Story is completely written, so I'll be uploading a new chapter every few days. I hope you all like this part as we head into the conclusion

"Pi-ka-chuuu!"

Pikachu launched another Thunderbolt behind them as they ran. Clemont had Bunnelby and Chespin out as well to help fend off the endless supply of Mirage Pokémon that chased him through the catacombs.

A pack of Mirage Geodude blocked the way ahead. "Chespin, use Vine Whip!"

Chespin launched two vines from the sides of his head and smacked the Geodude out of the way.

He hadn't seen nor heard Ash since that trap door opened and split them up. And since then, they've been chased around by Mirage Pokémon. Clemont barely had time to catch his breath before the next horde descended on them.

After turning another corner, he found himself looking at a horde of Slugma. "Bunnelby, use Mud Shot!"

Bunnelby hopped forward. He formed several globs of mud along his ears and lobbed them at the Mirage Slugma. The globs knocked the Slugma out of the way as Clemont and the Pokémon raced past them.

"That was close," Clemont said, heaving as he tried to continue running. "We need to find some place we can rest." Just as he turned the corner, there were five Paras waiting for him. Clemont stopped in his tracks. "We need to be careful with those things. One puff of their Spore and we'll be sitting ducks!" As the Mirage Paras started to move in, he weighed his options. None of Pikachu or Bunnelby's attacks would be that helpful, and the only thing Chespin could try to do is Pin Missile. A Paras stepped closer and began shaking the mushrooms on its back. A cloud of spores began wafting in Clemont's direction.

"EMBER!"

From behind the Paras, a cloud of red-hot embers rushed over the group. The cloud of spores exploded, covering the Paras in flames. The Paras scattered around and fled into the darkness.

Clemont rubbed some of the ashes from his face. His eyes widened when he saw Serena, Fennekin, and Bonnie standing there, triumphant. Clemont shambled over to Bonnie and hugged her tight. "Oh, Bonnie!" he said, too worn out to cry. "Bonnie, I'm so glad you're safe. When Team Rocket took you, I was so worried."

Bonnie tried to wriggle free from her brother's embrace, to no avail. "Clemont, I'm fine! Really! Serena and I helped each other escape. We're okay."

"We followed Dedenne's electric signals to find Pikachu," Serena said. She looked around. "Ash isn't with you?" she asked.

Pikachu approached her, ears lowered. "Pikapi…"

She kneeled down to Pikachu's level. "You're worried about him, too, aren't you Pikachu?"

Clemont released Bonnie and stood up. "Ash and I got separated. Pikachu was helping me power one of my inventions when two trap doors opened up. Ash fell down a different one. He's probably still down here in the catacombs."

"That's bad news, Clemont!" Bonnie said, puffing out her cheeks. "There's a bad man here named Doctor Yung who's trying to get Ash and Pikachu!"

Clemont gasped. "Did you say, Doctor Yung?! As in, Mirage Pokémon inventor Doctor Yung?"

"He said Ash had ruined his plans in the past," Serena said, picking Pikachu up. "He was going to read their minds using a machine and create a powerful Mirage Pokémon."

"Ash was right, then," Clemont said, putting his hand on his chin. "He thought this might be related to that incident then."

"I thought you made something to protect people from Mirage Pokémon," Bonnie said, tugging on Clemont's arm.

He chuckled uneasily. "Well, you see, Bonnie. It worked up to a point." He pulled it out of his backpack. His hat was crushed. "The power system was destroyed when Pikachu landed on it after we fell through the trap door," he said. "The system still works… probably. But it's useless until I get a chance to fix it."

Pikachu put one of his hands behind his head, looking embarrassed. Serena looked at him and saw Ash for a moment. Her heart sank, but then she clenched her teeth. "We need to find Ash," she said. "He's still in danger as long as we're here."

Pikachu climbed out of Serena's arms and onto her shoulder. "Pika!" he said.

"Then let's get looking for him," Clemont said.

Ash held Serena's hand as they walked.

Actually, it was more like Serena held his, leading him.

"Serena, are you feeling okay?" Ash asked.

She giggled. "Why do you ask, silly?" she said, smiling at him.

Ash furrowed his brow. "You just seem like you're… not yourself, I guess," he said. "It's like I can't put my finger on it."

She yanked on his arm. "Ash, you're so goofy," she said. "I'm fine. I just want to find Pikachu and the others and get out of here."

Ash continued to frown. "Where's Bonnie?" he asked. "Team Rocket took her away, too, right?"

"Oh, uh," Serena said, stammering, "Team Rocket must have taken her to another room. We need to find Pikachu so we can stand a chance against them," she said.

"But you jumped up to save Bonnie yourself," Ash said. "The two of you were together, right?"

Serena froze in her tracks. "I just said they took Bonnie away." Her tone was cold and distant.

Ash pulled his hand away from hers. "Look, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make it sound like you abandoned her, I just-"

"Look, it doesn't matter," Serena said. "We just need to find Pikachu. A-And Bonnie. And then we can leave."

"Right," Ash said with a nod.

