.

It was a pristine day in the grand stadium slightly east of Lumiose City. Every seat was filled and every television was watching—no one wanted to miss the Omega League Conference. The ceremonial torch was burning bright as usual under the watchful eye of the tiny and old President Charles Goodshow.

"Why did Ash use a fire type move?" Clemont said in the stadium. Both of his hands pressed his glasses, and he was in danger of falling off of his chair, but luckily his blue jumpsuit snagged onto a splinter. "It won't be effective against Mega Charizard X!"

"Just trust him," Serena said, smiling. Her honey-colored hair was shoulder length but it hadn't quite reached its original length. She had borrowed her Pancham's sunglasses and was wearing different clothes than usual—a blue top, red skirt, and a white hat. She wasn't here to sign autographs but to watch Ash achieve victory.

"Charizard, slash the fire away!" Alain said. His dark clothes matched the color of his Charizard. The black Charizard raised a claw but then the green light vanished.

There was a near simultaneous gasp from everyone in the audience.

"Brother! Brother!" Bonnie said, kicking her legs. As usual, she was wearing her favorite brown blouse and black pants. Her blonde hair matched her sibling's. "Bonnie wants to know why Alain's Charizard can't use Dragon Claw!"

"Ded-de-denne!" the small orange mouse in Bonnie's bag agreed.

"It must have run out of strength!" Clemont said, adjusting his glasses yet again. "Improbable! How did Ash know that?"

"Charizard, Dragon Tail!" Ash said, pointing a finger in the air. His cap was on backwards.

The Mega Charizard X had no time to react after the Fire Blast. Mega Charizard Y's tail glowed and slammed its opponent to the ground, sending dirt fly everywhere.

"Mega Charizard X is knocked out!" the referee said. "Trainer Ash Ketchum wins!"

"Yay! Go Ash!" Bonnie said as Ash ran to the middle of the battlefield.

"That's Ash for you!" Clemont yelled out.

"Now he'll be moving on to the semifinals!" Serena said. She could barely keep her hands from trembling.

"He just has to win two more battles and then he can become a Pokémon Master!" Bonnie said. "And then both of you would have achieved your dreams!"

Serena tussled Bonnie's hair. "And in a few more years, you can achieve your dream of becoming a Pokémon trainer!"

"Oh wait, not all of your dreams," Bonnie said, putting a finger on her lips. "Serena, you still haven't told Ash—"

Bonnie couldn't get her words out—Serena flailed her arms around wildly as her face turned a bright pink.

"You did well, Charizard," Alain said before recalling his Charizard back. As soon as the red light disappeared, he looked at the Pokéball in his hand for a long time.

"Take a long rest now, Charizard," Ash said, also recalling his Pokémon. He looked up at Alain and extended an arm. "It was a good match."

There was no hint of hubris on Ash's face but Alain turned away.

"Alain!" Ash said to the retreating figure. "Do you know why you lost?"

"Don't talk to me," Alain said, flipping his white cloud scarf.

"Wait!" Ash said, but Alain already left the field.

"Pika pi…"

"Ah, you're awake now Pikachu?" Ash said. He scratched the Pokémon's ears to which Pikachu squealed.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Now the battle between Mister Tuck Heed from Cinnabar Island and Trainer Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town will begin!" the announcer roared to the cheers of the audience. There was a slight drizzle this time and umbrellas dotted the crowd.

"I'm worried about Ash," Bonnie said, clutching Serena's skirt.

"De-de-denne," Dedenne whimpered.

"Don't be," Serena replied. She pumped a fist. "Ash has gotten this far."

"We don't even know Tuck's other Pokémon though," Clemont said. "We only know he has a Blastoise."

"Ash can do it," Serena said. "We know how hard he works. You know how he never gives up. We just have to believe in him."

"Aiiee, are you Serena?" a passing stranger said. "May I have your autograph?!"

"Did someone say the Kalos Queen is here?" another audience member said.

A crowd starting forming around the trio.

"Ah, don't step on Dedenne!" Bonnie said, trying to lift her pouch above her head.

"Clemont! We need to get out of here!" Serena said, trying to ignore all of the notebooks being jammed into her face.

