Chapter 46

When we meet up with Sawyer again, we have a battle. And when it is Sceptile against Greninja, we have a heated battle. And it is then my Alain self arrives, and he also notices the battle.

"Greninja, can you still battle? There's no doubt we can win this thing!" I say and it is also then Greninja transforms once more.

"Hey, what's going on here?" Sawyer is shocked. He tries to finish with Sceptile, but I have Greninja use Aerial Ace, and it defeats Sceptile in the end.

"I still won anyway..." I sigh, and Serena also seems tired. Elline asks, "Serena... are you okay as well?"

"Yeah... though I feel wiped out even though it is Ash that does the battle..."

"So Ash, you've gotta tell me what just happened!" Sawyer says, "How did you do whatever you did?"

"I don't really know what I did, Sawyer." I say. "Stuff just flashes in front of my eyes when I get like that..."

After treating our Pokemon in the Pokemon Center, I also noticed my Alain self nearby. After what happened, maybe we should do the aura link so that I can know what he's doing and he can know what I'm doing...

Sawyer says, "Hey, Ash, your Greninja looks different in battle. And it was all wrapped up in water. So please, tell me how the two of you did that."

"I really don't have a clue." I say.

"Actually none of us have a clue." Serena says.

"It just happens." Bonnie adds.

"That's true." David says. "Well so far it only happens a few time."

"That's strange. The way that they move together like that, it's as if they'd become one."

"It was just like that when it happened before..." Serena says. "I mean... it's like all the things Greninja is seeing and doing, Ash and I are seeing and doing at the exact same time. I don't know if Lillie and Alice feel it as well..."

"I don't know. Maybe we turn into Greninja?" I ask.

"They say when the bond between trainer and Pokemon gets stronger, they start to look alike. So maybe that might explain whatever's happening to them since the bond between Ash, Serena, and Greninja have gotten so powerful." Sawyer says.

After bidding farewell to Sawyer, we decide to take another night, the next morning, everyone hears a roar and decides to check out what's going on, and it turns out that Alain is training Charizard.

"It's Alain." Serena says.

I step forward and say, "Alain. It's been a while."

Alain nods and our Pokemon greet Charizard, I say, "Is that the Charizardite X?"

"Yes, everything is going as planned." Alain says to me. "Care to see? How about a battle between Charizard and Greninja? I saw the battle yesterday, I'd like to see more of that."

I say, "I also have something I need to discuss with you. That'd be great."

As we prepare, Elline says, "So basically you're fighting yourself..."

"But Charizard probably has gone stronger ever since I split myself." I say. "It has been a while since I want to see his strength."

Serena says, "If that's the case, Charla should watch it as well."

When Charla is out, she is happy to greet Charizard, and those two share a hug. Then it's time for the battle.

As the battle begins, I start off by commanding Greninja to use Water Shuriken, but it is quickly countered by Charizard's Dragon Claw. I then order it to use Cut, but Charizard speedily dodges before being ordered to use Flamethrower, dealing a lot of damage to a vulnerable Greninja.

"Charizard... looks like you've gotten really stronger." I say with a smile.

"All right! Now respond to my heart, Key Stone!" Alain says. "Beyond Evolution! Mega Evolve!"

Then we see Charizard Mega Evolve into Mega Charizard X, and Elline says, "A black Charizard..."

"Yeah, it is so different from Mega Charizard Y..." Clemont says.

Alain then tells Mega Charizard X to use Dragon Claw, but it is countered by Greninja's Cut, I attempt to confuse Mega Charizard X by having Greninja use Double Team, but Alain quickly commands Mega Charizard X to use Flamethrower, which it uses to destroy the copies and creating a smoke cloud.

Using the smoke, I command Greninja to use Aerial Ace, but Mega Charizard X hits it with a powerful Thunder Punch, sending Greninja flying and covered with electricity. Seeing the battle coming to an end, Alain orders Mega Charizard X to use Thunder Punch again as Greninja uses Water Shuriken, but Mega Charizard X is faster and hits it once again with a super-effective Thunder Punch, sending Greninja flying again.

"Greninja, I think it's time to show them what we can do!" Just then, the transformation happens again, and I order Greninja to use Aerial Ace as Alain tells Mega Charizard X to get above Greninja, but it doesn't do much good as Greninja jumps up and delivers the attack.

