Chapter 29: On the road again.

Okay guys this is it, the final stages of this long story, we are now heading into the Kalos League. This chapter will be shorter than the previous chapters, looking at around 3500-4000 words, this is before we head into the more serious stuff.


"There we go, Xerneas can rest easily with no one to disturb you," Serena commented she proudly looked at the tree form and nodded, "one day Ash and I will see you again," Serena whispered as she turned away, walking towards the exit of the dark cave, with her Pikachu on her left shoulder, the young woman made it outside, the bright, yet very warm day continued on, it had been a few days since she last saw Ash, but knew full well that Ash was well on his way to winning his eighth badge, "well, time to see how my mom is going," Serena chimed with pride.

Serena called out her Salamence and jumped onto her back, "alright Salamence fly south," Serena instructed her pokemon calmly. The powerful dragon let out a roar and flapped her wings, the dragon took off and flew south towards her home town.

Meanwhile in Vaniville Town, Serena's mother was preparing her lunch not expecting to see her daughter, it had been a few months since she last saw her daughter, even on the phone, she looked towards her Flatchling and then outside the window to see her Rhyhorn resting peacefully, "I wonder how Serena is going," Grace wondered to herself outloud, taking a sip from her cup of tea.

Grace walked to the lounge room and sat down, she turned on the TV to see what was on, as usual there was nothing worth watching, maybe she was waiting for the Kalos League to see her daughter battle, or she was concerned for her daughter's well-being, "I hope I can see her again, I miss her sassy outbursts," Grace admitted to herself, 'but then again, she is an adult, so her going out on her own is something to be expected,' Grace reminded herself.

Outside the house Serena landed on the front lawn, not bothering to recall her mighty Salamence, she rushed up to the door with great excitement, she knocked on the door, not wanting to wait for her mother to find out that she had just arrived, "mom, I have come to visit for a while!" Serena yelled out with joy.

Grace opened the door to greet her daughter, "Serena, how long has it been, since I last saw you home?" Grace asked happily embracing her daughter for the first time in a while.

"I think it has been eight months mom," Serena replied happily.

Grace let go of her hug and allowed her daughter inside the house, "you know, you have grown a lot, I also see that you have a Salamence as well as a cute little Pikachu," Grace pointed out with great pride.

Serena picked up her pokeballs and called out her other four pokemon, "Blaziken, Delphox, Florges and Lucario, come on out," Serena called out her strongest team of pokemon, "I have other pokemon, but Professor Sycamore has the rest of my pokemon," Serena proclaimed as she walked into the kitchen behind her mother.

"Wow, you have gotten more confident, I bet if I asked you to reconsider your stance on Rhyhorn racing, you will say no right?" Grace asked her daughter calmly.

Serena nodded at her mother's enquiry, she closed her eyes and thought about the future, "mom, I want to see the world," Serena professed her interest in traveling. The blonde haired trainer pulled out a photo of her clinging to Ash's left arm, she placed it on the table for her mother to see, "during the Kalos League you will meet him," Serena explained everything to her mother.

"Oh I see, so this is the man that you want to be with, I must admit, he is pretty handsome," Grace looked at the photo of the two enjoying one another's company, 'this is the happiest I have seen her, how can I get in the way of that?' Grace asked herself with a proud expression.

"Mom, in three months' time, I will be competing in the Kalos League, I am inviting you to come along," Serena invited her mother to the event.

Serena sat down at the table and tooka cup of tea, "well Serena, I think I will go, to meet the man that stole my little girl's heart," Grace declard her interest in meeting Ash.

"Great, so mom, how about I stay for the night, I really need to have a little break from my journey," Serena stated, taking another sip of her tea.

