Well, I'm sure everyone will be enjoying their Sun and Moon Demo, but I hope you'll find the time to read and review this story! I love you all! Time for Chapter 7!


Chapter 7

A Gamble

"You have to be kidding me…" Diantha spoke, louder than she'd anticipated to. Thankfully, there was no one else in the room with her. All that she had was the screen in front of her as she dabbed some makeup on. That all seemed so silly now on account of the man that was giving her information.

"I'm afraid I'm not Champion, our illustrious President Goodshow was taken today, and-"

"Please, Harrison…it's getting late," the Kalos Champion sighed out, placing her tools down to frown at the man on the screen. Harrison Kalas just grinned sheepishly, running a hand through his hair.

"My apologies, Champion, but I've been in the role so long that speaking as a commentator comes as second nature," Kalas apologized before clearing his throat. When he spoke again, it was in his normal tone of voice. "Anyway, yes, President Goodshow was abducted. Before I even had the chance to blink, he was gone and Vice President Michael was down. I didn't stop the commentary."

"Good…that's good, Harrison. If you had, people would have suspected something, and we can't afford another problem at the moment." Kalas nodded a little as Diantha scoffed inside. It wasn't like they hadn't expected there to be problems, but certainly not a straight up abduction. And of the President no less! The only questions that remained were why, and whether they would receive some kind of ransom call. "Have you informed Lance of the situation? He is a top agent in the organization you inform for."

"I did, and I also contacted the International Police to see if there was any chatter on their side, per Lance's orders, but got nowhere," the commentator continued. "Looker informed me that the only thing he could think of is that it was connected to that lab fire, but that it was a stretch made only by the timing of the two events."

"So, we're no closer…and the Vice President?" Here, Diantha felt she would receive a less favorable answer. Sure enough, Kalas frowned, and even delayed in giving her an answer. In some way, this was why she hated working with the G-Men and their informants, no matter how affiliated with the League they were: their shifty answers hardly made for good communication.

"He…fell," was the simple answer, though it hardly told Diantha of anything. "Some trainers gave pursuit after the President. The Vice went with them, and he didn't return. I can only imagine he was lost over the ravine. That's what I seemed to overhear when the trainers reunited."

"You couldn't get any more?"

"I think I was noticed, honestly," Kalas said. "I've been undercover at so many different venues for gathering info that I didn't think it was possible, but there was a man with the trainers. He was very tight-lipped, like he knew I was listening. He just helped the trainers along since one of them looked injured slightly."

"Let me guess…Ash Ketchum?" Diantha asked with a rather tired sigh. Harrison nodded. She wasn't surprised. Ash had a way of being involved in every major event that happened to the Kalos region. Whether it was by chance or some greater working of fate, Diantha neither knew nor cared, but she felt whatever circumstances there were, things were safe with Ash around. Though she could have kicked herself for thinking that. "All right. Thanks, Harrison."

"And the tournament? With both our presidents out of action, that makes you de facto leader of the region, right? Do you want us to proceed?" Kalas asked sternly, yet with a slight waver in his voice. Diantha had to think a moment, pinching the bridge of her nose as she did so.

"We proceed. I'll contact Malva and have her join you. I know I was scheduled to, but this changes things," she told him. "I'll be there as soon as I am able to fix whatever damage may have been done, but we can't let anyone know what's going on, outside of those that already do. This region has faced enough crises without the people panicking even more."

"Understood. I'll contact Lance again and we'll work out the details for protection and press releases."

"While you're at it, have him put together a team to scour the ravine and find the vice president…or his body. I would hope the river didn't carry him too far," she concluded grimly. Kalas didn't look too happy at the notion either, but it was one that Diantha felt needed to be said. At the moment, they needed to prepare for the worst, and as a leader, she wasn't letting more harm come to her precious region or the League.

"Will do," Kalas replied with enthusiasm, at least until he sighed. "Man, I really wish I had retired, but I just had to go to the Kalos Team Tournament. I rue the day Lance signed me on as an informant…oh well, keep in contact, Champion."

