Kalos Region
"Man, that was a tasty meal, Clemont! You never fail to disappoint!" Ash said, wiping his mouth with a napkin. The Kalos gang has set up camp for the night, with Clemont on dinner duty. "Thanks Ash, I appreciate the compliment!" Clemont replied as he cleaned up the plate. Suddenly, Serena appeared, holding a box of macarons, freshly made. "Alright, everyone, I hope you all made room for dessert!" She set the box on the table and Ash immediately reached out and started stuffing them in his mouth, as usual. "Mmm! Your macarons are the best, Serena!" Ash said, or at least that's what I think he said. To everyone else it sounds like "Mmm! Mmm mMmMm m m MM, MmmM!" Serena giggled, "Eat slower Ash, and don't try to talk, or you'll choke!" "Mm, M mm mmm! (Nah, I'll be fine!) Grrk!-" In some form of laser guided karma, Ash started choking. Serena rushed over and slapped his back, helping the food down his throat. "Thanks Serena…" Clemont shook his head, "This happens every time Ash, when will you learn?" "I learned that if I die eating Serena's macarons it'll be well worth it." Serena blushed at the compliment, which needless to say, was noticed by Bonnie. "Serena's blushing again!" "BONNIE!"
A few hours later, everyone bid each other good night and retired to their tents. "Goodnight Serena, goodnight Bonnie, goodnight Clemont, and goodnight Serena." "YOU SAID GOODNIGHT SERENA TWICE!" "Because I-" Ash hesitated, he wanted to say 'Because I like Serena' but now's too early. " I forgot, I guess." Ash went into his tent and tucked into his sleeping bag. 'Someday, Serena. I'll be able to tell you my feelings. Playing a dense boy for 7 years in my travels isn't easy, but it's worth it. Just not yet. But I promise you, we'll be together eventually, and I won't break that promise.' With that thought, Ash drifted off into a peaceful sleep. Outside the campsite, a strange light enveloped the area, and disappeared as suddenly as it appeared. Clemont sat up groggily. "What is that light? Eh, I'm probably just seeing things." and he drifted off back to sleep. Little did anyone know, this light will change the dynamic of the group, and many more people, forever. But for now, everyone is asleep, unaware of what just happened to a certain, raven haired boy.
The Next Morning…
Everyone is up and around the campfire, preparing for breakfast. Everyone, except Ash. "Ash still hasn't woken up yet." Bonnie pouted, clearly impatient for breakfast. "Let's be patient, Bonnie. Come on, we can hang out while we wait." Serena said sweetly. "Yeah, you guys can go do whatever you want. Just come back when you hear a Thunderbolt and a scream." Everyone had a good chuckle. Pikachu is basically Ash's alarm clock. A very cute, yellow, and painful alarm clock.
Meanwhile, in Ash's tent, Pikachu had just woken up. He yawned and stretched for a bit, before preparing to give his trainer a morning Thunderbolt. Pikachu looked at Ash and snickered. The poor trainer, as usual, is buried completely in his tent, with only his long, flowing, raven black hair poking out. Wait… Pikachu did a double take. Long, raven black hair? Pikachu scurried over and pulled back Ash's sleeping bag and looked at his trainer. He pinched himself to make sure he wasn't dreaming. Snoring away peacefully in front of him, is a girl with long, raven black hair, lightly tanned skin, z-marks on her cheeks, and a slim yet athletic build from years of traveling and adventure. Being separated from her blanket, Ash woke up and looked around, seeing a very shocked Pikachu. "Oh good morning Pikachu. It's nice to wake up not being electrocuted by you. Let me get dressed real quick." A couple minutes later, Ash, fully dressed, left the tent to find her friends. Pikachu, on the other hand, watched in shocked silence, not even following his trainer. "Pika…(I must have drank too much ketchup last night…)" As she walked out into the cool Kalosian morning, Ash can't help but wonder, "Why does my body feel weird? My chest feels heavier for some reason, and I feel like I'm missing something."
