Chapter 14: Lessons of Life
"Who's that?" Ash asked, much to the fisherman's amusement.
"I should be asking the same thing!" He replied before turning to Serena with a smirk.
She struggled to settle herself, not knowing where to start.
"Um, t-this is Finn! He let us use the fishing shack house while you recovered!" She stuttered on her hurried words, not knowing who to introduce first. He stepped forward, still donning his traditional Kalos fisherman outfit. Into the light stepped the tanned and rugged adult in a light blue shirt with a brown gilet. He put down his fishing rod, and approached the couple standing there in soggy clothes.
"I think I know who this is then." He quickly began speaking with an eager tone, he almost seemed exited. Serena only flushed a deeper red, as Ash looked around baffled.
"You know me?" Of course he had no idea, he was unconscious the whole time.
"Well, sort of. As Serena said, my name is Finn, and I'm a local fisherman around here."
It seemed much had gone on during Ash's sleep; in such a quiet place he even found himself forgetting what it was like in the company of other people.
"So you saw me fall, huh..." Ash began thinking back to the moment he lost his consciousness. It was still all a blur.
"I was indoors at the fishing shack at the time. Y'know, we get those storms quite often with the history of the climate around here." he began to explain, prompting Ash to recall Clemont's words on just why Route 16 is subject to such drastic weather.
"Yeah, maybe we should have been more careful." Ash's tone became apologetic, realising he had been using other people's resources the entire time to recover. Serena placed a hand over his shoulder.
"I think you just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time." Finn continued, trying to ease Ash's guilt.
"But this wasn't the first time you saw an incident like that, right?" Serena joined in the conversation.
"Of course it wasn't. I mean, Route 16 is notorious for these kind of accidents with the weather and all. Why else do they call it Mélancolie Path?" He spoke in an eerily light tone; he was used to the whole ordeal. Serena didn't like it, his presence reminded her of when he lay there without any motion, and everyone wondered whether he would awaken again. She recalled his condemning words, how they had hurt her, and how she had been so enraged by them.
"You never believed Ash would make it though, did you?" She tried not to sound accusative, but her bitter emotions from before were creeping back in.
"You said 'some wake up, some don't'! Well Ash isn't just any old 'someone'!" She felt herself becoming flustered again, which caused Finn to lean back defensively. He became uneasy, his forehead beginning to drip with sweat. It seemed he had some crude thoughts within him from his years of experience at the fishing shack. He looked on at the tiny ripples in the lake.
"Well... I guess I didn't want to get your hopes up. I saw how much he meant to you just from your expression." He spoke in a withered tone. His cheeriness had faded.
"Y'know, it's hard for me to be optimistic when I've seen the same situation over and over again, only for the opposite result to occur." Ash and Serena quietly watched on, as Finn dived into his memories.
"I've seen all sorts of people stop by here. Usually there's something wrong. This place is like a last resort." He looked over to the tired, run down fishing shack house.
"People are naïve to how bad the storms can get around here. When they do find out... sometimes it's already too late."
He gritted his teeth, tensing under his traumas.
"I've seen kids come running here crying, banging on the door because they've lost their Pokemon out in the storm. Partners since the very start of their journeys, only to be separated. Some find each other, some don't, and walk dejectedly off, alone. That's when you really realise why they call this place Mélancolie Path."
Ash shuddered, Serena felt her heart sink.
"I've seen groups of young and aspiring travellers come sprinting through the pouring rain, begging to know if we've seen their lost friend, only for them to never turn up.
I've seen people fall from the cliffs. I've seen people fall so hard that even when their friends carry them into this house I already know they've lay them on their death bed. I know they're not waking up because there's a lack of motion in their bodies that you just know they've passed on somewhere else."
Serena felt the memories flooding back, not knowing whether he going to wake up or not, not knowing whether she would ever be able to speak to him again.
Not knowing whether Ash would leave her without ever realising how she felt.
