Ash's eyes adjusted to the sunlight, as his platform rose from the corridors below. He felt Pikachu release a few bursts of electricity and Lucario's body stiffen next to him. Ash's eyes shifted to Pikachu, on his shoulder, before moving to Lucario, who sported a scowl on his face, as he bared his teeth.

What's gotten into these two? Ash thought, as his eyes moved across the field.

He gave a soft gasp, as he saw the expression on Giovanni's face. The Pallet Town native was confident that he wouldn't be seeing the confident smirk, which his enemy was known for, but he was wrong.

Ash felt a jolt go up against his spine, as Giovanni's cold eyes settled on his auburn gaze. Something had changed. The angry and confident look, in the ex-boss of Team Rocket's eyes, had turned emotionless; expectant, as if he knew something that Ash didn't.

The last time I saw that look was. . .

Ash had to shake his head, before enlarging his next choice.

"You ready to go down, Sakaki?" he challenged.

A low hum began to start in Giovanni's throat. His head turned down, as he tried to hold the laugh that was slowly growing in his chest. He threw his head back, as he cackled. Ash took a step forward, before fortifying his gaze again, and taking another step forward.

"What's so funny?" he asked the still laughing trainer.

Giovanni's cackle began to die down, as his eyes returned to the masked trainer across from him.

"You've never had the guts to do what's needed," he responded with venom in his voice. "We've been here before, but the same thing will happen. You'll watch me walk through your fingers, as you stand there, too scared to move." Again, a maniacal chuckle escaped his lips. "Do you remember that day, boy?"

Ash's eyes widened, as the images of the encounter began to flash through his mind. He felt his body begin to shake. He closed his eyes and breathed in a big breath of air, before releasing it and opening his eyes again.

"That was then, and this is now!" Ash yelled. "Things have changed, and now, I'm going to finish you!" Ash tossed his first choice, for the second half of the match, in the air, to reveal his Sceptile.

"Open your eyes, you fool!" Giovanni said coldly, as he unclipped his choice. "Things don't change that easily. If you never had the guts to finish me before, then you won't have them now! Come to this reality, right now, and your defeat will only be easier to come to grips with!"

Giovanni tossed out his device, to reveal a monstrous purple Pokémon. The chest and torso of the Pokémon was a grey color, which was matched by the claws on its feet and hands. Purple spikes ran down its back to the base of its spine, where a big purple tail protruded. On top of its head, there was a large purple horn. The ground and poison Pokémon let out a roar, showing its sharp, white teeth.

"Nidoking, use Sludge Bomb!" Giovanni commanded.

The drill Pokémon let loose large, purple projectiles toward the forest Pokémon.

Ash didn't waver at the incoming attack. "Quick Attack into Slam!"

Sceptile gave a quick nod of acknowledgment, before darting to the side of the attack, as white streaks appeared behind it. Quickly making his way over to the Kanto Pokémon, Sceptile twisted its body and slamming its tail into the gut of the beast.

Giovanni growled as he watched his Pokémon skidding across the stadium floor, but it kept standing.

"Earthquake into Sludge Bomb!" he quickly pushed on.

Nidoking let out a roar, as his feet slammed into the ground, causing tremors to shake the battlefield.

"Quickly Sceptile! Use Dual Chop on the ground, then dodge by sitting behind the rocks!" Ash commanded.

The ground began to shake, as the Hoenn starter's arms turned green and punched the ground in front of him, causing multiple large rocks to be sent flying up into the air. With quick reflexes, the forest Pokémon began to jump from one rock to another, to avoid the incoming poison type attacks.

Giovanni continued to press on. "Thunder Punch through the boulders!"

Nidoking roared, before using its tail to propel itself into the air, much to the shock of Ash and Sceptile. It brought its arm back, as sparks began to fly around the clenched fist, before throwing it forward and destroying the boulder that Sceptile was hiding behind.

