Pokemon Journey: Adventures in Kalos
(A/N) Hey guys Paradox here and this is chapter 7. I hoped you guys enjoyed the battle scene from the last chapter. I not gonna lie when I first started this story I didn't think how they there gonna turn out. Before we start let me give you some insight. The Rhyhorn Race episode of the XY series was always one of my favorite episodes of series. So this chapter will demonstrate the relationship between Ash and Serena. One last thing my story just hit over a thousand views thanks so much for reading and supporting this I'm grateful. Well on with the chapter enjoy.
"The Sweetness of Reunion is the Joy of Heaven."- Richard Paul Evans
Chapter 7: Joys in Reunions and Rhyhorn
In Santalune City the group now heads to Cyllage City where Ash's second Kalos Gym Battle awaits. The group was walking when Ash asked Serena a question.
"So Serena where do you head off from here. Ash asked. While Serena didn't know what to do next and and couldn't come with an answer."
"Umm..I..well to be honest...I don't know." Serena answered honestly but also nervously hoping that her new friends don't think badly of her. That didn't seem to be the case as Ash then asked her an important question.
"Why don't you just come along with us." Ash said while Serena was surprised by the sudden gesture. "Yeah that'll be fun. Come with us we'll have a great time." Said Bonnie happily before grabbing her hand in excitement. "Yeah,sounds like an excellent idea to me." Said Clemont agree to the idea. "I agree as well,the more the merrier." Said Drake. "Don't forgot I owed my Santalune Gym strategy all to you and if you can help me come here on out...that'll be great." Ash said happily while scratching his cheek out of nerves. Meanwhile Serena still couldn't believe this. That these people are asking HER to come along. "Plus you're my childhood best friend. I could never leave you standing alone and it's the perfect time to catch up." Ash continued. While Serena put her hand over her chest and almost felt her heart skip a beat. Her crush insisted to come along with him on this adventure then she gave a decision. "Sure how can I say no to all that." She said while giving a wink while everyone was happy about her decision.
"So Ash you plan to challenge the Cyllage Gym next." Serena said while Ash nodded. "Well I can show you how to get there." Serena said while taking out a pink tablet with a heart on the lower left corner. "Here's where we are,Santalune City so if we want to get to Cyllage City we have to go though Lumiose City before we get there." Serena said as she showed them a path on her map app. "I get you're right" Ash said. "Great there are many boutiques in Lumiose City with the cutest clothes,and many restaurants and bakeries with the best pieces of food and pastries you ever ate." Serena said happily. Since returning to Kalos from summer camp she never visited the biggest city in Kalos. As a matter of fact she never left Vaniville Town since coming back and has only left the house to practice her Rhyhorn Racing. As much as she wanted to she see it the first she was there,she couldn't risk losing Ash or she would've never reunited with him.
"So what are we waiting for,let's get going." Ash said as he ran off to Route 4. Serena and Bonnie then ran off with him. "Guess we're running again." Drake thought to himself. "Clemont step on it." Drake said while running to catch up to the others. "Oh I'm doing my best." Clemont panted as he ran as well.
On Route 4 the group continued to walk to Lumiose City while Ash was thinking on something. "As long as we're going to Lumiose City I would really love to challenge the Lumiose Gym." Ash said. Clemont on the other hand looked spooked about the subject and decided to change it. "Well It's probably a good thing to know that you haven't been in Kalos too long. I've got an idea why don't use this time to catch another Kalos Pokémon." Clemont said which Ash agreed to which made Clemont feel relieved. "Now where are all the Pokémon at?" Ash said while he and Pikachu are scouting for wild Pokémon. "Hey Ash if you catch a cute Pokémon will you let me take care of it." Bonnie asked which Ash said yes causing Bonnie to jump in joy.
Meanwhile Drake decided to asked Serena something. "So what made you decided to finally go on a journey Serena?" Drake asked. Serena didn't answer but instead smiled as she reach into her pocket and walked over to Ash. "Hey Ash." Serena said
"Yeah?"
