Okay before I start this chapter I cannot stress this enough: Ash and Dawn are not dating. Serena and Ash are not dating. Ash and Dawn are just friends. Serena and Ash are just friends. Serena does have a crush on Ash, but she never acts upon it. Got it?

Chapter 4: The Moon and Stars

The lights of Sandgem Town glow on the horizon as Serena sits down on a tree stump. "It's getting pretty late. Can we stop for the night?" She asks, pulling her bag off and placing it beside her.

Dawn nods. "Yeah. Buneary, can you find some firewood?" Buneary hops into a stand of trees and returns with plenty of dry sticks to build a fire. Pikachu helps gather stones for the edge of it. Serena pulls out a kit to set up a tent. "Are you actually going to sleep in that tent?" Dawn asks.

Serena looks up at her. "What's wrong with that? You don't sleep in a tent?"

Dawn pulls out a sleeping bag. "I don't know - never mind." She remembers the countless days when she herself couldn't stop caring about silly things like perfect hair. "But before you sleep, we should have dinner." Serena shrugs and then goes to find some berries.

Ash's stomach growls. "Sounds exactly right - I'm starving!" Dawn then sighs. "What's wrong, Dawn?"

"Well, Ash..." She begins. "You're back in Sinnoh, and I'm really happy about that... but it doesn't feel the same without Brock, you know?"

Ash nods. "I get it. When I left for Unova, I missed you and Brock so much. I haven't seen Brock since." He sighs too, and Pikachu curls up beside him. "Usually I can just move on when I go new places and meet new friends, but leaving Sinnoh was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. Every day in Unova, I couldn't stop thinking how I wished you and Brock were with me instead."

Serena returns. "I found some berries!" She stares at the others and puts the berries down. "Hello?"

Ash looks back at her in surprise. "Oh, yeah. Thanks!" He takes a few and hands them to Buneary and Pikachu. The two Pokemon guzzle their berries while Serena, Ash, and Dawn skewer and roast theirs over the fire.

"So Serena, what Pokemon do you have with you?" Dawn asks before taking a bite of her pecha berry.

Serena pulls out a Pokeball. "I recieved this Chimchar from a detective in Kalos." She lets the Chimchar out of its Pokeball.

The eager fire Pokemon scampers around and then grabs one of Pikachu's berries. "Pika! Pikachu!" The yellow Pokemon cries. Pikachu chases after Chimchar and then prepares an Iron Tail.

"Pikachu! Stop it!" Ash cries as Pikachu hits Chimchar's cheek. Chimchar drops the berry and blasts Ember back at Pikachu, who dodges, causing Buneary to get singed. Buneary shouts back and then freezes the other two Pokemon in place.

"Thank you, Buneary." Dawn says while Serena returns Chimchar to his Pokeball. "Wow, Serena, your Chimchar is pretty bold."

Pikachu scowls and Buneary giggles, hopping over to Dawn. Serena blushes. "Sorry about that, Pikachu. You see, Chimchar is a little hyper."

Ash crosses his arms. "Maybe if Chimchar was kept out of his Pokeball, he wouldn't have some much energy."

Serena shrugs. "Maybe tomorrow."