Sorry for the long delay. I know it doesn't make up for it, but this chapter is long. So, hopefully you guys don't hate me too much.

Disclaimer: I don't own Pokémon or anything associated with it.

Releasing a few tears, Ash made his decision as Pikachu's face disappeared. 'I am sorry Pikachu, but Serena needs my help.'

Bringing his hands up to his mouth, Ash shouted at the top of his lungs as Serena touched the door handle to her car, "Serena, I challenge you to a Pokémon battle."

That declaration certainly got everyone's attention and all was quiet as they waited for Serena's reaction.

With a sigh, Serena let her hand fall down to her side and turned around to face Ash. "I am sorry, but I don't do unofficial battles," she said with a polite smile. Thinking the issue was now settled and wanting to get out of here, Serena, once again, turned back around and moved to leave.

"Ash wouldn't back down from a battle!" Ash shouted as Serena opened the car door.

Mewtwo, finally recovered from hearing the first bomb Ash released, gasped at his second one.

Paralyzed. . . that was the only word to describe Serena's reaction. Like a statue, Serena, with her hand still on the door, stood frozen.

After about a minute, Ash raised an eyebrow at his friend's strange behavior.

Over the years, Serena became very good at taking things in stride. However, at the mere mention of his name, she could feel her composure falling fast.

Suddenly, Serena slammed the door shut and turned around with the scariest glared Ash has ever seen on her.

"How do you know Ash?"

After taking a couple of seconds to collect himself, Ash quickly formulated a plan that would, hopefully, convince Serena to go home. "I met him years ago when he first started out on his journey, but you wouldn't know that now would you?"

Not liking his tone, Serena's eyes narrowed and she ignored his last comment. "What is your name?"

"The name is Satoshi." While looking at his finger nails, Ash said, "Always a pleasure to meet one of Ash's forgotten friends."

"Forgotten friend?"

"Yes, after traveling with him, you become forgotten." With a humorless laugh, Ash continued, "After parting ways, he says he will stay in contact and come visit you. However, the truth is, he is to much of a jack ass to even send an email to check up on you."

Getting angry at the appeared disrespect this guy was giving to her hero, Serena calmly stated, "If you know what's good for you, you will do best not to disrespect Ash in front of me."

Brushing off her last statement, Ash brought a hand up to his chin in a mock thinking pose and said, "I guess you wouldn't know because he died before he could neglect you."

That did it. With her grip on her emotions now completely shattered, Serena yelled, "I will not stand by and watch some hooded creep talk down on the greatest human being I have ever had the pleasure of meeting! If it is a battle you want, then a battle you shall get!"

Storming past the crowd, who wisely got out of the angry performer's way, Serena headed towards the Pokémon battlefield that was behind the Pokémon center.

Soon after Serena left, the stunned crowd finally recovered.

"Man I am so glad that I decided to get out of the house today."

"Me too! Now we get to see Serena wipe the floor with the hooded creep."

Where things said by the crowd as they left Mewtwo and Ash behind and followed after their hero.

"Well I got to say that I didn't expect this," Mewtwo said while looking around still in disbelief about what transpired. Curious, Mewtwo said, "What made you decide to battle her? Better yet, what compelled you to piss her off? You do know that your trying to help her, not make her mad."

With a thoughtful expression, Ash said, "Well. . . I made myself out to be the bad guy because she has to understand that what I did in the past and what she is doing now is only hurting those that care about her." Ash looked up at the sky as a gust of wind blew his hood around. "I know how hard it can be to see the error in oneself. However, people seem to easily find other people's flaws. . . I was hoping by bringing Ash into this that I could show her why what she is doing is wrong through him." He smiled and looked back down at Mewtwo. "Plus, she hasn't technically met Satoshi yet. So, I am not suppose to know anything about her."

"Alright, but that still doesn't explained why you want to battle her," Mewtwo confusedly said. "There are other less dramatic ways to help her."

"No, a battle is the only way where two strangers hearts can connect," Ash wisely said while nodding. "This is the only way if I want to keep my identity hidden."

