Neptune's POV

I was braiding a small portion of my purple hair when a thunderous knocking sounded on my door. Narrowing my eyes in disapproval, I slowly stood from my seat in front of my vanity and walked over to the door.

"Neptune? Neptune, it's me!"

My eyes widened at Madeleine's familiar voice and my irritation evaporated as I wrenched the door open. Madeleine's eyes were wild with excitement and her chest was heaving as if she had run all the way from her lab to my room.

"Did it work?" I whispered, hardly believing the rush of triumph that was beginning to wash through me. Madeleine was still gasping but she nodded her head and reached out to grab my wrist. I did not even care as she dragged me from my room and we both dashed down the inner workings of the mountain to her lab.

I sucked in a breath when I saw a sopping wet Staraptor standing as still as a statue on Madeleine's work table, looking forward with a glazed look in its eyes. My lips tugged down in a frown though as I saw the zombie-like state that the pokemon was in.

"Has it lost its personality?" I asked, feeling my shoulders slump in defeat. Madeleine smiled though and walked in front of the Staraptor.

"Unfreeze," Madeleine commanded firmly.

The Staraptor blinked and shook its head, looking around itself with obvious confusion. It started squawking angrily while flapping its wings to dry them off. I hissed in annoyance as several drops landed on the blouse I had carefully chosen for my trip to Celestic City today and Madeleine opened her mouth.

"Calm yourself."

I watched in fascination as the Staraptor immediately slowed down, lowering its wings and letting out a long sigh as it looked at both of us calmly. It blinked serenely at us, but I could still see intelligence in its gaze.

"Try to give it a command," Madeleine said with a gleeful smile. I licked my dry lips, surprised to feel that my fingers were trembling and I took a step closer to Staraptor. Its gaze shifted to focus on me and I stared at it.

"Fly around the room," I said firmly. Staraptor only blinked at me and let out a huffy grunt before turning away from me.

"Fly around the room," Madeleine repeated word for word.

The Staraptor immediately spread its large wings and lifted off the work table, making a tight circle of the lab.

"Now come back," Madeleine ordered.

It immediately obeyed, only hovering for a moment for balance before touching down onto the table and looking at us both with obvious annoyance in its gaze.

"You did it," I said through a sigh, hardly able to believe it. "You really did it!"

"Starrraptor!" The Staraptor squawked at me, turning around as if it meant to leave after putting on its little show.

"Stay still," Madeleine ordered and it immediately froze, barely even breathing.

"You did it!" I squealed again, reaching over and hugging Madeleine as joy rushed through me. This is the answer! I thought to myself in pure delight. Satoshi can keep his personality but he will obey my every command! He will truly be the perfect soldier now!

"Yes, it worked," Madeleine said, seeming both pleased and oddly hesitant. "This is only the first successful experiment though. I'd like to have a successful experiment on at least three separate pokemon specimens before I move on to human experiments."

"We don't have much time, Madeleine," I said sternly, reaching over to touch the Staraptor that was still frozen by Madeleine's command. It still attempted to squawk in anger when I touched its damp feathers from being in the experimentation capsule and I grinned widely.

"Use whatever pokemon you wish for your experiments, but I will have your first human test subject brought to you by midafternoon," I said with a gleeful grin.

"Who... is the first test subject?" Madeleine asked with obvious discomfort. I looked over at her and could feel my lips curve into a wicked expression.

"The person I loathe most in this world," I said with delight. Madeleine's eyes widened but then let out a small sigh.

"Oh good. I was worried you were using your intended target as the first test subject."

I scoffed at this, surprised at how angry I felt just at the thought of subjecting Satoshi to such a revolutionary experiment without being absolutely certain it would work.

"The target is not some test subject that I can rid myself of if the experiment fails," I said with a sniff. "Make sure to have a test tube ready for your subject this afternoon."

Madeleine nodded without saying a word and I whisked out of the room. My unfinished braid had long since fallen out and I brushed at the small specks of drying water on my blouse.

