Chapter 28: Serena's Odyssey

After a journey that fulfill an adventure, Ash learned Serena's kidnapping was a ploy for the girl to confess her feelings to him. Barkley met Serena in which he greeted with puppy kisses to Serena's face, tickling the honey blond. She kicked to the licks, her toenails being pearl white. Clemont, Bonnie, Peach and Pikachu joined her while she prepared for the upcoming wedding. "Barkley!" she laughed. "Stop!"

"Barkley's really friendly," Bonnie giggled. "I'm happy with how everything turned out."

"I am, too," Peach agreed, holding Pikachu in her arms. Without warning…

"SERENA!" shouted an older woman. All turned to a brunette woman with unkempt hair and a clip within it. She wore a black blouse and beige cargo pants.

"Mom!?" gasped Serena. They hugged after Barkley hopped off to sit by Clemont. A minute later, they broke the hug, but held their arms. "But, what are you doing here?"

"Someone informed me and Mrs. Ketchum about you and Ash being part of a wedding," the mother informed. "It's with Ash, and honestly… I had wanted the two of you to be together." Serena gasped to her mother's confession.

"You did?"

"I did." Peach came forward to address the mother.

"So, Delia is visiting Ash, Grace?" she asked.

"Yeah, and she's a sweet woman," the mother, Grace, confirmed. Excited, Bonnie stood up.

"Don't hold me back, I wanna see her!" she wished. "Come on, Barkley!" Happily, Barkley yipped before chasing Bonnie out of the room.

("Oh boy…") gulped Pikachu. Grace shook her smiling head.

"She'll never learn," Serena murmured. Meanwhile in another part of the Wedding Hall, Ash was fitted with a white tuxedo with white loafers.

"Fantasitco!" approved Mario.

"Thanks, Mario," Ash smiled. "Thought, I gotta admit… Finding out that it was about Serena's love to me, I'm not happy to learn. Though, knowing that Serena's okay would've been fine with me."

"Well, it wasn't easy to make this work, especially with some of the surprises that were on the way," Bowser briefed. Topper and Wendy nodded to the claim, unhurt from the robotic battle back in Bowser Kingdom.

"Tell me about it," Topper agreed. "I mean, who were those goons that tore our RoboBrood like that? It wasn't in the script." To Ash, Team Rocket almost spoiled the journey.

"Yeah, Team Rocket came out of nowhere, twice," he recalled. "In New Donk City and at Bowser Kingdom. Of course, Luigi bailed me and Pikachu out of that ordeal in New Donk City."

"Luigi?" guessed Mario. "Bro helped you?" Ash nodded to the asking plumber.

"It's funny since we didn't tell Green Stache about it," Bowser claimed. Ash gawked to the new claim.

"Wait, Luigi wasn't part of the ploy, but Rosalina was?" guessed Ash as Rosalina arrived with a mahogany-haired woman in a pink blouse and blue skirt.

"I was not at all," she voiced. "I merely saw you in danger." Turning, Ash gasped to the sight of the mahogany-haired.

"Mom!" he called out as he ran to her.

"Ash!" she replied as they met and hugged. "Ash, why didn't you tell me about what's going on?"

"You're not alone," Ash shared. "They set it up for me and Serena." Bowser snickered to the sight of Ash's mother.

"Not a bad-looking mom," he grinned. Mario and Wendy agreed.

"Delia had been worried about Ash since the incident at Lumiose City," Rosalina briefed.

"That's a fine coincidence," Wendy nodded. "It was about that time the princess made contact with Serena." Ash and Delia realized the timing.

"Wow, I wish I knew of it then," Ash gulped.

"Perhaps that was her moment that she wanted to say something to Ash," Delia guessed. "Like 'Don't go, I love you' kind of response." Ash wasn't sure about the guess, but someone else was.

"She's a keeper!" shouted Bonnie. Everyone turned to the proposing little girl and Dedenne on her head. "Please, take care of our father!" Delia looked flabbergasted by the proposal. Bowser took Bonnie in both claws and walked. Dedenne hopped to Ash.

"Let's talk about what you're doing in private," he suggested. Undaunted, Bonnie turned back.

"I hope you think about it!" she wished. A chorus of sighs billowed.

"Mamma Mia…" muttered Mario. Returning to the topic, Ash turned to Topper, curious.

