Narrator / October 12th (4 Weeks Later) / 1pm

Both X and Y had been waiting patiently the last month or so, waiting to see how Serena's relationship would develop between Ash and Calem respectively. They both knew that the clock had finally hit zero, and that today was the day.

"At last, the Bonds of Amour will be developed in my favor" X said - he was standing on top of a mountain that overlooked Lumiose City and Vanville. Black mist flowed around him, polluting the air.

"How can you be so sure, Master?" Corvinight asked, perched on his shoulder

"I can feel it" X answered. "I took matters into my own hands and had a little chat with Calem. Since then, he's returned to his normal self, and I can really feel the spark between him and the fairy-type master"

"The goal you've been after for so long will finally be complete then" Corvinight said. "I thought it would take a lot longer, but here we are..."

"The last time two elemental masters fell in love was one hundred years ago" X muttered, making a fist. "I was lucky to have been sent to this time period, because Serena will finally break that streak"

"And if she chooses Ash?" Corvinight inquired

"She won't" X assured, completely positive.

Serena

"I just can't seem to replicate it" Ash said, wiping sweat from his forehead with a rag and sitting down on the grassy field

"Looks like it happened because you were in the moment" Calem guessed - we were sat on a rock together, watching Ash train with Froakie against Gary.

It was a cool Saturday, not too hot or cold, and we were out near a large lake with a nice field overlooking it. Wild Fletching chirped off to our side, and other Pokemon were minding their own business on the other side. Over the past month, Calem was starting to seem a lot more like his old self again, so we were glad to have him around at times like this.

"Why don't you give it a shot, Calem?" I suggested. "Maybe Bisharp will push Froakie to use a special move, or whatever they're called"

"They're called Hidden Arts" a voice startled us all - I almost fell off the rock - and the creepy bells began to ring throughout the vicinity. Fletching quickly flew away, and the Pokemon feeding off the grass ran away.

"Y" Calem said. "What are you doing here?"

"Four weeks ago I felt a strange sensation coming from somewhere in Santalune City, where I knew Ash was having his gym battle" He explained. "I have a hypothesis I would like to test"

"You're offering me a battle?" Ash asked

"Froak!" Froakie got hyped, excited for a potential battle with the legendary trainer

"Before you do that, I have an idea" Calem announced, hopping of the large rock we were sat on. "Why don't we have a battle, and Ash can see how Hidden Arts work?"

Y's eyes closed, as if he was thinking about it. "Very well. But if you loose... you'll have to do me a favor"

"Fine by me" Calem agreed

.

"This'll be the first time watching a battle between two type-masters" Gary said. "Without counting the unofficial one with X and Y"

"That's right. This will be an official, fair battle" I responded

Calem pulled out his dented Pokeball and tossed it up, releasing Bisharp from its containment. Y removed a golden staff with a trophy on the tip and thrusted it into the ground; a Pokemon I hadn't seen before came out.

"Can't say I've seen that Pokemon before" Ash said, his Pokedex also displaying it didn't know of its existence

"I've always wanted a shot at Cinderace" Calem said

"Oh! A Cinderace" I realized. "That's Scorbunny's final evolution. He's the fire-type starter of the Galar Region"

"Cool" Ash and Gary both said

"Don't hold back on me" Calem warned. "Bisharp, use Steel Blade Dance!"

Y made a fist with one hand and pressed it against the palm of the other. "Secret Art: Time Skip"

Bisharp's arms glowed bright silver, and it dashed forward rapidly; Cinderace lunged forward, but disappeared into thin air. Confused, Bisharp stopped and did a complete three-sixty to try and spot the missing opponent. Suddenly, Cinderace reappeared behind Bisharp and hit him in the back, causing him to crash into a tree.

"Hidden Art... Secret Art... I'm lost" Gary said

"Calem's explained this to me before" I said. "A Hidden Art are the moves that type-masters use the most, the ones that we've never heard of. Back in the old days, everyone use to be able to use them, but they were outlawed for being too dangerous, and now only type-masters can activate them.

Secret Arts are the equivalent of Hidden Arts back in the old days, only type-masters back then could use them. They're are a lot more powerful, but can't be used excessively. Finally, there's something called a Secret God Art, but Calem doesn't really know anything about that"

"Bisharp, Iron Roar!" Calem commanded

A silver aura appeared around Bisharp, and it fired a spiral of energy from its mouth - it looked like Dark Pulse - that zipped through the air towards Cinderace, exploding upon impact. The smoke cleared, and where Cinderace had been, there was a cocoon of flames.

The cocoon exploded into sparkles of flames, and Cinderace had been under it, completely protected from Bisharp's attack.

"Use Fire Roar" Y said

An aura of flames surrounded Cinderace as it fired an identical attack to Bisharp's - except composed of flames - from its mouth.

"Bisharp, defend with Iron Scales"

Just before Fire Roar could land, there was a loud thud as Bisharp became made of complete metal; the flames simply split off into different directions upon contact, having no affect.

"How's that for defense?" Calem said. "Bisharp, use Brilliant Tantrum"

"Cinderace, use Dragon Fist" Y countered

The ground shook, and metal poles became to burst out of the ground, moving up and down rapidly like pistons. Cinderace's fist light up with golden flames as it quickly zigzagged through the moving poles, only its afterimage visible. It passed through the field of poles and lunged at Bisharp, who used Iron Scales again at the last second.

Cinderace smashed its fist against the metal-composed Bisharp with Dragon Fist, doing minor damage and simply sending it sliding back against the ground. Steam arose from Cinderace's fist as Bisharp returned to its normal composition.

Y was about to utter another command, but a diagonal metal pole burst out of the ground in front of Cinderace, hitting it in the gut and sending it flying back to its original position on the battlefield.

