One year ago...

Parker threw the sheet behind him on the floor, revealing a glass pane. On the other side, his Mom and Serena were both laying down on beds, with lots of various experimental tools around them.

"I'll let you choose, but of course, I will be the one to tell them to press that button there" Parker decided to sit right next to Ash.

"Choose, for what? Why?" Ash shouted out, looking away from Parker in disgust.

"It's simple really" Parker shrugged nonchalantly. "You are choosing who you want us to completely control. They will have their will back, but the evil side of them will be brought to the surface"

"Evil side?" Ash asked, looking confused, angry and he also felt like crying waterfalls.

"We all have an evil side Ash, like the angel on one shoulder, the devil on the other shoulder. Each person has good inside them, but beneath the surface, hiding in their conscience is a person's evil intentions and personality. Their whole thought process changes and their personality is never the same if this evil side is opened of course"

Ash took his time to fathom the information he had just been given. He didn't know how to react, he didn't know who to save. 

Present Day...

While all of the fighting was happening, Ash's friends had all arrived at the Pokemon Master Alliance headquarters, with Captain and the rest of Team Shadow taking them captain. However, Parker still had his plan that he was waiting to set in motion. 

"Take them to the bottom floor and lock the door to the room," Captain said to Team Shadow, handing Elizabeth the key. 

"Thanks!" she replied with excitement, before pocketing it. "Let's go!"

"Right" everyone else replied, before they set to work, using various Pokemon that was under their control to take the cages and the contents to the bottom floor, which was just one big, empty room. Once everyone was down there, Team Shadow locked the door and left.

"Ok guys, I will try and if my plan works, follow suit" Parker looked around the room at the emphasised nods of Ash's friends, before taking off his jacket and wrapping it around one of the jail bars on the roof. Parker then took off his shoes and put them through the gap in the bars, throwing them out of the cage, to prove that things could still pass through. "Bisharp, use metal claw on the bar with my jacket on!"

Bisharp jumped up and sliced across the jacket and the bar. The claw ripped the jacket up, but slightly scratched the bar, before the move was rebounded, sending Bisharp onto the ground again. 

"I see, you thought the jacket might block the move" May commented, watching Parker, when there was a sudden loud bang at the other side of the room.

"We are so stupid," Clemont said, holding his head after banging it against one of the bars. 

"What do you mean? You just headbutted a metal bar!" Dawn replied like Clemont was crazy.

"Moves can't pass through the bars, but our Pokeballs can!" Clemont shouted and everyone realised he was right. 

"Aren't we all stupid" Misty chuckled nervously, in the same cage as Dawn, May, Clemont and Bonnie. 

"I'm not..." Gary commented and everyone turned to him, even the rest of the gang who were in his cage. Gary was stood outside with his Blaziken, the cage door open. 

"How did you do that?" Parker asked, frowning. 

"I brought out Blaziken and he opened the cage door, it didn't even take a move, just some strength and the door opened" Gary shrugged, Blaziken walking around and powering the other cage doors open. 

"Well, looks like we didn't need my plan" Parker laughed nervously, scratching the back of his head.

"Let's get moving" Iris walked over to the locked door. "Mind opening this door?"

"Blaziken, power-up punch!" Gary said to his Blaziken, who powered the door open with one punch, sending it off of its hinges. Gary then peaked his head out of the door. "No one is guarding us, huh?"

"Well, that makes getting out easier, I will take the lead and try and find the way out" Parker stepped forward and no one questioned him, they all followed him up the first set of stairs. 

"I feel nervous Clemont," Bonnie said to her brother, following behind him.

"As do I, just try and stay calm, it should be fine" Clemont replied, focusing on following the group.

"He is right, we should just focus on getting out without any problems. Who knows what trouble Ash and Serena could be in" Miette added from behind Bonnie, with a little smile. Bonnie couldn't help but smile too.

"I'll try my best" she put on a more focused expression and continued on with everyone else.

They headed up a few flight of stairs, before being faced with something so horrific it made all of them feel so uneasy. Various Pokemon, Snorlaxes, Growlithes, Pansages and other Pokemon all sat inside cages, looking really weak as machines took power from their bodies.

"Experimentation...with...Pokemon?!" May put a hand to her mouth, feeling a little uneasy. 

"This is disgusting, but we need to push on. The two legendary Pokemon are the priority right now" Parker reminded everyone of their real objective.

