Pokémon AquaBlue

"Serena! Serena!" a voice called out. It was dark. Serena grabbed at the air but missed. There was that light in the distance, but she couldn't seem to reach it..?

"Serena!"

"Ash!" she said. She flung her hands at the levitating ice statue.

"Serena, wake up!"

Serena's eyes jolted open. It took a while to process her surroundings. She was in a white room. Heaven? No, a hospital. The windows were shut but it was dark outside. It was night. A large amount of chocolates rested on the cupboard next to her. And sitting in a chair was a familiar figure with crisp, short brown hair.

"Mama?"

"Serena, I'm so glad you're awake," Grace said, reaching over and hugging her daughter. "You were asleep for almost a day. Everyone was worried about you."

"Ash!" Serena said, jerking out of the embrace. "Ash? Where's Ash?"

"He's..." Grace trailed off. "The police are looking for him. I'm sure Officer Jenny will find him soon."

"Tuck? And Mewtwo? And and…"

"Shh…" Grace said, drowning Serena in a sea of pillows and blankets. "Your friends are here to see you. Your doctor said not to overstrain yourself. Would you like anything to drink? Tea? Water?"

"Some water, please," Serena said, and as soon as Grace left, Bonnie and Clemont barged in.

"Serena! You're up!" Bonnie said.

"De-de-denne!"

"Sh! Not too loud, Bonnie!" Clemont said.

"Wah, look at all of these chocolates!" Bonnie said, examining the bedside. "Some are from Shauna…Miette…Nini…ooh, even some from Aria! Would you believe that Dedenne?"

"Dedenne!" the Pokémon agreed.

"Clemont," Serena said, also looking around, but not at the chocolates. "I…I think I grabbed something at the stadium. Right before I…when Ash was taken away. I think it was Tuck's cloak?"

"No, otherwise we would've seen Tuck's face," Clemont said. "Are you sure you grabbed something?"

"Serena, is this it?" Bonnie said, picking something up from the table. "It looks weird…Bonnie doesn't think that it's a chocolate."

The little girl dropped it into Serena's hand. Serena's heart did a backflip. The object was scratched beyond recognition. Even the shape was unrecognizable. But Serena and Clemont knew instantly.

"It's a badge," Serena said.

"Strange," Clemont said. "I can't tell the shape. Is it circular? Spiral? Rectangular?"

"We can't tell whose Pokémon Gym this badge belongs to, huh?" said Bonnie.

Clemont's glasses flashed. "Ho ho ho…I have invented a device for this type of situation! The future is now, thanks to science! Citronic gear, on!"

The Aimpon arm extended and before the girls knew it, a small silver box landed with a thump onto the floor.

"Introducing the Badge-Identifier-Locationer!" Clemont said, pumping out his chest. "This device allows you to know where a badge comes from!"

"Brother, can't you think of better names for once?" Bonnie said.

"Just put the badge into this slit here," Clemont said, taking the badge from Serena. "And it'll let you know by analyzing chemical compounds!"

"Dedenne!" the Pokémon said. Its eyes were shining, almost as if it said "Science is amazing!"

"SCANNING…SCANNING…LOCATION FOUND," the machine chimed on its monitor.

"LOCATION: KANTO REGION. GYM:-"

"Uh, Clemont, is it supposed to smoke like that?" Serena asked.

"Hang on, let me twiddle with the controls…and…oh no oh no this isn't supposed to happening ohnoohnoohno—"

There was a small explosion which caused the door to be kicked open.

"What's happening in here?" Officer Jenny demanded. Like all of her sisters, she sported blue bangs with a blue ponytail.

"Officer!" Serena said. "I think we found a clue to where Ash is!"

"Oh?" she said. She ignored the smoldering wreckage of Clemont and the Badge-Identifier-Locationer.

"Yes! Right before he left I grabbed something and it was a badge and Clemont's badge told us it was in Kanto and-"

"Do you have the badge now?" Officer Jenny asked.

Clemont looked at the still smoking ruins. "Er…no."

"Do you know what badge the gym belongs to?"

