The four trainers all looked at each other, waiting for someone to say something.

Ash attempted to open the door they came through again, but no matter how much effort he put into forcing it open, it didn't work. Even with Pikachu's help, the door wouldn't budge.

"So uh, looks like we're stuck." Clemont decided to make the obvious statement after a moment of silence. "However... I had a feeling something like this would happen so I had invented something that can get us out of situations like this! Clemontic Gear, on!"

Clemont pulled out his backpack and began to pull out some sort of device. Ash and Pikachu couldn't help but chuckle while Alain and Sycamore simply stared at the inventor as he worked his magic.

Braixen sighed and pulled out her twig, setting it on fire and illuminating the room entirely. The fire type began to slowly walk around, moving her head around often so she could get an idea of what was in the building. Scanning the red themed café, Braixen noticed a smashed cup in front of a cabinet. Before she could investigate, a loud explosion caught her off guard, though once she saw what caused the explosion, she wondered why she was even surprised in the first place.

Clemont was covered in ash and smoke due to his failed invention, "...And I thought that invention would work this time..." He quietly said. Meanwhile, Ash and Pikachu couldn't help themselves from laughing.

"Man, it's been a while since we've seen one of Clemont's inventions exploded, right Pikachu?" Ash asked his partner Pokemon, who nodded his head and giggled.

Sycamore couldn't do anything but quietly laugh while Alain stared, not sure how to react to what had just happened.

"Brai, Braixen!" Serena's fire type Pokemon called out to the four trainers. Once catching their attention, she waved her stick in front of the cabinet, lighting it up and revealing that there was something behind the cabinet. Sycamore was the first to approach the piece of furniture and noticed what Braixen had found.

"A passageway." He revealed. The three remaining trainers shortly joined him and saw for themselves what Braixen had found. "Looks like Xerosic was in a hurry, since he left this passageway slightly exposed." The professor moved to the side of the cabinet and slowly pushed it, revealing more of the hidden passageway.

"Well, looks like we know what to do." Ash commented with a determined look, a look also shared by Pikachu.

Sycamore rubbed Braixen's head and smiled at her, "Great work there, Braixen. You saved us a lot of precious time."

"Brai!" Braixen responded positively, enjoying the appraise from the professor who looked after her before she met her trainer.

The first to head down through the passage were Ash, Pikachu and Braixen, shortly followed by the remaining. The hidden pathway was dark, but thanks to Braixen they were able to see where they were going. Eventually, light was seen at the end of the tunnel and the four in a large lit room.

What they saw in the room astonished all of them.

In the center of the room was a girl with her back towards the group, but her appearance, height and hairstyle immediately indicated who this girl was to the group. The girl turned around, gently holding her blue ribbon with her hand as she opened her mouth and spoke.

"Hey, everyone."

It was Serena.

"Braixen!" Braixen immediately ran towards her trainer, gripping her in a tight hug.

"I've missed you too, Braixen." Serena calmly told the fire type, gently stroking her head.

Alain, Clemont and Sycamore stared in complete disbelief at what they were seeing. This was definitely not what they were expecting when they entered this secret facility.

Ash stared with his mouth wide open, before he slowly walked towards his companion and looked into her eyes. "Serena, is... is that really you?"

"Pika, pika!"

Serena giggled at Ash's response, "Of course it's me, Ash. I'm sure you all have a lot of questions for me, don't you?"

"Y-Yeah..." Clemont stuttered, unsure what else he could add to that answer.

"S-Serena..." Ash quietly said, but loud enough for the Kalos girl in front of him to hear. A small tear escaped from one of his eyes. "I... I don't know what's going on right now, but I'm... I'm so happy to see you!"

Serena smiled at Ash's answer and stared into his glistening eyes. Braixen finally let go of her trainer, but as soon as the fox Pokemon let go, Serena was quickly tackled by none other than Ash himself.

