~Hall of Origins~

Arceus stood in her usual majesty in front of her vat that acted as the window to the material world. Around her were her children at various spot around the perimeter. Her lake guardians floated to her left, Mewtwo stood to her right with Celebi and Shaymin sitting on his shoulders, much to his chagrin, and at the opposite side of the vat hovered Cresselia, and Darkrai (the one Ash met in Alamos). They were watching a scene of Ash and Serena traveling down a dark corridor rippling through the liquid.

'So, it seems the chosen has finally grown a brain.' Mespirit observed. ''Bout time.' She chuckled. 'I thought he was just gonna keep those blinders on forever!' She began giggling heavily while covering her mouth with her tiny hands.

'Stow your tone, jokester.' Mewtwo spat. 'As of right now, he's Kalos's hope. His friends have failed in their plan. No thanks to those Darkrai.' He looked to the vat and the scene changed to Clemont and Bonnie being attacked by Nightmare while Ebony was firing blasts of at Zygarde.

'My brothers are not to blame.' Darkrai countered. 'They found that trainer worthy and he betrayed that honor.' He said with his voiced laced with venom. 'I told them not to-'

'That boy,' Arceus interrupted at the vision in the vat zoomed in on the boy with black hair. 'is as much a victim and a prisoner as those in those terrible pods.' Her stern voice effectively silenced Darkrai.

'On the bright side, it looks like sending Zygarde to help was a good choice. He saved those Lumiose kids.' Celebi chimed in from Mewtwo's shoulder. 'Without him they'd be with the others in those insufferable tubes.'

'Makes you wonder what would happen if we took a more active role, huh?' Mewtwo deadpanned.

'You needn't dance around the issue with me, Mewtwo. I know exactly what you're saying and what you think of my most recent decisions regarding the chosen.' Arceus replied turning to the genetic pokemon.

'Then maybe you should do something!' Mewtwo growled. 'I'm tired of standing here! Let me go down there!'

'If we do send someone down it should be someone else.' Shaymin interrupted from Mewtwo's other shoulder, 'Someone more reliable. More discrete. Myself? Maybe Latias? Even Mew would be better than you.' It scoffed.

'Latias is not in the best of spirits right now. She has refused to meet with me after watching Bianca be imprisoned in the way that she was.' Arceus said. 'Perhaps she should've been given permission due to the circumstances, but we cannot change the past.'

'So you acknowledge we should be helping?!' Mewtwo pressed. All heads turned to Arceus who just shook her head.

'Latias's helping Bianca would be one thing, but I stand by my no interference rule with the chosen.' Arceus said. 'We mustn't fight his battles for him. There would be no validity to his title if we did. He must find the strength himself.'

'But we still could send someone to help those fighting against the wayward Darkrai.' Shaymin continued. 'What of Mew?'

'Mew has taken a vow of non-involvement.' Arceus announced. 'He doesn't see it as his place and much prefers to spend his time protecting the Tree.'

'And myself?' Shaymin asked doing a little flip of Mewtwo's shoulder and quickly transforming into its Sky Form and whizzing up to Arceus. 'I could go.'

'You, my child, are hardly up to the task of two well-trained Darkrai.' Arceus said. 'I believe Zygarde will be sufficient for this task.'

'If anyone goes, I do.' Mewtwo interrupted. 'End of discussion.'

Shaymin growled before glowing blue and white. Now back in her Normal Form, she slowly descended back onto Mewtwo's shoulder. 'Surely, I'm better than something made in a lab!'

Mewtwo's eyes began to glow purple at the last comment. Before Shaymin could react, she was engulfed in a psychic force and thrown backwards against the wall, knocking her out. 'Prima donna.' Mewtwo scowled. 'Nobody likes you anyway.' He muttered under his breath. He raised his head back up to find all eyes on him. He looked over to Arceus to see her just shaking her head.

'What?'

'Back to business,' Arceus said. 'we must have faith in Ash. He is the chosen one, not us. However, I have a proposition you may find as a nice compromise.'

