A/N: My Conscious: Hey Shal, don't you think you could be advancing the plot. Me: *already two pages into this filler chapter* uhhh, idk. AND GRENINJA IS BACK OFFICIALLY. Now enjoy this chapter.
"Hold on, you had ASH'S GRENINJA FOR TWO WHOLE MONTHS?" Max yelled.
Serena covered her ears, that kid could yell.
"Yes," she sighed, "When I was in the mountains…"
*Flashback*
Serena smiled, the crisp mountain air was a welcome change from the air in the cities.
"Maybe I'll even catch a Pokemon," she said to herself.
She had about two contests left before the Grand Festival, a new addition to her team would be great.
She walked uphill for about an hour, her calves were aching. As she stopped to stretch she heard what sounded like thunder, but it was clear, not a cloud in the sky.
Then, boulders and rocks alike cascaded down. Serena ran in the other direction as fast as her legs could carry her.
One of the boulders caught her foot, locking her ankle in place.
She yelped in pain. And one more rock came flying towards her face. She held up her arms in a futile effort to block it, and then, it never hit her.
A white dog-like Pokemon was standing on the rock, it's fur was raggedy and he was panting hard.
Her eyes widened when she recognized what the Pokemon was. An Absol, which probably meant that something bad was about to happen.
The Absol turned and looked her in the eyes and used Psycho Cut to slice through the boulder that Serena's foot was trapped under.
She winced as the adrenaline wore off and the pain kicked in.
Absol watched her curiously as she grabbed bandages from her bag and wrapped them around her injured foot.
She was expecting the Absol to eventually leave but it stood there, staring at her.
Not knowing what to do, she checked the time. It was going to be dark soon, and she was high enough that it was possible for snow.
She stood up and the Absol motioned for her to follow it, and not having any other options, she decided to follow.
The Disaster Pokemon trotted up the mountain but moved slow enough so Serena could keep pace with him.
Absol led her to a cave with other mountain-dwelling Pokemon inside.
Serena looked at all the Pokemon there, "Are you protecting all of these Pokemon?"
Absol nodded.
Serena gulped, she was scared to ask what from.
She glanced out at the mouth of the cave and for a split second, she could have sworn she saw a Zygarde Cell. She looked down and saw that Absol had followed her gaze.
"Have you seen those before?"
Absol nodded.
"They've been seeing them for three weeks now."
Serena turned to where the voice was coming from, "Squishy?!"
"Indeed," the Zygarde Core Cell said, and acknowledged Absol's shocked expression, "This trainer is a good friend of mine."
"But what are you doing in Hoenn, shouldn't Greninja be helping you and the other core get rid of the vines in Kalos?"
"Actually we did, which is why we are here. Small Team Flare Groups have been wreaking havoc here in Hoenn. In fact, the Houndooms are what Absol is protecting the Pokemon here from."
"Is there anything I can do to help, I helped beat Team Flare before I'm sure I could help do it again."
"I believe one of Delphox's psychic attacks would be best."
Serena looked at the Zygarde Core in confusion.
"I have been using some of the other cells to keep an eye on you and your Pokemon. Greninja still retains a connection to Ash, and I guess wants to make sure that you are safe for his sake, and he likes knowing how Delphox is doing."
Delphox's Pokeball shook a little, "Busted," Serena whispered even though she herself blushed at the mention of Ash.
"So how many members?"
"Roughly 15 by our count."
Absol barked in that silence and Squishy nodded.
"Absol said the Pokemon of the mountain have been terrorized by Team Flare's Houndooms and that it wants to do anything it can to help to get rid of them."
Naturally, Serena thought.
"Delphox and I would be happy to help!"
"Good, I'll let you rest to get yourself off your ankle and I'll let you know when we're ready."
Serena rested her ankle, she'd manage to ignore the pain but winced as soon as she sat down.
Absol stared at the Kalosian Performer before turning to a Ralts.
"Do you think you could heal her ankle?" The Disaster Pokemon asked the small Feelings Pokemon.
Ralts nodded, "Should I wait for her to fall asleep or-"
"That would be best."
"If I didn't know better Absol, I'd say you've taken a liking to that girl," Mightyena said.
"I want her gone, she can move faster when her ankle is healed, and I'm only tolerating her because Zygarde has a connection with her," Absol snarled.
"Oh c'mon Absol, she'd be a good trainer."
Absol growled and stalked off to the mouth of the cave.
After the sunset and Serena was fully asleep, Ralts gingerly walked over towards Serena and created a green orb that hovered above her ankle.
Serena shifted in her sleep as Ralts healed her ankle.
After she healed Serena's ankle, Ralts nodded to Absol.
"You sure you haven't taken a liking to her?" Mightyena said.
"She's a trainer that Zygarde spoke highly of, I'm doing a duty to Zygarde by helping her."
"Ha," Mightyena scoffed, "Ever since you hatched you've been looking for a trainer who would take you off this mountain, I think you found one."
Absol narrowed his eyes, "She doesn't look like much of a battler."
"And since when did you care, before those crazies came and started destroying the place, you made sure to keep your fur pristine, like one of those contest Pokemon. And Zygarde said she's a coordinator, you can battle and keep yourself looking royal."
"I lost interest in that."
"Ha, once these guys leave, I know the first thing you'll be doing is cleaning off your fur," Mightyena teased.
`"I can't abandon this place."
"So let me take care of it, you deserve to see the world, and I know you've made a connection with her."