"The machine went boom before we could see," Bonnie said.

Officer Jenny ran a hand through her hair. "I'll alert my sisters in Kanto, but other than that, there's not much else I can do."

"But what if it's a gym leader that has Ash?" Bonnie asked.

"We'll take a look but I doubt it," Officer Jenny said. "All gym leaders are approved by the Pokémon League. Everything on their record is looked at. And besides, all participants in the Omega League have eight badges—even Tuck."

"Well, can you take a look at what badges Tuck used to enter the Pokémon League?" Serena said desperately, but Officer Jenny just shook her head.

"Obtaining a warrant would take months. I'm sure we can find Ash before then," Officer Jenny said. "Do you have anything else you wish to tell me?"

"His voice!" Serena said. "Tuck's voice was cracking, and it sounded tired. Really tired. I…I can't explain it."

Officer Jenny had taken out a notebook. "An interesting comment. A shame, though, since that's a tough clue judging by how often he talked in the tournament. Anything else?"

"One of his Pokémon is a Mewtwo."

Bonnie and Clemont looked at Serena. Clemont was doing something on his computer and his hands froze in shock.

"A Mewtwo? How do you know?" said Officer Jenny.

"It was floating next to him!" Serena said. "Did no one else see it? It was there!"

Officer Jenny looked Serena. "Traumatic stress can induce hallucinations. Take a long rest now, okay? You deserve it. We'll find Ash soon. I promise."

Serena shook her head. Officer Jenny nodded and started to leave, but right as she was at the doorway she stopped.

"Serena, not many people would have done what you have done yesterday," Officer Jenny said. "In fact, out of all the people in that stadium, you were the only one to jump down there. Ash is very special to you, isn't he?"

"Please leave!" Serena said, steam coming out of her ears. Officer Jenny just laughed and waved goodbye.

"And…hacked!" Clemont said.

"Huh?" Bonnie said.

"I've hacked into the Pokémon League's security while Serena and Officer Jenny were talking," Clemont said. "It was easy. And now, ah! There it is! The badges Tuck presented to the League were received in Johto!"

"Johto?" Serena said. Her head was spinning. "That means that Tuck is a Kanto gym leader?"

"Yes, it makes sense!" Clemont said. "That's why he disguised himself! A Kanto gym leader can't enter the Pokémon League, and of course he wouldn't grab the Kanto gym badges—the other leaders would recognize his Pokémon and appearance and battle style easily!"

"But why?" Serena asked. Her head was still spinning around. "Why would he steal Ash? Why would he benefit? Wait, is it because Ash defeated his Blastoise? Was it because Ash was strong?"

"Pretty crazy theory you got there, Serena," said another voice.

"Tierno! Shauna! Trevor! And even Alexa!" Bonnie said as the four entered the room.

Tierno did a mini dance as he hopped in, somehow defying the laws of physics with his large body. "Hey Serena? Enjoy those chocolates I sent you?"

"A Kanto gym leader?" Shauna said, Brushing aside her brown curls, she smiled at Serena. "Are you sure your head doesn't hurt?"

Trevor took a picture of the room before stepping in. "I dunno, couldn't Tuck been somebody random who happened to challenge the Johto league? Maybe he participated in the Kanto league before?"

"But why would he be carrying an old Kanto badge?" Clemont said. "Wouldn't you normally hang your collection in your room? But it makes sense if he was a Kanto gym leader—we carry hundreds of those things around. I would know."

"Let's not rush ahead," Alexa said. She was taller than everyone else, being the only adult in the room. "Let's go through the facts. Tuck has at least eight Johto badges and one Kanto badge. That means he has visited Kanto and Johto."

Everyone nodded, including Dedenne.

"That means there must be hints in either of those areas," Alexa said. "From my years as a reporter, I know that everyone drops clues. I suggest that we split up and investigate Kanto and Johto!"

"I'll tell Officer Jenny!" Bonnie said, but then she was stopped by Clemont's mechanical Aipom arm.

"You can't!" Clemont said. "She'll put me in jail for hacking the Pokémon League system!"

