Chapter 9: Deadlocked


Alain and Ash sprinted past the random beams that shot through the ground. "Hey Alain, is Mairin important to you?"

Alain nodded severely. "Yes. I'd do anything to protect her."

"In that case, I'll help you find her, don't worry about it." Ash stated clearly.

Soon, they had reached the front of the colosseum - to see the city looking destroyed and hideously swamped in black-red vines. To the side, watching over the wreckage, was his friends. "Serena!" Ash yelled.

Serena was with Clemont and Bonnie. They turned around to see Ash with Alain.

"Oh Ash, i'm glad you're okay!" Serena breathed.

Bonnie piped up. Her expression was filled with worry. "Ash, Squishy ran off somewhere!" She gestured to her sachel, which used to house the small green Pokemon along with Dedenne.

"Oh no!" Ash grimaced.

Suddenly, a voice came on through the speakerphone at the Conference building. "Lumiose Civilians, please evacuate the city immediately. There has been major damage to Prism Tower. Avoid this area for your own safety. I repeat, avoid Prism Tower during evacuation."

A few seconds passed, and Bonnie turned quickly to her older brother. "Clemont, Squishy's headed to Prism Tower!"

"You what?!" He gasped. Suddenly, Bonnie ran off. "Bonnie, wait!" He yelled.

Ash turned to Clemont. "You guys go. We'll catch up with you soon."

Ash made to leave, but Serena stopped him. "Wait!" She cried. "Where are you two going?"

Ash furrowed his brow. "I'm gonna help Alain find Mairin. For now, you guys focus on finding Squishy."

"But-"

Ash put a hand on Serena's shoulder, and gave her a soft, reassuring nod. "Don't worry about us. We'll meet you at Prism Tower when we find her, I promise."

Serena nodded back, biting her lip. Ash took off, running behind Alain.

"Ash!" Clemont yelled. "Take this!" He threw him a small, phone-shaped device. "I thought we'd encounter a situation precisely like this one! We'll use this to stay in touch with you! I reckon it has just enough range on it to work within the city, at least."

Ash grinned. "Cheers, Clemont. Take care of yourself, and Serena!"

They split up, and Ash and Alain headed around to the back of the destroyed Colosseum. "Mairin!" they yelled.

Mairin's head appeared over the balcony. "Alain!" She cried. "Ash, too!"

"Mairin, we gotta get to Prism Tower! You gotta-" He was suddenly interrupted by another one of those mysterious vines popping out of the ground. The nearby civilians ran away screaming, and Mairin slowly edged away. "I'll find another way out! Don't worry about me! I'll see you at Prism Tower!" She yelled, and ran.

Alain and Ash nodded, but now they were surrounded by the vines. "Charizard, use Dragon Claw!" He shouted, throwing his partner's Pokeball. The massive dragon appeared and swiped at the vine, demolishing it. However, it was quickly replaced by another, and then another.

Ash threw a Pokeball. "Greninja, Cut!"

Greninja materialised, and threw a blade at the vines, which cut them down, but the growth seemed relentless. The two Pokemon kept attacking the vines, when suddenly a blast knocked them backwards.

"What?!" Ash yelled.

A girl with short purple hair wearing an orange jumpsuit stood on the rubble, standing next to a Drapion. "Alright, are you finally ready to listen?"

Ash recognised her immediately. "Wait a sec, you're that Team Flare woman that was hunting down Squishy!" He snarled.

"Well remembered!" She chuckled. "But that's in the past now. Today, it looks like you're the one I'm after."

Ash's eyes narrowed. "Me?! What do you want with me?!"

Alain looked just as shocked. "Y-y-you what?" He stuttered. "What do you... What do you mean?!"

Ash turned to his friend with an open mouth. "Alain? Do you know her?"

The woman almost cackled. "Know me? Why, Alain is my colleague!"

Ash gasped. "You're her colleague? Alain, you're working with team Flare?"

Alain didn't meet Ash's eye, nor did he say a word, but his teeth and fists were clenched tightly.

The purple woman jumped down, now face to face with Ash and Alain. "Anyway, we've no time for this. Lysandre wants to see you now Ash, and if you're not gonna come quietly it'll have to be through force!"

Ash had stopped listening to her. He turned to his rival, whose face was contorted. "Alain, you aren't seriously gonna listen to this! Cmon, we've gotta get to Prism Tower!" He grabbed Alains wrist, but the boy pulled away. Ash stared in confusion. "What is the matter with you?!"

Team Flare grunts surrounded Ash. He now had nowhere left to run. He stared at Alain once more but this time, doubt was forming in his eyes. "Answer me, Alain! What is going on here?! Are you or are you not with Team Flare?!" he demanded.

"Enough of this!" The woman said. "Drapion, use Confuse Ray!"

Ash was surrounded by balls of light, but he made no effort to escape. The light went into his eyes and his body, as well as Pikachu.

He fell to the ground, dazed more than he was hurt. Even as his consciousness faded, he turned his closing eyes to see the boy he used to trust. "What's going on, Alain?" He muttered, before fainting.

Pikachu was also quickly losing his strength. It wobbled to its trainers side, and tried to wake Ash up, to no avail. Pikachu cried out, trying to resist the confusion, but it had already set in and he collapsed.

Alain turned away from them, fear apparent in his eyes. "Well, Alain? Are you coming, or will we have to force you too?" The woman mocked.

Alain stayed silent, but followed them into their aircraft while staring at his own balled fists.


Serena, Clemont and Bonnie ran towards Lumiose Tower, but a broadcast on an outdoor screen made them stop dead.

