Chapter Five:
Glance
Three days have passed and Serena was still missing. Ash hardly showed up at the hospital and the new girl, May, hardly spoke. The trauma was still a fresh wound. They were only children yet their feelings, their minds were much mature then it needed it to be for their age.
Clemont with his little sister sat in the room of the silent girl, Clemont with his notepad writing new ideas down as Bonnie sat with her Dedenne, brushing his fur to the best it can be. Running the back of her fingers down his back the little mouse cooed and Bonnie smiled. May's sapphire eyes strayed away from them both for many reasons. One was mainly it reminded her and her dear brother. Turning to her side she sighed as her back faced the door.
Her mind was at a lost, she didn't understand anything anymore. Lying in bed and closing her eyes gave her peace but when her eyes opened and showed her what had become of her reality – her dreams, she would cry.
The door of the hospital room opened wide and by the entrance was the trainer himself with his dear Pikachu perched on his shoulder. Cuts and grazes were seen on his bare skin and dirt and leaves scattered on his clothes, his hair in a mess.
Clemont looked up to the sound of the opening door, "Did you find Serena yet?" Bonnie begged. The smile on her face from grooming Dedenne was quickly washed away.
Finding it hard to look at the youngest member of the group, Ash shook his head. Ever since Serena had gone missing he was finding it hard to speak.
Their friend, the figure of hope and faith had suddenly vanished. Everyone was at a lost, but he the most.
Ash turned to the brunette lying on her side, her back facing him and his friends. Bandages were seen wrapped on her arms but most were around her head. Her long brunette hair covered the bandages though. By the side of her bed was an empty chair and that is where Ash sat, closing his eyes for a brief moment.
"Hey Ash, we'll wait for you outside." Clemont felt the boy and his friend needed the space. Standing up he reached for his sister's hand and walked out.
With his cap covering his face the two best friends stayed silent.
"I'm sorry."
Removing his cap from his face Ash was surprised May spoke to him at all. He stared at his friend whose back was still facing him. He looked away afterwards.
"There is nothing to say sorry for. Things just didn't go to plan."
Sitting up and holding her arm, May shook her head, still refusing to face her friend.
"There is." She insisted. "If you didn't save me, Serena wouldn't be missing right now."
"If I didn't save you, you would be dead and without a head."
Glancing over her shoulder for a brief moment, "If things would end up like this I rather be."
Something in Ash caused him to reach for his friend's arm and turn her to face him. "I already lost one friend; I can't afford to lose you to." He snapped.
May had never seen him so serious – so scared before in her life.
"Look, Blaziken did catch Serena from her fall but he blacked out afterwards. I don't know what from but I saw Serena's hat in his hands when I came to look for him." He released his grip on May. "Serena isn't dead, I know and I won't stop until I find her." Standing up, Ash placed his cap back on his head. "And to keep you safe I'm sending you back home. I'll call Norman and-"
"Don't!" She reached over for Ash's arm. "I chose this life to protect them; if I go back I'll only harm them and you too. After I recover I'll leave you at peace."
"You honestly think letting you go on your own will give me peace?" He slipped from May's grasp. "If you believe going home will only harm your family then stay with me. Here we can protect each other." He gave off a half lit smile, but it didn't last long as it was proving hard for him to do at the moment. "Now I have to go, Clemont promised me we'll go search for Serena today. Talk to you soon."
Reaching for the door the young trainer left the room alone. But seconds later Bonnie entered into the room, looking for the brush she used to groom her Pokémon. May watched the little girl look for her dear object before Bonnie noticing her staring. She froze.
"I-Is there anything wrong?" The little girl stuttered.
Shaking her head, "No," Her eyes soon focused on the helmet on the table in her room. "Your name is Bonnie right?" Bonnie nodded. "Could you do me a favor, and give me that helmet?"
Following May's request Bonnie handed over the helmet to the young brunette. Placing it on, her figure changed completely. She had changed into a new costume – a new illusion. This stunned the young girl.
