A/N: I just wanted to say thanks for 50 followers! It really means a lot! Let's keep growing the story shall we?
Let's continue our prologue: It seems that Ash and Serena are going to travel together to Lumiose, but along the way, the duo may run into surprises.
This is based off an anime episode, but I made my own alterations, obviously Serena is there instead of Brock and Misty and they are in Kalos, not Kanto.
Also, I got so many guesses in the egg's pokemon. For any of you guys that said Charmander… Well this chapter will prove you wrong, and the next will eliminate those who said Treecko (RIP lmao!). I am very surprised no one had guessed the egg despite there being a reference to the pokemon inside of it the first chapter LOL (actually, someone did…)! You will officially meet the pokemon inside the egg after the prologue… And yes, I did buff Ash's pokemon later on so don't think they can't take on legendaries or other pokemon that should out perform them. The pokemon in the egg is REALLY buffed in the moveset also, so be hype for that one!
Hope you guys enjoy! And thanks again for 50!
Disclaimer: I don't own pokemon
Chapter 7- Dreams and Abandoned
On route back to Lumiose City:
After Ash and Serena parted ways with their other friends, the duo started walking towards Lumiose from where they came from. It was a nice route that had a beautiful pathway and a good amount of sunlight coming from the sky even though at this time, the sun was actually setting. It truly was a great day, and Serena was more than just happy because she was traveling with Ash. She, in fact, had wanted to finally tell Ash what she thought that her dream would be because ever since she traveled with Shaune, she had gotten some inspiration.
After some time walking, the duo spotted a pokemon floating around looking for some nectar in flowers, "Look a flabebe! It's so cute!" Serena exclaimed.
"Why don't you catch it?" Ash asked with a genuine voice.
"Are you sure I can do it?" Serena asked completely unsure in her confidence. She knew that she would probably want to try and catch it, but the fact that it would be her first catch was getting to her.
"Sure you can!" Ash replied with an encouraging smile. "Remember our catch phrase 'Never give up until it is over!'" Serena blushed a little at this one comment because it truly was a different Ash than the one she had reunited with back in Lumiose City and she was glad that Ash had finally been acting like when they first met in Pallet Town.
'Serena, just tell him that you like him' Serena thought. 'say what you want to say, and let the words fall out. I wanna see you be brave Serena!'
"You're right Ash, I guess that is the reason why I… I have to thank you for being a great friend!" Serena replied. 'FFS SERENA YOU JUST QUOTED A SONG THAT YOU LOVE!'
"Let's go Fennekin!" Serena shouted while plucking her only pokeball in her belt. The pokeball then opened up and from it came a flashing materializing orange fox that stood its ground for battle. Serena saw that Fennekin was ready and decided to go for the attack.. "Ember!"
"Fenne...KIN!" Fennekin shouted unleashing the small burst flames. The Flabebe noticed this and as she saw the flames, she returned an attack. The result ended with the flames being knocked back by a pink wind. Obviously Ash knew it was fairy wind from having some experience with some pokemon, but the fact that Serena had never even been involved in a battle meant that Serena did not know many of the moves that can be used.
"Fairy wind, be careful," Ash warned with a careful voice. Serena nodded at this, but she knew that she would need to attempt something different if she were to actually capture the flower pokemon.
"Fennekin spin to the left and use scratch!" Serena ordered while putting her two arms out in an elegant manner as another fairy wind was coming. This time, Fennekin dodged and hit Flabebe. The attack did damage as Flabebe started to fall slowly to the ground and then slumped on the grass very lightly. Serena got a pokeball and tossed it, "Go Pokeball!" She shouted as the pokeball made contact and sucked the Flabebe inside.
One shake…
Two shakes…
The pokeball shook three times before it signaled a successful capture. "Well done Serena!" Ash shouted as she gave Serena a toothy grin and a thumbs up.
"Pikapi Pikachu!" Pikachu agreed.
"T-thanks guys," Serena replied slightly blushing. She obviously had not expected that much praise from her crush, but it was something she could get used to.
"It was awesome, that spin dodge technique may be what I need to win some battles!" Ash replied as he thought back on the attack that Serena had just used and the way that the spin dodge technique may have actually worked very easily.
"Oh… thanks!" Serena said shyly as she tried to hide her blush.
