Chapter 40
In Laverre City, the current Kalos Queen, Serena, is now helping Valerie with her fashion show as a model, it is one of the works that Ash's grandmother, Palermo, requests to do. Serena doesn't mind, but she doesn't know if she can do this. Recently, she learns that Ash has a wife already, and the fact that it is not her makes her depressed. That doesn't help especially since she also notices a lot of haters trying to badmouth Alice, only for Ash to protect her and fight back those people.
After a day of hard work, she sits at the store and sees Flora, who is giving her a bottle of Moomoo Milk. "The show is going great, a lot of people really like it."
Serena takes the bottle and says, "Thanks, Flora." Ever since Valerie learns the news that Serena is asked to be a model for the new clothes at Palermo's request, she has asked Flora to help her out, and the two of them have become friends.
Flora notices her frown and she asks, "Is there something wrong?"
Serena shakes her head and says, "It's nothing, it is just my personal matters."
"Maybe I can help you out, what is in your mind?" Flora asks as she sits beside her. Serena says, "Do you have a crush on someone?"
Flora thinks for a little and she says, "I don't have a crush on someone right now, why do you ask?"
"What will you do if you find out that your crush already has a girlfriend that isn't you?" Serena asks, and Flora says, "That's what you're thinking about? I mean, did you talk to your crush about this?"
Serena shakes her head and says, "After an incident, he probably hates me that much to talk to me... he was also married and I couldn't do anything about it."
Flora says, "I am not sure what the reasons are, but if your crush already has a wife already, then maybe you should stop dwelling on this man. I am sure that you'll be able to find a suitable man in the future."
Serena frowns, "It isn't that easy...he is the one that encourages me to become a Kalos Queen, it is because of him that I manage to find my own dream...I tried to forget about my crush...but it is hard..."
Flora sighs, and she says, "Well... if you don't leave your past in the past, it will destroy your future. Live for what today has to offer, not for what yesterday has taken away."
Serena can only nod as she doesn't know why Flora has been trying to help her, but she accepts her help. Serena asks, "So Flora, are you going to be a counselor in the future? I mean, with that talk, I feel a little better."
Flora says, "My dream is to become a Fashion Designer, and I have been working with both my Mother's store and D&W for a while."
"D&W, isn't that the store that sells a lot of modern clothes and creative clothes? You know the owner?" Serena asks.
"Of course, I do know the owner, or how can I work there?" Flora says with a chuckle. "Dean and Whith are nice people, and they like to hear opinions from others."
"I see." Then Flora's phone is ringing and she says, "Well, it is my sister."
Serena frowns as she knows that the caller is Alice, Ash's girlfriend. Flora asks, "What's wrong?"
"Hey, Flora. How did the show go?" Alice asks, and Flora says, "It is perfect, the Kalos Queen is doing a great job. How about you? What are you doing now?"
"Ash and I are training so that we can try to take on the Nimbasa Gym in the Unova Region." Alice says.
"I see. I hope everything goes well." Then she ends the call, Serena says, "Can you tell us about your sister? I mean Alice, she is now Ash's wife, right?"
Flora nods and says, "She had a terrible life, as she has been bullied in school to the extent that Mother has to drop her out of it and even find a tutor to help her out, but that is 10 years ago."
Serena is surprised to hear about this truth, and Flora continues, "And that was when we got separated in a blizzard, she was just missing for days and we were worried. But after she came back, she changed. She is no longer shy, and it might be influenced by her boyfriend Ash Ketchum."
Flora notices how Serena is frowning, she sighs and says, "If you are wondering how they confess, I can say that Ash has suffered because of Team Rocket's control on everyone, I know that I shouldn't reveal this, but Aura users like us aren't affected by the Control, and we were mad and also worried for Ash because of the media. When Alice was missing in these days, she was actually helping Ash stop Team Rocket, she was also the one that kills Giovanni."
"What?" Serena is confused, and Flora says, "It is for self-defense. Giovanni is the one that fires the gun, she just uses her powers to make it ricochet and through Giovanni. Or else Ash is the one that was killed."
Serena nods, as she finally knows why Ash loves the girl, and after talking about other things for a while, Serena decides to leave and bids her farewell. Flora also sighs, as she just hopes that one day Ash can forgive Serena as she doesn't seem like a bad person.
Right now Serena is sitting at Cafe Soleil with her sunglasses on, she doesn't want to be recognized by the crowd, and she doesn't want everyone to know that she is crying.