Finally, Mewtwo was able to wrap his head around Ash's plan and everything clicked into place. "You pissed her off because you saw how she reacted when you mentioned Ash's name, didn't you?"

"Yep, I knew that I had to really work her up to get what I wanted."

"I got to say that your plan is well thought out," Mewtwo said, impressed.

"Thank you."

"But you overlooked one important fact."

"Why is their always a but," Ash mumbled.

"What was that?"

"Nothing!" Ash responded a little too quickly for Mewtwo's liking. "You were saying?"

"Right," Mewtwo said as he focused on the task at hand. "You have to do the one thing that you vowed never to do again." Mewtwo paused for dramatic effect. "You have to battle her." He put a hand on Ash's shoulder. "Can you handle that?"

"I don't know. . ." Ash truthfully respoded while looking down and running a hand over his scar. "But it is like you said earlier." He looked up in determination. "If I don't help her, then no one will!"

Hearing his conviction, Mewtwo smiled. "Ok the, just remember you are not alone and if you need my help all you have to do is asked."

"Actually there is one thing you can do," Ash said while getting nervous all of a sudden. "Could you prepare for the worse? Just in case everything falls apart."

Mewtwo brought his hand back to his side and said, "Of course."

"Thank you my friend," Ash said in gratitude. "I don't know what I would do without you."

"You don't have to thank me because I know that you won't need me help." Turning away from Ash and walking towards the battlefield, Mewtwo said, "Now come on, you have an angry performer waiting for you."

'I hope your right.' Ash gulped. 'Maybe it wasn't the best idea to get her mad. . .' He shook his head. 'I can't question myself now. I have to do this. For Serena. . ."

With poise, Ash confidently made his way towards the battlefield while silently pleading for everything to turn out alright.

However, things rarely go according to plan.

Arriving at the battlefield, Ash and Mewtwo noticed that the police officers were positioned to keep the crowd some distance away from the battlefield and Serena was already in her battle box. By the look of her face, she was raring to go.

"Here comes the hooded creep," someone said as they got closer.

In response, the crowd turned towards Ash and Mewtwo and parted like the Red Sea to allow them to pass.

"BBBBBOOOOOOOOO!"

Screamed the crowd as they threw their drinks and food at them as Mewtwo and Ash walked through them.

Meanwhile, Serena didn't say anything and instead choose to glare at her competition as they made their way behind the battle box across from her.

"Well here goes nothing," Ash said to Mewtwo as he stepped up into the battle box.

"I'll act as the judge for this match," said a referee with a flag in each hand as he approached the middle of the battlefield.

"This will be a one-and-one battle between Top Coordinator Serena and Satoshi." Pointing one of his flag towards Serena, the ref said, "Serena, please send out your Pokémon."

"Delphox, lets teach this guy some manners!" Serena shouted as she threw her starters Pokeball.

With a loud zing, Delphox materialized and gave out a loud battle cry. Pointing her stick upwards, she shot a huge blast of fire into the sky.

The crowd stared in awe at the powerful looking Pokémon.

"Delphox, lets show him what happens to those who disrespects Ash!" Serena shouted

In response, Delphox's eyes narrowed and her anger grew to match that of her trainers.

'I am glad that it is not me battling her,' the ref thought. Pointing his other flag towards Ash, he said, "Satoshi, please send out your Pokémon.

Ash panicked and turned towards Mewtwo with a "oh crap" look.

Mewtwo smacked his forehead with one of his hands. 'How could I missed this one important detail.'

Sweating, Ash thought, 'I can't battle Serena with Mewtwo. That would draw unnecessarily questions. Plus, I need him on standby just in case this whole thing blows up in my face.'

"Satoshi, please send out your Pokémon," the ref repeated.

Ash, very slowly, turned around to stall. "Uhm, could you give me a second."

"Can you hurry up and send out your Pokémon already!" an impatient Serena shouted.

