Ash x Serena Rise of the forgotten hero

Beginning of the end

In the previous chapter, we left off as Ash boarded his plane, heading home after an urgent call from Lance. What awaited him when he got back? Join Ash as he soars through the skies, deep in thought.

As the airplane hummed along, Ash wrestled with a mix of emotions. He hated that he had to leave so abruptly, but what gnawed at him the most was the memory of Serena, tears glistening in her eyes because of him. Her smile always fueled his spirit, and now it felt like a piece of him was missing.

Lost in his thoughts, Pikachu suddenly nudged him, snapping him back to reality. The cheerful voice of the flight attendant chimed through the cabin, announcing their arrival in Kanto. Gathering his belongings, Ash stepped outside to see a familiar face waiting for him.

"Hey, Lance!" he called out, his voice breaking the tension in the air.

Lance, flanked by several stern-looking G-men, visibly relaxed at the sound of Ash's voice. "Ash! It's been too long," he replied, his brow furrowing as he glanced around.

"It really has! So, what's going on? Where has Team Rocket attacked this time?" Ash's curiosity surged.

"We'll go over that back at headquarters," Lance said, his voice serious. "But I need your best game. This is the most aggressive Team Rocket has been in a long time. We have to stay vigilant."

Nodding with a determined expression, Ash replied, "Alright, let's move!"

After a brisk twenty-minute drive, they arrived at headquarters. "Okay, Ash, let's head inside for a briefing," Lance said, gesturing for him to follow. Ash stifled a yawn, and Lance chuckled. "I think you could use some rest."

"Yeah, it's been a long day," Ash agreed, the fatigue weighing on him.

"Make sure you recharge; tomorrow's going to be intense," Lance added, and Ash nodded, determination gleaming in his eyes.

The next day dawned bright and early. Sunlight streamed through the window, gently waking Ash from his slumber. Sitting up, he noticed Pikachu stretching and yawning beside him. "Morning, buddy!" Ash said, scratching Pikachu's cheek.

"Pika-chu!" his little partner chirped, buzzing with energy.

"How about we grab some breakfast at the cafeteria?" Ash suggested.

"Pika pika!" Pikachu responded enthusiastically.

As they made their way downstairs, Ash spotted Lance conversing with three familiar faces. A grin spread across his face as he recognized Gary, Misty, and Brock. "Hey, guys!" he called out, rushing over to them.

"Hey, Ash!" they chorused, smiles lighting up their faces.

Lance stepped forward, clapping his hands to get everyone's attention. "Now that we're all here, we can discuss the situation at hand."

"Right!" the four Kanto trainers chimed in unison, ready for action. They followed Lance into the briefing room, where high-ranking G-men awaited them.

Gathered around the table, they studied a map of Kanto. "Here's what we know," Lance began. "Multiple Team Rocket groups have been spotted along various routes, capturing Pokémon forcibly."

"What could they be planning?" Ash pondered, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

"They're likely gathering Pokémon to strengthen their ranks," Gary suggested, his brow furrowed in concentration. "No matter how evolved or strong, they want them all."

"Exactly," Brock agreed, studying the map. "The more Pokémon they have, the more grunts they can deploy, and the more chaos they can unleash."

A flicker of anger ignited within Ash. "We can't let them get away with this!"