I'm back with a new chapter. Thank you very much for the review and the follows/favorites, it means a lot to me :) Again, english isn't my native language so until someone volunteer to be a Betareader, my grammar will have to do ;) I will try to keep this fic udpated once a week :) Enjoy and every constructives reviews are welcomed :)

Chapter 2 : To the bottom !

The sun was slowly rising above Lumios City. The last dark corners of the night were disappearing in the streets of the most populated of the kalosians cities. Ash blinked twice, temporary blinded by the coming light. He tried to close his eyes again, intending to go back to the depth of sleep but an unusual weight on his left shoulder made him completely open his eyes. Mostly because the said weight was moving. What he saw brought to his cheeks a furious red, as he discovered Serena, sleeping like a baby on him.

The young trainer didn't dare to move, perfectly awake now. His brains processed at the speed of light. What could he do ? He just couldn't wake her up like this, for her to discover she had fallen asleep on him. Even if he liked it, he wasn't sure at all that she did, and he wasn't ready to take the risk to find out.

"I'm fucked. He commented, as a the matter of fact."

And Arceus knew how much he was. Serena began agitating more on his shoulder, indicating she was waking up too.

"No Braixen. she moaned still half asleep. Five minutes more, close the curtains …"

"Sorry to disappoint you, but I don't think there is much curtains to close here." Ash said, trying to not look too much embarrassed."

The young girl didn't react for a moment. It was only a few seconds after her friend's reply that she opened her eyes widely, realizing that she was not in the pokemon center. And the arm she was feeling under her head was certainly not one of her pokemon trying to wake her up.

She abruptly leaped on her feet, trying to understand her surrounding. She remembered the previous night, hearing Ash leaving the center, their confessions under the moonlight and the way they just admired it in silence. Did it mean ..?

"You fell asleep on me." her friend's voice said from behind her. "I didn't intend to wake you up, sorry."

World seemed to crumble around Serena as she slowly turned to face Ash, whose cheeks were now a deep red. She fell asleep on her crush and she didn't even realize it. And he was clearly uncomfortable with it, whether he liked it or not. And it also meant she had missed a new opportunity to tell him how she felt, after the one that she spoilt during the night under the moonlight. If only she could have awoken before him !

"I … look Ash I'm sorry. I didn't realize that I …"

"Me neither. Don't worry it's ok." He said, trying to ease up the tension that was inexorably building between them.

They remained silent during a few seconds, looking at each other, trying to figure out what the other thought of what had happened.

"Did you sleep well at least ?" Ash smiled, tentatively trying to break the ice.

Serena was taken off guard by his question but was glad of the effort he did to pursue the conversation without it being too awkward.

"Well, you are not as comfortable as a bed but you weren't bad. I think we should head back to the center now, or the others will begin to worry."

"You are right. Let's go !" Ash agreed, a little too quickly.

The young trainers stood up and began to walk back to the center, both of them lost in their thoughts and careful to not look at each other. Five minutes later, they arrived at their destination and Serena finally gathered the courage to speak.

"About what happened earlier, I'm sorry, I didn't even realized I …"

"Me neither. Listen my plane is taking off in the afternoon, just as yours so I don't want our last moments together to be awkward. Let's just say it was another great moment we shared together."

Serena seemed to think for a second but then joyfully nodded : he was right, there was no use to be embarrassed, even more for their final day together in Kalos. She opened the door and Ash followed her inside the center. The main room was still empty, but in a few hours, it was going to buzz with life, trainers and their pokemons.

"It must be already ten in Kanto." Ash said. "I think I'm gonna call my mom, to tell her to pick me up after the flight."

"Do as you please. I'm going to wake Clemont and Bonnie and to find us some breakfast. I'm sure you are already starving."

Hearing the loud growl of the trainer's stomach, the honey blonde girl giggled softly and went upstairs. She knew him way too well.

"She's way too good at reading in my thoughts." Ash mumbled. "Well let's call mom."

The young boy headed to a room at the rear of the lobby, where visio-call where possible. Thanks to the hour, the room was empty and he chose a post near the enter, to be able to check if his friends were coming. He composed the dial for Professor Oak's lab and was delighted to see Tracey answering him.

"Oh Ash, it's you!" the sketcher said, joyfully. "How have you been?"

"I'm fine mate thanks." Ash smiled. "Is Professor Oak available for a talk ?"

"Of course, he is upstairs with your mother and Gary … Want me to tell them to come ?"

