You Are My Goal: A Day in Wyndon
Shaking up the Galar Region!
The moment she exited the black taxi carriage, she was greeted with the bright, lively spirit of Wyndon City. The northern Galarian city towered above the rest of the region, bustling with activity all around the large hemispherical building with the glass domed roof. People were walking here and there, filling up the roads of reddish pink bricks. Buildings laid within rows that spread out from the very square she was in, sporting stores and restaurants of all kinds.
Right behind the domed building was a Ferris wheel, and behind that was a towering superstructure that she swore was probably just as tall as Lumiose Tower. Speaking of which, the whole city with its overwhelming crowds reminded her well of the Kalosian capital itself. If anything, Wyndon was definitely a lot busier than Lumiose City.
Next to the Ferris wheel, she could see the humongous complex that was Wyndon Stadium. The giant building was patterned like an overgrown rose bud, blossoming out like the gleaming power of a Roserade. From the air, she noticed just how packed it was down outside the stadium – almost twice the number of people at the city square she was on now.
She thanked the elderly gentleman who flew her all the way to the city from the southern reaches of Galar. With his black coat and brown gloves and boots, he was definitely fit for the cold atmosphere from the nearby snowy mountains. His goggles and pilot cap alone were enough to tell people who he was. The man bowed respectfully to her as he entered the front seat of his taxi. Above the taxi with no wheels, the huge metal bird flapped its heavy wings, causing a bit of wind to blow upon her. With a few heavy flaps, it then took off, using its ironclad talons to lift the taxi off the ground before it finally flew off.
She could not take her eyes off the mighty bird, equally intrigued of the new kinds of Pokemon she could find here in Galar. Alas, she was not here to explore her options for new team members yet.
She gave the man a wave farewell before she laid her eyes back in the never-ending flow of people and Pokemon. She wasn't sure if she would do well in this crowd, considering who she was. She was expecting someone to come out and call her name…
Serena Yvonne.
She adjusted her grey fedora, having been tipped to the side from the Corviknight's mighty flaps. The journey to Wyndon was cold – not as cold as Snowbelle City, but it was definitely chilly, forcing her to wear her maroon jacket.
Thankfully, Wyndon was just the right amount of cool, so she took off the jacket, revealing the black turtleneck tank top and red and white plaid skirt. Her black stockings kept her legs warm enough, allowing her to feel just right when down in Wyndon.
She stretched her arms out, breaking her muscles free from the compressed space of the taxi. The ride to Wyndon was surprisingly smooth, but it did have its bumpy moments. Having to sit in a taxi for an hour required her to let loose a little.
Now that she was in full form, Serena then fished out one of her Poke Balls and summoned one of her Pokemon. The glistering, shining image of her Sylveon graced the scene as the Intertwining Pokemon barked at her with glee. Ever so the sweetheart, the Pokemon then wrapped its long feeler around Serena's hand, purring affectionately as it stroked itself against her Trainer's leg.
With a warm smile, Serena bent down to brush her Pokemon on the head, watching Sylveon enjoy it. It was always nice to let her Pokemon out once in a while, giving them a breath of fresh air while they explored the world.
As she stood up, Serena began to take in the full view of Wyndon around her, just as a wave of people burst out of the domed structure that she came to know as the Wyndon Monorail station. Pressed for time and space, they began to make their first steps into the Galarian urban jungle.
Serena kept herself safely on the sidewalk, letting Sylveon stick close to her legs along the way. She scanned the rows of shops that towered her, tempting her to do a bit of window-shopping. She got to see several snazzy new clothes on display, giving her all sorts of new ideas for new Contest moves for her upcoming performances.
Serena couldn't help but marvel at the sheer scale of the city and its buildings, reminding her more and more of Lumiose City. Wyndon, however, had a lot more neon lights flashing all around, brightening up the stores in a modern glow. Electronic billboards of all shapes and sizes constantly broadcasted commercials without end. All around, Serena heard blasting Eurobeat music throughout the streets, adding more to the liveliness of the city.
While navigating through the colourful city, Serena gleefully walked with her hands tied behind her back. Deep inside her, however, there laid a small concern that a passing pedestrian would spot her and call her out, leading to an entire city out to drown her in a massive crowd.
