Before starting today's episode, I just wanted to thank you all for the support that this story is receiving. 4 reviews, 13 favs and follows, over 240 visits… It's even posted into a community. Never before one of my fanfics had such a positive and monumental response in its debut. And it's something that fills me with joy and motivates me to write even more so that you can enjoy this adventure. Seriously, I thank you all from the bottom of my heart for reading this story and believing it's good enough to leave a review or put it in your favorites.

I hope this will just be the start of something even bigger and that we can enjoy it together. Now, without further ado, on with the episode. ;)

ROUTE 2: A promise of heart

Vermilion City harbor, ten years ago...

A huge line came out of one of the piers of Vermilion Harbor. That line was leading to Santa Lonia ferry, which was set to sail to Coumarine City harbor, in the Kalos region. Among all the people who were queuing outside to board, there were two that stood out above the others: a woman with black hair and two suitcases in her hands, and a little girl who couldn't stop crying. The mentioned girl was wearing a pale pink dress and a straw hat, and a backpack on her back. The woman tried to ignore the howls of the girl, but it was mission impossible.

"Serena, for the love of Arceus, could you please stop crying?"

"Come on!" The little girl replied. "You didn't even let me say goodbye to Ash! How can you be so bad, mom?"

The woman, named Grace, let out a long sigh before kneeling at the height of her daughter. The girl's eyes were a sea of tears.

"Honey, I know how much you wanted to say goodbye to your friend, but the ferry is sailing early in the morning and didn't want to bother him or his mother. And I know you love to live in Pallet Town, but you'll see how you also make lots of friends in Kalos."

And she stroked her cheek tenderly. Still, little Serena was sobbing and thinking of the boy she had met at Professor Oak's Summer Camp.

The girl had lived in Kanto with her mother for a few years, but it was the first time she went to a camp. And it was right there where she met Ash. The meeting could not be more fortuitous: Serena was lost in the woods near Professor Oak's lab, and after being scared by a Poliwag also lost around, the girl fell and hurt her knee. It was at that moment that Ash came out of the bushes (looking for Poliwag precisely), helped the girl with her knee injury and carried her back to camp. Since that day, Serena didn't separate from Ash at any time. They always played together, explored the forest (always with caution) and studied all possible Pokémon with Professor Oak. Even outside the hours of camp, they were playing at the home of another and created a very strong bond of friendship between them. Even their mothers realized, as seen as a little couple by them. All of it implied that the friendship between Ash and Serena would last a long time and that they could make their first trip together as they would become Pokémon trainers at ten years of age... but fate had other plans prepared for them. Serena's mother was involved in Ryhorn racing as a professional, and in the Kanto region there was not much of a tradition in that sport. Where that type of competition was popular was in the Kalos region, so Serena and her mother would have to move so that their income could increase. Of course, when the little girl heard the news, a few hours before arriving at the harbor, her heart broke in a million pieces. It was so sudden and unexpected that it seemed they were leaving hiding from the people, no one knew of their departure. And so that was how she ended up in the harbor. The sad girl still didn't believe that she and her mother were going to leave without saying goodbye to her friend. With tears still falling to the ground, she took off her backpack back and stared at it, with a lot of grief.

Suddenly a tremendous slowdown was heard near the pier. A small blue car had just stopped dead in the middle of the harbor. When the door opened, a boy of about six years of age jumped hastily, looking back and forth as if watching a tennis match. Instantly, another person came out of the car, this time a ruby-haired woman.

"Ash, calm down, please!" She shouted, slamming the car door shut.

"I can't, mom!" The boy screamed in reply, with watery eyes. "What if Serena is gone already!?"

"Please, sweetie, just calm down... Come on, let's look around for her, I'm sure she's still here." His mother replied.

Ash was on the verge of an emotional collapse. His mother suddenly woke him up early in the morning with the worst possible news: his friend Serena and her mother were going to take a ferry because they were moving to Kalos. That felt just like a punch right in the balls, and quickly begged to his mother to go to Vermilion City to see her one last time. Obviously, his mother would not let his son stay without saying goodbye to the girl who had caused so many smiles on him. So they took the car and as fast as they could they ended up in Vermilion Harbor. Now they were both there, looking for the honey blonde girl with a straw hat. Ash looked at one side to another in despair, his appreciation for the little girl was such that if he failed to see her before she left, he would feel a huge void in his heart. When he met her, little he imagined that would be so attached to her, but over the weeks their friendship became very strong. After a long time watching the docks and with Ash almost devastated, his mother Delia said what he craved for:

"Ash, look! Isn't that girl over there?"

