Oliverqueen01- Thursday again? Someone has a Deloran and fast forwarding it to thursday? XD but in all seriousness it's birthday time aka chapter 13. But before we get to it the usual disclaimer and as usual reviews/questions will be handled at the end.
Wally West: Oliverqueen01 does not own Pokemon or anything else he references in this story, They belong to Nintendo, Game Freak, TPCI and DC comics respectively please support the official release.
OliverQueen01: Er- thanks Wally if you excuse me * Runs as everyone's reading *
Chapter 13: A birthday to remember
"Ack, why do I have to come along with you again?" Ash asked
"Because, the point of a surprise gift Mr. Lazy, means it needs to be a surprise. Remember nobody is supposed to know what each is getting for her. It has to stay a surprise until she opens them and your the only one left who still has to get her one." Said Leaf
Ash sighed as he kept walking through the mall. Today was Serena's birthday he learnt a few days ago, he was looking for a present to get her. He wanted it to be the perfect gift but everything he saw so far was either expensive or uninteresting to him.
"And what did you get her?" he asked
"You'll wait and see later, I'm not spoiling it even to you."
Leaf's phone vibrated in her pocket. She looked at it and turned to Ash.
"Sorry but that's my que to leave, I'm needed back at the house to help set up, remember the party starts at 5:30. don't be late!"
Ash nodded as Leaf ran off back to the car and drove back to Serena's house in order to set up for the party. Ash was left alone to walk around and find something. He looked at his phone for the time.
"4pm. That gives me an hour to find something, head home shower get dressed and then go over to Serena's house for the party. Okay time to get serious, time to find something that Serena will like coming from me."
Ash kept walking through the mall until something caught his eye. He entered the shop and purchase the item in question. He was about to walk out when the owner called to him.
"Excuse me young man, can you come here for a second?" the old man asked in a low voice
"What is it?"
The shop owner bent down and pulled out a small yellow box with a red ribbon on it and handed it to Ash.
"Something tells me, that you can help this find a home my boy." he smiled as he handed it to Ash.
Ash thanked the shop owner and headed out of the store with a grin on his face, he then looked at his phone.
"4:45. If I run I can make it home and make to the party."
Ash then ran out of the mall, all the way to his house in order to get ready. Once he got home he set the boxes on the kitchen table and went to shower. He emerged 10 minutes later. Once he was fully dressed he motioned to Pikachu and Froakie to follow him and they left the house.
Ash entered Serena's house at 5:15. Pikachu and Froakie ran off to the backyard where the pokemon were playing. When they got outside Pikachu and Froakie were greeted by the other pokemon. Unfortunately for Pikachu he was immediately noticed by Dawn's Buneary and got dragged away to another area of the backyard while Froakie watched on with a confused look on it's face. They knew this was going to be a long night.
Back inside the house
Ash said hello to everyone as he took off his shoes and entered. He placed his gifts on the table along with a last minute card. He then headed to the kitchen to grab a cup of juice to drink. He then sat on the chair while awaiting for Serena to come downstairs. He was also introduced to both Selina and Amanda. He looked at the clock it read 5:25, Soon Serena would be downstairs and then the party would begin.
Upstairs in Serena's room
"Are you done yet?" Serena asked impatently.
"Almost, just a few more strands of hair and make up and then your ready to go."
Serena sighed as Leaf put the finishing touches on her makeup and hair. She had thought of doing it herself but then decided to call Leaf to help her instead. She hoped that whatever Leaf was doing would make her look good.
"And we're done! You can open you eyes now." Leaf exclaimed.
Serena slowly opened her eyes and gasped upon her reflection. She was at Leaf's handiwork. She looked like if she was the main female star of a big movie. Serena then hugged and thanked Leaf for her help. Serena then picked out a dress to wear and told Leaf to go downstairs and introduce her.
Back downstairs...
Everyone was chatting amongst themselves waiting for Serena come down so that the party could begin. When the clock stuck 5:30, Leaf came downstairs and caught everyone's attention very quickly.
