Everyone on board the submarine were asleep but Serena. Her mind was fixed on Ash. His life was at risk. She felt like a hole had carved through her heart. She felt alone and scared. She was deep in thought and didn't realise Red had approached her. Red tapped her on the shoulder to take her out of her thoughts.

"Ash" Serena said jumping a little. "Shhh, it's me Red" Red said. Serena calmed down when she saw Ash's father. "Oh sorry, what do you want" Serena asked politely. "I just wanted to have a short chat and a check up if you were alright" Red said. "Do you want to sit, I can move Kaylin on my lap" Serena said. "No it's fine, let her be" Red said. He sat down on the row next to her. "So what is it you want to talk about?" Serena asked. "I want to apologise to you for not saving Ash" Red said. "No no you don't need to apologise at all, I apologise for not helping you" Serena said. "No, if I saved him you wouldn't be like this. You seem more edgy without him" Red said. "Trust me I'm fine, you don't need to apologise, you are more closer to Ash than me" Serena said. "I don't think so, I left him to be tortured. I left him alone. I've felt guilty the day I done it but was to coward to go back. I was afraid he would want distance between us" Red said. "Well he adores you now so it's fine" Serena said.

Red sighed and got up. Before he left he handed Serena something. It was a small locket with a chain. Serena opened it. A picture was put in the locket. Serena pulled it out and saw it was a picture of herself and her mother and Ash when they were young.

"Where did you get this?" Serena said. "Your mother gave it to me to pass it on to you or Ash but since your here I gave it to you" Red said. "She remembers me still" Serena said with a solitary tear forming in her eyes. "Of course she loves you to bits, she always carries a picture of you everywhere she goes. She tries to call you but always work comes in her way" Red explained. Serena didn't respond. She was just amazed at this. Her mother still cared and loved her. She felt happier than before. "Your lucky to have a parent like that, you should feel happy" Red said. "What do you mean should, I am happy. Didn't your parents make you happy?" Serena asked trying to sound polite. "I didn't have parents, I was an orphan back when I was a kid. I lived alone with charmander" Red said using his hat to cover his eyes. Serena felt sad after hearing his story. "I know how Ash felt, alone and helpless but he didn't give up. I gave up until Blue's family helped me out" Red said lifting his hat up. His eyes looked Red as if he had shed a couple or more tears. "I'm so sorry" Serena said. "Nah it's okay, the past is the past. Anyways if you feel isolated or need help call for me, I'll be there for you" Red said trying to lift his spirts, as well as Serena's. Serena nodded and Red went back to the steering of the submarine.

Serena held the locket tightly in her hands and prayed for Ash's safety before falling to sleep.

•••••

Ash slowly opened his eyes. He felt weak as if his glucose had suddenly just vanished into thin air. He looked around him and saw the ray guns had stopped firing at him. He looked through the glass and the room seemed empty. All monitors had disappeared, except for a large black screen ahead of him.

He noticed a remote on the floor with a post it note stuck next to it. He couldn't quite make it out what it said as he was a bit far. He noticed that his binds were cut off and was loose from struggling. He charged at the glass with his remaining energy. The glass shattered in an instant. He jumped out but lost balance when he landed. He fell straight down. He dizzily made his way to the remote.

"What have they done to me" Ash said out loud. His wound was no longer pink but a dark shade of purple. He then looked at the post it note on the floor. It simply said 'Enjoy.' Ash picked up the remote and pressed the power button. The large screen turned white in front of him and then Giovanni appeared.

"Well Ketchum, we thank you for the power you have granted us for our mission. If you were a little more hostile I would have given you a big hug. But that is not the case" Giovanni said in the message.

"Wouldn't want to smell your shitty cologne anyway" Ash said and continued to listen. "Now you might be wondering, why is the building all isolated. Well we needed space for your death. So our members have all fled to Sinnoh. While you sit there and have a duel to the death. Enjoy your last minutes Ketchum. Enjoy" Giovanni said evilly before the screen turned off.