Not wanting to go against the Kalos Queen, especially when she's angry, the ref said, "Satoshi, please send out your Pokémon or you will forfeit the match."

'Well who knew that this plan will fail so soon,' Ash thought. Drawing in a big breath, he readied himself to announce his forfeit. "I-"

"Pika!"

Shocked, everyone turned towards where that noise came from and saw a Pikachu and a "Bidoof" running towards Ash and Mewtwo.

'Not good!' Mewtwo thought. 'You just had to go get Pikachutwo, Mew.'

Ash could only stare at the clone of his lost friend with wide eyes as Pikachutwo ran up to him. Many flashbacks of his time with Pikachu went through his head and those memories caused him tremendous pain as it reminded him of their long journey together and the bond that he and Pikachu shared.

"Is Pikachu your chosen Pokémon?" the ref finally asked when it became apparent that Ash wasn't moving anytime soon.

From behind Ash, Mew and Mewtwo looked at their friend with worry and curiosity as they both waited to see what he will do.

Hearing the ref's voice, momentarily snapped him out of it. Looking up towards Serena, Ash once again was lost in a trance as he lived through many memories of his time with her. This filled Ash with determination as he recalled all of the times Serena was there for him.

Finally, after what felt like hours when in reality was only a couple seconds, Ash turned back towards Pikachutwo and spoke. "Will you battle with me Pikachu?"

Pikachutwo nodded his head with a serious look in his eyes.

"Alright, then. . . Pikachu I choose you!"

Pikachutwo jumped onto the battlefield. With his cheeks sparkling and with a determined look on his face, Pikachutwo readied himself for the upcoming battle.

Once again, flabbergasted at the turn of events, Mewtwo could only shake his head as he assumed a meditative stance and closed his eyes.

"This will be a match between Delphox and Pikachu. Are both sides ready?" the ref asked.

Serena brought a hand up to the blue ribbon on her chest and clutched it tightly as she closed her eyes. 'For Ash.'

Suddenly, Serena opened her eyes with a sharp glare as she returned her hand back to her side. "I am ready!"

Ash, meanwhile, was living one of his flashback from earlier again. Instead of the battlefield behind the Pokémon center, Ash saw the Kanto league battlefield. Furthermore, instead of battling Serena and her Delphox, Ash was battling Ritchie and his Butterfree with Pikachu.

Hearing Serena shout, brought him back to reality. Looking at his opponent across from him, Ash lived through a memory he had just moments before. However, instead of one of his battles with Pikachu, he observed a girl with long honey blond hair coming up to a frustrated Ash after he got beaten by Viola at his first gym battle in the Kalos region. With a smile, this girl encouraged him to never give up until its over. . .

"I am ready!" Ash shouted as he returned to reality.

"Alright, begin!" the ref said as he raised both flags up.

For a moment, both Pokémon stood still sizing each other up. Pikachutwo's cheeks were still sparkling and Delphox was still glaring hard.

"Pikachu, use quick attack!" Ash finally commanded.

Pikachutwo took off like a bullet while leaving behind a white streak and charged at the fox Pokémon.

"Stop it with psychic," Serena calmly ordered.

"Use thunderbolt before it can hit you!" Ash desperately retaliated.

Speed was everything at this moment. Both Pokémon knew that whom every could release their attack first will ultimately strike the first blow. Fortunately for Pikachutwo, his quick attack was still in effect and increased his speed. Thus, making it harder than normal for Delphox to use psychic on him. So, thunderbolt ultimately fired first and caused a mini explosion once it impacted Delphox.

"Serena, you have to understand that no one is perfect, Ash included," Ash tried to reason. "He made mistakes that really hurt those he called friends and family."

"Shut up! Ash was perfect!" Serena shouted back. "Delphox, use flamethrower!"

From the smoke, a huge blast of fire came quick and fast at the mouse Pokémon.

"Pikachu, dodge it!"

Pikachutwo's mind was screaming to move, but his body could not react quick enough. Getting blasted by the strong move, Pikachutwo slide back on the ground as he took a considerable amount of damage.