'That being?' Mewtwo inquired to his superior. The vat changed scenes with a ripple once again transforming to show a man dressed in the same suit as the factory workers carrying a woman, who was slung over his shoulder.

'Aaron is still collecting more victims throughout Kanto, Sinnoh, and Kalos.' Arceus reported. 'It would be beneficial if he we could cut off his supply of captives. If it would make you feel more at peace you may 'go blow off some steam' as the humans say.' She told him. 'Take a team of six, split into pairs, and have each pair choose a region. Your mission is to protect anyone targeted by these poachers. Do you accept?'

Mewtwo chuckled. 'Oh, yeah. I've been waiting for this.' He said pounding his fists together. 'Who's going with me?'

'Latias's mind is clouded. I believe she would benefit much from this. Deoxys has gotten restless as well after young Tory joined the fight as well. Take him as well. Darkrai will go too.'

'Me?' Darkrai asked. 'Why?'

'Because Sinnoh needs help.' Arceus answered. 'And you're able. Do you need more of a reason?'

'Done.' Mewtwo replied. 'I'll take Latias and leave for Kanto. Deoxys and Darkrai can head over to Sinnoh. What of Kalos?'

'Xerneas and Yveltal can handle Kalos. You are to leave immediately.' Arceus ordered.

'Leave it to me, then. I'll have Kanto back in order in no time.'

'See that you do.' Arceus nodded. With a wicked laugh Mewtwo teleported out of the room, causing Celebi to descend downward slightly before catching herself and floating back up.

'Was that truly wise?' Cresselia asked. 'We all know Mewtwo to get a bit...carried away. You don't think he'll do anything he'll regret, do you?'

'Mewtwo is passionate. That much is true, but I have faith he can control himself. Keeping him holed up here would've done him no good. He was only getting angrier and angrier. This way he's doing something productive.' Arceus replied coolly. 'And with them working together, the kidnappings will slow down considerably.'

'But what good does that do for those already captured?' Celebi asked.

'That is up to our chosen one's friends.' Uxie observed. The scene in the looking vat changed to show Professor Sycamore, Tory (with Plusle and Minun on his shoulders) and Trip running down a hallway.

~Pokeball Factory~

The professor, Trip, and Tory were all hustling down the long dark corridor hoping to meet up with whoever was wheeling Jessie and James around. Alain had told them around where the grunts should be and they were working hard to intercept them.

"They can't be much farther." Tory panted.

"Who knows?" Trip input. "We don't exactly have a clear vision of where we're going, now that the plan's changed."

"Quiet boys." Sycamore said. "Alain? Can you hear me? Alain?" The professor flipped a switch on his earpiece changing the frequency of his communicator. "Mairin?"

'Professor!' Mairin's voice said from the other line. 'I've lost Alain! I completely forgot I even had this thing! I'm scared. Chespie and I have no clue where we are!'

The three came to a crossroad. The hallway ended there but split into left and right. From Tory's shoulder Plusle's ears twitched rapidly. She grabbed ahold of the puffball strings attached to Tory's sweatshirt and began pulling them grabbing his attention.

"Plu." She said pointing to where the corridor split off to the right.

"Someone's coming?" Tory asked. As soon as Plusle nodded her head he began hearing voices as well. HE looked around and saw a utility closet to his left. "In here!" He violently pushed Trip into the closet and he closely followed behind. Getting the message, Sycamore turned off his communicator and ducked behind a giant box conveniently placed in front of him. He gently peaked around the side and Trip opened the utility door slightly and took a look discretely as well.

A group of five grunts, two wheeling pods, in the left Jessie and the right James, and three walking free beside them. Trip smirked and turned to Tory. "I've got an idea." He said. "Chances are with five alert grunts, they're going to notice us following them. I'll lead a couple of them away."

"I don't think that's a good idea. Both on your own and outnumbered?" Tory inquired.

"I can handle ten of 'em if need be." Trip said confidently. As soon as they got directly in front of the professor, he made his move. He pushed the door open and stepped out slamming it in Tory's face behind him. He gave a smirk before clapping loudly twice. The five turned to see him cross armed staring at them. "Can one of you tell why you seem to have my colleagues in tubes?" He threw a pokeball into the air revealing a Chandelure. "We don't take too kindly to kidnappers."

