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Chapter 3: Regret

Ash didn't look back once as he ran towards the elevator. He quickly pushed the button, and luckily it was already there, so he was able to get inside within just a few seconds. He hit the button at the very top to take him to the highest floor.

– –

Bonnie had been playing with Dedenne and some of the other Pokemon when she noticed someone running out of the corner of her eye. She turned to see someone getting into the elevator. It was Ash. She frowned, wondering what was up; she knew Ash well enough that he would be socializing like the others at a time like this.

"Dedenne, you wait here. I'll be right back."

– –

Ash sat down on a bench and stared solemnly out the window, overlooking the fantastically beautiful view of Lumiose City. As the sun began to set, the evening sky was just light enough to see the structure of each building, but it was dark enough to see the millions of lights scattering the city.

If only Ash was in the mood to appreciate it.

He had expected Serena to be sorta mad at him. Sorta. But he hadn't expected her to just forget about him completely...not after she had confessed her feelings for him way back at the end of their journey together.

We were just kids... Ash thought to himself. I guess I made something outta nothin'...

But deep down inside, he knew he was just kidding himself. He had felt something real, and he knew for a fact that she had too, even if they were just kids.

I should've just stayed with her...I should've been satisfied with winning the League and just ended my journey, right then and there.

"Ash?"

Startled, Ash quickly looked up from where he sat and saw a young girl with bright blonde hair walking out of the elevator. "Go away, Bonnie," he said, his voice sounding much harsher than he had intended.

Bonnie looked hurt as she nodded her head slowly, wiping a tear from her eye. "I'm sorry, Ash..." she said as she started walking back to the elevator.

Ash sighed. "Come back, Bonnie. I didn't mean to be like that," he said.

Instantly, Bonnie reverted back to her usual chipper self. "Okay!" she said cheerfully, sitting down right next to him.

Ash couldn't help but smile. It was hard not to love this kid; she was so vibrant and enthusiastic about everything.

"So why are you up here?" Bonnie asked casually.

Ash looked back out the window. "No reason, really. I just wanted, uh, some fresh air," he said, knowing how lame and unconvincing he sounded.

Bonnie rolled her eyes. "You're gonna have to do better than that, Ash...we're still indoors, you know," she said, a small smile playing across her seemingly innocent face.

Ash laughed a little. "Uh, okay, fine...I just wanted to be alone for little bit, that's all," he said. Damn it, he thought. She's way too smart for that to work.

Bonnie frowned. "I'm too smart for that, you know! Tell me what's wrong! You just ran off as soon as you got here! And you didn't even say hi to Sere-"

"Okay, okay, I get it, I'll tell you, for Christ's sake," Ash said, nearly exasperated. "I guess...I was just a little shocked after seeing Serena and Calem...you know..." he said, his voice trailing off. He didn't quite know what to say. I can't believe I'm talking to a freaking twelve-year-old about girl problems... he thought.

Bonnie smiled sadly and nodded. "I see..." she said, her face expressing sympathy, which Ash absolutely loathed seeing. He hated it when people felt sorry for him for stupid things that were his own fault in the first place.

Ash decided to continue. "I just...I just thought that she wouldn't be mad at me, even though I definitely should've called her..."

"Yeah, she wasn't the only one you lost touch with, you know," Bonnie said, pointing to herself as she spoke.

Ash smiled guiltily. "Yeah, and I should've talked to you and Clemont, too. I guess I was just too obsessed with my Pokemon after I won. I felt like after five losses, that one win was finally bringing me so much closer to my goal."

Bonnie nodded again. "You know, you should be telling Serena all this...not me! I think you should talk to her. It seems like you guys have a lot to say to each other," she said.

As if on cue, the elevator door opened and who else but Serena walked out of it, looking around. "Hey, Ash? Are you up here?"

Ash turned to Bonnie. "Oh, crap! What do I say?" he frantically asked, but he was talking to thin air. Somehow Bonnie had managed to disappear within an instant. Ash wasn't surprised, though; he figured Sanpei and his Greninja had been working with her on her ninja skills.

His thoughts returned to the situation at hand as he saw that Serena noticed him. Shit, he thought. Shit, shit, shit, I'm not ready for this.

"Ash! I must've missed you down there! How've you been?" the Kalos Queen asked, her arms outstretched for a hug. Their eyes met, and for a second Ash forgot about the world. He forgot about why he was even here, and the danger that threatened the world as they spoke.

He couldn't help but get up and accept her hug, despite his mixed feelings for her. He just wanted to feel her touch again; to be within such intimate proximity of her was exhilarating for him.

"It's...good to see you again, Serena," he said, trying to remain as calm as possible. Isn't she supposed to be...mad?