Attempting to get the upper hand, Alain tells Mega Charizard X to use Thunder Punch, but I quickly order Greninja to use Cut to counter, after the two attacks collide, Alain commands Mega Charizard to use Blast Burn, which connects with Greninja, knocking it out, making Alain the winner as we fall to the floor from exhaustion.

"Wow... Charizard... you really are strong..." I say.

Alain then says, "Greninja is strong as well."

Then I decide to ask, "So Alain, I was wondering, you know that a few days ago, we encountered Lysandre and he tried to destroy the world, right? I think it is time that we link our memories once more."

Alain nods as we hold hands, and then I can see through his memories in Team Flare, and then meeting Steven Stone, and also other things. But what surprises me is the pain that his partner Mairin is feeling. Alain is also feeling the same thing as he also gasps. Once we're done, both of us sit on the ground and Serena asks, "You guys alright?"

"We're fine." Alain says as he already stands back up. After we bid farewell, I say, "Bonnie, can I talk with Squishy alone? After receiving memories of Alain, there are some things I need to confess to it. Serena can come as well since she has rights to know."

Bonnie nods as Squishy comes with me and Serena. Then Serena asks, "So what's all about."

"Squishy, I want to ask, there is another Zygarde in this region, right?" I ask, "Are you able to sense anything about him?"

Squishy closes his eyes and he gasps, "No... I can't sense him... how could this be?"

Serena asks, "Ash... what's going on?"

"When I see Alain's memories... I saw it. You know why we have been encountering Celosia and Bryony this whole time while not seeing Aliana or Mable? It's because they are the ones that try to search for it... and they have captured him... so Team Flare now has a Zygarde..."

Both Squishy and Serena gasp in horror. "No... they caught him?" Squishy lowers his head with sadness. I say, "That doesn't mean we should give up. We will definitely save him for sure."

Squishy nods as we head back, and Elline asks, "So what did you guys talk about?"

"Squishy's friend has been captured by Team Flare, that's what I got from Alain's memories." I say as they gasp in shock. David asks, "So that means there are two Zygardes?"

"Yes. I was trying to let Squishy sense him to confirm that the memory is right, and it turns out to be true." I frown as Bonnie tries to cheer Squishy up by singing a song for him, and then we decide to continue our journey, hoping to find Team Flare so we can stop them.

We arrive in Fleurrh City where Serena must win her next Showcase to have three Princess Keys. While walking along the sidewalk, we see a crowd gathering to cheer on a girl.

"Amelia! You'll win your third Princess Key! We know it!" "Can't wait to see you in Master Class!" "Oh wow! Somebody here will become Kalos Queen!"

"So I guess that means she's going to enter the Pokemon Showcase as well." Clemont says.

"She sure looks popular." Bonnie says.

Serena feels a little intimidated as Amelia walks past without even acknowledging anyone. The next day, we arrive at the Performance Hall, and Serena says, "Okay, I'm all set to go!"

"Good luck, Serena. We'll cheer for you big time." Elline says.

As the Showcase starts, we find that this time the Theme round needs a lot of Rhyhorn. I pale a little and say, "Rhyhorn?"

"The Kalos Queen has to assess the power to attract the heart of a Pokemon. So! The performer who attracts the most Rhyhorn within the time limit will move onto the Freestyle Performance. And it doesn't matter how they accomplish it!"

"Seriously? Serena is a Rhyhorn Magnet and she probably doesn't like this." I mutter.

The Rhyhorn are immediately attracted to Serena. Serena is surrounded by Rhyhorn and some even start licking her. "I knew it..." I mutter.

Serena sees a lone Rhyhorn outside of the herd. She runs towards the lone Rhyhorn. She pets it on its head and then rides it back to where the rest of the Rhyhorn is. After the timer is finished, Monsieur Pierre declares Serena the winner.

After a few more rounds, Monsieur Pierre starts the last round of the first stage. When Monsieur Pierre announces Amelia's name, the crowd cheers. She has her Shiny Dragonair and Espeon use Attract on the Rhyhorn who follow her Pokémon. She is soon declared the winner.

