SORRY for the long break between updates! Homework and real life don't like me to update stories, and I also rewrote part of this chapter twice... I just couldn't get it right... But hey, this chapter is also longer than my usual chapters, so enjoy!

Also, thank you for all the nice reviews and follows+favorites on the story!

"Bunnel..." A small voice whimpered.

Kindle nudged Ash as they exited the Santalune Forest, whining slightly. She didn't understand quite what was going on, but he hadn't said a word since Serena had left. Ash glanced down at her, his face still had a distant look to it.

"Yeah?" He asked.

"Kin," Kindle nodded towards the grass on route three, from where she had heard a familiar whimper.

"Oh, yeah... It is a new route... I don't want to catch anything right now..." He trailed off, muttering. Kindle headbutted his leg.

"Kin! Fenna!" She turned, running towards the grass. Ash turned, watching her as she pounced, rolling out into the road with a scratched Bunnelby. Ash's eyes widened.

"Stop! Kindle, stop!" He cried, running towards them, but as he approached he realized that it hadn't been Kindle who had attacked the Bunnelby. The normal type's wounds were recent, but not fresh. The Bunnelby lashed out against them, dust sticking to the blood on it. Ash reached out, pulling Kindle off of the Bunnelby, who stopped trashing.

The Bunnelby watched them with wide eyes, inching back from them, "Bee..." It then yelped as Aura dove out of the air, landing on Ash's head. The Pidgey cocked it's head at the Bunnelby.

"You look like Serena's Bunnelby," Ash said after a moment, "The one that helped us out with the Panpour," And the only one of Serena's Pokemon that didn't kill something, Ash thought.

The Bunnelby yelped again as she heard Serena's name. She curled up into a ball, shaking at their presence, "Nel..."

Ash scooped her up, "Wait... are you Serena's Bunnelby?" He asked as he held her, "Did you two get separated or something? I guess you can tag along with us to Santalune City, if you want. Safer in numbers, right?"

The Bunnelby had stopped shaking, she looked up at Ash sheepishly, then gave a small nod. Ash glanced at Kindle, who wagged her tail. Kindle leapt up onto Ash's shoulder while Aura flew back into the air. The Bunnelby didn't move as they continued their journey to the city.

"Hello, welcome to the Pokemon Center!" The nurse smiled at Ash, bloody and dusty, as he tromped into the Pokemon Center, "Can I help you today?"

"My Pokemon..." Ash muttered. The nurse smiled and nodded.

"Of course, just return all the Pokemon to their Pokeballs and we'll have them in fight shape in no time!" The nurse said with another smile. Ash returned his Fennekin and Pidgey, handing them over with Panpour's Pokeball. He glanced at Bunnelby.

"She's not mine," He said, pointing, "My frie... um... acquaintance caught her, I found her like this."

The nurse frowned, "That seems strange. A trainer should keep track of their Pokemon at all times, perhaps it was released without your knowledge?"

"Released?" Ash said, glancing down at the Bunnelby. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she began shaking again, "Did Serena released you?" The Bunnelby shook harder, nodding, curling up again. An angry look past over Ash, "She didn't even take you to the Pokemon Center!" He pulled out a Pokeball, pressing it to Bunnelby's head. He handed it over to the nurse as it dinged, who was staring at him. She took his Pokeballs into the back of the Pokemon Center, "I think I heard Serena call you Anne earlier," Ash muttered.

*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*

Introducing: Anne

Bunnelby: female

Level 4

Caught at: Route 3

Nature: Bashful

*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*

Ash didn't know how long it would take for the Pokemon to be healed, so he wandered around the center. People didn't seemed concerned about the blood on his clothes, though he felt sick of the thought of it. There was a small shop in the center, selling things from supplies to souvenirs. Ash paused, wondering if he had any money.

