When Serena said that sentence it was as if Ash had been hit with a full force hammer arm to the chest. At the same time his mind exploded with a million questions. When did she get pregnant? What will this mean for there relationship? How will people react to this? While these and so amy other questions were all fighting for Ash's attentention a voice screamed inside his head SAY SOMETHING. Ash could only force out a quiet 'Oh'. For a moment Ash was glad that he had said something before he realised that what he had said wasn't exactly reasurring to his pregnant fiance. Ash took his hands out of hers and wrapped them around her. In the corner of his eye he saw Red silently get up and leave the room. Ash was crying, he still couldn't organise his thoughts enough to decide of they were tears of joy or sadness. He thought he heard Serena say something but he couldn't focus enough to process what it was. Ash took a step back and placed his right hand on her stomach.
Serena then placed her hands over his to keep them on her. This got Ash's attention and for the first time since she told him she felt that Ash was actually looking at her. She held his gaze untill he refocused on her stomach.
"Ash, I want you to know that you don't have to be a part of this child's life." Serena was speaking the truth. If Ash didn't want to be a father she couldn't force him.
That sentence snapped Ash out of his trance. He loved Serena and although he hadn't talked to Serena about children Ash always envisioned his future with her involving kids. Admittidley it was far earlier than Ash had planned but he wasn't going to abandon Serena and his son or daughter. "No." He said.
"No?" Serena was confused by what he ment.
"I'm not going to abandon you because you're pregnant."
"You're not." Serena was so happy
"Frankly I'm shocked you thought I would." Ash joked. Serena gave a small laugh. "Do you know when...?"
Serena had thought about this and there was only one night it could have been. "I'm almost entirely sure that it was the night you won your last badge."
That day Ash had battled Wulfric. It was a three on three, Ash had sent out Talonflame first who was able to quickly dispatch Wulfric's Abomasnow due it's huge type advantage. Wulfric didn't do muh better with his next Pokemon Cryogonal. Talonflame was able to defeat him aswell, albeit not as easily. Wulfric then sent out his signature pokemon Avalugg. Using a single avalanche it took out Talonflame. Ash then sent out his partner Pikachu, his iron tail attack was effective. Pikachu was no match however for the ice type and was soon knocked out. Ash's last pokemon was Hawlucha who although was weak to the ice attacks of the gym was able to use his strong brick break attack to win Ash his eighth and final badge. As the battle finished a blizzard was starting so they all hurried over to the pokemon centre.
When they returned to their room Serena turned to Ash and looked at the man she was to marry. She saw the two sides to him, both of which were shown when he battled. One was the commanding unpredictable leader. The other was the caring personality that was always seen in the love he had for his pokemon. Not many people had such a balance between such different traits. Serena loved everything about Ash's personality. She kissed him and while doing so she helped him out of the thick jacket he was wearing. Ash soon helped her out of her clothes as well. When neither of them was wearing anything but their underwear Ash picked up Serena, she wrapped her legs around him and Ash fell backwards onto the bed.
"Oh yeah, that was a pretty great night." Ash admitted.
"It was."
"Hey, now you're eating for two you need to make sure you have breakfast." Ash said as he led Serena to the tray full of food he had retrieved from downstairs. The two of them had breakfast in bed and talked. Once finished Ash decided they should go downstairs and talk to everyone. Whilst on their way Ash had a thought. "Should we tell everyone? I know that Red knows but I mean Clemont and Bonnie and Max."
As Ash said that she realised that she had left a detail out of what she told Ash. "Ash, Clemont knows."
Ash was taken back by this he felt no emotion suddenly rise upside him he simply wanted to know "Why?"
Serena then went on to explain how Clemont had found out, which also meant she had to tell Ash how she found out. Serena had started throwing up six days ago. At first she did just think that it was a stomach bug or food poisoning, but when she did some quick day counting she realised that she was late. When the group got to the next pokemon centre she went to the small part which held things for people. She bought the pregnancy test while the rest of the group had nurse joy help their pokemon. When she took the test and it told her that she was indeed pregnant she started to cry. Unlike Ash however she only cried tears of joy. She was going to tell him but when she got within ear shot she heard him talking about what a big deal the league was to him and that was when Serena made her decision to wait to tell Ash. She also told him about how Clemont had seen her throw up three days ago and how he was going to find Ash to help her. She knew the only way for him to keep quiet was for Serena to tell him everything.
Once she had finished Serena had to ask "Are you mad at me?"
"No." Ash said immeadiately. "I'm not mad. I am a little annoyed though."
