Hi everyone!!  SK here.

I... actually don't have a lot to say (other than that chapter name!!  Rhymes are awesome) so I'm just going to begin the chapter now.  I hope you enjoy it!!  And I'm wishing a happy belated birthday to my best bro, RahulKalosChamp- hope your birthday was awesome!!

So yeah, enjoy :D

Ash

I wake up and blink my eyes open, taking a raspy breath as I look around the room.  There are countless fairies tied up around me, and countless more that have been turned into stone by Yveltal.  I instantly search around for Serena, but I don't see her.  Panic suddenly overcomes me.  Where is she!?

I spot Alain, keeping guard of us.  I try to get up but I realize that my arms and legs are bound by dark magic, too strong for me to break.  Pikachu and Greninja must be inside my soul- dammit!  If I can't move my arms I can't summon them- I guess I'll have to continue on on my own.  

Alain makes eye-contact with me, and turns away.  I turn my head away from him, full of disgust for the guy.  I... I hate him.  He may be under Drago's mind control, but he almost killed Serena!  He's strong- he knows it, I know it- he would've been able to break through.  I grit my teeth.  He doesn't deserve to live in Drago's new universe.  

I hear another cry from Yveltal, which startles me.  Except it's not a cry... it sounds more like a... laugh?

I suddenly hear shuffles beside me, and I turn to see Clemont begin to wake up.  He looks like he's about to say something, but I silence him with a look.  He nods and tries to survey his surroundings, like I did.  He's looking for Bonnie, I realize.  Just like how I was looking for Serena.

Footsteps approach our cell, and Drago walks in.  He spies me awake and excitedly walks towards me.  I instinctively back away, even though I can't move much.  I thought he was made at me for not fighting beside him.  Why doesn't he look angry?

"Ash," he says breathlessly.  "I need to show you something.  Something that will truly bring out the darkness within you- you will join me after seeing the true power of Destruction!"

"Like hell I am," I counter.

Drago ignores my outburst and conjures some images in front of him.  The first image shows a scene of lava with red clouds surrounding the area.  I spot the occasional blobs of black obsidian that act as land.  There are some people on them- although they're covered in ash and have red, manic eyes.  It takes me a second, and seeing the top of Prism Tower, peaking out from under the molten lava, to realize what I'm seeing.

This is Kalos.

I'm speechless.

"This is just the beginning!" Drago exclaims cheerfully.  "Watch, see as the next region falls!"

I instantly recognize the scenery in the next image to be Jubilife City in Sinnoh.  To my absolute horror I find myself unable to look away as a wave of magma washes the beautiful region away, my heart breaking as I see innocent people cry out for a help that will never come.

"This is power," the Dark Leader says.  "This is your destiny.  You see it now, don't you?"

I'm about so say no, but I catch a look from Alain.  "Distract him," it seems to say.  I have no idea why he's wanting me to distract Drago, but I don't seem to have any other choice; both of them have the upperhand.  Besides, I know Alain will kill me if I don't comply- he's changed.

"Yes," I answer in a monotone voice.  

"Ash, just listen-" he stops, and turns to me.  "What did you say?"

I try to hide my sigh.  For a villain who yearns for mass destruction of the universe he sure acts like a dumb, immature child sometimes.

"I see it now," I say, putting more emotion in my voice.  "I can see the power that we have- the power that is better than any kind of Light, any kind of love.  I want to join you, if I still can."

Drago nods excitedly and grabs my wrist, about to utter a spell to break me free when my binds start glowing a light blue colour.  I look around and the same thing is happening to everyone else, the brilliant shine filling the room.  Suddenly all the binds break apart, the little speckles of magic floating towards the black endless sky.  I hear gasps coming from outside, short puffs of air followed by long breaths.  I recognize their voices as they call out for their friends- the people who became stone have come back to life.

How?

The Dark Leader seems to be in shock.  "No... it can't be!  She died!"

I look at him.  Who died?

"Yes, I died," comes a voice.  "But, I was gifted a second chance by the gracious fairies of Creation."

It seems Drago's mouth is running dry.  "No!" he roars as the figure steps into view.

It's Serena.

She is surrounded by a rainbow-coloured aura, and her Necklace is glowing extra brightly.  Her eyes are alight with blue fire and she readies a ball of rose-coloured magic in her hands.  Her majestic wings spread outwards as Sylveon stands ready beside her, the Pokemon's ribbons shimmering with fairy power.

I am overcome with awe.  My Serena is beautiful.  The most beautiful girl on Earth.

"How could they give you a second chance?" Drago roars, seething with fury.  "You're nothing special!"

"I agree with you," she says.  "Believe me.  But I was seen as such by the Light Leaders of the past.  They have gifted me their power... just with that the balance has already shifted in our direction.  Yveltal will retreat when I summon its counterpart, Drago.  You're not the only fairy who's learned how to summon Pokemon tied to your Element.  You've lost."

Drago screams and hurls a giant ball of magic at Serena, with no way for her to dodge it.  I close my eyes, expecting the worst.

Instead, the room is full of smoke for a few seconds, and I hear some hushed whispers.  When it clears Serena stands tall, void of any marks or scratches. 

