The ABC'S of Love

by PurimPopoie

On their way to Snowbelle City, Ash and his friends must come to grips with situations that force them to reexamine their bonds. Who is the enigmatic Calem, and what is his connection to Serena and why does he seem so driven to separate our four heroes? The answers may lie in the past, connecting Ash and Serena in a way they hadn't realized as a secret threat looms. Amourshipping.

12. Don't Give Up On Me 'Til It's Over!

I want to thank FantasyLover88, Pokemon 2016, RobSp1derp1g, Q-A the Authoress, ultimateCCC, Tuxedo Pearl, ModernMythics, IadoreAMOUR, Epicocity, Anondamoose, justareadersofar, and LittleLitten for reviewing since last time. This chapter is longer than the more recent ones, so I hope it keeps your interest the entire way!

For those of you who follow the English Dub, "Championing a Research Battle!" aired last weekend, which is the final episode before the events of this story take place. I also went back and updated the titles on the author note on Chapter 3 if you're only checking the latest chapters out. But let's get started!

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Chapter 12. "Don't Give Up On Me 'Til It's Over!"

Serena sat there at the campfire, staring into the flames. The sun had set behind the trees of the forest, painting the sky dark shades. She had just finished explaining what happened to Calem, who sat there next to her, equally quiet before clearing his throat.

"...I have a confession to make," he said, staring into the fire. "...I was the one who delivered that envelope."

Serena gasped and looked at over at her friend. "What do you mean? How… why?!"

The aspiring designer raised his hands. "Hold on. Let me explain. I didn't know what was in the envelope until you told me just now."

Serena frowned, not liking this new information. "You better explain fast, Xavier," she said.

"As I was leaving the Pokémon Center," he said, "I got a phone call from these weird people. A woman and two men. One tall, one really short. They said they saw my battle with Ash and that they wanted to help me get back at him and to try and convince you to come with me instead."

The performer paled. "...what are you saying, Calem…? Was this… just a plan to get me away from Ash?"

Calem shook his head. "No! Of course not!" He leaned away from Serena, letting his head droop. "...Yvonne… I'm sorry. I should have been upfront with you about how I felt. Instead, I let my jealousy over Ash twist me and I probably destroyed our friendship." He took off his red cap and placed it in his lap. "After I did-" he shrugged, "-that, I figured that I would just… never say anything to you again. I'm really sorry that I was such a jerk to you."

Serena sighed, and gave him a calm smile. "Well… apology accepted, Calem. But, what about the envelope, then?"

"Well, I explained to the people who wanted to help me that I didn't want to bother you with this anymore, since I figured I'd just make you upset," he explained. "But they reminded me that while I've been in love with you for a long time, and it's hurt me… you've been in love with Ash, and it's hurt you, too. So I snuck into the Pokémon Center that night to… protect you. You're still my best friend, Yvonne. I just wanted to spare you the pain of loving someone who doesn't love you back."

Serena sighed. "Well... I guess your heart was in the right place," she said looking back at the fire. "...So was Ash's." She also leaned towards the fire, propping her head up with her hands. "Ash was just working with what he understood. It's not his fault that he doesn't understand when someone's in love with him. It's like how I didn't understand your feelings for me…"

Calem shrugged. "This whole situation has 'comedy of manners' written all over it," he said. "I was digging into you about Ash not understanding you when I couldn't tell that you didn't understand me so…" He turned to her and smiled, the fire reflecting off his grey eyes. "I know you don't feel about me how I feel about you, and that's alright. I've learned my lesson."

"Thanks, Xavier," Serena said with a smile. "And… I'm sorry that I don't feel the same way about you that you feel about me."

He waved her off. "Water under the bridge. Don't worry."

"Ab!" It was the cry of Absol, who was still watching over camp from the trees.

Calem stood. "Absol? What's the matter?" he asked, looking up.

"Serena!"

Serena stood immediately in response to the familiar voice. "It's Ash!"

