Chapter 1—Reunion
Ash, Clemont, Bonnie and Serena are on Route 15 heading to Lumiose City. It's a beautiful cloudy day and the wind whispers softly on their direction. They had just finished eating lunch: Clemont's yummy spaghetti. Ash has already 4 of the 8 gym badges and they are ready to go to Clemont's gym for Ash to challenge him to win the Electric Type-gym medal.
—Doesn't the wind feel nice in your hair Ash? —Serena asked with curiosity as she saw Ash's hair moving due to the wind.
—I guess so. I can't wait to get to Lumiose City to challenge you Clemont! —Ketchum exclaimed with energy. Serena got a little bit irritated because Ash seemed not to care about her opinion.
—All you want to do is fight, you never let your Pokémon rest—Clemont said laughing.
—Pikachu!
—I guess Pikachu wants to fight too—Bonnie said smiling as Pikachu and Dedenne kept walking in front of the group.
The forest was making a beautiful sound just like if Meloetta was singing. Suddenly the Pokémon trainer from Pallet Town's stomach made a strong sound even louder than the sound of the trees moving.
—Are you always hungry? —Serena asked laughing.
—I guess. Look! There's a berry bush there! —he said energetically. He and his Pikachu ran so fast to get to the bush so they could get some berries for the group.
—Be careful! It can be a poisonous bush! —Serena yelled worried about her childhood crush.
—Ow! —a mysterious boy yelled after Ash pulled his maroon hairs thinking they were a branch of berries.
—I'm sorry!
—Well, well, well. Look who's here. Ashy boy! —Gary exclaimed standing up with a bowl filled with berries.
—Pikachu! —the Pokémon exclaimed full of happiness jumping into Gary and standing on his shoulder.
—What did he just call him? And why did Pikachu jumped to him like that?—Serena asked jealously.
—Ashy boy? —Bonnie answered with confusion—he's really handsome!
—Don't repeat that!
—But you just…
—Shut up Bonnie!
—Gary! It's been so long! —Ash exclaimed with lots of excitation. He couldn't resist hugging his childhood's best friend so tenderly.
—Why is he hugging that strange guy like that?
—I don't know, maybe they are old friends—Clemont answered thoughtfully.
—I know Ashy boy. Of all the places in the world, I never thought I'd be running into you near the capital of love—Gary said laughing.
—That boy really annoys me! —Serena said angrily.
—And what are you doing here? —Ash questioned with curiosity.
—I'm doing some research for Professor Rowan. I'm working with him and he sent me to make an investigation about Yvetal and Xerneas, the legendary Pokémon of Kalos.
—Really? That sounds very interesting!
—It's rather boring. But let's talk about you. Who are your friends? —Gary said so Ash could get them into their conversation.
—Well, this is Clemont. He's the leader of the Electric-type gym here in Lumiose City.
—Nice to meet you.
—Nice to meet you too. Hey! He's like that red-haired girl you travelled with in Kanto. She was a gym leader too, right?
—What? —Serena asked jealously in her mind.
—This is Bonnie. She's Clemont's sister.
—Oh my God! You're so handsome! Can I hug you? —Bonnie asked hugging Gary without his permission.
—Sure. You're a cute girl—Gary said smiling.
—Oh my God! He said I'm cute!
—Excuse her please—Clemont said ashamed of his sister's behavior.
—Don't worry.
—Aren't you going to introduce me Ash?
—Of course. She's Serena—Ash said smiling.
—Is that all you're saying about me?
—Nice to meet you Serena.
—Oh, nice to meet you…
—Oh right! His name is Gary. He's my childhood's best friend. We grew up in Pallet Town together. He is professor Oak's grandson.
Serena got frustrated that Ash introduced Gary saying a lot of things about him and just introduced her with her name.
—You're professor Oak's grandson? —Bonnie questioned excited.
—Ashy boy, you didn't have to say that.
—Ah! —Bonnie exclaimed hugging Gary again.
—Isn't this girl cute? —Gary said laughing.
—It must be very cool to be professor Oak's grandson—Clemont said.
—It's not that special but well, it is cool to grow up in a place full of Pokémon if that's what you mean.
—And so? Where's your Umbreon?
—She's back in our Investigation Centre in Lumiose City, I went to Dendemille Town to pick up something Professor Rowan left me there with one of his colleagues. Now I'm going back to Lumiose City and I picked up these berries for eating on my way. If you guys need any feel free to pick some—Gary said with tremendous sympathy.
—Great! Come with us! We're going to Lumiose City too—Ash said happily that he could travel with his old friend once more.
