Oliverqueen01- Prepare your tissues for this week. This chapter will be quite emotional, heck even the episode this morning. So enjoy this week's chapter which is sure to be eventful as always and as usual reviews/questions will be handled at the end along with the update to the Japanese airing of the episode.
Reverse Flash: Oliverqueen01 does not own Pokemon or anything else made reference to in this story, They belong to Nintendo, Game Freak, TPCI and DC comics and other companies respectively please support the official release.
OliverQueen01: Thank you Reverse Flash.
Reverse Flash: Good. Now to kill my nemesis.
Oliverqueen01- Right. *Calls Barry while everyone is reading.*
Chapter 24:Graduation day and the future.
Graduation day had finally arrived for our lovable group. They were inside waiting for the go ahead to proceed to the field for the ceremony to begin. They were all dressed in red caps and gowns.
"Gack, I really hate ties." Drew said in rage as he fixed his tie.
"I think I speak for all of us when I say ties are man's worst creation aside from broccoli." Gary joked
"Well at least it's only for today more." May added as she fixed her bandana.
"Ya, well are we ready for our last walk in these halls?" Ash asked everyone.
Everyone nodded as they walked towards the back field as they got the signal from a teacher to come outside where they would finally graduate from high school.
When they got outside they saw their parents and relatives sitting on plastic folding chairs in front of the stage. Once all of the students were that were graduating were sitting Oak got up to the podium and began to speak.
"Good afternoon fellow parents, relatives, faculty members and pokemon alike I am Samuel Oak, principal of this high school and regional pokemon professor. It is my honour today to present to you the graduating students of Pallet Town CI of the year 2016. It has been a trying year of these students but they have pulled through and sit before you today including my very own grandson. I'm proud of you my boy, now then I believe it is time to hand out the diplomas to the graduating class. When you hear your name please step forward and receive your diploma."
Oak sat down on his chair behind the podium while Wells and Sara stood up and went to the to the podium to introduce themselves and begin reading out the names of every student who graduated.
"Well then, before we start I just like to say to all the students here it's been a Honour teaching you for all these years and I know you'll do well in your lives." Wells told them.
"My sentiments exactly. Now then let us begin and remember this is alphabetical by last name." Sara added.
"Taylor Aysato!"
The boy's parents clapped as he made his way across the stage to receive his diploma. Wells and Sara ran through the rest of A-G, allowing Jesse to talk to Dawn and Drew.
"I can't believe it, we're going to post-secondary come the fall." Jesse squealed in excitement
"I know, fashion school here I come!" Dawn said in excitement as well
"Art school for the win!" Drew added with a fist pump.
The three of them giggled until they were interrupted.
"Dawn Hikari!" Sara called
Dawn promptly got up and walked across the stage to receive her diploma. Johanna was snapping pictures furiously.
"Woo that's my baby girl! I'm proud of you sweetie!" Johanna yelled out.
Dawn quickly made her way back to her seat with a sweat drop on her face. Luckily for her, she would have to wait a while before graduating from another school again. Hopefully by then she hoped her mother would have mellowed down some more.
"Drew Hirata!" Wells called.
Drew walked across the stage to get his diploma while his mother and Amanda sat in the audience looking at him proudly. Drew was happy that he was graduating but at the same time sad because he knew once this day was over that everyone would go their separate ways unless they met up from time to time.
"Jesse Iwamoto!" Sara called.
Harry and Tess looked on at their daughter proudly as she walked across the stage to graduate. They knew that Jesse was growing up fast but they didn't expect this fast. In the fall when she was gone it would only be Harry and Tess in the house.
The last names of the students with J went up. Then came the K's.
"Ash Ketchum!" Wells called.
Delia, Pikachu and Froakie cheered Ash on as he got his diploma. Ash thought to himself that there was a time that he thought that he wouldn't be here on this stage with his friends with diploma in hand because of his math grade. But thanks to Serena coming into his life and helping him understand it better he was able to be here now graduating.
"Leaf Kitani!" Sara called
Leaf's parents looked at her with admiration as Leaf got her diploma. They were proud of her for graduating, However little did they know the surprise that was awaiting them at the end of the ceremony in regards about her future.
Next was the students whose last names began with L. Once they were done it was time for the M's.
"Thomas Michiba!"
Tommy was embarrassed as we walked across the stage. He remembered marking down on the Graduating form that he requested to be called by his short name, but he figured since it was the last time in high school that it didn't matter. His parents looked on along with his Charmander with pride.
"May Miniami!"
