Hello there, and welcome to this new story! I've had this idea in the works for a while, and I hope you enjoy this story! I've had some help from some great friends to proofread and comment on it, and I've got lots of plans ahead! But for now, let's get to it!
Pokémon XY&Z: The ABC's of Love
Chapter 1: A Bridge to Separation! A Bad Day that Starts Bad!
Pocket Monsters, or "Pokémon" for short: The strange, mysterious lifeforms on this planet. In the forests, in the skies, in the seas… Wherever you were in the world, you were sure to see them. Five hundred… six hundred… seven hundred… too many to really know the full scope. Your time would be better spent numbering the stars, or counting the leaves on a tree, or the ripples in a pond.
We found ourselves in the Kalos Region. One of the many regions this world had been divided into, home to a multitude of people and Pokémon. Each of those people and Pokémon, dreaming a multitude of dreams. There are as many adventures as there are dreams… each Pokémon and each person reaching towards a dream to make their very own.
One such young man took a bite from an apple before handing it off to his shoulder bound partner. This brown-eyed young man with raven-black hair was Ash Ketchum of Pallet Town. Together, with his partner Pikachu, he continued his never-ending journey to perfect the art of the Pokémon Battle, with his dream of becoming a Pokémon Master acting as a near inexhaustible source of fuel for him. Ash walked at the head of the group of four travelers with confidence, his eyes focused forward as he grips the brim of his cap. His thoughts were filled with the next battle on his way to the Kalos League.
A short distance behind him walked a young woman with honey-blonde hair, absently playing with her handheld computer guidebook. The girl's name was Serena, and with her partners Braixen, Pancham, and Sylveon, she challenged the Pokémon Showcases of the Kalos Region, aiming to claim victory in the Rookie Class Showcases and enter the Master Class, with her ultimate goal of being crowned Kalos Queen, the best Pokémon Performer in the region. Having lost the most recent Master Class, she traveled with Ash to continue to learn and develop her skills. She shot Ash the occasional glance and found herself smiling. The pride of Pallet Town always made her feel warm and happy, and this day was no exception.
Behind Ash and Serena were two blonde siblings. The older, a young man whose name was Clemont, lags behind the younger, a girl named Bonnie. Clemont struggles with his heavy bag, which contained, among other things, the camping gear for the entire party as well as his suite of homemade machines, which he used to help his friends out of many situations. This unassuming young man, with his partners Bunnelby, Chespin, and Luxray, was the brilliant Gym Leader of Lumiose City, whose dream it was to be an inventor who makes all people and Pokémon happy. His little sister Bonnie had a simple dream, to one day be a Pokémon Trainer like her friends. Until that day comes, she stored the dreams of travelling in her head as she took care of the Dedenne her brother allows her to keep, as well as the mysterious green Pokémon known only as Squishy, in preparation for becoming a trainer.
Four young hearts, beating with four young dreams. Unfortunately, there would be a bump in the road for our heroes, one that would shake their dreams and change the path of their adventure. For there was not much one can do when the bridge was out but find a new way to proceed…
"Clemont, why can't you walk even a little bit faster?" Bonnie huffed as she walked backwards, holding her hands behind her head.
The inventor sighed. "It's not a big deal, Bonnie. We're in no rush. The Pokémon Center isn't very far. We'll easily get there by nightfall."
Serena closed her guidebook. "That's a relief! I can't wait until we get there! A nice hot shower will be just what the doctor ordered!"
Ash scratched Pikachu's head as he took the apple back after his partner took a bite. "A nice warm bed'll be great, too," he added. "I know we're in the mountains but it's been real cold the past few nights."
"Do you think maybe we'll see snow?!" Bonnie asked, turning around towards Ash as they walked.
"I'm pretty sure it's still too warm for that," Clemont added, stepping forward a bit more quickly to catch up with the group. "We've only just now entered autumn, so you're probably waiting a few months for any snow."
"You're no fun…" his sister pouted.
