Till We Meet Again
While their reunion may have been short lifted, Ash and Serena's faith and support for one another will continue till they meet again. This one-shot is set up after the events of the JN105 episode following Ash and Serena's brief reunion. It is also divided into two point-of-views. Hope you enjoy.
It took everything in Serena to keep her composure. But the moment she left the dock, her face started getting hot. Really hot.
OH MY GOSH! I CAN'T BELIEVE HE SAW ME LIKE THIS!" Serena thought to herself.
A hand was placed over her heart upon feeling a tightness in her chest. Serena knew that tight feeling all too well. The same thing goes to her burning cheeks. Along with the sweat on the top of her face. Not saying that Serena didn't plan on seeing him again. But not so early in her journey and in a different way.
"And to think I did such a good job," she signed.
Ever landing in Hoenn and beginning her journey as a Pokémon Coordinator, Serena became a rising star in the region. From starting off in the Normal Class, but quickly rose through the ranks. All the way to the Master Class, becoming a fan-favorite throughout the region, and competing alongside Lisia. Even becoming friends with Lisia, Top Idol who she tied with in the recent Master Class contest. Serena evolved in so many ways.
At the same time, Serena was feeling uneasy after that little encounter with Ash. Old memories reserviced in the back of her mind. The many memories she shared with him during their journey through Kalos. Reuniting with him after being apart for so long. Cheering for him at every gym battle on the sidelines. Ash supporting her at every Pokémon Showcase. The blue ribbon he gifted her under that pledging tree that night. All the words of encouragement he gave Serena that she passed down to Chloe. Last but not least that one moment she shared with him before coming to Hoenn. Her strong feelings for Ash were obviously still there.
"Oh, Ash."
She reached into her bag and took out a small box. It was right next to the picture she took with the rest of her friends. The small box contained the blue-ribbon Ash gifted her. Serena made good on her promise to always cherished it. If only she had a little more time. There was still a whole lot Serena wanted to say. She knew Ash wanted to say lot himself.
"Sylveon Syl."
Serena turned to the Intertwining Pokémon standing beside her. Giving her comfort, Sylveon was rubbing her trainer's arm using one of her feelers.
"Thank you, Sylveon," she said. "I'll be fine."
Sylveon's comfort reminded Serena that she going to be just fine. Her Pokémon would always be right beside her. She would never be alone.
I'm competing in this Championships thing right now, aiming to become the best battler!
Serena smiled and giggled at that statement. Of course, Ash was still aiming to be the best Pokémon Trainer. He was still the same Ash, but Serena respected that about him. His positive mental attitude was something Serena admired. Alongside his 'never-give-up' attitude.
I'm taking part in Contest Live! If you're going to be the best, I'll aim to be the best performer, too!
"Let's both do our best!" She stated to the ribbon. Maybe their brief encounter was meant to be short. The same way she stopped wearing the ribbon as part of her main outfit. Not because she didn't need it anymore. She does wear the ribbon during contests. Because Serena knew Ash would always have faith in her. And he wanted her to be her very best just as much as she does for him.
Serena heard about this World Championships competition. If she recalled, it was a competition where trainers from around the world battle it out to be the strongest trainer of the world. It was no surprised if Ash was one of the trainers competing. But Serena had no doubt Ash would be amazing.
"Ash and Pikachu are giving it their all to achieve their dream. Let's do the same, Sylveon," Serena explained.
"Eon."
Serena reached into her pocket and released her other star partners: Delphox and Pancham. "Thank you all for such an amazing performance today. Everyone loved it," she stated, showing her gratitude to her Pokémon. "But our journey is not over. Let's continue to get stronger together!"
"DELPHOX!"
"PANCHAM!"
"EON EON!"
Just you wait, Ash. Serena thought to herself while looking outside her window. Till we meet again, you're gonna like the more mature woman I'd grown into.
"IMCOMING CALL FROM LISIA! INCOMING CALL FROM LISIA!"
Serena looked at her pink Rotom Phone to find Lisia's name and photo appearing on the caller ID. If Serena were to guess, Lisia was calling her about that proposal. Serena told Lisia she needed time to think, but a few hours was certainly not enough time. "Hey, Lisia," she answered.
"Hey, hey, hey! Sorry for calling you so late," Lisia replied. "But I was wondering have you thought about becoming an idol duo."
"Well…as a matter of fact, I have."
"Really? That's awesome. So, what will it be?"
If you have time to spend hesitating, then get yourself moving.
Serena just reminded herself on the piece of advice she gave to Chloe. Maybe becoming an idol duo would be beneficial for her. After a few moments of thinking, Serena fired a smile at the Contest Idol before giving her an answer.