Everything is finally coming together, I thought to myself gleefully as I went back towards my quarters. Soon I will have my perfect world, filled with my perfect materials and food that I have created... and my perfect soldier will stand by my side.

Ash's POV

"Come on, Tigrice. Act like you were before you met me. Please?"

"Pikachu chupika," Pikachu wheedled along with me, pulling several funny faces at Tigrice to try and inspire some kind of reaction. Tigrice just sat resolutely in front of us though, awaiting a true order.

Pikachu and I let out twin sighs before I stepped closer to Tigrice and stroked her head sadly. She made no movement, it was as if I didn't even exist to her. I had tried almost everything to resurrect her buried personality but so far nothing had worked. It was almost as frustrating as having to count the days ticking by until Neptune said her plan would be ready.

My stomach grumbled loudly, pulling myself from my spiraling thoughts that had been leading me closer to depression than I had ever been before. I shook my head and returned Tigrice to her pokeball. Pikachu jumped up and climbed onto his spot on my shoulder before I made my way to the mess hall for some food. I had just sat down with a bowl of steaming yakisoba noodles when familiar gasps began to sound.

I let out an inward groan and swiftly stuffed my mouth with the noodles. This morning I had already called up the image of the contest schedule I had memorized several months ago and had realized that there was one being held today. When Neptune hadn't come to get me in the morning I had thought I might have dodged a bullet. But I could hear muttered greetings as Neptune made her way towards me and I chewed as fast as I could.

"Your appetite is as healthy as ever, I see," Neptune said cooly as she slid onto the bench next to me at an awkwardly close distance. I could not help but shift a tiny bit from her so my knee was no longer bumping hers and nodded silently since I was still chewing.

"Once you have finished, change into some civilian clothing and meet me at the jet hanger," Neptune said briskly.

I nearly spit out my half-chewed food when Neptune suddenly reached out and wiped at my cheek with the napkin I had left next to my bowl. Staring at her silently, I swallowed the lump of noodles that had lost all its flavor in an instant and grimaced as they clogged in my throat for a moment before sliding down. I pounded on my chest for a minute, clearing my throat awkwardly and taking the napkin from Neptune's hand.

"Thanks," I forced myself to say before rubbing the napkin fiercely against my mouth.

Neptune smiled with a mocking glint in her lavender eyes before standing and patting my back. I forced myself to look up at her with a small smile, trying to feel excited, and Neptune waved at me before walking swiftly out of the mess hall. The feeling of dozens of people staring at me made me groan, but I turned back towards my noodles and forced myself to eat the rest of them. Pikachu could only stomach half of the poffins that I had swiped for him from the buffet and I didn't have to ask where his appetite had gone.

With my stomach feeling like I had just ingested cement instead of delicious noodles, I forced myself to leave the mess hall and walk back to my quarters. I honestly didn't have many "civilian" clothes, so I pulled on the clothes I was wearing when I first infiltrated Team Galactic and then trudged towards the jet hangar built into the mountain.

"Pipi chu chupika pikachu," Pikachu said quietly with his ears pressed against his head. I let out a little sigh and nodded slightly.

"I hope Aryan kept her away too, buddy. I honestly don't know what to do if we see her at the contest," I whispered to him. Pikachu's tail brushed against my back in silent agreement and I chewed on my lip as anxiety bubbled inside of me.

When we walked into the hangar I instantly picked out Neptune's long purple hair. She was wearing black jeans with a cream-colored blouse that had ruffle sleeves. If I didn't know any better she would have looked like just your average young woman. It only took seeing the calculative glint in her eyes to remind me of the evil that hid behind her lovely exterior though.

"Let's head out then," Neptune said as a way of greeting as she turned and climbed into the jet.

I glanced around, surprised to see that for once the hangar was practically abandoned. Shrugging my shoulders at the strange lack of activity, I walked into the jet as well and glanced towards the front. My eyes widened when I saw Neptune slide into the pilot's seat as naturally as if she had been born there.

"You can fly?" I asked, impressed despite myself. Neptune glanced over her shoulder at me and gave me a superior grin before pointing to the co-pilot's seat next to her.