After that, it became late which meant the two had to camp since the sun had started to set and the sky was now starting to turn all red, orange, and some blue from the night sky the opposite side of the sun, meaning the East. Ash was fine, but Serena was a little intimidated by the fact of camping. "Sleep out in the open?" she asked very nervously.
"Yea, we won't reach the nearest pokemon center for a bit, so we have to camp," Ash responded acting like he knows everything despite the fact that he had just started his journey that very day. "Here, let me show you, after living alone for years I can show you what to do."
"Ok," Serena replied still unsure about camping in the middle of a route that lead to the heart of Kalos.
Ash got some fire wood and then made an outline for a place where he could start a fire, "and this is why I need a fire type pokemon…" Ash sighed as he completely facepalmed for not even have thought of having a fire type.
"I have Fennekin!" Serena replied as she took out a pokeball from her belt and caused the orange fox to appear in front of the two. Serena ordered an ember so that the fire could start making Ash thankful that he had said yes to bringing Serena around. The fox then used ember to start a fire and cuddled with Serena like Pikachu was with Ash.
The sky slowly went from light blue to midnight blue, and with that, Serena decided to speak up through her shyness, "Wow, pokemon are so nice…" Serena started as Ash's attention shifted from the fire to the honey blonde next to him. " Wait… you knew Pikachu before it became your pokemon, how did you meet Pikachu, Ash?"
"It was a long story, but the short one goes like this…" Ash said with a unique tone with sadness from how sad the encounter was yet hopeful for what he and Pikachu compromised.
Flashback:
"Just end me right here and now," Ash told himself as he slumped on a tree stump while reaching over to a stake that Ash had previously carved out. Ash was at the Santalune forest, once again completely alone and in desire to just heal himself, or what thought was healing himself. Ash wanted to just eject himself from all of this pain... Suddenly, a flock of Spearow saw Ash grab the piece of wood and thought that it was a menace so they charged Ash wanting to use peck on the raven haired boy.
A wild Pikachu saw Ash being attacked. This Pikachu saw the boy struggling and fired a thunderbolt at the spearow. The Spearow fled with fear while Pikachu ran up to Ash. Pikachu then rubbed his head on Ash's head to get Ash's attention. Ash looked up without major injuries and forced smile. Ash then pulled out his hand and petted the Pikachu.
"Thank you," Ash replied while petting the electric mouse, but Ash then turned his light smile into a frown. "You should get going, your family needs you."
"Pika… Pikachu…" Pikachu said with a sad tone and hanging his head. Ash noticed this and slightly gasped as he probably knew that Pikachu did not have a family. It was an aura of sadness that radiated from Pikachu's presence that hit Ash like a train… Ash felt the connection and similarities he had with this small pokemon, and with that he grew inspired to get to know the mouse a little better.
"Let me guess, you don't have a family either," Ash inferred looking at the depressed Pikachu. Pikachu slowly nodded which completely proved Ash's theory correct and breaking the raven haired boy's heart. "Pikachu, I know what it's like…"
Pikachu looked at Ash, both shed a tear feeling sympathy for one another. "Pika…" Pikachu said nuzzling with Ash.
"Pikachu, want to come with me? We can put our past behind us together and make it through this struggle," Ash proposed as he stuck his hand out as if to shake it with Pikachu and make some sort of compromise with the small pokemon.
"Pika… PIKA!" Pikachu shouted as he did not shake Ash's hand, but completely tackled Ash into a hug that ended up causing Ash to recoil back with Pikachu on his face. Pikachu then began to rub his cheeks with Ash's and the depressed boy felt a strong bond develop with the electricity that the two were exchanging in their cheeks.
Ash could not believe it, he was laughing, for once… he actually felt kind of… Happy? Pikachu was also expressing his happiness with tears of Joy.
Both pokemon and human were happy that fate had brought them together.
Flashback end:
"That is how we became best friends," Ash said as he scratched behind Pikachu's ears.
"Pika!" Pikachu replied with a small bit of pleasure from the rubbing that Ash was giving him.
"That is so touching Ash, I see that you think of Pokemon as your friends, I think I should do the same, right Fennekin?" Serena said touched by the story and looking down at Fenneking, who Serena then held close to herself.
