Chapter two is on the way. A little bit of drama here everyone, Serena has a stalker - er... I mean suiter - who happened to be invited to the party. Mm, Chloe explores her feelings for Goh with a little help from her new friends. Some other ships will be brought into the fold.

Pokemon belongs to the creative mind of Satoshi Tajiri and co. Any song lyrics used belong to the mentioned artists or writers.

Palette Town

Oak Ranch

Ash's POV

It was a peaceful journey back home, I had wondered if Team Rocket was going to pop out of someplace and try to steal Pikachu somehow but in a strange way I guess I felt at ease knowing that they hadn't shown up yet. I guess even they would understand the need for peace, but I do wonder what they were up to. The International Police had busted a few of the Rocket bases in several regions, they hadn't found the grand base here in Kanto yet which means it is well hidden.

Serena and I walked in the ranch, welcomed by all our friends and family, it seemed that Grace had brought her sister and nefew with her. Most of the champions, elites, and gym leaders from the different regions were also there! That surprised me but in a pleasant way. Diantha and Cynthia had given me a hug saying how proud of me they were and I thanked them, while Steven and Lance patted me on the back.

"Ashy-boy!" Greeted the familiar yet slightly deeper voice of my best friend - once rival - Gary Oak who gave me a manly hug, "Or should I say Mr. Monarch! Finally reached the big leagues, I knew you could get here after the Orange League."

Paul came up and shook my hand, "You knucklehead. Looks like I was seriously wrong about you, after seeing Infernape battle against one of the greats I knew you'd make it all the way! Heck, I knew that when you beat me in the Sinnoh league."

"Mm, who's the lady Ash? I don't believe I've ever met her before." Inquired the curious Trip glancing at Serena.

I smiled introducing his secret girlfriend to his friendly rivals, "This is Serena Yvonne, one of my travel companions in Kalos."

It was Alian who teasingly said, "From the way I saw it back then you were more then just traveling companions."

"You'll need to find out if that's true Alian." Replies Serena with a smile at the black haired Kalos boy.

Delia went up and hugged her son tears of happiness in her eyes, "My boy a world champion! I'm so proud of you my son."

I smiled returning the hug, "Thank you mom! Couldn't have done it without the team though."

This made everyone smile, it was just so like me to give all due credit to my Pokemon after all. Some of the regional Professors came and greeted me, Professor Sycamore went to me with a Mega Stone in hand and gave it me with a smile. I smiled back taking a look, seeing that it was a Charizardite Y! Mm, I'll have to test this out later.

I saw Goh trailing his gaze to where the ladies were, I saw his eyes settle on Chloe. I noticed Chloe giving him looks back in Hoenn, the same ones Serena used to give me when we traveled through Kalos. I knew from Chloe's reactions to Goh's denseness that she had fallen for him, but I didn't know how long she had been feeling that way. Someone placed their arm on my shoulders, I looked to see that it was Brock.

The young Pokemon Doctor smiled, "Ah, young love. You were like that back then, you know."

"I know. But then again in our later travels I was only dense because I already had someone on my mind. I had been searching for Serena since our time in Jonto, she never told me where she'd be moving to when she left Palette Town." I told him smiling.

He patted my shoulder, "Yeah well, I can't really blame you Ash. I know why you acted that way later on, but no one else knew about that. May thought you really were dense after the Battle Frontier, then she told me about what happened during the Wallace Cup in Sinnoh."

"Yeah. I told her the truth after she confessed her feelings for me. I felt horrible for breaking her heart like that, but at least we're still friends." I replied frowning as I remembered the tears in May's eyes the night.

The older boy smiled sadly, "May doesn't hold it against you. But Cilan told me about how you put down Elsa in Unova , that lady is a fashion icon across the world! Have you told Serena about that debacle?"

"Yeah, it was when we were in Anistar. Her eyes widened when I told her, Clemont and Bonnie the story. She also blushed flattered at the thought I turned down a date with an international fashion icon because I was in love with her." I tell him smiling at the memory of Serena's reaction.

