Chapter 22: At the End of the Day
Ash walked down the path leading to the bottom of Mt. Silver in silence. Serena stood by him, holding his hand tightly, not daring to let go.
After a while, Ash finally spoke. "Serena, are you doing okay?"
She turned to him, with an bewildered expression. "I should be the one asking you that. You defeated the champion, yet you haven't smiled once. What's on your mind?"
Ash looked at his hands. In them, was Pikachu's broken pokeball. Serena caught his gaze, and put a hand on his shoulder, which was free as Pikachu was in her own bag, asleep from it's hard-fought battle. "You know, Pikachu will never feel differently about you, pokeball or not."
He nodded, and stared at the debris intensely. "Yeah, I know. I'm just kinda overthinking it, but Pikachu is technically released, but I don't want to put him through being back in a pokeball again. It's nothing important, but it's just-"
He stopped, however, as he was interrupted by a pair of arms wrapped around him. "Ash, it's good that you feel this way. Shows how much you care about Pikachu. But look, you two - no, all of you worked together and you finally became the champion! So you can worry about that in the future. For now, I want to see the Ash that smiles and never stops talking."
Ash gazed at her. Her eyes shone in the evening sun and her smile was as reassuring as if she was back in a performance. He allowed a grin to slowly build on his face. "Boy, am I lucky to be with someone like you."
Serena blushed, and gave him a sudden peck on the cheek before they carried on walking.
She felt a rustle on her back. "Pi...Ka?" groaned a soft voice behind her. She pulled the bag off her back and unzipped it, revealing the exhausted yellow mouse, stirring but awake.
Ash beamed hugely, and picked his companion up carefully but joyously. "Pikachu!" he cried. "Buddy, you're awake!"
Pikachu grinned back at him, and gave him a weak thunder jolt. Ash barely felt the move, but his friend was okay, and still recognised him. He let out a breath he didn't even know he held. "Oh, thank goodness..."
"Hey Ash." Serena whispered. "Here we are."
Ash looked straight ahead of him as he turned the corner. A huge crowd looked back at him, at the bottom of the mountain. His eyes widened, but then he smiled.
He wrenched a trophy out of his bag. The same one Red had given him.
Gingerly, he lifted the trophy above his head, as Pikachu got up onto his paws and stood beside him.
The crowd continued to stare with a deafening silence. But then, at once, a huge round of clapping rung out, echoing across the mountain base.
The adrenaline in Ash's body burnt out right then, and he fell into Serena's arms, still smiling and still conscious, yet unable to move. He was the champion of his home region, and finally at the end of his quest to become a Pokemon Master.
His voice had left him, but Serena was not worried; she could hear his thoughts from his expression, and he was exhilarated. She smiled, and slung him over her back, stepping forward into the crowd before them.
Surprisingly, there wasn't any paparazzi - but she looked towards the back of the crowd, spotted a certain Charizard there and put two and two together. After all, he was the master photographer who gave Ash the Charizardite Y.
She paced slowly through the crowd, who were all cheering and congratulating Ash.
"Ash, check it out, you've done so well!" she told him, pointing at everyone around him. He just sighed blissfully.
The entirety of the Kanto region hadn't seen their champion in years, and were beginning to doubt whether he was alive at all. But seeing him fly on a Charizard after Ash's journey with his girlfriend to Mount Silver, the pieces fell into place. The followers of the pokemon league, all the great Kanto trainers - even Blue himself had came out to see their new champion.
Serena was almost disappointed for having to drag Ash away from them, but his own health was first and foremost on her priorities. She pretty much carried him from the Mountain until someone in the crowd offered the two a lift back to the Indigo Plateau which she graciously accepted. When she made it, she booked in a stay at the Pokemon Center and lay the exhausted boy on the bed.
He closed his eyes, and allowed his breathing to relax. "Serena... Thank you..."
Serena smiled kindly back at him, and helped him to take a drink of water. "Don't push yourself, you've done enough. Just get some rest, and I'll see you tomorrow."
She got up to leave, but felt a hand on her wrist - Ash's. "Don't go..." he muttered.
Serena stroked his cheek. "Oh, sweetie..." she soothed. "If it means so much to you, then that's okay. I'll stay with you."
Ash's arms drooped onto the mattress, and soon he fell asleep. Serena watched the slow rising and falling of his chest, thinking about how much he had accomplished.
Her role model. Her lover. And now, the champion. She let her eyes close, and she rested her head against his lap, and soon, she too was fast asleep.
Ash opened his eyes, and waited his vision to adjust to the warm light of the pokemon center room. "Huh..? Serena?"
"Don't worry!" she called out, from a room right next to where they had slept - a kitchen. "I'm right here."
Ash sat up, still feeling extremely groggy. "Man, how long have I been asleep?"
Serena stared at the clock. "Oh, well I woke up 6 hours ago, so you must've been asleep for 18."