"Hey, the fall can be pretty fun, too," Ash said, looking back at her. "Lotsa stuff is ready to eat in the fall, and there's lotsa reasons to get together to eat all sorts of great food!"
Serena giggled. "Ash, sometimes it seems like the only thing you think about is food."
"Nah, 'course not," he said proudly, refocusing his sights on the path ahead. "I also think about battles!"
"Pikachu…" the Electric-Type sighed, exasperated with his single-minded companion.
The whole party had a healthy chuckle as they rose over the hill, overlooking the next leg of their journey. Serena felt a chill down her spine as she took it in. The path ahead of them sloped back down towards a cliff. A rope bridge connected this side of the cliff to the other, crossing over a steep drop into the valley below, and the sharp-eyed performer could already tell that the wind blowing through the valley below was enough to cause the bridge to rock gently. Her once fluid walking seized as her shoulders tensed.
"Serena, what's up?" Ash asked, stopping his own movement.
The performer was suddenly experiencing a bit of stage fright. "It's noth-I mean, I'm-"
"Ash, you know she's afraid of heights!" Bonnie butted in.
"Bonnie!" Serena placed a finger in front of her mouth. "No I'm not!"
The smaller girl pouted. "You act like nobody knows."
Ash looked at Serena for a moment, running through his past interactions with the honey-blonde girl through his head. "Are you really afraid of heights, Serena?"
Embarrassed, she shook her head. "No, it's not like that. I'm fine with heights, it's the bridge I'm not crazy about…"
Clemont adjusted his glasses. "Did something happen to you on a rope bridge once, Serena?"
The girl shuddered. "Honestly, I'd rather not talk about it… can we just keep moving?"
Ash nodded. "Right, no point worryin' over the past, is there? Let's keep going."
The troupe agreed and continued their way towards the bridge. The girl from Vaniville tried to psyche herself up for it, with little results. 'It's going to be fine!' she thought. 'That bridge is at least twice as wide as the last one and it's not even half as wobbly! It'll be fine! It won't be like-"
A strong gust blew through the chasm, causing the bridge to rock just as Bonnie was about to take her first step upon its planks, causing Serena to reach out and grab her by the shoulders until the wind passed.
"Geez, Serena, you sure are scared of a little wind," Bonnie said.
Clemont came up behind her. "I hate to say it, but she's right. Are you sure you're alright, Serena?"
Ash frowned. "Maybe we could find another way…"
Serena quickly dismissed the suggestion. "N-no way!" she exclaimed, shaking her head. "We're so close to Snowbelle City! We don't need a detour now." She took a breath and looked to her friends. "I'll be okay… I just need to take my time, that's all."
Ash frowned for a moment before looking to the blonde siblings. "Clemont, Bonnie, you two go on across. I'll walk Serena across after you two make it."
Clemont nodded. "Right, good idea." He gave the downtrodden girl a smile. "You'll see that it's safe, Serena. Just wait here with Ash, alright?"
"Oh-Okay…" she said, giving a nod back.
Bonnie was already on the bridge. "C'mon, Clemont! Let's go! I wanna see if there's any Pokémon on that side of the gorge!"
The inventor chuckled to himself before starting to follow his sister across.
Serena's wavering eyes watched as the bridge swayed with each plodding step Clemont took.
"You really don't like rope bridges, do you, Serena?"
Serena's thoughts were interrupted by Ash's observation. She shook her head. "They just seem really unsafe, you know?" she said, running her hand through her hair, taking care not to knock her red fedora off. "One gust and you could go over."
"Clemont's right though, Serena," Ash said. "I'm sure it's perfectly safe. You'll see."
"We're here!" Bonnie called out. The two trainers who had yet to cross the bridge looked across to where the sibling duo had just finished. "That wasn't bad at all!"
"The supports keep the bridge perfectly safe," Clemont noted. "You both should have zero problems crossing it."
Serena swallowed, looking at the bridge. "Well… here we go…"
Ash stepped in front of her. "Just follow me close, okay Serena?" he asked. "I'll make sure you don't fall."
