Chapter 12: Falling For You
The pair embarked out into the calm night. The scars from the storm had passed, where a full moon gazed its reflection onto the tranquil lake. Tiny ripples occasionally formed in the water, where sleepy water Pokemon swam to their slumber. The rural night sky was vividly dark, but the clouds had cleared; stars had gathered high above to illuminate a veil of navy, and join the mood in lighting up the fishing pier for Ash and Serena to sit by.
They walked, not uttering a word. Ash felt his stomach begin to flare up with nerves once again, while Serena felt her chest tighten. Both of their hearts began to speed up. There was a lot hidden inside that was just waiting to finally be released.
Serena felt her legs begin to wobble, as the rush of blood around her system made her tremble with anxiety. For so long she had put it off, for so long she thought she always had time to tell him in the future. The instant in which Ash fell reminded her just how precious time was; just how each and every second is valuable. Serena realised that Ash had been mere inches from never waking up again; then the future would have deserted her, and Ash would have left her. She realised she would probably never get another opportunity, because the future was never certain. There was never any assurance that tomorrow would come. She had to live in the moment; to use the opportunity to help Ash, and to make him understand.
Ash still feared what these feelings were. They were feelings that matched his passion to battle; they were feelings that punched him in the stomach harder than the rush of a victory, or the bitter blow of defeat. His mind was bombarded by these new emotions. Some made him happy; some made him shiver with dread. Ash thought he would never encounter fear. He tried to think about the subject before with Serena, but no answer came to his avail. He stumped himself, back then had no idea of what fear truly felt like.
Back then he did not know what it was like to fall.
Back then he did not know how dark the world could really get.
He had asked Serena to come with him, because he didn't want to go alone.
He didn't want to return to the night; to the darkness where had been trapped.
He felt it; he felt fear.
But Serena was beside him. Just like she always had been, even if before he never seemed to notice.
Serena was always there; she had always been calling.
For the first time he began to listen, and then a feeling which eclipsed the fear was born.
Serena was the one who caught him.
Serena was different.
He had feelings, that of which he could not explain.
He had feelings for the girl who pulled him from the darkness.
The two walked along the platform, slowly, steadily, making their way to the edge. Not a word was uttered. Serena was now rapidly shaking; it wasn't the bite of the breeze from outside, but the heat of her heart pushing against her chest. She was nervous, but this time she could not afford to be shy.
They sat down, lowering themselves onto the platform's edge, where Ash crossed his legs. He felt his calves rub against each other, his muscles contracting, beginning to cramp against the bone. He couldn't get comfortable, his mind overheating with thoughts. He felt agitation growl within him, boiling spots of heat prickling his back. He kept adjusting his legs, while Serena watched on with her knees up to her chest, concerned at Ash's discontent. She saw he was nervous. She saw he was still lost within himself.
Serena saw the calm, still water, and felt the need to stretch out, and get comfortable if she was going to ease these feelings of angst. Ash felt the sweat beginning to trickle down his forehead; why could he not just sit still? Out of the corner of his eye, he then saw Serena unlacing her brown boots. She pulled the string from the knot, and then pushed the laces loose out of the tongue. She slipped both boots off, and then dug her thumbs into the top of her black stockings, slowly pulling them down her legs. She felt the breeze touch upon her bare skin, as her legs could at last breathe into the night. She wiggled her toes, feeling the air weave in and out the gaps, before dipping her feet into the cool water. Ash froze on the spot, watching her swinging legs in the lake. The heat then soared to his face, imploding within his cheeks, before turning his entire face a crimson red. She was so natural. She was so pure. Ash was overcome with the feeling of a large weight sinking into his stomach, anchoring him to the spot. Still flustered at his sitting position, he joined in Serena's idea, and kicked his shoes off, rolled up his trousers, and dipped his legs into the water next to her.
The water was soothing, in an instant Ash felt himself calm down, and let the flush of red sink back into his stomach.
Yet next to Serena, the warmth would not leave him.
He felt the heat from the tips of her toes radiate towards him in the water, and dance around his feet. Even from the very edge of their bodies, they were connected to each other. Serena tried to glance over at Ash, but it was no use- her face was burning up once again.
It was no use denying the feelings, they were natural, they were pure.
Ash on the other hand still didn't understand, he still didn't know why these strong, throbbing feelings continued to strike him so hard. He sighed; a cloud had appeared over the moon. He felt the light fade, he felt the darkness tap him on the shoulder.