Caroline, Max, Norman and May's Glaceon cheered as she collecting her diploma. They were all happy for her especially Max. True most of the time the two of them fought and bicker after all it was practically the basis of any sibling relationship but at the end of the day they loved each other no matter what.
The N's were called next, then came the O's.
"Gary Oak!"
Gary leaped out of his chair in excitement and fell out of his seat face planting himself into the ground. Everyone laughed except for his grandfather who sighed. He knew Gary was a good boy but easily excitable. He was proud of the man that Gary was becoming, he only wished that his brother and sister-in-law were here now to see their baby boy now.
"Selina Perez!"
Selina blushed as she went up to collect her Diploma. Her parents were looking at her very proudly. From the time she started at Pallet Town CI she was so shy that a simple touch would scare the living daylights out of her, but ever since being with May she started to break out of her shell making her truly glad that she got something good out of this school.
The Q's were next. Once they were done then came the R's.
"Michael Rokuda!"
Mick got up from his seat and quickly got his Diploma. His parents looked at him with grins on their faces. They were happy that he graduated finally and what made it even better was that he didn't try to hurt anyone in his last year.
"Leonard Sonoda!"
Leonard went to get his Diploma quick and sat down. He knew who was next after him.
"Lisa Sonoda!"
Lisa got her Diploma and sat back down. She nudged Leonard in the rib.
"Hey bro, look at mom. She's really proud of us." She told Leonard.
Both of the Sonoda siblings looked at their mother who had tears in her eyes. She was proud that Leonard had finally broken out of his shell of being cold to everyone expect her, Lisa and Mick. She was also glad that Dawn was around him and making him a better person. As for Lisa she was truly her daughter but questioned her daughter's choice in boys since she knew that Mick was dating Lisa and he was very easily excitable.
"Brock Takeshi!"
Brock's 14 siblings and his parents were the loudest cheers heard. Lucy was also there smiling at him shyly as he walked across the stage and got his Diploma. For the first time in his life Brock felt content. He had a girl who loved him, a family who'd support him and the best of friends he could ask for in life.
As the U,V,W,X students were called. They happily got their Diplomas and sat back down. They were the Y's.
"Serena Yoshida!"
Serena got out of her seat and walked across the stage to where Wells and Sara were standing and took the piece of paper out of Sara's hands.
Grace and Serena's pokemon looked at her happily. They were all proud of her, this year had been truly a one of surprise for them all. Grace getting a job offer here in Kanto to teach Rhyhorn racing to aspiring riders, Serena meeting Ash and friends and ultimately becoming Ash's Girlfriend and even Fenniken's feelings for Ash's Froakie were unexpected but truly a blessing in disguise for them all.
The Z's were called and then at that point, every student had their Diploma. Various awards were given out such as scholarships and the like. Once all the awards were handed out, Wells and Sara sat down as Oak Sr approached the podium again.
"Now that the students have their Diplomas, I'd like to call on the Valedictorian: Ms. Serena Yoshida!" Oak said.
Serena gulped as she got up to the podium. She was nervous and unable to speak until she looked at Ash who gave her a reassuring grin mouthing you got this to her. Once she saw that she smiled and began her speech.
"Well, For most of my life I lived in the Kalos region up until one year ago with my mom and our pokemon. Her Rhyhorn and Fletchling, My Fenniken, Pancham and Sylveon. Then everything changed when my Mom got a job offer to come here to Kanto and teach aspiring riders how to ride Rhyhorn. I know from personal experience how hard it is because she taught me how to since I was young."
Everyone was listening carefully as Serena spoke.
"When I first started school here I was nervous because New region, New school and I was the new kid. I didn't know how everyone would treat me, then I met some of the best people I know. I remember the first time when I met Gary, he thought he was some sort of ladies man saying he didn't need to change perfection."
"Still true you know!" Gary yelled jokingly.
Everyone laughed as Serena continued.
"May,Dawn, Leaf and Jesse were like the sisters I've never had. They're loving, caring, friendly, fashionable and the list goes on. They are without a doubt the best girls I known in my entire life here."
The mentioned girls blushed and awed as the speech went on.
"Then there's Tommy, Brock and Drew. They are like the brothers I've never had. Whether it was Tommy's advice in class for cooking a certain dish, or Brock's knowledge about every medical term in the book or even Drew's salt from playing video games with the other boys, they are some of the best guys I know."
The mentioned boys gave her a nod.
"But I wouldn't have known any of them the way I do now, If Mr. Oak hadn't asked one specific student to guide me around here to let me get used to everything on my first day: Ash Ketchum. The best boy I know. If it wasn't for him, I would have be a loner here but his friendliness, optimism, never give up attitude, kindness, funniness and most important of all to me: his love."
