Authoress' Note:

I'll keep this note short and sweat, since last chap ended in a nasty cliffy. Thanks everyone for your continuous support with this story! I'm always happy to read your thoughts and theories! :D Please enjoy!

Chapter 12 'Race Against Time'

As they ran through the forest, Professor Kukui paid closed attention to the Greninja they were following. Even if it didn't stop at any time, he had notice how it was looking progressively more tired. With a hand over the chest area as it ran, and a grimace on its face that could have been easily mistaken for a focus glare to someone who wasn't really observing, the Greninja continued ahead, dismissing the worried growls from the Luxray running beside it.

He had made a quick check up on both Pokémon, so Kukui couldn't understand the reason for the Greninja's strange behavior. Something told him he should have known the answer, but he just couldn't place it. Deciding to recap what he had gather, his mind went back to the video call he had that morning, trying to recall everything regarding the water type. That's when it came.

'There were times during battles when Ash would be able to feel what Greninja was feeling.'

That kid Clemont had been the one to explain it. He hadn't quite understood what he meant then, but now he had this crazy idea that maybe what Clemont was referring to as 'able to feel' was not limited only to an emotional level. And if that was true, the oddity could very much be presenting itself physically both ways… Kukui had never thought of the day when he would have hope so strongly that one of his theories was wrong.

.:oOo:.

"Get ready to surround the enemy! We have no knowledge of the nature of its abilities so don't rush ahead and wait for my signal," Mable barked orders left and right, knowing the new threat was approaching. And judging by how near the turmoil was sounding, it was coming faster than anticipated. "And you, bunch of brats, shut your mouths already!"

The kids under her custody had been nothing but noisy. Yelling at her team to let them go and to bring their friend back. They shouldn't even bother. They were not going anywhere until Fenriar was finally set free.

"Do you really expect us to just sit quietly and wait for you to cause the end of the world?!" Serena yelled in anger.

"News flash, girly. You are all prisoners and can't do anything to stop us. So yeah I expect you to stay still until we are done with your friend," that last part she said on purpose, satisfyingly managing to reel up the kids despite her aversion to their noisy protests.

"You horrible people!" Bonnie yelled. "Just you wait! Even if Fenriar is released, Ash will stop you!"

Mable regarded the smaller girl with a serious expression as if to contemplate her answer before speaking a lot more subdued. "He is more than welcome to try, if he survives the process."

That got all of them to quiet down with shocked expressions.

"What… do you mean?" Mallow asked quietly, not really sure she wanted to know.

"When Lysandre explained how only an Aura Guardian could break the seal by transferring Aura into it…" Clemont started the thought.

"You want him to use his Aura just like he did with that Lucario," Kiawe concluded.

"But, if transferring your Aura that way is the same as depleting your life force…" Serena didn't look anywhere but the ground. "W-What's going to happen to him?"

"Finally you get it. Once we release Fenriar into the world, your friend will be no more," Mable explained.

"You are lying!" Bonnie cried out; angry tears already forming on her eyes. "Ash is strong! Whatever happens, he'll get through and save everyone!"

"B-Bonnie…" Clemont whispered, not really knowing what to say to console his upset sister.

Any further conversation was cut short as the farthest wall from their position crumbled in an explosion of rocks and debris. From within the new whole emerged several Pokémon looking ready to tear everything down.

"They didn't use the entrance!" Mable shouted in aggravation. "Everyone change positions! Don't let them advance from this room!"

.:oOo:.

Kukui had started to have second thoughts about his initial idea of bringing his class to the island. They could clearly hear the sound of battle as they got deeper into the ruins. And even if they hadn't encountered any conflicts so far, being greeted by a large group of seemingly unconscious criminals and Pokémon, all scattered through the ruin's entrance like ragdolls, wasn't exactly a sight he would have liked for any of the kids to witness. He was somehow glad the Greninja hadn't stop at the scene and just went through the next room, focused on reaching its trainer. Officer Jenny barely had time to divide her team again so that a few were left behind to check the area and apprehend the suspects.

"I would like to know what caused the criminals to end up in that condition," one of the officers voiced.

"Seems like something else got here before us…" another one commented.

Officer Jenny nodded. "Let's just hope it is on our side."