Serena gasped in shock and could hear Ash mumbling something under his breath. The performer wrapped her arms around the trainer and patted his back, "I'm really happy to see you too, Ash. But... now I need to tell you all about how I'm awake all of a sudden. I'm sure you all want to know."

Alain suddenly flinched, a movement quickly noticed by Sycamore who looked in the trainer's general direction. Walking towards them was none other than Xerosic, with two of the Flare scientists who participated in the attack on Lumiose City following behind him. Ash and Clemont soon noticed and the former let go of his companion, standing in front of her with his arm defensively stretched out in front of her.

Serena calmly grabbed Ash's arm and pulled it down, "Ash, it's okay. They're... friends."

"Friends?" Sycamore questioned.

"Yes, indeed we are." Xerosic answered in a confident tone. "Welcome to Lysandre Labs. This is a facility which served as a backup for our main laboratory in north western Kalos, which... unfortunately got destroyed by the megalith. I've been here ever since the attack on Lumiose City."

"They heard about what had happened to me and with Xerosic's brilliant mind, he managed to wake me up!" Serena explained very cheerfully. Ash's eyes glimmered and his small grew massive.

"Brilliant mind...?" Clemont asked, a little surprised at what his friend had said.

Serena noticed the inventor looking a little down at the comment and gave him a reassuring smile, "Don't worry, Clemont. I think you're definitely smarter, this was just Xerosic's field, that's all."

"Why the change of heart, Xerosic?" Alain questioned the scientist. The trainer wasn't convinced that Xerosic had suddenly turned over a new leaf all of a sudden. "After all, you had a large role in the attack on Lumiose City, assisting with the director's horrible plans."

"I helped Lysandre as I shared his dream of wanting to change the world. You may consider his ambitions horrible, but I agreed that this world is ugly. However, since then, I have decided to help change the world my own way." He answered Alain's question. He stepped back so the group could focus on the two woman beside him. "Celosia and Mable here are also helping me with my new plan."

Sycamore glared at the scientist, "What do you mean by new plan?"

"This world is ugly, but there is little I can do about that now. However, illnesses are something that contribute to making this world horrid." The Team Flare scientist continued. "Before Team Flare was formed, we helped people by creating new cures for their diseases. However, people got too used to our help and made obnoxious demands. Although I am returning to helping people, I am only taking care of the most serious of cases and I am doing it subtly."

Ash recognized what Xerosic was talking about. It was exactly what Lysandre had said to him and Alain. However, this time, Xerosic seemed to generally want to help.

"I don't believe a word you're saying," Clemont started. "Too much doesn't add up. Why were we locked in the café earlier, for example?"

Xerosic smiled at the boy's comment, "That was my Malamar. I wanted you all to come to me so you would be surprised about your friend being woken up from her coma."

"Right..." Clemont replied, although he wasn't convinced at all.

Serena approached the scientist and gave him a smile, "It's okay, Clemont. Xerosic is a good man, he did help me wake up after all."

"Y-yes, but..." The Lumiose scientist murmured, trying to think of something to say quickly.

"What about Mairin?!" Alain suddenly shouted at the Flare scientist, diverting the conversation to himself.

Xerosic stared into his eyes and smiled, "The name of the doctor overseeing Mairin's case is Bryony. She is in fact, a Team Flare scientist, and she has been working on waking her up."

"W-What?" Alain said, shocked by the pale man's answer.

"It's the same with Aliana." Serena began. "She's also a Flare scientist and she has been working to wake me up. Today, she succeeded!"

Ash looked shocked at the revelation, while Clemont didn't seem phased in the slightest.

"Mairin is in the final stage of our cure. You will be reunited with her in a matter of days, Alain." Xerosic concluded. Alain couldn't help but slowly smile. He realized that Serena being present was proof that they were telling the truth after all.

"Ash, Clemont, Alain, Professor Sycamore," Serena started, catching all their attention after she called out their names. "You are free to stay here tonight. The labs have several spare rooms. Xerosic says I can't leave yet as he wants to do some final tests to make sure I'm fully alright."