"So, Hariet flirting with me was a distraction ploy?" he asked.

"Well, not really," Topper shrugged. "My sista had the hots fer ya. We told her to stay on track." Ash and Delia sighed with a flustered drop of sweat pouring.

"Lucky!" teased Mario. Ash and Delia shook their head while giggling. Bowser and Bonnie returned to which Peach joined.

"Are you feeling okay?" she asked. Ash looked to Peach with a slight smile.

"I just told them that I was not happy with the reason for the adventure," he said. "But that I was happy that Serena's okay."

"Well, that's what matters," Delia agreed.

"Anyway, can I tell you what transpired to reach this plateau?" questioned Peach. Ash nodded. "Sweet. It started after the Lumiose Conference which I learned soon enough."

"Yeah, after Lysandre made chaos after my loss to Alain in the Conference Final," Ash recalled. "It was thanks to Squishy and the Kalos Gym Leaders with Diantha who stopped Team Flare."

"I heard about it," Peach clarified. "I received a call from Serena. She meant to call someone else, but sometimes… trembling fingers. Anyway, I listened to her after assuring that I can help out. It was fortunate that Tiara was visiting me from Bonneton. After the call, I arrived the next night as you were doing some shopping for souvenirs to bring to Delia." The mother giggled and had to ask.

"Anything special?" she wondered.

"Yeah, a replica of the Sundial in Anistar City for starters," Ash replied.

"Oh, I heard about the Sundial!" awed Delia. "One of the marvels of the Kalos Region."

"Anyway, Tiara and I met Serena who said that she had grown more and more fondly of you," Peach continued. "But something held her back from saying the words. It may have been when you were captured by Team Flare and nearly hurt by what transpired. So, Tiara and I volunteered to help." Bowser and Bonnie returned to the group, including a clown-like humanoid creature with stick arms and legs. "The next day as I attended my garden, Bowser showed up."

"I wanted to kidnap Peach and have a trap for Mario," Bowser briefed. "So when Mario stood in my path, I was ready to tussle when Peach came out and said 'Perfect timing.' It stopped me and Mario. That's when we entered the Conference Room in the West Wing of the castle in which we began to discuss the ordeal."

"It was weird for a-Bowser and me to work together," Mario confessed.

"I bet," Ash gulped. "Oh, before I forget, Mayor Pauline said that she does miss you." Mario giggled to the mention.

"Thank you a-so much," he praised. Delia saw the clown-like creature.

"Mimey, did you want to listen to the story as well?" she asked.

("I do,") Mimey agreed as Dedenne climbed on the Pokémon's head.

"Anyway, after the discussion with Peach, I chose when to attack," Bowser resumed. "My Koopa Troopas informed me that you and your Greninja were parting ways. Cowardly? Maybe… but it was now or never. After I shot Ash and Pikachu away, I helped with the situation."

(Flashback)

Bowser lifted and placed Ash and Pikachu into the cannon on his airship. Ash turned to Serena, his need to rescuing her being his new priority.

"Serena, I won't give up!" he proclaimed. "I never give up! I'll get you out of this!" Final words said, Bowser angled the cannon before pulling the string. The cannon fired and Ash and Pikachu flew at high speed through the air.

"ASH!" she bellowed with tears streaking.

"They'll be fine," Bowser assured. "He's a tough kid after all." He came to the cage Serena was in before lifting the entire cage up, freeing her. Surprised, Serena walked under the lifted cage before Bowser put it back down. "Come on, we need to make sure the princess learns of your pick-up." Serena blinked as she followed Bowser.

"Princess?" she repeated before she looked to the horizon, wondering of what Bowser said about Ash and Pikachu was true.

"Wait, you… didn't tell Serena that you were a princess?" assumed Ash.

"I wasn't in my royal gown, but a tank-top and shorts with some flat shoes," Peach admitted. "It does make a nice disguise." Delia and Wendy giggled to the claim. "Anyway…"

"Right," Bowser accepted.

(Flashback)

Bowser and Serena entered inside the airship where a radio stood as the airship left Clemont and Bonnie on the ground. Bowser took the microphone. "This is Dragon, contacting Toadstool," he messaged. "Come in, Toadstool." After a few seconds, Peach's voice came on.

"This is Toadstool," she voiced. "We read you, Dragon."