"Fenn!" Fennekin replied while hugging Serena back. Serena did feel the connection with her pokemon, and understanding that Ash and Pikachu both had some sort of similar past had helped them connect and stay strong for as long as the two can remember.
"So… Serena?" Ash started while turning his gaze from Pikachu to Serena.
"Yes Ash?"
"Have you found a dream yet?" Ash asked out of the blue surprising Serena since this was the topic that she had wanted to get to in the first place.
"I found a possibility, I have to try it first!" Serena winked.
"What is it?" Ash asked with curiosity and a pushing voice.
Serena's daydream:
"To be your wife," Serena said with a smile.
Real time:
"Showcases," Serena said shyly while playing around with her fingers. "I dream of making people smile with performances!"
"You will be great Serena! If you, Flabebe and Fennekin reach for it like Pikachu, Froakie, and I reach for ours, you can achieve it!" Ash said with a smile.
"Have you reached your dream yet?" Serena asked obviously knowing that the answer was probably 'no', but the fact is that she had always wanted to know what Ash wanted to be.
"Nope! But Pikachu and I dream of being Pokemon Masters!" Ash replied with a smile and looking down to his smiling electric rodent. "And I am confident we can win the Kalos league!"
"I think so too," Serena said unknowingly while putting her hands behind her head.
"Huh?"
"N-nothing!" Serena retaliated blushing furiously. Serena then looked at the night sky and saw that it really was dark. She then let out a yawn which told her that it was probably best if she went to get some shuteye. "Let's go to sleep it is late now."
"Ok Serena," Ash said. He found it weird of how Serena had acted previously, but he shrugged it off.
The duo then walked into their tent with their pokemon after that.
"Serena, are you feeling better about camping?" Ash asked from his sleeping bag which was right next to Serena's.
"Yes, a lot better thanks," Serena responded in her sleeping bag. She was a little nervous that she and Ash were going to be sharing a tent for the night, but the fact that Serena had done it before at the pokemon center told her that it was not really that much of a big deal. "Good night!"
"Good night Serena, sweet dreams," Ash stated completely unknowing of what he had just said.
'Did he just say…?' Serena thought as she drifted off.
'Did I just say…?' Ash thought as he fell asleep.
The next day:
Serena yawned, she had just woken up from one of her best sleeps ever. She did not even know why she even was afraid of camping in the first place. When she looked around, she noticed Fennekin was on her side cuddling with her. Then, she looked over and her eyes went wide. Pikachu was cuddled with Ash, but that did not grab her attention. What did shock her was how she was next to Ash trying to cuddle with him.
Serena slowly got up trying not to wake up Ash, but Ash got up and rubbed his eyes as he said, "One of the best sleeps I have had in awhile… Oh Serena, you are awake?" Ash then noticed Serena's insecure expression and asked, "Serena are you ok? You look very confused about something…"
Serena blushed harder, but she covered it up so that Ash couldn't really see, "Really?" She knew she never did that, at least not involuntarily.
"Come on, let's eat breakfast and get back on the road!" Ash said as he got up and walked out of the tent.
"Pika!" Pikachu followed his trainer.
"Fenn Fennekin," Fennekin said to Serena with a small grin..
Serena blushed and sighed as she admitted her internal conflict, "Ok, ok, you caught me, just don't tell anyone!"
"Fenn!" Fennekin danced out of the tent obviously knowing the fact that Serena had some form of crush on Ash. Serena followed her out of the tent with hope that the little fox would not rat out Pikachu, but Pikachu probably already know. Still it did not affect her one bit since Ash would not understand pokemon speech.
After eating breakfast which Ash and Serena had bought before they had left from Santalune City and packing up, Serena returned Fennekin to her pokeball and the duo left in route back to Lumiose City.
Suddenly as the group was walking, a faint cry could be heard which caused Ash to stop in his tracks and Pikachu's ears to twitch in the direction it came from: "Char."
"Did you hear that?" Ash asked Serena who stopped at the sight of Ash's voice and slightly nodded thinking she had also heard the faint cry.
"Yea."
"Pika..." The attention was then turned to a big rock that was to the right of the route. It was obviously a large rock and from there came a large shadow that mimicked the sight of a strong pokemon. Ash and Serena slightly recoiled and looked up to the top of the rock to see what was causing the shadow: An orange pokemon that was lying there. Also, it was evident that there was a very small fire in whatever this pokemon was' tail.
