Chapter Twenty-Two: Un-Bayleef-able

The next morning, Ash sent Sceptile and Talonflame over to Professor Oak, who sent Bayleef and Krookodile over in return.

("Ash's Krookodile is pretty cool, too,") Pancham said to Misdreavus. ("Not as cool as me, obviously, but pretty cool.")

("You won't mind if I think he's nice, then?") Misdreavus asked playfully.

("No idea what you're talking about,") Pancham said, looking away as he did so.

Misdreavus saw Serena looking at the two of them and rolled her eyes with a smile. Serena gave her a wink in return.

Ash let Krookodile and Bayleef out of their Poké Balls, and was immediately tackled to the ground by Bayleef, while Pancham enthusiastically greeted Krookodile by boasting about his Exposition medals.

Ash managed to get up from the ground and said, "Alright, everyone. Most of you probably met Bayleef and Krookodile when we were in Pallet Town, but if you didn't, they'll be traveling with us for a while, so please try to get along, okay?"

Bayleef stood in front of Ash and said something, and Ash sighed and said, "Come on, Bayleef, take it easy a bit, okay?"

Serena didn't know what Bayleef had said, but judging by the awkward looks on the other Pokémon's faces and Ash's reaction, she wasn't sure if she wanted to know.

After giving the Pokémon a few moments to get acquainted — the ones who weren't familiar with each other yet, anyway — they left the Pokémon Center and set out south.

"So Ash, how'd you like your first Exposition experience?" Serena asked. "I completely forgot to ask after I won, sorry," she added a bit awkwardly.

"Hey, if I'd won a gold medal I'd be distracted too," Ash said with a smile. "But anyway, it was fun to try. Although I guess our performance in the Location Round wasn't as good as we thought it was. You always make it look so natural, but when I saw the video of our performance…well, I'm amazed we made it through at all."

"Well, if you want to try it again, I can help you prepare for the Location Round," Serena said. "If you'd like me to, anyway."

("Wouldn't that be just as much of a disaster as when you tried to teach Ash how to dance?") Pikachu asked.

"You don't really have to dance here, though. We just do because we like it. You could probably come up with an appeal that uses your skill in battling a lot more. Noivern and Talonflame did that really well."

"That's…probably because I told them to improvise," Ash said sheepishly. "Since Pikachu and I were the main act, we figured Noivern and Talonflame could just have a mock fight with each other as set dressing. I guess now I know why both of them were so relieved they weren't in the actual choreography."

Serena laughed. "At least you know what you need to work on now," she said. "So do you intend to enter the Vermilion Exposition as well, or are you going to skip that one?"

"I was considering it, actually," Ash said, "but I'm not sure if I should. Even though I won that badge legitimately, it's still one I really want to win."

("It's a bit of a grudge match for me,") Pikachu said.

"Why's that?" Serena asked.

("The Gym Leader there has a Raichu who…really got under my skin last time. I mean, I beat him in the end, but it didn't really satisfy me. I only beat him because he exhausted himself. This time, I want to do it for real.")

"Surge and his Raichu both said that Pikachu had no chance of winning if he didn't evolve," Ash said. "And I…was afraid they'd be right, after the first time I lost. Nurse Joy gave me a Thunder Stone in case I wanted to evolve Pikachu, and there was a moment I seriously considered using it."

("But Ash decided to give me the choice, in the end, and fully supported me when I didn't want to. The Thunder Stone later got stolen somewhere in Sinnoh, and good riddance to it.")

"But if you beat Raichu afterward, then isn't everything okay now?" Serena asked.

("It's really more symbolic, than anything,") Pikachu admitted. ("He was the first one to outright say I wasn't good enough, and I mean inherently not good enough. I hate being looked down on, especially in that particular way.")

"So yeah, that Gym battle is really important to us," Ash said. "And since Dawn said the Exposition would be extremely high-level, I think we might tire ourselves out too much if we participate there before our Gym battle."

Serena nodded in understanding. "Yeah, that makes sense," she said. "I know I should know better by now, but sometimes I still forget just how much you've already done since you began your journey. I mean, all those years ago I was just…spending my time getting fed up with having to practice Rhyhorn racing, I guess. Not that I didn't have any hobbies, I just…really didn't know what I wanted to do."

"But now you do," Ash said with a smile. "And you're following the path you chose now. I think that's the best thing in the world." He smiled sheepishly. "And I'm really glad I get to be along on that journey for a bit, you know."

Serena felt her face heating up. She hadn't expected Ash to say something like that. "I…I'm glad too," she said. "And…you know…I'd really like–"

With a bright flash of light, Bayleef appeared from her Poké Ball, cutting Serena off mid-sentence. She positioned herself between Serena and Ash and immediately began talking to him, pointedly ignoring Serena.

