Serena had her hand on her leg as she went down a narrow, stone hallway, ignoring the pain she was feeling from her cut. Sylveon followed behind, worried about how its partner was limping as they reached a wooden door at the end of the hall. The Arcean woman knocked on the door once and then paused before rapidly hitting five more times. They waited a few seconds before a small window on the door opened to reveal a set of dark green eyes. The person on the other side made a sharp gasp before the door flung open to reveal a woman in her mid-thirties with brown hair looking at Serena as if she was a ghost.

"Serena? You escaped?" she asked.

"Yes, Alexa, I did," Serena said. "Where's your sister?"

Alexa hesitated and said, "Viola's with the kids and her Pokemon right now."

Without saying another word, Serena walked past Alexa, with Sylveon walking behind. They entered a set of old catacombs where people and Pokemon were living in tents and wagons. Some of them march to the other end of the catacombs, carrying banners, balloons, food, and barrels of beer. Most of them were in colorful clothes and carrying jiggling pins, props, musical instruments, and other entertainment equipment with their Pokemon. Serena and Sylveon made their way past the crowd with many people and Pokemon looking at them in disbelief and whispering among themselves. Finally, they walked to a corner where a blonde woman a few years younger than Alexa played with some children with a Vivillon, Sirskit, Caterpie, Kakuna, and a Volbeat. The woman was smiling as she watched the children play with the Pokemon until she noticed Serena walk over to her and looked in shock.

"Serena, you escaped," she said.

"I know," Serena said as she took out the hat of coins and held it out to the older woman. "Thirty-two coins. It should be enough for some people and their Pokemon."

Viola was still staring at Serena for a moment before she snapped out of her gaze. She took the hat and looked at the coins before she answered, "Y-yes. Yes, This will put some bread on the table for a few families."

"Wonderful," Serena said with a smile.

"Serena!"

Serena turned around to see a woman around her age with short blue hair, red eyes, and wearing a teal and green dress running toward her with a Slurpuff following. The blunette pulled Serena into a hug with tears running down her face.

"Thank Arceus! I was so worried!" She sobbed. "When Jethro told everyone what happened in the marketplace, I thought we lost you!"

Serena kept her smile and petted the blue-haired woman's head as she hugged her back.

"It's okay, Miette," she said. "Sylveon and I are just fine. Aren't we, Sylveon?"

"Sylveon," Sylveon replied.

Miette broke the hug and said with her hands on Serena's shoulders, "What were you thinking? I told you soldiers patrol the marketplace."

"I know, but there were so many people and Pokemon out there who loved our performance and gladly gave us money," Serena said. "Besides, Chatot was there to alert us."

"But you almost got captured!" Miette countered before she noticed Serena standing on her leg funny. "Wait, is something up with your leg?"

"Oh, yeah. I got a cut while Sylveon and I were running away," Serena explained.

"You what?!" Miette shouted. She got down on one knee and lifted up Serena's sarong to see her leg bandaged with part of Ash's cloak. Miette gasped as if the whole leg was damaged and said, "We have to get you healed right away!"

"Miette, it's not that bad," Serena said.

"Yes, it is. We can't have you performing while you're injured," Miette said.

She grabbed Serena's wrist and pulled her deeper into the catacombs with Sylveon and Slurpuff following behind. Miette led her friend to an old man with a bushy white beard and a young girl with orange hair sitting on benches beside a wagon. Serena and Miette sat down on one of the benches, and the girl summoned her Chimecho, who began unleashing a pulse of pink energy on Serena's leg. While the wind chime Pokemon was healing, Serena explained to Miette and her Slurpuff everything that happened after Jethro and Chatot fled. Miette stared at Serena, astounded as she told her what happened with Ash and Pikachu under the bridge.

"I've never heard of a soldier wearing blue and white armor, but if he was with those other soldiers, then he must be one of Judge Markenel's troops," Miette said.

Serena smiled as she looked up and said, "But he was so kind to me, Miette. He didn't care about who I am."

"Of course, it looked that way. He was trying to let your guard down," Miette said. "You are so lucky, Serena. If you stayed there any longer, he would have come back with a dozen soldiers and their Pokemon to capture you and Sylveon."

"No, he wouldn't have," Serena said, looking disapprovingly at her friend. "Driving the soldiers away only to come back with more is too elaborate of a scheme. If he really wanted to arrest Sylveon and me, he and his Pikachu would have done it in the marketplace before the other soldiers came."