Like that, Kalas had disappeared off the screen. Diantha heaved a breath and sat back on her seat. Things just went from bad to worse…

For the first time, Diantha was wondering if the theory of the recent events being connected actually held some merit. From the unprecedented debacle at Ancien, to the events that followed at Nova. Then there was the Kalos Crisis. Never had she imagined destruction on such a large scale, and so undetected. Had Olympia not warned them, Diantha felt that Lumiose, the region and the world would have crumbled that much quicker. Although…that wasn't quite true. Not with Ash there. Now there was this situation: the president being kidnapped by anyone had never been seen before. Had it been at any other time, she would have thought that it was some random thugs looking for a huge ransom, or maybe even an allowance into the League without badges. But now…after all that had transpired…

Now, she knew better.

This wasn't a random act. It was a prelude. She could feel the clouds gathering around them, ready to burst with a powerful storm that would obliterate all in their path. That alone was a frightening prospect, and no matter how much Ash played hero and his friends would do all in their power to whatever end, Diantha knew it wasn't enough. She believed and trusted in them, but it would be pointless if she didn't do her part, and as it was, she couldn't do that. Not with such a dearth of information on what was going on behind the scenes…in the underworld…

"Unless…" she mused aloud. It was such a risky play, to ask him for information, but he was the only one who would have anything. After all, he had known about that ancient artifact and other details connected with Dalton. It was a long shot, but the boy could potentially have the information that would change everything.

Diantha stood, her lips frowning in a thin line. It was time for all or nothing, and if it meant rescuing the President and preventing further disaster, she'd have to make a deal with the devil. Feeling her skin crawl, Diantha strode from the room, grabbing her tablet on her way out, making sure to lock it now that she had executive power. Right outside the room was Kathi Lee, waiting like a hawk for her.

"Diantha, we have a Lumiose Galette commercial during the afternoon before we get you rested up for the tournament visit tomorrow."

"I'm not going," Diantha said sternly, though she was certain it came off harshly. "Cancel everything, Kathi. I have a more important trip to make."

"Trip? What happened? Diantha!" Kathi went stumbling after her as the Champion purposefully strode down the hallway and towards the pair of glass doors that led outside to the studio lot. She didn't have to walk far to find her helicopter waiting there for her, almost like it had known she was coming.

"Inform our major prison for the region that I'm coming for a visit," she said seriously. If Kathi was floored by the request, she didn't show it whatsoever. Either way, Diantha decided to further inform her ever loyal companion of the reasoning behind it. "The League is now in a state of emergency, leaving executive decisions in the Kalos Region to me. To that end, there's someone I need to see."

"Understood," Kathi said solemnly, and she took out her phone. Diantha merely seated herself upon her helicopter, staring out the window with a finger on her chin in contemplation. Deep in her mind, she was unsettled by the action she was taking and the choice she was making. Yet she knew that no other course was available to her. None but this risky gamble.

Her mind still wasn't settled by the time the helicopter had landed on the helipad right outside the prison. She hadn't even noticed that they had been in flight. The warden appeared to be waiting for them, having obviously gotten Kathi's call. He appeared amicable, if completely flustered by her arrival.

"I'm sorry Champion, but this is most irregular," the warden said with fidgeting hands twisting into themselves or running over his bald head. Diantha smiled down at the man.

"I understand, warden. However, I need to speak to one of your prisoners. His name is Travis. I escorted him myself personally." The warden stopped, and she with him. His reaction appeared odd; surely he would have been prepared for any visitor for a prisoner, particularly one that Diantha, herself, had brought in just a few weeks prior. Yet he looked almost frightened.

"Er…he's currently in solitary," the warden answered.

"Is there a reason?" she asked. Not that she cared much for Travis' wellbeing, but if he was under lock and key more so than usual, then she felt that she needed to know the reason. After all, she knew little enough as it was.

"Err…umm…It's just little things. He wouldn't stop talking, you see. Babbling really, laughing. It really angered another of the inmates and they got into a fight. Had to put them both in solitary…"

"Babbling about what exactly?" the Champion asked as she walked forward, into the prison. The warden stumbled on after her, trying to keep up, but she no longer cared for his excuses to keep her away from the answers she wanted.

"Random things…I thought he was insane, but the psychiatrists all assure me he's as sane as can be," the warden chuckled nervously. Diantha came to a stop before a door, and the warden swallowed loudly before unlocking it. He took the lead shortly after that, no doubt leading her to where Travis was. "Keeps mumbling lots of names though. Ash, Seamus, Dalton…and yours, Champion. He…he seemed to think you'd be paying a visit, ironically."