Serena nodded. "Thank you, Ash."
Ash began walking cross the wooden bridge, with Serena's hands clutching his backpack as if it were the only thing keeping her on the ground. The girl felt the bridge swaying under her steps, but kept her pace with Ash. "W-We're crossing it," she said, keeping her eyes glued to the back of Ash's head. "We're almost there."
"See? I told you, there's nothing to it," Ash responded. "Nothing's gonna go wrong."
Suddenly, a cloud of black smoke exploded all around Ash and Serena, choking them and blinding their vision.
"Ash! Serena!" Clemont and Bonnie called out in surprise.
"What's going on here?" Ash asked, choking on the smoke. He heard something zip past his ear, and suddenly his shoulder felt much lighter.
As the smoke cleared, it was clear that Pikachu was gone.
"What the? Who did that?" Ash shouted, looking up.
A rolling laughter all too familiar to Ash and his friends roared over them as the easily recognizable Meowth-shaped balloon hovered overhead.
"If you have to ask, you should prepare for trouble!"
"You twerps can't last to make it double!"
Two people and one Pokémon were standing in the balloon overlooking them. The magenta-haired woman spoke first.
"To protect the world from devastation!"
The man with indigo-hair responded.
"To unite all peoples within our nation!"
"To denounce the evils of truth and love!"
"To extend our reach to the stars above!"
"Jessie!"
"James!"
"Team Rocket blasts off at the speed of light!"
"Surrender now or prepare to fight!"
"Meowth, dat's right!" The Pokémon among them finally spoke up, the golden charm glittering on his forehead.
"Pikapi!" called the muffled voice of Pikachu from the glass orb held in Meowth's paws.
"Team Rocket!" Ash called through clenched teeth. "Give Pikachu back right now!"
James stuck his tongue out while Jessie laughed. "Please," the woman's blue eyes shone as she spoke, "Like we'd listen to a twerp."
"If you want a Pikachu, you should find another one," James taunted.
"But den we'd steal DAT one, too!" the Scratch Cat Pokémon laughed.
Growling, Ash took a Poké Ball from his belt and enlarged it. "If that's how you wanna do it, then Talonflame, I choose you!"
Ash threw the ball into the air which snapped open, and the explosion of light and energy released his Talonflame, screeching and ready to go.
Clemont reached into the pockets in his jumpsuit and pulled out a Poké Ball of his own. "Chespin, let's help out!" he called, opening the ball in his hands.
"Yeah, get'em big brother!" Bonnie cheered. From Clemont's Poké Ball emerged the Grass-Type, ready and raring for battle.
Serena, meanwhile, could only notice that the bridge was continuing to sway. Her brain was telling her to help her friends against the persistent troublemakers, but she couldn't manage to move an inch.
Team Rocket glanced at each other, gritting their teeth. "Well, if the twerps wanna play, Gourgeist will show them on their way!"
"Inkay, into the fray!"
The two villains threw their own Poké Balls, sending out their Pokémon to do battle.
"Talonflame, use Flame Charge!"
"Gourgeist, use Shadow Ball!"
"Chespin, Pin Missile!"
"Inkay, Psybeam!"
The Scorching Pokémon cloaked himself in flames, the heat boosting his speed as he charged towards Gourgeist. The Grass-and-Ghost-Type fired several volleys of ghostly orbs at Talonflame, but Ash's Pokémon was simply too fast, and cleanly evaded the attack. Talonflame crashed into Gourgeist, sending it careening backwards towards Team Rocket's balloon. At the same time, Inkay flipped upside-down and fired a ray of psychokinetic energy at Chespin. The Spiny Nut Pokémon's quills began to glow just before he shot them off towards the Dark-and-Psychic-Type, flying through the air. Some of them crashed into the beam, but two of them struck Inkay, causing the levitating Pokémon to fall somewhat.