"Don't give me that," Miette rebuked. "You need to be more careful. It's dangerous out there. Captain Giovanni and his men are always out there to capture Arceans and try to torture them into revealing our location."

"But that's the risk we have to take, isn't it?" Serena challenged. "If we don't perform or sell trinkets, we can't buy food for ourselves. Yes, Sylveon and I could have been captured, but we escaped and came back with over thirty pieces."

"Thirty pieces won't matter if you're not here to perform at the festival," Miette countered.

"Miette is right, Serena."

Serena, Miette, Sylveon, Slurpuff, the old man, and the orange-haired girl turned their heads to see a slender woman in her mid-thirties walking over to them. She had a fair face and peach hair tied to a side ponytail and wore a white top with a teal bodice and a tan shirt. Her aqua eyes were fixed on Serena as she stood in front of the honey blonde woman.

"Madame Magnolia," Serena said.

The peach-haired woman chuckled and said, "Serena, please stop calling me that. Madame Magnolia was my grandmother." She turned to the orange-haired girl and asked, "Is her leg going to be alright, Maya?"

"Don't you worry, Sonia. Chimecho's Heal Pulse should be done any second," the girl named Maya answered with a smile.

As if on cue, Chimecho finished using its power on Serena's leg. Sonia kneeled down and untied the torn fabric to show Serena's leg to be good as new.

"Thank Arceus," Sonia whispered before looking up at Serena. "Serena, you and Sylveon can't go performing in the marketplace and get yourselves in trouble when it's almost time for the festival. I need my best performer."

Serena's frown deepened, and she said, "I know. I get that Sylveon and I are new to the city, but I can't help but want to go out there and dance."

"And that drive is what makes you a wonderful performer, who helps keep our people and Pokemon fed, but the Feast of Fools is the only time we can be out there to make real money without being hunted down," Sonia said. "I'm counting on you more than anyone to make more money than we've ever made before at the festival."

Serena hung her head and said, "I wish our holiday isn't being used just to please those who look down on us."

Sonia gave the honey blonde woman a sad smile and put her hand on her shoulder.

"We all do, Serena," She said. "It's despicable that we have to use our festival to keep us alive just because we don't share their beliefs, but that's just how things are. This is how it's been in Lumiose City since my grandmother led the Arceans."

"But that can't be how it is forever," Serena said. "There are people and Pokemon in the city who don't look down on us because of who we are. I can see it in the eyes of so many that watch Sylveon and I dance. Maybe there is a way we could all be friends, and they would be willing to help us."

Sonia and Miette looked at Serena with sad smiles while Sylveon frowned, sharing its partner's feelings. The peach-haired woman took Serena's hand and said, "You are a very benevolent woman, Serena, and I admire your optimism, but that can never happen. We are lower than dirt in the eyes of their religious beliefs, and that's all we're going to be. We can only do what we can and hope that Arceus will protect us."

Serena looked away for a moment, disheartened by Sonia's words. Then she turned to the leader of the Arceans with a small smile and said, "You're right. We can only do what we can for now, and Sylveon and I will do our very best."

"That's what I like to hear," Sonia said. "Now, come on. The festival is in a couple of hours, and we need you ladies and your Pokemon to get ready."

"Yes, ma'am," Serena and Miette said at the same time.

"Sylveon," Sylveon said.

"Slurpuff," Slurpuff said.

The three women stood up, and Serena took a second to thank McConn, Maya, and Chimecho before following Sonia to a secret passageway to the city square. As they followed other people and Pokemon to the festival, Serena's smile disappeared, and she turned to Sylveon, who was looking at its partner concerned as it walked beside her. No words were said between the honey blonde woman and her Pokemon, but none were needed, for deep down, they chose to believe that there was hope for change.

*********************************************************************************************************

Meanwhile, up on Lumiose City's surface, Ash and Pikachu reached the Palace of Justice with Butch and Cassidy. The two privates guided Ash and Pikachu through the front gate and up the stairs to one of the palace's top towers. Inside was an office where Giovanni was filling out paperwork with his Persian napping next to him. Butch and Cassidy saluted and shouted, "Sir," grabbing Giovanni's attention. The captain's eyes immediately met Ash's, and the raven-haired man saluted with a smile.

"Reporting for duty, father," Ash said.

"Pikachu," Pikachu said, saluting while standing on Ash's shoulder.

But Giovanni frowned and said, "That is no way to address the captain, Lieutenant."