"Remember this?" Serena then show Ash a handkerchief with a blue outline with a poke ball on the corner. "Is that?" Ash said couldn't believing she still has it. "Wow I can't you still have it." Ash said. "Are you kidding? This handkerchief reminded me of you for the last eight years." Serena said with a blush on her face. Until Drake decided to talked about this. "So you guys met eight years ago?" He said along with Clemont and Bonnie who were also listening in. Ash and Serena forgot that they weren't alone but realized that it best to explain their story to them
Both looked at each other before speaking. "It's a long story." Both said
(Flashback)
In Viridian Forest young children were participating in a Pokémon show and tell. Children were paired up into groups and headed in the forest to bring a wild Pokémon to show to the camp at the end of the day. At this camp the children learn about Pokémon and to become potential Pokémon trainers when they turn ten. Everyone seem seem to get along with one another and is having a great time. Everyone except an eight year old girl in a pink dress,pink shoes,and a straw hat with a pink ribbon around it. She never wanted to be there in the first place but since her mom was busy completing in Rhyhorn Races she didn't have a choice. The other children saw her as the new kid so they left her alone and she was too shy to talk to anybody. While there all she did was slide her way through the activities there hopping that the day goes faster. She also saw the competitiveness in the camp particularly between two boys that seem popular. The boy who she believed his name was Gary,who was Professor Oak's grandson,enjoyed being one step ahead of the other boy who's name she didn't know but is recognizable by the messy black hair. They seem to always butt heads but only Gary seems to enjoy rubbing it in everyone's faces while the other boy has always been a great example of sportsmanship. Serena notice this and thought he was a nice boy but couldn't really walk up to talk to him.
"Serena was put in a group of four and they headed off. While she was walking with the group her dress got stuck in a bush and when she got herself unstuck she noticed that her group had left her and to make it worse she didn't know which part of the forest she was in.
Now back to where we left off.
"Um where is everybody? Where did you all go?" Said a young Serena while wandering around the forest when suddenly a bush near her started to rustle. Serena got scare and tried to run away but wound up tripping over a tree root causing her knee to get scraped deep enough for blood to come out. The bush continued to rustle as she lay there too scare to even move. Then out came a Poliwag who lands in front of her,startling Serena before hopping away,leaving her alone,scared.
"I knew I never wanted to come to this stupid camp!" Serena said. Here she was all alone in a forest where she might never be seen again. She thought she might die knowing that no one cared about her. That caused her to release all the tears she kept bottled up. "I knew it!"
"MOMMMMY!" she screamed out.
Moments later the same bush began rustling again,and Serena noticed this and started crying again. Then a voice came out.
"Poliwag?" There an young eight year old boy in a red tank top with a yellow poke ball symbol, simple blue jean shorts,and red tennis shoes appears out of the bush and notice Serena on the ground.
"Hey are you alright?" Serena then notice the boy from camp standing in front of her.
"Hi I'm Ash,who are you? What's wrong?" He asked. "I hurt my leg." Serena said with a few tears in her eyes. Ash then checked her knee to find fresh and dry blood on the wound. Serena thought he would leave to get help but did something else entirely.
"Don't worry." Ash said then presenting a blue outline handkerchief. "See this? This will make it better." Ash then ties the handkerchief around her wound. Serena meanwhile sat there all surprised that he's doing this.
"All done." Ash said but Serena tried standing up but winched in pain. Ash then tried to cheer her up. "Now watch this,feel better,feel better right away. Ash said as he waved his hands in a magic motion over her wound. Despite this Serena was still in pain.
"It still hurts. I can't stand up." Serena stated with tears in her eyes. Despite this Ash didn't give up. "Don't give up until it's over,ok? Come on." Ash then offers his hand to pick Serena up. Serena was hesitant at first as to thinking if she could trust this boy but chose to take a chance and offered his hand. Ash then pull her up but didn't know his own strength and pull her into his arms. Serena felt something in her heart as this boy put his arms around her.
