Ash was running through the wetlands. He knew the exact path to meet up with his Goodra. If anyone could help protect the wetlands it was him. Until something caught his eye. It couldn't be, could it? Ash ran into the woods to check it out, coming face to face with one of the accursed roots. The red veins glowing through them, Ash knew he had no time to waste. "Pikachu! Iron Tail!" He commanded. As the root broke apart, two more took its place! "We can still handle this!" Ash said reaching into the pocket of his overalls, grabbing one of his pokeballs. "Hawlucha, let's go! Use X Scissor. Pikachu, Iron Tail again!" Again as those roots broke, more took their spot. "It's alright. We just have to keep going until there's no more!" Ash said, still confident. Grabbing the rest of his pokeballs from his pockets. "Talonflame! Noivern! Lucario! Rowlet! Let's do this!" Ash said, tossing up the four pokeballs.
30 minutes later. Ash wasn't as confident. The rest of his Pokémon was exhausted, and Pikachu was pushing it. "Pikachu, come on!" Ash said picking up his partner and running away from the vines. "I just need to regroup and think. Greninja should have sensed them by now. Where is he?" Ash said to himself. He soon found himself at the back of a familiar cave, but the roots were still approaching. "I've got it!" Ash stated, remembering what he grabbed while he was at home. "Pikachu, do you have one more move in you?" Ash said, pulling out a hat from his bag. "Pika!" Pikachu replied jumping down into position, putting the cap on. "Stronger than a thunderbolts 100,000 volts. 1,000,000 bolts. No even bigger than that. Our super full power! 10,000,000 volts thunderbolt!"
Energy surged through the air as a rainbow of thunderbolts destroyed the hordes of roots. When the smoke cleared they were still coming. Why were they after him! "Pikachu, I hate to say it, but we aren't doing too good." Ash said as they backed into a corner. Just as the vines were within reach. A burst of green energy burst through them, and Zygarde appeared. "Am I ever held to see you." Ash said going up to the dog like Pokémon. "Woof." "You want me to get on, okay." Ash said getting on the Pokémon as it took off with a blinding speed. Shooting down stray roots as it went. Going down another cave nearby. Ash saw as the walls were covered in roots. "How bad has it gotten?" Ash wondered holding onto Pikachu tightly. They eventually reached a clearing where Ash was able to get off of Zygarde. He still wasn't sure if it was Squishy or Z2 though.
"Ninja!" A being said dropping down. "Greninja!" Ash said running over to him. "What's going on, the vines are going crazy!?" Ash said. Then he felt it, a feeling unlike any he'd felt in a while. Him and Greninja were synced up. "Another core? Down there?" Ash said pointing further into the cave. "I'd love to help but everyone I brought with me is a bit exhausted." Ash said, sadly. The Zygarde that brought him in started sniffing and nudging at his pokeballs. "Alright, alright I'll bring them out." Ash said, sending them out. Despite their exhaustion, most of the Pokémon popped out ready to fight the best they could. Except Rowlet who felt it was a better time to sleep. Zygarde separated from the cells as they worked around Ash's six Pokémon. "Z2! Then that means that Squishy is?" Ash didn't have to wait for an answer; he knew where Squishy was. "Then we have no time to lose, are you guys ready!" Ash said turning to his Pokémon. They nodded in response. Then let's go!
Zygarde reformed into its dog like style carrying Ash while the other Pokémon managed to keep up either by flight or running. "I was hoping for a warmer reunion with you. I guess this'll do though." Ash laughed as they entered a huge chamber. "It's fully formed! On its own! They can do that!" Ash exclaimed in a row. In front of him stood a complete Zygarde, and battling it was a snake Zygarde he assumed to be squishy. "Well, let's do this!" Ash yelled ready to battle.
"Pikachu use Iron Tail!"
"Rowlet use Seed Bomb!"
"Hawlucha use Flying Press!"
"Talonflame use Razor Wind!"
"Noivern use Boom Burst!"
"Lucario use Aura Sphere!"
"Greninja use Water Shuriken!"
The attacks collided with the new Zygarde but it barely phased it. Ash could hear his phone going off, as the Rotom was gathering data, but now wasn't the time. "Squishy! Z2! We need to match its power!" Ash yelled. The two cores fused and began an event fight. "Rowlet go for the head with Brave Bird!" Lucario! Greninja! Aim for its feet with Aura Sphere and Water Shuriken! Noivern and Talonflame hit it at its shoulders with Dragon claw and Steel Wing! Hawlucha use High Jump Kick! Pikachu Iron Tail." Even for Ash this battle was intense. This time the diverted attacks seemed to do the trick as cells started to separate from the other Zygarde. "Keep it up guys!" Ash cheered on. Ash heard a shuffling and looked up to see the roots moving towards him. "Greninja quick, help!" Ash cried out. By the time Greninja had gotten to him, so had the vines. "Cut the vines Greninja I'll be fine." Ash grunted as the vines wrapped around him. As the vines fell off, Ash's overalls were damaged in the process leaving little on the legs similar to Mallows. "No time to worry about that now!" Ash said determined to stop this. "Ready Greninja!" Ash said holding up his Z-Ring. Greninja nodded. "Alright! Greninja use Breakneck Blitz!" Ash said going through the motions. The impact of the attack seemed to do the trick as the remaining cells dissipated and all that was left was the core. "A green core? How many of you are there?" Ash asked as Squishy and Z2 also back to just their core forms came up to it.
"This is great and all, but I kinda need to get back out if you could maybe…" Before Ash could even finish Squishy had formed back into its dog form. "Okay hold on real quick." Ash said as he returned his Pokémon. Putting them away in his bag, as the pockets were now shredded. Upon exiting the cave, Ash saw he had several missed calls from both Goh and Chloe. " What did I miss?" Ash asked as he headed back to Lumiose to meet up with them.