Ash grunted in frustration while watching his Sceptile being pelted with the debris, before taking a Sludge Bomb to the chest and crying out in pain. Sceptile fell on the ground and bounced off the surface. Ash slowly looked upon his loyal Pokémon, before forming a faint smile across his lips. Sceptile silently opened an eye, which was hidden from Giovanni, and gave his trainer a wink.

You were always a fighter, buddy. he thought, before calling out his next attack.

Ash picked his time perfectly. The sound of the ref making the call caused Giovanni to drop his guard, for about half a second. "Sceptile, Leaf Blade! Let's go!"

Before Giovanni could respond, Sceptile was racing past his Nidoking, after already slashing the ground and poison type across the chest. Nidoking gasped for breath, as one of its hands came to its chest While the other was placed on the ground, as it fell to its knees. Sceptile gave a smirk, before grimacing. Its entire body quickly flashed purple, before he too fell to his knees. He looked over to Ash and gave a soft smile, before succumbing to his injuries and passing out, defeated.

---

Lance looked down on the battlefield, with a scowl etched upon his face. He turned to see the powerful psychic Gym Leader, with a smirk on her lips.

"What is so funny?" he spat.

Sabrina let out a soft chuckle that she had been holding in. She eyed the champion, before turning toward the door and began walking out.

"I find it funny. You allowed the boy to fight, and yet, you still have no faith in him." Sabrina responded to the Kanto and Johto champion's question.

"Well, right now, it's anybody's match!" Lance exclaimed. "So, excuse me if I'm feeling a bit nervous. He could very well lose, and then, Team Rocket will rise again."

Sabrina stopped at the doorway that led to the atrium. She turned and gave him a knowing smile. "He'll not lose. His fighting spirit will keep him going." The psychic Gym Leader responded.

"You saw his pause when he appeared, before his opponent, and that was with him in firm command of the battle," Lance responded. He felt annoyed towards the calm demeanor of the Gym Leader. "What makes you so sure that he won't choke out there?"

"The answer is right behind you." Sabrina cooed.

Lance spun around to see Serena, as she's being, forcefully, pulled down by those, behind her, complained that they couldn't see. Lance heard a chuckle before he turned back to the green-haired woman.

"He went to such lengths for her, the last time. Do not doubt that he won't do it again. That's where his true strength lays." Sabrina looked at the trainer, with softness in her eyes. "He fights to protect those he cares about. If they are still alive, then he'll still fight. Giovanni lost this match before it had even begun. Now Lance, if you don't mind, I need to get back and feed my Pokémon, for the day, and take care of the gym."

Lance waved, as the Gym Leader vanished, before turning around and looking at the battle that was unfolding before his eyes, once more.

---

Ash sighed, as he looked down at the Pokéball of his fallen friend. "You did good, Sceptile. I am very proud of you."

He miniaturized the device and returned it to his belt, before looking to his side. "Lucario, you ready?"

Lucario smirked, as he turned to stare down the ground and poison type, who was pounding its chest, in the middle of the battlefield.

"I'd thought you never ask."

With those words, he bent his legs, before rocketing himself into the air and gracefully performed a front flip, before landing on one knee. He slowly rose with a look of determination on his face.

"Lucario, use Extreme Speed into Bone Rush!" Ash called out.

"Nidoking, use Earthquake!" Giovanni commanded.

Lucario dashed toward his opponent but was unable to get to him before Nidoking had hit its tail against the ground. Thinking quickly, the aura Pokémon created the glowing staff between its paws. Acting quickly, it hit the ground with one end of the staff, to launch him into the air.

Giovanni growled in frustration, as the fighting and steel type struck his Kanto Pokémon repeatedly. Lucario finished the onslaught by hitting the drill Pokémon in the chest and sending it careening into the wall.

Ash pushed his advantage. "Lucario, Dragon Pulse! Let's go!" he yelled.

