Chapter Three – Afraid to Care
By the time her flight landed in Viridian City, Serena had never been so stir-crazy. Twelve hours in the air was far too much time to force herself to slow down and think.
She had not spoken with Ash since their farewell in the Lumiose City Airport. At first, surprising him by showing up at his doorstep unannounced sounded like a great idea. Now, it sounded like the worst idea she had ever had.
Serena knew that Ash was not going to be there waiting for her when she exited the plane. Nobody would be. She was on her own. Regardless, when she walked down the jetway and entered the terminal, she scanned the crowd for familiar faces.
There were none. There was no one except disinterested airport employees and impatient passengers waiting to board their flights. Ash was not there, waiting to greet her with an embrace, nor was anyone else.
Serena stood still in a sea of moving bodies, looking all around, trying to find her bearings. Every few seconds, her tired eyes played tricks on her. Random passerby looked like Aria, or Palermo, or her mother. The security guards looked like they were coming for her, to arrest her for her fraud and drag her back to Kalos. She panicked for a split-second, then blinked. The illusion vanished.
Nobody paid her any attention. She was alone, anonymous in a sea of nobodies.
She was in Kanto, and Ash had no idea. What would be worse? Showing up unannounced, or announcing that she was showing up whether she was welcome or not? Either way, she would be imposing once again. The thought made her queasy.
She wandered toward a window in a secluded corner of the terminal. Her eyes told her it was dark outside, but the rest of her body told her there was no way that could be right. She had no idea how many time zones she had jumped over to get here, nor did she want to know.
She watched a plane back away from another gate. A thought came to her, a memory of words heard long ago. As she recalled, the saying was that it was easier to ask for forgiveness than for permission.
Serena envisioned the words adorning a motivational poster, hanging from an office wall. She shuddered. It sounded like the type of thing Palermo would say.
Outside, the various workers on the tarmac all covered their heads. Some ran for cover. Serena soon saw why. A raindrop landed on the glass, right in front of her face. First one, then another, then many.
She watched the rain for a while. She was in Kanto, alone, and nobody knew where she was. Ash didn't, anyway. Her mother would never believe she was here. Clemont and Bonnie knew what continent she was on, but nothing more specific than that. She was effectively a missing person.
She was lost, in senses both literal and figurative. She had Ash's phone number, but not his address. All she knew was that he lived in Pallet Town. She knew Pallet Town was not large. Ash had made that clear many times. Still, even in a small town, what was she supposed to do? Would she have to go door to door asking for directions? She dreaded the thought.
The obvious answer was to call him. She felt like a fool for it, but she dreaded that even more. How was she supposed to explain everything that had happened? What would Ash think about how she managed to get here? Wouldn't it be easier to just show up on his doorstep? They wouldn't have to talk then. She could distract him. She could silence his questions with kisses.
Or, knowing Ash, he wouldn't even question it. Why bring it up in the first place? He did not need to know about her argument with her mother, or her sudden fortune. Not yet, anyway. There would be time for that later. They had forever. Right now, all that mattered was reuniting with him.
Her head spun. She slumped down onto the nearest bench. She was both tired and wired, stuck in that particular state of fatigue in which it felt impossible to fall asleep. The more she tried to organize her thoughts, the more insane it all seemed. Less than a week ago, she was hopelessly single. Less than two days ago, she was broke and essentially homeless. Now, she was absurdly wealthy and had traveled to another continent to visit her boyfriend on a whim.
Serena reached into her bag and pulled out Braixen's Poké Ball. She opened it.
Braixen appeared next to her. Curious, Braixen took a moment to inspect her new surroundings.
"I'm not sure how much you overheard while you were in your ball," said Serena. "I'm sorry I haven't talked more. Things have been really crazy."
Braixen sat next to Serena and joined her in looking out the raindrop-covered window.
"We're in Viridian City, in Kanto," said Serena. "I don't really know what happened, but that message to Aria you helped me write? It worked. She sent me a ton of money. More than I even know what to do with."
Braixen looked up at Serena. Her eyes moved all about, examining all the new things she saw.
"That's how I got these clothes, this bag, everything. That's how we're here right now."
Braixen appeared to understand. She said nothing and returned to looking out the window. Rain continued to patter against the glass.
"Ash doesn't know we're here, though. He doesn't know we're coming. I haven't talked to him."
Braixen looked at Serena with an expression that made her squirm.
"Because I'm nervous about it!" said Serena. "I don't want to impose on him. What if his mom doesn't want me there?"
Serena paused for a second.
"And don't tell me I should have asked first! I know already. I didn't have the time."
Serena bit her lip. She looked away.
"And I didn't want to."
Without looking, she felt Braixen's skeptical glance cutting right through her.
"Yes, really," she said, folding her arms. "I know I shouldn't worry about things like this, but I can't help it! This is all so new! I don't know how to be a girlfriend!"
Serena saw Braixen's reflection in the window. She hid a smile, clearly amused.
"Besides, I want to surprise him," said Serena. She straightened up in her seat and gave her own reflection a tiny nod. "It's more fun that way. It's more romantic."
Serena saw Braixen's reflection roll her eyes.
"What's not romantic about it?" said Serena. "I've traveled halfway around the world on a moment's notice because I have to be with him! I need him! This is the kind of thing you see in movies!"
Braixen's eyes shifted back to Serena. The amused expression remained on her face. Serena immediately interjected.
"None of your wit, please. I need your help. And no, pointing out how dramatic I am right now is not helping."
Serena turned her head. She saw the terminal emptying, the last few stragglers from their flight making their way toward baggage claim. She felt no desire to follow them. The only bag she had was over her shoulder. Still, she knew it was time to go. She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and lifted her shoulders as she inhaled. She did not let them fall as she exhaled. She sat up straight and opened her eyes again.
