"With all due respect sir, this is ridiculous" Serena flat out stated
"Well there's video evidence" Professor Sycamore replied
"But how is that possible! I swear I didn't do this" Ash insisted
Ash and Serena were currently in Professor Sycamore's office since Ash has been called upon
*A couple of minutes before
"Ash your needed in Professor Sycamore's office" The teacher announced
"Huh? What for?" Ash asked
"Something about that Pikachu of yours"
"Oh come on, Professor Sycamore can't seriously believe this" Ash complained
"There's vídeo proof" A student said
"What!? But I didn't do it!" Ash denied
"It's ok Ash, we'll prove your innocence, let's just go" Serena said
"You sound your like your coming to" Ash replied
"Because I am, come on" Serena said
"Serena, you were not called so considering that, you have to stay" The teacher interjected
"Actually I could be a witness and a big help, so considering that, I'm going" Serena replied and she dragged Ash out of the roof
"Hey! You don't need come to" Ash said as he tried resisting Serena's grip
"Calem's my friend so I need to get you out of this" Serena explained
"But what about your A+?" Ash asked
"I can live with an A" Serena answered
"Live?" Ash chuckled
"My moms really strict on my grades ok!" Serena exclaimed
"Alright alright, got it" Ash sighed in defeat
———
"I mean for all we know this could be some kind of magic" Serena suggested
"Magic?" Sycamore asked
"It's only reasonable considering there's no way Ash did this" Serena replied "Right Ash?"
"Yeah.... or maybe it's a clone!" Ash said and Serena nodded her head
"Anything's posible" Serena added
"Well I think it's a possibility but it's not me your going to have to answer to" Sycamore said
"Huh?" The two asked
"You see, there's quite a lot of victims so your going to have to go to court" Sycamore explained
"Ugh, my mom is going to kill me" Ash replied
"Don't worry Ash, we'll prove your innocence" Serena assured
"But how?" Ash asked
"I know just the person" Serena answered
*Lunch
"So it's plain obvious that Calem is behind us considering every factor, which also means......" Kiawe said
".... That he's using his dads connections to give him some kind of magical edge" Jason finished
"Your saying magic is real?" Tierno asked
"Magic is very much real, it's just been forgotten over time" Lillie answered
"But who could Calem's dad know that knows magic?" Miette asked
"If we're dealing with faking someone for doing a crime, then there's two possibilities" Kiawe said
"Rem or Mea" Jason replied
"Who?" Dawn asked
"When Arceus formed the universe and eventually the earth, he used six different elements. Space, Power, Reality, Time, Mind and Soul. When civilization began, an entity was created from each of these elements were formed" Jason explained
"Oh I've heard this story from Professor Kukui!" Mallow exclaimed and everyone gave her an expectant look "Each time one of these entities pass, a new one is born, the element looks for the person best fit to handle it.... I think what they're trying to say is that one of these assassins or entities are being used by Calem"
"Is he really that petty?" May asked
"Possibly" Clemont answered
"Agh! Where is he anyways?" Gary shouted and the whole cafeteria looked over
"Keep it down" Shauna whispered
"I'm just saying he has to be around here" Gary replied and he looked around until his eyes widened "right there!"
The group turned and Calem was sitting by himself and writing something on a paper
"I'll go get him" Serena said
———
"So why did we have to take this outside?" Calem asked innocently
"Oh we have a good enough reason" Gary replied
"If this has to do with the whole Ash thing, then all I did was shed light on it" Calem defended
"Skip the small talk, we know what's up" Kiawe said
"We know your using some kind of magic" Kenny added
"Magic? Don't be ridiculous" Calem replied sounding sincere
"We said skip the small talk!" Gary shouted and he gripped Calem's backpack straps with both his hands "Just admit it already!" and he began shaking him
"Hey hey hey! This isn't getting us anywhere" Shauna said and she pulled Gary off
"I know he might be your friend and all" Calem said and he pointed to Ash "But that doesn't mean you have to defend him when he's clearly in the wrong"
"Ash did nothing wrong and you can't prove it!" May said
"There's. Video. Proof." Calem reminded
"That's where the magic comes in" Dawn replied
"Do you guys know how ridiculous you sound? Good luck giving your theory to the court" Calem said
"Not if I don't go to court" Ash responded
"That'll only make things worse" Serena whispered to him
"Oh"
"Now I'll be leaving if your done with your accusations" Calem announced and he began to walk away
————
"Your friend is really annoying" Ash said
"He's not really my friend" Serena defended casually
"You know what I mean" Ash replied
"So what's your point?" Serena asked
"I already told you.... twice. He's annoying" Ash answered
"I agree on that one" Gary added
"Why don't you just blackmail him into confessing he made up that stuff about Ash of whatever" Fiera suggested emotionless
"Blackmail..... I don't think we have anything on him" Gary replied
"I know someone who might" Serena said and there was an awkward silence
"...... is it the same guy as always?" Fiera asked
"No it's different this time" Serena answered
————
"So did it work?" Rem asked
"Yeah they totally believe it was him" Calem confirmed
"And his friends?"
