So someone suggested this to me a while back and inspiration struck, so I figured I'd go for it. Here we go!
Misty:
Misty smiled widely as she kept her eyes on the TV.
Ash had done it. He had won the Alola League.
It reminded her of the time they were in the Orange Islands. He had tried to learn from the Indigo League. Despite the Orange League being unorthodox, Ash had made the most of it. He'd done things that kept taking her by surprise, like befriending Lapras. Given the Transport pokemon's situation at the time, Misty thought the fact that she grew to like Ash so much really said a lot about his budding skills.
And let's not forget earning Charizard's loyalty. Sweet little Charmander had completely changed since evolving and becoming Charizard had only made him worse. Misty had no idea how he put up with that (she knew pokemon could change in personality but the fact that Charizard became like this even after finally getting a caring trainer like Ash aggravated her).
In the end, Ash never gave up on Charizard, even after the fiasco at the Indigo League. In the end, his efforts had paid off and the two of them became brilliant friends and Charizard was one of his most reliable pokemon. The culmination of all his efforts was the battle against Drake, with him becoming the first one to triumph over the Champion in years.
He may not have won in Johto but he had done well, defeating Gary at last. Misty may have returned to the gym since then but she had tried to keep up with the news of her old friend. He never gave up on his dream and that drive took him through other regions and challenges and in the end, it lead to today.
Ash really was an inspiration-watching him motivated her to keep working to attain her own dream...not that she'd tell him, she didn't want him getting a big head.
There was no denying she had much to talk about with him. First things first, congratulations were in order.
Brock:
''Way to go, buddy.''
Brock grinned, watching the awards ceremony from the Pewter City pokemon center. He had been assisting Nurse Joy with her work as part of his role as a trainee when he heard the news about the League. He had never heard a single thing about this on his visit to Alola so it had definitely come as a surprise.
Ash's participation on the other hand? Not so much.
He never could abandon a challenge, Brock mused with an inward chuckle. Even when he'd first started. Many would take that as naivete and perhaps it was but he quickly learned that Ash was as brave as he was caring. Not to mention his excellent penchant for thinking outside the box, as many of his matches proved. Brock had experienced it firsthand. Who on earth would've thought to take advantage of the sprinklers in their match like tha? Brock had definitely never seen it coming.
He had jumped at the chance to travel with Ash and Misty, only family obligations preventing him from setting on his own journey for this long. Brock loved his siblings but the way his parents just took off like they had irked him. A part of him felt selfish for wishing they had been around even when he learned their reasons. Ash and Misty had been more than understanding though-assuring him that it was more than understandable and anyone would feel the same.
Brock had learned far more than he ever expected since setting out. Not only had their colorful adventures provided a treasure trove of experiences, naturally the people he had met and the friends he made also taught him many things. Brock was a firm believer in that it was never too late to learn. You always learn something new everyday after all.
He'd watched Ash from his beginnings to the skilled trainer he was today. The boy was still brash and headstrong (Arceus knows that wasn't likely to change) but he cared a lot about others. It was a big part of why they wound up helping so many people. Ash stumbled and made mistakes but he didn't give up-Brock liked that about him. They had traveled together through Kanto, Johto, Hoenn and Sinnoh and somehow Ash always seemed to be the heart of their group. He may have argued a whole bunch of times with Misty but the three of them had become best friends during the course of their travels. May, Max and Dawn considered him a mentor and looked up to him. (Though he didn't think they could get Max to admit that). Brock knew some stories from the other regions from the times he got in touch with Ash, Delia or Professor Oak but meeting the Pokemon School group showed how his best friend had a good influence on them just liked they influenced him.
That award ceremony was something else though-first those strange pokemon and then the exhibition match. And on top of that, Tapu Koko shows up...
Brock was sure that few trainers could boast of having such unique adventures as Ash. He was beginning to think that his best friend had met most, if not all, legendaries in at least some of the regions he had traveled. Things never got boring with Ash, that was for sure.