Gourgeist's body collided with the basket that Team Rocket was standing in, causing them to rattle about the confined space. Meowth dropped the glass container holding Pikachu, and the orb shattered, freeing the Electric-type. Pikachu leapt onto the edge of the balloon and took a defensive stance, his cheeks sparking.
Meowth gasped. "Pikachu's on da run!"
Jessie turned to Meowth. "Well, don't just stand there! Grab it!"
"Chespin, use Vine Whip!"
Clemont's Grass-Type extended two vines from his neck, slinging them forward, crashing into Inkay and knocking it into the basket as well. The shaking caused Pikachu to stumble, almost losing his footing from his perch.
"Talonflame, dive through there and Pikachu, you jump on!" Ash commanded.
The Fire-and-Flying-type dove straight through the gap between the basket and the balloon, and with lightning-quickness, Pikachu jumped onto the bird Pokémon's back.
"Stop them before they get away!" Jessie ordered her teammates. "We almost had it that time!"
"Inkay, use tackle on that twerpy Talonflame!" James ordered.
"Pin Missile again!"
Clemont's Chespin grinned as he fired another volley at Team Rocket's Pokémon, cutting off any attempt at stopping Pikachu and Talonflame.
Ash's flying Pokémon came back to his trainer and Pikachu jumped off onto Ash's shoulder. The brown-eyed trainer laughed, hugging his partner. "I'm glad you're safe, buddy. How about we send Team Rocket on their way?"
"Pika!" he responded, pumping his fist.
"Gourgeist, use Seed Bomb on those twerps!"
Shouting angrily, Gourgeist spat a cluster of explosive seeds at Ash. "Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!"
Pikachu leapt from Ash's shoulder and discharged a bolt of electricity from his body towards Team Rocket's Balloon. The Thunderbolt struck Gourgeist, knocked it back into the balloon, and then caused the entire thing to explode.
However, the Seed Bomb attack struck the bridge that Ash and Serena were standing on, causing it to shake wildly. Serena screamed as she lost her footing and fell down. Seeing his companion fall, Ash quickly turned to her. "Serena!" He reached for her hand and caught it just before she fell all the way down on the bridge.
"We're blasting off again!" shouted Team Rocket as the explosion launched them over the horizon, far and away from Ash and his friends.
Serena shivered on the shaky bridge, not even registering that Ash had caught her hand until he began speaking again. "Serena, are you alright?" he asked.
Her eyes still shut, she nodded. "I really really want to get off this bridge and onto something solid right now," she said, trying to keep her tears in.
"Well, Team Rocket's gone. We're safe now." Ash said calmly, helping her to her feet.
"Pikapi!" Pikachu called, climbing up Ash's shoulder. While Ash was smiling at his partner, the Mouse Pokémon had a worried look on his face as he pointed towards the end of the bridge.
The trainer from Pallet Town had spoken too soon.
"Ash! The bridge!" Clemont shouted.
Ash and Serena looked toward the side of the valley that Clemont and Bonnie were on, and saw that the bridge's planks were splintered from the Seed Bomb attack. Ash also quickly noticed that the ropes holding the bridge were beginning to break. "Oh no, the bridge!"
The blonde siblings both gasped. "Ash! Serena!"
Thinking quickly, he pulled Serena up and close to him, holding her close. 'I can't get Serena across this bridge fast enough! We'll never make it!' "Talonflame, com'ere quick!" Talonflame swooped down towards his trainer. "Grab my arm! You gotta keep us from falling too hard!"
Just as Talonflame nodded, the ropes supporting the bridge were beginning to snap. He quickly reached down with his talons, grabbing Ash's free arm and extending his wings. As the bridge fell from under them, Serena screamed, clutching Ash's jacket in her hands. Ash held her close, and Talonflame flapped his wings with as much force as he could muster. It wouldn't be an easy landing, but it wouldn't be dangerous one, either.
Ash held Serena as the two of them crashed into the ground, Talonflame only slowing their descent just enough. The ends of the valley now looked more like a canyon from the bottom. Ash grunted, laying on his back with the performer on top of him. His arm, which the Scorching Pokémon released felt like it was burning, but he had a more pressing concern. "Serena, are you alright?"