She took a hold of Ash's hand. He sat there, closely listening to Finn's story; taking in just what had happened to him while he was unconscious after the fall.
"The worst memories, the most bitter, and heartbreaking ones, are those that remind me of you two. Only they turned out for the worse. I've seen people travelling together, people who thrive off each other, learn from each other, and overall, love each other. I've seen heartbroken people lie next to their loved one's side all night, refusing to ever leave them."
Serena placed herself back in the dreaded situation, back in the doubts.
"It's the moment when you realise that they're not going to wake up, and you have to tell them. You have to stand right in front of them and apologise; from deep within you have to conjure up the courage to break the cruel truth. After all, you were the one who got their hopes up, right? You made them believe. But now they just can't leave their side because they're adamant that they'll wake up eventually. It's the moment you realise how much it hurts inside, where you vow to yourself to never get anyone's hopes up again, and you'll never play with anyone's feelings."
Serena felt tears brimming over her eyes, Ash held tighter onto her hand.
"I've seen people walk out of this place either alone, or one person or Pokemon less. And it hurts." The two had discovered the realities that Route 16 was capable of bestowing. Finn was a man who had seen it all, who knew what it was like to see the elation of a reunion, and the devastation of saying goodbye.
"Seeing people wake up and get better, that brings me relief; but nothing will ever change for the people who have lost friends along here. Nothing can bring them back. That's why, Serena, I didn't want to fill you with hopes; because I didn't want to bear the guilt of then having to tell you that he was not going to wake up.
I've suffered it myself. I've lost my own friends who I wish I could be back with again."
Finn wiped a tear from his eye, and turned back to Ash and Serena.
Pikachu's ears had dipped, as he ran over to jump back onto Ash's shoulder, ensuring he was still with his best friend, keeping close, now knowing how near they had been to separation from each other.
They were speechless to his story. It was a sobering one to listen to, one that sent shivers down their spines, knowing Ash was lucky to have woken up, and that Serena could have been another person told that she had to let go. They were jolted with the realisation once again; they were truly lucky to have each other.
"W-We're sorry to hear about all that stuff you've been through, Finn." Ash offered a tone of sympathy, amongst his own gloomy thoughts. It was frightening, the thought of his accident going the other way.
"No, I'm the one who should be sorry." He stretched out, and changed the mood by giving a positive smile towards Ash and Serena, still holding hands.
"This is a happy time for you, something great is starting."
The young couple then flushed red.
"I saw the little 'race' you two had. Heck, I thought a Wailord had crashed into the lake you took such a trip, Ash!" He let out a hearty laugh.
Ash put a hand behind his head and scratched against his raven hair in embarrassment.
"Sorry, um, if we disturbed you!" Serena added in, hiding behind the blush upon realising he had probably witnessed them kiss in his lake.
"It's no problem; I'm just glad to see you're both okay. As, well, boyfriend and girlfriend, you two are kinda cute!" He grinned at the sight of young love in front of him. Innocence had blessed them both; particularly Ash, who looked bewildered at Finn's happy comment.
"Boyfriend'... and 'girlfriend'?" He asked with a scratch to his cheek.
Serena chuckled. "Surely you've figured that one out, Ash?" She cheered a teasing remark, almost with relief at the capacity of questions and playful little jibes she could prod at him, knowing he would react to her every single time. Pikachu joined in her happy exclamation, while Ash blushed slightly, still a little puzzled by his new title.
"Well Ash, when you woke up, you found you had feelings for Serena, right?" Finn gave him a nudge with his elbow to jog his memory. Ash let out a nervous laugh.
"Yeah... although it was confusing at first!"
Finn sucked in a large proportion of the morning air.
"Ah discovering love. It always is. It's these kind of situations that really do change you as a person, in a good way, that is!" Finn relaxed his shoulders, stretching out his back.
