AN: (Drops in) Hello there. Here's yet another fanfic Past Luckenhaft likely should have not promised. (Or maybe he should have, who knows.)
Chronologically this one likely happens around the time of the 5th episode of the Journeys anime (so before any of my other fanfics in this series possibly) right when Ash and Gou are planning on making their way back to Kanto with a Scorbunny being Gou's First Pokémon.
So, let's make up an excuse for why they can't just immediately head back to Kanto and get on with the story.
1! 2! 3! Let's Go!
Disclaimer: Don't own jack squat in relation to Pokémon and its anime aside from a number of the Pokémon games. Still unsure whether I'll get Pokémon Violet or Pokémon Scarlet. (Johansson.)
"Rooki!" / "Do over!" A diminutive bird Pokémon demanded as he hopped back to his feet and glared at the yellow rat across the road of Route 1 in Galar who just looked annoyed getting dragged into this Tiny Bird's business.
Nearby another member of his species was laughing her tail feathers off seeing him eager to receive a third thrashing from the Electric-Type who has obviously been holding back on this whole time. Not that the Rookidee would acknowledge the slight to his pride.
"I'll give Rookidee this, he certainly has fighting spirit," The Pikachu's Trainer noted to which the other Rookidee present had to agree with, "Pikachu, Electroweb!"
The determined Flying-Type squawked indignantly once the crackling net of electricity was thrown over him before he could dodge it, the Rookidee letting loose a string of curses Ash's way that Pikachu is really glad Ash needs him to translate so he doesn't have to hear it.
Deciding this has been amusing enough to see, the female Rookidee bids the trapped male of its species goodbye and flies off leaving him to his fate of being captured. She's going to miss that cream-colored goof's antics in trying to impress her and the other females of their species that congregate around Postwick and Wedgehurst.
Gou and the boy who'd just received his Grookey from his brother earlier today and had begun his journey to face his brother someday watched as Ash pulled a Pokéball from his backpack and tossed it at the Rookidee struggling to Peck his way out of the net he was stuck in, not caring about the zapping he's getting in the process that's wearing him out more.
The capture device shook once, then twice, and Ash figured he'd have caught the Galarian Flying-Type when it started shaking a third time only for the ball to pop open and Rookidee to burst out of it with a victorious cry of "Rookidee!" / "Not today, boy!"
At this point any sensible Pokémon would flee before they get caught again.
Lucky for Ash that the Rookidee before him lacks common sense as he turned in the air and dive-bombed Pikachu determined to not let the electric rat thinks he won because Rookidee cowardly turned tailfeather.
Unfortunately, that just ended with Pikachu smacking Rookidee away with an Iron Tail and turning to his Trainer with a look that shows how done he is with bullying this little kid.
Nodding in understanding of Pikachu's plight, Ash tossed another Pokéball at Rookidee who had gotten knocked into the trunk of a tree and slid to the ground out of it for a moment.
Again, the Pokéball shook twice and then a third time before it burst open and Rookidee emerged acting like this hasn't gotten a bit sad at this point, "Rooki! Dee Rookidee rooki dee dee!" / "Hahaha! Did you think that Iron Tail of yours was going to soften me up! Guess again because I am impervious to attacks or moves that would make lesser Rookidee squishier!"
"Pika chu pika pika." / "Honestly I was expecting it to knock you out." Pikachu replied in a deadpan earning a Leer from his opponent, "Pika ka chu Pikapi chu pika?" / "Can you just let Ash catch you already?"
"ROOKI! Dee dee rook!" / "NEVA! Pocket Sand go!" Rookidee yelled and then kicked up some dirt in Pikachu's face annoying the Electric-Type because of some of the pocket sand got in his eyes.
Scratching the back of his head watching this unfold Ash has another Pokéball prepared to catch Rookidee with when his opportunity comes, only to turn when one of the other boys present taps him on the shoulder.
"Maybe you should make a quick run over to Wedgehurst to get some better Pokéballs. Like a Great Ball or a Nest Ball." The blue haired 15-teen year old suggested of the Trainer from Kanto who'll be a year older than him and Gou in a month and 10 days from now. (AN: July 15th, Ash is a Cancer in my head canon.)
