With Hau:
Hau was walking to one of the video phones at the Pokemon center. He had just given Incineroar's pokeball to Nurse Joy following a 3-0 sweep on his opponent. Hau remembered the battle clearly. The guy didn't even stand a chance to even scratch Incineroar. Just as he walked out of the battle though, he remembered seeing Ash look at him with interest from his seat in the stands. Hau was interested in Ash after all. Specially after seeing Sceptile sweep, he felt like returning the favor with Incineroar. Of course Hau succeeded. He would have not thought about it himself.
Hau sat down at one of the video phones to then dial a number… The same number he constantly dialed ever since the beginning of his journey in Kalos.
"Mallow!" Hau shouted as he saw the green haired girl appear in the screen.
"Hau…" Mallow whispered as she looked at Hau's eyes. "I watched your battle, we are all very proud of you." Mallow then blushed slightly after saying that to then turn to Hau and smile. "Kiawe was proud to see Incineroar do so well!"
Hau tried to force a smile, but he couldn't, he just turned to Mallow and said: "Thanks… I did not expect to do that well in the first match." Hau then turned to the green eyed girl and asked, "But how is Lillie?"
Mallow sighed at this and just replied, "Sorry, but no change in her condition… Since the last time you called nothing has changed, but she still needs the surgery."
Hau looked down and sighed, "Alright… Just gotta win then, that is it."
Mallow then looked at Hau as if understanding, but her face turned into a sad one, "Hau, I hate seeing you like this… give me a smile, please."
"Smile?" Hau asked.
"You used to all the time."
"I-I… until Lillie is not fine I won't smile," Hau said with clenched fists.
"Hau, where are you? Gosh dangit you are not the same person I met years ago!" Mallow snapped through the video phone at the verge of tears. "I know that you are not doing something selfish, but it is hurting you more than it helps…" Mallow then clenched her fists. "I can't even recognize you anymore!"
"Mallow, why do you always worry for me? It's Lillie we should worry about, not me!" Hau snapped back.
Hau saw how Mallow banged her fist on the video phone table with frustration, "I… I can't help but worry about you more because I…" Mallow then looked down and with a soft voice said, "I fell for you…"
Hau went wide eyed as he looked at Mallow's lowered head, "W-wait… You actually…"
Mallow looked up with tears streaming down her cheeks and said, "Good luck Hau… I know you can win this for Lillie…" Hau then witnessed as the screen went completely blank because Mallow hung up. Hau was shaking of shock, he could not comprehend what Mallow had just told him.
"Hau! Incineroar is all healed up and ready for tomorrow," Hau turned to see Nurse Joy calling him over. Hau sighed and stood up from the video phone in obvious frustration. As he walkef up to Nurse Joy, his eyes beamed with strength and frustration.
As he walked with clenched fists, the scene flew into Hau's bright eye… It was filled with anger and frustration… It had the burden he carried.
A/N: Why yes, that last paragraph you ready should have been treated the same way that the anime treated Alain's face after Chespie fell asleep. I have to say, that it is a powerful moment, and since I wanted to use it… why not on someone that has a similar goal to Alain? Battle to reach a point in which he can save the ones he loves.
Of course, it is a matter of time before he does or doesn't. Keep in mind that making characters suffer is something I like to do… and don't call me a bad guy, because I am just trying to add color to the story. I am not Adolf Hitler IRL lol! Anyways, understand that I just took a character that is usually very happy to be the most depressed thing in the world!
Anyways, I really did plan to make some things happen this chapter, but I decided to add a little more as I hoped that adding some more context would be cool!
Anyways! Let's continue with the story! If you didn't already know, Ash defeated Astrid last round with only Sceptile. Since the anime did it with Greninja, but I wanted to keep Ash-Greninja secret for now… I decided to do Sceptile instead! So, understand that things only get harder from here on out for Ash… and other notable participants will also be having a hard time with their battles, I know so.
Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon
Chapter 32- Lumiose Conference Must Sees! A moment to prep talk! Serena confesses she loves Ash!
With Ash at his room:
Ash's room was rather packed that night, mostly because Ash invited everyone to have a gathering after the first round. Clemont and Trevor were walking while Brock and Tierno were also in conversation. Listening closer, Ash heard something about girls which didn't surprise him since both of them hit on everyone.
"PIKA?!"
"SCEPTILE?!"
Both pokemon screeched at the top of their lungs as Calem, Shauna, and Serena gave Ash an incredibly shocked face. Pikachu then fell face first to the ground and Sceptile face palmed. Ash decided to leave Sceptile out of his pokeball for the day to celebrate his huge victory.
"Y-You only had Sceptile with you during the battle?!" Calem asked as he nearly face palmed. "I know you are reckless, but you could have at least brought Pikachu with you."
"I brought Noivern too," Ash interjected. "I just wanted to challenge the ability of my team. After all, I won." Ash then turned to Sceptile and looked with a confused face, "Dude, you were there when I told Astrid, why are you so shocked?"
"Scep… sceptile…." Sceptile grunted as he fell flat on the ground. He just could not believe what his trainer did at that moment.
"Dang, talk about wanting to win the tournament and then intentionally bringing less than three pokemon to the plate…" Shauna remarked as Serena had an irritated look on her face.
"Next time…" Serena replied with a slightly agitated voice. "You are going to bring all of your pokemon with you to the trainer box."
"Alright alright," Ash sighed sheepishly as he then looked at Serena. "It's just that I wanted to let Sceptile here." Ash then put an arm around Sceptile and said, "Have a nice rematch that would be more than just a rematch after all."
Serena then looked at Ash and laughed to herself, "But how am I supposed to help you win when you make it harder for me?"
"Huh? Did you say something?" Ash asked.
"Huh? Oh…" Serena then had steam coming out of her head. "IT WAS NOTHING!"
"Uh, OK?" Ash asked slightly unconvinced.
Calem then turned to Ash and said, "Anyways, we all won today, why don't we get something to eat in order to celebrate?"
"No need to," Brock's voice resonated through the group that now got together. "Clemont and I prepared some food for everyone in order to celebrate!"
"Really?!" Ash exclaimed with happiness.
"Yes indeed," Clemont replied.
Bonnie looked slightly bored, so she went to Ash's bed and saw the television set across from the bed. "Might as well," Bonnie said to herself as she picked up the remote and turned on the television. The screen went static for a moment, but then turned to a talk show. Bonnie turned up the volume as her focus went into the television.
The room was two couches and a large screen in between. Sitting in one of the couches was none other than Malva of the elite four, and across from her was Diantha and Professor Sycamore. The first one to look at the camera was Malva, and she spoke up for the three that were gathered in the room.
"Hello there people of Kalos, this is Malva here with coverage from the Kalos League!" Malva then had another camera angle come to her and she turned to it as she said, "I am here joined by two of our most prestigious battlers and researchers here in Kalos… Professor Augustine Sycamore." Malva points to the professor who is leaning back on his seat.
"A pleasure to be here Malva," Professor Sycamore said as he bowed down at the camera.
"And champion Diantha," Malva finished.
"The pleasure is all mine," Diantha said tonte camera with a courtesy and then sat back down.
Malva then looked back at the professor and champion and said, "A lot has gone down today at the Kalos League right?"
Professor Sycamore smiled, "Indeed. I was was able to learn so much just by watching the trainers battle. I also learned that large amounts of power can be overwhelming as some of our participants got completely steamed over."
Diantha chuckled at this as she said, "I do agree that some of the participants were very powerful, one of the including Satoshi with his Aegislash, Ash's Sceptile, Hau's Incineroar, and even Hunter's Eevee." Diantha then smiled, "There are so many I did not mention such as Damian's Hydreigon and even Calem's powerful Talonflame."