"Good. Then this should go smoothly." The warden didn't appear quite so sure about her statement, particularly when he stopped in front of a large metal door and slid the latch open to allow Diantha access inside. She proceeded forward. He didn't. The door slammed shut behind her, drowning the room in shadow, only a few cracks of light streaming in. So, Diantha walked forward, seeing the iron wrought bars drawing nearer, her heart growing sicker with every step. In fact, every step echoed off the wall like a horrid heartbeat as she drew closer to the bars, only to stop in front of them.

At this, she turned in towards the occupant inside, to find him sitting up on the bed. Red hair disheveled, and his scars, both burn and cut related, were practically glowing in the darkness. He was no doubt expecting her.

"I knew you'd come…Champion," he said with such loathing and mockery that Diantha scowled. "Things have gone real bad on the outside, huh?"

"And how is it that you know this?" Diantha asked, hoping to regain her bearings and hold control over the conversation.

"Because you wouldn't be here if they weren't," he said with a scoff, like it was obvious. "So, what happened?"

"I thought you would have known," she said. Travis laughed, the eerie sound echoing off the wall. It reminded her all too well of their last conversation in the prison at Nova Town.

"I don't know everything, but I did tell you, didn't I? I was right, wasn't I?" he jeered through the prison cell. He was unmoving from his spot on his cot, and the Champion figured that he was chained there. "A crisis came to Kalos."

"And was averted."

"Was it?" That sent an uncomfortable tingling down her spine, but she refused to let it show on her face. She wasn't giving this wicked and twisted boy any sort of satisfaction. "One of them was…but maybe this crisis is a little too big to handle…"

"Tell me what you know," Diantha demanded angrily. The sick feeling in her stomach intensified; she had no time for any sort of games anymore.

"Ah ah ah," Travis scolded her. She was certain he would have wagged a finger at her if he could. "I don't think so…Information isn't cheap."

"I don't think you're in a place to bargain."

"Oh? Correct me if I'm wrong, Champion, but you came to me looking for information," Travis said. Diantha felt she could have thrown up at the correct insinuation, but she kept herself stoic at his jeering. "So, it would seem, as I'm the only source of this information, I hold all the cards. Feels nice. Unless you want to pass on my information, and leave it all up to Ash. But you strike me as someone reasonable enough to not do something so stupid. Not after the Kalos Crisis. So, what's it gonna be?"

Diantha debated just walking away and leaving Travis alone with his miserable state of existence. Unfortunately, she knew the enormity of what could be at stake, with the president's life on the line, and though it horrified her, she asked her question. "What do you want, Travis?"

"Full immunity," he said quickly. "I want out of this filthy prison with my Pokémon at my side. You give me that, and I'll tell you everything I heard in the underworld."

"As if I could do something like that so easily," Diantha said with a scoff. At these words, Travis leaned forward and she could now see more of him in the light. He looked almost grotesque, a pale shadow of the once handsome boy he likely had been before Ancien.

"I'm sure you'll find a way…if you want my info," he said confidently, a smirk stretching the horrid features on his face. "And this is only open for a limited time, by the way."

"Ever the same, I see," Diantha commented. To that, Travis appeared to grin before sitting back in the shadows. Watching him do so, she knew that she should have expected him to ask for such a ludicrous request. Thinking it and hearing it out loud were two entirely different things, though. Now that she knew it was the only offer on the table, she had to take a moment to hesitate.

Travis was scum. There was no doubt about that, but his use as a resource in the moment was a rather unyielding need. These two thoughts broke and conflicted with one another. It was ever the issue of letting one clearly unhinged boy (no matter what the psychiatrists said) go free to cause havoc, or watching her region fall into chaos again simply because she was unwilling to let a lesser evil go free for information. A conundrum no matter what way it was looked at. Travis was patient though, watching her through the darkness.

In all honesty, the decision was not a difficult one. She knew what she had to do, for good or ill, before the situation grew out of her control. It was everything else surrounding the single issue. Travis was a variable, too wild to control, and while it would have been best to discuss the situation in a committee with her fellow Champions, their respective duties and the problem at hand all but prevented that. No, this was her decision to make.

