Serena watched as the sun dropped over the hills, daytime slowly going and night returning once more. She huffed out a sigh, cupping a hand underneath her chin. 

"You okay?" Miette asked, putting her hands on the back of her skirt to allow herself to sit down in a comfortable position.

"Ash shouldn't be taking this long. I am a little worried, that's all" Serena replied, continuing to look at the sunset. 

"He will be fine. Ash is tough. Whatever he is doing must be relevant for what we are all doing, just give him time" Miette turned to where the camp was, everyone sitting down to eat. "Come on, let's go eat"

Seren hesitated and continued to stare at the sunset, not acknowledging Miette's words for a moment. She slowly got to her feet and nodded, not saying anything. They both headed back to the camp and prepared to eat.

Meanwhile...

Greninja continued on as fast as he could go, jumping from tree to tree with Pikachu in his arms. Greninja's tremendous balancing capabilities allowed him to jump along with ease, getting to the nearest city with no problems at all. However, just as he got to the end, a group of Nidorans appeared, looking quite vicious. Greninja stopped, surrounded by the group of Nidorans. The groups Nidoking came stomping up from behind Greninja and they bombarded the water-type ninja with poison stings, causing Greninja to be poisoned. Then, several of the Nidorans hit Greninja with quick attacks, causing him to stumble back and into a sitting position. Greninja jumped up into the air, dropping Pikachu in the process while also ignoring the poisons effects and the pain from the attacks, forming a water shuriken in his hands. Greninja fired it into the group, before completing a backflip to land on the ground safely, catching Pikachu in the middle of the flip. The shuriken exploded in the whole group, causing an explosion, dirt and dust rising from the ground. Greninja used this as a smokescreen to finally make it into the city, entering the Pokemon Center. Upon entering the Center, Greninja passed out, causing everyone to lay their eyes on him.

"Nurse Joy, a Pokemon has been poisoned!" a small girl called out to Nurse Joy, who immediately came rushing into the main room, seeing Greninja and Pikachu in his hands.

"Oh my god, I must treat them right away," she said, turning to the girl "Can you help me?"

"Of course!" the girl seemed eager to help and they began work right away, with Pokemon assistance.

Back at the camp...

Everyone was finishing up their food, while Serena was wrapping up some spare food in case Ash showed up without calling. She finished and walked back up to the spot she was at originally. She looked out into the distance, the night sky having arrived, stars settling over it and twinkling brightly. 

"Come on Serena, let's call it a night!" Miette called, standing next to Bonnie, who was worried for Serena.

"I'll be there soon, go in without me" Serena called back, without turning around. She cupped a hand under her chin once more and sighed deeply. 

Miette stared at Serena's back for a moment, worry also on her face. Bonnie tugged on Miette's top and they both headed back to the camp to sleep. Serena continued to look at the night sky in the distance, another sigh escaping her mouth. She wiped a tear that was forming in her eye and frowned to herself.

"Where are you Ash?" she whispered to herself, paranoid thoughts entering her mind. What if he has been taken by Team Shadow? What if he is really hurt? She continued to think the bad thoughts, staring into the empty space as the night continued.

Miette woke up to the sound of birds tweeting and the bright sun shining on the tent door. She wondered how Serena was doing and decided to get up before anyone else. Stretching up from stepping out of the tent, she turned her attention to where Serena was sat the previous night. Sure enough, she was lying in that exact spot, sleeping soundly on the grass. Miette shook her head and smiled, before walking over to Serena. 

"Wakey wakeyyyy!" Miette sung, lightly kicking Serena in the back. 

"Wh-wha?" Serena groaned and slowly rose to her feet, after a few stretches and a moment of wriggling around. "Sorry, guess I fell asleep"

"I didn't realise you was this worried" Miette giggled, before putting a hand on Serena's shoulder and smiling calmly. "Ash will be fine, just relax"

"I should have more confidence in him, shouldn't I?" Serena sort of agreed with Miette, following her back to the tents. 

"Of course, it is Ash after all. He has been alone plenty of times and always come out on top in any scenario!" Miette briefly thought about the past, when Ash was fighting almost everyone in sight, using all of his Pokemon at the same time. She knew it must have been super tiring to have all of his Pokemon out to battle.

