A/N: So some major plot happens, and IAmDomeAceTucker and Robins in the Ashes, NO SPOILERS.
Ash wasn't sure how much time had passed. He hadn't seen anyone since Lysandre and Xerosic had left and the only thing he could think about was Serena.
Dragonite, Riolu, and Gengar struggled against their restraints while Pikachu, Noivern, and Greninja, along with Ash stayed still.
He and Greninja had tried to use the Bond Phenomenon to break free of the restraints, as they had during the Kalos Crisis, six months ago. But their time apart had weakened their bond, they couldn't do it on command, and Ash worried that they wouldn't be able to do it at all.
He had given up.
"Pika pi," Pikachu cried, trying to cheer him up.
"There's no use Pikachu," Ash said, looking down at the restraints, "There's no way to get out."
"Pika pi!"
"And what would you have me do, I can't get out, and it's only a matter of time before Lysandre-" he cut himself off, he didn't want to think about what could happen to Serena.
"I guess some things do change," someone said, though it wasn't aloud, Ash swore that whoever said that somehow spoke directly into his mind.
"What?" He said, trying to wrap his head around what just happened.
"Ash-"
Ash cut the voice off with his own, "Who are you and what do you want."
"It truly does work."
What? Ash thought.
"The telepathy."
Ash's eyes widened, Greninja, he thought.
The Ninja Pokemon nodded.
"So we can't sync up but we can use telepathy."
"As humans would say, it is a silver lining."
Ash nodded, he felt hopeless still, but the discovery of the ability gave a bit of hope back.
It might have been about half an hour since Xerosic and Lysandre left when Riolu let out a hopeful bark.
"What's up bud?"
"Rio," Riolu yipped, grinning.
Ash looked at Greninja for a translation.
"He senses who he calls 'Big Brother'" Greninja told Ash through telepathy.
Ash turned to the little Emanation Pokemon, "You mean Korrina's Lucario?"
Riolu yipped in delight and nodded.
"That's a good sign, it means someone is looking for us, and hopefully Serena is with her," Ash said, earning him happy cries from his Pokemon, with the exception of Greninja, who silently nodded.
"Any idea what Lysandre has planned, or how he even survived?"
Greninja shook his head, "The only thing I knew was that they wanted you and I imprisoned so we couldn't stop them."
Ash nodded. And it means I can't stop him if he decides to hurt her.
He scanned the room again for what seemed like the millionth time, looking for ways to escape. If I can even get out of these restraints, he thought.
"I'll get out of here and stop you," Ash yelled to no one.
"It's good to know that some things are still the same."
"I don't know whether to be offended or not, but I'll take that as a compliment for now."
"The more groups we takedown, the bigger target we become," Dawn panted.
"Especially since Alain and Korrina are with us, and it doesn't take a genius to figure out that we're trying to find Ash," Serena said, quickly.
May put a hand on her shoulder, "It's Ash we're talking about, he'll be fine."
"I hope you're right."
Serena moved closer to Korrina who was upfront.
"I'm worried about her. I've never seen her like this," Brock said.
"It's not a surprise," Alain said.
"And how would you know," Dawn shot back.
"I'm assuming she's told you about some form of nightmares?"
"How-" Drew started before getting cut off.
"She's not the only one. A lot of us still deal with nightmares about it. And there was a really big chance that she or Ash could have died, and the fact that she could lose him forever probably shook her, and I have no doubts that Ash is feeling the same way."
"Aura Sphere."
"Razor Wind."
After losing both pokemon to Serena and Korrina's Megas, the Team Flare grunts slowly backed up with their hands in the air and turned to run.
"Thanks for the help, Alain," Korrina yelled.
Alain shrugged, looking back at the group.
"I wish we had more Mega's here, Charizard, Absol, and Lucario are getting stretched thin here," he said.
"Brock has a Mega Steelix," the group said.
"You WHAT?"
"And you haven't helped us?" Korrina said.
"Well uh, Steelix will probably be more helpful when we have an exact location," Brock stammered.
"And don't even think about trying to steal it," Max yelled at Team Rocket, who were very obviously scheming.
"We weren't trying at all."