The teen's smile widened as he watched Ash approach Lillie and the others in the stands. He made a note to check when he'd come back to Kanto, Brock definitely wanted to do something to celebrate the occasion. Ash definitely had come a long way.
And maybe it was time they talk about significant others too-seeing how Ash got along with a bunch of the girls they came to know, Brock didn't think he could rest before finding a girlfriend for his best buddy. They could even be each other's wingmen!
For now though, he'd start working on some plans...
Tracey:
The Pokemon Watcher smiled to himself as he leaned back on the couch.
He had watched the Alola League and was now preparing a drawing of Ash holding up the cup. The teen had just told Ash's pokemon the news and they were thrilled, naturally. Knowing how affectionate they were, he wouldn't be surprised if Ash would be mobbed the second he came to visit.
Tracy would've loved to see the league in person but Professor Oak had gone to Alola and they couldn't leave the lab unattended. He was really happy for Ash, this was a step forward towards his dream.
He remembered being impressed by Ash early on. When those trainers challenged him and he'd won with ease, Tracey had been able to tell that Pikachu was in excellent care, unlike them. Ash helped them make strides with Lapras and they became great friends with the pokemon who saw them through the Orange Islands. Misty liked to tease Ash a bunch but they clearly cared for each other. He was a reliable friend with a big heart who could really reach out to pokemon. Tracey had met few with his passion for pokemon and he liked that-even when things were rough with them, Ash never gave up. It was these traits that helped him go so far. The boy tended to be dense (especially around girls) like Misty and Melody proved. He still wasn't sure where those two quite stood (and frankly he wasn't sure he could ask Misty). Ash was too focused on his dream to even consider anything of the sort.
Ash was a good part of the reason Tracey was where he was now. If he hadn't met Ash and Misty back in the Orange Islands, he wasn't sure when he would've worked up the nerve to approach Professor Oak to talk to him about becoming an aide-if ever. Even when they met back on Shamouti Island, Tracey had been a nervous wreck. Ash liked to tease him about those times but he didn't get it. Professor Oak was his idol. Ash grew up in the same town as the man-it was completely different. He'd learned so much since then.
Ash really had improved in leaps and bounds since they traveled together. His other league performances had impressed Tracey more than he could put in words. The boy was of the opinion that Ash could've won the Sinnoh League if Tobias hadn't been there. No one else had defeated his Darkrai through his entire gym circuit after all.
Actually, what happened to Tobias anyway? Tracey found himself wondering. You'd think someone with such powerful pokemon would tend to stand out but they'd never heard about him since. Even Professor Oak thought it was strange...
Tracey started at the feel of something slimy on his shoulder, smiling when he saw a familiar figure crouching behind him. ''Hey, Muk.'' The poison type waved in return, his eyes clearly on the sketch. ''Like it? I'm thinking of giving it to Ash when we see him...''
May:
May had stopped at her home in Petalburg for a visit when she heard about the Alola League. The minute Norman told her Ash was participating, she knew she had to watch the whole thing. It was a surprise to learn that Professor Kukui had been setting it all up-the man was quite a character. And there was Professor Birch...
''The winner of the first league, huh? Quite an honor.'' Norman mused.
''Ash earned it. He worked so hard. And as always he and his pokemon look like best friends...'' May trailed off, smiling.
He chuckled ''True, you don't see trainers bonding with their pokemon so well. Though you're doing pretty well on that front.''
''Thanks!''
