I do not own Pokémon in any type of way. Game freak, Nintendo, T.V Tokyo and any other contributors to Pokémon do.
Happy or should I say Shubh Divali to all my hindu friends.
It was lovely this year.
The beautiful clay pots lighting up the streets or those who had to use iclcle lights.
Hope you all have a safe and prosperous year again!
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1 week after the exhibition
Soft jazz played in the back ground at the Kalos café. People of Lumiose were huddled together, sharing various pastries and warm beverages as the rain continued to pour down on the city. The scent of java delicately perfuming the air, the rich scent making patrons crave more. Ominous chatter could be heard as ladies laughed, men joked. Chairs could repeatedly be heard being adjusted, whether it was to get closer to someone or to focus on a conversation or people were getting up to leave. Sound filled the semi busy café. Cups, plates and cutlery were heard as patrons hummed at their delicious meals or enjoying the sips of coffee that tantalized their tongues. Various Pokémon could be heard, appreciating the tasty treats of poke puffs, complimentary for Pokémon. Serena observed this, her Kirlia sat next to her, enjoying one herself. It was a nice atmosphere; the mood being heightened when the smooth saxophone glided in. Serena listened to the sound with closed eyes, her hands frozen over her keys as she was in the middle of typing something on her laptop. She observed the water race down the clear windows as thunder roared for a moment outside. She sipped on her warm chocolate drink, waiting for her meal to come to her. She chose to have lunch in this café as it was a place she was fond off. The ambience and peace in the chaos made her feel right at him. The waitress brought her salad and sandwich, wishing her a "Voilà! Bon Appetit! Before attending to a next patron. She savoured the meal while enjoying her solitude for a moment. Smiling at Kirlia when the Pokémon got another Poke puff.
She enjoyed her tour very much and did miss the number of people and friends she made but she was glad to get back to simple life. She savoured having a meal in longevity. Taking her time to think while tasting each bite. She thought about how she forgot her friends a bit. Not really being around. She remembered Dawn and Paul's wedding, how beautiful and happy the couple looked. The happiness that exuded from the families and the harmony of dancing the night away as everyone shared the union of two people. She thought about Misty and Rudy, welcoming a baby girl into the world, Ash somehow being the godfather. She remembered Clemont and Bonnie, his birthday a couple of weeks aback, how strange the evening ended when she left. After her and Ash's rather explosive greeting to each other, Bonnie's poke at her for staring at him, stating how her actions spoke differently than her words. Serena could not agree; Ash was a fascinating person to observe. He was well poised, he had an assurance to him that for some reason people gravitated towards him, whether he spoke about his Pokémon, battle techniques, or even the weather. He was someone, you could not help but want to talk to.
To say however she was attracted to his condescending ways and the overall cockiness to him would be a bit far out theory. She had at a point, used to like him but to say now, as she was older, different, more attuned with herself, she could only disagree.
'Yet, in a noisy café you can only think about him?' a voice in her mind uttered. She imagined the voice to be ugly somehow. She snorted to herself, a bit unladylike and shook her head a bit.
Ash Ketchum, that name, that person…
Why was he such an enigma?
To be honest, after the incident in Snowbelle city, she kept eyes on him throughout her career. She knew he excelled in the final gym match, the day after she left to be exact, went on to the Kalos league, came runner up, travelled more regions until he finally took on the Indigo league once again. He won, by a landslide, his years of training finally succeeding him. He went on to defeat the elite four and finally dethroning Lance of the champion title. Serena was in Unova when she heard the news. She smiled at the screen she was so happening to pass by. She only allowed that emotion to come out. She was deep down glad; Ash had overcome his slump and managed to take the leagues by storm.
She, herself found success in her career, travelling after some gruelling months with Palermo. She travelled the region, gaining inspiration and knowledge. She came back as a powerhouse, obliterating Aria as Kalos queen and taking the title herself. She reigned for some years before finally giving it up. She decided to get back at her roots and travel for her fans. She created tours where she travelled doing showcases with upcoming performers as a way of declaring them to society. Eventually, Palermo got her involved in producing, allowing her to step up her game in what she gave to the world when it came to performing.