"Really?" Serena said feeling guilty
"Yes. I'm annoyed that you thought that I wasn't strong enough to cope with this. Serena we've been dating for four months, we're going to get married. You don't have to keep me in the dark about things you think I can't handle. Especially something as big as you being pregnant."
"You're pregnant?" Bonnie exclamed. Ash and Serena were so deep in conversation they hadn't noticed that they had reached the table where the siblings, Max and Red were eating.
Serena spoke to all four of them "Well, I was trying to think of a more descrete way of breaking the news to you but I guess that you overhearing it works too."
The six of them spent the next half hour talking about the pregnancy. Clemont, Bonnie and Max all volunteered their names for the baby at least once.
Red had to get Ash's focus back onto the competition "On a very different topic, Ash you still have a tournament to compete in. I'd be happy to help you train."
"Thanks Red that would be realy helpful."
Max was desperate to see how his pokemon stacked up compared to Ash's. "I'd like to help too, if that is alright."
"Sure Max."
Red and Max spent the entire morning putting Ash and his pokemon through their paces. It was mid-afternoon before Bonnie and Serena came out with lunch.
"Thought you might be hungry." Serena said. Whilst the rest of them, most importantly Ash, tucked into a lunch of sandwhiches, Serena tapped Red on teh shoulder and said quietly. "Could I speak to you for a moment?" Red walked a few paces back from where everyone else was standing and raised his eyebrow as if to say You wanted something? "How do you rate his chances?"
"Well, in a sentence. Good untill he faces a member of the Elite Four."
"Why, what's so different about them?"
"Ash's strategy is speed and agility, he dodges his opponents attacks then hits them on the counter. However the Elite four use pokemon that are as fast as Ash's, and they are stronger."
"You underestimate Ash" Serena said wanting to believe that Ash could win.
"Maybe." After that the two of them went back and joined the others.
Max looked at his watch and realised that he was late. "Excuse me everyone, I have to go meet my sister." He didn't wait for anyone to reply he ran through the pokemon centre and towards the Arena. Waiting by the gate was his sister. When she saw him she started marching towards him, he could tell she was angry.
"Max you said three. It's almost twenty to four." May complained
"Sorry May. I was busy."
"With what Max, what was more important that your sister?"
"Well, if I'm being honest helping, helpig Ash train for the league."
Max noticed that all the anger suddenly left May's face. "Ash is here?"
"Yeah he's competing. Come on he's in the pokemon centre." May was too deep in thought to reply but she followed her brother to the pokemon centre.
Serena saw Max return with a girl about her age. She had dark brown hair though most of it was in an emerald green bandana. She wore a tight black tank top that didn't go all the way down to her hips. She wore tight shorts as well that were the same green as her bandana. When the girl saw Ash she ran over to him and hugged him.
Of the many ways that Ash thought May might greet him, wrapping her arms around him was very low on that list. He did hug her back, that was untill he saw the look on Serena's face. It was like she was simply asking Care to explain?
Ash stepped out of the hug and looked at Serena "Uh, Serena this is May."
May turned and offered her hand. "Hi, I'm May."
Serena saw through May's fake smile. She didn't like May, she seemed a bit too familiar with Ash. "I'm Serena, Ash's pregnant fiance." She said as she shook May's hand.
May's eyes looked at the hand in her own. She saw the impressive ring on Serena's finger.
"Wow, that's quite a rock. You must be very important to Ash."
"She really is." Ash said very confidently.
"Thanks Ash." Serena kissed Ash.
"Well, I wish you two the best." May said but Serena could tell that there was something behind her words.
The boys soon returned to helping Ash with his training. Meanwhile Serena decided that she had to do something that she had been dreading. She walked over to the row of screens and typed in the number. On the screen she soon saw her living room. In the background she saw her mother in the kitchen unpacking a bag of groceries.
"Hi mom." Serena said hesitantly
"Oh, hello Serena. I wasn't expecting to hear from you. Is something wrong?"
"Well, no. But there is something I have to tell you."
"Is it Ash? What did he do?"
"It's not Ash mom. Well it is and it isn't."
"Serena, I'm not sure what you're talking about."
Serena decided that she just had to tell her. "Mom, I'm pregnant."
"You're what?"
"Pregnant, mom."
"Very funny Serena. What, is this finally you getting back at me for not wanting you to get married? This is a cruel joke."
"Mom, it's not a joke." Serena was starting to get frustrated at her mother.
The moment that Grace realised that Serena wasn't winding her up was easy to see. All the frustration left her and it was replace by a look of disapoitment "Well then. I wish you, Ash and your unborn child a happy life." Grace gave her daughter the most forced smile ever and then ended the call.
