DISCLAIMER: The Pokémon franchise is wholly owned by Nintendo, Game Freak, and the Pokémon Company. This story is written purely for entertainment and not profit.
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Geez, how long has it been since I last wrote a Pokémon fic? With Ash's departure, the itch to write…something…was too much to scratch, so here's…something. Enjoy!
Where They Belong
Written by daBOSSz
Serena took one final look at herself in the mirror just to make sure that everything was as perfect as she intended for it to be. Although dressing up was something she had long since gotten used to, having put on some of the fanciest attire that the world had ever seen throughout her years of performing in Pokémon showcases, today's occasion required greater scrutiny. This was, after all, supposed to be the most joyous of events.
She was certainly not vain, but Serena could not stop herself from internally fawning over her gown for this special occasion. Despite all the dazzling dresses that she had worn for her performances, this one was by far the most gorgeous.
As it should be, Serena thought to herself, seeing as how this is the big day.
She smiled with satisfaction once she turned away from her own self-reflection, making one final adjustment to the brooch under her right shoulder strap. Taking a deep breath, Serena opened her tent and stepped outside into the crisp spring air.
"Delphox!" came the first response from her oldest Pokémon companion, admiring how she looked with sparkling eyes.
"Syl…" her other partner followed suit, pupils beaming as brightly as her fox Pokémon.
Serena bent down slightly to pat both on their heads, ushering in a few coos while she gave each of them some small giggles. They had been through every trial and tribulation alongside her, and there was no chance that she would keep them inside their Pokéballs for an occasion as enormous as this. No, they deserved to be beside her from start to finish.
As she stood up and recomposed herself, Serena finally noticed the rows of people staring back at her. Her eyes slowly scanned the chairs, maintaining the same consistent smile while greeting every familiar face in every row from the back to the front. At the same time, she took a moment to absorb the setting for the event: a gorgeous meadow beside a stream just outside of Pallet Town surrounded by the natural flora of the rural Kanto landscape. Rows of chairs had been set up between the tent that she had exited from and the area by the stream, where a makeshift archway covered in flowers provided the perfect backdrop for the primary occasion.
It was only until her sight had reached the front row that she paused her scanning, stopping on a smiling woman with auburn hair. Despite being quite the distance away, Serena could already see the tears forming in Delia Ketchum's eyes, fittingly complementing her signature smile that never seemed to fade.
After a few seconds of locking eyes with Delia, Serena's gaze finally shifted upward until she saw the main star of the event: the groom himself, Ash Ketchum, was standing to the right of the archway, only a few meters from where his mother sat. His trusty Pikachu, the one Pokémon that never left his side, was off to his left, dressed in clothing that had a fanciness equaling his trainer's. Even though they looked like tiny dots from her distance, Serena could easily make out the two sparkling rings that sat atop the soft cushion Pikachu was carrying. The trainer and Pokémon both beamed back at her once their eyes met, flashing their trademark smiles that she had never stopped loving throughout all the years they had known each other.
As the soft music started to play, Serena took Delphox's paw and slowly walked forward in the direction of the archway with Sylveon moving in sync alongside her. She would be lying if she said she was not nervous at all, but as was the case with all her performances, the presence of her Pokémon helped calm any tension that may have tried to rise to the surface.
Although her head stayed forward, Serena could not help but shift her glance from side to side, taking in all the seated guests she was passing by along her march down the makeshift grassy aisle. Over the years that she had known Ash, she had also gotten to know many of his other traveling companions as well, forging strong friendships of her own with them the same way that Ash had. Most of the seats from the back into the middle were already filled; human guests took up a noticeable number of them, while their companion Pokémon occupied the rest.
Serena kept her smile up during her entire walk. Occasionally, she shifted her gaze toward the seated individuals to acknowledge their presence, but for the most part, she was focused on Ash. She could sense his nervous energy emanating up the very aisle that she was walking down, and she could not help but internally giggle. That Ash Ketchum, the trainer who walked into every battle and every encounter with Pokémon more confidently than anyone she had ever met, could even exude any semblance of nervousness in any situation still did not seem to fit her image of him. Knowing this, she tried settling him down a bit with her smile, hoping that its radiance would at least help provide him with some degree of calmness.
Serena felt Delphox's paw squeeze her hand a little tighter as she closed in on the front rows. Before she even noticed, she found her mind starting to count the remaining rows she would be passing by.
Three rows.
Two rows.
One row.