Ash grinned at her as she blushed and continued.
"Even our teachers, If it was Mr. Wells teaching us proper writing techniques, or Ms Prima drilling the quadratic equation into our heads, and even Ms. Sara and the fine world of acting it was something I will carry with me from here."
Serena cleared her throat before she came to the end of her speech.
"I guess what I'm saying is that through these various friendships, they are bonds I will remember for the rest of my life until the day I die. I heard this quote many years ago and I think it applies to this situation: We may never meet again, but we'll never forget each other. So thank you for everything and I hope the future turns out bright for everyone. To the Graduating class of 2016!"
Everyone cheered as Serena concluded her speech and sat back down in her seat.
Oak Sr. Then went back to the podium and spoke.
"Thank you Serena, that was a very fine speech indeed. Now then I think everything is out of the way now unless anyone else has anything to say and no Mr. Rokuda you can't say peace out and burn anything down." Oak joked.
Mick slumped in his seat while everyone had a good chuckle.
"Then Ladies, Gentlemen and Pokemon in attendance I present to you the Pallet town graduating class of the year two thousand and sixteen!"
Everyone cheered as they threw their caps into the air and let them fall to the ground as they saw in so many movies and shows. Their time at Pallet town CI had come to an end. They were now entering the next phase of their lives: Adulthood and the rest of their lives. Everyone returned their caps and gowns and went next to their parents.
A couple of days later...
Ash and the gang were at school. They decided to go say one final goodbye to someone. Ash and Serena were the first ones there, after a while May, Dawn and Leaf showed up at the front steps. Tommy, Jesse, Drew, Brock,Selina and Leonard. had already left for vacation and wouldn't be back until the fall before college started.
"Where's Gary? He said to meet him here before we go inside." Ash asked Leaf
"Well..." Leaf began.
Flashback
After everyone had given back their caps and gowns, they were all talking to each other making small talk. Leaf took off her cap and gown to reveal a green dress with gold flower designs on it with matching green accessories.
"My little girl. Off to Celadon U in the fall. Your mother and I are very proud of you." Mr. Kitani said as he hugged Leaf.
"Thanks, if you'll excuse me for a minute." Leaf said as she excused herself.
Leaf's parents nodded as she went to find Gary. When she found him he was just wearing all black and was talking to other boys. She tapped him on the shoulder when he turned around and saw her behind him, he sighed and excused himself. He knew what was coming and truth be told there was no telling what was going to happen.
Both of them then went back over to Mr. And Mrs. Kitani.
"Congratulations Gary. You know deep down somewhere I actually do somewhat like you. I'm sure your grandfather is very proud of you." Mr. Kitani said in a serious voice to Gary.
"He is, Celadon U is going to be far out from here but once in a while I'll check up on him." Gary answered somewhat trembling.
Leaf took Gary's hand and intertwined it with hers. Once Gary felt her hand in his, he gulped and then spoke again.
"Well sir, um there's something Leaf and I want to talk to you about."
"What is it?"
Gary took a big gulp and then spoke while trembling.
"Well, Leaf and I have talked about it for a while but we both feel that the time is right to- to- to- to-"
"Out with it boy! What are you and my daughter going to do?" Mr. Kitani asked very sternly.
"We want to move in together!"
"Oh. Is that all?"
Leaf's father started to laugh. Leaf, her mother and Gary were confused at Mr. Kitani's reaction. Once he stopped laughing. He began to chase after Gary with everyone else looked on. Leaf and her mother sighed.
"You know mom... I think he took that better than he thought." Leaf said as she folded her arms
"You and me both honey." Mrs. Kitani replied.
*End of Flashback*
Everyone laughed as Gary approached them knowing what they were laughing about. Once the laughter died down they went inside and went into a classroom and sat in their desks with the man in the room staring at them before speaking.
"What?" Wells asked.
"We're leaving." Ash answered.
"I know."
"We wanted to know if you had anything else left to teach us". Serena asked
"No. My work with you is done."
"I don't know. It's pretty scary. Going into a whole new world". Dawn admitted to him.
"And you're ready to go into that world."
"Even me?" Gary asked.
"Even you."
Wells sat on his desk and adjusted his glasses before he spoke again.
"Believe in yourselves. Dream. Try. Do good."
"Don't you mean "do well"?" Asked Serena
"No, I mean "do good." Wells answered with a smile.