"What are you doing?" Her voice was weak and scared.
Looking back at Bonnie, "I'm going to save your friend."
Back at the grounds of the Prism Tower both boys searched hard for any leads that would bring them to their friend. The police presence had loosened in the past three days but the area where Serena was seen falling was still out of bounds. Holding Serena's pink felt hat in his hands, Ash played that day in his mind over and over again.
"She isn't dead. You save her, right Blaziken?"
Ash's newest Pokémon, now in his mega evolution form nodded. He stared at the tower himself; feeling the guilt of not bringing Serena back to his master like he ordered, but the guilt didn't leave him no matter how many times Ash said it wasn't his fault.
The fire type's ears perked up as Blaziken turned his attention to the sound. There was a voice, weak but fading. It was being overlap by the sound of rubber crashing against wet and sticky mud. Ash noticed the strange behaviour in his Pokémon.
"Blaziken, are you picking up on something?"
With a quick nod the fire type picked up his master in one arm and Clemont in the other unexpectedly. The Pokémon quickly gained speed. Both held onto the speedy Pokémon tightly, Clemont more than Ash as Blaziken jumped from building to building with ease. Looking down Clemont noticed they were entering into a new route and that the path was covered in mud and the area smelled foul.
The longer Blaziken was in his mega evolution the faster he went. It only took them minutes after entering the swampy route that a delivery truck was seen just ahead. The back was only covered by jail-like bars with a lock, holding the gate closed. In a white dress, hair down and her ankles and wrists cuffed were the girl herself, Serena. But due to how far she was she didn't notice the two boys coming to her aid.
Turning her back from the seen the girl closed her eyes and sighed.
"Is that Serena?" Ash blurted in shock. "I knew it she was alive!" He cheered.
"Yeah but look, I think she's been captured." Clemont made sure his glasses weren't going to fly away due to the high speeds they were going at.
Ash looked at the path they were on and noticed up ahead the path got muddier and a swamp could be seen up ahead. Not only did fire types hate water but there was no way they could cross it even at high speeds.
"Hurry Blaziken!" Ash begged.
Closing the gap behind them fast footsteps echoed on the path Serena was in. Turning back to face down the road were her two best friends. But her smile grew when she saw Ash was coming to save her. She rushed to the end of the room before hearing her chains shackle, reminding her that was impossible.
"Ash!" Serena screamed. "He came, just like they said they would…"
The drivers up front heard the girl's scream as they forced the truck to go faster. But at high speeds Blaziken was able to reach the back of the truck with ease.
"Hey, missed us?" Ash teased.
"This isn't the time for jokes Ash." Serena grumbled. "Be careful and don't touch the rails because-"
Too late,
Electricity guarded the rails to ever be touched, sending shock through all their bodies, making them come to a complete stop. Trying to get near the rails Serena screamed. "Ash, Clemont!"
"Foolish boy and his friend," A female voice was heard through the small window that connected the driver's area to the back. "To think we would handle you over just like that. Fool."
The female's voice was no other but Mable.
"And like the boss said, everything is going to plan. We'll end up having you and your dear boyfriend in one swoop."
"I should have said that first before the railings…"
Seconds later after her friends had been electrified by the railings a loud thud was heard over the top of her. Crawling into a ball Serena shuddered. She could see through the small window Mable curious what the strange sound it was, either being Ash and his friend again with his Blaziken or a new threat.
Another sound was heard that sounded that the thing above them had left the truck. Now only the sound of the wheels rolling on the dirt was heard once again.
"Perhaps an Aipom landed on the truck by accident…"Mable began to ponder. But her pondering stopped when a masked man appeared in front of them. Crawling her way up to her feet and looking through the small window Serena noticed who it was instantly.
It was the mask Mega Blaziken man.
Or now know as May, Ash's best friend.
