"Happy Birthday, Ash
So, I wanted to have this story finished by now. I'm on vacation though so I really don't have time to write it. But, second to the last chapter. (Insert Aws here)
Disclaimer: I still do not own it. Sadly enough.
Enjoy please.
"Happy Birthday, Ash!" May and Max's voices came up and Ash turned around to see them running up to him from their Jeep. May slammed a huge into him and after she let go, Max shook his hand.
"Hey, Max, May," Ash smiled brightly and Pikachu ran up May's shoulder and then jumped over to Max's happily.
"Hello, you two," Brock said as he walked up beside Ash.
"Hey, Brock."
"Hello."
"Oh, hello. Nice to see you again," Misty said, coming up last.
"Hi, Misty," they both responded. May stopped, finally noticing the small figure gripping tightly to Ash's pant's leg. She looked down at the small girl before bending over to her level, "And, who are you?"
The small girl glared at her, as she had been since they woman had thrown herself into her father's arms. She finally spoke, her tone as icy as four years old can get it, "My daddy."
May looked confused as she glanced up at Ash, though she never got a chance to say anything as Misty's scolding voice piped in, "Serenity Ann Ketchum, you apologize right this instant!"
"Yes, ma'am," Serenity pouted before turning towards May. She bowed slightly, just the way her mother had taught her, "I'm sorry, please forgive me."
"Uhh," was all that left May's mouth as she stood back up and stared at Ash. "I think I missed something."
"Well," Ash blushed. "Long story short, this is my daughter, Serenity. Serenity, these are my friends May and Max."
"How do you do?" she bowed again.
"Really well," Max answered, finding his voice before May.
"It's really nice to meet you, Serenity," May replied, bending back down and sticking out her hand.
Serenity shook it uncertainly, still cautious of the woman in front of her. She turned to look at Misty, having slightly gotten over her attachment to Ash and being willing to leave his side for small amounts of time over the last few day, "Momma, I wanna eat that cake that Grandma made now."
Misty bent down and picked up the small girl, "What did we tell you? You have to wait until all of Daddy's friends get here. We promise we won't eat cake without you."
Serenity nodded and Ash smiled, looking over at May and Max. They both, once again, looked amazed. Ash chuckled, "Oh yeah, Misty's her mother. Though, Rini's the spitting image of her. So, there shouldn't have been much doubt."
"I guess not…" Max said, looking between Ash and Misty.
"We'll explain once Dawn shows up. If we don't wait, we'll just had to re-explain it," Ash told them.
As if on cue, Dawn's voice broke their conversation and she came running up to the group, "Hey all! Good to see you again."
"Hey Dawn," they all chorused, except Misty and Serenity, because they never met.
"Happy birthday, Ash," Dawn told him as she gave him a quick hug. She turned to Misty and Serenity and bowed, "Hello, I'm Dawn, I don't believe we've met. I traveled with him in the Sinnoh region."
Misty bowed back, "I'm Misty. I traveled with him for… quite a few regions. This is my daughter, Serenity."
"Hi," Serenity smiled. "Guess what, Ash is my daddy!"
Ash scratched the back of his neck, "She's very excited about that. Well, I'll explain at dinner."
"Don't forget you owe me a pokemon match, Ash," Max responded with a smile.
They were all seated at a very large picnic table, on one side, going left to right; there was Delia, Ash, Serenity, Misty, Dawn, May, and Brock. And, on the other side, going right to left; there was, Daisy, Violet, Lily, Max, Tracey, Gary, and Professor Oak.
Misty and Ash had told their story, where Ash's mother lectured him once again, as she had during the last couple of days. And, the others had given him and Misty their congratulations.
"I actually, quite literally caught Ash," Misty told the group with a laugh. "I was fishing and he came up on the line. Then, he stole my bike and when I found it, it was fried."
"Must be a pretty good talent of his, he destroyed mine too," May laughed.
"Pikachu fried mine," Dawn laughed.
Ash and Pikachu looked at each other and then at the group, scratching the back of their neck, "Well, in our defense, Pikachu wasn't feeling well when it happened."
"Chu!" Pikachu back Ash up and the rest of the group laughed at them, shaking their heads."
"I met Ash when he came for my gym badge. He lost the first time. He would have won the second time, but refused to finish off my Onyx. So, I chased him down and gave it to him. My dad randomly showed up, and I started traveling with Ash," Brock told the group of his first encounter with Ash.
"I met them in the Orange League. I was trying to help a Lapras that got separated from the others," Tracey explained.
"Yeah, right after Brock decided to stay…" Misty paused. "Well, after he stopped traveling shortly to become more dedicated to his breeding."
It got silent as Ash and Misty looked at each other, remembering Brocks reaction whenever they mentioned Professor Ivy. They never even got the story out of him.