"But if I leave, the Rookidee might leave too." Ash brought up getting a doubtful look from the younger brother of Galar's Champion.
"I don't think this Rookidee is going anywhere until your Pikachu is beat and that doesn't look like it'll happen anytime soon." Hop responded causing Ash to nod his head agreeing with Hop's point.
"Pikachu, I'm going to make a quick run to over to the Poké Mart to get some better Pokéballs!" Ash calls out to Pikachu as he gets ready to bolt, "Throw another Electroweb on Rookidee if he tries to bolt."
Pikachu lets out an affirmative Pika not believing this Flying-Type will be retreating any time soon, it's dim enough to probably keep fighting Charizard who'd likely just take a nap instead of give this bird the time of day.
"Ash, could you get me some of those Pokéballs Hop mentioned?" Gou requested aware that since he's just become a Trainer as of earlier today he can't purchase any kind of Pokéballs other than the basic ones.
"Sure." Ash answers before running off leaving Hop and Gou to continue watching Rookidee fail to defeat Pikachu.
For a whole hour.
Hop looks up from his Angry Bird-Types game he'd been playing on his Rotomphone when he heard Ash yelling that he was back and saw the Trainer from Pallet Town (in the Kanto Region.) running back carrying three bags of various kinds of Pokéballs.
Dropping one bag by Hop and another by Gou, Ash returns to where he'd been seeing Pikachu's 'battle' with Rookidee continue.
"What took so long?" Hop asked as he looked through the bag Ash had dropped by him amazed to see it contains not only Pokéballs, but Great Balls, Nest Balls, Repeat Balls, Timer Balls, Net Balls, Heal Balls, Quick Balls, Dusk Balls, and Dive Balls. 50 of the first, 30 of the second, and 10 of each for the rest.
Oh and there are 16 Premier Balls too.
A quick glance over to Gou will likely reveal he's gotten the same amount and variety of Pokéballs as him.
"More importantly how much did you spend in there?" Gou asked a bit worry if Ash bankrupted himself.
"Not much I think," Ash replied having gotten over his earlier shock from finding out he'd been winning and losing money with every battle he won or loss all this time since he first became partners with Pikachu.
Or that he still got money from all those League Conferences and Battling Competitions he didn't win. Let's not bring up the ones he did win or the Pokémon Contests he did well in back in Kanto and Sinnoh.
Apparently getting as far as the Top 16 in a League means you'll get some serious cash for battling so well and putting on a good show for the people watching.
Then there's being the first Trainer to beat the Battle Frontier in Kanto and being the Orange League Champion.
"Apparently the Poké Mart is doing a special event today for Trainers who come in and shop," Ash followed up glancing down to the shopping bag whose contents are the same as Gou and Hop's, mostly, "I was the 100 hundredth Trainer to walk in so I got a 30% discount on everything and they gave me 3 of each of the Apricorn Balls."
"F-For real!?" Hop exclaimed confusing Gou whose unfamiliar with what Apricorn Balls are supposed to be.
"Yeah, and then some people there recognized me from my past League Conferences, so they wanted pictures and autographs." Not strictly true given some of the people there recognized him as Alola's First Champion. Apparently, that's a big deal.
Pretty nice Ash has a growing fanbase here in Galar. Only downside is they're pretending he never went to Unova or competed in the Vertress Conference.
"On my way out of the store I saw a girl that looked like a friend of mine, so I approached her to confirm if she was my friend." Ash had been a little regretful he'd gotten so hyped thinking he saw Serena and she'd grown her hair out since he last saw her.
He might be a touch shallow preferring girls with long hair over short hair, but he will not apologize for thinking girls in school uniforms are cute. Even if that preference of Ash's led to him agreeing to attend the Melemele Pokémon School instead of traveling the Alola region like he initially planned.
It's Daisy Oak's fault he has those specific preferences along with a thing for older girls when she'd annoy Gary when they were kids by teasing Ash all the time in her Pokémon Tech uniform.