Serena sensed it in him, the angst; the bewilderment.
She drew in breath from the chilly air, and filled her lungs. She was about to cut the silence, and open up just what was occurring in the raven-haired boy.
She saw his frown, she could feel the angst.
"Ash... Something's wrong isn't there." She spoke softly, while looking ahead at the lake. Ash dipped his head, he seemed to want to hold something back. He opened his mouth to speak, awaiting the words to finally reach him.
"It's... nothing really." He murmured, struggling to let the words flow.
"Wasn't there something you wanted to talk about?" She asked, hoping he would have the courage to open up to her. He couldn't conjure up a reply, but tensed his body, feeling himself becoming frustrated at his lack of ability to respond.
She then remembered the words she had whispered to him, while he lay there on a stormy night, trapped in his sleep. She placed a hand over his shoulder.
"It's okay Ash." She whispered.
She felt his shoulders sink, pushing the pressurised air in his lungs, feeling him relax through another deep breath.
"You can tell me." She assured again to him.
He paused.
"I just don't wanna shut my eyes... or go to sleep yet." He began to push out his words, but cringing at the thought of sounding weak.
"... Why?" She asked, sensing that he was feeling troubled. Discomfort stretched across his fatigued face.
"It's nothing... it's stupid." He shrugged his shoulders, trying to relieve the pressure he was feeling.
"Tell me." She raised her voice, with a hint of impatience cropping up. She encouraged him to let it out; he could never object the sound of her voice.
"But it'll sound weak-"
"Ash it doesn't matter! Just tell me, please." She cut off his doubts, refusing to allow him to dwell in such pity.
"Uh, well..."
He turned to face her.
"Do you remember when we up on the cliff, when I was carrying you?" His question suddenly threw her off; she did not anticipate him to backtrack before the incident.
"Um, yeah-" She began to play with her fingers.
"After I fainted, right? When we got separated." She thought back to the moment where she was helpless, but saved by Ash. He picked her up, and carried her on his back through the storm, helping her when she needed it.
She blushed slightly, remembering how he helped her pull through, despite her fear of heights.
"Do you remember when we started talking about fear?"
Her mind went back further to their brief, but deep talk about fear. She had asked what he was afraid of, to which Ash back then couldn't reply.
"Yeah, I do."
She then had a jarring realisation; maybe he now knew. Maybe fear had taken in its grasp in even the boldest, and bravest trainer in Ash Ketchum.
"I guess... after everything that's happened, I found out my fear."
"Ash..."
He continued, recalling the bitter, cruel feeling of being trapped; the feeling of falling, the feeling of being enveloped by the dark.
"For days I felt like I was just falling. Nothing around me but darkness. I couldn't move, I couldn't speak, I couldn't do anything! I was struck there, I was trapped. I didn't know whether I would ever get out. Now that I'm finally back, I don't wanna shut my eyes. I don't wanna sleep. I just don't want to go back there again, because every time I close my eyes I don't know whether I'll ever be able to open them again" His voice shuddered with tension. Serena realised the trauma that being unconscious inflicted on him. Ash stammered on his words, they all seemed to come rushing out of his mouth at once.
"The worst part about it was, I-I was trapped from all of you guys. No you, no Clemont, no Bonnie, no Pikachu, no one..."
For the first time Serena had seen Ash on the verge of becoming tearful, as he dug into those horrid memories. His throat was clogging up with an onslaught of words and emotions, he was becoming overwhelmed by his thoughts.
"After being trapped in there for so long... I guess I'm scared of being alone."
Fear was something that would eventually take a hold of everyone in some way, shape or form. No one was ever safe from the traumatising clutches of what it was like to be afraid. Not even Ash. He had found his fear, he had found out what it was like to be left alone, without any of his friends, or his Pokemon, or even his faithful partner, Pikachu.
Serena saw the a stream of sadness settle in the amber eyes of Ash, she saw him run a hand through the his thick raven strands of hair in discontent.
She knew that despite all of the bravery he would show,
and all of the courage and self-belief,
even Ash wasn't exempt from his own sorrows.
But Ash was never alone.
She wouldn't allow him to be; nor could she accept him to be.
Ash had picked her up so many times in the past,
now it was time for her to repay the favour for good; she didn't believe in being alone. Not when the passion of love melts into such a fear.
