No POV

"Shadow ball!"

"Pikachu use Thunderbolt!"

"Greninja, use water shurinken!

"Accelgor, use bugbuzz."

"Greninja, use hydro pump."

The top of collapsed mountain shook with clashed attacks. Ash couldn't see through it and neither could Shinobu and Sanpei.

"Lucario, use Bone rush. Pikachu, use Iron Tail." Ash was the first to react. 

"Greninja, follow them with Cut." Sanpei followed with him.

Lucario looked at Pikachu and Greninja, they both did same before leaping into the smoke. Lucario was the first one to clash with Greninja that used dark blade. Pikachu was about leap in to help Lucario, but his attack was stopped by Bisharp. Sanpei's Greninja smirked and lept into attack on Bisharp.

But it was stopped by another Bisharp. Greninja looked surprised at another Bisharp.

"Bug buzz!" From the smoke behind the group lept out Accelgor. It let out loud noise that hit them from behind.

Shinobu saw it. "Liepard, help them. Use Shadow ball on Accelgor!"

Liepard charged the dark ball and fired it at Accelgor.

But out of the smoke lept out another Bisharp glowing claws. Liepard had to use its attack to block incoming brick break. Liepard flew back from the strength of clashed attacks. "Use it again!" Shinobu yelled out. Liepard did as followed.

"Sucker punch!" Out of disappearing smoke lept out another new pokemon with attack hitting Liepard before it could attack.

Shinobu saw the pokemon and recognised the white fur and black horn.

Meanwhile, the opposing pokemon used the chance of weakened pokemon to struck them.

The group watched as finally it was revealed that against them stood 3 Bisharps, Greninja, Accelgor and Absol.

Ash was about to reach for pokeball, but then he remembered that he gave it Serena.

So he reached for pokeball in which he had Talonflame.

"Oh no you don't." First shadow spoke out and pulled a round device. He activated it with press of a button and threw.

Shinobu saw it and threw a kunai at it. It pierced threw, destroying it. But right behind it was another same device and flew between them.

Ash and Sanpei covered themselves, expecting explosion.

Instead, an electro magnetic pulse went out. Ash and Sanpei looked at each other and then Sanpei's eyes landed on Ash's pokeball.

"Ash, your pokeball." Ash looked down and saw a statics coming out of it until it shrank back into small size. Ash pressed the button, but it wouldn't grow back.

"They disabled my pokeballs." Ash said angrily, not realising that his eyes flashed with pruple. "And we can't expect anyone else coming to help us." Ash looked at Shinobu and Sanpei.

"Well, we will deal with them. We are not helpless." Shinobu said with smile.

"Yes, and all we have to do is prevent them making any more moves against us." Sanpei added. "First by stop giving them possibility to hide in smokes."

Ash and Shinobu both nodded at each other. Ash then noticed Pikachu and his one leg trembled as poison bubbles went above him.

Ash clenched his teeth. They didn't have much time.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out the pendant he got for his birthday. He was suppose to wait. But there was no other way. He reached into his other pocket a pulled out the round orange orb.

Lucario picked himself up when he suddenly felt the aura getting stronger. He looked back in time to catch the orb his trainer threw at him. They exchanged glances, having their own silent conversation. They both nodded at each other.

"let's go Lucario, let's use our bond nobody can replicate!" Ash said, putting out his pendant. "Mega evolve!"

Lucario let out a roar and both orbs they had flashed with light. From both came out streams of light and connecting with and another.

As Lucario transformed, Shadow Triad watched it. "Bisharps! Use Brick break!"

All three of them lept at transforming Lucario. As they connected, Lucario blocked them all with his paws. Lucario came out of light transformed and with loud roar, he knocked back all the Bisharps attacking him with loud roar.

Everyone felt the waves of aura washing over them. Even Frogadier climbing on the mountain felt the waves from the top. Frogadier weakly smirked, ignoring the wave of poison that hit him.

Lucario went silent, feeling the new power going through him.

Ash went silent for a second as he felt that their connection has wavered for a moment. The strength so overwhelming that the aura was too much for Lucario in one moment. 

Ash was about to ask, but right behind Lucario was one of the Bisharps with another attack.

Lucario swung around with bone creating in the middle of swing in his hand. The bone connected with Bisharp's head sending it toward others.

Lucario looked over his shoulder at his trainer, giving him a smile.

Sanpei's Greninja used everyones attention on Ash's Lucario and used his glowing don Accelgor

Shadow Triad watched this turn of the events with interest. 