"I've anticipated this situation happening!" Clemont said, only an arm visible in the sea of people. "The future is now thank to science! Citronic gear, on!"

It was becoming hard to hear him due to the cacophony. "I…invented…device…that…distraction! Name…Distraction-Device!"

"Yet another terrible name," Bonnie sighed.

About five seconds later there was an explosion in the stands.

"Technology is incredible!" Serena said, dragging Clemont and Bonnie by the hoods as they raced to find more obscure seats.

"De-denne!" Dedenne said, confused, as if it was unsure that explosion was intended.

"Go, Sceptile!" Ash said, throwing the Pokéball. He took another look at the silent, hooded figure—Tuck. His opponent didn't speak as he almost dropped the Pokéball to the ground, the ball rolling to the center and releasing a Blastoise.

The Blastoise was heavily scarred but Ash knew that was a testament to its strength, not weakness. Tuck had sweeped all competition in front of him, demolishing even the likes of Trevor's Charizard and Tierno's own dancing Blastoise. No one knew Tuck's five other Pokémon—not even the gym leaders could break past Tuck's guard.

Ash clenched his fists. This was it. The semifinals. If Paul could defeat Tobias then he could defeat Tuck. His heart was still thumping from that match earlier in the day. Paul—someone he never saw since his Sinnoh days—had came to the Omega tournament, having secured 8 badges in the Johto League. Half of Paul's team was wiped out by the Darkrai, and the other half was nearly wiped out by the Latios. Nevertheless Paul's Drapion managed to wipe the rest of Tobias's team. It made Ash smile. It was a sight seeing his old rival root for Drapion to persevere.

"Pika pi!"

"You're right Pikachu," Ash said. He turned his cap backwards. "Now's the time to focus on match ahead. Sceptile, use Leaf Storm!"

If Ash could see Tuck's head, he would have noticed Tuck slightly nodded his head. Nevertheless, Tuck's grey, beaten cloak enveloped his entire body. Never mind his Pokémon—no one knew what Tuck himself looked like.

Leaves darted at Blastoise and pounded its shell.

"Alright! It's a direct hit!" Bonnie said, jumping up and down.

"It's super effective but…it doesn't look like Blastoise is affected?" Clemont said.

The massive turtle didn't budge. As Sceptile fell down, Blastoise pumped out gallons of water through its cannons which froze in midair.

"It's Ice Beam!" Serena said.

"Sceptile, cut it with Leaf Blade!" Ash said. Sceptile's forearms glowed as it cut the ice but it wasn't enough. The sheer amount of liquid eventually enveloped and froze Sceptile.

"Sceptile! Get out!" Ash said, but his words were useless. A huge, sizzling tide of water came pouring over Sceptile.

"He used Scald! But it melted the ice?" Clemont said.

"…and Sceptile is unable to battle!" the announcer said.

"Why would Tuck unfreeze Sceptile, brother?" Bonnie said.

"Maybe…maybe he knew it was enough to finish off Sceptile?" Clemont said.

"Ash…" Serena thought.

"You fought well, Sceptile," Ash said, recalling his Pokémon. "Alright, it's up to you! Go Greninja!"

Greninja leapt onto the field, standing in its typical ninja pose.

"Water Shuriken!" Ash said. Greninja jumped and tossed some liquid ninja stars.

Tuck almost seemed bored as he raised a hand. Another scalding wave began flooding the stadium.

"Aerial Ace!" Ash said. Greninja tumbled onto the field, its hands and feet turning white, when it began pummeling Blastoise's shell. Greninja wasn't touching the water—it attacked the Blastoise from above.

Tuck waved a hand in a circle, and Blastoise retreated into its shell.

"Harder Greninja!" Ash roared. His own fists were becoming bloody, but he ignored them.

"Greninja is changing form!" Clemont said. As Greninja struck the shell, a geyser of water appeared around it. Its face transformed into something resembling Ash's hat.

"Pika pika!" Pikachu cheered.

"It's starting to use Rapid Spin!" Clemont said. True to his word, the shell was spinning and Greninja's attacks were growing unstable.

"Greninja! One last Water Pulse!" Ash said. A blue ball materialized in Greninja's arms, and then he launched it as soon as he jumped off.