"Fight me," she says, her voice as clear as a summer sky.  "Prove your worth against me and my partner."

"If that's what you desire," he answers with a smile.  "Having a first battle with a Pokemon is always a swell experience.  I summon you, Raichu!"

Drago sends out a Raichu, but it looks slightly different.  I now vaguely remember hearing about regional Pokemon forms during my quest- this must be an Alolan Raichu, if I remember correctly.

"Thunderbolt!" Drago yells, but Raichu doesn't move.  In fact, it looks pretty defiant, as if it is upset at being sent out at all.

"Fairy Wind, Sylveon!" Serena shouts while the opposing side is distracted.  Raichu takes the hit, even though it could've easily dodged.  What is going on?

"Raichu, attack that pest!" the Dark Leader yells.  "Do something useful!"

The Mist Pokemon shakes its head and says something.  It surprises me when I can vaguely understand it.

"I only listen to my true trainer."

This Raichu is not Drago's Pokemon.  That should've been obvious to me when Drago mentioned it was his first battle with the creature.  No, this Pokemon is Rin's.  Drago has only stolen it, just like he has stolen Rin's body for his own purposes.

"Moonblast," Serena says calmly.  Sylveon jumps up and perfectly executes the attack, hurling the ball of fairy aura towards its target.  I can even tell that Sylveon isn't putting her full power into the move- I know now that both Serena and Sylveon are aware of Raichu's loyalties.  

Drago now slowly approaches Serena.  "You think you're so smart, but you're only just a little g-"

A flower of blood blossoms from his chest.

"...g-girl..."

Drago's body falls to the ground as his blood slowly pools around him.  A long, sharp knife sticks out from him.  I begin to wonder who threw it, until Alain walks up and collapses beside Drago's body.

"F-Finally," he chokes out.  "Those years of pretending... I ended it.  Finally, Drago is dead.  I-I can go back now..."

"You were on our side," I realize as I process the situation.  "You were pretending... you were pretending!" I shout joyously, running up to give him a hug.  Alain is still Alain... he is still the same loyal person he always was.  He was working against Drago and helping all of us, like how he was with Lysandre and Team Flare but ended up helping us in the end.  

"You're free," Mairin says, appearing out of nowhere.  Alain stands up and hugs her close to him, the two of them sharing a tight embrace.

"I knew it deep inside," she whispers.  "I knew that wasn't the real you.  Thank you for coming back to me."

"Thank you for waiting," Alain whispers back, crying happy tears.  

"Ash," a new voice stutters, and I look down to see that Drago's spirit has been removed from Rin- the person laying on the ground, bleeding out, is truly Rin with his brown eyes.  I crouch down beside him, wincing at the wound.  

"We can fix that," I start, but he stops me.

"No, this was the only way that this could've ended," he states, sighing sadly.  "Ash, as soon as my soul joins this Necklace it will be your turn to wear it.  You must defeat Drago, or he will come right back out.  You gotta... hey, buddy," Rin says, his voice going soft as his Raichu comes up to him.  "It's been centuries since I saw you... look at you!  You've grown so strong," he adds as his Pokemon cuddles against him.  "I missed you too... but now we finally have centuries of peace together.  I won't leave you, Raichu, I promise.  I promise..." his voice dies away as his eyes lose their light.

"Remember, Ash..." are his last words, and he finally passes away.  Him and Raichu are both transported into the Necklace as his wings break apart and swirl in the air, dissipating into shards soon after. 

I stand still for a moment, the rest of the world falling away as everything begins to sink in.  This is it.  The final breaking point.  If I lose... everything will go to hell.

Serena comes up to me, her presence calming me.  "You give it your all against Drago," she says.  "And by the time you come out, the balance will be restored.  I can feel it coming back, little by little now that he's gone... hopefully for good."

"I don't want to leave you," I whisper.  "Not when I worked so hard to find you, to be with you, to love you.  I don't want to lose you, Serena."

Serena pulls me close to her and kisses me passionately, and I embrace her touch.  We hold each other close, but too soon we break apart.  My face goes scarlet when I realize that everyone is watching us, but for once Serena's face doesn't do anything.  No, she's focused on getting me that victory.  She bends down, picks up the Necklace, and places it in my waiting palms.  "You were meant to do this," she admits.  "I know you know that.  I'll be here, waiting for you.  You've got Pikachu and Greninja by your side.  You will not fail."

"I won't fail," I repeat, and grab the string with both hands.  I look around at all the fairies, my friends and the people I trust with my life.  I take one last look at Serena, my love and light in my heart.  Still locking eyes with her I slip the Necklace onto me, the cool metal thudding lightly against my chest.  I feel myself slowly start to fade away, little by little, until I suddenly open my eyes and... I am somewhere completely new.

"Welcome to the Realm of Darkness, Ash."

And that's the end of the chapter!  I hope you enjoyed it.  Next up will be one of the most heated battles of this story.  I will try to get it out when I can but since Christmas is coming up it might keep me busy.

Anyways, see you all in the next update!!  Stay tuned ;)