Chapter 53: The aftermath
Ash and Serena were running through a field of flowers together holding hands.
"This is so amazing!" Serena said.
"I knew you'd love it" Ash said.
"Ash I'm so glad we're always going to be together, I love you so much" Serena said. But as she looked back he was gone.
"Ash?" She said. Serena looked around the field but Ash was no where in sight. That was when she heard footsteps coming towards her.
"Ash?!" Serena said slightly scared. She kept looking around but she couldn't see Ash.
"Hello pretty young lady" A very creepy voice said. Serena turned around to see a team flare grunt with a knife in hand.
"AHH!" Serena yelled as she tried to run. But as she tried to run she felt her legs stop working before falling over. Serena tried to get up but the grunt had reacher her and got over her with his knife just above her face.
"Oh don't worry, I'll be gentle" The grunt said with a creepy smile.
"Ash!" Serena screamed with tears in her eyes. Serena's eyes show open as she thrashed around and saw she was in the tent. It was then she realized it had all been a terrible nightmare, despite the fact that it was a dream she was still very scared. She reached over to try and pull herself closer to Ash , but he wasn't there.
"Ash!" Serena said as she franticly looked around the tent. Ash was gone, but she saw he had left both his hidden wrist blades in the tent. Ash was sitting up against a tree just outside the camp. He had left all of his pokemon at the camp except Pikachu who was in his lap.
Pikachu could feel the anxiety and turmoil inside his trainer through their aura connection. Pikachu wanted to know what it was but Ash seemed very ashamed of it and kept it hidden. Ash slowly looked down at Pikachu and saw the scar on his back. It served as a reminder of what happened, his closest partner getting tortured and he was not able do anything about it. Then he did the worst thing he had ever done in his entire life; he allowed his rage to overcome him and took a man's life.
Ash wasn't sure what he was going to do. How could he live with himself? How was his family going to react? How would his pokemon react? But he knew he hat to tell them all. Starting with Pikachu.
Ash took a deep breath and looked down at Pikachu who was still giving him a concerned look.
"Pikachu there's something I need to tell you" Ash said in a shameful tone.
"Pika?" Pikachu said sounding worried.
"When I was looking for you and Serena I found a grunt who was about to do something very terrible to her. In an act of pure rage and emotion I did something very bad. It's without a doubt the worst thing I've ever done in my entire life" Ash said.
It was then Pikachu realized that Ash didn't have his wrist blades on. Pikachu looked up and saw the guilt in Ash's face. That was when Pikachu put the pieces together.
"Pika!" Pikachu said as he almost backed away from his trainer. When Ash saw the fear in his closest partner's eyes he felt a sharp pain in his stomach that only grew.
"Pikachu I know it's wrong, but I was in a rage. He was going to do terrible things to Serena" Ash put his hands on his temples.
"I don't know what I'm going to do? How can I go on with this guilt inside my head" Ash said. It was at that moment Pikachu remembered the cave at Geosenge town. Pikachu had shocked Electric Earl when he was in the water and ended his life. Pikachu had felt much guilt since then but Ash had helped him through it. When Ash opened up to Pikachu , his pokemon was able to see what had happened through Ash's eyes.
Through their aura connection Pikachu saw exactly what the grunt was about to do to Serena. Even Pikachu had to admit that had he been there he would have considered shocking the grunt until he was dead.
Pikachu could see tears streaming down from Ash's face and the look of sorrow on his face. Pikachu climbed up and into Ash's arms as he gave a small smile.
"Pika" Pikachu said with a look of support on his face. Knowing Pikachu was there to help Ash get through it made Ash feel a little better.
"Thank you Pikachu" Ash said as he hugged his pokemon.
"Ash!" the two heard from a distance.
"Serena?" Ash said as they turned around just in time to see Serena rush over and almost tackle him as she put her arms around him.
"Why did you leave the camp without telling me!?" Serena said in an almost turn stone.
"Serena I was".
"I was worried when I didn't know where you were! Don't just leave me like that again!" Serena said as she tightened her grip around him. Ash noticed through his aura connection with Serena that there was something big bothering her.
