Chapter Forty-One: Flight and Fight

Serena wildly looked around, but of course there was nothing to see.

("Come to the garden tonight. Don't tell the others yet,") Misdreavus's voice said.

Serena nodded slowly and then kept walking. She wondered why Misdreavus didn't want her to mention anything to the others yet, but she'd probably find out that night.

After getting changed, she met up with Ash in the main lobby. "That was a great performance, Serena," he said warmly. "I don't think I've ever seen you or your Pokémon this confident in an Exposition before."

"Thanks, Ash," Serena replied with a smile. "I just hope it was enough…"

"I think everything will be alright," Ash said confidently. "Come on, let's go back to the Pokémon Center."

Serena's heart was pounding at a million beats per minute when she stepped into the Pokémon Center's garden that night. She wanted to believe that everything would be alright, but she couldn't push away the fear that it hadn't been enough, that Misdreavus would say she didn't want to come back anymore…

("I never really liked the taste of regret, you know,") Misdreavus's voice said, shaking Serena from her thoughts. She looked around, but saw nothing.

("I'm…not quite ready to show myself yet,") Misdreavus said. ("This way is easier.")

Serena nodded. "I understand…" she said softly. "So…you saw the Exposition, then?" she asked, determined not to dwell too long.

("I did. I felt it, too,") Misdreavus said, and Serena could hear she was trying to think of what to say. ("I really wanted to show myself right then. To reunite with all of you. But…I couldn't. Not yet.")

"Why not?"

("Over the past few days…I've been scaring a lot of people, in a lot of ways, and I loved every second of it. And then I'd check in on you and the others, and I'd feel your sadness and fear, and your conviction to make things right… And…I couldn't make sense of my own feelings anymore.")

Again, there was a moment of silence, and again Serena just waited for Misdreavus to continue. ("No one has ever worked so hard for my sake as you and Pancham and the others have done over the past few days. I…I really want to come back and be with you all again. But every time I think of doing that, I also think of what caused this whole mess in the first place. Me being me.")

"I talked to Delphox," Serena said quietly. "She said she understood you. That you'd feel it if I…tried to understand you, even if what you do scares me."

Silence. It was unnerving, because Serena had no way of knowing if Misdreavus was still there, but she wouldn't just leave without saying anything, even if she was angry.

("I do,") Misdreavus said eventually. ("But it's not as simple as that. Just like you can't just not feel that fear, I can't not feel the discomfort of your fear. You're…really important to me. Your opinion of me matters to me. I can ignore it, for a time, but you being afraid of my very nature will cause something like this to happen again, in the future. Because one thing I know: I'm not going back to denying who and what I am.")

"Your opinion of me matters to me, too," Serena said. "I want to be…a Trainer who supports her Pokémon. Who helps them get stronger and reach their full potential. If I don't give you the freedom to be yourself, there's no way I could. I can't deny that I'm scared of how much you enjoy scaring others. But…I'm not afraid of you. You are a close friend. A partner. A teammate. You've had my back ever since you joined the team. You've gotten along with and helped the others ever since then too. I don't want to force you to deny yourself anymore, so…maybe we can compromise at first, and we'll see where it goes."

("What did you have in mind?") Misdreavus asked cautiously.

"Well…you're mostly outside at night, aren't you? Maybe you could…hunt…then, to get the excitement and fun you want. In battles, though…don't use your Confuse Ray unless there's no other way to win."

Serena sighed. "There's a lot of blind spots in this plan. It really isn't very good at all, going with this 'don't ask, don't tell' policy. But right now, I can't deal with it any other way than by simply putting my head in the sand and pretending it isn't happening. I hope I'll be able to, in time, but right now…no."

("It feels…shady,") Misdreavus said after a moment. ("But it does sound like a good place to start from, at least. I just want to come back and be with all of you again…")

One of the shadows in front of Serena moved, and Misdreavus emerged from it. She looked a bit uncomfortable at being visible, but Serena couldn't have been happier.

