Chapter-5: A Chateau Debut

After a long and troubled day ended, our newly formed trio is finally having a well deserved rest at the Pokemon Center in Viridian City.

They've taken two rooms, Ash took the one with a queen sized single bed, while Misty and Serena shared a bunk bed room.

Ash slept, reflecting the events of the day, it sure was a long one, he took out the rainbow wing from his bag and stared at it.

"One day Ho-Oh, we'll meet again." He said to himself, while Pikachu slept beside him. He placed the wing back in his bag and turned to his buddy and slept hugging the Mouse Pokemon.


Misty and Serena were sitting on the sofa, having a chat to get to know each other better.

"You're not from Kanto, are you Serena?" Misty asked.

"Yeah. I moved here when I was seven." The honey blonde replied.

"So then... how did you and Ash meet?" Misty questioned.

Serena went into a flashback, remembering how she and her mother came to Kanto. Grace had signed her daughter up for the summer camp, much to Serena's dismay, so that she could set their home easily.

FLASHBACK

A young girl dressed in a pink dress, adoring a cute straw hat, walked in the forest, trembling with fear as she was lost.

"Where is everybody? Where did you all go?" She called out in fear.

The bushes continued to rumble, which startled the little girl. She jumped and fell down, scraping her knee, while a Poliwag jumped out of the bushes.

Scared and anxious, tears began to form in her eyes. "I knew I didn't want to come to camp! I knew it!" She said through her sobs. "Mommy!" She screamed out to her mother.

In a few moments, the bushes rumbled again, causing another stream of tears to roll out of her eyes.

She clenched her eyes in fear, trying her best to not look over to the bushes.

"Poliwag?" A boy asked. She opened her eyes to see a boy of her age walk out of the bushes.

The boy looked at her in confusion. "Are you... alright?" He asked nervously and in concern.

The girl couldn't give any answer as she was still sobbing.

"Hi, I'm Ash." The boy introduced himself cheerfully. "Who're you?"

"I... I'm Serena" She replied with a whimper.

"Huh? what's wrong?" Ash asked, trying to figure out why this girl was crying.

"I... I hurt my... leg" Serena managed to reply through her tears.

"Hey, no need to worry." Ash replied, getting on to his knee, and bringing out his handkerchief. "See this? This will make it better!" The boy declared before tying the piece of cloth on her knee. "All done!" He said with the widest grin ever.

Serena tried to move her leg, but it still hurt her. But Ash got her attention again, to give her some relief. "Now watch this!" He started moving his hands around the knee, like performing a magic spell. "Feel better! Feel better! RIGHT AWAY!"

For a moment Serena watched him curiously, forgetting all the pain.

"Ah! It still hurts! I can't stand up." The Honey Blonde Haired girl replied.

Ash got up to his feet and extended his arm to her.

"Don't give up till it's over! 'kay? Come on!"

Serena hesitantly forwarded her hand slightly, and Ash took her hands into his. He then pulled her with all his might, and she got up, landing into a hug.

FLASHBACK END

"... and since then he's always been there for me, we used to do everything together. It helped that we were neighbors too." Serena finished.

"Wow! That sounds like a real fairy tale." The older girl said dreamily. "So, are you two... boyfriend girlfriend?" She asked teasingly.

"What!? No! We're not dating!" Serena screamed, blushing a bright red, and shaking her head frantically.

"Yeah. But you really want to, don't ya?" Misty then asked with a smug smile.

Serena let out a sad sigh. "Yeah. I do. But I'm so scared. What if he doesn't like me, or worse, what if we don't even stay friends after that. What will I do then?" She panicked frantically.

"Geez Serena. You need to relax a little." Misty said, calming the Honey blonde. "Now, I understand what you mean. Confessing your feelings can be nerve wrecking. Don't worry, you can wait until you're ready. But don't make it too long okay, because there's more than just a pool of fishes in the world."

"Right." Serena said with a discouraged look.

"Hey, let's not spoil our mood with that. About the Battle Chateau, do you think you're ready?" Misty then asked.

"Of course I am! I'll make my debut tomorrow and it will be great!" Serena declared.

"Look Serena, I don't want to discourage you, but you really need to think this through. You're barely a trainer for a day, and the Battle Chateau is full of experienced trainers from all around the place. And with that Spearow incident, you didn't even get to catch or train your Pokemon." Misty warned her softly.