He sat down, deciding to look through his bag to see what items he had. The only items he recognized were the two remaining empty Pokeballs Tierno and Trevor had given him, the empty potions bottles, along with 'his' trainer card and Pokedex. But there were many unfamiliar items as well: another potion bottle, a wallet full of money, a holo caster, and-

"Clothes," Ash whispered excitedly, standing up. He slipped into the bathroom, changing out of his bloody outfit, and into the unfamiliar apparel that seemed to fit him perfectly. He decided to gloss over that for now though, glad to be out of other outfit. He walked out of the bathroom, looking around.

The nurse flagged him down, handing him back his four Pokeballs with yet another smile, "Here you go," She said as he took them back, hooking them to his Pokebelt.

"Thank you," Ash replied, heading out of the Pokemon Center. The city looked pretty much the same as the one he had visited in his own world. In fact the only thing that seemed vastly different were the people themselves. There was a colder feeling in the air as the people rushed by, hardly talking to anyone else.

There were hardly any Pokemon as well, he saw Pokeballs but no Pokemon out. Not even wild ones that he had seen living in the streets in his world. The trees were devoted of flying types and the gardens didn't have any bug or grass types.

Not including the attack in the forest, all the Pokemon here seemed to avoid humans in general.

He drifted back towards route three, grabbing Kindle's Pokeball. She let out a happy yip as she was released, dancing around his legs. He smiled, kneeling down.

"You look much better," He said. The blood had been cleaned off her tan fur and many of her lesser wounds were healed. But the long scar on her chest was still clear as before.

Ash stood back up, releasing Aura and Anne. The Pidgey claimed his head, cooing. Anne looked as scared as ever, staring at Ash with wide eyes. Aura and Kindle shared a confused glance, and Ash pulled out his last Pokeball.

"Pan!" The Panpour cried as he was released. Kindle sprang in front of Ash, growling at it. Aura jumped off of his head, hovering in front of him protectively. Anne scampered back, hiding behind Ash's legs. The Panpour glared at them with hatred, especially at Kindle.

"Look," Ash said, "I didn't catch you, Chester, because I like you. You tried to kill Kindle," The Panpour glared up at him, "I only caught you because no one deserves to die like that. Now, if you promise not to attack any of us again, I'll let you go," Ash pointed to the south, "The forest is not far from here, just beyond this route."

Panpour gave him a sly look, then glanced at Kindle. Chester stood there for a moment- then with murder in his eyes- he sprang at Kindle. The fox Pokemon didn't hesitate, springing to meet the monkey. Scratch met Scratch in mid air, and they broke apart. Kindle prepared an Ember while Chester charged forward with another Scratch.

The Panpour was recalled in a flash of red light, sucked back into the Pokeball. Kindle's Ember was smothered out, and she cocked her head at Ash. He shook his head.

"I gave him a chance. I'm not just going to let him go if he just attacks like that for no reason. Come on guys, let's go back to Santalune," He turned to leave, then stopped, looking down at the Bunnelby still clinging to his leg.

He knelt down, gently pulling her off, "Bunnel..."

"You can leave too if you want too," Ash told her, "I can't take you back to route two, we can't risk going through the forest again, but there are other Bunnelby here too," He pointed a ways off. Anne looked at them, "Or you can stick with us. You wouldn't have to battle if you didn't want too."

The Bunnelby rocked back and forward, then threw herself into Ash's arms. He smiled, "Well then, it looks like we'll all be going back to Santalune together."

Aura landed on his head again as he stood up, and Anne slunk onto his shoulder. Kindle kept darting around Ash's heels as they re-entered the city.

Ash closed his eyes as they walked, he had no idea of what to do now or where to go. Did he really believe Serena's story? He had to admit that it was a bit out there. But yet it made perfect sense to him, it seemed to be the only explanation.

Ash sighed, and walked back into the Pokemon Center, perhaps some sleep would help him clear his mind of this chaotic day.

Day Two

Santalune Gym

Typing: Bug

Badge Levels: 1-3

Style: Official League Battle Standard

Ash stared at the sign at the gym. He had no idea of what a 'badge level' was, the words 'Official League Battle Standard' reminded him of what Serena had said yesterday: All gym battles here were to the death.