"I thought we got rid of you as soon we dumped her to her friend!" The bluenette landed her fists on the dashboard. "Run over her, she is no threat."
The light brunette closed her eyes knowing they were going to kill the young girl but just as soon they were going to make contact the mask 'man' jumped and landed on top of the moving vehicle. Crawling her way on the roof May made her way on the rear, holding on only by the roof.
"Don't touch them, you'll only hurt yourself." Serena begged.
The mask man stared at Serena with silence before a new form was taken. A much more slender form was taken. The helmet she wore was black but the face area was covered in orange. Her outfit was made out of leather, making slipping into small areas a breeze and black to fade into the darkness.
"I'll be fine Serena." A woman's voice echoed through. Looking at the railing May looked at the lock that kept Serena locked up at the back. Letting the suit to all the work, in a few seconds the lock was removed and the electricity that kept Serena at bay was also removed. The gates flew open as May raced over for the cuffs that kept Serena locked up at the back.
With the strength in her suit the chains broke as soon she pulled them apart. She pulled Serena into her arms and down the muddy path behind them was her Blaziken with Ash on his shoulders and Clemont scared for his life. Waiting for the right moment both girls jumped and landed into the Pokémon's arms, both easily caught by Blaziken.
The Hoenn starter came to a stop as soon the girls were in his arms. He placed them gently on the ground as Ash slipped off the back of Blaziken. Clemont slipped and fell to the ground, falling onto his back. May removed her helmet as her brown locks of her fell gracefully over her shoulders. Serena stared at May as it was the first time she had seen the girl without her uniform on.
The truck that kept Serena hostage did the same as Mable at the grunt appeared meters from them, Mable not pleased at the results.
"I refuse to get defeated by such children!" Throwing a pokeball into the air Houndoom was seen on the path. "Sludge Bomb!"
"Run!" Clemont panicked. Ash followed as he reached out for both of the girl's hands and ran as fast as they could go.
Poisonous goo landed by their heels at times as they ran down the swampy path, trying to avoid pot holes of thick mud knowing that if anyone of them got stuck Mable's Houndoom would take them in, no questions asked.
Serena looked at May as she kept on running even with her injuries. A bandage over her right knee and both her arms were wrapped in bandages but her head seem to have the most. Running bare foot slime easily covered Serena's feet as she quickly tripped, losing grasp of Ash's hand. Stopping for her Ash tried to pull her out but the slime was too thick for only one man to pull her out.
"Serena, hold on!" Ash screamed as he tried to pull Serena out of the goo.
"We are here for you!" Clemont helped Ash by grabbing Serena's other free hand and were able to pull out the girl from the goo. May on the other hand had commanded to light the poison goo from Houndoom's on fire with Blaziken, leaving a trail of fire behind them.
Having no time to rub the slime off her white dress Ash reached for her hand and then May's as they ran through the swamp in hope they would reach Luminous City soon. But fatigue was getting to them all as they all slipped behind thick trees in hope Mable, her Houndoom and the grunt would give up their search. Ash wrapped his arms around Serena to protect her as he kept his eyes on Mable and the others. He didn't take any notice at how red Serena's cheeks had become.
"We should be fine here." He muttered. Holding Serena tighter, "I'm just glad you're fine and alive." He smiled at her. "I could never forgive myself if I never found you again."
"A-Ash I-I" With cheeks flustered Serena was finding it hard to speak properly.
May glanced at her friend smiling knowing he was back to his cheery self before something wet from above. Touching her bandage on her head lightly May noticing she was bleeding. May tried to hide this from Ash but he had already noticed she was bleeding.
"May?" He asked. Before May could reply with her answer she was losing her balance as she held her head tightly. "May!" The three of them crowed around the brunette.
"I think her wound in her head opened up again due to saving Serena."
"So that fence did hurt you after all…" Serena spoke as the young girl looked up to her. "You know, you're pretty and tough." She complimented.