"Come on Misty! I know I can do this! Don't give up until it's over! That's what I've learnt from Ash, and that's what I'm gonna do tomorrow!" She declared. "Now let's get some sleep, or we'll miss my chance to debut." Saying so, Serena climbed up the bunk and covered herself in her sheets.

Misty let out a sigh, she tried to warn the girl, but the new trainer wasn't taking no for an answer. Guess she'll just have to let experience teach her the importance of training.


It was a nice sunny morning in Viridian City. Roads were bustling with activity, the skies were filled with chirping Pidgey. And it was going to be today.

"Serena, I still think it's too early for you to try the Battle Chateau." Misty tried to tell her.

"What do you mean Misty? Look I know you're angry about the bike, but why don't you want me to take my first step to beat the battle chateau." Serena retorted back.

"I'm not saying that you shouldn't give it a try. I just don't want you to feel hurt. The trainers in the Battle Chateau aren't ordinary trainers, they've got a lot of experience, and you're only getting started. All I want to say is that you train a little more before going in there." Misty replied. "And this has nothing to with my bike." She added, hurtfully.

"You don't believe in me Misty?" Serena asked in an agitated manner. "Ash you believe in me right?"

"Of course I do. And I know you'll do great. Because I know that you don't give up until it's over." Ash said flashing an encouraging smile.

"Alright then, Battle Chateau! Here we come!" Serena exclaimed, while jumping into the air. Ash followed her with a smile on his face, while Misty let out a sigh before following the two.


On their way to the battle chateau, they pass through the Viridian Gym. It's considered to be one of the hardest gyms to beat in Kanto, and the gym leader only allows challengers with at least seven badges.

"Man, it sure would've been fun to get the gym battle done here now." Ash complained like a baby.

"Come on Ash. Or we'll be late for my debut!" Serena called him out.

"Right!" Ash said, shaking his thoughts for the gym battle off. He decided to solely focus on Serena's debut at the Battle Chateau for the moment.


The three arrived in front of a castle. It had a medieval Kalosian construction.

"Alright. We're here." Serena jumped joyfully, before walking towards the door. Ash and Misty followed her.

The honey blonde made a knock on the door, which was answered shortly after by an old man who wore a three piece suit, with a blue blazer, a green coat and white shirt. He also had a glass on one of his eye.

Giving them a bow, the man welcomed them inside. "Welcome to the Battle Chateau Dames and Sire. I am Hennessy, and it is my pleasure to have you here."

"Thank you sir." Serena answered confidently.

"Will this be your first time to one of our facilities Madame?" Hennessy asked.

"Yes. I want to make my debut here." Serena answered.

"Would either the Sire or the other dame wish to take part?" He asked looking at Ash and Misty.

"It's tempting, but we're only here to support Serena." Ash said weighing his options. "Besides my fashion sense is just as bad as anyone else." He added with a chuckle.

"Alright then, Miss Serena, if you please." Hennessy said, giving a courteous bow, and leading her into a room. "Madam, we have Miss Serena who wishes to start the Chateau Challenge."

"Very well." A young maid said while picking up a form from her table. She passed it on to Serena. "Miss Serena, if you could please fill in this form."

"I'll do it right away." She replied with a gentle smile. Taking the piece of paper, she filled in all the details needed and submitted it back to the counter.

"Now Miss Serena, I would like to introduce the workings of the Battle Chateaus. Here at the Battle Chateau we hope to bring out the honor and chivalry of knights and dames of the past. Thus we have carefully devised the Noble Titles that every knight shall hold based on their battles.

A knight may challenge only other knights of their same noble title. Every knight enters a tournament at any facility consisting of three other knights. The winner of the tournament is allowed to advance to the next noble title.

Now if we are clear with the details, I would like to show you the way to the change rooms."

Serena followed the maid towards a corner of the lobby. She went into a room and began to change her outfit.


Ash and Misty were looking around the Chateau when Serena walked out of the change room. She wore a gorgeous sleeveless gown going down to her knees.

"So, what do you think?" She asked giving them a twirl.

"You sure do know about fashion Serena!" Misty praised her, while Ash continued to stare with slightly pursed lips.

"Ash?" The honey blonde called him out.

"Yeah?" He asked in the same dreamy tone.

"Ash, how do I look." She asked again, this time he came back to his original self.

"You look absolutely amazing Serena!" He answered this time.

" Oh thank you Ash." She said ecstatically. Ash just praised her, and she felt on top of the world.