She has been reflecting on Flora's words, can she really move on from Ash and find a better person to be in love with? She knows that even if she was controlled by Team Rocket for lashing out mean words towards Ash, what she said was terrible and Ash was greatly affected by it.
Just then, a handkerchief is showing in front of her, and Serena sees a face that she is both dreadful and wanted to see. The boy says, "Your sunglasses may fool anyone, but you can't fool me. Use this to wipe your tears."
Serena frowns as she takes the handkerchief and wipes it, the boy says, "By the way, I should introduce myself, I am Mark."
"My name is Serena." Serena says. She can't believe she meets a person who looks just like Ash, and he has the same kindness as Ash, but he is not Ash, and that makes Serena a little depressed.
Mark orders a Latte, and he sits on the seat that is opposite her with the table. He says, "My aunt owns this cafe, and I can say that the coffee and desserts here are delicious. Don't you think so?"
Serena snaps out of her stare and she says, "Oh, yeah. They are good."
Mark notices her eyes and he asks, "Is there something wrong with my face? I've seen you staring at me for a while."
Serena says, "Well, your face reminds me of a person that I know about. Sorry if I bothered you."
"Oh, it doesn't mind." Mark says. "A lot of people mistook me for my brother, but I don't mind it at all."
"So you have a brother?" Serena asks, and Mark chuckles, "I was actually adopted a few days ago, and I'm really happy about it."
"What happened?" Serena asks, and Mark says, "My birth family doesn't treat me as a son, if you have watched a famous movie known as Les Miserables, you may think that my parents are eviler than those Thenadiers, I was just unluckier than Cosette."
"So your birth parents were hotel owners?" Serena asks, and Mark nods. "And after a lot of presumed failures, I was about to be drowned by them, it is thanks to my new brother and my new mother, they manage to save me and give my birth family what they deserved. My brother and I decide to reopen the hotel, but we are not going to be like them."
"That sounds nice." Serena says. "May I ask you a question...is your new brother Ash Ketchum?"
Mark is surprised and he asks, "Ah, you're guessing it through my face, right? I mean, it is kind of obvious, I do have the same face as the World Champion."
"Can you tell me about him?" Serena asks, and Mark says, "Well, he doesn't like us revealing what he is doing, but you know I can't resist a cute girl like you."
This causes Serena to blush a little, and Mark says, "About my brother, he is really talented and caring, but the latter only for those who he considers as friends, and not strangers or people he doesn't trust... It might be an effect of what happened 3 years ago."
"I know..." Serena lowers her head. "Can you tell me what he has been doing during these years?"
Mark is now curious and he asks, "Why do you want to know about him? I mean...what is your relationship with my brother, Ash?"
Serena decides to reveal everything, from how they met when they are seven years old, their journey throughout the Kalos Region, and the time when she was controlled by Team Rocket to betray him. Mark says, "I see...you sure have been through a lot of pain and sorrow. I sometimes think that my brother is a lucky man to have girls like you to pursue."
Mark then frowns a little and says, "But I'm sorry to say that he has a wife and their relationship has been stable for 3 years..."
"I know...I have been trying to move on from him, we haven't talked for years, and I don't think he would forgive me..." Serena says with a frown.
"I am sure he will forgive you." Mark says. "I mean, he forgave his Mother, he forgave Pikachu, he forgave his aunt, and he even forgave Lillie."
"Wait, what?" Serena asks in surprise. "He forgave Lillie? Are you serious?"
"Of course, he is taking her as a student. And she is getting stronger than before." Mark says as he looks at the time. "Well, it is getting late. Sorry, Miss Serena. But I have a meeting with my brother at Helen's Kitchen. We've already had a reservation and it would be rude if I didn't show up."
"Wait, Mark." Serena says as Mark turns to her, "Can you take me with you as well? If what you said is true, then I might have a chance to earn his forgiveness. I want to do it."
Mark notices her determination and he also blushes a little, and he says, "Okay, I guess you can come. By the way, let me pay for the desserts for you. Thanks to my brother, I now have a lot of money with me."
After giving money to the counter, they all head towards the restaurant. For Serena, this is a chance to earn forgiveness, and she can't waste the chance. As for Mark, he just hopes that Serena is fine, after all, what Ash might say to her won't be easy, and deep down inside, he was always attracted to the Kalos Queen ever since she stayed in Hoenn for Contests.
Here is a new chapter, and I decide to put a Serena-based chapter here. I hope you like it and the next chapter will be about how Ash forgives her, or will he ever forgive her?