A/N: Hey-oh and hiya everyone! SPG123 here! These next six chapters will be in Serena's POV, so things might seem a little limited because you'll only see through Serena's eyes.


Our relationships, relationships between adults, how all those pieces fit together - that's the most complicated thing we all face. -Bill Condon


Chapter 29: A Psychic Guardian's Perspective: Chari

Day 1…

These last few days have been both the most terrifying, but best days of my life. So many things happened that are both good and bad that I could barely comprehend it. My one crush, the guy that makes my heart flutter every time he speaks, is now my boyfriend. It seemed surreal when I found that he reciprocated my feelings, and even more surreal when we hugged afterward. I swear, I was tempted to kiss him on the spot, but I decided against it. When we finally kissed at the Pokémon Center, I just melted away in his arms. That boy has no idea about his charming effect has on me. I felt like I had the ability Cloud Nine when he kissed me.

On the subject matter of kissing, I hated that my first kiss was stolen. Well, it technically wasn't stolen if I got kissed by the same guy. At the same time, he wasn't the same guy when he kissed me. Ugh! I hate the whole 'me but not really me' thing he's had since he's reunited with Aurora. Ashton's attitude is completely different from the Ash I'm used to. This balance and counterbalance thing is very interesting to see, though. Ashton's kiss made me intrigued and now I compare the two. Ash is definitely better, but I have to admit I enjoyed Ashton's kiss (much to my own confusion).

Right now, I'm sitting by Ash's side. He's been sleeping all day and it's concerning me. I can see Pikachu is having the same thoughts because he's looking at his trainer, concerned as well. I thought that he would take a short nap, wake up and then unwind with me. I thought we'd even try to figure out what was wrong with Aurora and himself. Now, he's in a state similar to her. I can sense that both of their auras are very low. They both seem to be in anguish in their sleep, but from what, I'm not sure.

I softly caress his sleeping hand. It's all I can think to do. I want to help him out... to somehow aid him with whatever dream he was having. He softly murmurs my name in his sleep, but I can tell he's in distress. He grimaces and I feel as though he's petrified of something. I wonder if I'm the reason. Oh, Arceus, I wish I can help him so badly!

It's late at night right now. Everyone should be asleep right now. I know I should be sleeping myself, but I can't leave him. I'm not sure what I can do, so I just follow my instincts. I concentrate and hover my hands over his body. My hands begin to glow pink as I once again transferred some of my energy to him. I notice his soft smile upon receiving the energy, but his face once again returns to a grimace. I wish I can help him out some more. I really do.

After I transfer my energy, I begin to sense something else off. Ash is pretty much the same, but something else is in the room with me. I'm not sure what, but I've never been sure of anything else in my life. I feel the presence watching me and Ash. It watches both of our movements. For a few moments, nothing happens. After that, I notice Ash beginning to glow a dark blue. I'm not sure what's happening, but I do know whatever is happening, Ash appears to be stronger. I widen my eyes in wonder and try to look around for what caused it. Once again, I can't see or find anything. It frustrates me that I don't know what's happening with my boyfriend. I feel the presence leave and my determination growing. I decide to leave Ash to see where the presence went. Before I do leave, I give him a small peck on his cheek. I softly murmur his name in affection before heading outside.

I notice the full moon in the darkened sky and I also notice a blue tail flame. I recognize it as Chari's flame. She's looking up at the same moon, sighing in sadness. She doesn't seem to notice my presence because she's too transfixed to move. As soon as I took a step, Chari's head snaps to my direction.

I tense up and freeze. When I first met this Charizard, I was absolutely terrified of her. She looked like she would attack anything at a moment's glance, especially if Aurora gave the call. After seeing how Chari defended against her trainer and the kind gestures she made to Clemont, I know she won't hurt me or anyone else. Chari's eyes study me. Sighing, she sits down and gestures me to sit beside her. Seeing as I don't have too much choice, I decide to sit beside her. Her tail curls up around me. She makes me feel like an ant compared to her size. I wonder if she can feel how much she's intimidating me. Probably not.

She just looks up at the moon again and begins to cry softly. I imagine she's feeling the same way I do. Lost. Confused. Most of all: afraid.

"Sometimes, I wonder what would have happened if my sister never looked for Ash." Chari admits quietly to me. "After all these years… they both give us a sense of comfort I can't explain."

"Are you and Aurora so close to consider yourself her sibling?" I ask the lizard in an effort to make her focus on the good times with Aurora. Chari closes her eyes and stops crying. Then, she begins to laugh tenderly. She looks straight into my eyes and that's all she needed to tell me. Their bond transcends anything I thought possible… except for maybe Pikachu and Ash. I'm not sure which bond is stronger. I decided to try and continue the conversation, "What do think would have happened if Aurora didn't remember and find Ash?"

Chari chuckles and seems to contemplate the question. She answers, "Well… lots of things could have happened. She could still be Hokori focusing on keeping her title. She could be at her parents' ranch in Hokori training her body and mind even further. She could nomadically be moving around from city to city like she used to. One thing I'm positive of is that she'd be empty."

"Empty?" I echo back.

The Charizard nods, "While Aurora had her version of the amnesia, I felt her emptiness. I could feel her strength waning every time she felt overcome by said emptiness. She wondered what was missing her life. Those missing pieces in her heart were Aru and Ash."