What was that about?! Serena thought angrily, but before she could say anything, Ash already said, "Bayleef, come on, Serena and I were talking. I'm glad to see you again, too, but you can come out when we stop for lunch and dinner, okay?"

Bayleef shook her head and insistently said something to Ash, who sighed and gave Serena an apologetic look.

"Yes, I know it's been a really long time we traveled together, but…"

"It's okay," Serena said with a rueful smile. "She can just walk with us."

"Are you sure?" Ash asked.

Serena nodded. "Yeah, of course," she said.

Bayleef said something Serena didn't understand, but she chose to interpret it as a 'thank you', and since Ash didn't admonish Bayleef, it probably was one, or at least something that could pass for one.

Serena didn't really like the fact that Bayleef had interrupted the conversation between her and Ash, but she knew that even if Ash recalled Bayleef now, the moment was gone anyway, and she was absolutely certain Bayleef had chosen her moment carefully to achieve exactly that. Fantastic, now even Pokémon had an eye on Ash. It wasn't enough for just human girls to be into him, no, that would be too easy… Of course, Serena didn't think Ash would actually return Bayleef's feelings in that particular way, but she was annoyed, and being a bit petulant about it, even just in her own mind, helped her deal with it.

That was a good thing, too, because it soon became clear that Bayleef intended to do more than be just a one-off moment killer. During lunch, she did her level best to make sure Serena and Ash couldn't have much of a conversation, and she kept that up for much of the afternoon, too. The most meaningful interaction Serena had with Ash was a short moment where their eyes met and they just gave each other an awkward smile.

Serena was glad when, just after dinner, she got to do some training with her Pokémon, who by now had also picked up on Bayleef's drive to keep Serena and Ash from talking to each other, and were now watching with interest how she seemed to be — based on Ash's responses, anyway — telling Ash that he needed to buy a bigger tent.

("You're not going to be doing anything like that, are you?") Misdreavus asked Pancham.

Pancham vehemently shook his head. ("No, absolutely not! Also I don't know what you're talking about, but I'm not going to be anything like that!")

Serena smiled in spite of herself. Well, that was one jealousy problem solved, at least…hopefully. Still, that left the issue of how to handle Bayleef. One day of this was just about manageable, but if she was going to be doing this every single day from now until they reached Vermilion City, Serena felt like she'd go mad before long.

But what could she do about it? Ash could, and probably would, just recall Bayleef at some point, but that still wouldn't prevent her from interfering again next time Serena and Ash came anywhere close to discussing something that might involve their feelings for each other, and since Serena couldn't understand Bayleef, talking to her was going to be difficult as well. Maybe one of her Pokémon could interpret for her, but what if Bayleef simply didn't want to talk to her at all?

Fortunately, help came from an unexpected source when Pikachu came over to her just as the sun began to set.

("Come with me,") he said.

"Sure, but why?" Serena asked.

("You and Bayleef need to talk. I know you can't understand her, but I can, so I'll translate for you,") Pikachu said.

"Do you think she'll want to?" Serena asked.

("She doesn't have much of a choice. Look, Bayleef has always had a massive crush on Ash. When she just joined us, back when she was still a Chikorita, she was even jealous of me. When she evolved, it became less intense…but I suppose the time she and Ash have been apart have rekindled her feelings. She needs to accept that she's never going to have Ash to herself, though.")

Is anyone? After what he told me? Serena wondered, but she said, "But what can I possibly tell her? I mean…if she doesn't like me, why would she listen to me?"

("Because despite her unfortunate habit of being way too possessive for her own good, she does have a good heart,") Pikachu said. ("Don't worry. I'll make sure she listens to you, at least.")

Figuring that it would probably be her best chance at resolving the situation quickly, she followed Pikachu over to where Ash and his other Pokémon were training. Pikachu jumped on Ash's shoulder and whispered something to him, causing him to look up and spot Serena. He smiled at her and then called Bayleef over.

Bayleef didn't seem happy about what Ash said to her, but a moment later Pikachu called Serena over, and she joined them some distance away from the other Pokémon, while Ash resumed training with them.

Bayleef looked at Serena and impatiently said something, to which Pikachu replied, ("Relax. This doesn't have to take long, you know. I'll just be here to translate, nothing more, so Bayleef, why don't you just begin by telling Serena what your issue is?")

Bayleef suspiciously narrowed her eyes at Pikachu and asked him something, and Pikachu replied, ("Yes, I'll translate it literally. Obviously. There wouldn't be much of a point if I didn't.")

Bayleef seemed satisfied with that, because she looked at Serena and asked her something, which Pikachu translated.