She thought about her last tour again, how Palermo asked her to extend it for the fans, how she did and now she reached a state where she was exhausted and ready for a break from the fast-paced life. She wanted relaxation now as she created a new idea for her next project.
So far she was enjoying every moment of it, going to various cafes, parks and quads to gather inspiration for her next idea. Listening to music, observing musicians in the park as they played their instrument of choice. She would sit in the park benches for hours, listening while she occupied her time with her tablet. She would use these observations and create ideas with various attacks she could use with certain Pokémon.
She came out of her musings when her waitress asked if she wanted anything else, clearing her empty plate away.
She ordered another hot chocolate. The rain was still pouring hard outside, the café was beginning to empty, the lunch rush heading back to work, people trying to avoid the droplets that came down in masses. She heard the door open but didn't look up as she was focused on an article she was reading, lost in the deep cello piece being played, the rain adding an affect to it.
All of a sudden she heard Kirlia make an excited noise while she was assaulted by something yellow.
"Pikaa!" She heard from somewhere by her waist. She was mystified for a second before she realized who it was. She unconsciously pulled the mouse closer to her, smiling but realized if Pikachu was here then that meant…
"So, come here often?" Ash said, his signature smirk in place. "Pikapi!" Pikachu was heard under her. Serena snorted at the line but said nothing. She took noticed as she realized something.
"You're still in Kalos?" Ash seemed to be caught off guard by that question. His smirked dropped for a moment to replace with a bemused expression.
"Yeah? Why?"
"Um," Caught off guard being asked that "I just know in passing that you fly in an out. Bonnie said something." She tried to brush it off.
"Oh? Well, if no one challenges me in the Battle throne or as the Champion, I'm pretty much a free Pidgey. Plus, Kalos is lovely this time of year." Serena acknowledged that but didn't comment further. She went back to doing her work.
"May I?" Ash asked before sitting in the empty chair opposite her.
"You didn't let me say if?" Serena shot out.
"Are you going to preach about feminist issues now? If so? Allow me to get a coffee and scone before you do so." Ash offered. Serena's mouth popped open in despair. What was going on?
"Mr Ketchum!" She berated but was unnoticed when the waitress came over to take his order. The waitress left but not before handing Pikachu and Kirlia a Poke puffs each. Serena smiled at the delightful looks on the small Pokémon's faces.
"Right, Serena, I told you to call me Ash. C'mon, we have known each other for ever." Ash said, exasperated at the last name thing. He was honestly not sure how that became their thing.
"I beg to differ. Boundaries are important." Serena said, sipping her chocolate once again.
"Uh huh, Sure." Ash eased. He looked around the place before focusing on the girl who was trying very hard to ignore him by hiding behind her laptop. He could not help but be amused by her. How had he not noticed how entertaining Serena was, especially with her antics. He listened to the music being played, fond of the piano jazz number being heard.
He was taking a stroll with Pikachu on this rainy afternoon, huddled under an umbrella when Pikachu rushed inside the café Ash would have walked passed. He was delighted to see Serena, nestled in a corner, looking like she was here for hours, lost in the world that was Lumiose city ambience.
He was on a mission and was happy things seemed to be working out for him. It seemed Arceus was guiding him to rectify some things. Apparently, his companionable silence was a bit much with Serena and she addressed him, not able to understand the gist of things.
"Alright, Ketchum, why are you here?" Serena asked him, bringing him out of his musings, several minutes of silence had gone by. "Cut the wise cracks to!" She further hedged, especially when she saw him about to crack a retort.
"Look, let's get the Wailord out of the way, I'm sorry about how I treated you, all those years ago." Serena's mouth popped open again, clear disbelief at what she was hearing. It was so sudden and out there. "I am sorry about Snowbelle city, I was an ass, sometimes I still am but… I am trying less to be one." Ash said, his face going serious. Serena watched him for a moment. She really had no idea what to say or do.
"Um, Okay." Serena said, returning Kirlia and asking for her bill.
"What, that's it? C'mon, I expected a bit more of a fight." Ash said, a bit puzzled at her aloofness
"Why fight? You apologised, good and dandy, we can move on with our lives now." She said simply. She gave the waitress more than enough and got her laptop into its bag.