And his mother set in the distance a figure of small stature. Ash turned his gaze to see if his mother was right. The same honey blonde hair, the same straw hat, the same pink dress... there was no doubt. It was her. The boy sped away, running as if his life depended on it with his very worried mother behind.

Serena left the backpack on the floor. She stopped mourning, with the clear idea in her head that Ash would not receive the news until he woke up later, when she'd be on board of the ferry. Unexpectedly, a scream was heard in the middle of the harbor, a familiar voice called her name.

"Serena!"

The girl was in shock, the tears in her eyes turned again into rivers about to overflow. She couldn't believe it, she didn't want to believe it! Was it really he or her ears were confusing her? Gradually, Serena turned her head to find out who had shouted his name. And there she saw him. That raven dark haired boy, wearing a red shirt with the design of a PokéBall in yellow and moist eyes. There was no doubt about it. It was him, it was Ash. She immediately moved her hand to her mouth in disbelieve, and tears began to fall abundantly down her cheeks. Nothing could stop her. She started running towards him shouting his name in full voice:

"Ash!"

Serena strode, though each step seemed an eternity. Ash felt the same way, it was as if they were in slow motion. But in the end, nothing could avoid the emotional meeting. Both little bodies collided into a strong, warm and emotional hug and dumped in a sea of tears. When Grace turned to see what had happened to her daughter, she couldn't believe what she was seeing. Delia also saw the emotional embrace between her son and Serena, and could not help but to have a little tear running down her eye. But then, she went to talk to the girl's mother.

"Grace! How could you do this to your daughter?" She asked indignantly.

Serena's mother looked away, intimidated by the question.

"I just wanted to prevent this from happening, that my daughter left Kanto with a broken heart..."

"Grace, you would have broken her heart if you didn't let her say goodbye to my little Ashy... Look at them, they love each other so much! Serena has made my son happier than anyone during these months, and she was also able to have a good time thanks to Ash. And that's something you know very well..." Delia said.

Grace glanced at her daughter hugging with Ash. Both children were crying a lot, but they seemed happy to see each other one last time.

"Maybe you're right, Delia." She said, looking regretful.

Meanwhile, Serena was still crying endlessly on Ash's shoulder. The young Kanto native was broken inside, because of this unexpected move.

"I'm really sorry, Ash..." His friend said, sobbing. "But I have to move because of my mum's job... She can't do it here...

"Oh, no... I don't want you to go, Serena... I'll be very lonely without you..." The raven haired said, trying to hold back his tears.

"I... I don't want to leave either, Ash..." Serena tried to say, but the tears interrupted her.

Ash hated seeing her sad. He didn't want the last image of his best friend to be a depressed face full of tears. So he searched and researched on his pocket and found a very special object. It was a pale blue handkerchief, with darker edges and a PokéBall drawn in one corner. It was exactly the same handkerchief that the boy brought when Serena hurt her knee the day they met. Ash offered it to his friend to wipe her tears, to which she immediately accepted. It took a few seconds for Serena to realize that it wasn't a random handkerchief.

"Ash..." the girl whispered, remembering that moment that she appreciated so much inside her heart.

"Please, keep it with you." The Pallet Town boy said, with a smile on his face. "It's my parting gift, so you remember me when you arrive in Kalos."

Serena was touched by those words and she dedicated to her friend a nice smile. At that time, she realized something. She grabbed Ash's arm and dragged him into her backpack.

"I also have something for you, Ash..." The little one said, opening the main zipper and looking for it inside. "I was going to give it to you tomorrow at the Viridian City funfair... I hope this makes you remember me a lot and all the times we played together..."

"Of course, Serena!" The little boy shouted, whipping out his tears but showing a smile.

Their mothers were excited, seeing their offspring so close. It was sad to think that maybe that was the last time they met. Meanwhile, Serena pulled an object from the backpack and showed it to Ash with all the fanfare of the world.

"Surprise! Do you like it? I made it by myself, just for you..." The little girl said, a little flushed.

Ash opened his mouth surprised to see the gift his friend was giving to him: it was a colorful bracelet that had his name and a pink heart engraved on wooden dices.

"Oh, it's so pretty! Thank you very much, Serena!" He cried with joy.