Ash and Pikachu flinched from the rebuke, and Ash cleared his throat and said with a serious face. "Yes, sir. Sorry, sir. Lieutenant Ash and Pikachu reporting as ordered, sir."

"Pikachu," Pikachu said.

"That's better," Giovanni said before he glanced at his candle clock. "Now, explain why you're late."

"Sir, Pikachu and I were en route to the Palace of Justice when we came across Private Butch and Private Cassidy pursuing an Arcean and her Pokemon," Ash explained.

Giovanni turned his eyes to Butch and Cassidy and asked, "Is that so?"

"Yes, sir. We spotted an Arcean woman and a Sylveon stealing money at the marketplace," Cassidy answered. "The lieutenant ordered us to split up, but we were unable to apprehend them."

"Hmmm. Disappointing, but not uncommon," Giovanni said before turning back to Ash. "I expect you to be more productive in the future, Lieutenant."

"Yes, sir," Ash replied.

"Good," Giovanni said before he noticed the tear in Ash's cloak. "Now, get rid of that pitiful cloak and meet me in the dungeons to report to Minister Markenel in five minutes. Dismissed."

"Sir," Ash, Butch, and Cassidy said, saluting.

The three soldiers and Pikachu left the office and went back down to the main floor to go their separate ways. Ash and Pikachu found a place to dispose of Ash's cloak, and the former sighed before turning to his partner.

"I don't know what I was thinking, Pikachu," Ash said. "I should have known father wouldn't have liked me greeting him so unprofessionally. Guess years away made me forget how strict he is."

"Pikachu," Pikachu said sadly, with its ears hanging low.

Ash looked down, dejected for a moment before he shook his head, turned back to Pikachu with a smirk, and said, "Let's not worry about that. We just got back, and he's still expecting a lot from us. Let's not let father or Minister Markenel down."

"Pika!" Pikachu cheered.

Ash chuckled at his partner's enthusiasm, and the two of them went down the stairs to the dungeons. The rapid sound of whips cracking could be heard before Ash and Pikachu made it to the bottom steps. Ash opened the door to find Markenel standing against the wall in front of the torture chamber entrance. The judge had a twisted smile as he watched the whipping from a distance.

"Stop," he commanded.

The sound of whips halted, and two soldiers carrying whips came out from the chamber and saluted as they asked, "Sir?"

"You're hasty," Markenel said. "Ease up. Halt between lashes. Otherwise, the old setting will dull them with the new."

The soldiers grinned sadistically and said, "Yes, sir," simultaneously before going back into the chamber. Just then, Ash felt a hand on his free shoulder, and he turned his head to see Giovanni and Persian. The captain cleared his throat while putting his feet together and his hands behind his back. It took a second for Ash to realize what his father wanted and quickly followed suit before Giovanni called out to Markenel.

"Minister."

Markenel turned to them, and he looked at Ash with a friendly smile.

"Ah, Captain Giovanni's one and only child back from the wars," he said.

"Lieutenant Ash and partner Pikachu reporting as ordered, sir," Ash said, mimicking his father.

Markenel circled around Ash and Pikachu to get a look at them and said, "Your service record and your lineage precedes you, Lieutenant. I expect the best from a soldier of your caliber."

"And you shall have it. Pikachu and I won't let you down," Ash promised.

"Pikachu," Pikachu said, impersonating Ash's serious tone.

Markenel hummed in amusement and said, "Soldier and Pokemon acting confident together. Amusing. I should note that your father's last second-in-command was, to put it charitably, a bit of a disappointment."

At that moment, two loud cracks were heard inside the torture chamber, and the sounds of a man and a Charmander screaming echoed the room. Ash and Pikachu felt shivers down their spines while Giovanni and Persian kept their cold faces like nothing happened.

"Well, no matter," Markenel said, smirking at Ash. "With your upbringing, I'm sure you'll do just fine assisting Captain Giovanni in... heh heh, 'whipping' my troops to shape?"

Ash silently gulped and said, "Uh, er, yes, sir. It, uh, it will be a tremendous honor, sir."

Markenel chuckled with his mouth closed before he waved his hands and said, "Walk with me. All of you."

Ash, Giovanni, and Persian silently obeyed with Pikachu still on Ash's shoulder. They followed Markenel back up the staircase to one of the top levels of the palace. The justice minister led them down the hall to a large balcony to see the city as far back as Lumiose Cathedral. Markenel looked at the view for a minute with a loathsome look.

