Mirror-Clemont found his real counterpart tinkering frantically with a broken gadget. "You see?" the mirror version sneered. "Your inventions always fail. You're a fraud. Here, you don't have to pretend to be brave."
Ash looked at his friends, each one faltering, each one trapped by their own deepest fear. Then he looked back at his mirror self—not with anger, but with something the mirror couldn't understand: compassion.
Before Bonnie could scream, a dozen more figures shimmered into existence from the walls. Mirror-Clemont, with wilder eyes and a gauntlet sparking with uncontrolled electricity. Mirror-Serena, whose smile was sharp as a blade. And Mirror-Ash, whose Pikachu crackled with black, malevolent lightning. Pokemon XY Episode 81
Bonnie hugged her brother tight. "I wasn't scared," she declared. Clemont patted her head, smiling.
Serena caught Ash's eye and gave a small, grateful nod. No words were needed. You're a fraud
Clemont's glasses fogged with shame.
Pikachu nodded and unleashed a Thunderbolt—not at the shadow Pikachu, but at the largest mirror behind them. The cavern shook. Cracks spiderwebbed across the reflective surface. Before Bonnie could scream, a dozen more figures
He turned to Serena. "You're more than brave enough to tell me how you feel someday—on your own terms." He turned to Clemont. "Your inventions fail because you try the impossible. That's not a flaw. That's why you'll succeed."
And Mirror-Ash confronted the real Ash. "You're not a hero," he growled, Pikachu's shadowy cheeks sparking. "You just get lucky. I've won every battle in my world. Join me, and you'll never lose again."
"They're us," Ash breathed, stepping protectively in front of his friends. "But wrong."