The staff disappeared from its grasp before a blue with a yellow interior was formed and launched at the purple Pokémon, as it began to get up from the rubble of the battered wall. A scream of pain was heard again, as an explosion enveloped the ground and poison type.

Lucario's smirk turned into a frustrated scowl, as the drill Pokémon was somehow still conscious. Breathing heavily, the Kanto Pokémon stood itself up, but only for it to disappear into a red beam of light.

Giovanni sighed in both frustration and relief. He was frustrated that he was too slow in returning his Pokémon and it cost him dearly, but he was more relieved that his Nidoking had managed to maintain consciousness.

You will pay for that one, boy. He thought as he enlarged his next choice. You'll pay, dearly.

"Go Arcanine!" he roared, as he threw the Pokéball onto the battlefield.

When the light dimmed, a quadruped, wolf-like Pokémon stood on the battlefield. The Pokémon had predominantly orange fur with black striped that ran across its body. On all four knees, they were patched of lighter orange hair. The same color hair made its tail and main that covered most of its face, save for the eyes and ears. The fur also ran down its chest. The Pokémon glared at its opponent, before growling and baring its teeth. It lowered itself, readying itself for the coming engagement.

"Lucario, use Extreme Speed!" Ash called out.

"Follow it, and then, use Fire Blast!" Giovanni responded, without hesitation. Fool! How predictable can you be?

Lucario moved faster than most could see; but before he could slam into his opponent, the wolf-like Pokémon vanished. Lucario's eyes widened, as his body froze from shock. He had never been bested in speed before. He barely turned his head, as the Kanto Pokémon suddenly appeared, behind him, with a smirk on its face. Before Lucario could act, Arcanine's jaw opened to release the powerful fire attack.

"LUCARIO!" Ash screamed at the top of his lungs, as he heard his companion scream out in pain.

Lucario flew into the wall with a thud. The flames slowly died down, as Lucario hit the floor of the stadium. Giovanni let out a growl, as Lucario began to pick itself up off the ground. Smoke was coming from the Aura Pokémon. Lucario winced, as pain shot through his back from the super-effective attack.

"I'm alright, Master." Lucario communicated through the aura. "I can keep going."

Ash nodded. He turned back to view his opponent. His mind began to work, a mile per minute, as ideas began to flow through his mind. I can't go speed for speed. Lucario is already hurt and he wouldn't be able to keep up. I'd rather not use Heal Pulse quite yet.

Suddenly, a light bulb went off in his head. Ash smiled, as he made his move, which involved waiting.

An eerie silence, once again, fell across the stadium, as the spectators awaited the next move from the competitors.

Giovanni felt his heart begin to pound harder and harder, with each passing second. He began to rack his brain, as the silence was starting to unsettle him. Why hasn't he made his next move yet?! He must be allowing his Pokémon to recover. I can't let that happen!

"Arcanine, use Extreme Speed into Fire Blast again!" Giovanni commanded.

Arcanine crouched low, before launching himself by using his hind legs, as a jet stream began to move around him.

Lucario braced himself while being ready for Ash's command.

"Patience Lucario," Ash said softly. "Close your eyes and stay calm."

Lucario looked back but did as he was told. He relaxed and closed his eyes, as his opponent circled him. Arcanine's movement began to slow down, in Lucario's mind, as he calmed his rapidly beating heart. Suddenly, the fire type stopped and released the torrent of flames.

"Spin and use Bone Rush!" Ash quickly countered.

Lucario kept his eyes closed while making the staff in his hands. He spun and was enveloped in a dome of fire. Giovanni's smirk quickly turned to shock, like the dome, which was created, suddenly broke and flames were set everywhere while revealing an untouched Lucario, whose eyes were still shut.

Arcanine closed his eyes, as the flames were shot back, and Ash capitalized on his opening. "Now Lucario, Bone Rush! Go!"