"We've got to get to Pallet Town somehow, and we're not going to get there by standing here," she said. "Let's go."
Braixen looked like she approved of this. Serena rose from the bench, and Braixen followed her.
Serena led the way up the concourse. They went through the security checkpoint and past baggage claim, all the way to ground transportation. At first, she tried to find a taxi that would take them all the way to Pallet Town, but every service refused to travel that far, even when she insisted she would pay for it. Instead, she settled for a taxi to the Pokémon Center.
It was pouring rain when they arrived. Serena paid the driver and hurried into the center, recalling Braixen to her ball and then running to the door with her hands over her head.
Of all the things she had purchased, she had neglected to buy a hat. After wringing the water out of her hair, she regrouped. She spoke to Nurse Joy at the front desk, surprised to see how different she looked from the nurses in Kalos. She asked how long it took to get to Pallet Town on foot.
Nurse Joy told her it took experienced trainers most of a day. For a moment, Serena wondered if she counted as an experienced trainer. She dismissed her doubts almost immediately. It was ridiculous. After how far she had gone with Ash, there was no reason to doubt herself.
The only question was whether or not she would have to wait for the rain to pass. A sense of embarrassment came over her as she realized that not only had she failed to purchase a new hat, but also any rain gear whatsoever.
Disappointed in herself, she sat down on a bench near the front door of the building. She watched the rain while she tried to decide if it was too late to call Ash after all, and if it would be worth it to try to find a hotel room for the night. The Pokémon Center was not an option. She still had no identification as an official trainer. She had no Pokédex.
But then, she noticed another difference between Kanto and Kalos. Across the street was a large building with a sign which read Poké Mart. The lights were still on.
Her head rushing with ideas, Serena covered her head with her hands again and dashed across the street, through the rain. When she burst through the doors of the Poké Mart, she came to a halt on the doormat, dripping. While she tried to shake the water off, the attendant behind the counter took notice of her and laughed.
"Looks like you could use an umbrella!" he said.
The attendant nodded past Serena, and Serena's eyes followed the motion. Her eyes landed on a basket with several folded umbrellas inside it.
She grinned. She knew what she was going to do.
Ten minutes later, she leaned against the checkout counter as she removed her normal shoes and replaced them with brand-new rain boots. Her feet squeaked as she crossed the tile floor, headed for the door.
"Good luck out there!" the attendant called as Serena opened her big red umbrella and stepped outside. Serena thanked him, but she knew she didn't need luck.
She already had everything she needed.
It was dark, but Viridian City was well-lit and well-marked with street signs. It was no trouble at all to find the path which led south to Pallet Town. The trouble came when she started down the path and realized there were no more street lights. So, once again, she called on Braixen.
Braixen was appalled by the conditions when she materialized next to Serena. Even under the umbrella, she huddled against Serena's leg, keeping clear of the rain.
"Sorry about the weather!" said Serena. "I really need your help, though. We're on the road to Pallet Town, and it's dark out here now that we've left the city. I need your light."
Reluctant, Braixen pulled her wand from her tail and lit it. In an instant, a circle of warm, flickering light surrounded both of them.
"Thank you! I know how much you don't like rain, but I'll do my best to keep you dry, okay? As long as you stay close to me, I'll keep the umbrella right above you, I promise."
Braixen did not seem pleased, but she removed herself from Serena's leg and took a step forward, remaining under the umbrella. She scanned the area, holding her wand high.
The road ahead was empty. Braixen looked back at Serena. Serena knew Braixen was beckoning her forward.
"Thank you," said Serena. She took a step, then Braixen took another, and they were on their way. "It's going to be a long walk, but honestly, I'm excited."
Braixen chuffed.
"Because it's the beginning of a new adventure!" said Serena. "Think of how much we've grown since we first left Professor Sycamore's lab together. We've come so far. Isn't it fun to get a chance to start over again now that we know so much more?"
Braixen did not acknowledge Serena. Serena waited a moment before she spoke again.
"Well, at the very least, we'll get to see Ash, Pikachu, Greninja, and all his other Pokémon again soon."
She wasn't sure, but Serena thought she saw Braixen straighten up ever so slightly.
The two of them carried on, beneath their big red umbrella, down the winding road into the night.
The rain stopped during the middle of the night, which Braixen appreciated very much. When she grew tired of walking in the mud, she took to scorching the ground ahead of her dry with jets of flame. By the time the sun rose, she was in need of a good rest. So was Serena.
Serena returned Braixen to her ball as soon as it was light enough to continue without her help. She was running on fumes. She knew it had been short-sighted to try to walk all through the night.
She stopped to lean against a tree and rest for a moment before continuing. She knew she was getting closer, but she had no idea how much further it would be. She pulled out her new navigator tablet, but it couldn't find any signal. She was too far away from civilization. It was just as she remembered from her time at summer camp.
She pushed onward. She knew she was going to fall asleep without something to keep her awake. She called out Pancham and Sylveon and walked with them, listening to their chatter and trying to keep up with them. She was so tired.
But when she saw a windmill on the horizon, her fatigue vanished.
A few minutes later, she returned Pancham and Sylveon to their balls as she descended a quiet road into a coastal valley, a small town the only thing separating her from the sea. Farms and quaint houses dotted the landscape, painted in all the colors of the rainbow. Above them all, on a high hill, a building larger than any of the others stood beneath the shadow of the windmill. Serena knew where she was, and a sign confirmed it.
Welcome to Pallet Town - Population: 151
Serena wondered if the population figure included Pokémon. It seemed impossible that someone who had traveled the world, met dozens of legendary Pokémon, and come within an instant of being a league champion had grown up in such a meager place. It was no wonder Ash was the way he was. Pallet Town never could have contained him. His dreams were too big for it.