"Ash... you know you don't need to be afraid of the dark, right?" She found her voice, and leaned in closer to him.
"... What do you mean?" Ash stepped out of his trance of thoughts, and back into the gaze of Serena.
"The truth is Ash, you weren't alone even for one second." She placed a hand over her heart, feeling the energy pumping around her body.
"Think." She whispered.
In that instant, as Serena's breath met his skin, his mind was enticed by a swirl of thoughts, the ones that comforted him through each struggle, the thoughts and desires that made him make that one leap to escape. The voice that would soothe the silence. The touch that would set his mind alight. The heartbeat that forever matched his own.
"Y-You were there..." Ash gasped, realising again every long and painful second he had her by his side. She never left, she never got bored. She stayed with him throughout his sleep, and brought him back into the world. She was the one who caught him.
"I was always there, Ash."
She saw those amber eyes twinkle in front of her, and his jaw lower ever so slightly.
"You never need to doubt, or ever worry, because I will always be here." She then tensed up, gritting her teeth.
"I may have let you slip away from me high on the cliff, but I will never let you fall again; and if you do, I'll always be there to catch you." Her voice cracked with each heavy heartfelt word.
"S-Serena..." Ash was in amazement, his chest tightening, but his fears easing, with his heart thumping against his chest. Serena was always there. Whether she was a voice, or an image in his mind, or there by his side. He always wanted her there. With Serena by his side, he never needed to fear about ever being alone.
He always wanted to be with Serena.
But why had he been seized by these feelings?
Why didn't he want to fight them?
He felt himself longing. The touch of her hand, the burn of her kisses.
Those feelings gave him strength.
But he didn't know why.
"But Serena... How could you- why?" His mind had completely frazzled; melting under the cusp of those cerulean blue orbs.
"Why" He had asked. He was running out of ways to confirm to himself that Serena was the one who his heart wanted to leap out and embrace. How could someone go so far to help? How could someone cry those streams of tears for someone else?
Serena relaxed, stretching her arms out behind her back, while swinging her legs in the lake.
She knew that now was the time to explain everything.
She knew Ash was on the verge of falling in love with her.
"To be truthful Ash, I once fell a really long time ago.
I know what it's like to fall, and feel completely lost. Back then I had been sent to a summer camp in Pallet Town, I was only little. I was a shy and timid girl, who struggled to make friends there. Everything just felt so strange to me. I felt homesick, I wanted to be back in Kalos, in an environment where I was comfortable. Like you, I felt what it was like to have no idea where you are. I was wondering around aimlessly, and was led into a forest. The sounds of other kids disappeared, I was alone. I was startled by everything, and eventually fell completely, and hurt my knee. It was then someone picked me up, and told me everything was okay.
It was the same person who told me to 'never give up until the end'.
It was the same person who many years later, helped me when I fell once again.
Can you guess who I'm talking about?" She smiled graciously at him, offering a wink to jog his memory.
She watched as before her very eyes, Ash's face lit up with a flush of red. He felt his cheeks tingle, he felt... excitement. He vigorously scratched under his nose.
"Well... now that you mention it!" He chirped back, feeling proud all of a sudden. She continued to speak, she continued to confess.
"I had no direction, no ambition, no dream. I wasn't worth anything, just a shadow of my mother's past, a reflection in each polished trophy she had won. I was about to give up, but I remembered your words.
You showed me what it was like to love the world.
You showed me what it was like to aspire, to embark on a journey, and experience first-hand just what it felt like to be alive.
You showed me how to believe in myself.
Although I've fallen and been picked up by you so many times in the past, I feel as if I'm still falling now.
Every time you catch me, I want to let go again even less. I never want to let go." Her words had been soft, and gentle. She took his wrist that was sitting closer to her, and brought it to her chest. She slipped off his glove, once again revealing the exposed skin on Ash's hand. He felt himself allow her to take his hand, and do anything that she pleases with it. She kept it close to her, warming it, caressing it.
"From the moment you first caught me, and held my hand, I realised I never wanted to let go, Ash." She interlocked her fingers into his hand, and held it tight; squeezing it, feeling his pulse beat along his veins. Her words and actions were beginning to rekindle his own thoughts. He recalled not wanting to separate from her after he woke up.
"From the moment I first felt the tenderness, and warmth of your hand, I would never feel the same again." Ash realised the next influx of warmth hit him in the stomach, it all came from the touch of Serena's hand.