Really Ash's thing for Giselle despite the Lass being such a bossy little brat was because she reminded him of his past crush, Daisy. If it weren't for her terrible personality Ash would think she's really cute.
"Turns out she wasn't my friend Serena, but oddly her name's Sera which is close enough to Serena. So, I decided to take a picture with her and send it to Serena to let her know I found Serena's Galarian Regional Variant." Ash continued realizing he's dragging things out, whilst he's deciding which of his new Pokéballs to use.
"It was a bit weird Sera wanted the picture of us that I sent to Serena to be of me with my arm around her shoulder whilst she's giving me a kiss on the cheek and winking at the camera." Ash admitted face a bit red not minding the smooch but confused why Sera did it and wished she could be there to see Serena's reaction to the pic Ash sent.
Gou and Hop looked to each other finding it hard to believe Ash can't possibly be this clueless of what this Sera girl was actually doing.
"Sera also told me that the text I should send to Serena should be: I caught your Galarian Variant, or more accurately she caught me." Ash followed up as he finally narrows his choice of what to catch Rookidee with to a Timer Ball and a Heavy Ball.
Meanwhile Gou facepalms not believing Ash could really be this dense. It has to be an act, right?
"I promised her after I caught Rookidee here that we'd have a battle so I'm going to meet her at Route 2 after this Gou." Ash finished as he focused on the battle that's still going on before him whilst Gou sighs and Hop gives him a comforting pat on the shoulder, feeling sorry for his fellow greenhorn Trainer who has to put up with Ash's cluelessness.
To say it's a battle would be pretty generous given in the whole hour and now 5 minutes that have passed since Ash left, Pikachu has just been casually dodging every attack Rookidee has thrown his way.
"Rooki de- dee dee?" / "Ready to- to give up?" Rookidee asked dizzily after doing some heavy breathing having worn himself to his limit keeping Pikachu on the backfoot this whole time so that the Electric-Type can't get an attack in himself.
The reality actually being that Pikachu has just not bothered to attack back, pitying this poor deluded Bird Pokémon.
Pikachu is about to shake his head and say no before asking Rookidee the same when Ash makes his choice on what he'll catch Rookidee with and looses the Timer Ball from his hand, a whistling sound coming out of it as it flies for the back of Rookidee's head getting Hop to pay close attention to what's going on before him.
The Timer Ball lands a Back Strike on the back side of Rookidee's head (causing the ancestor of Sinnoh's current Champion to grin feeling his secret technique will still see use centuries from now.) and when it bounces off and opens pulling Rookidee in, it pauses whilst in the air then shudders once before dropping to the ground and only shaking once before letting Ash know Rookidee's been caught at last.
While Hop whispers to himself amazed he got to see a Critical Capture happen on his first day as a Trainer, Ash runs over to pick the Timer Ball up before thrusting it up into the air to declare with zeal his achievement in catching Rookidee, Pikachu joining in so it doesn't seem so dorky.
It's still pretty dorky in Gou's opinion but Hop thinks it's cool and resolves to do that when he catches his next Pokémon and any after that given he can't recatch Woolie.
He could, but that'd be a waste of two Pokéballs.
"What are you going to nickname him?" Hop ask prompting a confused look from Ash and Pikachu while Hop figures if Rookidee was a girl he'd have named her Cream or Cheese.
"I don't nickname my Pokémon." Ash answers having never really given it much consideration before given Pikachu is Pikachu even if there are other Pikachu around. They won't be Pikachu the Pikachu like how if Ash and Pikachu meet another Ash, that Ash won't be Pikapi to Pikachu.
"Have you asked them if they'd want nicknames? There are plenty of Rookidees with Trainers in Galar, things might get confusing if you're Rookidee fights one." Hop points out which gets a bit of a nod from Ash who admits with reluctance asking his Pokémon things like if they want nicknames hasn't occurred to him before.
That and whether they want to evolve or not has typically been just something Ash has let go unspoken with the understanding if they want to he'll let them, but if they don't he's cool with that.