"There you go." Ash said after letting her go then grinning happily.
"I think we should go back to the campsite,come on." Ash said as he lead her out of the forest and to an opening. Serena meanwhile was taken by this. When she first saw this boy she thought he was a nice boy,with a a lot of confidence and good sportsmanship but now after this she sees him as sweet,caring,noble,and especially her hero in her time of need. This thought made her heart do 360s as she blushed deeply as she was being lead back to camp.
"My hero" Serena thought as she and Ash head back.
"Wow that's quite a story." Drake said. "I agree we didn't know you two were quite close." Clemont said. " I agree three It's quite a lovely story for two people." Said Bonnie who's mesmerized by this tale. "So what happened after?" She continued hoping to hear more. "Well, after we got back I took Serena to the infirmary to get her knee treated properly." Ash said. "After I got treated I needed time to recover but Ash didn't want to leave me alone so he dropped out of the competition to keep me company." She said with a blush on her face. Drake notice this and thought."hmm this story,their history,and...she blushing..there's more to this."
Meanwhile the ground began to rumble. "What's that?" Ash said. While Serena felt this and knew what it was. "That's" she said said before down the path was a hoard of Rhyhorn were coming down the road. The group took a closer look and saw people actually riding them. "I knew it. It's a Rhyhorn Race." Serena said while Ash took out his Pokedex to analyze.
"Rhyhorn,the Spikes Pokémon, its powerful tackles can destroy anything. It's body is clad in a thick hide.
As soon as the Racers pass everyone got back on the road only to be approached by Officer Jenny on her motorcycle. "What are you all doing here? You're standing in the middle of the Rhyhorn Race Course." She said
The group was then take to Odyssey Village where the race was been held. There everyone was in awe of the awesome event taking place. The group was then told about there being one last race tomorrow and that anyone can join. Ash was was excited since he's never participated in a Rhyhorn Race before and decided to join. The group was then taken to a rental ranch where they took care Rhyhorn. "Thanks for the news Officer Jenny." Ash thanked. "No problem,well I need to get back to work." She said then left. Then a worker assisted Ash into the ranch,there Ash began to approach the Rhyhorn but then Serena stopped him.
"Ash no,if you approached a Rhyhorn from behind it might panic and run." She explained then demonstrated "here approach from the front so they could see you." Serena then approach a Rhyhorn and petted it. "See? This Rhyhorn seem caring and gentle so I recommend this one." She continued. "Alright so I'll chose this Rhyhorn for tomorrow." Ash said. "Wow we didn't know you're so good at handling Rhyhorn Serena." Clemont said while looking impressed. "Thank you,you see my mother was a professional Rhyhorn Racer and so she made sure I can handle them from when I was a little girl." She confessed. "So does that mean you want partake in Rhyhorn Racing in the future Serena." Ash asked "No,you see Rhyhorn Racing is great and all but there maybe something that I want to do much more." Serena said as she felt a cool breeze hit her face. "So you're on a journey to find your own path,right?" Drake asked "yes I am." She answered until Ash asked her something else. "Serena,since you know a lot about Rhyhorn Racing,can you coach me the rules and basics?" Ash asked. Serena thought about this even thou she didn't enjoy Rhyhorn Racing,Ash was asking her to help him learn and decided to agree. "Sure of course I'll coach Ash." Serena said happily. "Great thanks." Ash said.
A few minutes later both Ash and Serena came back out wearing tracksuits. While Serena wore hers from home,Ash wore a dark blue one. Then Serena and Ash approached Rhyhorn and began.
"First approach Rhyhorn slowly so you don't startle it." Serena said. Ash nodded and walked slowly to Rhyhorn. Then Serena told him boast himself up to mount on but overdid it and fell off. A few more attempts later Ash still couldn't get on and asked Serena for help. "You think you can show me how to get on Serena." He asked. Serena was hesitant,she knew how Rhyhorn can be while practicing but that didn't stop her from coaching Ash. "She then taught him the proper way to get on by demonstrating which everyone was impressed with.
