Ash was reeling. First he ran into Misty while in town, causing him to feel things he had never felt before. Then, when he finally reunited with her, she acted hostile and demanded a battle, but only after forcing him to give her whatever she wanted if she won. And now, after one of the toughest battles he had ever fought, Serena of all people just showed up. To say that Ash was confused would have been an understatement. Mistys seemed to want to say something but Ash spoke up first. "Serena? Oh Arceus, Serena! It's so good to see-" WHUMP! Before Ash could finish his sentence, the girl was in his arms, balling. In her haste, Serena pushed Misty aside. Of course it wasn't intentional, but it didn't matter. Steam was rising from her red face, something Ash took notice of immediately. "Excuse me! Who are you, exactly?" Misty demanded harshly. Serena paused, turning to face the other girl. "Oh, forgive me! My name is Serena! I'm a… friend of Ash's" Serena said, turning to hold a hand out for Misty to shake. Misty merely crossed her arms in a huff, raising one slanted eyebrow while the other descended upon her brow. She shifted her weight, supporting herself with one leg, and looked back at Ash. Ash suddenly felt very awkward. He looked away, rubbing the back of his neck. "Serena, this is Misty. She's a very good friend of mine." he said, taking note of how Serena's eye twitched when he introduced her. "The name's Misty. Nice to meet you." the carrot top muttered at long last, breaking the tension that hung in the air. "The pleasure's all mine." Serena replied curtly, though with a smile. Then she turned to Ash. "But enough of this! Where have you been, Ash! It's been five years, FIVE YEARS ASH! Do you know how worried I was!" At this point Serena was crying, practically shouting at the boy. Ash winced at every syllable. "I thought you were dead, Ash. You just vanished!" she said, collapsing in on herself. For a moment no one moved. Misty, Brock, and Ash had no idea what to say, and Sylveon cuddled up to Serena, who had pulled her knees to her chest and was now sitting on the sandy dunes, crying her eyes out. "Serena… I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to worry you, I just…" Ash trailed off, unable to look at the crying girl before him. Misty scowled at his words, trying (and failing) to suppress her jealousy at Ash's comforting words to the girl who had interrupted their moment. He hadn't apologized to her like that! "What exactly are you here for, again?" Misty asked, gaining shocked glares from Ash and Brock. Serena, thoroughly angered, glared up at Misty. She rose to her feet in one swift move, intending to retort when Ash got in between the two girls. "Whoa! Serena, are you okay? You seem really upset." he said, hoping to change the subject. Serena gaped at Ash for a moment before responding. "Upset? A little upset?!" She demanded. Ash paled, surprised as he was by her sudden, angry outburst. Even Misty winced, and Brock, still hanging back, shook his head at his best friend's stupid remark. "What would give you that idea, Ash?! Why would I ever be upset?! It's not like I missed you or anything! No, of course not! Why would I miss the most obnoxious, impulsive, block-headed person I've ever known?! No, I didn't miss you at all!" Serena shouted, getting in Ash's face. What is her problem!? Ash thought to himself, now very angry and very, very confused. I've never seen her like this! "Hold on just a minute! You didn't have to say all that!" he replied, getting in her face just as she had his own. "Hold on a moment, you too." Misty interjected, now feeling bad for starting the argument, but Ash and Serena turned to her in unison. "And what do you want?" Serena demanded. "I haven't seen my friend in years and you've been nasty from the start!" Misty shrunk back in shock, before regaining her recent ire. "Excuse me?!" she replied. "You heard me!" Serena responded, and before Misty could respond Ash interjected again. "She's right, Misty. Let's just take a step back." He said, hoping to de-escalate the situation.
Misty turned to face him, and Ash once again paled. "Of course, Ash! You're right! I'll just leave the two of you alone so you two can catch up!" She retorted, turning around and beginning to march away. "Wait! H-hold on, Misty!" Ash said, grabbing her arm before she made it more than a few feet. CRACK! Ash sprawled back, grasping at his face, marked as it was by a red imprint of Misty's hand. Misty's eyes widened, and she stared down at her open palm in wonder. Had she slapped him? She had slapped him! She opened her mouth to apologize, but before she could utter so much as a word the impact forced her to close both her mouth and squeeze her eyes shut. She stumbled backward, and after a brief pause she looked up to find Serena between herself and Ash. Misty felt her blood come to a boil, and before anyone knew what was going on she backhanded the honey blonde usurper. "Owww!" Serena cried, falling backward into the sand. Rising from where he had fallen, Ash could only stare in horror as Serena rose, clutching at her red cheek. She made to march forward, and Misty squared up, apparently with the intent of finishing things, when a huge, finned, blue tail slammed into the ground between the two girls. Everyone turned, shocked, to find Gyarados glowering down at them, alongside Dragonite, who was flying alongside his counterpart with his arms crossed in obvious disappointment. Ash leaped into action, grateful for the interruption for a chance to intervene. "Girls, please stop! Gyarados is right!" Both girls glared at each other for the briefest of moments, before turning in union and yelling "SHUT UP, ASH!"