(Note: If you didn't see the end of the last chapter after I updated it the second time, this is the 2nd to last chapter)

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Upon entering, everyone turned to Parker with looks of disgust, a mixture of disagreed faces. Ash followed in behind and everyone became really confused.

"What's going on?" Misty asked, with fire in her eyes. "Why is HE here?"

"Let me explain, so there is no more bad blood between us" Ash held out his hands to gesture everything was okay. He then explained the whole situation and that Parker was going to help them.

"You mean to tell me" May tried to take in Ash's words. "That, HE is going to help you?"

"I have a name" Parker replied calmly, which almost shocked everyone. They had been through a lot with Team Shadow around, but he never spoke like that to them before. 

"So what, maybe he has changed" Cilan shrugged.

"But that doesn't change what he has done!" Misty almost erupted into a violent rampage, but she folded her arms and huffed. 

"If he is willing to help and knows how, then what's the harm? It's for Serena" Dawn made everyone think again.

"Dawn's right guys, just saying" Gary shrugged. "If Ash is fine with him then it should be okay"

Ash smiled at Gary, who nodded back.

"So, where is Serena?" Ash asked, looking around at each face.

"The far room, right at the back" Brock pointed behind him, to the correct corridor. 

"Lets go" Ash said to Parker, who followed him to the room, their Pokemon trailing behind.

Everyone tracked Ash and Parker like hawks, confused looks returning to their faces.

Ash and Parker walked through the door and the whole scene almost repeated itself.

"Don't worry" Ash instantly said it this time. "He is here to help, he may know how to help"

Ash shifted his gaze to Serena, who was laying down on the bed, her red eyes shining brightly in the lights examining her face, giving Professor Oak a good view.

"He can help? In what way?" Professor Oak pulled down his mask and looked over at Parker.

"Well, the machines we built were manufactured from complicated computer codes and basic materials. They allowed us to send electromagnetic impulses to someone's brain, effectively changing their thought process entirely" Parker looked at Professor Oak, who, being a scientist, was intrigued.

"Is that even possible?" His voice said it all, he wanted every detail.

"Well, I mean no disrespect, but we proved it with the test on the whole region" Parker relaxed into his chair, his confident posture made Professor Oak realize that he was not joking around, that he was willing to help.

"So, how do you think we should proceed?" Professor Oak moved around the bed.

"Well, I will need to gather the pieces, then construct the code. The thing is, I never done the code myself, it was Jeremy, who was a computer whiz" Parker explained, making everyone go back to worrying.

"So we find the parts and then..." Delia, Ash's Mom, who had been sat in the corner, spoke up.

"I know someone who could help us, Clemont is just like Jeremy" Ash suggested, which seemed good enough for Parker.

"Do you think he could construct a code that will reverse the effects, if I give him a sample?" Parker asked Ash, a question that could be the decisive change for Serena.

"I am one hundred percent sure" Ash stood up after replying. "I will head out with Parker to grab everything"

"Wait" Serena stopped Ash. "Can we have a minute alone?" She spoke to everyone else, sitting up on her bed. 

"We will respect your privacy" Professor Oak gestured to the other two and everyone left.

"Is he really going to help?" Serena said once everyone had left.

"He is definitely being honest, have you not noticed the sudden change in his personality?" Ash replied like it was a simple, known answer.

"Have you heard of acting? He could be taking us for a ride and then ejecting us at the last minute" Serena wasn't convinced.

"Serena. I don't care if he is acting or not. I am doing this for you so I will take every and any risk" Ash knelt down beside Serena, smiling at her. 

She slowly smiled back and nodded.

"I know" She whispered back, before kissing him on the cheek.

"I will be back before you know it" Ash hopped onto his feet, Pikachu jumped onto his shoulder and they headed off.

"Ash?" Serena stopped him a second time.

"Hmm?" Ash didn't turn, he just awkwardly looked back.

"I love you" Serena's words made Ash smile.

"I love you too, Serena" Ash felt that was the best reply and then he stepped out of the room and down the corridor.

"You ready?" Parker asked, getting up from his seat.

"I have been ready for a few minutes" Ash nodded, looking at Pikachu, who didn't even gaze up at him. Pikachu was being on guard for Ash, just in case. Ash patted Pikachu's head to show his appreciation in quiet. 

"Lets make our way back to the cave, those machines are in the room nearby, so we can grab them and then fish out the sample" Parker went over the plan.