Ash was confused about the duel. Who else was here. The place was meant to be isolated. His thoughts just crashed down in his mind when he heard heavy breathing behind him. Ash stood still. His feet were paralysed to the spot. He slowly turned his head and saw Palkia lurking in the shadows of the room. Ash turned around full but felt dizzy as he did. He couldn't quite make out Palkia and where he was.

Palkia let out a huge battle cry showing no signs of mercy. He sent an aura sphere towards the helpless Ash who stood there. He took the hit full blooded and went flying into a wall. Ash got up but looked shaky. Ash then released an aura sphere. It was a weak one which Palkia skipped over. Palkia then used dragon pulse. It hit Ash dead hard in the head. Ash dropped to the floor. Beaten. He reached inside his pocket for the Jewel Of Life. He prayed Arceus would answer but no reply came. Palkia sent it's fist flying for Ash's body. Ash managed to dodge but was again sent flying by the impact. He lost his consciousness. At this rate Ash had accepted defeat. He just waited for the sign he was dead.

Ash opened his eyes. Brightness filled his eyes. He got up. He felt strong and filled with energy. He looked around but everything was white. As if he was in heaven. He then spotted a blur up ahead of him. He walked over to it. It was a transparent thing floating in the sky.

A sudden mist formed up ahead of him. Ash took fighting stance as he could see a figure walking towards it. "Who's there" Ash shouted. The figure was unmoved and kept walking. Ash took this as a sign to attack once he was past the mist. As the figure edged closer and closer to Ash, Ash tensed him muscles ready to charge at full pace.

Once the figure crossed the mist, Ash let loose and charged straight for the stranger. However the stranger raised his hands. An unnatural force pushed Ash away causing him to stumble and fall backwards. "Who dares to attack me" the figure said. He sounded like a grown man in his 50s. It was hard to see him as the whiteness glowed on him. Ash covered his eyes due to the brightness.

"Who are you?" Ash bellowed out covering his eyes. "You can open your eyes young one" The man said. Ash opened his eyes and saw a man standing before him. He had white hair and a white beard. He had a walking stick in his left hand. "What are you doing here my boy" The man said. "I was battling Palkia, well it had me for toast really" Ash said. "But who are you?" Ash asked curiously. "I am Samuel Ketchum if you may know" Samuel said. Ash's mouth dropped wide open. It was his grandfather. "I'm Ash Ketchum" Ash said. Samuel raised an eyebrow but didn't look surprised.

"I knew we would eventually meet" Samuel said. Ash looked at him in confusion but decided to let it go. "Am I dead?" Ash asked. "No I am but you aren't" Samuel said chuckling a bit at the end. "Then where the hell am I" Ash said looking around for anything other than whiteness. "This is just a dream my boy. It's all in your head" Samuel said. Ash nodded and turned his gaze to the necklace Samuel wore. It had the same shape as what Arceus had on his back.

"That's the same as Arcues, that means he has sent you" Ash said. "Yes but I'm afraid on a bad note" Samuel said. "What do you mean?" Ash asked getting curious by the minute. "Arceus has been captured by the so called Team Rocket" Samuel said. He then handed Ash a note that Arceus gave him.

It read:

Dear Ash,

I have been captured by Team Rocket as you may know from Samuel if he reaches you. If your wondering how I got caught, I lost my powers after they extracted it from you. As the powers originally came from me it drained from my body leaving me hopeless. You might be feeling weak as well but that will subside in a week or two.

My days have been numbered and the Jewel of Life will not work until I gain my powers again. To get my powers back you have to be the person that Team Rocket will fire their weapon at. With that you will regain double the power with some side effects and I will retrieve mine again as we are connected. You have to do this before the sun sets on the winter solstice.

For now consider this a farewell.

Arceus.

Ash looked on with a tear in his eye. He couldn't believe Arceus, the God, was literally being dethroned from his crown. Ash felt anger. He wanted justice on Giovanni. Not just justice he wanted him dead and out of this world.