'It's not necessarily a bad thing,' Ash muses looking down to Rookidee's Timer Ball in thought, 'But maybe I should talk to my other Pokémon about evolving or nicknames.'
Now that Ash is staying at Professor Cerise's Lab, there's no excuse for him to not be rotating his other Pokémon back at Professor Oak's Lab around with whatever he has on hand.
There wasn't much of an excuse before when it came to any of his previous journeys, certainly not when he was in Kanto again for the Battle Frontier, but he has even less reason now not to do it.
"See I nicknamed my Grookey, Grooks." Hop explained, his Starter's head popping up from behind his Trainer's shoulder as he'd been enjoying a nap and photosynthesizing some sunlight on top of Hop's duffel bag.
"Grooks?" Gou repeated thinking that nickname's a bit... On the nose if he's being generous. Scorbunny is of a similar opinion sporting a grimace hearing that nickname.
"Once Grooks is a Rillaboom, I'll start calling him Boomer." Hop retorts seriously not seeing Pikachu has join Hop and Scorbunny in cringing at that nickname choice.
"I think I'll call him Rookie for now," Ash decides looking down to Rookidee's ball again, getting an appreciative nod from Gou, Scorbunny, and Pikachu. The last of the three finding that name pretty on-point given how green the cream-colored bird is, "Anyway Hop, me and Gou have to go. I have a battle with Sera I promised her and I she mentioned that Slumbering Weald place south of her might have some rare or interesting Pokémon so I want to go there and see em. Good luck with your Gym Challenge and beating this brother of yours and his Amazing Charizard."
Ash says all of that before picking up his bag of newly bought/received Pokéballs and bolts with Pikachu clinging to his shoulder, Rookie's Timer Ball clipped to Ash's belt, and Gou running after him expressing similar well wishes to Hop who appreciates it but noticed the slight sarcasm Ash used when talking about Leon's Amazing Charizard.
The matter of the Slumbering Weald and how Hop had been there the day before a distant thought in his mind, if it had been he might have chased after Ash and Gou to tell them some more about that place so they don't wind up knocked out like Hop and his neighbor/rival when they'd gone there and met the Mysterious Pokémon residing there.
After a quick battle against Sera's Kantoan Vulpix which Pikachu obviously won and giving some advice to the Galarian girl on what she and her Vulpix can improve on, the Serena-look alike got really weird around Ash by mentioning since he won the battle she'll have to pay him only to not have any money on her person and in her Trainer's Account.
Which Ash could understand if she spent all she had at the Poké Mart, but Gou held his own doubts on what this Galarian girl was trying to do.
Gou's suspicions would be confirmed when Sera suggested a way she could pay Ash for his win that involved just the two of them going to a Pokémon Center together.
Before Ash could bumble into agreeing to that Gou dragged him away so they could get back to what they were planning on doing, to Sera's irritation over being clamjammed. Gou wasn't interested in standing around awkwardly with Pikachu and Scorbunny whilst Ash has the sort of fun with a girl that his friend Brock will likely never get to experience.
What Ash and Gou got up to after that was going to check out the Slumbering Weald, unfortunately a Bunnelby swiped the scone Gou had gotten and was about to ear before fleeing into the Weald meaning the two boys had to chase after and enter the forest.
Which leads us to their present predicament as the two boys have wound up separated trying to track the Digging Pokémon down.
"Honestly, I should have just gotten Gou another scone just so we could have avoided this." Ash admits to Pikachu bothered with this sudden thick fog that had shown up. He had sent Rookie out hoping the Flying-Type could locate his Research Fellow, but Rookie had immediately startled battling Pikachu again citing that they are eternal rivals now fated to clash over and over again for all eterni-
Then Pikachu zapped him so he'd shut up and Ash reluctantly recalled the Flying-Type before continuing his trek through the fog.
Pikachu is about to nod when he tenses up hearing... Something suddenly appear nearby.
Something that's heading towards them.
