Back in Kalos

September 22nd

"Are you ok?" That word rang inside me, I shook at the question, my hands felt warm and humid. I blinked as if it was my first time. "Yes". I answered out as I nodded two my mother. She narrowed her eyes "Very well". A small silence fell in the house. The air was so stil. Just dull.

"You were in Kanto a few weeks ago, saw anything interesting on tour?" Mom asked me as she gave a small smile. Interesting...My life hasn't really been interesting ever since the gang went their own ways. Sure Contests brought some excitement no doubt, but it could get boring at times; When I travelled with Ash, Bonnie and Clemont it was way more exciting.

I had met my region's Legendary Pokémon. Diancie, Xerneas, Yveltal and plenty more Legendaries from other regions. Like all it could get mundane from time to time. Even then the routine of that day was more varied than that of my current routine.

"Serena? Everything all right?" Mom asked with worry as she put her shoulder. "Yeah mom, I was just remembering a few things," I said as I nodded. "I didn't see much, tough I think I saw my uncle"

My mother froze for a second; Mom's eyes stood still, she looked as though I wasn't there, her hands shook as mumbles fell onto her mouth. "Are you sure?" Her voice quickly broke her shocked state. A small shake of my head was the answer I gave.

"I must have imagined or something-Could be me mistaking someone that looks like him". But was it really? My uncle and probably only one had been gone for years. Memory of him was a bit vague, the most were a few quotes that he probably never said.

Mom looked around then gave a resigned nod. "Did you see Ash through your tour?" Mom told me with a tone of teasing. My face soon heated up as I tried to look down, I shook my head. "No, (Sadly) haven't seen him in more than a year" I told him as I got up. "I'm a bit tired mom. Excuse me, I'll rest a bit in my room" I said with a quaintness to rival a Galarian butler as I bowed to leave.

Mom's smirk was more visible then the sun as she nodded. "Very well," She said with a small laugh. Truth is I'm not tired, thankfully I could pay for a first class ticket and enjoy the trip back home.

The Fuchsia City Airport was your run of the mill modern Airport like many modern Airports. Lot's of glass and grey pillars with a sense of sterility in the environment. "You are very kind May for accompanying me to the airport" I told May with a small smile.

"It's nothing, besides it's the closest airport for both of us" May jokes. I giggled a bit. "So you're off to Hoenn?" I asked. "Yeah to see my family it's been a while" She replied. "And you?". I looked down as I sighed a bit. "Kalos, to see my mom and rest a bit" I answered.

"That's great" She stopped. "Well I guess this is where we split up. It was nice talking to you" May told me as she left for her plane. "It was nice talking to you too" I said as I went to board my flight. "Hey Serena!! I hope you and that boy end up together!!!" May yelled as she winked at me, a blush fell heavily into my face as I barely could nod at her

My bed felt so right. They say there's no place like home, and I agree with that phrase to an extent. "Warmer and warmer, my heart–Hello May" I answered before my phone song could end. "Hey Serena, did you arrive safely?" May asked me

"Thankfully yes". I replied. "That's great...Did you ever have problems with your travelling group?" May asked with curiosity. "No, we got along pretty well. Sure they were a few discussions here and there but very minor and we quickly solved them" I shrugged.

"Lucky, my friends and I had a few problems and sometimes they got a bit messy, thankfully we made up. I hated that they rushed me to hurry up when in the mirror" She stated to me with annoyance.

"I can't remember any moment where that would happen to me" I truthfully told. "That's good, I miss them at times, even Max. Well Max is here but well I don't see him that often like I used to" She said with nostalgia. "Max? Who's he?" I asked as I got up to take my shoes off. "My brother. He was pretty annoying–That's not true!!!!" She was saying until a voice yelled out which I assume is her brother.

"And I don't miss him anymore" She muttered to me with a giggle, I let one out too. "Max shut the distortion up!!! I'm telling mom you broke her vase!!!" May shouted at her brother. "Screw you i'm telling everyone about your crush on–Shut up you little Raticate Boy!!!" May silenced the voice with a roar.

It was actually very terrifying. I even shook as my ears rang like bells as I gave a small giggle. "Sorry for the shouts Serena. Gotta go, call you later". "Yeah, me too see you" I told her. May hung up as I heard a small shout.

A small giggle left my mind. Sometimes I had wished I had siblings, but maybe it was for the best. My uncle didn't have children, I probably would have been their babysitter if they had children.

I went to take a shower. I went for my clothes and towel. The water was perfect, my shampoo's were a bit outdated for my current style so normal shampoo, next time I would have to put the ones that are in my baggage.