The group approached a big rock and on top was a salamander pokemon, "A Charmander!" Ash said as he noticed something. "Huh? Look at this, it has a harness and in it there is a blue and black stone…" Ashw as curious as he saw the harness and instantly saw the DNA symbol on the harness. His eyes widened at the sight to which he looked down at his glove to see his stone glisten in the sunlight: It was obviously a mega stone.
"Wow, it must have a trainer then," Serena said.
"But… where is his trainer?" Ash asked making them both wonder. Ash then turned to Pikachu, "Pikachu can you talk with Charmander and made sure that Charmander is allright?"
"Pika!" Pikachu nodded as he jumped on top of the rock to converse with the salamander. "Pikachu pi pika?"
"Char charmander!" Charmander replied with a hopeful voice, but also with a hint of depression. To Ash and Serena, something did not add up just by listening to the salamander.
Pikachu then looked at Ash and explained the situation through hand motions and through acting, "Pika Pikachu Pika Pikachu Pi!"
"Wait are you saying that Charmander's trainer said he would come back to him?" Ash asked. Pikachu nodded slowly towards Ash to signal that Ash had guessed correctly.
Serena then noticed something and instantly pointed it out to Ash. "Wait, Ash, that flame in the tail, it is smaller than Trevor's Charmander…" Serena said with worry. Ash listened and understood that there was danger… It was his father that had taught him about the Kanto starters before too which meant that he saw the danger of the fire being put out. Of course, remembering this trait of the salamander pokemon caused Ash to remember the death that haunts him from the past.
"I don't think we should mess with it, it wants to be left alone," Ash said depressed before then forcing on a smile and looking at Charmander. "Charmander, if something happens I will come for you."
"Char…" Charmander replied ambivalent about the answer Ash just gave.
The duo then left the Charmander alone and went to the nearest pokemon center in the route for a lunch break. Though the thing was that… Ash still had Charmander in his head.
"Ash, are you ok?" Serena asked Ash as they ate lunch across from each other. Ash looked up at Serena with a little bit of a gasp as he remembered that Serena probably knows him better than anyone that has ever known him before. "You are not touching your food and I know you eat a lot."
"oh… nothing," Ash said while putting a hand on his cheek and sighing with a small smile to try and not worry Serena… But the honey blonde was not falling for it, she knew the real reason why Ash was acting like this.
"It's Charmander right?" Serena asked and Ash recoiled a little, but then Ash resigned to the fact and slightly nodded.
"Pikapi pikachu!" Pikachu cried trying to cheer his trainer up. Pikachu knew that Pokemon neglect was something inhumane and that it would most probably not be the case with Charmander.
"Pikachu is right, his trainer should come by later and pick him up!" Serena responded with a reassuring tone to Ash.
"I guess you are right," Ash said a little unconvinced as he started to eat. After the meal ended the duo went to leave the pokemon center, but just as they stepped out, it started thunderstorming really hard making our heroes go back in. "It really is ugly out there huh?"
"Yea, I hope Charmander is alright," Serena said in worry as she remembered that Charmander was all out in the open in the rain.
A new voice from another table was heard and Ash and Serena looked over to see a guy with a lot of pokeballs and a bunch of other people next to him talking. Ash and Serena eavesdropped. One of the guys had a lot of pokeballs with him and he had a pink shirt with a brown vest over it. He also had pale skin and dark eyes with blue hair that had a pair of aviator sunglasses on them.
"Hehe, these are my pokemon, what do you think?" The boy with the pokeballs asked a group of trainers that were around him.
Serena took one look and whispered to Ash, "I don't like the looks of that guy." Ash nodded agreeing. The fact that the boy was was crossing his arms with such a sassy attitude did spark something in Ash that he did not like.
"Wait Damian, didn't you have a Charmander?" one boy asked back at the original bragger who was the person known as Damian. Ash kept studying the guy with Serena, and he obviously did see something suspicious. His confirmations were proven true when Ash got triggered by what Damian had to say.
"I used too, it was given to me by professor Sycamore with that special blue stone, but that thing was so weak I left it by some dumb rock. I promised it I would return and the fool actually believed me," Damian said with pride while putting his arms up with an innocent pose… It was not so innocent to Ash though.