"Of course we'll stay, Serena!" Ash cheerfully replied.

"I hate to admit it... but I'm convinced." Sycamore confessed. He turned to Xerosic and crossed his arms. "I have not forgiven you for the atrocities you committed during the attack on Lumiose and I doubt I ever will, but... it seems you are truly atoning for your actions, so... I must give thanks when credit is due."

The purple haired scientist, named Celosia, took a few steps forward, "Ash and Clemont. Please come with me and I will take you to your room. It is next to Serena's room so you will be able to catch up shortly."

Next was the blue haired scientist, named Mable, who instead approached Alain and Sycamore. "Likewise, I will take you to the room next to the one Mairin will be entering shortly. Please follow me."

Ash, Alain and Sycamore were quick to follow their respective escorts, but Clemont remained motionless. Xerosic noticed this and the two locked eyes for a brief amount of time. Clemont sighed and started to walk, speeding up over time to catch up to Ash, Serena and Celosia.

Xerosic watched as the gym leader left and smiled.


"Can you believe it, Clemont?" Ash excitedly asked. The two trainers had been escorted to their room and Ash was happy to finally rest. They had arrived in their room in only a matter of minutes, although they had to move through several corridors and if it wasn't for their escort, they would have certainly got lost. Clemont was sat on one of the beds and wasn't listening to what his friend was saying, which was quickly noticed by the other trainer in the room. "Clemont?"

The inventor looked at Ash and blinked several times, registering that he was being talked to, "H-Huh? Oh, sorry Ash, I was just thinking." He stuttered.

"Thinking about what?" Ash questioned. His eyes suddenly widen and he happily grinned. "Is it about science? What are you gonna invent next then?"

Clemont quietly laughed at Ash's response. "Y-Yeah... it's about science... well I can't say what I'm gonna do next, it's a secret."

"Alright then. Anyway, when we wake up, hopefully Serena should be allowed to leave this place," Ash started as he got dressed into his night gear. "Then we can go pick up Bonnie and we're all going to be together again. I can't wait!"

"Me neither, Ash." Clemont said with a faint smile.

"Clemont." Ash called, now lying in bed staring at the ceiling. "I've... never been this happy before, I think. I've felt so down the past few weeks... then I saw Serena awake again. She's back and... I'm just so excited. I want to see her right now but they won't let us in unfortunately. But... I know when I wake up she'll be there and everything's gonna be how it used to be."

The Lumiose gym leader listened carefully as Ash spoke. He too was now in his own bed facing the trainer as he explained how he was feeling.

"Sorry, I rambled a bit there." Ash turned towards and apologized to his companion.

"That's alright, Ash." Clemont said with a smile. He reached up and turned out the light, cloaking the two trainers in darkness. "Anyway, I think it's best we get a good night's sleep."

"Yeah, I agree. Good night." The trainer from Kanto replied, yawning after he finished speaking.

"Pika!" The electric type agreed.

Clemont smiled and wished the duo a good sleep as well. He gazed at the ceiling despite the room being completely dark and his smile slowly turned into a frown.

The young trainer waited very patiently, refusing to sleep but giving enough time for Ash and Pikachu to fall into their slumber. Once convinced enough time had passed, he slowly got out of bed and changed into his usual gear as quietly as possible. He approached the door to their room, being careful not to disturb the slumbering Braixen who was sleeping at the base of Ash's bed. Once at the door, he slowly turned the knob, peeking through the small light in the crack as he gently opened the door. After mustering some additional confidence, Clemont slipped out of the room.


I feel obliged to mention the events of XY&Z47. I don't think anyone quite expected that at all! I'm not going to spoil it in case anyone hasn't seen it (although I think every AmourShipping fan has definitely heard about it), but the episode as a whole was incredible, especially that specific scene. What a way to end the series. I'm going to miss you, XY.