"Rub, rub, rub" I sang a bit as I used the "sponge" to clean my body. After that quick shower, I got out and then dried myself, changed clothes to my PJ's, waited for my hair to dry and then to lay on my bed.

My breathing felt heavy as I layed on my bed. I looked around my room as the air started to push down on me. The lights turned down, I got up to see through the window and outside it seems the same happened. "Mom, there's a black out in Vaniville!!!" I shouted, it seems so child like to me but so natural to just shout that.

"It shall come back in a few minutes, it never last that long!!" She yelled to me. I better activate the backup source. A small sigh left me as I went down. The basement door was made of a black smoked wood, it looked ancient and had a small sigil on the door.

I opened as I turned my phone's lantern on. "Braix" Braixen told as she nudged my back I turned to see her with fire on her hand. "I guess you want to come?" I asked, she gave a smile as she nodded. We entered through the door. The room was extremely dark, there was no window down there from what I recall.

It wouldn't have mattered though, it had darkened outside, only the grey-yellow skies from the horizon remained from the sun. My body shaked, my body felt heavy, every step I gave felt as if my foot had touched quick sand; The air felt electric, rippling and strong. There was something sinister and malicious in the air.

"Braix, Braixen'' Braixen she put her paw on my hand. My body stopped shaking much as my breath gave lighter paces. But the air, it still felt the same. The basement's lighting was almost like the void of a blackhole.

I turned the light to see around the basement in a much better manner. There was an old cabinet, I walked to it as I looked around it. There was an old sword? What is this? Could be my Grandma's old collection.

My grandma used to live in the hills near Vaniville, she would frequently visit us, days seemed a bit sunnier those days. "What's that grandma?" I remembered asking grandma as she held an old tapestry as she rolled the tapestry, I think it depicted a crowning or something.

"A relic from the past. It's very old and sorta of an heirloom" I remembered her saying. An heirloom? Who gave it to my ancestors? Where is it now? I guess when I have time I can search for it.

"Can I see it?" I asked her as I could see her smile with a bit of sadness. "When you're older, I'll show you the records. After all someone needs to remember the legacy" Legacy? What Legacy? Hmm probably misheard, could have been history or something similar.

"Here some money, go buy an ice cream" Well that one is most likely unrelated.

I walked around the basement and moved around the basement. The air felt much worse. Me and Braixen felt as if we were being pushed back, we grunted as we started to sweet; Subtle red lightning bolts raised my hair as I started to shiver, though I felt a surge of power repel them.

I widened my eyes as I saw some red bolts surround the room. Braixen was going to grunt out but she stood silent. I wanted to speak but I couldn't even open my mouth. I rose to my foot and it was the heaviest thing I had ever lifted. I felt my body tense but my heart burned but in a way it made me feel stronger. I put my foot down and the air became normal?

Braixen let out a heavy breath of relief, so did I. With the air normal once again it was type to find the backups. I walked and saw two generators that were fairly rustic now that I recalled it. I walked to it, The air tensed from a direction, which I assumed was the center of the basement.

My hair started to lift and Braixen quickly put herself between me. She growled. Brutal ripples of red and purple bolts started to charge into the ground as they swirled through some pillars. It dispelled and the light was once again into the basement.

"Strange" I muttered out as I looked around the room. I turned and immediately ran upstairs along with Braixen. I went to the kitchen like the bolts I had seen. She was serving food on two plates along with fruit water.

"Mom!!!. Downstairs I saw some weird bolts!!!" I said to her yelling, though hopefully it was coherent enough for her to make out what I said. She turned to see me with a raised eyebrow.

"Sorry Serena, what?" She asked me as she looked at me confused. I quickly gave a deep breath. "I saw red lightning bolts in the basement and they were doing strange things" I told her in a much slower manner.

She looked at my eyes and she shook her head. "Are you sure? Well I haven't been there in a while, the power just comes back it never leaves for more than a few minutes" She shrugged but her eyes twitched as she looked at the dark through the window.

"Mom, I swear I saw something. Braixen saw something" I told her as worry crept into my voice. Braixen broke her silence. "Braixen" She nodded in agreement. "Did it attack you?, are you ok?" She asked me. I shook my head.

"I doubt it wanted to hurt you, it could have been a Rotom?" She explained as he put the plates on the table. "We'll figure it out but–"

"But what?" I interrupted her. She gave a small glare but she shrugged. "But I doubt we shall find the truth, hopefully we can" She affirmed.

"Now let's eat" She ordered as she signalled my plate. "Ok but first I must feed my Pokémon" I got up as she gave a nod in agreement.

I quickly got up, lit the backyard lights and filled my team's food trays and went back inside. The food was but all I could think was about what happened in the basement. Was this in all houses? Did this only occur in my house? Were those things looking for me?.