"Since they decided to make a power play, how about we do the same?" one of them said out loud on purpose.

Sanpei expected that they would reveal mega stone for Absol. But that didn't happen.

Instead, he pulled out glass container with metal pins holding inside a pink crystal.

"We planned to use originally to have it be drugs. But during our searching, we found a very interesting thing. Although another organisation stood behind it, we still found use for it." he opened the container and out of it came out pink mist, coming toward all the Bisharps and Lucario.

"Lucario! Get away from it!" Lucario lept away towards others and watched the situation.

"Let's see how you deal with Eternal Blessing." spoke third shadow and they watched as all the Bisharps inhaled all the mist. 

They let out roars of rage. Pikachu could also hear with his ears the roars of pain in it. 

Clemont and Hanzo watched the turn of the events. Clemont looked at him, but he gave him no expression. Clemont on other hand felt anxiety in him. Whatever they used on them was nothing natural for them. And listening to pokemon roar in pain just for power felt numbing.

When they stopped roaring, they started to growl at one at another.

Shinobu decided to use it by having Liepard use move that many Liepards were unable to use these days. "Liepard! Use Assist!" 

Liepard's fur started to glow as it let a cry before starting to charge something. Even Shinobu wasn't sure what attack from their party it would use, but she hoped for one specifically.

Liepard charging changed into blue sphere and that made Shinobu sure of what attack Liepard was using. Liepard sent out the Aura Sphere at Bisharps. They looked at the incoming attack and ran at Liepard. But instead of dodging the attack, they ran straight through it. Scratches and bruises could be seen over their body, but they ignored it and instead hit suprised Liepard with Brick break.

They sent Liepard flying away and when it landed, it was unconscious. But that wasn't enough for them as they charged for Liepard once more. Shinobu instinctively reached for her pokeball, but it wouldn't work. She realised her mistake, but she couldn't attempt anything to prevent them from attacking.

But in that moment, Lucario dashed by her and use Bone rush to send them flying far enough from Liepard. Shinobu released breath, she didn't realise she held in.

"Lucario, I keep them at bay. Use Aura sphere on range and when they get close, use bone rush or thunder punch. Don't go overboard. It is still first time we are doing this!" Ash yelled out to Lucario. Lucario gave him a nod while dodging the crazy Bisharp. Ash still looked worriedly until he noticed Shinobu. She gave him silent that she would look after him.

Ash then focused his attention on Pikachu facing Greninja.

"Greninja, smoke screen!" spoke first shadow of the triad. His Greninja pulled down its tongue scarf to send out black cloud of smoke at Pikachu and Greninja.

"Greninja, use your tongue to disperse the smoke!" Sanpei's Greninja unraveled it's tongue and wildly swung it around.

"Bug buzz!" Out of the smoke ran out Accelgor right next to Sanpei's Greninja. 

"Pikachu, use thunderbolt in a spin!" In front of Greninja jumped in Pikachu to let out of his cheeks electricity to clash with the irritating sound. "Follow up with iron tail!" Pikachu in the second spin stopped letting out the electricity and hit Accelgor.

Greninja smirked and was about to retrieve his tongue, but that didn't happen as he felt tug on it. He looked ahead and saw Absol holding it down with its paws.

"Use Water shuriken!" Greninja clapped its hands to create its attack and send them at opposing Absol.

"Use night slash!" Absol's horn glowed dark and cut through the water attack. Right behind it ran through Greninja with Cut. Absol and Greninja clashed with each other, but the moment of surprise gave Sanpei's Greninja advantage that it used to redirect Absol's horn to side and go for easy attack.

"Hydro pump!" Sanpei's Greninja wasn't able to land as wave of water hit and sent back toward Pikachu.

Ash and Sanpei watched the situation and both of them noticed that Accelgor was on its last breaths probably.

That went also for Pikachu as the poison took its effect.

"We have to deal with that Accelgor first. So we have at least a chance to fight pokemon on pokemon." Sanpei spoke first.

"How about we use their tactic against them?" Ash said to Sanpei. Sanpei looked at him confused. Ash gave him silent instruction, knowing Pikachu would be able to hear it with his ears.

"What do you think you are planning? Give it up already! Like you did when you gave us N's location! Like you did after loosing that dear friend of yours!" yelled out second shadow as he started to maniacally laugh.

Ash felt the rage in his veins with how he just mentioned. During this entire time, he has been holding onto the last strings that were keeping him back from loosing control over himself.

