Over a year ago, Ash's time with Jack, Alex and Hrist

Ash's breath was punched out as lost his hold on the steel pipe from the ceiling. As he was falling, he felt like the rest of air that was left in him has started tearing him up from inside out.

It then stopped when he felt strong sting in his chest, the air in his lungs finally calming. He looked at his chest and saw a small tube coming out of his chest.

"You do that again and next time I am using a knife." Hrist said from his side as she made herself comfortable. She was in her classic clothes that she had from team Rocket. She placed the stick next to her closing her eyes. Ash took slow breaths, his eyes roaming around the room. Alex was gone looking around the city and Jack was working on device that would help them.

His eyes saw Jack's floating pokemon and it made ask a question. "Hrist?" Hrist hummed in respons as she had her eyes closed. "Why don't you have a pokemon?"

Ash felt as another wave of air left him, when Hrist hit him in stomach. "I see you have enough air otherwise you would be quiet."

Ash took a deep breaths. When his eyes looked at Hrist, he saw her looking away with pain in her eyes.

"It would help me understand you."

"What's make you believe I want you to understand me?" she asked while ignoring Ash for a moment.

"Otherwise I can't believe in all of this if I don't know you. And how am I suppose to follow all the orders you will give me."

Hrist groaned as she laid her head back. "Will you leave me for the rest of today if I tell you?" Ash nodded to which Hrist sighed. "I think capturing pokemon the same thing as slavery."

Ash's eyes widened at her words. "Wh-"

"Don't interrupt me Satoshi." Ash shut his mouth to prevent himself from continuing. "I see it as slavery by using pokeballs. Pokemon used to roam everywhere freely and they could live with people. But then, people decided to create pokeballs to capture them to make pokemon their own figters. To have someone else to work on their fields. And pokemon can't choose to obey or not. The moment they are captured, they have to listen. Like slaves in old times, people who would live in their villages in peace until a stronger nations came and enslaved them. Put chains and collars on them to make sure they would never run. Does it sound similiar to how pokemon catching works?" Ash was completely silenced by her words. He had no idea what to think about it. He looked at her, but she had her back to him. "See you at dinner." After that, she wolked out of the room.

Ash sat in silence, thinking of how to change her mind. "You won't Satoshi." he heard from side. He looked at Jack as he approached him. "She has it carved into her mind." He said giving him helping hand.

"What do you mean?"

"How much do you really know about the underground business? Black market and other stuff?" Jack's question made Ash silent. "Thought so. You see, these days it is being pushed back. But cities like this or oganisations like ours is still alive. Some of them are just doing classic stealing and some of them don't care. Hrist was unlucky one. She never talks about what happened to her before but what I know is that, she was a slave."

Ash stayed silent for a long time. He knew world could be cruel. People could believe in absolute crazy and dark stuff. They could believe the destruction of this world is needed to be done, but he never knew this. He already suspected that the trio was working for someone because Jack let it slip a few times, but now he knew for sure.

"Not even I know the whole story. But what I know is that she was slave since her childhood. She did and became everything she was tasked to do. Got punished for any resistance or failure." Jack said holding his hand over his face.

"How can it still work? Wouldn't it be something police would notice?" Jack started laughing so loud that it sounded through entire room.

"You-you are funny Satoshi. Of course they know, but those who know it are dirty. How else would you explain Team Rocket still working although an entire world know about them? Team Rocket is even joke these days. There are the groups that do human traficking, like the one Hrist was in."

"Was?"

"Mistress got rid of it right before meeting Hrist." Jack said getting rid of tear in his eye.

"Mistress?" Jack froze in his action.

Presence

"Damn! Satoshi is not moving." Jack said shaking his head. "I didn't expect it this..." Jack trailed off as he saw Ash get up, small amount of blood coming out from his mouth. "Ohohoh."

"Incredible! Satoshi is either crazy or very determined. Either way, he is still continuing his fight!" Ash slowly stood up, wiping away the blood with a chuckle. His eyes met with Ban's, glowing purple.

"And I thought I wouldn't get the chance." Ash's voice now different filled joy. He was taking a deep breaths. Not the one from exhaustion, but from a new energy.

"Oh no..." Serena whispered as she Slash taking over once more.

"Oh yes. At least I can see what is this about!" Jack yelled with cheer.

"Are you crazy? Whenever Slash shows up, things get bad!" Bonnie yelled at Jack, but he shushed her.

"You are being too loud. I wanna enjoy this." Jack said while Slash was back on his feet.

"Hey, hey, hey. You need a paper bag or something?" Ban asked with a grin.

"Not needed. Just this new energy was a surprise." he watched his hands, goosebumps being where he felt it. His violet eyes then seeing the red ones. "Come at me man. I can't enjoy it if you are jumping away like pussy."

