Hey guys, Jeff here!

So, if you're reading this right now, I got the two chapters that I promised you guys for this story, since I'm back home now! This is the first chapter out of the two, so enjoy!

Also, I do apologise that there wasn't any chapters coming out for this particular story. I was really busy with real-life stuff and also I focused mainly on Pokemon High School, so I'm very sorry; but at least new chapters are going to come out now :D

Without further ado, let's get to reading...

For about thirty or so minutes, maybe even more due to the whole group losing track of time, they have been walking through the path that would eventually lead them to Serena's Tripokalon event. It wasn't really a big of a deal as a journey, walking through this sort of dense forest, following this sort of narrow, gravel path. They don't really know how long they will keep going, since Clemont was getting a bit tired of walking, which is kind of expected, but what's not expected was Bonnie having a lot of energy to walk more, who actually teased Clemont for being slow as ever, which, of course, made Ash and Serena laugh, who was walking ahead of them.

Speaking of Serena, looking at her, she seemed kind of not herself during the day, well, more specifically when the whole group started walking in the forest from this afternoon. What I mean by that is Serena was first of all walking slower than usual, usually she would be keeping up with Bonnie at most or even just walking beside Ash, but today, she was kind of slowing the group down a bit, which pleased Clemont a bit since he could then keep up. Also, Serena looked kind of depressed all of a sudden, how she was lost in thought or a lot of things are clouding her mind all of a sudden. Again, everyone's guess was just its one of those days, but for Ash, his guess had to be something else. She was nervous.

What could he do? He can't really do anything about it. He can't really change Serena's feelings about being nervous with her upcoming Tripokalon in the venue that they are currently heading to. He has been in these kinds of situations before, but it wasn't about Tripokalons, since in his case, it was about his gym battles; however, he can still feel the same feelings that Serena's experiencing. How he too can be nervous before going in and battling the gym leader. In Serena's case now, it is the same. She feels nervous going against other people, in a way, you could say she too may be battling, but for that title; so, at least he could at least do something for her, but what?

Ash stopped and turned around to the rest of the group. "Hey guys, why don't we take a break here? It's a good spot, right?"

"Why not? I mean, we have been walking for quite a while now." Clemont added whilst catching his breath.

Bonnie pouted. "Oh, come on! I wanted to walk some more."

Clemont smiled, amused by Bonnie's personality. "At least cut some slack for other people. At least consider us for a change."

Bonnie sighed. "Well, it's not really my fault that you're so slow."

Ash smiled. "So, Serena? Why don't we take a break for a little while? I'm sure we'll be in your Tripokalon in no time."

Serena nodded gently. "All right then."

With that, the group stopped in an open space in the forest, probably about a five minute walk from where they were. Where they were taking their break is a peaceful area. Basically, they were all located in some sort of field of grass and then being surrounded by the trees in the forest. Looking at the space once again, they think that this space was designed to be stopped by with groups of people whilst they were walking in the forest, like some sort of picnic area for people to use.

As they reached there, they were just setting up for their break. Ash started to lay down the mats, Clemont continued on his on-going project building some sort of machine that would probably not work anyway, since his inventions would work for at least a few minutes and then would eventually blow up; and Bonnie was just roaming around for any forest Pokémon with Dedenne. On the other hand, Serena just sat quietly in the tree, close to where they were just walking a few moments ago. She was still like her usual self, how she looked worried and very concerned about something, which Ash discovered as her upcoming Tripokalon. All in all, she was currently just completely lost in thought, probably thinking about her while routine for her performance, but also how she is nervous in performing these with masses of people.

Ash stopped and looked at Serena for a minute. He just felt sorry for her, how she is acting like this. Of course Ash would be, I mean he does like, well from the last confession, he loves Serena, so it would make sense that he too is worried about her, how she is not herself all of a sudden. Ash then started to walk in Serena's direction, towards where she was sitting by that tree. He knows what to do to at least make her a bit less nervous and also cheer her up for the remainder of their journey to the Tripokalon event.

Ash smiled, as he sat next to her. "Hey Serena, what's wrong? Something on your mind?"

"You could say so..." Serena whispered her answer.

Ash smiled once more. "Come on, you can tell me anything. Its okay, I'll listen to what you have to say."

Serena nodded. "All right, if you say so... it's just about my upcoming Tripokalon event. I'm just nervous about my upcoming performance and all that..."

Ash smiled. "You know what; this is kind of the same situation that I have been in for my gym battles."

Serena raised an eyebrow quizzically. "How?"

Ash scratched the back of his head. "Well, it's like how I'm waiting for my gym battles. How I sometimes get nervous before challenging the gym and going against the gym leader. Tripokalons you can say are like that. You have to impress the audience and beat other participants, just like how you have to impress the gym leader and eventually beating him/her. I guess that's how I see things."

Serena paused for a moment and thought about what Ash has just said to her. She hasn't really thought of things this way, how she could have compared her situation with others who are also considering themselves as having the same type od situation. There wasn't really anything that Ash said that went through her mind, but thanks to Ash's talk with her, she gained confidence and courage to overcome her nervousness, since Ash has given her comfort and has taken her mind away from what she was previously thinking about.