This made Ash have another flashback of a battle with Pikachu. However, instead of the Kanto league, he was back at the Silver Conferences in Jhoto battling Harrison and his Kecleon with Pikachu.

"Is that all you got?" Serena said, snapping Ash back to the present.

"Serena, you have to face reality," Ash started, again. "Ash may have helped and support his traveling companions when he was traveling with them. However, as soon as he left, so did his support." He looked down. "He never called or emailed his friends to ask how their lives were going or to catch up once he left. Instead, he treated these people like dirt and tossed aside friends with whom he made many memories with." He looked up. "All he cared about was his dream to become a Pokémon Master."

"Sacrifices have to be made to reach ones dream," Serena said.

Hearing the conviction in her voice, Ash quietly said to himself, "You really believe that, don't you?" He sighed. "What happened to that sweet girl who was my friend. . ."

Ash lived another memory in which showed him stuck in an alternate reality inside Reflection Cave. It was near sunset and both dimensions were open, but slowly moving apart. With all of his strength, Ash grabbed Pikachu and jumped towards his dimension. However, it was too far away and he wasn't going to make it. Suddenly, somebody caught him. Looking up, Ash saw that his hand was interlocked with Serena's.

The last thing that Ash saw was walking out of Reflection Cave and Serena asking if they will always travel together from now on. He, of course, responded yes because they were friends. . .

"Pikachu, use iron tail!"

Pikachutwo's tail glowed white as he ran towards his opponent.

"Use sunny day!" Serena countered.

Delphox, trusting her trainer completely, performed sunny day and caused the sun to gain intensity.

"Did it suddenly get really hot?" someone from the crowd said.

Pikachutwo, now within striking distance, leaped in the air and struck the fox Pokémon in the face with his tail. Leaping back, Pikachutwo prepared himself for his next order.

"Use iron tail one more time!"

Like before, Pikachutwo charged at his opponent with his tail glowing white. Then, he leaped into the air and swung his tail at Delphox.

"Delphox, counter with flame charge!"

Surrounding itself with fire, Delphox charged at the air bound mouse Pokémon.

Both attacks collided and they seemed evenly matched for a few moments. However, with sunny day in effect, Delphox, eventually, overpowered Pikachutwo and sent him flying back towards Ash.

With a loud boom, Pikachutwo crashed into the ground and caused a mini explosion. Once the smoke cleared, a battle worn Pikachu was revealed.

"Are you ok, Pikachu," Ash worriedly asked.

"Pika!" Pikachutwo responded in the affirmative.

Seeing Pikachutwo's guts caused Ash to have a flashback of the Ever Grande Conference in the Hoenn region where he battled Tyson and his Meowth with Pikachu. The battle was intense and had Ash fully engage until the end. Even though Pikachu ended up losing the match, he gave it his all and held nothing back. . .

"Delphox, use psybeam!"

Delphox fired a peculiar ray at her prey.

"Dodge with quick attack!"

Pikachutwo, with the speed boast, easily dodged the peculiar ray and leaped into the air after circling around Delphox.

"Delphox, behind you!"

"Too late! Use electro ball!"

Creating a ball of electricity at its tail, Pikachutwo did a flip and fired the deadly attack at his opponent.

The attack collided with the fox Pokémon back and caused her to fall onto her knees.

Running back over to Ash's side, Pikachutwo smirked.

"What about Ash's mom?" Ash asked Serena. "He barely spent any time with her after leaving on long journeys! Do you really think that was right thing to do to a person who raised you?"

"As his mother, I expect her to understand how much his dream meant to him!"

"Even if she does understand!" Ash responded hotly. "Don't you think it still would of hurt her!"

"Like I said earlier, sacrifices have to be made."

Shocked. . . Ash was shocked at what she said. 'What happened to the girl who cared about others…'

Ash lived another memory in which he hurt his foot at the Pokémon Summer Camp after saving Serena from falling down a cliff. Serena appeared apologetic that he got hurt rescuing her and tended to his foot while the others went and got help. She cared for his well being. . .