It was funny how life worked sometimes. May never would've imagined that she'd grow to love pokemon as she did now. But she couldn't imagine her life without them now. She hadn't even been intending to be a trainer-not really. Her entire focus was on traveling, she had just gotten Torchic because she felt he was the best choice for her but then she'd met Ash and Pikachu, seeing examples of their strong bond was touching. She'd learned a lot from him over the course of their travels. He and Max were passionate about pokemon but she liked that Ash never tried to cram all the info he came to learn down her throat the way Max did sometimes. Her little brother clearly expected her to love pokemon just because the rest of the family did and that often got on her nerves. They had their spats (and looking back at some of them made May cringe in embarrasment) but Ash had proven to be a reliable friend. She'd discovered contests and came to love them, wanting to be her absolute best at them. Ash hardly knew any more than she did at the time but he still tried to help her. May couldn't imagine the journey without him, Max or Brock-she wouldn't be who she was without them.
May raised an eye, noticing her father's pensive expression ''What's up?''
''Oh, just thinking...that Naganadel. I've heard of Ultra Beasts in passing but the stories made them like nothing short of a menace. And yet Ash seems to know that one well...''
''I think they're friends.'' She stated. ''He told Dawn something about an unusual pokemon they met by chance and the little guy really liked them so he stuck around for a while. Ash did say he helped Poipole get home-it might have to do with that.''
''That makes sense. For all we know Poipole could have simply evolved.'' Norman guessed. ''Oh, right-you did say you were keeping in touch...''
''Yeah, when we can actually get a hold of Ash. As always, he's a real busybody.'' May said with a snort. ''I guess a bunch of Ultra Beasts are as dangerous as you said-he told me something about helping people who specialize in them before. Not that this is anything too out of the norm for him.''
Her father looked amused ''Going by the stories you and your brother mentioned, he's definitely had quite a career so far.''
''Just think, there's a whole bunch we don't even know...'' May smiled. ''...he's a reckless hothead but he means well.'' She glanced back at the screen. ''Good for him, he deserves this.''
Max:
Max was traveling in Unova when the Alola League kicked off but he wanted to see it the second he heard the news. He'd read a little about Alola before so he knew about some of its history. They apparently had the island challenge and Kahunas instead of gyms. It was an interesting concept.
Imagine his surprise at the sight of none other than Ash Ketchum being one of the participants.
In retrospect, it did sound like something he would love to join so it shouldn't be that surprising. He knew from May that the older boy had traveled to another region and he liked keeping in touch with their old friends too. It was just that Ash was a complete pain to get ahold of more often than not and he had gotten rather busy training for a while now.
His life as a trainer was something he'd awaited for a long time. It was everything he wanted to be and even more. He had prepared as much as he could, learning a lot about pokemon. The boy was proud to say that it paid off well and he had been able to help the others out along their travels.
He had been amazed when he met Ash, he never expected to encounter someone like him. The Johto League had been incredible and he was actually impressed to meet someone who did that well. Sure, he said differently to Ash but he was mostly messing around with him. Besides, he wasn't expecting Ash to actually fall for his pretence of being the gym leader. Who did that anyway?
Ash was a hothead and he could be something of a knucklehead plenty, but he was a really nice guy and looking back, Max could admit that he had been a brat often. Ash's skills as a trainer had impressed him since the Johto League-especially the match was Gary Oak. That one was just nothing short of incredible. It all just made him want to become a trainer faster so he could be like them-like those amazing trainers he'd admired for so long. And here was...
He glanced at the three present members of his team, Groyle (who he'd gotten from Professor Birch), Kirlia (the Ralts he had befriended long ago) and Mightyena (the Poochyena they met early in their travels). He was so happy to Kirlia and Mightyena again-they had become some of his strongest teammates.
They had lost in the Hoenn League and Max decided to start over in Unova. The loss had been frustrating and Max avoided thinking about it for a while but he remembdered that wasn't the way to go, that it wasn't right. It reminded him of what he learned from Ash-never giving up on your dream. He'd watched Ash after that bad loss against Brawly and how he figured out a strategy to win. Similarly with Anabel, trying to think of a way around her powers. And in the end, it worked. Max was somewhat envious of that. He tended to focus on strategy more often that not and coming up with plans on the fly like that was a bit of a struggle for him.