Serena stroked Pikachu's fur. She imagined Ash being there. If he were there, he'd say that Pikachu seems to like her a lot. The Electric-type had a worried look on his face. He was thinking about Ash, too.

Clemont was leading the way. They had managed to avoid more roving bands of Mirage Pokémon for a little while. Bonnie was between them, holding Dedenne in her arms. They had recalled Chespin, Bunnelby, and Fennekin into their Poké Balls. Serena took up the rear, with Pikachu on her shoulder.

"So you're saying Dr. Yung somehow changed his body to look like Serena?" Clemont asked.

Bonnie nodded. "He said he wants to get his hands on Ash and Pikachu so he can read their minds. He says they've met lots of super-strong Pokémon."

"You mentioned him reading their minds," Clemont said.

"Believe me, it's real," Serena said. She held herself for a moment and stopped walking. "It hurt. A lot. It was like he could see anything he wanted. My thoughts, my memories, my… feelings."

"Pipika…" Pikachu said. He rubbed his cheek against Serena's.

She brightened a little. "Thanks, Pikachu. I guess he used the same sort of thing on you before, huh?"

"Pikachu," he said, nodding.

Clemont led them up an incline. "Hey," he said, looking ahead, "I think we're back at the entrance."

The three of them rushed into the room. There were Magnemite still floating around. "Bunnelby, Mud Shot!" Clemont said, tossing the Poké Ball.

"Fennekin, Ember!" Serena said, throwing her own.

The Poké Balls opened, and the two Pokémon appeared. Bunnelby lobbed the Mud Shot at a group of them, and Fennekin sprayed embers at another group. The Magenemite all fled the room.

Serena recalled Fennekin and looked around the room. There was the entrance, and two rather large, obvious holes in the ground that weren't there when Team Rocket brought her and Bonnie in. The catacombs were on the side of the room, and directly across the room from the entrance were stairs, leading into the room Serena and Bonnie were taken into by Team Rocket. Serena guessed that the "man" they saw in the room was nothing more than Dr. Yung in another disguise. She and Bonnie were knocked out in that room. If it was Dr. Yung, it was probably some attack generated by the Mirage System.

"Wait…" Serena said. "Bonnie and I were taken into that room up there by Team Rocket."

Bonnie frowned. "I don't remember being taken from that room. We just woke up somewhere else, right Serena?"

Clemont pushed up his glasses. "So maybe there's a passageway that connects that room to deep in the castle's catacombs… and maybe to other places, too."

"Like to wherever the Mirage System is located," Serena said. "I bet if we can destroy it, we won't have to worry about Dr. Yung's Mirage Pokémon."

"What're we waiting for?" Bonnie said. "Let's go take a look!"

The three of them rushed up the stairs and into the room. The room was lit from a huge hole in the ceiling that the Mirage Pokémon shot Team Rocket out of. The room was small and square. Clemont sighed. "I don't think there's anything in here."

Serena looked around. "There's no doors or anything."

"Maybe there's a secret passage?" Bonnie said. "Maybe Dedenne can find it?" She opened her pack, and Dedenne rolled over, asleep. "What, again?" she said, fuming.

"Is there anything of use in here?" Clemont said, looking around.

Serena kneeled down to where she had been knocked out by Dr. Yung. The cube Team Rocket had used to restrain here was laying there. "Hey," she said, picking it up. "This is what Team Rocket used to tie me up." She walked over to Clemont and handed the cube to him. "Do you think you can use this for anything?"

He held it up to his eye. "Maybe. But we still need to find Ash."

Pikachu's ears perked up. "Pikapi!" he said, hopping off of Serena's shoulder. He rushed out of the room back towards the entrance.

"Pikachu!" Serena said, chasing him. "Wait up!"

The silence was starting to get to him. Serena refused to talk, so Ash ended up talking to himself, mostly. "I wonder where Clemont is. Do you think we're heading out, or further in?"

Silence. She wouldn't even look at him. Ash missed Pikachu even more right now.

They walked past a path that lead upwards. Ash stopped and looked at it. "Hey, Serena, I think this is the way out."

Serena froze. "Y-you think so?" she said.

Ash ran up the slope and found himself in the entrance room. He saw the trap doors he and Clemont had fallen through, and the sunlight filtering through the open door. "Yeah! It is! This is the way out!" Hearing that, Serena ran up the incline after him. Ash stood in the middle of the room, looking around. "I wonder where all the Mirage Pokémon went to? This was full of Mirage Magnemite when Clemont and I came in here."

"PIKAPI!"

Ash turned around. Running down a set of stairs that lead to an upper room was his buddy. Ash's eyes widened and he kneeled down with open arms. "PIKACHU!"

Pikachu leapt into Ash's arms and nuzzled his cheek. He cooed into Ash's ear. "I'm so glad you're alright, Pikachu," Ash said.

Then he looked up and his mouth fell open.

Coming down the stairs were Bonnie, Clemont, and… Serena?

Ash stepped back. "What the? What's happening?"

"Ash!" Bonnie hopped toward him. "We're so glad you're safe!"

"Ash, get away from that person!" the Serena from behind Bonnie said. "They're not me! That's Dr. Yung!"