Her smile warmed his heart, like it always had. "You too! It's been so long since we last saw each other, hasn't it? You left right after you won the Kalos League..." she said. Her voice seemed to sound less and less cheerful the more she spoke.

Words betrayed Ash as he struggled desperately to find something to say. "Uh, yeah...I was happy after our journey ended, though, so it hasn't been too hard on me," he managed to say, realizing too late that he didn't word that right. At all. Nice one, Ash... he thought to himself, mentally kicking himself.

Serena looked surprised, and a bit hurt. "Oh...I see..." she said, looking down at the floor. The two of them remained in silence, the air was tense and uncomfortable.

For better or for worse, they were saved from this horribly awkward situation as the elevator door opened once more. Shauna, Mairin, and Alain came out and saw the two childhood friends sitting together.

"ASH!" Shauna and Mairin both shouted simultaneously as they ran over to him and gave him a big hug. Mairin broke away first and stood next to Alain, real close; their shoulders were touching and her hand was in his.

Shauna embraced Ash for much longer, pulling away only after Serena cleared her throat. "Oh! Sorry, are we interrupting?" Shauna asked.

Serena shook her head, forcing a smile at her old rival. "No, not at all, actually I was just leaving. I guess I'll see you all later," she said as she walked back into the elevator. The door closed, and she was gone.

Ash turned to Alain, who he considered to be one of his best friends. "Hey, man. What's up? It's been way too long," he said, shaking Alain's hand.

Alain nodded. "Sure has, Champion Ash," he said with a knowing smile. He and Ash had faced each other in the final match of the Kalos League, the battle coming down to the wire with Alain's Charizard against Ash's Charizard.

Shauna sat unusually close to Ash as she spoke. "You look good, Ash!" she said flirtatiously, winking at him.

Ash blushed a little at the compliment. "Uh, thanks, Shauna! You look great, too," he said. And he meant it; Shauna looked gorgeous. She wore a revealing pink top and her usual high-cut short-shorts that had every guy staring.

Mairin still held Alain's hand as she turned to Ash. "How come Serena left? She looked kind of upset," she said. "Is something wrong?"

Ash looked down. "Nah, everything's alright, Mairin. Why would she be upset? She has no reason to, I mean she has her performing and now she has a boyfriend, and-"

Alain laughed a little. A lighthearted, good-natured laugh. "Maybe she's not upset...but I sure as hell can see that you are," he said.

Shauna's face expressed genuine concern as she said, "Yeah, I thought you'd be upset about Calem...I would've told you about it before you got here, but I couldn't get in touch with you," she said.

God damn it, everyone's getting on my case about not calling them, Ash thought. "I'm not upset. She seems happy, so I'm happy for her. I couldn't be happier, actually," he said.

Alain nodded, his expression showing understanding. "Bull shit," he said.

Mairin and Shauna both laughed. "Although I don't condone his language, I have to agree with Alain," Mairin said. "Sweetie, don't swear, it's not very attractive," she softly scolded him on the side.

Ash couldn't help but smile at them. He was lucky; he had some pretty damn good friends. He promised himself to always keep in touch with them from this point on.

Shauna started to speak when the elevator door opened again. This time, Misty and Gary walked out and happily acknowledged the four trainers before them. Gary was holding his head in his hands, looking like he was in pain.

"Ash, Diantha is down on the first floor. She's ready to give us a little briefing, but she insisted that you be there," Misty said.

Ash nodded. "Thanks, Misty, we'll come down with you. And what the hell happened to you, Gary?" he asked.

Gary laughed a little. "Well, I kinda slipped and fell in the elevator and banged my head pretty badly against the railing. Nothing major, though, don't you worry Ashy boy," he said, still holding his head.

"He claims there was some water on the floor," Misty said, chuckling.

"There was! I swear to Arceus there was!" Gary shouted. Everyone laughed as they got into the elevator and descended to the first floor.

When they entered the main hall, everyone was relatively quiet. There were a few whispers here and there, but for the most part no one was talking.

Oh, shit, Ash thought. I guess the situation must be looking pretty grim.

Diantha's expression looked very grim, indeed. She smiled weakly at Ash as they exchanged a silent greeting.

They joined the crowd of trainers and waited for Diantha to speak. Ash found Brock, Dawn, and Kenny and stood by them. He furtively glanced at Serena, who was standing next to Calem.

For one, long minute, Diantha didn't speak a word. She just stood there, in front of everyone, looking every individual trainer in the eye for a brief moment each.

"I want to thank you all for coming here," she said. "And I can only pray that you won't regret it."

– – – –

That's the end of the chapter! What is Serena thinking, and what is she truly feeling? What are Shauna's feelings towards Ash? Are they mutual in even the slightest way? Was there really water on the elevator floor? Stay tuned to find out! As always, leave your thoughts and comments in the reviews for me! Thanks for reading, everyone.