It was still early morning as Serena descended into the town proper. There was no sign of activity anywhere. She had no idea where she needed to go, but there was no one to ask for directions.
She wandered toward the center of the town. To her relief, she found another person. On a bench in the town square, a young man sat with a notebook, watching a flock of Pidgey pecking in the grass. His eyes moved from the Pidgey to the notebook and back again, his pencil running fluidly across the paper.
When Serena saw him, she wasn't sure how to get his attention without startling the Pidgey. For lack of a better idea, she stood some distance away and waved with both hands, silently.
A few seconds later, the young man noticed her and looked up.
"Hello?" he called.
To Serena's surprise, the Pidgey did not move when he spoke, nor when he folded his notebook shut and walked toward her. He was tall and broad-shouldered, with a friendly face. His long hair was held back by a headband.
"I haven't seen you around here before," he said. "Are you new in town?"
"Kind of?" said Serena. "I'm just visiting."
"We don't get many visitors here. Are you here to see someone?"
Serena struggled to find the right way to phrase her response. She had never asked a stranger for directions to someone's house before.
"Yes, actually," she said. "I'm looking for the Ketchum residence."
The young man's eyebrows raised.
"The Ketchum residence?"
Serena immediately felt foolish.
"Yes," she said, averting her eyes. "If you happen to know where that is, I would really appreciate directions, please."
Her face grew warm. She had never felt so silly in her life. She expected to be laughed at.
The young man smiled.
"Sure! I know exactly where that is."
Serena's eyes widened.
"You do?"
"Sure do."
The young man pointed down an adjacent road.
"Just head three blocks down that road, then turn right. It's the first house on the right."
Serena stared at him.
"Really?" she said.
"Really," he said with a nod.
Serena looked down the road, then back to him.
"Thank you!" she said.
"No problem. Say hello to Delia for me."
It wasn't until Serena was across the street that it occurred to her that she never got the guy's name. She had bigger things on her mind. Three blocks. The first house on the right.
Ash was there. She was going to see him again.
And this time, they were never going to be apart again.
When she turned the corner, she found that the first house on the right was, in fact, the only house on the right. It was the only house on the quaint little road at all. It was a pale shade of blue with a red roof, and a white picket fence surrounded it. Inside the fence was an abundance of plants, a teeming garden in full bloom.
And on the mailbox, a name - Ketchum.
Serena's heart fluttered. This was it. Ash's home, at last.
For years, during times when Ash was nothing more than a distant memory, she had daydreamed of finding this place. It was more wonderful than she had ever envisioned. It was picture perfect. A swing hung from a tree in the front yard. Fragrances, carried on the gentle breeze, drifted all around, the sweet scent of dozens of magnificent flowers.
It was so unlike her own home. It was like something out of a storybook. It felt too perfect to touch or to intrude. She had to work up the courage to undo the latch on the gate and head to the front door. When she ascended the steps, she stepped lightly, feeling as though it would be wrong to make too much noise. This was too wonderful a place for her to disturb.
But she disturbed it anyway.
She pressed the button for the doorbell and heard the ring echo inside. A few seconds later, she heard footsteps approaching the door.
The interior door swung open. Behind the glass of the exterior door, a tall, slender woman looked out at Serena. She had the same eyes as Ash.
"Hello?" she said.
Serena froze. Somehow, this situation had never occurred to her. It was supposed to be Ash who answered the door. Every time she had ever pictured this scenario in her mind, it was Ash, not his mother.
Another figure appeared in the doorway. It was a Mr. Mime, wearing an apron and holding a broom.
"Hi, um…"
Serena bit her lip. She had no idea where to start. Could she ask if Ash was home? Was she supposed to introduce herself first?
The Mr. Mime began to raise the broom as if brandishing it as a weapon.
"It's okay, Mimey."
Ash's mother waved a hand at the Mr. Mime, and he lowered the broom. She opened the door.
"You look very familiar," Ash's mother said. She took a closer look at Serena. "Have we met before?"
Serena knew the answer was technically no, but they had spoken on a couple of occasions over the phone. What was far more surprising to her than being recognized was that she wasn't more easily recognized. Did she really look that different?
"Not exactly," she said. "I'm Serena."
Ash's mother's face lit up with recognition.
"Oh, yes, of course! I remember you!" she said. "You're Ash's friend from Kalos! I'm surprised to see you here. You've come such a long way. I don't think Ash was expecting you."
Serena blinked.
No, Ash probably was not expecting her. It probably really was a surprise for her to be here.
But she definitely was more than just a friend.
"I wanted to surprise him," said Serena. "Is he here?"
Ash's mother shook her head.
"No, he ran off to Professor Oak's lab first thing this morning. He didn't even eat breakfast first! I think he was too excited to see all his Pokémon again."
Serena's stomach sank. Ash wasn't even home. After all this effort, there would be no picture-perfect reunion. He wasn't home, and his mom was.
"Would you care for some breakfast?"
Serena snapped back to reality upon hearing the question. An assortment of delicious scents wafted out the door. It made Serena's stomach growl, but she had more important things to worry about.
"Thank you, but I want to get going, actually. You said Ash was at Professor Oak's lab, right? How do I get there? I'd like to see him right away."
Serena wasn't sure, but she thought Ash's mother looked a little hurt.
"It's back toward the center of town, then a right at the town square. Go all the way to the end of the road. It's the biggest building in town, up on a hill. You can't miss it! Just look for the windmill."
Serena bowed her head.
"Thank you, Mrs. Ketchum," she said.
"Oh, it's my pleasure," she said. "It's always so good to see Ash's friends. And please, call me Delia."
"Oh! Well, thank you, Delia."