(Couriway Town)

Ash walked into the small town, getting ready to restart his journey, the weather was still really cool. Considering the time of the year, "you know buddy, it is amazing how many of my friends showed up, we barely had the time to catch up," Ash complained while walking through the streets, he knew he was getting closer to battling the gym leader, but also knew that he would have more time to catch up with his friends as he helped Serena see the rest of the Pokemon World, "you know, I think it would be better if we caught up with them in their home region," Ash told his partner pokemon.

Ash continued towards the centre of the small town, he looked to the east to find a group of waterfalls, small but still amazing to look at, listening to the water helped him relax from the stresses he had been in, "if only I came here earlier," Ash lamented.

Ash continued on through the town, thinking about his next adventure, "well it does seem like I don't need to compete after this region," Ash reminded himself, he spotted the Pokemon Centre and started approaching it.

The hours had passed, Ash was at the table with his pokemon getting a check-up, a map next to his plates, he scanned it to see where he next destination was, "Ash Ketchum, your pokemon have been cleared and are ready to continue their journey," Nurse Joy announced over the PA system.

Being the only trainer in the Pokemon Centre, Ash leaves the table and towards the main counter, 'Snowbelle City, the last destination on my journey before heading to the Kalos League,' Ash thought to himself, the trainer continued to dawdle towards the front counter.

"Ash, your pokemon are fighting fit," Nurse Joy told Ash, handing him the tray containing his pokeballs and Pikachu.

"Thanks Nurse Joy," Ash replied calmly, he took the pokeballs and placed them on his belt, he turned towards the table to discover that Gary had snuck in, eating his meal, "hey Gary what's the big idea?" Ash asked with his fists clenched.

"Yo Ashy boy, what's up?" Gary asked his old rival.

"You're eating my meal, that is what's up idiot," Ash replied while rushing to his table to grab the plate of food.

"Hey I was eating that," Gary remarked with disdain.

"Well buy your own meal," Ash retorted with a frown.

Gary stood up and started laughing, "well Ash, I spent the last day trying to find out where you were," Gary replied with a smug expression.

"Why?" Ash asked while holding his meal away from Gary.

"Isn't it obvious? I want a battle with you, two pokemon each," Gary informed Ash with a smirk, "for old time's sake," Gary admitted his intentions to Ash.

"What do you want in return?" Ash asked, shaking his head at the idea of the battle.

"That MegaRing would be nice," Gary replied to Ash.

"No, I promised to use this MegaRing against Serena, when we battle at the Kalos League in the finals," Ash replied to Gary's request.

Gary placed his hand on his chin and nodded, "alright then, when we battle I want you to use one Mega-evolved pokemon, I want to see one in action, plus if you own a fairy type pokemon, I want you to use is as well," Gary explained the conditions of the battle with Ash. Gary walked out of the Pokemon Centre and towards the battlefield in the middle of the town.

Ash took two pokeballs from his belt and looked at them for a moment, he then turned his gaze to the waiting challenger, he let out a quick sigh, "Sylveon and Garchomp it seems like we need to have a battle."

Ash walked out of the medical facility, a waiting Gary held out his pokeball and called out a black quadruped with rings around his legs, ears and tail, "so Ash show me and Umbreon what you've got," Gary requested with a confident smirk, his dark type standing ready to face off against Ash's pokemon.

"Sylveon, I choose you," Ash called for his first pokemon in the battle.

Gary looked at the small pink pokemon with the ribbons waving around and the air, "so this is a fairy type pokemon, native to the Kalos region, I wonder what this pokemon is capable of," Gary wondered out loud with increasing interest, "alright Umbreon attack with Dark Pulse," Gary instructed his dark type pokemon.

Umbreon unleashed a powerful burst of dark energy towards the fairy type that Ash was commanding, "use Fairy Wind to defend against it," Ash ordered his pokemon quickly. The fairy type sent a powerful breeze towards the opposing attack.

Gary watched in awe as his pokemon's attack was blocked from going any further. The dark type attack exploded sending remnants of the attack in every direction, crashing into the walls and on the ground, even flying some distance away from the battle, "wow, he trained this pokemon well," Gary hissed in amazement at the fairy types ability. "Umbreon, counter with Shadow Ball," Gary instructed his pokemon to attack again.

