Hello again guys! Write this chapter was almost an impossible mission and I'm not sure why, (cof *english is not my first language* cof) but here we go!
9 – The Land Where I Belong
(Song: Metroland – Mark Knopfler)
As soon as Ash Ketchum opened his eyes, the air filled with a subtle and familiar fragrance, making an effort to remember the events of the night before, he realized it was Serena's perfume. Perhaps she was right there, sleeping in the same bed with him?
He looked at his right and his heart dropped, obviously, that was not the case, the only one sharing the bed with him was his loyal friend, Pikachu
_ Pika? – The yellow rodent asked, feeling observed –
_ Sorry buddy, I didn't mean to disturb you
_ Pika! Pi pikachu?
_ I slept just fine I guess, I don't know why the bed smells like Serena's perfume, though
_ Pi… Piiikaaa?
_ Oh, it was fantastic! She even ki… - Ash stopped suddenly, Pikachu didn´t need to know so much, at least not yet –
_ Pika?
_ Nothing important buddy, go back to sleep
Just when Ash was about to do the same, someone knocked on the door, groaning, he got up and opened it. A figure in some sort of space suit "It's too early for weird things" – thought the Trainer –
The "astronaut" removed his helmet, revealing to be Clemont himself
_ It is safe to go inside? – He asked –
_ I guess – Ash replied, still confused –Why do you ask?
_ You mean you don't remember what happened last night? The pestilent smell that came out of your mouth, as soon as you started talking about your date with Serena?
_ Oh… Now I do remember
_ I had to ask her for something to counter the smell, but not even her perfume was enough. I had to share the room with the girls, but it seems that Pikachu didn't mind about your condition at all, by the way, can I ask you something?
_ Sorry about that, Clemont – Ash apologized, at the same time his phone announced three new messages in his inbox – And of course, you can ask me anything…
Yearning we were yearning
Green light blinding on the rail
Simultaneously, Serena and Bonnie were sharing breakfast. The little girl pleading for more and more details about the date, Serena simply smiled and asked:
_ Okay Bonnie, shoot. What else do you want to know?
_ Did he say some romantic lines to you?
_ Actually, it was quite surprising, he did. Unwillingly, though
_ And in a scale from 1 to 10, how much did he smell?
_ Worse than a Garbodor
_ And…
Bonnie let out a giggle before ending her question, at the same time, Serena's phone rang twice, the same message could be read on her and Ash's screen, like some kind of planned joke, the little blond girl and his brother asked the same:
Burning we were burning
And the line unwinding to the Holy Grail
_ How was it?
_ How was what? – Replied the Performer and the Trainer without even thinking in the strange coincidence, while typing the same question –
Send to: Misty, Gary, May
Send to: Shauna, Miette
_ Well, your first kiss, naturally –Clemont replied -
_ My what? - Ash panicked inside, but it was only the beginning, as all of his three friends response could be read in his screen -
Come on champ, the photo was pretty obvious, as pretty as the girl! – Gary
Stop bragging about the kiss and tell me the details Ash! – Misty
Oh My Arceus! Are you really going to pretend that nothing happened last night? – May
_ Ash – Clemont interrumpted – Remember that Serena and you left your phones here to not be disturbed during the date?
_ Yeah… - Ash's panic was evident by now –
_ Well, Bonnie took a picture of the two of you kissing and sent it to your contacts
_ She did WHAT?
To the future gleaming on a blue horizon
And a golden girl on golden sand
At the same time, Serena screamed:
_ You did WHAT?
Bonnie started to laugh, as Serena watched her own phone, hopelessly:
You got yourself a hero as a boyfriend, tell me how did you did it, Serena – Shauna
I've got to admit it, you beat me Serena, but wow, the two of you look so cute! – Miette
Dreaming fantasizing
In another world from Metroland
_ Didn't try you to stop her?
_ It's really difficult to hack a phone Ash, imagine how hard would it be to hack thirty
_ THIRTY?
_ Let me see the list – Clemont replied, grabbing Ash's cellphone – Misty, Brock, Tracey, May, Max, Anabel, Brandon, Dawn, Looker, Iris, Cilan, Gary, Ritchie, Bianca, Stephan, Cameron…
Ash didn't want to hear the rest, until…
_ And… your mom
_ Mom knows?
For all answer, someone knocked the door, an employee of the Pokemon Center requested:
_ Ash Ketchum, right?
_ Yes
_ Your mother is calling, she says is an emergency
_ I'll be right there. Clemont, can you do me a favor?
_ Sure
_ Find Serena, tell her to meet me at the lobby in five minutes
His friend smiled and both boys started running in opposite directions
I've danced in rain and I've been Django
And I've got laid
I've been a rolling stone
I've been Verlaine
And I've been Rimbaud
Not afraid to walk alone
Ash took a deep breath as he made its way to the lobby.
Almost a month ago, everything was ready for his return to Kanto, and now he didn't even wanted to return home.
Life for Ash Ketchum was organized: Arrive to a new region, learn the basics (which was really important and refreshing), challenge the Gym Leaders, meet lots of people, help some, battle others, stop the schemes of whatever evil organization were working there, go to the Regional League, put his best in every fight and make his way back home, and onto the next region. It was the same, every time
But then Serena came, and slowly but surely, she changed the equation, she was the only one of his companions that never had a fight with him, except for that time in the woods, Serena was always smiling, complementing and supporting him
And that was the difference that made Serena so special. But Ash, as dense as he was (fact that he came to admit at some point in the past weeks), didn't see all the signs until it was too late.
And that was the whole point. Ash needed to return to Kanto, his destination was the same as always: going home.