Awkwardness ate at Serena as she left. As awkward as it was to be asked to call Ash's mother by her first name, it was far more awkward to have met her at the door in the first place. It had to have been the most embarrassing thing she had ever done, showing up on another continent and asking if her boyfriend was home, only to be told he was not.
But beyond all that, something more concerning lingered in the back of Serena's mind.
Either Delia was going out of her way to avoid calling her Ash's girlfriend, or she had no idea at all.
The walk to the lab was a short one, as Serena suspected every walk to every landmark was in Pallet Town. She chose to ignore everything that had just happened. She had not talked to Ash's mom. She had not had her dream of him coming to the door to greet her ruined. She decided it.
As she climbed the hill to the lab, it occurred to her how odd it was that it was here at all. It was easily the largest building in town. It made no sense that such an important research facility would be in a place so isolated. And yet, here it was.
She pushed open the front door and entered the lobby. She was greeted by a familiar face. The same young man from the town square sat behind the front desk.
Serena pointed at him.
"You!" she said.
"Hey there again!" he said. "Didja get lost?"
"No," said Serena. "The directions you gave me worked great, but when I got there, Ash's mom told me that he was here, at the lab."
The young man's eyebrows raised. He laughed.
"Ash?" he said. "I wish you'd told me that's who you were looking for. He's been here with his Pokémon all morning! I could have taken you right to him."
"You know him?" said Serena.
"Know him? I traveled through the Orange Islands with him!"
"Wait."
Serena gripped her head with both hands. Something about this sounded familiar.
Before she could conjure the memory, a memory of stories told over a campfire long ago, a hand was extended to her.
"I'm Tracey. You must be one of Ash's friends, I bet."
Serena took Tracey's hand and accepted the handshake. His hand was giant compared to hers, but his grip was gentle.
She remembered his name. Tracey, the artist who met his idol, Professor Oak, and gave up a life on the road to become his assistant.
"I'm Serena," she said.
She expected to see recognition in Tracey's eyes. She saw nothing of the sort, no sign at all that Tracey had a clue who she was.
"Nice to meet you," he said, getting up from the desk. "I'll take you out back to where Ash is."
Serena said nothing and followed him. Something strange was happening.
"So are you from Kalos?" Tracey asked, talking over his shoulder as they walked.
Serena knew it now. Ash hadn't told Tracey, at a minimum.
"Yes," said Serena. "I just flew in last night."
"You really came a long way to get here, didn't you? I'm sure Ash will be surprised. It's not often that any of his old friends come to see him. I've been here for years and I've only seen it a couple of times. Pallet Town is just too far out of the way for most people, I think."
Serena was certain that Tracey kept talking without any response from her, but she had no idea what he said. There was no denying it. Tracey didn't know. She had no doubt that Ash's mother was clueless, too.
She clenched her jaw. She was going to make it known to everyone the second she saw him.
Tracey pushed open another door, and he held it open as they exited into the backyard of the lab. The space was bigger than Serena ever could have realized from the front entrance. They were inside a paddock that stretched for miles into the distance, containing every type of Pokémon habitat imaginable.
It was hard to tell at first, due to the crowd of Pokémon around him, but Ash stood only a short distance away. He held a frisbee, which he threw, and then dozens of Pokémon went chasing after it.
And then, he stood alone.
Serena cupped her hands around her mouth and called to him.
"Ash!"
She went running toward him. An instant later, his head turned, and his jaw dropped.
"Serena?"
Ash was only able to take a few steps forward before Serena sprinted up to him and wrapped him up in her arms with such force that they went tumbling to the ground.
"Sere-!"
Ash's exclamation was silenced by Serena's kiss. A second later, he pulled away from her.
Serena opened her eyes and saw Ash looking her over, his eyes wide in disbelief.
"It really is you!" he said. "I can't believe it!"
Serena refused to let him pull away. She tightened her grip around him and pulled him in closer, burying her head in the crook of his neck.
"I can't believe it's you!" she said.
"How did you…"
Ash trailed off. A moment later, he wrestled his way out of Serena's grip, trying to stand. Serena clung onto him, refusing to let him rise. Ash shook her off anyway.
Serena sat up, intending to get on her feet and throw her arms around him again while demanding an explanation. Her explanation came when she realized there were several dozen angry Pokémon charging in her direction.
Ash stood between her and the oncoming stampede with his arms outstretched.
"It's okay!" Ash yelled. "She wasn't trying to hurt me!"
Though the horde slowed, it did not stop. Serena began to back away. They were coming for her.
And then, out of nowhere, several Pokémon she recognized surrounded her. Greninja, Hawlucha, Talonflame, and Noivern all formed a protective circle around her. In front of all of them, Pikachu stood between Ash and the stampede, imploring everyone to stop.
Moments later, they all came skidding to a halt.
Ash let out a sigh of relief. Pikachu wiped his brow.
"Whew! You guys really had me worried there!" said Ash.
The mass of Pokémon eyed Serena with curiosity. The Pokémon surrounding her let their guard down and stepped aside.
Serena sat there, bewildered, staring at dozens of Pokémon she had never met before.
"It's okay, everyone," said Ash, holding up his hands as if trying to smooth over the situation. "This is Serena. She's one of my friends I traveled with in Kalos."
"Actually, I'm his girlfriend."
Ash turned around with a nervous smile on his face, one that showed too many teeth to be natural. He held up his hands as if trying to stop her.
Serena soon discovered why.
A Pokémon broke away from the pack and came stomping up to Serena. It was a four-legged Pokémon with a leaf on its head. It leered at her with its red eyes, craning its long neck to get directly in her face.
Serena wasn't sure if the spicy smell that accompanied it was normal or if it was a sign that it was angry.
"Bayleef, cut it out!" said Ash.
Bayleef looked at Ash. When she saw how irritated he was, she bowed her head.