"Serena, how could you…I don't believe you." Ash said, a bit flustered, especially at the haste she was packing. She gathered her jacket and her bag before watching him, standing up
"Nothing to believe, Mr. Ketchum, as I have been hearing quite often, you're grown, I'm grown, we all have. It is time to change. You apologised, I accepted. No problem. You can live life guilt free of whatever. It's not a big deal anymore." Serena said, walking out. Pikachu had a sad look on his face as he watched her leave.
Ash followed her, forgetting his freshly delivered snack.
He met her in the rain, he took a chance and grabbed her arm to halt her. She stopped, shocked at the contact or the fact it was raining, she was not sure.
"It's a big deal" he said heavily "This is not simply to get over anything that was, when we were teenagers. I want you to know I'm honestly sorry for how I've treated you and I am sorry for the years after. I want us to try and be friends, honestly. "He said before letting her go. "Either way, Miss Yvonne, I want to make things right." Serena watched him, her eyes squinted despite no sun.
"Why? Why now?" Serena asked.
"People change, Serena." Ash said before smirking at her before heading back into the café. She saw Pikachu watching from her vacated seat, paws against the window, a pout to the yellow and orange cheeks. She blew a kiss at the mouse which instantly brightened his face.
She shook her head and looked up at the white sky, unaware Ash was watching her, sipping from his own mug.
She began her walk home, happy that the rain eased up. It was a lovely day in Lumiose. She thought it was a different kind of lovely despite the rain and lightning. She stopped in front of an electronics store, ironically the battle with Ash was showing on the display televisions. The more she tried to get away from him, the more he seemed to pop up. She watched as Ash used Pikachu against Diantha's Gourgeist, the battle raged. She relived it once more.
She considered Ash's words. What did that mean? Why had he changed? Why now?
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Day after Café Jazz time…
"Despite everything, I got the new release." Everyone laughed at the conversation being given. One of Clemont's associate was speaking about something Serena didn't care for. She headed over to the breakfast station abandoning the fake smiles she had, while listening to some high society debutante talk about the latest whatever she conned her way into getting. It was the day of the so called 'Brunch' and Serena was not to thrilled, when she thought it would be an intimate meal with Clemont and Bonnie, it was a soiree affair. She gave Clemont a look but agreed when he pleaded with her to stay. He wanted normal people here to get him through the event. It was to host something that Serena didn't bother to pay attention for. She told him he owed her and went about her way, mingling with men who had no chance, woman who hated her for Arceus knows why and Pokémon who seemed to be the only genuine thing here. She had a stiff drink in her hand even though it wasn't even 11 yet. When things became too much, she called her Delphox out and Pikachu. Glad to have something give her a reason to smile. Bonnie was somewhere, not to sure, but Serena had met her. They giggled for a few moments before Bonnie was requested for something. Serena decided to head to the balcony just off the penthouse. It was an overcast day and Serena didn't mind her hair get blown about a bit.
She saw Delphox enjoying herself with Clemont's Luxray and decided to take Pichu with her.
She came outside and thrived in the fresh air. She saw the line of Lumiose, all the way down to the Kalos conference which held the leagues.
Serena wasn't sure what emotion she was feeling but she was at a place, she felt uncertain about.
"Ah hem." She heard a throat being clear behind her. She turned around and saw it was, who else? Ash.
"Of course." She scoffed before turning sideways to watch him.
"I come with a peace offering, Kalosian Parties are not exactly my style." He said while handing her a mimosa. She took it, silently grateful for more alcohol.
"Isn't that the truth." She said, she saw him come against the baluster. The concrete of it, warm from the sun that was out earlier. He placed his own glass down.
"So, you have your own Pikachu?" Ash asked, watching the mouse hide shyly in Serena's hair, watching him through the strands.
"Yes? You know this… Pikachu often plays with her during events like these." Serena said, unsure.
"I knew he played with a Pikachu, I never knew she was yours." Ash said, he stepped forward, got into her personal space and took Pichu out of her hair before cuddling with the mouse.
"Awe, she's softer than Pikachu." He cooed at her. He looked like he forgot Serena was even there as he softly whispered to the mouse, playing with the electric sacks making the electric mouse squeal with joy. Serena was dazed at the way Pichu seemed to be eating up the affection. Normally. Pichu would not go by anyone, not even Bonnie, who was around her most times. It puzzled Serena as to why all of a sudden she was okay with Ash.
