Serena hopped off the sidewalk, crossing at the empty intersection. At the corner, where a city block would've been, a large drop-off down to a large paved area was blocked off by metal railing. Serena held the railing, carefully peering over down into the drop-off just to see how far down it was, before looking up at the large, dome-like structure ahead of her.

A massive stadium took up the large city block, lined with lights and banners, activity booming from within. Large, glowing letters under the brim read 'Pokemon Battle Center', poised above a large glowing Pokeball emblem.

Serena followed the sidewalk closely, walking alongside the railing until the railing opened up into a small ramp, one that switched back and traveled along the side of the tall concrete wall on the side of the sidewalk.


Ash...

Ash is great. He might be the greatest. Not of my friends, but of, well everyone. He wants to be the very best and I can really appreciate that. He has lofty goals, and I... admire that.

He is the proud partner of the most powerful Pikachu I—anyone has ever known. I know more than a few people who would like to have Pikachu for themselves, but there's no partner for Pikachu but Ash. Everyone wants to fight Ash and his Pikachu, which is good, because Ash wants to fight everyone too.

Ash likes to fight alongside Greninja too. They have a bond that I... can't really understand. I don't know how to explain it, and I won't try.


Sitting on a bright red bench inside the Battle Center, Serena sat forward, her hands pressed between her knees as she smiled down at Pancham, who rested his back against the pale green, square table that jutted from the ground. She shared the bench with another woman, comfortably close to her as everyone else was in the packed waiting area. With Pancham flexing his small arms, moving his feet ahead of him in practice of a potential dance routine, Serena watched with a cheerful expression, giggling at Pancham's playful nature. Beside her, the power light on the closed laptop gently pulsed as it rested on the bench.

Abruptly, the whole room erupted into applause, cheering lightly as the main showroom doors to the arena opened, Ash walking out triumphantly with Pikachu on his shoulder. Close behind, another boy walked out, arms crossed and no Pokemon to follow him.

Serena saw Ash and immediately stood up. She clapped enthusiastically, beaming and cheering for him as he entered and made his way through the droves of gathered people. Beside her boots, Pancham hopped up atop the table, throwing up a fist and cheering.

Serena watched Ash, clapping happily as he crossed and walked along the front wall, heading towards a counter. Seeing that he hadn't seen her, Serena's face faltered for a moment, her clapping subsiding, any semblance of a smile fading away.

At the front of the waiting area was a wide counter, the neon Pokemon emblem above it and the various tall racks of medical equipment behind the counter seeming out of place in the sporty location. A pink-haired Nurse Joy stood at the front counter with several of her pink-haired companions working in the background. The whole waiting area seemed dim in light of the Pokemon Center, the overwhelming blue light radiating from the front and all the way through the room.

From a pouch on the side of his backpack, Ash removed several Pokeballs, setting them in slots on a tray on the counter. As if he had caught him off-guard, Ash turned his head to see Pikachu rawl across his shoulders, perching himself momentarily. Ash tapped the tray on the counter below, and instinctively Pikachu leaped from his shoulder and landed atop the counter, walking on his hind legs towards the tray and promptly sitting down inside, his jagged, lightning bolt tail sticking up between his two legs, clutched between his two forearms.

"Pikapi!" Pikachu cried, a spark of electrical energy leaving the red spots on his cheeks. Smiling, black eyes beaming, Pikachu hopped up on his hind legs and pointed to Serena who had approached the counter from the side.

Surprised and confused, Ash looked beside himself to see where Pikachu had pointed, turning and yelping in surprise as Serena had approached from the side. He stumbled back and caught the counter, immediately hopping up and straightening himself, looking sheepish and scratching the back of his head.

"Serena! What are you doing here?" asked Ash.


Wait, let me start over.

Do I believe in fate? Kinda.

I met my best friend Ash Ketchum when I was six, and now I travel with him everyday, adventuring through the Kalos region. I knew he was special and would be important to me, I knew that then, but I didn't know that this is what that feeling meant. After all, it was just a feeling. I was still getting that feeling for a long time.

It's a... special feeling.


Serena looked sheepish as well. She looked sideways, watching as Nurse Joy, wearing a sporty jersey with the facility logo on it, carried Pikachu and the other Pokemon on the tray to a healing bed, covering her lips with an embarrassed smile. She giggled nervously, her eyes seemingly shrinking back as she looked up to Ash. Though she could feel her cheeks were still the same creamy shade she always had, she could feel her ears burning like Pikachu's cheeks, hot against the tufts of hair that stuck out beneath her hat.

"I... Came to see you battle! You did great in there!"

"Oh wow! It was just a practice round, nothing crazy," said Ash. "How was breakfast with Bonnie?"

"It left a lot to be desired."

"I'm sure it wasn't nearly as amazing as having breakfast at sunrise! Me and Pikachu went for a run on the beach this morning, and it was awesome! We've been training all morning, and we finally decided to get into a practice battle. This is a really cool place!" said Ash.

Serena gave a faltering smile. "I would've loved to have joined you," she said.

"Yeah! That would be awesome!"


I know, it sounds cheesy.

It sounds a little... too cheesy. Sorry, let me start over again