"Sylveon dodge the attack," Ash replied to Gary's command.

"Don't give Sylveon a chance to counter attack," Gary ordered his pokemon rashly, his pokemon fired a volley of Shadow Balls at the fairy type pokemon, not giving it a chance to land an attack.

"Keep dodging as you get closer," Ash ordered his powerful pokemon. Sylveon gracefully dodged each Shadow Ball, "Yeah keep going Sylveon," Ash replied as his fairy type pokemon continued to dodge each attack.

"What's with this pokemon? My Umbreon hasn't even landed an attack yet," Gary hissed as his frustration grew.

"Now Sylveon, attack with Draining Kiss," Ash called out for his first offensive attack, Sylveon kissed the dark type pokemon making Gary's pokemon flinch from the kiss it had received, Sylveon leapt back with the energy it had drained from the dark type pokemon, "how do you like her attack?" Ash asked his awestruck rival.

Gary gritted his teeth frustrated at what he had seen, his pokemon was panting from the battle, not even landing an attack on the fairy type pokemon, "Umbreon, counter with Psychic," Gary called out in frustration.

"Sylveon finish this battle with Moon Blast," Ash ordered his powerful fairy type pokemon to attack, a ball of energy formed at the tips of the ribbons, unleashing the attack before the dark type could fire a burst of psychic energy at the fairy type pokemon, the ball crashed into the dark type sending it flying towards the wall knocking it out of the battle.

"Wow, I should have trained some more with Umbreon," Gary recalled his dark type pokemon, he looked over to Ash with a proud smile and held out his next pokeball, "not bad Ash, I wonder, are you still able to beat my Blastoise?" Gary asked his former rival with a smirk, calling out his starter pokemon a blue tortoise with a large shell and two cannons coming from the shell and a cream underside, stood ready to face whatever Ash was going to call out next. Ash recalled his fairy type pokemon and pulled out another of his pokeballs, "this time I want to see a mega-evolution," Gary demanded of his old friend.

"Garchomp I choose you," Ash called forth his second pokemon.

"Garchomp, can that pokemon Mega Evolve? It is alreadya powerful pokemon," Gary whispered to himself as he watched Ash press the keystone on his left wrist, a burst of energy enveloped the dragon type pokemon, Gary watched as the burst of energy started to dissipate the opposing pokemon started to grow as his arms grew longer and with sickles at the end, "this might be a problem," Gary admitted to himself.

"Meet MegaGarchomp," Ash introduced his mega-evolved pokemon to Gary. The dragon let out a powerful roar, intimidating he water type pokemon, Gary looked at his starter pokemon and gulped, "you can attack first," Ash allowed his former rival to make the first move.

"Blastoise, start this battle with Hydro Pump," Gary called for the first attack of the round.

Ash watched his opponent's pokemon aiming his cannons at MegaGarchomp, "Garchomp dodge the attack by jumping into the air," Ash ordered his dragon type pokemon, as the steady stream of water rushed from the cannons, Garchomp leapt into the air easily avoiding the torrent, "not Garchomp attack with Stone Edge," Ash barked out his command.

"Use Withdraw," Gary announced the defensive attack. Garchomp fired a volley of stones at the water type pokemon, but it hid inside the shell as it took a powerful barrage from the rock type move, "oh man, Mega-Evolution is crazy," Gary whispered to himself, the attack ended allowing Blastoise to come out of his shell, panting after the attack, Gary knew that there wasn't much left in the battle, "Blastoise attack with Hydro Cannon," Gary called for the next attack, more desperate than his previous attack.