Lucario's eyes shot open, as he moved to the occupied Pokémon's side and took an uppercut swing at the underbelly of the wolf-like Pokémon. The fire type was launched into the air, where Lucario suddenly appeared above its position. Lucario brought the staff, above its head, and swung down, while contacting the spine of the immobile Pokémon.

Arcanine hit the ground and was enveloped into dust but wasn't given a chance to recover. As he descended, Lucario began to spin, before coming out of the spin and striking its opponent, in the back, once again, causing a yelp of pain to come out from his opponent's mouth. Lucario leaped backward, as the dust settled.

Giovanni smirked. We'll see how cocky you are after this, boy! He thought as he called out his next attack.

Both Lucario and Ash froze at the command. Disbelief cemented their minds, as a blur of orange appeared from the dust and connected to the chest of Lucario. Unable to let out a cry of pain from the shock, Lucario was sent tumbling backward.

The sound of Lucario hitting the ground woke Ash's mind from its shock-induced slumber.

"Lucario, get out of there!" The masked trainer yelled out.

Lucario was right in front of Ash's position, and somehow, managed to barely get out of the way, before Arcanine could release the fire type attack.

Lucario looked back in confusion, as he saw Arcanine still releasing the attack, even though it was clear that he had dodged it. Lucario followed the trajectory of the attack. A look of horror crossed his face, as he saw where the attack was directed.

"MASTER, GET OUT OF THE WAY!" Lucario shouted, through aura, at the top of his lungs.

Again, Ash froze in disbelief. He knew Giovanni was crafty and twisted; but what he was staring at, was low, even for him. Arcanine had continued the attack, even though it was clear that Lucario wasn't in his path anymore, but the look, in the Pokémon's eyes, told Ash that it didn't care.

The fire type and opposing trainer made eye contact. Time seemed to slow down for Ash, as the fire type opened its mouth and released the powerful fire attack. Ash stood still, frozen in fear, as the attack made a direct line for him. The flames glistened, in his auburn eyes, as the attack closed in. Instinctively, Ash's arms crossed in front of his chest, while his legs bet a little and eyes closed, bracing himself for impact.

The attack hit at his feet. An explosion covered the area, where he had been before he was sent flying from the cloud of smoke, dirt, and debris. He hit the floor of the stadium and rolled to a stop, ten yards from where he had stood in his trainer's box.

The crowd went silent. Their voices were taken away by the incident that they just witnessed. No sound was heard, except for the horrified screams of a certain blue-eyed girl.

---

The look of determination, on Serena's face, turned to horror, as she saw the battle play out in front of her. She began to tremble when she saw Arcanine release the attack toward Ash and held her breath. Her heart began to break at the sight of Ash's body, flying out of the smoke. She blinked several times to fight back the tears that threatened to escape, but to no avail.

The sight of his motionless body finally broke her from the fear that gripped her.

"ASH!" she screamed, as she shot up from her chair, with tears now cascading down her face.

She gripped the railings of the box, as she leaned over the wall while screaming her heart out.

"ASH, GET UP! YOU'VE GOT TO GET UP, ASH!"

Gary watched the scene and was finally pulled out of his disbelief by the shouts from the girl, next to him. Trevor and Angela were witnessing the event unfold, from the opposite side of the elite suite, with a horrified look in their eyes, as they were shocked by the screams coming from the Kalos Queen.

"Oh no..." was all Trevor could have muttered, as he and his wife get up and rushed over to where Serena was.

Gary instinctively reached out and grabbed Serena, by the waist, in order to pull her back from the edge. Trevor and Angela arrived there to try to comfort the teary performer.

Serena felt the tug on her waist and fought harder. Every bit of her body fought the unknown force. She finally broke out of the grip that held her back, but only for her to return to the edge of the box.

"GET UP! YOU CAN'T DIE, ASH! YOU JUST CAN'T!" she yelled, as her cries turned into sobs.

Again, she was grabbed across the chest with her arms held against her body.