"Many trainers go out on journeys with their minds fully set on achieving their dreams. Sometimes they miss out on the chances to grow as people; so sometimes they're almost forced to fall into these situations. Either way, it's for the better, I think. I'm sure you two have learned a lot from these experiences, that's what a journey is all about. There will be moments that change you, and most of the time they're unexpected. That's okay though, because for you two it all turned out for the best; and I guess, well, it's what tries to separate you which only brings you closer together." Finn spoke wise words, years of experience was heaped upon the two in a flurry of sentences. They grinned at each other, knowing that they were now inseparable.
"Finn... thank you so much for putting up with us these past few days." Ash graciously offered his gratitude to the fisherman, who responded with a simple smile.
"As long as you take what you've learned as use it to aspire further towards your dreams, then I'm glad to have been of use to you two. I actually feel pretty complete myself now, seeing you two so happy like this!"
He then leaned in close to the two of them after hearing the sound of the door opening from around the corner.
"Have you told the other two yet?" He teased. Ash and Serena flinched with shyness.
"Umm, we were going to get around to that! Serena wanted to hide behind Ash's back to cover the redness from her face, however she knew she would have to act natural again as Bonnie and Clemont appeared from around the corner. The sight of the lemon-haired siblings sent their nerves frantically rushing around their stomach.
They arrived, both dressed and ready for the start of a new day. The plan was to depart from Route 16, and continue the quest to Anistar City, depending on whether Ash was ready or not.
"Good morning, everyone!" Clemont cheerfully chirped, until he caught sight of both Ash and Serena dripping wet. Bonnie began to laugh at the sight of their soggy clothes.
"What happened here..?" He asked, adjusting his glasses to make sure he was seeing things correctly.
Ash and Serena both looked at each other, and completely froze on how to act. Finn stepped in and placed both arms around their shoulders, trying to pull his most believable grin.
"Ash and Serena are both raring to get training again! So I thought I'd start them off with some advanced tips on how to fish!" He even added a wink just to make sure.
"Really? I want to try too!" Bonnie squealed while jumping up and down.
"We are meant to be heading off soon though, Bonnie." Clemont reaffirmed the group's plans.
"It's good to see you both looking ready to go again!" He added, with a hint of relief in his voice. Clemont wondered when the group would return to their usual adventures. The past few days had shook him considerably, even he was picking up a few valuable lessons along the way.
"Yeah! First though, Ash and I should change out of these wet clothes!" Serena hastily opened up the opportunity to get out her heavy clothes and back into her familiar attire. Ash too followed, as the two dashed back into the fishing shack house for one final time.
Finn approached the Lumiose siblings, wanting to know where they were heading next.
"So today's the day you get back on the road, huh!" He started the conversation with enthusiasm.
"Yes, although we were wondering, are we safe to go back out there?" Clemont asked with a hint of angst, not wanting a repeat of last time.
"Where are you heading?"
"Anistar City."
Finn smiled.
"I take it you're going there for the gym and upcoming Showcases, right?"
"Yes, that's the plan! Ash is training to be a Pokemon Master, while Serena is aiming to become Kalos Queen." He explained to the intrigued looking fisherman. Finn looked up the skies.
"So that's their dreams... Well, if you're heading to Anistar, you should be fine; once you get there though, wrap up warm, it's winter over there!"
Clemont wiped his forehead with relief.
"Thank goodness, we could all do without a situation where we're split up like that again!" He exclaimed amongst a heavy sigh.
"I wouldn't worry. Your group seem to thrive off each other, so you'll have no problems." Finn calmly stated.
"What do you mean?" Bonnie intervened.
"Well I guess I don't know you all that well, but to stay behind and help your friend like that? You must all be pretty close. I'm sure after what so nearly happened, you've all learned how valuable you really are to each other." He gave a warm smile as he looked down at the lemon-haired twins.
Clemont looked around, although Ash and Serena were not in sight, he felt them nearby. Bonnie took a hold of his hand, and gave a huge toothy grin.