The five grunts looked at each other before the one wheeling James' pod spoke up. "You three stay here and subdue the kid. Will and I'll take these jokers to the others. We'll send a pod back here immediately for the brute." The man said continuing right.

Trip grabbed a hold of one of Chandelure's branch like arms and it floated him over to the other three grunts who all let out their pokemon. Taking the hint, while the grunts were occupied with Trip in the left corridor, Tory slipped out of the closet and ran down the right with Sycamore following close behind.

"Sorry kid, Boss has ordered all intruders to be podded and sent straight to the others." One of the men said.

"So I've heard." Trip replied. "Only one problem with that plan, you have to beat me first!" He chusckled "Chandelure, Fire Blast!" The lamp pokemon created a giant ball of fire and fired it at the grunts who each had out a Politoed, Crustle, and a Ledian. It exploded on the three pokemon in the form of a giant kanji. The smoke cleared to show Crustle protecting itself with protect, Politoed standing strong and Ledian on her back, out cold. Trip let out a chuckle. "Five seconds in and you've already lost a third of your team. Tell me again about your plans to capture me."

One of the grunts gritted his teeth loudly. "Together." He said turning to the other grunt with a concious pokemon who nodded in return.

"Crustle Rock Wrecker!"

"Politoed Hydro Pump!"

"Meet it head on with your best Shadow Ball, Chandelure." Trip said pointing at the impending attacks. "Show them who's better."

XXXXX

Anabel, Pikachu, Kidd, and Ritchie (and Sparky) were walking at a somewhat quick pace. Anabel, with Pikachu atop her head, was leading the way with Ritchie right behind them and Kidd walking backwards, on alert, bringing up the rear. It had come across all their minds at one point that it was weird that they had met no opposition yet.

Anabel came to a stop abruptly and reached out with her left arm. She closed her eyes gently and reached out with her mind. Ritchie, not paying attention, slammed into the back of her and knocked himself onto the floor. Sparky, luckily, saw this coming and jumped off Ritchie mid-fall to avoid any inconvenience.

"Why'd you stop?" Ritchie asked.

"Pikachu." Sparky added.

Anabel didn't answer. She just stayed unmoving in front of the other two. Anabel's eyes shot open and she let her arm rest back at her side. She turned to the mouse sitting to her left. "You hear anything, Pikachu?" She asked the little rodent.

"Pika." He said shaking his head. "Chuu."

"Good, we have to keep moving. Ash is that way." She said pointing to her left. "And he's filled with confusion. Something tells me that doesn't bode well for our cause."

"Pikaa." The little mouse cooed. Anabel resumed her pace and Ritchie and Kidd fell into step behind her.

"What if it's a trap?" Kidd asked. "They know we're looking for him. They could have us outnumbered and outgunned. I'm good, but normally I'm not taking on an organization with a team of three."

"We don't have any choice. The longer Ash is away, the more danger he and all of Kalos is in. If you two are as good as you say you are, we should be fine." Anabel responded. She noticed their current path split into three separate paths ahead. "We're going straight."

Ritchie picked up speed to catch up with Anabel he came to her side and slowed back down to walk beside her. "So you never really told us how you know where Ash is."

Anabel chuckled. "I can feel him. Or, at least, I can feel his presence. I can also feel his confusion, it's overwhelming."

"So, you can feel people's presences? Then you should know if anyone's with him. You should know if this is a trap." Ritchie said.

Anabel shook her head. "At this distance, without concentrating, no. I can only feel Ash."

"What makes him so special...besides the obvious of course?" Kidd asked.

"I don't exactly know." Anabel responded honestly. "If I had to guess, my feelings for him somehow amplify my abilities. Make me concentrate on him more than usual."

"That's so sweet." Kidd said.

Ritchie let out a loud groan. "This again. I swear. Every time he spends more than a day with a gal, she falls in love with him. First Misty, then there's that Elekid girl I ran into,"

"Wait. Misty?!" Anabel interrupted. "Really?"