Ash was easy to rile up, rash and with quite the appetite to boot (the only other person who had seen eat that much by the time they met was May) but few had his passion towards pokemon. Max remembered Brock saying that Ash's pokemon felt how much he cared about them and they always gave their best for him in return. That may be true in battle. But some of them could be just as goofy as their trainer, Max thought with a bit of grin, Muk and Heracross immediately came to mind.
The boy's eyes flickered back to the TV, feeling determination rise within him. He still intended to battle Ash just like they promised. Champion or not, Max would ensure that it would be a battle of a lifetime.
Dawn:
''He won!''
Dawn and Piplup's cheers were among the loudest in Celadon's pokemon center. She was on her way to a contest but her plans changed once she heard about the Alola League. Not wanting to miss the event, she hurried back to the closest center to watch.
It was also how she discovered something-Ash had apparently quite a fanbase in Kanto. A bunch of people had gathered and it was clear that they were rooting for him. Dawn heard mentions of his league performances from various members in the crowd. The common consensus seemed to be that while Ash's performance in the Indigo League didn't particularly stand out, the boy's drive and continous growth as a trainer had earned him the respect of many.
Dawn smiled to herself, thinking that Ash definitely deserved this. He was a great trainer who tried his best for his pokemon and kept pursuing his dream. She didn't think it'd be an exaggeration to say that few shared his zeal. Today must feel like a culmination of his hard work.
''Isn't it amazing, Piplup?'' Her smile widened as Piplup chirped in agreement. ''Ash even won against those Ultra Beasts and he did great in that exhibition match.''
He had really improved since they last met. Dawn really had no idea what to expect when set out from home on her journey but she was so grateful to meet Ash and later Brock. The two of them had taught her a lot. Ash was impulsive but he cared a lot. Seeing his bond with his pokemon, like how his and Pikachu's bond was measured back in Jubilife, was quite a surprise. He'd given her advice to help catch her first pokemon and helped her work on her performances, traveling with May had given him some experience on contests and he tried to use that to help. Brock was the wise, calm older brother figure to the two of them and Dawn had no idea how they would have managed without him. Ash was the leader who pulled everyone together. The strength of his pokemon and their friendship made Dawn want something like that for herself with her own pokemon one day.
She really enjoyed watching him come up wth ideas-like the Ice Aqua Jet and the Counter Shield which she adapted into her own technique. Dawn still thought it was a shame that he wasn't a coordinator-creativity like that should be exercised on the stage!
Dawn's lips twitched ''Somethings never change though-you'd think he could have told us. We have got to teach that boy to keep in touch with his friends. It shouldn't be that hard to get a hold of a phone.'' Piplup nodded in commiseration, recalling how she and May tried to deal with the issue.
Keyworld being 'tried.'
''I gotta say though, it'd be interesting to meet someone like Professor Kukui. He's nothing like Professor Oak or Professor Rowan that's for sure...'' Dawn trailed off.
The two shared amused glances, thinking of the reveal that Professor Kukui being the Masked Royal. Dawn made a mental note to watch one of his matches sometime. He was clearly a big deal in Alola so she was curious to see what he was like in that form.
Dawn was called over by Nurse Joy, who informed that she had a phone call from Pewter City. Curious, the girl's face lit up when she saw who it was.
''Hey, Brock! How are you?'' She laughed a bit. ''Yeah, I'm great too. We saw the whole thing. That Ash, always full of surprises, huh?'' The girl blinked at what Brock said before smiling brightly. ''Awesome! I'll be there. Want me to grab anything on the way?''
Iris:
Iris had been in the middle of her training with Drayden when she heard about the Alola League. While it was interesting to hear of a new league beginning in another region, what really made her watch was Ash's participation.
She had returned to Opelucid City after visiting a few other regions to learn as much as she could about dragon types. When Drayden offered to train her, she had all too happily taken him up on the idea.