"Be nice to Serena," said Ash. "She's a very close friend of mine."
Bayleef shifted her eyes from Ash back to Serena. She gave Serena an imperious glare. It made Serena back away a few inches. Bayleef huffed, then walked away, eyes shut and nose turned up.
Pikachu said something to Bayleef as she passed, but he got no response. Ash shrugged.
"Well, uh, that's Bayleef," he said.
The scent of intense spice still lingered in the air. It made Serena's nose itch.
"She seems… really attached to you," said Serena. Then, she sneezed.
"Yeah, she kinda is," said Ash. He had a goofy, yet nervous grin on his face. "She's always been that way."
Serena heard a few cries coming from the mass of Pokémon still gathered before them. Their voices sounded different from Bayleef's. They sounded eager. Working its way out of the mass came a jolly-looking Bulbasaur. It walked up to Serena and extended a vine to her.
Serena hesitated for a moment. She looked at Ash. Ash nodded.
She took Bulbasaur's vine in her hand and shook it.
"See? Everyone else is really excited to meet you," said Ash.
"You can say that again."
Both Serena and Ash turned their heads at the sound of the voice. Several other people had gathered around them. Tracey was there, along with a man who was unmistakably Professor Oak.
Next to Professor Oak was a young man who looked to be around the same age as Ash, with spiky hair and a smirk on his face.
"Well well, Ashy-boy, it looks like you've got some explaining to do!"
By the time Ash finished explaining the situation, Serena had never seen him so red in the face, nor had she ever seen him so eager to leave. After Gary asked a question about what the two of them had been doing together in Kalos that was a blatant double entendre, Serena made up an excuse about needing to help Ash's mom with lunch. Pulling Ash by the wrist, she led him away.
She did not have to pull hard. If anything, she was holding him back. It felt like Ash was ready to run right past her.
When they were outside and on their own again, Serena spoke.
"Did you really not tell anyone?" she said.
"Well, no," said Ash, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"Why not?"
"Did you see what happened back there?"
Distress was evident in Ash's voice and face. It was odd to see him like this. She had never seen him so flustered.
"Are you embarrassed by me or something?" said Serena.
"No!" said Ash. "It's them who embarrass me!"
"Your friends?"
"Everyone!" said Ash. "If you thought Gary was bad, wait until my mom finds out."
Ash covered his face with his hands and groaned into them.
"Did you really expect her not to find out?" said Serena.
"I wasn't going to tell her," said Ash.
"Ever?"
"Maybe?"
"Ash!"
Serena put her hands on her hips.
"She's your mother," said Serena. "She has to find out eventually. How bad can it be?"
"She tells me to change my underwear in front of my friends!"
"So? What's the big deal if she embarrasses you? That's what parents do!"
Ash took a deep breath.
"I don't like it," he said. "I didn't want her to know."
"I didn't want my mom to know, either, but I told her," said Serena.
"How did that go?"
For a moment, Serena considered lying.
"Badly," she said.
"Did she ask you a bunch of embarrassing questions?"
"No. She yelled at me. A lot."
"Oh."
Ash went quiet in that peculiar way Serena had seen so many times in Monego City, a way she now understood meant that he couldn't figure out what to say and was nervous to try.
"Your mom isn't like that, is she?" said Serena.
"No," said Ash. "She never yells. She always tells me she's proud of me, no matter what I do."
"Then how bad can it be?" said Serena. "We can tell her together. We can get through this."
"I know," said Ash. "I just can't stand it when she goes on and on about how her baby boy is all grown up!"
Serena tilted her head toward him.
"You kind of are, you know," she said.
Ash looked red in the face again.
"Not you, too!" he said.
"What's the matter? It's true!"
Ash took off his hat and rubbed some sweat from his forehead.
"Just please don't be like my mom, or Gary," he said.
"I don't see what the big deal is," said Serena. "They care about you. They're probably all really happy for you. They're just showing you that in the only way they know how."
Ash smoothed back his hair and put his hat on again. He shook his head.
"Gary has always known how to get to me," he said. "So has my mom."
Serena kept walking with him, her hands behind her back, a curious expression on her face. She wasn't sure whether she was more amused or concerned. It was so strange to see Ash so bothered.
But then again, this was with people he had known his whole life. It was different. She knew it. After all, nobody could get to her quite the way her mother could.
A question still lingered in her head. It was one that had already been answered, but she needed to hear the answer again.
"You're not actually embarrassed by me, right?" she said.
"No," said Ash. "No way. Why would I be?"
"Just making sure."
They continued down the road for a while without speaking, their footsteps the only sound.
Serena remembered so many times she had been walking next to him, desperate to take hold of his hand. She smiled as she reached out to him and slipped her fingers between his, finding neither a hint nor a trace of hesitance or resistance.
"I'm happy to see you again," she said. "I know it wasn't long, but I missed you."
"I missed you, too."
It was fortuitous that Serena enjoyed Delia's garden so much, because she ended up with plenty of time to tour it while Delia spoke to Ash alone. Serena wasn't sure how much time passed, but it was enough for her to walk through the entire garden and then have a seat on the tree swing in the front yard before Ash came and found her.
When Serena heard the front door open, she looked over her shoulder and saw Ash passing through it, looking as red in the face as ever. If she had not known better, she would have mistaken it for a bad sunburn.
Ash walked toward her, and she met him halfway across the yard.
"My mom says you can come back inside now," he said.
Serena's eyes filled with worry. Ash looked weary, exhausted in a way she had never seen before. She pulled him into a soft hug.
"Are you okay?" she asked him. "Is everything alright?"
Ash hugged her back, then pulled away to look her in the eye.
"Yeah," he said. He looked back at the house for a moment. "That wasn't very fun, but I'm okay."
