"Heliolisk is unable to battle! That means the victory goes to the Lumiose City Gym Leader, Clemont!"

"Yeah! Go, Clemont!" Ash cheered. Clemont smiled and returned Bunnelby to his Pokéball. "Great work, Clembot! It looks like your new updates were successful!"

Clembot took Heliolisk and Bunnelby's Pokéballs to the back to be healed just as the doors opened. Clemont and Ash both looked over to see Serena and Bonnie... along with two other girls.

"Hi, guys! Who's this?" Ash asked. "This is Kit and Lilac," Serena explained. "Kit wants to have a gym battle!" Bonnie finished. "If that's alright, my Aerodactyl wanted a battle," Kit added, glancing down at the Ultra Ball still sitting in her palm. "She's strong, though. I hope nobody gets properly hurt..."

"Don't worry, I'm sure my Pokémon can handle it," Clemont smiled, getting up. "I'm Clemont, the Lumiose City Gym Leader. I'll be glad to battle you!"

Clemont and Kit took their places while everyone else sat down, watching the battle about to commence. Clembot returned and began to referee.

"The gym battle between Clemont, the Lumiose City Gym Leader, and Kit, the challenger, shall now begin! Trainers, please send out your Pokémon!"

Clemont tossed a Pokéball. "Go, Luxray!" "LUX!" The lion roared loudly as he emerged, electricity crackling on his fur coat. "Stormwing, let's go!" Kit called out as she tossed her Ultra Ball into the air. "AERODACTYL!" The Fossil Pokémon screeched, beating her powerful wings. She easily towered over Luxray, though he didn't seem the least bit fazed.

Without even waiting for Kit's command, Stormwing flew towards Luxray and used Rock Slide. Having no time to dodge this sudden attack, Luxray received a direct hit. "Woah, easy!" Kit said to Stormwing, surprised. "You've got to wait, okay?" Stormwing grunted, but relented, waiting for Kit's next order.

"Okay, Luxray, use Swift!" Clemont instructed, watching his lion roar and fling stars at Stormwing with his tail. "Dodge and use Hyper Beam!" Kit was quick to say. Stormwing flew up out of the way just in time, then fired the strong beam at Luxray, kicking up dust at the impact.

When the dust settled, everyone gasped when they saw Luxray with swirls in his eyes. "Luxray is unable to battle, Stormwing is the winner!" Clembot announced as Clemont returned Luxray. "Wow... Stormwing is very strong!" He praised the Aerodactyl. "Yeah, she used to be my mother's partner," Kit nodded, petting Stormwing proudly. "She used to be an amazing battler."

Clemont then sent out Chespin, who paled at the sight of the fearsome Aerodactyl in front of him that was at least ten times his small size. "It's okay, Chespin, you can do it," Clemont assured. "Che..." Chespin murmured back uneasily, then his face morphed into one of determination. "Pin!"

"Okay, Chespin, use Pin Missile!" Clemont instructed. "Pin!" Chespin repeated, shooting glowing green spines from the top of his head. "Stormwing, use Fly!" Kit smirked, watching her Aerodactyl shoot upwards fast enough to avoid the Pin Missile, then arch back down at Chespin.

"Quick! Dodge it!" Clemont yelled, Chespin doing so just in time. Stormwing ended up smacking into the ground, roaring when she did so. "Now use Vine Whip!" Clemont instructed. Chespin did so, wrapping vines tightly around Stormwing to prevent her escape.

"Stormwing, Dragon Pulse!" Kit instructed, watching in relief as the move hit not Chespin's body, but his vines. He yelped in pain and dropped Stormwing, giving her the chance to fly up into the air again.

"Now use Rock Slide!" Kit said, rocks suddenly going flying down at poor Chespin like he was caught in a meteor shower. "Pin!" The little Grass type wailed, leaping around to narrowly avoid the barrage of falling rocks. "Che! Pin! Che! Pin!"

When all the boulders had landed, everyone stared for a few seconds. "Chespin? Are you in there?" Clemont asked uneasily. Nobody knew whether the now silent Pokémon was still prepared to battle or not.

"... Chespin!"

The little guy's head poked out from between the boulders, then he managed to pull himself free, taking his place once again. Stormwing eyed him up as he did this, seeming annoyed but impressed.

"Alright, Chespin. Use Pin Missile!" Chespin did so, the move striking Stormwing in the chest. She roared at him, but due to her being a partial Flying type the move wasn't very effective.

"Looks like we can't beat Chespin with Rock Slide," Kit chuckled, amused by the tiny Grass type. "Stormwing, Dragon Pulse! Let's take him down gently, okay?"

Stormwing grunted and used Dragon Pulse at Chespin, who was quick to dodge. She repeatedly shot at him, but the starter Pokémon was unwilling to quit. He continued to narrowly avoid each strike.

"Now, Chespin! Pin Missile!" Clemont yelled. Chespin obeyed, sending his thorny spikes flying at Stormwing, only for the Aerodactyl to react on instinct and fire a powerful Hyper Beam.

The move was not only disintegrated but the powerful beam continued on to Chespin, who was unable to dodge any longer.

"Chespin is unable to battle! Which means the victory goes to Stormwing!"

Clemont returned Chespin with a few encouraging words, allowing him to rest up. Clembot handed him another Pokéball so he could finish the final round. "Stormwing really is amazing," he smiled, sending out Bunnelby. "But Bunnelby is my oldest partner of these three and I know he won't go down without a fight!"

~•~

X's POV:

As I arrive at my place of creation at long last, I see that this will be an even more difficult task than I first anticipated. My feet lightly touch down on the hard, dry earth as I land. Nothing of value is in sight, only scorch marks and debris of the old laboratory.

Home sweet home, I suppose the humans would say.

As I tread tentatively around the ruins, searching desperately for any sign of DNA of my beloved friend, I attempt to drown out the deafening silence around me. It's a kind of eerie silence any experienced Pokémon would realise is the telltale otherworldly presence of a Ghost type. I merely shrug it off, fully aware the reason all the ghosts surround me now are almost certainly my own doing.

"Leave me be," I demand, though my voice is oddly quiet. Hm, strange. I am not afraid. What reason would I have to be afraid? Ghost types are the least of my concerns.

I can sense that most of the spectral spectators obey, though a stubborn quartet remain. I merely brush them off and continue on my way. In an odd way, it's nice to have their company. To know I'm not alone.

I pause when I feel something; a cold chill against me. The Ghost types. Are they leading me? And if so, for good or bad intentions?

Deciding I have no more to lose, I allow them to conduct me. We end up in a private office. Dr Fuji, a sign on the door claims. The door opens without my intervention. I step through upon sensing no danger.

As if the spectres know exactly what I came for, a picture floats over to me. It's torn and partially charred, but there are still two figures clearly visible in the centre. Her! It's my Ambertwo!

"The child," I say, pointing at the other, even tinier human that Ambertwo is clinging to with a huge smile. "Who are they? I need to know."

A drawer opens in the upturned desk. I approach, looking inside. Two childishly handmade beaded bracelets, two expensive-looking rings that have clearly been previously worn and a small book entitled 'memories', clearly thumbed through repetitively.

I only need to glance through the book to realise who the other child is, then I'm off once again, no longer after the DNA of Ambertwo's father or mother.

Her sibling's DNA combined with my psychic powers should be more than enough.