Chapter 13: Just like old times
Two months later
A scream awoke Serena with a start.
She immediately jumped up out of bed and, rubbing her eyes, she staggered towards the source of the noise.
The front door was left wide open. Serena put on a pair of slippers and went to it, leaving through it.
She hadn't bothered to check the time, but she knew it was still early morning - the sun had barely risen. So what could've made that noise at this hour?
As it turns out, it was none other than her boyfriend, lying facefirst in the mud with a pokemon on top of him.
"Ash?!" Serena ran over to him, and the Pokemon on top of Ash faced Serena, and bowed politely to her. Serena stared quizzically.
"A squirtle wearing sunglasses?" she asked.
The strange squirtle nodded proudly. "Squirtle!" it said.
Ash groaned, lifting his head to face the sky. "I was wondering where you were all this time!" he exclaimed to the blue turtle.
Serena looked slightly taken aback. "Ash, you know this Squirtle?"
"Yep!" he nodded proudly. I caught him! He's just the leader of a firefighter team called the Squirtle Squad, so I left him be so he can follow his dream, you know?"
Serena smiled. "I should've expected that."
However, Squirtle looked at Ash and shook his head. "Squirt, squirtle!" he said, and then he took off his shades.
Ash's eyes widened. "Wait, you aren't part of that anymore?"
Squirtle looked down, dejected. Ash patted him on the head. "Listen buddy." he smiled kindly. "If you've got nowhere to go after this, you can always come back on the road with me and Serena!"
Squirtle looked at Ash with wide, thoughtful eyes. Then he grinned.
"Well, welcome aboard, Squirtle!" Ash shouted, and Squirtle jumped up in the air, ecstatic. "Cmon! Let's go get his Pokeball!" Ash called out to Serena, charging down the path to Professor Oaks lab.
Serena, still in her pyjamas, chased behind him. "Wait, Ash! It's still so early!"
After an apology for waking up the poor professor and some quick exchanges, Ash got Squirtle's Pokeball back and they went outside to the field.
Surprisingly, Bulbasaur was already up, and pacing around aimlessly. "Hey Bulbasaur!" Ash called. Bulbasaur looked at him and Serena and beamed.
The two met up, and Squirtle reintroduced himself, as did Bulbasaur. Then they both grinned at each other, and went in for a bro-hug.
Serena turned to Ash with a smile on her face. "Ash, you must tell me about them! I'm so curious!"
Ash nodded. "Hey Bulbasaur, Serena and I are going traveling again! We're taking Squirtle, and Pikachu obviously, but how about it!"
Bulbasaur jumped up uncharacteristically for his quiet, serious self. "Bulba!" he agreed, delighted.
"Alright then!" Ash exclaimed, punching the air. He left to get Bulbasaurs pokeball. Soon, they were all ready and Ash headed back home with Squirtle, Bulbasaur and Serena to get Pikachu.
"Hey Mom!" Ash shouted when he walked through the door. "Good morning!"
Delia looked stern as she came down the stairs, deshevelled after just waking up. "Ash, it's still early! You can't just-"
"Sorry!" Ash interrupted. "But we're gonna head off today, so I'm so excited."
"Is that so?" she sighed, with a complacent smile. "Well, at least let me make you breakfast."
"Oh no, you don't have to, I can make it!" Serena reassured her hurriedly. They smiled, and both went into the kitchen while Ash went to find Pikachu. When he returned with the sleepy yellow mouse on his shoulder, the meal was already made.
They ate, and when Ash had finished he looked at Serena. "Hey, do you think you'll stick with your current team for this journey?"
She didn't have to think twice. "Yep! We're gonna learn as a big team, the four of us!" she explained after swallowing a mouthful.
Serena got up, and went to get her hat and Ash and her both slung their backpacks over their shoulders. Ash double checked his bag last time, just to make sure he had everything - he silently confirmed, the food, sleeping bag, tent, and spare pokeballs. Oh, and of course the master ball gift. In his head, he groaned at himself for being so mature.
'Why can't you just go with the flow like you used to do?' his rash side told him.
'Oh, shut up. I gotta take care of myself and Serena now.' his sensible side said irritably.
Delia stood by them. "Well you two go get em! Good luck!"
Serena beamed. "Thank you!" and her Ash and Pikachu left through the front door, and headed down the path Ash knew very familiarly, as it was a common, very peaceful path he and his mom walked frequently when he was a kid headed to Veridian City - Route 1.
Serena and Ash walked side by side down this route, while Ash pointed at various wild pokemon. Eventually, Serena stopped nodding along with him and spoke up.
"Hey Ash, can you... Can you hold my hand..?" She asked sweetly yet slyly, with a cheeky blush on her face.
