Confessions

Serena sat alone on the bed in Bonnie's room squeezing a darumaka doll tightly.

Hey, Ash? Will we be together from now on?

Isn't it obvious? Of course

Yeah! We will be together forever!

She hasn't forgotten that conversation that happened after their adventure in the Reflection Cave. It gave her so much encouragement and happiness to carry on and spend her heart with friends that she adored. However…

Serena put the doll aside and retrieved her dairy from her bag; three pictures fell onto her lap. The one they took with Korrina – Gym leader of Shalor Gym, the one they took with Shauna, Tierno, and Trevor during Summer Camp as well as the most recent picture just before Ash's challenge at the Kalos Champion League with the four of them. Serena dubbed the picture as the 'Winners' picture'.

Serena held the picture close to her heart,

This picture signifies the end of our journey

Serena blinked hard and rubbed away her tears quickly, thinking that she should behave normally when the younger girl returns; she returned all the pictures into her bag.

At that moment, the door clicked open. Serena dived into the blankets and turned quickly to face the wall next to her.

Bonnie entered the room quietly and whispered "Serena? Are you asleep?"

When there was no reply, Bonnie climbed into Serena's bed and leaned against her back.

"Sorry…" Bonnie said, burying her head into the pillow.

Serena felt her heart clench painfully when she heard the words.

Bonnie began to rub her head left to right slowly, "I wished we could have travelled more too…" her voice muffled, but Serena could hear a distinct sob.

Serena could not bear the ache any longer and turned over and realized that Bonnie was also looking in her direction; her eyes and nose red.

"Don't cry…" Serena said trembling as warm tears formed in her eyes.

Bonnie crawled into Serena arms and hugged her tight, "I'll miss…you…" before breaking down.

Serena who had been holding back her own emotional burden, broke down as well. "I will miss you so much, Bonnie." She told her between shaking voices and uncontrolled tears.

(Start of flash back)

Half an Hour ago

"What?" Bonnie exclaimed at what she had heard from Clemont.

They had just heard the decision Clemont had made during dinner about their future. Both Serena and Ash were shocked, but Bonnie was outright devastated.

"I don't want this…"

"I'm sorry Bonnie, but it is time I take the place at the gym." Clemont told her calmly but Ash could tell that he was shaking beneath his skin.

Bonnie stared at her brother then at the note he had within his hands, "But why…I want to travel more with Ash and Serena"

"I know…" Clemont told her, though his gaze was on Ash who nodded, "We understand" Serena nodded along with Ash though half-heartedly. What she had feared was coming true after all…

Bonnie sat back down in her chair and sulked heavily, Clemont on the other hand looked as though he wished that he had not made the decision. All four of them remained quiet for ten minutes.

"I enjoyed the times we had together, Ash and Serena; thank you so much!" Clemont said bowing deeply, it was so sudden that Ash almost fell of his chair and Serena made a soft yelp. Bonnie peeped over her propped arms.

"Don't mention it, Clemont." Ash said, and put his hand Clemont's shoulders. "We wouldn't have gotten this far without your genius ideas and inventions as well."

Serena pushed her intense emotions deep, she too approached Clemont and gave him a small smile "You were amazing." She said, trying hard to suppress her sadness.

Hey, Ash? Will we be together from now on?

Isn't it obvious? Of course

Yeah! We will be together forever!

Serena remembered a precious past memory and all of the sudden; her smile disappeared replacing it with a frown and a single tear.

"Serena!" Clemont yelped, and Ash stared at her bewildered.

Serena noticed the warm tear slide down her cheeks and in a flash of embarrassment; she skidded across the hall and up the stairs at top speed.

Serena ran into Bonnie's room and grabbed a Darumaka soft toy and buried her face within it….she had prayed so hard, so many times…but they were of no use…separation was inevitable…

(End of Flash Back)

Clemont paced around his bed room, had I make the correct choice? What if this is not the best option?

Clemont slumped into bed, and closed his eyes; trying to shut his thoughts out from his mind. Come on, please… He found himself chanting relentlessly, but his mind would not rest; images of his father, Bonnie and his friends kept appearing.

He tossed himself to the right and opened his eyes; he stared at his Aipom Bag at the corner for a minute or so before forcing himself to sit up. Clemont approached his bag and unzipped it; he began to rummage the first compartment until he felt a thin piece of paper, which he pulled out gently.

At that moment, Ash entered the room after having his shower with Pikachu perched on its owner's shoulders. Clemont jumped a little when he heard the door creak open, but relaxed when he realized who it was.

"What are you looking at?" Ash asked curiously, Pikachu jumped off his shoulders and snuggled up next to Clemont. Ash sat next to the Clemont, and Pikachu jumped into his lap.