"Attention everyone! After half an hour of hard work which included: yelling, sweat, tears and various other things. I now present to you the birthday girl herself!" Leaf said mocking an announcer's voice.
At those words Serena came downstairs and everyone stared in amazement especially Ash his heart was beating at 100 mph/hr as she came into the room.
Serena's hair was straighten and had little curls at the end. She was wearing a pink short dress with a bow on the front with her pink slippers and silver watch on her left hand. She giggled as she thanked everyone for coming and then officially declared the party started.
Everyone was having a good time at the party eating, drinking, talking and all the various things one would normally do at a party. Outside the pokemon were having their own party. Pikachu was still be smothered by Dawn's Buneary, Fenniken was sleeping under the tree with Froakie who was still awake and Rosearade who was soaking in sunlight, Pancham was playing ball with Wartotle, Eevee was playing tag with Sylveon, and finally Tommy's Charmander (which he got recently from his father) was racing with Umberon and Marshtomp. Pikachu yelled out to the other pokemon to help get Buneary away from him but they all ignored him which caused him to cry a little. He knew Buneary liked him but he didn't feel the same way.
"So what's it like to be 18?" asked Gary
"Not really much difference from being 17, it's just another year of doing the same thing day in and day out." Serena replied.
Everyone laughed at Serena's answer. She then turned to Amanda.
"So Amanda, since only Drew knows about you why don't you tell us a little about yourself?" Dawn asked
"Let's see' where do i begin? Well I'm an only child who still lives with her mother and father still at the age of 18, I work with this knucklehead Drew at the art store because I'm saving up to go to university to become a game designer and I own a Meowth for a pokemon." Amanda answered.
"That's nice, I hope Drew isn't a handful like he is to us at school." May teased.
Everyone laughed as Drew mumbled something about how he really should question why he keeps hanging around. Once the laughter died down Serena turned to Selina and spoke.
"So Selina, are you having a good time?" Serena asked
"Yes, thank you for inviting me." Selina answered shyly.
"Any friend of May is a friend of mine." Serena said with a smile.
Selina blushed as Serena spoke to her. She then looked at May who gave her a smile and thumbs up which assured that she was amongst friends here and that no one would harm her at all, well maybe except for Brock who would try to flirt with her and fail.
"Okay, I think everyone's waited long enough, If everyone would kindly gather around my dining table." Grace interrupted.
Everyone nodded as they headed to the dining table with Grace placing the candles in the cake which happened to be a vanilla cake with a strawberry filling. On the top of the cake it read happy birthday Serena in red frosting.
Grace lit the candles and stood back as Serena stood in front of the cake and everyone began to sing happy birthday. Once the singing concluded, Serena closed her eyes and began to think about her wish. Once her mind was made up she blew out the candles and everyone clapped.
"Happy birthday honey." Grace told Serena lovingly.
"Thanks mom."
Grace and Serena hugged as everyone awwed at both mother and daughter. Grace then took the cake to be cut into slices. While that was going on Serena decided to open her presents. She grabbed a blue box with a red and yellow on it. Serena grabbed the card that was on the box and read it.
A great friend and a happy birthday: that's what you are, and that's what I wish for you.
-Leaf
Serena opened the box and inside of it was a digital camera. Serena was in shock as she looked at the camera and Leaf spoke.
"I figured you would like this, I was going to get you a bracelet but when I saw this I knew I just had to get it for you, plus this would free up a lot of space on your phone for pictures." Leaf admitted
"I like it Leaf thank you."
The two girls hugged and then Serena grabbed another box. This box was smaller it was in gold wrapping paper with a silver ribbon. She torn the card from the box it read from Tommy and Jesse.
"Happy birthday Serena, we've only know each other for a short while but I'm glad to have you in my class and to know you as a friend. I would have payed for this myself but Jesse insisted on paying along with me so this is from both of us.
Tommy and Jesse
Serena opened the box and inside of it was a cookbook of a chef with a name they couldn't pronounce.