"Ash!" Sanpei spoke out to him, but it seemed that he didn't get to him.

Ash turned to him after a moment and gave him what looked like his signature smile. "Let's make this count."

Sanpei gave him a smile. After that, he picked up a small ball from his pocket.

"Greninja, use Water shuriken!"

"Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!"

Both of the friends pokemon let out their recognizable attacks Shadow Triad decided to go their way as always.

"Hydro Pump Greninja!"

"Dark Pulse Absol!" 

The combined attacks clashed once more and explosion from send bunch of smoke over the battlefield.

Already through it moved Accelgor and aiming for Pikachu's back. "Bug buzz!" Accelgor heard from its trainer and let out the loud buzzing sound at Pikachu.

But before it could land, Pikachu was quickly lifted up into the sky. Accelgor watched as Pikachu turned around with Greninja's tongue around its neck. 

"Iron tail! Full power!" Pikachu got out of the hold and lept of the tongue with glowing tail. Accelgor tried to dodge, but  it was too late. Pikachu landed the attack right on Accelgor's head. Accelgor attempted to hold it. But the ground underneath it broke and and he disappeared with smoke.

Pikachu lept out and carefully waited.

Shadow Triad watched, anylizing the situation when they noticed the small ball right next to Greninja.

"It seems that those two have some sort of signal around the ball." as they spoke, the hole in ground revealed knocked out Accelgor. Well, doesn't matter. You did your part."

In that moment, Pikachu's feet gave under him and started to feel the heavy of the poison. "Pikachu!"

"Greninja, finish him! Use Night slash!" Shouted first member of Shadow Triad. Greninja answered by creating the dark blade and running straight for  Pikachu.

Sanpei's Greninja wanted to help, but Absol blocked his way with glowing horn that slashed Sanpei's Greninja across chest. He stumbled back, but still prepared  

Lucario created bone to redirect Bisharps attempt at hitting him straight on. Istead it landed right behind him. Lucario was about to continue when: "Behind you. More coming!" Lucario looked back on last moment managed to jumped aside to avoid another two Bisharps. He then noticed Pikachu's situation.

He rushed toward his closest friend, but that didn't happen. Instead: "Watch out from your left side!" Lucario looked and again on last moment managed to create bone. But only for him to be pushed down to ground by two Bisharps. Both of them violently swinging their heads trying to hit Lucario.

Lucario clenched his teeth, dodging the attacks and feeling all dust on his fur as they broke the rocks next to him. His eyes wondered to Pikachu and saw Greninja at him. He out frustrated roar, feeling scared for him. His brother was in danger, he had this power and couldn't do anything to prevent it.

Unknown to both of them, both Ash and Lucario had the exact same thoughts and clashing in the middle of their connection.

Lucario's fur stood up all over his body and his appendages from behind his head started to move on its own. 

Unknown to Ash, his eyes were going into purple shades.

All that changed when in the light of the moon moved a shadow and lept between Pikachu and Greninja. Stopping Greninja's dark blade with glowing white.

Greninja was surprised as his blade was redirected to the ground and when he felt kick to face.  Greninja flew back landing next to Absol.

Ash's breath went out when he saw the pokemon saved Pikachu.

Pikachu looked up, heavily breathing with shocked expression. Before him stood Frogadier. Heavily breathing, barely standing on his feet. He was covered in bruises and his hands covered with cuts from which came out small streams of blood. The poison coming out of him.

Frogadier looked back at Pikachu and Ash with smile and gave them thumb up.

Ash felt angry at himself. He was letting himself fall into despair again. He shook his head, and gave Frogadier smile and thumb up back. His eyes going back to his chestnut brown eyes. 

"Absol and Greninja, both of you use night slash!" Ash eyes widened as before Frogadier stood two pokemon, both with attacks ready.

"Frogadier! Watch out!" Frogadier turned back around and put up its glowing blade to block of attacks. His knees and hands were giving up on him, but he let out a roar.

Frogadier suddenly started to glow. The evolution send both pokemon back away. He grew taller and his features as well. His bubble scarf grew longer and transformed into solid one. 

Sanpei and his Greninja and decided to stand next to his evolving rival as he finished. Two Greninjas stood side by side next to each other opposing Absol and Greninja. Ash's Greninja looked back at Pikachu and gave him thumb up. He would take over now.