Ash also went quite red, but nodded. "Yeah yeah, I get it." He grinned. He took his trademark gloves off and clasped Serena's soft, warm hand. The heat shot up his arm and into his brain, causing his blush to deepen. Evidently, Serena's had too.
"Woah Serena, you don't have to hold on so tightly! I'm not going anywhere, you know!"
Serena grinned cheekily. "I've been waiting for this since we first met in Kalos."
Ash shrugged, not wanting to complain about something he knew he enjoyed, and instead basked in her warmth, despite the fact that it was quite hot in Kanto anyway.
As they entered a small patch of the woods, Bulbasaur and Squirtle yanked Ash's legs back.
"Whoa, what's up?!" Ash demanded, having nearly tripped.
The two pokemon looked agitated, and even Pikachu was staring at the skies intently.
Serena pulled on Ash's shoulder. "Don't you think it's a little too quiet?"
Ash stopped, and glanced around. "Now that you mention it... You're right. it should be bustling with bug and flying types."
He paced around a little. "Hey Pikachu, you recognise this place as well, don't you?"
Pikachu nodded. After all, it had been the first time the two had ever bonded with each other. If it wasn't for that emergency...
"Ash, did something happen here?" Serena asked.
Ash's eyebrows furrowed, as if expecting something to happen.
"Well, it was around this time of year..."
and Ash began to explain the story of how he attacked a Spearow, which evolved into a Fearow and took it's anger issues out on a Pidgey flock. He told her how his Pidgeotto wanted to protect the flock, and evolved into a Pidgeot to chase away the unstable crow.
"Wow!" she exclaimed when he had finished. "You had a Pidgeot, that's incredible!"
"One of my first pokemon..." he muttered. "She was an awesome friend, and I keep telling myself that's why I let her go."
Serena's eyes widened. "You did what?"
Ash looked down. Even Squirtle, Bulbasaur and Pikachu seemed sombre.
"Pidgeot wanted to make sure the flock of Pidgey and Pidgeotto was never attacked by the Fearow, so I just thought it would be for the best, you know what I mean?"
Serena nodded, and gave him a warm hug.
"I just hope Pidgeot hasn't forgotten me..." he continued.
"Well, you definitely did the right thing, so don't worry. I'm certain Pidgeot will always remember you." she reassured him. "Just like how I did, after all those years after camp."
Ash smiled. "Thanks, Seren-"
He was interrupted, however, but a massive gust of wind that almost bowled him right over. Luckily, he managed to keep balanced by ducking low. However, Serena with a slightly slower reaction time wasn't so lucky, and she fell backwards.
Ash dived to catch her, and she landed in his arms. "Serena, are you okay?!" he shouted.
"Yeah, thanks to you..." she responded, brushing herself off. "What was that?!"
The five of them looked up. Two birds soared overhead, and separated from each other mid flight. Then, the large one made a dive and tore headfirst into the other.
"Are they fighting..?" Serena wondered aloud, frowning. If they were, it wasn't any ordinary battle. These two birds were heated, for certain.
Both birds cried out at the same time. Their cried were met with more distant ones. From the horizon, more birds started to trail into the skies above them, until there were two massive flocks face to face with each other.
"Oh no, we gotta stop this!" Ash yelled, and he leapt up a tree. He took a closer look. It was a huge flock of Pallet Town-native Pidgey and Pidgeotto, and the other flock was of Spearow.
At the front of each flock was the final evolution of their respective species - an aggressive-looking Fearow on one side, and on the other, a Pidgeot.
Ash watched the Pidgeot intensely. The chance of a wild Pidgeotto would evolve was definitely an unlikely one, which left him with one possible explanation. One that left him speechless. And there was only one way to find out.
Pidgeot once again stood off against Fearow, and the two collided again, and their flocks like troops all brawled each other. Once again, Pidgeot was knocked backwards; Fearow was just too powerful.
Ash gritted his teeth, and mentally prepared himself to what could go sideways instantly. "Pidgeot, use Wing Attack!"
Pidgeot immediately got back into the air, and its wings shined from the energy of the move, as it once again crashed into Fearow. This time, it was successful. "Yes!" he yelled.
The regal bird took position in front of its army, while the murder led by Fearow circled back at them.
Ash stared at them. "I wonder if Pidgeot heard that I called that move..."
The tribes began to fight once more. They smashed into each other, sustaining wounds, dropping in numbers while Serena and Sylveon gathered the fallen to nurse them all to health as best they could.
They even watched, as Pidgeot took blow after blow from the relentless Fearow, enduring each hit and still protecting its group. But then, the Fearow tackled it from behind, and Pidgeots strength must've given out because it dropped from the sky, losing consciousness.
