Someday We'll Win
She found him-the Kalos League runner-up-alone with red, damp eyes.
"Ash...what's wrong?" she whispered, Vivillon in her stomach.
"Serena...I'm fine, okay?" he snapped. Then he remembered the Winding Woods. "Sorry..."
The honey-blonde said nothing, but walked closer to him.
"Really...it's nothing...I don't know what's gotten into me..."
"Well..." She hesitated, not knowing how to help.
"B-but I let everyone down!" He had started to cry again. "Especially Pikachu and Greninja! I-I really thought we would win this time, and then that Mega Charizard..."
Her face filled with concern. "This isn't how you usually deal with a loss! You always move forward!"
"W-what if I can't? This is my sixth league! The sixth time I failed my team! That says something about me as a Trainer!"
"Don't even think like that!" Serena told him sharply.
Ash gave her a quick smile. "T-thanks...I don't know what I'd do without you..." he told her honestly and without thinking. She blushed.
"You and all my other friends keep me going..." More tears came, and he wiped them away with his sleeve. "I-I don't want to leave you, and Clemont, and Bonnie!"
Serena looked into his eyes. "I'll stay with you. No matter where you go next. You don't have to worry about that!"
"That's really kind of you, but...six leagues! Maybe I should just go back to Pallet Town, where I belong..." Ash said glumly.
"You-you can't!" She was shocked.
"Why not? I'm sick of being so close. I'm tired of bringing my Pokemon back to Professor Oak and moving on. I don't want to do this anymore! I've had enough!"
"No! No! Ash Ketchum, y-you are not giving up until it's over! I-I won't let you!" her voice shook.
"Serena...maybe my dream just isn't meant to happen-"
"How-how could you say that?" she interrupted. "You worked, you trained so hard! And you're just letting it go? I thought you said you didn't want to leave! One loss...it shouldn't ruin you! Think about your team-you're letting them down even more if you give up! Aria beat me in the Master Class! But I'm still trying! And do you know why?" she paused. "Because of you, Ash. Because of what you taught me! Don't you taught me! D-don't you get it? I-I can't let you quit now!" The Performer was in tears, remembering every time he had supported her. Every Showcase. That day in Coumarine. His fall at Professor Sycamore's camp. All the way back to a summer when they were young children.
"Get what? That I'm a faliure? That six is more than enough? That I can never be strong enough to win a League?" he shot back.
"Stop...stop...please!" Each of his words felt like they were piercing her heart. "The Ash I know...The Ash I admire...The Ash I love isn't like this!" Serena cried out.
Ash was stunned. Serena...felt that way? All this time?
"Well...n-now you know..."she said quietly, fingering her blue ribbon. "Some-someday you'll win! I'm sure of it!" Her voice grew louder with confidence.
Something clicked inside of Ash. Riding Mamoswine, giving her the blue ribbon, arguing after his loss to Wulfric, cheering in performances, even inviting her on the journey after he had earned the Bug Badge...her face never faded from is mind...How could he not have realized it earlier? "Iris was right...I'm such a kid..." he mumbled.
"Huh?" That wasn't the reaction Serena was expecting.
He grabbed her hand. "No! Someday, we'll win!" he corrected her.
Her Ash was back. She nodded, a hint of pink on her cheeks.
And on his, too.
So! What did you think? Not my best work, I know. But I had to write it because...why not?
I'm REALLY hoping that Episode 38's title means that Ash won't lose the Kalos League, though. August can't come fast enough!