Ash yawned. "Whew, 18 hours." Then his eyes shot open. "Wait, where are my pokemon?"
Serena lay a reassuring hand on his head. "They're outside, playing with mine. "I gave them to Nurse Joy last night to heal, and they're all better and taking it easy." She stopped, and put an arm around him. "Anyway, what about your eighteenth birthday, my champion?" She giggled slyly.
Ash laughed, though he went red at the name. "Thanks, my queen." he said, returning the favour and making her blush in turn. "But don't you have someplace you need to go?"
She waved a hand dismissively. "It's fine." she explained. "That's tomorrow. In the meantime, I'll just stay with you and celebrate your eighteenth birthday, and the day you became Kanto's best trainer!"
Ash was about to tell her that he still wasn't a pokemon master yet, but she had suddenly clutched his hand and was picking him up off the bed. "Come, follow me!" she giggled, leading him into the kitchen.
When she opened the door Ash was blown away. Dishes covered in his favourite foods were lined up neatly on the table like some sort of divine feast. Which it was. Serena looked at him, and chuckled to see his mouth wide. "Serena, you're too good to me!" he muttered, his trademark grin plastered over his face.
"Eat all you like!" she laughed. "I asked your mum what meals you liked, and so I tried my best!
Ash wasn't even listening; his eyes scanned the food which made his mouth water. Then he stepped backwards, and headed towards the other door. "I'm gonna get everyone in that case! We've gotta all eat together!"
He ran out, and Serena gathered the food and left after him. She laid it outside like a picnic, and they all ate that lunch together.
Serena and Ash were more than content to lay next to each other the entire evening, watching the pokemon play and occasionally joining in with their games, until finally dusk hit, and they both recalled their pokemon to rest.
"Looking back, it's pretty funny." Serena remarked randomly.
"Huh?"
She got up and looked at him. Their heads lay on the picnic blanket, as they faced the stars, twinkling in the moonlight. "If you hadn't been on the news that day when I first set off on my journey, I would've never recognised you, and I don't think I would've even left the house."
Ash shuddered. "Man, that's pretty scary to think about." But then he grinned. "Well, in that case, jumping off a tower could've been one of the best decisions I've ever made."
"Hey, don't even joke about that!" Serena pouted angrily. "What if I said that about the time I fell down the giant rock?!"
"Oh, sheesh..." shuddered Ash. "Don't remind me, that was the worst feeling of my life..."
She patted him on the shoulder, suddenly feeling guilty she had went too far. "But hey, it's what made you ask me out, so I'm glad it worked out."
Ash turned to his side, now directly facing her. "I do have one regret, though."
Her eyes beckoned him to continue. "I regret not telling you how I feel about you sooner."
She held him close to her, and pressed her cheek on his. "You can make that up to me by staying with me..!" she smiled.
The next day they woke up to find themselves, surprisingly, back in their room.
Ash tried to move, but for some reason, he wasn't able to. He looked down - and found himself bound loosely in the picnic blanket along with Serena.
She was incredulous, but Ash pointed to the window, showing her the pokemon outside. They must've fully knocked out while they were outside, and their faithful pokemon brought them back in. Ash silently thanked them for it, and then tried to wriggle out of the blanket. Eventually, they were free.
"Well, I guess you'd better get ready." Ash said. "You've got your meeting thingy, remember?"
Serena yawned. "Aw, man..." But she quickly cheered up. "Well, let's do this!"
Her and Ash let their pokemon to a play park, and told them simply to enjoy themselves before they get back. Then, they left, to head by taxi to the Pokemon Activities Committee in Saffron City.
Ash wore a top hat and funny moustache to disguise himself from fans who wanted to meet or battle him, as he only had Pikachu with him.
After Serena's loss in the Grand Festival and just after Ash caught Espeon, she had asked Mr Contesta if it was possible to bring pokemon showcases to other regions, such as Kanto itself. He had been more than happy to consider the idea, and so Serena had put together a meeting between him and the creator of Pokemon Showcases - Pierre of Kalos.
And this is where the meeting was set to take place.
Ash patted her on the back, giving her a kiss before she went inside. "Good luck!" he exclaimed.
Serena nodded gratefully. "I'll do my best!" she said, before slowly walking away, leaving Ash staring towards the air. After a moment, he turned to Pikachu, who sat perched on his shoulder. "So buddy, what do we do now?"
Pikachu crossed his paws in thought. Then, a lightbulb flashed in his head. "Chu, pika!"
Ash's eyes widened. "Oh yeah! Good idea!"
Serena was to be out all day, so he went to the pokemon center to write her a memo, letting him know where he was going - back to Pallet Town. After all, it was pretty much tradition for the small town to celebrate a noteworthy tournament placing - and especially this time, to celebrate their next champion. Ash could already tell they'd be anxious to see him.