Surely, people would have heard of the new idol duo that was Serena and Lisia. With the latter's global fame, it was only a matter of time before Serena found herself sharing the spotlight. Thankfully, in Galar at least, no one seemed to bat an eye at her. Maybe the people were too busy walking around to stop for an autograph. Or maybe they were too engrossed over the real highlight of the day.
Frankly, that highlight was what Serena was here for, too. She had no time for new fans or opportunities to expand her career. She was here for only one person - one person and his team of ultra-strong fighters.
As she continued to walk, she remembered it like it was yesterday. Nearly two months before coming to Wyndon, she made her debut as a Coordinator in Lilycove City, helping another beginner make her debut. Little did she know that the girl she helped ended up befriending someone she knew so dearly.
Once their Contest was over, Serena and Chloe were about to part ways at the docks. That was when he came. The boy who made her the person she was now, and would continue to make her go beyond that. On that fateful evening, he just happened to shout out to Chloe, running past her as he boarded the boat with another boy.
As soon as her eyes laid on him, her heart fluttered in an instant. The months spent grooming her maturity and skills; the months making her a more confident performer – it was all forgotten for a brief moment, as deep feelings she once buried suddenly reawakened.
He did not even glance at her, though Serena supposed that he was too excited, considering he was obsessed with Pokemon battles and he just so happened to topple Wallace himself that day.
She then called out his name…
"Ash!" As soon as she heard herself call him, Serena's heart pumped even more, just as he turned around and finally recognized her. She could remember the same warm grin on his face when he called her back, flooding Serena's head with the fateful journeys they had together in Kalos.
Being a more grown woman than she was before, she was able to keep herself from flustering in awkward silence and was able to fully express her words to him. Dare she said it; she would later realize just how smooth she was when talking to him.
Alas; the reunion was short-lived. As soon as they were reunited, the ship that Ash boarded was sailing off. With only a minute to see each other, Serena let out all she needed to say, telling Ash where she was in her path to become a more charming woman for him. Ash did the same, allowing them both to assure each other of their plans for the future.
Once the boat and Ash disappeared into the Hoenn seas, she looked on as the sun set down. As heavy as her heart felt seeing him go, she was still filled with glee that she was able to express herself without being flustered.
She knew she was not ready to tell him yet. There was still so much growing up she had to do before she could finally achieve her dream and prove to him that she had grown into the person he would be proud of. Only then could she make her move and hop on the same pedestal of greatness as him.
The ship had sailed, but not her feelings for him. One day, she would be ready. She would not give up until the very end, just as Ash told her…
Fast forward a month later, and here she was in Wyndon. It was difficult to convince Lisia to give her a few days off, but the idol eventually gave in and allowed Serena the time to breathe – the time to let her see Ash again.
Right now, the boy she yearned to be with was about to enter the most difficult challenge he had ever faced – far more difficult than the close Kalos League match he had with Alain. He was facing the Masters Eight – comprising of the Pokemon world's most powerful Trainers. As far as she heard on the news, Ash had already defeated the Champion of his home region, Lance. After that, by the time Serena came, he was currently up against Raihan, the hot sensation of Hammerlocke.
She had not watched much from the World Coronation Series, though she wished she had. But from what she found, Raihan was a celebrity that could go toe-to-toe with Lisia and Wallace combined. If they were not worshipping Leon, the people of Galar found much pride and joy from the selfie-happy Gym Leader. He was known to be a strong contender for the throne of Galar's Champion, making himself a rival to Leon.
Now, however, he had competition. And that competition was who Serena was looking for.
Finally, after much sightseeing, Serena and Sylveon were both outside Wyndon Stadium. Here, the city was at its peak. As Ash rumbled against Raihan, people have filled the outer square of the stadium to watch the match via a huge projector screen.
As Serena joined in, it wasn't long before she found herself boxed in as more spectators arrived. She kept herself in as much as she could, giving Sylveon some space within the crowd.
Once they moved closer to the projector, they looked up to watch the display. There, Serena could see him…
There he was; just as she remembered. Standing on the side of what looked like the court of the stadium was Ash Ketchum. Standing firm with his fists balled tightly, he looked as battle-hardened as he always was. Serena could not take her eyes off while the camera focused on him, smiling warmly seeing Ash so confident.