Furrowing her brow a little, Diantha reached into her bag for her tablet and pulled it open. Clicking on the League system, she inputted the code for an emergency situation to ensure her access to all systems as acting-Kalos region president. It accepted her once more and within seconds, she was at the prison information and the forms that would allow the full release of prisoners; a pardon. Even though her hand shook, the desperate times made Diantha type in Travis' name on the form. Only his name wasn't alone. Next to it were others: Charles, Tiffany, Theodore.

If she was letting the devil out to play, she'd send the devil she did know to keep it in check.

Taking one last shuddering breath, she clicked on the mark that made the order go through. After a few moments of loading, the four separate release forms appeared on her tablet. She expanded Travis' and pressed it against the cell bars.

"Congratulations, you're a free man. The order will fully go through tomorrow afternoon and you'll be on your way, Pokémon and all," Diantha informed him. In the dark, she couldn't see his expression and figured it could go any which way from surprise to glee to outright cockiness. "Though you will be escorted out of here by me, personally. Until then, talk."

"No way. I'm not talking and then having you rescind that order," Travis spat. The thought had crossed her mind at doing so, but she was glad her countermeasures against the boy didn't hinge on it with his perception. "However…I'll give you a freebie while we wait."

"That's generous. What is it?"

"You remember that weapon we talked about, Champion? Well, they're after it."

"They? Who are 'they'?" Travis didn't answer that one, but in the moment it wasn't like he needed to.

"They're after that Ultimate Weapon and every single thing to make it work…then, they'll destroy this pathetic world and everyone in it."


"Wait, what happened to Bonnie? !"

"She was kidnapped by some bad guys?"

"And the president, too? !"

"If I had just sat with you guys today…"

"Hey, everyone just calm down!" Ash shouted out over the din at their favorite little café station. Pikachu and Piplup both looked around wildly at his command. The magenta haired waitress placed another platter of sandwiches down before returning to her companions to mutter with them. Serena just ignored that and focused on her boyfriend's words. He was looking better now, at least. Nurse Joy had easily examined him and Greninja, slapped a bandage on and told them they were fine and free to go. Serena was a little more skeptical, but she felt way too skeptical of anything in general, especially after today's events. She felt absolutely horrible inside.

"Ash is right," Clemont sighed out, hands gripping tightly at his jumpsuit. "This is my fault. I failed to save Bonnie or the presidents, and after you trusted me, Ash. So don't blame yourself, Sawyer."

"Clemont, don't say that," Serena chided him, turning towards him with a stern glare. Ash seemed to want to encourage her words by flinging an arm around Clemont. "You did your best. Mega Evolutions and Legendary Pokémon…how could anyone compete with that after finding out their sister was taken?"

"Even I failed…" Alain said. He wasn't sitting like the rest of them, but leaning against a pillar in the open court. The place was surprisingly empty, but they had been slowly gathering there for hours after the final match ended with the girl Reeree and her partner attaining victory. Serena sat back, acutely feeling the failure coursing through all of them.

It was a sharp feeling of defeat, really; one she hadn't felt since Ash had been captured at Nova Town. Seeing Clemont and Alain return from the airship with a hyperventilating Mairin and dejected looks all but told them that they had failed. Jack, not being one for words (unlike his son), instantly decided to try and get "his people" on it. Whatever that meant. It mattered little, because as they returned down to the base level of the stadium, they had encountered Shauna, Tierno and Trevor, all of whom were surprised at how beaten up they looked. What followed was a mess of more people coming up to them as they grew in size, from Astrid, to Conway, down to Sawyer and Miette, the latter of whom was remarkably silent, as the former gaped at the sight of Jack. All this was pervaded by one simple fact: Bonnie and President Goodshow were taken hostage by an organization known as DARC.

They didn't know much more, but Jack's words about them being wily must have made sense.

"It's actually my fault…" Mairin said sadly. Alain looked over at her and Serena did the same. "Bonnie and I went to get ice cream and were on our way back to the seats when we got hit by some kind of Sleep Powder or…I don't know…"

"That's not your fault, Mairin," Serena reminded her. Chespie appeared to agree. He had been left behind after being hit by whatever had downed them. There was nothing you could do to being ambushed at a place you thought you were safe. Although, even Serena was trying hard not to blame herself for her own mistakes in not stopping Cedric.

"It's no one's fault! I mean, sure, it's weird that we all keep getting captured and stuff, but we all tried our best," Ash said confidently, drawing the others' eyes to him. While some still weren't extremely aware of the situation, they all seemed inspired by Ash regardless. "We will get Bonnie and the president back! No matter what!"