Lysandre was talking on the screen. His face bore no expression, but could easily be full of hatred. "People of Kalos." He stated simply. "What you all beae witness to now, is nothing less than the recreation of the entire world. The Order Pokemon, Zygarde, is angry that humans created a world where its inhabitants could not share resources between them. And so, it has chosen to destroy it. And in this new world, only a select few, the chosen ones will be allowed to live in this world."

Serena gritted her teeth. "New world? That's not gonna happen!"

Huge vines sprouted out next to the trio. "Go, Braixen!" Serena shouted.

"You too, Luxray!" Clemont shouted.

The two pokemon worked together to destroy the vines, but another emerged behind them. They gasped, and stepped backwards. Then an explosion knocked the offending vine down, and two bodies stepped out from behind the rubble.

"Clembot, Heliolisk!" Clemont exclaimed, when he saw their saviours. "Thanks a lot!"

"When my master is in a jam, i am always on hand to help!" Clembot declared. While his voice was robotic and mechanical, they could hear the emotion and empathy fully. In some ways, it could be considered human.

The four of them together took off towards Prism Tower, but when they got there, the destruction was a grim spectacle.

"This is horrible..." Clemont muttered, disgusted.

Vines covered and coiled around his gym, leaving disproportionate holes and botches in the ground and on the walls. the glass was smashed and the sky above it a crimson red.

"We have to get inside!" Bonnie cried. "Squishy needs our help!"

Serena nodded, and took a step forward, when a Dark Pulse stopped her from doing so. "What?!"

Two Team Flare members, probably higher class judging by their... Unique hairstyles, stepped between the four of them and Prism Tower. One of them scoffed at them. "You kids have no right to be here. Now scram!"

That statement set Clemont off. "No! This is my gym and I have every right to be here!"

The green haired Flare groaned. "Whatever."

The other looked at her colleague disdainfully. "Let's not get distracted, remember? Druddigon, use Dark Pulse!"

The Flare's Druddigon lunged forward and spewed out a purple beam at the four. However, the beam was hit and destroyed by another, coming in from the side.

Serena, Clemont, Bonnie and Clembot turned around. "Mairin! Professor Sycamore!" Serena exclaimed.

"Garchomp, too!" Bonnie smiled at the large dragon type.

"Glad I made it in time!" Sycamore gasped, quite out of breath.


Ash opened his eyes, and groaned. His head felt fuzzy, as if he was floating.

He glanced around. "Wh-what... My arms..! I'm trapped!"

He grunted, trying to wrench himself free of the odd restraints he found himself locked in. He looked down. "Greninja!" He shouted. His frog pokemon seemed to be in the same situation as him, but unconscious.

"Pikapikachu..!"

Ash turned his head, and saw Pikachu, and the rest of his pokemon. All seven of them were trapped.

"Hello Ash." A deep voice said.

Ash turned to face the source of the voice. "Lysandre!" He growled angrily. And then, to the person next to him. "Alain! So you are working with them!"

He couldn't see clearly, but Alain's eyes were wide with fear. Lysandre continued calmly. "Forgive me for being so rough, but I had to make sure you don't interfere."

Ash narrowed his eyes, about to retort, however, his attention was quickly raised to a pokemon watching over Lumiose City's destruction. A pokemon, burning red. "It's Zygarde!" Ash gasped. He faced Alain with contempt. "Tell me what's going on!"

Alain looked away, and gritted his teeth.

Lysandre sighed, and started speaking again. "You see Ash, I'm planning on making you one of the chosen ones."

Again, Ash went to say something, but he stopped. A green light had emerged on the horizon, and it was centralising from all across the place. The place where all the green lights met - started to form into another Zygarde.

The newly formed green Zygarde faced off against the red, and suddenly, the two started attacking.

"What you are witnessing is the rage of Zygarde." Lysandre snarled. "Soon, Z1 too will recognise what humans have done to the earth, and seek to destroy it too."

"No!" Ash yelled. "There's no way Squishy would fall for that!"

Alain looked at Lysandre with an open mouth and fearful expression.

Meanwhile, the two half complete Zygarde forms continued brawling. Ash grimaced and watched, thunderstruck.


Mairin ran up to Serena. "Serena, did you see Alain or Ash? They were headed for Prism Tower!"

Serena shook her head. "No, not yet."

Mairin withdrew into herself. "If something bad's happened..."

Serena lay a hand on her shoulder. "Mairin, there's no need to worry. Alain and Ash'll be fine! They can take care of themselves!"

Mairin started to tear up, making Serena look at her with concern. "I-I'm also worried about Chespie!"

Serena gasped. That's right - Mairin's Chespin was being treated at Lysandre Labs, but if Lysandre was the mastermind behind all of this...

She stood up straight. "Clemont! I'm taking Mairin to Lysandre Labs! Is that all right with you?!"

Clemont nodded, having overheard and reaching the same conclusion. "Of course! Don't worry about us, we'll take care of these Team Flare people!"

Serena felt her receiver - it was still in her pocket. She silently sighed in relief. "Alright! Let's go!"

Professor Sycamore turned to Serena. "I'll come too! We can take my car - it's near the- woah!"

He quickly jumped back to avoid a Dark Pulse. The orange haired woman sneered. "You're not getting away! Liepard, Shadow Claw!"

Her Liepard snarled, and jumped up, ready to attack. Suddenly, a Mud Shot hit the cat sending it sprawling into the dirt. Clemont stepped forward. "If you wanted to battle, you've got it!"

"Thanks Clemont!" Serena exclaimed, and darted off with Mairin and Sycamore following.

