"N, you have to stop!" Ash shouted, as Reshiram took off with N. "Lucario they can't get away, use Dragon Pulse!"

"Groff!" Lucario barked, sending a pulse out towards Reshiram only to fizzle out.

"Ash, don't do anything you're going to regret, I don't want to fight you." N called out.

"You need to listen to me, Ghetsis and Team Plasma are lying to you!" Ash called out.

"My father told me that you would lie to me, just to get your way. If I am in the wrong why has Zekrom not awoken?" N questioned.

"Really wish I had Pikachu right now to zap him." Ash muttered, sparks coming from his hands. "Come on Zekrom wake up already."

"Don't you see Ash, Team Plasma's dream is for the betterment of everyone, it's why Reshiram has awoken." N said as a bolt of lightning shot right by him.

"Pika!" Pikachu exclaimed, running up to Ash.

"Pikachu!" Ash exclaimed.

"Pikachu?" N asked in surprise.

"Then that means." Ash said, looking back as Braviary flew in, heading straight at Reshiram.

"Archeops stop them." N said, tossing out a Pokeball.

"Braviary use Superpower!" Ash called out.

"Cryogonal use Ice Beam!" Brycen exclaimed.

"Porygon-2 use Ice Beam!" Elliot called out as the cavalry arrived.

"Is that?!" Drayden asked in shock.

"Reshiram, yeah, that's her." Ash said.

"Ash, as promised next time we fight, it will be in the Vertress Conference, I hope you are more willing for a fair fight then." N said, seeing the two gym leaders, as well as Rosa, Elliot, and Delia standing beside Ash.

"Ash! I was so worried! Did they hurt you?!" Delia asked, quickly smothering her child.

"I'm fine mom. Just worried about what's next." Ash admitted.

"Well, clearly that boy who awoke Reshiram wants a battle against you." Drayden said.

"His name is N, and he's the king of Team Plasma." Ash said. "But how was he able to awaken Reshiram here of all places?"

"This tower is filled with draconic energy. Legend has it this was where Reshiram and Zekrom were first sealed." Brycen explained.

"Then, why couldn't I awaken Zekrom?" Ash asked.

"We'll talk about it later, back at the Pokemon Center." Drayden said with his usual demeanor.

Back at the Pokemon Center

"So you're saying Zekrom didn't even show signs of waking up?" Brycen asked.

"Nothing, I mean I used my aura and everything, he didn't respond." Ash said.

"But he responded when you fought Reshiram last time." Elliot reminded.

"That was with Victini's help." Ash said. "The aura trick worked with fighting Kyurem, but I mean I don't know what's going on."

"Perhaps they've lost faith in you." Drayden theorized.

"Now listen here Mr Drayden, you might be a dragon expert but do not talk about my son like that!" Delia argued.

"I meant no disrespect. However look at it from Zekrom's point of view, the last three times it was awake, it struck you and Pikachu then was locked in his stone form. You then reawoke him with the help of Victini to fight Reshiram." Drayden said.

"Where we tied I guess." Ash admitted. "We didn't really beat Reshiram so much as they returned to their stone form, and then Zekrom returned shortly after."

"Then most recently you fought Kyurem in the Giant Chasm, and while you did win that fight, Zekrom had to return to their stone form, after which you lost him." Drayden pointed out.

"But that wasn't my fault!" Ash argued.

"Then whose was it?" Drayden asked.

"Team Plasma ambushed us!" Ash argued.

"And if you had just stayed away they wouldn't have gotten both Zekrom and Kyurem." Drayden reminded, taking a deep breath. "All I'm saying is that it's possible that Zekrom is tired of being called out to loose for you."

"But he came back to me on the airship. Doesn't that mean anything?" Ash asked.

"It's hard to say Ash, none of this is something we have much knowledge on." Brycen admitted.

"So what, now we focus back on whats next, get your eighth badge and take on N at the conference." Rosa said. "We even have a gym here."

"As much as I would like to have Ash battle me, he should go and challenge the Humilau City Gym." Brycen said.

"The gym leader there is one of the toughest, and it will be your closest point to the conference and Vertress City." Drayden said. "You simply need to head back towards Undella Town and take the Marine Tube."

"Alright then, we'll head to Humilau then." Rosa said.

"No, we're not." Ash said.

"Ash, you just heard them." Delia said. "Humilau is closest to Vertress City."

"Yeah, I know, but we're not going there, I am." Ash said with a sigh.

"What, what do you mean?" Rosa asked in confusion.

"Team Plasma has proven that they don't have a line they won't cross to get the dark stone from me, and I don't think they're going to stop just because they have Reshiram." Ash said. "I need you guys to go home where you'll be safe."

"Ash, you can't make that decision for them." Delia said.

"So what then Mom?!" Ash asked in anger. "They kidnapped you and both of them in the past, and I can't risk it anymore. If Elliot goes back to Blueberry Academy he's hidden and safe with trainers like Drayton, Crispin, and Lacey. And Rosa goes back home and takes you with her to Aspertia City, you two will be safe with Cheren and Alder nearby."

"Ash." Elliot said in shock.

"They aren't afraid of playing dirty anymore, and I don't want you all getting hurt just because of me, so I want you to go where you'll be safe." Ash said with a sigh. "I'm not willing to argue this point, your safeties are important to me. Mom, I know you want to go home, but I don't know if they have spies or anything that would kidnap you if you tried to leave, and I trust Rosa and her mom, please, just, I can't risk loosing you."

"And I can't risk losing you Ash." Delia said. "I've watched you leave and worry you've died twice now in this region."

"Mom, I'll be fine, even without Zekrom I can handle their usual goons myself." Ash said. "And once I'm at Vertress City there'll be a stadium full of powerful trainers ready to take them on with me."

"Okay sweetie." Delia said. "And Pikachu you make sure to keep him safe, alright?"

"Pi." Pikachu said in an agreeable but slightly sad tone.

"I'll contact Skyla and have her pick us up. She can drop us off near Castelia City where Elliot can take a ship back to the academy and I will take Rosa and your mother personally to Aspertia City." Drayden said calmly. "I'll also get in contact with the other gym leaders, if this is going down at the conference, we'll be there."

"Thank you Drayden." Ash said. "Come on Pikachu, let's go get washed up."

Ash's Current Team and their Moves

Pikachu: Quick Attack - Thunderbolt - Iron Tail - Charge Beam

Lucario: Aura Sphere - Bullet Punch - Thunder Punch - Dragon Pulse

Serperior: Wring Out - Leaf Storm - Energy Ball - Aqua Tail

Braviary: Super Power - Crush Claw - Hone Claws - Aerial Ace

Darmanitan: Hammer Arm - Flare Blitz - Belly Drum - Rollout

Garbodor: Gunk Shot - Body Slam - Sludge Bomb - Smack Down

Larvesta: String Shot - Ember - Leech Life - Take Down

Dewott: Razor Shell - Fury Cutter - Revenge - Ice Beam

Duosion: Telekinesis - Future Sight - Psychic - Rain Dance

Golett: Mega Punch - Shadow Punch

Deino: Bite - Dragon Breath