Leaping from Ash's shoulders and landing on all fours prepared for whatever is coming his cheek's sparking as he readies a Thunderbolt, Ash is only seconds behind Pikachu getting ready to face whatever is coming their way.
Ash sees what it is soon enough; a blue wolfish Pokémon with yellow eyes who has a pink tail, braids, and fringes of fur on its back.
Ash winces seeing the battle scars all along the lupine creature's body and that they're missing part of their left ear.
"Hello, Chosen of Lugia." The Pokémon speaks opening and closing it's mouth yet the words in Ash hears are being heard inside his mind rather than his ears, "Why have you come here? It is not yet the time for brother and I to draw our sword and shield to battle with the Tyrant of Giants from heaven's above again."
The Pokémon speaking to Ash and Pikachu telepathically despite using her mouth to emulate talking enquires in a curious yet calm sounding feminine tone, yellow eyes studying the duo from Kanto.
"Uhh? I don't know anything about a tyrant, but me and Pikachu got lost and are looking for a friend of ours here." Ash answers figuring this must be the mystery Pokémon he heard about in Wedgehurst and from the people of Postwick who'd urged Ash and Gou to steer clear of the Weald and also figuring they must be a Legendary or Mystical Pokémon given the telepathic speaking and the title they'd referred to Ash by, "Could you introduce yourself by the way?"
"Zacian, Heroine of Many Battles." The wolf- Zacian answers glancing away and into the fog looking for something as if this fog isn't a inconvenience for her.
Which probably is, Ash figures given she might have created this fog.
"If you're friend is like you Chosen, one we'd find worthy to battle the Tyrant alongside, my younger brother Zamazenta will meet them and ensure them safe passage out of the fog." Zacian tells Ash who develops a small frown hearing that.
"And if Gou's not worthy?"
"Zamazenta will have them sleep for a spell and the fog will spit them out like we did with the two who wandered into our Weald the day before." Zacian answers once more placating Ash somewhat, "If you and the Thunder Thrower at your side seek battle with myself or my brother, you will find in our present states we won't grant the two of you a battle comparable to the one you fought with the Tapu and his Chosen Partner near a month ago."
Zacian's tone sounds mournful as she lowers her head after explaining why she and her brother can't test their mettle against Ash and Pikachu. The latter is unsure how to feel about the title Zacian's given him.
'I always figured if I got a cool title from a Legendary it'd be Thunder Master or Legend Feller.' Pikachu mused, even if he's not as insane as Charizard who wants to battle as many Legendary Pokémon as he can, he still wouldn't mind some recognition for how awesome he is having taken down 3 Legendary Pokémon now. (4 if Gladion's Silvally counts. Even if for Legendary Pokémon it hasn't yet gained the power and recognition to be considered a proper Legendary.)
"Present state?" Ash asked figuring Zacian and Zamazenta might be like some of the other Legendary Pokémon he has encountered recently who have a stronger alternate form.
"Time and the many battles we've fought defending the Kingdom from threats to its prosperity has worn us down. Our sword and shield have rusted. In time perhaps Chosen you will take up my blade alongside one who will take up my brother's shield and the two of us shall once again take our Crowned forms." Zacian tone turns hopeful after explaining why she is in this less than impressive state.
"The Kingdom may be lost to the Tyrant's Darkness otherwise if that doesn't happen." Zacian states seriously peering into Ash's soul unnerving him with her grave tone.
Her piece said, Zacian turns around and stalks back into the fog.
Ash and Pikachu watch Zacian go before they turn behind them to see the fog there is lifting and showing them the path out of the Weald.
The two look at each other for a moment before Pikachu sighs, crossing his arms and shaking his head.
"I know buddy, this Chosen one thing never lets up on us." Ash says feeling similarly, wishing they could go to one new region without getting caught up in something like this, "Let's get out of here and hope we see Gou soon enough."
'NYAAAAA! Don't eat me! Please! I taste terrible!' A frightful Bug-Type of all Pokémon begged telepathically once Ash and Pikachu had reached the entrance to the Slumbering Weald, Gou nowhere in sight.