"Agreed, but we have to come back to sort out this mess..." Cilan agreed and it was settled. They all moved on. 

"Wait a second guys, I think we are on a good floor to get out" Gary stopped them and put a hand on his Blaziken. "Power-up punch on the wall"

Everyone turned to Gary as his Blaziken smashed through the wall after a few punches and he was right. They was just above the ground, having to land a small drop to get out. 

"I wonder why our escape has been so easy?" Miette wondered out loud.

"They probably did it on purpose, they will have a plan I bet" Cilan explained and everyone agreed.

"That's why we proceed with caution from now one" Brock added to the conversation.

"I know how to control the boat, so I will do it. Everyone, get on!" Parker said, ushering the gang onto the boat for an escape that was too easy.

"Is it fine, letting them escape just after bringing them in?" Jeremy asked Captain, who folded his arms, all of them watching the boat ride off towards the Hoenn region once more. 

"Of course. We were only supposed to buy enough time to trap Ash and Serena. We should meet up with The Boss and aid his efforts before they surround him" Captain replied to Jeremy's question, moving out of the room to prepare for battle.

With Parker and co heading towards Ash and Serena, Ash was still holding onto Serena for all she was worth, while his Pokemon were all down.

"The clock is ticking Ash, make a choice" The Boss looked impatiently at the sky, before back down at Ash.

"Greninja, water shuriken, Pikachu thunderbolt, use all of your energy!" Ash suddenly shouted out and this surprised The Boss since they were both still on the ground.

However, both of Ash's Pokemon were playing possum, instantly jumping up and facing The Boss on Kyogre. Greninja formed one of the largest shurikens he had ever done, firing it straight at Kyogre. At the same time, Pikachu jumped up, electricity sparking around his entire body.

"PIKAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA CHUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!" Pikachu shouted out with all of his energy, the thunderbolt increasing in size until it reached Kyogre, both moves exploding across the legendary Pokemon. 

"All of you, fight with everything you have left!" Ash decided, before turning to Serena. "Serena? Wake up! I know you are in there"

"You and I both knew this day would come, Ash" Serena's voice was soft, but her eyes were still red. Ash could see the real Serena in her voice, but the control over her mind was as strong as ever. 

"You can't just turn like this, not now. There is still so much for us to go through and so many things to do. Serena, don't do this" Ash could feel urgency rush through his body as tears fell from his eyes. Serena stared back at Ash, her eyes also filling with tears. Both of them stared at each other in silence for a moment.

"I think you know what must be done if you are going to survive this" Serena said this quietly into Ash's ear, even more tears falling down her face like a waterfall.

"No, Serena, we can all help you" Ash shook Serena like she was crazy. "Listen to me! We can help you!"

"There is no help for me now" Serena replied, tears still falling from her face. But, a smile slowly formed on her face. "Remember the times we spent together in Kalos?"

"They were good times," Ash said in between the tears dropping from his cheeks. He hiccupped and took a moment to catch his breath, still feeling dizzy as the blood began to dry on his head. 

"I remember how stupid I was around you" Serena chuckled once, wiping tears from her eyes. "Now look at us, we are both a mess"

"That's because I love you, Serena, more than ever. I should have realised it throughout our journey. Without you, I am incomplete, I feel like I can't live without you. Serena, you have to snap out of this, for me. For all of us. Please" Ash was pleading now, but Serena shook her head, her smile still on her face.

"There is no hope for me now, Ash. I can feel my body being completely taken over by the evil inside of me. You remember the evil Parker spoke of a year ago, right?"

"Of course" Ash bowed his head, remembering those moments.

"Look at me," Serena said softly, pushing Ash's head back up to face her. "Even then, the choices you had were too much to handle, just like now"

"What are you trying to say?" Ash knew what was coming next, but he wasn't prepared for it.

"You know what I am saying. Let me make that choice for you" Serena's words were like a bullet straight through Ash's heart. 

"NO!" he yelled out, holding on even tighter to Serena. "I refuse to lose you or my Pokemon" 

"You have no choice. Your Pokemon need you as much as you need them. There is no hope for me now" Serena put her hands on Ash's chest and continued to smile. 

Just at that moment, the rest of the gang arrived on the scene, all of them staring at Serena and Ash from a distance.

