Ash x Serena Rise of the forgotten hero

Near but Lost

After his victory at the Coumarine Gym, Ash decided to stay in the city for a few days, letting his Pokémon rest up and enjoying some downtime. The next morning, he woke around 9 AM, grabbed breakfast for himself and his Pokémon, and made his way into the Pokémon Centre lobby. There, he noticed Officer Jenny, who was pacing and looked unusually tense.

Ash walked over. "Officer Jenny, is something wrong?" he asked, concerned.

Jenny sighed, nodding. "Yes, we've had reports of a dangerous group of Pokémon hunters causing trouble in the nearby forest. They've been ambushing trainers and trying to steal their Pokémon."

Just as Ash was about to ask more questions, Clemont and Bonnie burst into the Pokémon Centre, breathless and visibly shaken. "Officer Jenny!" they both shouted, rushing over.

"What's going on?" Officer Jenny asked, alarmed.

"Our friends have been captured by some people with powerful Pokémon," Clemont managed between breaths. "We think they're the Pokémon hunters!"

A flash of anger crossed Jenny's face. "It's them, all right. They've been attacking trainers and forcing them to hand over their Pokémon," she said, her voice laced with frustration.

Ash clenched his fists, feeling a surge of familiar anger, memories of past battles with villains flooding his mind. Without hesitation, he spoke up. "Officer Jenny, get your team ready. I'll go ahead and scout for their location."

"We'll come with you!" Clemont insisted, determination clear in his eyes.

Ash nodded with a faint smile. "Just try to keep up," he said, giving them an encouraging grin before heading out with Clemont and Bonnie close behind.

As they made their way through the forest, Clemont guided them to the last spot where they'd seen the hunters. Ash released Greninja, who leaped out gracefully, understanding the urgency. "Greninja, let's use our aura to scan for any recent footsteps or signs," Ash instructed, concentrating alongside his Pokémon.

A few moments later, Greninja's eyes sharpened as he let out a low growl. "Gren...ninja!" he signalled, pointing toward faint tracks in the dirt.

"Found it!" Ash yelled. Clemont and Bonnie caught up, and the trio followed Greninja's lead, weaving through the forest and keeping a low profile. Clemont kept Officer Jenny updated on their location as they tracked deeper into the woods.

After a tense trek, they spotted an abandoned warehouse hidden behind thick trees. Clemont quickly relayed the coordinates to Officer Jenny, who confirmed she was on her way with backup. The building loomed ominously, its windows cracked and vines curling up its walls—a perfect hideout for the hunters.

As Ash, Clemont, and Bonnie searched for a way into the warehouse, they spotted hunters patrolling the perimeter. The guards looked rough and alert, ready to intercept anyone daring to approach.

Inside the building, the scene was grim. The boys and girls had been separated and shoved into small, rundown rooms, their hands bound tightly. Within minutes, two hunters entered the boys' room, looming over them with greedy eyes, clearly eager to steal their Pokémon. With no way to fight back, the boys could only watch in frustration as the hunters reached for their Pokéballs.

In the girls' room, things took an even darker turn. Serena, fiercely defiant, tried to struggle against her captors. "Let us go!" she shouted, kicking one of the men hard in the leg. He stumbled to one knee, glaring at her furiously. In retaliation, he struck Serena, causing her to cry out in pain. She managed one last scream, "SOMEBODY HELP US!" before another brutal blow left her unconscious. May and Dawn stood frozen, horrified and helpless as they watched their friend collapse.