Gary and Trevor were shocked at the fight that the girl showed in her desperation. They went to grab her, more forcefully. Gary took hold of her across the chest, while Trevor was holding her arms against her body, to minimize the fighting. She screamed again, as Gary lifted her and Trevor grunted, as she began to kick. Gary forcefully sat her down, on the chair, and moved into her view, meeting her tear-stained gaze with his.

"Calm down, Serena!" he pleaded as he looked into her eyes. "Ash is going to be fine! Trust me, he has been through worse. He's going to be fine."

"Yeah, Serena," Trevor stated as he and Angela got closer to the sobbing performer. "Ash's not one to die so easily. He'll be alright."

"Serena," Angela added to the comfort. "Ash needs you to believe in him. Believe that he'll recover from that blow. You must believe,"

Serena began to shake, as she took in the words from her three friends, before breaking down again. She threw her arms around Gary's neck and clung to him like he was a lifeline. She closed her eyes and buried her head into his neck, while the sobbing began to rack her body.

Gary sat, in shock, at the sudden outburst. He began to softly pat her back, trying to comfort her. "Shhhh. It's ok, Serena. Ash is going to be alright."

The rest of the group sat and watched the scene play out, before them. Their hearts broke with the screams of their performer friend, but it wasn't until Gary spoke that the shock of what Serena had shouted, truly began to set in.

No. That can't be him, can it? Brock thought, as his eyes darted to the motionless figure on the stadium floor. He's . . . he's grown so much.

"Gary, did you just say that was Ash?" Brock's voice was barely above a whisper.

His mind still couldn't fully comprehend what was unfolding, in front of him.

"No. No! That can't be him!" the shaky voice of May rang out. "We saw him die, back in Kalos! That can't be him!"

"It is," Gary responded, with the Kalos native still held in his arms. "I don't know how, but he survived. He was the one that stole his Pokémon, and now, he's fighting to finish what he started."

"What do you mean?" Brock questioned.

"He's finally going to bring down Giovanni," Angela said coldly.

Trevor stood up and looked at the shunned group, with a serious look in his eyes.

"That's right." Trevor begins his speech as he stands in front of the shunned group. "I know what emotions are going through each of your heads right now. Sadness, surprise, frustration, betrayal, and fear. But now, let's not allow those emotions overtake us. Our friend has been alive, for the last five years. He's been training so that he could take back the life he lost. He has seen all our accomplishments. From Max and Bonnie's first league conference to Serena becoming Kalos Queen, he couldn't have been prouder than what he felt, after watching us accomplish our goals. Sure, he wasn't present at the most important ones, but that doesn't mean that he has forgotten about us. He could never abandon Serena. Now that you guys know the truth, he's going to need us to cheer him on, as he battles against Giovanni. Right now, at this very moment, our friend needs us, more than ever before in his life! So, who's with me?"

Silence fell among the group. The only sounds, escaping the suite, were the muffled sobs of Serena. Thoughts were racing through everyone's heads. The last time, they saw Ash, was playing through their minds, along with all the great times they had shared with their traveling companion. Tears began to escape from the different people, around the group, as the realization hit them.

"Stand up please, Ash! Stand up!" Ashley broke the silence, as the group turned to Trevor's daughter and stared at her and her two small Pokémon, while they cheer for Ash to stand up.

"Chu Chu-chu!" Pichu shouted in determination.

"Eh-Voi!" The Evolution Pokemon barks with encouragement.

"Charmander!" The lizard Pokémon cried out, as the rest of the group joined in on the cheers.

"Get up right now, Ash Ketchum!" Misty shouted as she shot up from her seat. "If you don't, I'm going to come down there and hit you with my mallet until you do!"

"Come on, Ash!" Max jumped up and began to shout. "You're the best! you can do it!"

Suddenly, the entire group was up on their feet, as they cheered for their friend, to get back up on his feet.

Trevor then remembers a word of advice that his father used to give him when he was little.

Why do we fall, Trevor? So that we can learn to pick ourselves up.