"Yes please … Wait did you say that Gary was here too ?

"Yes, he has arrived from Sinnoh two days ago, to visit his grandpa. And when he learnt that you were coming back too, he convinced Professor Rowan to allow him more holidays. Stay here, I'm going to get them."

Ash nodded while Tracey was gone. It had been ages since he saw his childhood friend. He couldn't wait to see him again ! A voice he knew very well came from the post, interrupting his course of thought.

"It's been a long time, Ashy boy." Gary smiled.

"A way too long time." Ash agreed. "And just stop calling me Ashy boy."

"Whatever you say." He laughed.

"So, is everything alright, are you ready to go to the airport?" Delia Ketchum asked.

"Yes, my luggages are ready, and my plane take off in a few hours so I will be on time, don't worry. I just wanted to know if there was someone to pick me up at the airport tonight."

"Brock rented a car especially for that." Gary explained. "We will be there to pick you up, don't make us wait !"

"Brock ? You mean he finally has his licence ?" Ash asked, pretty surprised : he thought his friend was always terrible behind a driving seat.

"I guess miracle happens." His rival chuckled. "Don't worry we will pick you up at eleven at Vermillion's airport."

"Who are you speaking with Ash ?" Bonnie asked suddenly, full of curiosity behind him.

Ash nearly jumped out of his skin, seeing his three friends juste behind him, laughing at him, just like his family and other friends were on the screen. "How can I have missed them ?" He said to himself.

"For … For how long have you been there ?" he asked.

"Just a second, Clemont has tried to call you twice for breakfast but you were to focused on the screen, so Bonnie decided to get closer." Serena explained, trying to hide her big grin.

"And you just saw this from the screen and you didn't bother telling me ?" Ash asked to those at Pallet Town.

The three of them just looked away, pokerfacing.

"Traitors." He mumbled. "I guess I have to introduce you the proper way now. Mom, Professor, Gary, these are Serena, Clemont and Bonnie, the friends I traveled with during my Kalos journey. Serena, Clemont, Bonnie, here are Professer Samuel Oak, his grandson and my oldest friend, Gary, and my mom, Delia."

Everybody said hi cheerfully and chatted just a bit, before Ash's stomach growled again.

"Well, I guess it's time for you to take your breakfast." Delia smiled. "See you tonight Ash, and you three, feel free to pass by Pallet Town whenever you want to. I would love to meet you all."

"Thanks you, Mrs Ketchum." They answered in unisson.

"Can everyone go ?" Gary suddenly asked. "I have one last question for this dear Ashy boy. A question I want to ask him in private."

"Stop calling me like that." Ash sighed. "Go to the breakfast, I will join you."

The three others silently nodded and exited the room, leaving Ash alone with Gary on the screen.

"So what do you want to know ?"

"This Serena girl is your girlfriend isn't she ?" He asked.

"What I like the most about you is definitely your sens of diplomacy." the young trainer mumbled.

"Don't change the subject, is she ?"

"What ? Of course no I mean … We are not … We don't see …" Ash tried to answer, feeling his cheeks turning red. "And after all she is going to Hoenn this afternoon !"

"Oh. So you mean if I came to Hoenn and started dating her you will be perfectly fine with that ?"

"I … Oh and fuck you, I don't have to answer you."

"I didn't know you were the jealous type. More seriously, if you part away for a long time, and we both know it is what is most likely to happen, this afternoon, try to make something for her to remember you."

Ash didn't even answer and cut the communication with a sneering Gary. There was absolutely no way he was going to tell him about the blue ribbon.

"I'm not surprised you came here Cynthia." Rowan said.

The Sinnoh's champion nodded. She had landed in Sandgem town with her Togekiss in the morning, without even warning the professor of her arrival. She had directly headed to his lab, where they were now speaking, far from the indiscreet ears. Of course he already knew she would come. After all, he probably felt the very same thing that she felt during last night at Celestic town.

"You felt it too ?" She finally asked.

"Not by myself, but Paul, who was taking care of the lab last night saw the measure instruments we installed after what happened at Mt Coronet two years ago becoming crazy. And since there is no sign of Dialga or Palkia anywhere in Sinnoh, I assume a gateway to the Torn World was opened. Which means …"

"Yes. He escaped from his prison. I felt it. I felt Giratina's presence in Sinnoh."

"The ability that Arceus gave you to feel whenever you want if a legendary pokemon is near is quite amazing."