"Well, I was a new trainer. I really needed some help with all the pokemon stuff. Pokemon just really weren't my strong point. Ash was like a mentor," May proceeded to explain to them how she met Ash.
"I pretended to be the gym leader when Ash arrived with May at the Petalburg Gym," Max told the group.
"Me too!!" Serenity piped up excitedly. "But, he called me three years old and then told me he had the badge."
"Serenity can't wait to become a pokemon trainer. And, she loves to trick people who come to the gym," Misty told them.
"Well, I met Ash when Pikachu got away from him. Actually, Team Rocket stole Pikachu and he got away from them. Then, I had to hunt down Ash and return Pikachu," Dawn said.
"Ash and I started out competing, to say," Gary voiced.
"Oh yeah, that was so long ago. It was my personal mission to beat you," Ash laughed to himself. "Though, losing to you wasn't horrible. You're a good trainer and respect your pokemon. I meet this guy, Paul, in the Sinnoh region. He released Pokemon as fast as he caught them."
"Everyone has different training styles, Ash," Professor Oak told him.
"Yeah, I know," Ash responded.
Max's face suddenly got real bright, "Hey, Ash! Since we're all done eating, I think it's time for our battle."
"Alright, how about one on one?" Ash suggested and Max nodded, they both stood and walked to a clearing, the rest of the group following.
"I'll referee this match," Tracey said as he stood in the center of the sideline.
"Alright, Pikachu. You're up!" Ash told Pikachu.
"Chu!" Pikachu ran out front a little, on all fours in battle-ready position.
"I choose you, Mightyena," Max called out and threw out a pokeball.
Ash smiled, he wasn't surprised to see Max with a Mightyena. Max had always seemed to have a love for Poochyena, so it made sense he'd have the evolved form.
"Poochyena was one of Max's first pokemon. He's trained it very well," May explained, confirming Ash's thoughts.
(This is where the battle takes place. I'm sorry, but I'm not good at writing battles. Use your imaginations.)
"Mightyena is unable to battle, Pikachu and Ash win," Brock called out, signaling the end of the match.
"Good job, Max. Your Mightyena almost had Pikachu," Ash shook Max's hand and picked up Pikachu, who was obviously worn out from the battle.
"Thanks, Ash. One day I'm going to be able to beat you," Max joked with a smile.
"Well, we better be on our way," May announced the next morning after breakfast. "Thank you for breakfast, Mrs. Ketchum."
Delia smiled and bowed slightly, "Have a good trip you two."
"See ya, Ash. Misty. Brock. And, Dawn, rumor has it that Kanto is starting Pokemon Contest next year. I expect to see you there. We need a rematch," May smiled.
"Of course, I'll be here," Dawn assured.
"Hey, I'll be around here at the same time," Max stated. "May and I are going to travel the Kanto region together because I'm coming for the Pokemon Legue."
"Awesome!" Ash exclaimed. "That means I'll be seeing all of ya'll in about a year."
"Mhmm," May smiled as she hugged them all and then walked out the door with Max. "See ya!" They waved until the two were out of site.
"Well, I better get going, as well," Dawn stated as she stood and walked to the door. She gave each of them a quick hug. "I'll see ya soon. Okay?"
And with that, she was gone.
"Well, that was fun," Misty laughed.
"Definitely," Ash and Brock agreed.
They sat and talked for a few more hours. Until something suddenly dawned on Ash, "Hey Misty, whatever happened to that Azurill?"
"Oh," Misty winked and pulled out a pokeball, releasing the pokemon inside. "Evolved all the way to a Azumerill."
Indeed, standing before them, was a blue and white pokemon, slightly resembling its previous, smaller two forms.
Ash smiled as Misty called the pokemon back into its pokeball. He had Serenity sitting in his lap again, and it occurred to him that Misty would need to leave for her gym soon. He made his decision then, "Misty, if you don't mind, can I come back to the gym with you. At least for a while. Serenity's just getting use to having me and all."
"It's no problem, Ash," Misty assured.
Suddenly, Delia popped up with a suitcase. "I knew you would decide that. I packed plenty of clothes. And, plenty of changes of underwear…"
Ash sweat-dropped and the rest of the room laughed at his expense.
"Like, let's go!" Daisy honked the horn from the car. It was about three o'clock that afternoon, and Misty's sisters were ready to get back to Cerulean city.
"We're coming!" Misty yelled out at them as she helped grab the rest of Ash's things. They were heading back and dropping Brock in Pewter City on their way by.
"Bye Mom!" Ash yelled as the headed out of Pallet Town, waving back at her. At the same time, he thought, 'Bye Pallet Town.' He glanced at Serenity and Misty who were seated beside him, 'I think… for good this time.'
Well, I hope you enjoyed it. One more chapter. Then a sequel starring young Serenity herself. Review for the last chapter. Oh no, I didn't just… Yes I did.