It took Ash a split second to decide what to do. He ran up and jumped out of the tree, catching Pidgeot in one arm and breaking his fall with the other.
"Pidgey, Pidgeotto, retreat!" he yelled. The Fearow and Spearow group took off after them, but it wouldn't be long before their missing leader - Pidgeot - would put them in danger.
He got up onto his feet, carrying a bird as big as him, and turned to Serena. "We gotta get Pidgeot first aid!"
Serena didn't reply, just nodded at him in complete bewilderment. "Oak's lab!" she said. "Maybe he can help us!"
Ash didn't reply, but just raced back to Pallet Town with Pidgeot in arms and Serena behind him.
He ran up to the laboratory and slammed his knuckles into the door. "Professor, I need help!"
After only a second, Professor Oak opened the door. "I thought you -" then he saw Pidgeot. "Oh my goodness!"
He led Ash and Serena inside, and showed them to a bed that Ash promptly lay the fallen bird on.
"Ash."
Ash turned to the professor, who was sifting through a medicine cabinet. "Yeah?"
Oak got up with a bottle in hand. "I can hazard a guess as to what happened. Was it a certain Fearow?"
Ash nodded grimly. "Yeah, that's right."
"I should be up front with you right now. That Pidgeot is yours. And that Fearow was the one you fought against five years ago."
Ash's eyes widened, but he nodded again, returning to normal quickly. Even Serena was more shocked by the revelation. "Actually, I figured as much. Pidgeot still leads the Pidgey tribe after all." Ash explained to Serena.
"As for that Fearow," Oak continued, "it occasionally launches attacks, but it never actually brings along its flock."
Ash's eyes narrowed as he and Serena simultaneously shook their heads. "Not this time, then. Fearow had a bunch of Spearow with it."
Oak put a hand on his chin to think. "Hmm... That must be why the Fearow's last attack was so long ago."
Ash balled his fists. "Man, there's gotta be something I can do to help Pidgeot!"
Serena lay a hand on his shoulder. Ash spun to face her - her eyes were calm and empathetic, and he immediately calmed down.
"Is there anything we can do, professor?" Serena asked.
Oak pondered this question for a moment. "Well, I would usually say this is Pidgeot's battle, but that Fearow would never stop either way. The only hope you have... Is to catch it."
Serena looked surprised. Evidently, so was Ash, but he stared at his hands and clenched them. "Well, if that's the only way, I'll do it."
Serena closed his balled fists in her hands. "Ash, if there's any way I can help, you just let me know."
"Actually there is one thing."
Serena tilted her head, beckoning him to continue. "I need you to watch over Pidgeot."
"Leave it to me." she agreed.
Ash went outside to the patch of woodland in Route 1, Pikachu on his shoulder and Bulbasaur and Squirtle by his side. "Fearow's a tough one, so I'm gonna need all your help for this one." he told them, and they nodded.
Again, it was eerily quiet. Ash paced around, hoping to spot Fearow. However, to his dismay, when he saw the angry bird, it was behind a terrified Pidgey-Pidgeotto flock, and chasing them down.
"Hey, Fearow!" Ash shouted. "I'm the one you're after, not these Pidgey!"
Fearow stopped and turned to him, and after a slight hesitation, swooped in for the attack.
That hesitation was all Ash needed to formulate a plan. "Pikachu, jump on its back!"
Pikachu nodded, and charged up to the pokemon as it dived, deftly flipping onto its back, and held on for dear life when it took off again.
"Thunderbolt!" Ash yelled, and Pikachu obliged, sending huge currents coarsing through the bird - a supereffective hit. However, Fearow didn't stop flying and instead attempted to shake Pikachu off. Ash suddenly felt a bit of déjà vu. This was exactly like the last time he was here. But now, he had experience. He could make a difference this time around.
"Bulbasaur, now it's your turn! Vine Whip, let's go!"
Bulbasaur stepped forward, and as Fearow neared again, shot out two vines from his bulb, which ensnared the bird.
"Okay, keep using Thunderbolt, Pikachu!"
After Pikachu had regained a stable grip on Fearow, he once again shocked the bird as it tried to escape.
However, instead of weakening Fearow, it only became more enraged. It's wings turned a shiny silver, and it thrashed, swiping off the vines and jerking Pikachu right off, causing him to hit the ground.
"Pikachu!" Ash yelled. "You okay?!"
Pikachu struggled to his feet.
Ash gritted his teeth. "Fearow's just not giving up!"
He looked up, and saw Fearow circling around. Then, it began to swoop towards the three. Ash's eyes widened as he scooped up his three pokemon in his arms, throwing himself to the ground in an effort to protect them.
To his surprise though, the attack never came.
Instead, he turned his head to the sky, and saw Fearow lying on the ground, and Pidgeot looming above him.