Brock nodded chuckling, "How about we help Goh out? I'm pretty sure he still hasn't figured out her feelings for him and his own for her as well."

"Dr. Cupid is on the job once more. By the way, did you and Lucy ever go out?" I asked him grinning as I saw the blush on his cheeks.

He got a lovestruck look in his eyes, "Took me awhile to realize that she liked me that way. It was after you got back from Unova that she and I met up in Celadon City and I asked her out for some coffee. Only Misty, May, Dawn, and Tracy know that we're going out. Lucy has not even told Anabel yet."

"Don't worry Brocko I won't tell the others, it's your news to share after all. I see Gary is getting cozy with Zoey, I wonder what will come of that one." I tell him pointing to my other best friend who was chatting up the red headed young woman from Sinnoh.

He chuckled at this, "Mm, she'll keep him right. Maybe he'll let go of his player ways. From what I heard they've known each other since Zoey decided to run through the Kanto Contest circuit."

"She almost won the Grand festival here too! She got beaten by Solidad in the Semifinals last year, that was Solidad's final run in the circuit she retired after she lost to another coordinator in the finals. She's teaching in the Pokemon Academy now." I say as we walked to Goh who looked lost in his thoughts.

Scene Shift

Serena's POV

I felt welcomed among Ash's female travel companions though there were some that I already knew like Mallow, Dawn, and May the others were still a mystery to me. Getting to know them for this time had been fun, Misty and Iris telling me of their adventures with Ash and their other friends. Lana also shared some of the boy's antics in Alola. Others like Bianca and Lyra were amazed that I knew Ash since childhood.

"I swear the way your story pans out is like a real life fairytale! Separated for years only to meet again after a decade." Says Lillie who smiled at the thought.

Misty asked with a curious expression, "How did your reunion play out?"

I smiled recounting the circumstances of our reunion, "Funny thing about that, I actually went looking for him after seeing him almost fall in Lumios Tower trying to save the Professor's Garchomp. I was at home eat breakfast after a rude awakening by my mom's Fletchling, it was my mom who saw the new and called me over from the couch to watch it with her. I saw him trying to calm down Garchomp."

"Figures he ran into danger upon his arrival to a new region. What happened to the Garchomp who went on a rampage?" Iris says laughing at Ash's luck.

"I have a feeling that was thanks to the trio of troublemakers." Hinted Dawn raising a brow.

I giggled at the guess, "She has it right. Team Rocket had snuck into the lab and placed some sort of collar around Garchomp's neck that altered it's personality. Pikachu was able to break the collar, but slipped on a loose piece of cement causing him to fall off the tower. Ash dove after him and was able to catch him but they were still falling. Until a mysterious Blaziken saved them from the nasty fall."

"My brother and I helped Ash in saving Garchomp since Clemont knows Lumios Tower the best he was able assist him in getting inside. I assisted Siena -the Professor's assistant - with checking on any injured Pokemon." Says Bonnie with a cute smile.

Misty smiled at the younger girl, "Have you decided on what you want to be as a trainer Bonnie?"

"I want to be a Pokemon Groomer and Performer!" She exclaimed excitedly.

Dawn grinned, "With what I saw you doing at the ranch earlier, that career path fits you well. I've heard of Pokemon Groomers, those began in Kalos right?"

"Yeah, they did! We actually met someone that was aspiring to be a Pokemon Groomer, but she almost gave up on her dream because her Furfrou wouldn't trust her. Good thing an incident changed their relationship." I tell them smiling as I remembered Jessica and her Furfrou.

Bonnie bounced happily, "I'm glad they got a long in the end. All it took was another untimely interruption from Team Rocket to get them to work together, they've become quiet the pair in Lumios over the years. Jessica is now one the top groomers in Kalos, while Furfrou has become such a Pokemon fashion icon."

Misty then calls to the young Cerise female, "Hey Chloe! Any dreams or goals you want to share?"