"He actually got an attack off" Ash said

"I told you not to take me lightly" Calem reminded

"If you want it that way" Y said, and the ground began to shake as Cinderace got back up. "Secret God Art: Tower of Babel"

A red circle of energy appeared beneath Bisharp, and columns of flames shot up, jailing him in and leaving him nowhere to go. There was a loud roar from up above, and we watched as the sky was split open by a pair of claws. A dragon poked its head through the crack in the sky and shot a blast of fire that hit Bisharp, setting off a large explosion that swallowed us up as well.

The smoke cleared - we were all coughing - and Bisharp had taken absolutely no damage from the attack. I looked back up, but I saw nothing off about the sky, despite it just having been split open by some kind of reality-bending dragon.

"I realized that it was just an illusion, and countered accordingly" Calem explained

"You were still too late" Y pointed out. "God Sleeper"

A purple circle of energy appeared beneath Bisharp, and five additional ones above him that all floated in the air. A massive column of energy shot out of the ground, swallowing up Bisharp, and exploding for real this time. We waited for what seemed like forever before the smoke cleared - this time, Bisharp had fainted.

"Well, guess I lost" Calem said, returning Bisharp and thanking him. "So what's this favor you wanted me to do? Can't be too bad right?"

Y returned his Cinderace, and his staff to his back; he walked over to Calem, standing shoulder to shoulder with him, but facing opposite directions - it was something both X and Y tended to like to do. I didn't hear what Y said, but Calem's eyes widened, and he looked over at me with a somber look on his face.

"But I can't do that..." He protested, now suddenly sounding depressed

Ash

Y said something else to Calem, and he sighed in defeated, his eyes closed and facing the ground. The two walked back over, and Serena had a concerned look on her face as they did.

"Something wrong Calem?" She asked

"No, but I have to go" He said, walking past us and back towards where we had come from to get here

"What did you tell him to do?" Serena raised her eyebrow at Y

"He has to... complete a mission" He answered. "Ash, come with me"

Gary and Serena gave me a confused look, and I just shrugged before walking off to follow Y, who was heading into the forest.

"What's going on now?" I asked once we were out of ear range

"Do you recall our last conversation?" He inquired

"You mean the one about Serena?" I recalled, my cheeks heating up at the topic

"I told you that your feelings were conflicted, and that until you sorted them, you wouldn't be able to use Hidden Arts" Y said. "When I said that soon you'll be left without a choice, I meant that that time was now"

"Choice of what though?"

"Have you ever heard of something called the Bonds of Amour?" Y asked, and I shook my head. "One hundred years ago, two type-masters fell in love, and they caused those bonds to reform. When they form, the energy caused by them can be harnessed by an outside force and used for evil or good depending on what type-masters we're talking about.

A hundred years ago, the ice-type and flying-type masters fell in love, and because the ice-type is super effective on the flying-type, the Bonds of Amour were able to be harnessed for bad intentions"

"So were they?"

"No one was around to go through with it" Y denied. "But now... Ash, have you noticed Calem's changed in attitude?"

"Ever since my gym battle against Viola, he's acted a lot more... normal I guess" I said

"Yes" Y nodded. "And he and Serena have been becoming closer, haven't they? Keep in mind I only need the truth"

"Well to be completely honest, it does make me a little jealous" I admitted

"Tell me Ash... what is the steel-type super effective on?"

"Ice, Rock, and... Fairy" I answered

"The fairy and water typing have no relationship" Y pointed out. "I think I see where I'm going with this"

"I think I do" I said. "But is there anyone around who would be willing to use the Bonds of Amour like that"

"Lots"

Serena / 10pm

It was really dark out, and I was sitting at the porch of my house in a rocking chair; I was looking at Ash's house, but was more zoned out and just thinking about what had happened earlier between Y and Calem. Off to my left, I heard footsteps crunch against the rocks, and I made out the silhouette of a figure approaching me.

Calem stepped out of the darkness, a neutral look on his face. I was relieved that it was him and not someone like X.

"Hey" I said

"Hey" He replied. "I have to tell you something"

"I'm all ears" I patted the chair next to me, and he reluctantly sat down in it

"I've been thinking about this for a while," He began, "and after what Y told me today, I thought you deserved to know"

My heart rate picked up, and I shifted in my chair uncomfortably. I had an idea of where this was going, but I wasn't entirely sure.

"Serena, I know it's pretty obvious - even though I don't think you knew - but I kind of had a crush on you a few years ago" Calem admitted, and my cheeks heated up. "Not really had; I still do... er, what I'm trying to say is I like you, like more than friends"

It was like time suddenly paused as I glanced between Ash's house and Calem, who was sat next to me. During Elementary and most of Middle, I had a crush on him too, but I never figured that he liked me too. Either I was really blind, or it wasn't as obvious as he said it was.

And over the past few weeks, I had began to felt some of those same feelings again as he returned back to how he use to be. If Calem really did like me, then I guessed he was here to make things official. Taking one more glance at Ash's house, I thought about my choices. I really did like Ash - a lot; more than my words could form - but I seriously doubted he returned my feelings like Calem did.

"Serena?" Calem asked, and I came out of my daydream

"I um... I think I like you too, Calem" I said, deciding that my feelings for Ash were probably not going to get me anywhere

The two of us simply stared back at each other for a couple of moments until we awkwardly stood up and out of our chairs.

"So..." He said

"So..."

"I guess we make it official then?"

"I guess so"

Elsewhere

"The chains that hold me back have finally snapped to pieces, releasing me from my containment" X said as if he was announcing it to the entire world. Black mist with a golden outline flowed around him, and he breathed in the power. "The other me did well"

"Did she do it?" Corvinight

"She did" X grinned, pulling down his hood and breaking out into a sinister laugh that slowly contorted into something else louder, deeper, and more sinister.