Clemont nodded, and turned to the attackers. "May I remind you that I'm the leader of the Lumiose Gym! You don't stand a chance!" He grinned, causing the two women to glower.


"Alain." Lysandre stated casually. "All of this you're seeing here... This is the work of Zygarde. And we could only convince Zygarde using that precious power you gave us." Alain looked at him, eyes wide and with his hands shaking. He tried to speak, but his voice failed him. Even Ash looked shocked. "This mega evolution energy that you've kept for us... We can now use it to end all the imperfection in this world." Lysander almost spat his words out. His voice was filled with malice.

Alain turned to face the City. He stared out at all the red vines creeping across the land, destroying buildings. He stared out at the fleeing citizens, and the chaos.

"How do you like it? After all, this is the first step towards world peace." Lysandre cackled evilly.

Alain sucked air through his gritted teeth. Soon, he dropped onto his knees. "No!" He screamed. "All those battles I fought... I did them for this?!"

Ash stared at the despairing boy. "Mairin, Chespin, forgive me..." Alain struggled. He punched the ground in rage and hate.

That was when Ash realised why Alain was so conflicted, back when he was captured. He watched Alain with pathos.

Lysandre almost cackled. "All to save the precious Chespin. Truly noble. This is why you, too, shall be a chosen one, Alain." He turned around, and faced a furious Ash. "Speaking of which... Ash. Your bond phenomenon with Greninja will help me too, in bringing order to the new world."

Ash gasped. Two drones flew from behind the Flare's leader, and over to him. He tossed and turned, trying to escape, but suddenly the drones fired a red ray on him and Greninja.

"Gah!" he choked, attempting to resist the light. But it felt so warm, as if it tried to say 'go to sleep, Ash. it'll all be better tomorrow.'

Ash found his eyes drooping shut. His breathing slowed, and became more calm.

Ash thought he could hear Alain. "Lysandre, stop!" he pleaded.

"Pikapi!" Pikachu cried out.

Ash's ears became filled with Pikachu's voice calling out to him. He couldn't give up... Not just yet. Think of all the work he had put in to see his dreams come to. Think of what Serena would do.

He snapped back to his senses, and looked to his captured pokemon. "Pikachu, Charizard, Snorlax, Swellow, Goodra, Greninja... I'm not out just yet! They aren't controlling us!" He yelled. Alain stared in awe.

Lysandre glared at Ash, intensity clear now in his voice. "Ash, you could be the people's guide in this new world! Imagine, a truly peaceful world..!"

Ash shook his head furiously. "I'll never be a part of your new world! We're protecting this one, our world, with all we have! Come on, Greninja!"

Greninja grunted in affirmation, and the two of them sensed each other, beginning to bond with each other. Greninja became enveloped in a huge torrent of water, smashing the chains around himself. In one swift motion, he smashed the restraints on Ash and the other 5 of his pokemon.

"Now battle me, Lysandre!" Ash screamed as he jumped to the floor. "So I can show you just how little you know about this world!"

Alain stepped over to the now-freed Ash. "Ash... Please, forgive me. I'm sorry for everything i've caused, and i'm going to help you take down Team Flare, if you'd let me."

Ash nodded, his eyebrows sunk and eyes fixed on Lysandre. "Don't worry, Alain. Let's just focus on stopping this, once and for all."

Lysandre took a step back. His face twisted, into an ugly, malicious frown. "If this is the way you want it Ash, Alain, then you have no place in my world." he spat. He dropped two pokeballs in front of him. "Come out, Pyroar, Gyarados."

The two pokemon he called, a red Gyarados and a huge orange dog, Pyroar. Ash grimaced, and stood his ground. Alain did the same, throwing his own pokeball. "Go, Charizard!" he shouted, and Charizard emerged from the ball, ready to fight once more.

"This is for world peace!" Lysandre hissed. "Mega evolve!"

He tapped his key stone, and suddenly the stone and his Gyarados became overcame by bright light. Gyarados enlarged severely.

Alain focused. He stuck his arm out in front of himself. "Charizard, respond to my heart, and go beyond evolution! Mega evolve!"

Charizard underwent the same process as Ash had seen, and fought against, in the finals before this crisis broke out, and transformed into a black version of himself, with blue streaks of flame seeping from his jaws.

Lysandre smirked. "Pyroar, Gyarados, use Incinerate!"

Ash was quick to respond. "Pikachu and Goodra, use Thunderbolt and Dragon Pulse!"

The four beams went two on two with each other, exploding where they met and kicking up smoke. Ash nodded at Greninja frantically. "Use Cut!" He thought. Greninja heard this thought, and sliced through the smoke.

"Pyroar, use Hyper Beam!"

"Charizard, Flamethrower!" Ash shouted.

The Hyper Beam stopped Greninja from moving as he made to block it. Charizard soared above them and let out a billowing jet of flame, countering the beam in order to aid Greninja and so causing another explosion. The ground Ash stood on crumbled into rubble, toppling off of Prism Tower onto the horrific vines below.

Alain raised a hand. "Charizard, Dragon Claw!" he shouted.

"Gyarados, use Stone Edge!" boomed Lysandre.

Charizard, who was swooping over for the attack, instead was interrupted by a pillar of stone ramming into him, dealing hefty damage. Alain winced, and Ash raised his head. "Swellow, Snorlax, Quick Attack and Ice Punch!"

The two pokemon charged towards Lysandre, but his two pokemon blocked them off. "Pyroar, Fire Fang!"