I looked to my left where the young Vermilion City girl sat. She looked unsure of herself, she looked towards the Pokemon who were playing by the river. Ash's Pokemon new and old got a long quickly, of course they also got a long with our friends Pokemon as well. Back to the Chloe, who had a far away look in her eyes I knew she was unsure of her path in life. I was the same way when I started out, and May was in a similar situation as both of us before she found Coordinating. The Hoenn native was able to sense Chloe's unease, so she placed an arm around the younger girl's shoulders.

The burnette spoke, "Hey now, no need to look so unsure of yourself. I remember just wanting to travel the world when I started my journey and got my little Torchic, the guy grew into an awesome Blaziken. I eventually found my passion in coordinating, thanks to Ash and Brock that is. And Max has grown into a strong trainer as well."

"Thinking back to my own adventure I really was an overconfident girl. I was young, inexperienced, and just plain full of myself. Of course, Ash took his time to mentor me throughout our journey in Sinnoh. He was the one who taught me how to catch Pokemon!" Dawn adds smiling as she recounted their encounter with Buneary.

Misty laughed, "He definitely grew up after Hoenn. When he began his journey he went in all gung ho and was so inexperienced that you could hardly recognize how mature he is now to how he was then."

"Every trainer has rough start after all. Some let their ego get the best of them, while others are just blinded by the excitement of a new adventure." Zoey notes smiling.

Chloe giggled, "When I first met Ash I thought he was some overexcited guy. He got shocked by Yamper at the lab's entrance. Of course when he met my dad he was nothing but polite."

Iris laughed at the part about Yamper, "I guess I should have expected that one. But that doesn't surprise me at this point, after all Ash got sucked into a thunderstorm by Zecrum when he arrived in Unova."

"Dawn can we have a rematch later?" Asked Maylene the Vilastone City Gym leader.

It was Chloe who asked, "I thought coordinators didn't do Gym Battles..."

"We choose that option by choice. The idea that coordinators can't do gym battles is just a misconception. After all there are Gym leaders and elites around the world who were known to be Coordinators or Performers during their younger years." May points out.

"I happen to remember that Elsa in Unova use to compete in Showcases before becoming a Gem Leader. Fauntina in Sinnoh was a Coordinator as well." Noted Iris.

Dawn answered Maylene's question grinning, "Oh sure! I'd love to have a rematch. That last battle we had began on such a sour note back then, we were both in a bad place."

"Mind telling us about it?" Asked May curiously.

Dawn frowed her brows, "It was after I lost my first contest, boy what that a tough wake up call that was. My nerves got the best of me, Brock and Ash tried to help me out of it but I was at a slump."

"You really were a nervous wreck when you started out. But later on you started to become more poised and focused. Yes I are known for you creativity and out of the box tactics, you show that normal battle styles can be elegant in a contest setting." Says Zoey smiling at her friend.

Lyra a native from Jonto then asked, "Do you have a guy in your life Chloe?"

Chloe had the grace to blush at the inquiry, as she turned to face the area where the boys were conversing. Ash seemed to be telling Goh something, while also getting assistance from the Brock. All the girls had seen her look at that certain direction and smile.

It was May who teased, "Ooo. She does have a boy in her life. It so happens to be her best friend! How sweet."

Mallow poked some buttons has well, "So Goh? I should have seen this coming. With the looks you were sending him back in Hoenn, though Arceus could have made him more observant."

"Boys at that age a usually dense. Ash was that way when we traveled in Sinnoh. Not as much as Goh though, it did not take him long to realize the female attention he was getting. But even I didn't know he was already in love back then." Dawn says taking a side glance at me.

The other girls looked towards me causing me to gain a slight blush.

May giggled and then smiled patting my shoulder, "I knew about his feelings before we said goodbye in Sinnoh. I had confessed my own feelings for him after the Wallace Cup at that time. He felt really bad rejecting me but I understood where he was coming from."

"He kept on ignoring my advances everytime we met up in Kalos, I had a crush on him back then. He didn't appreciate how I treated Serena back then, in retrospect I was kind of jealous with all the attention he was giving her." Miette says huffing playfully.