.:oOo:.

Maple looked up nervously, finding the one responsible for half her team being thrown through the air into the opposite side of the room. The unknown Pokémon was even more intimidating up close.

"Release the human children immediately," it ordered with a cold edge to its telepathic voice.

Growling under her breath, she stood tall and turned to the small group of grunts that hadn't been knocked out yet. "Do not stand down! We must buy as much time as we can!"

"Yes ma'am!"

Mewtwo's only reaction was a chilling frown.

"I believe Mewtwo can take care of the situation, Pikachu," Slowking advised. "We should concentrate in releasing the children from those rings."

"Pika!" with a salute, Pikachu went over to the group and looked around. "Pikapi?"

"Ash was taken further into the ruins," Serena explained when noticing his confused face. "We need to hurry and help him out!"

Pikachu nodded in acknowledgment and, having Clemont nearest to him, threw an Iron Tail attack against the boy's restrains, causing the energy to disintegrate.

"Thank you!" Clemont said just as the electric mouse went for Kiawe's next...

"Bounsweat! You found us!" Mallow exclaimed; her little grass type jumping from Braixen's head into Mallow's lap with happy tears.

"Are you all okay, Braixen?"

"Braixen-brai!" she nodded back.

"Ah! Watch out!"

Just as Bonnie yelled the warning, two blue blurs stepped in front of them and threw a combined attack made out of water and electricity that blocked a stray dark attack.

"Luxray!" Clemont beamed.

"Thanks, Greninja!" Serena voiced.

Both Pokémon stood on guard, protecting the children as the room was filled with blue uniforms, followed by a very tired Professor and his anxious students. Seeing the situation was now under control, Mewtwo stepped back to let the police force work on arresting the fallen villains.

"Professor Kukui!"

Said professor looked up from his hunched position at Mallow's call. The relief at seeing her seemingly unharmed was evident in his face. He did a quick check around; rapidly noticing Ash was still missing. But then he stared. There was a powerful looking Pokémon levitating beside the children, all looking at the Professor as if he was the rare sight of the picture.

Then came the children behind him, who as soon as they saw their friends, ran towards them with exclamations of relief.

.:oOo:.

"How long is this supposed to take?" Lysandre wondered; sounding more curious than impatient; just as Ash let out a frustrated growl, fighting even harder to keep his life force where it belonged.

"It's hard to say. He's fighting the transfer," Xerosic explained.

"T-There is n-no way I'll let you d-destroy the world, Lysandre!" Ash managed to grit out.

"This is an interesting development," Xerosic commented in thought. "Activate the magnets and get him nearer to the seal."

Lysander watch on as the scientist under his second in command reached for the controls and activated the rings' second function. As it happened, a second force pulled the child off the ground, causing him to go off balance in confusion and breaking his concentration for a second.

"Should that help?"

Xerosic turned to look at his leader and nodded. "Establishing a connection through close proximity, the seal can act as a conductor that allows for the transferred energy to flow a lot more naturally."

Through his confusion Ash barely managed to suppress the vertigo that invaded him the moment his feet stop touching the ground. And before he could understand what the criminals were planning, he already had the crystal right in front of him. He gasped, now feeling the overwhelming power emanating from within the seal pressing down on him. It pulsed angrily, sending enraging thoughts of vengeance and sorrowful despair into his mind; almost consuming his own thoughts, but he shook his head trying to protect himself by rejecting those feelings so unlike his very own. If his past experiences with being possessed had taught him anything, it was that the more you focus on who you truly were and what was real to you, the harder it was for the invader's mind to control you.

Strong Aura… just like theirs…

"H-Huh?"

Ash looked at the crystal warily. That hadn't been a voice talking. Nor a telepathic communication. Just a thought imprinting into his mind.

Betrayed… Release… Revenge… Freedom…

Ash's breath hitched for a second, as the pull turned more aggressive and he felt as if the little control he had over his own energy had been whipped and overruled. He found himself consumed by excruciating pain, feeling like his very essence was being forcefully ripped out of his chest. And he screamed.

Not a stranger to it, Lysandre paid little mind to the young trainer's sudden screams, being too enthralled in the concentrated mass of pure Aura energy that started to form right in front of its rightful owner and around the seal.