Pyroar hit Snorlax hard, sending him reeling backwards and hurt, and Swellow quickly got behind the flaming dog and smashed it on the back at incredible speed, sending him into freefall.

"Pikachu, Thunderbolt now!" yelled Ash.

Pikachu aimed a particularly powerful bolt at Pyroar, causing it to take even more damage, and faint before it even hit the ground.

"Agh! Return!" Lysandre hissed, recalling his fire-type. He looked at Ash's team. "Outnumbering me won't do you any good in the end!"

"We'll see!" Ash bellowed. "Now, everyone! Get ready!"

"You too, Charizard!" Alain called out.

All six of Ash's pokemon and Alain's Charizard lined up in front of the two trainers, ready to strike.

"Grr!" Lysandre growled. "You'll never beat me! I will reset this world! Gyarados, Hyper Beam!"

Ash's eyes slammed shut as he began to think intensely. His mind flashed, scenarios drifted through his head. Finally, he focused intensely on Gyarados, who was ready to fire another devastating beam of energy. "Okay Goodra, you first! Use Bide!"

Goodra nodded and leapt forward, glowing a faint red. The Hyper Beam smacked into him hard, inflicting a significant amount of damage. Goodra staggered backwards, and realised he couldn't withstand it. His legs gave way, and Ash recalled him, clenching his teeth. "Greninja, use Water Shuriken and Snorlax, you cover him!"

The two obliged, and as Snorlax went to Goodra to protect him, Greninja ran up and tossed the enlarged shuriken on his back, which struck the mega Gyarados.

"Nrgh, Gyarados, use Dragon Tail, and aim for that Greninja!" Lysandre ordered.

Gyarados did so, jumping into the air, with its tail turning green for the attack.

Ash turned to Alain. "You ready?" He called. Alain nodded.

"Charizard!" They both yelled.

"Use Blast Burn!"

"Use Slash!"

Alain's Charizard fired an intense heatwave through the ground which suddenly burst out of the ground and smothered Gyarados ferociously. After that, Ash's Charizard took to the air, and made a final flight to finish off the Gyarados. He raised its claw up into the air, and roared.

Ash gazed at Charizard, but then concern flew across his face. Charizards claw wasn't sharpening, like it should've.

Charizard bellowed again. All of a sudden, an intense blue flame enveloped the dragon. "Ash, that's Flare Blitz!" Alain gasped.

Ash's eyes were wide with awe. "Charizard, that's amazing! Okay, do it! Flare Blitz!"

Charizard shot forward and smashed into Gyarados, who was knocked back, dragging the huge water snake through the ground. Gyarados couldn't take the damage, and fainted. Lysandre pursed his lips together thoughtfully.

A buzz rung in Ash's pocket. He yanked the receiver out of it and raised it to his ear.

"Ash!" It was Bonnie's voice.

Ash had to commend Clemont. Science was amazing - who could've thought of a portable communications device? "Bonnie, what's the matter?"

"Good news!" She giggled. "Squishy's okay, and we're with Blaziken Mask and mega Blaziken!"

Ash sighed in immense relief. "That's great to hear! Alright, do you know where Serena and Clemont are? I haven't heard from them!"

"Yeah, Serena's went to Lysandre Labs with Mairin and the professor in order to save Chespie." Bonnie explained. Alain's ears pricked up at the mention of Mairin and Chespie, but he said nothing. "Clemont's in Prism Tower, and I bet he's managed to turn off that machine and saved Zygarde!"

"Thanks, Bonnie! I've got something to take care of, so see you in a bit!" Ash grinned. He tucked his receiver away, and faced the leader of Team Flare, who had a hated expression on his face. "Lysandre, it's all over for you!"

However, Lysandre grinned unusually. "All this talk has been fairly amusing, I must say. But I will not be stopped!" He then took a step back.

Then another.

Ash and Alain gasped simutaneously, as Lysandre moved closer to the edge of the tower. Ash and Greninja ran forward. "No!" He yelled. "You aren't getting away, Lysandre! You'll pay for what you've done!"

As Lysandre jumped, Ash grabbed a hold of his orange tie. Lysandre choked, and snarled at Ash, while Greninja used his tongue to hoist Lysandre back up. The two Charizards, Alain's having reverted back to his normal state in order to avoid exhaustion, surrounded the orange-clad man. "Charizard, break his gear off." Alain grimaced.

"You just don't get it, do you? You cannot extinguish my dream to recreate this world. And even though you've gotten back Zygarde, my plan is still in motion!"

Ash's eyes narrowed. "Oh, we'll stop you alright. But the first thing we're doing is taking you with us. Then I'll let Officer Jenny decide what to do with you. Alain, help me out with him."

Alain nodded, and the two of them lead Lysandre down Prism Tower.


While this was going on, Serena, Mairin and Professor Sycamore rushed towards his laboratory. Out of the blue, three strange looking people blocked their path.

"Why hello there!" The pink-haired woman said. Her voice sounded very familiar. "What're you doing in such a dangerous place?"

"We have to get to Lysandre Labs!" Mairin exclaimed frantically. "I gotta find Chespie!"

The purple-haired man was holding a film camera, and he looked awestruck. "Why, thats simply terrible! Why don't we give you a ride in our newscopter! It is on the way to where we're going, after all!"

"Really?" Sycamore smiled. "That'd be a big help, thanks!"

The six of them got inside of the helicopter, and sat down, the large brown haired man shuffling into the cockpit. He started the helicopter, promptly taking off.

After a few minutes of travelling, the purple haired man almost shrieked in delight. "Look yonder! We've arrived!" Then he frowned. "Huh? There's someone waiting for us!"