Trevor smiled, as he turned to his wife, who was smiling back at him before they joined in the group's cheers.

"We all believe in you, Ash!" Angela shouted.

"That's right, Ash! Now, get up and wipe the smirk off that jerk's face!" Trevor yelled out.

"Look!" Brock began to announce, as the rest of the group turned and saw what Brock had just noticed. "He's moving!"

Serena's tears stopped, as her head moved from Gary's shoulder. Gary whipped around and saw the figure, below, begin to stir. Serena jumped to her feet. She began to laugh hysterically when she saw the figure began to lift himself off the ground.

Soon, she joined her friends, in their shouts, to try and encourage him to get up.

---

Ash felt a ringing in his ears, as he began to return to consciousness. He fought to open his eyes. His already shaking vision was blurred, as a groan escaped his lips. In front of him, he could barely make out the image of Pikachu and Lucario huddled over him. He could faintly pick out the movement of their lips but could only hear the ringing that had captured his ears. The cries of his Pokémon began to fight through the ringing, their voices becoming more audible every second.

"Pika pi! Pikapi, pi pika Pikachu!" the yellow mouse Pokémon shouted, as he heard the grunts, coming from his lifelong friend.

He skirted to his side and began pushing Ash, helping his friend to get up.

Still dazed and confused, Ash brought both hands up to the ground by his shoulders and started the painful process of pushing himself up off the ground. He managed to get to his knees when a sharp, hot feeling hit his chest. He coughed harshly, as he finally realized the choking sensations that captured his lungs. Each breath he brought in, it came with dust and further burning. He reached up and tore the mask from his face, as he gasped for air.

With his mask off, each breath came easier than the last. His vision and hearing began to slowly come back to him, while he stayed on his knees. Suddenly, the screams of familiar voices rang in his ears. He slowly turned his head to the elite suite, where his friends sat in. Each of his friends was standing up from their seats, as they were screaming their hearts out, for him to get up.

A soft chuckle escaped his lips before a grimace of pain replaced it. He managed to pull himself up to a single knee. His eyes moved from his friends to his opponent, who stood in his box, laughing.

Giovanni looked on with amusement at the struggling figure, before him, and the shouts from his friends above. The smile grew with every gasp of air, that Ash took in, and every expression of pain that moved across his face.

I finally broke him. Whatever confidence, that he may have felt, has all but vanished. Giovanni thought before he stopped laughing and spoke up.

"I can see it in your eyes." Giovanni purred out. "You know you can't win! How it must feel to come so close to finally bringing me down, twice, and coming away empty-handed Tell me, how does it feel, Ash Ketchum!"

Ash took in the words from his opponent. Was he right? Had he come so far, gotten so much stronger, abandoned everything for five years, only to come up short again? Ash closed his eyes and his face fell to the ground, while the memories played through his mind, once more.

---

Ash fell to the ground, like the hallway, he was running through, began to shake. This isn't good! I don't have much time!

He got up and continued his journey through the hallway. He had climbed the stairs of the Team Rocket HQ and was nearing his destination.

Ash paused, as he finally got the door that he was seeking. Taking a deep breath, he placed a hand on the doorknob and swung it opened, to reveal an extravagantly decorated office.

"Ah! I see you finally made it! Took you long enough!" Ash's eyes shifted to the chair, behind the large wooden desk, to see it turn to reveal Giovanni. "I was wondering if you were ever going to get past my guards."

Ash snarled at the comment. "Where is she, Giovanni?! WHERE IS SHE?!" he snapped.

Giovanni chuckled, as he slowly rose from his chair and began to make his way to the far end of the room. He was stopped, as a hand grabbed his arm firmly and spun him around.

"You aren't going anywhere, you son of a bitch!" Ash roared. "It's over! You'll tell me where Serena is and surrender now!"

"Oh, how wrong you are, boy." Giovanni purred. "You'll let me walk out of here, without so much as a scratch."