Ash suppressed the sick feeling he felt, walking away from the gym. Kindle cocked her head to one side, confused. Ash had been given a gym license, so then why wasn't he battling in the gym?

"There you are," A voice said, Ash flinched in surprise and turned.

"Don't scare me like that," Ash muttered, looking at Serena. She hadn't changed much since yesterday, except for she looked more annoyed than usual.

"I've been looking for you since yesterday afternoon," She continued, slightly angry, "You realize that we need to have our gym battle soon, right? The Professor wants to see the whole group all together in Lumiose, which means we should all leave Santalune at the same time!"

Ash just stared at her for a minute, "I... I'm, err... I'm not doing a gym match..." He muttered.

She scowled, "We don't have all the time in the world. I already signed you up," She pulled a slip of paper from her bag, "Your battle is tomorrow, at ten in the morning. Don't take too long during your battle, Tierno and the others want to leave at eleven tomorrow," She handed him the paper, which stated his name and battle time.

"I'm not doing a gym match," Ash repeated.

"What? Do you think you can put off this gym? You realize that you can only get your first, second, or third badge from here, right?" Serena asked, "They don't let you win higher level badges by battling bug types. And in no way are we back tracking."

Now that term 'badge level' made a bit more since, but that wasn't what Ash was worried about. Kindle gave Ash a strange look as his hand crumpled the paper in his hand, "No, I'm not battling in any gym at all. I am not putting any Pokemon at risk!" He growled, and Serena rolled her eyes.

"Not this stupid thing again..." She muttered, "Do you think Pokemon are some glorified beings or something? You know what they do in the wild, they fight to the death! They fight for territory, food, mates, and power!" Serena shouted, "And guess what they fight for under human's' commands?" She growled.

Kindle whimpered as an angry look past over Ash's face, "Kin."

"Territory, to be one of the six Pokemon to be on a human's team, you know why? Because humans give the strong Pokemon food that's not limited nor has competition. The healthiest of all Pokemon get the right to breed and have mates and produce the best offspring for battle. And most of all Pokemon will get stronger and have the most power while working under a human's orders," Serena finished, trying to catch her breath, "They do the same thing in the wild, except for they have a better chance to survive under humans. We healing capabilities, healthier and more abundances of foods, we can help Pokemon evolve to a level they couldn't in the wild. Their best chances are with a practicing trainer! Even if a human chooses to release a Pokemon, they are still stronger than the average wild Pokemon."

"Unless," Ash snarled, "They were freakin' released after a battle and weren't even healed!" He took a step forward, and Serena took a step back, "I found your Bunnelby half injured and terrified on route three!"

"Yeah, I have no room for a coward on my team," Serena said, which only made Ash angrier.

"But you couldn't even take her to a Pokemon Center?!" He yelled, "She risked her life back in the forest even though she was scared and you pay her back by dumping her in the wild while she's weakened!?"

"She would have died eventually either way-"

"No, she won't!" Ash growled, and he was about to shout in her face about how he had caught the Bunnelby, but he was cut off as someone laid a hand on the back of his neck. Ash's whole body locked up, and his jaw clamped itself shut. Ash tried to talk, but he couldn't get his mouth to move. Panicking, he tried to turn his head to see whose hand was on him, but his neck refused to budge.

The only thing he seemed to have control over was his eyes, which darted around in a panic.

"Excuse me," A deep, strong voice said from beside Ash, "But I couldn't help but overhear your conversation," The voice sent chills down Ash's spine. Ash tried to move again, but his body was no longer under his control.

"It's fine," Serena said, "My friend here is just being his stupid, stubborn self," She growled. Ash wanted to scream at her that they weren't friends, but his voice still refused to work. He moved his eyes down towards Kindle, who was watching him worryingly. He hoped his eyes could convey the message to her.