"You, and only you were in my mind. I thought there was something wrong with me! I thought I was falling again, I didn't know whether to trust my feelings. I never knew whether they were right, and whether to embrace them. I had my doubts, and of course my own fears and worries." Her words mirrored everything Ash had gone through. It's like she always knew what came next, like she had experienced his confusing feelings already.
"But now, holding your hand again, I'm reminded just why I can't stop thinking about you, Ash." Ash too felt his feelings flourish again; he was reminded of the feeling that came with being beside Serena.
In that moment, as they sat there, eyes gazing into one another where their fingers interlocked and their palms touching against each other, a Poliwag poked its head above the surface of the water and swam towards them, intrigued at the two.
"A Poliwag!" Ash exclaimed, alarmed as its presence cut in their moment.
Serena began to chuckle.
"Isn't it strange how these things happen, huh?" Serena spoke.
Ash turned back around to face her, as she watched it swim freely around the lake.
"It's strange how such little things can have big meanings. Just one sight of a Poliwag, and the memories of our encounter in the forest come flooding back. It was the Pokemon I used to be scared of, but now whenever I see it, it makes me smile!" Serena spoke cheerfully, reminiscing at her history with the small creature.
"I guess even stranger, its strong blue colour reminded me of you. It's funny, blue always makes me think of you." She digressed, feeling the texture of her ribbon she received from him with her free hand.
"I guess I'm drawn to it."
Ash felt his mind click again. He realised that the colour red had the same effect. He realised one small trigger sent him thinking about Serena. He gulped- he felt just as strongly as she seemed to.
"No matter where I look Ash, there are signs of where you've lit up my life. Even when I look into the mirror, I may comb my hair and spend ages trying to decide on an outfit, but seeing the blue gaze of my own eyes is always enough to make me instantly happy. When I look at myself, I see a part of you." She grinned again, squeezing their linked hands.
Serena then remembered what she had learnt from the past few days.
Her bottom lip began to shake, her arm lowering, she placed another hand on top to hold him closer.
She had been lucky enough to have been picked up by Ash so many times. She had seen him cheat death and run away onto his next adventure like it was never anything that threatened him. Yet he had almost fallen too far this time. He had almost fallen away into the infinite clutches of the dark. She realised just how precious each moment was. She realised time was not something to be toyed with. Having Ash next to her in itself was a miracle, where she felt every single painful emotion of thinking he had fought his last battle accumulate within her again, pressing down on her stomach, belching the raw intensity of doubts and sorrows, supplying tears to her eyes. Ash saw Serena become uncomfortable.
"The only thing I never realised is just how valuable each moment with you and everyone is. Pikachu and the rest of your Pokemon almost lost their best friend, Clemont and Bonnie almost lost someone so close to them that they're practically a brother, and I almost lost the most important person in my life." Tears began to fall from her eyes, trickling down her cheek, and dropping into the lake, each ripple in the water represented each passing second she spent worrying by his bedside. She sniffled, the waves from her cerulean blue eyes leaking in front of him. He felt his heart sink, it was the sight he most dreaded.
"I never realised how important you were until the moment I almost lost you." She cried out; the words hit him hard.
"For a moment, I never thought I would get to speak to you again.
I never thought I'd be able to tell you how I feel."
She wiped away the tears, and tried to stand strong.
"So this is me taking the moment, and telling you how I feel. This is something I've waited to do, but now I've realised just how precious time really is, I've realised I can't let go without making you understand."
Ash realised, Serena harboured equally strong feelings. It was now he would truly find out.
"You may ask 'why', but I think deep down, you already know, Ash." Her face then brightened with a smile; the warmness evaporating her tears away.
"I've realised I want to be by your side for as long as time may pass.
It's more than just liking. It's more than just a silly crush.
If you could really hear my voice, then prove to me you were listening."
She leaned in closer to him.
"Think." She once again whispered.
Ash expected his mind to dive into an overload of confusion and disillusionment.
Yet the chaos stopped.
It all felt so simple.
One word that he had never used before.
One word, the thing that could blow away any fear.
One word that reflected off him at the very moment.
It wasn't easy to say though.
"... L-Love?"
His tongue, not accustomed to the word, spat it out in front of her. Four letters which were enough to send his stomach and mind into a frenzy. A feeling he felt himself falling in, a feeling in which Serena had fell in with Ash.
The words finally came to her.