"Yes, but I can't feel it anywhere now, just as if he had vanished."

"Maybe he has left Sinnoh for now, but we both know what Onyx wants. He will come back to our region."

"Of course, and it leaves us with a question : what do we do while waiting for him to come back ?"

"First we have to warn Gym Leaders and Champions from every region. If a slaughter in an other region can draw Arceus' attention, he won't hesitate. They've got to be ready."

"Will this be enough ?"

"No that's why we have to contact Arceus by any means. Onyx was the most powerful trainer of his generation, your generation, last time we met him. I don't think a vengeful and more mature version of him will be different. We need God's help."

"He won't help us. He is afraid of him. Last time they fought, Onyx won. Without me, Arceus would have been defeated."

"And that's why we can't take him alone Cynthia. We also can't warn the population yet. Don't forget he turned Hearthome city into ashes twelve years ago. We don't need panic."

"I know … But I think we should warn Paul and Dawn. They are both used to travel and they know Sinnoh very well. If they could become our eyes to spot Onyx, it will be very welcomed, don't you think ?"

"I agree with you. They can be here by noon if I tell them to hurry."

"Thanks Rowan."

The old man smiled a little bit and went to get the two young trainers, leaving Cynthia alone with her reflections : her best friend was back in Sinnoh. He had escaped from the Torn World, in which she had helped Arceus to imprison him in. She had taken the right decision. So why was the guilt still overwhelming her ?

"She kissed me." Ash muttered to himself.

The plane had taken off three hours ago. He had bid Serena farewell two hours before, when she had to go herself. And he definitely wasn't ready for the pain that had ground his heart when she had gone down the escalator. And even less for the butterfly in his stomach when she had come back to kiss him.

"And of course, because I'm just … dense I didn't find anything better than waving at her." He pursued, angry with himself.

"Why couldn't I find the courage to tell her I wanted her to stay with me buddy ?" Ash asked to an asleep Pikachu on his shoulder.

The electric mouse answered with a loud snore and Ash sighed. On this kind of battle, his pokemon weren't of any assistance. He was aware of Serena feelings toward him being much more than a regular friendship but still … Dawn had considered him like a brother years ago, as Iris did during his travel through Unova, and technically, those relationships were also more than a regular friendship. With May and Misty, who clearly showed deep interest in him just like Serena, he was too young to be aware of those things.

With her however, it was different. For the first time, he had felt the need to be more than a mentor or a brother. He had felt the need to be the best version of himself each time he saw her.

It was such a new and alien feeling for him that he buried it at the bottom of his heart, not showing anything. Of course sometimes, he was a little nicer to her than needed. Just leaving his hands on her shoulder for a second, constantly cheering for her, always asking for her advice, even when it wasn't necessary.

"Sir. The stewardess said next to him. Sorry to bother you but we are beginning our descent to Vermillion City's airport. May I ask you to fasten your seatbelt ?"

"Of course, sorry. Ash answered, coming back to reality in the process."

As the lady walked back to the forward of the plane, he fastened his seatbelt and let his thought wander again. Why couldn't he bring himself to do something ? Serena's feelings for him where obvious, and he knew he liked her much. Very much. It was forgivable during their journey, as he had to stay focused on the Kalos league but during the few days they remained into Lumios City before their departure, he had no excuses. Even more when he thought of last night when they slept together in Lumios' streets.

"Relationships are way harder than pokemon battle." Ash muttered to himself.

Their was suddenly a little shaking in the plane. Not violent, but powerful enough to wake up Pikachu who looked at his trainer, quizzically.

"Don't worry buddy, it's alright." The young trainer said reassuringly. "It was just a little turbulence."

"Pika ?" the little mouse pokemon asked, not really convinced.

Ash smiled and scratched his best friend between the ears, calming him down in the process : Pokemons were definitely easier to understand than humans.

"Is everything alright Cynthia ? "Dawn asked.

The champion shook herself vigorously. She realized she wasn't alone anymore. Dawn was just next to her, looking concerned about her. Paul was leaning on the wall, lost in its thoughts. Rowan was closing the door at the back of the room, which comforted the blonde : they hadn't been here for too long but had she been daydreaming that much ?

"Yes. Don't worry." She finally said, ignoring the sorrow that was grinding her heart : it was not the place nor the time to talk to someone about her guilt.

"Sure ?" the bluenette insisted.