"Ash!" he heard Serena's voice in the distance and turned to face it. She stopped in front of him and pointed at Pidgeot. "She recovered so quick..!" she gasped.
Ash got up to his feet gingerly. He wanted to see his pokemon again, but focused. "Right now, I have a job to do." he thought.
He ran over to Fearow, who was rising to its talons and preparing to take off and retreat.
"Oh no you don't!" Ash shouted. He monkey-climbed up a nearby tree as Fearow began to take off, and fumbled for a pokeball. When he got one, he lobbed it at Fearow.
It hit, and absorbed the pokemon in its red light, hitting the ground.
One shake.
Two.
Three.
Click.
Ash would've smiled if there was anything to celebrate. But he knew that even catching this pokemon that hated him wouldn't change its opinion of him so quickly. But perhaps with good company, it might.
Pidgeot looked at Ash, and was smiling with outstretched wings. Ash's eyes were wide, and then he threw himself into the birds embrace.
"Pidgeot!" he grinned. "It's good to see you, old friend."
Pidgeot only cawed contently in his arms.
Serena stood back, smiling just to see Ash reunited with his old friend.
But then, after a while and the Pidgey flock returned after being called by Pidgeot, Ash sighed. "Pidgeot, I know I promised to come back for you. But I can tell these Pidgey and Pidgeotto are like family to you. If you don't want to leave them, then just know you'll always be my friend no matter what." he said, and forced a smile.
Pidgeot frowned sadly. She turned to the flock she once protected, and they cooed. A Pidgeotto fluttered up to them, and squawked, to show approval. That they could take care of themselves.
Pidgeotto smiled, and let go of Ash. Then, with her beak she reached into Ash's belt and picked up a pokeball.
"Y-you really mean it?" Ash asked. Pidgeot just nodded.
A grin returned to Ash's face and he took the pokeball from Pidgeot before holding it out.
Pidgeot rapped the ball on the head happily, and dissipated into it. The ball didn't even have to shake before it gave the satisfying click.
Ash beamed, placing the ball onto his belt. "Thank you Pidgey and Pidgeotto! And good luck!" he shouted, before they cawed back and flew off.
And so Ash returned to Oak's lab, and gave the professor the Fearow to send out to the other of Ash's pokemon.
"Fearow will learn to control it's anger." Oak said firmly. "Your pokemon have good hearts, and soon, Fearow will pick that goodness up. You wait and see."
Ash thanked him, and finally he and Serena could set off for Veridian City.
The walk was quite short, but because of how much time they had spent, it was already afternoon when they arrived.
Ash's stared at the city, impressed. "I know it's been a while, but sheesh, this is so much more modern than it was when I first travelled around seven years ago." he muttered.
Serena was quite stunned, as she always was when seeing a new city. They were always so different than the last, and Veridian City seemed too peaceful to be a city - more like a large town. However, there was a lot going on.
"So Serena, the first stop on my list is probably Pewter City, but is there anything you wanted to see before we headed out?"
Serena shrugged, unable to think of anything. "I'm not really sure. Pewter City it is then."
"Cool!" Ash smiled. "Okay, but before we go, let's go buy some lunch."
Serena followed Ash, impressed by how he knew Veridian like the back of his hand. Serena on the other hand, barely left Vaniville Town, and so Lumiose City was the only city she was familiar with, and not to the same extent as Ash.
The two of them went to a food cart and bought a couple of sandwiches before leaving for Pewter City.
The walk was another fairly boring one. Ash couldn't really think of much to say to break the silence.
Finally, Serena spoke up. "So Ash, you told me you would tell me Bulbasaur and Squirtle's stories."
Ash nodded. "Ah, I did, didn't I?"
He plucked two pokeballs off of his belt, and threw them, causing the aforementioned pokemon to appear in front of them.
"Okay, so I first Bulbasaur at this village, and he was very agitated, and seemed to dislike people. However, he saw me fight team Rocket, and I guess he wanted to challenge me, so I battled him alongside Pikachu and caught him. Pretty simple story."
Serena looked at the grass-type. "Wow, I could never expect he would be like that, he seems so calm!"
Ash patted the chipper Bulbasaur. "That's right, he is very calm now. I wonder what happened to change that - though, I guess he does get worked up in a battle, that's for sure."
"So what about Squirtle?"
"Ah, Squirtle's always been cheeky. You see, he used to be the leader of a gang of thug Squirtles."
Serena was shocked, and Squirtle scratched his head, clearly embarrassed.
"Yeah." Ash continued. "Long story short, Squirtle and I were attacked by team rocket, and after I helped him out, he seemed attached to me, so it was for the best in the end."
"No wonder all of your pokemon are so unique." Serena beamed. "You must've seen so much on your previous journeys."