"Oh yeah." Ritchie said. "Right Sparky?" The little rodent nodded once. "Once Ash moved on to Hoenn, you couldn't have a conversation with that girl without her bringing him up. Then when you ask her if she's in love, she says they're soulmates."

From Anabel's shoulder Pikachu snapped his head to the left. "Pika?" He inquired softly.

Anabel let out a single laugh. "Well at least I know I don't have to worry about her competition."

"That's not exactly fair. What makes you say that?" Ritchie shot back narrowing his eyes.

"Guys, maybe we should calm do-" Kidd tried.

"I know Ash's REAL feelings about Misty." Anabel gloated. "And she dug that grave herself. Why do you think she isn't here?!"

"I thought she was busy." Ritchie answered honestly.

"Guys I think someone's coming and-" Kidd interrupted again.

"Too busy to help her soulmate?" Anabel cut her off. "Oh, yeah, they were so meant for each other." Anabel quipped.

"What is your-"

"Hey! You!" The group turned to see an slightly older man, maybe of 18, with a clipboard under his arm glaring at them. "You're those intruders the boss guy wants." He said grabbing a pokeball.

Kidd facepalmed. "I knew your arguing wasn't going to end well." She sighed.

"Well then why didn't you say something?" Anabel asked. Beside her Pikachu shook his head murmuring little 'Pika's'.

"Charizard!" The foreign man called. "Let's do this!" He yelled releasing the giant dragon. "Mega Evolve!" He called. His Charizard glowed a bright white and began his temporary metamorphosis. He began to grow secondary wings on his arms, the horns on the back of his head grew in length along with growing a third, and the webbing in his primary wings grew more jagged. He also began growing in stature.

"You say Ash is that way?" Ritchie asked turning to Anabel who just nodded in return. "Then go find him. I'll take care of the old man!"

"Are you sure?" Kidd asked. Anabel and Pikachu had already taken off, leaving Ritchie behind, content on finding Ash. "I can help."

"I wouldn't offer if I didn't think I could handle it. Just bring Ash back safe." Ritchie ordered reaching into his pocket, pulling out a pokeball with a star sticker on it. "Zippo! Let's do this!" Ritchie threw a pokeball into the air and let out his Charizard, once just a short, shy Charmeleon compared to his current form. "This is gonna be fun."

Kidd nodded once and turned around running after Anabel. "Anabel! Pikachu! Wait up!"

"Brave of you to stay behind. You realize you're doomed right?" The man taunted. "You'll go down here, and it's likely that your partners in this crusade have already faced a similar fate. Our boss is unbeatable."

"Nice story." Ritchie shot back. "Let's even the playing field, shall we? Mega evolve!" Like his opponent Ritchie's Charizard began glowing brightly and began growing in size. Horns started to sprout from his shoulders, his mouth blew up in blue flames, and his horns grew longer. Most significantly, when the light faded the once bright orange Charizard was now a dark grey. "If I know Ash, and I'm pretty sure I do, beating and locking up all his best friends won't make him too happy with you."

"In a couple of hours, his plan will already have played out."

"Couple hours, huh?" Ritchie retorted calmly. "Gives us plenty of time to do what we do best, then."

"And that would be?"

"Save the day." Ritchie answered simply. "And besides, as long as I win this fight, you won't have us all, right?"

'Ritchie, you good?' Anabel's voice asked over the communicator Ritchie had collected from Bonnie.

"Yeah, all good. Just about to wipe the floor with this fool!" He said regaining eye contact with his attacker.

"You got spunk kid, I'll give you that. I can see it in your eyes." The man shot back. "But failure here is not an option."

"FLAMETHROWER!" Both Ritchie and Aaron's subordinate yelled at the same time. Both Charizards fired bulky beams of molten lava at each other colliding smack dab in the middle of Ritchie and the grunt. The two dragons grounded still belting out red-hot fire, at the center of the collision, the two beams were fighting fiercely for dominance.

