Hi everyone!!  SK here.

I don't have much to say, so let's get right to it.  As always, I hope you enjoy it!

Ash

After my first thrill of excitement flying, I know I just have to try out even more magic.  I now understand why all the Light Fairies seemed so cheerful all the time, magic is a wondrous thing, and we are all extremely lucky to be able to use it in the way we do.

Well, I mean the fairies of course.  If regular trainers could use magic... let's just say that it'd be absolutely crazy on the battlefield.  I picture that one battle I had against Serena and her Braixen that one time and chuckle to myself, because how weird would it have been to be firing spells at each other instead of having our Pokemon fight?

I look upwards, full of nostalgia.  That happened oh so many years ago... it's funny really, how things change sometimes.  

I shake my head to focus myself, as I need to be in the present if I want to be able to do magic.  The irony is, my determination to try and focus myself makes it harder for me to focus.  I'd spent most of the afternoon like this, for once ignoring my hunger so I could practice more magic.  However, my stomach takes control of me and I end up drifting near a plate of food that I'd assumed Layra had left for us to eat.  Only, Rin had taken her away and I was still here.  

I sit down and eat about half of it, leaving the other half for Layra for when she'll return.  However, while I eat I begin to grow more and more uneasy.  The Minister often spoke of how she has to conceal herself when talking to others, apparently having multiple personas depending on who she was around.  She has a hatred for Rin, which fits because of how he apparently mistreats and hurts her.  

Almost at once, I feel my food sink like a rock in my stomach.

Is she okay?  Should I go help her?  Where is she?

As much as I want to go help her, I can't.  I feel like such a horrible person.  If I help her, not only will we get found out, but Rin will kill me considering I can't skillfully use magic to defend myself yet.  Besides, all he needs to find is another person with Destruction as their Element- there's billions of people in the world, I doubt that'll be hard for him.  I think he's only hanging on to me because he forcefully bonded me with the two Pokemon who I'd taken for this journey.  

I quickly put away the food and stand up.  Time to get back to work.  There's so much things we need to do, and they can only happen if I practice my magic.

I take a deep breath and close my eyes.  I have no idea how to focus myself, but I figure being calm will help considering being overly excited didn't.  I want to do something simple to start, you know, something that can't kill me.  I'm thinking of making a bracelet.  A simple one, just string, a couple glass beads, and a larger one for its center.  The center bead is a blue-coloured glass orb with pink swirls mixed into it.  It's surrounded by a small ring of smaller and lighter-coloured ones.  

The idea for the bracelet comes from when me and Clemont were on our journey to find everyone.  The time was when we were still in Lumiose City, and I was still fresh with grief.  We were walking on one of the main streets in the shopping district, and that was when me and Clemont passed this extra fancy jewelry store.  The bracelet I'm trying to make was in the store, and it was actually the main one on display.  The colours reminded me so much of me and Serena that it made my heart hurt and my eyes water.  I'd wanted to buy it right then and there, but of course it was way to expensive for me to pay for.  Besides, I would've had no one to gift it too; I sure as hell wouldn't have kept it for myself.

Which brings me to now.  I'm going to try making that same bracelet.  Another thing to note: if regular people had magic, we'd all be millionaires.  The economy would be broken.

I picture the bracelet in my head, and in the black void only me and the bracelet exist.  I'm just there, a bystander, staring at it while it sits there all pretty, yet at the same time symbolizing the deepness of my love for Serena.  I'm just there to watch it shine for all eternity.

I feel my hands go hot, and suddenly I get excited, trying to pull out of the void.  Somehow, I convinced myself to hold on to the vision, not wanting this time to be like the thousand other failures of the day.  Whatever magic is resting on my hands must have dissipated, and I quickly feel upset.  Why would you lose your focus so quickly!?  I open my eyes, shame coursing through me.  Who ever thought you had what it takes to be a-

I look downwards, only to see a bracelet resting in my hands.

The bracelet.