"You have a month my boy you better make it count" Samuel said. "How do I get back" Ash asked. "Close your eyes and count to three, I must take me leave now Ash. A pleasure meeting you" Samuel said and started backing away. He was becoming faded but Ash wanted more answers.

"What are the side effects" Ash shouted. "One that will decide your fate and Giovanni's. The prophecy has already told you" Samuel said and disappeared. "Wait I don't.. Understand" Ash said but Samuel had already left. Ash sighed and sat down on the floor. "Decide my fate" Ash said. He became anxious to know but knew there was no answer until the very end.

He closed his eyes and started to count. "One.. Two... Three"

•••••

Ash could feel pain returning in his body and knew he had returned back to normality. The unusual thing was that he felt something soft. He opened his eyes and saw a sleeping Serena. He realised he was sleeping on her lap. He lifted his head but it was soar and pain rushed around like a loose pig in a farm.

Serena felt the weight reduce on her thighs and opened her eyes. She opened her eyes and saw Ash awake. "Ash!" Serena shouted and hugged him. Ash was still weak but took the hug as it felt soft and comfortable. Everyone heard the shout and rushed towards them. Serena released from the hug so Ash could be seen to everyone.

"Are you okay?" Gary asked with concern in his voice. "N-n.. Yes" Ash said. Serena and Red caught this and decided to question him later.

"So did they take your power" Clemont asked. "Yes they succeeded and have already reached Sinnoh" Ash said. Everyone let out gasps of fear. They kept asking questions mostly what had happened. Ash explained everything until he passed out. Ash was reluctant to tell about the dream. "How did I get here?" Ash asked as he didn't recall coming here himself. "Greninja and Pikachu brought you back" Kaylin said. Ash looked at his Pokémon and thanked them telepathically. "Where is Palkia" Ash asked. "I made him faint but then he vanished in thin air" Greninja said. Ash looked surprised that he took down a legendary. "Giovanni probably called him back" Tierno said. Everyone nodded. They were going to ask more questions but for Red.

"Guys calm down, he's just woken up. Let him rest for a while and then we will talk. Blue take Ash to the room at the front" Red said. Serena looked at Red hoping she could go. Red nodded. Serena took Kaylin's hand and followed Blue and Ash to the room. (It is a big submarine, just to clear it up).

Blue set Ash on the bed and Kaylin slept next to Ash. "Daddy are you okay?" Kaylin asked in her sweet voice. "Yes kiddo, daddy is just fine" Ash said. Kaylin hugged Ash and then released after a few seconds. She then let out a huge yawn. "Oopsie daisy. Kaylin is feeling sleepy" Serena said. She walked over and got in bed. She started to pat Kaylin before the little girl fell asleep.

"Serena I'm so sorry I made you worry" Ash said. "No Ash don't apologise none of this is your fault so don't blame yourself" Serena said. "You think so?" Ash said. "I know so" Serena said kissing his cheek. They then turned face to face. They could feel their breaths. Their face were getting close together before they felt their lips connect with one another. Ash pushed the kiss softly. Serena returned it by pressing her lips a tiny bit harder. They broke after a minute looking in each others eyes. "That was amazing" Ash said. "Your a good kisser, even though you are oblivious" Serena said laughing. "Oh shut up" Ash said laughing as well. They both kissed for another minute or so before falling asleep themselves.

•••••

"The brat escaped!" Giovanni said furiously. He slammed his desk angrily making a hole in the wood. The grunts were all intimidated by the sheer force that had been in that fist.

"Mewtwo, go train that palkia" Giovanni said. Mewtwo nodded and motioned Palkia to follow. The duo left leaving the grunts and Giovanni.

"Boss what now the boy is free he will attack!" One grunt said. "No he is weak and we have defence all along Sinnoh. I will be amazed if he makes it here. Also we have already lured him to us" Giovanni said looking at the unconscious Arcues.

__________________________

Well thats that, yes a huge twist in Arceus! I bet you weren't expecting that😂.Anyways thanks for reading this chapter, nonetheless I hope you enjoyed it.

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