Ash nodded again. "Yep, and it's not over yet! So let's go beat the Pewter Gym!"
"Yeah!" Serena agreed, even if she herself wouldn't be battling. Watching Ash was inspiration enough.
It was barely evening when they left the forest - a shortcut from Veridian to Pewter.
"And here we are!" Ash grinned. "Welcome to Pewter City, and the place I got my first ever gym badge seven years ago. And I'm doing it again!"
Suddenly he sped off down a hill, and Serena chased after him.
"Ash!" she moaned when she caught up with him. "I know you're excited, but wait up!"
"Sorry!" Ash exclaimed. "But check this out! Rock type gym, and where I met one of my closest friends, actually. Too bad I won't be seeing him for a while."
His expression seemed carefree, with nostalgia eminent in his eyes. Serena smiled. "Well, you've come this far. Let's see what Kanto gyms are like!"
Ash stretched his arms and clicked his fingers. "Alright!"
He walked in to enter a room devoid of light. The only visible thing in there was himself, his pokemon, Serena, and a shadow of a person on the other side of the room.
"Hello! I'm here for a gym battle!" he declared.
Dim lights flickered on above him. His eyes darted up, and then back at the shadowy figure.
"I haven't seen a challenger in a long time." He stated, his voice a very low baritone. "This ought to test me a bit. What's your name, challenger?"
"I'm Ash Ketchum, from Pallet Town!" he replied.
The gym leaders eyes widened, though Ash couldn't properly see his face. "Ash Ketchum, eh? I remember that name somewhere." he mentioned. "Well Ash, I accept your challenge!"
Serena went off into the gallery seats, to notice they were dusty and unused. A scrawny kid went into the referee's spot, and began to explain the rules.
"Okay, this'll be a two versus two battle, and the battle will be over when both someone's pokemon can't battle! Okay, go!" He muttered hurriedly before sprinting away, so quickly Ash and the Leader barely heard him, though it didn't matter - all they really needed to know were the words 'two versus two.'
"Squirtle, I choose you!"
"Onix, go!"
The two pokemon left their balls and faced off against each other.
Ash smirked. "Squirtle, run and use Water Gun!"
With agile coordination, Squirtle strafed close to the massive snake and sprayed it with a potent jet of water, inflicting quite a bit more damage as it was a rock type.
"Onix, use Bind!"
However, Ash was ready to react. "Okay, jump on!"
Squirtle looked up and saw Onix lurch closer, surprisingly fast for its size. Squirtle bent his legs and leapt up, landing on Onix.
"And now use Skull Bash!"
Onix tried to shake the blue turtle off, but he was too quick for it, and Squirtle deftly ran up Onix's rock body and smashed into it with a hardened, powerful headbutt.
Onix fell down, but got back up. "Are you alright?!", The gym leader shouted, and Onix growled in response. "Then let's go! Catch that Squirtle!"
Onix attempted to use Bind again, but this time, Squirtle didn't move out of the way in time and Onix grabbed him with its signature constrictor.
Squirtle cried out, and tried to wrench himself out of the snake's grasp, but to no avail. Ash grimaced. "Squirtle, use Rapid Spin!" he ordered, and his pokemon withdrew into himself, and began to spin, it's shell knocking into Onix for some damage. However, Onix only tightened it's grasp through the pain, and Squirtle couldn't escape. "Hydro Pump!" shouted Ash, but Squirtle had already fallen out of Onix's grip, collapsing on the ground.
"Squirtle is unable to battle!" the kid declared.
Ash sighed, and recalled the turtle in a flash of red light. "You did so awesome, buddy. Now here, have some rest."
He faced the gym leader again, but didn't say a word when he threw his next pokeball.
Bulbasaur emerged from the ball, taking a battle stance on the dirt field, preparing to fight.
"Okay Bulbasaur, are you ready?" Ash called out. When Bulbasaur grunted a confirmation, Ash grinned. "Okay, Vine Whip!"
Bulbasaur extended a couple of vines and smashed them into the rock snake, knocking it backwards, pained.
"Onix, Rock Tomb!"
"Dodge it!"
Onix summoned and launched some rocks at the bulb pokemon, but with surprising agility, he managed to narrowly avoid the onslaught.
"Okay, Razor Leaf!"
Bulbasaur retreated, opting to fire the sharp leaf projectiles from afar, so that Onix couldn't escape. Eventually, the move overwhelmed the pokemon, and Onix collapsed.
"Onix is unable to battle!"
The gym leader, still shadowed by the dim lighting, recalled his pokemon. It was so dark Ash couldn't even see the red glow, and the next pokeball coming out. "Geodude, go!" he yelled.