Serena couldn't be happier. Quickly, she put the bracelet on Ash's right wrist. The boy was amazed at how cool that bracelet looked in his hand. So engrossed he was looking at the gift that he almost fell to the ground when Serena embraced him tightly.

"I will miss you…" She said, in a sad voice and trying to avoid tears as best as she could.

Ash's face turned serious. Even with these important objects that would remind them to each other, they would be in different parts of the world. But he didn't want to think, at any time and under any circumstances that that would be the last time they would see each other.

"Serena, listen to me." Ash started, looking at his friend's eyes. "I know you'll now go to Kalos with your mom, but I don't want this to be the last time we meet. Let's make a deal. When I get older and start my journey as a Pokémon Trainer, I promise you we will meet again."

The little honey blonde girl separated from her embrace with Ash to process what he just said. She knew deep down it would be very difficult to see him soon, but only to be with him and see his warm smile on his face once again she would have enough.

"Yeah!" She said, bouncing in joy. "No matter how much time passes, because I know down that we will be back together! It's a promise, okay, Ash?"

"Not just any promise, Serena... I want this to be a promise of heart." Ash said, extending his little finger.

It was tradition in Kanto that when two people wanted to have a legitimate and profound promise or commitment, it had to be a promise of heart by clasping their little fingers. So did Serena and Ash, vowing that someday they would meet again and try to share the moments of joy they had lived during those summer months. Serena was so excited she could not help but give another big hug to Ash, and even an innocent but sweet kiss on his cheek.

"A promise of heart..." Serena said, blushing. "Yes... I promise you, from the bottom of my heart, that I will see you again, Ash."

"I promise you as well, Serena... I don't know how long it will take, but from the bottom of my heart I tell you that someday we will meet again." Ash said, smiling as big as possible for his friend.

And they embraced again, excited. During the final minutes that were left before the ferry sailed, Serena and Ash talked about how things could be in the future, when they would see each other again. The boy was crystal clear about his goal: he wanted to become a Pokémon Master, but his friend was not so clear. Her mother insisted her on following in her footsteps as a competitor in Ryhorn races, but she had told her a thousand times that she didn't like the idea at all. She felt more comfortable taking care of their Pokémon, feeding them, playing with them... maybe she would end up having her own Pokémon Daycare.

When Grace and Serena were claimed to board inside the ship, the honey blonde girl turned back to Ash to give him a last hug and a kiss goodbye.

"Take care of yourself..." She sighed in a low voice, squeezing his body with all the energy she had left.

"You too, Serena..." Ash said, unable to avoid a tear running down his cheek.

And just like this ended this magic moment, in which two friends brought together by fate had the chance to say goodbye before breaking for no one knows how. The last image of Serena Ash could see was her in the bow as the ship moved away, waving the handkerchief he had given her to say goodbye; while he was doing the same moving his right hand. The same hand in which he wore the bracelet.

Back at the Kalos League Grand Hotel...

Several tears began to fall into Serena's. The Kalos Queen was completely shocked to remember that time so bitter of her life. Perhaps because of the pain and anguish that that farewell brought to both of them, the memory remained buried in their brains, especially in Ash. But that kiss and hug he received in the stadium resembled so much on those he received ten years ago that his brain was activated, bringing to the surface all the memories related to Serena and Professor Oak's Summer Camp. The girl, meanwhile, felt stupid. Not only for the fact that she had forgotten about that moment at Vermilion Harbor and that bracelet, but also for forgetting the promise of heart.

"How...? How could I forget that...?" She asked to herself, covering her mouth to avoid shouting in pain. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, Ash... Damn, I feel like a complete idiot for this. I just remembered the handkerchief and I forgot the rest of it...

Serena turned her head to look at Ash and find some compassion for her supposed stupidity, but what she saw left her dumbfounded. The Pallet Town boy had a slight smile on his lips, understanding and comforting at the same time. In addition, he was offering in his left hand the famous handkerchief to wipe her tears. With a trembling hand, she took the handkerchief and wiped her face slowly.

"I have bracelet and you have the handkerchief, just like ten years ago..." The trainer said, with slightly rosy cheeks.

An awkward silence fell at that time. Serena had ceased to mourn, while Ash's face twisted again. The Kalos Queen felt like she had to say something somehow but Ash cut her short.

"Don't say you're stupid for forgetting that. I understand that with all the changes that occurred in your life, it could escape from your memory. And also it has been a decade since that happened. But I..."

The Kalos regional runner-up squeezed his fist tightly.