"And when you want your Rhyhorn to walk,signal lightly with your feet." Serena then tap Rhyhorn twice lightly with her feet telling him to walk. "So how do you run?" Ash asked "run?" Serena said before Rhyhorn then decided to buck around causing Serena to fall off.
"Serena!" Ash said as he saw Serena get tossed off.
"Oy,that's hurts." Serena landed hard on her back. But when every Rhyhorn in the ranch started to approach her,she grew worried and so did everyone else. What everyone didn't expect was laughter. In the middle of the Rhyhorn pile Serena was being tickled for some reason until Serena came to a conclusion. She thought back to her practicing back home "wait a minute maybe Rhyhorn was just playing with me." Meanwhile the group laughed about this while Bonnie had other ideas. "No fair! I want all those Rhyhorn to tickle me too." She said while charging into the Rhyhorn Pile
"Bonnie wait." Said Clemont until he heard her laughter as well. "So cute. Rhyhorn are such sweeties." Bonnie said while Serena looked at the free spirited girl in happiness.
Hours later Ash was still practicing how to ride. "Hey guys how am I doing?" Ash said as Rhyhorn was bucking around. "Close your mouth! You'll bite your tongue! You can do it! Be one with Rhyhorn!" Serena said but then realized that saying and what her mother was trying to tell her all along,but then later felt stupid because she was turning into her. "Rhyhorn then calmed down and ran ahead in a straight path."
"Alright Ash you got it." Said Bonnie. "Seems like you're all ready to race." Said Drake. "At first you don't succeed try,try again." Said Clemont quoting something. "Don't worry we'll be find, right Rhyhorn?"
"Rhy."
"Ash tries his best at everything he does. Maybe I just didn't understand Rhyhorn Racing in the first place." Serena thought to herself.
Later that night at the Pokémon Center while everyone was asleep Serena was in the kitchen baking something in the oven along with Fennekin.
"Fen,ne,kin!" She said. "We need to stay quiet." Serena whispered which Fennekin apologized for. "I hope they turn out alright." Before closing the door.
The next day Ash and Pikachu was at the starting line along with the other racers while the group was seated at the bleachers. The flag then came up
"On your marks" the racers took position
"get set" everyone got ready
"GO!" The flag came down and the racers took off and then headed down road which let to the forest. A few minutes have past and when the racers were in the forest the cameras along the trail suddenly just went static. Race officials began to wonder what's going on.
"Hey what's going." Asked Bonnie
"I'm not sure" said Drake
"I don't like this Ash maybe in trouble I'm going over there." Serena said before standing up.
"Wait I'm coming as well." Drake said.
"And us too" both blond siblings said before going with them.
Meanwhile Ash and Pikachu was still on riding on Rhyhorn in the forest but then notice something wasn't right.
"Hang oh where are the other racers?" He said while Pikachu wondered as well. Then a net appeared in front of Ash knocking him off all tied up. Ash then looked around and noticed all the other racers were tied up as well. "Alright who did this" Ash yelled out.
"We did." Ash then turned forward to see Team Rocket along with cages of Rhyhorn including his along with Pikachu. "Ughh you guys again." Ash said.
"Don't be so surprised twerp. We never left." Said Jessie.
"With these Rhyhorn in Team Rocket's hands we increase our offensive capability.
"And with that being said we bit you Adieu. So long twerp." They said as they drove away.
"No! Stop! You won't get away with this." Ash said still tied up. Then a Thunderbolt hit the front cart causing it to stop and cause a the cages to fall off.
"Hey what happened." Meowth said as he looked ahead and he didn't liked what he saw.
"Miss us? Rai,Rai" Drake appeared along with Raichu. "Drake!" Ash said while a voice came from behind. "Ash you ok?"