Upon reaching the first row, her head finally shifted downward to meet Delia Ketchum's amber eyes. Next to the mother of the groom sat Mimey, who gave Serena a friendly grin before gesturing her over. It was a welcomed invitation, albeit completely unnecessary, as Serena knew exactly where she was to go.
She released Delphox's paw and took the seat next to Mimey. Pancham, who had been waiting for her beside the Mr. Mime, instantly jumped into her lap. Delphox then took the seat beside her, while Sylveon sat in front of her on the grass.
Yes, indeed, this was Ash Ketchum's wedding, and, at the insistence of the groom himself, Serena had been invited to witness it from up close.
"You're the one who made this possible," were Ash's exact words to her. "I have you to thank for everything. It would be wrong if you weren't in the front row."
Slateport City – Three Years Earlier
Serena stood atop a hill overlooking the giant city, eyes never leaving the sky while peering toward the north. Gradually, the dot that appeared in the distance started drawing closer, and she soon made out the figure of the Pidgeot that she had been anticipating. As the large bird neared her, she waved at the raven-haired trainer sitting atop it.
She had been in Slateport for a showcase that she had just finished an hour before. Having found out that Ash was in Hoenn, Serena invited him to pay her a visit that day, choosing to meet him on an isolated hill so they could have some privacy. With both being at least somewhat well-known throughout the world—he as both a Pokémon champion and master and she as a top performer—she did not want to take the chance of having strangers interrupt her moment with him.
"Ash!" she greeted as soon as he landed. "Glad you could make it."
"Hey, Serena," he replied. "Of course. I always have time for you."
She walked up and embraced him warmly. Although they had not been together in person for almost two months, they had been meeting more frequently in recent years. Both she and Ash traveled regularly for their careers, and when their schedules just happened to place them in the same region, they made sure to find time for each other, regardless of how hectic their lives may otherwise be.
After giving Pidgeot a pat on the head, Serena watched Ash recall him, leaving the two of them alone on the hill. Pikachu was not present, just as she had requested, but standard formalities—and her own genuine curiosity—required that she at least ask about him.
"Is Pikachu all right?" Serena inquired.
"Oh yeah, he's always fine," came Ash's response. "He was a little upset when I left him at the Pokémon Center, but he understood. What about you? How have you been?"
"I'm glad," Serena smiled as she responded to him. "And I'm good. Today's show took a lot out of all my Pokémon too, so they're resting at the Center as well."
For the next few seconds, the two long-time friends simply stood atop the hill, admiring the view of Slateport below in a comfortable silence. Serena thought about how to approach him about the topic she wanted to discuss with him, but it was Ash who would provide her with her window.
"So, what's up?" he asked simply. "You have something important you wanted to talk about?"
"Hmm?" she answered. "What makes you think that?"
"Well, it's not usual for you to ask me to not bring Pikachu," he replied.
"Well-deduced," she said with a gentle smile, hoping to keep the mood light. Then, turning away from him momentarily, she closed her eyes to organize her thoughts so that her next words would come out exactly as she intended them to.
"Serena?" he piqued, showing the same type of concern that he always did when he sensed that one of his friends was in trouble.
"Ash," she began, still looking away before turning her gaze back onto him, "have you told Misty yet?"
His head shirked back slightly, and she could tell this was not the question he was expecting.
"Told her what?" he asked.
"You know what," she answered, giving him a slight glare that indicated the answer should be obvious.
There was another moment of silence between them, but this one felt slightly less comfortable than the first. She had breached a topic that she knew he was not too keen to openly verbalize, but that was precisely what she needed him to start doing at that moment.
"No," he responded in a near-whisper soon after.
"Ash, how long are you planning to wait?" Serena asked, making sure to mix both concern and frustration into her tone.
"I…I don't know," he hesitated as he responded. "I…I want to do it at the right time."
"Ash, there have been so many right times," she quickly reminded him. "How often do you two see each other now?"
"At least once or twice a month," he answered, although it was unnecessary since she already knew.
"And you're saying to me right now that there wasn't ever a right time to tell her?" she pressed.
He had nothing he could say back to her, and she knew that she had successfully made her point.
"Ash, you're really good at expressing yourself with Pokémon," she continued, hoping to use his strengths to be more persuasive. "It's why you're a master now. It's why Pokémon everywhere have a much easier time warming up to you than to others, me included."
Serena took a few steps closer to him, then reached out and softly grabbed his hand. The untrained eye would have seen them standing side-by-side in such a manner and may have thought that they were sharing a moment as a couple, but this was a common gesture that she had used with him over the years to keep him relaxed.