"Pikachu, that Bug-Type is using telepathy." Ash states the obvious bothered by the cowering Pokémon the Pokédex on his Rotomphone identified as a Blipbug, the Larva Pokémon.
"Pika." / "I know." Pikachu responded wondering if this is the point where telepathy stops being special. Honestly, Pikachu figured the point it stopped being a big deal was when a random Zorua that Ash and Pikachu met in Sinnoh could do it.
'Don't do it! I have so much to live for!' Blipbug continues begging not listening to the Kanto duo's conversation, 'Trust me on that terrible tasting thing, I've tried tasting myself so I know I'm not that good a snack. Nyaaa!'
Pikachu sighs seeing his Trainer get a Nest Ball out while Rookie decides to pop out of his ball scaring the Bug-Type more.
"Rooki de-!" / "Surprise Atta-!" Rookie screams out only to get tail smacked with an Iron Tail into a tree trunk.
'This is the end! Goodbye cruel wor-' Blipbug lets known her last words thinking the Rookidee, Pikachu, and human are about to feast upon her only to be swallowed up in the light of the Nest Ball.
Before Ash can go pick up his new catch and celebrate, a startled yell cries out behind him which prompts the Trainer and Starter to turn and see Gou stumbled out of the fog, trip on a log, and faceplant into a... bog?
No, wait it was a bush.
Still, what an impressive slog.
"You, okay?" Ash asked Gou who groans before pulling his head out from the bush it's fell into.
"Can we go home now?" Gou answered/asked sick of this forest having seen no sign of whatever this mysterious Pokémon is supposed to be.
"Sure, I got another new Pokémon and met one of the mystery Pokémon here." Ash tells Gou turning to recall Rookie as Pikachu hops onto his shoulders.
"Good for you." Gou grumbles getting to his feet having not found his scone or that Bunnelby either.
"My new Pokémon's a bit of a wimp though. Going to have some serious work cut out for me helping her be braver." Ash mused whilst Gou listened with one ear, attention on his Rotomphone checking to see when the next flight to Kanto is scheduled since the one they intended to take got delayed because some reckless Trainer's Charizard was chasing down a Moltres that wasn't interested in battling his fellow Fire and Flying-Type.
From within the fog of the Slumbering Weald, Zacian watches them go before turning to her brother an unspoken question on her fast.
Zamazenta watches the Chosen's companion for a moment before shaking his head and turning away, making it clear to his sister that one isn't worthy of his shield.
Perhaps the fiery maiden with the Scorbunny or her companion will prove themselves more worthy in the months to come before the Tyrant's return.
Until then the Hero Duo's wait continues...
AN: Ash got a Rookidee as past me promised and he also gets a Wimpod in a Blipbug's body. Plus, I've established a canonical age and birthday for him in my fanfics/head canon.
Introduced Hop too since the anime's taking its sweet time to do it themselves which is making me more worried they'll give him the Hau treatment and Junichi Fujisaku is going to murder my boy like he did Hau.
Yeah, Ash's Blipbug or Skitter as she'll be called soon enough can telepathy because her Ability is Telepathy. I'm so creative, I should stick Teleport and Telekinesis on her. (I won't. Probably.)
Most important thing established this fanfic: Gou's not going to be the Shield Hero of this Journeys AU. It's to hopefully tweak or improve the development he'll be getting in this AU as opposed to what the anime is doing.
Likely expect the only Legendary Pokémon he gets will be Eternatus (maybe) and Mew (not-so-maybe) when eventually this fanfic series concludes.
Most important thing before we wrap up here:
Serena was having a good day. Since arriving in Hoenn she'd been lucky enough to meet and befriend a sweet and shy boy named Wally who was just starting out as a Trainer.
Wally agreed to travel Hoenn with her after hearing some of the stories Serena told him about involving the fun she had traveling with Ash and the Lumiose siblings.