"Clues huh…alright! I've never been a detective before!" Tierno said, giving a twirl.

"Ah, I can take pictures of all the evidence!" Trevor said. "I'm sure that'll come in handy!"

"Wait everyone!" Serena said. Things were going much too fast for her. "Why…why are you all doing this?"

Everyone just looked at her.

"What are you talking about, Serena?" Bonnie said.

"Everyone is…you all want to…travel across countries…"

"Ah, I see what you mean Serena," Tierno said. "That's because we're all Ash's friends!"

"The sooner we find him the better!" Trevor said. "We don't want him to freeze in that ice cube forever, right?"

"It's also to redeem ourselves," Shauna said. "We're quite jealous of you, Serena. We were all stunned and you were the only one to leap down into the stadium. Now's our chance to say sorry for Ash and you for not helping!"

Alexa smiled. "Ash is a good friend. Everyone he meets likes his courage, stubbornness, and tenacity. And besides, we must save him before next year's League Conference! After all, we want him to become Pokémon Master, don't we?"

"Not if I get it first!" Tierno said.

"Alright! So how are we dividing this?" Alexa said. "Who wants to go to Johto to investigate?"

"I do!" said Trevor. "Sorry Clemont—but I don't think he's in Kanto. We know Tuck's been to Johto, but we don't know if he stole that Kanto badge or not. Not to mention I could battle each gym leader to find out Tuck's strength! His Blastoise beat all of them by himself! I need to train up my Blastoise to do the same!"

"Well, I'm going to Kanto," Clemont said. "My inventions don't lie to me. You're coming too, Bonnie."

"Okay~~" Bonnie said. "I've heard there were cuter Pokémon in Kanto anyways! Like Jiggypuff and Clefairy!"

"Hmmm…well, Johto has more Pokémon species!" Trevor said. "I won't let it distract me, but taking pictures of all of those new Pokémon would be a nice break!"

"Ah, I've heard Johto has Pokémon Contests! I've heard it's like Pokémon Showcases!" said Shauna. "Does that mean you'll be coming to Johto with us, Serena?"

"No," Serena said with such a tone that made everyone look at her. "I want to go to Kanto."

"Why?" Alexa asked.

"Because Ash was born there," she said, which made all the children silent.

Alexa smiled. "I'll be manning the fort here then. Someone needs to spread the news about how Ash was taken. Also, there's evidence here at the stadium. Good luck to you all!"

"Pika pi!"

"Pikachu!?" everyone yelped as the electric mouse bounced from under Serena's covers.

"T-that's Ash's Pikachu, is it?" said Trevor. "I'd recognize it anywhere. Its teeth, for example, are exactly—"

Pikachu leapt onto Serena's shoulders, finding a good place to nuzzle. Serena noticed with a pang it was the exact same spot it usually rode on Ash's shoulders.

"Pikachu? Where did you come from?" she said.

"Pika…"

"Now that I think about it, Pikachu was never frozen, was he?" Clemont said. "That must be horrible. To have your best friend taken away from you and there was nothing you could do to stop it."

Far outside the window, a white-clothed trio put down their binoculars and headphones.

"Did you hear that?" James said. "Pikachu wasn't captured!"

"And now Pikachu doesn't have the brat boy to protect him!" Jessie said. "We can finally capture Pikachu!"

"Giovanni will be so pleased!" Meowth said. "When do we want to grab Pikachu?"

"We wait until the brat girl is alone," Jessie said. "There's too much security right now with the brat boy missing."

"Woooooobbuuuffet!"

"Hey, who's in those bushes?" Officer Jenny said, flashing a light in their direction. "Come out here at once!"
"Team Rocket is running away again!" they said, even Wobbuffet managing to sprint as quickly as them.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Serena! It's so good to see you! How are you holding up?" the red-haired idol said. Aria pulled Serena into a tight embrace, almost causing the latter to tumble over.

"Pika! Pika!" the yellow mouse said, its limbs flying around as it tried to escape the hug.

"I'm doing fine, thanks!" Serena said, a smile plastered on her face. "How have you been? Enjoying your break?"