"But if there's one weakness of yours, it's expressing those same deep feelings toward humans," she resumed, "especially the ones you care about the most."
She watched him turn his head away so that he was looking down at the city once again. She gave him around one minute to think about his reply, and when he continued to say nothing, she took the sign that it was still her turn.
"Ash, we're not kids anymore," she stated the obvious. "I know you're not confused anymore. Those feelings you have for Misty are genuine. You need to tell her."
She waited for him to respond, but he continued to remain silent. Still, she could see that he had been listening to her intently. Fittingly, it was his present silence that was making her point even more convincing.
"Be completely honest with me, Ash," Serena requested, deciding that she needed to take a more direct approach to get him to talk. "What's holding you back? Tell me every reason."
Most individuals would never speak to Ash this way about his feelings and expect to receive any productive response. Even his own mother had admitted that being so direct with him was often not effective in getting him to open himself up. Serena, however, was not most individuals, and the bond she had formed with Ash permitted her to be as much of a straightshooter as she was willing to be without worry.
"Where to start?" Ash finally spoke up, although it was not so much of a question for her as it was for himself. "What do I do if she doesn't return my feelings?"
Instinct told Serena to brush off such a concern, considering she already had advanced knowledge of Misty's own feelings for Ash, but knowing how difficult it was for Ash to even discuss this topic, she responded by squeezing his hand instead.
"Well, I can't promise what exactly she'll say," Serena chose her words carefully so as not to outright lie. "But look at what happened between us. When I confessed to you how I felt about you, how did you react?"
"I told you I didn't share those same feelings toward you," Ash answered. "And I ended up hurting you."
"That you did," Serena acknowledged. It was painful when it happened, but she had long since put the heartbreak behind her that it no longer bothered her whenever she was reminded of that memory.
"I hurt you badly," Ash repeated as though saying it only once was not enough to describe the severity of the incident. "You could've…should've…stopped talking to me after how badly I hurt you."
"But I didn't, did I?" Serena quickly pointed out. "Sure, I could've, but definitely not should've, and look at where we are now: we're not just still friends, but we've grown even closer, haven't we?"
Ash turned his head back to face her, and Serena could see the realization in his expression.
"Yeah, you're right about that," he accepted. "Why didn't you though?"
"Because you're worth more than just my feelings," she replied without hesitation. "Ash, you're an inspiration to me. You're the reason I found a dream to chase. You're the reason I wake up every day motivated to pursue those dreams. As I traveled through every region of the world and encountered so many people whom you met, I learned from them that you had inspired them in the same way you did for me. I couldn't just throw all that away because you didn't return my feelings."
She paused for a moment to let her words sink in. She would be lying if she said she did not consider cutting off contact with him to a degree, at least temporarily, but she was quick to realize how rash such a decision would be. Instead, she took it as an opportunity to understand him even more deeply, to understand how he genuinely viewed her as a part of his life alongside how she genuinely viewed him, and once that piece of the puzzle was assembled, she truly grasped the full depth of how fortunate she was to have him be such a critical person in her own life.
"Ash, what does Misty mean to you?" she asked.
He gave her question a bit of thought.
"Everything," he answered.
"Exactly," she confirmed. "You're best friends. You know each other better than you know me or even your own mother sometimes. No matter what her response is, I know you won't throw all that away, and she won't either. You're too close for that to happen."
She gave his hand another squeeze to reassure him, then let him go and walked a few steps away to peer down at Slateport once more. She knew him well enough to recognize the need to give him these moments to reflect on what he was hearing. He was never someone who would brush off her words, but it often took him time to process each of them.
"Was there something else holding you back?" she asked after the respite.
"Yeah, kind of," Ash answered, and Serena knew the "kind of" was simply filler. "Even if she feels the same, how do I know if I'm capable of being the one she deserves?"
"Come again?" she responded, not sure if she heard him correctly.
There was another brief pause. She watched as his head tilted down for a moment before meeting her gaze for what seemed to be the one hundredth time that day.
"You know how I feel about her, and you know how fantastic of a person Misty is," Ash almost reiterated. "She deserves to be with someone who's just as incredible as she is, if not better. Why should that person be me if she can do better?"
Surprise was not a feeling Serena expected to experience in her conversation with Ash today, and yet here she was, surprised that such a question would come from her friend. Still though, seeing as how this feeling had to have originated from somewhere, she held off on criticizing him for it and instead tried to empathize with him.
"What do you mean by that?" Serena asked, hoping that her tone of voice came across as purely curious.
