Chapter 1: Encounter

"The battle is over!"

The winner is the champion of Kalos region Ash Ketchum. The crowd went wild due to the intense battle that had happened. After the match, Ash return back to his now huge office. The room was filled with accolades from all round the world, some pictures from his travelling days and also with his friends. Ash stared emotionlessly at his office, trying to ignore the void he had been feeling since he had first become champion of the Kalos region. He had become known as the "Demon Lord Champion now for his emotionless battle style against challengers from all round the world. All his challengers were left feeling dejected when facing him due the huge difference in strengths.

"Excuse me sir, may I come in"

My assistant came in, she is a young lady from the Kanto region who is aspiring to become the best trainer she can be. I awkwardly pretend to be reading a book from the shelf trying to avoid being caught staring at nothing.

"Ohh, what's the matter Cheryl?"

"Reporters from all over Kalos is requesting for an interview with you sir. What would you like to do?" she replied blankly.

I immediately found that as an excuse to leave the room. I quickly nodded at Cheryl and went out the room only to find dozens of reporter were queuing up at the entrance of the Elite Four building. I casually walked infront of them and answered their question formally.

"KYAAA Ash-sama!" a group of girls with banners of my face were at the sidelines shouting at me. I shrug at their optimistic lives as I hope to find something I can get excited about. The reporter were all asking the same question about the match I had gone thought recently. I replied the same answers I had prepared for them years ago which they still wrote about it in the news. After what seems like an eternity, the interview was finally over. I casually shrug at myself for going through all that again this year. Suddenly, I felt an urge to fly over to someplace with my pokemon and I called out my pokemon Charizard and we flew over to Miare City.

Miare city was still the same with various shops in row and the tall tower in the middle of the city. I nostalgically walk all over the city, going in and out of shops, admiring the delicious cakes in the stores and observing new trainers with their pokemon. All their bright and cherry faces brought back so much memory about myself. I went and sat on a bench at the nearest park I could find. I called out Charizard again and was ready to go back when I suddenly heard a familiar voice calling me.

"Ash is that you?" said a woman who was stunningly beautiful with clear blue eyes staring at me. I gasp at her trying to process what I had just witness in front of me. It was Serena after all these years. She still look as beautiful as she used to be only she was an adult now and she seems more mature than the past. I was trying to start a conversation as the silence between us was killing me until a man walked towards her and held her.

"Who is this Serena?" asked the man. He was somewhat quite handsome with brownish eye accompanied with his boyish look. I grimaced at him for his intimate action towards Serena. It was silence again and Charizard suddenly let out a burst of flames at me burning my butt causing me to run around the park. The tension suddenly subsides with the laughter's of Serena and that man beside her. I quickly composed myself with a sigh of relief and went to introduce myself to him.

"Hi I am Ash Ketchum, it's nice to meet you and also Serena it's been too long" I spoke while petting Charizard who let out a satisfied roar at me. The man jaw dropped and passed out cold into the floor. I immediately freaked out at his reaction while Serena just sighs at him. She told me that it's fine because he always faints when he is too excited as he was a huge fan of mine and always dreamed to be like me one day. I shrug at her comment and asked Charizard to bring him home as Serena followed us.

"So, how are you Ash, I hope you are doing well" Serena asked me while glancing at Charizard who was carrying the fainted man on its back. I responded proudly by saying it was kind of boring with all the challengers not giving me enough challenge. Serena eyes widen and her face somewhat turned into a disappointment. My heart felt it had been pierced by something when I saw her face, it made me somewhat sad. We both continued walking in silence after that brief conversation.

"It's here, Ash." Serena finally spoke.

I ordered Charizard to let the man down when Serena caringly carried the man into the house and she turn me down when I offered to carry him. Serena invited me in and I went in the house to see it was very lively with various furniture's displaying neatly at the living room. She told me to wait for a while she brought that man upstairs into his room. I nodded while observing the pictures displayed in the living room. Various pictures of Serena with her pokemons and during her Kalos Queen competitions which she had won a few years ago when I had just become a Champion. One picture stood out among the rest, it was a picture of us during our travel days with Citron and Eureka. The picture brought back so much emotion and memories which nearly brought a tear to my eye when I suddenly heard footsteps nearing. Serena came down and offered me tea, I graciously accepted her offer knowing she made the best teas during our journey together.