Ash walked out, passing right by the campsite, when suddenly, a little yellow blur stopped right in front of her. Bonnie got on her knees, held out her hand, and declared "Wow! You're perfect! Please, take care of my brother!" "Huh?" "Bonnie!" a mechanical arm picked Bonnie up and pulled her away. "I'm sorry about my sister, she always acts like this." Clemont apologized. Clemont adjusted his glasses and looked at Ash. "Say, you look familiar, like one of our friends. Did Ash have a sister?" Ash gave him a look of confusion. "Clemont, what are you talking about? We've been traveling together for almost a year! And what do you mean I have a sister? I'm an only child!" "What? This is the first time I think we've met!" Ash knocked on Clemont's forehead in frustration. "Hello? Clemont's brain? Don't you know me? I'm Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town!" Bonnie spoke up. "If you really are Ash, then say stuff only the real Ash will know!" "Alright! I met Serena over a decade ago when she went to a summer camp in Pallet Town, I met you guys in Lumiose City after being booted out of the gym, I gave Serena her ribbon as a Christmas gift, I postponed my final gym battle so Serena can go to the Master class, and my Greninja can turn into a form we call Ash-Greninja. Good enough for you guys?" Clemont and Bonnie exchange glances. "Alright, so it is you. Oh Arceus, how will we explain this to Serena?" "What are you talking about? Seriously!" Clemont sighed. "Alright, here goes. Clemontic Gear on! Introducing the Clem-Mirror!" From Clemont's backpack came a small box, which then expanded into a full body mirror, showing Ash's reflection. "Wow! Science is so.. a…" Ash stared at her reflection, shock and disbelief evident in her face. Ash turned to Clemont, her face red in embarrassment and anger. "Clemont, if this is a prank, no one's laughing." "No Ash, I swear this is real! I wouldn't lie to you!" "How, the FUCK, did I get turn into a girl?!" Ash clenched her fist and angrily punched the mirror, causing it to shatter. Bonnie hugged her brother, frightened by Ash's sudden outburst. "Well, at least it wasn't an explosion that destroyed your intention this time, brother." Serena came back, attracted by the commotion. "Hey guys? Did something happen? I hear glass shattering, and-" She stopped dead in her tracks, noticing her childhood crush, who is now a girl. "Ash? Is, is that you?" Ash breathed a sigh of relief. She walked over and gave Serena a hug. "Thank Arceus, I thought you wouldn't recognize me." "Yeah…" In her head, Ash felt something was wrong. Serena is awfully quiet, and she wasn't blushing like usual. Clemont broke the silence. "So um… now that we're all here, who's up for breakfast?"
After breakfast, the group packed up their camping supplies and went on their way. Everyone seems to be in a good mood. Everyone, but Ash. She lagged behind the rest of the group, deep in thought 'No! This can't be happening! How can Serena and I be together now? I'm a girl now! I'm not lesbian, and last time I checked she ain't either! No Ash, stay positive! Remember that line! Don't give up until it's over!' "Hey Ash, are you okay?" Serena is now walking besides Ash, and they stared into each other's eyes. Once again, no blush appeared on her. "Yeah… I guess I'm okay." Ash is starting to get worried now. Does Serena really think the same of hi- I mean her anymore?
Later in the afternoon, the group decided to start setting up camp. Bonnie had taken Serena away to chat, while Ash stayed behind to help Clemont prepare some stuff for dinner. "I always wonder what the girls are talking about without us, don't you Ash? Oh wait, sorry." "It's okay, Clemont. This will take some getting used to." The answer was half hearted. Ash's mind is very clearly on something else. Ash sighed. "Hey Clemont. I need to take a breather, alright?" "Alright Ash, go ahead." Ash started walking into the woods, going deeper and deeper until he started hearing voices. " -really? Why not?" Bonnie's voice can be heard. Out of curiosity, Ash followed the voice, until he saw Serena and Bonnie chatting in a clearing. "Look Bonnie, I won't date them! I'm already taken!" 'What?' Ash though. "But come on! It can't be that bad! You won't know until you try!" "Look, I won't date that loser! I don't care that he's my childhood friend! I know who I want to date! You know it too! I won't go on a date with anyone else and that's final!" These words hit Ash like a sledgehammer, each and every single one of them. She stood there, unable to form a sentence, tears streaming from her eyes. Serena noticed her and turned around. "Ash?" Ash slowly stepped back, before bolting off in a full blown sprint. "No, no, no! Ash! Please!" Serena stood up and ran after her, with Bonnie following closely behind. Meanwhile, back at the campsite, Clemont is still setting up a mini-kitchen for dinner, when suddenly Ash zipped by him. "Hey Ash! Is something wrong? Why are you crying?" Clemont called out, but no use. Several seconds later, Serena and Bonnie rushed out of the forest. "Clemont! Where did Ash go?" "Um, she ran over in that direction. Did something happen?" "She must have heard something. I must do the right thing." Serena ran off in the direction Clemont pointed at. Bonnie tried to run after her, but Clemonts hand held her back. "Brother, what are you doing?" Clemont just looked at Bonnie sternly and shook his head, and she got the message. This situation is for Serena to take care of, by herself.