Shauna laughed, "That isn't really surprising, I mean he is protective of her. And you didn't leave a good first impression as well."

"How did you and Ash meet?" Asked Lilie giving the me a glance.

I smiled indulgently, "It was a time during our childhood. My mom and I visited Palette Town, we lived in Kanto temporarily back then you see. She had wanted me to attend Professor Oak's Camp, I of course refused. One day I ran into the forest crying out for my mom, I slipped and injured my knee after a Poliwag startled me. Ash was playing tag with it, but then saw me and let it run free. He then helped me up, walk back to the camp , and to the nurse."

Misty smiled thinking that's exactly what Ash would do, "That's a cute story. But it's sad that you two were separated after just meeting each other."

"Well we did have a month to get to know each other. But it was too soon for the both of us. He let me keep his hanker chief while I gave him my straw hat to remember each other by. A decade or so later we met again in Kalos." I say a smile on her face.

Diantha joined the conversation as she and Cynthia walked towards the group of young ladies, "You and Ash made a formidable duo during double battles. When I heard you entered the Battle Chateau after your visit back in Kalos I couldn't help but smile. Ash had already ascended a rank by then, having beaten Baron Chefield to gain his rank as Vice Count."

Cynthia smiled, "He battled me on a whole different level during the Master's Eight. It was one of the toughest battles I had to date! It made me miss traveling and learning about Pokemon and our world."

"Alola is thriving now a days. Ever since Ash became champion a lot of trainers come by and take on the island challenges, they don't get through easily mind you. The Kahunas and Totem Pokemon don't make it easy. Ash had to go back a couple of times when someone did beat the Kahunas, but so far no one has beaten him yet." Said Lana grinning.

Lilie smiled, "Professor Kukui couldn't stop cheering when Ash beat Leon's last Pokemon. That last move was epic."

"We're kind of off topic here ladies. So what are you going to do about Goh, Chloe?" Miette says curiously.

I said, "That might take time, I am just lucky Ash wasn't as dense. Mm, now that I think about it he was always responsive to my advances in Kalos."

"When I saw you and Ash doing the double battles in the Wallace Cub I had no doubts that you were meant to be. Your chemistry shone through for sure." Comments Cynthia.

Bonnie giggled, "Well, Goh might need a little push in the emotional department. Ash would be the right guy to give that to him, seeing as he practically treats Serena like a princess."

"The headline during the Wallace Cup do you both justice." Noted Zoey.

All the girls watched the guys interact, seeing Kiawe and Alian facepalm and Goh's blank expression at something Brock was telling him clearly setting the mood for the conversation. Ash was looking rather surly at his Vermilion City friend, sharing a quick glance with Gary who had a sly grin on his face before the black haired teen approached the group of gathered females, while his friend walked towards the DJ's booth.

It was Dawn who spotted the obvious first, "I think they are going to set an example. This is going to be interesting."

It was Ash who came up, walking to me with his easy smile and a determined glint in his eyes. He took my hand bringing it to his lips and leaving a kiss there, I blushed at the action.

"Would you honor me with a dance Princess?" Ash asks never letting his smile falter.

I beamed I'd been wanting to dance with him for awhile now, "I'd love a dance Mr. Monarch."

"Excuse us ladies." Says the Palette Town native garnering smiles from the rest of them.

There was a slight teasing lilt in my voice when I addressed him in that title, to which he chuckled while taking me to the make shift dance floor. A slow song played, we saw Gary at the booth grinning before he took Zoey for a spin.

Third Person POV

It was Misty who asked the question, "When did Ash learn how to dance?"

"He was taught the basics at Cameron Palace when we went there once. Then he mentioned his trip to Rota before going to Alola to finish his Aura Guardian training." May informs the group.

Bonnie had a dopy smile, "I was completely mesmerized when I saw them dancing in Kalos for the first time. They truly looked like Royalty than!"

Shauna then pulled out a stock of photos, "I have photos of the Soiree. Thank goodness Tierno was able to take a photo of them while I was talking with Clemont and Bonnie."