Before she could wonder, she felt something jumping on her. Pikachu came up to her and used her as a bridge till he reached the baluster. He smiled and gave his usual greeting. Pichu noticed Pikachu and leapt from Ash to join her companion. Like light, they both bolted away, taking the opportunity to climb up the spouting to run on the roof of the building, there squeaks of happiness being heard. Ash shook his head at the duo before looking back at Serena.
"That's a nice Pikachu you have there…" "Pichu."
"Pardon?"
"Pichu, her name is Pichu…" Ash stared at her, waiting for her to explain. "I never changed her name after she evolved and it sort of stuck with her. So now I call her that even though it confuses people. So, what?" Serena said to Ash's arched eyebrow.
Ash help his hands up, defensive position while chuckling.
"Hey, hey, whatever makes your life easier. Pichu it is." Ash said. He took a sip of his drink, looking out at the view. "Your hair is so much longer?" He asked, curious as to that. He looked like he was about to touch it but thought better not to. He tried to play it off by running his hand through his own hair. She noticed his slip but didn't comment.
"Um. Extensions…I had them put in for today." Serena said, playing with the long locks she had. She wasn't sure why she blushed but to each her own. She felt self-conscious because she didn't expect anyone to really notice what she did to change her look. It was all part of her profession. Some days she felt like short hair, some days she felt for long ones.
"Huh?" Ash commentated before turning back to the view.
Serena took a moment to watch his profile, she wasn't too sure why he was here, outside with her. It felt weird. She felt like she wasn't sure why Ash was outside of a party, some of his closest friends and admirers in the house, waiting to hear about his last adventure. What confused her more was why he wasn't there actually doing her expectation.
"Lovely weather we're having?" Serena decided to hedge. For some reason the silence was not welcomed. She didn't want to be in silence with him for silence meant comfort to her, it meant intimacy as two people found solace in each other. It meant there was a relation, even in the slightest way.
"My, My, Miss Yvonne, is that small talk I hear you're attempting?" Ash smirked, focusing on her, facing her completely while leaning his body against the baluster. "How can you think a rainy, overcast day to be lovely?" Ash questioned, answering her none the less.
"What do you mean? There's no sun, the clouds are like a beautiful canvas, ready for you to imagine anything in the day." Serena said wistfully, "If I was home, I would be by my porch, curled up on my chaise, blanket and tea with me and a good book for company, looking out, waiting for the clouds to burst out with the rain they hold. Heaven described right there." She smiled, Ash noticed Serena get a far-off look, as if remembering a day, she did exactly that.
"That's an interesting perspective." Ash said, watching as the breeze blew across the sky, Serena's hair tumbling in the movement. While she had to hold down her own, he didn't bother when his hair began to tousle gentle with the wind.
"What else would you do?" Serena asked as if there was nothing else in the world that could be as pleasurable.
"Train." He stated, he sounded like he was holding back a 'duh' but Serena held her tongue, trying hard to not spark whatever truce they had.
"Train? Is that all you do?" Serena asked
"When you've worked as hard as I have to reach the position you have been dreaming about since you were ten years old, you learn it is important that someone younger, newer, better can always come along and take your title. You do anything to keep your dream going. I train because at the end, I want to be the best until…I no longer want to."
"Wow, Mr Ketchum. That's quite a… motivation? No, That's quite… ambitious of you." Serena said, a moment, impressed by him.
"You know you can call me Ash, right?" Ash said exasperated.
"Boundaries." She said, a coolness to her words.
"it's just a name, not a marriage proposal." Ash muttered into his drink.
Just then a beautiful Alto Mare instrumental came on through the speakers. A beautiful instrument, fiddle like,full of strings and chords began playing. Serena could just imagine herself, in the middle of Alto Mare, walking along the canals as gondolas float pass, enriched culture and history around her as she perused the historic buildings. The music carried her away, forgetting her problems and thoughts for a moment.