"I should be the one apologizing, Serena. Not only had I forgotten about the bracelet and the promise, but I also completely forgot about you and everything that happened. And now I feel ashamed for it..."

Serena felt how her heart skipped a beat. It was the first time she saw the Kanto trainer so remorseful, and she was the reason for his sadness. If Ash felt so badly about those memories being buried deep inside his consciousness, the point is that they really mattered that much to him and he had a special affection for them. She had a theory that if he had forgotten about the camp and the handkerchief, is because neither of those were so important in his life, as they were for her. But this turned the tables completely.

"Ash, please..." She said. "I don't want you to get depressed by this. I forgive you if you really need it, but I say from my heart that is not necessary to feel shame or sorrow for it. Your dream of becoming a Pokémon Master is what made you forget all of this, but because your desire was so great that you wanted to focus the most on being the best. There is nothing wrong about that. Dreams, desires and fantasies come and go all the time..."

"But I can't help feeling guilty!" Ash insisted, taking Serena's hands in his and looking into her eyes. "Serena, you were the one who recognized me the day we met again, and all of that to give me back the handkerchief and be back with me. And all I did was put a stupid face because I couldn't remember anything. And just when I finally remember everything, all this guilt, this sadness I feel I can't take it off my body. I can't imagine the pain you felt because of my fault..."

Serena felt blocked. Where was that conversation taking them? Was there any way out of that negative spiral, that all it did was to wring even more the heart of both? Moreover, she really wanted to continue with this anguish? Honestly, no, and it was time to bring everything to the surface.

"What are you talking about, Ash Ketchum?" She asked, in a certainly aggressive tone. "You haven't harmed or brought pain to me, not now, not ten years ago or at any time. Quite the opposite. By your side, both little kids and on our trip through Kalos, I've had a great time! Think about it, Ash. In the end, you accomplished your promise, we met again, after ten years, and traveled throughout the region, living endless adventures. In addition, I owe you a lot of things, but perhaps the most important of all is my crown of Kalos Queen. Without your support I would have never had enough confidence in myself to win. So please, don't apologize because you are not guilty of anything! You have no fault to forget the promise nor the two times we were separated...

That last sentence felt like a dagger right in Ash's chest. In fact, he had to remove his hands from Serena and had to breathe deeply several times. The girl was even scared.

"Ash, a-are you okay?"

"Yes..." He replied, in a soft voice. "It was not my fault, not yours that we took separate ways, both in Vermilion Harbor and Glorio City. But what I felt since the moment you left with Aria and Palermo, was the same thing I felt when you left with your mother to Kalos. A feeling of emptiness in my chest, in my head, around me. And they say you never realize what you have until you lose it. Both ten years ago as a few months ago, I felt that emptiness inside me, an emptiness that you filled, but I didn't understand at that moment and I still don't understand it today...

"Ash..." Serena blurted, approaching him a few more centimeters. "I know how you feel. I also had that feeling. I felt that ten years ago and I also felt that when I became Kalos Queen. I missed you and I felt empty, incomplete and lonely without you. You completed me then and you still complete me today, you're the last piece that fits into the puzzle of my heart."

"But why?" Ash asked, scratching his head from the nerves. "I swear I don't understand anything... Why I can't stop thinking about you? Why did I feel so empty? Why you have to be the one who fills this gap? Serena, I really beg you, help me to understand this because I can't take it anymore... What is this!?"

Serena stood shocked with her mouth half open. It took her a few seconds to process it all, but eventually she managed to find the answer to what happened to her friend. Finally his hidden feelings had risen to the surface. Finally his mind was unlocked and he began to see things differently. But it lacked a last step, a final step to understand everything.

"Ash... this is love."

The Pallet Town trainer opened his eyes more than ever, while his head turned slowly to meet the eyes of her childhood friend, which had a special glow. Her face drew a tender, sincere and very warm smile, and her cheeks were blushed.

"Tell me… When you're with me, do you feel happy, cheerful, you notice a warm feeling in your chest and think that everything is possible?" She asked.

Ash was so nervous that he just simply nodded his head.

"And you always care about me, right? That is, if you see something strange happens to me or you feel I'm not right, you're interested my state immediately, right?"

"Of course." He said quickly.

"And as you've told me, when I'm not near you, you feel that void in your heart, you feel incomplete..." Serena continued.

"Exactly…" Ash answered, scratching the back of his head. "The emptiness I felt when we took separate ways at Glorio City was exactly the same I had when you left to Kalos ten years ago."

