1. Ash's Story (Part 7: Kalos)

Chapter 81: Champion Strain

The road toward Snowbelle felt colder with every step, and even the trees seemed to hold their breath around us. I knew the city was close, but that only made the pressure heavier. One more Gym Badge waited ahead, and beyond that waited the Kalos League. Greninja stood across from me on the snowy edge of the path, knees bent and eyes focused. Pikachu watched from a flat stone beside Serena, his tail twitching with quiet worry. "Ready, Greninja?" I asked, forcing a grin that felt too tight.

Greninja's steady posture answered before his expression did. His gaze reached me with the same sharp trust I had felt since the Ninja Village. "We keep trying until we understand it."

"Right," I said, lifting my fist. "Then let's go stronger and stronger!"

Greninja rushed forward, and I called for Cut. He swept the glowing blade toward a snow-marked boulder, splitting the frost across its surface without breaking the whole stone apart. I asked for Water Shuriken next, and the spinning water struck exactly where I pointed. The deep pull from before stayed out of reach, like a door I could see but could not open.

Serena stepped closer, her scarf shifting in the wind. "Ash, maybe you should slow down a little."

"I'm fine," I said too quickly. "Greninja and I are getting closer. We just need to keep pushing."

"Ash," Clemont said, lowering his device, "forcing the phenomenon might make the overload worse."

"Ash, please be careful now!"

I spun around so fast my boots slipped on the frozen ground. Mom was walking toward us in a thick travel coat, with Diantha beside her and two League security aides following at a respectful distance. "Mom!" I blurted, running toward her before I even thought about it.

She caught me in a hug that was warmer than the whole route. "Long time no see, sweetheart."

"Diantha!" Serena said, surprised enough that Delphox's Poké Ball shook at her belt.

"It looks like we caught up to all of you at the right time."

"What are you doing out here?" I asked. "Snowbelle is still ahead."

"We heard Olympia's prediction," Diantha said. "After that, your mother contacted me, and we decided to find you before the road pulled you any deeper into danger."

Clemont adjusted his glasses with a nervous frown. "You mean the crisis Olympia warned us about? We already stopped Lysandre in Geosenge when he tried to use the Ultimate Weapon."

"We are grateful for that," Mom said, "but this is not over."

Snow and trees gave way to a shaking recording of an island coast. The sea flashed, the cliffs split, and a burst of power swallowed the camera's view. When the image cleared, half the shore was gone.

Bonnie gasped and tightened her arms around Dedenne. "That island just broke apart."

"The League has kept the public calm for now, but the pattern is too precise to be natural."

"So Team Flare is moving again," I said, clenching my hand.

Mom nodded. "And we believe Zygarde is already involved."

Squishy shifted inside Bonnie's pouch. His small green body leaned forward, and his single eye narrowed at the screen. The feeling that came from him was not speech exactly, but the meaning settled in my chest like a warning bell. "The balance is being forced apart."

I looked from Squishy to Diantha. "One of the Zygarde Cores was taken by Team Flare. We have another one with us, but they already captured the other core."