Absol jumped off the branches, growling as he guarded the entrance to the place where Calem had set up camp as the raven-haired, brown-eyed trainer from Pallet Town came into view. When Absol landed before him, Ash Ketchum ground to a halt, Pikachu hopping from his shoulder and taking a defensive stance. "An Absol…?" Ash asked. "That means…."

"Well well…" Calem said, walking behind his Pokémon. "Looks like my humble little camp is getting all sorts of visitors."

Ash clenched his teeth and glared at Calem. "You!" he growled. "If you're here, then Serena…?"

The performer walked towards the two boys, staying behind Calem. The thing she noticed instantly was the ribbon around Ash's right wrist. The same blue ribbon she had tossed away in her moment of despair. She gripped towards her collar where it used to sit, still missing its warm protection. Looking to Ash's left hand, he still held her red fedora in his hand. "You… you have…"

Ash, meanwhile, saw Serena approach from behind Calem and felt a mix of relief at her safety and stomach-churning dread since she was behind the Vanivillian. "S-Serena! You're okay!" he called to her. "C-C'mon, we need to go…!"

Serena looked away from him, saying nothing. That didn't stop Calem from stepping up. "Fat chance," he said. "Serena ran out here to get away from you. I'm not going to let you come back and try to hurt my best friend!"

Ash silently cursed his mouth, now realizing that he said the wrong thing to her. "Serena," he pleaded, ignoring Calem, "I'm really really sorry. It's like I can never say exactly what I'm feeling."

"Ash, I know you're just trying to make me feel better," Serena responded, still keeping her gaze off of him. "I shouldn't have yelled at you just because-"

"No!" Ash interrupted her. "Serena, it's alright! I finally understand!"

This brought the performer's attention straight to the Palletonian. "You understand…?"

Ash nodded and pumped his fist. "I do! I really do!" He paused and laughed, scratching the back of his head. "I-uh… I mean I had help… Who'd have known Bonnie was an expert at this kinda thing…"

Calem rolled his eyes. "Yes, the five-year old definitely explained to you how feelings work," he deadpanned before turning to the honey-blonde behind him. "Yvonne, you're not buying this, are you?"

Serena, however was more enthralled. "So… you understand… what is it that you understand now, Ash?"

"I-uh…" He stammered. "...I understand that saying somethin' is a lot harder than just feelin' it or thinkin' it…" He frowned and crossed his arms. "I uh… Serena, I didn't have a lot of friends in Pallet Town… or uh… any friends. Eheh… But, uh! I had Pokémon! I've been with Pokémon ever since I was really little! And… well, remember when you asked me what I was doing in the forest when I found you that day?"

Serena nodded. "That was… just before we ran into Xavier again."

"I didn't wanna admit it, since I wanted to look… I dunno… cool to you," Ash said, his cheeks turning the faintest shade of red, "but I was in the forest looking for Pokémon since I didn't have any other friends."

"You… didn't have any other friends?" Serena asked, her heart welling up with pity.

Ash sighed and gave a nod. "Before I met Pikachu… I didn't really have any friends at all. Even the guy I knew in my home town wasn't very friendly to me. It wasn't until I left on my journey that I was able to start making friends… I really only knew Pokémon before then so… I guess I only knew how to talk with people like they're Pokémon…"

Serena's heart sank. "Oh, Ash…"

Even Calem found it hard to stay angry. "Well… you had no friends, but I don't see how that makes a difference…" he said, crossing his own arms.

"I grew up a lot by meeting my friends, "Ash explained. "When I met Misty, I didn't really know how to relate to other people. When I met May, I wasn't really good at teaching people the stuff I knew. When I met Dawn, I didn't realize what it'd be like to have someone support me as hard as I supported them. When I met Iris, I didn't think about trying to understand how other people saw me." He exhaled. "Serena, I've had a hard time growing up, and I didn't really understand the differences between people and Pokémon. And I'm sorry, 'cause it's only made me act like a big jerk to you."

"Typical Ash…" Serena placed her hands on her hips, trying to sound disappointed, but she unable to hide the smile on her face. "You just think everyone sees the world the way you do without thinking about how they could see it differently."