It had been a minute since Ash last spoken to Serena. The last time was when she was getting on her flight to the Hoenn region. If he had known she was in Lilycove City performing, he wouldn't been so busy battling against Wallace. At least he got his Rotom Phone to watch it. "NO WAY! Braixen evolved into a Delphox!" Ash announced out loud. "And Pancham can use Ice Punch! Serena has gotten a lot stronger."
"Pikachu," Pikachu agreed.
Chloe explained to the boys that Chrysa informed her about a trainer and her Sylveon gaining attention in Pokémon Contests throughout the Hoenn region. And since Sylveon was the last remaining Eevee evolution she and Eevee hadn't encounter, it prompted them to come to Lilycove City.
"Does this mean you're gonna become a Pokémon Coordinator?"
"I'm still on the fence," Chloe answered to Goh's question. "But how long have you and Serena known about each other, Ash? You said you used to travel together?"
"We traveled through Kalos together, but I actually met Serena when we were attending Professor Oak's summer camp," Ash explained. "That was a long time ago. We were just kids ourselves at the time." Ash also went into detailed about their reunion after he landed in Kalos. From her helping him win his first Kalos gym badge to returning the handkerchief she borrowed.
"Why did she borrow your handkerchief?" Chloe asked.
"When we first met, Serena tripped and hurt herself in the forest. I was just happened to find a Poliwag when I ran into her," Ash answered while scratching his right cheek. "So, I used a handkerchief to tie up her knee before helping her out of the forest."
"Aww. How sweet."
"Serena is amazing as a friend, trainer, and a performer." Ash was saying nothing but facts. As he was staring outside the boat's window, he was reminiscing all the wonderful memories he shared with Serena. After welcoming Serena into traveling with him through Kalos, she was always there for Ash. Cheering for him in every gym battle, making the delicious bakeries, and snapping Ash out of his depressive state after he lost his first gym battle against Wulfric for his eighth and final Kalos gym badge. Serena was the one who reminded him who he was and to never give up.
Of course, it was only right for Ash to support Serena back. He would always cheer and voted for her in every one of her showcase performances.
Come to think of it, Ash heard rumors about a popular coordinator with a Sylveon participating in the Lilycove City Pokémon Contest Spectacular. The moment he came to Lilycove City with Goh. Ash knew Serena was traveling in Hoenn, but he had no idea she was the popular coordinator everybody was talking about. If Ash had known, he wouldn't be so caught up in battling Wallace.
But at least he knew she was doing just fine. Not that Ash was surprised. "Wow, Ash. Serena sounds really strong."
"She is strong and I have no doubt she'll get stronger until the day we meet again," the Pallet Town trainer confirmed. "I have faith in Serena. Too bad I wasn't able to see her performance."
"Well, we could have if you weren't caught up in that Pokémon battle," Goh reminded.
"But are you sure that you're just friends?" Chloe asked.
"Huh? What are you talking about, Chloe?"
Ash just sat there listening to Chloe, hoping she could clarify what was she talking about. Instead, she just shook her head in denial. "On second thought, never mind. I take back what I said," Chloe sighed.
"You can explain it to me," Goh suggested.
"Goh, you're just as dense as Ash."
But Ash shrugged off Chloe's statement. He looked at this current ranking in the World Championships. Ranking at No. 9, he was only one point short of entering the Master Class. Just one more step away from challenging Leon and becoming a Pokémon Master. "Serena is continuing to become a stronger performer. Let's work hard ourselves, buddy," Ash proclaimed.
"Pika Pikachu!"
And done. I haven't posted anything in 2022 yet, but I came up with the idea for this one-shot after watching the JN105 episode and seeing Serena's return. It took me a minute to type it up because there were other fanfic writers who had already beat me to the punch. Reading their one-shots, I came up with concept with the aftermath of Ash and Serena's brief reunion from both sides. I wanted to show Serena still having obvious feelings for Ash, but her decision to put them to the side in order for her to focus on her dreams. Also, the one-shot is set up before Ash's coronation battle against Raihan. So, Ash hasn't entered the Master Class. Not sure how I did, but I hope everyone enjoyed it.
Now I know I haven't uploading anything all year long recently and I really am sorry for that. But that's because I realized at the beginning of the year that I didn't exactly graduate because I failed a class that I needed to pass in order to obtain my bachelor's degree. It's a long story that I will explain later real shortly. The second half of "The Journey Continues" has been outlined and the remaining 11 chapters are currently being typed up right now. All I asked is for everyone to wait just a little longer.
Stay safe stay tuned