Ash looked at the Serena he entered the room with. "Ash, do you believe what that imposter's saying?" she said. "Those three are probably Jessie, James, and Meowth, just in disguise."

"Ash, don't believe her," the other Serena said. "We're your friends. That Serena's the imposter.

Ash felt his mind spinning. "Wait, wait. What's going on? Why are there two Serenas?"

"That one's a fake!" both Serenas said, point at each other.

Ash's eyes darted between the two. They looked exactly the same. Same honey-blonde hair, same blue eyes, same black and red dress. He felt like his stomach was jumbled up. Was the Serena who was acting coldly to him all this time the real one, or the fake?

Clemont stepped forward. "Ash, I'm sure the Serena that came with Bonnie and I is the real one," he said. He motioned for Serena to walk forward, past him and towards Ash.

Bonnie nodded. "We both escaped Dr. Yung's room together, with Dedenne's help!" At his name, Dedenne popped his head out of Bonnie's pouch.

Ash looked at that Serena. "Are you sure?"

She stepped forward. "Ash, Pikachu was worried about you. I was worried about you. I'm glad that you're safe and sound." She smiled at him. "I know you'll make the right choice."

Ash smiled at her. That was the warmth he had come to expect from his friend.

The other Serena laughed. "Well, it doesn't matter if he makes the right choice now. All that matters is he's made the wrong one right here!" She stepped behind Ash and Pikachu and placed a hand on each of their heads.

Serena, Bonnie, and Clemont all gasped as they saw the electricity flow from Ash and Pikachu into the false Serena. Ash and Pikachu shouted out in pain. He could feel the fake Serena diving into his memories. He grit his teeth and tried to fight back. "N-No!" Ash shouted. "You're not gonna get anything outta me!"

"You don't have a choice!" 'Serena' said, using a voice Ash hadn't heard in a long time. The voice of the creator of the Mirage Pokémon system, Dr. Yung.

"Ash!" Serena leapt forward and tried to pry her doppelganger's hand away from Ash. Electricity sparked and launched her back. For a brief moment, Ash felt like he could see into Serena's mind. 'Never give up until the end', she seemed to be thinking.

He clenched his teeth. "I'm not giving up! No way!"

"Give up or don't, I couldn't care less!" Dr. Yung said. "I just need to see the right memories!"

Pictures of Pokémon began emerging in Ash's memory. A small, spritely Pokémon with long green hair appeared, but was discarded. Next, a Colt Pokémon and the Boundary Dragon it fought, but those were also ignored. "I don't want any old Pokémon. There's one in particular whose information I want!"

Clemont ran up to Ash while Bonnie helped Serena to her feet. Clemont's Aipom Arm grabbed Dr. Yung's arm and tried to pull him off. The device strained against the force keeping the arm attached to Ash's head, but it couldn't move the arm an inch.

Two more Dragons flashed through Ash's mind, colored black and white. Still, Dr. Yung moved further into Ash's memory. Ash's eyes widened when he realized the Pokémon Dr. Yung was searching for. A tall, white creature, standing upon four legs. Ash tried to grit his teeth, tried to suppress the memory, but the creature's red and green eyes and golden ring were coming into view. Alongside the mythical Pokémon, three Legendary Dragons also came into view. "Yes! There they are! The Pokémon who shaped the Sinnoh Region, who can shape the very world! Their secrets WILL BE MINE!"

Serena gasped. "Pokémon who can shape the world?"

"Legendary Pokémon," Clemont said. "He must be referring to Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina!"

Bonnie grabbed onto Pikachu's tail. "I'll get you out of there, Pikachu!" She yanked on his tail, causing Pikachu to yelp out in pain and discharge a huge thunderbolt on everyone in the area. The force from the Thunderbolt launched Dr. Yung back into the wall, and threw Ash, Serena, Clemont, and Bonnie to the floor.

Ash was the first to struggle to his feet. "Pikachu," he said, turning to his buddy, "are you alright?"

"Pikapika," he said. Ash picked him up and held him in his arms.

He walked over to Serena and offered her a hand. She took it and pulled herself to her feet. "Thanks, Ash," she said.

Clemont got up and pulled Bonnie to her feet. "So everyone's okay?"

"Thank g-g-goodness," Bonnie said, still dazed from the Thunderbolt.

The group turned to Dr. Yung, who still looked like Serena. He had been blasted to the wall. "It's over, Dr. Yung!" Ash said, "We're not gonna let you get away with your Mirage Pokémon plan!"

Dr. Yung began a low laugh, but it quickly grew into a mad cackle. "You have NO idea how wrong you are, brat!" he said. "I already have EVERYTHING I need!"

Then, Yung's body began to disappear into the Mirage System.

"What?" Clemont said, blinking. "I don't believe it! Dr. Yung has been a Mirage this entire time!"

"My system is perfect!" Yung said as his body dematerialized. "And now, I will be able to take a form fitting of my glory!"

The entire castle began to shake, and the roof in the small room began to collapse further.

"We need to run!" Ash said. He held Pikachu in one arm and grabbed Serena's hand with the other and started to run out. Clemont scooped Bonnie into his arms and followed right behind them.

To be continued...