"Eheh… y-yeah," Ash said, scratching his nose. "But Serena…" he said, turning more serious, "you gotta believe me. I understand how important you are to me, now."

Calem scowled. "And how important is that?" he asked.

"Serena, when I asked you to join me on my journey," Ash said, ignoring Calem, "I wasn't sure what I was doing. I just knew that I wanted you to travel with me. And we've gone on a ton of adventures since then. We've seen other worlds, seen so many incredible Pokémon, and met so many friends and rivals along the way…" he paused, biting his lip. "Serena, all these adventures have been awesome, and you should know by now that I'm pretty awful with words and expressing myself in any way but a Pokémon Battle, so you really need to listen and try to understand what I'm tryin' to say here."

Serena took a few steps around Calem, her cheeks colored pink as the firelight continues to dance her eyes. "Ash, what are you trying to say?"

"I'm tryin' to say…" he said, his heart pounding in his chest. "...I want you to keep travellin' with me."

"You still don't understand!" Calem shouted, throwing his hands into the air. "You expect her to keep-"

"But I do understand!" Ash fired back, interrupting Calem. "I'm awful at explaining things, but I know that if she goes with you, I'll be heartbroken!" Serena, Calem, and even Pikachu looked at him, mostly in disbelief. "Serena, I'm sorry I'm no good at this stuff, but I love you! I just want you to come back with me! Don't give up on me, please!"

Serena's hands covered her mouth again as she took a few steps closer. "A-Ash… w-what did you say…"

The trainer nodded. "I… I love you," he repeated. "I… I think I've loved you for a long time. I just didn't notice because no one ever really told me that this is how people who're in love act." He smiled gently at her. "I just want to see you happy, Serena. That's all I've wanted for a really long time."

The performer ran her fingers through the ends of her blonde hair. "Ash… are you… are you sure? You're not just saying it…?"

Ash put a hand behind his head before nodding. "Eheh… well, Bonnie was pretty clear about how jealous and possessive I was acting… I'm sorry." He finally looked at Calem. "And I'm sorry I was a jerk to you, too, Calem. I didn't even... realize I felt this way."

Calem raised an eyebrow. "Uh… apology accepted?"

Serena stepped closer. "Ash…" she whispered, her cheeks pink. Then, she bolted towards him at a speed that Ash thought would knock him over. She stopped close to him and threw her arms around his shoulders, causing the trainer to gasp in surprise for a moment. He smiled and very hesitantly put his arms around her as well before squeezing her hard.

"Serena… sorry it took me so long," he whispered back. "I'm… really bad at this sorta thing."

She shook her head against his shoulder. "No, Ash, I'm sorry for overreacting like that… I knew you were focused on your Pokémon and your training, and I didn't want to step in the way of you or your goal, so I just… didn't say anything."

Ash let her go and took a step back. "What're you talkin' about?" he asked, grinning at her. "Having people around me, supportin' me is the only way I can become a Pokémon Master! I've had a lotta help so far, and I know I'll only need more support the closer I get!"

Serena smiled back, tears of joy in her eyes. "R-Right! You're totally right! And I want be by your side, giving you the strength to reach your goal, Ash!"

"Thank you, Serena!" Ash replied. He looked at her before noticing that she was still missing her hat and ribbon. He held the red fedora and blue ribbon (which was still wrapped around his wrist) up to her. "Here… These are yours."

Serena smiled. "Thank you, Ash." She placed the red fedora back on her head before untying the ribbon from Ash's wrist and pulling it back around her collar, tying it back around her, pulling the ends tight over her chest. "There! I feel back to normal now!"

Ash chuckled. "It still looks as great as the day you first put it on," he said, scratching his nose.

Serena blushed and ran her fingers through the ends of her hair. "Thank you, Ash…!"

Pikachu, who had by then already stopped being defensive towards Absol, bounded up on Ash's shoulder. "Pika Pika, Pikapi!"

"Sorry, Pikachu," Ash said, laughing. "I guess even you figured things out before I did, huh?"

The Mouse Pokémon crossed his arms, closing his eyes. "Pikachu!" he said, annoyed.