"Hey Serena, can we talk a little bit about what happened yesterday" Ash said. Serena sighed.
"Your right we do need to talk about that" Serena said.
" Serena I don't know who I am any more, I took a man's life" Ash started.
"Ash you killed a man who was about to do terrible things to me, you were defending the girl you loved".
"No I wasn't, I had already stopped him from hurting you. I didn't have to kill him" Ash said with guilt. Normally Serena would have agreed with Ash but she was still very traumatized by what had happened with the grunt.
That man was going to do terrible things to her with no remorse and no conscious. Serena had felt so scared and helpless. After what the grunt did and almost to her, Serena certainly wasn't sorry he was dead.
There was ,however, something that was still bothering Serena. Something that was still affecting her.
"How am I going to explain this to Red and the rest of my family? What is my mother going to think?" Ash said as Pikachu tried to comfort him by rubbing his head against his trainer's neck.
"Well you won't have to do it alone, I'll be with you all the way" Serena said holding Ash's hand.
"Serena how can you be so cool with what I did. I took a man's life, I murdered him " Ash said.
"Actually that's not quite true" Serena said.
"What do you mean, well when you turned him around and help him to your face I saw the grunt pick up his knife and bring it just before you stabbed him" Serena said.
"He was going to kill me?" Ash said. It was then Ash was able to see through Serena's eyes what happened through their aura connection. He could see from Serena's eyes as Ash held the grunt. Just before Ash stabbed the grunt with his wrist blade he could see from Serena's angle the grunt pick up his knife and bring it closer to Ash.
Knowing that the grunt was going trying to kill him made Ash feel a little better, but not much. Had he known then that the man was going trying to kill him that would have been one thing. But he hadn't killed the man out of self defense, he did it out of rage and anger.
"Serena that doesn't change what I did, I have to carry this burden for the rest of my life" Ash said.
"You're not carrying it alone, I will always be here to support you" Serena said before giving Ash a slight kiss on the cheek. Knowing Serena and Pikachu were still beside him gave Ash a little more relief.
Ash took a deep breath and got up.
"I need to tell Red about this, he's my brother he needs to know" Ash said.
"Alright we'll go tell him" Serena said.
"Actually Serena I appreciate your support, but I think this is something I need to do with just me and Red" Ash said.
"What! No no I need to be with you. I can't be alone without you again" Serena said a bit franticly.
"Serena are you ok?" Ash said.
"I'm fine, I just need to be with you that's all" Serena said as she got up and grabbed Ash's left arm. Pikachu also noticed this and was getting concerned for Serena as well.
Back at camp Red and the others were preparing breakfast.
"So do you think Ash and Serena are still going to have their anniversary today?" Clemont said.
"Maybe , knowing Serena she's probably still going to want it" Red said.
"Hey have you seen Ash or Serena this morning?" Korrina asked.
"No" Bonnie said.
"Me either" Red said.
"There they are" Clemont said as he saw Ash and Serena slowly approach the camp. When Red and the others turned they noticed the less than enthusiastic expressions on their faces.
"Um are they alright?" Korrina said.
"Ash , Serena are you guys ok?" Red said. Ash took a deep breath before looking at Red.
"Red can I talk with you alone" Ash said.
"Uh sure" Red said. Serena tried to go with Ash but Pikachu kept her from going. Pikachu knew this was something important his trainer had to do with his brother. Ash and Red met behind one of the tents away from the others.
Red could already tell from his brother's aura that something was very wrong.
"Ash something's bothering you, what is it?" Red said.
"That's what I need to talk to you about" Ash said before taking a deep breath.
"What is it?".
"Yesterday when I ran ahead into the cave, I saw a team flare grunt about to do something unspeakable to her" Ash said. It was then Red noticed that Ash wasn't wearing his wrist blades. He also noticed the look of guilt and shame on Ash's face and it didn't take Red long to figure it out.
"You killed the grunt!" Red almost shouted. Ash lowered his head .
"Yes".
"Ash what were you thinking!?" Red said as he grabbed his brother by the shoulders and yanked him closer.