Then, the camera panned out to get a good view of the Pokemon Ash was using. Not Pikachu this time; but to her amazement, it was a Mega Lucario. Serena could not believe what she was seeing. Ash did not just catch a Lucario – a Pokemon known for its unbreakable focus and sheer strength. He had it Mega Evolved!
The long tendrils behind Lucario fluttered as it stood its ground. The Pokemon had its thick fists clenched the same way its Trainer did. From its appearance alone, Serena could feel the full power of this advanced form, amazed beyond belief.
She wondered just how much Ash did since she last saw him in Kalos. She heard from the news that he he became the first-ever Champion of the Alola region, with never-before-seen Pokemon that overpowered the entire competition. The next thing she knew it; he was out battling countless Trainers to reach the top of the World Coronation Series.
After briefly seeing him in Lilycove, she was able to watch some of his other battles leading up to the Masters Eight, including the one where he fought Drasna not too long before she met Chloe. Clemont even called her at one point, telling her of the extraordinary new Pokemon Ash had during his visit to the Lumiose Gym. Through Clemont, she even learned that Ash had ventured with Korrina to find his Lucarionite, battling Gurkin's Mega Alakazam to earn it.
Now, Serena was witnessing what had to be the peak of his Pokemon team. The last time Ash had stood so powerfully was when he had Greninja with him. Mega Lucario was just as awesome; if not more incredible.
Coming back to the match, Serena then saw the camera switched to the other side of the court, where Raihan stood. The tall man with semi-draconic sportswear had his hands to his hips, grinning madly at Ash. In front of him was something that Serena only heard of.
The power of Dynamax…
Towering above the field was a literal tower with feet and arms, stretching so high that the camera had to move away a few feet just to get the whole picture. The front of the Pokemon made it look like a skyscraper, its chest sporting window-like patterns below its chin. The Pokemon – a Duraladon as they called it – roared so loud that Serena could hear it from the stadium itself.
She noticed that the sky above the stadium became darker and the clouds reddened. A swirling vortex of electrifying red energy crackled above the building, striking down below where she could see it happen on screen.
The camera would then switch views so that everyone could see Ash, Raihan and their Pokemon stare each other down. The Gigantamaxed Duraladon rose above Mega Lucario like a titan over a walled city. Serena could hardly keep her mouth shut from the sheer size of the Pokemon. So, this was the highlight of the Galar region.
Just how powerful this new phenomenon was, she wondered. How did it stand up compared to Mega Evolution?
After taking a closer look at the battle, Serena saw some visible damage on both Pokemon. The durable steel body of the Duraladon seemed to have been dented and scratched, while Lucario had bruises on its own body, causing it to drop down in pain. Both Pokemon held their pains in, standing as firm and steadfast as their Trainers were.
Serena kept her focus on Ash. That was when she noticed something… worrisome.
Ash's face was covered in sweat and dirt, yet he refused to wipe it off. His brows furrowed dangerously down, his teeth gritting hard against each other. He breathed heavily, unable to keep his body still from the intensity of the battle. Serena could barely see Pikachu behind him, looking on with dire concern.
His Lucario was just as livid, having been hit hard by the battle.
Serena had seen this expression in Ash's face before, right when he was struggling to gain the upper hand. From what she saw, Serena knew he was having a hard time taking on Raihan and his Duraladon. Seeing Ash struggle to keep his composure pulled at her heartstrings, making her worry for him. It was the same when she saw his first defeat at the hands of Viola before their first (official) meeting. It was the same when he lost to Wulfric – a defeat that nearly broke him and her friendship with him.
It was almost the same when he lost to Alain at the Kalos League Finals…
If Ash was becoming more and more heated during a battle, Serena felt he was taking in the greatest of stresses. And she could hardly blame him. He was this close to finally reaching Leon at the very top of the world. If he lost now, it would set him back a great deal.
Serena's hand reached her chest, her fist balled probably as hard as Ash's. She hated to see him with his back against the wall, and she would hate to see him reel from the consequences. Alas, she held onto hope that he would pull it off. She had grown so much that she would be remiss if she fell back to her more vulnerable ways.
She had to be strong so she could cheer for him if... No, when Ash would win.
Finally, the battle reached its climax. Ash gave the word with the voice of an Exploud, commanding Lucario to summon a large Aura Sphere. Raihan roared for his Duraladon to charge up its power.
Serena's heart pounded harder than ever before, praying for the best. She held in her breath for what's to come, hoping that Ash would overcome this final blow.