"If something interests me then I pursue it until I become an expert," Neptune said firmly. My insides twisted as I stared into Neptune's unfaltering gaze that felt almost like a warning.

"That's... impressive, Neptune," I said awkwardly, forcing myself to move forward and take the seat she had indicated.

It sucked, but honestly, I was impressed as she deftly flipped the switch to close the ramp we had used to enter the jet and then started things up. Since the hangar was empty we didn't have to wait for our turn or anything, as soon as Neptune was ready she guided the jet forward and I was almost annoyed at how smooth the take-off was.

To my relief, Neptune didn't strike up a conversation with me. She seemed content to focus on her flying so at least I could pretend I didn't have a psychotic woman bent on destroying the world and everything on it sitting next to me, taking me on what one could only think of as a date.

As usual, the jet was parked in the middle of a clearing in the forest. Neptune flipped on the camouflage setting before she motioned for me to follow her. Pikachu, who had been unusually silent, climbed up from his spot on my lap to sit on my shoulder and I tried to not show my reluctance as I followed Neptune out of the jet. It took us less than half an hour to emerge from the heavy forest area that Sinnoh was known for, and I silently followed along behind Neptune.

The sight of an impressive structure I assumed must be this town's contest hall loomed on the hill at the end of the town that Neptune was leading me towards. My entire body tensed when I felt her arms suddenly slip around mine and hold on tight. I glanced down cautiously from the corner of my eye to see that Neptune was actually smiling at me without any mocking or even her usual superiority in her expression. I frowned slightly, slipping the hand of the arm she was holding into my pocket so I wouldn't accidentally touch her hip as we walked so close together.

"Did you trip?" I asked, trying to keep my voice light. Neptune chuckled and I stiffened once again when she wrapped her arms tighter around mine and leaned her forehead lightly against it.

"Nope," Neptune responded succinctly. She gave no explanation for why my arm had suddenly become her property, but I remembered back to Director Fallon's order to allow Neptune to seduce me if she made a move and I gritted my teeth, desperately trying to make my body relax.

Neptune paid for both of our tickets to my surprise, and I wondered if I should protest, but I honestly didn't have the energy to. I let her drag me into the contest hall, still firmly holding onto my arm, and she positioned us in the very center facing the stage. To my relief, Neptune actually let go of my arm when she sat and I dropped into the seat next to her.

"Pipi chu?" My entire body stiffened when I heard Pikachu's version of Serena's name. I glanced around swiftly, trying to see if Pikachu had seen her, but Pikachu patted my head soothingly and gave me an apologetic shake of his head. Realizing that he had just said her name because Pikachu was missing Serena I relaxed back into my seat and let out a small sigh.

Please, Serena, I begged in my mind. Please don't be here.

I gripped my fists together tightly to try as Marion came onto the stage to start the contest. My heart was hammering as I watched the performance rounds, waiting for a familiar honey blonde to come onto the stage. When the last performer was announced though I let out a sigh and leaned back in my chair, finally able to release my tension.

Thanks, Aryan, I thought to him internally, wishing I knew how to use telepathy.

Neptune had been silent throughout the performances but I was surprised to see that her attention seemed completely focused on the stage. Her gaze was calculating, but she didn't seem disappointed or annoyed. Once the battles began I frowned when Neptune's lips curled into a sarcastic sneer and she let out a huff at the flashy moves that the coordinators used.

"How inefficient," Neptune said quietly with a snort as two moves clashed together and created a fireworks effect.

"Contest battles are meant to be beautiful over anything else," I responded quietly to her. Neptune arched an eyebrow up at me with disdain but then turned back to look at the stage with something akin to curiosity.

"Do you find this beautiful?" she asked after a while and I instantly nodded.

"I've always liked watching contest battles. The best battles are when the coordinator uses moves in a way I've never seen before to dodge or to surprise their opponent. I can usually tweak it to work in a normal battle," I explained, thinking back on my time being a normal trainer and traveling around with my friends. Those had been the good days.