Ash's invitation to Gary to travel with them crashed Serena's pride because she thought it was special when Ash invited her to travel with him. She was sure of one thing; she didn't like Gary Oak at all. For some reason Gary seemed familiar for her but she couldn't remember why, just like Ash couldn't remember when he met her. What a coincidence!
Ash, Gary, Clemont, Serena and Bonnie started traveling together. Lumiose City was still far, about two days walking since they had to pass Route 15 and Route 16 to get to Kalos capital. It was about two hours of a conversation of the group learning more about Gary, especially Bonnie and Ash. Serena didn't show her irritation nor her boredom.
—You've changed.
—Really? How's that? —Gary asked surprised.
—You're not that annoying as before.
—I guess it's because I'm way more mature now. My life as a Pokémon researcher has done that. I can annoy you if you want to—Gary said taking Ash's head and playing with his hair.
—Stop it!
—God! Stop that now! Stop it! —Serena shouted inside of her head.
—Gary was here, Ash is a loser—Gary said laughing—oh my God! I can't believe I wrote that on that fence almost six years ago.
The time passed by so fast, it was seven o' clock and the sky went starry. It was a beautiful night. They were just a few miles from Lumiose City now. Route 16 was very close from their current location.
—I guess we're going to camp here. Is it okay for you? —Ash questioned Gary. It was clear that he cared about his opinion.
—Sure but I don't have any sleeping bag.
—That's no problem. I have an extra one—Clemont said giving Gary his extra sleeping bag.
—Thank you so much.
—Are you going to sleep already? —Bonnie asked surprised.
—Yes, I woke up very early today. I'll see you guys tomorrow. Have a good night—Gary said walking a few steps apart and opened his bag to sleep on it.
—Well Clemont, will you help me get some firewood?
—Sure Ash, let's go.
—I'm going to walk around. Are you going to be ok? —Serena asked worried about Bonnie staying alone.
—Of course. I'm with Gary—Bonnie said happily.
—Ok.
It didn't take long before Ash and Clemont got back with lots of firewood and lighted a bonfire.
—I want to eat marshmallows! —Bonnie exclaimed energetically.
—Be quiet! Gary's sleeping! —Ash said with a low voice.
—I'm sorry.
—Here, just don't eat too much because then you won't be able to sleep—said Clemont giving his sister a bag of marshmallows.
After half hour they started to get worried about Serena who had not gotten back yet.
—Serena hasn't come back. I'm worried.
—Don't worry sis. I'll go look for her.
—No, I'll go look for her. You guys stay here and take care of Gary—Ash said taking a lamp and getting into the forest.
—Be careful!
Ash got into the thick, dark forest. There wasn't any signal of the girl. He saw lots of nocturnal Pokémon instead.
—Serena? Are you there? —Ash questioned hoping for her to hear him.
He walked until he got near the river. Serena was there having a shower in the water.
—Serena!
—Ash! Oh, don't look! —Serena exclaimed nervous because she was on a pink bikini suit.
—What are you doing? You're going to get sick!
—I can do what I want. Now go away!
—Get out the water. We're worried about you and we're all going to sleep now.
—Fine! —Serena said angry. She got out of the water and put on her clothes again. As she didn't have a towel her clothes got wet too.
—I can't believe you just did that, and without a towel.
—I wanted to take a shower and that's it. You don't need to blame me for that.
—By the way it was a nice bikini—Ash said laughing.
—Shut up! —Serena shouted as she got blushed. However she took very well this little compliment from Ketchum even though it was just a simple joke—you know, we met on a forest just like this.
—I remember that.
—Really?
—Of course. Professor's Oak camp was on a forest. If it hadn't been on a forest then it wouldn't have been a camp—said Ash laughing.
—Yeah—Serena said discouraged—so you still not remember?
—I'm sorry.
—That's fine. As I said, you'll remember soon—she said smiling.
—I hope I will—he said smiling too.
—Ash?
—Yup?
—That friend of yours, Gary…—she said kind of nervous.
—Yes?
—…nothing, just ignore it—she said looking down.
—What's going on Sere? Is there something wrong?
—No! Nothing at all—she said embarrassed.
—Well, let's get going. I'm very tired and I want to sleep.
Ash and Serena finally got where the others were. Bonnie, Gary, Dedenne and Pikachu were already asleep and Clemont was there waiting.
—What happened? —Clemont asked surprised when he saw Serena's clothes all wet.
—Nothing. Good night—Serena said getting into her sleeping bag without changing clothes.
—Well bro, I'm going to sleep, tomorrow is going to be a tiring day too, good night—Ash said yawning and getting into his sleeping bag.
—Good night Ash, sleep well—Clemont said smiling and getting into his sleeping bag too.