Serena plucked Pikachu off of Ash's shoulder. "Well, he gets it now, right?" she asked the Electric-Type. "All's well that ends well."

"Pipikachu, Pipika."

At that moment, a cloud of black smoke exploded all around Ash and Serena, choking them and blinding their vision. Ash heard a swooshing noise, and heard the muffled screams of Serena and Pikachu as they quickly grew more distant. The trainer coughed and reached towards the honey-blonde girl who was still holding his beloved partner, but found nothing.

The smoke cleared quickly, and Ash looked up into the trees. Standing before him was something that looked like a giant Chesnaught, but under any scrutiny, appears to be made of metal. The oversized robotic Pokémon had extended two large metal cables out from the spines on it's back, holding Serena and Pikachu in one, and Calem's Absol in another. The cables retracted into the Pokémon's back, pulling the three of them inside. Ash could only gasp at what he was seeing. "Pikachu! Serena!"

"Absol!" Calem cried out, reaching towards his Pokémon. "What's going on?!"

"Nya-ha-ha-ha!"

The top of the robotic Chesnaught's head opened up, and out of it poured a familiar mocking laughter that burned against Ash's ears.

"If you have to ask," said a woman with maroon hair, "then you should prepare for trouble."

"With these love-sick twerps," a man with lavender hair added, "then you should make it double."

"To protect the world from devastation!"

"To unite all peoples within our nation!"

"To denounce the evils of truth and love!"

"To extend our reach to the stars above!"

"Jessie!"

"James!"

"Team Rocket blasts off at the speed of light!"

"Surrender now or prepare to fight!"

"Meowth, dat's right!"

"Wobbuffet!"

Ash clenched his teeth and fists. "Team Rocket?! What're you doin' here?!"

Calem squinted through the dark. "Team Rocket? That's those bad guys you were talking about the other day, right?"

Standing atop the Giant Robotic Chesnaught, Jessie laughed. "I can't believe our luck," she cheered. "Our plan was a complete success!"

"From da brilliant minda Jess!" Meowth chimed in.

James stroked his chin. "When she came up with this plan to split up the twerps, I could only say yes."

Ash frowned. "What're you talkin' about?"

"It's very simple, my dear twerp," James explained, gesturing around him. "After that blast off we received, we came to the concrete conclusion that attempting to tangle with a team of twerps was a tad too tricky for us to tango."

"But while we spied on the fashion twerp," Jessie continued, "we heard that he was gaa-gaa for the twerpette! That gave me the idea of using a little love-triangle to split up your group so we could steal Pikachu from you while you were by yourself."

"I never woulda imagined dat you'd actually feel da warm'n'fuzzies for da twerpette too!" Meowth crowed. "So now we've got da perfect hostage! We've got Pikachu, and your girlfriend!"

"Give them back, right now!" Ash roared, ignoring Meowth's taunting.

A look of horror settled over Calem's face. "Wait… those voices… you three are the ones who gave me that letter!"

James bowed. "You were a huge help for our heinous plan. We'll be taking your Mega Absol, as well, if you don't mind."

"You guys just don't know when to quit!" Ash shouted. He pulled out a Poké Ball and threw it. "Greninja, use Water Shuriken!"

Calem nodded and pulled out his own Poké Ball. "Vaporeon, use Ice Beam!"

The two Water-Types quickly appeared and launched their attacks at Team Rocket. Before they could make contact, however, the terrible trio slipped inside their mecha, and its eyes sprung to life. The Mecha Chesnaught roared and stomped forward, raising an arm and firing missiles from the needles on its arms at Ash and Calem's Pokémon. The two Pokémon quickly lept out of the way of the attack, which caused an explosion of dust that put out Calem's campfire.

"Now now, twerps, wouldn't you hate it if we singed the hair on your cute little twerpette?" Jessie's voice played over a loudspeaker on the robot. The belly of the mecha opened up, showing Serena, Pikachu, and Absol each restrained by the solid-light devices that Team Rocket commonly employed to tie up their targets. All three were being held in the open air.

"Ash!" Serena cried out.