"I only learn from the best." She grinned as she looked at Ash. Ash chuckled.
"I only taught you the basics, the rest was all you." Ash noticed the blood was passing through her bandage on her head.
"We really have to get back." Serena reminded them.
"But what about her?" Clemont pointed at Mable who was still around the area, guarding it well.
"She might call her friends if we don't hurry soon." Serena held onto Ash's arm tightly. "Then we'll all be in big trouble."
In one hand May held onto her helmet tightly as she glanced at the fragile girl holding on Ash for dear life. "Serena." May called. "Wear this."
Serena's eyes widen in fear. "W-What?! But I can't!"
"I would go out there myself but I'm bleeding badly. Put it on and pretend to be one of her friends and convince Mable to call off the call the search."
Reaching over May placed the helmet into Serena's hands. "If you are a friend of Ash then you're my friend too." She smiled.
Serena looked at all of them and saw the belief they all had in her. Using their confidence to fill her own, the helmet slipped around Serena's head perfectly. The orange mask lit briefly to signal it was on and working fine, a leather suit wrapped around Serena's body replacing her white dress temporarily as she started to think deeply. In a matter of seconds Serena took on the splitting image of Aliana.
"Go." Ash encouraged her.
With a nod Serena made her way out of the forest, confronting Mable and her powerful Houndoom. With arms crossed she started at her unpleased.
"What took you so long? Why didn't you answer any of my calls?"
"I-I'm sorry." Serena stuttered. Nerves were getting the better of her.
"What is the matter Aliana? It isn't you to say sorry."
Serena glanced at her friends hiding behinds thick trees and shrubs. She knew they couldn't hide forever. In the arms of Ash she could see May and how red and soaked her bandage around her head was becoming. "This time I'll be the one saving all of you."
"Just a little shaken from the trip and the sudden call, you know the rest of it." The young trainer braved to put on a brave face for her friends. "I've looked around the swamp and they girl and her bunch of friends are gone. As usual you've failed. It seems to be your hobby to let little children beat you."
"How dare you Aliana! Don't speak in that tone with me!" Mable was coming closer to the fake Aliana. "That child had pure talent. He had more talent than the dumb grunts Team Flare hires."
"Until you put your game up, we'll never catch that boy or that little girl. I don't understand why such children have more talent than we but I am not in the right place to judge that. We all were defeated by a child. Let's go, we'll get nowhere discussing our failures here."
"I would love to discuss the facts but I agree. We'll continue this back at the lab." Returning her Houndoom back into his ball and recalling the grunt that was driving the truck. "I have to inform the boss the events that had happened today and return the truck. This isn't over Aliana."
'Aliana' stood and nodded and watched the furious Mable rushed into the passenger side of the truck, screaming for the grunt to hurry and drive her off. As the grunt got in and drove into the distance with an upset and irritated Mable to deal with, Serena removed the helmet and she returned wearing a long white dressed covered with slime and her hair down.
She smiled at her friends as they all made their way to her. Ash rushed over and gave the young trainer a huge hug as May was resting in the arms of Blaziken. She was half awake though and gave a smile.
"I knew you could pull it off."
Nodding Serena held onto the helmet tightly. "Thank you for believing in me, even if we just properly met now."
"Ash always had a good taste in friends. They never let him down when in trouble."
Pulling apart from Serena Ash raced to hold her hand. "You saved us Serena. We were able to escape without losing anyone."
"T-Thanks Ash," She turned to face Clemont and smiled at him as well. "I'm sure you're glad as well Clemont?"
"Huh?! Clermont's face went red. "Well, yes, of course!" He spoke with glee. "I'm just not excited for the run back, that's all."
The four of them shared a laugh before Ash turned to May who was resting in the arms of her Pokémon. Her bandage around her head was now quickly turning red and the bandage around her knees was falling loose, exposing a deep cut. Her eyes were half lit open as she turned to Ash who she noticed was staring at her.
