The battle between Ash and the young lady was abrupt. Pikachu alone handled four of her Pokemon. Then Ash chose to switch out Pikachu for Hawlucha, who started by posing in his confident and strong way I always thought was intimidating yet hilarious at the same time. Then to my surprise, he scanned the crowd and found me. We locked eyes for a few seconds. He pointed up to me and then beckoned, as if he wanted me to acknowledge him. I stood, which made everyone start whispering, then gave him a big thumbs up. He smiled, which told me I had boosted his confidence even further, and the young lady, who had grown impatient by this point, continued the battle.

Even though it was no surprise, Hawlucha and Ash battled magnificently until her final Pokemon was unable to continue. The girl was clearly upset but Ash was already walking over to her. He shook her hand, gave her positive advice and praised her from what I could tell, then made some sign of farewell to her. What I did not expect was what happened next. The referee, looking eager for something unknown then, tossed Ash a microphone. He cut it on and then turned to face me directly for the second time in less than an hour. The eyes that I saw were from a new Ash, making him the third Ash I met to that day. By this time, the entire crowd was recording, having confused by excited conversations, and mostly looking at me, having realized I had a connection to Ash based on Hawlucha's signal.

"Serena Yvonne! I came here to win, but mostly to see you again! If I win the Kalos League, will you allow me to date you!?"

Ash. Ketchum. You have managed to cross a dangerous line. I can't believe you would attempt to come back and lead me on in front of so many people for a second time! Why would he ever believe I would allow my passion for him to let me get duped again!? Well, that phrase in itself many be why, but nevermind that.

Just as I was about to answer him, Pikachu started to get really excited in my lap. That's when Ash's Pikachu, who had left during the battle to show up at the right timing, appearing in front of me with a letter in his mouth. I took it gently then picked him up. He hugged me with as much happiness as I hugged him with in return. The crowd made the most supportive sounds they could. I held both Pikachus as I opened the letter slowly.

"Dear Serena,

You left me exactly one month, three days, and twelve hours ago when I write this. I am standing here, in the tunnel to the first match of the Kalos league, feeling more nervous than I ever have before a match. Not because of the battle, but because of you. I know that based on what you saw that day, you assumed I loved Lana, which was understandable. That wasn't the real truth about how I felt for her; I only owed Lana one kiss in exchange for telling her I loved you, and would never be able to love her that way ever. I still love only you. I read your letter in my house after I left her in the woods; crying but smiling because she understood that I would always be yours and only yours. To this day, we are still close friends, but nothing more. That last line of the letter made me feel as if I had been stabbed through the heart. I never wanted you to feel the way that I did. I am the most sorry excuse of a champion, because all I did was break you down after all you had done for me. I come here today, not to battle for a title, but for a chance. Please, Serena. Give me just one date. Let me prove that you, a beautiful, spectacular angel, can have a heavenly heart once more, even after a demon such as myself has tampered with it.

With love, Ash."

Everyone saw me sobbing there, feeling extremely bittersweet but happy. I stood up, gently placed the Pikachus in my empty seat, and started walking towards Ash. Hawlucha had been put away, the young lady had left using her tunnel, and Ash stood in the center of the battlefield. I walked down to the edge of the circular edge railing and touched it. I had no regrets when I slid under it and jumped, hoping I reached the edge of the stage. I made it and landed on my feet, but the people around me had all gasped and reacted with fear when I had done it.

Ash Ketchum, I will never be afraid again. You have my promise that our regrets will make me courageous, not worried.

I started walking in a normal pace, but with clear determination and power. Trevor, who was still taking pictures throughout this, got an amazing shot of what he called "my steely gaze of wit and internal strength". It also won many awards, leading to a national Kalos photography level where it took third place.

I made it a few feet from Ash, when he closed his eyes to remove the new tears that I had just noticed were there. I couldn't wait any longer, so I did what was necessary. I dashed forward, closed the distance between us, and like many years before, I kissed Ash Ketchum with all the love I had. He was shocked as he had been in the past version of this event, but in an instant he kissed me back, wrapping his arms around me. The crowd lost it; cheering, halloring, and clapping as loudly as possible. I hear that Bonnie was crying and saying she knew it and Clemont was openly sobbing while they hugged and watched us show our passion at being reunited.