Supposedly unbeknownst to him, it was one of Team Flare's elite. "Weavile, Ice Shard!" She commanded.

Weavile jumped up and aimed a flurry of icicles at the helicopter. Inside, the purple-haired pilot yanked the stick back to get his aircraft to dodge. After the intense turbulance, Serena staggered shakily to her feet, and opened the side door, with Braixen stood next to her. "Braixen, Flamethrower!"

Braixen aimed her stick at Weavile, and showed it in a fiery beam, knocking it to the ground, unconscious in a single hit. Mairin stared at her admiringly. "She's amazing!" She thought aloud, making Serena blush slightly.

Back at the lab, the blue haired Flare snarled angrily. She grabbed her pokeball, but a huge blast knocked it straight out of her hand. "What?!" she shouted, infuriated.

A white metagross landed on the ground, and someone jumped off. Mairin gasped as the helicopter landed and she saw who it was. "It's Steven!"

The pink-haired woman was dumbfounded and lovestruck. "Y-y-you mean Steven the champion?" she stammered.

The large man next to her facepalmed. "Cool your jets." he sighed cynically.

A bunch of team Flare grunts backed up the woman standing down the Hoenn champion. "Steven Stone." she stated simply.

Steven grinned. "Huh! Lysandre did fool me, all right! Then again, he got the entire world!"

"Oh please!" The woman rebuked. "That's out of the question! Besides, the smart thing to do would be to side with us." she remarked.

"As if you could beat me!" Steven laughed. The six passengers stumbled out of the helicopter. "Ah, professor! I'm glad I came here before Prism Tower!"

Sycamore nodded. "I'm glad you're here too!" His eyebrows furrowed. "Chespin is inside that lab - and so is the Giant Rock."

The champion nodded. "Alright then. You go on ahead. I'll be done with this lot soon, you just save that Chespin!" he winked. They agreed, and ran off.

They dashed through the dark hallways, until suddenly a Drapion stopped them. It growled, and fired a Mud Shot. Serena and Mairin quickly dodged, leaving the move to smash into the film crew.

"Pweh!" They spat. "Who do you think you are?!" the filming man scolded.

the man with the mic agreed. "Yer glasses are choking yer brain!" he shouted, and suddenly, the three of them threw down their equipment. Serena stared at them suspiciously, to find that they threw their jackets off - to reveal they were Team Rocket!

"Wait, what?!" Serena gasped, confused as to why they were on her side, but the now-revealed James just wagged his finger.

"You just go on ahead now, and save your friend!"

Meowth nodded, and grinned slyly. "Ya know what they say, an enemy of our enemy is a good buddy, and we've got a bone to pick with these orange freaks!"

The so called 'orange freak' woman looked exasperated. "Enough with the yammering, its so annoying!"

Jessie stuck her tongue out, and grabbed a pokeball. "Gorgeist, use Seed Bomb!" she said, throwing it.

Her pumpkin-like partner, Gorgeist, burst out and immediately started firing on the Drapion. Serena nodded a quick appreciative glance to them, before running off in the confusion, with Mairin and Sycamore following closely behind her.

After reaching a series of rooms, Mairin lunged for the furthest one, as she recognised a green glow. When she made it, she beamed hugely. "It's Chespie!" She exclaimed. "Thank goodness you're alright!"

Sycamore went over to her. "That's wonderful! Okay, let's get Chespie back to my lab. Sophie'll know what to do."

Meanwhile, Serena was fending off a bunch more Flare grunts with her pokemon. She winced. "They just keep coming..!"

Sycamore and Mairin returned to her side, and looked at the guards, frowning. "Now how are we gonna get out of here?" He wondered aloud, but he didn't have to for long - Suddenly, the grunts were possessed by a blue light and started floating towards the ceiling!

Steven appeared from behind them with Metagross, who was using Psychic to levitate the grunts out of his way. "Cmon! Follow me!" He said.

They agreed quite happily, and Steven led them to an elevator. Suddenly, a buzz rung out in Serena's pocket. She gulped - she had completely forgotten about those receivers!

"Hope i didn't miss any calls." she thought, as she took it out of her pocket. "Hello?"

She heard a sharp breathing on the other end. Suddenly, Clemonts voice came on over the speaker. "I... Clembot's gone..." He whispered.

Serena's eyes widened. "W-what?" She almost yelled, but Clemont had already hung up. Serena bit her lip, and immediately dialed something on the device. "Cmon, answer me..!" She breathed. Mairin, Sycamore and Steven watched her in concern.

Finally, the call went through. "Hello?" Ash said.

Serena breathed in. "Ash, it's me!"

"Serena! Thank goodness you're okay! Where are you now?!"

"I'm in Lysandre Labs, we're with Steven, Mairin and the professor, and we're just about to head back to the city, but what about you and Alain?"

"We got Lysandre, and we've just managed to turn him in to officer Jenny, so... Nearby Prism Tower, i guess."

Serena took a deep breath in. "Ash, I need you to head to the gym. It's Clemont!"

Ash gasped, but held it in. "You got it. I'm on my way, and we'll meet up again soon!"

He hung up, and Serena held her receiver tightly to her chest before putting it away. "Ash, come through for me, please..." She prayed.

Strangely, the elevator Steven took went downwards. When it opened, they weren't at the exit, but instead, face to face with a huge, glowing rock. "Uh, what are we doing here?"

Steven frowned, and went over to the computer the rock was perched on. "Before we leave, I need to find out what kind of research was being conducted here. He focused intensely, until a picture of Chespie flashed up on screen. Mairin's eyes widened - as did Steven's and Sycamore's.

