Separated but Connected

New Ally

After their close call with Lucien's goons, Ash, Clemont, Serena, and Bonnie all decided to stay clear of the roads and to travel further inwards through the forest.

"Hgh, hgh, hgh. We've been walking for at least an hour and a half now," Clemont panted. "I think we should rest a bit."

Serena nodded. "The next Pokémon Center is just a few minutes away, we can rest there."

Suddenly, the forest floor began to shake.

"Huh?! W-what's going on?!" Bonnie cried.

"Maybe there's a big Pokémon around here?" Serena wondered.

Ash was about to interject, but a loud scream interrupted him. "HELP ME!!!!"

Ash stopped, his whole body froze up on him. The others seemed to notice. "Is something wrong?" Serena asked, clearly worried.

"I-I'm not sure. I think someone-or something-is calling for help."

"Well then let's take a look. We've got to help!" Bonnie agreed.

Ash and Serena nodded as the three of them took off in a dash, leaving Clemont behind. "Oh! Come on guys, wait for me!!" He cried as he hobbled after them.

As they ran, the noise became louder and louder, which led them towards a small clearing surrounded by trees from all sides. Ash, Pikachu, Serena, Clemont, and Bonnie stopped short of the clearing and hid behind some thick bushes. What they saw made Ash's breath catch in his throat; a Greninja being attacked from all sides by a Houndoom, a Muk, and a Weezing. It was putting up a great fight but it was vastly outnumbered.

Pikachu jumped off his shoulder. "Ash! Is that..."

Ash knew what he meant, but he sadly shook his head. He then noticed that three humans were also there, wicked grins plastered upon their faces. He felt rage flare up as he noticed that they wore the same outfits as the same goons they had just escaped from. He was about to leap into action, when a hand on his shoulder held him back. He whipped around to see Serena eyeing him warily. "You can't go out there, Ash. What if they know who you are and capture you too?" She pleaded with him.

"I can't just let them attack Greninja! I'm sorry, Serena, but you can't stop me." He broke free from her grasp and bursted out of the tree line. "Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!!" He cried.

"Thunderbolt!!!" Pikachu cried as he shot a bolt of electricity at the three unsuspecting Pokémon, shocking them. Together, he and Ash stood between the grunts and the Greninja, who looked at them with narrowed eyes. "

Leave Greninja alone!" Ash growled.

The three grunts sneered at him. "You think you can defeat us? Can't you see that you're vastly outnumbered?"

Ash growled as he tossed up a Poke Ball. "Talonflame, I need your help!!"

Talonflame emerged in a flash of blue light. "Let's go!! Huh?" She cried out. She turned towards Ash and Pikachu, about to ask them what was happening, when she stopped. Her eyes widened with shock as she saw the Greninja behind them. "It can't be...!" She said with a hopeful edge to her voice.

Pikachu sadly shook his not. "I'm afraid it's not him, Talonflame."

Talonflame's eyes dropped that hopeful sheen they had a moment ago, but was replaced with a fiery look of determination as she readied herself for battle.

A rustling sound distracted everyone as they turned to see Serena and Clement join them. "Braixen, come out!" Serena called out as she tossed up a poke ball.