"Baroness Serena, please take to the battlefield." A voice called on the Intercom.

"Well, that's my cue." She said happily, preparing to move towards the battlefield.

"Serena!" Ash called her one last time. "You'll do great out there! I know it!"

With the reassurance from him she began making it towards the battlefield.


"So, do you think she'll win?" Misty asked from the seat.

"I'm not really sure. But I know that she'll give it everything she's got." Ash replied back.

"Then why did you encourage her to do this?" The older girl asked.

"She needs this Misty. If she wins, it will give her a good momentum for the Chateau Challenge, and if she looses she'll get experience." He replied while looking at the honey blonde on the battlefield. "Whatever happens today, she won't give up that's for sure!"

"I see." Misty said in understanding. She then looked down to the battlefield as Serena went forward to her opponent for the ceremonial handshake.


"This is a one on one battle of the Barons' Tournament. May you both fight with honor and chivalry." The maid acting the referee declared.

Both trainers stretched their pokeballs into the air. "To a good battle." They both said, before moving around and walking back to their respective boxes.

"Ivysaur!" "Fennekin!" They both called out, tossing their respective pokeballs.

Both mons appeared out on the field, ready to showcase their strengths.

"Ivysaur versus Fennekin. Battle begin!" The maid announced.

"Alright Fennekin! Use scratch!" Serena called out.

The Fox Pokemon rushed in towards the Grass/Poison type and slashed its paws on its face.

"Now fall back and use Ember!" She called the move again.

The Ivysaur trainer didn't make call out anything again.

"Alright! If they won't attack we'll keep attacking! Keep using ember!" She called out again.

"Finish it Ivysaur! Solar Beam!"

"Fennekin no!" Serena screamed frantically, but it was too late. Ivysaur was just waiting to power up the move, while taking minimal damage. Fennekin fell down to the attack.

"Fennekin, is unable to Battle. Ivysaur wins. The victory goes to Baron Floyd." The maid made the announcement.

"Fennekin!" Serena called out to her partner once again. She picked it up and cradled it like a child. "I'm sorry Fennekin." She said, while tears began to form in her eyes. She turned to her opponent and bowed to him. "Thank you for the battle."

With that she slowly began walking out.


"I'll go find her and talk to her. You wait near the Pokemon Center 'kay?" Ash said to Misty, who nodded in agreement.

Ash rushed off in the direction he thought Serena went in.

"Where do you think she went buddy?" Ash asked to the Electric Mouse running beside him.

"I don't know Ash. She's your girlfriend." Pikachu replied flatly.

"Hmm that makes... wait girlfriend?" He asked in a flustered tone. "She's not my girlfriend Pikachu!" He screamed at the electric type.

"Hmm correction, she's your future girlfriend. You should know where she might go when she's upset." Pikachu replied.

Ignoring the yellow mouse, Ash kept scouting the city to find a clue about Serena. He walks past a park until a vendor calls to him.

"You seem tensed young man. Now why don't you try some Marshmallow wrapped in Hot Chocolate? It's perfect on a nice breezy afternoon like this."

Ash looks to the vendor, he then stares at the park behind the man. The Viridian Pokepark, this was his and Serena's favorite attraction whenever they visited Viridian along with their mothers. And Marshmallow in hot chocolate was exactly what they'd have after a long and tiring day.

A smile crept on to his face. "Thank you sir. I'd like to have three please. One for this little guy here, one with extra marshmallow and the other with extra chocolate."

"Your order's coming right up." The vendor said happily, as he made prepared the three plates. "Here you go. That would be 15 pokedollars."

Ash took out his wallet, he had 20 poke in there, but he had no second thoughts. If it was going to help Serena, everything would be worth it. Paying the money and thanking the vendor, he walked into the park, with two plates, while Pikachu ate the sweet, spreading chocolate all over his face.

"You know what sir, could you make that one more plate? The same as Pikachu's." He said giving the remaining 5 poke in his wallet to the vendor.

"Sure." The man replied happily, and handed another plate to him in a few minutes.


Serena was sitting in the park, tears rolling down her eyes, as she remembered what Misty said to her this morning. The ginger haired girl was right. She wasn't ready for this battle at all. Fennekin was feeling bad too, as she sat beside her trainer with a downed face.

"I'm so stupid! How did I think I could just walk in there and win just like that?" She thought in retrospect.

"Surprise!" A sweet voice said from behind her, as a plate of Marshmallow coated with extra hot chocolate came in front of her.

