I want to say thank you to the people reading this story. I appreciate you all. The positive feedback in messages and reviews has really helped me find new reasons to continue this story. I honestly wasn't sure if I was going to continue after I put out the second chapter. Then you guys began to find the story and leave positive remarks here. It means so much to me to see this so thank you all.

This chapter will be heavy on exposition. Also my battle depictions aren't the best but I am working to improve them. I will likely highlight who Ash is battling and the pokemon he uses in the battle. I want to preserve it for the finals and the rematch. Hopefully this doesn't bore those of you who enjoy battles. This chapter is going to be a little boring. Thanks again, Enjoy!

"Serena…"

They just stared at each other for a long time. Then she ran into his arms and gave him the tightest hug he'd ever received. She cried slightly into his shirt. Ash wrapped his arms around her tightly and held her there while she cried. "I had started to lose hope."

"Serena I'm sorry but I had to.."

"Had to what!" she was screaming and crying now.

" I had to disappear and not tell you guys. I had to prove myself worthy to myself, to my pokemon, … to you," as she heard this she looked up into his eyes. They were shining amber.

"Ash, you never had to do this for me," she said.

"Serena I love you."

Serena couldn't believe her ears. Was this some kind of trick or joke? Ash wasn't like that but then again he wasn't a person who said that to anyone either. She looked at him and saw immediately that he was telling the truth. "If you love me than why would you leave for over a year without telling anyone where you went and what you were doing!"

Ash winced "I wanted to train myself to the best possible form so i could come back and win at every single league, and when I win here I want you to come with me. I trained so I could come back to you, and then take you on the adventure of a lifetime. I want to marry you someday, Serena, because lifes an adventure and I wanna spend it with you."

She was shocked at his words. This was Ash Ketchum, the dense boy she'd given every signal in the book to for a year. She'd kissed this boy without so much as a reaction. Now he was asking her to leave on the adventure of life with him. She loved him so much and they both knew her answer before she said it. "Hmm I don't know, you've never kissed me before," she joked.

"Well there's a first time for everything," he said as he brought his lips to hers and they shared a kiss.

After they broke they just went back to staring into each other's eyes. They both knew they should leave. Ash knew he was gonna have to face interviews. They giggled and gave each other another peck. Then Serena left and Ash finished packing for the night. They'd agreed to meet at the Lumiose tower for dinner with Clemont and Bonnie. Ash couldn't wait. It had been too long since he was here.

As he walked out of the back room and into the public eye for the first time in over a year he was bombarded with reporters, fans (Many of whom were female), and old friends, or rivals hed met along the way. He shook a lot of hands and told one reporter why he'd disappear and what coming back meant to him. It was a lot to take in so he thought of the best way out. "Charizard, I choose you" he yelled out.

The pokemon picked him and Pikachu up(I feel bad I've forgotten the electric mouse) and took off towards the tower. It was a lot calmer there. It was all friends and while some of them had questions he was out of the public eye and he knew all of these people. He shook hands with Professor Sycamore who congratulated him on his return, Alain was polite as well stating that he hoped to face Ash soon, Trevor, Tierno, and Shauna were all polite. Although he did notice that Shauna gave him a long look over. He wasn't bothered by this; he just figured he would mention it to Serena later. Sawyer congratulated him on his return as well as mastering mega evolution. Ash found Clemont and Bonnie and gave them a group hug. They were both thrilled to see him. He saw one person in the corner glaring at him, but he would go talk to them later as he set his eyes on the woman he was in love with. Ash gave her a quick peck on the cheek and they began to move around arm in arm. They were recounting old stories with their friends when Ash noticed someone was still glaring at him. "Ill be back in a moment," he whispered into Serena's ear.

Her gaze followed who he was looking at. Calem. "Ash, maybe you shouldn't…"

He turned and looked at her "Why not? I just wanna talk, because the way he looks right now is like he needs one."

"Because you kicked his ass today with little to no problem and made him look foolish. He's a bit of a sore loser."

"Nobody enjoys that Sere, I just need to talk to him for five minutes. I'll come back to you."

"You better." She watched as he walked over and sat down next to Calem. She returned to her conversation with Viola and Alexis.

"Hey dude, we need to have a talk," Ash said as he sat down next to Calem.

"I'd rather not." Calem snapped and glared at Ash.

Ash could feel the resentment radiating off of Calem, but he continued on with his talk. "I've been where you are Calem, I lost to one of my best friends the first time I was in the pokemon league. I never resented that person, I respected them. Resentment isn't going to get you anywhere."

"Man would you just shut the fuck up." Calem was still angry.

"How is it we all trained forever to get to that point, but you walk in here haven't been in an official battle in almost two years and wipe the floor with me. Not only that but you also got the girl that everyone dreams of having. Don't tell me who i can and can't resent, because you don't have anything wrong right now." Calem may have said this too loud because everyone was giving him nervous glaces.

"Calem, I've been in isolation training to become better for her and my pokemon. I don't need official battles when I live in the mountains and train my pokemon to peak strength. I didn't even use my full power today. I could've swept you with any of my Pokemon, but I didn't because I wanted you to learn that not even trainers are the same. Even those who lose matches get back up and try again. I suggest another try because they know to get better you have to be weak."

Their conversation had started to escalate; they were boardline yelling. Well Calem was anyway. Ash was keeping his natural calm demeanor. Calem was livid. "Man FUCK OFF!" Calem snapped and the room went silent.

"Calem calm down," Ash said not wanting to cause more of a disruption then they already had.

"No man you listen now, you can't just come back here and act like you didn't just come back from the dead. So I'll give you this option, leave or I'll make you leave." Calem's voice was tight with rage and everyone could hear it.

"I came back to be with my friends and the people I love, Calem. I'm not gonna leave because you wanna throw a pity party." Ash said still calm he could sense Calem's aura becoming more conflicted and angry.

Calem balled his hands into fists and looked up at Ash who was a few inches taller than him, without thinking he swung towards Ash's face. Ash could sense this coming and caught Calem's fist. "I think its time for you to go Calem," Ash said, "We don't want anyone to be hurt."

Calem looked around the room at everyone then turned and walked out embarrassed. Everyone who'd just seen the altercation knew Ash was right, but were also shocked by how well he'd handle the situation. Who would've thought Ash Ketchum was mature and responsible. Ash looked around the room and saw everyone staring. "Sorry everyone," he said reassuringly. "Just a small disagreement. You can return to what you were doing."

He walked back to Serena and whispered he tell her what happened later, and then they went around for the rest of the night, not even acting like anything happened.

END CHAPTER 5

Author's Note: I'm not entirely happy with the way I did this chapter. I felt rushed to release something because like everyone else I hate cliffhangers.

Please feel free to tell me what you think of my writing and where I can improve. All criticism is welcome. Also tell me if i should do more of these. I think I might every 5 or so chapters.

Love you guys,

Icebeast42