Serena smiled. "Thank you, Ash. You really helped me out here and I'm very thankful for that. I really appreciate it giving me a confidence boost."

Ash blushed. "Oh, well you didn't really have to thank me like that. I mean, I was just worrying about you, since you weren't acting like yourself today."

Serena tilted her head. "But, Ash?"

"Yeah, what is it?" Ash replied.

"Um, if its all right to ask, how do you usually overcome your nervousness before your gym battle?" Serena asked politely.

Ash scratched his head once again. "I didn't really do anything. You could say, what I did was the complete opposite. Instead of sorting this sort of thing by yourself, I always consult with my Pokémon. I mean, they are our partners, right? As trainers, we always trust our Pokémon and then they trust us back. We always work as a team."

Serena smiled. "Oh, I see. That's most likely the reason why you and Pikachu are very close buddies."

Ash stopped for a minute and looked over where Clemont and Bonnie, looking at where the rest of his friends were, how they were all enjoying their break as Ash spent some time with Serena. He then looked over his Pokémon, well, Pikachu as a matter of fact, playing with Bonnie's Pokémon, on the space of grass. Serena is definitely right on saying how Pikachu and he have such a great bond with one another. I mean, they have spent so many journeys together, travelling through many regions across the world and then discovering many friends along the way. It would make sense how they work and also are great together.

Ash smiled. "You could say so, Serena, because Pikachu and I go a long way back..."

Serena smiled. "I would like to go on different journeys with my partners and then meeting new Pokémon just like you and Pikachu, Ash."

"Don't worry, Serena." Ash commented. "I'm sure if you give it time, you'll get there in no time."

"You really think so?" Serena asked with a hint of shyness.

Ash stood up and looked down on Serena, whom he thought was acting a bit cute all of a sudden. "Yeah, I do. For now, let's head back with everyone else. Remember don't give up 'till its over! You'll make it!"

Serena stared at Ash for a few seconds. She just had a moment of flashback in her mind, remembering what happened just now had had happened when she was younger. She definitely remembers Ash being the one with her in that forest whilst she was in the Kanto Region, remembering that it was Ash who helped her out of the forest, who gave her the words of encouragement, who saved her and said those very words just a moment ago. She remembered and nostalgia was kicking in in her mind, how it was Ash whom helped her in her childhood, which made them childhood friends and eventually made Ash have feelings for Serena.

Ash smiled. "Serena? You okay? You kind of gotten lost in thought again."

Serena blushed madly and then shook her head immediately as she went back to the present time. "Oh, s-sorry. I was just thinking and then remembered something."

Ash scratched the back of his head. "Oh, hopefully it doesn't bother you too much."

Serena clenched her fist and then places it on her heart. "Nah, I don't think it will. I think it'll actually help me out."

Ash tilted his head. "I guess that makes sense."

Serena giggled. "Wow, you are dense. You can say Bonnie is correct on saying that about you."

Ash pouted. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Serena laughed. "Oh, nothing. Don't worry about it. Let's get going."

At that moment, Serena dashed off towards Clemont and Bonnie, who actually started to tidy their things up, since they were probably getting the same idea of how they should head out towards Serena's Tripokalon event. Looking and comparing Serena's attitude from the start up to now, Ash could now relax since she has changed a lot. She is now the more cheerful self, the more energetic self, just like how Ash sees and admires her as. It would seem that talking to her was a great idea, since they probably both appreciated talking with one another. It would seem that Ash has returned Serena to her normal self talking about his experiences, so that's definitely helped Serena.

As Ash reached the group after Serena, he looked briefly up into the sky, looking at the perfectly clear, blue sky that today's weather had. They were then going to enjoy it even more, since the whole group is definitely hyped about Serena's upcoming Tripokalon event. I mean, now even Serena is now excited for it, but interestingly, he was actually worried about Serena. He was only worried at how long she can stay out of her nervousness, how she won't be nervous, concerned and worried about her upcoming performance, but Ash knows that she will be fine, how she is strong and can take if herself now, since has helped her to do so, therefore she is good.

'Go get them, Serena!' Ash thought. 'You can do it! Never give up!'

Serena turned around to Ash. "Come on, Ash! Let's go!"

Bonnie grinned. "Yeah Ash, why don't you hold her hand for a change?"

Ash blushed madly. "N-No! I-Its not l-like that!"

Bonnie laughed. "Oh, really? I wanted to know what you talked with Serena back at that tree over there. Seems that it was interesting~"

Ash blushed. "Hey! Come on! Leave me alone with that."

Bonnie laughed. "Okay, fine. I was just joking."

With that, the group continued their walk to Serena's Tripokalon event...

There you have it, guys! Chapter 11 is done! Hopefully you have enjoyed this chapter! :D

Wow, what can I say with this chapter! It's worth reading the next chapter; but for this chapter, we can see that Ash has done such a great job at cheering Serena up! Until next week ;D

Anyways, I'll see you all in the next chapter, but also please put your thoughts of this story in the reviews! Please show some support!

But also Private Message me for any story suggestions!

Also, please check me out on Twitter at jeff_amour if you can for updates of my stories!

So, that's it from me!

See ya! Have a great day!