"Garchomp, use Earthquake to create I pillar of defence," Ash called out for the defensive attack, the dragon started to glow red, shaking the ground beneath him then raising a part of the ground to defend against the incoming blast of water, "now create a barrier with Stone Edge, to increase the defensive ability," Ash added to the instruction, Garchomp formed a barrier of stones to defend against the torrent of water, that broke through the pillar of earth. Upon making contact with the Stone Edge, an explosion ripped through the area, raising dust into the air, preventing Gary and Ash from seeing what was going on.

"So much for mega-evolution," Gary confidently stated as the dust started to settle.

"Use Outrage," Ash called for his dragon to go on the attack, bursting through the cloud of dust the mega-evolved pokemon rushed towards the recharging water type pokemon, Gary could only watch in horror seeing his water taking a barrage of hits from Ash's dragon.

"Great there is no way I can attack now," Gary stated slightly in panic, his water type pokemon fell to the ground unable to take another hit, "well it seems like you have gotten better over the years," Gary laughed, recalling his pokemon from the battle, knowing that he couldn't land a single hit against Ash's better raised pokemon, "well, I better get going, oh and thanks for the opportunity Ash," Gary thanked his rival as he walked up to him, stretching out his left hand to shake his friends hand.

"No problem Gary," Ash replied shaking his old friend's hand. Ash started to leave the town after recalling his mighty dragon, "so where are you heading to Gary?" Ash asked his friend, glancing over his left shoulder as Pikachu climbed on to his right shoulder.

"I am heading back to Kanto Ash, maybe I can rebuild Pallet Town," Gary informed Ash of his intentions walking away from his former rival. "But first there is Zygarde that Professor Sycamore wants me to research, then maybe another battle between us, next time I will have caught up to you," Gary stated as he left towards the cave containing the legendary pokemon.

Ash looked over to his partner pokemon and started walking towards the next destination, "well buddy, time to get our last badge, you ready?" Ash asked his partner pokemon, rushing towards the next road.

(Vaniville Town)

Serena leapt out of her bed for the first time in a very long time, "wow, sleeping in my own bed was awesome," Serena stated in an excited tone, she rushed over to the window and pushed it open to let some air in, she looked down to see her mother's pet Rhyhorn resting, "good morning Rhyhorn," Serena called to the rock type pokemon.

"Serena, breakfast is ready," Serena's mother called from downstairs.

Serena rushed down the stairway and sat at the table, dressed in her lilac shirt and shorts, her hair tied up, "morning mom," Serena stated with a smile, she started eating her breakfast, "pancakes, I have missed having these," Serena admitted forgetting that she had the ability to bake and cook, 'too bad I was busy eating pizza and other stuff that isn't healthy for you,' Serena admitted to herself.

"So Serena, how are you going to get to Snowbelle City?" Grace asked her daughter calmly.

"I am going to walk from here," Serena replied confidently, picking up the bottle filled with maple syrup, "then after I defeat the last gym leader, I am off to the Kalos League," Serena announced her intentions.

"Oh I see," Grace said with slight dissapointment.

"Hey mom, after Breakfast want to help me do a bit of training?" Serena asked her mother with a smile.

"I am not a battler like you," Grace replied with disdain.

"No not in battling, I mean in Rhyhorn racing, I don't like it but it might be fun," Serena told her shocked mother, Grace placed her hand over Serena's forehead to see if she was feeling alright, "mom, what's the matter?" Serena asked mother who still couldn't digest what was asked of her.

Still in shock Grace grew a grin, "just finding out if you were sick or not, I know how much you hate training as a Rhyhorn racer," Grace replied, still surprised by her daughter's choice of activity while visiting.

"I still hate your training, but I feel it would be nice that we do something together, it will be my last chance for a while," Serena told her mother, considerate of how her mother felt about Rhyhorn racing.

"By the way Serena, I read part of your book last night, you want to continue travelling discovering what you really want to do," Grace confessed to her daughter proudly, she walked outside to allow her daughter to prepare for training, 'I cannot believe Serena would want to do this,' Grace thought to herself proudly, not realizing that she had missed something important in the book.