"A geodude, huh?" Ash muttered. "Bulbasaur, use Leech Seed!"
Bulbasaur ran up to Geodude and landed a seed on it, which absorbed into the floating rock. However, his trainer didn't see.
"Running up close, are we? Use Tackle, Geodude!"
Geodude complied and crashed hard into Bulbasaur, who maintained his footing despite the damage. Geodude winced severely as the seed slowly sapped at his health.
Ash grinned. "Let's finish this early! Bulbasaur, Solar Beam!"
Bulbasaur gritted his teeth, and began to glow green at the bulb, storing enough solar energy to unleash. However, as Ash knew, this would take a lot of time for the move to come out.
"In that case, we'll just knock you out first!" shouted the gym leader. "Geodude, takedown!"
Geodude rammed Bulbasaur once more, making him stagger back, but not only did Geodude take recoil, it also had him positioned right in front of Bulbasaur, who grinned hugely, it's bulb now shining brightly. Geodude made to escape, but it winced. The gym leader's eyes were wide when he saw the Leech Seed on Geodude's head, sapping away its health. Meanwhile, Bulbasaur was ready to use his ultimate attack.
"Bulbaaa!" The pokemon yelled, as the pent up energy was unleashed, devastating the rock type. When the smoke cleared, it had already fainted.
The referee frowned, but raised a flag. "Geodude is unable to battle, so the winner is Ash Ketchum!"
Ash punched the air happily, as Serena left the viewing stands to celebrate with him. "That was awesome, Ash!" she cried, causing him to grin wide, and Bulbasaur also.
The gym leader walked over to him, and Ash faced him. Then his eyes widened.
"Now I know where I recognise you." The leader beamed.
Ash was incredulous - in front of him was a look-alike of Brock who he had met before; his father, called Flint.. "Hey, it's Brock's father who left home and never came back!" he exclaimed in awe.
However, Serena frowned and slapped him in the back of the head in frustration. "Ash!" she scolded. "That's an awful thing to say!"
Flint winced, but laughed it off. "Oh, don't worry young lady. That's actually what I told him when we first met. But I like to think I've gotten better as a father."
Ash patted him on the back. "That's great then! To be perfectly honest, I still don't know or have even met my own father."
Flint tilted his head. "Wait, really?"
Apparently, Serena was just as shocked. It wasn't surprising - Ash had never spoken a word about his father before. Perhaps it was a sore topic - but to be honest, she came to the realisation that it wasn't any different from her.
Ash shrugged. "Mom's always told me that he went to beat the League, but he could've came and checked on her. It doesn't matter to me, because I don't know him. But he must not be a great person to have left Mom like that."
Serena hugged him sadly. "You know Ash, it's the same for me. Except my Mom's a lot happier without him, so I'm glad I don't know him, to be honest."
Ash furrowed his eyebrows. "But Serena, I couldn't even think for a second about leaving you alone, you know?"
She smiled. "Well, that makes me feel better, at least."
Flint felt slightly uncomfortable. "So, uh, anyway Ash, not to disturb your conversation or anything, but here, as proof of your victory take this Boulder Badge."
He presented a tray with a single, stone shapes badge on it. Ash took it and beamed. "Awesome!" he yelled. "I just got the boulder badge!" Pikachu, Bulbasaur and Squirtle jumped for joy along with him.
"That's one step closer to the Indigo League." Flint told him.
Ash stared at the tray, which actually still had two more items on it. "Um, so I took the badge, but what are those?" he questioned, pointing to the two black spheres left over.
Surprisingly, Serena was the one to answer. "Oh those? Those are Chesto berries, and they're apparently good at curing exhaustion, but-"
Ash stopped listening after she said berries. "Well, don't mind if I do!" he announced, picking up the berries, chucking one to Serena before taking a chunk out of the berry himself. Flint and Serena both looked at him in utter disbelief. However...
"EEUURRGHH!" Ash blurted. "Aaackk, that's so bitter!"
Flint couldn't help but guffaw at the antics. "They were supposed to be to help your pokemon in a tough situation, but oh well..!" he snorted.
Serena sweat dropped, unconsciously putting the second berry in her bag while handing Ash her water flask. He drunk it hastily and noisily. "Oh sheesh..." he murmured. "Thanks, Serena."
He looked at Flint, who had just got over his laughter. "Well, thanks for the battle, Flint!"
Flint waved as he turned back and headed behind the stadium, where his house was. "I'll see you around, Ash!"
They left the dank gym, and started to wander the city in search for a Pokemon center. "Hey Ash." Serena asked. "So where to now?"
"Well, on my list is Cerulean City. But again, if there was anything you wanted to see, then by all means, go ahead." Ash explained, indifferently.