"I wasn't thinking, I just had some much rage and adrenaline that it sort of just happened" Ash said.
"It just happened?".
"Well what if you were in my position? What if you saw someone about to do something like that to Korrina" Ash said as he put his own hand on Red's shoulder. It was then Red was able to see through Ash's eyes what had happened. Red saw exactly what the grunt was doing to Serena and what grunt was about to do.
It was then Red thought of Korrina in that own situation and what he would have down.
"Well now that I know exactly what happened I suppose I can be a little understanding. Still it doesn't change the fact that you killed a man" Red said.
"I know, I just don't know what I'm going to do. What are mom and dad going to think?" Ash said. Red felt very bad for his brother, part of him wanted to be mad at Ash for taking a man's life. But know that he saw exactly what happened he wondered what he would have done had he been there and it been Korrina.
Red put his hand on his brother's shoulder again.
"Ash it's going to be alright, I'm gonna help you through this bro" Red said.
"Thank you Red" Ash said as he hugged his brother.
"I'm going to have to tell the others aren't I" Ash said.
"Clemont and Korrina yes, Bonnie no" Red said. Back at the camp Korrina noticed that Serena seemed very on edge and frightened. Korrina could understand that Serena was a little afraid after being kidnapped the previous day but she had seemed fine last night.
"Hey Serena, are you ok?" Korrina said coming over to her.
"Huh?" Serena said as she almost jumped.
"Serena you seem a bit on edge" Korrina said as she saw Serena shaking a little.
"Oh I'm just fine" Serena said despite her still scared composure.
"You know Serena if you're still a bit on edge because of what happened yesterday it's ok but it's something you need to talk to us about" Korrina said. Not a moment later Ash and Red appeared as they walked back towards the camp.
Serena instantly got up and sprinted over to Ash.
"Ash there you are! Why were you gone for so long!" She said as she held onto his arm.
Red came over and sat down next to Korrina who instantly knew something was wrong from her aura connection with Red. Before Korrina could say anything Red turned to her and gave her the whole story via aura message.
Oddly enough Red noticed that he did not get the reaction he excepted. From his aura connection with her, Red felt Korrina was surprisingly calm about what she just found out.
"Uh Bonnie could you leave us alone for a minute" Ash said.
"Why?" Bonnie said.
"Just go!" Red said.
"Fine" Bonnie said as she got up and went into her tent.
"What's going on?" Clemont said. Ash took a deep breath and then turned to Clemont. A few seconds later Clemont felt like he was going to faint.
"You, you killed him!" Clemont almost shouted.
"Not so loud Clemont" Red said.
"Ash Red shared with me what happened and I think you need to realize that everything is ok" Korrina said.
"What?" Ash, Red, and Clemont said.
"Well from what Red told me , this grunt was a scumbag and a a horrible person. I would have done the same" Korrina said.
"Korrina you're that ok with Ash killing someone?" Clemont said.
"Well my grandfather and other aura guardians have killed people before" Korrina said.
"Your grandfather has killed someone?" Red said.
"More than one person, all degenerates who are just causing pain and suffering to others around them. The guardians stop them and sometimes they are given no choice but to kill them. Other-times they deserve it, I mean honestly if I were in Ash's position I would have done the exact same thing" Korrina said.
"Korrina's right, that man was a monster I don't care that he's dead" Serena said.
"How can you be so cool with this?" Clemont said.
"Korrina this is a pretty big deal I mean Ash killed a man" Red said.
"Red would you have done anything different if it were Korrina in that position?" Serena said.
"Well I".
"Yes or no?" Korrina said.
"Yes" Red said uneasily but meaning it.
"Korrina I took a man's life, you can't expect me to just brush it off like it was nothing" Ash said as Pikachu climbed onto his shoulder from Serena's shoulder.
"Ash I'm not saying you should act like nothing happened. It's like my grandfather always told me. Taking a life, even if it's the most evil person on Earth is not something that should be taken lightly and should never be enjoyed. But realize that sometimes it is necessary. In the end don't let their deaths lead you into despair but allow them to let you grow and move on" Korrina said.