Ban saw the diference between before and now, but he didn't mind. He ran straight at Slash, throwing a quick punch. But right before landing, Slash dodged it. Ban raised his eyebrow before throwing another one that missed again.

"It looks like Satoshi caught second breath and avoids all the hits!" as Ban tried to hit him, he noticed he placed his hands into pockets.

"You know, being hypocrite isn't good." Ban said as he finally stopped punching. He waved his hand and a bottle of alcohol flew to his open palm. He took a sip before saying. "Planning to show me yourself now?"

Slash scoffed. "I was just trying if it is fun to do the same. But-" Slash disappeared in one moment and was right in front of Ban. Wall of punches flew at Ban, his skin waving under the preasure. The bottle dropped from his hand, breaking and the sharp glass cutting both feet of the fighters.

"Satoshi is attacking with almost blinding attacks. But nothing NEW!" Slash's next punch was caught by Ban's palm. Slash used his other arm swinging and hitting Ban's chin. Ban's head leaned back only to look back down at Slash. He reached with his hand for his chin to fix it back. "Ban isn't falling back once again!"

Slash felt a small chill coming down his spine. "That was my favourite bottle." he held Slash's arm and with the other ready to swing. "Let's see if I can do the same, with one hand."

The next moment, Slash felt the punches over his entire body. He felt how the punches were tiring his body. He felt how some of his ribs broke. He felt how one penetrated his lung making him black out of a second. Then the punches stopped and he was able to take a moment. He almost fell down when his hand was free finally. He felt the blood coming down his mouth. He was probably hit into face during the moment he was out.

Others watched with worry as it look like Ash's body wouldn't hold for long.

"Ash..." Serena murmured, seeing how Slash was

"Still standing?" Ban asked with another lazy smile. Slash touched his cut lip before sucking the blood.

He clenched his fists, rage coming through his entire body. What made him even angrier was that any damage he inflicted seemed to be gone. He was forced out of control before for a stupid headbutt with Hrist's aura. He wasn't going down this time. He started taking deep breath, feeling the energy coming into him.

Ban watched his opponent, seeing how his cut lip healed in blink of an eye. Ban raised his eyebrow at this new thing. When Clemont noticed it, his eyes sparked with interest. When Ban finally noticed his eyes, he saw how they shook before completely shrinking into smaller size. Slash then once again disappeared and the next moment Ban's arms and legs cracked, failing to hold him up. Ban's face hit the ground, whole arena screaming with excitement. Slash was standing behind where Ban stood before. He was taking deep breaths, looking at his fist.

"Oh my..." Serena mumbled, her eyes wide.

"I almost didn't see it. What did Ash do?" Korrina asked, seeing Ash's fists. They were already bloodied and her mind went back when he was talking to her in forest.

"That's not Ash." Bonnie said nervously.

"What do you me-" Korrina couldn't even finish when the commentator yelled again.

"Satoshi pulls of super sound sonic move and BAN goes down! OR THAT IS WHAT EVERYONE THINKS FIRST TIME!" Slash turned his face only to feel the grab on his chin and his entire body being lift up in the air. He felt the strong grasp as he was unable to get out of it. He looked down and it was Ban, holding him with the hand he just broke a few seconds ago.

"Do you know why they call me undead kid?" Ban asked lowering him only to look eye in te eye. "Because no matter what they do, nothing can take me down. I like to go into these fights, because I can test people. I can see their attempts, their full strength. To see if they can take me down. But none of them succeeded." Slash was so much mad that he couldn't notice the Ban's expression. "You know, the first one was better talking buddy than you are."

This was the last thing for Slash. He stopped grabbing Ban's arm. He swung both of his fists for Ban's head but before he could do that, Ban took Slash and slammed him to the ground knocking out the air out of him. Then Ban slammed his foot on his left arm, breaking it. When he lifted his foot , his body was bleeding in some parts and the other healed already. Ban then looked at Satoshi's face and saw how he was barely breathing. Ban put his hands back into pockets and walked slowly to exit.

"And Ban claims another victory. As once again, another challenger falls right under him!" The group except Jack watched with worry faces as Ash's body was lying there without moving. Their eyes moved to Ban, who looked like he never entered this arena. "BUT WAIT!"

Ban turned his head and he saw how his opponent was standing again. Blood dropping on the sand floor, sweat going down his body and bone sticking out from his broken arm. He saw how his breaths were heavy and husky. But still, he was making a small steps toward him. He couldn't see his face.

"It isn't my place to say this, but maybe you should give it up boy." Ban said, but it seemed he wasn't listening and continued his small steps. The moment he tripped, Ban's arm stopped him from falling. He put him back on feet and looked down at him and his eyes saw his that was completely white for a moment before a purple glowing one looked at him that was filled with madness and rage.