Serena pondered for a moment. "Well, again, I really don't have anything to do. So let's go to sleep, and then we'll leave for Cerulean City first thing tomorrow."
The two trainers found and went into the Pokemon Center to book a room, got changed, and jumped into bed with each other.
Serena's arms were wrapped tightly around Ash. "I haven't slept like this since Kalos... " she muttered, and Ash grinned.
"I wouldn't mind if we made this a regular thing..." he whispered in her ear, and the girl turned red.
After spending a while talking to each other, they both fell asleep.
Ash felt something hit him in the chest, but he was too tired to move, so he didn't.
Then again. Perhaps it would go away if he didn't respond.
Suddenly, Ash felt a sharp pain twisting through his bones. "Argh!" he shouted. He recognised the sensation immediately, considering how many times he had been hit by it - Pikachu's Thunderbolt. "What was that for?!"
He opened his eyes, to see Pikachu looking grumpy in front of him. Ash shot up. "Did I oversleep?!"
Pikachu nodded. "Pi, pikachu."
Ash got up, and started pulling off his pyjamas casually, getting changed into his normal gear. "Darn. Serena must already be up and waiting." He threw his cap on hastily. "Okay, let's go."
Pikachu scampered up onto his shoulder and he went into the Pokemon Center's lobby. "Huh? She's not there." Ash said.
He didn't have to worry long however - the doors opened and Serena was behind them. She noticed Ash standing there. "Oh, hey Ash!"
"Hi Serena! Where'd you go?"
Serena pointed at her backpack. "I went and grabbed supplies for the journey! Thought we might need them, you know?"
"Cool!" Ash exclaimed. "Let's head out, then!"
Serena nodded, and followed on after Ash.
Suddenly, she stopped, randomly feeling an overwhelming sense of foreboding. She looked at Ash, who stopped and turned around, concerned. "You okay, Serena? You look worried."
Serena's eyes were narrow and wondering. "I dunno, I just have a bad feeling all of a sudden."
Ash shrugged, and took another step out the door. "Here, just stay close to me and you'll be fi-"
He was cut off, however, when Pikachu yelped, leaping off his shoulder. Ash was about to question it, when he was suddenly hit by a blast of ice cold water ramming into him, smashing his body and pounding him into the floor, directly in front of the center's door.
Serena gasped, horrified. "What the- Ash!"
He got up, absolutely drenched. "Don't worry, I'm okay! But who would do something like that?!"
He looked up, and what he saw was not something you'd expect to see everyday, that's for sure.
A huge blue sea serpent was glaring him dead in the eyes. Gyarados.
Ash tried to yell, completely out of terror, but all he managed was a strangled croak.
A voice petered out from behind the serpent. "Calm down Ash, it's only me!"
Serena rushed to Ash's side, equally bewildered and wondering who the voice was. As it turns out, it belonged to the girl whose pokemon it was.
She had a small frame, but her demeanor demanded respect, as evident by her fiery red hair, placed in a side ponytail. Her eyes were sharp and narrow, and her clothes gave the couple a distinct impression of tomboyishness. Ash recognised this woman immediately after seeing her.
"M-Misty?!" He yelled.
Pikachu, who had dived into Serena's arms to avoid the torrent of water, now jumped back up and leaped onto Misty, ecstatic to see her again.
Misty ruffled Pikachus fur. "Aw, I've missed you too Pikachu!"
Serena spun around to look at her, then back to Ash. "Ash, you know her?"
He nodded, as did Misty. "Yep!" she winked. "Flint told me you were in town and looking for your second gym battle, so I came out to see you!"
"Well, long time no see!" Ash replied. "How long's it been? Three years?"
"That's right." she stopped suddenly, turning to Serena. "So Ash, who's that cute girl you've got wrapped around your arm?"
Ash's eyes widened, and he blushed slightly. "Uh, right, I still gotta introduce you two."
He got up, shivering due to the water clung to his clothes and looked at the two. "So Serena, this is Misty - she's one of the first people I met on my journey, and also the grumpiest person known to ma-"
Misty leapt up and brought a fist down on his head. Serena sweat dropped, and Ash laughed. "Misty, this is Serena, and she's... My, uh, girlfriend."
Misty didn't say a word, looking at Ash, aloof. Then her face broke into a mischievous grin.
"Oh my, my! Ash got a girlfriend!" She said, elbowing him teasingly. "And she's cute, too!"
"Ack, cut it out!" he responded, half-heartedly slapping her arm away, and putting his own on Serena's shoulder, who was blushing furiously.
"Aww, but I never knew anybody would fall for you!" she scoffed, laughing for a solid minute. When she had finally calmed down, she wiped a tear from her eye created by her hysterics. "Whew, but really Ash, I'm so proud of you! As long as you treat her well..."