.:oOo:.

"Well done everyone, we have them almost all," Officer Jenny anouced.

Mable snorted even as she was handcuffed. "Celebrate all you want. I care not of how you spend these last hours…"

"L-Last hours?" Sophocles gulped in sudden nervousness.

"What do you mean by that?" Professor Kukui asked, the dread he was feeling in the pit of the stomach just getting stronger.

"The seal within the ruins!" Mallow started. "It's where Fenriar has been locked away! They want to set it free!"

"What?! Fenriar is real?!" Lillie asked in bewilderment.

"Who's Fenriar?" Lana asked.

"A legendary Pokémon that is said to cause the end of the world upon its release," Slowking was the one to answer. All the newly arrive looked at him in shock; the wonder of its ability to speak being overshadowed by the urgency of the situation.

"But that's not… how are they planning to do that?" Lillie wondered in obvious confusion.

"They want to use Ash's aura to break the seal!" Clemont exclaimed.

"What?" Kukui didn't quite get it, but judging by Lillie's paling reaction, he could tell it was really bad news.

"But for that to work Ash must be a user of-"

"Pi?! Pika Pikachu!" The sudden exclamation caught their attention towards Ash's Pokémon. Greninja had started to tremble with his eyes tightly shut as if he was in great pain.

"Greninja! Is that-?" before Clemont could finish his question, the water Pokémon release a painful cry as if whatever had been hurting him had just gotten worst.

The episode lasted a few seconds before he was reverted to his normal form and left panting. Whatever had caused the pain had strained the connection; sweat already rolling down the Pokémon's forehead. When he finally opened his eyes, his pupils were completely contracted in pure terror.

"Is-s it hurt?" Lana asked in worry.

"That… wasn't Greninja's pain, was it?" Kiawe murmured almost in shock.

Greninja immediately tried to reconnect to his trainer and sense where he was. Feeling a numbed version of the pain that made him revert his transformation he bolted out of the chamber.

"Wait, Greninja! We are going too!" Bonnie yelled kicking the air as if that would help her get rid of the bindings.

"Clemont! Don't worry about us! Go after him!" Serena exclaimed, almost pleadingly. "You have to help, Ash!"

"Right!" with a nod, he and Luxray went after Greninja.

"I'll go too!" not even thinking it twice, Kiawe followed close behind.

Without a word, Mewtwo levitated away.

"Wait!" Professor Kukui was fast to follow after them, trusting Officer Jenny to take care of the rest.

Pikachu lingered behind obviously conflicted on what to do.

"You go too, Pikachu," Serena ordered, startling him. "Ash needs you more. We'll find another way to get free."

Pikachu nodded in determination and ran after the group.

.:oOo:.

Ash felt himself slipping, unable to keep up with the intensity of the pain he was now in. He barely heard, Lysandre talking to him again.

"Rest assured. Your sacrifice won't be in vain…"

His eyes turned unfocused even as he tried to stay conscious; the effort to stall the energy being too much for him. He didn't even noticed when his surroundings had changed into the foggy void he was suddenly in. Looking around for clues of where he was, he saw a blurry shape approaching; its tall posture and reddish eyes giving it a very imposing look. Then the fog dissipated around it and he finally saw it. A beast so dark it gave the impression of being formed of dark aura instead of fur, and a glare so intense it made him freeze in place.

"F… Fenriar…" even if just a whisper, the imposing wolf-like beast seemed to have heard him, turning its glare towards him.

Ash tensed, wondering if he could somehow communicate with it, but before reaching a decision, the beast threw its head backwards and let go a haunting howl that sent shivers down the trainer's spine. It was so full of emotional agony, Ash almost felt like crying, but the empathy was replaced by fear when he realized what the beast was really doing. Just between its shoulder blades, a great mass of energy had been formed and thrown to the air, where it exploded in dozens of Shadow Balls that came raining down everywhere around them.

Ash knew better than to stay still any longer and ran for cover.

Hope that last part was not too confusing. If it was, it will be explained later on.

And I don't know if it's because I'm falling asleep on the keyboard right now, but I found this chapter lacking; so, sorry if it is underwhelming… I just hope I didn't write anything weird...