Separated but Connected

Tracked

It had been a couple hours since Ash connected with Greninja. He had spent them planning with Bonnie, Serena, Clemont, and the rest of their Pokémon to come up with a plan. So far, they've come up with nothing.

Ash hated feeling so helpless. Greninja could be getting tortured right now for all he knew. Lucien already took a sample of his blood, what was next? The thought of what was happening to Greninja scared him deeply.

He was busy cleaning up the last remains of their camp, when he noticed a tiny, pill looking object. Except, it was blinking.

He knelt down to get a better look. His eyes narrowed, deep in thought.

Suddenly, Clemont's voice interrupted said thoughts. "Guys! We need to leave, now!"

Ash scrambled to his feet, wondering what Clemont was talking about. The blond was talking fast and in an agitated voice, all the while gathering up the last of their things.

"Clemont? What's going on?" Serena asked worriedly.

"I was up the road, I... um, I took a walk, and I saw a white van parked just up there and a couple of people looking around in the woods! I think they were Lucien's grunts!" He responded frantically.

This got everyone to scramble out of camp and wipe out the last of any signs they had ever been in that place.

While they were running, Clemont noticed the blinking object Ash was holding.

"Let me see that." Ash handed it over to Clemont. After expecting it for a moment, he smashed it onto a rock until it was nothing more than tiny pieces of metal.

"Why did you do that?" Ash questioned.

"It looked like a tracking device. The goons must've planted it on you while you were knocked unconscious." Clemont explained.

Ash said his thanks as they continued out of camp.

They had just sneaked deeper into the forest when Ash heard voices behind them, talking in a clipped, but still casual tone. They crouched behind a large rock formation and hoped they had gotten far enough to avoid confrontation.

"You're sure the tracker says he's here?" Asked a woman with brown hair.

"Of course I'm sure." Answered the other, blond haired women. She looked back to her laptop, but stopped.

"What is it?" The brown haired one questioned.

"The tracker is offline. I've lost the boy!" The blond responded with a surprised tone.

"What?! How did that happen!!" The brown haired one demanded.

The blond haired one shrugged her shoulders. "Beats me?! Maybe it was a faulty tracker?"

"Do you think they'll still be around here?" The brown haired woman questioned.

The blond haired woman hesitated at that. "Let's just check around, okay? We can't know for sure if we don't at least do that."

The brown haired women sighed with frustration but let out an agreeing grunt. Slowly, they circled the camp area, idly talking, and it was only Serena's firm grip on his arm that kept Ash from leaping around the rock and challenging them into a battle there and then.

Finally, after what felt like hours, the voices faded back towards the main road and the kids could breathe again.

"They were looking for Ash," Said Bonnie, her voice odd.

"What? We knew that already." Frowned Serena.

As everyone turned to look at Bonnie, she drew herself up straighter. "I mean, they were only looking for Ash."

Ash looked around and saw realization dawning on Clemont's face, but he still didn't get the point.

Luckily, Clemont finished the thought: "Lucien doesn't know we're with him!"

"He found me alone with Greninja, so he assumed I was alone?" Asked Ash with wide eyes.

"Oh, but that's good!" Said Serena, clasping her hands. "If they are only looking for Ash, we still have a chance to surprise them!"

Yeah, that's true!" Agreed Bonnie.

"It's not good that they were searching with a tracker though," Said Clemont with a serious expression. "Even if the tracker is gone, we'll be easy to spot on the main path."

Serena cleared her throat, wringing her hands in front of her. "I might be able to make some sort of disguise for Ash." She suggested, though it almost sounded like a question.

Clemont stepped closer. "I don't have much stuff with me, but I could also try to design something."

"Man, I dunno about all this." Huffed Ash, getting frustrated from all the standing around. "Maybe I should just go alone. If they spot me with you, then we'll all get captured. But if I get into trouble by myself, then you can still help."

Everyone was staring at him now like he had grown a second head. Ash didn't get what the big deal was, so he ignored them and turned to Pikachu. "Right, buddy? I kinda feel like running. I can't wait to get there fast and free Greninja!"

A hand on his arm made him stop rambling and turn his head. Serena was looking at him with wide eyes. "Ash, just... hold on." She stammered.

"We are not letting you go alone." Added Bonnie, scowling up at him.

"Really, Ash, it would be way too dangerous." Added Clemont.

"Fine." Grumbled Ash, deferring for now. "But let's go already, we're wasting time."

No one objected to that, and they picked up their bags and started back towards the path in silence, the argument weighing heavily between them.