I remain silent as I weigh in Chari's words. I could tell Aurora cared a lot about Ash, but not to the point where he affected her in her memory loss. I wonder how Chari and the rest of Aurora's Pokémon felt when Aurora had her bouts of weakness. I also wonder about Aru. She did mention she didn't want to fade. By forgetting Ash, Aurora forgot herself, but how else was she effected?

This made me wonder about something else. "Since you are Aurora's Aspect, did you lose your memory like she did?"

Chari looks down at me sadly, but shakes her head. "No. I wasn't even there to lose my memory."

I can tell Chari was beginning to feel uncomfortable, but my curiosity gets the best of me. I decide to press her as far as I could. "Where were you when it happened?"

"The rest of my compatriots and I were with her parents. There were times Aurora would carry us with her when she was with Ash. However, whenever she was about to teach him something new about his aura, she preferred to be by herself with him. The same is true today, except she keeps our capsules with us and we don't intrude." She answers.

"Aurora still trains Ash?" I note with a question.

Chari once again chuckles, "He doesn't realize it, but yes, she does. All Ketchums love to train in some way. With the exception of first night where he saw her train Rio and myself, every night since meeting him again, Aurora has shown Ash a new technique she feels he could use to his advantage. The aura grip is a good example of this."

I think about how Ash was able to hold me up in the air without touching me when they both thought I was sleeping. I also think about when Ash held down Aru so her partners could restrain her. I cringe at the memory and hold my neck subconsciously. I understand that Aurora was in her berserker stage, but her counterbalance…. I had never been so scared before.

Chari seems to notice that my mind has wondered elsewhere. She studies my expression once again. "If… you're thinking about Aru, don't judge her too harshly. The rest of my partners and I love her to death as well. Despite what you've seen, that's not the worse she's been. I'd say she went easy on you guys."

I look at the fire type incredulously, "Easy?!"

One look from Chari settles me down. I lose my will to argue. I wonder if Chari has the ability to sap someone's strength as well as give. She shakes her head, "I wasn't sure at first. Thinking about what happened today, when I was analyzing her movements, I noticed they weren't as precise as usual."

I want to argue against her, but I keep my mouth shut. Chari sighed, "If she truly wanted to kill any one of us… she would have done it. I'm surprised she didn't annihilate all of us like the initial conflict. Aru's mellowed down a lot, trust me. Seems like she loves us, too… in her own weird way."

"So… she staged everything?" I feel my anger begin to rise. Chari once again shakes her head sadly.

"No. Everything she said and did was genuine. However, I do wonder why she seemed so… reluctant… to do anything." Chari mused.

"I wonder why it is, too." I put my hand on my chin in thought.

"I'm not into the sensing business, human. That's Rio's thing. In fact, I imagine Rio coming out here in the next few moments." True to Chari's words, Rio indeed came outside. I could hear the door open and close as he entered. I turn around and notice his initial shock, but then he shrugs his shoulders. He chooses to stay standing, but has his arms crossed. He narrows his eyes at me, untrusting. It's a stark contrast to how Chari initially acted towards me.

Chari looks at Rio slightly lazily, "Did you find out what's connecting Ash and Aurora?"

Rio shakes his head, "Should you be asking this with her here?"

I'm taken slightly aback by Rio's harsh tone. He narrows his eyes even more. Instead of feeling intimated, I stare him down. I can sense his surprise. Then, a small smirk. I force myself to ignore him. Chari shrugs her shoulders, "Hey, she has just as much as a right as we do. After all, she is the young master's mate."

I feel a blush creep up on my face upon hearing the statement. I would love to stay with Ash for the rest of my life, but I know I'm really young. When she said 'mate', I immediately think 'wife' and 'marriage'. These thoughts excite me and makes me nervous all the same. Both Pokémon seem to notice this. Chari snickers and Rio rolls his eyes.

"Just like Aurora." Rio shakes his head at her. "You support them, too."

I feel touched when I heard that. I look up at Chari. She winks at me and smiles. She says to Rio, "Leave that to the hu… I mean… Serena's… imagination."

"That's beside the point. If you don't mind the girl here, fine. To answer your earlier question, no. I do sense a binding aura in both of them, but the trace is indistinguishable." Rio shakes his head in frustration. I notice his paws trembling. Rio looks as though he is about lose his composure, but noticing me here, he quickly snaps himself back. "With all due respect, psychic guardian, I need to speak with Chari alone. It's… Aurora."

"What about her?" Chari asks in a hesitant voice. Rio shakes his head and gestures me to go inside.

I decide to follow through with what he wants, but only because he seemed so insistent. After today, I don't want to argue with anyone. Just as I enter the house, I'm notice that they both began to speak in their Pokélanguage. I wish I can understand them. As I closed the door, I notice Chari's distraught face. Then, tears begin to flow freely from her face. Then, her face contorts to one of anger. Rio has his eyes closed and struggles not to flinch as Chari roars loudly. I look through a window and I notice that Rio has climbed onto Chari's back and they flew off somewhere. At this point in time, I finally decide to change into a simple night gown and to go to bed.


A/N: I apologize for the short chapter, but I decided it would be good to start small then steadily get longer as Serena learns more about herself and her past. I hope you liked the chapter!

See you in two weeks!

Next Chapter: A Hybrid's Perspective: Rio