Thirty minutes had passed, Serena was on Rhyhorn, the much larger pokemon was bucking as much as possible trying to get Serena off of its back, screaming at the top of her lungs, but there was a part of this time she was enjoying, "Serena's close your mouth, you don't want to bite your tongue off!" Grace yelled out with excitement, she continued to watch her daughter struggle, "be one with Rhyhorn!" the mother yelled out raising her left fist into the air with her Fletchling leaping into the air at the same time.

'Still the same as it was in the old days, now to show my mother what I have really learned over my travels,' Serena thought to herself, thinking back to many years ago, when she was training to be a Rhyhorn racer, how much she hated it, but now spending some time with her mother in her favourite hobby wasn't so bad. Serena tightened her grip on the reigns and braced herself for more of Rhyhorns desperate attempts to get the young woman off of its back.

"She is doing it, Serena could never get it right," Grace said to herself in amazement at what she was witnessing.

Rhyhorn rushed towards the fence, Serena had finally broken the powerful pokemon, "yes I did it!" Serena announced proudly as she signalled for the ground type to walk slowly over towards grace, 'now I don't have to do this ever again,' Serena thought to herself as she jumped off the quadruped pokemon.

"Wow Serena, that was amazing, you did so well I am proud of you," grace told her daughter as she pet the spikes pokemon for a great effort.

"Don't think for one second mom that I will be a Rhyhorn Racer, my next adventure will show me Pokemon Contests, who knows I might compete in both," Serena sassily replied to her mother. The two women walked home after a morning of training, "so mom, when I find out what I want to do, you will be one of the first to know," Serena promised her mother confident in her abilities, as a trainer and as a person.

"So you still don't know what to do?" Grace asked her daughter calmly.

"I will travel with Ash, through the regions and around the world," Serena replied to her mother's question, "it might take a while, but in the end it will be worth every experience I gain," Serena promised her mother quietly, 'but then again I have all the time in the world, I am immortal after all,' Serena thought to herself, saddened by the fact that she will never die, Serena looked towards the sky and took a sigh falling behind as her mother continued to walk home, 'how is Ash handling immortality?' Serena asked herself as the gentle breeze started to pick up.

"Serena if you want to get back on your journey, you better hurry up!" the older woman called to her daughter, "are you alright?" Grace asked Serena gently.

Serena rushed to her mother's side and nodded, "I am fine mother, just thinking about something," Serena replied to her mother, hiding the fact that she was hurting inside.

"Whatever you say Serena," Grace replied quietly, but she knew something was up, but decided not to push the topic further, the two women walked back to the family home.

After changing her attire Serena exited the house, a smile on her face, she was ready to take on the final gym, 'wait for me Ash, when next we meet, it will be at the Kalos League and there, we will end our small rivalry, there I will defeat you in battle,' Serena promised herself before turning to her mother with a confident smile, "mom, I will see you later at the Kalos league," Serena farewelled her mother, running off to recommence her journey, 'towards the future,' Serena made her resolve with a self-assured expression, unflinching in the wind which was gaining strength.

Meanwhile Ash was walking in the rain, heading towards Snowbelle City, "I can sense it Serena is on her way to Snowbelle City, but she is going to take her time, well it doesn't seem like she wants to make it a race anymore," Ash commented as he pushed through the rain. "I will be meeting another friend soon," Ash told himself thinking back to his past travels with his friends.


Hope you all enjoyed this shorter chapter, the next lot will be longer than this one, but this one did have a small point to it.

Next up Chapter 30: Hidden Village and revelations.

Remember to have a look at my poll guys, if there is anything you want added to the poll please don't hesitate to ask, as long as it is a rare pairing, make sure to PM me about what you would like to see, the poll still has two and half weeks left before I close it, so be sure to vote.

The next poll will happen in just over a months' time, that poll will also determine my schedule for next year, it will involve different franchises.