Kindle didn't even need to look at her trainer to know something was wrong. This man that was by Ash just felt off. Like some aura was radiating from him that told her to run. Despite this feeling she didn't, she didn't leave her trainer. Instead she growled, advancing on the man.

"Fenna... Kin! Kin kin!" She snarled, telling the man to back off, 'Go... away! Back away!' She yipped at him.

The man looked down at her. He had a dark tan and midnight black hair. She couldn't see his eyes due to a pair of thick, black, reflective sunglasses. He opened his mouth and said: 'Hush.'

There was something different about his voice. Kindle understood what he had said, but it didn't sound like human speak. She tried to say something else to him, but Kindle found that no sound came out of her mouth. Her eyes widened as her jaw open and closed soundlessly. Her whimper went unvoiced as she back away, unsure of what to do.

"I'll take it from here," The man said to Serena, and a glazed look entered her eyes. Kindle watched as Serena turned and walked away without another word. Kindle watched her go, then she realized that the man was leading Ash away from the gym. Kindle scampered after them, with several little yips. It took her a moment to realize that her voice was somehow back.

The man's red leather jack was shredded at the ends of the sleeves, not as if it were old, but more as a fashion statement. A gray scarf hung around his neck despite the warm summer weather. Kindle thought he unnaturally stood out, but no one gave him a second glance. In fact, people seemed to give him a wide berth without even realizing it.

Meanwhile Ash was panicking.

It was like someone had trapped him within his own body. His conscious sat uselessly as the outside force made him walk forward. He kept trying to speak, but the thoughts only bounced around in his own mind. First he had been dumped in this cruel and strange world, and how he couldn't even dictate his own movements.

Soon they were out of Santalune City and out on route twenty-two. This was a more open route, like route three, but it seemed much more civilized. The flowers seemed to be more in a garden than the wild and the paved road was in great condition. After walking a ways from the city the man released Ash. As soon as the hand moved away from Ash's neck the outside force that seemed to be controlling him left. Ash, who was not prepared to have control of his body again, fell forward and collapsed on the ground. Kindle whimpered, and ran to her trainer. The man studied her as she pawed Ash.

'Get up,' She whimpered to him, 'Quickly, get up Ash!'

'He'll be fine,' The man told Kindle, 'I don't want him dead, yet.'

Kindle was about to turn on the man, ready to spit an Ember at him and attack, but Ash groaned. He sat up, rubbing his neck. Even though the man's hand had been there, it was cold. "Ow..." Ash moaned, "I can move again..."

The man offered a gloved hand to Ash. Ash eyed it and the man wearly, 'Don't trust him!' Kindle shouted, "Fenni fenna kin fen!" But Ash took the man's hand, and he pull Ash to his feet. Ash shuttered as he pulled his hand away, the man had fingerless black leather gloves, but the man's finger tips felt like ice against his skin.

"I'm sorry for interrupting you and your friend like that-" The man began.

"She's not my friend," Ash snapped.

"- I wasn't even planning on interfering at all," He continued as if Ash hadn't spoken, "But this just wasn't working out how it should have. I practically threw everything right at you, but no..." He sighed, "The Others did say that you could be stubborn, and I suppose the others have to be right about something," The man looked right at Ash, "You are the most stubborn person I've met, Ash."

"How do you know my name?" Was the first of many questions clouding Ash's head to escape through his mouth.

A smile tugged at the man's lips. His lower lip was black, while his upper one was a bright red. Ash briefly wondered if he was wearing makeup of some sort.

"I know more than your pathetic name," The man replied, smirking, "Ashes, the dusty remains of a great burning blaze, how fitting."

Kindle had just about had enough. This man had interrupted her trainer, forced him out here, and now was insulting him! She growled, springing at the human, claws glowing. Normally she would never dream about attacking a human, but this was to protect her trainer! Ash took a half step forward to try to stop her, but the man was much quicker.