Her heart skipped a beat.
Ash had listened
Ash had learned.
Ash had realised how it felt to love.
Tears began to stream from her eyes again, but these were tears that tasted far sweeter than anything she had experienced in the past few stormy days.
Ash saw her cheeks wet, but her smile widening.
Ash saw her face light up in front of him.
Her throat throbbed, but her smile was elated. She felt blessed under the full moon that Ash had listened to her.
"Y-You finally understand..." Sniffling, but laughing; crying, but smiling. They were pure tears of joy.
"Then... I can finally tell you." She beamed with her eyes still overflowing.
Ash was captured, fully engrossed in letting his stomach dance with delirious delight. It felt right, he felt a sense of completeness.
Serena took in a deep breath, and opened out her heart to the boy she had fallen in love with.
"Ash... there are many important people in my life. My intense, but supportive mother, my rivals Shauna and Miette, our geek brother Clemont who fails in his inventions but never gives up anyway, our adorable little sister Bonnie who has been waiting for this moment almost as much as I have been shying away from it, and our Pokemon who all support us through thick and thin, including Pikachu, and baby Noibat.
They're all important to me, but Ash, I wouldn't be here without you. I wouldn't be dreaming, aspiring and yearning to be Kalos Queen without the support you give me each day. I wouldn't be going up on stage in front of thousands to perform without the belief you gave me. I wouldn't be able to hold my nerve and work through the pressure without the strength you gave me. Your support for the people you love is inspiring. You may have never realised it, but you make my life wonderful. I can never afford to lose you, I can never bare ever leaving your side. You built my world Ash, I can't let you fall from it.
No matter what happens, I'll always be waiting, and calling.
Because of you, I will never give up until the end!
It's a feeling that makes me feel alive, a feeling I just can't fight. I will always be falling, because Ash..."
She took a deep breath, falling into a sea of amber.
"...I'm in love with you!"
Her emotions soared from her lips, her face glowing the most divine of red. She had told him everything. She had confessed her feelings to Ash.
"Serena..." He could only manage to gasp, as his feelings had been translated to words right in front of him. They were words he could not understand, but knew how to feel.
She knew it wasn't done there, she knew that if Ash's heart continued to beat in sync with hers, then he had feelings that she knew he had now discovered.
She pressed her hand against his chest, and then back onto her own to check. Her heart had raced away, chasing her anxieties off, but Ash's had kept at her pace, never once losing sight.
Still beating.
Still in sync.
She began to whisper.
"Our hearts are still beating together with each other. I guess... maybe there's something you want to say too?"
She read him like a book. There was no hiding the presence of his newly found affection.
"But Ash, only say it if you really mean it..." She fell tentative again for a moment, playing with her fingers, wondering whether the raven-haired boy could really confess to her.
"... You're right." He scratched on his cheeks, a blush was trying to make itself seen. Ash took a deep intake of the night air, and answered the riddle of emotions that he had awoken to. Everything he had learnt from the moment he fell came down to this moment. It was time to get back up, to stand strong, and speak with what the heart said, just the way Ash liked to go about his work.
"Looking back, I guess I know why I reached so many times at the sound of your voice.
I guess I know why I was so happy to see you when I woke up.
I guess I know why I didn't want to let go of your hand.
Now I know why I couldn't bear the sound of you crying.
Now I know why I felt so confused, and worried at what I was feeling.
Now I know why I feel so psyched again, ready to continue my journey, with you!
I finally understand; I finally know what's right. I can't doubt myself any longer, not when we've all got dreams to fulfil and places to go. I can't hold back anything from any of you, not one thing!
In the back of my mind it's you, and will always be you. After everything we've been through together, I can now finally trust myself and say..."
He grinned at the feeling of red spreading across his cheeks.
"Serena... I think I've fallen in love with you. "
His words drifted towards her in the most warmest and welcoming of tones. He had that confident smile, and the beaming aura that embraced her.
She felt the words come straight from his heart.
She realised he truly did have feelings for her.
"Ash... It's like we're both falling together, huh..." Her eyes joined in her smile, glistening crystal blue orbs gazed back at the purest shade of amber twinkling under the moonlight.
"Always, Serena." He replied with a wide grin.
"Forever?"
"Until the very end."