Lucario saw the situation and grinned. He looked up and saw the Bisharps trying to overpower him. And so he used all of his strength to pushed two bisharps back. When another lept at him, Lucario pulled back his paw and clenched it for punch. He swang and hit. He expected to feel the familiar sparks. Instead, he felt the weight of his attack getting heavier and faster at the same time. 

His punch went fast and hit Bisharp in gut, sending it flying away. Lucario stood up and looked as his paw with smirk. He stood up and saw that one of Bisharps finally collapsed. One down, two more to go.

Shadow Triad watched this turn of the events and tried to think of a way to deal with it. They then looked down to see that the battlefield under them was getting more quiet which meant that they were loosing time. They exchanged glances and knew what the next move would be.

One of the mebers silently pulled out a needle and hid it in his clothes.

"Do you feel proud of yourself?" Ash made eyes contact with Shadow Triad. "Knowing you live today to fight us! Even if you beat us today, you will remember this day as day when innocent people died just for you! That if you have never been born they and your friends would have never have to face this presence!"

"Is that something new!?" Ash yelled back before letting them continue. "I am already living with the guilt of everyones death on that day you planned." Sanpei gave Ash side eye. "No matter how long I will live, I will never forgive myself for what happened on that day."

Clemont listened to his words. There was nothing he could say for Ash. Because there is nothing that could make feel the same guilt he feels.

Unknown to all of them, right behind the horizont of the cliff where girls hiding and ready to leap in. But Korrina still held them back. They would go in only when it would dangerous for boys.

As they listened, Serena thought back to their conversation at Cilan's grave. At the time, she thought that accepting and forgiving himself at least partially for his death. At the time, she was there for him just like he was for her before.

So she made up her mind. There was nothing that would make Ash punishing himself for all that happened on that day. But when he would be in his lowest moment, she would be there for him. 'Hopefully to lighten up the burden he would feel' thought Serena to herself.

"But as long as I am fighting people like you..." Ash continued. "I will never go down. We will never go down like that!" Ash said loudly, making single step forward which his Greninja mimicked. Because as long as I have someone for whom I will never give up. Never again. Because that is bond between all of us for which we fight for! We don't give up!"

Ash yelled out and Greninja with him as burst of water surrounded Greninja. Even though Greninja was covered in spinning water, it was still visible that Greninja's form changed. Everyone watched shocked. Everyone other than Ash watched it surprised. He didn't even registered the transformation.

Clemont's eyes lit up with hope. It is only Ash who can make something like this spectacular. 

"Aerial ace!" Ash's Greninja lept in such speed, it was almost like a flash. Shadow Triad's Greninja was barely able to react. He dodged on last second, but still left free hit on their Absol. Absol was send flying away at Bisharps Lucario was fighting.

Lucario noticed the incoming Absol and so he decided to knock back one of the Bisharps with Bone rush. Bisharp's glowing eyes were too focused on Lucario to notice that he was in direct path of Absol.

So Lucario smirked when Bisharp was swept with Absol to side. He saw Greninja's strange power, but he still felt like Greninja did that on purpose. Not to help him, but to show his superior strength. Lucario smirked. From now on, it is going to be interesting between them. 

"Use cut Greninja!" Ash continued.

"Clash him with night slash!" Shadow Triad's Greninja and Ash's Greninja metwith glowing blades. Ash's Greninja quickly started to overwhelm opposing Greninja with strenght and speed.

Shadow Triad wasn't planning for overpowering Greninja. Right behind Ash's Greninja lept out Absol that he send away. Its horn glowing green.

Serena was about to get out of their hiding, but Korrina stopped her on last second and grabbed her back.

The sudden pop up of somebody beyond their battlefield got Shadow Triads attention.

"Now we have the distraction." one of them whispered. "Absol, use Megahorn!"

Ash's Greninja didn't look back. Absol gave mighty swing, but it was blocked as Sanpei's Greninja parried the attack and gave final slash to Absol.

Ash's Greninja redirected their Greninja's blade to side and use Aerial ace to kick Greninja back.

Their Greninja landed right before them, unconscious. Right with Absol. They didn't even need to look to their side to know that Bisharps were out as well.

The water around Greninja disappeared and Ash's Greninja was back to normal. Ash would have even focused on it, but his mind was now focused on the three enemies before them.

To both Greninja ready to attack the Shadow Triad joined even Lucario. But his heavy breathing prooved that it was his last strenght. Ash could feel that he wouldn't last long in mega evolution.

Shinobu joined to Ash's and Sanpei's side. "It's over Shadow Triad! Surrender now and face consequences for your crimes!"