Walking around and sitting on the bench beside Serena he gave her the plate. And placed one near Fennekin.

"Ash?" Serena asked, quickly wiping the dried out tears.

"You can't hide those from me Serena." Ash said with a smile.

Serena turned around to see him staring into the park.

"You know I almost forgot searching here. We used to come here almost every week, our moms would sit here while we ran around, having all the fun in the world." He chuckled looking at Pikachu's Chocolate smeared face. "Come here buddy."

Pikachu climbed up to his lap and Ash wiped his face with a napkin. He turned to Serena while stroking through Pikachu's fur. "You know, I wasn't sure that you'd win today." He confessed.

Serena felt really bad now. Ash said he was confident about her, and now he's saying he didn't think she could win. She wanted to cry and scream, but there was no energy left in her.

"Misty asked me back at the Chateau, if you could win. And I said I wasn't sure, but one thing I was sure about, and I still am, that you won't ever give up until it's over. It's your dream Serena, and you're only getting started. There's no way it's gonna be over so easily." Ash said.

"But you said you believe in me." Serena shot back.

"Of course I said, and of course I've always believed in you. I know that you won't give up yet. It was just your first battle Serena, and not everyone has the perfect debut. Lucario and I lost to Drake and Charizard in our first battle. But we take them down every single time now. You can't let this battle decide your fate Serena. Whatever will happen, will now be your and only your decision." Ash replied.

Serena's heart swelled with happiness. But she still had her own doubts, her own insecurities. "But I lost so badly today. I fell right in for the traps."

"And that's exactly what was supposed to happen Serena. You haven't been a trainer for even a week." Ash said. "But it's okay. You can still improve, that loss isn't the end of the world you know."

Serena looked at his face with an unsure and confused expression. He turned his attention back towards the park and continued. "Back when we met Serena, you thought you couldn't get up because your knee hurt too much. But you still made it. You'll get back from this one too, and I will be there with you all the way!"

"Remember Serena, nothing we ever do is a waste of time. Take today's battle as an experience. Learn from the mistakes you made today, and use them the next time, you'll definitely do better! I'm sure!" He added while getting up.

Serena smiled. "You're right Ash. I can't give up right now! And with Fennekin, and you with me, I'm sure I'll make it to the top!"

"Fenna!" The Fire type cheered on happily as well.

"Thank you Ash, I'm so happy you did this for me!" She said happily, giving him a sudden hug.

"Well, Pikachu's right. I do like her. But does she think the same about me." Ash thought to himself. But the human with ability oblivious had no idea about the subtle hints Serena was giving him. "Now let's go back before Misty scolds us for something else." He said as they reluctantly broke the embrace.

Serena let out a chuckle, and the two walked towards the Pokemon Center.


"Serena, are you okay?" Misty asked worriedly. "You look like you cried the entire Ocean today."

The honey blonde chuckled. "Yeah I'm fine. You were right Misty, I wasn't ready for the battle chateau yet. But that isn't going to stop me now! I'm going to train really hard with Fennekin, and we will win the next time!" She declared.

"Now that's the spirit!" Misty exclaimed. "So where to next?"

"We need to go to Pewter City for my first gym battle, and I need a few more pokemon as well. So we're going to Viridian forest!" Ash declared.

"Vi.. Viridian Forest?" Misty stuttered. "Why do we have to go through that wretched forest? We can take a different route... Can't we?" She asked frightfully.

"Well, it's the shortest way to Pewter, and it's full of pokemon. That makes it a great place to catch and train my Pokemon!" Ash declared. "All right then! Let's go!" He said as he skipped his way to the forest.

Serena followed him happily, but Misty was still standing. "Hey! Don't leave me alone here!" She screamed, running behind the duo.

AS THE JOURNEY CONTINUES!

AUTHOR'S NOTES

And that's the fifth chapter done. A little bit of Amourshipping moments, and like I said in an earlier comment, Ash is oblivious, not dense. He understands what feelings are, but he's too focused on his journey, and his training that he fails to notice Serena's hints.

Anywhos moving on to the battle itself, I felt it was kinda short, but then it's what it is. Serena's an extremely inexperienced trainer, there's no way she'd last too long.

Ash comforting her was something fun about his character, the boy has the natural instincts of an inspiring leader, and that's why his friends follow him to the jaws of death if needed.

Now our heroes move into Viridian Forest. They'll meet new Pokemon and make new friends. Until the next time fellas!