Malva then stopped Diantha from talking to question her, "What did you think about the Aegislash that knew flamethrower and night slash? I think we also got to see a sludge bomb in there too." As Malva said this, highlights from Satoshi against Harvey appeared on screen between the reporters. It was the Aegislash that used flamethrower and then use night slash to finish off a Rhyperior.
Diantha sighed a little before saying it, "I don't think it has to do with cheating at all. I actually feel like there is a reason why that Aegislash was capable of those moves."
Professor Sycamore then interjected, "I do find the awkward as well, but I don't feel like it will be too much of a problem." Professor Sycamore then put his hand behind his back and said, "I liked the way Trevor's Charizard took down that Relicanth, and the way that Tierno swept a team of Eeveelutions was interesting. I really thought that Blastoise would have fallen to the Leafeon, but he managed to get through." At that time, those highlights through the screen.
"What did you think of Nero and his Braviary?" Malva asked Diantha.
Diantha smiled, "He looked ambitious, but I think something may happen to where he will cause an upset. Anyways, the match randomizer will make it so that we know who goes against who."
Malva then turned to the screen and said, "Now to give us some match ups for tomorrow is Valerie, the Laverre City gym leader!" At that moment the screen lit up and the fairy type trainer was portrayed through the screen. Malva, Professor Sycamore and Diantha turned to see the female with long sleeves to then smile. Malva then spoke up, "Welcome Valerie, to the first segment of the Lumiose Conference coverage. I suppose you have the matchups for tomorrow."
"Thanks for letting me be on the show today, and yes in fact I do have the matchups for tomorrow," Valerie said with a snicker. "Tomorrow we will have an interesting battle to start things off between Ash and Remo."
"Ash and Remo," Professor Sycamore said with excitement. "That does look like an amazing matchup we can start our predictions with."
"I agree," This time it was Diantha that spoke. "Ash and Remo are both capable battlers, Remo also passed the first round with a mega Garchomp." At that time the camera changed to portray Garchomp using dragon rush to knock out a Breloom. "It is capable of mega evolving that does mean that there will be a strong matchup."
"Not only that," Professor Sycamore replied. "Both trainers swept their battles in the first round which makes this a hard prediction." Sycamore then sighed, "Because I believe Ash lacks a mega evolution and because Remo has that powerful of a pokemon, I am going to go with Remo." The others stared at Professor Sycamore as in surprised by the answer, but the Sycamore kept going, "Yes, Diantha, I am aware of Ash's key stone on his glove, but he had it there since the beginning of the journey,but last time I checked, Charmeleon has not evolved meaning that Ash still has no way to mega evolve."
Diantha then smirked, "I believe the opposite, I am going for Ash because I know that he is capable of taking down any form of mega evolution like he did today. Also, I have taken a glimpse at Ash's party, so I would rephrase that last part." Diantha ended this with a wink and Professor Sycamore looked at Diantha in confusion. Diantha then shook her head and smiled.
"I am actually going to go for Remo," Malva stated calmly. "The participant really has some strong spirit to battle with just a mega evolved pokemon like that."
"Well," Valerie replied with a laugh. "I want to see Noivern again, he took down my pokemon once, and I want to see him perform well again." Valerie then paused. "I put my faith in Ash with this battle." After Valerie made her prediction, she smiled at the camera again, "Now, the second battle includes the first challenger of the entire league, this is being Hunter who will be going up against Nero."
"Nero will win this hands down," Diantha said first with a smirk. "He has proven himself to be able to sweep with just a Braviary while Hunter had to switch out his Eevee into Electivire."
"Really?" Malva said with a smirk as she knew something others didn't, "If Hunter uses the pokemon I think he will use, then he will win."
"What pokemon could possibly be that powerful?" Professor Sycamore asked with a shrug of his shoulders. "I think Nero will also win."