"Uh-huh, sure."
"We weren't, Meowth's honor," Meowth cried.
"And compared to an Aura Guardians honor, how honorable are Meowths," Korrina said.
"Uhhhh," Team Rocket said.
"I thought so."
"Cario."
"Are we getting close?"
Lucario nodded.
"How exactly are you finding the twerp?"
Korrina sighed, "Ash has a Riolu, who also can use the Aura making it easier for Lucario to track them."
"Huh?"
Korrina groaned, "Lucario can track Riolu because magic."
"Ohhhhh," Team Rocket said.
Korrina muttered some curses under her breath and turned around.
"Giovanni, how nice it is to see you."
"Lysandre, it's odd to see you alive."
Lysandre let out a maniacal laugh, "Those twerps truly thought that Zygarde would be the end of me."
"I think the world thought that," Giovanni said, nodding.
"Apparently, you as well, I saw those agents fighting against me, wearing the Team Rocket uniform, and I ask why. I thought we had the same goals."
"The same goals," Giovanni scoffed, "I think not."
"Really, we both have visions for how the world should be, and I know you're not just in this for the profit like you pretend."
Giovanni narrowed his eyes, "The difference is our ideas of how to get there."
Lysandre laughed, "I still don't know why you reject it, I practically confirmed that you'll be one of the trainers that gets to enjoy the new world. Free of crime, free of hunger, and if you're so set on world domination, I could make you a king."
"It's insane."
"Says the man who created Mewtwo."
"Mewtwo was an unfinished project that I saw through to completion."
"Fine, shall I list some more? Using Meloetta to control the Kami Trio, attempting to capture Zygarde and crossing me," Lysandre said, narrowing his eyes, his Pyroar becoming alert.
Giovanni unclipped Persian's Pokeball.
"And even carrying out your earlier missions from your seat at the Viridian Gym. You were a reckless man."
"I saw myself as more of a puppet master."
"Yes, hiding your true intentions from Lance, the Elite Four, the Kantonian Gym Leaders, and even your own family."
Giovanni flinched.
"I see you're surprised, I can't blame you, I'd react the same way."
"And what does my family have to do with this?"
"Is that a question you have to ask me? Your daughter has been quite the annoyance."
"You wouldn't dare."
"I would, and someone needs to keep you updated because I have. PYROAR!"
"PERSIAN!"
"Lucario."
"Are you sure?"
Lucario nodded.
Serena breathed a sigh of relief, they'd almost found him.
"Hey, guys look, here's an entrance," Chloe said.
"She's right."
"Hopefully this should take us to Ash."
"Hopefully?"
Go held his hands up in surrender, "The underground system is really hard to navigate, one wrong turn and you could end pretty much anywhere."
"Well that's reassuring," Serena muttered.
"Sorry."
"I'm sure we'll find him."
The group dropped down into the tunnels. Alain pulled Charizard back and sent out Bisharp.
"Yamp," Yamper barked.
"It's okay," Chloe said, trying to reassure the Puppy Pokemon.
"Ash," Serena called.
She moved forward, still calling for Ash.
She heard a rumbling sound in the tunnels and lunged forward as the place where she was just standing caved in.
"Oh my Arceus, Serena are you okay?" Dawn yelled.
"Yeah, I'm fine."
"We'll find some way to get you out."
"No," Serena yelled, "You guys go find Ash, I'll try to find my own way to him."
"Okay, we'll see you soon."
Serena and Absol ran through the tunnels, calling out for Ash and trying to hear a response.
"Finally."
Absol growled.
"Mable," Serena said.
"Well if it isn't the helpless little performer."
"Where's Ash."
"Wouldn't you like to know? I could tell you, but it wouldn't matter because this is where you'll finally stop messing with our plans."
A/N: Warning, next chapter is pretty dark.
WhiteLotus21 - Thanks bro
Amourshipper35 - Yeah someone asked if Team Rocket was coming back so I decided to reintroduce them.
UnKnownGuy2006 - Lmao, plot armor. I'm having Prism Tower as the tallest building cause idk, it just fits. AND SHE IS NOT TO BE TRUSTED.
Robins in the Ashes - I do not trust you
