Hello, everyone.
You're probably wondering, "Huh, guess this guy isn't dead yet." and you'd be right. I am, in fact, not dead yet.
You're also probably wondering why I'm updating this, almost 4 years after the latest update. I've had this story almost completed, in my notepads. Yes, I use notepads. But the keyword here is "almost". I said in the latest chapter that I had a big finale planned for this, and that finale was completed.
But I sort of lost my interest in writing for a while. It's coming back, slowly and surely, but I feel I need to have sort of a blank slate. I wanted to complete the projects I had yet to finish, before moving on with my life. Hopefully that makes sense to some of you.
This is why this chapter was/is one of the worst I've written. Don't get me wrong, there's stuff in here that can be copied into a Nicholas Sparks novel and no one would bat an eye. But overall, it's definitely not good. And I'm quite aware the ending is, for lack of a better word, really bad. But I felt I had to post it as it is right now.
Before you start reading, I do have a favor to ask. The next chapter of the story will not be a chapter at all. It'll be a compendium of author's notes regarding the whole story. I ask that you read it, as it will have some other stuff I tried to include but ended up not adding to the story.
I sincerely hope you enjoy.
The Pokémon Summer Camp is an annual event created by Prof. Samuel Oak, designed to teach young children about the world around them and about respecting nature, all while playing with Pokémon. While the original concept belongs to Prof. Oak, the first edition of the Summer Camp was hosted in Littleroot Town, in Hoenn, due to a plumbing issue. Thankfully no people or Pokémon were hurt, but Prof. Oak lost a few months' worth of research. Because of that, he made sure he created daily backups.
Since then, every year, the Pallet Town-based Pokémon professor organizes this gathering where young children can interact with Pokémon they might not know of, while allowing the parents to take a week for themselves.
After seeing the enormous success it had, Professor Augustine Sycamore, based in the Kalos region, decided to implement the same idea, but for children who were already trainers. With a focus on teamwork and camaraderie, this Summer Camp is not like the one in Kanto.
It was in the Pokémon Summer Camp in Kanto that Serena found Ash. "Found" isn't the best word to use, it was Ash who found Serena. Her mother brought her to the Summer Camp and she ended up getting lost in the forest. If it wasn't for Ash, who knows what could have happened.
After Prof. Oak announced at Ash's party that he wanted Ash and Serena as camp counselors, things became hectic.
Both of them thought that, when Prof. Oak invited them, he'd have everything already in place, and all that was left was hiring the counselors. Well, not quite.
It turns out that having them on board was just the beginning of the whole endeavor. Nothing was decided, discussed, or even thought of. The whole Summer Camp was only set in motion after having Ash and Serena as counselors. The result: tons and tons of work.
Neither of them minded lending a hand to the professor's project, but Serena wanted some alone time with Ash. Their moonlit kiss, a few days ago, surprised Serena, and Ash actually being curious about things couples do together led her to believe they'd have some alone time, where she could teach Ash some things but, unfortunately, that was not the case.
They were able to escape once. Ash left behind his Pikachu and went with Serena, as she pulled him along towards the tree line. The electric mouse already knew what was going on, so he just played along, and kept helping the other counselors.
Days went by. Days where Ash would arrive home from Camp and just fall down on his bed. One day, he collapsed on his bed rather violently, causing Serena to worry about his health, only finding relief upon hearing him say "I'm so tired…". Serena smiled, as she could definitely relate, but she had tricks up her metaphorical sleeve.
"Come on, Ash, dinner's almost ready." The performer called out to Ash, but to no avail. He didn't even move, claiming only that he "couldn't feel a single muscle in his body".
'Oh, really?' Serena thought. This was just too perfect of a scenario to pass up.
"Is that so? I think there are some muscles in your body you can still feel…" The Queen mused.
"Doubt it." Ash replied, but Serena did not falter.
"If you sit up, I can prove it to you." The girl commented.
Once Ash had sat upright on his bed, Serena lowered herself so that she'd be able to look him directly in the eyes. Ash didn't know what to expect. What did Serena mean by "there were muscles he could still feel?" The answer to that question didn't take long to show up.
Serena closed her eyes, and gave Ash the most delicate kiss the girl could muster. That kiss was delicate, kind, and so soft, that Ash had trouble registering it. He only understood what happened when Serena spoke.
"So, did you feel them?"
"Huh?" Ash questioned back. "Feel what?"
"Your lips. Did you feel them?"
"Oh!" Ash realized. "No, I… I didn't. Can you do it again?"
Serena smiled. Not only had Ash given her permission to kiss him, he was inviting her. She was about to kiss Ash again, but was interrupted by Delia, who knocked on the door to let them know dinner was ready. After dinner, Serena noticed just how tired she was, surprising even herself, so instead of teaching Ash a thing or two about couples, she just went to sleep. Ash did not complain, he crashed into his bed right after dinner.
A few days went by and the grand reopening of the Pokémon Summer Camp finally arrived. Most people who was at Ash's party were there, either by their own free will or by Bonnie's as was the case with Clemont.