They exchanged glances and chuckled. "Woman, we have fought and been captured by other villages multiple times. And guess what?"

In quick flash, they reached into their pockets and pulled out smoke bombs. "This is nothing new to us!" And before anyone could stop them, they have created unsee through cloud of smoke.

Everyone looked around frantically, expecting them to attack. Both Greninja decided to use their tongue scarfs to disperse the smoke. 

Ash looked around, but blood went stone cold when he heard. "Ash!"

Ash turned toward the female voice and he saw it. How Serena ran with Korrina and Bonnie right behind her. He also saw that out of the smoke came out one of the members of Shadow Triad.

"SERENA! GET AWAY!" Ash yelled out, running toward her. 

But it was still too late. Serena eyes widened when man with white long hair and mask came up at her and grabbed her. Serena tried to fight him off. But he grabbed her hands and with one held both. In hand, she still had the pokeball Ash gave her in her hand. But he grabbed her in such way that she couldn't even open it.

She then felt a pinch in her neck. Her mind went panic as she realised that she had needle stuck in her neck.

Ash ran out of the smoke and looked around expecting the other two members to pop up. But they were nowhere to be seen. All that was left behind from them were unconscious Bisharps. The rest of their pokemon were gone as well. Sanpei and Shinobu ran out of it as well and were empty handed. The smoke cleared and they were nowhere to be seen. The other two were completely gone.

And so Ash looked at the only one remaining that held Serena in hold and backed off from Korrina and Bonnie that were trying to sneak up on him. And the worst is, held some of sort of syringe stuck in her neck.

"Let her go!" Bonnie yelled out, trying to reach for Celebi's pokeball.

"Don't really thing so." he answered back, preventing Serena from any way to fight.

"Your team left you, you are on your own. Like any criminal is." Korrina said, hoping to get into his blind spot.

"Now there you are wrong. We don't fall apart just because one of fails. Not like your friend. Am I wrong." he spoke and his gaze fell on Ash.

He stood next to Sanpei, clenching his fist and trying to think of a way out.

Than, his eyes landed on Serena. She was scared. But he also noticed her eyes aiming down. He looked down and saw her hands and in them the pokeball. He never expected that this pokemon, who complicated many of his fights, would maybe save her.

"I am pretty sure your next line is: 'There is no way for you to go.' And you are right." He spoke up again. "But what I want is for you to see another close one to you die. A person, that now we realised, is the one holding back the monster that you let out when you murdered Colress. So we wondered how you would react if you watched someone even closer to you than that boy was die right before your eyes. So watch as pump this into her little neck and you can watch inevetably die."

Lucario felt overwhelming anger and it was coming from his trainer.

Ash's eyes were almost full shade of purple. He had to fight it back just to say what he needed. And he needed to say it to Serena. "Sometimes we have to let things go to move on."

Serena watched with fear of what to expect, but Ash's words made her sure. And so, she dropped the tiny pokeball.

Even though it wasn't suppose to open, it did and out of came out pokemon with  large, armored shell-like helmet on its head with pointed horns and a beard-like white mane extending from its chin. Its tail is short, and its limbs are strong, ending in sharp claws. When the pokemon came out, it separated both Serena and shadow without giving him chance to push in liquid. Instead, it forced him to pull it out.

Sanpei felt the gust of wind. He could barely see Ash speeding at the enemy.

The covered ninja had barely enough time to look up and see Ash throwing punch at him. He put up his arms in cross to block him. That still wasn't enough to reduce the strength of it. And so he threw the syringe aiming down.

He slided back a few meters. Shadow smirked and pulled out a dagger with right hand. The left he couldn't even properly move.

He threw the dagger which he closely followed behind. He prepared another one with which he would pierce through. 

Ash rushed at him, his eyes invisible to the moonlight.

Instead of dodging it, he slightly leaned to the side and let it hit his left shoulder and with right arm went for the dagger.. The dagger cut through his palm. But it allowed to grab his opponent's hand. Shadow Traid member smirked. 'There he is' he thought.

Ash finally looked up properly and Ash's eyes were brown with purple shade insides.

"Aaaah, there he is." he said as Ash connected another hit with his left arm into one of the men's ,he hated, face.

Serena was in shock as she held her neck. 

"Serena!" Bonnie ran up to her holding on to her. "Are you alright?"

Serena was mute as she couldn't properly think of words about what to say next. So she simply nodded. Bonnie smiled and then she noticed binded Clemont. She couldn't help herself from tears as she ran to him.