In the Free-style Performance round, Amelia goes first. She starts by having her Espeon and Dragonair jump in the air and then her Espeon uses Psychic and Dragonair uses Dragon Dance. Dragonair dances in circles around sparkly purple glimmers of light and then she commands Espeon and Dragonair to use Attract. Hearts are sent towards the audience, alluring the spectators. Espeon follows up with a Rain Dance and Amelia walks on Dragonair's tail. She then leaps off and commands Dragonair to use Ice Beam which freezes the rain. Espeon uses Hyper Voice which showers the crowd in a dazzle of the delicate snowflakes, concluding Amelia's performance.

Serena performs next, and she starts out by having Houndoom use a Flamethrower while Serena, Manectric, and Sylveon dance around the circle of fire. Sylveon uses Fairy Wind which spreads the circling fire into a dazzling display in the sky. Manectric jumps high off and then uses Shock Wave which collides with the fire and makes a shower of sparkles.

Serena and her Pokémon dance around the bright rays of the light falling to the ground. Next, Manectric uses Discharge, which Houndoom and Sylveon jump on. Houndoom uses Fire Blast which, when hit by Sylveon's Swift, creates a row of sparkles for the audience. Serena is now finished with her performance.

After the show is finished, Monsieur Pierre asks the audience to vote for the winner by using their Glow Casters. After the results are in, Monsieur Pierre announces Serena as the winner. Serena receives her third Princess Key, qualifying her for the Master Class.

Now after that's done, Serena contacts Shauna and Scarlet to let them know she has all three Princess Keys. Then we notice that Serena's brush has been left at the Performance Hall, so Serena and I decide to go look for it.

After we're done, I notice Amelia and Grandma? I say, "It's Grandma..."

"What?" Serena is surprised. We see Amelia begging Grandma to train her. Grandma tells her that she lost and should be doing something more productive.

"Grandma!" I greet her as she notices us. She says, "Ash and Serena, nice to see you again."

"So you've watched Serena's performance?" I ask and she nods. "About your win, Serena. Are you satisfied with the way you performed?"

This causes us to be surprised, Serena says, "I think what I did was fun!"

"I see. What's next?" She asks, "There's something you definitely lack to be Kalos Queen. Until you know what that is, you'll never be able to defeat Aria."

She turns to me and says, "Scarlet, on the other hand, has been training hard as well, so don't worry about her."

"I see." I say as we bid farewell to Grandma. Serena now starts to ponder what she means.

The next day, we hear that the Master Class Showcase has been decided, which is in Gloire City, which is off-path from Snowbelle City, I decide to let her go to Gloire City first.

And before we get there, we also evolve Skrelp and Noibat into their final forms. They are not easy to train, but they've become two new powerful dragons.

Dragalge: The Mock Kelp Pokemon: Poison and Dragon Type. Evolve from Skrelp at LV:48. Their poison is strong enough to eat through the hull of a tanker, and they spit it indiscriminately at anything that enters their territory.

Noivern: The Sound Wave Pokemon: Flying and Dragon Type. Evolve from Noibat at LV:48. The ultrasonic waves it emits from its ears can reduce a large boulder to pebbles. It swoops out of the dark to attack.

Here is a new chapter, and you can see that Ash and Alain finally have their minds linked. Now the next chapter is going to be the Master Class Showcase.

Ash and Serena's Pokemon:

Venusaur, Charizard x2, Blastoise, Pikachu x2, Alakazam, Gengar, Kangaskhan, Pinsir, Gyarados (Shiny), Aerodactyl, Ampharos, Scizor, Heracross, Houndoom, Tyranitar, Gardevoir (Shiny), Mawile, Aggron, Medicham, Manectric, Banette, Absol, Garchomp, Lucario, Samurott, Audino, Zoroark, Hydreigon, Chesnaught, Delphox, Greninja (Shiny), Diggersby, Talonflame, Vivillon x20, Pyroar, Florges (Rainbow), Gogoat, Pangoro, Furfrou, Meowstic x2, Aegislash, Aromatisse, Slurpuff, Malamar, Barbaracle, Dragalge, Clawitzer, Heliolisk, Tyrantrum, Aurorus (Shiny), Sylveon, Hawlucha, Dedenne, Carbink, Goodra, Klefki, Trevenant, Gourgeist, Avalugg, Noivern, Xerneas, Yveltal, Zygarde, Diancie, Hoopa