A small girl approached her and tugged on her vest. Serena looked down to the young girl and she saw the same curious look Bonnie usually had.
"What is it, Tabitha?" Serena kindly asked.
"Miss Serena, I… I was wondering… Is Ash your boyfriend?" Tabitha asked, innocent curiosity readable in her eyes.
Serena smiled. That kid's perspicacity was going to come in handy someday…
As she lowered herself, with one knee of the ground, to make eye contact with the child, she put one hand on Tabitha's shoulder.
"You know, Tabitha, he is." She told the child.
"Are you gonna make kissy faces with Ash?" The child questioned.
"Why do you say that?" Serena smiled.
"Whenever my sister has her boyfriend over, she makes kissy faces with him."
Serena was about to answer the child's question when she heard Ash's voice calling her name. There was something in his voice she couldn't identify, but still, doing her counseling job, she told a nearby counselor to keep an eye on the children before leaving to find the origin of the voice.
She ran as fast as her legs would allow her. Once she found Ash, she wondered as to why he was just standing near a small lake, holding a Pokémon. A specific Pokémon, one she'd recognize as the one that changed her life.
"Ash, I thought you were hurt!" Serena argued.
"No, look here." Ash instructed.
Serena looked at the Poliwag, not seeing anything out of the ordinary with the Tadpole Pokémon.
"Okay, it's a Poliwag, so what?" Serena questioned.
"If I remember correctly, I was chasing a Poliwag when I found you." Ash remarked.
Serena recalled that moment on that very field. It was indeed a Poliwag who startled her, and made her fall and hurt her leg. But that same Poliwag created the circumstances that caused her to meet Ash.
"You remembered…" Serena smiled.
"Yup, but I did more than that." He commented. He reached into his pocket, grabbed a Pokéball, and pointed it towards Poliwag. As soon as he pressed the button on the Pokéball, the Pokémon on his arms vanished into a high frequency beam of energy.
"Congrats, Ash! You caught a Poliwag!" Serena chimed.
"That's my line, you know…" He said with a smile. "Besides, you're wrong."
"Huh?"
"I caught you a Poliwag." Ash handed her a Pokéball.
Serena thought about what he had just said. What did he mean, "caught you a Poliwag"? Did he mean what she thought he meant?
"Ash, did you really catch that Poliwag for me?" Serena queried.
"Yup. It was walking, I saw it, battled it, and caught it. And now, I'm giving it to you." Ash replied, matter-of-factly.
"But why? Why would you?"
"I could think of dozens of reasons as to why I'd give you this Poliwag. In the end, I only need one." He approached Serena, took her right hand into his left, and placed Poliwag's Pokéball on it.
"Because I want to." Ash smiled.
Serena could only stare at Ash. He had given her a Pokémon. And not any Pokémon, the Pokémon that caused them to meet. That was incredibly sweet of Ash. Yes, it would be incredibly sweet of anyone who performed that, but the fact that it was from Ash multiplied that sweetness a thousand fold. Tears were starting to be formed in Serena's eyes, when a childish scream echoed in the woods.
Ash and Serena turned their heads towards the origin of the scream. It sounded like a child had been hurt. As camp counselors, it was their responsibility to help the kids.
The trainers ran towards the tree line and continued until they saw the source of the scream: a young girl was crying on the ground. She wore a red t-shirt with the image of a Psyduck stamped on it, and a knee-long blue skirt. As soon as it came into view, her straw hat made Ash think 'am I having a flashback?'.
Serena approached the young girl and assessed the situation, the child was struggling to move her left ankle.
"My goodness, are you hurt?" Serena worried.
"Huh-huh," the girl nodded, "it's my foot. I can't put it on the ground…"
"I'm Serena, one of the counselors here. This boy," she said, pointing at Ash, "is my boyfriend, Ash, also a counselor. What's your name?"
"Gwen" the girl responded.
"Gwen. That's a pretty name." Serena cheered. "Can you move your feet?"
Gwen attempted to move her feet. "This one," she moved her right foot, "is good. But the other one isn't." The child told the counselors. "I didn't even want to come to this camp."
Serena's eyes widened at the recognition of those words. Those were the same words she had said all those years ago in this very camp.
Serena smiled at Gwen. Serena had always been very good at handling children. If there ever was a time to put that gift to use, that was it.
"You didn't? That's funny." Serena stated.
"What's funny?" Gwen retorted.
"A few years ago, I was the one saying just that, that I didn't want to come here. I was hurt, I couldn't stand up, but then he found me." Serena looked at Ash.
Ash could only look at the girls, a proud expression plastered on his face. He couldn't contain it, he was just so proud of Serena at that moment.
"You see, he found me, helped heal my would and helped me stand up. After that, he took my hand and helped me each the counselor."
"Now, I'm the Kalos League Champion, and I owe it to her." Ash confessed. He approached the girls and placed his hand on Serena's shoulder.
"Hello?" another voice is heard through the woods.