"It's only natural we remained by Ash's side! After travelling together for so long, we have learned a lot from each other." Bonnie beamed. Clemont then paused, rubbing his chin, dwelling back into the darker side that they had come into contact with.
"... and I guess we learned one of the harsher lessons of travelling too." He murmured in the midst of his thoughts.
Finn slapped a hand over Clemont's back, knocking his glasses off from his nose.
"That's life though, huh! Nothing is ever guaranteed. But hey, just like I said to Ash and Serena earlier, it's what tries to separate you which only brings you closer together." Clemont and Bonnie smiled at his words.
"We're all lucky to have each other! Right Dedenne?" Even Bonnie seemed to be coming out of the situation all the more wiser, as Dedenne popped its head from her bag to cry its approval of her words.
"Then I guess at the same time you all learn a bit more about yourself. You two have your brother and sisterly bond, while as for Ash and Serena's..." He abruptly cleared his throat, not trying to get carried away.
"They're inseparable."
Bonnie's eyes lit up with joy at such pleasingly promising news. She was particularly happy for her big sister, considering she had waited all of that time for the boy she had a crush on. Clemont looked on puzzled, adjusting his glasses as he struggled to grasp the idea. What was this new 'bond' he was talking about? Clemont stumped himself in thought; it seemed that even after such an experience, the group had still maintained their innocence.
Up in the fishing shack, Ash and Serena were applying the finishing touches to their outfits, ahead of preparing to leave Route 16. Ash sat on the bed, and watched on in satisfaction as Serena stood in front of the mirror, ensuring her hair was pristine, and that her blue ribbon was on straight and extra tight. She admired her image for a moment, before stopping and forming a discontent frown on her face. Something was sitting there in the corner of her eye, something unwelcome. He watched as she hastily rushed out of the room, and made her way across the corridor. Intrigued and concerned, Ash followed after her, wondering what had pulled her attention away from him. He ran along the hard wooden surface, matching her footsteps, until he was led back into that room. The room they had both been trapped in, the room where doubts flourished, and tears flowed. There was an uneasy atmosphere in there. A cold chilly draft ran around from the open window. The bed he had slept in with her by his side was now fully made, with no sign that they had ever been there. It was an eerie, almost disturbing sight. It signified that of departing guests, but left no trace there of the stories that were never told. She thought about Finn's words. Within the fabric of that bed lied stories of hope and tragedy. Within that bed were stories that sometimes saw the light of day, with others coming to an abrupt, and heartbreaking end. She tensed up, clenching two fists as she tried to hold back the tears once again. Their names were carved into the memories of that bed, but they were lucky. They too could have been an untold story, that which would been forgotten in time, only her wandering broken heart left as a memoir for each tear drop that fell. It was the sight of the bed seemingly being returned to its normal self, which each painful memory, each stained tear and stench of sweat vanished.
She realised this is what happened to every story that was ever told on Melancholie Path.
Serena gave in to her throbbing throat, tears began to creep out from her eyes, streaming down her cheeks. The two of them were so close to ending. Looking at the bed made her realise just how fortunate they really were, and it frightened her.
Ash took a moment to steady himself, before he boldly walked in, this time accompanied with all of his Pokemon by his side for the true feeling of support. Pikachu on his left shoulder, Noibat on his right shoulder, Frogadier to his left, Talonflame to his right, and Hawlucha boldly leading the way in front of him. He joined her side, comforting her tears.
"Serena... what's wrong?" He asked tentatively.
She pointed to the bed.
There it was.
It was truly horrifying.
Ash shuddered, feeling his heart sink at seeing it just there in the ordinary, made and washed, like it was awaiting its next broken heart.
The sight of it deeply unsettled Ash, but he took a hold of Serena's hand. He felt her fingers open out from her fist, and interlock into Ash's warm, and comforting grip. She continued lightly sobbing.