XXXXX

Mairin walked slowly down a long, dark hallway, holding Chespie in her arms. Luckily, ever since Alain ditched her, she hadn't run into any more resistance. On the other hand, though, she had no idea where she was going or what to do. As far as the plan goes, she was supposed to be with Clemont but she just had to follow Alain inside.

"Professor?" Mairin called through her comm. "Come on, please pick up." She begged to no avail. She let out a huge sigh. "Stupid Alain." She muttered. "Leaving me and you all alone in this terrible place. I hope they catch him."

"Pin?" Chespie asked from her arms.

"Of course, I don't mean that!" Mairin shouted back. "I'm just frustrated. How could he do that to me? How could you do that to me?"

"Chespin." The little pokemon said.

"I forgive you. I just wish I knew what to do next." She told her partner.

"Are you sure?"

Mairin turned around quickly to see the shadow of someone coming. "Someone's there." Mairin whispered to Chespie. "Come on!" She gripped Chespie tighter and sprinted down the hallway she turned a corner and slammed her back against the wall. She carefully set Chespie down and squatted down and slowly looked around the corner. She quickly saw a girl she'd never seen before come into focus.

The girl had blue hair covered in a white beanie and a black and pink dress shirt with a very short skirt. "I didn't hear anything." The girl said. Behind her a Piplup came out from behind her and pointed a single flipper towards Mairin's direction.

"Pip! Piplup!"

"Alright, if you say so." The girl responded, shrugging at the little penguin.

Mairin retracted her head back around the corner and turned to Chespie. "She doesn't look like one of them. Maybe she's looking for a friend too."

"Chespin!" Her companion scolded.

Mairin took another quick look at the foreign girl. "But she's not even wearing one of their uniforms. Maybe they could help us. And even if they are against us, you've got the advantage, it's a piplup." Mairin told him. "They're coming this way. We don't have much of a choice, Chespie."

Chespie shook his head back and forth very rapidly in protest. "Chespin!" He responded tugging on Mairin's shirt. "Ches!" He said pointing down the corridor.

"I'm tired. I don't think I can outrun whoever this is." She said turning to Chespie. "If you're so intent on them being the enemy, we should take the shot while we still have the element of surprise."

"Eh em." Mairin turned around and Chespie looked up and saw the girl they were thinking about attacking standing over them.

"Lup!" Piplup said taking a fighting stance. "Pip!"

"Calm down, Piplup." The bluenette told her friend. "Maybe they're cool. I'm Dawn, this is Piplup." She said gesturing to the unrelenting penguin. "Who're you?"

"Mairin. This is Chespie. Do you work here?" Mairin asked.

Dawn offered Mairin a hand. "Nope. And by the looks of it, neither do you." Mairin nodded and took her hand, hoisting herself up.

"If you don't work here, why are you here?" Mairin asked,

"The person who runs this place, whoever that is, sent a bunch of goons after me and my partner Paul. They kept talking about 'insurance' or something. Thanks to Paul I got away but they took him, and Jenny said there was nothing she could do so..."

"You decided to do it yourself?" Mairin offered.

"Well I couldn't just leave him. I love him." Dawn said simply. "But this place is a labyrinth! We were hoping on finding an employee and forcing him to lead us to Paul, right Piplup?"

"Pip-lup" The penguin nodded.

"But we found you instead." Dawn finished. "What's your story?"

"Me and Chespie came here with our friend Alain to save another friend, but when we were spotted, he made Chespie and I leave him behind while he held them off. Who knows if he's podded by now?" Mairin explained.

"More of the same, I see." Dawn said. "Tell you what, I'm searching for where they're holding Paul." Dawn said. "If they did catch your friend, I bet he's being held in the same place, so how about you and Chespie come with us?" She said offering her hand once more.

Mairin looked to Chespie then back at Dawn and nodded. "Deal!" She said shaking her hand. "But where's that?"

"I don't know." Dawn said. "But I'm guessing someone around here does."

"How do you know anyone will comply? What do we do?"

"Always ask nicely first," Dawn told her. "That's just simple humanity. But, say that doesn't work," She slammed a fist into her palm. "we move on to negotiations. Come on, let's find one of this madman's lackeys." Dawn moved past Mairin and took the lead down the hall with Piplup trotting closely behind her.