"Of course I will." he said seriously.
Serena was watching the two catch up, but finally she spoke up. "Ash." she said firmly.
"Huh?"
"I know you're catching up, but you'll also be catching a cold if you don't go and dry off!" she warned.
His eyes widened in realisation. "Right, sorry! I'll be back in a sec, Misty, Serena!"
He darted, dripping, back into the Pokemon Center, leaving the two girls alone. Misty sidled up to a very nervous Serena.
"So how'd you meet that brainless one?" Misty joked, feeling rather sociable.
Serena half chuckled. "Well, we first met at a summer camp when we were kids, and, well, we met each other in the Kalos region last year, and, long story short, he invited me to travel with him, and we started d-dating only a while ago..." she explained, though her voice had started to trail off and become quiet.
Misty patted her gently. "Cmon, there's no need to be shy." she shuffled closer and leaned in to Serena's ear. "You know, he never used to be as nervous as he is. I assume he must really like you." she whispered, and of course it made Serena's face turn crimson.
Though, she was quite glad that Ash's friend approved of her also. It meant she felt less insecure when around him, and her shoulders relaxed, clearly more comfortable with the redhead now. Even if the Gyarados was still looming over the two, if Misty was okay with it, Serena felt no need to be worried.
Misty beamed. "Well, you seem like a great girl, Ash should consider himself lucky!"
"Hehe..." Serena whispered. "Thanks..."
Ash stumbled out the door minutes later to see the two girls chatting. "Hey, whatcha talking about?"
Misty grinned evilly. "Oh, nothing much, just as many embarrassing stories of you as I can remember."
Ash gaped, and looked at Serena, who was too caught up with giggling to notice his horror. "What?!" he yelled. "You didn't tell her about the Aerodactyl..?"
Serena snorting loudly told him all he needed to know; he sighed in defeat.
"I never knew this side of you, Ash!" Serena told him, still pretty amused from Misty's - true but most likely exaggerated - stories.
Ash grimaced, though he was secretly quite happy to see Serena's smile.
"Hah, he's probably done worse in Hoenn, let's be honest." Misty added.
Ash facepalmed. "Actually, that's probably right. But I have changed, I swear! I don't do dumb things anymore!"
She waved a hand dismissively. "Sure you haven't, Ash. I'll probably get more gossip out of your girlfriend." She said, the emphasis on the word girlfriend never failing to make the boy blush.
"Misty!" he shouted, attempting to change the subject, "Is the Cerulean gym still open?"
She pursed her lips together grumpily. "I closed it after my sisters all ran away to the Alola region and never came back. It gave me the time to wander Johto and catch more water types!"
Ash raised an eyebrow. "Any luck?"
"None at all." she muttered sadly.
"That's not really a surprise..." Ash murmured, but Misty glared at him.
"What did you say?"
Ash backed away from her. "Eh, I said better luck next time! So, uh, can I have a gym battle?"
Misty sighed. "Always straight to the point, aren't you?"
Ash tilted his head confused. "Is that a no?"
Misty shook her head. "Of course not! It's been a long time, and I wanna cream you!"
"Oh, you'll beat me?" Ash scoffed. "Not a chance!"
He turned to Serena, who seemed pretty amused by their banter. "So Serena, in case you're wondering, she's the Cerulean City gym leader, except she wants to be the world's greatest water type trainer."
"That's right!" Misty nodded.
Serena nodded, impressed. "That's pretty cool! But Ash, we aren't in Cerulean City!"
They both shrugged I'm unison. "Oh well, we'll just battle here!" Ash explained, and Misty didn't object.
"Well, what are you waiting for?" she exclaimed. "Let's find a field and do this!"
The three of them took off, rushing around Pewter City to find a battlefield. Serena was behind the two hotheads, smiling to herself about the kind of person Ash has become. But according to Misty, he's always been determined and selfless, two traits Serena admired from the bottom of her heart, and there was no way she'd want that to change.
Guess that's the end of that chapter and the start of the Kanto arc! Man, I realise now how difficult it is to coincide amourshipping with a story, so I must warn you - there will be more storyline, and I'll try to have as much shippy moments in between as I can.
Also, I have to make it clear that the Ash Ketchum in this story will probably be a lot smarter than in the show, for the purposes of his interactions with pokemon, battling, and also Serena of course..! But what I mean by that is that he'd know type matchups, be more aware of battle tactics, recognise things he's seen before, etc.
One last thing. Sorry about that big oof at the end with the dad thing. I have three friends who's father's all left them, and they all laugh and joke about that fact. As for me, my parents are awesome. So I haven't a clue what Ash and Serena would feel about such a sore topic like their own rubbish dads.
Anyway, thanks for reading and I'll see you next chapter!
