Ash held the championship trophy high, surrounded by all of his Pokémon, as the cameras captured a commemorative photo at the Lumiose Conference of the Kalos League.
This photo would be permanently preserved in the Hall of Fame of the Kalos Pokémon League—an honor reserved only for the Champion of the tournament.
"Ash, on behalf of the entire audience here, I want to ask you—will you continue on to challenge the Kalos Elite Four?"
Challenge the Elite Four!
If Ash could defeat the Elite Four and then challenge Champion Diantha, he would have the chance to claim the title of Kalos League Champion!
And that was something far beyond simply winning the League Conference.
"Continue the challenge!"
"Keep going!"
"Continue the challenge!"
The chants echoed from every corner of the stadium, as nearly the entire audience wished for Ash to keep going.
After all, if he continued, they'd get to see more thrilling Pokémon battles.
Under the gaze of countless expectant eyes, Ash turned and looked at all his Pokémon.
By then, the Elite Four of Kalos had arrived in person:
Siebold, the Water-type Master,Malva, the Fire-type Master,Wikstrom, the Steel-type Master,Drasna, the Dragon-type Master.
And alongside them was Champion Diantha herself.
Even the Elite Four felt a little tense.
They knew very well just how strong Ash truly was.
He had the power to sweep them with just one Pokémon if he wished.
But Ash shook his head, and with a calm smile, said to the host and the audience:
"I don't plan on continuing for now."
A ripple of disappointment spread across the crowd.
"What a pity—Ash has decided not to continue with the challenge. Everyone, one more time, let's give the warmest applause to the Champion of this year's Lumiose Conference!"
The host seemed to have expected this outcome. In a storm of applause, the Lumiose Conference officially came to a close.
And just as the audience began to rise from their seats, preparing to leave the Conference Stadium, an unexpected anomaly struck—
"Crack!"
Suddenly, the giant display screens, speakers, cameras—all the electronic equipment in the venue—shut down in an instant.
The timeline shifts back—ten minutes earlier.
Ash had just concluded his final battle with Alain.
Mairin, deeply worried about Alain, couldn't sit still in the VIP viewing room. She slipped out to watch the match from closer by.
Inside the VIP lounge, Lysandre's phone rang.
At a hidden location in Lumiose City, Team Flare's scientist, Doctor Xerosic, stared at Z2—the entity they had somehow captured—and dialed Lysandre's number.
The call connected.
"Are preparations complete?" Lysandre asked.
"Everything is ready, Boss. We can begin executing our grand plan at any time."
Xerosic chuckled darkly.
"Excellent. Wait a little longer. As soon as Ash leaves Kalos, activate the plan immediately. Make sure you monitor his movements closely."
Lysandre's face twisted into a sinister grin he had never worn before.
But at that exact moment—
A violent explosion shook Xerosic's side of the line!
Lysandre froze in shock.
"What happened, Xerosic!? What's going on over there!?"
A sudden chill of anxiety shot through him.
Z2 was vital to his ultimate plan. Without it, the project would fail. And if the plan succeeded, it would change the world forever.
The ultimate plan was inseparable from Z2—Zygarde Core.
"Boss, we're under atta—"
The transmission cut off abruptly.
Panicked, Lysandre tried calling the other Team Flare admins, but every single line was dead.
"What's happening!?"
"Damn it!!"
With a furious roar, Lysandre slammed his fist against the reinforced glass wall, making it shudder with a loud thud!
No more waiting. Z2 could not be compromised!
Lysandre stormed out of the lounge, rushing toward the location where Z2 was being kept.
"Articuno—Blizzard!!"
"Caaawww!!!"
An icy-blue bird Pokémon unleashed a devastating blizzard with just a beat of its wings, instantly freezing Xerosic and the surrounding Team Flare members stiff in place.
It was bone-chillingly cold.
"Zapdos—lock them down! If anyone makes a move, hit them with Thunderbolt!"
"Skreeee!!"
Side by side—Articuno and Zapdos!
Two Legendary Pokémon stood tall, their overwhelming power instantly dominating the battlefield.
"You… damn it! Who are you people!?"
Xerosic's body trembled, his mind spiraling into disbelief. This power was beyond anything he had ever imagined.
The attackers moved with eerie precision, all wearing matching uniforms, their steps synchronized as though part of one great machine.
Xerosic had never known that far beyond Kalos, in the distant Kanto region, there existed an underground organization as massive and powerful as Team Rocket.
Amidst the chaos, a figure approached slowly beneath the shadows cast by Articuno and Zapdos.
He had long gray hair, falling across one eye, half-concealing his face.
And in the darkness at his side, a Pokémon with a ghostly, shifting form trailed him closely—
It was Darkrai.
"Nice to meet you, Doctor Xerosic," the man said in a calm yet chilling tone.
"I'm here today with a simple message—Team Flare's reign in Kalos is over. From now on, this region will fall under the control of Team Rocket."
He paused, his lips curving into a faint, cold smile.
"If you wish, you may be absorbed into our ranks as the fifth division under the banner of Rainbow Rocket. And as for me… I am your new commander.
You may call me—Tobias."
--------------
T/N:
Access Advance Chapters on my
P@treon: [email protected]/PokePals