As soon as the screen went black Serena slammed her fist into the wall. She then walked outside in order to find Ash, however she only found Clemont and Bonnie.
"Where's Ash?" She asked.
"The rest of them went to look around and size up some of the competition." Clemont told her.
"They didn't wait for me?" Serena felt abandoned even though she knew that Ash would be back in a bit.
"Ash said that you shouldn't be doing much walking now that you're pregnant." Bonnie said
"Yes, when I'm eight months pregnant not when I'm three weeks pregnant." Serena let out a sigh of both frustration and exhaustion then asked. "Could you tell Ash, when he gets back that I'm in our our room?"
'Sure." Clemont promised.
Serena then went upstairs and sat on the bed. She went over the conversation she had just had with her mother. She wondered if her mother would ever approve of her marriage with Ash, she must at least want to see her grandchild when he or she was born. She then thought about her father, he had a right to know. Or did he, he had been gone for ten years, had he forfitted his claim to know what was going on in Serena's life.
Serena decided that she had told Ash and her mother, and that was enough for today. She got into bed and decided that she was going to take a nap.
While asleep she dreamed of what her life would be like with Ash and their child. In this dream the child was a four year old boy. The three of them were staying in a large house on the outskirts of Lumiose city. Serena was seven months pregnant with their next child. Ash and Serena were sitting on the sofa holding hands as they watched their son playing with Pikachu. The dream continued like this, just doing everyday things with Ash and their son and it made her feel really happy.
She woke up to find Ash lying next to her stroking her hair.
"Hey. How long have you been here?" She told him
"About twenty minutes. Clemont told me you were up here."
"You didn't have to stay."
"Well, I felt bad for leaving you earlier. And I was fed up with listening to Red ramble on about how he would do everything."
"You do like to do things in your own way don't you."
"I can go back and train with him if you want."
"No." Serena protested. She then hugged Ash who quickly slide an arm over and under her to hold her in his arms.
After a while Ash asked. "What were you dreaming about?"
"Us."
"Oh yeah, what were we doing?" Ash asked with a raised eyebrow. Serena told him about her dream. After which Ash admitted. "That sounds nice."
Serena was very surprised by this. She always thought of Ash as someone who may have to be dragged kicking and screaming away from his adventure. "Really?"
"Yeah, you and me living in a house somewhere where we can jsut relax and take care of our son or daughter."
"Well good. Oh I told my mom."
"I bet that went well." Ash said sarcastically.
Serena rolled her eyes and told him "You have no idea."
"Well, you've got me, you don't need anyone else."
It was a nice thing to say however Serena knew that she and Ash would need help. She hoped that deep down that Ash's mom would be different "I know. How do you think that your mom will react."
Ash had no idea how his mother would react. She had been fairly positive about their engagment. However this news was very different. Ash hoped that she would be supportive of him, although he couldn't be sure of anything so he simply answered. "I hope she'll take it well. But I'm in no rush to find out."
"I'll second that." While she spoke Ash rolled onto his back so that Serena was on top of him. He started to run his hands up and down her back, when Red burst in.
"Ash, it's time." He said. Serena immeadiately rolled off Ash and lay beside him
"Whoa! Have you ever heard of knocking." Ash was usually very calm, however he could get angry if someone didn't take notice of his boundaries.
"Yes, and I'm very sorry. But I thought you might want to know who you'll be facing in the first quallifying round."
"The last spot's been filled?" Ash asked. Unlike most competitions that had a set draw date and time. The Kalos league make their draws an hour after the last competitor has entered as to give the news time to spread
Red looked at his watch then said. "Thirty five minutes ago. So come on."
The three of them rushed to the Arena where the draws would be shown. They walked out onto the battlefield where crowds of people had gathered, many were also scattered around the seats. They were all glancing at the giant screens at either end of the Arena that showed the countdown to the moment the draw would be made. There were still ten minutes. Ash scanned the crowd to see if he saw anyone he recognised. For Ash these ten minutes were some of the longest in his life. When the clock hit zero pictures of all the contestants quickly appeared on the screen. They were all then replaced by the same image, the image of the Kalos league, a blue rectangle with a white circle which surrounded a bright red K. The fourty eight images were then placed into a giant tournemant tree. Then they showed the photos again. Ash saw himself on the mid right hand side. He first opponent would be a man of about thirty, he had bright orange hair. Ash then looked to the two people he might face in the next round. One was a woman in her mid-fourties with blone hair. The other was a girl Ash's age, she had the majority of her brown hair tied back in a green bandana. The other girl was May.
Ash suddenly heard a familiar female voice from behind him yell. "Surprise!"