Everyone nodded as they took in Wells's final piece of advice to them. Once they composed themselves they each hugged him and told him what they meant to each one of them. For Leaf she had him back in grade 9 and she remembered how kind he was to everyone. To Dawn he was like the father who always believed in her even after her own father died so many years ago. To may he was that one teacher who always found a way to relate everything he was teaching back to their lives. To Serena he was one of the best teachers she knew. As for Gary he was the one teacher who didn't treat him any different knowing he was the principal's grandson and for Ash he was the only adult in his life who Ash trusted in his entire life. Once Gary, Dawn, Leaf, Serena and May left the room and went outside, Ash spoke to Wells.
"So, Mr. Ketchum." Wells began
"You think we know each other long enough for you to call me Ash?" Ash asked jokingly.
"I think we know each other long enough for me to call you Ashton."
"SHHHHHH Mr. Wells! Asht- Not even Serena knows that!"
"Your secret is safe with me."
The two men chuckled.
"Well I did it. I got Serena to go to Saffron college with me."
Wells nodded at Ash's statement. He knew the struggle that both Ash and Serena were going through when their acceptance letters came in the mail for the fall. When Serena had gotten her acceptance letter she went to Ash and without his knowledge to Wells to ask what she should do. He had told her if she had a reason not to go the other colleges then don't go. She took his advice seriously and the next day told Ash what she was going to do. To say that Ash was ecstatic would be an understatement. He was happy that they go the same college and still be together.
"Good for you."
"She's not even scared anymore of the future."
"Nor should she be."
"But I am."
"The future is scary yes. But like I said earlier just Believe in yourself, Dream, Try and Do Good. I know you and Serena will overcome any obstacle in your path together."
Ash nodded as he stuck out his hand for one last hand handshake with wells.
"You coming with us, Mr. Wells? You gonna sneak up on us or something in Saffron?"
"No No, I shall remain here."
"No, you'll always be with us."
"As long as we live, okay?"
Wells nodded as Ash gave him one last look and exited the classroom.
"I love you all. Class dismissed."
Wells wiped the tears from his eyes as he took off the light to his classroom and exited.
"So that's done what now?" asked Leaf
"Well, we have to go home and pack. We're leaving for Kalos next week." Serena answered
"Same here, except we're moving into our apartment next week. The day after you guys leave." Gary chimed in.
"I'm leaving for Vermillion, the day after you guys move into your apartment." May also chimed in.
"And I'm leaving for Fuchisia the day after that." Dawn added
"And no one is coming back until the day school starts?" asked May
Everyone nodded in agreement.
"Well at least you'll have Tommy, Jesse and Selina with you in Vermillion." Dawn joked
"Ya, but you'll have Leonard, Mick and Lisa with you in Fuchisia. So it's not that bad." May joked back.
"We'll be alone, but I know this isn't goodbye. We'll still meet up from time to time right?" Ash asked.
"Yeah." Everyone answered in unison.
"Well, it's time to go. Ash, Serena take care of yourselves. I'm going to miss you." Gary said to them.
Gary held out his hand and shook it one last time with Ash. Memories of their first meeting rushed through both their minds as they shook hands. Once he was done with Ash he hugged Serena and told her never give up on Ash. She assured him she wouldn't. Leaf hugged both of them at the same time. She thanked Ash for bringing Gary into her life and thanked Serena for being one of the best people she knew in a short time. Gary and Leaf then got in the car and drove off.
It was May's turn next to leave.
"Remember what Wells said to us, I know you two can pass the test of time and be together forever." May said to Ash as she hugged him.
"I know, and thank you May."
"What for?" May asked.
"For being a good friend all these years."
May hugged Ash one last time before she turned to Serena.
"You know, there's going to be a lot of girls trying to get at him while the two of you are at school. You might have to beat them with a stick." May joked
"Funny to the end are we?" Serena joked back.
"Well it's worked all this time so why wouldn't it now?"
The two girls laughed as they hugged one last time. Serena and Ash both wished luck for May in the future not only for her studies but as well as her relationship with Selina. Norman pulled up in his van and May got in driving off.
Now it was only Dawn remaining.
"Nervous about Fuchisia?" Serena asked
"A bit, but I'm ready."
"Thank you Dawn, for not only being a good friend, but saving prom night for me from Marlene and her revenge plot." Serena said thanking the bluenette.
"I wasn't going to sit by and let her ruin the most important night of the year for you. Besides Leonard did help too, If it wasn't for him then Marlene would have gotten away. I think in some part of him he actually does care about everyone, even though he says otherwise. You just focus on this knucklehead and keep him out of trouble."
The two girls hugged and then let go as Dawn went to Ash.
"So, Kalos huh?" Dawn teased as she nudged Ash in the rib.
"Ya, we're both looking forward to it. You going to be okay attending school with Leonard, his sister and Mick?"