The girls gathered around the brown haired girl to look at the photos. Most of them gasped, others swooned, the two champions shared a smile.

Dawn blew a long whistle, "Wow! They truly do look like Royalty. I envy Serena now."

"Truly. I didn't know Ash looked this amazing in this style of clothing." Says May awed by her best friend.

Lyra clicked her fingers, "Damn, I really missed my chance."

"Girl. You wouldn't have stood a chance! He's been holding a candle for Serena since the beginning of his Journey." Says Miette shaking her head.

Shauna laughed, "Take it from someone who tried and failed. And Serena had held the same flame for him as well, Tierno tried to woo her a couple of times in Kalos unfortunately she only had eyes for a certain Kanto boy."

Misty smiled, "I had asked Delia - Ash's mom - about their friendship and she had told me that Ash had once described Serena as an Angel. I was so surprised that I couldn't speak."

Aria grinned, "Well the few times we battled and seeing how well she Performs on a stage I can't contest to her statement. See her in the Wallace Cup was indeed angelic."

"She has an avid admirer in the Contest circuit. She really does not return his feelings at all, rebuffed his advances several times! He is very persistent though." Informed May reminded of her experiences with the persistent admires she had.

She saw Drew having a light conversation with Kenny and Solidad which made her smile. She remembered how Drew was towards her before she finally consented to date him. So far their relationship was doing well, he had quit his playboy ways after finally getting together with her which made her feel special. Solidad had a beau of her own as well, ironically it was Alder the Champion of Unova!

Misty and Tracy were still going strong, she thought they would actually get married one day. Dawn seemed to be admiring someone, May suspected it was Paul... hold that thought, actually the Sinnoh bluenette could possibly soften this guy's rough edges. Though she thought the young girl would deny her feelings for the boy. Brock got together with Lucy the Pike Queen, who was the only woman who ever took his advances and returned them with her own as well.

Chloe then said, "Do you really think I should make a move?"

"We're not saying make one right now, if you're not sure about it yet then take your time. But it wouldn't hurt a make him notice you as more then a friend." Advised Dawn gently patting the younger girl's shoulder.

Movement from behind them caused them to turn, it was Paul who was scratching the back of his head, clearly nervous about something. His eyes shifted to Dawn who looked at him questioningly.

"Would you like to dance with me Ms. Birlitz?" He asked offering his hand to the bluenette.

Her eyes widened in surprise but she beamed and took his hand, "I'd like to Paul!"

Off they walked. They saw Ash grinning while giving the purple haired boy a wink, causing Paul to blush which didn't go unnoticed by Dawn who also blushed.

"They would make and odd pair. But somehow I also think it will work out." Observed the Sinnoh champion.

Lyra giggled, "Suppose they'd end up together one day. Dawn would be good for him."

"Sometimes the unlikely pairs work out. Yes, there will be problems as that is the natural course of relationships bit they'll get through them." Says Diantha smiling at the couples on the dance floor.

"Hey sis!" Exclaimed a young voice making the Princess of Hoenn turn her head.

She smiled at her young brother, "Hey Max! How was the sight seeing?"

"Oh! It was great I got to see Ash's Pokemon the old and new of course. Got to battle his Sceptile too!" Said the Hoenn boy with a grin.

Chloe sat there observing the happenings around her. Thinking about the things the girls told her, all the advice they shared. She thought about what she was going to do. While Goh thought about what the guys had told him, but then shook his head still thinking that they were imagining things.

Woe is a heart full of love yet to be returned by another. What will happen next? As our Journey continues!

And cut! Whew, finally done with this chapter! The second one for this story, hope you enjoyed. The POV changes were intentional since I wanted to showcase Ash and Serena's thoughts into this story as well. Tell me what you think in the comments or DM me if you want, sharing of ideas will be greatly appreciated as well.

Shout-out to those who followed and liked this story, you are all awesome for supporting this fanfic. A mention to FanaticLAguy06 for their amazing spin on the Pokemon story arcs! They are really inspiring works kee in up!

Signing off,

WL_17