The Transfer Student

The Unreal Escape

The security room was tense as Ash, Serena, Clemont, and Gary braced for the inevitable fight. The dim red emergency lights flickered, casting long shadows in the hallway. Stepping into the light, a group of figures in matching uniforms emerged—Team Flare.

"Well, well," sneered a man with slicked-back hair. "Ash Ketchum. You just couldn't stay out of trouble, could you?"

Ash clenched his fists. "If you think we're just going to let you get away with whatever you're planning, you're wrong!"

The Team Flare member chuckled darkly. "Oh, we already have. You walked right into our trap." He snapped his fingers, and more grunts appeared, blocking the exit. "Now, be good kids and hand over whatever data you found."

Clemont was furiously typing on the control panel. "Almost there... Just a few more seconds!"

Gary stepped forward, smirking. "Surrender? Not a chance. Blastoise, let's go!"

With a flash of light, Gary's Blastoise appeared, roaring. Ash didn't hesitate. "Greninja, let's do this!"

Serena nodded, clutching a Poké Ball. "Braixen, I need you!"

Team Flare's Pokémon—Houndoom, Scrafty, and Manectric—snarled, their eyes glowing menacingly. The room was cramped, but Ash wasn't about to back down.

"Greninja, Water Shuriken!"

Greninja leaped forward, hurling spinning blades of water at Manectric, knocking it backward. Blastoise unleashed a Hydro Pump, sending Scrafty skidding. Braixen twirled her wand, sending out a burst of fire to intercept Houndoom's Fire Fang.

Clemont wiped his brow. "Just a little longer! The lockdown is almost lifted!"

"We have to hold them off!" Ash called, dodging a Thunderbolt from Manectric.

Serena pointed. "Braixen, Psybeam!"

A flash of psychic energy struck Houndoom, making it stumble, but Team Flare wasn't done yet. Their leader smirked and pulled out a small remote device. "You kids have meddled long enough. Let's see you handle this!"

He pressed a button, and suddenly, explosions shook the building. Sparks burst from the monitors, and alarms blared louder than before. Smoke filled the room, making it harder to see.

Clemont's face turned pale. "They're trying to destroy the evidence—and the whole tower!"

Serena gripped Ash's arm. "We have to get out of here!"

Ash nodded. "Clemont, can you force the doors open?"

"I think so, but I need cover!"

Gary stepped up. "Blastoise, Rapid Spin!"

Blastoise charged forward, slamming into Manectric and clearing a path to the controls. Clemont frantically worked, sparks flying around him.

"Almost... there!"

The doors finally slid open, but the entire building was shaking. Ash turned to the others. "We have to move—now!"

Greninja dashed ahead, scouting a path through the debris. Ash grabbed Serena's hand and pulled her forward as they sprinted through the crumbling hallways. Clemont and Gary followed close behind.

The stairwell was filled with smoke, the lights flickering. Team Flare had either escaped or been caught in their own destruction. The group raced downward, dodging falling rubble as the alarms screamed in their ears.

A sudden burst of fire erupted near them as a piece of debris exploded from the heat. Serena stumbled, coughing, but Ash quickly steadied her. "Stay with me! We're almost there!"

Clemont adjusted his glasses, his voice urgent. "We have to be careful! The structure is unstable—one wrong step and—"

Before he could finish, another explosion shook the ground beneath them. A section of the staircase collapsed, cutting off their escape. Ash looked around frantically. "We need another way down!"

Gary scanned the area and pointed to a maintenance ladder. "There! It leads to the lower levels!"

Without hesitation, they rushed toward it. Greninja leaped onto the ladder first, followed by Gary and Blastoise. Ash motioned for Serena to go ahead. "You first!"

Serena hesitated, looking at the fiery wreckage around them. "Ash—"

"Trust me!" he reassured her.

Nodding, she climbed down, followed by Clemont. Ash was the last to go, but just as he grabbed onto the ladder, another explosion ripped through the building. The force knocked Ash off balance, and he slipped.

"Ash!" Serena screamed.

Greninja moved like lightning, leaping up and catching Ash's arm just in time. With a swift movement, it pulled him onto the ladder. Ash grinned. "Thanks, buddy!"

They continued down as fast as they could. The lower levels were shaking violently, but they pushed forward, determined to escape. At last, they burst out of an emergency exit, gasping for breath. Behind them, Prism Tower trembled, cracks forming along its surface. Emergency responders were already arriving, civilians gathering in shock.

Professor Sycamore rushed over. "Ash! Serena! Are you alright?"

Ash took a deep breath. "We made it... but Team Flare was behind everything. And they destroyed the security footage."

Clemont adjusted his glasses. "They were willing to bring down an entire building just to cover their tracks. This is bigger than we thought."

Serena turned to Ash, worry in her eyes. "What do we do now?"

Ash clenched his fists as he looked at the damaged tower. "We stop them. No matter what."

Serena placed a hand on Ash's shoulder, squeezing it gently. "We'll do this together."

Gary crossed his arms. "Yeah. Team Flare's not getting away with this."

Unseen by anyone, a shadowed figure watched from a distance before disappearing into the night.

To be continued...