"Look at me, Serena," Ash replied. "As you said, I'm good at Pokémon. Pokémon has been my life ever since I became fascinated by them as a kid. I've committed so much of my time to reaching the level of champion and then continuing to work toward becoming a master. What do I know about being in a relationship with someone beyond just friends?"
Serena gave her friend a look that indicated a mixture of confusion sprinkled with a small but noticeable amount of disbelief.
"Ash, I think you're really selling yourself short," she spoke in a gentle tone, making sure that there was no indication of scolding in her voice.
"Why would you think that?" he questioned, clearly puzzled.
"Well, who does Misty reach out to when she needs to talk about anything?" Serena asked.
"I don't know," he answered. "But I do know we talk a lot."
"It's you, Ash," Serena informed him, slightly disappointed that he never actually realized this. "Misty hasn't made it a secret that she feels more comfortable talking with you than with anyone else, including her own sisters."
Ash was aware of the friendship that had formed between Misty and Serena, although Serena did not know how aware he was of its depth. Over the years, the two women had communicated so frequently that they no longer shied away from confiding in each other over matters of the heart, and while it was not Serena's position to reveal to Ash everything that she and Misty had discussed, she had to at least provide him with some of the information that he otherwise could never discover on his own.
"Do you remember Misty struggling through that period in her mid-teens when she really needed support?" Serena asked after another short pause.
"Of course," Ash answered. "I was worried for her almost every moment."
"Yeah, you were," Serena acknowledged. "You even put your own training on hold to be there for her. You saw sides of her that she never dared show to anyone else. Even when she was at her worst, you stood by her and helped her through it."
"Yeah, I did," Ash agreed, unsure of what else he could respond with.
"Ash, you've already shown you're capable of caring for her in a way that's far deeper than friendship," Serena informed. "By being with her during her toughest times, you've already proven there isn't anyone else more capable of understanding, comforting, and caring for her on the same level as you."
Serena took a step toward Ash and placed both of her hands on his shoulders.
"Ask yourself this," she continued. "Could you picture her showing that side of her to anyone else? Even if she was comfortable enough doing so, would their reaction to her be as empathetic as yours would be? How would you feel knowing that she was pleading with someone else to be her pillar to lean on while they're nowhere near as capable as you?"
For about half a minute, Serena simply looked Ash in the eyes. In her younger years, a moment like this would have been a dream-come-true for her, staring at the glow of those chocolate orbs that would have caused her heart to melt. She still loved whenever she had such an opportunity, although it was now for a very different reason: to help her friend find the level of happiness that he deserved to reach with the person he had long ago set his own heart on.
"Please, Ash," Serena spoke once she had given him enough time. "Please stop thinking that there is someone better for Misty when you know deep down that you're the best for her."
She tapped her fingers directly at his heart as she uttered her last sentence to him. It was more of a request than a plea, but she hoped that her message had gotten through to him. Ash would forever put the needs of those closest to him above his own, and if he truly understood that he was who Misty needed, perhaps he would finally step up to the plate and make the move that Serena and all his friends had been expecting him to make for quite some time now.
As Serena's hands dropped from Ash's shoulders, she felt his own hands catch them on the way down.
"Thanks, Serena," Ash said with a widened smile, giving her hands a squeeze of genuine appreciation. "I'm so lucky to still have you in my life."
Serena returned his smile, then gave him another warm embrace. After a few more minutes, Pidgeot was released, the two exchanged partings, and Ash flew back in the direction that he had arrived from.
Outside Pallet Town – Present Day
As her thoughts brought her back to the moment, Serena tilted her head up and stared once more at Ash with almost the same type of awe and admiration that she had felt when they first reunited in Kalos. Unlike then though, her feelings this time were not of longing or desire, but of pride at what her friend was finally realizing.
The music continued, and a few more participants were finishing their walks down the same makeshift aisle that Serena had just traversed. May, another one of Ash's friends whom Serena had grown extremely close with over the years, took her seat one row back on the opposite side of the aisle next to Drew and Max. Dawn trailed closely, eventually sitting down in the row directly behind Serena. Both wore the exact same bridesmaid dress as her, and both looked equally as stunning in them.
At last, behind Dawn, came Clemont and Bonnie. Serena could not stop her smile from widening at seeing the two of them, and when Bonnie separated from her brother to sit with Max, it only caused her to grin even harder. Neither of them had officially declared anything, but it was obvious that Bonnie and Max had grown affectionate toward one another. Although Serena also had a hand in introducing the two of them to each other due to her connections with both May and Clemont, she never did so with the intention of setting them up; that mutual adoration had risen and developed entirely on its own.