"Yeah!" Sawyer cheered alongside the trio from summer camp. Miette cast a bemused look at the boy and he grinned sheepishly. Alain stood up straight.

"You're wrong, Ash," he said coldly. That caused Serena to look over at him in alarm. He almost sounded angry (or just default, as Serena didn't truly know him well enough to make a judgment). "There is someone to blame: him."

At Alain's words, Serena turned her head (along with everyone else) to look at the raven-haired man tilting back on his chair while he looked at something on a tablet. In that moment, watching him tilt back and forth with a small little smile, she could actually see the family resemblance. As if the markings on his cheeks weren't enough, his general look made him seem like an older version of his son who looked at him in a mix of confusion, happiness and hurt. It made Serena unsure as to whether she should comfort him or…something else. Anything else. Regardless, Jack appeared to pick up on the tension directed towards him.

"Oh, I'm not to blame for this. Not at all," he stated, staring pointedly at Alain. The black haired trainer didn't quite believe him as he came off from his leaning positon to approach him. Just as he came close, Jack slammed the chair down, its sound echoing around the court. Alain backed off, as though frightened. "Don't lump me in with them."

"But they only kidnapped the president because you were here…and you, whoever you are, didn't help us to get him back," Alain said, his voice lower than it had been before. Serena wondered if he was just saying these things as a means to assuage his own previous guilt for unintentional actions and their results.

"I was here to prevent that, though my intel said they were planning an assassination. Clearly, it was false, but I'm unsure that the result would have ended up much different," Jack said, sighing a little as he scooted forward. Astrid and Dawn pushed themselves aside to allow the older man to join them at the table. He grabbed a sandwich and now there was no more doubt in Serena's mind: he was definitely Ash's father. The only thing left to doubt were his intentions. "I didn't know they were going after your sister, though, Clemont. For that, I'm sorry. Had I been more aware, I may have found them. Though I am trying to get some of my people on the situation. It's just been difficult…"

"Your people?" Sawyer asked. A brief flick of her eyes told Serena that the green-haired Hoenn native was surreptitiously sliding his notebook out. "Who are you exactly? I met you before in a café, but you were gone before I could ask."

"Which answer you want?" Jack asked him, eyes twinkling a moment before he looked over at Ash and Pikachu, who tilted their heads curiously. "Well, you're all Ash's friends, and I know enough about each of you that there should be no problem…regardless of what Lionel says."

"You know all of us?" Tierno blabbed out before he could help himself.

"Of course. I'm Ash's father, so naturally I've kept tabs on my son's adventures," he said casually. That made the table become stunned with silence. Only Ash, herself, Clemont and Dawn looked anything but surprised (she supposed Pikachu wasn't all that surprised either). And even then, hearing it a second time didn't make the revelation any more familiar.

Ash never mentioned his father, always being one to live in the present, but if it had been anything like her own, she expected him to have left at a very young age. Clearly that was true, but where Serena had no recollection of her father, Ash clearly knew his…at least somewhat. At the very least, he recognized him as such with very little prompting. Beyond that, though, none of them knew much about him, and could trust even less. Ash's father was not Ash, after all.

"Anyway, that's not important. Not in the realm of Alain's question, anyhow," Jack breathed out. "My name's Jack Ketchum; you can call me Jack or Red. I'm not particularly picky about the use of my codename. I am the leader of ARC, if you're interested."

"What's ARC?" Mairin said, shuffling forward on her seat. Jack looked at her before clearly realizing that every eye around the table was on him. Serena had a feeling the waitress and her band were watching him too, whispering under their breaths.

"ARC is an organization dedicated to the retrieval and sealing of ancient artifacts. At least, those that can be. Stands for Artifact Recovery Corps," Jack explained. "We do a lot of work behind the scenes, finding as many artifacts as we can before they get used for villainous deeds. Sometimes we dip our toes into the underworld to hear of anything going on. Of course, there are always some things we miss…

"Well, anyway, that's me and that's my job. Lately, though, we've had to deal with a very troublesome band of individuals in DARC: the Destruction and Reparation Coalition. I know, lots of acronyms. But they're the ones who kidnapped the president."