But then again, without Serena by his side, going home didn't seem as exciting as all those other times
Ash sat in front of the screen, pushed the botton and smiled:
_ Hi mom…
And now I take my midnight ramble
Do I fold or play what's in my hand
What's at stake and what's the gamble
Do I stay in Metroland
_ And Alexa, Viola, Korrina, Valeria, Shauna, Alain, Mairin, Shauna, Miette, Trevor and Tierno – Bonnie completed, in another room –
_ Does my mother knows?
_ Oh, I knew I was missing someone!
_ Bonnie, no! – Serena said, snatching the phone away from the little girl's hand, who pouuted inmediatily – Tell me, why did you do this?
_ Because the two of you looked so cute, I wanted all of your friends to see how happy are you now!
_ Bonnie, I appreciate the intention, really, but it was only a date, and I kissed him, that's all
_ But that's all you ever wanted!
_ But I don't think is the only thing I want now, Bonnie. It's complicated, but if I want to have something serious with Ash, I must realize that last night was only the beginning. And the same goes for you.
_ I don't understand…
_ Someday you will Bonnie, I can assure you
Knock! Knock! When Clemont explained Serena the situation, she started to freak out:
_ What if Ash's mom doesn't like me? What if she's too overprotective and is afriad that Ash will leave her for me? And what if…
_ Serena, calm down! – Bonnie interjected –
_ She's right Serena – Clemont added – Now all you need is to go there and find out what she wants, this will be a good chance to know the person who raised Ash, I bet it will not be that bad
_ If you say so… - Serena replied, walking umcomfortably to the lobby –
Dreams yesterday's laughter
Ghosts and lovers come back to play
_ I know you want to meet Serena, mom – Ash said calmly – She will be here any minute now
_ I'm not the only one, actually…
_ What does that mean?
In that precise moment, Serena, without saying a word sit besides Ash, he could notice the nervousness on her features, so he did the only thing he could do: He smiled at her and grabbed her hand, squeezing it softly
_ Hi Ash! – Exclaimed three voices behind Delia –
Upon seeing the faces of Misty, May and Dawn, Ash thought that it could be worse than that. Serena though, wasn't ready for the waterfall of questions and comments that came soon after the presentation
_ Tell us everything! – Misty exclaimed -
_ Yes! How did you two lovebirds met? It was love at first sight? Did you have to use some spell or psychic attack to make him kiss you, Serena? – May questioned, evidently more excited than the rest –
_ She's really cute Ash! Come on, say something… - Dawn pushed –
A rush of thoughts overflow Serena's mind. Did Ash knew all this girls? That was something obvious, and he said several times that he used to travel with lots of people through different regions. All of them were there, in his home…
And then it hir her like a bullet train. His mother, his friends, all of them, waiting for him, meanwhile, she was in Kalos with Ash, retaining him, impending him to return to his home, to the place where he belong.
She was holding him back, stopping his dream, she needed to let him go…
That thought was more than enough to force a single tear to make its way along her cheek
But dreams have a morning after
And run for cover
In the light of day
Ash took a deep breath (again), but noticed something weird. Serena was frozen, unable to speak, and not only that, she was crying!
Everything was silent after that, he tried to reach for her, to tell her something, but she was completely silent.
He realized what was wrong; she was nervous, unsure to what to say. However, he didn't know how to explain everything that happened either. And he also needed to stop her from crying. Inmediatily and forever.
The trainer was someone who acted without thinking. All the time, so he let go of Serena's hand and cupped her face between his two hands. The performer's eyes were gleaming with excitement, same as the girls in the screen.
_ Serena, I don't know why you are crying, I mean, of course you must feel nervous, a lot of people are here, including my mom and…
_ And it's your home Ash, you belong there, with them…
_ What do you mean? May and Dawn are not even from Kanto
_ But you…
_ Stop, seriously Serena, stop. Whatever you're about to say, keep it away from your mind. I told you, I'm staying here, I don't know for how long, but I'm not leaving you, there will not be a single morning when you don't see my face after you're awake, not a single night that I'm not gonna kiss you before you go to sleep. Speaking of which…
I got something real worth holding on to
I can belong to and understand
_ Watch this – Ash said to his friends and mother, then looked at Serena and kiss her–
With force, with passion, with love. Serena started to feeling safe in there, until Ash broke the kiss, to breath, she did the same and inmediatily came closer to him again. When both sensed that it was enough, they broke apart and look at each other
_ Awwww – a chorus of voices exclaimed from the other side of the screen –
_ Mom… I'm staying in Kalos
_ I knew you would say something like that, you and your…
Ash wasn't afraid to admit it, so he said it:
_ Yes, me and my girlfriend
_ Can stay here any time you want. And Serena?
_ Yes
_ I'm glad Ash is with someone like you, you are exactly what he needed in his life
Serena and his boyfriend simply smiled, unable to say something else, their friends waving goodbye and Delia shutting of the transmission
I've made my deal
I will go on to
Make my peace with Metroland
However, one last surprise was waiting for the couple. Ash's phone rang once again and a new message popped up:
Congratulations Ash! I couldn't be happier to know that the sweet scent of love is finally spicing your life. Allow me to put the cherry on the cake; I know you're still in Kalos, so I think this experience is exactly what you need to refresh the passion! It worked for me and Iris, after all – Cilan
_ Ready for a trip Serena?
_ What?
_ A friend of mine just sent me a couple of tickets for the Western Express, it departures tomorrow from Lumiose alongside all the Kalos mountains. You wanna go?
_ Of course I want to, Ashy! – She replied, hugging him –
Ash couldn't be more excited for the trip. But the couple would soon find out that some stories are not meant to last forever…
TO BE CONTINUED…
Warning: It gets a "little" angsty after this chapter guys, so be ready for it!