"Pikapi!"

Calem clenched his fists. "You monsters! Let them go! Give me back Absol!"

"Just try us, twerp," the female Rocket taunted. "We'll channel Pikachu's electricity right through the twerpette if you don't play nice."

Ash stepped forward. "Well, then, we won't give you a chance! Greninja, use Cut on those binds!"

The Ninja Pokémon leapt forward, a glowing blade in his grasp.

"Not on my watch ya don't," Meowth yelled. The belly closed up again, once again hiding the Pokémon and Serena from view as Greninja's cut smashed against the steel shell before he leapt backwards. "Jessie might be jealous dat nobody loves her but I just want Pikachu!"

"Why you mangy furball!"

"I'm not gonna risk Pikachu overloadin' da circuits just 'cause you wanna give da twerpette a perm!"

James laughed. "Besides, we have a much better use for that electricity." he pulled a lever inside the mecha. "Firing Electro Pin Missile!"

Inside the mecha, Pikachu screamed out as his electricity as drained through the ring device. The spikes on the front of the Mecha Chesnaught's shell began to spark to life before firing two huge bolts of lightning at Ash and Calem.

The electrical attack struck both Vapoeron and Greninja, launching them backwards, smacking against the ground as they rolled.

"Greninja!" Ash cried out as his Ninja Pokémon pulled itself back to its feet, standing defiantly against Team Rocket's mecha.

"Vaporeon, stay strong!"

Meowth laughed even more. "You're in fer a shock if you try and beat us!"

"Resisting Team Rocket ends up like thus!" Jessie added.

"No muss, no fuss!" James finished.

"Wooobuffet!"

Ash glared at the robot that contained his best friend and the girl he just finally realized he loved. "I've gotta save 'em… I've gotta save 'em…!"

At the same time, Greninja stared at where Team Rocket had been holding them. "Greninja…Greninja..."

Suddenly, a gushing torrent blasted from around Greninja, causing the Pokémon to glow as his head changed shape and appearance, covering himself with the watery veil. Ash could feel himself synchronising with Greninja, their feelings about saving their friends drawing them together. 'I guess you wanted to save 'em, too.'

'Ninja.'

Inside the mecha, James looked over at his teammates. "We might have trouble with this next part…"

Jessie waved off his concerns. "Please, what's that overgrown Poliwag going to do to this mechanical marvel?"

"I'm leadin' the offensive!" Meowth responded, moving his levers, which caused the machine to step towards Ash and Calem.

The Kantoese Trainer looked at the fashion designer. "Can you stop 'em from moving? Greninja and I'll cut 'em free!"

Calem nodded. "I've got it." Turning to his Bubble-Jet Pokémon he commanded "Use Ice Beam on that robot's feet!"

Vaporeon opened his mouth and a beam of icy energy shot forth, colliding with one of the mecha's feet, encasing it in thick ice.

Meowth pressed his levers, causing the machine to lurch, but it couldn't break free. "Looks like we're stuck for now."

"If we can't take Pikachu away from them," Jessie said, "then we should just take their Pokémon away from them! James!"

"Yes, ma'am," he responded, hitting a button.

The two spines on the back of the Mecha Chesnaught once again shot off, the metal cables attached as they came flying towards Grenina. Ash saw the spines coming towards him and his Water-Type through Greninja's eyes. Ash leaned forward and said "Jump!", causing Greninja to jump and avoid the cables as they flew past him and stabbed into the ground. Ash reached towards his sides and gripped at them, miming Greninja who did the same before forming both of his Cut blades. "Now, use Cut!"

Greninja came down on both of the metal cables, his glowing blades finding little resistance in them as he sliced them completely through.

Jessie swallowed, a bead of sweat running down her cheek. "Was that supposed to happen?"

"Dat Greninja's power's off the scale…" Meowth muttered.

"Don't just sit there! Shoot it!" Jessie shouted.

"Roger," the Scratch Cat Pokémon replied, hitting the buttons on his own console.

