With the rematch against Parker rattling in his head, Ash took the time while heading back home to think about what could happen in the future. What kind of danger would be surfacing? What would it mean for him and his friends, even his relationship with Serena? How was Parker going to be involved? All of these questions filled Ash's mind up for the whole journey, walking in silence, hand-in-hand with Serena. 

"You okay, Ash?" Serena picked up on this, looking at Ash who was clearly deep in thought.

"Hmm? I'm fine, just thinking about the future" he replied, then looking up to the sky, which was now fading into a black colour, the sun having set already. 

"What about it?" Serena pressed on with another question.

"About everything we just found out. What might happen..." Ash spoke quietly, still looking into the sky. 

"We'll all be fine, you don't need to worry" Serena smiled at Ash and squeezed his hand tightly, making him turn to her. He couldn't help but smile and nod slightly.

"You're right, I should be focusing on my priorities" 

"Like beating Parker?" Serena asked Ash, with a slight grin.

"Like beating Parker, exactly" Ash repeated, as they finally made it to Pallet Town. Both of them stepped inside the house and Pikachu was already there,  jumping onto Ash's shoulder upon entry. 

"Pika pi!" Pikachu exclaimed with excitement.

"So you had a good time?" Ash smiled, petting Pikachu with his opposite arm.

"Kaaaa" Pikachu said softly, enjoying the petting.

Ash headed up to his room and got changed, grabbing his Pokeballs and then heading back down the stairs. 

"I'll see you later, Serena" Ash turned to face Serena, who was at the other side of the corridor. 

"Don't be too long" Serena walked up to Ash and kissed him on the cheek. He opened the door and tipped his cap to her.

"I'll be back before you know it," he said, before heading off, Pikachu on his shoulder. Ash made his way back towards the city, knowing Parker was waiting at the Pokemon Center. Ash looked up to the night sky again, recapturing the thoughts he had a few moments ago, the wind slowly picking up, a soft breeze against his fingers and face, his gloves keeping his hands warm. 

"Well, look who made it right on time" Parker was waiting outside, one foot up against the wall. He had his hands in his pockets and grinned at Ash, who returned the expression.

"Let's not waste any time" Ash continued to grin, leading Parker to the back, where the battlefield was. Ash took one end and Parked turned to face Ash from the opposite side of the field. 

"1 Pokemon each?" Parker asked, throwing out a Pokeball and catching it in his hand.

"Sure" Ash also got out a Pokeball and threw his first. "Greninja, I choose you!" 

"Bisharp, let's do it!" Parker launched his Pokeball out, his Bisharp immediately facing off with Ash's Greninja.

"Greninja use cut!" Ash started off the proceedings and Greninja pounced forward at lightning speed. After a second, there was a quick white flash and Greninja was suddenly holding a sword made completely of white energy. Greninja flipped and lunged straight at Parker's Bisharp, who was staring at Greninja. Greninja's moved connected with ease, but Bisharp barely reacted to it, boasting the durable it has. 

"Bisharp, dig" Parker stood completely still, as casual as ever, while Bisharp dove down, using its metal claws to dig through the earth. 

"Greninja, use double team and move around" Ash immediately thought up of a counter and Greninja did as Ash said, lots of Greninja's suddenly appearing around the battlefield, moving around with quick pace. 

"That won't work" Parker grinned and Ash realised his Bisharp was very skilled. Parker's Bisharp rose from the ground, hitting the real Greninja in the process. They both flew into the air, Greninja reeling from the attack. "Now, metal claw!"

"Greninja, watch out!" Ash warned, but it was no use with Greninja flying down to the ground with no balance. Bisharp's claws became coated with a shiny metal and then he slashed the left claw across Greninja, before slamming the right one down into Greninja's stomach, sending Ash's Pokemon into the ground with a large impact. Dust rose from the ground due to the impact and then slowly settled, Greninja slowly getting up as it did so.

"You okay Greninja?" Ash asked Greninja, who didn't say anything but he nodded instead. "Then let's show him what we have got!" 

Suddenly, Ash and Greninja began to merge as one, a link forming between the two. Their heart beats began synchronised as one and Greninja's appearance changed completely, a newly formed shuriken on his back. Then, a shroud of water rained down around Greninja.

"Interesting" Parker grinned, before throwing out a hand. "Bisharp, use metal claw!"

"Greninja, water shuriken!" 

Bisharp's claws became coated in metal once more as he lunged forward to attack. Greninja formed a shuriken made of water in his hands and launched it at the oncoming Bisharp. Bisharp swiftly attempted to cut through the shuriken, but the force from shuriken was so large that it sent Parker's Bisharp flying back to Parker, sliding across the ground.