The Blastoise stopped spinning.

"He…don't tell me Ash defeated the Blastoise!" Clemont said.

"Go Ash!" Serena and Bonnie said simultaneously, clasping hands and jumping up and down.

A light appeared under Tuck's cloak. Another light also appeared inside Blastoise's shell.

"Pika…"

"And there you have it folks!" the announcer said. "Tuck has a Mega Blastoise!"

"Greninja! Get out of the way!" Ash yelled. The Scalds before were already ridiculous—but this was incredible. The entire battlefield, even the referee and Ash and Tuck, were being flooded by hot water.

"Ash!" Serena yelled.

"Greninja! Pikachu!" Ash cried out. But then it was over as quickly as it began. Greninja laid on the wet ground, knocked out.

"Well done, Greninja," Ash said, the familiar red light recalling the frog ninja. One of Ash's legs caved out under him, and he dropped to the floor.

"Pi Pikachu."

"I'm fine, Pikachu, thanks," Ash said. He took off his hat and rinsed it out. "He's tough…go, Hawlucha!"

Hawlucha flexed its arms as it appeared on the field.

"Hawlucha, I want you to fly in the air! Don't let its Scald hit you!"

"Hawl!" it agreed. However, as soon as it flew up into the air…

"That was a quick Ice Beam!" Bonnie said. She was covering her mouth. "How could Tuck react that fast?"

"Hawlucha! Can you stand up?" Ash said.

"Hawl…lucha!" it said, just managing to get onto its two feet.

"Again!" Clemont said. Hawlucha, just after getting up, was sent slamming into a wall by an Ice Beam. "This…this isn't a battle!"

"Hawlucha, return. Go—"

"Pika pi!" Pikachu said, tugging onto Ash's pants.

"Pikachu, are you sure?"

"Chu!"

"Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!"

Tuck waved an arm, and Blastoise retreated into its shell.

"Iron Tail!"

"Pika…!" Pikachu cried out, slamming the shell with its shining tail.

"Come on! You can do it Pikachu! Almost there!" Ash said.

"Is that water trickling out of Blastoise's shell?" Serena said. She clenched the edge of her seat. She believed in Ash. She had to. But this…could anyone, even Diantha, defeat this monstrous Blastoise and trainer?

She shook her head. What was she thinking? It was Ash. "Ash, you can do it! Don't give up!" she screamed, cupping her mouth.

Even though it was impossible for him to hear her voice, Ash dropped his head and smiled. "Thanks Serena," he said.

He raised his head back up. "Pikachu! Thunderbolt the water!"

"Pi ka…chuu!"

And then the Blastoise collapsed, its body returning to its original form.

"Water conducts electricity..!" Clemont said. "He…I can't believe it!"

"Blastoise is unable to battle!" the announcer said.

In a Meowth-shaped balloon up in the sky, three figures looked through binoculars at the battle.

"My my, Pikachu is still as strong as ever," Jessie said, her red hair slathered into an R shape.

"That Tuck guy is impressive, too," James said. "He took out three of the brat's Pokémon."

"Now it's time to commence Operation Pokémon Capture!" Meowth said. He took out a controller but then immediately dropped it.

"What just happened?!" Jessie said, staring at the hole in the balloon.

"Did we just get by a Hydro Pump!?" James said.

"I don't know, but we're blasting off again!" Meowth yelled, and the trio disappeared in a white star.

"Woooobbuffet!"

"Lapras," Ash said, back at the stadium. The Pokémon had just shot some water off into a random direction. "Is Tuck a water type trainer?"

"Laaapras," the Pokémon said. It stared at Ash. The Lapras's head was scarred with an X on its forehead but it looked at Ash with familiar eyes.

"Wait, no way…Tuck! How did you get my Lapras?" Ash asked.

The cloaked figure just cocked his head.

"If you won't answer, I'll make you! Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!"

"Pi ka…chuu!"

A beam of ice shot from Lapras's mouth, meeting and exploding with Pikachu's Thunderbolt. But it didn't stop.

"Iron Tail!"

"Pika!" it said, ready to cut the Ice Beam. Its tailed started glowing as it waited…

"Pika?" it said, confused at the attack that never came.