("Are you in love with Ash?")

Serena blinked at how direct the question was. She wasn't sure what she'd been expecting, but this wasn't it. Still, she decided that being honest would probably be the best thing.

"Yes. Are you?" she said. She could feel her cheeks burning. Even though she'd told Ash she liked him, she'd never said this unambiguously before.

("I am, and I have been for longer than you've known him. He's mine,") Bayleef said.

Despite herself, Serena smiled. "I've known Ash since we were around eight. If you really think that matters, then I win."

Bayleef looked a bit uncomfortable, so Serena went on, "But I don't think that it matters how long either of us have known Ash. I think it only matters how we feel, and how he feels."

("He should be with me,") Bayleef said stubbornly.

"I could say the same," Serena countered, "so why should he be with you?"

Even though she asked the question in a challenging way, she was genuinely curious to hear Bayleef's answer, because she didn't really know how she herself would answer that question if it came down to it.

("I'd do anything for him. I'd fight any battle, beat any opponent, and I'll always be there when he needs me.")

"And what do you expect from him?" Serena asked, again wanting to know Bayleef's answer because she herself had none.

("That he'll help me get strong enough to beat every opponent, of course. And then together, we'll be the strongest team ever.")

Even though Pikachu was keeping a neutral expression while translating, Serena could just hear him rolling his eyes on that last bit, and she knew that even though he pretended to be above the jealousy, he was very proud of his position as Ash's ace and wouldn't lightly give it up to anyone.

"I talked to Ash a while back, you know," Serena said. "And he…sees love differently from how we see it. You and I…we focus on Ash, but he's focused on his goal, not love. Love just seems to be a side thing for him, and I…I really don't know what to make of that."

She took a deep breath and kept talking, not even bothering to look at Bayleef or Pikachu's reactions.

"When I was younger, I always saw love as this magical thing, you know? You find that one person, and then you share the rest of your life with them and everything's great. And, ever since I met him, I hoped that person would be Ash. But now that I know how he looks at love, I don't know if he even can be, if I could ask him to be, could expect that of him…I don't even know what I even expect of him anymore, or what I really want."

Even though she'd had a conversation along these lines with Misdreavus just the night before, this time it felt much more relieving to get it off her chest, possibly because Bayleef was in a similar situation of liking Ash.

She shook her head. "No, that's not true. What I want…I want to be with Ash. To be someone for him no one else is. To be…important to him in a different way from anyone else. To be to him what he already is to me."

She realized her eyes were burning, and she blinked a couple of times to get rid of the feeling.

"But Ash told me that love isn't a competition. That everyone he likes, he likes for different reasons. And I get what he's saying, I really do, but I just don't like it, and I bet you don't, either. So tell me, Bayleef, after hearing all this…what would you do?"

("I…don't know,") Bayleef said after a moment of silence. ("Ash likes more than one person?")

Serena just nodded.

("That's…not how it works, is it?")

It said enough about Bayleef's confusion that that had apparently been a question aimed at Pikachu, not Serena, but Pikachu had translated it anyway before shrugging and saying, ("Don't ask me. I wouldn't know. I see Ash's reasoning, obviously, and I kind of feel the same way he does…except I've never been in love. I really don't know what I'd say if I had.")

Bayleef thought for a moment and then said, ("Well…if Ash likes multiple people…then I could still be with him, right? I could probably learn to live with that…eventually.")

Serena cocked her head. "Really? I figured you would be really strongly against it," she said.

Bayleef shook her head. ("I just want to be with Ash. Sure, maybe at first he'll like others too, but eventually I'll make him see I'm the only one and…okay, no, Bayleef, I am not going there,") Pikachu said with a shudder.

Bayleef didn't look embarrassed in the least, but Serena was glad Pikachu had stopped translating where he had.

"So does that mean you'll allow Ash and me to talk uninterrupted from now on?" Serena asked.

Bayleef shrugged. ("Why not? I've been patient for years, I can wait a bit longer,") she said.

"So…truce, then?" Serena asked, holding out her hand.

Bayleef extended a vine and shook Serena's hand. ("Truce,") she said. ("Can I go back to training now, then?") she asked, which Pikachu presumably just translated so Serena knew what it was about.

Pikachu nodded and said, ("Yeah, sure. Tell Ash I'll be there in a moment, too.")

Bayleef took off and Pikachu looked at Serena. ("Well…that was sure…something. And I might be scarred for life,") he said.

"If it'll get her to back off a bit, I'll take it," Serena said, "though I'm sorry about the trauma. Thanks for not passing it onto me, by the way."

("Very diplomatic of you not to tell her she wasn't included in the group of people Ash likes,") Pikachu said.