"Pikachu, use thunderbolt!"

First, Pikachutwo surrounded itself with electricity. Then, he launched his attack at his opponent.

". . ."

Serena, for the first time, said nothing in response.

The attack collided and caused smoke to surround Delphox.

"Delphox, use future sight!" Serena ordered as the smoke cleared.

Delphox's body glowed and sent blue balls into the air, but then the glow and blue balls disappeared and it seemed like nothing happened.

"Use iron tail!"

Pikachutwo came charging at Delphox with his tail glowing white.

"Dodge by dancing!"

Swing after swing, Pikachutwo tried connecting with his attack. However, Delphox bobbed and weaved out of the way every time.

"Awwwwee!" said a little girl from the crowd as she watched the fire/psychic Pokémon gracefully and beautifully dance.

After a while, Serena, as predicted, noticed that Pikachutwo's movements were becoming more and more sluggish. "Use mystic fire."

After dodging iron tail one more time, Delphox quickly drew a circle of fire with its stick and fired its attack.

Exhausted, Pikachutwo could do nothing, but observe with wide eyes, as it was hit at point blank range and sent flying.

"Pikkkacchhhuuu!" Ash screamed as he saw him go flying and crash on his side of the battlefield.

Once again, Ash spaced out and this time he saw himself at the Lily of the Valley Conference in Sinnoh and he was facing perhaps his greatest rival Paul with of course his best friend Pikachu. Paul was the polar opposite of Ash and questioned his training ways. For a while, Ash actually thought that Paul's path was actually the better one with how powerful it made him. However, with determination and guts, Ash finally proved that love and not power brings out a Pokémon's true potential. . .

"Piiikkkkkaaaa!" Pikachutwo screamed as he was blasted by blue balls from the future sight launched earlier.

"Pikachu, can you still battle?" Ash worriedly asked when future sight subsided.

Pikachutwo nodded his bruised face as he forced his scrape covered body to stand up and continue.

'Pikachutwo is tired and can't take much more damage. So, we need a plan before charging in.' Suddenly, Ash felt a buildup of sweet on his forehead from the hot sun and quickly wiped it off with one of his hands. 'That's it!' Ash though as he looked at the moisture in his hand.

"Delphox, use flamethrower!"

Instantly, Delphox aimed its stick at Pikachutwo and fired a ball of fire at him.

"Dodge it and charge!"

Using his agility, Pikachutwo moved side to side as he ran towards Delphox and dodged all incoming flamethrowers.

"Now, circle around Delphox and use iron tail!"

Pikachutwo quickly complied and charged at the backside of Delphox with his tail glowing.

"Don't think the same trick will work twice!" Serena shouted. "Delphox, do a flip to turn around and counter with flame charge!"

Delphox gracefully back flipped on her hands. Then, pushed off her hands and did a 180 to face Pikachutwo as she landed on her feet. "Phox!" Delphox shouted as she surrounded herself with flames and ran towards Pikachutwo.

"Pikachu, jump up as high as you can!" Ash ordered when the two Pokémon where close to one another.

Pikachutwo obeyed and became airborne.

'Nice try, but this match is over,' Serena confidently thought. "Delphox, jump up and meet Pikachu as it descends!"

Delphox tried to follow her orders, but as soon as she looked up, she had to shield her eyes from the intense rays of the sun.

"What!" Serena shouted in disbelief.

"Pikachu, now!"

With his back to the sun, Pikachutwo did a front flip and connected his gravity aided iron tail to the back of Delphox's head. Rocks raised up as Delphox face planted hard into the ground and Pikachutwo leaped back to his side of the battlefield.

'This guy!' Serena thought as her angrier started to take full control of her and Delphox rose to her feet. 'I will not lose this match!'

Observing Serena quench a fist by her heart caused Ash to gaze at the blue ribbon on her chest and remember the time he gave it to her. . .

