Hey what's up guys, I know this is kind of long but I would really like to say a few things before you read this chapter. I've decided that this story isn't good enough to continue. I understand that some of you may like it, but I've kind of messed up. I don't have much material, and what I've done so far has dug some holes that I won't be able to get out of. I didn't really think it through at all, I kind of just rushed through chapter by chapter thinking of ideas off the top of my head and typing them up. The only thing I sort of knew I what I wanted to do for was the ending, so what I'm going to do is skip the next 3 gym battles and head straight to the Kalos League, where I will end the story with one or two more chapters. I will most likely write another Amourshipping story at some point in the future, this time actually planning it out and taking the time to make it good. In the meantime, I'm going to write a Pearlshipping story and maybe an Advanceshipping one, since I'm a fan of them all (although Amourshipping is my favorite). I hope you guys are alright with this, and anyways enjoy the rest of the story!

Chapter 7: To the Kalos League!

It's noon in Laverre City as our heroes resting in the Pokemon Center are beginning to wake up, recovered from the injuries they had suffered during the encounter with Hunter J. Ash and Serena were returning from their late breakfast in town as the rest of the group was finishing up their own breakfast. The two of them walked into the Pokemon center, both smiling. Bonnie was the first to greet them.

"Hey, guys! Where have you two been?" she said with a slight smirk on her face. Judging simply from her demeanor, you would have never known that Bonnie had just gotten hit by a Hyper Beam from a Mega Salamence the night before.

Serena blushed. "Oh, um, we just went out to get breakfast. We kind of had an eventful morning..." she turned and smiled at Ash knowingly.

Ash nodded. "Yeah, we found this awesome cafe and they had the best crescents I've ever had! Man, the food here in Kalos is just great!" he said cheerfully, with his usual big smile on his face. Food was a subject to which Ash always had something positive to contribute.

"Wow, you guys are lucky. I wanted to go look for you and join you guys, but Clemont made me stay and eat here!" Bonnie pouted, shooting a glare at her older brother, who was sitting at a table tinkering with some sort of mechanical device.

Clemont looked up from his work and sighed. "Bonnie, I told you already; it's not safe to wander about by yourself. And I was just too tired to go with you. Next time, we can all go somewhere nice to eat. Now can you please just drop it?"

May stood up and laughed a little. "You guys kind of remind me of myself and my little brother, Max. We used to always argue while we were traveling together in the Hoenn region with Ash." She walked up to Bonnie and put a hand on her shoulder. "I know he seems to be overprotective, but try to understand Bonnie; in the end he's just looking after you, is all." She smiled.

"Wow, when did May suddenly become so mature and wise?" Ash said, his smile indicating that he was only joking and wasn't looking for an argument.

May rolled her eyes. "Alright Ash, let's have that battle now, shall we? I think it's time you saw how I've really grown as a trainer."

Ash's eyes lit up. "Now you're talkin'! Pikachu, you ready, buddy?" he turned his head to face his electric partner.

"Pikachu!" Pikachu made a fist and had a determined look in his eyes.

Serena smiled. She loved it when Ash's eyes lit up like that, always finding it difficult to speak to him when his face was so full of emotion and passion.

The group walked outside the back entrance of the Pokemon Center, where a small battlefield awaited them. Ash and May stood on opposite sides, each of them smiling and ready for a good battle.

"Okay, Spritzee, come on out!" May shouted, releasing her Fairy-type Pokemon from its Pokeball. Spritzee emerged in a flash of white light with style and grace, just like a contest-oriented Pokemon would.

"Alright, Pikachu, make sure you pay close attention to Spritzee's fighting style. I'm willing to bet the gym leader has a Spritzee as well, or maybe even an Aromatisse. This is our chance to learn how to beat 'em," Ash said.

"I'll be the judge of this match," said Clemont, standing in the middle of the sideline. But then Bonnie spoke up, "No, Clemont, I wanna do it! Please let me?" she begged.

Clemont smiled and said, "Okay, Bonnie, just remember to be fair, and don't distract the battlers!"

May said, "You ready, Ash? I won't go easy on you!" she taunted.

Ash grinned and replied, "Been ready, May. I've been waiting on you!"

May wasn't about to waste any time. "Okay then, Spritzee, let's go first. Open up the stage with Echoed Voice!" she commanded.

Spritzee opened its mouth and shot powerful sound waves toward Pikachu. "Just let it hit you, Pikachu!" Ash ordered. Pikachu stood its ground against the attack, getting a feel for its power. After the attack passed, Pikachu seemed to be fine.

"Hmm, not much going with that move. Let's hit 'em with a Thunderbolt now, Pikachu!" Ash said.

Pikachu leaped into the air and launched a powerful Thunderbolt straight at Spritzee. "Dodge it, Spritzee!" May cried, knowing full well that Pikachu's Thunderbolt was definitely a tough one.

Spritzee tried to get out of the way but was too slow to avoid the devastating electricity. Thunderbolt hit Spritzee directly, surrounding it with yellow sparks as it cried out in pain.

Ash grinned. This is too easy, he thought.

"Spritzee, are you okay?" May asked, her voice full of concern. Spritzee responded in the affirmative. "Spritzee!" it cried, not willing to give up just yet.

"Pikachu, let's end this quick. Use Iron Tail!" Ash ordered. We've got this in the bag already, he thought.

On the sidelines, Clemont nodded, saying, "That's a good choice. Steel-type moves are super-effective against Fairy-type Pokemon. It looks like this hit will be the finishing blow."

Pikachu leaped into the air again, his tail glowing bright white.

May smiled. "Not so fast, Ash. Spritzee, use Fairy Wind to blow Pikachu back!"