"And why is that?" questioned Ash.

"Turn around and see for yourself," Giovanni responded.

Ash tentatively turned around. His eyes widened at the sight that he took in. Sitting in a chair, leaning against the glass window, which looked out over the fifth story view, was Serena.

She was wrapped in ropes, to constrain her movements. Ash began hearing the muffled screams that the restrained girl tried to let out through the roped, which prevented her from speaking.

"YOU BASTARD!" Ash turned around to see Giovanni smirking. "YOU WON'T GET AWAY WITH THIS!"

"Oh yes, I will." Giovanni retorted. "You have two options here, boy. Either you stop me or save your girlfriend. You see, there's a box, right behind her chair. It's set to detonate, not enough to blow this place up, but enough to shatter the glass, while allowing her to fall to her death!"

Ash turned to see that what the man said was true. "So, either we duke it out here," Giovanni continued, as he enlarged a Pokéball from his belt, "which would take some time, something which she doesn't have much of, or you let me walk out of here and save her life, instead."

Ash didn't hesitate. He quickly turned and ran to Serena's side.

"Good boy." Giovanni laughed. He entered an elevator and began to descend to the lab, located in the basement.

Ash ran and slid until he came to a stop, in front of Serena. Not wasting time, he quickly grabbed the chair and moved her away, from the glass, and then, untied her.

"Ash!" Serena gasped, once she was able to talk. "You shouldn't have saved me! You sho-"

She was interrupted, as Ash crashed his lips against hers and wrapped her in a warm embrace.

"I can stop him any day," Ash said, as he broke the kiss. "but I can never get you back. Now, come on! We aren't done here yet!" He grabbed Serena's hand and led her quickly to the computer.

Ash sighed in relief, as he noticed the computer was still on and logged in. He stuffed his hand into his pocket and pulled out a black flash drive, which he then proceeded to connect it into the computer. Serena looked on in confusion, as a black screen suddenly appeared on the computer. Stars began to appear, as Ash's fingers glided over the keyboard. He pressed enter; and suddenly, a loading bar came on.

"Ash, I don't understand. What is this?" Serena asked.

"It's a code that Clemont wrote, the other day," Ash explained. "He made it, in order to download all the information, in the Team Rocket mainframe, including deeply encoded information. This will allow us to get the identity of every single bank account and agent used by Team Rocket."

Serena was going to respond, but her thoughts were interrupted by a loud, piercing noise. Before she could react, she was brought into a protective embrace, as Ash moves in front of her. There was a loud bang and the sound of shattered glass filled the office.

"Are you ok?" Ash asked, as he looked down at the girl, who was still in his arms.

Serena looked up from the embrace, that she was in, to see the glass, which she had been leaning on earlier, had shattered. She looked back into Ash's caring brown eyes and nodded slowly.

Ash smiled. He bent down and gave her a soft kiss on the lips.

"Good." He said to her.

She returned his smile, before hearing a beeping from the computer. Ash glanced at the computer and quickly removed the flash drive.

"Perfect timing! Now, let's get out of here!"

Ash grabbed Serena's hand and the two ran out of the office.

---

Ash opened his eyes. The voices of his friends snapped him out of his flashback. He turned to see them all standing up and encouraging him. His eyes danced across them, each friend had a look of determination in their eyes, allowing him to get up. His gaze finally ended on Serena.

I can stop him any day, but I can never get you back.

He smiled, as his own words played through his mind. This will finally be the day that I stop him and get her back!

With one last glance up to his friends, he forced himself back onto two feet. He stumbled a little bit but was caught by Lucario.

Lucario looked upon him with guilt and sorrow. "Master, I'm sorry. This is all my fault."

Ash looked over and gave the aura Pokémon a shake of the head. "No, it isn't Lucario. How could you have known that he was going to pull a stunt like that?"

Ash groaned, as he straightened back up and continued to his trainer's box.

"Now, come on. We've got a match to win."