"Oh no actually~~!" Aria said. "I never had a rival before! You just wait for the next Master's Class Pokémon Showcase! Delphox and I have been training a lot!"

Serena's smile fell flat. "About that, Aria…"

"Say, why did you want me to come out allll the way over here?" Aria said. "We're not even near Anistar City! I'm surprised there's a Pokémon Center here!"

Serena just tapped a Pokéball, and her first Pokémon came out.

"Braix!"

"Do you see that sapling over there, Aria?" Serena said.

"Ooh, it's so small!" Aria said. "I've never seen a baby tree before!"

"Aria!"

Aria dropped her voice, seeing the look on Serena's face. She wasn't crying, was she? "Serena, I know you've been through a lot the past few days. But I promise you that it'll all get better. Here. Just smile~~. It gives strength to all of our friends~~."

"I'm giving up being Kalos Queen. You take it back."

"Serena!" Aria said. She almost tripped over herself. "But—but…seriously!? After how hard you've worked for it!? That easily!?"

"I won't be able to compete in Kalos Pokémon Showcases anymore," Serena said. Aria couldn't see her eyes under her hat. "I'm going to Kanto. To look for Ash."

"Sweetie, just leave it to an Officer Jenny, I'm sure they'll figure out—"

"No!" Serena said. "I…can't. They don't know everything. I don't know if they can take down Tuck. He's strong."

"And you can?" Aria said.

"NO!" Serena shouted. It surprised Aria. "But I can't just sit here while…while…"

"Pika…"

"This is the place where I promised to return to when I became Kalos Queen. That tree used to be Braixen's stick. I…I had to visit here now before…before…"

Braixen rested her head on Serena's hips, and she absentmindedly scratched her Pokémon's ears.

Aria noticed Serena was definitely crying now. She put a hand on her friend's shoulder. "Don't worry Serena. I understand. I'll protect it for you until you return."

The idol smiled widely, displaying all of her perfect teeth. Serena felt a renewed strength inside her.

"Thank you, Aria."

XXXXXXXXXXXX

"I'm leaving now, Mama," the young girl said. She looked around at her room. Her PC given by her father, a Wii U, and TV were neatly packed away in the shelves. Everything else she needed was in her pack.

"Braixen, Pancham, Sylveon, come on out!" Serena said, tossing three Pokéballs. "Say goodbye to our home. I have a feeling it'll be a long time before we come back."

"Pika pi!"

"Braix!"

"Pan-cham!"

"Sylve."

"Serena!" Grace said. "Hurry up! Your flight will be leaving soon!"

"Coming, Mama!" she said as she went down the stairs.

Serena looked at her mother. She would never admit it but in a way she wanted to be exactly like her. Proud. Brave. Confident. Always sure of what she was doing, always knowing what to do.

"Are you sure you want to go to Kanto, Serena?" Grace said, pulling her daughter into an embrace.

"Yeah. They have some kind of new Pokémon Performance there, you know? Like a mixture between Pokémon Showcases and Pokémon Contests." It felt oddly easy for Serena to lie. She's done it multiple times to her mother before, like about skipping Rhyhorn riding practice, but lying about something so big was different.

It was a while longer before Grace ended the embrace. "Okay. Say goodbye to Fletchling and Rhyhorn too. They've been here since you were born!"

Serena stroked Rhydon's head, just the way she knew he liked it. Patting Fletchling on his head too, Serena waved back at her mom.

"Come on Pikachu, Braixen, Sylveon, and Pancham! We have a plane ride to catch!"

"Make sure you call often, dear, and go for broke!"

"Thanks Mama!" Serena said as she passed through the entrance to Vaniville Town. It actually took her a while to make her first step. It was weird. She has done it a million times before and even during her previous journey, but now it had some kind of finality.

Back in her house, Grace pulled out some food from the kitchen.

"Fletch—ling?" the Pokémon said, perched on her shoulder.

"Yes, I think she'll find Ash," Grace said to the little bird. She even grinned. "She's my daughter, after all."