"So is this your new home Serena?" I asked awkwardly while stealing glances at her.

She simply nodded at me while carrying the teapot to the table and pouring it for me. I immediately took a sip and was not surprised at its aromatic flavor which was nostalgic, Serena smiled at my reaction which made my heart skipped a beat. She finally smiled at me I thought to myself trying to control myself from smiling too. I felt Serena observing me, she was staring me for a while when I finally asked what's wrong.

"You seem to be smiling less than before Ash" Serena told me while resting her head on her hands. I immediately felt like something inside me turning, I didn't know how to respond to that question and just remained silent when she spoke again.

"Ash I always wanted to tell you something important which I never had the chance." Serena said softly. I lift my head up which both our eyes met while she continues.

"I had heard about Pikachu and I want you to know how sorry I am when I heard what had happened" she finally finished.

I immediately felt something erupt in front of me, I couldn't control myself any longer when I suddenly shouted at her.

"What do you know Serena?! It has nothing to do with you so don't you dare try to console me!" I shouted at her, my eyes were watery trying to fight back my tears.

Serena just stared silently at me for a while when she suddenly gave me a hug which felt soothing and comfortable. "I know, I just want you to let out what you have been keeping inside you for all these while" she softly whispered to me. Tears were rolling uncontrollably when she said that, I felt like a child who had been punished by their parents in front of Serena. We continued our embraced when we suddenly heard a voice.

"Serena, I am home!" shouted a woman. It was Serena's mom. We immediately separate from each other while trying to pretend that nothing has happened. Her mom gasped when she saw me, she immediately gave me a friendly hug which made me blush again. Serena on the other hand wasn't pleased with what her mom is doing and told her to stop. She finally stopped and asked me whether I had been introduced properly. I wonder what she is saying when I heard another footstep coming down from the stairs. It was the man who had just fainted.

"Ohh, Takeru you are here" Serena's mom gestured at him to come. He immediately grabbed my hand and introduced himself excitedly while waving our hands violently.

"It's really an honor to meet you Ash! My name is Takeru and I am from Miare city" he replied excitedly. I was just overwhelmed by his optimism and excitement which cause Serena to laugh at me. I was just happy to hear Serena's laugh after all these years. Takeru suddenly turned around and hugged Serena while giving her a kiss on her cheek, causing her to blush and scolding him while he just laughs it off. My heart dropped when I saw what had just happened and I quickly tried to find an excuse to leave the awkward situation.

"So, I heard you and my girlfriend had gone on journeys in the past. I am so jealous that you got to journey with the champion Serena! Not only that but also you Ash for having a companion like Serena during your journeys" Takeru asked joyfully.

"Girlfriend,girlfriend,GIRLFRIEND!" those words sound like being hit by a flamethrower by Charizard. I remain silent while I heard Serena voice in the background scolding Takeru for his brash actions asking him to apologise. Suddenly my phone rang, it was my assistant Cheryl. She told me to return as a new challenger is requesting a match with me. I immediately excused myself from the couple and said my farewells to Serena's mom while I exit the house.

I called out Charizard and rode on its back and was ready to suddenly ran out from the house and said something which made my heart jumped.

"Ash will we meet again? Next time I will bring Citron and Eureka with me!" she shouted while I nodded as Charizard and me flew off into the sky.

"Hasn't he become so handsome and dreamy?" Serena's mom suddenly appeared behind Serena causing her to jumped in surprised. Serena just nodded while blushing in agreement to her mom's comment.

"Serena has he always been so serious and unmotivated before? I always remember him as an optimistic and cheerful boy before" Serena's mom remarked. Her words caused Serena to wonder what had happened to the man she had always cared and loved.

/End of chapter 1/

Hi guys :) I hope you enjoyed this new story haha. Do you guys prefer a cold or kind Ash? Please leave a review or comment if you have any. As always thank you for reading this and have a nice day!

Ananimeguy15 :)