Hello

This chapter was written by Valerian Candidate and has given me permission to post this.

Hello Shalour city

The train screeched to a halt. Ash banged his knee against the table as he got up. Serena got up when it stopped and stood beside him as she handed Brock Ashs' backpack as Pikachu jumped on his shoulder. He leaned against Serena as they left the booth. Leaf, Bonnie, and Clemont left carrying their stuff. Brock stayed back and checked that they didn't leave anything. Someone was yelling last stop and reminding passengers to not forget their cargo. The six left the train and away from the yellow line as the mob leaving rushed to leave the station. Not willing to face the mob they stood at the platform waiting for it to traffic to slow so they weren't separated.

Looking at the dark sky Leaf slumped her shoulders and stopped a yawn, "It's late and I'm exhausted."

Bonnie couldn't stop her yawn and stretched an arm up as another covered her mouth, "I'm tired, too. Let's check into the pokemon center."

Leaf grinned at the quiet murmur of agreement from the others. Serena held one of Ashs' hand in both of hers while Ash held her wait tighter then necessary. They were leaning against each other. Clemont had picked up Bonnie and Brock stood off to the side but was beside ash. The crowd began to peter out and they exited the station and entered the city proper.

They looked at a crossroad sign and saw the direction where the pokemon center was. They walked slowly towards it in a comfortable silence. It was quiet and they heard an ambulance in the distance. Pikachu jumped on Serenas' shoulder instead as Ash nearly tripped but Serena stabilized him.

"Hey Ash, Can I ask you a question?" Brock saw Ash turn to him instead of the buildings that blocked the glittering night sky.

"Sure, Brock. What's up?" Ash asked.

"I don't mean to be rude so please forgive me if I am but how did you figure out your feelings about..." Brock pointed to Serena.

"What do you mean?" Ash asked confused.

"Well, you are one of the densest person I know. She's very pretty for someone your age." Brock smirked slightly when he saw Serena blush slightly at the compliment.

"I don't know how long I've liked her. She's beautiful." Ash blushed and Serena turned red for a moment from embarrassment.

"He's been my crush since I was seven." Serena said.

Brock raised an eyebrow with a naughty smile on his face, "Attracted to him since childhood?"

"I think it's sweet. They liked each other when they were young, lost each other, and found each other before falling for each other years later." Leaf defended them.

"It seems like you know this from personal experience, Leaf. Who is your Ash?" Brock asked.

"Yeah, it is. He..." Leaf paused and froze in place.

"Really? Who's the lucky guy? Someone we know?" Serena asked smirking.

Leaf's eyes widened to comical size and her mouth was slack as she waved her hands panicking. Her face became pale as she stared at the floor, avoiding Serenas' gaze, before looking around the brightly lit area for something to change the topic. The others were a bit ahead of her and she lifted her head and tried to stall the conversation. She successfully manage to stutter for five minutes.

Clemont took pity on her and pointed to the horizon and loudly spoke, "Hey guys, we're near the pokemon center."

Leaf took that opportunity and quickly walked around the immobile group. Ash had let go of Serena's waist but they she still held his hand was still intertwined . She tugged on Ash's other hand towards her and Ash gave an undignified eek before she dragged him towards the pokemon center.

"Come on, hurry up guys. Ash and I need to get sleep sometime this decade, right Ash?" Leaf pinned Ash with a glare trying to get him to agree.

"We do?" Ash asked not getting the hint as Leaf sighed.

"What about Leaf's secret boy-" Serena was cut off by Leaf.

"Please. We need to get up really early tomorrow," Leaf's voice was pleading.

"Why?" Ash asked as he looked between Serena and Leaf.

"Because..." There was a noticeable pause between Leafs' words as she thought of an excuse, "We wanted to get megastones as early as possible to have an epic mega battle."

Bonnie yawned again and the older members glanced at the near sleeping young girl, "Cool. Let's go so we can see the battle.

Ash shrugged and Leaf sighed in relief as the others reluctantly let the topic drop as they entered the pokemon center. Bonnie refused to be carried inside so she walked in on her own but held out a hand as the doors slid open and felt a few drops of rain on her arm, "Is it gonna rain tomorrow?"

"I saw on TV that it might right a few inches or be a light drizzle all day." Brock answered.