"Yes. There is no need to worry." Cynthia winked to her.

Dawn stared at her intensely for a few seconds but finally, a smile appeared on her lips and she nodded.

"I'm glad to see you are okay." Paul said. "But the professor only told us you both needed us for a special mission, and I must admit I'm pretty surprised to see you there. So is a little bit of information to much to ask for ?"

Dawn was about to open her mouth and to criticize the way Paul spoke to such a celebrity but Cynthia stoped her with a motion of her arm.

"We needed to be somewhere we won't be overheard." Rowan explained from behind the purple haired trainer. "What we are going to tell you must remain a secret at any cost and it's not possible with phone call."

Paul rose from the wall, his eyes locked on the two adults.

"Now I'm listening."

"So I will begin." the champion said. "Has one of you ever heard about Onyx Steiner ?"

Dawn shook her head to say no, but Paul thought during a few seconds before he spoke.

"Wasn't he a famous trainer like ten or twelve years ago ? I think my brother said once this man was one of his hero during his childhood."

"It's precisely the man we are speaking of." Cynthia confirmed.

"Didn't he disappear twelve years ago after the natural disaster that burnt down half of Hearthome City ?" The young trainer asked.

"That's wasn't an incident, it was him who attacked the city."

"What ? But that's a total nonsense." Dawn replied. "Why would a world famous trainer do something like this ?"

"Because he had completely lost it. You see, Onyx was a friend of mine during that time and by far, the best trainer tof our generation. He had won two league conferences in the lapse of two years and he had never lost one single pokemon battle."

"What ?" Paul said, clearly shocked : an experienced trainer like him knew how hard every battle was, especially at the beginning of a Pokemon Journey. "Don't you exaggerate just a little bit ? Every single one ?"

"She is deadly serious." Rowan said. "He won Sinnoh and Johto Leagues conferences in a row. And during those two years, he never lost one single match, official or unofficial. It was an icon for a generation of young trainers who were inspired by him. It was probably your brother's case."

Paul only nodded quietly, still trying to accept the fact there was somewhere someone who had never lost one single battle. It was clearly impressive … and terrifying.

"And it's that kind of man who went mad and destroyed an entire City ?" Dawn said. "May I ask you where we both feature ? I mean, if that kind of man is back in the region, isn't it the police that we should warn ? And I keep asking myself how someone who had everything like him could have gone mad."

The champion rose her gaze to meet Rowan's, clearly waiting for a reaction from him. But he shook his head and she nodded. They agreed on that point : it wasn't the time to talk about his motivations. Not yet.

"Well, we have of course already warned the police, but they can't do much about that, unfortunately."

"Why ? Isn't it their job to put criminals back in jail ?"

"You see, you can't put someone like Onyx in a regular prison. He captured a legendary pokemon, a Giratina."

"What ?!" Paul exclaimed. "How did he manage to … That's not possible !"

"It is. No one knows how he managed to do so, but the fact is that he did. Actually, there are people who think that he was controlled by Giratina, who forced him to destroy Hearthome. But what is important, is that with Arceus help, he was sealed into the Torn World. A dimension parallel to ours."

"I remember it now !" Dawn suddenly exclaimed. "Isn't it the place you mentioned back at Spear Pillars ?"

"Precisely. The pokemon who tried to attack us was Onyx's Giratina. Thankfully it didn't happen but now, they are both free."

"And what can we do about it ?" Paul said. "I perfectly understand that something terrible is coming but what do you expect us to do about it ? If Arceus' help was needed twelve years ago, I don't think our presence can do anything."

"We don't want you to confront him directly. We want you to find him." Rowan explained.

"In the whole region ? We have more chance to find a flying bidoof." Dawn asked.

"A giant spectral dragon is something clearly more noticeable than a flying bidoof." Paul replied, sarcastically.

"Please, don't try to look more idiot than you really are." Dawn rolled her eyes. "My point is that the region is huge : with only the two of us looking for him, he can avoid us as easily as he wants."

"Believe me he will want to be seen. And furthermore, there are a few places where we expect him to show up. It's where we want you to go."

Paul and Dawn remained silent for a moment. Cynthia and Rowan stared at each other, as quiet as the two others were. There was no need to rush this.

"Alright, I will do it." The purple haired trainer finally said. "Where do you want me to go ?"

"Us to go." The bluenette rectified. "I will help you to find this crazy guy."