Just what was going on here?. I sighed as I finished my food. I washed it and left upstairs. If only they were here, we could have figured it out. Maybe Clemont could help, I mean in theory we were friends despite the fact we weren't exactly close. Ash and Bonnie were to who I was closer to.

My Pokémon came upstairs and slept on the floor with makeshift beds of blankets and pillows. I didn't feel in the mood to sleep on the bed, I wanted company. I layed on the floor as I sighed.

"Don't give up," Ash told me. We were sitting next to the sea next to the most graceful sunset ever. "I won't" I told him as I looked at him with admiration. "Serena you must be strong" I heard him, he no longer sat next to me. The air became heavier and the sun darkened. "Serena stay unyielding...And don't give up until the end" Ash warned as a blue light surrounded me.

"Huuu"..."What" I looked around with heavy breathing and sweat falling heavy onto my forehead and body. It was daytime and my Pokémon looked at me with worry. "Pan?" Pancham told me as he nudged my blanket. "Sylveon". "Braixen?" My two other Pokémon looked at me as their eyes fell heavy into worry.

"Nothing just a bad dream" I tried reassuring them. Could it be something prophetic? I doubt I saw no red bolts. Besides it could just be my dreams making my fears from my doubts. Yeah it's that.

Everytime I passed through the basement I wondered and theorized what went on there. My Grandma didn't exactly live a life of adventure nor did her sister Claret. What exactly was that? But maybe it was a Rotom but who knows, danger lurks when you think there is no danger.

"Mom, have you ever wondered why there's blackouts?" I asked her. Both of us were sitting on the couch as we watched T.V. "Not really" She shrugged as she paid more attention to the news. "Mom really? Am I the only one who cares about this? Even the news just had a brief segment about it" I told her with worry.

"I get the worry but they don't last that long. Also no one exactly knows why there's blackouts. Yesterday I saw someone theorize it must be some type of interference with the power stations or something, too bad everyone started blaming Galar on it" She shrugged with regret

Galar? Why would anyone blame Galar? Sure I know the historic rivalry but really? People can be a bit dumb. "Let's go out; Lumiose to eat and see a tournament in Santalune city around route 4" My mom suggested. "All this talk about blackouts is making me tired and it's probably nothing." Mom explained as she got up.

Well she could be right, I mean I have seen some evil things as if that thing wanted to attack me it would have. Better just clear my mind and continue a bit.

I went to put my same pair of clothes though cleaner. I grabbed my pokéball and woosh I left off with mom to the car. She ignited the car and we drove through the road. "So how's everything in the other regions?" She asked me with curiosity. "Fine, everything is normal and peaceful" I told her as I looked out my window.

The drive all the way was silent. We finally arrived at Lumiose. We went to an expensive place. "Can you afford this?" I asked mom in worry. "Of course I can" She shrugged as she continued eating. I gave a light nod and continued to eat.

"Do you think Galar's a good region to vacation in?" She whispered to me. "Honestly I don't know mom, never been there, Hoenn is pretty good. Maybe Unova?" I told her. Man this food is delicious.

"Why do you ask?" I asked her. "Just curious" She replied as she nodded to me. I nodded as I then grabbed my drink.

"Do you wanna go shopping?" She asked. "I really don't feel like it," I told her. Mom gave me a teasing smile. "Getting old are we?" She teased me. "I haven't become old, I'm just not in the mood maybe tomorrow". Tomorrow would be better, maybe I should go see Bonnie and Clemont …

"Check please!" My mom said. The waiter came and well left the check. We got up and quickly left. We walked through Lumiose and Lumiose Tower still could be seen through where we walked. Something felt off…I can't explain, guess it's my nervousness. Nothing seems stranger and everyone looks normal...Eh just l my nerves.

"Hey mom, is this necessary?" I asked her. We sat in Route 4 Stadium's bleachers. It was almost filled and people waited for the combatants.

"I'm not exactly into battles' ' I told her as I tried to convince her so we could leave. "But you are into battlers'' She teased as she gave me a wink. I pouted, my face heated up. "Haaa, if you say so'' I shrugged her statement off. "Action speaks louder than words' ' She stated.

I sighed and put attention to the field. "Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen!!!" A rotom drone appeared; Rotom flew around the field presenting itself. "This wonderful day we present two battlers!!!" Rotom stated. I heard roars from the crowd.

"Battler please present yourselfs to the field". Two battlers came out and my mom's eyes widened. I looked at her direction. And saw...Red.

I wasn't hallucinating, but hadn't he disappeared? I mean he wasn't declared dead but where had we fled off too? What did he do in all this time? Well he probably trained.