Slash's right arm went back a bit. He clenched the fist, focusing all the energy. He felt all his power transfering into his fist. His fist started to glow in blue energy. He then slammed his fist into Ban's chest. A shockwave flew around them and blood followed. Everyone covered themselves, the people standing nearest the cage were covered in blood. The group watched with wide eyes at the scene.

Slash stood there with lifted fist in place where once Ban's chest was. Ban's upper part of body was gone, only leaving his legs that fell down the next second with loud *Splash*. The audience instead of screaming in horror, they screamed with excitment. The group couldn't understand why they were cheering, when a person just died. Then Serena noticed Jack expression. He was chuckling and shaking his head.

"Ban's dead!" yelled the commentator. Slash stood for a moment holding up his arm still before almost collapsing. But he stopped himself and forced the rest of his energy into his feet. "But it seems our newcomer didn't learn anything!"

Slash was confused for a moment until he felt a tap on his shoulder and felt breath right next to his ear. "Was that your finishing blow?" Slash's eye turned and he saw the face he thought he blown away. He had another lazy smile on his face and his entire body was completely fine. "I would show you mine, but you might die before I finish it."

Slash's eyes watched with horror before going blank and closed. His back crashed into the bloodied sand and stopped moving. The audience cheered and chanted Ban's name. Ban looked last time at his opponent before walking out.

"That is everything for today people. Ban's wins ones again! Now could someone please call a healer so our newcomer doesn't bleed out?" past Ban walked woman with blue hair and knelt before Ash. She put her hands together and pressed against his skin. A light started to come out. Cuts and bruises on Ash's body quickly healed.

During that time, the room emptied and the group got down from the spot they watched until now. Serena rushed to Ash holding on his arm that wasn't broken.

"You will need to take him to doctor Jack. I can't heal that broken arm." the woman said standing up getting rid of sand. "He shouldn't push himself otherwise it won't heal. Even though he has better regeneration then others, his body won't handle it." with that, she left.

Ash started to slowly wake up and everyone looked down at him. Serena and Bonnie expected for brown eyes to look at them, but only purple eyes looked back. They scanned everyone, for a moment stopping at Serena's, and finally meeting Jack's.

"You knew, didn't you?" Slash said with a voice that he knew already. Jack said nothing, but he didn't look like he was feeling bad.  "Just wait the next time we meet." he then turned to Bonnie and Serena. "Are you afraid for me or just because it is also his body?" he asked with laugh that was followed with bad cough. He closed his eyes and they changed to brown the next time they opened.

"Are you ok Ash?" Serena asked and saw that he was still scanning the room.

"Yeah, I think." he then looked at Jack and reached for him with arm out. "I hope the deal worked."

Jack chuckled and helped him up. "Yeah. Money already for me and the thing we agreed on." he said while reaching into his backpack. Pikachu jumped from Serena's shoulder on Ash's unbroken shoulder but when he felt Ash flinch, Pikachu jumped back on Serena's shoulder.

"Good, that is nice. But could someone please explain to me what the hell happened with Ash?" Korrina said aggressively. The group exchanged looks before answering.

"We will tell you on our way." said Bonnie. Then Jack let out a little cheer as he finally pulled out a small device that had a small solar pannels on top of it. He gave it to Ash who gave it to Clemont the next moment. 

Clemont looked surprised at the device before recognising it was a new solar battery. "You told me and Korrina you needed one for your new invention. Take it as my thanks for saving me." Clemont looked stunned for a moment before a loud slam. They all turned their heads to entrance where stood Ash's Lucario beaten up probably the same way as Ash. One of its shoulders was dislocated and the other was holding something in its paw.

"What a pokemon, what a owner I would say." Korrina said rolling her eyes. As Lucario was slowly limping closer, Serena's pokeball opened and Braixen came out looking around confused until its eyes landed on Lucario. The eyes went wide upon seeing all the injuries. Braixen rushed to Lucario to help and the moment she was close, Lucario smiled before his feet gave up on him and fell on him. "As I said." Korrina said with smirk, she looked at Serena who blushed.

Ash was supported by Jack and walked toward his pokemon and his eyes looked at his clenched paw and noticed the slight shine from it. He looked at Lucario who returned the look with a smirk.

Before Ash could say anything, a loud bell rang through the whole underground. It was deep, longing bell that sounded repeatedly. The group looked at each other confused, but Lucario felt the sadness. He looked at his trainer, but he was looking at the short white hair boy. Their looks showed that they knew exactly what it meant.

"What is that bell?" Bonnie finally asked Ash, he looked at her with sad expression.

"You will see outside." with that, Ash and Jack left them without saying anything. The group looked at each other, Serena had so many thoughts in her mind. But as she looked at Ash, she knew this was something serious.

They all walked outside seeing the complete change in the scene. The street was silent, most people were kneeling and those who weren't looked confused for a moment before following.