"After all," Valerie started. "When I battled Hunter I did not get as badly beaten as when I battled Nero. That is why Nero will probably win this one." Valerie then went out to read the third matchup. "Lenny against Herbert is the third battle, what do you guys think about Lenny's Barbaracle and Herbert's Venusaur? A possible mega evolution match by Venusaur?"
"Very possible, but I have to go with Herbert to win," Diantha said. "Being four times weak to grass will be fatal."
"I believe the same thing," Malva stated with a straight face.
"So, do we all agree that Herbert will likely win?" Professor Sycamore asked while the other three females nodded. "Alright, I think it is time for the break Malva."
Malva looked at the camera and smiled, "We will be right back after our short commercial break to discuss further matchups, there are 64 matches in the second round so they shouldn't take as long as today to get through them."
With that, the scene zoomed out of the room as music played in the background. Then a commercial for pokemon food came up.
"Well would you look at that," Bonnie sighed as she said the next part to herself, "Apparently Ash's Charizard does not exist to Professor Sycamore."
"Bonnie, aren't you going to eat?" Serena asked as she sat down next to Bonnie.
"Huh?" Bonnie said a little startled. "Oh, yea, I am just going to go on and grab something to eat from Clemont then." With that, Bonnie got up from the bed and went to the scientist as Ash took her place next to Serena.
"So Ash, did you pay attention to who you are going up against tomorrow?" The honey blonde as he raven haired.
"Huh?" Ash looked at the television set to see his face next to Remo. "Looks like it will be a rematch. I already know who I am using."
"Really?" Serena asked Ash as the latter stood up from the bed.
"Yea," As replied as he walked past Clemont and Calem. "I am going to go talk to the pokemon I will most likely use tomorrow… Pikachu, you coming?"
"Pika!" Pikachu exclaimed as he jumped on his trainer's shoulders.
"Alright bud," Ash said as he petted Pikachu's fur. "Sceptile, want to come as well?"
"Tile!" The bipedal grass type nodded as he followed Ash to the door. The raven haired trainer then closed the door and stepped into the elevator.
Serena looked at the television once more and grabbed the remote, she then pressed the "rewind" button to see what was predicted about the Ash vs Remo battle. As she heard the predictions she smirked:
"If you said Ash won't win, you are completely wrong," Ash smirked. "Ash is stronger than anything you have seen."
With Ash outside the hotel:
Ash had just come out of the elevator and he walked with his two pokemon out to the walkway of the trainer's village. Ash then walked a little before noticing a small staircase that was beside the walkway near the hotel. Ash cocked his head as he went up the small staircase to be met face first with a practice battlefield. On the battlefield was the cloaked man. He was not alone though, next to him was a Zoroark.
"So… it was a Zoroark," Ash said as he neared the man.
"Pika?" Pikachu asked slightly confused.
"Sceptile?" Sceptile asked as he neared his trainer. Sceptile found something about this man very familiar. Something radiated from him.
"Zora," Zoroark said as he looked at Ash and smirked a little under his snout.
The cloaked man smirked as he turned around, "I am impressed you can use a Pokedex." He then turned his back to Ash and replied, "You don't know what I am capable of…"
"What?" Ash asked in confusion as he stepped closer. "Wait, who are y-..." Ash was surprised as he was about to touch the man from behind to pull his cloak away only for his hand to grab air. Just like that, Zoroark and the cloaked man were gone.
"You will only find out who I am… When the time comes."
Ash gasped as he sighed and looked at his two pokemon. They had worried looks on their faces, but Ash just put on a smile, "Don't worry about it, I just have to talk to my pokemon." Ash then grabbed the other four pokeballs on his belt and threw them into the air. With that, flashing lights went into the sky and then fell in front of Ash making the shape of pokemon.
"Alright guys," Ash said as he stared at each one of his team mates. "We made it past the first round and now we have a surprise match against Remo tomorrow." Ash's pokemon all nodded in understanding. "In case I need to use all of you guys, be prepared, but Noivern, Charizard." Ash said as he looked at the two dragons in front of him. "I am going to be using you two for most of the battle, so stay prepared."
