"I put a tracking device on Ash," the man said, taking out a tracker. "Here he is, in this room here," he pointed to a blue dot on the screen. "What?! No! That's Serena's room!" Faba shouted. "He's already found her?! This can't happen!"

"But I thought you put her under mind control," the man reminded Faba, not that he wanted to. He hated Faba. A strong word, but strong threats deserve strong words. But he had no choice but to follow Faba. Blackmail is a cruel thing, after all. If he didn't obey, she would get hurt. And he couldn't let that happen. Not after he swore he'd protect her with his life.

But still... kidnapping Serena? Taking Ash's Greninja? It was all so difficult for him to do. And Clemont... he hated Clemont. He didn't want anything to do with him. He didn't want anything to do even with Clemont's group anymore. Well, he did, but that would put them all into even more danger.

It was better if he could simply vanish off the face of the earth.

But then he'd have to risk losing her forever.

It was too hard a choice. It was a choice he couldn't bring himself to make. Not until he was absolutely desperate.

He almost chuckled to himself. Serena was kidnapped and put under mind control, Ash's Greninja was locked away in the Aether Foundation's secret laboratories being experimented on with who knows what, he knew for a fact that the Aether President and his or her family had to be locked away to prevent them from putting a stop to all the illegal activity and calling for help... how was the situation not already desperate?

"I did, didn't I?" Faba nodded thoughtfully. "And I gave her that Poipole I found playing about in the Ultra Space... it won't last forever against that boy, but it'll certainly serve as a quick distraction. I'll send someone in to make sure Serena has some extra help just in case she needs it."

He gestured to some employees nearby and they nodded and ran off to complete their unspoken orders.

~•~

Ash helped Serena onto the ground gently. She seemed much more peaceful like this. Much calmer. He checked her pulse. Her heartbeat was strong. She was definitely alive, just unconscious for now. Hopefully she'd be fine.

Pikachu came over worriedly. Poipole did, too, when it saw that it worried Pikachu. "Poipole, I'm going to return you, then I'm going to carry Serena out of here, alright?" Ash asked. "Poi," Poipole nodded, for once being serious. Even it could tell that this was no time for jokes or games.

Poipole was sent back into its Beast Ball. Ash put it into Serena's pocket for later. No way would he abandon Poipole here. He then picked up Serena again and started walking towards the door.

Three men suddenly ran in. "Hey! Put her down!" One snapped at Ash upon seeing the unconscious Serena in his arms. "Never!" Ash shouted, holding Serena closer to his chest. It was the only thing stopping a raging blue aura from escaping him.

The three men all sent out a Pokémon; an Alolan Raticate, a Vaporeon and a Steenee. "Pikachu, I can't reach my Pokéballs!" Ash said. "You're gonna have to send out some help, buddy! Get Hawlucha and Talonflame!"

Pikachu nodded and grabbed the two of Ash's Pokéballs from Ash's pocket, then used his tail to bat them into the air. The two Flying types popped out, ready for a fight.

"You guys are gonna have to hold them off on your own, ok?" Ash said to his three Pokémon. "Pikachu, you battle Vaporeon! Hawlucha, you battle that Alolan Raticate! Talonflame, you battle the Steenee! Make sure you back each other up! All of you stay safe, I'm gonna get Serena back to the boat!"

With that, the battle began and Ash took off running, focused on saving Serena from the Aether Foundation's clutches.

~•~

"Squishy! Wait! Come back!"

Bonnie was still chasing Squishy around the Aether Foundation, Max a few steps behind her. They'd long lost the slow, tired Clemont by now and he could only hope they were ok.

Squishy looked over it's shoulder at Bonnie, still running, then it motioned with its head for her to follow it. That's when Bonnie realised it wasn't running away, it was trying to show them something.

"Ok, Squishy! I get it!" She nodded. "Lead the way!"

Squishy nodded approvingly and kept going, looking back forward again. It suddenly stopped, causing Bonnie to stop. Max, not realising what was happening, ran into Bonnie. The pair fell onto each other.

Giggling, they both stood back up again and watched Squishy. It was tapping part of the wall. There's something behind here, Squishy told them both with Telepathy, causing Max to gasp in surprise. "Woah! It talks!"

"That's not all Squishy can do!" Bonnie giggled. "Now let's see what's behind here!"

"Right!" Max nodded, tossing a Pokéball in the air. His Sceptile came out. "Ready, Sceptile? Use Leaf Blade!"

"Tile!" Sceptile exclaimed, slicing through the wall. He made a hole just big enough for them all to slip through, which they did, keeping an eye out for anyone nearby.

"Mmmm! Mm! Mmmmmm!"

Bonnie took out her Pokégear (a birthday present from her dad) and turned the lit screen around, using it to see in the dark room. "Who's there?" She called out. "Are you a person? A Pokémon? Where are you?"

The sound of someone kicking a tile floor echoed around the room. "This is kinda creepy..." Max commented, looking around.

"Mmmmmmm! Mm mm! Mmmmm!"

They kept going, looking around. The light from Bonnie's Pokégear kept the place somewhat illuminated if she shone it at something. "Where are you?" Max and Bonnie called out.

"Mmm! Mm! Mm!"

Stomp! Stomp! Stomp!

The sounds were getting louder now. The two children kept walking, their Pokémon following them.

Then, they saw it.

Three people, a boy, a girl and an adult woman, were tied up and gagged, laying across the floor. Two appeared unconscious, but the girl was looking at them with panicked green eyes and slamming her feet on the ground to attract their attention.

"Mmmm!" She yelled desperately against her gag again.

Now it was clear what she was trying to say.

'Help us!'