"Hmm," Clemont mused thoughtfully, his face appearing calm even though Serena knew he wasn't. "But, if you're in conflict with them and you hunt artifacts, why would they want the president? What are they looking for?"

"I have a guess that's led to some actions on both sides, but it's really just that. Nothing I'd be willing to share at this moment. The one thing I can tell you is what they're after: the total destruction of this world."

The thought lingered uncomfortably around the table. Only Dawn and Conway looked less perturbed. Everyone else hung their heads and Serena couldn't help but stare at her fingernails. Destruction of the world…How she wished those words and goals would be unfamiliar to her, but now they fit like a glove, and an uncomfortable one at that. It was becoming a little cliché, to be honest, but no less sickening. This was reflected the most on Alain's face. Clearly he was harboring some sense of guilt and shame from what went down with Lysandre. Jack looked to pick up on this.

"I thought you all might have that same kind of reaction. After all, you're part of the Ancien Warriors, the Nova Nine, the Kalos Heroes!" The way he said it almost made it seem like a joke, but they weren't laughing, and he wasn't smiling. "In all honesty, I can understand your thoughts. Year after year this world keeps getting steadily worse. If it weren't for such stalwart and optimistic trainers such as yourselves, I'd wonder where we would be. Goodness knows the number of artifacts I've tried to shut down, but ancient people seem to have liked creating world-ending devices, and Arceus knows Pokémon have had their fair share of that as well. For every one we find and destroy, or otherwise place under extreme protective custody, another one pops right up.

"For example, the Red and Blue Orbs. After the incident in Hoenn, ARC managed to confiscate them at a later date, yet the meteorites in Ancien City became active at that time. We found the Dark Stone, only for Reshiram to awaken from the Light Stone and cause problems. Now this whole thing! It's a never ending job, but I've loved doing it. It's one of my passions in life."

"It is?" Ash asked, himself surprised. "I didn't know…" To any other, Ash sounded inquisitive and curious, but Dawn and herself looked over at him while Clemont kept his gaze on Jack. They were all thinking the same, however: Ash's voice had been filled with a small sense of hurt and neglect, something only those closest to him could tell. Well, unless they were related to him, as Jack seemed to pick up with a frown. "Is that why you left mom? And me?"

"That, Ash, is a story for a far less dire time," Jack said solemnly, once more changing the mood around the table. "Right now, however, the stakes are risen too high. I'd hoped to stop DARC from gaining a foothold in their plans and figured that preventing the President from being assassinated would do it, but I was misled."

"Then what can we do?" Sawyer asked confidently, gripping his closed notebook. "There has to be something!"

"There probably is…but I need to rescue Bonnie," Clemont reminded them.

"And I want to retrieve the president," Alain confirmed. "I feel it's my fault he was able to be captured anyway." Neither mentioned the weight of losing the vice president.

"But you guys are still fellow competitors," Astrid pointed out with a sigh. "You guys can't just leave when you're still in the competition. It would look strange and call more attention than there should be, especially when you guys were oddly discreet in your earlier attempts."

"I can't sit around and do nothing!" Clemont suddenly yelled, standing and slamming his hands on the table. Ash's arm was thrown off as the sandwiches went flying high only for Dawn and Conway to help catch them quickly. "Bonnie is my sister! Tournament or not, she's too important to me to let this DARC do whatever they want to her!"

"You're right, Clemont," Jack said calmly. He appeared to be the only calm one there. Serena knew for sure that her heart was racing and she was finding it extremely difficult to not blurt out whatever was on the tip of her tongue. "You should rescue your sister…just not right now."

"What?" the inventor asked in a rather cold and emotionless tone.

"Understand me, I know the value of family despite my rather questionable actions," Ash's father continued onward. "I would say that family is what has driven me in a number of my choices, but DARC is manipulative, and they will be able to stop you before you even get close if they see you coming. Pulling out of the tournament will do just that."

"What are we supposed to do, then?" Serena asked, finally putting her own thoughts into the conversation. "Bonnie is a precious friend of ours. We can't just leave her in their hands. What exactly do you want us to do? Especially when we barely even know you…"

"I know," Jack sighed out a little, "but right now we need to do what we can while keeping DARC from thinking that all of us are on the move."

"Do you have any idea of what they're actually doing, then?" came Dawn's question. Jack didn't turn his head, but decided to answer.