"How do we split the rooms?" Clemont asked.

"Two rooms with three beds each. One for us and the other for the girls." Ash said as the others agreed.

"Alright! I'll check us in. Brock said enthusiastically before Ash moved in front of him with arms spread out.

"Not you since you'll flirt with Nurse Joy and get poison jabbed again." Ash said.

"But..." Brock began to deny it, "I won't!"

He did plan to flirt with her. He slumped his shoulders and hung his head. After the last one and the long night he realized how tired he was. He didn't want to end the night that way.

"Don't worry, I'll do it." Clemont walked to the front desk where Nurse Joy stood, before quickly coming back empty handed.

"What's wrong?" Leaf asked.

"There's no three bed rooms available. We can do three doubles or six single rooms." Clemont said.

"We'll take the doubles. How are we going to split the rooms." Serena said as the others nodded.

"I'll room with Bonnie so Brock will be with Clemont," Leaf said after a glance with Bonnie as the young girl nodded.

"Why?" Clemont asked.

"Serena can't sleep in the same room as Brock and you can compare stories about boring gym leader meetings." Leaf said.

"And Clemont is a really good cook and Ash asid that you were a great one, so maybe you can exchange recipes. Besides, Clemont is only allowed to sleep in the same room as a girl if it is me or someone I picked." Bonnie said.

Serena twitched at the last part as Leaf left to get the room keys. Bonnie was looking at Serena as she blushed, "That ... leaves me and Ash in the final room. Are you okay with that, Ash?"

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" Ash asked.

"No reason, no reason at all. I wouldn't want to be asked to Clemonts' wife but why haven't you asked me that, Bonnie?"

Bonnie looked between her and Ash before mumbling.

"Is it that I'm not good looking or mature enough?" Serena asked.

"Of course you are!" Ash squeezed her hand when saw she was upset.

The group turned to Ash in shock. She gasped in surprise and turned red. Her eyes widened as her jaw dropped before it morphed slowly in a large grin. Ash didn't seem to understand what it meant to her but the others did. Ash patted his stomach wishing Brock didn't scare away the stewardess.

"Why are you looking me like that?" Ash asked.

Leaf joined them and looking at the shocked loocks, Ashs' confused one and Serenas' face she asked what she missed while hold out three sets of keys.

Bonnie spoke first, "I'll tell you later."

The group was about to separate ways when Ashs' stomach growled. Ash didn't look at the group only the floor as a moment of silence passed. Brock shook his head with a small smile while Leaf sighed and the others didn't look surprised.

"Do you want to get some food first? I'm starving." Ash said.

Leaf and Bonnie nodded agreeing immediately. Serena held Ash close and making it clear that she was going with Ash with Clemont agreeing because he wanted to watch her. Brock looked thoughtful before nodding.

They released their pokemon in the proper area and set food before out for them before leaving. Even Noivern wasn't difficult because he was hungry. Clemont ordered for them when they found an empty booth. Clemont took the empty area beside Leaf. Food was brought to them after five minutes of comfortable silence.

"Can't wait to mega evolve Charizard," Ash spoke between bites eating like a Munchlax, "Be prepared to lose, Leaf!"

"You wish," Leaf picked at her food eating slowly.

"How did you meet Serena anyway, Ash?" Brock ate at his usual speed as a hopeful Bonnie looked at him from across the table as she put her vegetables on Leafs' plate.

Ash stopped eating to speak, "Leaf, Serena, and I lived in Pallet town when we were young. In Professor Oaks' summer camp got lost while I chased a pollywag into the forest. I found her on the ground, in the middle of the forest. She hurt her knee and I helped her walk towards the exit."

"That would be a nice story to tell if you guys get married." Brock said as Leaf was saying it was so cute.

Pikachu opted to stay with Brock as Leaf handed the keys out. Ash got his backpack from Clemont and they walked together until him and Serena had to separate as their room was in a different hallway then the others. Ash unlocked the door and opened it as he turned on the light as she walked in.

There were two single beds with pain green blankets and white covering. Between them a lightly stained wooden dresser had a metal lamp with a soft pink glass flower. Beside it was the remote to the large flat screen television in the room. The two beds faced it and the open door in the room showed a bathroom with a toilet and shower with sink. Serena looked around and seemed to be deciding what to do when Ash took the left bed closest to the door leaving her the right one near the bathroom. He put his backpack on the bed while Serena put it on the stand at the foot of the bed.