"What's wrong?" She teased.
"You know what's wrong." He walked up to her. "Your wounds are opening up. We really have to get you back."
"I'm fine. I've had worse."
Ash sighed as he crossed his arms. "Just what has happened to you since we last met in Sinnoh?"
May gave off another smile to convince she was just fine towards her friend. "Nothing much,"
But before May could give off another friendly banter she closed her eyes and fell out of conciseness as blood from her bandage trickled down her forehead. They all rushed over to the girl in Blaziken's arms, "May!" Ash panicked. He shook her shoulders lightly. "May!"
His other female companion watched both the fainted girl in Blaziken's arm and the Ash panicking over his friend. They all started to run as soon more blood was seen escaping her wounds. She noticed Ash's eyes weren't leaving May for a second. She was worried for the brunette as well and owned her for giving the helmet to save them all. But she didn't want the young girl to die for doing something good.
But his eyes, her eyes; for a brief moment shared the same tint before May fainting. As Serena pondered about what Ash and May really shared she didn't noticed they had made it back to Luminous City. Back in the hospital was their first objective. The chaos of seeing a bleeding child that they thought was recovering well in her room, the group of four was quickly pulled apart.
Nurses and a doctor rushed to May and dragged Ash and Blaziken along with her and Clemont held Serena's hand and dragged her to a ward that was less covered in fear, panic and confusion. In the waiting room she and her friend sat. News didn't take long as Bonnie wrapped her arms around her waist and hugging her so tightly.
"Serena!" Bonnie cheered. Her Dedenne embraced the young trainer with his little arms as well. "Are you alright? You're not hurt?"
"I just have a few bruises where I've been cuffed but I'm fine. Though May is badly hurt as her wounds opened up as we were escaping. In fact she was the one that saved me with this." Serena showed Bonnie the helmet.
"T-That's the mask Miss May asked me to give her." Bonnie jumped. "So that is what she meant by saving you. I hope she doesn't die because I gave her that thing." Bonnie rushed into her brother's arms.
"Hey, calm down Bonnie." Clemont spoke ever so softly. "If you didn't give us that helmet we would have never been able to save Serena or even escape. In fact, you're the hero between all of us."
Bonnie's tears were replaced with shock. She couldn't believe giving the helmet to May would be the one thing that would bring Serena back and save them all. She smiled and Dedenne copied her actions.
"Your very welcome brother!" She placed her hands on her waist and put on a 'hero-like' pose.
Both Serena and Clemont chuckled at Bonnie's actions as Bonnie took a seat beside Serena. She listened in the stories her friend talked about in the three days she had been held captured but her mind was somewhere else. Before she noticed Bonnie had fallen asleep and was leaning on her lightly, not enough to cause her more pain.
"Is something wrong Serena?" The young trainer turned to the gym leader. "You haven't said a word when Bonnie was talking to you. I'm sorry if she bored you with her stories." He nervously apologized.
"No it's fine. In fact I missed the things Bonnie would talk to me about. She's like a little sister to me now." She ran her fingers though Bonnie's blond hair. "But it's rather Ash I'm thinking about."
"He really worries for May a lot, doesn't he? I can't blame him though, after seeing your best friend forced to work for evil to protect him and her family. It's like he feels like it's his turn to protect her, or maybe guilt for not able to pick up on her earlier or save her."
Serena turned to Clemont and titled her head, "Do you really think that's all to it?"
Confused, "Well yeah, what else are you trying to say?"
Looking away, "You seem just as dense as he is." Serena grumbled. She turned back to Clemont. "I think they have something more."
"Well from what I heard from Ash they travelled Hoenn and Kanto together and a spent time together in Sinnoh before losing contact. If I was Ash right now I wouldn't leave May for a minute, not after what they have been together." The gym leader reached for the bottled water.
Shaking her head and patting the sleeping Bonnie that was now sleeping on her lap. "I think…he might actually like her." Serena pondered.