Serena looked at the four leg pokemon that she released. It looked at her with protective gaze. Shell like sword. When it noticed barely consciousPikachu, it picked it up and placed on top of itself. Pikachu let  It looked at another direction and let out loud growls.

"You don't need to worry about him anymore." Korrina said with smirk to Serena. She looked confused, but it hit her. She looked toward the same direction pokemon looked and there she saw Ash pummeling the guy.

"Yes!" Ash gave 3 another blows to guy who was maniacally laughing. 

Ash ignored them and continued in his attacks. Ash prepared his bloodied fist to land another attack. 

But he never landed it. The gentle hands on his fist stopped him. "That is enough Ash." Ash didn't stop looking at the man below him. 

He coughed up blood. "Don't listen to her. This is who you are!"

In Ash's mind ran the dark voice through his head. 'Normally, I wouldn't agree. But he is right. Don't listen to the girl.' Slash spoke to him, the voice sounding like stood right next to him.

"More bloodshed won't solve anything. Don't let yourself down this path." Serena insisted.

"He almost killed you." Ash said with clenched fist.

"Yes. I did. She would have been dead." He said with muffled voice as the mask was soaking in blood.

Ash's mind was going dark as he let the control slip. 'Yes!' Ash heard Slash yelling out, pulling him Ash in.

"You are not a monster Ash." Serena held tighter on his fist.

"You know that's a lie! You killed people. You are the monster we made." white hair ninja yelled.

'You're just as much of a monster as I am.' Slash said while taking Ash even further into the darkness.

But suddenly light went through and he could see clearly. Ash looked down and saw arms holding him from behind and he felt the warm on his back.

"Please." With those words, Ash felt like he lost all the will to fight.
He let his fist drop.

Ash looked over his shoulder and met with the blue eyes. They made him completely ignore the voice in his head arguing against his decision.

Meanwhile Shinobu looked their direction. A small slipped on her face.

"Do you understand now Shinobu?" She looked down at Hanzo as he had smile on his face as well.

"Probably not the same as you do, master." Shinobu replied, releasing him from his binds. "But what he did with his Greninja, that means he-" but she didn't finish when she something. Before saying anything, she ran.

Before Ash or Serena could say anything to each other, they were interrupted by the person on the ground.

"You are still not ready." Ash looked at him and he could see the outlines of his face. He was grinning. "Who knows. Maybe this will finally change it." Ash and Serena looked at him confused.

That was until his face started to violently swell. Serena looked confused, but she looked over him and his swollen foot saw the same syringe, that he held against her neck, now empty. Her face changed to horrified as she thought about that being her.

Ash thought about his words, but he couldn't finish his train of thoughts. Because he and Serena were both pushed back. As he fell back with Serena, he could see Shinobu picking up the person he beat up. The person was fighting against Shinobu. He attempted to get free.

Ash looked with wide as his skin started to sizzle. He then looked at Shinobu. He couldn't understand what she was trying to tell him with her eyes. All she said out loud was: "Good luck."

And with that, she lept down the mountain with the man as he punched against her.

Ash and Sanpei ran to the mountain side with hopes of getting to her. But even before they could get to the cliff, there was an explosion.

Ash and Sanpei looked at each, before finally looking over.

The group watched with silence as Sanpei dropped to his knees and punched the the rock beneath him.

Further away, out of anyones reach and sight stood the other two members of Shadow Triad. The put their fists against their chests. After that, they were gone into the night.

On the other side of the mountain, through the forest ran Kentaru. When he finally stopped running, he grabbed his head.

He betrayed his village by giving The Shadow Triad information. He it because he believed they would simply deal with something the higher ups refused to do. Instead, his best friend and partner was now dead.

"A team with no respect for its leader will fall apart." Kentaru pulled out a katana and looked in the direction of person hidden in the shadows. "If you can't hold such loyalty for your leader, you should have never joined him." after that, Kentaru heard the person drinking something.

When that person came out, Kentaru recognised him. "How did you get out of the prison?!" It was the same green haired man with scar over his left eye. This time, he had three swords by his side that they have took from him when they caught him.

"I got bored. So I let myself out." he told him with smirk.

Kentaru grit his teeth. "Whatever. I can't let you live." He threw a smoke bomb and used the opportunity to change his position. As he saw the man from a side, it seemed like he didn't care. Kentaru couldn't think about that though. And so he went for attack.

In that moment, the man put down the bottle and grabbed one of the katana. He mumbled something, but he couldn't hear it. He chose to ignore it.