"That's it!" Steven exclaimed. Then his eyes narrowed intensely. "Hold up, what's going on?!"

The computer had started glowing red beneath his fingers. Mairin cried out. "Ah! Chespie!"

They turned to her - Chespie, in her arms, was also a glowing red colour. Then, the comatose pokemon started to float - right out of Mairin's arms!

"No, Chespie!" she cried again, but suddenly, her Chespin vanished into the rock. She rushed towards it, but Sycamore grabbed her shoulders.

"Mairin, wait! It's dangerous! We have to get out of here!" He shouted, as the rock began to build spikes around itself. Serena and Steven ran off, and Sycamore had to pull Mairin along, who was frozen in place out of fright and indignation.


Ash and Alain ran inside the first floor of the tower, to see the place in ruins. Clemont was hunched over, with Chespin, Luxray and Bunnelby watching him dejectedly. Then Ash saw it.

Clembot, lying in tatters, on the floor. "Oh no..." Ash muttered. "Clemont... What, what happened?"

Clemont didn't look up. "Clembot did it all." He whispered simply.

Ash looked frozen. "C-can Clembot be fixed?" He questioned, almost pleading for Clemonts sake.

"I'll do my best..." Clemont mumbled, his voice breaking. "But for now... I've gotta do something to help-"

Ash shook his head. "No." Clemont looked up, confused. "Don't push yourself." Ash told him firmly. Then, his pocket started to buzz.

Ash pulled out the receiver, and put it to his ear. "What's up?" He asked.

"Ash, it's an emergency! There was a huge rock at Lysandre Labs, and now its kinda absorbed Chespie!" Serena shouted.

Alain was thunderstruck. "What? Absorbed Chespie?!"

Ash heard professor Sycamore say something. "Ash, meet us here as soon as you can! And bring Blaziken Mask!" he said, and Serena hung up.

Ash looked over at his friend as he tucked away the receiver. "Clemont-"

"Don't worry Ash." Clemont said. "I'm all right. Let's just finish what we've started."

Ash nodded, and the three of them, with their pokemon, ran out of the tower, and headed for Serena and Mairin.


Quickly, they reached Blaziken Mask, who was with Bonnie, and they left to go into an aircraft towards the rock.

"So Ash." Sycamore continued when they had reconnected. "That rock is actually a huge mass of energy, closely resembling Zygarde itself."

Ash watched the camera feed Steven was sending them. "Got it. But what does Chespie have to do with it?"

Steven picked up. "Well, it looks like some sort of accident, or perhaps Lysandre planned for it, but Chespie's absorbed some of Zygarde's energy, and, well, now the rock has taken that energy, and Chespie with it." Steven paused, while he worked out where the rock was heading to. "Which means it's looking for the next source of that energy, which is..." A holo-map pointed from the rocks direction, mapping out its trajectory. It landed, directly on the Sundial in Anistar City.

"It's headed for Anistar!" he yelled. "That sundial is an incredibly huge source of mega evolution energy! if it comes into contact with it..." He displayed a clip of what would occur. In it, the red light that Ash saw from Lysandres machines, the ones that destroyed Lumiose, spread across the entire pokemon world.

Alain punched the aircraft wall. "Lysandre's dream of recreating the world then, will actually happen!"

Ash screwed his face. "But we're not letting that happen! We'll stop this rock... We have to!"

A smile crept along Serena's face. "Alright Ash, we're with you!"

Ash grinned. The two Zygarde cells, Squishy, and the supposed 'Z2' watched him intently. "I think i understand what you mean now." Z2 told Squishy telepathically.

On the other ship, Steven slapped a button, causing the aircraft side-doors to creak open. "Metagross, come out!"

"You too, Garchomp!" shouted the professor.

The two pokemon emerged from their pokeballs, and readied by the doors. Sycamore and Steven each tapped their key stones. "Mega evolve!" They yelled simutaneously, and their pokemon spontaneously transformed into their mega states.

Serena stepped up with them. "We'll help too! Let's do this, Braixen!"

Braixen nodded calmly, and leapt out of the plane onto Metagross's head. They, along with Garchomp, soared toward the rock.

"Flash Cannon!" Steven yelled.

"Dragon Pulse!" Sycamore yelled.

"Flamethrower!" Serena yelled.

The three pokemon unleashed their torrents onto the rock, but a series of vines blocked and bore the incoming moves, leaving the rock completely unscathed.

"Again!" All three of them yelled. Garchomp did so, firing another purple jet of flame onto the vine, immobilising it. Braixen and Metagross swerved, and fired their moves, the vines again taking them. Suddenly, another set of vines swarmed behind them.

Serena gasped. "Oh no!"

Suddenly, a yellow bolt struck the vine and destroyed it. "Pika!" Pikachu yelled, riding on Charizard's back. Braixen beamed gleefully, and jumped off to meet her electric friend.

"Charizard!" Mairin cried. "And Pikachu!" She turned to Serena, and the two of them beamed in delight.

Ash and Alain were in the next aircraft behind them. "Okay Pikachu, use Iron Tail!"

"And Charizard, you use Flamethrower!"

The two pokemon obliged, and flew over to Garchomp, effectively taking out the vine that bound the dragon-type. Garchomp thanked them quickly before jumping again, preparing to attack.

Ash stood next to Ash-Greninja in the aircraft. Greninja stared at the rock, and visualised the location of Chespie within the red, crystalline mass. Ash's eyes widened, and then he looked at Greninja. "Yeah, i see it too. Which gives me an idea." He grinned at his friend. "You up to it?"

