a/n: Pain. Never ending pain
I hate those damn four wisdom teeth
My face has swollen to an unrecognizable point
Anyways this ending has me dying laughing and I'm bound to piss off some people
Oh well. It's fun
Anyways enjoy:
—-
Serena just stared at Ash as the boat pulled away before approaching him
Ash reached out an arm, and Serena assumed it was a handshake before Ash tried to hug her which she sidestepped because she thought he was going for a handshake.
After awkwardly shaking hands, Serena realized that he meant to go for a hug, so she blushed a little and pulled him in.
Ash nervously hugged her back, his heart racing a million beats per minute.
They seperated after a minute and Serena smiled back.
"Hey," Ash said awkwardly
"Hey," Serena replied
"You wanna get some food?" Ash asked
Serena nodded, "Yeah, that sounds pretty good right around now,"
Ash smiled and pointed at the shore, "Well, you know the area better than I do! It's been years since I've been in Hoenn,"
Serena smiled, "I know a place or two,"
She led him to a nearby ramen place and secured a table of two for them.
As they sat down, Serena made eye contact with Ash and smiled at him, easing the tension.
"So, what have you been up to recently? And how did you know Chloe?"
Ash smiled, "Well. Chloe is the daughter of my boss, Professor Cerise. I work for him and do errands for his lab and help conduct some research, and in exchange I get facilities for my pokemon, food and board and money to travel the world for my matches,"
"Oh, that's cool! What do you mean about your matches?"
"Oh, haven't you heard of the PWC?" Ash asked
"Nope!" Serena said, lying through her teeth.
She wouldn't tell him that she's been following his matches every day since he entered the PWC. She wouldn't tell him that her internet crashing and being unable to watch him win the Alola League ruined her week.
She wouldn't tell him that she frequently stayed up until two or three in the morning to watch him battle all over the world.
She wouldn't tell him that she read every single article about him online, hoping for news on his life.
She'd just go for a simple, "Tell me about it!"
Ash smiled, "I'd love to! So basically it's this giant world tournament, and if you win battles you move up the ranks! I'm ranked number 9 right now! Just one more battle and I'll be in the Master 8 and face Leon, the unbeatable champion!"
Serena corrected him, "You mean unbeatable until you face him!"
Ash's face lit up, "Thanks Serena!"
Serena shrugged as if it were no big deal, "Of course Ash,"
Ash laughed, "He's gonna be a challenge but I believe in myself and my team!"
Serena nodded, "You've always been the strongest trainer I've known,"
Ash felt his cheeks grow warm at the sudden compliment.
Ash cleared his throat, "So….what have you been up to lately?"
"Well, I've been traveling throughout Hoenn, participating in contests and I've…I've done pretty well,"
Ash smiled at her, "I can tell, you seem so much more confident!"
Serena gulped. It had been over a year since he had last given her one of his goofy heartfelt compliments, and yet it still felt so special to receive one.
"Oh….uhhh thanks Ash," Serena said
"So, tell me about your Hoenn adventure!" Ash asked
"Well, it all started when I got off the boat,"
Nearly an hour passed of them discussing stories about their respective journeys ever since they parted ways.
Serena heard all of the excitement and drama of Ash's rampage up the PWC, from his battles with Bea and securing the power of Mega Evolution and Gigantamax. From winning a regional title in Alola and fighting pokemon from other dimensions.
Ash heard her stories of contests going down to the wire, catching a new team member in her Absol, Braixen evolving into Delphox in order to win Serena her most important contest battle against Drew.
After a while, they realized the restaurant they were in happened to be awfully quiet. Ash looked up from his table and up at a slightly angry worker.
"We're past closing, and I'd appreciate it if you two lovebirds got lost," The angry worker said as he shooed them out.
Ash and Serena waited for him to slam the door and then they both started laughing.
"Did you see the look on his face?" Ash said laughing
"Someone needs some rest, huh?" Serena said, trying unsuccessfully to contain her laughter
The two of them suddenly stopped laughing and looked at eachother.
"So is this goodbye again?" asked Serena
Ash scratched his head nervously, "Uhhh, actually it's getting to be pretty late and I'd rather not fly at night with Dragonite all the way back to Kanto. So if it's not too much of an issue, would it be okay if I stayed with you tonight?"
