"Sceptile, Leaf Blade!"
"Blastoise, use Crush!"
"Ivysaur, Razor Leaf!"
"Charizard, Flamethrower!"
Sawyer, Tierno, Shauna, and Trevor all joined forces, cutting apart the massive thorny vines to clear paths for the panicked civilians who weren't trainers.
All around, countless other trainers lent their strength, slashing and burning through the monstrous growths.
Officer Jenny's forces responded quickly, mobilizing to evacuate the masses while simultaneously hunting down Giovanni's location.
But the Zygarde in its 50% Forme was already running rampant, unleashing wave after wave of thorny vines that ripped through buildings and streets, spreading outward from Lumiose City in every direction—consuming city after city in madness.
------
"Alain, do you know? You've been used from the very beginning."
Alain searched desperately for Mairin, while Ash rushed to find Serena.
With electronic devices disabled, there was no choice but to rely on flying Pokémon—but Ash had Lucario instead. Using its advanced Aura, Lucario located Serena… and astonishingly, she was with Mairin.
Lucario's Aura had grown immensely—its reach wider, its strength greater.
"You mean… Lysandre used me…?"
Deep down, Alain had already suspected it.
But he didn't want to believe it.
He didn't want to believe he'd been a pawn in evil schemes.
Nor did he want to believe Lysandre, the man who had once told him Mega Evolution must never be misused, would be the very one exploiting it for destruction.
"Ash, Lysandre… he can't be that kind of man, can he…?" Alain asked, uncertainty in his eyes.
"Really? Then watch closely. The truth about Team Flare will come to light soon enough. Officer Jenny's forces will expose it all before long. This chaos—it's their doing."
Together, Ash led Alain to Mairin—and of course, to Serena and the others as well.
Delia, Ash's mother, stood with them.
Ash looked at everyone gathered by his side.
A heavy silence filled the air.
At last, he whispered, "It's time to put an end to this."
The others looked back at him, as if they understood exactly what he meant.
"Ash, this isn't the time to play hero. Stay with your mother—leave here with us," Delia urged suddenly. She had seen that look in his eyes, and as his mother, she knew exactly what it meant.
She didn't care how strong her son was. He was still her child. And no mother wanted her child walking into danger.
"Mom… some things must be settled. Anabel told me they even sent people to our home to cause trouble. I'm certain Giovanni's move here, in Kalos, is at least 80% because I'm here."
Ash drew in a deep breath.
"Even so, it shouldn't be you, Ash. If the sky falls, let the tall ones hold it up," Delia said firmly, clutching his hand tightly as massive vines writhed around them and the clouds above bled red, as though the world itself was ending.
"Mom… I am that tall one now."
"Pika…" Pikachu's ears twitched, sparks dancing across its cheeks.
"Don't worry. There's no one in this world who can defeat me anymore. Not one. No matter who they are."
"Mom, everyone—Misty, May, Anabel, Sabrina, Dawn, Serena… my real goal has already been achieved long ago."
Ash reached up and flipped his cap backward with resolve.
"Pikachu, it's time."
"Pika-chuuu!"
Ash left Metagross, Salamence, and Cresselia behind to protect his mother and his friends.
Then, together with Pikachu, he strode forward, unwavering, toward Giovanni's location.
Lucario's Aura had already locked onto it.
Seeing Mairin safe, Alain finally calmed. But he couldn't stop himself—he followed Ash closely, burning to know whether everything Ash said was true.
"I believe in Ash," Misty suddenly declared.
"So do I," May added firmly.
"Me too," Anabel nodded.
"He means so much to me… he'll come back safe." Sabrina's voice was quiet, but resolute.
"All this time, he's been the one encouraging me. Now, I'll pray for him. No doubt, no fear—he'll be fine!" Dawn pressed her palms together.
"The person I admire most has always been him—ever since I was a child," Serena whispered, her eyes shining with determination as she spoke up too.
------
Lumiose City.
The place where Giovanni waited.
Not only were Rainbow Rocket's members gathered there… but also a towering, shadowy figure cloaked in violet and black!
The Shadow Hoopa—the manifestation of Hoopa Unbound's sealed power!
"Hahaha! Hoopa is the strongest! With me by your side, your goals will be realized without fail! And when the time comes, I'll destroy the real Hoopa once and for all! Hahaha!"
The Shadow Hoopa roared with manic laughter.
Born from the rage and malice of Hoopa's sealed power, festering for a hundred years, it had developed its own twisted consciousness. It now sought out partners—partners in conquest.
Giovanni looked upon the Shadow Hoopa and nodded.
Each side had something the other needed.
"Ash… Mewtwo… come. I'm waiting. You'll never know the true terror of what you're about to face…"
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