Pokémon Legacy: Come Back to Me

Chapter Twenty-Nine

About a week later, the group was passing through Santalune City. Ash remembered his first battle with Viola, and rolled his eyes. "What?" Gary asked.

"I lost my first gym battle here, back when I first came to Kalos." He looked over at the Pokémon center with the battlefield off to the side of it. "And I met Serena over there." He pointed towards the shaded battlefield with a soft smile. "Little did I know at the time that that was be the best day of my life."

"Are we passing through? Or are we going to stay and sleep at the Pokémon Center?" Bonnie asked.

"Let's just keep going. We're so close." Ash muttered. "We can camp on the route if we need to." Ash turned to Jessie. "Jessie, how long until we get to the Team Rocket compound?"

"Maybe two or three days." She said. "We'll hit the foothills tomorrow, then its a difficult climb through snow and through the evergreen forest to get to the actual compound. Right James?" James nodded and readjusted his backpack.

"Well let's get going then." Clemont said, walking ahead. Korrina was right next to him, and Bonnie trailed a few steps behind. Dawn and Gary started walking, as did Jessie and James. Ash sighed and turned back towards the battlefield to look at it one more time, then caught up with his friends.

They left Santalune city behind quickly, and as the sun started setting, Jessie and James said they were halfway between Santalune and the foothills. They'd get there tomorrow, at around lunchtime. The gang nodded and decided to set up camp for the night.

They were sitting around a merry campfire when sticks cracked in the woods. The Pokémon rose to their feet cautiously, and Ash and the others turned towards the noise, all conversation dying down. "Pikachu, get ready." Ash muttered, rising to his feet. A few more sticks snapped, and a shadow moved in the treeline. Ash saw it immediately and reacted quickly.

"Pikachu Thunderbolt!" Ash commanded. The small Pokémon jumped up and let loose a powerful, jagged  beam of electricity towards the dark shapes in the woods.

"Blastoise, Rapid Spin! Protect the others!"

"Charizard, Flamethrower!"

"Venusaur, use Energy Ball!" Three voices called out separate commands, and a stream of fire sped out, followed by a green ball of energy. Pikachu's Thunderbolt exploded, sending up smoke. Ash, his friends, and their Pokémon managed to dodge the two powerful attacks, and set up for battle.

Three figures burst out of the bushes, Pokémon out and angry looks fixed on their faces. One was tall and muscular, one was slender, and one was a petite girl. Ash recognized the three of them and relaxed.

"Trevor, Tierno, Shauna!" He exclaimed. The others glanced at Ash, then recognized the three trainers and relaxed as well. Jessie and James were still tensed, but they didn't have any plans to attack right yet.

"Ash? Clemont? Bonnie?" Shauna called out, confused.

"Yeah it's us." Bonnie said with a smile.

"Oh wow. I haven't seen you guys since Lumiose!" Shauna exclaimed. "But where's Serena?"

"You haven't been watching the news?" Clemont asked.

"Nope. I've been on the road for the last few weeks. I did a couple Showcases and got all three of my Princess Keys though." Shauna replied. "Tierno and Trevor are traveling with me."

"Oh. Well if you had time to watch the news, you'd know that Serena had been kidnapped." Clemont replied solemnly. Ash glanced away angrily, his fists clenched.

"What?" Tierno yelled angrily. "What the hell? By who?" Shauna's hands covered her mouth worriedly, and Trevor looked upset.

"Team Rocket and Team Flare." Ash said bitterly. "I'm going to get her back." Tierno glared at Ash. Looks like he's still pissed off. Ash thought to himself.