"Pika…" Pikachu grunted gathering dust.
"Charmander is out in the rain… this is bad," Serena started as Ash got up. Serena noticed Ash's clenched fists and gritted teeth and grew worried. "Ash, are you ok?"
Ash walked up to Damian. The latter looked at Ash confused until he felt Ash's hand hold him up by the collar. When Ash spoke up, his voice could kill anyone which made Damian slightly amused, "Go out there and get Charmander now!"
Serena was shocked at what she was seeing. Ash, the sweet boy she loved was threatening someone because of selflessness. She did not like the violence, but she saw how heroic Ash was being.
"Why would I care?" Damian replied as he shoved Ash's hand out of the way. Damian then smiled giving Ash a "come at me" signal, but Ash replied to his question first.
"If the flame on Charmander's tail goes out, it will die!" Ash exclaimed as he punched Damian in the jaw thus making Damian fall to the floor to which his goons went around Damian and tried to help him up. All the other trainers had sour looks on their faces. Ash then turned to Pikachu and declared. "Let's go Pikachu, we are going after Charmander!"
"Wait for me Ash!" Serena exclaimed as she grabbed a poncho and ran after Ash who had bolted out of the pokemon center with a blanket after the fire pokemon that must have been suffering out in the bare rain.
Charmander's rock:
A bunch of beedrill saw the fire on Charmander's tail and started attacking him. Charmander's tail was about to go out because the leaf that the pokemon had been using to cover up the flame had been torn away. By the Beedrill. Charmander felt like he was about to meet his fate until he heard a familiar voice pierce the stormy air, "Pikachu use thunderbolt!"
Pikachu let out a cry and enveloped himself in electricity. The electricity then crackled through the air and shocked the Beedrill very easily which caused the bug types to flee in terror. Serena grabbed Charmander from the front while Ash did from the back.
"I will guide the way!" Serena exclaimed with a hint of urgency.
"I will make sure the tail stays lit!" Ash shouted as he looked through the blanket. He had forgotten to grab a poncho and was risking his health as he felt the rain hit his back continuously, but he needed to save the pokemon. He just needed to.
Both trainers started running back to the pokemon center and quickly arrived with great speed. When they arrived Nurse Joy was shocked to see the duo completely wet, but the fact that Charmander was in life threatening shape caused her to jump in terror. "Oh dear! Wigglytuff get the emergency materials and stretcher ready!"
Wigglytuff quickly brought out a stretcher and brought it out in front of the duo. Serena and Ash gently placed down Charmander in the stretcher as Nurse Joy and Wigglytuff got behind the stretcher to carry it into the ER. Ash watched in worry as Charmander was taken to the ER and both trainers with Pikachu sat down in the waiting area.
"Do you think he will be ok?" Ash asked his childhood friend with clenched fists while looking down.
"I think he will, we made a great team out there," Serena responded making Ash smile.
"You're right about that last one," Ash said with an appreciative tone because he might not have been able to do it without Serena.
It took two hours, but Nurse Joy came out of the clinic which made Ash, Serena and Pikachu look up at the nurse. Nurse Joy looked at the group and flashed a smile while announcing: "Charmander will make a full recovery!"
"Thanks Nurse Joy!" Ash and Serena replied with relieved expressions since the pokemon had been saved from the danger.
While sleeping:
That night, Serena and Ash slept at the pokemon center. News about Charmander's full recovery was amazing for the duo as Ash could finally sleep in peace without having to know that Charmander was still at risk of dying.
Ash kept tossing and turning as to what he should do now. He had wanted to ask Charmander to be his pokemon for some time now, but it was obviously going to have to find out about Damian. Ash shook his head, he would find out in the morning if Charmander would rather stay with Ash or go back to Damian.
Ash then looked at his glove and saw the stone glisten a little in the darkness of the room of the pokemon center. Looking to his left he saw Serena sleeping on her own bed. "I really don't know how I could have done this without her…" Ash said to himself. Ash then fell back asleep while muttering, "Thank you Pikachu and Serena."
That Morning:
Ash and Serena were there when Charmander came out of the ER. When the fire type was released, Charmander noticed Damian sitting on one of the couches of the pokemon center lobby and the Salamander went to him.
"Ash, here we go," Serena whispered as they watched from afar.