"Greninja, cut!" Ash didn't want to stop attacking at that moment, Greninja immediately charging forward, the sword-cut already out, ready to attack. Greninja slashed down just as Bisharp got up to defend himself, claws lifted above his face. However, Greninja, in his evolved form, slammed down into Parker's Bisharp, sending it sprawling across the battlefield. Bisharp landed right next to the barrier and when Parker got to him, he was clearly hurt.

"You okay Bisharp?" Parker whispered to him, helping his Pokemon back up. Bisharp seemed to mirror Parker's grin and stepped forward without another word. 

A worthy opponent, that's what you have always wanted, right Bisharp? Another Pokemon that can match your strength. Let's use our final move and finish this, shall we? Parker's thoughts made himself grin and he threw out a hand once more to signal an attack. 

Pikachu watched on from the sidelines, dashing his eyes back and forth at the two as the battle continued. He felt like he was watching something too fast for his eyes and decided to just plant them in the middle of the field, staring blankly in between Greninja and Bisharp.

"Greninja, water shuriken one more time!" Ash called out, Parker still waiting for a perfect moment to strike. Greninja formed another shuriken and fired it with great intensity towards the weak Bisharp. 

"Now, Bisharp, dodge and use focus blast!" Parker shouted out suddenly, to the surprise of Ash. Bisharp suddenly bolted to the left, the shuriken missing completely, before suddenly being next to Greninja, a yellow orb forming in Bisharp's claws. Bisharp then slammed the orb into Greninja, since he was too close to launch it at him. The orb exploded into Greninja, sending him flying back. 

"Greninja!" it was now Ash's turn to walk over to his Pokemon, his own body feeling exhausted from the attacks on Greninja. 

"It's over Ash" Parker stated with an egotistical grin. Ash's mind cast back to the last few battles they had, as rivals, to an extent. Parker had never really bested Ash, only using hypnosis to do so in certain situations. However, Greninja got back up and stepped across Ash, preparing to continue the battle.

"That's the spirit!" Ash felt delighted, but it was cut short when five shadow balls erupted across the battlefield suddenly.

"Just come out and stop watching us" Parker shouted into the air and the five members of Team Shadow appeared as if out of nowhere, behind Ash.

"You was having fun, Parker. I didn't want to spoil it," Elizabeth scowled at Parker, but he just shrugged and put his hands in his pockets.

"What are you guys doing here?!" Ash turned and clenched his fists with Greninja, who had turned back to his normal form, standing by his side. Ash felt tired from the battle and knew that if Team Shadow fought him and Greninja, they wouldn't last long. 

"Pika pi!" Pikachu exclaimed, jumping up next to Ash in a defensive position.

"We thought we might just pop in and say hello to a friend of ours" Tristan joked, with a slight smirk at Parker. 

"Actually, I thought we should do it. I found him after all" Jeremy pushed his glasses up with an egotistical aura surrounding him. He was waiting for some praise for his scientific skill, but everyone ignored him and he stood staring, his mouth agape. 

"Well, I apologise for cutting this gathering short, but we must be off now" The Boss, who was hanging back, flashed a grin underneath his hood. 

"Whatever you're planning, you know you won't get away with it" Parker folded his arms now and stared hard at his former boss, fire in his eyes. Parker was ready for battle and they could all feel the tense atmosphere rising. 

"You don't understand, Parker. The things we are going to do, you won't be able to defeat it" Jake cut into the conversation before they disappeared like they had appeared, back into the shadows.

"I honestly thought we were going to fight them" Ash sighed, wiping the sweat from his forehead.

"Feeling nervous?" Parker asked, raising an eyebrow.

"No, tired. When Greninja is in that form, it affects my body too" Ash explained, realising Parker never really knew.

"Oh, I see. Guess it must be difficult against strong opponents" Parker put his hands in his pockets as they headed into the Pokemon Center, to heal up their Pokemon.

"You can say that again" Ash laughed, returning Greninja and stepping inside. They healed up their Pokemon and then started to head back, twilight now surfacing over the hill, the sky still fading into black, clouds dissipating as if they were never there in the first place, a slight breeze rolling over from the hills and down across the fields. 

"Well Ash, it was nice getting to battle you again" Parker held out his hand and Ash immediately caught it, a firm handshake occurring between the two of them.

"What are you plans for the future?" Ash wondered, realising Parker might just up and leave over night. 

"I am going to track down Team Shadow, follow their movements and such. I'll be setting off in the morning, so you might not see me again for quite some time" Parker let go off Ash's hand in the handshake and then put his hand back in his pocket.