Clemont took a quick glance at his younger sister joining Max before reaching the front row and approaching Serena. Delphox noticed this and willingly yielded the seat to him, which Clemont happily took and thanked the Pokémon with a pat on the head in appreciation.
Serena greeted Clemont with the same smile she had been wearing since she left her tent, then leaned her head against his shoulder. In return, she felt his hand looping around her to give her a brief clutch. It had taken quite a few years, but her fondness for Clemont gradually blossomed into something more, and the two of them would eventually decide to try going steady. Initially, she felt that she at least owed him an opportunity: after Ash had turned her down, it was Clemont whom she looked to primarily for comfort, and it was Clemont who helped her see where she stood with Ash so that she did not choose any paths that she would ultimately regret. However, it was also Clemont who suggested that she wait until she could be certain that what she felt for him was true, letting her know that he did not want her to make such decisions when her heart had not fully healed.
"I know you're not just 'settling' for me," she remembered him telling her. "But I also don't want you to think that I'm trying to take advantage of your current emotional state. You'll know when you're ready, and that's when you can be certain of how you truly feel."
This respectful way that he handled her feelings was what ultimately drew Serena even closer to him.
The change in music diverted the attention of both, and, recognizing what such a change signified, they became the first to rise from their seats. Seconds later, every sitting member followed their lead, turning their view back toward the rear at the largest of the tents.
As the tent opened, out stepped the bride, fully covered in a relatively simple but beyond gorgeous gown. Although Serena had seen Misty try on the dress before, the current combination of the atmosphere, event, and Misty's natural radiance made her look so incredible that she would put even the most well-renowned goddesses to shame.
"Wow…" Serena could not stop herself from whispering, and judging from the voices around her, she knew she was not alone. She took a slight peek at Ash out of the corner of her eye, and to absolutely no surprise, his jaw looked like it wanted to hit the ground. Even Pikachu appeared to be floored by what he was seeing.
As Misty moved closer, Serena could see her friend's eyes trying to hold back tears of joy. This was her moment, a moment that she had eagerly let Serena know was coming almost immediately after it was originally confirmed.
Cerulean City – One Year Earlier
The excitement in Misty's voice when she had called Serena a few days ago still echoed in the latter's mind. Although Serena had an idea of what it was about, she did not wish to make assumptions; thus, she entered the Cerulean Gym with no expectations for what was to come.
Misty had initially wanted to break the news to Serena over the phone, but when she learned that Serena was touring in Kanto, she instead invited her friend over to do so in person. Of course, Serena accepted without a second thought; even if there was no breaking news at all, it never hurt to pay another visit to a dear friend.
As soon as Serena entered the gym, Misty's figure emerged from the hallway.
"Serena!" she exclaimed, rushing toward her visitor.
"Misty!" Serena exclaimed right back, sharing in her delight.
The two embraced tightly, giving each other a slight rock back and forth in appreciation. Misty had yet to say anything beyond her name, and yet Serena could already feel the immense amount of joy emanating from her friend, more so than usual.
"So, what's the exciting news?" Serena asked as they released each other from their hug.
Misty said nothing. Instead, she brought her left hand up to show Serena the newly added item on her ring finger. Immediately, Serena could not stop herself from gasping at the twinkling of the ring, whose sea green gem almost perfectly matched the hue of Misty's eyes.
"Oh my gosh…" Serena managed to utter. "It's absolutely stunning!"
With that, she instantly took her redheaded friend into another embrace, this time with even more warmth than the one they shared seconds ago.
"Congratulations," Serena whispered into Misty's shoulder. "But you have to tell me: how did he do it?"
Misty gave a slight giggle at the question.
"Let's just say it was quite romantic by Ash standards," she answered. "He took me up to Cerulean Cape on Route 25, and as we were watching the sunset, he tapped me on the shoulder from behind. When I turned to look at him, he was holding a Pokéball, but then he opened it and revealed the ring."
"Oh wow!" Serena responded, almost about to break into laughter herself. "It really is just like Ash to hide the ring inside a Pokéball."
Misty nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, later on, he told me he remembered that's how Professor Kukui proposed to Professor Burnet back on Alola all those years ago," Misty explained. "But that wasn't even the best part."
"What do you mean?" Serena questioned curiously.
"Well, I was surprised of course," Misty continued. "When the initial shock wore off, and I was putting it all together, I thought he would just ask me the question. Instead, he stuttered and fumbled his words so badly that there was even a small part of me wondering if this was all a mistake, that he didn't know giving me a ring meant something other than just him being nice."