"Package has been picked up. We're heading to base, over."

"Excellent! We await the arrival, over."

"Understood… Over and out." He turned the radio off.

"Wait, that voice sounded familiar," Serena realized.

"Yep, and we're going to the Mushroom Kingdom," Bowser informed. "Normally, Mario and I would be getting into a scrap, but the princess assured us to be on our best behavior." Serena seemed surprised.

"Wait, she's a princess!?"

"Yep, and she's also helpful in plenty of situations. I may be a bad guy, but I'm not always that." Before long, they came to a large white castle with red roofs and a mural of a faceless Peach in front. "We're here. We'll be landing shortly." The airship landed as Mario came to see the pair. Bowser and Serena exited the airship which she saw the castle.

"Wow! So, this is the castle!" Seeing the mural, Serena sensed this was what Peach looked like. "She looks gorgeous from that mural."

"Peach is inside," Mario informed. Serena turned to Mario, curious.

"Oh?" she wondered.

"HEY, MARIO!" called Bowser from the airship. "I gotta make a few calls to some parties. Bring Serena in to see the princess!" Mario saluted to agree to Bowser's request.

"This way," he offered. He led Serena inside the castle. At the hall, Serena looked around, marveled to the design of skies with the sun beneath the staircase. Peach entered from the top of the stairs.

"Serena, you made it!" she welcomed. Serena awed Peach in her pink dress and crown.

"Wow, you're really a princess!" she gasped. Peach giggled as she came down the stairs.

"I didn't mean to deceive you," she apologized. "If you knew who I was before, it might have caused quite an uproar."

"Apparently…" laughed Serena.

(Peach's View)

Serena introduced me, Mario, Bowser and his son to her Pokémon. Needless to say that her Sylveon liked me from the start. Her feelers felt warm and comfortable like a blanket. Mario and Braixen seemed like an explosive pair with how they handled fire. Pancham wanted to challenge Bowser, only making him scoff. Junior had a bit of fun with Braixen in the Koopa Klown Car. Meanwhile, I treated Serena to a makeover which included highlights to her hair, pedicures to her fingernails and toenails, and even some facial care with those cucumber slices over the eyes. One night, I heard her cry. "Ash…" she whimpered. "I wish you were with me… at this moment." I entered to comfort her, promising that he would be here in the Wedding Hall for her. She just felt guilty to put you through the journey to come here for her proposal. After we got Serena fitted with the Lochlady Dress and the veil with Tiara, we felt ready to proceed. Bowser helped with the posters of her and Junior, knowing it would get to you. After that, we headed here.

Ash seemed rather surprised with the length Peach had gone to help Serena with her confidence. "I'm almost too grateful for what you did to help Serena," he praised. "That also goes to the rest of you: Bowser, Mario, the Koopalings, the Broodals…"

"Hey, I helped too!" complained Bonnie. Ash and Delia giggled to Bonnie's uproar.

"He was getting there!" the mother eased. Ash realized Bonnie's role came next.

"That reminds me," he voiced. "How did you get from your home in Lumiose City to the Mushroom Kingdom?" Bonnie laughed as she itched the back of her head nervously.

"Well, I didn't make it home after Clemont's vanishing act," she admitted.

(Flashback/Bonnie's View)

I left the Prism Tower after Clemont disappeared while using his invention. As I rounded the corner near home to be with Dad, I saw a strange figure with a big head. I didn't know it was a Toad at that time. He wondered if I was Bonnie, and I told him so. Then, he had me follow him out of Lumiose City. He didn't say much. I thought he was shy. After a while, we came out of a Warp Pipe and found Peach's Castle. Toad revealed himself, and I had a quick comment at how cute he was. Then, Mario came around, but it took me a while to understand his accent.

"Oh, hello!" he greeted.

"Hi," I replied with some questioning. I saw what Mario wore and looked back at the castle. "Did you come by to fix the bathroom plumbing? I mean, I've seen plumbers wear that before." Mario laughed, believing I was joking.

"Say, are you a-Bonnie?" he asked. I was surprised.

"Yeah, but how do you know my name?" was my question.

"Serena's inside the castle," he told me. I wasn't sure to believe him. He started to lead me to the castle while Dedenne came out of my bag to look. He climbed onto my shoulder a la Ash and Pikachu. "This way!" I was worried about Serena, but I hoped whoever was in the castle would help out. When I entered, I saw Bowser and his son. Dedenne was scared of Bowser, and I couldn't blame him.

