Chapter 24: Grand League

Vaniville Town, 5 years since Ash and Serena's parting.

The day Ash Ketchum registered as a Pokémon Trainer for the Indigo Grand League under the name 'Red'.

Serena was getting ready for her first day in Pokémon Academy of Lumiose, a quite recently established school for Trainers. The other one being in Santalune City.

Unlike Kanto, other regions did not have an examination for young Trainers to start their journey at the age of 10. Whenever aspiring Trainers asked why, the professors always gave the same answer:

"There is no Professor Oak here."

The whole reason Kanto even had said examination in the first place was because of Samuel Oak, a name famous in the world. And so, Pokémon Trainers starting their adventures at the age of 15-16 became the norm as well as common sense.

Trainer School were for children aged 5 to 9, while Academies were for 10 to 16-year-olds.

Before Serena leaves for school, she would always take a walk within the forest of Vaniville Town. The ambience was nostalgic and soothed her.

The girl had been doing such a routine ever since she was separated from a certain raven-haired boy. Hoping that one day, he might come find her again.

Of course, it did not matter. Because she would always remember his promise to her.

"Red…," she muttered softly, pulling out a blue handkerchief.

And then, the girl left for school, the handkerchief tied to her wrist.

"Hey, hey, Serena!" a brunette cried out from the school's bus.

The girl was Shauna, her first friend in Kalos.

After returning to Vaniville Town, Serena had to attend Trainer School. There, she met Shauna and quickly became good friends. Although heartbroken parting with Ash, she still made tremendous efforts in making friends.

The boy had helped shape her from a shy timid girl into sociable one. And she would not betray that growth and regress back to the pitiful child in the past.

Then came 3 other boys.

Calem, Trevor and Tierno.

-A black-haired boy with a rather cocky attitude but an overall good friend.

-An orange-haired boy with a gift for photography.

-And a large boy with a dancing habit.

Together, these 5 formed a friend group.

Serena would usually smile when she was with her friends, but from time to time, she would stare vacantly into the air with a sorrowful vibe. However, this gave the complete opposite reaction from her peers.

They saw a beautiful girl with an aloof expression, completely unapproachable with those frosty blue eyes. Thus, a moniker of 'Ice Queen' was given to her as a result.

Serena was completely oblivious to that fact and questioned why her schoolmates tend to avoid her.

Each day passed after her debut in Pokémon Academy.

Admirers of the 'Ice Queen' grew as well. Tierno being one of them.

And as far as anyone was concerned, he had the highest chance since Serena was her friend. But Calem and Shauna knew.

That the honey-blonde's heart belonged to another.

When she returned home, she would usually practice Rhyhorn racing with her mother, Grace. Even though she did not like it, the girl put up with it since it was good exercise.

Another pastime for her was archery. Something left to her by her late father.

Serena was extremely good at it, only ever seemed to miss on purpose. Thus, she was scouted by the academy's Archery Club.

After joining the club, her admirers grew again exponentially. Her club members looked up to her as their star member.

Overall, Serena was living a comfortable life.

Friends, juniors to coach, excellent grades.

But the one person she wanted is not with her. And a year flew by quickly.

Calem and Shauna had been childhood sweethearts before even meeting Serena. The two tended to not chat with the honey-blonde about relationship stuff around her.

Knowing what the girl went through in the past.

"So… the IGL is coming up soon," Calem started the conversation.

The group of 5 now sat in the living room of Serena's house.

"That's right! Apparently, the Academy is gonna host a watch event in the halls for the whole tournament," Tierno exclaimed excitedly.

"I wonder what kind of Pokémon will be there… Must be cool looking ones," Trevor said, imagining photo-worthy shots of Pokémon.

"Yup, yup. Boys… Serena?" Shauna asked her friend.

"Umm… what's an IGL?" Serena asked cluelessly.

Calem jumped to his feet. The boy, despite his cocky attitude, was a huge battle nerd.

And he went off. Hard.

"HUHH?! It's only the most prestigious League event ever! A grand event that comes and goes every decade. The famous Indigo Grand League!" the boy explained with incredible passion. Causing everyone to sweat drop.

"Indigo… That's Kanto, isn't it?" Serena asked with her eyes lit up.

Calem and Shauna gulped.

'Uh oh…'

"Yup! It's gonna so amazing! I'm so excited that I even made a new dance number for the tournament!" Tierno exclaimed again and left the living room, Trevor chasing him down to calm the large boy.