"Told you." Mairin said to her pokemon partner. "I like her. Come on!" She said rushing after Dawn. "Maybe we'll find Ash, too."

XXXXX

Serena and Ash were making their way back to the heart of the factory to meet with Aaron one last time before they left. Ash, particularly, was dreading this interaction. Mostly because he couldn't think of what to say. Meech had told him all these things about Aaron that just seemed weird. If it was true then...well he didn't actually know what to do then, but how could he even bring it up without offending him.

Serena was having similar thoughts with the difference of the fact that she knew he wasn't who he was telling Ash he was. Her first priority wasn't Ash right now, though. It was Braxien. "So, Ash, how're going to bring up what Meech said to Aaron?"

"I don't know. Ash said. "First I'm going to ask if he's found my pokemon yet. If he hasn't, something's definitely up."

"Did you hear?" Serena turned to see two men in lab coats walking the opposite direction. "About the Charizard?"

'Charizard?' Serena thought to herself. 'It couldn't be...' She came to a stop and turned to see Ash walking forward unaware of anything else around him. She jogged up to Ash and tapped him on the shoulder. "Hey Ash,"

Ash turned around. "Huh? Oh, uh...what is it?"

"I need to use the bathroom. I think we passed one on our way here." She lied.

"Oh. I guess if you need to, we can go back." Ash said. "Where did you see one?"

"Actually," Serena said. "Why don't you go talk to Aaron. I'll be fine." She said. "I remember exactly where it is." She glanced quickly behind her to see the men turn a corner and move out of her sight."

"Oh...okay. If you say so. Are you sure you-"

"Thanks Ash!" She interrupted running down the hallway. "I'll see you soon!" She called behind her. She ran around the same corner to find the scientists turning again, this time taking a right. She sprinted ahead and stopped at the turn slamming her back up against the wall. She peaked her head around the corner to find the two scientists had stopped moving.

"Are you sure, Jax? There's no way any Charizard is strong enough to overpower three Gyrados without breaking a sweat."

'Maybe not an ordinary Charizard,' Serena thought to herself. 'But Ash's Charizard...'

"Listen they called us back to the lab to help detain the bastard. You'll see for yourself." The man apparently named Jax said. "He's been so troublesome that they haven't even had a chance to look at the other two pokeballs."

"If you say so. Let's go." The other scientist said.

'Two other pokeballs means Braxien and Noivern too!' Serena realized. 'Gotta follow them.' She decided. "I'm coming Braxien." She promised. "Just you wait."

Ash just stood in place looking in the direction his friend had run off in. It was a weird feeling. Not only was he completely alone, no friends, no family, not even a single pokemon with him, but he had a sinking feeling in his gut that something big was about to happen. He had no idea why he had this feeling.

Maybe it was because he was in an unfamiliar place, maybe it was because everyone around him was acting weird including his friend who would normally never decline the offer of him joining her somewhere even if it was just to walk her to the bathroom. Besides, she hates being alone in old factories. Whatever it was, he just couldn't get the feeling to go away.

"I'm probably just stressed." He shrugged. He turned back around and continued down his set path to left turn.

'Pika!'

Ash's eyes widened and he snapped his entire body in a 180-degree motion. He scanned the hallway ahead of him carefully. "Pikachu?" He asked. "Are you there?" He stood there still for a good minute before turning back around. "I must be going nuts. Pikachu doesn't even know about this place. Why would he be here?"

Ash continued on until he hit a large door connected to a familiar circular room. The heart of the factory. Ash carefully opened the door to find Aaron sitting in his chair yelling while typing on his computer.

"What do you mean an unknown pokemon?!" Aaron yelled. "Describe it to me!" He ordered. There was a dense pause between his orders as Ash just tilted his head. "You idiot! That's Mewtwo! How could you not know that, Jo?! Recall all grunts from the area. You've already lost." He yelled slamming his fist on the desk. "Butler what's the status on those two stowaways?" He asked. "Up on the main screen now! Put up camera one as well"

The monitor lit up with a set of camera footage. On the left and right were boys Ash knew he had seen before but needed a closer look to be sure. The boy on the left was fighting off a horde of pokemon with a single Chandelure. On the right a battle between two mega Charizards was going on. But above those two images was another feed playing out. And he immediately recognized the siblings portrayed there. It showed two blonde siblings hiding behind a large, powerful pokemon who was firing off Dragon Pulses like it was going out of style.