Serena opened her eyes. They had stopped moving and everything but the two of their breathing was still. She looked up at Ash, seeing the gentle worry in his brown eyes. "I'm alright… thank you Ash," she said, smiling as she sat up.
Then her eyes caught Ash's arm, and the gash left there by the talon of the Fire-type. "Ash, your arm!" Blood was running down his arm where Talonflame had gripped him to slow his descent.
Ash gritted his teeth. "It coulda been worse, right? I'll take a little cut over breaking a bone any day," he said, forcing a smile through the pain.
"Let me handle this," Serena said, moving around Ash and getting into his backpack. "Do you have your first aid kit still?"
Ash and Clemont were in charge of carrying the first aid supplies for the group, Clemont for Bonnie's sake, and Ash for his own. But the trainer chuckled. "Uh, sorry Serena. I think I forgot to restock back in the last town."
Serena whimpered as she dug through his backpack for something when she saw it. A familiar blue handkerchief. Taking it, she quickly took Ash's arm and tied it around where he had been cut, giving it a tight tug to make sure it would apply even pressure over the cut.
Ash clenched his teeth. "Th-thanks, Serena," he said with a grin.
"Ash! Serena! Can you hear me?" Clemont's voice rang from above them.
Bonnie's voice followed with a question. "Are you two alright?"
"We're alright!" Ash shouted as Serena finished adjusting the handkerchief.
Talonflame approached Ash and cawed sadly. Ash raised his bandaged arm and scratched under the Pokémon's beak. "It's alright, Talonflame. You were just doing what I asked. Thanks for saving us."
Serena smiled at Talonflame as well. "Thank you, Talonflame. You were a real hero today."
The bird Pokémon opened his wings and threw them around Ash and Serena, his Flame Body glowing warmly for a moment in gratitude.
"Are you two stuck down there?" Bonnie asked from above.
Serena looked up. They had really fallen far. The tattered remains of the bridge hung above their head, completely unusable now. "I don't think we're coming back up!"
Clemont shouted down. "There has to be another way, then!"
Serena took her computerized guide from her pocket and opened it. She smiled. "It looks like if we follow the path through the valley, we can make it to the same Pokémon Center we were already headed to before nightfall," she said.
Ash looked up. "Keep heading to the Pokémon Center!" he shouted. "We'll meet you there tonight, we promise!"
Clemont hesitated for a moment, and then looked at Bonnie. "Alright, Ash. But if you two don't make it, we're going to be looking for you!"
"You've got it!" Ash responded.
With that, Clemont and Bonnie turned from the cliff and began walking down the path towards the Pokémon Center.
Bonnie tugged at the sleeve of her brother's jumpsuit. "Do you think they'll be alright?"
Clemont pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "I'm sure Ash and Serena will be alright, Bonnie. This whole thing will end up being nothing more than another bump in the road."
She sighed. "I hope you're right…"
Meanwhile, at the bottom of the valley, Serena helped Ash to his feet. "Thanks, Serena," he said while scratching his nose. "Let's get going."
"Right," she said, nodding. "But be careful to pace yourself. We both just took a pretty hard fall."
Ash recalled Talonflame into his Poké Ball. "Don't worry, it'll be fine," he said, dismissing the worry. "Let's hurry and meet up with Clemont and Bonnie before dinner. I'm getting hungry!"
To Be Continued...
"Alright everyone! Let's go together! Towards our next adventure!"
"Falling off that bridge didn't feel so good, but Serena and I are okay! We'll make it to the Pokémon Center!"
"Ash?! It's starting to rain!"
"Aah! Let's find someplace safe!"
"You know, Ash, falling off that bridge, it reminds me of this time when I was a kid..."
"Next time, Pokémon XY&Z: The ABC's of Love! Marshmallows and Memories! The Story of the Falling Bridge!"
"Everyone, go catch'em all!"