"Hey Ash, I think this is our best time getting to or from Lavender." Cassie joked.
"Yeah, yeah, that's good." Ash said, completely distracted.
"So I'm thinking of riding Pikachu from here to Fuschia." Cassie said.
"Sounds good, you do that." Ash said.
"Okay, Ash what's going on?!" Cassie demanded.
"Look at the old gym." Ash said.
In front of the gym was Lt. Surge and Koga, prying the doors open.
"Lt. Surge? Koga? What are you two doing?" Ash asked.
"We're checking on Sabrina, just keep going." Koga said, breaking a board.
"Koga, hold on. Even before she went crazy Sabrina was the strongest of us, Ash could be of help." Lt. Surge said. "How many badges do you have now?"
"Six so far sir." Ash said, opening his jacket.
"Six badges, and a full team, plus he's held his own against Team Rocket." Lt. Surge.
"Neo Team Rocket, the true Team Rocket…". Koga said angrily before stopping himself. "You're right, we don't know what we're getting into, having a third trainer isn't the worst idea."
"Wait, what? I haven't agreed to anything." Ash said.
"We're rescuing someone who's been hurt by Team Rocket, are you willing to help?" Lt. Surge asked.
"Of course, they shouldn't be allowed to hurt anyone else." Ash said, pumping his injured arm.
"What happened?" Koga asked.
"A crazy woman in Team Rocket." Ash said.
"Neo Team Rocket." Koga corrected.
"Whatever, I'm in. What are we up against?" Ash asked.
"Something unlike anything you've ever faced before." Lt. Surge said as he broke the last board on the gym doors.
"Are we even sure she's in here?" Ash asked, as the doors opened to show a room filled with columns and doors stretching farther than the gym should allow.
"Oh yeah, she's home." Koga said. "Stay close and keep alert:"
After Ash entered the gym with the other trainers, he saw the strange area expanded beyond even the door they had gone in.
"Is this normal?" Ash asked.
"Not even for Sabrina." Koga said worriedly.
"Oh goody! New toys!" A voice called out.
"Was that Sabrina?" Ash asked.
"No, but I'm not sure that it wasn't completely not her." Lt. Surge said.
"What?" Ash asked.
"Sabrina had a familiar of sorts, something that enhanced her natural abilities." Koga said. "This thing always was a bit odd, whispering into her ear."
"Abilities like aura?" Ash asked.
"We'll talk about that later, but no Sabrina's powers are more psionic." Koga said.
"Let's play, no more talking." The voice cried out.
A vicious wind whipped up, separating the group completely.
"Cassie?!" Ash called out. "Cassie, where are you?"
"Let's play dodge em!" The voice called out, launching a series of orbs at Ash.
"I hope she's okay!" Ash shouted before running away from the orbs.
Elsewhere
"Who are you?" A young girl asked frightfully.
"Who am I?" Cassie asked, looking at the girl. "My names Cassie, are you trapped here too? Where's Sabrina?"
"Sabrina, that's my name." The young girl said.
"Oh, this can't be good." Cassie admitted.
Back with Ash
"Dead end, not good. Pikachu use Thunder!" Ash shouted.
"Pika!" Pikachu exclaimed, sending a series of bolts of electricity at the charging orbs.
"You're no fun, let's play a different game." The voice said.
The floor beneath Ash and Pikachu opened up as they were dropped downwards into a long tower-like room.
"See you at the bottom." The voice said.
"Ash, keep her distracted, we're getting close!" Koga's voice called out.
Back with Cassie
"If you're Sabrina, then you can end this." Cassie said.
"I can't do anything without my familiar." Sabrina cried.
"Well where is it?" Cassie asked.
"She's in control." Sabrina whined.
"Then take back control." Cassie said.
"I don't know how." Sabrina complained.
"You can do it, I believe in you." Cassie reassured.
Back with Ash
"Jigglypuff help us out!" Ash said, tossing out the normal type.
Jigglypuff quickly swelled up, softening the fall as Ash slowly began to descend.
"Phew." Ash said, wiping sweat from his brow. "Okay, now to find a way out. Dratini help me out here with a Hyper Beam!"
Dratini blasted a Hyper Beam sending Ash's entire group flying in a direction he previously thought to be solid wall.
With Koga and Lt. Surge
"Surge, do you really think it was a good idea having the Ash kid and his group come along?" Koga asked.
"You're the wise one, what do you think?" Lt. Surge commented.
"I think he's getting in over his head." Koga said.