Spritzee sent hundreds of small silver particles at Pikachu, sending him flying backward. "Pikachu's helpless in the air when I've got Fairy Wind blowing you back, Ash!" May gloated, enjoying the battle with her old mentor.

"So pretty!" Bonnie exclaimed, entranced by the beautiful Fairy Wind.

"That's my little coordinator's touch!" May said.

Ash was taken aback. He had been so sure of victory just moments earlier. He smiled, his brain already formulating a plan. "Looks like this battle might be tougher than I thought, May. I'm impressed. Pikachu, let's get close with Quick Attack!"

Pikachu immediately began to dash in zig zags towards Spritzee. Within seconds, Pikachu was right in front of Spritzee.

"Blow it back with Fairy Wind again, Spritzee!" May shouted, starting to get worried.

Ash adjusted his hat. "I was waiting for that! Pikachu, hold your ground with Iron Tail!"

Pikachu's tail glowed white again, but this time he stuck it into the ground beneath him. The Fairy Wind attack was doing damage, but it wasn't much; and more importantly Pikachu wasn't going anywhere now. May gasped.

Serena smiled, finding herself amazed with Ash's battling prowess yet again. He really is something else, she thought.

The Fairy Wind faded away, and Ash seized the opportunity. "Now, hit the real target!" he shouted.

Pikachu dislodged its tail from the ground and slammed it into Spritzee with lightning-quick speed.

Spritzee cried out and fell backward. It didn't get up.

Bonnie stepped into the battlefield, her hand raised up high. "Spritzee is unable to continue, so Pikachu is the winner!"

Pikachu leaped onto Ash's shoulder, not too fazed from the battle. "Good job, buddy," Ash said, petting his partner's head affectionately.

May recalled Spritzee. She looked up at Ash. "I guess this is why I'm more of a contest battler," she said, smiling. "You're still strong as ever, aren't you?"

Ash smiled back. "Yep, what else do you expect from a future Pokemon master?"

As she watched the two friends talk, Serena felt a twinge of jealousy. She couldn't help it, even though she had heard May herself say that she didn't like Ash in that way. Snap out of it, Serena, she thought. Ash will be yours, he's going to get the hints, May's going to help, we're gonna get married and I'm going to wear that beautiful dress I saw in Coumarine City, and-

"Serena?"

Serena looked up, and saw Ash looking at her with concern. "Serena?" he repeated. "You alright?"

She snapped back into reality. Darn it, Serena. Stop getting ahead of yourself. "Um, yeah! I'm just fine. Don't worry about me!" she tried to sound convincing, when really her mind was ridden with questions and concerns.

– –

"Alright, Fletchinder, let's end this with Flame Charge! Full power!" Ash shouted.

Fletchinder became surrounded by bright orange flames and dashed straight towards Spritzee, smashing into it with full force. Spritzee cried out and landed on its back, knocked out.

The referee raised his flag. "Spritzee is unable to battle, which means the winner is the challenger, Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town!"

Valerie looked down at her Spritzee and smiled. "You did well, Spritzee. Take a nice, long rest," she said as she recalled her final Pokemon. "Congratulations, Ash. You are indeed very strong, and deserving of the Fairy Badge. Good luck on your future gym battles, and in the Kalos league beyond!"

Ash happily accepted the badge and looked at it. He glanced over at the others, who were cheering for him, especially Serena. He smiled at them. "Alright, I got the Fairy Badge!" he shouted, doing his usual celebratory pose with his Pokemon, holding the badge up high.

Ash and his friends continued their journey through the beautiful Kalos region, encountering several new kinds of Pokemon and meeting up with rivals all over. Unfortunately, May had to leave for Hoenn after the festival. Ash obtained the Psychic Badge and the Iceberg Badge from their respective gym leaders after training long and hard with his Pokemon, including his newest member, Noivern, who evolved from an inexperienced Noibat. He also asked Professor Oak to call back his Charizard, who was successfully able to Mega Evolve into Mega Charizard (Y) and played a vital role in his last gym battle. The group excitedly finds their way at the Kalos League, where the strongest trainers from all over the world will come to Kalos and compete in.

Our heroes are now walking on Route 21, on their way to the Kalos League. Ash had just stopped by a Move Tutor who was able to teach his Noivern Draco Meteor, the most powerful Dragon-type move. He is now more excited than ever to compete.

Ash is so psyched. He's so close to fulfilling his dream...or at least taking a big step towards it. If he wins the League, or even if he loses though...he'll be leaving for his next adventure... Serena thought. She had been having mixed feelings about their journey coming to an end. She had her final Showcase competition coming up, just a day before Ash's Kalos League Final, if he made it that far. I'll tell him how I feel after I become Kalos Queen. That should really get his attention, and maybe he'll realize that he feels the same! She thought optimistically. But now, it's time to focus on my own dream.

Ash glanced over at Serena as they walked. He had also been having conflicted feelings about leaving Kalos. Clemont and Bonnie, he understood that they had to stay here. Clemont had a gym to tend to, and Bonnie was too young to go anywhere. But for some reason, he felt especially sad at the thought of leaving Serena. He decided not to think about it too much. I've said good-bye to many friends in the past, he thought. This won't be any different. He knew he wasn't convincing himself very well, but he tried to focus on his goal. The Kalos League. Another chance for me to take a big step towards becoming a Pokemon Master.

That's the end of the chapter. Like I said earlier, there will be probably be two more chapters to end the story, since I think my ending is at least pretty decent. Feel free to review, and after this story is over I hope you will stay tuned for my Pearlshipping story, and future stories to come. Thanks for reading guys, I really appreciate it! Expect the next chapter in a few days.