"It's all we ask for." The champion assured, smiling. "We want one of you to go to Snowpoint city, and the other to Veilstone City. We will warn the gym leaders of your arrival. And remember, don't engage him directly."

"When do you want us to leave ?" Dawn asked.

"The sooner the better." Rowan said. "If you find him, contact us immediately."

"I will go to north to Snowpoint city." Paul said. "I will use a rematch against Brandon as a cover."

"And I will say I go to Veilstone City to visit Maylene." Dawn added. "I will just call my mom, if you haven't anything more to tell us about Onyx."

The two older shook their heads negatively and the two young trainers went out of the lab. Rowan and Cynthia shared a concerned look.

"I hope they will be careful." The champion finally said.

"They will. They are not stupid and hopefully they won't have to deal with Onyx more than necessary."

"I hope you are right professor. Because none of them know how he is like. And when they will find out, they will have to be ready."

"They will be." Rowan said. "They will be."

Something was up. Ash was absolutely sure of it now : a powerful sense of a disaster looming above the plane had taken him. They should had arrived to Vermillion City an hour ago but they were still stuck in the sky, above the ocean between the south of Johto and the north of Hoenn.

It had begun when the plane had been once more shaken by a strange force, which had nothing to do with turbulences according to the stewardess he had overheard. And then, there had been the red light that had been emanating from the clouds around the plane. Tension had risen in the plane and the passengers were deadly silent. As if they were, even unconsciously, waiting for something.

"Please, everybody stay calm, we will amorce our descent in no time. Sorry for the setback." the pilot suddenly said.

As if the clouds wanted to prove him wrong, a powerful lighting, as red as blood, tore the sky apart, quickly followed by a surrealistically high-pitched noise. Ash tried to look through the window to his left. A new lighting exploded but he didn't pay attention to it. What he saw was way worse. A dark form was moving among the clouds. A form that was getting closer. A new shriek resonated. No one dared to move in the plane. Even the stewardess were trying to see what was the thing that was coming toward them.

Suddenly, in one final loud shriek, the creature emerged from the clouds, but it was way too fast for Ash to notice what it was. He barely saw two gigantic ghostly wings spread, and two red eyes, before the monster passed above the plane. Frrrr. The cabin began to vibrate even more, and the young trainer guessed that the creature was just above the plane. Everything became calmer during a moment, no one daring to bat an eye. Electricity crackled around Pikachu's cheek. And then Apocalypse began.

In a new powerful shriek, the creature launched a purple blast that cut through the cabin, destroying everything it touched in the process. People began screaming and panicking : a deep hole was now opened into the plan and it was dangerously loosing height. Ash unbuckled quickly his seatbelt and stood up.

"Pikachu, thunderbolt through the opening !"

"Pika … Chu !" The electric mouse yelled, sending a mighty lighting to their aggressor.

There was a new cry but this time, the monster undeniably felt pain. The young trainer smiled : they had stroke right.

"Everyone, go to the forward part of the plane ! This part is going to fall apart in no time ! Those who have their pokemon, stick with me, we're going to give this bastard a lesson !"

A loud cheer approved his suggestions, as the stewardess helped kids and elders to reach the other part of the plane, while ten people took their poke ball from their belt.

"Go Sceptile !" a young woman said.

"Trapinch, it's time to play !"

As all the pokemons appeared in a glowing white light, Ash smiled : there was no flying type to evacuate them, but maybe it could give enough time for help to come. Frrr. The cabin vibrated again. The monster was coming back.

"Be ready, he is near us !" Sceptile's trainer shouted.

A powerful beam cut through the cabin, destroying the rear of the plane in the process. It began to twirl and to lose height.

"Hang on !" Ash shouted as he desperately tried to reach a sit to hang on.
There was a loud screaming and Ash watched a Rhyhorn and his trainer fell in the hole, falling from more than thousands of meters into the sea, under the eyes of the monster and the man. Because there was also a man with the creature that Ash had failed to notice until now. Now he could see him sitting on the dragon's back, wearing a black jacket, blue jeans and rangers. But what he saw, even from very far, was his eyes. Eyes filled with anger and hatred.

"It's time, attack now !" The girl with the Sceptile shouted. "Solar Beam !"

"Pikachu, Thunder ! Ash added."

"Goodra, Dragon Pulse !" An other man said.

Powerful blasts and lightings ran to their aggressor who suddenly vanished, avoiding all the attack in the process.

"Where did he go ?!" The girl screamed.