"Let's see what happens," Ash answered. It was obvious that the reunion could be heartbreaking, but Ash knew that Charmander could get through this.
With Charmander and Damian, Damian noticed the salamander and grew frustrated, "What do you want? Don't you see I don't want a weak pokemon like you? I would have never returned to that rock for you!"
Ash heard this and gritted his teeth and clenched his fists. It was obvious that Damian never wanted Charmander. Ash though, he loved the fire type, he wanted to be friends and have a new team mate, someone with the potential of being strong. Serena put a hand on Ash's shoulder and Ash slightly relaxed at the warmth that the hand gave. It was evident that staying strong was best, so that is what Ash did.
Charmander looked like he was hit by a million bullets. Damian got up and began to walk towards the sliding doors, but as Damian left, Charmander grew angry and rushed in front of Damian before scorching Damian in the head with a powerful flamethrower. Damian have Charmander one angry look before opening the door and walking past Charmander without saying anything with a small smirk. Seeing this, Charmander grew depressed and began to tear up.
Ash and Serena walked over to the fire type pokemon, but Serena stayed back as she knew Ash wanted to handle this one. Since Ash met Charmander, Serena saw how Ash wanted to give Charmander his love. Serena wanted this to happen and watched.
Ash got down to where he could be at level with Charmander and spoke up, "Charmander, I know it is hard to be rejected like that. Infact, my Pikachu and I also got rejected by our loved ones or we lost them."
"Char…" Charmander replied while shedding a couple of tears. Charmander understood Ash's words and he knew that his situation was probably one of the worst things that could ever happen to a pokemon. Charmander clenched his fists and then cursed himself for not being stronger… Until he heard what Ash had to say.
Ash continued, "Charmander, I think you are very amazing and I am willing to take you with me, so what do you say, want to come along?"
"Charmander!" Charmander shouted as he embraced Ash with tears of joy. Ash held out a pokeball which Charmander accepted as it shook only once proving to be a critical capture. Ash looked at the pokeball and smiled.
"Look Pikachu, we just caught… A Charmander!" Ash exclaimed making a pose. Ash looked at Serena who had a smile in her face and a hand above her heart. At the same time, Serena had her eyes shadowed over her fedora.
Ash noticed Serena's dark look and asked, "Serena, are you ok?"
"I'm better than ok Ash," Serena started as she looked up with glistening blue eyes. "I just witnessed what it means to find someone that truly cares about you, that will be willing to make it through a struggle with someone who also had a struggle."
"It was nothing Serena," Ash said as he pumped his fist. "Let's keep going to Lumiose now!"
"Let's go!" She exclaimed as she ran off in front of him and out of the sliding doors that lead to the outside.
"Hey! Wait for me!" Ash chased after his childhood friend.
"Pikapi!" Pikachu shouted getting on Ash's shoulder.
A new chapter in Charmander's life had just begun.
A/N: Yay Charmander and with a blue stone… Hehe, this is getting good. The prologue may not last many more chapters, but it will get us to the basics for the rest of the journey to be enjoyable.
Responding to Reviews:
Cutesaralisa: Sandile? Where did that come from? Serena will have an Alola Pokemon, not Ash xD! Anyways I did over spoil Ash's team, and even the pokemon in the egg, go look for it! I can tell you that it is not Charmander (for obvious reasons) and I do not think Treecko also makes the cut…
Thor94: Again, you also are wrong on the egg ;). I did not see a reason to make Ash lose the first gym battle so I didn't really do that. I did want to institute just how good Ash is and just how this will not be the same as the anime.
Guest 1: No need to make the egg Charmander at this point right? Also, Pikachu will be getting a cool new move, but not really the bond phenomenon. I want Pikachu to be strong with raw power and not much boosted power, that is why he is that powerful on his own. This cool new move will probably be cooler than even a Z move, so be expecting some awesome Pikachu performances in the fic.
Rst64tlc: Let me reflect on your guesses. I like how you thought outside the box on these, but they are not right and here is why: Eevee is for someone else, Ash does not need another fire type, I feel like Honedge is a better opponent than ally for Ash, and Phantom… Is that the tree pokemon? I never would have thought of that one! xD. I am glad you enjoyed anyways!
Johnny Spectre: Noooiiiiii… Noibat!
Guest 2: Glad you enjoyed the chapter!