"Gruaw!"
"Noivern!"
"Alright," Ash said as he petted both dragons before turning to his frogs. "Sceptile, Greninja, despite the fact I will be using the flying types more, you guys stay sharp, because I may use you soon."
"Tile!"
"Ninja!"
Both frogs crossed their arms and leaned on each other back to back. This made Ash snicker a little, but Ash decided to talk to his other pokemon instead of full out laughing.
"Pikachu, Goodra," Ash said as he turned to the smallest and largest member of his group. "You guys will be used against pokemon that match your stature. So Goodra keep in mind that I am preferring you stay sharp for slow opponents, but keep up your aim in case anything surprises us."
"Dra!"
"Pikachu, I will use you when I am in the need for a fast and small pokemon, so stay flexible and fast," Ash told his electric rodent.
"Pika!" Pikachu pumped his fist at his trainer with excitement. Ash knew the debut of his pokemon was important not to mess up. If they came out showing off their strengths then it would be harder for their weaknesses to be found.
Ash smiled down at his team and put his hand out while his pokemon crowded around him. Ash signaled for them to join in. First, Pikachu jumped on Ash's shoulder and went to his hand and put his paw. Charizard then put his claws as Noivern put in his wings. Goodra then slimed up the encounter with his slimy hand, but that didn't matter as Sceptile put in his green limb and Greninja put in his webbed hand.
"Let's take on the Kalos League… TOGETHER!" Ash exclaimed as everyone raised their hands with a battle cry.
Back at the Hotel:
"Bye guys!" Serena and Bonnie waved as they saw the elevator close. Clemont and Brock had already said goodbye to the others and they went ahead and went to their flood which is three above where the gang is right now. Clemont and Brock were already in their room and Ash had not come back yet, so Serena and Bonnie went into their room.
As the honey blonde entered, she lied down on one of the beds and sighed, "I am so tired! All that battling really took a toll on me!"
Bonnie went into the room and sighed, "Yea, because you always are the loudest and most confident in cheering on Ash." Serena tensed up at this and blushed furiously, which Bonnie noticed, "What? I am serious, I have never seen anyone support him that much before."
"Well…" Serena said with a small smile and blush. "I always believe in him when times are tough because I know he can get through those things."
Bonnie then smirked and decided to dig a little deeper as she sat down in the bed across from him, "So…" Bonnie started. "For how long have you had this crush on Ash?"
Serena was a little hesitant at first, but then sat up because she knew she could trust Bonnie to keep a secret, "Well, you see… I have had a crush on him ever since we first met. That was quite some time ago… Like eight years ago."
Bonnie gasped, "Eight years?" Serena nodded at this. "But… How were you not able to move on from your crush?"
Serena sighed as this was probably going to come out very intensely for the young lemon blonde, "You see… When I met Ash, he told me to 'never give up until the end'... That is what helped me through the hard relationship my family had. Before I met Ash, my father left my mother and me and I was devastated. Ash's guidance got me through that and I feel like I owe my life to him…" Serena trailed off as the small girl listened intently. "It's not a crush I have for Ash anymore… It's more than that…" Serena then took a deep breath. "I know I am only sixteen, but I don't know how long I will have to live this way until I finally break it to him…"
Bonnie's mouth was agape at this point. "Break what to him?" Bonnie asked shyly.
"That I love him…" Serena said with a blush as she grabbed her ribbon. She felt good to finally get it all out of her chest, but it worried her that Bonnie listened to it all.
Serena expected a smirk from the little girl, but she was surprised to not see a sinister look, but a genuine smile in her face. Bonnie then spoke up in a soft and kind voice, "I understand how much Ash means to you… and for the sake of it, I won't tell him." Bonnie then gave a toothy grin and said, "You are the one that will tell him…" Bonnie then smiled, "And hey, who knows, maybe he does find someone as beautiful as you really attractive, but he does not know it."