"Whatever they're trying to do in order to achieve their endgame, we've come to a conclusion that they are looking for a near limitless source of energy. Powerful life energy that could power something that would manage to destroy the world, even tear a hole in space if it needed to is our current hypothesis…or at least Lionel's, but he usually knows what he's talking about. My belief is that they're searching for Xerneas."

"Xerneas?" Trevor blurted out in surprise. "But no one has seen Xerneas in centuries, maybe even millennia!"

"That's not true," Ash piped in, looking rather stern in his expression. "We saw Xerneas in the Allearth Forest, right?" At that, he looked to her and Clemont with a questioning look in his eyes. Now that Serena thought about it, he was right. It had been so long ago and so much had happened that she had forgotten of their excursion with Diancie and Carbink. (Though she shouldn't have, as she also remembered it was where they had met Astrid.)

"Yeah, but…Ash, Xerneas is just a tree now, remember?" Clemont said, frustration seeping into his voice.

"That's perfect for them. It's something that won't fight back," Jack noted, now standing up and drawing himself to his full height. Despite only being slightly taller than Alain, Jack seemed to tower over all of them. "Then it looks like our first course is set!"

"Our?" Ash questioned. Jack turned, looking embarrassed, and began to rub his nose. Another similarity, Serena noted in her head.

"Well, I know you're in the tournament, too…but I was kind of hoping you'd come with me, Ash," he said, still rubbing his nose with a slight smile. "I know I just said that Clemont shouldn't, but…well, the issue of Xerneas is far more time sensitive as I'd like to find it before they can strike, and you can lead me there. Plus, they already know of your involvement. Bonnie is likely in no danger for the moment, but if Xerneas is obtained…"

"I get it," Ash said, nodded his head, but frowning all the same. He looked contemplative, which was rather unlike him, but Serena could understand. After everything that had been thrown at him in the last few hours alone, anyone would take a moment to think it over.

"I understand if you want to keep battling in the tournament, but I'd just like to reconnect. I know those moments can't heal such a rift, but I'd really hope we could at least work together." Jack now shifted his hand to the back of his head to rub it with a little laugh. "Like today. I know it was serious, but I had a lot of fun fighting alongside you!"

"Oh," Ash said, looking a little surprised at his father's confession. Serena looked to her boyfriend and could see confusion bubbling in his eyes, but along with it was the same fire that burned whenever he was excited. Serena knew his decision from that exact moment, but he seemed to have a hard time getting it out. "Can I have a moment to talk about it?"

"Take what you need," Jack said, seating himself once more and opening his tablet once again. Ash, meanwhile, pushed his chair out while looking at Serena. He nodded a little and she chose to follow him as he walked away. Clemont was right behind them, none of them stopping until they were out of the court and amidst the lulling sounds of the waterfalls. When they reached there, Ash turned around and opened his mouth.

"Go with him," Serena said softly. Ash looked taken aback by this, mouth gaping like a Magikarp; Pikachu was nodding in agreement, though. "Ash, I know it seems weird but…as we sat there, I could see it in both of you. There was a connection, and a desire to know each other. Even if I wasn't sure whether to trust him or not, so many of the little things he did reminded me of you and…you need to go with him."

"Serena…are you sure?" Ash asked. He folded his arms, but Serena just stepped forward and unfolded them. Then she came even closer and cupped his face.

"I'm very sure," she said quietly. "Not many people are as lucky as you to meet their estranged fathers, unorthodox situations or not. I know I've never really met my dad. Besides, Clemont and I can handle things here. I'm seeing this tournament through to the end!"

"I agree with Serena," Clemont added with a nod. "If Bonnie were here, she'd say the same thing. Besides, if you stop them at Allearth Forest, then maybe you can find out where they took Bonnie and get there faster."

"Good point," Ash said, obviously having never thought of it. "What'll we do about the tournament, though?"

"You can leave that to us!" Serena assured him before drawing in and giving him a kiss, as if to reassure him that they would be fine. "Clemont and I can work something out. We've got the others with us after all."

"Yes…" Clemont looked lost in thought, and for the first time that evening, it didn't seem to be about his sister. Actually, Serena felt she could actually hear the gears turning his brain as he thought up something. Not knowing what it was, she prepared to ask, only for Ash to bring them both into a hug, one which Pikachu avoided.

"You guys are the best," he said. "I mean, so is everyone else, but…thanks."