"We already know he's been causing problems for Team Rocket. The least we can do is help him for the next time he encounters them." Lt. Surge said.
"Neo Team Rocket." Koga said.
"It's still the same Team Rocket, that's why the three of us left." Lt. Surge said, grabbing Koga by his shirt. "It's why we're here, Sabrina was there a lot longer than either of us, and now she's dealing with the consequences."
"You're right." Koga said. "I forget I'm not the only one who wants this all behind them."
"Good." Lt. Surge said, lowering Koga back down. "Now let's go, we have to be getting close."
"Wahhhhh!" Ash shouted as Jigglypuff blasted by overhead.
"He's probably fine." Lt. Surge said.
"At least with him like that, we're barely on its radar." Koga commented.
Back with Ash
"Come on, stop!" Ash screamed, as he held on tightly.
Out of nowhere Jigglypuff screeched to a halt, launching Ash and Pikachu forward.
"Okay. No gym leaders. No Cassie. And now we're down Jigglypuff and Dratini." Ash said taking count. "We need a plan, any ideas?" Ash asked Pikachu.
"Pi?" Pikachu asked, slightly confused.
"I just wish there was a way we could know what's going to happen next." Ash said.
"There you are. Let's go for a swim." The creepy disembodied voice said, as what was now apparently a room began to fill with water.
"Yeah, this is about on par for today." Ash groaned as he looked for an exit.
Back with Cassie
"Come on, my big brother is in trouble, he's still here somewhere." Cassie pled.
"He's here?" Sabrina asked.
"Yes! My brother Ash, along with two other trainers Lt. Surge and Koga! They came here to help you, but you have to help yourself!" Cassie argued.
A surge of energy flowed over Sabrina's eyes as she saw Ash and Pikachu struggling to keep air as the room filled with water. Jigglypuff stuck in a constant wind tunnel, unable to get out. Dratini was lost in a constant changing maze, while Surge and Koga, two people she once considered her friends were charging through trap after trap to make it to her.
"You can do this Sabrina, I believe in you." Cassie said with a smile.
"Enough!" Sabrina shouted.
Suddenly a doll appeared before her and Cassie
"I'm just playing with our new friends, I even left one for you, that is what you wanted, isn't it?" The doll asked, floating towards Sabrina.
"Not like this." Sabrina said. "I don't want this."
"Well that's too bad, I make the calls around here now little girl." The doll said.
"No, it's my power, and I'll use it!" Sabrina shouted.
Six holes opened up in the ceiling as the trainers and Pokémon fell through them, landing beside Sabrina.
"Oh all my new toys in one place, time for some fun." The doll said, as reality began to warp.
"Stop it!" Sabrina screamed.
"Pikachu use Thunderbolt!" Ash shouted.
The bolt of electricity stopped midair in front of the doll.
"Did you really think that would work, foolish child, I think you'll make a nice dolly." The doll said.
"That one wasn't to hurt you." Ash struggled to say as he was lifted into the air.
"Tini!" Dratini shouted as a Hyper Beam enveloped the doll.
The strange reality began to fade as the gym turned back to normal.
"Sabrina!" Koga said running to the little girl. "What happened, I thought when that thing was destroyed."
"This is who I was, before she found me." Sabrina said. "I'm free to live my life how I want now!"
"We all are." Koga said. "Ash, I think there's something you should know."
"Look, whatever it is, I can handle." Ash admitted. He had seen some pretty odd things today.
"We are ex Team Rocket. Not just grunts, but admins, second only to Giovanni." Koga said.
"We left when we saw the damage being caused, but not before IT was started." Lt. Surge said.
"The doll?" Ash asked.
"If only it were that simple, this thing, it's a genetic experiment, and only the beginning, it's power is more than that of a legendary Pokémon, and they were planning on making more." Sabrina said. "You need to be careful if you intend to continue fighting them."
"Speaking of fighting, what's your plan now Sabrina?" Lt. Surge asked.
"I think I'm a little young to start running the gym again." Sabrina admitted.
"You could stay with my family in Fuschia, Janine would be more than happy to have a little sister." Koga commented.
"If you're heading that way, I can give you a lift." Ash said. "We're headed in that direction too."
"I think I can give you the lift instead." Sabrina said, holding a Pokeball. "Abra can you please bring us to Fuschia City?"
With a flash of light, Ash, Cassie, Pikachu, Jigglypuff, and Dratini were on the beach just south of Fuschia.
"Good luck Ash, I hope you find Seel's home soon." Sabrina said in his head.