Thank you all for your enthusiasm and messages, I really love writing this story and although I have no idea how long it will be, I hope you all will continue to enjoy it ^^
''It really is that obvious, huh?'' Ash said, rubbing his nose. He pretended to be distracted by the scales on Garchomp's skin and traced them with his fingers. ''Clemont and Bonnie saw through me right away too...''
''Took you long enough to realise you have feelings for her,'' Mairin grinned.
''I think I've always known,'' he replied, ''I just never had the courage to see her again I guess.''
''She's in Sinnoh now, right?'' Augustine said, ''she's all over social media at the moment.''
Ash nodded. ''Guess I have to spend my Kalos holiday visiting old friends again.''
''What's your next destination?'' the professor asked.
''I want to visit Greninja and Goodra here, I've missed them a lot.''
''If you plan to meet up with Alain too, he might be even working together with Greninja at the moment.''
Ash's face lit up. ''Really? That'd be awesome!''
''Hold up, let me call,'' Mairin said as she pulled her phone from her pocket.
After she dialed a number, a second screen popped up on her phone and a voice could be heard.
''Hi dad!'' she said and waved, ''look who I got here.'' She turned her screen towards Ash.
An all too familiar face looked right at him. He still had the same, burning look in his crystal-blue eyes, but now sported glasses and a stubble beard. A wave of nostalgia hit the trainer. Taking him all the way back to the thrilling finale they'd both been part of.
Ash waved. ''Hey Alain!''
''No way!'' he let out from the other side of the screen. ''Ash, long time no see!''
''Right?'' Ash said, ''I can't believe we still haven't had a rematch!''
He gestured Garchomp and Pikachu to come watch the screen with him and they both let out sounds of joy as they waved towards the camera. Alain waved back.
''Is Greninja with you at the moment?'' Ash asked.
''Steven and I actually planned to meet up with him tomorrow, do you think you can make it to be there with us?''
''If the public transport here is fast enough, I can make it.'' Ash joked.
''I have an idea,'' Alain replied. ''just stay at the lab today, that's all I can say.''
Ash laughed. ''I can't wait!''
They all waved Alain goodbye before Mairin disconnected the call.
Ash jumped up in excitement. ''I can't believe I'm going to meet Greninja, Alain and Steven again tomorrow!''
They later sat down for dinner, which the professor had skillfully prepared for them. Ash had to tell Mairin all about the gyms he had battled and the competitions he had won, while Augustine exchanged the latest news about all the professors with him. They discussed Pokémon diets and Ash mentioned how he tried to visit all of his Pokémon in the last few years.
''Greninja is doing great as far as I'm aware,'' the professor said, ''As for Goodra, I think you should be prepared. You know that Goodra are a species that are known for getting old, but he lives in the wild and hasn't been sighed for a while-''
''He's still around,'' Ash interrupted him and put his hand over his own heart. ''I'd have felt it if something had happened to him.''
Pikachu nodded.
''Of course you would, I apologise, I just wanted to let you know.''
A loud, repetitive knock on the window made them all jump off their chair.
''What was that?!'' Mairin let out, catching her breath. The curtains were closed, so they hadn't seen what had made the noise.
The professor ran to the door and looked to his left.
A tall, bird-like Pokémon glided to the doorstep and crowed. Around his neck was a bag it was proudly wearing.
''Unfezant!'' Ash said in surprise, popping up from behind the professor, ''You're Alain's Unfezant, aren't you?''
It nodded and cawed, letting its long head feathers dangle up and down like a spring.
''What do you have there for us?'' Mairin asked and reached for the bag. The Pokémon took a step back and shook its head.
Augustine and Ash laughed about how serious it was about its job. It walked toward Ash and gestured with its wing to take the bag from him. He did, and out of the bag, he took a pokéball. A slightly rusty one and of an older type.
As he traced the button with his thumb, he could feel something travel down his spine. Flashbacks started playing in his mind, taking him back to eleven years ago.
He pushed the button and the ball expanded to his touch. A bright red flash shot out of it and formed a giant shape in front of the astonished group.
The red light faded away a revealed a dragon-like Pokémon. It had clearly grown, Charizard were known to never stop growing and elderly individuals could grow up to twice the size of a young adult one.
It shook its mighty head and a rumbling groan escaped its belly. It turned its head towards Ash and gave him an intense, yet kind gaze. As if it was trying to say:
''Long time no see.''
A welcoming breeze blew through Serena's hair as she set foot on Kalosian soil again. It was as if she'd never left and like it had been a while at the same time.
She took her phone out of her skirt's pocket. Her message to Ash was still unread.
''Please,'' she whispered with a hint of frustration in her voice, ''just read it, you big idiot.''
She scrolled through her notifications and noticed she had over ten missed calls from Shauna. She knew she'd have to justify her stupid decision eventually, but confronting it was harder than she thought.
She held her phone to her ear with a shaking hand as she frantically looked around if she was recognised already. Serena had hidden her famous hair in a ponytail and a cap and wore sunglasses and baggy clothing in the hope of not running into any fans. Nobody could know she had left Sinnoh in the midst of her tour.
Hidden in a corner in the airport hall, she could hear the phone connect within moments.
''What do you think you're doing, Serena?! Leaving the country during your first tour? Seriously. what has gotten into you?!'' Shauna blasted through the phone speakers and Serena did a helpless attempt to mute it with her hand.
''I left a note,'' Serena said as calmly as possible.
''You sure did!'' Shauna started to rant again. '' 'I have to follow my heart', you said. If I did that too, I'd be on Alola, making cocktails with the local Pokémon to serve tourists. Seriously, I can't believe you ditched me!''
''I didn't,'' she fired back. ''I said I'd make it back in time for the next show, I promised.''
''This dream, whatever it is, better be worth it.''
''You would have stopped me if I told you beforehand.''
''Of course I had! I'm the one to stop your stupid, impulsive ideas from happening.''
''Shauna, I promise, I will be back before the next show,'' Serena said and ended the call.
She let out a deep sigh and rested her back against the wall. She had to find him, tell him how she felt and return back to Sinnoh. Easy, right?
Serena scrolled through her contacts and realised something. Mom.
''Shit, shit, shit...'' she murmured, realising she had used a false excuse for her mother while she wasn't even planning to visit her right now.
She called her quickly and let her know she was staying in Lumiose for the day to catch up with Bonnie and Clemont. That would buy her some time for sure.
Now the next step was finding out where Ash went from Vaniville town. He could literally be anywhere. There must be someone who knew where he was, right?
''Serena?!'' The professor let out stunned as he opened the door. ''You're kidding, right?''
''I sure had expected a different reunion, professor,'' Serena laughed sheepishly.
''I know, I know, I'm sorry,'' Augustine said, ruffling his hair in frustration. ''Come in for some tea, please.''
They sat down for some tea and sweets and he informed her of Ash his visit the day before.
''He left just last night, he must have arrived in Anistar city by now.''
Serena sighed. ''You're kidding...''
''I wish I was.''
''Anistar can only be reached by using Pokémon. Routes 16 and 17, which consist of swamps and mountains filled with snow, can barely be traveled by foot or bike.''
The professor laughed. ''You certainly know badly every village and city are connected here.''
She let out a deep sigh. ''What am I supposed to do now? Ash won't respond to any messages.''
Augustine raised a brow. ''He hasn't?''
Serena shook her head. ''He never had an assistant and I doubt he ever reads messages in his inbox, he just posts a picture and disappears online for months again.''
''That sounds like him, to be fair,'' he laughed.
''I just don't know what to do, how will I ever get there?''
Augustine's face lit up. ''I think I have just the right partner for you right here.''