"Just make sure you're safe out there, okay? I can't be there to protect your back while you're out there, so you need to watch out for yourself," Serena reminded him. She felt him nod against her skin, sending an actual tingle through her body before she continued on. "Get to know your dad, stop the bad guys and come back safe. That's it, okay? No crazy stunts."

"I'll try not to," Ash laughed out, finally drawing back from their group hug. "You make sure to win the tournament, though! And you rescue Bonnie, Clemont."

"Will do." To this, all three of them threw their hands in and then raised them towards the sky with clasped fists. Seeing the fire in her boyfriend's eyes, Serena knew that she had called for the right decision. Fighting a tournament was one thing, but she wasn't going to let Ash have this opportunity slip by. Taking Ash's hand, the trio started to head back into the court towards the table that was now animatedly talking. Pikachu leapt off of Ash's shoulder and dashed towards the table where Piplup was stuffing some of his face in. Jack looked up.

"You've made your decision."

"Yep, I'm going with you, dad!" Ash said with a fist thrown forward.

"Pika pika!" Pikachu cheered from near Piplup, indicating that he would, naturally, go along. Jack's face actually lit up, as though he hadn't expected such a positive answer, but was happy to have it nonetheless.

"Good…great…then the four of us will leave in the morning! It's a long journey to the Allearth Forest, even with my vehicle and-"

"Four of us?"

"Oh, right, your friends Sawyer and Miette offered to come along and help." Serena's eyes widened and she looked over to her fellow Performer. Miette had a rather obvious smirk scrawled over her face as she winked at her. Inside, it was like a volcano going off, but Serena felt she did a passable job of keeping her face straight. This was not going to end well. Not that she thought Miette would flirt with Ash or anything, but there was never any telling what was on the girl's mind.

"All right, then!" Ash said enthusiastically, no doubt excited to be working with Sawyer again. Alain, however, seemed to cut that happiness (or whatever the mood was) down.

"And how do we deal with Ash missing from the tournament? Or for us to go rescue the others?" he asked disgruntledly. A sudden laugh, eerily akin to Conway's sounded out from Clemont (it was even enough to make Conway look at him with a creeped out expression).

"Well then, I actually have an idea! And it doesn't even involve the future that is now! No science necessary!" Clemont boasted, seeming quite proud of himself. Ash looked at him with a quirked eyebrow. "I just need to use my status and powerful connections given the state of the League!

"Uh…what are you talking about Clemont?" Ash asked, and even Serena felt she was genuinely confused.

"Heh heh heh," Clemont said and Serena backed off a little while both Dawn and Conway scooted away. The inventor even adjusted his glasses to complete the effect. "I am a Gym Leader after all, so all I need to use is my connections to get this sorted out.

"Mairin, what do you say to battling?"


Author's Note: What is this? A shorter chapter? Blasphemy! Yet it is so. After the action packed and long chapters of the last few installments, this one is quite a bit shorter, but more jampacked with stuff than any of the last ones were! Obviously, a lot of this stuff I was building up to quite a bit, even as far back as last story. Travis is back! I know you're all soooo excited (sarcasm) but surely you saw this coming. Diantha is making a tricky play, but I'm sure you're noticing what her contingency plan is (or I'd hope you do).

As for the following segment: yep, the group is splitting up! Couldn't have them staying together forever, and it's still different from the last time because their goals are entirely separate. Obviously, I haven't yet done much bonding with Ash's father, but now that we're outside of a major group setting, it's coming up soon. I hope I did a good job in portraying Ash wanting to go with him and that decision that was made along the way (and the plot details that I've informed you of). At least, I'd like to think I did. It's amazing how a simpler story can be harder to write.

Before I go, though, allow me to thank all those who made this story amazing: Rapticon sr. the Goldenhearted and luckerL for favoriting; and you know my giant thanks to ultimateCCC, StrawHatLuffy94, Daisy Pragnya, FantasyLover88, Cato Yugi, Omegaz, Daniel31, theoneandonlymonkeyknight, Tenzalucard123, ChE clarinetist, Nexxus176, potat lasaro, Cottonmouth25, AmourshippingCanon, skyblu23, AdvancedAlto, sparkydragon98 and 2 guests for reviewing! With the plot now shifting into high gear as things start changing up, I hope you'll continue to stick around with me, Review, and Dare to Be Silly.