Ash observed her. She was looking out into the view, a faraway look on her face. She seemed to be smiling at nothing, hitching her breath in a laugh when she remembered a detail in her day dream. Ash could not help but notice how beautiful she looked. The grey clouds behind her acting as an antithesis to how she looked. While the background was filled with lightning, bleakness, destruction and rain, she looked like calm, colour, brightness and radiance. It was as if this day existed solely for her to stand out in its calm before the storm. Ash didn't understand what was happening with him, he felt something in his chest, he placed his hand over it, in hope to relief the feeling. It was foreign to him; it was different to him and he had no idea why. He also didn't understand why when he saw Serena headed to the balcony in search of haven did he follow her immediately. Abandoning his party patrons in hope of having a moment with her.
Why the conversation with Clemont on the night of his birthday came to his mind?
Flashback.
The night was late, the last societal soul sucker having been gone, left Ash, Clemont and Bonnie in the midst of a party well wasted. Serena had left not too long ago.
"Clemont, I don't know why you always have to have these parties, not our scene man." Ash said, munching on some fancy hors d'oeuvres he told Bonnie not tell him what it was. She and him were on a long couch, her feet in Ash's lap sharing the treats while Clemont was rubbing his head, he was perched in the opposite armchair, a headache forming as he just endured the final hours of the party listening to the mayor groan on about property taxes.
"It keeps sponsors happy and the best part is, I'm in everyone's good graces even if I don't have to see them for a year now." Clemont said "Forget about that. What happened between you and Serena tonight, she left quietly tonight which let me know she was put off.
"I didn't say anything. All I said was 'Miss Yvonne', she lost it and went off on me about my suit! I wear suits." Ash said petulantly. Clemont signed. "I tried Clemont, I don't even remember the reason for her being so upset with me." This was getting him nowhere.
"Ash, look, this is going nowhere, you're almost thirty and you can't keep having this battle with Serena. You both are not Pokémon; you both act as if in battle."
"I don't understand why we are this way, Clemont."
"Remember the year you had, since the barbeque?" Clemont asked. "Remember, you came to me and said you wanted a different life. You asked me to help you be a better person. What happened to the Ash who wanted that?"
"Clemont, if I may interject…" Bonnie said, her eyes covered as Ash had moved from the food to massaging her feet while listening to Clemont's lecture. "Ash has changed, Ash has grown, it is Serena who does not trust him, now, she doesn't listen to when Ash is speaking to her, she just defends because she is accustomed to him like that. It's second nature to you guys. A bad habit. Mutual hate." Bonnie pointed out.
"Mutual hate?" Ash said, flabbergasted. "I don't hate her! I never did. She just…She just fires me up so much to the point I imagine shooting her off on a missile but to say I hate her? She hates me?"
Clemont only shrugged as they never really spoke about it. Over the years, when they would meet at gatherings, they would mainly focus on the present and not the past.
"Could you blame the notion? Ash, you're cool as a cucumber with everyone you meet, hell, you're good friends with Jessie and James now and they tried to repeatedly steal Pikachu from you. Serena and you always seem to butt heads about everything, even nothing." Clemont ranted, sipping his whiskey sour.
"I don't know why? We used to travel together for Arceus sake, Snowbelle is what I remembered. We had an argument." Ash said, looking at Bonnie as she had yet to make her case.
"Look, Ash, at the end Serena is still hurt about the Snowbelle incident. I had May ask her what happened between you guys. She said she was over it but I could tell she was not. She was fifteen when you yelled at her. She was genuinely worried about you and well… you made her feel bad for caring. You made her feel, I don't know how to explain it, you made her feel worthless. To an innocent, sweet, fifteen-year old girl, that's the worst thing to happen to her especially from an older guy who she happened to liked." Bonnie said, moving her arm a bit so she could see Ash.
"She liked me?" Ash asked, focusing on that tidbit of information. Bonnie removed her arm over her face and sat up a bit, halting his ministrations before she sat up comfortable.
"Wow, what are we? 13? Yes, but the key word was liked. As in the past, she's a grown adult who has had experiences and what not. Ash, try not falling for her retorts. Try not, baiting her. Listen to what she is saying to rile you up, before you actually do. Try actually listening to her conversations before jumping in with a wise crack to set her off. You might be surprise at how witty and sarcastic Serena has gotten, heck she reminds me of you! "Bonnie said, offering her help.