Those words finally sunk in. Still, they were hard to accept or imagine. Clemont spat out the water he was about to drink.
"That would explain all the things I saw before May revealed to us who she really was. That time by the fountain and when Ash breaks down every time he saw the masked man." Serena added.
"I know they have history but that's just a wild guess Serena. Maybe you should go and get to know May as well as you do with Ash and then try to convince yourself that."
Looking and gazing at Bonnie sleeping peacefully in her lap. "Maybe I should."
She closed her eyes briefly for a moment before whispering. "But you don't understand the way he looks at her. They have something special. Something even my past with Ash doesn't have."
"The simple exchanges of glances, the small seconds that one has with them. No words explain the feeling when one can look at another and have that bond no words can explain."
"Serena!" Ash's voice was filled with glee as he knocked on the Pokecenter door. Pikachu was by his feet holding two tubs of ice creams in his paws. "You in?"
Night had fallen over the bright lit city and due to Serena's bruises and cuts doctors had suggested it was best for her to sleep by herself on one bed rather sharing one with Bonnie as usual. In her bed Serena rested. The sound of Ash's repetitive knocking woke her up. She didn't mind the rude awakening. Anything was better than waking up to one of her mother's Fletching's peck attack.
Glancing at the mirror to fix her bow she pulled the door open and there was Ash with ice cream being held by Pikachu by the door. Smiling at Pikachu's attempt to stay upright Serena kneeled down to help the little mouse before Ash taking it away from her.
"Remember what the doctor said, you can't carry anything heavy because your wrists are really bruised badly for being cuffed for three days straight." Ash walked himself into Serena's room.
"That reminds me, why wasn't Pikachu with you this afternoon? We could have really used his help." Closing the door behind her Ash noticed he was sitting on his bed, flicking through channels on the television.
"Before I left to look for you Bonnie wanted to groom him. I wasn't myself so I let her have Pikachu, which was alright because Blaziken was good enough. Without his speed I would have never caught up with that truck." Ash dug his spoon into one of the tubs of ice cream.
Serena sat beside her friend before asking again, "So…how is May?"
"She's better now. The doctors said they closed all her wounds and should be able to come home tomorrow. Of course she can't do anything extreme like today."
The young female trainer fell onto her back, repaying today's events in her mind. "That was really…something else. Even with her injuries she still came out and saved me." She saw Pikachu jump onto the bed and onto her stomach. She smiled and sat upright with Pikachu in her lap. "We hardly know each other yet she came. I really owe her a lot."
"It's because she knows how important you are to me." Ash kept his eyes glued on the television. Serena's face blushed red once again, but as usual Ash didn't notice that.
Those words, suddenly gave her security between him and her. It was like; she got confirmation that she wasn't just some friend travelling with him. She was important to him.
"So how did you and May meet? Was she just as courageous back then?" Serena held her knees and started to rock in one spot.
"Actually no, she was really clumsy and hated Pokémon. Her dad forced her to become a trainer so she could be a gym leader like him one day. We met as soon Pikachu fried her bike which…I still haven't paid back." Ash suddenly felt disheartened.
"Really? I never imagined her like that. She seems so independent and courageous, nothing like me." She sighed.
"Hey." Ash turned to face his friend. "You're courageous too. If you didn't pretend to be one of those girl's friend I bet we would of still be running from her back at the swamp."
"You're too kind Ash." Serena reached down for the other tub of ice cream Ash had brought over. "So why the ice cream?"
Ash grinned, "Being sick is like the best excuse to eat ice cream Serena."
"What if you had a cold? Ice cream then isn't the best option."
Ash rolled his eyes, "Besides colds." He turned to watch the television again. "And plus, you've been gone for three days. I need to make up time and spend some time with you."
The young girl stayed silent as she let Ash go on. "Those three days felt like forever, I didn't sleep and I even missed dinner. It was like I wouldn't be myself until I found you alive or…not."