"Shishi Sonson!" Kentaru lost the sight of the man. And he couldn't even react as he felt slash over his chest.

Kentaru's body landed on the ground, barely breathing.

The man put back his katana back into the holder. 

As he was about to take a sip of his drink again-'There you are Mosshead!' he dropped his drink on the ground, suprised by the voice.

"Mistress." he said out loud.

'Don't you move. We are coming to you. You would get lost again.'  the man simply smiled.

"Don't worry. I will go to the mountain." When he said that, he went the other direction instead.

A few days later

Ash, Pikachu sat on his shoulder with full energy, and Sanpei silently stood next to each other and stood before the cut stone.  Around them were multiple of them. Compare to the old ones, there were many new rows of new ones. 

"If I realised what was happening, she would still be alive." Ash said. His fists clenching. Pikachu  looked worriedly at his trainer.

"And like we told you many times these past days, you couldn't have known what he used. Only Shinobu and her students know properly these drugs. If it wasn't for her sacrifice, more of us would be dead." Ash looked Sanpei in the eyes. "Stop using her sacrifice and their deaths to blame yourself. Use it like us. Move forward."

"So you are saying you don't blame me for all of this? For the death of your people? For the death of civillians that had nothing to do with this entire incident?" Ash asked conflicted.

"Me? I won't. Others? I can't say. What I can say though..." Sanpei went silent as his eyes went dark. "That we won't ever let those monsters get to us again." He then looked at Ash. "Promise me something."

Ash knew this look. Iris had the exact same look when she told him the same thing. "When we find them, we will finish them together." Ash looked at Pikachu and they both exchanged determined looks.

Ash's attention went to the blond hair in his view. "You will be late Ash!"

Sanpei and Ash exchanged friendly smiles. As they went toward her, Ash spoke. "Go ahead. We will join you."

Sanpei nodded and ahead, leaving the two of them behind. Pikachu once again lept on Serena, snuggling on her shoulder. Serena laughed at his reaction, but she went silent when she Ash's look of smile.

Ash and Serena haven't talk to each other since the night. It was some sort of akward silence between them since after the whole thing. After that was funeral of those who fell and Ash was still under hard observation. So they wouldn't allow his complete free movement.

But now, they stood before each other.

"Thank y-"

"Thank y-"

Both of them spoke out at the same time.

"Sorry, you go first."

"Sorry, you go first."

They both laughed at each other. Pikachu watched both of them with smile.

"Ladies first." Ash finally said first.

Serena went red a little bit, but that didn't make it harder for her to speak. "Thank you for saving me again." Ash was about to interrupt her, but she continued. "And I know you will say that you haven't done anything. You gave me your pokeball just to keep me safe even if you weren't there. And you were the one who got me away from...."

They both went silent for a moment. Serena still felt itching from where the needle was stuck in her neck. She was checked multiple times and it was certain there was nothing in her blood. Still the feeling wouldn't leave.

"Funny that what saved you was something that complicated my pokemon battles in past." Serena looked at him confused. "Osha-I mean Samurott used to pop out of his pokeball all the time. It even complicated situation when they would count it as official call into pokemon battle. So I hoped he would do the exact same thing when I needed for Samurott to do it the most." Ash said with grin.

Serena smile at him sharing his memories. She always loved to hear these stories. No matter  what they were. "What did you want to thank me for?" 

Ash's smile fell slightly, but not entirely. "I wanted to thank you for stopping me. I have already lost myself many times since...since Cilan died. I don't want to do that anymore... at least not when you are around."

Serena listened and was stunned at his words. She wasn't sure how to respond. So she simply nodded.

Ash smiled more started to walk slowly and Serena followed him.

They saw the gathering and it was time. But before they separated, he said one last thing to Serena.

"You were wrong about one thing Serena." Serena looked at him confused. "It isn't over yet."

Before she could ask him, Ippei and Kagetomo spotted Ash sticking out in the crowd. Kagetomo looked absently at Ippei's hand cast. Their doctors said that it would probably never heal properly.

Ippei ignored his gaze and focused on Ash as he approached them while many people watched. It was suppose to be small ceremony, but word got out. 

Ash stood before Hanzo, Kagetomo, Ippei. He knelt down and looked down.

"Ash Ketchum. For helping us save our elder and many members of our village, we have put our word for you. We have contacted village that has marked you as Doomed." Ash's blood went cold. When Sanpei talked to him, he didn't mention this part. "Tagato Mitzana died a few months after his son. So instead of asking the person that marked you, we had to talked to the new leader, his brother."