Ash found herself on top of a small hill, overlooking a beautiful grassland. However, she didn't admire the beauty of the scenery, as the only thing on her mind was what Serena said. "I won't date that loser… I won't date them… I won't date that loser…" Those words played over and over again in her mind like a broken record. Her worst fear had come true, Serena never liked her after all… all those years of playing dense, suppressing her feelings around other girls, had been for naught. In despair, Ash dropped to her knees, and buried her face in her hands, unable to control the stream of tears flowing down her face.
"Ash?" Ash turned around to the sound of that voice, and she saw her frien- no, crush, standing there, panting from exhaustion. "I finally found you." "Go away, Serena." Ash spat "You hate me, don't you?" "Since when?" Serena walked over and sat down next to Ash "That talk you have with Bonnie? Calling me a loser?" "Why would you think that? After all you did for me, after all that we've been through? Why would I ever call you anything but a wonderful person?" "I-" Ash had no answer. She was so overwhelmed by grief at that moment she didn't even think to stop and consider the context of Serena's words. "You probably misheard us. We were talking about someone else." "Who was it?" "It's my neighbor, Calem. Ever since I talked about him to Bonnie, she keeps pestering me to date him. He's a friend and a decent guy in general, but I would never date him! I even refused him when he asked me to travel with him. Because… because I want to travel with you!" Ash's eyes widen, glittering with hope. The tears stopped. "And, and when you said you were already taken, did you mean?" Serena smiled. "I meant you, dummy. You already captured my heart." She cupped her hand on Ash's cheek. Ash was overflowing with joy, her mouth hung open in shock. "You mean, you really liked me the entire time?" "How could you not notice? I've been dropping hints like crazy, dense-boy, or should I say, dense-girl." Ash felt herself blushing. "So, you really do love me… but, what about the fact that you're a girl, and well, I'm a girl?" Serena chuckled. "Since when can girls not fall in love with another girl?" "I know, but you're not gay, right?" Serena sighed. "You know why I fell in love with you, Ash? It's for who you are. You are kind, compassionate, loyal, determined, and optimistic. I don't care if you are a boy or a girl, or anything in between! It's what's on the inside that matters." Serena placed her hand over Ash's heart. " If what I said in Snowbelle didn't clue you in, I'll say it. I love you for who you are, Ash Ketchum. And nothing, nothing, can change that." The two stared each other in the eye, the sunlight making Serena's eyes shine like sapphires, and Ash's eyes to light up like amber. Feeling the moment is right, Serena pulled Ash in for a passionate kiss, their lips locking together for a solid minute. When the kiss broke, both of them were blushing as red as a Vulpix. "Still in doubt Ashy? Or should I say, Ashley?" Ash grinned as brightly as she could. "Not no more, Sere-berry." The two sat down together, with Serena resting her head on Ash's shoulder, as they watched the setting sun cast a beautiful red glow across the skies, forming a beautiful, almost magical looking heart-shaped cloud. A few minutes of silent cuddling later, Ash spoke up. "Hey, how should we break this down to Clemont, Bonnie, and our families?" Serena giggled, looking Ash in the eye. "We'll worry about that later. For now, I want us to enjoy this moment." We now see two silhouettes watching the setting sun, the happiest new couple in all of Kalos. Suddenly, the two silhouettes kissed each other, basking in their new found love.
So! Happy Pride Month, everyone! I made this short little one-shot to show my eternal support for the LGBTQ community. We should all not be afraid to love who we want, and this community is a beautiful example of it. Thankyou for reading, everyone. And, if you haven't already, I hope you can find your true love, just as Ash and Serena had found theirs! Ta-ta!