"I'll be fine. After all Mick and Lisa like me. Leonard is a work in progress. But enough about them, Thank you Ash for everything in the past 14 years. I'm glad to have to met someone like you in my life."
"Don't mention it, us single child kids have to stick together, besides you know if need help with Leonard should Mick and Lisa are able to handle him-"
"Then I'll call you guys."
A horn honked and Johanna pulled up. Dawn got into the car and waved goodbye to Ash and Serena as the car drove off. Ash and Serena were now the only two left standing in front of the school.
"So what now?" Serena asked as she grabbed Ash's arm.
"There's actually one place I need to go, do you want to come?" Ash asked her
Serena nodded as Ash grabbed her hand and started waking to their destination. Their first stop was a flower shop. Ash picked up a large bouquet and a gave a single flower to Serena who held it in her hand.
After they exited the flower shop they began walking again. After a while they reached their destination: Pallet Town Cemetery. They walked in and walked until they came to a stop in front of a reddish gravestone.
Red Ketchum
Beloved Husband and Son
1972-1998
Ash put the bouquet in the hole on the ground next to his father's gravestone and then spoke to it as if he expected it to talk back to him.
"Hi dad. I would of come to see you a couple of days ago, but a lot was happening to me during the past week. I graduated high school and I'm off to Saffron City University in the fall. I know you're up there watching Mom and I and you've seen how much we miss you. I hope your proud of the man I'm becoming."
Serena held Ash's hand tightly as he spoke to the grave. It reminded her of her own father, she needed to visit his grave when they go to Kalos. It was something she was putting it off while she was growing up but she knew sooner or later she'd have to go see him.
"Oh right, Dad this is my girlfriend Serena Yoshida."
Serena took a deep breath before she spoke.
"Hi Mr. Ketchum, Ash and his mother speak very highly of you. I'm sorry that we can't meet face to face, I'm sure if we did that you would had liked me. I uh, love Ash very much and can't see the rest of my life without him, and I know your very proud of him much like I am. I promise to be for both him and his mother always."
Ash took in Serena's words while she was speaking to his father's grave. He knew he was lucky to have her in his life. After a while the two of them left the cemetery and started walking home to their houses.
"So when are we leaving again?" Ash asked
"Next Tuesday. Why can't wait that long to get away?" Serena teased.
"No I can, just wondering about you since this will be adult and pokemon free." Ash teased
"I'll be fine. Are you going to be okay after seeing everyone for the last time and visiting your dad today?" Serena asked.
"Well, I have you. That instantly makes things better." he told her lovingly.
The two of them grinned each other before they shared a goodbye kiss and Ash went home for the night. In one week they would be heading to Kalos for a graduation gift courtesy of both their mothers. They were both looking forward to it since it would be a meeting of Serena's old friends and Ash's introduction to them. At the moment the two of them only shared one thought:
"Next Tuesday will be very interesting."
Oliverqueen01- So um a lot of things happened in this chapter. So everyone in the gang graduated. Ash and Serena are off to Saffron City university after the Kalos trip, Dawn, Leonard, Mick and Lisa are off to Fuchisia City college, Tommy, Jesse, Selina and May are off to Vermillion City University, Brock to Violet town Medical college and Drew to Petalberg City Art school. This was the last chapter with all of them before the epilogue which will not be till the week after next cause next week we're taking a trip to Kalos then comes the epilogue. I hope you liked the little Boy Meets World throwback with Wells in his final scene cause I always believed that he was truly the Mr. Fenny of this story. And the touching moment of Ash and Serena going to Red's grave and talking to him was something drawn from real life and I'll leave it at that. And the whole Zygarde vs red Zygarde battle was amazing. can't believe there's only 9 more episodes of this series left. i'm going to miss it when it's gone.(by the way Alain... boy you derped big time.) Anyway enough of me babbling review responding time!
Reviews/questions
Monkeyboy0118- ya well if you count the epilogue as chapter then 3 but if you don't than ya 2 chapters. Another story will come but they'll be after my upcoming break in 2 weeks. What will it be about? Can't say. I'll say this much though, its not going to be a pokemon one cause i need a break from pokemon after this LOL.
Random Guest- A sequel to this? Maybe but like a said in the review above my next story will not be a pokemon one, I need a break from pokemon after this. Thank you for the review.
Espeon44- Don't worry next chapter, will be very emotional in my view and I will leave it at that. :P
49ers(Guest) Yes, well prom is a usually a fun time and don't see why it wouldn't be otherwise, just wait until next week though.
Amour guest- Yes yes, keep up the amourshipping stuff and all that good jazz. I will don't worry about that :p
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 :)