With a single shout from each side, the Pokemon fired their attacks. Lucario unleashed its Aura Sphere right for its target's head, while Duraladon released its G-Max Depletion upon the dwarfed Mega Pokemon.
Serena and the entire crowd braced themselves for what looked like an earth-shattering blow. As soon as the Aura Sphere clashed with the cusp of the Depletion's vortex, the whole world seemed to shake. Everyone outside held on tight as the ground shook from the impact. Serena nearly fell from the rumbling, barely balancing herself. Sylveon tied her feelers around her Trainer, keeping them both upright from the short blow.
Once the shaking was over, Serena and the rest of the spectators watched the screen. The dust cleared after a while, revealing what had happened. On both sides, the two Pokemon were back to standing on opposite ends, staring each other down.
Ash and Raihan eyed each other, having been roughed up by their fullest power. Serena held her chest, legs shaking from both the initial blast and emotional stress. She prayed long and hard for the round to be made in Ash's favour.
After a few seconds of the staring contest, the Pokemon both began to shake and give way. Duraladon, in particular, began to shrink down, returning back to its normal form and now looking more like a dragon than its G-Max form. The crowd watched with pure anticipation, hoping to see who will fall first.
Seconds passed and the two Pokemon remained standing. Serena could hardly wait any longer. She wanted to scream Ash's name and tell him and Lucario to never give up, just as she did before. Unfortunately, she was not in the stadium to do it. All she could do was wait…
Then, finally, the first Pokemon fell…
Serena sank to the ground, breathing heavily from the pure drama that unfolded before her. Unable to keep herself calm after watching such a climatic duel, she tried her best to compose herself. Sylveon chipped in, trying to calm her.
By the time Serena got back up, her legs started wobbling. She breathed in again and let her anxiety out. It was as if she never blinked.
When her eyes returned to the screen, she saw Ash running to the middle of the battlefield. He picked up the now depowered Lucario and helped it up. Pikachu was close behind, looking just as worried as Serena was.
Ash, on the other hand, did not flash his signature smile for a hard-fought battle. Instead, he bowed to Raihan and turned around, taking the injured Lucario with him.
Watching Ash carry his Lucario out of the battlefield with such a glum look made Serena's heart drop. It was such an empowering battle, but, in the end, it didn't matter. She didn't know how to feel about the battle at all, since all she cared about was seeing Ash look so emotionally damaged.
As she and Sylveon began to step away from the cheering crowd, her head ducked down, thinking about nothing and no one else but Ash.
Once she left, she could hear the referee call out the results of the battle. She should be happy, but she couldn't
Ash had won… but it felt like he had lost…
TO BE CONTINUED…
A/N~ Well, it happened! Serena came back and with her return came a flurry of writers flocking to write continuations or what-if scenarios about her brief reunion with Ash.
It just goes to show how important Serena is to the anime, and how the Journeys episode was handled was fantastic, even if Wallace had to interfere. Seeing her being more mature was definitely a great show of character development. And the brief reunion between her and Ash, I was at a loss for words! It was handled beautifully, even if it was rushed.
Naturally, I, like many others, wanted to write something to help us fulfil something from the reunion in case Serena doesn't come back. While most have written about the reunion itself, I decided to do something different.
I decided to jump ahead and write a non-canonical story to show what happens when Serena visits Ash during his final battles in the World Coronation Series. It's probably jumping the gun, but hey, it's fanfiction. Anyone can write about anything, which can produce something to make us feel more fulfilled and proud of.
This story is practically a one-shot, compared to the other stories I'm currently doing. If you happen to be following those stories, sorry I've been taking way too long. I have been tied with work and have been struggling to make the most out of my free time. Hopefully, I can move forward and continue to update! I am close to finishing the next chapter of Shades of the Galaxy, so expect an update soon!
I would also like to give an honourable shout-out to writers Epicocity and Mezamun for inspiring me to write this story. The way they wrote about the reunion gave me some foundation of how to continue the story. I highly recommend you check them out. Epicocity and fellow writer Viroro have written what has to be my favourite Amourshipping series of all time, and Mezamun has been kicking it with a Pearlshipping story (yes, I'm a partial Pearlshipper, if that makes sense XD)
For this story, I hope you will look forward to what I have in store!
Thank you for reading, and May the Force be with you!