They were in Coumarine City and their was going to be a celebration later that night under a huge tree called the Pledging tree. There, Trainers were suppose to give their Pokémon gifts to celebrate the bonds between Trainers and Pokémon. After looking for presents all day, Ash and Serena were on their way back to the Pokémon center when Ash unexpectedly won a blue ribbon for being the millionth visitor to the monorail. Later that night, Ash gave her that ribbon in thanks for giving him the idea on what to give his Pokémon. Serena happily accepted it and promised to cherish it forever. . .

"Lets show them real power Delphox!" Serena angrily shouted as her Pokémon leaped back over to her side of the battlefield.

"Pikachu, don't give them time to recover! Use electro ball!"

"Stand you ground Delphox!"

'Something doesn't feel right,' Ash thought as electro ball after electro ball collided with the fox Pokémon.

Suddenly, Delphox started to glow red as its ability blaze kicked in.

'So, that was her plan,' Ash thought as he gulped. 'And I thought Delphox was strong before the power boost.' Looking at his tried Pokémon that ceded in firing electro balls, Ash thought, 'This doesn't look good. . .'

Unexpectedly, Ash saw the scene change to the Vertress Conference in Unova where he was battling Cameron's Lucario. At first, it looked like Ash would win because he had two Pokémon left and Cameron only had Lucario. However, something felt off with that line of thinking and Ash was proved right when Lucario defeated Snivy and Pikachu to advance to the next round. . .

"Delphox, use psychic to hold Pikachu in place!"

Ash had a really bad feeling about this. "Pikachu, quickly, dodge it!"

"Too late!" Serena said with an evil smirk as Delphox lifted Pikachutwo up just above the ground. "Now, fire a full blast mystic fire at the rodent!"

Pikachutwo struggled mightily trying to free itself, but his struggle was in vain as Delphox drew a circle with its stick and fired its attack. Getting a boast from sunny day and blaze, a massive ball of fire came towards the trapped mouse.

"No, Pikachu," Ash whispered just before the enormous attack hit and caused a blinding white light that forced everyone watching to cover their eyes.

Eventually, the lighting return to normal and a collapsed Pikachutwo and smirking Delphox was revealed.

Seeing enough, the ref raised a flag and was about to call it when the icy tone of the queen cut him off. "It's not over, not yet."

Slowly, Pikachutwo raised one paw and put it down. Then, the other. With one eye shut and one ear bent sideways, he willed himself up into a standing position.

Even a person who have never seen a Pokémon before could tell that the poor creature could collapse any second and was in no condition to continue. So, the ref, once again, raised a hand to call it. "Pikachu is unable to-"

"I will decide when this is over!" Serena sharply interrupted.

That left ref speechless as Ash looked on in disappointment.

Suddenly, Ash had a flashback of the time he got sick with a fever after practicing with Pikachu and Greninja in a stream. That day, Serena watched over him while Clemont and Bonnie went to get medicine. Furthermore, she battled Jimmy in his place with Pikachu to make sure he would rest. It was clear that day that she would not risk his health for anything. . .

Looking into her eyes now, Ash saw no mercy in them, just anger. 'Even a blind man can see that Pikachutwo can't continue,' he thought furiously. Then, he sighed. 'It's not worth it.'

"I forfeit the ba-"

"Delphox, use future sight!" Serena spoke above Ash.

Delphox was hesitant, but did as it was told.

"NO!" Ash shouted as he worriedly looked at Serena. "You win!" Ash's voice turned desperate. "Call off the attack!"

Serena eye's narrowed and raised one hand up and pointed it at Ash. "You thought you could get away with insulting Ash!" She moved her hand to point at the very weak Pokémon. "Now you will suffer the consequences!"

"Delphox, use mystic fire one more time, hold nothing back!"

Delphox didn't move as it had a look of uncertainty in its eyes.

This just anger Serena more. "I gave you an order!"

Finally, Delphox relented.