Their voices became ever the more tender, words lost their meaning, as whispers trickled off their lips. They leaned in closer to each other, feeling their breath encapsulate each others' senses; only for their heads to immediately jerk around at the sound of fluttering wings from the sky. Ash and Serena turned around, wondering who had been watching the past few moments. It turns out there was still innocence that shone brighter than the affectionate couple.
"Noibat!" Ash exclaimed in surprise. Serena quickly dashed behind Ash, trying to hide her embarrassment from the thought of the infant Pokemon watching their emotional confessions.
The purple bat had been watching from the window, unable to sleep, with its big yellow eyes peeping over the windowsill.
"It wanted to know where its parents had gone!" Serena said, still surprised that it was awake.
"I guess we really are like parents now, huh?" Ash turned to Serena, although this time he didn't know the full impact of how happy his words were. For the first time Ash felt responsibility for the people around him. He felt the fragile value that stemmed little Noibat's claws, and then the importance of each delicate touch from Serena's hand. Just like the roaring passion he had for his own Pokemon's welfare, he was prepared to give his life to protect Noibat, and protect Serena. It was now he realised just how important he was seen as a parent, and just how important Serena was in his life.
Serena turned back to Noibat who settled on his lap, seemingly pointing back to the window where it had flown from.
"It probably wants us to go back in, we should put it to bed!" Serena suggested, feeling like a true mother. Ash nodded, the two got up, and shook their legs to release some of the excess water. Serena took Ash's hand, while in his other he held Noibat, grinning, laughing with his happy parents.
They swung their arms in exaggerated motions, back and forth, conveying their elated feelings of relief. The troubles were over, the confusion gone.
Ash trusted his heart, and his heart trusted Serena.
As they returned into the fishing shack house, Noibat flew on ahead upstairs, having no problem with the dark while Ash and Serena both stumbled around looking for a light.
They hesitantly climbed upstairs, and with their hands still linked, walked into the bedroom adjacent to the fast asleep Clemont and Bonnie where Noibat had flown into. In that room were a jubilant group. In that room were a group that cheered the loudest they could while being cautious not to wake anyone.
In that room was Pikachu, Frogadier, Talonflame, Noibat and Hawlucha who were joined by Braxien and Pancham. They immediately rushed towards their trainers, their eyes lighting up at the sight of the rosy cheeks and linked hands. At long last, they too could stop fretting. It only took one look to see the love pouring out the new couple. It seems they too have a long wait to see such a happy outcome.
"Hey everybody! Gee, I guess we were out there a while, huh!" Ash beamed at their big welcome. He had returned a different person to the boy who had abruptly ventured outside before. Braxien looked in awe at the sight of its blushing trainer, seeing her shining grin was enough to clear the heavy clouds that had descended over the past few days.
Ash crouched down, allowing his Pokemon to run in close, where Pikachu darted around his shoulder.
"I'm sorry I've been acting kinda funny the past couple of days."
He looked up at Serena, and smiled.
"But now I know everything's okay!" He beamed his grin, while Pikachu, Frogadier and Talonflame roared with elation. Noibat, still seemingly bewildered by the circumstances it was too young to understand, joined in the hearty cheer by instinct, while Hawlucha stood there, baffled. It frantically looked around, trying to gauge what was going on. Ash noticed, and began to laugh.
"Don't worry Hawlucha. I didn't know what was going on either at first. One day maybe you too will get it; you've just got to believe in yourself." Explaining love? Only Serena ever had the words. Ash knew how it felt, and knew that it took a while to fully sink in. He grinned at Hawlucha, offering his knuckles for a fist bump, reintroducing his ruggedness back into the frame.
"Tomorrow, we start again, right Serena?" He spoke boldly, standing back up next to her.
"Right! Braxien, Pancham, tomorrow we begin training for our next Showcase. To achieve our dreams, we will never give up until the end."
She took a hold of Ash's hand.
"Pikachu, Frogadier, Hawlucha, Noibat and Talonflame, you guys too! We're gonna start training for our next gym battle. To become Pokemon Masters, we've gotta go for broke!" He clenched a fist, feeling his amber eyes light up with confidence.
He felt it, he felt the flame beginning to burn once again.
The two recalled their Pokemon back ahead of a good night's sleep, where Pikachu took his place on the bed, as Ash and Serena went to change into their pyjamas.
After briefly going to separate rooms to change, they reunited in the small, grey room with two single beds positioned close beside each other.
Their eyes met once again.
"Ash... can you do one more thing for me?"
She approached him, wandering around with her hands behind her back, innocently blushing.