My eyes full of stars, I carefully examine the bracelet, and it's perfectly identical to the one in my mind.  Every bead, every swirl in the center orb was the same, and I feel myself leaping for joy.  I did it!  I did-

"Wow, quite a pretty bracelet you've got there, Ash," A smooth voice calls over.  I immediately turn and see Layra walk slowly into the training room.  At first I stand still, checking to see if she has any signs of being hurt.  However, the fairy seems to be fine.

"Oh, uh, yeah!  I made it with my magic," I beam.  "I think I'm finally getting the hang of it, after the failures I've been having."

She looks confused, her voice radiating cold undertones.  "Ash, you were practicing magic this morning and you were perfect."

"Oh, um, right," I quickly agree, because surely it's just a simple case of forgetfulness?

"Ash, go to the center, you are going to try summoning your Pokemon now."

I'm shocked at her for saying that, especially when she is sounding as cold as she is.  "Um, are you sure?  Because this morning it-"

"What happened this morning?" she pries, looking annoyed.  "I certainly do not remember anything happening this morning."

Understanding suddenly dawns on me.  Speaking in a cold tone... not remembering the tragic accident this morning... there is just one more thing I have to make sure of before acting.

"Layra, are you... er, do you possess that 'special quality' we talked about earlier?"

"What are you talking about?" she looks angry as hell, in fact she looks about ready to kill me.  "What kind of gibberish is this!?"

That's it.  This Layra is not Layra.  She is a fake.  Probably created by Rin to distract me, I think bitterly.  This clone is literally nothing like her though, did he think I'm really that dumb as to fall for it?  ... or maybe, this is how she acts around him?  "Layra, you're not the real Layra, are you?"

If that was even possible, the angry look on the clone's face worsens.  "Of course I am!  Who are you to suggest-"

"Alright.  Then in that case, I'm going to take a break in my chambers," I say, promptly leaving the training area before the clone does anything else.  Rin didn't even enable it to fight me back... he must think I'm a fool or something.  Well, the joke's on you Rin.  Because I'm no fool, and I'll defeat you and your dastardly ways.

However, instead of going to the place I woke up in, which I assume to be my chambers at this point, I begin to go to Layra's room.  The only problem is I don't quite know where that is.  I figure that her room is probably close to Rin's, so I head near his.  There is a smaller bramble dome near the ground, which I assume is Layra's chambers.  I seem to guess right, because I head inside and find her there.  

Except, she is on her bed, not moving.

I run towards her, shaking her awake.  "Layra?  Layra!"

She groans and turns towards me.  When she sees my worried eyes she just turns her head to the side and sighs.  "Idiot.  I'm not dead, I'm immortal.  I was just sleeping."

I instantly feel bad, and a little awkward.  "Oh... sorry."

She sits up.  "It's fine," she answers curtly, taking a quick glance at her arm then quickly moving it behind her.

Instantly I know something is up.  "Show me."

She shakes her head.  "As if."

I don't like what I'm doing but I bend over and grab her arm, exposing the giant scar that runs from her shoulder to her wrist.  I gape at it in pure shock, and Layra just looks angry at herself.

"Must've missed a spot," she mutters angrily, avoiding my gaze.

"Zagan, what did he do to you?" I whisper.  I say Zagan because I'm a Dark fairy now and since Light fairies swear to Lita, I can only assume that Dark fairies swear to Zagan.  If I'm going to do this, might as well act like one.  "What did he do?"

"Not as much as he usually does," Layra shrugs.  "It's a simple spell to heal.  Sleeping just speeds up the process.  I'm sorry, I just... I didn't want you to see me.  I didn't want you to lose your focus.  You're going to be a great fairy, but I just didn't want to ruin it from the start for you."

"But I made this!" I protest, showing her the bracelet that I crafted earlier.  "And... you think I'm going to be a great fairy?  Really?" I instantly put my hands around her arm, a green aura coming from them while the scar slowly but surely begins to fade.  

"Yes, really," she tells me as if stating the obvious.  Which in a way she is, I guess.  "Even though you don't have the extra Element of Death like some Dark Leaders have, you're still going to be very powerful.  A good start is important for- oh Zagan."