"We thought that this would help you make some more good and delicious food. Your a good chef in class and we hope this helps you further." Tommy repiled.
"Aww, your so sweet thank you guys."
Serena thanked and hugged Tommy and Jesse, she then picked up a box with blue wrapping paper, red and green ribbons. She tore off the card and read it.
Today, on your birthday, We wish you the warmest love and happiness. May all of your dreams become a reality. But even more than that, may it bring you loads of true love and friendship. Have an amazing birthday!
-May and Selina
Serena opened the box and inside of it was a pink t-shirt with a picture of a Butterfree flapping it's wings on it.
"We saw this and thought it would suit you." Selina said quietly
"Thank you guys, I love it."
Serena thanked and hugged May and Selina, she then picked up a box with green wrapping paper and red ribbons. She tore off the card and read it.
On your special day, I wish you peace, love, insight, relaxation, fun, knowledge, romance, friendship… and all that stuff that doesn't cost anything.
-Drew and Amanda
Serena opened the box and inside of it was a picture frame with a picture of the Kanto starters staring at a field with there final evolutions in the sky very opaque.
"Our boss was going to throw it out into the bargain bin but then we thought this would make a good present." Drew said.
"Aww, thank you very much."
Serena thanked and hugged Drew and Amanda, she then picked up a box with white wrapping paper and purple ribbons. She tore off the card and read it.
On your birthday, I'd like to take some time to think about all of the wonderful times we've shared together. I'm thankful for our adventures and all of the things that we've done as friends. I look forward to making many more memories with you.
-Dawn
Serena opened the box and inside of it was a heal ball plush and a green sweater with half a tree on the left side.
"I hand made the plush, it took me a week to make with help from my mom and the sweater is something I bought the other day on a whim, I really hope that you like it."Dawn said with a smile.
"It's very lovely Dawn thank you."
The two girls hugged as Serena thanked her and moved onto another box. This box was covered in white wrapping paper with a black ribbon. She read the card accompanying the box.
Best wishes for a joyous day filled with love and laughter. Happy birthday.
-Brock
Serena opened the box and in it was a book labelled 100 steps to the heart by Brock Takeshi with Brock on his knee with a hand sticking out. Everyone cringed at Brock's present, Serena had to put on a brave face while accepting Brock's present.
"Umm, thanks Brock I'm sure I'll find some use to this." Serena said sheepishly.
Brock nodded as he and Serena hugged and she moved back to the remaining gifts. Serena took the bigger of the two boxes wrapped in yellow wrapping paper and green ribbons. She read the card before opening it.
Smile, it could be worse…think about what you'll look like in ten years. Happy Birthday.
-Gary
Serena opened the box and inside of it was a pair of of blue sunglasses.
"I figured you'd want something to up your cool factor, so when I saw these I knew that they would do the trick." Gary said coolly.
"Thanks Gary, I'll treasure these."
Serena hugged Gary and then moved toward the final boxes. It was covered in red wrapping paper and a white ribbon. The other box was a small yellow box with a red ribbon. Serena opened the card first.
Serena, this took me a while to get because I wanted to find the perfect gift for you. I really hope you like it. Happy Birthday!
-Ash
Serena opened the smaller box first and in it was a blue ribbon in circle form.
"Huh, so that's what was in there, I thought it was a bracelet or something the way the owner was describing it." Ash said with surprise.
"It's fine Ash, I'm sure I'll find a use for it, now to box no.2." Serena said with a giggle.
Ash smiled at Serena as she opened the other box. Serena put her hands infront of her face and gasped at what Ash had gotten her. It was a silver bracelet with her name engraved into the underside.
"Ash! How much did this cost? This must have been a fortune." she asked in shock
"No, it was just on budget for me, besides it's your birthday I just want you to be happy today with no questions." Ash said with a grin.
Serena hugged Ash very tightly as everyone looked on and awwed at them. They both turned away and blushed slightly. Once all the gifts were open the cake was handed out and everyone ate the birthday cake. After everyone finished Grace spoke.