"A picture of us before your challenge at the Kalos League" Clemont showed him the picture and Ash took a closer look, It has been over a year since they had started out on the journey in Kalos together…

"We have all changed so much, all thanks to our adventures as well as the people we have met." Ash commented, with a grin on his face. Clemont nodded in agreement, "Do you still remember how we met?" Ash peered at his friend before making a thumb up sign, "Of course, your gym threw me out and you saved our life" Pikachu purred and licked Clemont's fingers gently as though showing its thanks as well.

"You encouraged me to go for an adventure…" Clemont was interrupted mid-way.

"I did not do much; remember that was your idea to travel along with me..." Ash told him firmly, with a smile on his face.

Ash extended his hands towards Clemont, "We started at your gym and now we are ending it at your gym", "I am sure you will do very well as an official gym leader, have more confidence!" Ash added in with an afterthought.

Clemont looked from the extended hand to the kind smile on Ash's face.

"I understand." Clemont who felt much more determined and calm returned the brotherly hand shake.

They exchanged a moment of empowerment before getting ready for bed, Ash tucked himself in the sleeping bag while Clemont went to close the window; he stuck his head out and noticed the windows in the girls room were still open; which also meant that Bonnie and Serena were awake.

Clemont returned to his bed, his thoughts went to Serena and Bonnie whose reactions earlier to his decisions were not something he had expected. Serena cried.

"Ash?" Clemont piped up suddenly, Ash who was half drifting into dream land jerked awake.

"What's the matter?"

"What are your plans from now on?" Clemont asked curiously.

Ash opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling, "I guess… I will keep travelling to other new region and discover new pokemon; becoming a pokemon master!"

Clemont sniggered, I know the answer would be something like this however, and there was something else to know.

"What about Serena?"

Ash blinked a couple of times, apparently confused at the question. "What do you mean 'what about Serena'?" I did not expect Serena's name to be mentioned

Clemont rolled to the side of the bed and propped himself up, he stared at Ash for a moment and considered his speechless friend. Didn't you like her?

"I just thought…" Clemont started to speak, but stopped half way when he realized that his assumptions might have been wrong. Maybe I should not confront him this way.

"Why? What?" Ash asked curious and appalled that Serena's name would pop up, it seemed as though he did not know something.

Clemont paused then shake his head slowly, "No, I thought maybe you might know what her plans was." This is more normal then asking if he liked her as much as she does towards him.

"I don't know her plans." Ash replied simply.

Clemont rolled over and stared at the window, "Don't you like her?"

Ash sat up so quickly that Pikachu rolled away from his chest, "I like her?!" he exclaimed, shocked and embarrassed at the same time. Clemont stared at his friend and appalled at his extreme reactions.

(Right outside the boy's room door)

In the dark corridor, Serena who had come over to talk to ash about their arrangements the next day paused when she heard the conversation.

Don't you like her?

Serena pressed her ears close to the door, both her heart and soul eager and itching for his reply. She had waited for this day for so long and she did not have to ask him herself which would have been too embarrassing…

No, I don't like her.

Serena thought she had heard it wrongly, but that can't be… she cupped her hands to her mouth to prevent her from making a sound; it was like lightning that stroke her heart, breaking it into pieces.

Serena backed away from the door and had her back against the wall opposite, her hands shaking uncontrollably. Ash really has no feelings for her…

She placed her right hand down on the right with such force, that the impact it made with the wall was an audible sound.

"Ouch!" Serena yelped recoiling from the painful contact.

The door creaked open; Serena peered up and saw Ash looking at her with a mortified expression. His eyes travelled down to the hand which she had hurt, it was beginning to turn red.

"Are you okay?!" Ash exclaimed, he moved closer and his hands were getting close to hers.

Serena nodded furiously; she did not make any further eye contact with him. She held her pained hand with the other.

"Good night!" She said, before dashing away down the corridor.

Clemont approached Ash, "What happened?" he asked the other concerned at the noise he heard.

"Serena's hurt…" Ash said, then like a bullet that hit him in the head, he turned sharply and ran down the corridor towards the girl's room.

"Serena!" He called out, pounding the door hard. And after three seconds, a sleepy Bonnie opened the door; she gave a big yawn before addressing Ash.

"Whaa?"

"Where is Serena?"

Bonnie blinked sleepily, she looked around the room and then back at Ash, "She is not here…"

Someone else came thundering towards the room, both Bonnie and Ash stared as Clemont approached them with a worried look, "The door was open, I think Serena might have went out of the house!"

Ash felt his heart tighten for reasons he could not explain, he remembered her hurt hand and the look on her face before running away from him. He swore there were tears falling from her eyes…but why?

Ash and Pikachu raced out of the house, it was chilly at 3am in the morning and there was not even a soul left on the streets.

"Serena!" Ash shouts, "Where are you?"

Silence….