Absol turned away and stared out at the stars.
Serena turned over as the sunlight entered the cave.
She sat up and noticed her ankle didn't hurt.
"Absol sent a Ralts to heal it while you slept."
Serena looked at the Disaster Pokemon, he seemed so regal, even with dirty fur, his pride must have taken a big hit to help her.
"Greninja and Z2 are waiting for you, I'll take you and Absol there," Squishy said.
Serena nodded and released Delphox from her Pokeball, "You ready?"
"Del," Delphox responded.
Squishy transformed into his 10 percent form and led Serena, Delphox, and Absol up the mountains.
Serena smiled when she saw the Ninja Pokemon. Greninja nodded at both her and Delphox and turned away, it wouldn't be a good look if one of the strongest Pokemon in the world looked like an absolute mess when he saw Delphox.
Squishy turned to her, "Ash and Greninja still maintain a strong connection, we've managed to discover that Ash is in the Alola Region, and sometimes Greninja's thoughts can influence his own thoughts and dreams."
Serena blushed, "So he could be dreaming about me?"
"There is a high probability."
She hadn't spoken to Ash since the thing, as she liked to call it to avoid embarrassment, but in reality, it was their kiss at the airport. So even a slight possibility that she might cross his mind made her feel warm.
This is no time to be swooning over Ash, Serena! She scolded herself, You need to help Squishy, Z2, Greninja, Absol, and the other mountain Pokemon.
"Greninja will attack first, if they are coordinated, they'll know that we are here."
Serena nodded.
Greninja sent two Water Shurikens down to the encampment.
"Shoot, it's that stupid frog again."
"How does it keep finding us?"
"Shut up, no one cares."
"Mystical Fire," Serena yelled.
"Isn't that the brat that's dating that stupid Greninja trainer?" One of the grunts said, out of earshot of Serena.
Both Core Cells, Serena, Absol, and Greninja all moved down to get better attacks on the Team Flare Grunts.
"Agh," Serena yelled.
A Houndoom had been able to get close to her and burn her leg, and when Serena saw, she guessed both second and first-degree burns.
"Weren't you one of the brats with Sycamore and Steven," Mable sneered.
"Isn't your organization six feet under?" Serena shot back.
"Hmm, so you have an attitude, Houndoom and I can fix that. Use Flamethrower!"
Serena tried to move out of the way and did.
"Fine then, I guess I need to teach you what happens to brats like you who mess with Team Flare, Houndoom, Mega Evolve, then use Fire Blast."
Serena's eyes widened at the attack before Absol jumped in between and took the brunt of the attack.
Mable was about to command Houndoom before he got taken out by Greninja's Water Shurikens.
She pulled Houndoom back and ran for it.
"I'm sure we can find help for those burns."
"Don't worry, when Delphox evolved she didn't have the greatest control over her flames so I carried burn ointment, I still have some."
Squishy nodded.
After getting herself squared away and Delphox back to her Pokeball she turned to the Pokemon.
"It's a good thing we found you, we have something to ask of you?"
"What's up?"
"Greninja's abilities are no longer needed in Kalos, but if Team Flare rises again, it would be more beneficial for Greninja to be with Ash."
"So you want me to-"
"Yes, and it appears you'll have a new traveling companion as well."
Serena looked at Absol, "You wanna come?"
The Disaster Pokemon nodded.
"Give me a sec," Serena said, grabbing her phone.
"Hello?"
"Hey Alain, is Professor Sycamore there? I need to ask him something."
"Not at the moment, he's in Johto, what's up?"
"I need approval to carry a seventh Pokeball."
Korrina poked her head out from behind somewhere, "Why?"
"Korrina?"
"Yeah."
"Okay, so, how do I explain this. Small Team Flare groups have been popping up around Hoenn and I found and fought one with the help of Squishy, Z2, and Greninja and-"
"I'm guessing Greninja wants to go back to Ash."
"Yeah."
*Flashback Ends*
"And that is how I had Greninja and got Absol, but that's not important, we need to find Ash," Serena said.
They left, not a good sign.
Ash had gotten the story from Greninja, and instead of giving him information, it only made him worry about Serena more.
One of the admins, that was chasing her, had a mega, what it-, Ash was snapped out of his thoughts by two men entering the room.
"Aren't you supposed to be in jail," Ash yelled.
"You should be lucky you're still alive."
Ash flinched, "Aren't you supposed to be dead?"
The taller man smirked, "It appears Zygarde wasn't as powerful as you thought."
"You're not going to hurt Serena!" Ash yelled.
"Hmm, you gave me an idea, and it could be used against them as well," Lysandre sneered.
"What are you talking about?" Ash spat.
"It doesn't concern you, what you need to know is that it doesn't matter what you'll do, you'll lose, I'll win, and you're never getting out of here."
"Confirmed, Team Flare is active in Vermillion."
"Matori, get Jessie and James on it, and send as many agents as possible, no one can interfere with Team Rocket's plans."
Matori nodded, "Yes sir."
Giovanni sat back down at his desk, rubbing his temple.
"Who would have thought," he groaned.
He glanced at a photo on his desk, it was of a woman holding a little girl, about four, and sighed.
I'm sorry you got involved in this, he thought.
A/N: My conscious: Do you really have the mental capacity to write that plot point without slamming your laptop shut every ten minutes? Me: ...
Amourshipper35 - Thanks for the review
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Guest #1 - Honest Answer, I needed a plot
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