"Papa, is that one of Serena's friends?" asked Junior. It took a couple of seconds for Bowser to say something.

"Oh yeah…" he remembered. "Bonnie, is that right?" I was in shock. Not only did Mario know who I was, but Bowser as well.

"Yea- Yeah…" I stuttered. Junior came to me and offered his hand, or claw.

"Don't worry," he said. "Papa's not so bad when you get to know him." I wasn't sure to believe Junior but I took his claw, or he took my hand and we all saw Peach and Serena. I wanted to be happy that Serena's okay… but I was a little too happy.

"Bonnie!" gasped Serena. I ran to greet her while Sylveon was by the princess.

"Serena!" I cheered. We hugged for a bit. "What happened? Clemont and I saw you and Ash be taken up, but never came down from that ship."

"Well… the princess is helping me with a problem I was having, and they escorted me here."

"The princess?" That's when Peach made herself known.

"Serena means myself," she spoke up. I saw her and my jaw could've left a hole in the floor at how beautiful Peach was.

"Bonnie, this is Princess Peach," she introduced. "She is in charge of Mushroom Kingdom we're in."

"I do keep the peace around, especially with Mario and Bowser either getting in the way or helping out," Peach added. At that moment, I wasn't thinking of the princess, but…

"You're a keeper!" I cheered before I knelt to her. "I see you as someone who can take care of my brother!" Serena slapped my head.

"Didn't Clemont tell you to knock it off?" she scolded. Yeah, I was making it a little harder on the situation. After I learned about what Serena was doing here, I volunteered to help. Heck, I even rode on Bowser's back. It's like when I was so little and our dad gave me Grumpiggy-back rides. I even joked that Bowser could work for Grace.

"Of course, I see you and I might have a second thought," Bonnie giggled to Delia. She joined in the giggling.

"So, that's where we're at, kid," Topper concluded. "I mean, ya've been a good sport to this." He and Ash bumped fists. Ash remembered Clemont had Pikachu.

"Bonnie, could you get Pikachu?" he requested. Before Bonnie could respond, Grace came to the others with Pikachu.

("MOM!") he cheered as he raced and jumped into Delia's arms.

"Hi, Pikachu!" she teased. "I missed you!" She kissed his forehead, causing a happy squeal. Grace came to Ash, knowing the story.

"Ash, I've known you as someone who has what it takes to take care of my daughter," she started. "It's not going to be easy calling you my son after tomorrow… I mean, you two have a chemistry that I saw from all those years ago back around Pallet." Ash realized Grace's point.

"How so?" he asked.

"When I came to pick Serena up, she wouldn't leave you," Grace recalled. "You promised that you'd find a way to come back to her all those years later. Now, I'm about to let her go to you… and I've seen what you've done to help her out. You will make a great husband to her." Ash smiled, support by Serena's mother. Delia, Peach, Mario, Bowser, Topper and Wendy smiled, knowing that Ash and Serena would be together for a long time. Ships traveled to the Moon Kingdom for the wedding forthcoming. Team Rocket wouldn't be among them. Millions of light years away. The small green planet had a pink sky and orange clouds.

"Okay, where are we?" wondered Meowth. Jessie and James looked around, noticing that there's nothing on the planet.

"Well, we can breathe in it," James studied. Jessie started to walk around the new land… only to come back around. She seemed shocked.

"How did you follow me!?" she demanded an answer.

"I didn't!" denied James.

"And I was here watching ya leave and come back!" added Meowth. Jessie gawked, having no idea that they were given a trip to a planet with nothing on it.

"We're… stranded?" she realized. "It's just… the three… of us… forever?" She collapsed to her knees and began to cry. "It's over… It's over for the three of us…" Her sadness switched to anger. Her hands balled into fists, she rose them before flinging it down on the ground and her head in the sky. "CURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU, TWEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP!" She yelled from the depths of her lungs, loud enough to rupture volcanoes… but only James and Meowth heard her as they're now stranded on a planet, unable to reach Pikachu… unable to reach the Pokémon World… trapped forever on a planet only they were on. They're going to miss a wedding and that was coming.

TO BE CONTINUED...