"Everything Finn said... That's how close we were. Both of us, we were almost... nothing but a story!" She covered her eyes, trying to stay strong, trying to hide the tears from him.
"We were almost a story with an end." She uttered under her tears, hiccuping a little as her throat choked out each heavy word. Ash took a deep breath, and felt the flare of belief from his Pokemon around him. They gave him the look of confidence, with Hawlucha particularly pumping its muscles towards Ash, encouraging him to get a grip, to make Serena realise that their story was not at its end.
"Serena..." He wiped the tears from her cheeks, she looked back at him.
"Our story isn't over at all. In fact, it's only just started." He used the energy from his Pokemon to radiate a shining smile across to Serena. Her eyes were red again, raw with tears. She sniffled, nodding slightly as she tried to accept his words. He moved her head away from the sight of the bed.
"Instead of looking where we've been, it's time to look at where we're going." He lured her away from the room, keeping her head from looking around again. She was shivering with fear, knowing that she was inches from the place in which she almost lost him deeply disturbed her.
"We're leaving this place soon, we probably won't ever come back. We're heading to Anistar City! I bet you're just as psyched for your next Showcase as I am for my next gym battle!" He clenched a fist, and put on his most energetic tone possible. He tried to rally Serena into rediscovering her inner flame, but her thoughts remained solely on what was behind her. Ash had realised his efforts were futile. The two needed proper closure. No longer would they let Route 16 be a trauma between them.
"Serena, look at me." He gently asked. Those sobbing blue eyes met his amber gaze.
He took both of her hands, and brought them up to their chests. He took a sharp intake of breath, and gulped at what he was about to say.
"I promise I'll never be reckless again." He vowed with bold prowess. He was serious. She gasped.
"Ash..!"
"I will never make you or anyone ever worry again. Everyone around me, all of my Pokemon, Bonnie, Clemont and you. It was my fault that I fell like that. I shouldn't have tried to run through the storm. I.. I never thought about what I was doing. I didn't think I would ever get hurt."
His voice became softer; her tears stopped flowing.
"Over these past few days, I've discovered and learned a lot of things. I've learned that the people I love are too valuable for me to ever leave them. So I have to look after myself. I'm not invincible." He wiped the final tear from Serena's soft cheek.
"And... if I want to stick with you, then I've gotta keep myself away from trouble." His earnest gaze from his eyes hooked her.
Was he... committing to her?
"Ash... do you really mean it?" She purred under her whispers.
"Serena... you're too important for me to ever let go. Pikachu and Noibat feel just as strong. If it wasn't for you, then I would still be stuck in that bed." He felt a sudden quiver from her.
"But..."
He reached out an arm, and slowly pulled the door on the room with the bed shut. That door was shut for good. No longer would they ever enter that room again in their lives.
"That's in the past. I'm with you now. Everybody is, Noibat just wants to be with its parents! Serena... I promise I'll stop being so reckless. I can't let go of myself any more; not when I have someone worth holding on to."
"Ash..." She choked under more gushing tears before reaching for both of her PokeBalls, and quickly throwing them to the ground, letting Braxien and Pancham out amongst the crowd. The past few days had changed Ash. He was more self-aware, he realised what value the world and the people around him had. He knew how to love, how to fear, just like any good trainer did. It was a step that would build him up as a person, putting him on the right path to achieving his goal. Right before her was the boy who had learnt to embrace her. Tears came streaming down again, only this time with happiness. She was truly glad that she fell in love with him. She wiped her tears away, and wrapped her arms around Ash. He pulled her in, before all of their Pokemon embraced their trainers warmly, sharing the intimate moment together.
Frogadier for once seemed especially relaxed, possibly harbouring a sense of relief that those around him were all still together. Braxien opposite him caught a glimpse of his secretly delighted smile, and flashed a grin in response. There was a connection visible between the two; one that both Pokemon quickly realised mirrored their very own trainers. They abruptly began to chuckle in the midst of the group, words could not support them, but instead the joy of unity proved so strong that the two simply did not need words. They had truly created a bond that was inseparable.