Now it was Serena's turn to giggle.
"Anyway, it took a bit of time, but eventually, he did say the two words," Misty finished.
"And what did you say back to him?" Serena asked. "Just 'yes,' or something else?"
"I smiled and told him, 'Of course, you big dummy,'" Misty answered.
Serena finally laughed in response. Although Ash had learned how to be a more romantic partner since the time that he and Misty had started going steady, there was still that side of him that reminded both women of the goofy clown whom they had become highly familiar with throughout the years they had known him.
When the laughter died down, the mood returned to one of mutual gratitude.
"Thank you, Serena," Misty spoke first.
"Huh? What for?" Serena responded, slightly confused.
"Well, Ash told me it was you who gave him the pep talk that motivated him to finally tell me how he felt," Misty answered. "Without you, I don't know how much longer either of us would've waited."
"Misty, that was two years ago," Serena informed.
"I know," Misty acknowledged. "But I never did properly thank you for doing it. I just wished that you also gave me the same talk you gave him. I needed it as much as he did."
"Well, if it makes you feel better, you were my Plan B," Serena retorted jokingly, drawing an instant laugh from Misty.
For a few seconds, the two friends simply smiled at each other comfortably. When Serena had urged Ash to open himself up to Misty that day, she was still uncertain about whether he would proceed forward with it, and to see Misty with that ring on her finger now pumped her with a jolt of pride for how far both partners had come.
"Hey, Serena?" Misty spoke, breaking the temporary silence.
Serena detected a bit of hesitation in her friend's voice, and her expression reacted accordingly to show her curious concern.
"I've always wanted to ask: why did you do it?" Misty continued.
"What do you mean?" Serena inquired.
"Why did you push Ash and me together?" Misty clarified. "I mean, I know how you felt about him, and I can see it in your eyes that at least part of you still loves him."
Serena nodded in agreement. There was no hiding from her friend, and it was not as if she wanted to do so anyway. She and Misty were familiar enough with each other's feelings for Ash, and their bond with each other was ironclad enough that they could freely discuss these matters without upsetting one another.
"Yeah, and I always will," Serena admitted.
"That's why I'm curious why you did it," said Misty. "I know he initially rejected you, but you're a phenomenal woman, and even someone as dense as Ash could have eventually fallen for you if you decided to continue pursuing him."
Serena chuckled at her friend's remark about their mutual crush. Her younger self might have been somewhat irked by anyone calling Ash dense, but at this stage of her relationship with both Ash and Misty, such comments were treated by all parties as nothing more than friendly banter.
"You could've tried, and I don't have any doubt that you would've succeeded," Misty continued. "And having known you all these years, I would've been completely supportive if the two of you had ended up together."
Serena felt herself blushing from her friend's compliment. Misty was not wrong; there was a part of Serena that did contemplate trying to win Ash over at one point, but that part of her was snuffed out when she realized that it was not rooted in the reality of what would make Ash happiest.
"Thank you, Misty," Serena responded the compliment. "But I couldn't have kept trying. It just wouldn't be right."
"What do you mean by that?" Misty asked curiously.
Serena paused for a few seconds to contemplate how to organize her response in the frankest way possible.
"It was painful when I confessed to Ash and he told me he didn't feel the same way," Serena explained. "At first, I did want to see what else I could do, but once I learned where his heart actually lay, I knew it wouldn't have been right to chase him."
She watched Misty's eyes widen from the newfound understanding.
"You know how Ash's heart works," Serena resumed. "Once it's set on something, there is no talking him out of it. All those times that he's put his own life on the line to protect Pokémon and his friends…that's the strength his heart contains. That's why, when I recognized that his heart was set on you and that you shared those same feelings toward him, it was only right that I help him realize his happiness."
Serena reached out and took Misty's hands in hers.
"Ash isn't some prize for us to compete over," she continued. "He's one of the absolute best friends anyone could ever ask for. Seeing him at his happiest is worth far more than winning any kind of contest."
Serena did not even have time to blink before she felt Misty envelope her in a tight embrace, which she returned accordingly. Although she could not see her friend's face, she could feel Misty grinning from ear to ear, and even a warm tear seemed to find its way out of Misty's eye and onto Serena's neck. After a few seconds, Misty pulled away, but kept her arms around Serena's back.
"Thank you," Misty repeated. "I wish I had stronger words for you, but I don't. Thank you. You really are nothing short of a phenomenal human being."
"Not as much as you," Serena responded. "Ash knows how to choose his friends, and he chose the most incredible one to give his heart to."