Wally's slightly overprotective parents in Petalburg City were pretty ecstatic having a girl with experience traveling a region with their son who'd make sure he wouldn't overexert himself too much and fall ill again due to the boy's asthma which had kept him from starting his journey 2 years ago once he'd turned 12. (Which Serena had learned was the age kids could become Trainers in Hoenn and Sinnoh as opposed to 14 in Kalos and Galar, 10 in Kanto and Johto, and 15 in Alola and Unova.)
If only Wally's parents weren't so convinced traveling the Hoenn region with him would somehow lead to the two falling for each other. Serena can understand where Wally's mom and dad are coming from given that's apparently how they got together, and she'd be a bit of a hypocrite to not believe that given how smitten with Ash she had gotten while traveling Kalos with him.
There's just no way that could happen between her and Wally, Serena's contest rival Lisia would make a much better girlfriend for Wally after all.
Honestly Serena really wonders why everyone keeps assuming Wally and her are a couple, Wally gets so sullen about it when she corrects everyone's false assumptions. It must hurt him having people think he doesn't have a chance with the cute, albeit ditzy girl with turquoise hair.
Though is it Serena or does Wally and Lisia look like they could be related? It's probably just her.
In Serena's time traveling Hoenn supporting Wally with his Gym Challenge, Serena herself had challenge the region's contest circuit and earned all the Ribbons she needed to compete in the Grand Festival here.
Though getting her final ribbon was certainly a trial given she suffered three consecutive losses to earn it at last a week before the Hoenn Grand Festival was set to begin.
All of which were justified though given she had first loss to May, a girl who had in the four Grand Festivals she'd competed in went from the Top 8 to the Top 4 to the Runner-Up and at last had won the Sinnoh Grand Festival.
Then there was May's rival (and who Serena thought was May's boyfriend) Drew who'd been the Runner-Up of the first Grand Festival he'd been in, but only got as far as the Top 8 in his second one thanks to May.
His third Grand Festival attempt went better as he'd won against his rival/not-yet/never-going-to-be-if-you-ask-her girlfriend in the final round. His fourth attempt saw him and May facing each other again in the final round except May won that time around.
Honestly the rivalry Serena seen between the two of them looked pretty intense, she stills wishes the brunette girl and the green-haired cocky boy would get together because they'd be such a nice couple in Serena's opinion.
And it certainly isn't because Drew mentioned May traveled with Ash in the past and might have a thing for him. Serena isn't that insecure about her chances with her childhood crush/maybe-boyfriend.
Serena's final contest loss happened due to Dawn who like Drew was not only the Runner-Up of her first Grand Festival, but her second one too and had only gotten knocked back to the Top 4 of her third Grand Festival by her long-time rival Zoey who had gone on to win the Unova Grand Festival.
Though Serena isn't one to ship two girls who seem like such good friends and rivals together, Dawn and Zoey look like they'd make cute girlfriends for each other.
And like with the Contest Shipping duo, Serena doesn't want them getting together just because that bratty kid Kenny who has no chance with Dawn ever had let slip up to her that Dawn definitely has a crush for Ash and has cheered him on in a cheerleader's uniform for some of his gym battles in Sinnoh.
The cheerleading outfit she bought and did some improvements on was definitely not a purchase she made to show up Dawn next time Serena can get a chance to cheer Ash on in a major battle that hopefully won't be televised.
At least Wally was happy to help Serena by giving his opinion as a boy on how cute she looked in it. He was really into it, weirdly enough. Until she brought up how if Wally thinks it's cute then Ash will think it's super cute when she wears it for him and him alone from now on.
Serena gets the feeling Wally doesn't like Ash for some reason, but she isn't sure why that is exactly.
Right now, she's about to face Lisia in the Top 8 of the Hoenn Grand Festival and is waiting to receive an encouraging text on her Rotomphone from Ash to let her know he's supporting her from all the way in Galar.
Granted Serena hadn't specified earlier today with Ash why she needed the text as she had wanted to surprise Ash with the news she'd won her first Grand Festival, but she knows her crush/hopeful future boyfriend enough he could infer she needs the encouragement for something big going on with her today.