'Clemont?! Bonnie?! Zygarde?!' Ash thought to himself. He wanted to storm up there and as what in Arceus's name is going on but he found he couldn't move.

"Have Hobbes and Jean move in on the blonde boy. That should be enough to silence him. I want Sketchy and Skeezy to go and help Noble and his Charizard. The others will fail soon enough." Beside him an alarm sounded off from his computer. Aaron reached for his comm and hit the green button on it.

"Sir frontier brain and the chosen's Pikachu are headed your way. She" A voice said. "We tried stopping them but they dodged every hyper beam we shot at them."

'The chosen's Pikachu!? My Pikachu?! He attacked him?!' Ash thought to himself. Every drop of blood he had began boiling inside him.

"Aaron?" The chair swung around quickly and he was met with the tired eyes of the man that he thought was his friend. But if he was his friend, why was he attacking his other friends?

"Ash!" Aaron said conforming his face to a smile. "I didn't hear you come in! Why didn't you say something?" He quickly activated his comm. "Ix-nay on the een-scray." he whispered.

"No need. I was watching you." Ash said simply. "Watching you attack my friends. That's Clemont and Bonnie!"

"Oh, they're your friends!" Aaron said trying to put on his best facade. "I had no idea! Unfortunately, your friends broke in uninvited and attacked my employees-"

"You attacked Pikachu? My Pikachu?!" Ash demanded

"Oh. You heard that." He said. "Now Ash..." Aaron warned.

XXXXX

In another part of the factory an Electivire's powered up, electricity ridden fist collided with the face of Trip's Chandelure. Chandelure flew backwards onto the floor and slid back many feet towards its cornered trainer. Trip quickly returned the fallen pokemon and whipped out another pokeball.

"I didn't think I'd have to resort to the big guns but...oh well" He smirked. "Serperior!" He whipped his hand back, ready to unleash his most powerful pokemon. His wrist, however, was grabbed before he could whip the pokeball. He looked behind him to see a large man looking down at him.

"Name's Hobbes. And you've been beat."

The man glared at Trip and tightened his grip around his wrist. Trip let out a sigh of pain as the pain caused him to lose his grip and drop Serperior's pokeball to the floor. It rolled a couple inches on the floor before coming to a stop. "Hey!" Trip yelled at the larger man. "Give Serperior back! Do what you want with me, but you can't just leave him there!"

Hobbes, still holding Trip, looked to the opposing Electivire's trainer and nodded to him. The other man picked the pokeball back up and made his way towards Trip. "Don't try anything stupid." The man ordered. He reached over and set the pokeball back in Trip's pocket.

"Now what happens?" Trip asked.

Hobbes laughed. "You said we could do what we wanted with you. We're taking you to where we keep all the others."

"Great." Trip deadpaned.

XXXXX

The two Mega Charizards collided in the middle of the field with a giant explosion pushing Ritchie back towards the wall and surrounding everyone with smoke. Ritchie and Sparky both began coughing violently and started waving their hands trying to get the smoke around them to go away. "Did Zippo win?" He questioned.

"Kaa." Sparky added.

When the smoke cleared it revealed that hovering in the air was...no one. Ritchie tore his gaze away from the air and looked to the ground to find both Happy and the opposing Charizard lying on the floor unmoving.

"Looks like a tie." The older boy said. "This is very unexpected. You're very good."

"Thanks, I guess." Ritchie said returning Zippo. "Rest up, Zippo." Ritchie said sweetly. "You're not so bad yourself. If we weren't on opposite sides maybe-" Ritchie was cut off mid-compliment by a powerful gust of wind. He braced himself and planted his feet as best he could as the wind began pushing him back. Ritchie's opponent turned to see both a Salamence and a Druddigon forcing as much wind as possible towards Ritchie next to him.