Meanwhile, Ash saw another vision in which he was in the Lumiose Conference battling Alain's Charizard with Pikachu in the Kalos region. During the match, it was obvious Pikachu was weaken from its previous match against Alain's Metagross. In the end, Charizard's dragon claw outmatched Pikachu's weakened iron tail and forced him to fall. . .

As soon as Delphox started to draw a circle, Pikachutwo's body finally gave out and he collapsed face first into the dirt.

Time seemed to slow as Ash sprinted with everything he had out of his battle box and towards the defenseless Pokémon. 'Please, let me make it.'

Suddenly, the sky above opened up and blue balls from future sight came falling down towards the fallen mouse.

With one last leap, Ash crouched down over Pikachutwo and positioned his body to shield him from both deadly attacks. Accepting his fate, Ash closed his eyes tightly.

The crowd gasped at the turn of events and someone screamed as both attacks hit.

*BBBOOOOOMMM!*

Instantly, smoke covered the area.

At the same time, witnessing the selfless act of Satoshi protecting his Pokémon, made Serena think of Ash and snapped her out of her angry haze. Her eyes widened in horror as she realized she had gone too far and now Satoshi paid the price for her carelessness!

Everyone held their breath as the smoke cleared and showed the outcome of Serena's thoughtless action. Immediately, a powerful green barrier was revealed and confusion spread throughout.

"Is that protect?" the ref asked out loud.

Finally, protect was lowered and a pink Pokémon was observed to be levitating just in front of the still crouched over Ash whose hood was now down. "Mew," the pink Pokémon said sadly with its head lowered in sadness for the torment that her friend and Pikachutwo went through.

Observing no visible damage to Satoshi, Serena felt relieved, but, like everyone else, she was greatly astonished at seeing the legendary Pokémon Mew. "What is a Mew doing here?"

Hearing a voice, Ash finally opened his eyes and let out a deep breath that he didn't know he was holding when he saw that Pikachutwo was safe. From Serena's words, he quickly figured out what happened without turning around and deduced that his mission was now a total failure. "Mewtwo, code red." Ash emotionlessly ordered

Mewtwo, who hadn't move from his spot on the ground throughout the battle, snapped his eyes open and a white light came flying towards everyone, but Ash, Mew, and Pikachutwo.

Reacting quickly, Delphox jumped in front of her trainer and her eyes glowed as she protected Serena from the white light with her psychic powers.

"What's happening?" Serena asked as she worriedly looked around after the light subsided. Immediately, she noticed the glazed looks from everyone around her and ran up to the nearest person who happened to be the ref. "Are you ok?" She asked as she waved a hand in front of his face.

The ref didn't even blink.

"He and everyone else are going to be ok," a deep voice said from inside her head.

Surprised, Serena looked around and spotted a white Pokémon with its hood down walking towards Ash and company.

"Mewtwo?"

"Yes, it is I human" Mewtwo replied.

"First Mew and now Mewtwo," Serena said as she looked from the pink legendary Pokémon to the white legendary Pokémon. "What is going on here?" Then, she looked at the zombified ref. "And what happened to everyone?"

"It is called mind control," Mewtwo explained. Hearing his voice caused Serena's eyes to snap back to him. "The world cannot know the current whereabouts of Mew or I." Mewtwo turned his head to look at Mew. "So, I take control of people's minds and delete their memories of us if either Mew or myself are exposed." He turned a sharp glare towards Delphox. "Unfortunately, Serena, your Pokémon blocked my attempt to take control of your mind."

"Delphox!" Serena yelled as she sensed the growing tension.

Quickly, Delphox jumped in front of her trainer and returned Metwo's glare.

As this was happening, Ash stroke the fainted Pikachutwo's head as he remembered his time in the Winding Woods after his first battle against Wulfric. It was his eighth gym in the Kalos region and he humility lost with Sawyer watching. In his grief and stress, he escaped alone into the woods to reflect on where he went wrong. Shortly after, Serena followed him and tried to comfort him. Blinded by angrier, he yelled at her and said she wouldn't understand. This just upset Serena and she left after saying a few choice words and throwing some snowballs at the lost Trainer. Though the snowballs hurt and caused him to trip on a log and fall over, it was the words she said that stung the most.