"Serena,Clemont,Bonnie." Ash said as the group came with their Pokémon out. Bonnie then work on cutting Ash's ties.
"I should've known this was someone's doing." Clemont said. "That's right it's Team Rocket."
"You're gonna pays for this brats!" Said Jessie with her teammates agreed
Meanwhile Fennekin then pawed Serena to see if she can help which Serena agreed as she and Fennekin get ready for battle. "Fennekin ember." Fennekin the jump and spout hot air at Team Rocket which burned them which cause James to drop the remote.
"For the future of science!" Clemont said as he picked up a rock and smash the remote to bits causing the the cages to open up. Then Rhyhorn then surrounded the scared trio and use tackle on them.
"WE'RE BLASTING OFF AGAIN." They said as they went off once again.
Moments later Officer Jenny came by to write down statements. Afterwards the group returned to the village to watch the rest of the race. It came down to the wire but Ash managed to come out victorious. That night Serena then made a call home and introduced the group to her mother. Grace was happy that she made some new friends to help her and care for her. "Hey everyone is it ok if I can talk to my daughter alone?" Grace which everyone nodded and gave them the room
"So I understand this journey will be a good experience for you." Grace said. I know mom and don't worry I be careful." Serena said
"I know you will."
"Serena?" Grace asked. "Yes?" She asked "Ash seems to be a good young man."
Serena smiled "he has a heart of gold. Mom"
"And when you finally tell him how you felt after all these years. You have my full support in your relationship." Grace said. While Serena was tearing up at what her mother just said. "*sniff* thanks mom."
Later that night the group was already asleep except Serena who was on the balcony. Ash then flutter awake and noticed she was outside and joined her.
"Can't sleep?" Ash said. "Quite the opposite in fact." Said Serena. Both then took a look to the stars. "Beautiful isn't it." Serena said. "Yes it is." Said Ash. "You remember the time we first saw the stars together?" Said Serena. "Yea that night when we first met. After I agreed to accompany you,we went to this open area,made a fire and we stargaze all night. Said Ash as he remembers very well that night went. "On that day my whole life changed the moment I met you." Said Serena
"really?"
"Yes back then I thought nobody would believe in me but you,you never doubted not even for a second. So thank you Ash."
"Anything for my best friend since childhood." Said Ash. Serena frown abit she hope to get past that zone.
"You know I didn't know that was you during the Garchomp attack. At least not until I saw a picture of you and Drake on top of the tower." Serena said.
"Really? Well I was just trying to do-" Ash pause as he heard sobbing.
"Serena are you ok?" Ash said. "Y-Y-you were gonna die that day *sniff*. You're lucky Drake was there to save you." Serena sobbed out
"Serena I-I." Ash said until he felt a pair of arms around his neck
"You have no idea how worried i was." She said while still crying
"...I'm sorry" was all Ash could say.
"You don't understand. I care about you a lot."
Hang on I'll be right back." Ash then went back inside and came back out with something in his hand. "Gasp...is that?" Serena said as she saw a pink straw hat ribbon.
"I kept it after all this years." Said Ash before speaking again "I'll help you in anyway I can while we're on this journey,I promise." Ash said then Serena took out the handkerchief. "And I promise to help you in anyway I can as well." She promised. Both nodded then Serena gave Ash something else. "Here this is yours as well." She said as she handed him a white bag. Ash opened it. "Wow Cookies,you're the best Serena." Ash hugged her and started eating. "Anything for you. Well I'm gonna go to bed Goodnight Ash." She smiled
"Goodnight Serena" he smiled back.
As Ash was eating the cookies he was thinking of hundreds of memories then all the sudden something nice but foreign came inside and warmth his heart.
"Hmm why do I suddenly feel warm and fuzzy?" Ash said but then cast it aside as he ate the last of the cookies and headed off to bed.
Well that's the end of that. And yep Ash now feels a new sensation as he learns more about it as he goes on about his journey in Kalos. Well like and comment below thanks for reading. This is Paradox signing off Goodnight.