Serena POV

"Kneel." I heard a voice speaking to us. I turned my head and next to us was Ban kneeling. Although he was kneeling, he was high as us on our feet. "Do it." I noticed Jack and Ash. They were kneeling as well. After a few seconds, the whole underground was quiet and everyone was kneeling with the bell still ringing the same sound.

Then, through the free space walked through two big man walked carrying a long glass box. My eyes widened at recognising the person.

"Today, we lost one of our members." a female voice spoke through speakers. She spoke with calm voice filled with a little bit of sadness. That is what I thought at least. "She was always a fighting spirit. Even when she would breake, her resisting side would still hold. She gave her life to us so we could prosper. And even though she could be cold to people for most of a time, her hearth would help others and mind to protect us. So give your heart and mind for her as she gave for us." 

As I watched, everyone around us lifted their fists placing them on their chests before pressing them against their foreheads. I looked at Ash and he was doing the same, with his not broken hand.. My eyes widened when I saw that his forehead glowed blue. I looked at Jack and his was too. I was stunned for a moment as everyones the underground was lit up with blue light. I was about to cover my eyes but through that light, I noticed Jack and Ash. 

They both looked sad. But they still did this. I knew Ash for a while and even though I didn't know circumstances around this, but Ash liked her for some reason. So I did what others and made the same movements. Pressed my fist to chest and then my forehead.

"I wish for Satoshi and Jack to give their last goodbyes. Although their group was cut in half now, I believe they will work even harder. Thier group got us the shipment that saved multiple of our members and allowed us to move even higher in our business." I was even more curious about what it was about. It was flustering me and I can understand why Korrina was aswell.

I still had my eyes closed when I felt tap on my shoulder. I looked to my side and I realised it was Ash. "It is already done." I looked around and saw everyone was slowly returning to their normal lives. At least what normal is here. "I need to go take care of things, but we can leave right after." he said with smile. And for some reason, I returned it with mine.

Many years ago

No POV

She laid on the ground, her body shaking and weak. She looked with one eye up. The other was injured from her last punishment. Her ears were numb, but she felt the vibrations. 

The doors opened with slam and through came her master and father at the same time. His face was filled with rage, but it didn't look like it was aimed at her. She tried to listen, but she couldn't even as she tried.

Another master came inside and both of them were arguing until her father shattered the tablet he was holding in rage. He was screaming until his eyes landed back on his partner. They were filled with disbelief until it turned into another rage.

He whispered something before grabbing the other master's head and slamming it into doors. He then grabbed the door and kept slamming it into his head until only bloody ball was left

She felt more vibrations until her eyes landed on the big piece of glass lying next to her and then at her father. He was heavily breathing and wasn't looking at her. She picked the piece and slowly stood up. She picked up the rest of her strength and ran at him. She didn't scream, only ran.

His eyes landed for a moment on her and his eyes widened when the piece of glass cut through his stomach. She didn't stop. She pulled out the glass and stabbed him again. He threw a punch at her, almost making her fall. But before that, she stabbed his throat and let her weight slice it down. His eyes were loosing all life. They shook as he fell down.

When he was lying on the ground, she pulled out the glass and stabbed him again and again and again. She was repeating it until the rags she had as clothes were soaked with blood. Her arms were numb already, but she still made small punches.

'You poor thing.' a female voice spoke. For a moment, she thought her hearing returned but it wasn't that. Her eye looked at the entrance where stood a female figure in black hugging dress. She could see the long hair that went to her shoulders. She said something, but she couldn't hear her. 'You will heal. It is in your blood after all. But let me help you this way at least.'

She was reaching at her with hand. Although the voice she heard was calm, she couldn't watch as she expected another hit. She dug her head, prepared to take the hit. But that never came. She felt the warm hand on her head. She looked up and saw the woman's face. She had a small smile. Suddenly, a wave of fatigue hit her and her eyes closed.

A.N.: For those who wished to skip...Ash took the group into a secret group that he is part of. This group or gang is filled with many strange people but also advanced medicine with which they saved Clemont. But when Korrina confronts Ash about it, he says nothing and leaves. Because of this, everyone don't know how to trust Ash. After they finally finds Ash, they meet Jack. They also finds out Ash and Jack fought in fighting ring. Ash defeated many opponents but looses to undefeated champion. During his fight with champion, Slash took over his body to fight him but lost anyway. Although he is in beat up state, he still got what he wanted and that was a device for Clemont as a thanks for Clemont saving him. Lucario won in his fight and won a mystery prize. After that, the entire gang and the underground pays the respect to Hrist. The group also hears Mistress for the first time, although only through speakers. After all of that, the group is almost ready to leave. Also there were some information about Hrist's past. She was slave that was freed by Mistress. She also hates the idea of pokeballs and capturing with them Pokemon.