The group watched with silence. The next words would determine if Ash would be executed.

"He agreed to our request and gave us the permission. Ash Ketchum, you are no longer sentenced to death." the group let out a silent cheers as they watch Ash smile. Serena's eyes lit up with happiness. She than noticed ninja bringing in metal rod with with flat end that was shining from heat. "Please, reveal your shoulder." Serena looked at Bonnie and Korrina and they thought the same thing.

She had hold herself back from rushing there. And it was like Ash sensed her emotion as he looked at her and gave her his signature toothy smile. So Serena started to scratch Pikachu to unease. 

Ash felt the the heat getting closer to his skin. He grit his teeth and felt the burning against his flesh. In a moment, he felt it being taken away. "Now rise Ash Ketchum." Ash stood up, revealing now shoulder covered with skin burnt skin with what looked like scarf of Greninja. "Ash Ketchum is now cleansed by our village."

Everyone watching started to clap as they watched.

As everyone started to scatter, Ash finally could do one thing he was meaning since he was imprisonned.

Hanzo slowly walked away from the stage toward his home. "Why?" He stopped to turn around and look at Ash.

"Why what?" he asked.

"Why did you let me live? We never met until now. And I had the mark to which nobody hesitated about killing me." Ash asked again.

Hanzo was silent for a moment as he looked up in the sky. "Because I believed you were the same boy that I heard about. The same boy who was with my good friend's son before he died." Ash looked at him confused. "Ever thought about why we have the same name?"

Ash went silent. It hit him. "Was he always like this?"

"Of course. Young Hanzo was always energetic around everybody. But he always hid behind that big smile his worry for others. I am sure he was worried for you and your friends just as much for anyone else." he paused for a moment. "So when I heard that a boy with same name and almost identical look that fit the description, I had my suspicion about you. So I wanted to know your side of the story before you could die."

Ash went silent for a moment before he continued. "What about Shinobu? She was very much for my execution. And yet, she sacrificed herself for us."

Hanzo went silent for a second before answering. "She saw what kind of person you trully are. A good person."

Before Ash could ask more, Pikachu interrupted him by jumping on his shoulder. Ash turned around and looked at everyone else. Well, almost everyone. He couldn't see Clemont.

He looked around and that was when he saw him talking to Ippei and Nihei.

Ippei didn't show anything, but Nihei showed more emotion. He seemed ecstatic. Ippei calmed him down and it looked like he thanked Clemont.

Bonnie ran up to him to hear the tail end of the conversation. "I will contact you when it is ready." Ippei and Nihei nodded and both of them left.

"What was that about?" she asked him.

Clemont nervously chuckled. "It's just a project I have been working for a while. It's something that could helped them. So offered my help." Clemont grinned.

"And you are not going to tell us about this project?" Korrina popped out behind his back, putting her arm over his shoulder.

"Not yet. It's still far from ready." Clemont said nervously.

"Don't worry about it. Take your time. Knowing you, it will be something big." Ash said faithfully. Clemont nodded. 

Sanpei ran up to them. "So let me accompany you out." Everyone looked at each other before nodding. As they walked to the entrance, Sanpei looked at the briefcase in Clemont's hands. "You can't do anything about them?"

Clemont shook his head. "It's way out of my zone of knowledge. I can't help those Bisharps. But I got in contact with my colleagues and they told me that they know about a group. They apperently know how to deal with it.

"Great! Where do we find them?" Bonnie asked excited.

"They are apperently on the move all the time, so we recieved just word that they will be making a stop at Couriway town." Clemont said as he double checked the instraction he recieved.

"Isn't that the next town with upcoming showcase Serena?" Korrina asked, remembering their last talk.

"Oh yeah! It is!" Serena said excited.

As they were leaving, they didn't register the glances of people. Specificaly Ippei, Hanzo, Kagetomo and Nihei as they were watching them from above.

"So the hero have returned." Kagetomo said out loud.

"It would seem so." Hanzo replied. "We have never seen any Greninja transform like this since the founding of the village. Saving our village once more."

"It also means one thing." Nihei replied.

"Indeed it does." Ippei replied and looked in the far region. The same direction the group was heading. "That the crysis is coming. And we cannot stay idle no longer. Otherwise it will lead to the destruction of whole world."

A.N.: Finally done. My longest chapter so far. Sorry for the delay once again. Hopefully, this next chapter will be faster.