"Thank you everyone for coming today, but there is one final gift that Serena has to receive and that's from me." Grace said with a smile.
"Hmm, what is it mom?"
Grace smiled as she pulled out a pink box with a white ribbon from the closet and handed it to Serena. Serena was curious as to what her mother had gotten her. She opened the box and inside of it was a card.
"Now that your old enough and have a job, I believe you can be trusted to have your own credit card. So here you go and remember this card is only to be used in case of an emergency and not all freely and I'll know because I'll be checking the bill." Grace warned her.
Serena hugged Grace and thanked her. Everyone congratulated her and then proceed on with the party with some more food and then finally dance.
Many hours later...
Ash and Serena were the last two left, everyone else had left earlier to get a good night's sleep. Delia had called Ash and told him to wait there for her on her way back from work, So Ash and Serena were talking in her room while Grace cleaned up.
"So did you have fun today?" Ash asked Serena.
"The best. It's going to be so hard figuring out when to wear most of it and how to use some of it. Well maybe expect Brock's because that looks like a lot of trouble if I ever decided to even read it." Serena admitted.
The two of them chuckled.
"I'm glad. You deserve it and what I said I meant it. Your my best friend, if it wasn't for you I'd probably still be flunking at Math." Ash said scratching his cheek.
She smiled at him and thanked him. Grace then called Ash downstairs Delia had arrived to meet him.
"I hope my son didn't cause you two much trouble." Delia said jokingly.
"Not at all, he was truly a gentleman, he actually gave my daughter quite a shock by giving her a quite nice bracelet, she was in tears almost." Grace said with a smile.
"Hmm, that is very interesting that's not like anything he would normally do for just anyone, I'll be sure to tease him on the way home about it." Delia joked.
The two women laughed as the two teens came downstairs. Pikachu and the remaining pokemon came inside. Pikachu was covered in lip-marks and everyone laughed. They knew exactly who the culprit who had done it to Pikachu. Froakie and Fenniken on the other hand were blushing intensely at each other. Eventually Ash and Delia said their goodbyes and headed home.
"So how was work?" Ash asked attempting to veer the conversation towards his mother to take focus off him.
"Busy, we had a lot of people today so many that the restaurant had to turn away some customers. But I want to talk about you I heard from Serena's mom that you got Serena a silver bracelet. I know you, you wouldn't just do this for anybody so what I'm asking is this: Do you like Serena?" Delia asked.
"Honestly mom. I think I do but I'm not sure. It's all so confusing to me, like there are times where all I can think about is her and then there are other times where I just want to take her, hold her in my arms and kiss her." Ash said in a confused voice.
Delia put her hand on Ash's shoulder.
"I know it's confusing, I was the same way even when your father was around there were times were I felt the exact same way your feeling now. You just remind me so much of him, but if I know if he was here now what he would say. He would say just to follow your heart it will never lead you astray."
"I miss him a lot, I wish he was still here." Ash said somberly.
"Me too."
Delia and Ash walked the rest of the way home quietly with Pikachu ribbing Froakie about Fenniken and Froakie denying anything happened between him and Fenniken.
Serena was in her bed when the laptop started to ring.
"Who's calling at this hour?" she wondered as she got out of bed.
Serena opened the laptop while rubbing her eyes and clicked yes on the invite. The screen loaded and then the sound followed.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY SERENA!" her Kalos friends yelled
Everyone she knew from Kalos was there from young Bonnie to Professor Sycamore.
"Thank you!"
"So so what presents did you get?" asked Bonnie
Serena ran off to get her presents and show them off to her Kalos friends. Professor Sycamore kept yelling Marvellous at each gift while Shauna and Bonnie gasped at every gift and the boys were just amazed that Serena had gotten so many gifts from her new friends. Once the gifts were viewed Professor Sycamore took his leave back to his lab while The boys then excused themselves to do something leaving Shauna, Serena and Bonnie to talk.
