A/N: Oh. My. Gods. You guys are the BEST FANS EVER! I'm a first time fanwriter and you all give me 3 followers and 2 favorites! This helps me so much because it motivates me to keep writing.

Reviews are appreciated!

As Serena moved along the route, she trailed behind slightly. She couldn't help feeling depressed. Surely, Ash would fall in love with one of the other girls, right? They all look so attractive, and nice, too. Why would he ever want to fall in love with me? Serena didn't notice Ash looking concernedly at her, as she was deep in a train of thought.

"Serena? You okay? You've been spacing out a lot lately..."

Serena was jolted out of her thoughts. She blushed and said, "N-no! It's fine! I'm fine! Why wouldn't I be?" I hope my lie is convincing enough...

"All right, if that's true..." He began to walk slightly faster, as to catch up with the rest of the group.

"Wait! Ash!" As she reached out to grip his hand, Serena's sudden burst of confidence surprised even herself. "A-actually, maybe tonight, um, I could have a, er, quick talk with you tonight? I-I mean, I just wanted to tell you something..." She was turning redder and redder by the second. "Sure!" Ash smiled his trademark toothy grin. He, however, was uncomfortably aware that his cheeks were starting to heat up as he realized that she was gripping his hand. Quickly, Serena pulled back her hand. I have to admit though, as uncomfortable it was at first, it was actually...sorta nice. As Ash was thinking this, he suddenly realized that he had never thought stuff like that before. His cheeks reddened slightly. He smiled at Serena. She nodded quickly and ran off to catch up with Clemont and Bonnie.

Yes! SUCCESS!

When she caught up with the two blonde siblings, they immediately noticed her wide smile. As Ash ran ahead of them, all depressing thoughts had completely dissipated from Serena's head, as she smiled happily at both of them. "Serena? Why are you acting-oh." Bonnie immediately guessed the source of Serena's bright smile. Being the nosy little sister she was, she pressured Serena (read: blackmailed) until finally she cracked and revealed everything. Soon, sometimes at night they would discuss Serena's huge crush-maybe even love-towards Ash. Clemont had also caught on, as only the densest people wouldn't realize Serena's attraction towards Ash-and Ash himself was one of them. Bonnie's eyes widened. She was happy and surprised that her foster older sister initiated the meeting herself. Soon she couldn't take it and screamed, "YAY! OH MY GOSH! YOU GUYS ARE SO CUTE! AWWEEEE!" Clemont also expressed his happiness in Serena. He was, after all, slightly annoyed that they hadn't gotten together when it was so obvious they liked each other. For Serena, it felt as if she were in a Disney movie. The birds were singing, the sun was shining as she merrily skipped through the forest.

If she thought that her happiness was going to last for the rest of the trip to the city, man. Was she going to be in for the craziest emotional roller coaster her heart had ever experienced.

Meanwhile, Ash was shocked, confused and, above all, happy. He wasn't sure why, when he had never felt like this before, with his cheeks pinker than peaches and his heart racing at a million miles an hour. His head was full of strange thoughts, like Man, Serena looks really good today and She looked so adorable holding my hand. Ash slapped his (now flaming red) cheeks. Why am I thinking about this? Just then, he saw the edge of the hill and raced ahead of the rest of the group.

Oh well. I can always think about this later.

He didn't notice that Serena was on the ground, hyperventilating in the middle of the road as he dashed ahead towards his next stop to what he thought was the road to championdom (A/N: not sure if that's a word...).

Serena kept skipping when suddenly she stopped. Her eyes widened. Her legs started trembling until finally she landed smack dab in the middle of the path. Both Clemont and Bonnie cried out in surprise. Serena couldn't stop shaking as she realized what was actually going to happen in a few short hours. Soon her teenage angst stepped in and she found herself a nervous wreck. She didn't even care that her clothes and hair got all dusty and her once shining boots were now covered in grime.

This is the do-or-die. I can't do this. This is the only chance I get.

"I'm so nervous, what if I fail? What if he doesn't like me?" Even after she got up and both Clemont and Bonnie reassured her that Ash did like her, she was still afraid and slowly slipped back into her depressed state.

She didn't notice Ash waiting for them at the top of a hill until she felt his presence next to her. In front of them was a large city.

I'm running out of time. I don't want him to go. Not without something from me.

"There it is. Anistar City, the home of my next Gym Battle!" Ash was super excited, and soon his energy spread to the two siblings as the three raced down the hill together.

Serena lagged behind. She couldn't help adding in her head, and one step closer to you leaving us forever.

A/N: I've decided to keep these slightly shorter chapters and then updating this fic as much as possible. This chapter is slightly shorter, but I hope you enjoyed it, and I will be updating this fanfiction as soon as possible.

Yours in demigodishness,

RainbowsandButterflies888