"Actually, before we go, can I have a few moments to rest up?" Ash rubbed his eyes and looked back at Parker, who just tutted.

"Fifteen minutes, this is your girlfriend we are helping here" Parker didn't need to remind Ash, he was just really tired.

Ash dozed off instantly, sitting under a tree to keep the sun out of his eyes, which was now beating heavily on everyone that was in the sunlight. Ash found it hard to sleep with trucks rolling down the main path every so often, with materials to fix things. Parker found it almost shocking that he didn't have a target painted on his back.

Five minutes past, then ten and finally fifteen.

Parker checked the time and then got up, before shaking Ash.

"It's been fifteen, lets get moving" Parker didn't even wait for Ash as he rubbed his eyes and shook his head, stretching as he rose to his feet.

"Hey, wait up" Ash yawned into his hand, Pikachu jumping on his shoulder as they followed Parker. 

Both continued on their way, to the cave. Once they get their, Parker instantly moved around, due to him having a good idea of where everything would be.

"I am happy to see it is in good shape" Parker was pleased as he pulled out a box of tools. "The sample should be in one of these boxes, I will take down the machines and you look for it"

"Okay" Ash replied. "Lets do it Pikachu"

"Pika!" Pikachu buried his head into a box instantly and began to search.

Ash spent the whole time searching, for anything that seemed remotely like some sort of code. He turned boxes upside down, all while Parker continued to effortlessly dismantle the machine. 

Ash had a sudden idea and he walked over to the big computer and turned it on. 

The screen flashed on and a password prompt appeared.

"Damn" Ash sighed and frowned. "What could the password be?"

Parker came walking in with a huge bag, full of the machine parts.

"The password is just shadow, lower case" Parker sat down next to Ash. "Why, what are you doing?"

"You said the code is on a computer, so can't I just find the whole thing here?" Ash looked at Parker, who was looking back at Ash like he was a genius.

"I never thought of that...our boss always kept everything in his folders" Parker helped Ash search. They spent a few minutes on the computer, before finally fishing out some codes.

"I will look over the codes for a moment, just sit back and hold on a sec" with this, Parker focused, scanning over each word in the codes he noticed. 

"Found it?" Ash asked, looking at the code with absolutely no clue as to what it means. 

"Yes, I just need to download it to my computer chip and then we can go" Parker placed the chip in the side of the computer and a download bar appeared on the screen.

"Where do you think you will be going?" The Boss's voice rang out from the entrance. 

Ash and Parker both slowly turned around, to see the whole of Team Shadow blocking the door.

"How-" Parker began, but The Boss raised his hand.

"We are one with the shadows, or have you forgotten after betraying us so heavily?" He huffed, sneering at Parker through the robes that concealed his face.

"You tricked me a long time ago and now, I intend to help Ash and if that means stopping you, then I will do it" Parker stood up from the chair, Ash following him.

"This cave will become your prison after I destroy you both. Prepare for a battle you most certainly will never forget" The Boss grinned through his robe and grabbed onto two pokeballs, crossing his arms together as he threw them. 

Both Pokemon appeared and Ash and Parker prepared themselves for one final battle.

Two unlikely allies, one fighting his former team after being shown the truth and the other fighting for Serena, the girl he loved. Everything was down to this final fight. 

"Ash, we don't even need to win" Parker signalled Umbreon to step up and Pikachu jumped off of Ash's shoulder.

"Huh? What?" Ash looked confused, turning to Parker.

Parker whispered to Ash, making sure the others didn't hear before the battle commenced. 

"All we do is hold out until the download finishes, then just follow me lead, okay?" Parker told Ash the plan and he nodded. "Make sure you have Charizard's pokeball in your pocket ready, we will need him"

Ash made sure he was ready, The Boss surprisingly letting them prepare.

"Are you ready to be destroyed?" The Boss gestured to his two Pokemon. He was using the twins mega Absol's, both of them stood side by side, preparing to fight, their purple eyes staring hard at their opponents. 

"Ready as I'll ever be" Parker smirked at The Boss, making him feel pissed.

"Bring it on!" Ash fist pumped enthusiastically, preparing to battle.

Then, the final fight commenced.

Everything depended on Parker's plan.

All they had to do was make it out and then get to the lab safely, to ensure that Serena could be saved once and for all.

For Ash.

For his friends.

For a future with Serena in it.