"We all want you to come back to us, too," she said.

Misdreavus hesitated and said, ("I want to give it a try, this idea of yours… But we'll still need to work on understanding each other. Just ignoring the situation won't fix it, not really.")

Serena nodded a bit sadly. "I know. And I'll do my best to get better at it. Maybe we can just…talk about it, after practice, or whenever it might come up."

("Then I'll try to understand you more, too,") Misdreavus said. She smiled mischievously. ("Maybe it'll even give me better ideas to scare you…")

Serena laughed, more out of relief and happiness than because of the actual joke. "The scariest thing I can think of right now is you leaving forever," she said quietly. "Because it was so close to actually happening."

("Yeah… But that thought's a bit too scary even for me,") Misdreavus said. Then she smiled and said, ("Let's go inside. I want to scare Pancham first thing in the morning…")

"I bet he'll be delighted," Serena said, and together she and Misdreavus entered the Pokémon Center.

The next morning, the mood at the breakfast table was fantastic because of Misdreavus's return. Especially Pancham was elated, and he'd completely returned to his normal, boastful self.

Meanwhile, Ash was preparing his team for the battle with Erika. He'd swapped out Noivern and Krookodile for Talonflame and Swellow, who would be battling Erika together with Noctowl and had been training with them over the past days while Serena focused on her appeal.

"I don't think you've ever had this many Flying-types on your team at once," Serena said while they walked to the Gym.

Ash shook his head. "I don't think so, either. Honestly, it's not a setup I'm going to keep for long, either. But I want to give them a chance to fight, too, and of the remaining Gyms this one's the best for them to take on. After Erika there's only Koga, Blaine, and…whoever runs the Viridian Gym these days. It used to be Giovanni, but I don't think he still does," he said.

"The leader of Team Rocket was a Gym Leader?" Serena asked.

Ash nodded. "Yep. Although at the time, people didn't know who he really was. I never fought him back then, anyway, so that's another badge I want to win for real this time. First things first, though. I may have a team that's strong against Grass-types, but Erika will surely have some tricks up her sleeve."

("Fortunately, so do you,") Pikachu said with a grin.

Ash grinned back. "Of course I do."

They reached the Gym and headed inside, where they were immediately approached by a Trainer wearing a Gym uniform.

"Good morning, and welcome to the Celadon City Gym," she said. "Are you here to challenge the Gym Leader?"

Ash nodded. "I am. I've been here once before, years ago, but our battle was interrupted…"

"I'm afraid Miss Erika is rather busy at the moment. You will have to return at a later–"

"That won't be necessary, Laura, thank you," a soft voice said.

Erika came walking up from a room in the back, and the Gym Trainer bowed her head and took a step back.

"I recognize this young man. He once saved the Gym from a fire, so I remember the battle he speaks of," she said with a smile.

Her eyes then fell on Serena and she said, "And we meet again, Miss Serena. Once more, my congratulations on your victory yesterday. Did your feelings reach your Pokémon?"

"They did," Serena said happily. "She came back last night."

"That is good to hear," Erika said, and she turned back to Ash. "Well then, Ash. Shall we have a battle to see what kind of seeds you've sown over the years? I know you're an experienced Trainer now, so I won't hold back. That would be discourteous, after all."

Ash grinned and nodded. "Yes, please! I'd love to show you what I can do," he said.

"Splendid. Laura, if you would be so kind as to referee for us?" Erika asked.

Laura nodded, and Serena and Ash followed Erika and Laura to the arena, where Serena went up to the stands and called out her Pokémon.

("I'm glad I came back in time to watch this with all of you,") Misdreavus said. ("This sort of thing is way more fun with friends.") She looked at Pancham in particular while she spoke.

("It is!") Pancham agreed. ("And I've seen Ash training for this fight. He's ready.")

Laura had finished announcing the rules of the battle, and Ash and Erika were ready to begin the battle.