"You're like a sponge, Satoshi," Neptune said with a chuckle. I looked over at her with a small frown, not understanding the simile. "You soak up knowledge wherever you go. It is a useful characteristic to have. It makes you more adaptable."

I blinked over at Neptune, surprised to be receiving what seemed to be an honest compliment from her. Her attention had turned back to the battles but she looked contemplative now instead of disdainful and I slowly turned away from her. Not for the first time, I wondered what kind of person Neptune would have been if she had been raised by someone who actually loved her instead of being used as a research assistant her whole life.

I clapped along with everyone else as the winner was determined and Neptune stood up, glancing around at all of the audience members, half of which were making a beeline for the exit and the other half were milling around discussing the contest. Neptune surprisingly hung back, waiting patiently for our row of people to file out.

"I suppose this wasn't a terrible waste of time," Neptune commented as we slowly moved forward with the line of people. "Although it would be more exciting if there was a punishment for the losers."

Pikachu grumbled under his breath and I tried to laugh. "That seems a little excessive. They're trying their best after all, and losing hurts enough as is," I commented lightly. Neptune glanced over her shoulder and gave me a cold smile.

"All action should have consequences," Neptune responded frostily. She turned away from me though to concentrate on walking without bumping into the person in front of her.

I followed after her silently, unsure of what she had meant by that and why she had seemed so intense as she said it. We had just barely left the contest hall when Pikachu stiffened so much it was like someone had just paralyzed him. I turned to ask what was wrong but suddenly he leaped off of my shoulder and began zipping through the legs of the crowd exiting the contest hall.

"Pikachu!" I called after him, completely confused about his strange escape. "I'll be right back," I said to Neptune as I turned to follow after him. A hand grabbed onto my arm though, pulling me to a halt and I turned to see her giving me a hard stare.

"If he wishes to run off then leave him be," Neptune said firmly, tugging on my arm. I blinked down at her and felt myself standing up straight so I could stare down at her fiercely.

"Pikachu would never run off for no reason. I promise I will come back as soon as I find him," I said firmly, looking straight into Neptune's lavender eyes. She frowned, narrowing her eyes at me, but then her lips curled up in what I could only describe as a bone-chilling grin and she slowly released my elbow.

"Very well," she said, her voice just as intense as her gaze. "Enjoy your free election while you can."

My eyes widened and I frowned at her, not even beginning to comprehend what she might mean by that. She kept giving me that creepy smile and waved at me to go on though, so I slowly took a step back from her. After she gave me another nod with that same coldly triumphant expression, I turned my back on her and dove into the crowd, pushing my way through as I tried to catch a glimpse of yellow fur. My spine was tingling with a sense of foreboding as I thought of Neptune's parting words, but I focused on trying to find Pikachu for now.

A familiar voice caught my attention and I pushed my way through a group of trainers. My eyes widened in fright when I saw Pikachu waving his arms desperately, trying to push Majestoat back and convince her to turn around. I hadn't even formulated what I was supposed to do with this development when an achingly sweet voice floated into my ear.

"Satoshi?"

My body betrayed me, lifting my head up from where Pikachu was desperately trying to hold off Majestoat as she nuzzled against him happily and instead locking onto Serena's sky blue eyes. Her eyes widened in surprise and I was shocked when moisture began to build up in them before she suddenly burst forward, threw herself against me, and wrapped her arms around my neck. Instinctively my arms circled around her, pulling her thin frame more fully against me as my hand cupped the back of her head. My heart tugged painfully as I heard Serena sniffling against my neck and I immediately rested my cheek against her head.

"What's wrong?" I asked quietly.

I knew I needed to get Serena away from here. Who knew what Neptune would do to me if she saw Majestoat and realized she was the evolved form of the pokemon she asked me to kill all those months ago... but Serena's tears had me rooted to the spot and all I wanted to do was shield her from the world.

Serena shook her head against my neck and shoulder and I felt several droplets of water splash against my exposed skin. My arm around her waist clenched tighter but she let out a shaky breath and slowly pulled away.

"Satoshi... you're... not a part of Team Galactic... are you?"

A/N How are you gonna talk yourself out of this one Ash?