"So Serena who got you that bracelet?" Shauna teased
Serena blushed. "Ash did."
"Umm who's Ash?" Bonnie asked confused.
"A boy that Serena likes Bonnie, but like your brother he can be a bit dense." Shauna explained to Bonnie.
"Is he as dense as Clemont?"
The girls laughed at Bonnie's question. Bonnie then started to yawn and excused herself to bed, leaving the two girls alone.
"So how'd you react?" Shauna teased.
"I thanked him and hugged him but after that I thought I saw the strangest thing ever coming from him. I thought he was blushing, heck even his card was so sweet he wrote it himself and it was so beautiful." Serena said blushing.
"OOHH girl, I think he's falling for you." Shauna said with a grin
"You think?" Serena asked.
"Girl, If getting you a bracelet and then blushing at you for thanking him for said bracelet then might as well put me in a Floette costume and call me flower." Shauna joked.
The girls laughed at Shauna's statement and then calmed down. They then said their final goodbyes to each other promising that their gifts from them would arrive sometime next week. Serena looked at her pokemon, they were exhausted. Pancham had his sunglasses on and was drooling, Sylveon was asleep with her ribbons on the ground and Fenniken was asleep in Serena's bed with a blush on it's face. She could only imagine what had happened during the party between Fenniken and Froakie.
Serena then looked at the blue ribbon she had received from Ash and stared at it for a while.
"Hmm, what to do with this ribbon? I could use it as a bookmark. No then it would get squished. I could put it on Fenniken or Sylveon, No that doesn't work either. Keeping in the box isn't an option hmm..."
Serena then looked at her usual clothes and then an idea struck her. She smiled at her idea and made a note to herself not to forget what to do with that ribbon.
"This was the best day ever with all my friends. But tomorrow will be even better with their gifts and the ribbon that Ash gave me will be put to good use."
Serena then closed her eyes and went to sleep along with everyone else. What she would do with the ribbon that she had received would be revealed soon.
Oliverqueen01- Another Thursday means another chapter. So lets go over somethings. The wrapping paper? Noticed what I did there with them? No? Well then I'll tell you. The wrapping paper were shout out to the games. The presents were things I think were things I would believe they would actually get her except for Ash cause well it's Ash and he's starting to lean toward liking Serena. Speaking of him that moment with him and Delia was very touching I feel and provides a nice mother/son moment. And yes I finally brought in the blue ribbon. It was always the plan to bring it in late into the story. Anyway next chapter will be a surprise you'll have to wait to see where it goes. But enough babbling time for reviews/questions.
Reviews/questions
Rams30 (guest)- noted I'll see where I can fit him in. He won't appear next chapter but after that I'll see where to put him.
Espeon44- they will, just got to build to it first or else the payoff of the kiss won't have much impact if it happens so quickly.
Warzonecall- yes now he does, they will kiss i'd say as of this chapter we're at the midway point of the story, so them kissing could happen soon. You read this in one night? That's impressive kudos to you. And thank you for the kind words.
Mixt Number XV- Thank you. I write this because this shipping is my OTP. Ya his Haunter gets overlooked because it only spent one episode with him and then stayed with Sabrina. And to be honest Haunter is my favourite ghost pokemon.
Amour guest- Yes Yashio/Palmero is something but Yes yes, keep up the amourshipping stuff and all that good jazz. I will don't worry about that :p
Nexxus176- lol misty. Don't worry she's not the one who went on that date with Ash, that will be revealed soon enough.
Engel2092- umm okay there buddy, I'll just leave you there to keep muttering that phrase but since I know you'll ask again no this is post season 2 flash :p
MonkeyBoy0118- Thank you for the review. Ice cream or a Rhyhorn race for their first date? We'll see. As I mentioned in a review up above we're about that the midpoint of this story.
Anyways that does it for this chapter along with reviews/questions Remember if you liked this, favourite, follow and review and if you want share it with people you know who will like it.
Until next Thursday :)