Greninja grunted, affirmative. "Alright then! Pikachu, make sure you have Greninja's back!"

"Charizard, you too!" Alain called out. Charizard and Pikachu flew over. They were quickly backed by Garchomp, and Metagross with Braixen on his head.

Greninja focused as he leapt down. He waited until the right moment...

Ash raised a hand. "Now! Water Shuriken!"

Greninja quickly raised his head and threw the move right off his back, which tore through the air and smashed dead onto the crystal on the rock.

"Chespie's down under that Shuriken!" Ash yelled. "Everyone aim for that crystal!"

They all nodded, ready.

Charizard and Pikachu flew over, but couldn't get close - the vines swept them back. The same experience happened for Garchomp, then Metagross and Braixen.

Steven gritted his teeth. "It just won't let up!"

One by one, the vines swarmed around the pokemon, eventually grabbing them all. "No!" Ash shouted.

All of a sudden, the rock was hit by an uncanny jet of light, disintegrating all of the devastating vines. The dust cleared, revealing seven people, lined up in front of the rock.

Clemont gasped, amazed. "It's the Kalos gym leaders!" He declared. "And Diantha, the champion!"

Down below, Diantha grimaced. "That didn't even slow it down... Let's retreat for now, and come up with something else."

The two aircrafts met up with them, as did the pokemon, and they stood together on a cliff overlooking the rampaging giant rock. Sycamore explained the situation to them, and Steven and Diantha began to converse with each other about what to do.

Korrina went over to Ash. "Long time no see!" she grinned. "So there's the famous Ash-Greninja!"

"That's right!" Ash replied, grinning. "According to Clemont, Greninja synchronises with me to get it!"

Korrina beamed. "Pretty cool!" Then she skated away from them. "So the plan is, me and the other gym leaders, including Clemont, are gonna back you and Alain up while you head into the rock. So just focusing on getting up there, don't worry about those annoying vines!"

"Thanks a lot, Korrina!" Ash nodded.

Alain agreed. "That'll be a huge help, thank you very much."

Korrina smiled once more before turning around and meeting up with the others.

"Serena." Clemont said, making her and Ash turn around to face him. "Do you think you can stay here and protect Bonnie and Mairin?"

Serena frowned, but nodded. "You can count on me."


The group lined up before the rock. "Are you ready? Aim for that Water Shuriken!" Diantha told them, and they began to run, all of the gym leaders behind Alain and Ash, with Blaziken Mask, Malva and professor Sycamore at the back.

The rock made a loud, crunching noise, and a mass of vines swept in front of them. "Pikachu, Iron Tail!" Ash yelled.

Pikachu jumped into action. "Chu, pika!" He yelled, using his tail to tear through the first leg of vines. Ash and Alain made it to the rock, and started to run on them, as more vines furiously tried to swipe the two trainers off.

Valerie and Olympia was already waiting for them. Valerie's Spritzee fired a Moonblast, which cleared a path for the boys. However, Spritzee was knocked into Valerie, sending the two flying into a vines clutches. Ash's eyes widened. "Valerie!" He called out.

"I'll handle this!" Olympia told him. "Just get to that Chespin!"

Ash turned back, and ran with Alain.


Serena watched the spectacle with immense worry for Ash. Soon, she couldn't take anymore. "Argh!" She seethed. "I have to do something..!"

She felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned around to see Bonnie smiling at her. "Don't worry about a thing! I can take care of myself, easy!" She explained. Serena smiled, at ease.

"Thanks so much, Bonnie." Serena smiled. She tossed a pokeball into the air, and Sylveon emerged from it. "Hey Sylveon. I need you to promise me you'll protect Mairin and Bonnie, okay?" She muttered to her friend.

Sylveon gazed at her trainer, concerned. "Sylvy?"

"Don't worry. I just need you to do what we did in our finals performace - launch me up there with Fairy Wind!"

Sylveon nodded, and prepared to unleash her most powerful Fairy Wind, and then, she launched it. Serena subconsciously grabbed her hat in fear of it falling off, and was sent flying onto the rock, well ahead of where Ash was. She gripped an immobile vine tightly, and stumbled onto her feet. She saw Ash running below her, and so she grabbed another pokeball.

"Popstar, come on out!" She shouted, and another pokeball burst open, and her Pikachu, wearing a glamorous pink dress, stood firmly next to her. Serena held out her pokedex. "Alright Popstar, the situation is really desperate, and so we gotta power through it!" She checked the dex. "Okay, what moves..? So you know Discharge, Volt Tackle, Iron Tail and Helping Hand! Alright, that's really good!" Popstar blushed. "This'll be some good experience using your moves, i bet!" Serena added, and the two of them set out to run along the vines.

She saw Clemont, being helped along on Luxray's back. Clemont's eyes widened when he saw her. "Serena! I thought-"

Serena pointed. "I've left Sylveon with them, they'll be safe, I'm sure of it!"

Clemont nodded, and hopped off of Luxray. "Alright, I trust you. So basically, we're gonna protect Ash from the vines when he and Alain make the final push." he explained. Serena nodded intently. "For now, we'll have to stay here and wait for them. Just keep those vines off of yourself, i'll do the same for myself."


Ash and Alain darted up the vines that Ramos had tied together with Gogoat's Grass Knot. They reached another plethora, which was burnt through by Vivillon. "Thanks a bunch!" Ash yelled to Viola - however, Vivillon was hit by the vine and dropped her. Grant, the Cyllage leader, leapt off the rock to catch her as they were both grabbed by vines. "Don't turn around, we'll be fine!" Grant yelled to Ash, who agreed furiously and continued to run.