"Please…no more," Misty pleaded while blushing fiercely. "But you're definitely right that Ash knows how to choose his friends."
Misty released one of her hands and was pointing at Serena while she said her last sentence.
"I couldn't be more blessed to consider you a friend, Serena," Misty complimented.
"The feeling's mutual, Misty," Serena replied.
Pallet Town – Present Day
The ceremony went as perfectly as anyone could envision. Aside from immediate family members—Delia on one side and the Sensational Sisters on the other—there was no seating arrangement divide between bride and groom sections, signifying the strength of friendship that both had formed with all the guests. Neither was there a best man nor a maid of honor, as both Ash and Misty agreed that it would be unfair to favor anyone in their strong circle of friends.
Professor Oak officiated the ceremony, serenading the crowd with some of his poetry before pronouncing the pair husband and wife. Once the newlyweds had taken their walk together back up the grassy makeshift aisle, they recalled their Pokémon, boarded a vehicle, and headed toward Pallet Town. Guests soon followed suit.
Serena and the other guests now found themselves in the fields of the Oak Lab, where the reception was being held. People and Pokémon mixed and mingled, congratulating the newlyweds whenever they had the opportunity.
"I had to ask Professor Oak if he would let us hold the reception here," Serena remembered Ash telling her. "I'm grateful he agreed, because there's no way I could have any of my Pokémon miss the celebration."
Ash was certainly not the only one who felt that way. As she continued to observe the reception, Serena could not see a single Pokémon from any of the guests that was still being kept inside a Pokéball. Her own were already playing games with some familiar faces and new friends alike: Sylveon was running around with Chloe's Eevee, Delphox and May's Blaziken were showcasing their fire moves with some other fire types, and Pancham was learning to cheer from Dawn's Piplup. Serena internally giggled a bit as she remembered how confused Pancham was when she informed him that she and Clemont had gotten together, which forced the Pokémon to finally put his rivalry with Chespin to rest.
Chespin remained beside Clemont at the moment, seemingly having an animated discussion with Cilan's Pansage while their trainers were conversing in the same manner. Elsewhere, Serena saw May, Dawn, and Iris in a trio, while Ash's former female classmates from Alola—Lana, Lillie, and Mallow—were fawning over Misty's dress. The groom himself was with his former male classmates—Kiawe and Sophocles—and Brock, while Gary was speaking with Goh. Max and Bonnie were nowhere to be found, but Serena had no doubt that they were together somewhere, likely trying to befriend as many Pokémon at the lab as possible.
"Serena, dear?"
A voice from behind her caught her attention, and Serena turned around to see Delia Ketchum looking at her.
"Oh, hi, Mrs. Ketchum," she greeted.
"Are you all right, dear?" Delia asked. "I see you're here by yourself and not speaking with your friends."
"Huh? Oh, I'm fine," Serena assured. "I'll join in one of their conversations soon enough."
Delia looked convinced, nodding in approval.
"I owe you great thanks too, you know," the elder woman remarked, somewhat surprising Serena.
"What for?" she asked Delia.
There was a small pause as Delia looked away for a moment before returning her gaze to Serena.
"I know you loved and still love Ash," Delia replied. "It wasn't a secret that you had feelings for him, and he told me how awful he felt for breaking your heart. Yet instead of running, you helped him understand his true feelings, and you motivated him to finally express them to Misty. Not even I could convince him to take this step. My son doesn't get married today if it wasn't for you."
Serena could only smile and blush at Delia's words. Although she had been thanked by both the bride and groom, it felt different when the speaker was the groom's mother, and she had no response that she deemed to be gracious, humble, and fitting enough for Delia.
Delia, always wiser, seemed to sense this, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"It takes a special kind of strength and character to do what you did," she continued. "I always knew my son was outstanding at choosing his friends, but sometimes, even I'm surprised by just how incredibly selfless his friends are. You're the epitome of that selflessness."
With that, the two women shared an embrace. Serena, keen as she was, sensed the genuine gratitude flowing from the elder woman during the hug.
"Thank you," was all Serena could utter.
"No, dear, thank you," Delia responded.
"Serena!" another familiar voice called out from behind her.
Serena released herself from Delia's embrace and peered back to see Bonnie trotting up to her. One look told her that Bonnie had prioritized interacting with Pokémon over keeping her bridesmaid dress wrinkle-free.
Some things never change, Serena thought to herself, but she did not dare verbalize it.
"Hey, Bonnie," she greeted instead.