"I don't know if I can" Ash said. An hour later the group packed up their campsite and continued down route 18 towards Couriway Town. As they walked Red and Korrina could still see how upset Ash was.
"It seems my grandfather's words of wisdom didn't uplift him like I hoped" Korrina said.
"He just needs time and support from us. Ash will bounce back from this" Red said. The two also noticed that Serena seemed much more clingy of Ash than normal. Since they had started walking she had held onto his arm and not let go. She had also kept herself less than an inch away from him.
"Is it me or is Serena even clingier to Ash than usual?" Korrina said.
"Yup" Red said. Twenty minutes later the group started to hear what sounded like crashing water.
"Do you guys hear that?" Ash said.
"It sounds like a waterfall" Clemont said. As the group got closer they saw a massive rail bridge over them that extended miles in one direction.
"What is that?" Red said.
"The Kalos train, there's a station in Couriway Town we must be close" Clemont said. Not 2 minutes later the group finally reach the town. Couriway Town was relatively medium sized with most of it's buildings underneath a cliffside with several majestic waterfalls coming over it.
The waterfalls formed rivers below that almost surrounded the town itself.
"It's beautiful" Serena said.
" Well I say we get settled at the pokemon center" Clemont said. Twenty minutes later after the group gave their pokemon to nurse joy they got settled in their rooms. Ash and Serena were alone in their room as Ash sat on his bed.
"So Serena, I know a lot's happened recently but I was wondering if well maybe you wanted to do something tonight?" Ash said.
"What do you mean?" Serena said.
"Well it is the one year anniversary since we started dating" Ash said. Serena shot her head to Ash and almost sprinted over before wrapping her arms around him.
"You remembered! I knew you'd never forget the day we went on our first date!" Serena said in excitement. Ash felt a bit vindicated at being right about Serena wanting to make a big deal out of their anniversary. In truth he hoped it would help him get his mind off the team rocket grunt.
"I have already got us a reservation at a restaurant here" Serena said.
"Well that's good , I was thinking maybe afterwords we could go up and see the waterfalls up close" Ash said.
"That would be so romantic! Oh I need to get changed" Serena said.
"Alright I'll just go tell the others where we're going and" Ash started before Serena grabbed his arm and kept him from moving.
"No! We'll do it together" Serena said sounding slightly scared.
"Ok, I'll just step out so you can change" Ash said before Serena pulled on his arm again.
"No, just stay in here with me" Serena said. Ash's face instantly turned red.
"You want me to stay in here with you, while you change" Ash said nervously.
"I won't take long" Serena said.
"But I could just go outside the room or in the bathroom" Ash said.
"No don't leave me alone!" Serena said sounding afraid. Hearing her talk like that made Ash a little concerned.
"Serena is something bothering you?" Ash said.
"What? No I'm fine, just look away while I change" Serena said.
"Yeah no problem" Ash said as his face turned red again. He turned away and faced the door as Serena changed into different cloths. At one point Ash slowly turned his head over his shoulder to see if she was done, she wasn't.
A few minutes later when she was done she turned back to Ash.
"Alright I'm done" Serena said.
"Ok , let me just get changed now" Ash said. He was about to change when he looked back at Serena.
"You aren't going to leave the room are you" Ash said.
"Don't worry, I'll just look away" Serena said. Ash sighed as his face turned red. As Ash changed into something else Serena looked away for a few seconds but she couldn't resist and quietly turned her head over her shoulder.
A few minutes later Ash and Serena came out of their room and into the lobby where the others were waiting. Ash noticed they had all their pokeballs and Pikachu with them.
"Hey guys there you are, Nurse Joy said our pokemon are in fine condition" Red said as Pikachu leapt onto Ash's arm and climbed onto his shoulder.
"You two look like you're going out somewhere" Korrina said.
"Well it's out one year anniversary and we're going out to celebrate" Serena said.
"Uh Red can I talk to you for a minute" Ash said as he pulled him aside.
"What's the problem?" Red said.
"Red I'm really getting worried about Serena. It seems that she doesn't want the two of us to be apart for even a moment" Ash said.