Serena's heart rate doubled after hearing that. But, she was much more mature now and played it much more calmly. "Of course Ash!" Serena replied simply
"So….uhhh where exactly are you staying?" Ash questioned
"In the Pokemon Center," Serena said
"Just like old times, huh?" Ash replied
Serena laughed, "Minus Clemont exploding his inventions and Bonnie proposing to every woman in sight,"
Ash laughed, "Did you know that she proposed to Drasna of the Elite Four after I beat her? Clemont was so embarrassed,"
"I would be also!" Serena said, defending her friend
"I suppose so," Ash agreed as they arrived at the center.
The two walked up a flight of stairs and Serena swiped a keycard she had on her and a door opened.
There were two beds and there was more than enough room for both of them.
Ash felt his heart speed up, trying to calm himself down. They were just friends for now. No need to make things awkward.
Ash made things awkward.
"So, uhh by the way. I really like your new outfit,"
Serena practically beamed, ignoring the weird timing of the compliment. "Thank you!" Serena said happily
The two of them then started their nightly rituals, and before long both were in bed and the lights were out.
After about ten minutes, Ash realized now would be the perfect time to have the conversation he was told he needed to have from both Lillie and May.
"Hey Serena, are you awake?" Ash asked
"Mmmmhmmmm," Serena hummed
"I….I have a question for you," Ash said
"What's up?" Serena asked, feeling her heart speed up slightly
"I….I want to ask you something,"
"You can tell me anything Ash,"
"I…okay here goes,"
"I'm ready whenever,"
"Two girls kissed me when I was in Alola,"
Serena felt her heart stop
"I….oh," Serena said, heartbreak evident in her voice.
Serena sniffled, trying to not burst out into tears in front of Ash.
"Wait, let me finish. I….I want to tell you something about it. The first girl who kissed me? I…I rejected her, because it didn't feel the same,"
"Didn't feel the same as what?"
"As you. She….she just….didn't feel the way you did, I can't describe it, but…" Ash stated
"No, I get it," Serena said
Ash nodded
"Oh….well what about the second girl?" asked Serena, ignoring the implications of what Ash just said for now.
"It's the same thing… I do know that you make me happier than she does. She's still a good friend, but…she isn't you,"
"What are you trying to say Ash?" Serena said
"Serena, I…..I have feelings for you, I'm sorry if this is sudden. But, I…you make me happy in a way no one else can," Ash confessed
Serena got out of her bed and walked towards Ash, pulling him in and hugging him closely.
"I…I never stopped having feelings for you, maybe we were apart for a while, but I'm never giving up on you. Not until it's over,"
Serena leaned in for a kiss, but Ash beat her to the punch.
The two locked lips, and held them together for a long moment before separating
"Serena, I…I don't know what to say, I have so many questions,"
Serena pulled Ash in closely, "We may have to go our separate ways in the morning, but for now? Let's just stay together,"
Ash hugged her, pulling her in close and kissing her gently on the forehead.
The two fell asleep in eachothers arms each in a dreamless and peaceful sleep.
The next morning, as daylight broke into the room, Serena stirred slightly which woke up Ash.
"Hey," Serena said
Ash smiled, "Hey,"
Serena cleared her throat, "So about last night,"
Ash hugged her, "I'm not sure what we are, but….I do know we are meant for eachother. So even though I'm going to fly home to Kanto and continue my goals, and even though you're going off to chase your goals, I know we'll reunite one day,"
Serena kissed him, shutting him up. "That's fine, but you still owe me your phone number,"
Ash laughed and handed the rotom phone in his pocket to her.
Serena looked up at Ash. "Well, let's get ready,"
—-
Outside of the Pokemon Center, Ash stood with his Dragonite who had just finished hugging Serena for a few minutes and nearly breaking her ribs by accident.
"Hey, see you soon?"
"Yeah,"
"Promise to call every once in a while?"
"Maybe,"
Serena laughed, "Well in that case, see you around,"
As Ash flew off, she felt less…empty then the last time they separated
—-
Five years later…..
Ash is 23, and Serena is 22
Ash rolled his eyes, here he was yet again at the office, having to finish some paperwork. Being the monarch wasn't all sunshine and rainbows. And here he was, staying late yet again. Everyone was gone, and here he still was.
Suddenly, Ash received a text.
It was from his secretary who also happened to be a Porygon
You have a challenger who's waiting for you inside of the stadium. They insist it's urgent
You just gotta lock up when ur done.