Serena let her arms fall from him, and she folded her hands.
"What happened?"
Ash shifted his weight from one leg to the other, then pulled off his hat for a moment to smooth his hair back.
"We, uh, talked about… relationship stuff."
Serena wanted to know what that meant, but she knew there was no way that Ash wanted to explain. She let it go.
"We can take a minute or two out here if you need a break," said Serena.
Ash scratched beneath his nose and waved her off.
"I'm fine, really," he said. "Let's go back inside."
Serena followed Ash back into the house. When they entered through the door, Delia was standing in the foyer, waiting for them. Serena wasn't sure what to expect after Ash's reaction, but Delia smiled at her.
"Well, Serena, now that we've had a proper introduction, welcome to our home!" said Delia.
Immediately, Serena felt embarrassed. She had no idea why. It was like some kind of psychic power Delia possessed. She bowed her head.
"Thank you, ma'am," Serena said, wanting to be as polite as possible.
"Please, dear, call me Delia."
Serena bit down on both her lips. There was an awkward silence. Ash fidgeted.
"I want you to know that I'm simply delighted to have you here in our home," said Delia. "I consider Ash's friends to be family. You are welcome to stay here as long as you like."
Serena's eyes went wide.
"Really?" she said.
"Of course!" said Delia. "I couldn't possibly tell you to go find a room somewhere else in Pallet Town. That's no way to treat a guest. What kind of host would I be?"
Serena looked at Ash. He did not seem surprised by this at all. She looked at Delia again.
"Ash did tell you that I'm his girlfriend, didn't he?" said Serena.
Delia's grin became even wider.
"Yes, he did," she said. "That doesn't change a thing. You're still welcome to stay. You and Ash will be staying in separate rooms, though."
Serena's eye twitched. Embarrassment truly was Delia's specialty.
Fatigue caught up with Serena. She felt as though she sleepwalked through the rest of the day. Once Delia showed her to her room - which was Ash's bedroom, as Ash was being exiled to the spare bedroom - Serena sat down on the bed and put her feet up in hopes of taking a short nap. Instead, the next thing she remembered was being woken up by Delia, who told her that dinner was ready. After that, before she knew it, it was morning.
At first, she had no idea where she was. Several seconds of bleary-eyed blinking passed before her memory caught up with her and she remembered everything that had happened. The room she was in was both unfamiliar and unmistakable. It was Ash's room.
Light peeked in through the gaps in the blinds, casting rays across the floor. Serena rubbed her eyes, the crusty bits from a long night's sleep breaking away as she did. She pulled the covers aside and swung her legs over the side of the bed. She was amazed to see she was wearing her pajamas. She had no memory of changing into them.
She sat on the edge of the bed with her feet touching the floor. She was in the lower bunk of a bunk bed. She couldn't imagine that the top bunk had ever seen much use. She figured the bunk bed was a childhood request that Ash made because he thought it was cool. It was totally something he would have done.
Something felt improper about getting up to explore the room. Serena felt like she was inside a museum, with an invisible curator hovering over her shoulder reminding her to look, but not to touch. As wondrous a place as this was to her, she would have preferred if Delia had been less overbearing in her hospitality and given her the guest room instead.
It was like being inside a time capsule. Serena knew the room had changed little, if at all, since the day Ash left. It was in pristine condition nonetheless. There was no way that it had been cleaned specifically for Ash's return. It was too spotless, too free of dust. It had been cleaned regularly in his absence. Serena was sure of it. The collection of trophies atop the dresser shined too brightly. She suspected they had been polished.
The aroma of breakfast foods crept in through the gap beneath the door. Serena wondered what kind of life Delia led.
When she worked up the nerve to stand, get dressed, and leave the room, she found a massive breakfast waiting for her and Ash downstairs. As it was the night before, the table was set for three. Serena wondered if it was for her, or if Delia really set it that way every day, like Ash said.
Although Delia kept pushing more food onto her plate than she would have liked, Serena had to admit that breakfast was delicious. There was something about a warm meal on a beautiful morning in a cute little house in a quiet town in the middle of nowhere that made her feel more than full. She felt fulfilled. There was nothing ominous on the horizon anymore. The future was hers to decide.
As soon as they were done with breakfast, Ash took her by the hand and practically dragged her back to Professor Oak's lab at a full sprint. Thus began an absolute whirlwind of a day.
Serena discovered that stampedes were a commonplace occurrence on Professor Oak's ranch whenever Ash arrived. This was in part because of the herd of thirty Tauros which resided there, but in addition to them, Ash had dozens of Pokémon Serena had never met until now.
To her horror, one of the first she met was Muk, whose preferred method of greeting was to attempt to swallow newcomers whole in a massive hug. She thought she was going to faint before Ash convinced Muk to let her out to have some air.
Snorlax was also a fan of massive hugs, although their exchange consisted mostly of Serena hoping he wasn't going to break her back with his powerful grip. When Snorlax squeezed her, her feet came all the way off the ground, and her face sank into his stomach.
Totodile spent more time with his jaws around her arm than Serena would have liked. Bulbasaur, who Serena learned was the ringleader of this veritable circus, had to remove Totodile by force. She was relieved to escape with her arm still attached. Still, she preferred her situation to that of Ash, who spent a considerable amount of time flailing around trying to pry Gible off his head.
Serena met so many Pokémon that it made her head spin. Every one of them had some incredible story behind how they and Ash met and all the things they had achieved in battle. There were even friend groups which had formed within their small community. There were the Pokémon with their heads in the clouds, and Pokémon which were too excitable for their own good. There was a group of flying types who all flocked together. There was even a group of powerful-looking Pokémon who all seemed like loners, yet welcomed Greninja into their group without hesitation.