"Well she does seem clingier than usual but how bad is it?" Red said.
"She refused to leave the room while I changed".
"Oooh" Red said.
"And she refused to let me leave the room when she changed".
"Ok you need to talk to her" Red said.
"I know I hope tonight we can talk about it" Ash said.
"So what do you guys have things planned?" Bonnie said.
"We're going out to dinner then to see the waterfalls up close" Serena said.
"Well I hope you two have a great night" Korrina said.
"Thanks Korrina" Serena said as Ash walked back over.
"Alright let's go" Ash said.
"We'll see you later" Red said. As the two walked out of the pokemon center Red went over to Korrina.
"I'm really getting worried about those two" Red said as he told Korrina what Ash told him.
"Wow" Korrina said. Later in the evening Ash and Serena were out at a restaurant with Pikachu sitting at the edge of the table.
"This is a nice restaurant" Ash said.
"Thanks it wasn't easy getting a reservation here, I actually had to tell them my dad is in the army" Serena said.
"Well it's great and tomorrow we'll be celebrating your birthday" Ash said.
"I know! I can't believe I'll be 15 years old!" Serena said. As Serena turned back towards Ash. She saw him staring at Pikachu while the small pokemon ate. Ash was staring at the scar on Pikachu's back. It only served as a reminder to him about how his partner had been tortured and he had been unable to help him. Which in term reminded him of what he did to to the flare grunt.
Serena could see the guilt in Ash's eyes and got a bit concerned. She put her hand around his as Ash turned his head to hers.
"Ash are you still feeling guilty about the team flare grunt?" Serena said.
"It's not just that, Pikachu was tortured and I wasn't able to do anything to stop them" Ash said.
"Ash it's not your fault they took Pikachu, plus you did everything you could to get there as fast as possible" Serena said. PIkachu could hear and feel how bad Ash felt. He turned to his trainer and saw the look of guilt on his face. Pikachu didn't blame Ash for what happened to him. He understood Ash wouldn't be around him every waking moment of every day.
Pikachu came over to Ash and stopped at his hand.
"Pika Pikachu" Pikachu said sounding sincere.
"You see, Pikachu doesn't blame you for what happened and I certainly don't blame you" Serena said. Hearing that from them made Ash feel a little better about Pikachu, but he still felt just as guilty about what he did to the flare grunt.
After eating their food Ash got up to use the bathroom.
"Ash where are you going!?" Serena said.
"To the bathroom" Ash said.
"Do you have to go?" Serena said.
"Yes , I really do" Ash said.
"Alright" Serena said reluctantly. Later Ash finished washing his hands and turned to see Serena standing next to him.
"Yahh!" Ash said as he jumped.
"Ash what's wrong?" Serena said.
"Serena what are you doing here? This is the men's room" Ash said.
"Well you were taking a while and I got worried" Serena said.
" Come on we need to get out of here before someone sees you" Ash said as he grabbed her hand and walked her out of the bathroom.
"Oh wait I have to go too" Serena said.
"Alright I'll wait for you out here" Ash said.
"What ? No just come in with me" Serena said.
"What?" Ash said before Serena pulled him into the ladies room. Later that night Ash and Serena were standing against a railing on a platform built onto the side of the ridge. From the platform they could see the beautiful waterfalls as they roared down the side of the cliffs.
"It's so beautiful!" Serena said.
"I knew you'd love it" Ash said.
"Thank you so much!" Serena said as she put her arms around Ash's shoulder and kissed him on the cheek. As Serena moved her head away she could still see the look of guilt and sorrow in Ash's expression.
Serena sighed as she could also feel the pain Ash had inside him from their aura connection.
"Ash why don't we go somewhere more private" Serena said. She lead Ash to grassy area just beside the edge of a waterfall. Serena sat him down and sat beside him.
"Serena is everything alright?" Ash said.
"Ash I know that you're still tearing yourself up about this and I can't take seeing you like this" Serena said taking his hands and looking deep into his eyes.