Ash, who was looking for any excuse to bail out of his work, practically darted downstairs away from the pile of papers on his desk.
Ash ran onto the battlefield, and was shocked when he saw who his challenger was.
It was Serena!
Ash gasped, "Serena! You….you never told me you'd be in town!"
He felt bad, it had been a few days since he had texted her last.
Serena smiled at him, but she looked stressed "Yeah! I've come for your title Mr. Monarch! One on one! Let's do this! Absol, let's go!"
Ash looked at her confused, almost as if she were ignoring the real reason she was here. There was no way Serena wanted his title, she just wanted his attention…
Whatever the case, Ash wouldn't decline a battle.
Serena sent out an Absol who looked at Serena as if to say, "You owe me one,"
Ash laughed, "If that's the case, Lycanroc, I choose you!"
Serena yelled out, "Absol, use psycho cut!"
Absol fired a pink blade towards Lycanroc that Ash's loyal hound sidestepped.
"Lycanroc, use stone edge! Do what we did against Tobias!" Ash commanded, referencing his battle against Tobias from last year.
"Absol, jump up!" Serena commanded
But Absol was too slow, getting trapped in the rocks.
"Now, Lycanroc, let's finish things off with a play rough!" Ash commanded
Lycanroc sped towards Absol, crashing through his own rocks and landed a deadly tackle on Serena's dark type.
Serena smiled and recalled her Absol, not even bothering to see the result of Ash's attack.
"Well, Ash. It was a good match!"
"Serena, why did you come here? I'm sorry that I haven't texted these past few days, but I promise that-"
"It's not about that Ash," Serena shook her head
"Oh….well then what is it?" Ash asked
"It's….it's about me," Serena said
Ash gulped, was she breaking up with him? He felt his palms grow sweaty
"Well, ummm…what is it?" Ash tried asking
Serena looked around the stadium nervously.
"Are we alone?" Serena asked
"Yeah….it's ten PM and a Friday night. I should hope so," Ash laughed
Serena sighed, "Ash….I'm done being a performer. Lisia and I are going our separate ways….we had a disagreement, a pretty big one….She wanted to stop doing live shows and just follow the money by recording albums, she wanted us to stop writing our own songs, and instead just shell out our work to the music companies. All we'd do is just sing every once in a while alone in a booth and look pretty. I knew I wouldn't be happy, so I quit,"
"You just left?"
"This happened earlier today, and I left Hoenn on the spot. Lisia threatened to cancel my apartment lease, because she sorta owns the building I stay in. Sooooo I'm sorta homeless at the moment,"
"Oh…..well, you're more than welcome to stay with me!" Ash said with a smile
"Thanks Ash, but the thing is…I wanna know if I'm making the right choice here, is it really worth leaving performing behind?" Serena asked
"Serena, you aren't leaving it behind! You still have so much to offer to the world, your creativity has inspired millions worldwide. You're just finding a new job, it's totally normal for people to switch jobs," Ash said
Serena nodded, "Yeah….but….what will I do? I…I hate feeling lazy!"
Ash shrugged, "I'd be happy to make up a new role for you while you solve that question. Congrats! You are the new creative director of the Pokemon League!"
Serena smiled appreciating his gesture, "Thanks Ash, I guess there's only one more thing left…."
"What's that?" Ash asked
"I stopped to get us a gift before I left Hoenn, and….I think It's time I give you that gift," Serena said, stress evident in her voice
"Well, what is it? And why us?" Ash asked
Serena gulped, "For the past five years, we've been a couple and despite being apart for nearly all of it, and our relationship being a secret to the public, I'm so lucky to call you mine, and….I guess I kinda predicted we'd be spending more time together, so I got this,"
Serena reached in her pocket and pulled out a small black box before getting down on one knee, opening the box revealing a diamond ring.
"So….. Ash Satoshi Ketchum, in honor of this new chapter of our lives, will you do me the honor of becoming my husband?" Serena said, emotion clear in her voice.
Ash was speechless.
Serena cleared her throat "In case the message isn't getting through to you, will you marry me Ash?"
"I…yes!" Ash said before enveloping her in a hug.
Pikachu watched happily as the newly engaged couple hugged it out.
For what it's worth, Pikachu approved immensely
Fin.
Thanks for reading