Bayleef, meanwhile, spent the whole time sulking in the distance, glaring at Serena every now and then. When Serena asked Ash if Bayleef was okay, Ash said he wasn't sure if she would ever get over it. What that meant was lost on Serena, but Ash laughed about it.
The next few days passed in a frenzy of activity. Playing with Ash's Pokémon was a full-time job. They were as full of energy as their trainer.
Pikachu was something of a celebrity on the ranch, as he was the only Pokémon that every other one of Ash's Pokémon knew. He spent his days stuck in conversation after conversation, everyone always eager to speak with him. His company was so in-demand that Ash left him on the ranch at night.
Serena followed in Ash's footsteps and left her Pokémon on the ranch as well. Though they mostly stuck with the members of Ash's Kalos team, some were quick to make friends. Pancham latched onto Krookodile, enamored with his sunglasses, and styled himself as his sidekick. Whenever Pancham wasn't busy being Krookodile's shadow, he and Scraggy were busy plotting mischief and causing mayhem.
Sylveon took an interest in Bayleef and made repeated attempts to talk to her, only to be brushed aside every time. In between her attempts, she talked in hushed tones with Leavanny, who seemed just as concerned.
Braixen, meanwhile, was always one step behind Greninja.
In between endless hours of games and practice battles on the ranch, Serena found herself desperate to pull Ash aside for some alone time. Every time she did, ducking behind a tree for a few moments or lingering inside when everyone else was already out the door, she wanted to hold him and never let go.
What started as a few seconds here and there to give him a flirty peck on the lips and exchange a few cute glances and words turned into something more serious. The more she did it, the more the seconds turned into minutes, and the more time she spent with her cheeks burning red. When she arrived, she knew the exact number of times they had kissed. By the third day, she lost track.
She felt like she was developing a crush on him all over again. It made no sense. How could she have a crush on Ash at this point? They were together. She was his girlfriend. She was spending her days doing nothing but kissing him and cuddling him in between games with his Pokémon.
And yet, she could not get enough of him. She had spent all day with him for days on end and she still felt like they had not spent enough time together. She could think of nothing but him. She daydreamed of escaping with him for an afternoon to have a picnic all on their own, or to wander around town, perhaps stopping in the park to sit on a bench and watch the clouds.
At night, she dreamed of being even closer to him. She couldn't stand that he was so far away, down the hall and behind closed doors. She dreamed of him being in the bunk above her, or if she even dared to think of it, in the bunk with her. What need would she have for a blanket when she could instead have his arms wrapped around her? The thought of it kept her awake late into the night. She was certain that sharing a tiny bunk bed with her would be more comfortable for him than sleeping alone on the hard old hide-a-bed to which he had been banished. As much as she tried to let it go, the thought was so tantalizing.
So, on the third day, after dinner, she asked Ash if he would like to go find a nice spot to watch the sunset together. He agreed.
While they walked toward the west side of town hand in hand, heading for the low hills of the valley, Serena had never felt so restless. She felt like she was on fire - her entire being, both body and mind. The energy that had been building up inside her was indescribable. She felt as though she might explode from it. The walk to Ash's preferred hill was not a long one, but it tormented her. She wanted nothing but a chance to push him off the road into the first deserted place she could find so that she could kiss him forever.
Ash led her off the road and across a field, heading for the base of one of the many foothills. After a short, easy climb, they found themselves on top of it, higher than any other point in the town. An endless expanse of valleys and open plains stretched out before them. To the south, the sea shimmered like glass. Above the distant horizon, the sun grew fat and orange as it prepared to disappear for the night. Its low rays cast the surrounding valleys in shadow, yet shone upon them with a warm, golden light.
Serena closed her eyes and breathed deeply, basking in it. It was perfect. Everything was perfect.
There was a soft crunch of earth and grass as Ash sat down on the ground next to her.
"What do you think?" he said.
"It's incredible," said Serena.
"I used to come here all the time as a kid," said Ash. "I would sit here and watch the sun go down, and then I would lay back and watch the stars come out."
"Is that what you want to do now?"
Serena wasn't sure what answer she wanted to hear.
"Definitely," said Ash. "As long as that sounds good to you."
"It sounds wonderful," said Serena.
It wasn't what she really wanted to do, but she bit her tongue. This would have to do, for now.
She sat down next to him. Once she was on the ground, she closed the gap between them and sat there in contact with him, leaning into his shoulder. She found his hand and held onto it with both of hers, resting it in her lap.
Minutes passed in peaceful silence. The sun grew closer and closer to the horizon.
"I can't believe you got to do this all the time," said Serena. "You were a really lucky kid."
"Well, not all the time," said Ash. "My mom didn't like it when I was out late by myself. I got in trouble a lot."
"Good thing you're not out by yourself right now, then," said Serena.
"Ha, yeah," said Ash. "I came up here with Gary a few times, and we pretended to be Pokémon trainers battling on top of a mountain. It was really fun."
Serena nuzzled against his arm. She was barely listening.
"Is it fun being here with me?" she asked.
"Yeah, it is," said Ash. "This is, uh, very different from all those times."
"I would hope so," said Serena. "I bet Gary never did this."
Serena punctuated her sentence by leaning in and kissing Ash on the cheek, right below his jawline. It was close to his neck, and it was intentional.
Ash laughed.
"No, he never did," he said.
"He probably never did this, either."
Serena let herself flop backward, landing on her side. She pulled on Ash's arm with all her weight, urging him to join her.
"What are you doing?" said Ash.
"Come here."
Ash started to lean back. Before he could get all the way down, Serena met him halfway, her lips on his.
She felt the soft thud as he fell to the ground next to her. She did not see it. Her eyes were closed. She was determined never to wake up from this dream.