"Do I have to close my eyes?" Ash asked curiously.
Serena chuckled.
"Not this time."
From behind her back swung her arms, wrapping tightly around his waist. She pulled him in, squeezing his tight abdomen against her chest, rendering him all hers at last, and confirming it by planting her soft lips onto his. Ash felt her burn into his skin, melting softly as their lips pressed against each other.
His stomach flared with excitement; his flame had fully ignited.
Embers simmered on his cheeks, he was blushing, and so was she.
The raven-haired trainer and the honey-blonde performer shared their first kiss, albeit under the peeping eye of an expectant yellow mouse. They glanced over, and noticed the smirk on his little chubby face.
After their long day, the two climbed into their own beds. Ash fluffed his pillow, giving Pikachu a comfy spot to sleep, while Serena gazed from her bed. She rested her elbow on the pillow, looking across at him, smiling.
Ash pulled the covers over, and caught sight of Serena's blue orbs illuminating the room.
He released a long sigh of satisfaction.
"What are you thinking about Ash?" Serena asked from across the beds with half-open, sleepy eyes.
He chuckled. "Everything, really."
He looked over, and faced Serena.
"There's one other thing I've learned. I tried to say it before, but I guess I never really knew what it meant."
"What's that, Ash?"
He smiled.
"Fear really is a good thing.
It stops us from doing stupid stuff.
It keeps us alive."
He extended an arm out from his sheets, offering to meet Serena's hand halfway between the space of their beds. She reached for his hand, and they interlocked, holding onto each other, feeling a warmth more comforting than any soft bed sheet could offer.
"It's what keeps us together."
She squeezed on Ash's hand through his whispers. All throughout the night, neither of them would let go.
"Yeah... no matter what tomorrow brings, we'll all stick together, right?" Her soft tone was soothing to his ears.
"Even if the storm comes again, I swear I'll always protect you, Serena."
His bold, courageous words made her hide away in shyness, her cheeks flaring red. She covered her grin with the covers, where Ash could only see those cerulean eyes peeping out.
She began stroking his hand with the motion of her thumb, just like she would soothe Noibat.
"Let's give it our all again tomorrow, Ash." She mumbled under the covers, sinking further into the embrace of a happy slumber at the touch of Ash's hand. For the first time in ages she could sleep without worrying. For the first time in her travels, she could sleep with the sense of fulfilment knowing that Ash was with her. She giggled with happiness; a new found confidence and self-belief was brewing in her. She felt her own flame beginning to burn; she wanted to get back out on the road and begin the journey to Anistar City already. The thought of getting back to training with Ash, Clemont and Bonnie supporting her from the sidelines gave her a shrill of excitement.
But for now she could rest.
For now she could finally dwell in some well deserved sleep.
She felt herself falling into a dream, but Ash had already caught her.
Ash watched on, the two still holding hands from their beds. Her eyes gently began to shut, with her breathing becoming deeper. He watched Serena, and grinned at just how cute she was when falling asleep.
He felt a surge of adrenaline soar around his body.
He knew he really loved her.
Just as much as he loved the thrill of adventure.
He was already psyched for it, the thought of getting back out there alongside her, with Bonnie and Clemont cheering them both on.
But wait, how would he explain this to them? How could he explain something he could barely put into words?
He put his other arm behind his head. "That can wait until the morning." he thought.
For now though he knew he wouldn't sleep.
He wanted to be with Serena, the girl who stayed with him for every night until he eventually awakened.
He saw her drift away into a deep sleep, and so slowly crept from his bed, and tiptoed towards her bedside, crouching down so he was level with her.
He ran a hand over her silky smooth honey-blonde hair.
She liked the feeling.
She was adorable.
He never knew why people would press their lips against each other to show affection. It always sounded so weird. But then again he never understood why people fell in love with each other, until the day he fell himself. He shrugged his shoulders, before leaning over, and pecking her gently on the nose. She was asleep, but he still saw her tingle with giddiness, with a small smile appearing on her face.
He felt his inner flame burning hotter than ever.
He knew he wanted to make his dream of becoming a Pokemon Master a reality, and he knew he wanted to fulfil it alongside Serena.
Nothing had ever pumped him up more.
Just like she waited, he would do the same, as he held her hand closer to him.
He decided that he would wait all night long, remaining there by her side, and watch over her, until the gaze of their eyes would meet once again.