He raised his arm as if to block her, but he caught her mid-leap instead. Kindle yelped as he threw her back to the ground in a single, fluid motion. Kindle groaned as she hit the ground. Her sides ached as she stood, shaking.

"Hold that thought for about fifty more levels, deary," He told her with a smile. Ash ran forward, picking up Kindle.

"Are you alright?" He asked. Kindle nodded, peering around him to look at the man. Ash held Kindle closer as he turned, facing the man, and asked a bit harshly, "Who are you?!"

The man smiled again, "We've met before, Ash, don't you recognize me?" He pulled his sunglasses down a bit, allowing Ash to see his eyes.

The man's eyes were blue. Nothing but blue. There was no whites of his eyes or black pupils. Well, there was a small white dot in each eye that could have possibly been a pupil, but Ash didn't noticed that. Just the bright intense blue color that seemed to glow. Ash stared stared at those eyes. He had never seen this man before, but those eyes... He had seen those eyes before.

Ash's hand went to his neck, wrapping around the black gem. He gulped a bit, then asked quietly, "Yveltal?"

The man grinned, "Long time no see."

Ash opened his mouth to say something, but his mind was racing. A million thoughts was running through his mind. Finally he said, "Does that make Serena's story true?"

The human-Yveltal cocked his head, "I made sure she knew that story on purpose, so you'd figure all out this out. You were an interesting case. Typically I leave my Pariahs in the dark, let them try to figure out what's happening to them on their own," He grinned again, "It's much more entertaining that way."

Ash once more seemed to struggle for something to say, but Yveltal kept talking.

"Like I said, you were an interesting case. The way to make this the most entertaining for me was to make sure that you know. You see, you're a heroic type Ash, which once more explains why the Others favor you. Most people that fall into my claws are self centered, looking for ways to get out of death. They are the ones that get hurt in my little games, but you..." Yveltal looked at him, "The way to get to you was to not target you physically, but emotionally. You cared so much about Pokemon and people that you wouldn't care if something happened to you, as long other creatures were safe."

"So you brought me here," Ash finished, "To this inhumane place."

"'Brought'? No Ash, I made this place. A little pocket dimension between Time and Space that is completely under my control," He looked up, "If you tried to leave this 'Kalos' and go to another part of this world it wouldn't work. Kalos is the only thing in this world, even though the other humans don't notice it," He looked at Kindle, 'Nor Pokemon.'

"W-what?" Ash said.

"Hmm?" Yveltal looked at him.

"That last part... That wasn't english..."

"Of course not. I am not a human, Ash, I am a Pokemon. Just because I'm in this disgusting form does not mean I'm limited to your gibberish language."

Ash felt unsettled, for the first time he heard the hatred in Yveltal's tone. The darkness in his tone seemed to snap Ash to reality, this man- well- Pokemon had been the thing that had brought him here. To this terrible world. Anger built up in Ash's chest, and he took a step forward.

"Take me back," Ash demanded.

Yveltal's grin was back, "Nah, I'm not in the mood. Why don't you try asking me tomorrow?"

Ash huffed a bit, frustrated. He closed his eyes for a minute, "Yes, I know I have gotten out of death a couple of times, but it was beyond my control! If you are thinking about what happened at the Tree of Beginnings, that wasn't my fault! It was Mew that brought me back! If you have a problem then go sort it out with her!"

Yveltal made a face, "Mew, she's Arceus's little spoiled brat. Her only duties involved protecting the Tree and the Golems do more work than her. Death is my duty, but she thinks she has the right to interfere," He shook his head, "What happened at the Tree should have been sorted out, you were suppose to die with the Lucario when giving up your aura, which would have balanced out Mew reviving you. But no, you leave the Lucario to die by himself."

A weight of guilt pressed down on Ash, "I- He- I tried! He was the one that pushed me away! That again wasn't my fault-"

"Right. You were completely incapable assisting him after he pushed you away. People are know for losing their aura powers after being pushed, my bad," He replied sarcastically.