Serena looped her arms around the back of Ash's neck. She pressed her body flat against his, both of them touching front to front. She needed more contact with him. It was impossible to get enough. She felt as though she could have melted into him and it still would not have been enough.
She kissed him with wild abandon. It was becoming more natural all the time. Their first kisses, as much as she enjoyed them, had been stiff and full of anxiety. Now, they came like rolling waves, a motion so gentle yet so powerful, washing over them and washing away everything around them. The longer it continued, the less aware Serena was of the itchiness of the grass against her legs or the scent of dirt.
The only thing she was aware of was Ash. The way he kissed her back, it was so obvious that he had no idea what he was doing. He was following her lead. It was a side of him she never could have experienced any other way. That he would let her see this, that he would let her take charge in their most intimate moment, made her heart ache for him. With every breath, with every motion of his hands as they ran up and down her back, Serena's heart jumped.
She had no idea how much time passed. She assumed she had missed the sunset, and she did not care at all. She was not stopping, not even when her lips began to feel sore. She pulled away from him and instead planted kisses all over his cheeks, around his ears, down his neck, and toward his collarbone. She was lost in him, intoxicated by him. His scent, becoming more familiar by the day, made the hair on the back of her neck stand on end whenever she caught a hint of it. The taste of his skin made her want to bite him, to nibble his neck, his ear, his collarbone, anywhere she could find. And all the while, his hands caressed her back, pressing her against him.
It still was not enough. Kissing him all over and burying her fingers in his hair was not enough. She needed more, but she had no idea what to do. Her mind teased her with so many thoughts, so many things she would love to do, but none of them were reasonable. It was too soon. It was too much.
For a split-second, Ash's hands deviated from their steady path. He went just an inch lower, and a fingertip grazed against a small patch of exposed skin on Serena's back. The touch made her jump in surprise, which in her current position took the form of pressing herself against him even harder.
She was certain the touch was unintentional, a mere accident after repeating the same motion blindly for minutes on end.
She had never enjoyed anything more in her life.
She grabbed Ash's hand before realizing what she was doing. Once she had hold of it, she froze for a moment. She had no idea where she intended to put it. She wanted it everywhere.
The contrast of the feeling of Ash's hand on top of her shirt and the feeling of his hand against the bare skin of her back gave her an idea. There was a way to compromise. She was wearing two shirts.
She found the bottom seam of her baggy floral shirt and guided Ash's hand underneath it. She pressed his hand against the thin, taut fabric of her undershirt. It was such a small difference, but such a tremendous one at the same time. Now, Ash's hand was somewhere it wasn't supposed to be.
It was the greatest thing Serena had ever felt.
The warmth of Ash's hand easily pierced through the single layer of cloth that now separated the two. He ran his hand up and down her back again. It was so different. He felt so much closer, and yet she wanted him closer still.
His hand stopped. Serena felt Ash freeze as his hand ran across the clasp of her bra. She felt the realization of what he had touched ripple through his body. He instantly became tense.
Serena's eyes shot open, and so did his.
"Sorry!" he whispered.
It was adorable. Serena held a finger up in front of his lips and shushed him.
"What are you sorry for?" she said. "That's been there the whole time. You just didn't notice it before."
Ash pulled his hand out from under her baggy shirt.
"I didn't mean to-"
Serena shushed him again.
"I never said I didn't want you to touch me there," she said.
"I-"
Whatever Ash was trying to say, Serena silenced him as she kissed him again. Ash returned his hands to her back, on top of her outer shirt. That was fine, Serena decided. There was no sense in taking it too fast.
Except she wanted to take it fast. She still wanted more. She needed more.
It started as trying to cuddle up closer to him. She shifted her leg, laying it on top of his. It was harmless enough at first, but a few seconds later, she wrapped her leg around his and used the leverage to pull herself even closer. She wasn't satisfied by merely being next to him anymore.
She did not know how to describe what happened. It was a weird tangle of limbs and hair and clothes, plus a lot of assistance from gravity. It was almost like they fell into it.
She ended up on top of him, straddling his waist.
Her heart thundered. Her face burned red. Her breaths were heavy. With her hands on Ash's chest, she stared into his eyes.
He looked dazed. He lay there beneath her, hands on her hips, motionless aside from his breaths. He was like a mirror image of her.
He was clearly overwhelmed. This was all too much, too soon.
Serena saw herself in his eyes, and she froze.
You can't just throw yourself at him blindly.
That was precisely what she was doing, and she knew it.
Don't give yourself to someone who won't give you anything in return.
Serena didn't move. Neither did Ash.
What was this? Serena couldn't understand it. She had never dreamed of getting so physical so soon. She had no idea where the desire came from, but somehow, it felt irresistible.
She was on top of him. There was so little separating them. Ash wasn't taking anything. He wasn't giving anything, either. He was completely still.
At last, he spoke.
"We missed the sunset," he said.
Serena's awareness of their surroundings came rushing back to her. She loosened her grip on him. Ash's hat lay a few feet away, discarded. His hair was a disaster. His clothes were awkwardly twisted around his body from spending so long rolling on the ground. Serena had no doubt she looked the same.
It was dusk now. A great calm had fallen over the area. Back the way they came, a handful of lights in distant windows dotted the night. The brightest of the stars were visible above.
"We'll miss the sunrise if we keep this up," said Serena.
Her own words hit her like a slap to face. She felt dirty all over, and not from rolling in the dirt. She realized how exposed she was. She had Ash between her legs. She pushed against the ground with her knees, taking her weight off of him, trying not to touch him.
She removed herself from him. She rose to her knees, facing away from him. She busied herself with dusting herself off.
She couldn't believe how much she had lost herself in him. She had lost control. Intoxicated barely even began to describe how she had felt about him in that moment. It was beyond desire, beyond want. It was a need.
She knew what it was, and she was afraid.