Thank you al so much for your patience! This chapter had been ready for a long, long time, but personal issues kept me from posting it.
I'm not gonna lie, writing this made me cry. Especially with my Amourshipping playlist on the background when A Thousand Years started to play at exactly the right time.
The next chapter will be the last, thank you for reading!
''Rhyhorn!'' Serena let out, as the professor revealed the Pokémon grazing in the central garden.
''Grace was so kind to lend it to Ash,'' he said, ''it seemed to remember him too.''
''I'm sure he did,'' she said as she reminisced the riding lessons she had given him. A smile crossed her face as she petted the Pokémon's head. The same feeling filled her heart again. An aching form of affection.
''He's here to see you,'' Augustine said, ''you know that, right?''
Serena awoke from her drifting thoughts. She felt her blood rise to her face and hoped it wasn't too visible.
''T- that's what my mom said as well,'' she said, ''I just still can't believe it. Why would he come all the way here just to see me after all this time?''
''Probably for the same reason you came here in the middle of your tour.''
Serena looked at him with widened eyes and was about to say something.
The professor laughed. ''You don't have to excuse yourself, Serena.
Rhyhorn gave her a little push with its horn. She laughed sheepishly. ''Then I don't need to tell you where I'm heading next, right?''
He shook his head. ''Just don't forget to send me the wedding invitation.''
''Professor!'' She let out, now blushing up to her ears.
He slapped his knees and couldn't stop laughing and Serena couldn't help but cracking up as well. It felt like old times. When she, Ash, Clemont and Bonnie would visit the lab for hours just to hang out. They were still kids, with the whole world at their feet.
''I think fate is calling loud enough,'' Augustine said and winked. ''Chase it.''
''Yikes,'' Serena yelled as she swatted another mosquito away. Her journey to Anistar City had not been as planned so far. As much as she loved her mother's Rhyhorn, it wasn't fast like in the old days. Pushing it felt unfair, so she just went with the pace the Pokémon had set.
''I won't make it'', she sighed. ''Anistar City is still hours away.''
The air was growing colder and thinner, it wouldn't be long before she would reach the mountain pass where the swamp would make way for an entirely different landscape and her Rhyhorn wouldn't be able to carry her further.
''I'm sorry buddy,'' she said as she brought the Pokémon to a halt and dismounted. ''You will have to walk back to Sycamore from here on, it's going to be too cold for you soon.''
A sudden, loud wail resounded through the marshes, startling them both.
Serena felt the adrenaline rush through her veins. ''W-what was that?''
Something along the treeline moved and Serena and Rhyhorn readied themselves for what was about to charge at them. She felt her blood run colder than the air and her knees felt like they could give in any moment.
An entire small tree came down and the bushes revealed a purplish shape.
''Goodra!'' Serena let out and ran towards the dragon Pokémon, ignoring all the mud her boots gathered. She hugged the creature, not minding the slime that oozed from its pores one bit. Tears pricked behind her eyes.
''It's really you! How did you know I was here?'' she let out, her voice breaking.
The Pokémon took a step back and pointed to her backpack. Puzzled, she took it off to show it. A bright, red light shot from the zipper and revealed her Delphox standing next to them. It squealed in excitement at the sight of its old friend.
''Some friendships last forever, don't they?'' she said, touched by their reunion. As much as she wanted this moment to last much longer, time was still ticking. She had to keep going.
''Goodra, I need to find the Mamoswine rental, do you think you can help me with that?''
The Pokémon's eyes lit up and it nodded. Still, it kept looking around, as if it was still expecting something. Or someone.
''You're looking for Ash, aren't you?'' Serena laughed. ''He's close, just not here.''
Goodra tilted its head.
''How about I find him and bring him to you?''
It roared and clapped its massive paws together, jumping from one hind leg to the other.
''Let's all go the rental together, I don't want to cut your time together short.''
She picked up her phone once more to quickly check social media. She had to spare her battery, but couldn't help but keep looking at her chat with Ash if he had read it yet. It still was unread.
Just before she was about to close the app, her eyes caught something on her timeline. The Kalos newspaper had posted a picture of Ash shaking someone's hand. She zoomed in on the picture and gasped. There was no mistaken. It was their old friend Alain.
Legendary Rematch to Happen Today in Anistar City? the title read.
The rocking of the Mamoswine plowing through the deep snow almost put her to sleep. She had been traveling for eight hours and she barely had anything to eat or drink. The only thing she brought on her unplanned trip was the nut bar the professor had put in her backpack. She rubbed her hands together. Luckily she brought a winter coat, but gloves were the last thing she had in mind when she left.