After they were gone, Shauna spoke.

"Sorry, Serena. We realized too late…"

"No. It's alright," Serena replied, shaking her head.

"I know."

Calem scratched his head and sighed.

"Do you think he's there? That Red guy?" Calem asked bluntly.

"Cal!" Shauna hissed.

"Sorry, but Serena needs to know," he continued.

"The youngest Trainers start at 15. There's no way for him to be there, so please don't get your hopes up."

"You're our friend. We just don't want you getting depressed."

Serena looked at the boy, understanding what he was trying to convey.

The two friends were the closest among the group, having known each other much longer.

"I know," the girl nodded in understanding, caressing her handkerchief.

With a weak smile, she thanked the two for being there for her.

And turned for the night.

A few weeks passed.

It was almost night. But the Academy's halls were filled with students as well as their parents.

The bright lights from the ceiling illuminated the surrounding.

A gigantic projector was showing a countdown.

Before the Grand League's main event, the broadcast would start with the Preliminaries.

Serena sat with her friends at her left and her mother on her right.

Once seated, Serena glanced at Grace, the latter noticing.

The girl then clutched onto her handkerchief and kissed it before turning to the screen. But not before a cold glare.

Grace felt horrible at that, remembering what had happened in Pallet Town.

"I'm really sorry, Serena…" her mother whispered.

"If you're sorry then bring him back to me," Serena retorted coldly, not even looking at her mother.

That was her usual retort for Grace whenever the woman tried to apologize.

Serena knew Ash would find her someday. She never once lost hope.

But she was not as emotionally matured or forgiving as Ash. The girl would be petty towards her mother at every chance she got.

Typical behaviour for an 11-year-old.

'No, think happy thoughts,' she thought, remembering a conversation she had with him.

"The ocean?" Ash asked with an eyebrow raised.

"Yup! I've never seen it before," Serena said with stars in her eyes.

"Didn't you cross the ocean with a plane to get here?" the boy chuckled.

The girl pouted and playfully hit his shoulder.

"Ahh… I'm dying…" Ash played along.

"I want to see it with my own eyes!" she clarified, her cheeks puffed with air before Ash poked them, letting the air escape.

Then the two sat in comfortable silence.

Enjoying each other's company.

"Then… I'll take you there," the boy said his thoughts aloud.

"Eh?" Serena gasped.

"When we're older, I'll take you to see the ocean," Ash declared with a grin.

Serena looked into his red eyes. The orbs conveying the boy's seriousness.

"…Promise?" the girl asked with blushes on her ear.

"Yeah. Promise," Ash confirmed.

And the girl pounced on him with a loving hug. Extremely tight but loving.

Recalling that memory, she smiled to herself. Before getting dragged back to reality by her mother's tugging.

"Are you OK?" Grace asked.

'Are you serious?' she thought sarcastically. A vein popping on her head.

Sighing to herself, the honey-blonde stared blankly at the countdown.

{ 10 }

'He'll come one day. I've never doubted.'

{ 9 }

'But it's not easy forgiving Mom.'

{ 8 }

'Putting me in a camp I never asked to join…'

{ 7 }

'All to crush my heart in the end.'

{ 6 }

'But…'

{ 5 }

'I'll never regret meeting him.'

{ 4 }

'That's the one thing I will always thank Mom for.'

{ 3 }

'Are you there? Will I see you?'

{ 2 }

'I miss you…'

{ 1 }

'Red…'

The Grand League had begun.

. . .

"In a year's time, the Indigo Grand League's gonna start so you better collect those badges so I can beat you in front of the whole world!"

. . .

"Heh, you got yourself a promise!"

. . .

"I'll take part in that as well! It's no fun unless we're all together."

. . .

"Hey, my name's Ash. What's yours?"

"Serena."

. . .

"Then... I'll take you there."

"...Promise?"

"Yeah. Promise."

. . .

"Pikapi?" a yellow mouse squeaked inquisitively at a raven-haired boy.

"Hmm? What am I thinking?" the boy said before showing a smile.

"Nothing much…"

The boy looked below the mountain, staring at the cerulean blue sheet of water.

"Just thinking about a promise…"

1 year later since that fateful day.

Here at last.

The boy walked towards a giant plaque.

Journey's start.

Its size supported with thick stone pillars.

Prelude's end.

Indigo Plateau.

Let the festival begin.

"We've come a long way, huh buddy?"

Chapter 24: Grand League

Ash Ketchum had arrived.