Ash, Serena and Gwen looked at the woods, expecting someone to come out of them. And someone did. A young boy, about Gwen's age, emerged from the bushes.
"I heard a scream, and came to see if everyone was alright." The boy explained. "This Pikachu came with me." A Pikachu appeared beside the young lad.
"Pikapi!" Pikachu exclaimed, before climbing to Ash's shoulder.
The boy was speechless, why would that Pikachu jump so readily to that man's shoulder?
"I was wondering where you were, buddy." Ash said as he petted Pikachu's ears.
"Can you stand?" Serena asked Gwen.
The young girl placed her right foot on the ground, but gave in. It hurt too much. "It's no use," the girl argued.
"Hey, you don't quit until it's over." The boy exclaimed.
Serena and Ash shared a knowing smile, and Ash took it upon himself to get to know this boy.
"Sorry, what's your name?" Ash questioned.
"I'm Ben, and you're Ash, the Kalos Champion, right?"
"He knows you, Ash. You're getting famous." Serena smiled.
"What's wrong with her?" Ben asked, drawing the teens' attention back to the young girl.
"She can't get up, her foot's hurt." Serena told the boy.
"I have an idea." Ben stated.
Ben took Gwen's hand and helped her up as she focused her weight on her left foot.
He stretched Gwen's right arm and slid under it, his hand went behind her back and landed softly below her armpit.
"That tickles." Gwen giggled. Someone was taking her mind away from the pain.
"Sorry…" Ben sheepishly replied.
"I'm guessing you know how to play three-legged race, right?" Ben asked, to which Gwen nodded. "Good, we're gonna do something like that, but a little different. We're gonna move your right foot and my left foot at the same time, okay? It has to be at the same time, or it will hurt you. Put your Right foot on top of my left." Gwen did as instructed. But her right foot continued to hurt, and she complained.
"Let me see your foot." Ben requested as he helped Gwen sit down. He took a handkerchief from his pocket. 'Yeah', Ash thought, 'this is definitely a flashback'.
"This will hold the pain back for a while, but I need to get it wet first. Do any of you have water Pokémon?" Ben asked the teens.
Both Ash and Serena were about to say no, but Serena remembered the Poliwag Ash had given her just before their current ordeal.
"I do. A Poliwag." Serena grabbed the Pokéball and pressed the button. A beam of red energy originated from the Pokéball to reveal the Tadpole Pokémon.
"Poliwag, can you help me?" Ben asked. "Poli!" the Pokémon nodded, enthusiastically. "Can you use Water Gun on this handkerchief?"
Poliwag complied and sprayed a jet of water that completely drenched the cloth. Ben then carefully removed Gwen's shoe and sock from her injured foot. After placing Gwen's foot over the handkerchief, which was folded over its diagonal, Ben brought the two tips together and tied two knots close to her foot, so that it would always be in contact with the handkerchief.
Ash and Serena were astonished at how resourceful Ben was.
"Ready?" Ben asked Gwen.
"As I'll ever be…" Gwen replied.
Ben stood up and helped Gwen up once again. As soon as her foot touched the ground, she complained about the pain again.
"Argh! It still hurts!" Gwen screamed.
Ben was getting upset. Not because of all the yelling, but because he couldn't find a way to help her right. But that was about to change.
Ben snapped his fingers. "I got it!"
He lowered himself, one knee on the ground, his back towards Gwen.
"A piggyback ride." Ben stated. "It won't hurt you, you can be sure of that."
Gwen got up, focusing her weight on her right foot and propelled herself towards the boy's back. Once she was on Ben's back, Ben placed his arms behind his back, below the girl.
"I'm gonna put my arms under you, that way there's no danger of you falling, okay?" Ben explained.
"Okay, but if you touch my butt, I'm telling my mom."
"Okay." Ben nodded. "Put your arms around my neck, for safety." He continued and she complied.
As the children started walking forward, Ash told the kids to wait. He got on his knee. "Ben, follow my Pikachu. He'll lead you to one of our friends, he can help her." Turning to Pikachu, he instructed the Mouse Pokémon to go to Clemont.
As soon as the kids were out of his line of sight, Ash sighed as he got up.
"What's wrong, Ash?" Serena questioned.
"Nothing, it's only that this whole situation seemed like a flashback to our first meeting." Ash explained.
"Yeah," Serena agreed. "It's funny, actually, we got to see ourselves as kids, sort of, from the outside."
"I guess." Ash concluded. "And I guess I'm your boyfriend now."
"You 'guess'?" Serena questioned. "You've been my boyfriend since the party."
"Oh…" Ash stated. "That means I can go ahead…" He grabbed her hand, "and do this."
Serena smiled. "Indeed. And that means I can go ahead, and do this." She said, before kissing Ash.
"Let's go, boyfriend." Serena said, offering Ash her hand, like he had done to her when they were children.
Yeah... I told you it wasn't gonna be that good...
The next "chapter" is a compendium of author's notes with the reasoning for my choices.