"I know you're right, but as his girlfriend I have to worry" Serena shrugged and sat down at the table.

"I know, I know. I am just trying to make you relax for a little bit" Miette joined her at the table and they waited for the others to wake up.

"You're okay!" Bonnie exclaimed as she got out of the tent, running at Serena and hugging her waist. 

"Why would I not be okay? I was just worried, that's all" Serena told Bonnie, smiling to keep Clemont's sister happy.

"I was worried about you" Bonnie frowned, hands on hips. "Did you sleep at all?"

"Of course I did" Serena let go of Bonnie and stretched her arms and legs. 

"Well I usually wake up this early to train with my Caterpie, so off I go!" Bonnie said, before instantly launching herself down the field and away.

"Keep it up!" Serena yelled encouragingly, watching Bonnie become a vague figure in the distance. 

Bonnie got her Caterpie out and started the training, telling it to use its string shot on nearby trees, trying to use the string shot as a sort of grappling hook, to allow her caterpie to go from one place to another with ease, from tree to tree for example. Then, she asked Caterpie to use tackle on the tree, being quite tough with the training.

"Keep it up Caterpie, you're doing amazing!" Bonnie encouraged her Pokemon, who had the sudden urge to try harder, continuing to hit the tree each time with more and more effort. As a result, a piece of bark came loose from the tree and broke off. Bonnie's smile became wider as she lifted up her Caterpie. "You're getting so much stronger, well done!"

Caterpie smiled at this, wriggling out of Bonnie's hands to continue. Suddenly, there was a blur that passed across Bonnie's vision and Caterpie was gone, just like that. Bonnie turned, facing the Greninja that had taken her Caterpie, Elizabeth, a member of Team Shadow, stood behind it.

"You're just a kid, so this will be like taking candy from a baby" Elizabeth smirked, before throwing out an arm. "Greninja, give her a water shuriken"

Greninja prepared the water shuriken, Bonnie frozen and scared for herself. She was trying to be brave, but everything happened so quickly that she couldn't react at all. However, an electro ball came flying out of nowhere and smashed into the water shuriken. Pikachu hopped in front of Bonnie and stared down the Greninja who he had battled only a day ago.

"Ho-how is this possible? Jeremy said he made Pikachu powerless!" Elizabeth's words confused Bonnie, but someone was slowly walking along the field, their eyes masked by their hair and hat. It was no mistaking that it was Ash, but something seemed different about him. Hands in pockets, looking down slightly. Bonnie and Elizabeth noticed a smirk form on his face as he stopped in front of Bonnie.

"Don't worry" Ash whispered to Bonnie, who stepped back a few steps. he spoke to Elizabeth next. "Pikachu is an electric type Pokemon. I hope you realize that means if his power is taken away, he can just be 'recharged' by electricity. Also, I should mention that I made the Pokemon Center 'overcharge' Pikachu. You'll like it"

"Shut up! Greninja, water shuriken!" Elizabeth almost screamed with anger. 

"Pikachu, dodge" Ash said it calmly, finally looking up to face Elizabeth. His eyes were filled with rage and hatred, his face masking his true self. "Don't you ever mess with us again!"

"Greninja, back away quick!" Elizabeth tried to escape, but Ash wasn't phased or panicked by her reaction.

"Pikachu, electro ball" Ash took his hands out of his pockets and turned away from the battle, walking to the camp. Bonnie watched Pikachu leap into the air, the electro ball forming at the tip of his tail as always. However, the electro ball grew twice as big and Pikachu launched the giant ball at the retreating Greninja and Elizabeth. There was a huge explosion, visible waves rippling through the air, sending Bonnie onto the floor. Ash was just out of range, the wind catching his body and causing his hair to shift and his clothes to vibrate. Once the dust had cleared, Elizabeth was returning Greninja and jogging away, with a sort of limp. Bonnie followed Ash, looking at someone who she had never seen with so much anger in his eyes.

"Ash!" Serena ran straight up to him once he was visible and tackled him into a hug. "I was so worried, Ash" 

"There was no need to be worried, I am okay, right?" Ash spoke calmly, holding onto Serena from the ground. He allowed himself to smile and kept the anger in the back of his mind.

He thought it was best to save it for later.