Chapter 41
When they go to the Restaurant, Mark has used aura to inform Ash that Serena is coming for him, and Ash just disguises himself as Morris, while Alice decides to go with her true form since she wants to talk with the girl who used to be one of Ash's crush.
Helen is serving meals while Alice is sitting at the table waiting for Ash, and they see Mark with Serena. Alice asks, "Mark? What is the Kalos Queen doing here?"
"She wants to apologize to Brother. Is he still here?" Mark asks.
"You mean Ash, he is helping Chef Morris in the kitchen." Helen says while placing two cups of water on the table. "If you want to find him, you'll have to wait."
Alice turns to Serena. "Serena, right? I heard that you were helping my mom as a model, but this is the first time we get to talk to each other alone."
Serena nods and says, "I know, the last time we met was back when Lillie was challenging Ash for the Alola Champion...still, I have to apologize for what Bonnie said."
Alice decides to go with the offensive and she says, "Before I get to date Ash three years ago, I heard from him that two girls have broken his heart, which is why he has darkness inside his heart... Lillie is trying to make a change, so I assume that you are the other one who broke his heart?"
"I didn't mean to hurt Ash...I..." Serena tries to defend herself, but Alice stops her words.
"You want to say that you were controlled by Team Rocket. Sure, that was true." Alice says. "But control or not, those words are coming from your mouth, and that is what breaks Ash."
Serena bursts out in tears and Mark hugs her, he thinks Alice is harsh and he asks, "Alice, aren't you a little too harsh?"
Alice says, "Harsh? This is just a piece of cake considering what Ash has been through. There are sometimes I caught Ash trying to hurt himself with the knife and we have a hard time trying to get it away from him without taking any damage. He is not the same boy that is enthusiastic about everything, he was now harsh and cold, and who knows what he could do."
"If anything...Team Rocket is the one to blame, not those people..." Helen says.
"I know, Helen. But it is in the past." Alice sighs. "To be fair, I am not the person who can judge this, Ash is the only one. And he is the one that decides, not me."
"Are you talking about me?" Just then, they see Ash and Morris walking towards them, and Alice sighs as Ash is using his Double Team. Morris says, "Hey, aren't you the Kalos Queen?"
Ash is now trembling as he sees Serena. Serena is also surprised to see him, "Ash..."
"What is she doing here?" Ash says with a cold and sad tone.
Mark says, "She is here to apologize to you, she knows what she had done and she wants to redeem."
"Is that so?" Ash raises an eyebrow, and Serena says, "I am sure, Ash. I know that what I did was horrible, but I still want to apologize to you..."
Ash sighs as Alice says, "I got to talk some things to her about how you changed and how you did some unthinkable things. So what are your thoughts?"
Ash frowns and says, "In fact, it is true that I had been acting dense when we were traveling together... deep down inside, she probably hated me for that... and it was also the reason why Team Rocket could use her to break me..."
Serena is surprised as she didn't realize that Ash might think that she hated her, which is why she said those words even though she was controlled.
"Then why did you act dense?" Morris asks, even though he knows why because he is Ash's Double Team. "Wouldn't it be better if you tell her your feelings so that everything would be smooth?"
"Because I was scared to confess." Ash says. "I still remembered the love novels Mother had told me to read, and there are some plot twists about a breakup and other else."
Serena is hearing this and she is surprised, she didn't know that Ash is afraid to confess. She also read a lot of love novels on the internet and she was feeling the same way as well.
"It is a different story when I meet Alice. She comes to me when I was in hell, she was the light that pulls me out of the darkness. And because of the mistake that I made with Serena, I decided to focus on Alice in order not to ruin our relationship." Ash says.
"And I won't break our relationship either.." But then Alice realizes something and she frowns, "But if Serena didn't say those words to hurt you, are you going to choose her?"
Ash frowns and says, "I guess so...what you said already happened, so it won't change the fact right now. The love is broken, and it is you that repaired it. No one can replace you, Alice. There are some times that I wanted to forgive her, but I can't."
"Why?" Mark asks.
"I know how sorry they are, but I am afraid that if I forgive Serena, I might be breaking Alice's heart...I learned that Alice has lower self-esteem because of what happened in school, and I don't want to hurt her more..." Ash says.
Everyone is shocked at his words. Mark asks, "Wow brother. When did you start thinking like that?"
"Since I forgave Mother, you might not notice, but there are some times when Alice and I are at the brink of our relationship. It is a good thing that we managed to forgive each other and back together again." Ash frowns.