Serena's confidant she can finally win against Lisia. Her first Contests loss after a winning streak of 3 Contests in a row might have come from the turquoise haired girl's hands, but Serena's is certain she has the strategy and appeal to blow her and the judge's socks.
Then she'll have to face either May, Dawn, or Zoey in the Top 4 and then the final round. Hopefully May or Dawn and again Serena doesn't want to beat them because of any jealous feelings to do with Ash and the two.
Serena does not get jealous. Ever!
Shaking those angry thoughts away knowing she can't be experiencing such ugly feelings at a time like this, Serena really hopes Ash's message shows up soon because she has to go on stage in a few minutes and-
"Finally," Serena says feeling her Rotomphone vibrate, unaware she'd been holding her breath waiting for that text, "Let's see what Ash sent me. Oh, a picture. I bet it's him and Pikachu just goofing around."
"Look I caught your Galarian Variant or more accurately she caught me." Serena read the text aloud giggling figuring this must be a silly joke Ash thought recalling the time he told her about this Pokémon in Alola called Tsareena and the two joked about if it's supposed to be an Alolan Variant of her.
Now if Serena had just put her Rotomphone away and gone on stage whilst in this good mood she's in, everything would have gone well for her in this battle with Lisia.
Unfortunately, she saw the picture that accompanied the text and her smile stopped reaching her eyes as she stared at it blankly trying to process the sight in front of her as a furious flame unlike anything she's felt before lit up within her. Serena's grip on her Rotomphone growing tighter and tighter to the point the Pokémon inside started making sounds of protest to get make her stop which unfortunately fell on deaf ears.
Dawn and May's attempts to get Serena's attention to let her know she should be getting on stage now met similar failure and before either of the two girl's Serena sees as romantic rivals could draw closer to nudge her out of whatever this is, Zoey stopped them having a bad feeling about getting too close to the Kalosian Coordinator.
Zoey would be right because a second later Serena would snap out of her stupor and with a wrathful shriek of, "THAT! BITCH!" stormed out of the waiting room to try using Lisia and her Pokémon as an outlet for her newfound aggression.
It would not pan out well for Serena. The not-cute angry look she wore throughout the battle paired with the scary degree of aggression she ordered her Braixen and Pangoro to attack, attack, and attack some more did not win her any points with the judges watching her have an episode.
Thankfully before Serena can truly blow up on anyone when she was declared the loser of the contest battle, her Sylveon came out of her ball and quelled Serena's wrath with her ribbon-like feelers to stop her Trainer from doing anything that would set back the honey-blonde girl's Coordinator career.
Her phone lay discarded on the waiting room floor forgotten by it's owner in her rush, until Zoey picked it up and looked at what had gotten Serena so ticked.
"Galarian girls seem pretty affectionate, huh?" Zoey said to Dawn and May trying to lighten the mood as she looked at the picture on Serena's phone with a wry smile.
Zoey's jest did nothing for Dawn and May who exchange a glance with one another and nodded on an unspoken agreement on how to deal with the little trollop making moves on their boyfri- friend.
Thankfully Dawn and May learnt some good anger management skills from Misty and don't let their ire with this Galarian Serena get to them as they advanced to the semifinals and then to the finals of the Grand Festival where they faced off against each other in a clash between Coordinators that many watching would remember for years to come.
A clash which Dawn had emerged victorious from which Zoey and Drew found pretty amusing given May won the Grand Festival for Dawn's home region and now Dawn's done the same for May's home region.
Serena would find that pretty funny too if she wasn't making plans to drop everything she's doing in Hoenn to get on the next plane to Galar to give this boyfriend-stealing skank a piece of her mind.
Wally was trying to talk Serena out of it, annoyed this Ash guy is the reason he won't have his traveling companion/crush there to see him compete in the Evergrande Conference and hopefully win for her, so she'd think Wally's cooler than Ash and give up on the guy.
AN: Ash AND Serena are clueless when it comes to someone else crushing or flirting with them. Ash is attracted to girls in general, Serena is solely attracted to Ash.
And poor Wally has no chance with Serena given she ships him with his cousin.
Until my next story is posted everyone, bye-onara!