Hello again, everyone! On with the story!
By the way, I'm well aware that the "Expresso" Knopfler references in the song is not a train, of course, but as always, if the song suites, it goes to the fic!
10 – Love on the Western Express – Part One!
(Song: Expresso Love – Dire Straits)
May opened the notifications on her PokeSocial account and smiled when she saw the update.
_ So they finally did it… - she murmured, smiling –
She gets the sun in the daytime
Perfume in the dusk
And she comes out in the night time
With the honeysuckle musk
Ash's Travel Journal
December 8th
Km. 0 – Lumiose City
It took me a while to wake up this morning, when I did and started to get ready, I heard three knocks on my door. Serena, my sweet girlfriend was standing there, frowning
_ Still not ready? – She asked –
You know guys? I have to say it, after all these months of traveling together; there are two things I still don't understand
1) How Serena can get up so early? I mean, it's 6 A.M. and there she is, smiling, her short hair flowing and her clothes suiting her perfectly, as always. She's ready for anything.
2) How does she tolerate me? I mean, I'm the personification of what a lot of people would call "a mess"; still, she doesn't seem to care.
I tell that last thing to her this morning. She said that she loves me for who I am, even with my defects. I find that quite unbelievable, especially because she doesn't have any faults. When I said that, she just kissed me.
I'm still not used to it, and I'm trying a better way to respond to the kisses. Just now, she got mad because I bit her lip a little, luckily, it didn't bleed.
I guess I'll have to keep practicing.
_ How Ash practices kissing? – Max asked, with sudden interest in the post –
_ I don't even want to know – May replied shortly –
Because she smells just like a rose
And she tastes just like a peach
She got me walking where the wildlife goes
I'd do anything to reach her
Serena's Travel Journal
December 6th
Km. 8.8 – Outside Lumiose City
We are close to Santalune City and Ash is still entrailed with the view, I asked him if something was wrong, he sat even closer to me and he said he wanted to enjoy this travel. Pikachu is still asleep on my lap; I insisted for him to come with us, after all, is Ash's best friend.
_ The lights of dawn makes you look really beautiful, Serena
Yes! You didn't misread that guys, Ash Ketchum just told me I'm beautiful. He has changed so much in this last days, it's like he's aware of his feelings now, and is not afraid of talk about them.
Just the opposite of me, when our journey together began, more than a year ago.
Our real trip starts now, we're near the forest. This is one of those "once in a lifetime" chances, the kind that, when it ends, you just want to relive over and over again. Does that make sense?
I have to go now guys, it's almost lunch time, by the way, Ash is still in fron of me, taking photos of every Pokemon on the road, he's more excited than ever.
Serena closed her notebook and looked at Ash, who seemed much occupied trying to capture a group of pidgeys in mid-flying. Suddenly, he turned around and focused the camera on Serena's face. She blushed and in an instant, the flash blinded her.
_ Perfect – Ash said, looking at the picture –
_ Why… Why did you do that Ash?
_ I want to keep these moments forever in my mind Serena, and the best way to do that, is by taking pictures. Don't you think she looks really nice, buddy?
_ Pi… Pika! – Agreed the electric Pokemon –
_ Okay Serena, once more…
_ Oh no Ash, not more photos
_ Serena…
_ I said no mor…
MUACK!
SLAP!
And she was made in heaven
Heaven's in the world
Is this just expresso love
You know I'm crazy for the girl
Gary tried to hold back the laugh, to no avail, looking at Misty, she asked:
_ Remember the first time you slapped me like that?
_ No – she replied quickly – But I do remember the last one, almost two weeks ago
Gary remained silent, his girlfriend had a Donphan's memory sometimes…
Ash's Travel Journal
Km. 292 – Santalune Forest
Serena's stronger than I think
Ash has uploaded a photo of himself, half of its face completely red, a huge hand stamped on it.
No guys, like for real, she's super strong! As soon as she hit me, she started to apologize in less than a second. I just smiled and tell her I was fine, by the way, for all of you out there who have a girlfriend (except for you, Clemont, I told Bonnie she better do a good job while Serena and I are away!), how many times have you tell them how important they are for you?. A piece of advice: Once in a while, not every second, but maybe every day, tell your love ones how grateful you are for being with them. Serena deserves to know it; everyone who is loved by someone else deserves to know it.
Changing the topic, train food is delicious! We just had a Bascullin roasted with fennel and Pistou, and it was fantastic! Serena asked Layla, the waitress if they had Surstroming in the menu and they (and also Pikachu) started laughing. A piece of advice: Never EVER order Surstroming when you go to a restaurant.
Serena offered me one particularly big and tasty Macaroon if I guessed in which hand she was hiding a lemon seed. I picked the right one. "Nope", she said smiling. She gave Pikachu the Macaroon and as a consolation prize, she kissed me.
Frankly I prefer the kiss
It tastes better.