The arm-needle missiles once again fired off, flying in a flurry towards Greninja. Ash saw them coming, but from Greninja's prespective, they seemed slow. "Knock 'em down with Water Shuriken!"

Greninja formed shuriken out of the torrential water that flowed around him, sending Water Shurikens flying towards the missiles, knocking each of them down before they could get close.

"More Electro Pin Missile!"

The front quills once again lit up with electricity before firing the bolts of lightning at Greninja.

Ash held up his arms as if to block, and Greninja held his blades in front of his face, blocking the electric attack. Both Ash and Greninja shuddered as the force of the attack rang through their bodies. Ash could feel the strain that Greninja was being put under from the attack. He clenched his teeth and tried his hardest to endure it.

"Stay strong, Ash!" Calem cried out. "You and Greninja can save them!"

Ash pooled his determination and grunted as the energy continued to build against Greninja's blades. 'I can't block it forever… this energy has to go somewhere…' As he thought it, he realized just where he wanted the attack to go.

Roaring, Ash moved his arms forward, shouting "Now, Greninja!" Greninja moved in synch with his movements, and the frog Pokémon deflected the electric attack, sending the bolt of energy flying into the chest of the Mecha Chesnaught. The entire front canopy burst open, once more revealing Serena and the two Pokémon who were being held within.

"Ash! You're okay!" Serena called out.

"Pikapi!"

"Absol!"

Ash felt like his blood was starting to boil over. "More… MORE!" he shouted loudly.

"Gre… NINJA!"

As the trainer and Pokémon shouted, the water around Greninja began flying away, ceasing to be a veil and turning into something that looked like watery wings as it began to coalesce behind Greninja, taking the shape of a gigantic, four-pointed Water Shuriken strapped to his back. It's red-colored head and black frills were now plainly visible, as were the red zig-zag streaks in the frills.

Serena gasped, seeing the true form of the synchronized Greninja for the second time in her life.

Calem stepped back, eyes wide. "That's what it looks like under that water?!"

"Water-" Ash said, reaching towards his back, grasping at a phantom shuriken as Greninja reached back and grabbed the very real Water Shuriken off his back. "-SHURIKEN!" With the shout of the word, Ash snapped his arm forward, and Greninja did the same, hurling the Water Shuriken through the air at the Mecha's head. The speed of the shuriken made it all but impossible for Team Rocket to track with their eyes, and for a moment, it seemed like the attack had no effect. But the spinning blade of compressed water sliced through the Chesnaught Mecha's neck cleanly, causing the head only to explode.

Tossed out of their mecha by the explosion, Team Rocket sailed into the sky. "That twerpy Greninja sure is quick on the draw!" Jessie fumed.

"It scribbled right through all of our plans to catch Pikachu…" James shrugged.

"You lugs are paintin' me in a corner," Meowth sighed.

"We're blasting off again!" The trio called out as they flew out of view, a familiar 'ping' punctuating their disappearance.

On the ground, as the power in the mecha failed, the solid-light devices holding up Serena and the two captive Pokémon began to fade, causing the performer to begin to fall the ground. As she braced for the impact, she felt two strong arms once again catch her before a still rough landing on the ground. She looked up and she saw Ash there, smiling at her. "Serena…" he whispered. "You're okay…"

Blushing, she smiled and nodded. "Thanks to you, Ash."

Ash looked over at Greninja, who had caught Pikachu, who nodded back to him. "That's gruh-" Ash's eyes glazed over and he fell backwards, his arms going limp as he collapsed under Serena. Greninja flashed with energy, returning to normal, falling forward with Pikachu in his arms. Both trainer and Pokémon were unconscious on the forest floor as Serena scrambled to her feet.

---

"Alright everyone! Let's go together! Towards the next adventure!"

"Serena, be with me!"

"B-Be with you?! Y-You mean...?"

"C'mon, let's go!"

"I..."

"Here goes!"

"W-Wait!"

"Next week is the final chapter!"

"Next time, Pokémon XY&Z: The ABC's of Love! Opening the Door to the Future!"

"Everyone, go catch'em all!"

"Oh...that's what you meant."

"That's what I meant."