She breaks off sounding scared, making me scared as well.  "Wh-What!?"

"You're using magic!" she squeals, sounding delighted despite the giant wound on her arm.  "And you didn't have to close your eyes to do it!  You're a natural!  I think... I think we can try to summon your Pokemon again!"

"I really don't think... wait, what!?  Here?  Are you sure!?" I protest, thinking of the traumatic experience that happened only hours ago.

She nods.  "You have focus now, and I believe that you're able to do it.  Would you like to try?  Your choice, of course, but we really should do it before tomorrow."

After a moment of thought, I nod.  Better now than never.  "Okay, I'll try.  Hands on my chest, right?"

"Yes, then pull when you've got it, but I'll make sure to tell you when!" 

I close my eyes, putting my hands on my chest.  This time, it only takes a couple seconds for my hands to have a warm aura surrounding them, and now I'm able to focus myself in less than a second.  It's amazing how abilities improve after only a couple hours.  I hear Layra give the "okay!", and I pull by hands away from my chest.  I feel a slight pain, but it doesn't even match a quarter of the pain I felt last time.  I open my eyes, and, with pure joy, I see Pikachu and Greninja standing in front of me.  They are in Mist form, of course, but I don't care.

Pikachu sees that I'd opened my eyes and smiles, leaping onto my shoulder like old-times.  Greninja walks towards me, giving me a nod of approval.  "You look well, Ash," he croaks, and I'm a little taken back when I realize that I can understand him.

"He's right, we're so happy to see you again!" Pikachu exclaims from my shoulder in a high-pitched voice.  I continue to be freaked out until Layra catches on and begins explaining.

"When you're at peak focus, you can understand your Mist Pokemon through Soul Connection," she says.  "So you don't need to act so freaked out."

"R-Right," I agree.  So many things have happened today, it's hard for me to process them all.  I can fly.  I can use magic.  I have Mist Pokemon.  And, I guess, I am now truly a fairy.  

Truly a fairy.

Huh. 

Guess I never thought I'd get this far.

Clemont

Life seems to be my number one enemy right now.

First, a friend of mine dies, and one of my other friends starts a quest to go and save her.  We all tag along.  Then, one by one, everyone dies including my precious little sister, and me and that friend are the only ones left.

Until, one day, he just ups and leaves and I'm all alone.  How could he do that?  He promised me he wouldn't, yet he did.

Why do I know he chose to leave?  A couple reasons, but the main one is that his photo album was suddenly missing from his room, along with Pikachu's and Greninja's PokeBalls.  It still hurts thinking about it now.  He'd promised that he wouldn't leave, so why would he...?  Ash never broke promises before.

Perhaps I should hate him for what he did.  After all, he betrayed my trust.  I, however, don't have any energy in me left to hate.  Ash does things for a reason, and although I should hate him for it, I don't.  I can't.

All I wanted was to be a genius inventor.  And although I certainly don't regret the friends I'd made, I regret how all those friendships had to end.

Or did they?

A couple minutes ago I was sitting on the porch contemplating whether I should go back home or stay here for a while.  I'm desperately homesick for my father and Clembot, the only family I have left, but at the same time Ms. Ketchum offered me her house as a place to stay for however long I wanted, and I know she will be hurt more somehow if I leave.  

Then it happened.  The note, a small piece of paper, blew into my face.  I was about to throw it away, but then I read it.  I read the name that it was signed by.  And suddenly, I knew my destination was neither home or this new home.

I look outwards.

It is there, the forest.

And, according to the time on the note, I'm about to be late.

Whoo the chapter ended!  Sorry to leave you all on a cliffhanger for the time while I'm away.  Congrats to everyone who guessed Clemont in the previous chapter I put the question in (I can't remember which one lol).  I mean come on he's Clemont, no way I'm leaving him out of this story!

But yeah, I hope you enjoyed it.  Unfortunately I don't have any questions to ask, but please always feel free to voice your thoughts on the chapter.

That's it!!  Stay tuned for more :)