"There is hope. Professor Oak and Clemont can save you again!" Ash could barely talk, his voice cracking as more tears fell. He felt weak and tired, but Serena was making him use all of his strength.

"No, Ash. Just remember that, whatever you do, I will always love you. Forever" Serena finished her words and kissed Ash right on the lips. They froze there for a few seconds, Ash being a little surprised from the kiss, letting his guard down. Then used all of her strength to push Ash from her body. Ash flew back onto his ass, landing hard on the rubble beneath him. Using the momentum from the push, Serena fell backwards, into the large hole in the ground. 

Everything went slow motion in that moment. Ash scrambled onto all fours and crawled towards the edge, while everyone else watched on, their eyes widening in shock. Ash threw his arm out to try and catch Serena, but time sped up and he missed, his arm dangling as he watched the girl he loved fall into the dark abyss, fading into the darkness that was the hole. Ash stared into space, not even moving a muscle. His mouth began to tremble as he continued to stare, more tears forming in his eyes.

"SERENAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Ash yelled down into the hole, his voice echoing against the rocky walls. "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" 

Ash got up and seemed ready to climb down into the hole, but his head throbbed with pain and he dropped onto his knees, holding his head. Ash froze on the spot, holding his head in his hands as more tears fell. All of the girls on the boat started to cry too, everyone breaking down and holding each other. Brock, Cilan, Gary and even Clemont all stared on at the scene, not even moving a muscle but not reacting either, they just stared in slight shock.

Ash tried one more time to get up, but he felt a sharp pain and suddenly passed out, everything going black.

Several hours later...

Ash woke to the birds chirping and the events of the last night instantly played in his head. Miette was at his bedside, her eyes widening as Ash shot up from the bed.

"Serena..." he murmured, eyes as wide as ever. Miette instantly began to tear up. 

"The others...They are searching in the hole for her" Miette hiccupped as Ash sat up, putting his head in his hands.

"She was willing to sacrifice herself for our sake...I thought she wanted our love to last forever?!" Ash lashed out at the nearest thing, tipping up the bedside table in the hospital he was in. The flower vase on the table smashed into pieces on the floor.

"She will always love you, no matter what! You should know this!" Miette stood up and walked over to Ash, wiping the tears from her eyes. "You should know this, Ash" 

"I...I know. But now, she might not even be alive" Ash stared at the floor in silence for a moment, Miette helplessly watching the suffering grow more and more each minute. "What about Team Shadow? Their plan? My Pokemon?"

"Team Shadow...got away. They took off with Groudon and Kyogre, but your Pokemon are safe and at the Pokemon Center" Miette spoke quietly, staring at the floor also. "I considered Serena one of my closest friends, even through the rivalry and the teasing..."

"She has to be alive" Ash suddenly said, clenching one of his fists. "Serena wouldn't just disappear like this. Just you watch, the gang will come back with her"

Miette didn't reply, she just broke down on the spot, sobbing and crying out loud, as Ash continued to stare at the ground, his fist clenching tighter every second. Then, he got up.

"What are you doing?" Miette asked Ash in between sobs.

"I am going out there and I will find her myself, even if it takes my life!" Ash took his clothes from the side and headed to the door.

"Wait! The doctor hasn't cleared you yet" Miette didn't want to see Ash get hurt too, but he wasn't listening to her.

"I won't wait and sit around while everyone searches for Serena! She will be okay and I will be the one to find her!" Ash kept one fist clenched throughout all of this, before storming out of the room. 

Miette broke down again, unable to control her emotions. She sat alone, in a puddle of her own tears, surrounded by broken vase pieces.

Ash headed straight to the Pokemon Center and took his Pokemon without saying a word. He instantly made his way back to the point where Serena had jumped, determination filling his eyes suddenly. However, Ash was now blind to anything but this determination, refusing to even notice anything else around him, his mind clearly focusing on finding Serena. Nothing was going to get in his way.

Ash wasn't aware, but this was going to make everything even more dangerous and cause a great amount of trouble for him and his friends. But, he was willing to do anything for Serena. the girl he loved. It was something he knew he had to do.

---------

Surprised? Hmm, not sure how people will react to this chapter. I could lock down the dialogue a little better, but at 3AM it's the best I can do.

Biggest cliffhanger yet in my opinion. Still plenty of chapters to come, don't think it is very close to being over!

Have a nice Saturday all.