Ash seemed to be at a lost for words. Kindle's ears went back, her trainer looked so sad and guilty. She didn't completely understand what was going on, but from what she understood it wasn't his fault! He didn't abandon any Lucario, it sounded like to her that the Lucario had saved Ash!

But one look at Yveltal and Kindle understood that was the hu... Pokemon's goal. A wicked grin was spread across the creature's face as Ash stared at his feet. He wanted Ash to feel that way! He was playing with her trainer's emotions! She growled, trying to tell Ash to ignore it, but she once more found herself unable to vocalize herself.

"I-"

"If you're going to tell me to take you back again, the answer is still no. The other legendaries have protected you for long enough, it took me years to get my claws on you. You escaped death, Ash, you now belong to me," Yveltal's eyes gleamed as he slipped his sunglasses back on, "Now, if you want to return to your world, you're going to play my game."

"What do you want me to do?" Ash snapped, looking Yveltal in the eye, well, sunglasses. Kindle like the defiant look in his eyes.

Yveltal laughed, as if entertained, "Yes, determined and willing. I like that! Well, I'll like tearing that down," He laughed again, "And as for what you do Ash, that's quite simple: defeat the league."

"The league?" Ash asked.

Kindle could imagine Yveltal rolling his eyes behind his glasses, "Yes, the league. You've done the first part before, collect the eight badges. Though the second part is slightly different, but once you defeat the champion then one of your little attempts to avoid death will be forgiven, just like it had never happened. I tried to make that clear, a gym license, a loyal Pokemon, I even had Serena sign you up for your first gym battle! But no, you still made me come down here," He crossed his arms, as if disappointed with Ash.

"But... But to beat the gym, that'll... My Pokemon could die," Ash muttered, hugging Kindle closer. He may have only known the Fennekin for barely two days, but she was his only friend in this dark world, "And the gym leader's Pokemon..."

A sly grin crept onto Yveltal's face, "Did you think I'd make this easy? No, little Pariah, this shall be entertaining for me. I suppose you might be able to avoid your own Pokemon's death if you keep them strong enough, but others' Pokemon will fall to yours," The grin widened to a genuine smile, "You'll have to put your Pokemon at risk every time while watching or opponents one's die! And it will be all under your command to free yourself from my little game! Looks like our little selfless hero will have to put himself first for once!"

Ash had felt sick many times since he had came to this place, but this was the worst he had felt yet. He remembered how easily Serena had killed those wild Pokemon, but that had still been in self defense... Yveltal was asking him to kill for entertainment, and to put his own Pokemon at risk.

"Oh, and Ash," Yveltal interrupted Ash's thought process, "You'll do as I ask or else I'll take things into my own claws, and trust me," He added with a smirk, "You don't want me to do that," He dug his hand into his pocket, pulling out the same slip of paper Serena had given Ash earlier, "I believe your battle is at ten tomorrow," He placed the paper in Ash's hands, "I must be going now. If you ever get the sudden desire to talk to me, you can find me at the gym," He turned to leave, "For the sake of your 'friends' thinking you're sane, call me... Clyde. Yes, I have always like that name," He trailed off, muttering to himself as he walked away.

Ash watched him leave, feeling utterly alone, even as Kindle licked his face reassuringly and as a Pokemon rubbed his leg. Ash glanced down. A Litleo was rubbing it's head against him, purring contently. Ash sank to his knees, feeling sick and overwhelmed.

*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*

Introducing: Mufasa

Litleo: male

Level 6

Caught at: Route 22

Nature: Bashful

*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*

A quick explanation about Clyde: In the Black and White and B&W2 games the 'gym guide' character is named Clyde. Yveltal is taking on the role as the gym guide character in this story, but since the Kalos games (X&Y) never gave the gym guide character a name, I'm using the name from the B&W games.

Two new 'bashful' team mates in this chapter... Mufasa the Litleo didn't get much time yet though... And yeah, Mufasa... I like Lion King...