The hidden secrets of Battle Bond,

Chapter 40, Beach party

Serena and her female friends had found a nice quiet place on the beach near Cyllage City to celebrate Evan Toxicroak's transformation. Miette's boyfriend Jean fired up the proverbial barbeque and was ready to cook for a large amount of people in this friendly gathering. The expert chef had gotten the job at supplying the staff with meals and be responsible for feeding mouths during disasters. Far removed from a normal restaurant it was great practice for his own dream of owning a star rated restaurant.

"Hi guys!" Shauna hearing the familiar voice of her childhood friend Tierno waved back. Trevor and Shauna's boyfriend TJ with him the Showcase promoter ran up to him as she hugged him tight for being here. They began to kiss each other much to everyone's amusement.

"Get a room you two." Miette teasing them they separated.

"Who's talking?" Shauna firing back at Miette's own relationship.

Serena helping Jean wondered if she ever got the confidence to be comfortable enough to kiss Ash in front of all her friends. They had to make it official first as she still was waiting for the moment he asked her to become his girlfriend. Patiently waiting till the time comes she felt a hinge of impatience seeing her friends like that.

"Thanks for inviting us." Trevor said already with camera in hand to document the occasion.

"Yeah. It's great to see you all doing well. We haven't seen each other since Team Union folded." Tierno himself having a lot of questions for the duo that took the leader down. Mainly the female half he has a grudge against for mistreating his best friend Trevor.

"So where are Ash and the others?"

"They'd be here after a bit. They have to finish up today's training with Evan." Shauna told them.

"Was he the one like Ash-Greninja?" TJ asked her as the young girl with them nodded yes. Introducing herself as Lucy Trevor asked her about her friend.

"I wonder if he would allow me to take a picture of Toxicroak."

"From what I've seen from Evan he won't mind. Good luck getting him and Toxicroak motivated enough for the transformation."

"Lets set everything ready so we can party right when they get here." Serena suggested as they all went to finish up before Ash and his fellow chosen ones got here. An hour passed and everything was set up.

"So what do we do while waiting for them?" No Battle Bond trainer in sight they needed to pass the time with something else.

"You guys in for some training?" Tierno suggested at getting some practice in. Can't let Ash and the others get ahead too much. As they moved away to make sure sand wouldn't ruin their hard work Ash, Nina and Evan showed up eventually.

"Hey guys!" The aspiring Pokémon Master waved to his friends.

"Well there are the guests of honor." Miette joked a little as she was getting hungry at the smell her boyfriend cooked up.

"Sorry to keep you waiting. Let's have fun!"

Ash told them as he was hungry as well. Everyone gotten their plates full and were enjoying the food Jean made. Tierno shuffled closer to Nina. The singer noticing it saw Trevor hiding behind his large frame. Nina took a bite from her plate and swallowed a piece.

"What do you want?" She said with a hint of annoyance.

"Why didn't you say you were like Ash? Like Team Union's leader?"

"First, Fusion was a fake unlike us. Second, it's my own reason on why I didn't want you to know cause it's personal."

Shauna could see where it was heading. One of the few that knew the singers history this wasn't the time for it.

"Drop it Tierno. If she doesn't want to tell you she doesn't have too."

Scolding him to not go in deeper into his questioning cause it was a sore topic. Nina nodded a small thank you to the brunette as they all finished eating while having small talk getting to know each other. Their food being lowered down and dessert served it was time for something more in the line of movement.

"Alright! I think it's time to dance with your partners or boyfriends!"

Shauna called out for a dance among couples and friends. She already latched herself on TJ while Miette took a hold of Jean. Lucy and Evan just friends the girl pulled him in much to his protest.

Tierno had an eye on Serena but before he knew it Ash already had his hand in hers. The couples moved along separating a bit asking Nina if she can provide the songs. The singer released Primarina, Swanna and Ampharos similar to the time Ash asked her to borrow some of her Pokémon.

Swaying in the sand the couples all got closer enjoying the moment. Ash and Serena having a good swing since they did it before far this type of music felt comfortable. Serena in his arms Ash wasn't nervous of stepping on her toes.

"Guess that's another dance I owed you I can cross off the list."

"Don't you dare." Serena forbid him from doing so as she clutched on more to him. Ash gave a small chuckle as he was joking. He regretted a few things when it came to Serena though.

"I still wish I could give you more time." Really enjoying himself with her right now he wished it all can be over with so they can do things without any danger. He felt her hold onto him even tighter. She leaned her head into his chest as she whispered.

"And again I knew what I got myself into when I heard about your Battle Bond and what comes with it."

"You really don't mind do you?" He felt her shake her head no.

"I don't. But I just want this to be over with."

"Me as much as you. I want to go back to the old days."