"We'll be seeing each other very soon, I can feel it" Ash grinned, before saluting Parker. They both headed off in separate directions, Ash and Pikachu heading for home and Parker heading to an unknown future.

Ash walked down the path and slowly caught a glimpse of something in the forest. At that very moment, there was a flash of purple and then an explosion. Ash saw smoke trailing close to his home and immediately began to sprint, Pikachu launching off past Ash with incredible speed, indecisively using quick attack to go even faster.

"Pika Pi!" Pikachu called out, just as Ash skidded to a halt, his eyes widening. There were flames all over the place, two of the houses in Pallet Town being bombarded by flamethrowers and shadow balls from Houndooms. 

"Pikachu, thunderbolt!" Ash called out, his eyes focusing on the enemy before him. Pikachu leapt up into the air, anger in his eyes as their hometown was burning to the ground. 

"PIKAAAAAAAAAAA CHUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!" Pikachu let off a burst of electrical energy, shocking two of the five Houndooms in the area. As if they was one, all five turned to face Ash and Pikachu.

"Greninja, lend us your strength!" Ash threw Greninja's Pokeball out and right on cue, Greninja and Ash synchronised again, Ash-Greninja preparing to fight in a shroud of water. "Greninja, cut them all down!" 

Greninja leapt forward, his sword barely visible, the shroud of water shaping around him as he moved. Although the move was barely visible, the impact was so great that it was clear to see, each Houndoom being pummeled to the ground one after the other. 

"Pikachu, electro ball!" Ash timed the moves together perfectly, each Houndoom being together in one big group. Pikachu jumped up, a ball of electrical energy forming on the tip of his tail. Pikachu then did half of a front flip, launching the electro ball at the Houndooms.

"Cha pi!" he shouted as the ball exploded around the group. However, by the time the smoke had cleared, the Houndooms had gone. 

"Where is everyone?" Ash wondered, rushing to his own house. He rapidly went up the stairs and barged into Serena's room. She was fast asleep, on the floor. 

"Pika?" Pikachu prodded Serena, who didn't move.

"Hypnosis..." Ash figured it out instantly and headed into his own room, grabbing Palpitoad and Oshawatt's Pokeballs.

"Pika!" Pikachu indicated that he would stay with Serena, sitting by her side. Ash nodded and rushed back outside, wondering if everyone else, including his Mom, had been hit by hypnosis. The lab was quiet, but Professor Oak was away on business so it was like that before the situation. Ash threw the Pokeballs of his water Pokemon out, right in front of the first house

"Palpitoad, Oshawatt, use hydro pump and put out those flames!" Ash's voice had a hint of worry, making the two put everything into their moves, spraying jets of water at the first house. The fire was put out pretty quickly and then they moved on to the second house, putting out those flames. 

"Help me!" a young girl's voice came from the second house, just as the door collapsed. Ash instinctively rushed inside, the flames put out, to find the girl. 

"Where are you?" Ash called out into the darkness of the ruined home.

"Come to the stairs!" the girl called out and Ash hurried towards the voice. He got to the stairs and saw the girl, in the middle of the stairs, one of the handlebars beams across her chest, her left leg hanging out of a hole in the stairs, where the steps had clearly collapsed. 

"I'll get you out" Ash carefully made his way up the steps, nervously jolting with every creak. He lifted up the handlebar beam and moved it to one side. "When I say go, try and lift you left leg up"

"Okay" the young girl was clearly worried, but she prepared herself. Ash gently grabbed onto her thigh and then wrapped both arms around it.

"Go!" Ash signalled for her to move and at the same time, he put his right arm under hers and then used his left to straighten her leg, pulling her up at the same time. Her leg rose out of the hole in the stairs and then Ash lifted her up and put her behind him, in a safe position. She carefully made her way down the stairs and turned to Ash.

"Thanks a lot!" she smiled, feeling relieved. "What's going on?"

"That's not important, is there anyone upstairs?" Ash asked the girl, who's eyes widened suddenly.

"My parents!" she put her hand to her mouth, feeling worried once more about her parent's safety.

"I'll see if their okay" Ash said in a calm voice, turning around, making one fatal mistake. He put his foot on the same step that had a hole in it and the rest of the step gave way, causing Ash to fall through the steps and into the debris below. The girls scream echoed and faded as Ash fell.

Then, there was nothing but darkness.

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If you are reading up to this part and have not (I repeat, HAVE NOT) read Going for Glory, then go and read it. It will be important for the story since some things may not make any sense.

Thanks.