"Come on, come on," Bonnie responded. "Misty's about to toss the bouquet. You don't want to miss your chance to catch it."
"Oh, okay," Serena answered.
She gave Delia one last look of appreciation, which was reciprocated, and followed Bonnie to the area where Misty was already standing. She found herself in the middle of the U-shape that had formed around Misty with Bonnie remaining beside her.
"All right, everyone ready?" Misty called out, rotating herself so that she was now facing away.
All the women around Serena started leaning forward in anticipation, and Serena joined them.
"Three…two…one…" Misty called out.
Then she stopped. No bouquet was tossed. Instead, she turned back around and started walking toward the middle of the U.
Serena was confused. She glanced around at the other women, anticipating that they would be wearing the same befuddled expression, but instead, she was greeted with innocent smiles that gave away nothing. As Misty neared, they parted, leaving her the only one to stay frozen in place.
Seconds later, Misty reached her.
"Here you go," the bride said softly, placing the bouquet in front of Serena for her to take. "Go ahead. It's yours."
Still puzzled by what was happening, Serena responded naturally and accepted the flowers from the bride's hands.
"Uh…what's…" she started uttering.
"I found you!" came Bonnie's voice from next to her, and Serena recognized it as a playful sort of excitement.
"Huh?" she asked.
Bonnie dropped to one knee and extended out a hand. It was a gesture that Serena had not seen the girl make since she was a young child who did not know any better.
"You were right here all along!" Bonnie continued to declare in her good-humored tone. "You're not just a keeper; you're the keeper! I've searched all over for the perfect woman to take care of my brother, but she had been with us this whole time."
The crowd around started to chuckle lightheartedly, which continued to baffle Serena. What exactly was Bonnie doing?
"Bonnie, let me handle this," came Clemont's voice as he approached them, although his tone suggested that he had prior knowledge of this happening.
Bonnie smiled, getting up and backing away. Yet before Serena could move, Clemont had taken his sister's place in the exact same pose down on one knee, except he reached into his pocket and pulled out a ring. As if by instinct, Serena's hands covered her mouth in shock.
"Serena, Bonnie's done this a million times, but this time, it's different," Clemont declared, shifting his tone from playful to serious. "This time, I agree with her. I can't picture the rest of my life without you now. Will you be my wife?"
The tears of joy had not yet even formed before Serena nodded.
"Yes, of course!" she vocally verified.
Clemont slipped the ring onto her finger, stood up, and enveloped her in an embrace. The crowd around them, both human and Pokémon, exploded in applause and cheers. While she heard and absorbed all the adoration coming from every direction, Serena, for that moment, simply allowed herself to sink into Clemont's arms.
Once the cheering had died down, Serena pulled away and met Clemont's eyes. She wanted to stare into them a bit longer, but his head made a subtle gesture for her to look behind her instead.
Tilting her head around, Serena was met by the bride and groom standing side by side. She released Clemont and ran over to envelope both Ash and Misty simultaneously, shedding tears while doing so. After another half minute of hugs, Serena finally pulled away to visually meet them through her now-watery eyes.
"You did this, didn't you?" she asked the obvious question while wiping away a few droplets.
"We did," Ash responded. "Misty and I agreed that just thanking you would never be enough. We had to find a way to share this moment with you beyond just showering you with our gratitude. Then Clemont told me he was ready to propose to you."
"That's when we thought this plan up," Misty followed. "The others needed no convincing; all of them speak so highly of you as a friend that they jumped on board immediately."
"Of course, Bonnie was the one who came up with her own little wrinkle to the plan, and we wholeheartedly encouraged her to do it," Ash added.
Serena laughed, then looked over at Bonnie, whose cheeks appeared as though they were working overtime to hold her wide grin.
"You're finally going to be my big sister for real!" Bonnie proclaimed, walking back and giving Serena another embrace.
"I've always been your big sister," Serena reminded her.
"Yeah, but now it's going to be official!" Bonnie responded.
The group shared another laugh together, and as Serena continued to enjoy the moment, she paused briefly to reflect on how fortunate she had truly been in her young life. To be blessed by loving friends like Ash, Misty, and all the others whom she had befriended directly or indirectly through them, to continue following her heart and chasing her dreams with her Pokémon beside her, and to now be engaged to a man as supportive and understanding as Clemont…Serena could not possibly have asked for more.
She was where she belonged. They were all where they belonged.
Please excuse me if my Pokémon writing is a bit rusty, seeing as how it's been far too long since I wrote anything related to this franchise. If you have any feedback, I welcome your responses. Thank you again for reading this!