She calls me just to talk
She's my lover; she's a friend of mine
She says hey mister you wanna take a walk?
In the wild east sometime?
"Serena has updated her profile picture"
In the photo, she was with her eyes closed, the tip of a smile coming out while Ash was kissing her, her hand in the air ready to slap him and Pikachu laughing uncontrollably in the back
Serena's Travel Journal
Km. 546 – Chamber of Emptiness
Time to get off for a while! We ride some Sharpedos to get here (that was a funny part), Ash felt down twice, the last one dragging me into the water, the other tourists looked at us smiling, is not a secret anymore that we're one of the many couples taking a love trip. We had to surf a little and then we scaled down a waterfall, it was really safe, but Ash didn't let go of my hand while we were going down.
There is a gorgeous crop of yellow flowers right before entering the cave, we took a break here and ate some snacks, a girl stood up between the flowers and started playing the flute, it was really peaceful. Some people danced to the sound of the music, I, however, took a nap in Ash's lap.
I didn't want to enter the cave, the place is creepy. Ash however took my hand and dragged me inside. The tourist guide explained that an ancient legend says that, in this mysterious void, and that nothing can exist within it. Ash kissed me and said that the legends is false
_ We're here and we're together, we exist, Serena!
Then he and Pikachu started making sounds to test the echoing of the cave. Sometimes being with the two of them can be really embarrassing…
And I get trouble with my breathing
She says boys I don't know anything
But I know what I want
I want everything
Ash's Travel Journal
Km. 912 – Victory Road!
Oh man, I thought Victory Road was an awesome place! Rocky mountain, cave, hiker, rocky mountain, cave, hiker, rocky mountain… It's always the same!
Luckily for me, I have Serena by my side; she is updating her blog right now, probably with the events of some hours ago in the Chamber of Emptiness.
I received your messages guys, thanks for the support! I now I could have discovered my feelings for Serena some time ago, but I was confused. I'm still confused. Everything is new right now, like in her performances, when she takes the center of the stage by surprise, she's doing that to me right now. She runs between the flowers, she falls asleep in my laps, she keeps pointing at the stars at night.
And most important of all, she's always smiling
"Ash updated his profile picture"
The young performer had fallen asleep on the lap of the trainer, her hat covering her face. Pikachu and Ash looking at the camera making gestures of "keep quiet, please".
"Ash commented his photo"
She's the brightest of the stars at night and radiates more energy than the sun at noon, she's better than any prize, trophy or Pokemon Championship. And she's with me right now.
Dawn blushed at the sight of the picture. Then looked at Paul, her boyfriend who was also reading the comment, and asked
_ Are you ever going to say something that sweet about me?
He put a light kiss on her lips and answered:
_ Not in public, of course…
Well I feel so good 'cos I feel so good
And I feel so good 'cos it feel so right
I was made to go with my girl
Like a saxophone was made to go with the night
Serena's Travel Journal
Km. 1141 – Snowbelle City
Team Rocket is here! Everything is ruined! I mean, they didn't attack us (yet), but soon they'll do for sure. I'm so mad that I can't enjoy the view of the city; neither I want to write anymore on this Journal.
It's almost midnight. Hope you have a pleasant night guys…
Ash opened his eyes slowly. Serena was in the bed in front of him, sleeping, but not happy, her face had a frown and she was making weird noises. She stroke her hair gently and made a signal to Pikachu, the two of them woke up and headed towards Team Rocket's room.
As he knocked the door, James opened it and got out of the room, closing it softly.
_ Do you want to wake up everyone inside? What's wrong with you, twerp?
_ Sorry – Ash corrected himself, he wasn't supposed to say that – But tell me, why did you have to follow Serena and me? Can't you try to capture Pikachu and fail any other time?
_ As much as we want the little rat, we're not here for it, twerp
_ Then why for?
_ A few weeks ago, a robber broke the windows of Nanny and Pop-Pop Mansion
_ Your grandparents?
_ Yes, and he took away three Pokemon, an Alakazam, a Garchomp and a Roserade. We asked Giovanni for a few days off for a special mission and he granted it to us. According to our satellite's, the guy who took them is somewhere on the route of this train
_ I don't buy it, you know? What are you really doing here?
_ Exactly what I told you, but I had an Idea, to show that you can trust us, we'll sign a truce tomorrow at morning before breakfast, what do you think?
_ Why not right now?
_ What is Serena's mood when she wakes up too early?
_ Bad
_ Well, Jessie's worst. See you tomorrow
And with that, he closed the door on Ash face, just to opened it again a second later.
_ I never asked, but what are you and the twerpette doing in this train anyways?
Ash froze in the spot, he didn't want to tell him, maybe James could use Serena's for some of his schemes, and he would really hate that
_ See you tomorrow James – he said, going back to his own room, with Serena still sleeping –
TO BE CONTINUED…