So he called out his Charizard from where he had left his pokemon, and he and Pikachu jumped on his back, to head back to their home. What would've been a long travel was actually shorter than Ash expected as the Spearow flies, so Charizard was able to make that journey in about an hour, with a stop for lunch on Cinnabar Island along the way. However, throughout his journey Ash heard the cheers and shrieks of many people and paparazzi who saw him flying, and while he waved back he thought about what it truly meant to be the champion.
"Hey Charizard, how's it like being famous?" Ash smirked.
Charizard grinned also, and grunted.
"I wonder if I'd be able to handle all this media and attention." Ash continued.
This time, Pikachu was the one to reply, and he did so by flexing his small yellow arms, as if to demonstrate fending off unwelcome press, which made Ash laugh again.
Soon enough, Charizard landed in Pallet Town.
Immediately, he growled loudly. Ash raised an eyebrow - when Charizard randomly breathed fire all over a lone tree by where they landed.
Ash stared at Charizard curiously, but then he heard a scream from behind what the massive dragon had burned.
A man with a green shirt and red headband stomped up to them, his clothes visibly singed from Charizard's flame. He looked infuriated, but then Ash registered his looks. From the looks of things, so did the other man.
"Wait, is that you?" Ash gaped. "Tracey..?"
Tracey's sooty frown twisted into a stunned smile. "Ash! My goodness, you haven't changed at all!"
The two went in for a bro-hug, and Tracey dusted his clothes off. "Ash, the entire town's gathered in Oak's lab, for a little surprise party. Some people's even camped out to wait for you."
Ash was amazed. "Wow, I don't believe it! Let's go then!"
He took off down the hill, and Charizard, Pikachu and Tracey took off after him in pursuit.
They walked up to the laboratory, and Ash knocked.
It didn't take a second for someone to open the door. It creaked open, and Ash saw one very familiar face on the other end.
"Brock?! You're here!" he yelled.
And he was right. Staring back at him with thin eyes and beaming, was his closest friend and even mentor, the retired Pewter City Gym leader and aspiring Pokemon Doctor.
"Surprise, old friend!" Brock grinned. Then he ribbed him. "So, I heard you found 'the one', know what i mean?"
"Yeah, you can say that again." Ash smiled, but then it became a smirk. "And what about you? Has Croagunk approved of anyone yet?"
To his surprise, Brock sighed and stared into space. "Ah, if true love is the ability to keep your heart set on one beautiful girl then I must be a fairy tale!"
Ash tilted his head, utterly confused, but someone answered his unspoken question. "He's saying he's married." explained the voice behind him. It was Misty. "And she's a lovely woman too. Pretty much the same as Brock in terms of personality."
"You what?!" Ash gasped, genuinely amazed. "Well congratulations!"
Then he turned to Misty. "How's it going?" he asked, high fiving her."
She only shrugged and nodded back, with a grin.
Brock bowed his head to Ash. "Ash, I'm genuinely so sorry I didn't invite you to our wedding, but I didn't want to interrupt your Kalos League. I came out there to let you know the news, but I guess you already went back home."
Ash patted his shoulder. "Man, I wish I coulda been there but don't worry about it! I'd love to meet her though."
Brock pumped a fist. "Deal! Perhaps when I've got a holiday I'll invite you and your lover over!" he nudged Ash in the shoulder and winked when he said 'lover', just to embarrass the boy. Misty just laughed.
The old professor came over to the three as well. "Ah, seeing you three remind me of the old days of your journeys. How nostalgic!" he paused, and opened the back door. "Anyway, now that you're here, we can finally get this Pallet Party started!"
Ash sat and caught up with Misty, Tracey and Brock, and also his mum, eating a delectable meal and most importantly, not being attacked by Team Rocket. When dusk hit and the others went home, leaving the four of them outside to watch the sunset, they heard a voice call out; "Ash!"
They turned around - Serena was running towards them. "Hey, Serena!"
He got up, and greeted the girl with a hug and kiss, which startled Misty and Tracey especially, while Brock just nodded acceptingly. "Serena, these are some of my oldest friends, Tracey, Brock, you've already met Misty... Brock, Tracey, this is Serena, my... girlfriend." he blushed.
Brock slapped him affectionately on the back. "I gotta say, you two look like a match made in heaven!"
Misty facepalmed. "Don't get Brock off on one about love again..."
Unfortunately for Ash and Serena, she was right to be nervous, as Brock started to talk non-stop, cheesy and even nonsensical things. After a minute, they agreed with Misty to ignore him and Ash turned to Serena, with a sudden idea rising and taking over his thoughts.
"So how did your fancy 'meeting' go?"
Serena put a finger against her chin. "I can only hope it went well. Contesta promised to let me know, so only time will tell now."
They fell silent once more. "Sweetie..?" he asked.
"Yeah?"
He hesitated, trying to think of how to ask her what he was thinking. "Do you... Do you want to take a holiday?"