"We'll always be here with you, Ash." Her warm breath caressed his face.
"Always." Ash repeated, which was then met by a cheering hark from his Pokemon.
The promised was sealed, the vow was made.
"Now then, we should be heading off soon, huh. There was something you wanted to see in Anistar City, right?"
Serena sniffled again, before beaming back at him. She reached for her electronic guide, and showed him the picture of Anistar City's sundial to him again. His eyes twinkled at its beauty.
"Wow... Then let's head there right away!" His flame was once again lit, and so was Serena's. Just one sight of the city's beauty, and she was rekindled with aspirations and ambitions on claiming her second Princess Key. She knew where their future lie, and it certainly wasn't within the cramped confines of a melancholic bed on Route 16.
No, together they would strive towards infinity. Together, alongside each other, they had no limits.
The two ran downstairs, not looking back on the rooms they were leaving. Their heavy bags packed full of soaking wet clothes being the only memory left, as their slate was wiped clean. A new chapter was beginning in their journey.
They appeared around the corner to be reunited with Finn, Clemont and Bonnie. Their faces were fresh with eagerness to set foot on the next part of their adventure. Clemont immediately felt re-energised by their excited expressions.
Their time to depart had at long last arrived. The group exchanged their final goodbyes with Finn, shaking his hand before he embarked back into his daily life of fishing. He was pleased to see the group moving on, but had a strangely cold expressionless gaze in his eyes. The fishing shack itself had become a rather unsettling memory for the group, yet he still waved them off, and assured them to "stay safe" on their travels. As Clemont walked on with his best friends beside him, he began to ponder over what exactly Ash and Serena's unique 'bond' meant. There was something only he seemed to not be understanding. Bonnie had already dashed off ahead into the scenery, joined by the groups jubilant Pokemon. It was a hark back to the golden days before the accident, where the group relaxed in the glorious gleam of an autumn afternoon. This time they felt the cold chill of winter tapping them on the shoulder. There was an icy breeze crawling through the air. Surely Anistar City was close up ahead.
The group rejected the path they opted for last time, and instead headed for the longer, but safer route which involved climbing a long staircase structure to climb the cliffs. Amongst the rocky mountains, the group would be able to cut ahead, and make their way into Anistar City without the threat of another storm attacking them.
As Bonnie and the Pokemon played amongst the large piles of leaves still left on the ground, Clemont watched on in satisfaction, feeling the reassurance of normality soothe his anxieties. Ash and Serena would occasionally glance over at each other, wondering when the moment was right to let out their little secret. Their movements became awkward, words failed them. It was a silence that Clemont didn't take notice of while his younger sister and Pokemon were out playing.
Confessions, no matter who has the task of releasing them; they're never easy.
Yet suddenly Ash and Serena were rekindled with the words they had heard from Finn earlier in the morning.
" Sometimes people are forced to fall into these situations."
It was uncanny almost, but the timer was up. It would be a familiar foe that would really push the two to their limits. It was a certain trio, trudging around aimlessly following a crashed air balloon that appeared from nowhere, just like they always do, stubbornly pursuing in their antics towards their immoral motives. It had been a while, but the storms had all passed. Team Rocket had a chance to move in. Even after suffering a puncture in their air balloon and landing hopelessly in the middle of nowhere, they had spotted their target; even after their own brush with life and death, they still adamantly chased Pikachu.
"Gourgeist, Shadow Ball!"
"Inkay, Psybeam!"