"Good luck, Ash!" Serena yelled.

Ash grinned and raised his fist in response.

"Well then, Ash. Let's do this. Vileplume, it's time!" Erika said.

"Noctowl, I choose you! Use Air Slash!"

"Moonblast, Vileplume."

Noctowl flew up and sharply beat his wings, sending sickles of glowing energy at Vileplume, who responded by lowering her head and firing a wide, pink ball of energy at Noctowl, which blew through the Air Slash as if it wasn't even there, forcing Noctowl to swerve to dodge the attack.

"Extrasensory, Noctowl, and keep moving!"

Noctowl sped up and his eyes glowed gold, before firing a cone of whirling gold energy from his beak at Vileplume, who wasn't fast enough to dodge. Noctowl began to lift her off the ground, but Erika seemed unperturbed.

Then, Noctowl's trajectory carried him close to Vileplume, and Erika said, "Toxic."

A wave of purple sludge spurted from the center of its flower and drenched Noctowl, who flinched, but still managed to slam Vileplume into the ground with great force.

"Noctowl! Can you go on?" Ash asked.

("For now,") Noctowl replied, flaring his wings and struggling to gain some altitude again.

"Alright then, Sky Attack!"

"Use Petal Dance, Vileplume."

Noctowl's entire body began to glow gold as he ascended, and Vileplume aimed her flower at him like some kind of cannon, before firing a spiral of pink, glowing petals from it with tremendous force. Noctowl got hit at the apex of his climb, but he shrugged off the power of the Petal Dance and his poisoning, throwing himself into a blindingly fast dive, trailing golden light. He cut through the barrage of petals and slammed into Vileplume with enough force to send her flying into the wall and knocking her out.

"Vileplume is unable to battle! Noctowl wins!" Laura announced.

Noctowl didn't seem to enjoy his victory much, though, as the Toxic had now forced him to land and he was panting heavily.

"You did well, Noctowl! Now have some rest," Ash said as he recalled him.

"That was a good opening battle," Erika said pleasantly. "Now then…Ferrothorn, time to get to work."

"Ferrothorn, huh? Well then, Talonflame, I choose you! Use Flame Charge!"

"Iron Head, Ferrothorn."

Talonflame cloaked himself in fire and streaked forward, while Ferrothorn glowed white and launched himself into Talonflame's path. The collision was immense, and neither Pokémon seemed to have enjoyed the impact much. On the whole, though, it was surprisingly Ferrothorn who seemed to have come off worse.

("That's really reckless,") Delphox sighed. ("Ferrothorn's Iron Barbs are going to hurt Talonflame every time he rams him.")

Serena nodded, but she was sure Ash had a plan. "Your Pokémon will get hurt if he keeps charging into Ferrothorn like that, Ash," Erika said admonishingly.

"I know," Ash said. "That's why I'm trying to end the fight as quickly as possible, so Talonflame won't take too many hits. Flame Charge again, let's go!"

Talonflame once again shrouded himself in flames and sped forward, even faster than before.

"Gyro Ball."

Ferrothorn began spinning in place like a top, a silvery glow appearing around him as he charged up his attack, and then he sprang at Talonflame liked he'd done before, only this time, Ash clearly didn't want to take the hit.

"Avoid that attack, Talonflame!"

At the last possible second, Talonflame flicked himself onto his side, and the spinning Ferrothorn just barely missed him. The tips of the barbs seemed to skim the feathers on Talonflame's belly.

"Great job, Talonflame! Now show him how quickly you can turn, and then finish it with another Flame Charge!"

Talonflame flew straight up, threw himself onto his back, and then rolled around, all in the blink of an eye, and then he beat his wings, flying forward so fast Serena could hardly follow his movement.

Ferrothorn, on the other hand, was slow to turn around because of his spinning motions, and got hit by the full force of Talonflame's attack.