"Abomasnow, Ice Shard!" Wulfric boomed. Abomasnow sliced the vines with a hail of ice, before the two of them were thrown down the rock. Ash silently thanked them, and ran.

Ash and Alain reached the top of the vines, and they both stared in awe. "There it is!" Alain gasped, out of breath. Ash didn't hear - he had spotted Serena and Clemont on the other end. "Serena!" he yelled.

"Don't worry, we've got you covered!" she responded, as Popstar batted away a vine with her Iron Tail.

Malva, Steven, Diantha and Blaziken Mask were already well up ahead, clearing a path for the boys. Ash and Alain ran on after them, as Malva and Sycamore were flung into a group of vines, captured.

"Just go!" Malva ordered.

Alain frowned. "We won't let you down!" he called back after her.

Alain and Ash, with Pikachu, Greninja and Charizard by their side, were so close to the crystal now. Just a little more, and they could save Chespie.

Clemont and Serena leapt into the mix. "Bunnelby, Mud Shot! Luxray, Swift and Chespin, Pin Missile!" Clemont shouted, and his pokemon responded by tearing through the brown-red vines with their respective attacks.

Serena ran alongside Ash. "Okay Popstar, let's do this! Use Volt Tackle!"

Ash nodded to Pikachu. "Back her up, buddy! Quick Attack, let's go!"

The two Pikachus nodded, and charged one by one into the vines, sending them reeling back. Serena ducked away from the vines and caught Popstar. "Now use Iron Tail!"

"You too, Pikachu!"

Next, they took to the sky and slammed their tails onto the vines, dicing them so that Ash, Alain, Greninja and Charizard could reach the crystal. "Greninja, Water Shuriken!" Ash yelled

Greninja pulled another massive shuriken off his back and sent it hurtling towards the last set of vines blocking them from their goal.

Alain raised a fist into the air, and Charizard dove forward to the crystal. "Charizard! Use Thunder Punch!" yelled Alain.

Charizard drew its fist back, and it became overcame by electricity. It drove a punch into the crystal, shattering it into tiny fragments.

Alain grinned. "We did it! There's Chespie!" He announced, pointing at the inside of the rock.

Serena was behind them, watching the scene. "You did it!" She cried, but then, she was interrupted by a shriek.

She, Ash and Alain turned around. Popstar had taken a blow from a vine, and lost her footing. She slipped - right off the Giant Rock.

Serena's mouth opened in horror.

Suddenly, without thinking, she ran after the falling Pikachu, and jumped.

Serena dropped down, falling with Popstar. She grabbed the little electric-type, and tossed her back up the rocks as she herself fell.

"SERENA!" Ash screamed.

His eyes bulged with terror.

He went over to the edge, and bent over, to see a scene that would haunt his eyes and permeate his brain forever.

To his mind it was slow motion. Serena's eyes were wide as she gravity did it's part, ruthlessly hurtling her hard onto the ground. And she fell, what must've been several storeys.,

Ash's voice broke in the purest of fear. "NO!"

Ash made a U turn. "Greninja, Pikachu, stay and help Alain!" He bellowed, and started to slide back down the rock. Panic overwhelmed his mind as he skidded, and when he reached the bottom, he sprinted straight to Serena, who lay crumpled on the floor, unconscious. He reached her side, and lay over her. "Serena, please, please be okay..!" He begged. He leaned closer to her, to see her chest still rising and falling, though it was horrifically slow.

He heard the rock lurch to a halt. Alain had saved Chespie, and the crisis was finally over. But instead of relief, there was a rigid sensation surging through his bones. Fear welled up inside him.

He put one of his hands under her back, and the other under her legs, and he picked her up carefully yet shakily. "Cmon Serena, you'll be okay, I promise!" He murmured to her, and he began to run with her in his arms, from where they stood, all the way to the nearest city - Anistar City.

Ash felt his heart about to beat out of his chest. He pushed through the pain, and carried on running, as fast as he could. Serena's leg and arm that she had landed on dangled horribly out of his arms. Ash kept on pushing, the adrenaline rushing throughout him enough to weaken any pain he once felt. All throughout, he kept muttering to Serena. "Just hang in there a little longer, Serena... Everything will be okay." That last part he said to himself. And finally, after what seemed like a lifetime of running, Ash finally made it to the outskirts of Anistar City. There, waiting for him, were four people. Sawyer, Tierno, Shauna and Trevor.

They ran over to him. "Ash! What's happen-" Tierno started, but then he gasped in shock.

Shauna darted over to him. "Oh my gosh, Serena!" She cried. It was no wonder. Serena was cut up and bleeding over Ash's clothes, not to mention a mangled leg showing clearly.

Ash couldn't speak, as he was regaining his breath. Sawyer stepped over to him. "Ash, follow me! I know a hospital nearby!"

Ash nodded silently, and he and Sawyer ran, with Ash's last ounces of strength, to wherever Sawyer was leading him. They reached the hospital, and Ash stumbled inside.

A nurse greeted them, but Ash was frantic. "Please, help her!" He pleaded. The nurse complied, calling another to grab a stretcher. They took Serena off his hands and wheeled her into the emergency room. Then, Ash's knees buckled, and he blacked out. The last thing he heard was Sawyer calling out to him, and footsteps.


Cliffhanger! And now, this fiction can finally part ways from the actual pokemon seasons, and I can proceed with what I've wanted to do. It's been a slow ride, but hopefully you all have stuck with this story so far.

Thanks for reading, and I'll see you in the next chapter!