My uncle sent out a Charizard and it looked very strong. "Ash would have loved to fight it" Why did I mutter that? Well mom seems to pay more attention to the fight.

Charizard's moves were swift and hard. The other trainer used a very beautiful Milotic. Milotic used Scald but Charizard with some struggle dodged them. He would use a combination of Flamethrower and Aerial Ace to greatly weaken the Milotic.

Milotic still could hold Charizard. Milotic used heavy streams of Surf and Water Pulse. Rain fell onto the stadium in the bleachers it was less heavy but on the field a small storm had formed in.

Charizard struggled a lot with the rains and it was evident he was weakened. Red seemed to have ordered a command I couldn't hear with all the cheering and the rain.

Charizard started to spin, he engulfed in golden flames along with blue and shot a beam to the sky. The weather cleared. The Sunny Day move looked different compared to other's I had seen. I miss the rain now, it's very hot.

Charizard shot a Solar Beam, it ended the fight and the next trainer set his Pokémon. My mom was in trance with the fight. Ryhperior could maybe face Charizard. It had served as a counter, everytime Charizard launched a rampage of combos, Ryhperior would simply dig and then jump to assault in melee Charizard.

A Dragon Rush from the ground slammed Charizard from above. Charizars still had held firm. Ryhperior has used Stone Edge on Charizard's face but Charizard ended with a Seismic Toss.

The last Pokémon a Serperior surprisingly could dodge and even stall Charizard. It's vines forced Charizard to the ground. Charizard would break them with his flames.

Serperior quickly used Leaf Storm, Brutal Swing, Slam and Gastro Acid to wear down Charizard. The vines were going to shut Charizard's snout but Charizard used Inferno basically ending the battle.

After that one battle it felt like a blink. He used various different Pokémons for the next two battles. Everytime he would beat a Pokémon he would return his Pokémon and send another even if it was in good health.

He held a Shaymin which was honestly unexpected. It was almost a blur to see, it attacked with speed and power. Very few could even seem to be able to stop it.

My mom walked with a bit of anger in her eyes. I followed her through a crowd. My uncle Red was drinking a smoothie. He stood unsuspecting that we came to see him. "Where in the distortion where you!!" My mom grunted as she sat next to him. My uncle widened his eyes a bit, he shook his head.

"Training" He shrugged. I started to look around the area and tried to avoid eye contact with anyone. "Everyone thought you were dead" She complained. I myself thought he just disappeared but maybe she says that to make a statement?.

"In Kalos at least" He grimaced as he looked to his feet. We stood silent as the voices of the passing crowd seemed like blurs. "Here's your uncle Red, you may have met him before" Mom 'introduced' me to my uncle. "Serena, I saw you in the contests in Fuchsia," He told. Well good to see I have good eyesight.

"Your thirteen right?" He asked more of himself than me. "She's fifteen, you would know if you were here" Mom scolded. He seemed to agree as he nodded. The whole thing was awkward in all honesty. It was like when your mom introduced you to a relative who remembered carrying you as a baby and you're like I don't even remember my classmates name.

"Well see you" He got up but my mom grabbed his wrist. "What really? It's been more than two years and not even a visit?" Mom told in disbelief, I felt a bit angry. Sure it's not like I knew my uncle a lot, it's already bad to not visit your family, but to the point you make them believe you died? That's just straight up malice.

He stood silent as he looked at my mom's eyes. He looked like he wanted to give an answer and he could have, but maybe he didn't want to say it. "Penitence" He said. My mom stood confused as I did too. "Let me make it up to you, actions make up what words lack" He said, he didn't answer anything

Mom looked at me. She hoped for an opinion on the matter or maybe to convince me to say no? Her eyes were neutral so I guess it was up to me. Memory was vague at times though there were good memories. I mean he was my godfather. I sighed as I rubbed my face. "Yes'' I said as I turned around. We walked to the car. My mom and uncle seemed to talk about things so I guess they were catching up.

He opened the door for me and closed it. I sat in front with mom and he sat in the back. He remained silent. "You still ride Ryhorn's?" He asked mom. "I do" She replied. The trip back home was just plain silence. We were eating onion soup and bread and honestly I just wanted the earth gobble.

They excused themselves and got up and left. I silently tried to get up and follow them to the basement. They closed the door. "Now tell me what the distortion went on during your disappearance" I think that's what I think my mom said. Should I enter? Eh probably my mom scolding my uncle, I better rest.

"You should at least tell me where you are going before you decide to run off!!" I heard mom scold. Not my problem, I better leave upstairs, though I can't help but wonder what they're going to talk about other than where my uncle fled from too.