The feeling of being swung around in the saddle brought back memories as well. She and Ash had ridden a Mamoswine together before. It was one of her fondest memories. Just the two of them and the serenity of the untouched snowy landscape. They had laughed until their stomachs hurt, told each other stories and had recalled their shared childhood experiences. Because she was sitting behind him, she could stare at him without feeling awkward.
After hours which seemed to last forever, she was met with an almost setting sun at the edge of Anistar city. The weather had gradually become warmer, forcing her to take off her jacket again.
She thanked her ride with a hug around its furry leg. It waved her goodbye with its trunk before turning around to return to its job.
Her legs felt weak and stiff after sitting in the cold for so long, but she had to keep on going. Soon it would be dark and she had no place to stay.
She paced the path down to the city, which she actually had always considered to be more of a big town. It felt different from how she remembered it. More apartment buildings in the famous, glass-structured style had been built in the past few years and the roads seemed livelier and busier too.
Serena decided to take a chance. The news of the match must have spread far and wide already. Maybe it had even already started for all she knew.
She tapped someone on the shoulder. ''Excuse me, miss, have you seen-''
Her breath got stuck in her throat when the woman turned around in surprise. A different hairstyle, but there was no mistaking. All grown up and tall, and still that indigo-blue hair and pink clothes.
Serena jumped back as if being stung. ''Miette?!''
Her former rival blinked a few times and stuck up her nose. ''Well, if it isn't our superstar.''
Fate was indeed a weird thing. She thought.''W-what are you doing here?''
''To see Ash, duh,'' she said, rolling her eyes. ''Why do you think the streets are so crowded here in this boring city?''
Jealousy welled up from within her. Something she hadn't felt since she stopped competing.''Why do you act like that's so obvious?''
''He's a celebrity! Of course, the news of him being him reaches fast and attracts crowds. What brings you back after so long?'' She took a step closer and narrowed her eyes. Serena hadn't missed that devilish smirk of hers. ''Did you just wait until he was at his most famous before testing your luck?''
Serena felt an all too familiar, nasty feeling in her gut. A mix of disgust and anger that made her feel sick. She immediately recalled her encounters with Miette and none of them were worth remembering. She could never decide on whose side she was.
''I'm here to see him,'' Serena stated, trying to keep her cool. ''That's all. It's none of your business why now of all times.''
The sun was sinking lower and lower, making the last of sunrays shine through the famous Anistar crystal sundial, located near the ocean. Serena narrowed her eyes, trying to get a glimpse of the magical sight that was unfolding on the horizon. It was then that she realised there was something going on in the little park in front of the monument. Two people were having a Pokémon battle amidst a growing crowd.
''Ash?'' she said so quietly, it came out as a whisper. She turned her head to Miette, who nudged in the direction of the crowd.
''Go get him,'' she said. ''You can have him.''
Serena looked at her in bewilderment. ''Thanks? I guess?''
Miette leaned in close enough to talk into her ear.
''I do expect tickets for your next show in Kalos though,'' she said. She jumped a step back and waved before taking off. Leaving Serena in utter confusion.
''That girl,'' Serena said as she shook her head, ''I'll never understand her.''
A roaring crowd released her from her nostalgic moment. It seemed like the fight had come to its climax, or maybe had even ended.
Serena started pacing again, but it quickly became running. Carefully maneuvering around the people in the streets, she ran as fast as her legs could carry her. Her lungs started to burn by the time she reached the end of the streets, but her heart ignored it.
She could see the crowd entering the battlefield and gather around the celebrities to ask for an autograph and picture. The people around her got closer, slowly suffocating her chance of getting closer. She pushed people aside, but she just kept running into people's backs.
''Wait for your turn, missy,'' someone snarled.
She looked around, there had to be a point where she was able to see him, and for him to see her. She had not waited all this time, made these decisions and journeys just to stand in line for him.
Without a second thought, she stepped on a bench that was located not too far from the monument and pulled herself up on the street lantern that was standing next to it.
Finally, she had a view of him. She waved her arm out. Please, let him look this way.
''Ash!'' She screamed from the top of his lungs.
He turned around in an instant. His hazel eyes met hers.
''Serena?!'' He yelled back. He started to make his way through the crowd, who all made way. Forming a tunnel from him to her.
She took a step down to the bench, which he had already reached. He held his arms out and she jumped right into them. He held her tight as he spun her around, their heads buried in each other's neck.
''What took you so long?'' she sobbed.
''I can ask you the same,'' he laughed back, tears welling up in his eyes as well.
He cupped her cheek with his hand, wiping away the tears that streamed down her face. He grinned.
''Seems like we both felt like it was the right time, right?''
Serena could do nothing more than nod.
''I'm so glad I followed my feelings,'' she said.
They slowly started to realise how much press had gathered by the amount of camera flashes and the rest of the crowd was filming their heartfelt moment.
He grabbed her by the wrist.
''Let's get out of here.''