Ash fell into the bed and buried his head in the pillow. He spread his right arm as he tried to reach the remote. Serena grinned at the scene and put the remote control in his reach and he turned over to watch Serena as she was looking through her stuff. Ash turned the television on.

"Want to use the bathroom first?" Ash asked as he began to flip through the channels.

"Sure." Serena looked though her bag and grabbed some stuff before taking them to the bathroom with her. The door closed and her heard her hum a tune before metal metal and the sound of water began. He focused on the television as he channel surfed so when the water stopped he realized she was in and out of the shower.

"What? No..." she said loudly before the door opened and he turned his head to see what was wrong.

Serena appeared to be only in a towel. Her honey colored hair clung to her skin and moisture clung to her skin as she dripped on the bed. His gaze went from her head before pausing at her neck before focusing on the chest before it reached her legs. He kicked himself as she met his gaze as he reached her face again.

"I forgot to bring my clothes with me," Serena blushed.

Ash opened his mouth before trying to speak but nothing came out. He closed it blushing. Staring intently at the television while missing what was on the screen while very aware of Serena as she ruffled through her backpack.

"I'm sorry."

"You can look, if you want." Serena told him softly.

"Still though."

"My bathing suit is more revealing and it's not like I'm naked. It's okay if you don't feel comfortable with it though." She made a happy noise as she seemed to find something.

"It's not the same."

"How is it different?"

"Umm... It just is."

"Okay," is all she said as she brought out her night clothes and came out dry, in new clothes, and combing her hair. Ash looked past her and saw her toothbrush in the holder. Ash changed the channel again. She seemed more relaxed and at ease than before. She caught his gaze and spoke, "Your turn."

Ash grabbed his towel, pajamas, and toothbrush before closing the door behind him. Serena organized her backpack and set it on the stand at the bed again. She put Ashs' backpack on his stand before turning the television. It was a replay of Kanto's Battle Frontier best battles. The image of Ash appeared with his line up of pokemon. Pikachu was on his shoulder in the picture. They went through a series of clips depicting the highlights of the final battle.

Brandon appeared at the end of it near the commentator. He towered over the well dressed man. He seemed to be thoughtful as he looked over the clips. It took a couple seconds for him to realize the commentator asked something and the man took some time to answer.

"Ash Ketchum was the 56th battle challenger for the Kanto Battle Frontier and the first to win it in Kanto. He battled like a veteran with some pokemon that otherwise wouldn't be thought of as champions. We offered a position as a Frontier Brain and he refused. If he decides to settle down and not be a champion of a reigon, whether there is a spot for it originally or not, we will offer and make one for him if he accepts. He will go far one day."

Serena turned it off as Ash came out of bathroom. She turned on the lamp as he turned off the ceiling light. Serena was thoughtful as she didn't know that he was offered a position in the Kanto Battle Frontier. They both curled up under their respective blankets.

"Ash?" Serena's voice broke the silence as Ash tried to get comfortable and fall asleep.

"Yes, Serena?" he asked.

"What are you plans after all of... this?" Serena asked.

"Go home to Kanto for rest probably. I'm not sure after that." Ash told her.

"Were you really offered to become a Battle Frontier brain in Kanto?" Serena asked.

"Yeah, I actually forgot about that." Ash admitted.

"Okay, I think Leaf and Bonnie wanted us to have this room to ourselves." Serena said.

"Really? They might have. Do you think we can talk later?" Ash yawned and Serena agreed as she turned off the lamp.

"Goodnight Ash." Serena yawned too.

"Night Serena." Ash said as silence dscended.

Only the sound of breathing was heard and Serena counted to five hundred before she whispered asking, "Are you awake, Ash?" and waited but there was no answer.

She got up and quietly walked to Ashs' bed. Bending down she admired his sleeping profile before kissing his cheek. She stroked his unruly hair. She felt herself tear up a little.

"I love you, Ash Ketchum," She whispered in his ear before she left the room not seeing Ash open his eyes.

Until next time. Review, comment, whatever.

Fan wizard signing off.