Two voices cried from the distance, where the playful group were abruptly ambushed in their tracks by the impact of the two explosive moves coming into contact. The crash of a Shadow Ball kicked up a typhoon of leaves as the group jumped for cover. Clemont sprinted to collect Bonnie, while Ash and Serena immediately rushed to the scene where the moves had been fired. The violent shock rekindled some sensitive nerves within the group, yet their reactions were different. As the Lumiose siblings held on to each other for safety, Ash and Serena felt a flame burn aggressively within themselves. Their nerves were rattled like a cage of two furious animals within them. They were familiar with those two moves, yet after everything they had been through, this was not the time to see them. This wasn't the time for running into Team Rocket. Ash felt the weight lift from his shoulder. He scanned around frantically. The dust kicked up from the explosions cleared.
"Pikachu!" He yelled, before looking up to the towering cliff, and seeing his yellow partner trapped in a sturdy glass sphere, held on tightly by the female of the trio, with the striking long purple hair. It was a sight the two did not want to see. Separation was not a matter the group had the tolerance to deal with. With their journey only just continuing, livid did not do justice for what the fired up couple were currently feeling. Their Pokemon rushed to their side, battle-stances at the ready. The opposing Gourgeist and Inkay primed themselves for a second waves of attacks, where Serena took a step back, but Ash gripped a strong hold on her arm, maintaining his ground. Eyebrows of the purple and blue haired Team Rocket members were raised at the sight, including the Meowth. It seems they had missed something big since their last encounter.
Pikachu banged against the grass, striking it with Thunderbolts but to no avail. They laughed at each worthless attempt to break free. Ash saw his partner, his best friend trapped, Serena felt his feelings, their blood began to boil.
"Prepare for trouble!"
"And make it double!"
Ash clenched a fist; Serena gritted her teeth. Clemont and Bonnie watched on from afar, slightly intrigued by their friends' growling reactions.
"To protect the world from devastation!"
To unite all peop-"
Jessie, James and Meowth of Team Rocket then had their motto interrupted by the howl of the angered raven-haired trainer.
"Give back Pikachu right now!" He yelled at the top of his voice, one hand clenched while another holding on to Serena.
"Hey, at least have the courtesy to let us finish our motto!" Jessie barked back from the top of the cliff.
"We are not in the mood for this right now!" Serena replied with a string of sass amongst her angered pout.
"Pika Pika!" Pikachu cried as he banged relentlessly on the seemingly unbreakable glass. It was the sorrow of separation that struck a nerve within Ash; Serena knew the last thing they all needed now was a run in with Team Rocket.
"Braxien, help us out here!" Serena ordered her trusted partner onto centre stage, to fight the futile battle. It was a niggling pain dealing with Team Rocket at the best of times, although now Serena sensed the raw emotion bundling through Ash's veins. She felt it; the two now detested separation, they could not let Pikachu be taken away.
Ash saw the fire brew within Serena, he saw her motives rekindled beside him. He remembered their bond, this was another hurdle they would jump together.
"Frogadier, I choose you!" He instructed the ninja frog to take its place beside Braxien. Ash and Serena's hands remained linked, their gaze above them sharpened; they were not going to take any prisoners in returning Pikachu back to the group.
James folded his arms and leaned forward for a closer look.
"Jessie is it me or is there something a bit different about the two twerps?" He pondered with confusion.
"I thought it was just me!" Meowth quickly added.
"Wobbufe-!" Jessie hastily bundled over Wobbufett's large blue body in irritation.
"Twerp love or not let's get out of here!"
From the distance Bonnie and Clemont looked at each other. Bonnie's eyes lit up, and her jaw dropped in shock. Clemont adjusted his glasses, trying to gauge just what was going on.
Ash and Serena turned around, now fully aware that everyone had noticed their linked hands. Ash paused for a moment, before he adjusted his cap, and smirked. Serena caught sight, realising exactly what this moment meant.
It was the moment Serena would rise to the challenge alongside her raven-haired boy.
It was the moment Ash would express his affection in the way he knew best.
It was the moment they would show the world just what their bond was all about.
Their final vow upon the golden leaves of Route 16; one last hurdle before the clouds would finally clear.