Serena looked at the ground a bit awkwardly. "I couldn't bring myself to tell her. Besides, if I had she'd probably just say I was lying," she said. "And even if she didn't…given what she just said, I doubt it would have stopped her."

("So how do you feel? I mean, you've clearly discovered what you want now, so what will you do with it?") Pikachu asked.

Serena shrugged helplessly. "I don't know. I still don't really see a way for Ash and me to both get what we want, here."

("Well…I think Ash might not really…know what he's missing out on, right now,") Pikachu said. ("Don't get me wrong, I think he's telling the truth about having feelings for multiple people, and that those feelings are entirely genuine. But he's never had a girlfriend, and he's not necessarily looking for one…but that doesn't mean he wouldn't take the chance if he got it.")

"But he did get that chance, right? I mean…he knows I like him," Serena said. "Besides, anyone could've taken that chance with him. It's not something…not something unique to me."

("Sometimes being at the right place at the right time is all you need to create something unique, though, isn't it? If Ash had woken up on time the day he first became a Trainer, he and I would never have met. There was nothing special about either him or me the day we met, except that he was the latecomer, and I was the disobedient nuisance, and now we've saved the world several times over.

("You've already talked to Ash about how both of you feel, which is more than anyone else has ever done. It might not be the stereotypical romantic ideal, but I'll tell you right now: Ash will never make the first move. For all his bravery, he's terrified of making the first move. If he fails a Gym battle or a League challenge, he can try again. If he fails in this, he doesn't know if he'll get a second chance. Telling you about how he sees love was the hardest thing he's ever done; I know that because he told me it was.

("I can't promise you that if you go for it, things will work out exactly the way you envision them. I'm not an Alakazam who can predict the future. But I do know how he feels about you, because he told you more than he ever told anyone aside from me, and I think that if you take the chance, both of you could be very happy. Would it make you the only girl Ash likes? No, probably not. But it would make you his only girlfriend, and it's not likely he'd actively look for another one anytime soon, both because he knows you wouldn't like it and because it's really not a priority of his.

("Just…if you do decide to do this, know what you're getting into. He's still incredibly dense and has a one-track mind, and it's no use trying to change that. You have to be clear for yourself on what you want from a relationship, and make that clear to Ash as well, because silent hints are not going to work.")

Pikachu fell silent and Serena was speechless for a moment. She hadn't expected him to essentially tell her to get it over with on her own terms.

"So…why me? I mean, you knew other girls liked Ash, right? You were the one who told me I should talk to him, so why didn't you say the same to any of them?" she asked.

("For one thing, because you never denied your feelings for him, which I think is cute,") Pikachu said. ("And for another…it's hard to explain, but Ash is just different with you. You never really fought. He invited you to come with us. He gave you that ribbon as a gift without anyone telling him he should. I think your affection for him from the start changed the way he looked at you. His feelings aren't necessarily stronger, but they're different, the ratio of friendly to romantic is shifted. And that is what makes you unique. You were honest about your feelings, and that made Ash more honest about his. You might still feel like it's not unique to you, that any of them could have done this…but in these seven years, only you did. So when you feel the moment is right…be the one to take the chance. I think it'll work out better than you think.")

With that, Pikachu walked off to join the training as well, leaving Serena on her own. Even though all they'd done was talk, Pikachu might as well have hit her with a Thunderbolt with how electrified she felt. He really thought she and Ash should be together? That she, contrary to what she thought, actually had something none of Ash's other companions had had? Pikachu was Ash's oldest friend and there was no way he would lie about something like this, especially since he'd also been the one to make sure Serena and Bayleef could talk and resolve their situation.

But then the question was…when? When should she 'take the chance'? She could hardly just kiss Ash before they went to sleep that night, could she? The very thought made her face burn like it was on fire, but no matter how tempting the prospect was, she knew she wouldn't do it. It wasn't the right time for it. She didn't really know how she knew that, or when the right time would be, but she did know it wasn't now. Well…in that case, all there was to do was to keep her eyes open. The moment would surely present itself.

And so, feeling better than she'd done all day since Bayleef interrupted her talk with Ash, Serena went back to her Pokémon to enjoy the rest of her evening.

This chapter ended up being much longer than I expected it to. I did want to get a conversation between Serena and Bayleef here, mostly because I wanted to get that entire situation out of the way to make sure it wouldn't get in my way later, but the conversation with Pikachu afterward wasn't planned at all. Still, I think it fits here. As usual, feel free to let me know your opinion, good or bad, and see you next time!

Oh, and in case AO3 gets DDoSed again and anyone from there came here instead, if for whatever reason I can't crosspost my stuff there I'll just upload it in bulk once I can. It seems to be up and running again, but just in case.