When the dust cleared, Talonflame was clearly hurt by the Iron Barbs, but Ferrothorn was completely unconscious.

"Ferrothorn is unable to battle! Talonflame is the winner! Gym Leader Erika has only one remaining Pokémon," Laura announced.

"Yes! Great job, Talonflame! I knew I could count on you!" Ash said.

("It's good to be back,") Talonflame said. Then he added, ("And also painful. Those spikes hurt!")

"You can rest up for a bit," Ash promised, and he recalled Talonflame.

"I see you have not yet lost your old recklessness," Erika said. "Though I give you credit for avoiding Ferrothorn's attack so narrowly. You clearly know what you're doing. Then now, let me call my last Pokémon. Show me that you have what it takes to defeat me! Tangrowth, it's up to you!"

"This is the final round! Swellow, I choose you! Use Air Slash!"

Swellow immediately took off, and much like Noctowl had done before, he beat his wings sharply, sending sickles of glowing energy at Tangrowth.

"Ancient Power, Tangrowth."

Tangrowth raised her viny arms and pulled a series of rocks out of the ground, which she fired at Swellow with surprising strength. Swellow was agile, however, and dodged the stones.

"Alright, then let's try an Aerial Ace!"

"Power Whip, Tangrowth."

Swellow's wings began to glow as he darted across the field, but Tangrowth simply spread her arms and split them into many vines, each of which glowed green, and she smashed Swellow out of the air before the Aerial Ace could even get close.

"Swellow!" Ash shouted, and Serena held her breath as well — but Swellow wasn't beaten yet. He rose to his feet somewhat unsteadily, but then took off again, and though his flight was a little wobbly, he clearly wasn't out of the fight just yet.

"Great job getting up! Now come on, we can do this!"

"Use Ancient Power once more, Tangrowth."

"Double Team!"

Tangrowth, whose arms were still writhing masses of vines, pulled up more rocks to throw at Swellow, but there was no longer just one Swellow to aim for. An entire flock darted through the air, and Tangrowth carefully looked for the real one, but Ash wasn't going to give her the time.

"Make some room, Swellow! Air Slash!"

All the Swellow in the arena now began firing off whirling blades of air, and Tangrowth pulled back her vines as they kept getting sliced from many directions at once. Even though some of the Air Slashes were illusionary, there were still more than enough real ones to make it hard to tell where they were coming from.

"Hit them all with Power Whip."

"Aerial Ace, now!"

Tangrowth's vines began to glow again and she lashed out at the afterimages of Swellow — and then one of them cleanly dodged between the swinging arms and smashed into the vines that made up the body, making Tangrowth stagger back.

"Now finish it with Air Slash!"

Before Erika could even call for a counter, Swellow had already fired off his Air Slash from point-blank range, and Tangrowth collapsed in a wave of vines.

"Tangrowth is unable to battle! Swellow wins, which means victory goes to the challenger, Ash from Pallet Town!" Laura said.

Ash jumped up in the air and pumped his fist. "Yes! You got her! Great job, Swellow!"

"You did well, my friend. Now rest," Erika said as she recalled Tangrowth.

She walked over to shake Ash's hand in the middle of the damaged field. "Congratulations, Ash. You have grown strong over the years. I proudly hand you the Rainbow Badge in recognition of your skill," she said as she handed Ash the badge.

"Thank you, Erika. I'm glad we were finally able to finish our battle. Your Pokémon were really strong, too."

Erika inclined her head, and then Ash turned to the stands, raised his Rainbow Badge to Serena and said, "Yes! I won the Rainbow Badge!"

"Well done, Ash!" Serena called back, and her Pokémon shouted their support as well. She smiled, especially at seeing Misdreavus cheering just as happily as the others. Sure, there were still hurdles to overcome, but for the first time in days, Serena finally felt like things were going well again.

The ending's a bit abrupt, maybe, but it's 2 AM and I have work tomorrow, so it'll have to do. Next one should be up on Friday, so see you then!