"Ash I can feel how much you hate yourself through our aura connection. I know how hard this must be for you. But you need to realize that it's not getting you anywhere. If you keep this up you'll never accomplish any of your dreams, you're pokemon will never be able to connect with their trainer again and you'll live the rest of your life in pain" Serena said.
"Pika Pikachu" Pikachu said as he looked up and at his trainer.
"But I took a man's life" Ash said.
"Ash it's not something that you just need to forget. But something that you need to grow from. I love you so much and I can't take seeing you like this anymore" Serena said.
Ash looked back at his Partner and his girlfriend. He realized that they were right; he had been letting what he did control him. He knew that he had to move on and continue his life instead of stagnating in grief.
"You're right Serena, but I just can't do that. Not now at least, I need time to come in terms with what I did" Ash said as he looked back at them.
"Thank you Serena" Ash said before kissing her.
"Pika" Pikachu said in relief as he felt Ash's aura start to return to normal.
"I'm so glad that you're alright again" Serena said.
"Serena about that, I've been noticing that you seem a little clingy today" Ash said.
"Clingy?" Serena said.
"Serena you haven't left my side all day. It's like you're afraid to be away from me for even a moment" Ash said.
"Well you may be exaggerating" Serena said sweat dropping.
" Serena you followed me into the bathroom and watched me change. Serena something is clearly bothering you and I need to know what it is" Ash said as he put his hands on her shoulders. Serena slowly looked at the ground.
"I guess the truth is I'm just afraid. Yesterday when I was separated from just for a little bit I was kidnapped and almost mutilated by a man" Serena said. That was when it all made sense why Serena was acting like that all day.
"Serena you don't need to be scared about not being around me. I will always be there to protect you, but that doesn't mean that you have to have your arms around me 24/7".
"But Ash I".
"Serena I know that man almost did something very bad to you, but just like me I can't let that one thing define the rest of my life. You're not going to be in constant danger and no matter how far apart we are, we will always be together" Ash said holding her hands.
Serena looked back up at Ash and into his eyes and moved forward to kiss him. The two stayed locked together for a minute before they withdrew.
"Ash I know you will always be with me through our connection, but it's like you said time will help me through this. Right now I just feel so afraid from what he did to me. Every time I'm away from you it's like he keeps coming back. Please just stay beside me until I can get through this" Serena said.
Ash wanted to help Serena move on but he realized that it would take time. Until then he could just stay right beside her, if it meant giving Serena peace of mind it would be worth it.
"Alright I will. Now I say we give each other our gifts" Ash said as he took out the gold bracelet.
"Oh my god is that a gold bracelet" Serena said.
"Yup Charizard and I have been working on it for weeks" Ash said.
"Oh Ash I love it thank you so much!" Serena said. After she put it on she reached into her bag and took out what looked like wrist blades. However, these wrist blades weren't Ash's. These seemed much better and more well crafted than Ash's and even had his mega evolution stone in it.
"Serena where did you get those!?" Ash said.
"I talked with Korrina and she helped me craft you these, they're better than your old ones" Ash said. Ash put the wrist blades on and let the blades out. The hidden blades seemed much more comfortable and easy to use. But as soon as he put them on he started to feel the weight of his actions.
Ash sighed before taking the wrist blades off.
"Serena thank you so much for these, but I don't think I'm ready to wear wrist blades again. Not yet" Ash said. Serena didn't feel hurt by this, she was just concerned the grunt was getting to Ash again. She put her hands around his head and lifted it up.
"It's ok, you can put them on when you're ready. I'm perfectly fine with that". Ash smiled.
"Thank you Serena, I love you so much".
"I love you too" Serena said before leaning in and kissing him under the moonlight.
Author's note
I told you I wouldn't just forget what Ash did and what Serena went through. Yes this is something they're going to have to work through over a series of chapters.
Don't worry I won't make them just depressed and unhappy all the time, just the occasional work through it moments.
Some of you are blaming Ash for what happened in chapter 51. Keep in mind Ash can't be around Serena and PIkachu 24/7 I never intended on it to be his fault. It just happened.
So until next time, Please review, comment, suggest, or ask