Ash looked furiously around him. What kind of pokemon, if it was one, could do such terrible things ? The young trainer suddenly noticed a tiny movement with the corner of his eye.
"Watch out, he is in the plane !"

And he was. The dragon had materialized again just next to Sceptile, destroying even more the cabin thanks to his height. In one mighty roar, he took the grass starter and his trainer in his claws and threw them out in the air, condemning them.

"Pikachu, Thunder !" Ash shouted, trying desperately to make the dragon draw back.

The shriek was this time more an annoyed one. But as the dragon was turning to face the electric mouse, the Trapinch charged furiously and, by a miraculous twist of his jaw, dragged him outside again. The creature retreated far from the plane.

"The pilots are trying to stabilize us !" The stewardess shouted from the forward part of the plane. "We are near Lilycove city. We will try to land their, there is already a little army of agents Jenny waiting to take this bastard down !"

"Tell them to keep going, we will keep him at bay !" Trapinch's trainer answered.

Frrr. The vibration resonated again but not as powerful as it was a few minutes ago. The creature was keeping its distance.
"What is he waiting for ?" Ash said, suspicious.
"No bloody idea mate. The name is Nick by the way." Trapinch's trainer answered. "And you ?"
"I'm Ash Ketchum, from Pallet Town.""

"The Ash Ketchum ?The one who lost in the final of the Kalos league ?"

"I didn't know I was famous." He chuckled.

"I was cheering for you dude. You and your Greninja were so … Watch out !" Nick screamed.

Ash turned quickly his head to the creature who was still far from them, but it wasn't as inactive as it was a few seconds ago. This time, a powerful blast was leaving his mouth, aiming area around the plane …

"He is trying to destroy the wings ! Nick shouted. Trapinch mud shot !"

The ground pokemon materialized a powerful beam of mud that struck the monster right in the face but he didn't stop. There was suddenly a loud noise.

"We have lost the right wing ! We are going to crash !" The stewardess screamed.

The plane began to twirl faster and Ash knew what he had to do. He opened the three poke balls hanging on his belt.

"Hawlucha, Noivern, Talonflamme come on ! I need you !"

The three winged pokemon appeared in a burst of light, flying hardly in the spinning remaining of the plane.

"Take as much as people as you can and fly to Lilycove city ! Quick !"

The three pokemon stared at each other during a few seconds, not understanding what their trainer meant : did he truly want them to abandon him in this flying coffin ? A powerful beam aiming at the second wing shook them from their trance and they went down to take the children on their back. In a few seconds, they were flying with their precious package. Ash looked quickly through what was left of his window. The ocean was getting closer way to fast. They were truly going to crash ! A new loud noise resonated as the other wing exploded.

"Haw, Hawlucha !"

"Talonflamme !"

Ash saw his two pokemon and smiled. They had come back as soon as possible.

"Hawlucha, take Pikachu away, Talonflamme …"

He was about to tell him to take him out but then he saw Nick and his Trapinch, trying desperately to hang on. A pang of guilt began to rise in him. Suddenly, there was a red light and the ground pokemon disappeared in his poke ball.

"Ash !" Nick shouted. "Fly, don't die with us ! But please take care of my Trapinch !"

The young trainer took the ball that was given him, looking at it tearfully.

"I will do it Nick, mark my word !"

"My ghost will check it out, now go !"

Ash put the little sphere in his pocket and grabbed Talonflamme's lugs as the bird took off, abandoning the plane … Only to find the dragon just in front of him. He had totally lost interest in the plane that was falling in the ocean. And suddenly Ash understood. He understood what he saw two years ago at the Spear Pillars.

"So that's how it ends kid." The man whispered. "Believe it or not but I'm sorry. Giratina, Hyper Beam !"
T

alonflamme was too heavy because of his trainer to avoid the attack and took it point blank : he fainted immediatly. Ash remained silent as he felt he was beginning to fall again. He saw Hawlucha trying to come back to help him and found the strength to yell to him to go back, to let him here, to save Pikachu and himself. He heard the distress cry of his lifelong companion but he didn't react, neither did he when he violently hit the water a few seconds after the plane did, breaking the majority if his bones in the process. His thoughts were taking all his energy just to summon the face of his only regret. The face of Serena, who he knew, he would never see again.

- I should have told her how I felt since the beginning. he said to himself at he was sinking to the bottom of the ocean.

To be continued in Chapter 3 : Back to Altomare