I will never forget the bright spark in his eyes when we finally parted lips. I knew I wanted the first word, so I spoke quickly after.

"I don't want one date. I want to be on a date with you from now until the end of our lives. Ash, I have missed you more than ever in this past month, three days, and thirteen hours, so can you forgive me for running away?"

His smile and heartfelt words made this day go down as my third favorite in the history of my life.

"Oh, Serena. I forgive you for the only thing you've ever done to wrong me, but it wasn't that."

I gave him a flirty smirk and tilted my head a little bit, trying to make him feel inclined to explain based on intrigue.

"Really? Then what was it?"

"Actually, there were two things. Not forcing me to follow you to Hoenn nine years ago or forcing me to help you unpack that day in the guest bedroom."

We kissed again, letting the entire world slip away from us, because we needed a moment with just each other and our renewed and unbreakable love.

-Four days later-

Even though it was close in the final battle, Ash was crowded as the new Kalos champion. He made a speech that truly touched everyone, especially me after he was given his medal.

"Wow! I still can't believe that now, after winning this amazing league, I am a World Champion! I am so thankful to all the trainers I faced and those who I simply got to see here! I truly appreciate every one of you for giving me advice, experience, and things to learn from! I also want to thank all the professors who kept the Pokemon I use for giving me information and help when I needed it along the way here! I really want to thank all of my friends from all of my journeys and my amazing mom, because without them and her, I wouldn't be standing here! Lastly, I want to thank my amazing best friend and girlfriend, Serena. She has been the most influential person in my life, and she has given me the power and love it took to get me here to my dream! I love you! Thank you for forgiving me and leading me to greatness by your side!"

He had been looking at me as he said it all, so he saw my Totodile tears as they ran from my eyes. He made a heart with his hands, so I made one in response. The entire crowd reached their happiness point with us as they cheering on our sentimental moments. After the speech, official paperwork, and everything in general was over with the Kalos league, I stood with Bonnie, Clemont, and Ash outside of the arena. We faced the siblings with sad smiles on all of our faces.

In the past four days, I had been arranging to have my things moved from my mother's house to the home I was given by a family member who was very rich and wanted to show how much she loved my performing. It was a lovely little house just outside of Coumarine Town, with a white exterior, a blue roof, and a Kalos style door. It had plenty of space, a nice kitchen for me, and a large yard for Ash's Pokemon and for him to practice in. We agreed to move there, but Ash didn't sell his over the beach home in Alola, because we had plans to visit there every summer, the same week I had visited him in, except for the visit we had planned extra, which was starting in two days. We were going to visit my mom in the meantime and help pack things up and visit our new house together. I had never felt so ready for life to stay the same as it was, but I still felt sad parting with Bonnie and Clemont after being able to visit every other day for the past month. Bonnie seemed to feel the same way, because she started crying.

"Serena, I will miss you so much! You have to visit at least once a month! Or let me visit you when I'm training and travelling! I want you to know that you're like a sister to me and I will always love and look up to you!"

At this point we were both bawling and she ran into my arms and we grasped each other as if it was the last time of our lives. I love Bonnie so much and I always want to see more of her when I can. After we managed to compose ourselves, Ash and Clemont finished their goodbyes and we all faced each other once more. Ash was the last one to say something that we all remember as a cherished memory.

"Well, thank you two for giving Serena a home to stay in after I drove her from mine with my stupidity! I love you guys and I hope we will keep in touch as much as possible! We will see you shortly for the w….welcoming party for our new house!"

Ash was blushing a little, but as we gave our final hugs and handshakes, my mind wasn't just sad. It was too distracted overthinking the way Ash said that last line.

Did Ash just stutter…...because he meant to say something else? No. He couldn't have meant….did he accidentally want to say wedding!?