"Of course they don't believe it but they've got no proof"
The two were having a conversation in the middle of a forest but it stopped once someone was approaching
"Someone approached" Rem warned
"Who? I really need stage two of my plan in" Calem asked
"Beat it" A voice said
"Very well" Rem complied
"Hold on a second. Who exactly are you talking orders from so easily" Calem then asked and the voice made themselves clear
Rem ignored Calem's question and walked away, exiting the forest
"So what's your plan?" Neptune asked
"Frame Ash for doing something terrible is what I've done so far" Calem admitted
"You realize that if I so choose I could end your plan of yours, correct?" Neptune reminded
"I know but are you going to?" Calem asked confidently with a smirk
"If you give me a reason to" Neptune answered
"I see no reason for you to get involved" Calem put
"It's more of a personal matter, do you really believe you can separate Ash and Serena through this?" Neptune then asked
"By framing Ash for a crime? Never. What follows is what will break them" Calem explained
"You seem awfully confident. What do you have planned? Attempting to take out Ash didn't work so what will?" Neptune continued
"That was only because of you, this will work if it's the last thing I do" Calem swore
Calem then noticed a pair of green lights coming from the darkness within the hood of the figure before him which left him confused
"What the (censor) are you doing?" Calem asked
"I specialize in time, I'm looking at your plan" Neptune answered
"So then I'm sure that as long as you don't intervene, you can see I'm successful" Calem said
"No, you've underestimated their bond" Neptune denied
"Huh?"
"That's a ridiculous plan, it didn't even phase them" Neptune stated
"Ok.... it was 50/50" Calem confessed
"Your pathetic. Just give it up, you'll never break them" Neptune said as he began to walk away
"Is that a challenge?" Calem asked
"Yes or no, the result is the same" Neptune replied
"Result?"
"Your fate"
————
It was about 4 hours after school when Serena decided to head over to Ash's house where she knocked on the door and Gary answered as usual
"How come your always the one that answers?" Serena asked curiously
"Hello to you too" Gary greeted as he opened the door "Delia's usually not home at this time, she was today but she left to do stuff"
"Oh"
"I'm guessing you here for Ash?" Gary assumed
"Yeah" Serena confirmed
"I'm not so sure if that's a good idea" Gary said
"What do you mean?" Serena asked
"Well you see, he's really frustrated right now. He had an argument with Delia too" Gary answered
"So where is he?"
"Locked up in his room like he usually does when he doesn't want to talk"
Serena sighed before walking up the stairs and knocking on Ash's door
"What" Ash said
"It's Serena" She replied
*Serena's POV
"Need something?" Ash greeted as he opened the door
"We need to talk" I said
"About?" Ash questioned
"About you" I answered and he let me enter his room
"So what do you want to talk about.... me?" Ash asked
"Aren't we past the stage where you deny there's something you want to talk about" I pointed out
"I was being genuine, I already knew that" Ash replied
"That's not true. I know your frustrated about this whole thing but I don't think I understood just how much" I explained
"Calem hates me and I don't know why! It's like he just wants to ruin my life no reason" Ash said
"He doesn't exactly he hate you for no reason...." I replied quietly
"So then what does he hate me for?" Ash asked
"Um.... ok, look" I answered and he gave me an attentive look "Calem likes me, I mean we dated for a bit, so I'd guess he's jealous of you"
"But we're just friends" Ash said and that stung me in the heart "Why would he be jealous of our friendship?"
"I don't know" I lied and he rolled his eyes before laying down on his bed
"See... I just don't get it" Ash sighed
*Flashback / Ash's POV
"I guess you could say that. We're really good friends..... I hope we still are at least" I replied and Neptune chuckled
"Whats so funny?" I asked
"You just. don't. get it." Neptune answered
*End of Flashback
"That's right.... I don't get it" I mumbled
"Huh?" Serena asked
"Your hiding something from me and it's the reason Calem is doing all of this" I figured out
"What makes you think that?" She then asked
"Neptune asked me about us, and I said we were good friends. He laughed at me and said I didn't get it. Now your saying Calem is jealous of our friendship...... so that means you know something I don't" I explained
"I- um, I'm not hiding anything" Serena replied nervously for some reason
"I can tell you are" I said
"Ok maybe I am, but it's not relevant...... yet" Serena admitted
"What?" I asked in confusion
"Look Calem is just probably mad about the whole forest thing still.... maybe. I think that's why he's doing this" Serena answered
"I guess that's plausible" I agreed and she sighed with relief
"Well what matters in the end is not why he's doing this, but how we're going to get through it" Serena said
"We?"
"Yeah! We're a team!" and we smiled at each other
—————
"Why are you helping Calem?"
"I could ask you a similar question. I'm taking payment but you.... your doing this for sport"
"I'm doing this because it's important, and I've grown a friendship with the boy"
"His plan will succeed if it continues"
"He might be able to toss Ash out of the picture but that won't bring him the girl"
"Perhaps that is true. Yet, with Ash out of the picture.... she'll need someone after that"
"Not him though, she's already experimented with him"
"Anything could happen, they're teenagers"
"Not normal ones though"
"Which proves my point"
"Maybe"