A soft smile crossed Serena's lips after hearing Ash speak and how desperate he was to find her. Taking in a scoop of ice cream she joined Ash watching the television. Nothing interesting was on as it was just another Pokémon late night talk show, inviting trainers, coordinators and all sorts of different and well known trainers. It was just one of the few shows that weren't based in Kalos and overseas like Kanto.
"So…about you and May."
"What about us?" Ash took in another scoop of ice cream before giving one to his Pikachu who was now sitting to the right of him.
"Is…there-um, anything between you two?"
Ash's face was plain as day. She knew he had no idea where their new conversation was heading to.
"I don't get it."
"Of course you don't." Serena gave off a dishearten look. "What I mean why do you look at her like so special? The way you look at her it's nearly…romantic like. Those intense stares, the shaking of the iris, it shining in the light and-"
He wasn't listening. The TV proved that. Serena sighed, but she continued on knowing he wasn't listening anyway. She decided to let all her feelings known, even if it was only Pikachu that looked somewhat interested in her words.
"The way you acted when you defended her when I saw you two at the fountain, the way you would just break down and feel this unbearable guilt over your shoulders, the way you treat Blaziken from time to time and so on. I mean some stuff I understand because you don't know how your best friend went down the wrong path but there were times when you say things that I think go beyond the friendship level."
No response from Ash, just what she expected. But she was glad she let her thoughts known to at least one person in the group. She lay down on her back, eating ice cream lazily and not caring if she made a mess. It felt nice to let her thoughts out.
"…Your not trying to suggest that May and I…are a couple are you?"
Serena perked up and sat up. She blinked. He did understand what she was saying after all.
"Well…no, yes, I don't know, I mean." Stuttering, Serena was losing her words.
"The answer is no." Ash's voice was serious but he attention didn't leave the television set. He sighed. "She's got somebody else back home."
"Really?" Serena blinked. There was a sense of slight joy in her voice but she didn't want to make it sound obvious.
"Yeah, I mean my friends told me about them about to get together but I didn't pay any attention to it much." Ash took another bite of his ice cream. "I got to admit, the roses were getting annoying but she's my friend. I'll support her, even if the guy acts like a jerk sometimes." He joked.
"You are such a kind person Ash." Serena praised. "May's lucky to have somebody like you around."
"Isn't that what friends do?" Ash turned to face Serena with a sense of gladness. "Support and not tell?" he sighed. "Supporting her, that's what I'll be doing."
"You have no idea how much people would love to have somebody like you around." Serena embraced Ash's arm tightly before letting go a few minutes later. Turning to his left he noticed Serena had fallen asleep on him.
Giving off a light chuckle he removed the ice cream and spoon on her lap. With the help of Pikachu who was turning off the television, he picked up his friend. With the unexpected weight Ash fell forward while putting her down. Opening his eyes the young boy noticed he was very close to bumping heads with Serena.
He didn't move away at first. He kept staring down at her in the silence. He felt Serena's breath crashing onto his face before pulling away quickly, his cheeks having a slight stain of faint pink.
He looked down at Serena who was now sleeping ever so peacefully.
Ash really hated himself that he lied to his best friend just now.
"They say a picture can paint a thousand words, but in their case the only words they could all paint was how much they all meant to one another."
A/N:
I think I lost all my readers thanks to that revelation. Well done midnight, "Well done" (sarcasm guys, relax)
Oh well, I was planning to go ahead with my plan even if have my readers are at a total lost to what to think of chapter four. So to makes things clear I've written a extra long chapter. 11 pages I think, which is a lenght I haven't written for a while.
Anyway what do you think Ash lied about to Serena? Ahh, I've written it but I can't pick which part. I'm in love with these two ships that my heart is breaking. -sobs-
Anyway I do hope I have less hate in the reviews ahead of me. The last chapter was pretty disheartening you know, review wise.
~midnight