Alice sees how stressed Ash is, she kisses him to calm him down, she says, "I really don't like having grudges, you can forgive them. I know that you aren't the kind of person that would betray the woman you love."
Ash nods and says, "Thank you. Alice." And he sighs as he knows that Serena has been hearing their conversation, he faces Serena and says, "You have heard everything, right?"
Serena nods silently and Ash says, "I will forgive you since you were my first crush, but you have to understand that sometimes things can't be the way it is before, I have a girlfriend and a future wife, so the promise of being together with you is broken. I just hope you understand and I don't want to break your heart even further."
Serena lowers her head and says, "I understand... even though you have no feelings for me...I still want to be your friend."
Ash nods and says, "That can do. Alice and I have some work to do, so we'll see you later."
After Ash and Alice leave, Morris says, "Well, I think that should be a better result."
"By the way, where is Paula? Isn't she with you?" Mark asks as he is just doing this to make sure nobody knows Alice is Paula.
"She is taking a rest at home." Morris says. "She doesn't feel well."
"I see." Mark says. "Since you are here, how about we take a seat and order something? I know we just have some tea back in Cafe Soleil, but it will be a shame not to have something."
"I have been here before, actually." Serena says. "I know how good the food is."
After ordering the food and Helen going back to the kitchen to prepare, Serena asks, "So what is Ash doing during these years? It has been 3 years since Team Rocket happened...I feel like he changed a lot..."
"Well, he has done quite a lot of things, and I won't doubt that Brother has become a millionaire with what he has done." Mark says.
"Millionaire?" Serena asks in confusion, and Mark says, "You see, D&W, Helen's Kitchen, FS Resort, and Ice Houses are owned by Ash and Alice."
Serena gasps as she has heard some of the places, and she can't believe all this time, Ash is actually a part of these stores. Mark says, "Not to mention that besides management, he is now a stylist, a band member, and a Professor."
"That is quite a lot of achievement...that Ash gains everything during these 3 years?" Serena widens her eyes in shock. "But I thought he wants to hide from the world..."
"He does, that's why there is something known as disgusting and under an alias." Helen brings the food to the table and says.
"Oh...I mean, it sure is obvious, going under a different name and disguise, how come I never thought about that?" Serena asks.
"Now you do." Mark says as they have their meal.
In the kitchen, Ash and Alice are looking at Mark and Serena, the two of them are now talking like they are dating, Alice asks, "So Ash, do you feel better now that Mark is trying to help Serena?"
Ash sighs and says, "I'm a little glad since Mark is my brother, and Serena was my first crush since I was little. I don't mind if they have chemistry together."
Alice nods and she says, "So, Ash. How about we talk to Serena? I mean...she seems an interesting person."
"It is fine for me." Ash says as they all head towards Serena's table with the food they prepare for themselves.
"Mind if we sit with you?" Ash asks as he brings his own dish to the table, along with Alice. Mark says, "Not at all, Brother."
As they sit down at the table, Ash says, "So Serena, you must have heard about everything from Mark, right?"
Serena nods and says, "So you were trying to make a new region, and you even asked Lillie and Mark to become your Elite Four member?"
"The region is under construction, that's why I have decided to make a challenge for PLA. If I win all seven leagues in a row for seven years, then I'll take over PLA. With the money and the welfare there, I am sure that the new region can flourish." Ash says.
"But still, it was reckless to declare a challenge like that...especially since you bet your World Champion title." Mark says.
"Believe me, Mom and the others have already scolded me." Ash says. "I don't think I will lose, I mean, even since I won the World Champion, I have never lost a battle yet."
Alice says, "And no matter what decision you're making, I will always support you."
Serena hears what Alice says as she realizes why she has no chance compared to Alice. In her eyes, Alice is really loyal to Ash, and you don't see anyone with that kind of heart for someone you like.
Serena asks, "When I was working in Valerie's store, I heard from your sister Flora...is it true that you were being bullied by your classmates in the past?"
Alice frowns and says, "To be honest, I don't really care about what they think about me. But I admit, that is why I am supporting Ash with the bet. My bullies bully me because I don't think Ash is a loser who can't win a League. And I didn't get to see their reactions when Ash won the Alola League since I dropped out of school because of the beatings that I got."
"That sounds really harsh...I guess that makes us really similar to each other." Mark sighs.
"And not to mention Ash also helped me enroll in the Naranja Academy, and now I just need a semester before graduation." Alice says.
Ash also smiles at that, after Alice graduate, she will be able to spend more time with him and he is excited.
I'll end the chapter here, and Ash has finally forgiven Serena. Serena is going to be paired with Mark in this story, and I hope you like it.