"Look, when Serena left, I honesty was so far up my ass that I didn't even understand why she did, I just thought she no longer wanted to be around me. I remember it now, I said some nasty things…crap, I said some horrible things…Crap, I wouldn't want to be friends with me either. To be honest, I was going to apologise to her, but the next morning, she was gone. I was angry, I could not believe she just left."
"Can you blame her? We were all worried about you?" Clemont stated, he to remembering the worry he felt that night.
"Yeah, but I didn't tell you guys to leave me alone, that you didn't know anything about battling because you didn't even have a dream. I needed to say sorry." Ash said gloomily. Clemont and Bonnie watched each other in silence. Shock at what Ash told Serena.
"You told her that? "Bonnie whispered.
"I did. Now, when I see her, it's like we can't just stop arguing. It has become, exhausting. Creating hate and anger just because of something in the past I was petty about. It's like cracks in a wall after an earthquake, you try to patch it up but the damage is done. Best thing to do is break the wall and start a new foundation" Ash said.
"We all experience sorrow or shock to wake us up in this world Ash, it took me realizing my mother didn't want us for me to step my game up. I had a baby sister to take care off and I needed to provide for her. It's always something in our lives that make us realize we are humans." Clemont said, wiping his glasses.
"Look, start clean, fresh. Forget the past and don't fall for baiting. Treat her comments as a game rather than a fight. It will take Serena some time to drop her fight" Clemont said, "Look, I am sorry for going off on you, I lacked knowledge on the situation." Clemont gave Bonnie a face which she teased back. "I want to tell you, you have come a long way and I know deep down, you're a good person. Some legendries could back me up on that. Serena is you're biggest mountain. Go with the flow."
"Spend some time and get to know her. Maybe, you will be surprised how much you both missed out in each other's lives." Bonnie said, sitting up and wrapping her arm around his shoulder.
"Yeah, I guess" Ash conceded.
Ash thought about their words, lost in thought. He needed to have a plan now. He was going to take the situation by his own hand. It was time he put this enmity behind him. It was time. He was going to dedicate his time to just, fixing things with Serena. He wanted to at least achieve a place where they were, genuinely cordial to each other. Not just the point where they did it to seem as everything was okay. He actually wanted to talk to her, speak with her, like when they were younger. When they used to actually be friends.
"Bonnie, could you please invite Serena to the exhibition I have coming up?" Ash asked out of the blue. He scared the siblings due to each being lot in their own thoughts.
"Uh, Sure? Why though?" Watching him with confusion.
"Cause it's time." Ash said simply. He gently moved her feet off his lap before standing up. He ignored the looks of surprise from the siblings.
End of Flashback
He was so caught up in the memory that when rain began to pour down on the balcony he was rudely awakened. It seemed they both had been lost in thought that when the rain crashed onto their skin, it surged them into awareness, watching each other in puzzlement and confusion. Ash looked back to the door, contemplating how far the door was before he could run back to the inside of the penthouse, he heard Serena release a laugh of mirth as she twirled a bit in the rain, feeling the cool water wash away her troubles, opening her arms wide, palms up, letting the droplets touch her skin. He admired the moment of true bliss Serena had in that moment, how easily her life seemed in that moment.
He came up to her silently and took off his blazer, sheltering her with it, knocking her out of her bubble of awe before saying softly "Come on, we'll both catch a cold if we stay in this downpour." She signed, a look of want on her face as she gazed up at the sky, he saw one her lashes move from a raindrop before seeing her nod. He guided her into the small roof space before shaking out the excess water from his thunder rolled as surveyed the downpour, the sky looking grey and dark. They watched each other for a moment, the cold setting into their skin before Bonnie burst through the glass doors.
"There you two are! You're both socked! It's raining Meowths and Growlithes. I'll get you both a towel!" She said concerned, dragging them inside, ending whatever moment that never happened.
The moment lost.
Ash wasn't sure why he felt a pang when he saw Serena walking away with Bonnie, never looking back at him.
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Oh La La.
I thought they hated each other?
Well, they do.
Or it may be years?
Well, Ash certainly has somethings to think about.
Hope you liked it!
~FireFlyVal~