"YOU ARE NOT THE ASH I KNOW!"

Ash came back into reality just in time to hear Mewtwo's last statement. Hearing shuffling and sensing a pointless battle rapidly approaching Ash raised his voice. "Mewtwo, enough."

"But-"

"It's ok, she won't say anything." Ash softly said as he picked up Pikachutwo and stood up with his back still facing Serena. "Let's just get medical attention for Pikachutwo and go home."

'Wait a minute. Are those two legendary Pokémon traveling with him?' Serena asked herself as she slightly relaxed now that a battle with Mewtwo wasn't imminent. Nodded her head, she concluded that was the case based on his words and the fact that he wasn't a mindless zombie like everybody else. Now, that raised another question. "Just who are you Satoshi?"

Ash sighed. "I am a person who always seems to be apart of world changing events involving many legendary Pokémon. I am a person who has traveled across many different regions and whose dream was solely to become a Pokémon Master." Ash lowered his head. " I am a person who abandoned his friends after their journey together was up." He released a single tear. "I am a person who stomped on his own mothers heart by refusing to spend time with her." He looked at the fainted Pokémon in his arms. "Most importantly, I am a person who failed his best friend and caused him to die."

Serena felt her heartbeat pick up rapidly and her anxiety increase with each sentence that "Satoshi" spoke. Finally, she felt her world go still as "Satoshi" turned around and reveal just who he was to her.

"I am Ash Ketchum."

With a thud, Serena fell to her knees and her face went pale as she stared at the person who meant the world to her and whom she thought was lost to her forever. "A-Ash."

"Yes, it is me," Ash calmly replied.

Serena didn't know what to think. On the one hand, she was extremely happy to see him alive. On the other hand, she felt betrayal for the pain that his "death" caused her. She eventually decided to settle on betrayal. "W-Why didn't y-you tell me-e you wer-re alive-e?"

"Why would I reveal such information to a stranger?" Ash questioned.

Serena opened her mouth in shock. Then, an unbearable amount of pain went through her heart that caused her to collapsed onto her hands and lower her head. The words 'I am a person who abandoned his friends after their journey together was up' repeatedly echoed inside her head as she started to hyperventilate.

Delphox, immediately, went to her Trainers side and put a hand on her back in a failed attempt to comfort her. "Del-phox," she said sadly.

"I don't know the current you."

Serena slowly looked up and her breathing stopped.

"The person I see in front of me has lost the capacity to care or worry about others! Instead, she is full of anger!" Ash looked on in disappointment. "You know, they say in a Pokémon Battle two strangers hearts can connect and they can see what the other is feeling."

Tears started to form in Serena's eyes in response to Ash's words.

"Well, I tried and tried to show you my feelings, but instead I just saw yours!" Ash narrowed his eyes. "Do you want to know what I saw?"

In response, Ash just got light sobs as Serena cried.

"I SAW A HEARTLESS TRAINER WHO CARES ONLY ABOUT HERSELF AND HER DREAM!"

Serena's sobs turned hysterical.

"YOU ARE NOT THE SERENA I KNOW!" Releasing deep breaths as he recovered from his angry outburst, Ash experienced one final flashback.

After awhile Ash looked at the pitiful looking Top Coordinator and said in just above a whispering, "You were wrong at the airport 6 years ago before you left for the Hoenn region." Ash waited a few seconds before he delivered the killer blow. " I do not like the person you have become."

Serena, finally, lowered her head in complete misery and felt her whole world fall apart. The one person whom she valued above all others hated her.

"Mew, get us out of here." Ash ordered.

Mew, not wanting to come in between the two just yet, quickly complied and in a blink of an eye, Ash, Mewtwo, Pikachutwo, and Mew left the broken queen.

Lots of emotion and a long Pokémon battle. If this chapter didn't get a reaction out of you, then I don't know what will. Until next time!