Serena looked at Bonnie in awe. She did not expect such a genuine smile from Bonnie, but she gave Bonnie a warm smile before saying, "Thanks Bonnie, it means a lot to be able to get this off my chest."
Bonnie then gave a small laugh, "Yea, get the feelings out of your chest, but I would keep that ribbon." Bonnie then smirked, "Look, I might not tell him that you feel this way for him, but I may occasionally push you guys together."
Serena blushed at this, but also smiled as it might actually work after all, "Alright then Bonnie." Serena then lied down on her bed and said, "I am going to go to sleep. I can't wait to see the Ash against Remo rematch tomorrow."
"There we go again," Bonnie whispered to herself with an eye roll as she grabbed her bag and snuggled with Dedenne and Squishy. "Good night Serena!"
"Good night Bonnie," Serena replied back.
Ash's Room:
Ash walked back onto his room to find it cleaned up. "Thanks guys for cleaning up after yourselves," Ash joked as he proceeded to lie down on his bed to then notice Serena's handkerchief on the bed. "Wow, she must have dropped it."
"Pikapi?" Pikachu asked.
"Be right back," Ash said as he left the room and noticed that Serena and Bonnie left their door unlocked. Ash quietly walked into the room and noticed the two girls sleeping, so she went up to Serena's bed and kneeled down in front of Serena. The honey blonde was sleeping in a position that had her hands in front of her face.
As Ash kneeled down he looked at Serena's peaceful face and felt warm. He liked the way it made him feel when Serena was close to him. He didn't know why.
Ash then grabbed the handkerchief and slipped it into Serena's open hand. As he put the handkerchief down though, Serena subconsciously closed her hand and grabbed Ash's hand. Ash panicked a little, but then relaxed. Serena's hand actually felt nice.
Ash sighed as he knelt down and gently used his other free hand to gently pry open the hands and then release his hand from her grasp. He felt bad as he actually enjoyed her hand, but he knew he needed to sleep, so he closed the door and went back into his room.
"Pikapi?" Pikachu asked as he was on his own bed.
Ash closed the door behind him and turned off the light as he hopped on his own bed, "Yea, we have a strong battle tomorrow. I am so excited…
Good night Pikachu."
From there on out, the night was silent.
A/N: Way to repeat the last line from Ch20… Anyways, now we know a little more about Serena and what she is going through as well as her reasons for loving Ash. This will play a role later on in the story.
I also included the fact that the talk show makes analysis of the upcoming matches… Ash vs Remo next time… And we also have Hunter vs Nero. Be hyped for those two matches as they will be awesome!
I know this was a short chapter, I think I am going to update chapter 33 on Saturday so look out for that, I don't want to keep you eager minds waiting too much!
Anyways, I hope you guys enjoyed!
Remember to R & R and I will see you guys next time!
Responding to some reviews:
ArmorshippingFan: Haha, maybe some of the answers you had were answered about Satoshi, anyways I wanted to give Sceptile that win so I am glad you liked it!
TrainerKSlord: I am glad you enjoyed it! Next chapter will hopefully be out sooner, see ya there!
Guest 1: Mhm, things are getting more interesting with the battles and I would be expecting so much more! Glad you enjoyed bro!
RedAce16: Thanks! I worked very hard on these chapters, so yes the battles are very interesting. As for your question, I don't want to spoil too much: Remember that Ash is a combination of Ash and Alain, so expect to see both of their battlestyles when Ash battles. Another thing, I want to clarify is that as the league progresses, Ash will be more unpredictable than ever! So don't worry, things will get more intense! See ya next chapter and thanks again!
Also, I want to say thank you guys for over 140 reviews, 110 favorites, and 113 follows! I never would have thought I would get there! Also, 33k+ views is awesome!
Thanks so much!