"Impressive!" the announcer said. "The Lapras has frozen the field!"

"Pikaaaa!" it said, slipping on the ice.

"Pikachu! Use Iron Tail onto the ground!"

"Pi..ka!" it said, using its tail as an anchor to stop it in its tracks.

And right into the waiting blast of an Ice Beam.

"Pikachu!" Ash said, leaping forward to catch his friend.

"And Pikachu is out!" the announcer said. "Ash is down to 2 Pokémon!"

"You've done your best, buddy," Ash said, laying Pikachu down at his side. "Now it's up to you…go, Noivern!"

The bat roared as it was let out.

"Noivern, Boomburst!"

Ash barely issued the command in time—it met an Ice Beam in midair.

"Keep on flying!" Ash said. "Don't touch the ground!"

The Lapras had a renewed vigor. It skidded across the ice as quickly as Noivern flew in the air. At regular intervals it launched Ice Beam after Ice Beam at the Noivern.

"Use Supersonic to deflect those Ice Beams!"

"And now we have a stalemate folks!" the announcer commented. "Neither Lapras nor Noivern seem willing to surrender!"

"Come on Noivern!" Ash said. "You can do it! Remember all the training we've been through? Just hold it off, and wait for an opening!"

"He's waiting for Lapras to get tired!" Bonnie said.

"He believes that his Pokémon can outlast the Lapras," Serena said. She did not notice she was clenching her fist.

Then there was a pause.

"Now, Noivern!" Ash said. "Acrobatics!"

Noivern began glowing and diving, folding its wings in as it dive bombed the Lapras.

"And it's Super Effective!" the announcer said. "Who knew Lapras had Freeze-Dry in its arsenal?"

The water Pokémon had launched a devastating attack onto the dragon, completely encasing it in ice. As Noivern fell to the ground, Ash barely caught Noivern in its Pokéball.

"Good job, Noivern," Ash said. He bought the Pokéball up to his head. "You tried your hardest."

"What will Ash's last Pokémon be?" Bonnie said. "Charizard?"

Right on cue, the fire/flying Pokémon came out.

"Charizard, mega evolve!" Ash said, pressing the key stone on his wrist.

"No!" Serena screamed as the light appeared around the Pokémon's and trainer's bodies. A Hydro Pump had slammed into Charizard. The impact was enough to smash Charizard into a wall.

"Charizard! Are you okay?" Ash said, running over to the Mega Charizard Y. The rain had finally stopped, and in its place was a very bright sun.

"The ice is melting!" Bonnie said. "Now the Lapras won't be able to move as fast!"

When the smoke and debris cleared, Charizard let out a roar of triumph, pumping its wings.

"Alright! Let's go Charizard, use Fire Blast!"

The flame met a translucent barrier, protecting the unharmed Lapras.

"It used Protect!" Clemont said.

"Use Wing Attack through it!" Ash said. Charizard's wings glowed white and it streaked towards the barrier.

"Dodge it!" Ash said as a Hydro Pump whizzed towards Charizard. And another. And another. Each time Charizard could barely dodge the attack, one clipping his wings.

Then Charizard slammed the Protect, the latter not budging.

"Charizard, you can do it!" Ash said as the fire beast strained its wings. On the other side of the Protect, Lapras's mouth foamed with water.

"Now, Charizard, use Fire Blast!" Ash yelled as the barrier broke.

The Fire Blast collided with the Hydro Pump, and all cameras went dark in the ensuing explosion of fire and water.

"Ash!" Serena coughed. The gas cloud even reached the stands. "Bonnie! Are you there?"

"Dedenne!" the mouse rat called out.

"What happened? What happened?" Bonnie said.

"And both Pokémon are knocked out!" the announcer said. "Trainer Ash Ketchum is eliminated, and Tuck Heed advances to the finals!"

There was a lump in Ash's throat. "Good job, Charizard," he said, recalling the Pokémon back to its Pokéball. "You've done a good job. A very good job."

"Ash lost?" Bonnie said. She wrapped her arms around her legs.

"Dedenne denne…"

"No, that's improbable!" Clemont said. "It's Ash! It can't…it's impossible…"

They both looked at Serena.

"Are you okay?" Bonnie said, tugging at Serena's skirt.