"Gotta...resist..." It was only seconds before the wind caused Ritchie's foot to lose its place and Ritchie was forced into the air. The two pokemon kicked up the power and the resulting wind pushed Ritchie swiftly back into a wall.

He hit the wall with a loud slam and slumped down to the floor as the pokemon ceased their attacks. "Pika!" Sparky barked. He rushed over to his best buddy stopping at his left side. "Pika!" Sparky pleaded pulling on Ritchie's shirt. As Ritchie felt himself begin to lose consciousness, he looked up one more time at his opponent.

"I played my part." He said weakly. "Just don't hurt Sparky." He pleaded. Ritchie fell forward flat onto the floor slamming his chin on the way.

"Are you insane?!" His opponent screamed at the newcomers. "That's a kid you just knocked out. This wasn't part of the deal!"

"Calm down Noble." Sketchy said. "Boss said to detain him, so we did."

Sparky got on top of Ritchie's back and took a fighting stance as his cheeks began to crackle with static. "Chuu!" Sparky let out his best Thunderbolt and shot it directly towards Sketchy. It collided with the man knocking him onto his back. "Pii!"

"Sketchy!" Skeezy yelled. He turned back to the mouse and growled. "Salamence, knock the rat out!" Skeezy ordered. The Salamence reared back its head, then snapped it forward letting out a powerful flamethrower. It hit Sparky directly, effectively silencing the mouse pokemon. Sparky collapsed on all fours, unconscious on top of his trainer.

"That was excessive, don't you think?" Noble asked glaring at Skeezy.

"Just return the rat. The kid's got to have its pokeball on him. Then we can add him to the collection."

"Add them to the-" Noble started. "Oh, no. I'm not going to be a part of that again. My orders were to stop his progress, not hook him up to one of those infernal devices your boss has horded away somewhere!"

"Really, now? I hear whoever delivers this boy to the boss gets a reward beyond riches. Still want no part?"

"Reward? What reward?"

"What's the one thing you've wanted since you got here?" Skeezy asked.

Noble looked to his feet. "Alright, I'll do it." He submitted dejectedly. "But not happily."

XXXXX

"Now Ash..." Aaron warned.

Ash stood still glaring at Aaron as the elder man tried to explain himself. "Why would you fire Hyper beams at Pikachu?!" Ash demanded. "Where is he?" Ash continued.

"On his way here apparently." Aaron shrugged. "They're quite persistent. If you let me explain my side, I'm sure you'd begin to feel a lot better."

At the peripheral sight of a giant explosion Ash snapped his head towards the computer screen. He ignored the next words that came out of Aaron's mouth and rushed forward towards the personal computer, pushing Aaron to the ground as he rushed. He came to a stop in front of the screen just in time to see images of a young blonde boy being violently shoved out of the view of the camera.

"That was Trip." Ash stated. "What's he doing here?" Ash thought out loud. He turned his attention to another part of the screen to see a large man grab a brunette boy by the hoodie with one hand and sling him over his shoulder and walk out of view as well. "And Ritchie. I'd know that guy anywhere. What's going on with them?" He looked to the last splitscreen where Zygarde and two Darkrai were in a tug of war of sorts with their energy beams. He also noticed Max, Abel, Team Rocket's Meowth, and what looked like a slightly matured Molly Hale. On the bright side, at least they were doing well. Then it hit him. If Meowth was there, that meant Jessie and James were too. And if they were separated then... He turned around swiftly to face Aaron.

The elder man lifted himself off the ground and dusted off his shoulder. "I really wish you hadn't seen that." Aaron said.

"What are you doing to them?" Ash demanded once again. "Where did you take my friends? Ritchie, Trip, Jessie, James, Pikachu-"

"Calm down, your friends are fine. As I was saying before you interrupted me, a little context here might go a long way." Aaron said. "I admit, I may not have been entirely truthful with who I am or my ambitions with the KRA, but that was entirely necessary." He told him.

"Start talking. The truth this time." Ash ordered.