"Me too. Things were simpler back then." They continued their close dance not realizing most eyes were on them now. Ash for a minute forgot about everything related to his Battle Bond. No Arbok trainer, no It, no Evan and Toxicroak to train and no hunters. Just the girl in his arms which meant a lot to him.

Serena burying her head in his chest to hide her blush he felt the heat coming off her. Serena in return felt his heartbeat against her ear. She was sure she had him. All that waiting, all that wondering, all that questioning on how to approach him, she was a 100% convinced she succeeded and it only was because of his plight as Battle Bond trainer he didn't say it yet.

"Just wait a little longer. When It goes down I'm telling you."

Ash will make it official once the hunters go down. He did not want to make Serena a full target by letting the papers write he's the Kalos Queen's girlfriend. They might use her to get to him and he did not want that at all. But if they did get her he made a vow to tear the region and the hunters apart to get her back.

Nina's Pokémon continued with the song as she moved over to Tierno. He hid it pretty well physically but she could tell he was hurt not having a dance partner.

"Sorry for your loss."

"Huh?"

"You and Serena? Never meant to happen." Nina knowing exactly why he was feeling down. From the first time she saw him she could see the crush he had on the Kalos Queen.

"Rub it in will you?" Tierno lowered his head as the good will she build up just now was gone. Seeing the couples waltz with Ash holding Serena just as close as Jean and TJ did with their girls Nina knew it was only a matter of time now. The chubby dancer needed some support and she had no reason to hurt him more than he already was.

"Still there's something to say about you that sets you apart from most. You're not jealous or harboring any bad feelings towards Ash. In fact you're happy for him and her. You somehow always knew, don't you?"

Tierno always kept a little hope but it was exactly as she said it. No matter how much he liked Serena or did things for her to get her attention she already gave her heart away to someone else. It seemed her patience paid off now.

"How do you know?"

"One of my Battle Bond gifts. It's a good qaulity, letting go. Not many people can do that."

The little talk she gave him cheered him up a bit. A small smile on his face he scanned her even more.

"Yeeh. Thanks. You're not so bad after all."

"I'm not bad. I just hate Mega Evolution and your small friend by proxy."

Nina said as Trevor was still hiding from her keeping his camera away. Even if the singer seemed friendlier he was not going to take the risk as he peeked over the table where the food was on earlier.

The dancing over they all sat around the campfire roasting marshmallows. The boys and girls that were together as couples sat on logs next to each other. Ash and Serena really comfy close to the other Miette teased them.

"So. Are you sure you haven't made if official cause you're fooling me."

"They're taking it at their own pace thank you." Shauna told her off as the baker grinned.

"Just kiss already. Nobody here would mind." Egging them on Serena paid no attention. She was beyond the teasing and will not let Miette get a rise out of her.

"Nina? Can we have a few minutes?" Ash asked her as he got up.

"Of course." They moved away from the fire out of hearing range of the others. Seeing them discuss something they were all wondering what it was. The singers hair hung sideways as she tilted her head and nodded.

"We're just going away for a few minutes!" Ash told them as they were out of sight. The group suspicious of them they came back riding on Nina's Arcanine in about 15 minutes.

"We're back!"

"What were you doing by yourselves?"

"Battle Bond secret." Nina told them as the evening went on as normal. No matter how much everyone asked what they did the trainers didn't say a word. After cleaning up the table and mess they made they all went back to the compound. Everyone getting ready for bed Nina distracted them with a bit of her singing as Ash secretly took Serena aside and hid from them.

Serena found Ash pretty strange. It came with his new found feelings for her but she thought they promised no secrets. Ash reached into his pocket and handed something to her. It was piece of rope with a couple of colorful seashells attached but one thing stood out. The small faint glowing blue piece shaped like a sea star hung of it as Serena didn't get it.

"A piece of Greninja's Water Shuriken. I want you to have it."

Nina weaved the piece of string together for him but it was all his. Serena stunned didn't know what to say as the singer told her in the kings Aegislash tomb what giving a piece of their Pokémon meant.

"To true Battle Bond trainers they're wedding rings."

"He…he…propose…" Serena thinking it was going way to fast. Shaking Ash calmed her down cause Nina warned him Serena knew the meaning in handing a piece of your soul like that.

"It's so I know where you are. It's not a true engagement ring unless it's placed in a special metal so I'm not breaking a Battle Bond tradition."

Ash calming both their nerves and clearing up any misunderstanding about the bracelet. Serena leaned in and kissed him full on the lips. Pikachu on Ash's shoulder amused at the mating ritual they were performing didn't interrupt. They were happy so he should be as well.

"Thank you." Serena smiled.

"You're welcome." He said with a grin mirroring her own before returning to their friends who were none the wiser.

I'm just so done. So so done with this one.

Really looking to wrap this up.

See you around.