After a few seconds of looking at the stadium, Serena smiled down at Bonnie. "Come on, we have to go to Ash," she said. "Put a smile on. He wouldn't like it if we're sad. You know him."

"Pika pi?"

"You're awake now, Pikachu?" Ash said. He looked up at Tuck who unlike Alain was walking up to him.

"Good battle," Ash said, raising a hand. "Now if you don't mind saying—can you tell me your other four Pokémon?"

The hooded figure seemed to nod. Raising a tanned hand, scarred just like his Pokémon's, he shook Ash's.

"Pika! Pika! Pika!" were the only sounds coming from the dust cloud that erupted in the center.

"What?" Clemont said as they looked at the field. Ash was engulfed in a solid block of ice, his hand still in the motion for a handshake. Pikachu was darting around the ice statue, trying to break it.

"Ash!" Serena said, running down the stadium, knocking aside gaping onlookers and stunned children. Her sunglasses fell off but she didn't care.

"Serena, wait up!" Bonnie said, trying her best to chase her. However, she tripped over a leg and Clemont's mechanical Aipom arm barely caught her in time.

Serena leapt off the balcony. "Braixen, come on out! Use Flamethrower on that ice! But don't hurt Ash!"

Braixen pulled out its wand, a wooden stick with a pink ribbon tie. Spinning the wand in a circle, a sphere of fire flew towards the ice.

It didn't even make a dent. The hooded figure just looked at Serena and she felt her insides melt.

"Fire Blast!" she yelled, and Braixen launched its attack. This time, it met a barrier.

"What's that Pokémon?" Serena said. Her pupils widened as she looked at the purple, humanoid species with a long tail.

"Oh? You can see me?" the Pokémon said. Well, not said. Serena could only hear it inside her head.

"You can talk? Just like Team Rocket's Meowth?" Serena said. Meanwhile, her Braixen looked at her, confused.

"So you've met that Meowth?" the Pokémon said. It seemed to smile as Serena took out her Pokédex.

"Mewtwo. A Pokémon whose genetic code was repeatedly recombined for research. It turned vicious as a result," her red device chimed.

Serena wasn't sure, but it looked like Mewtwo laughed at "vicious."

"Mewtwo! Why is Ash frozen?" Serena said.

The Genetic Pokémon's face lost its mirth. It seemed to shrug.

Behind him, Tuck raised an arm.

"Ah, I'm sorry," Mewtwo said. We will have to talk another time." The audience gasped as the frozen Ash and Tuck began levitating.

"No!" Serena yelled. "Pancham, I choose you! Use Stone Edge!" The small panda, wearing pink sunglasses on its forehead, leapt out of its Pokéball.

"Pannn-cham!" it said. Slamming the ground, it summoned sharp blue rocks in a circle around it.

"That's Serena!" an audience member said. "Her Pancham is the only one I know who can do Stone Edge like that!"

On cue, Braixen leapt on the growing stones.

"Fire Blast!" Serena said. She knew she had only one chance. One chance to save Ash. She promised herself that once she saved him, she would tell him. She might not get another chance ever again.

Both Mewtwo and Tuck simultaneously moved their arms. They both punched with their left arms and it collided with the center of the Fire Blast which exploded, giving the arena a firework-like effect.

"Ashh!" Serena screamed again at the retreating figure and she collapsed to her knees.

"Foolish girl," the hooded figure said. She gasped—the hooded figure was right next to her. It was a chilling voice, one that sounded like it hadn't been used in a long time. Dry and raspy, the voice was one she would remember for the rest of her life.

"You call that a Fire Blast? Weak. Pathetic. The audience might ooh and aah at that supposed beauty. But you will never, never be truly strong with those excuses for attacks."

Pancham and Braixen growled. They too heard Tuck's words.

"Who are you? Where are you taking Ash?" Serena cried.

Tuck didn't reply but instead began floating up again, no doubt supported by Mewtwo.

Serena felt tired all of a sudden. Her mind sensed a Pokémon move was affecting her, but she couldn't figure out how or what. None of her thoughts were coherent and she only thought of one thing. "Grab."

Before Tuck could hover away, Serena grabbed at his cloak and then drifted into unconsciousness.