"Are you glad to be back home, Lieutenant?" He asked.

"I am, sir," Ash answered.

"I'm glad to hear it," Markenel said as he turned his body to face the young man. "You have returned to Lumiose City in its most dangerous hour. It will take a lot of work to protect the simple-minded citizens from being misled."

"Misled, sir? From what?" Ash asked.

"Arceans," Markenel answered with a drop of venom in his voice. "They have been living outside our natural order, attempting to sway our people from God's light with their pagan practices, and they must be stopped."

Ash and Pikachu looked at each other confused, and the former asked, "You mean you summoned Pikachu and me from the wars just to capture entertainers and trinket sellers just because they came here illegally?"

"Lieutenant, know your place," Giovanni warned.

Ash cringed as though Giovanni screamed the command at him, while Markenel chuckled and held a hand up.

"At ease, Captain. There's no reason to berate the boy," he said. "I'm sure what I am saying seems a poor substitute for everything he and his Pokemon have done outside of Kalos. Isn't that right, Lieutenant?"

"Yes, sir. It is," Ash said.

"Understandable. Your deeds have brought honor to Kalos and to the crown," Markenel said. "But you must understand, Lieutenant, the real war is a spiritual fight for our city's soul. They may seem like mere illegal immigrants, but their presence is all it takes to taint the hearts of Lumiose City's citizens with their heathen worship in a Pokemon. Since before you were born, I have been taking care of the Arceans one by one. And yet, for all of my success, they continue to thrive."

"And you wish for Pikachu and me to make a grand contribution in your crusade?" Ash asked.

Markenel chuckled again and said, "I like where your head's at, but I'm hoping that you will aid the captain and me in doing far more than that."

"More, sir?" Ash asked.

"We have reason to believe the Arceans have a hideout," Giovanni explained.

"Yes. For the past several years, there have been whispers of a safe haven within the very walls of Lumiose City. A nest if you will," Markenel said with a devious smirk. "They call it the Court of Miracles. Amusing, isn't it?"

"Yes, sir, it is," Ash lied. "So, our primary objective is to find the Court of Miracles and imprison the entire Arcean population in the city?"

Markenel tittered as if Ash told him a bad joke and walked closer to the raven-haired man until they were a foot apart.

"A predator doesn't just hold down its prey after his long pursuit, Lieutenant. He mauls," he said, putting emphasis on "mauls" with a low growl.

Ash and Pikachu were keeping calm on the outside, but their hearts were shaking as their minds went to Serena and Sylveon. They thought of the honey blonde woman and her Pokemon screaming in agony as they are flogged or worse before they are eventually hanged or beheaded along with the other Arcean people and Pokemon. Neither of them shared their beliefs in the mythical Pokemon, Arceus, but they did not see that as any reason to destroy a whole community. At that moment, they realized what Markenel and Giovanni expected Ash to take part in, and neither the raven-haired man nor his partner could believe it.

"You make your point perspicuously, minister," Ash said.

Markenel smirked and put his hand on Ash's shoulder as he said, "You know, I like you, Lieutenant. You strike me as someone sharp like your father."

"You honor me, sir," Ash said.

Giovanni smirked as he watched their interaction, pleased that the young man was submissive. The moment was broken when the three men and Persian and Pikachu heard the faint sound of music and cheering, making Markenel and Giovanni sigh.

"Oh, it's that time already," the judge said. "Have you ever gone to a peasant festival, Lieutenant?"

"Er, well, the captain forbade me from going to one growing up, sir," Ash answered.

"Oh, did he?" Markenel said while giving Giovanni a look of approval. "Well, duty dictates that I attend to them, so this shall be quite the education for you and your partner. Your first assignment will be to keep an eye on the citizens while I begrudgingly make my appearance." He then turned to Giovanni and said, "Captain, gather your troops and prepare my carriage. Oh, and don't forget to give your new second-in-command a Ponyta."

"At once, sir," Giovanni said before turning to Ash and Pikachu. "Lieutenant, come with me."

"Yes, sir," Ash said.

The captain and the lieutenant give Markenel a salute before Ash followed his father back inside. As they made their way back to the staircase, Ash's professional face turned into a look of unease. He turned his head to Pikachu, who had the same look of trepidation. Their dreams of Ash enjoying a career as his father's second-in-command were dashed, and they felt trapped with no other choice but to follow orders for something horrible. All they could do was mentally pray that Markenel would never find the Court of Miracles or lay a hand on Serena or Sylveon.