Serena closed her eyes and smiled. Happiness began to fill her insides and the Beautiflies in her stomach seemed more real than a simple metaphor. Her blush deepened while Ash waited an explanation, kind of uncomfortable and nervous.

"It's definitely love." Serena said, getting even closer to Ash. "I felt the same as you ten years ago, as during our trip in Kalos and so I'm feeling right now. And I have never doubted for a second that it was love. I know that these feelings are difficult to recognize; but here there's no doubt about it. Ash, I feel the same way you feel. I feel love for you. I feel it since you helped me back at Professor Oak's Camp, and I haven't stopped feeling it at any time. And surely you also discovered it at that time and you never stopped feeling it, even if you had it hidden deep in your mind. Think about it. You were my first love, and I was your first love. We are each other's first love... Isn't that wonderful?"

Ash gasped. Was it really that? Was he in love with his childhood friend? It was hard to process it all, but seeing Serena's face his mind went blank. The happiness she was feeling could be seen reflected in a big smile from ear to ear, outlined. The beauty that she radiated with that smile was out of everything imaginable, it was like meeting face to face with the most beautiful of all the angels. If he felt so dumbfounded and intoxicated by happiness only by seeing her face to face, it was possible that the Kalos Queen was right.

At that time, Serena's face changed slightly. She was still smiling, yes, but now she also expressed desire, while shortening her distance with Ash. The Kanto native noticed as the honey blonde's blue eyes hypnotized him completely and, as if they were a magnet, he felt the need to bring his face closer to Serena. The girl's eyes were closing very slowly as she moved her face towards Ash another centimeter. The young trainer's breathing was getting louder, his eyes were closing and their lips were close, very close, closer... until they made contact. It was a kiss. Ash's first kiss. And Serena's first kiss. Both felt a strong shiver that ran from their back to the head. It was an electrifying feeling, something they had never experienced in their lives. It was like being in the middle of a tremendous thunderstorm and go climbing skyward up to the clouds, and staying there floating. That happiness erased all other thoughts in their minds, leaving them in the purest blank. After a few seconds with their lips together, which they both felt like an eternity, they had to break the kiss to catch some breath. Ash was ecstatic and almost breathless, his face was flushed and he was perspiring profusely. Serena, meanwhile, breathed deeply to recover the stolen air from the kiss, but she could not keep the tears from running down her eyes again. Although this time those tears were not expressing sadness, but joy.

"Se-Serena, are you okay?" Ash asked really worried, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Yes..." She said, smiling again. "You don't know how long I've dreamed of this moment, and now I'm extremely happy... Thank you, Ash, thank you so much..."

Ash comforted Serena with a very tender embrace, as the young Pokémon Performer let out little sobs of joy. Gradually, the honey blonde lady was calming down and settled her head on Ash's chest, while they both stretched in bed.

"Hey, Ash…" Serena said after a few minutes. "Now that you've finished the Kalos League... You will go back to Kanto, right?"

Her voice sounded slightly depressed, it seemed that fate wanted to separate them again. But Ash had other plans in mind.

"There are still a few days to do that. My only way to return to Kanto is on the ferry at Coumarine City, and that's at the other end of the region. Don't worry, I know where you are going with this... We have plenty of time to be together."

Serena did not answer. She just smiled and snuggled tenderly against her beloved trainer.

Before ending this episode, I would like to discuss a couple of things related to the anime and the upcoming games Sun and Moon. Last Thursday we could see episode 19 from the XY&Z anime, the first part of the Master Class, and both Miette in the episode as the subsequent announcements, may be giving many clues about Amourshipping. The most "impressive" one is that next Thursday, in the highly anticipated episode 20 (Aria vs. Serena) a new ending song will be premiered. It's "DoriDori", performed by Serena's seiyuu, Mayuki Makiguchi. Given that the previous version of this ending used Serena for the video and that they will use this same song during the episode, maybe we could find some surprises. Next Monday, along with Sparkling Dreams Prologue's Route 3, I will give a brief analysis on the episode, since there is so much at stake.

Going to the videogame information, in the latest issue of CoroCoro they announced that on April 15 the magazine would come with the first important information of Pokémon Sun and Moon. Depending on how the news about the game advance and how my story progresses, I may include some Pokémon of these games in Sparkling Dreams. We'll see how the situation develops.

Now, I bid you farewell until next Monday. Greetings and take care of yourselves a lot.