But she really had no idea what she got herself into. No wonder Drayden was known as the Spartan Mayor, those exercises were harsh. She didn't remember the last time she felt as tired as she after the first day of training. Iris knew that she and her pokemon were improving because of them so she kept at it.
She smiled to herself upon glancing at the most prominent proof of said improvement-her newly evolved Haxorus. Pride shone in her eyes as she watched him tussle with Excadrill-her sweet little Axew had grown so much!
Iris was perfectly aware that the main reason she came as far as she had was the journey she underwent with Ash and Cilan. She felt like a completely different person from those days. Excadrill had completely refused to listen to her and she was still struggling as to how she could raise Axew. It was an important task from the Elder and she had refused to fail. Axew had grown on her quickly and she wanted to do her best for the little guy. That issue with Dragon Rage sure had been a pain though...
Annoyance surged within her when she recalled Ash calling it Dragon Sneeze back then. Honestly, what did he know? Making a joke out of it was uncalled for. He really was a little kid. Both he and Cilan could be ridiculous sometimes, it felt like she was the one left to straighten them out more often than not.
At least Cilan was a gentleman, outside of his annoying over the top moments. Iris didn't even want to think of what it would've been like traveling with Ash alone. While she considered him a close friend, it was safe to say they would've driven each other crazy without a mitigating influence.
Her impression of Ash wasn't the greatest to say the least. The initial first impression aside, they'd somehow wound up butting heads quickly. Cilan liked to think it was because they had a lot in common but Iris was convinced that it was ridiculous. Why on earth would he say that?
She was still amazed to learn he encountered Zekrom, but judging by what Dawn said he had seen quite the share of legendaries. Heck-even Ho-oh on his first day as a trainer. Honestly, part of the reason she did keep pointing out that he was a little kid was the way he held himself sometimes. For an experienced trainer, he really didn't act like it. He really took things to such unnecessary extremes. He insisted on battling the Striaton Gym leaders when he could have just battled one and then that battle against Snivy, he'd only taken Pidove out of pure luck which enabled him to avert Snivy's attract. Not to mention taking only Palpitoad against Elesa-again why? And that was just what came on the top of her mind...you'd think a trainer with experience like his wouldn't be making such basic mistakes.
Don't even get her started on his recklessness. Just the thought of them made Iris want to give him a piece of her mind. She sometimes swore he enjoyed giving her and Cilan grey hairs.
Still...she smiled as she remembered the awards ceremony hours ago. Ash definitely earned this victory. Idiotic and reckless tendencies aside, Ash was a really good guy and an excellent trainer. He'd had quite an interesting team (she wanted to ask him about that strange steel type-there had to be quite a story there) and those matches were exciting. He had clearly worked hard to make it this far and it showed. She was happy for him.
''Done already?''
Iris stared and turned, seeing Drayden enter the gym. She smiled sheepishly ''No. S-sorry, I was just thinking about today...''
''It's quite all right. Ash performed excellently, didn't he? You must be happy for him.''
''Yeah! Honestly, I wouldn't have thought he became so much better but he's earned this victory...''
Drayden raised an eye ''For such good friends, you tend to be hard on him.''
''Someone needs to be.'' Iris huffed. ''Cilan's way too nice. The last thing we need is him getting a big head. I can totally see it with that little kid.''
''And yet that 'little kid' seems to be improving in leaps and bounds. If you're not careful, he'll surpass you before you know it.''
''No way!'' Iris said at once. ''Just you watch, I'm going to keep training to become the best Dragon Master ever. We'll battle again and I'll blow him away.''
''Let's see you prove that then-you know the drill. Continue from where you left off.''
''Right!''
Drayden huffed out a chuckle as he watched her leave. He could picture Ash saying something very similar. He didn't doubt Iris' potential. She had already surpassed him in some ways. Few seemed able to get a rise out of her like Ash Ketchum though. Whether Iris would admit it or not, they really were alike in a number of ways.
Cilan:
Cilan was just finishing up a gym battle when he heard about the Alola League. Like Iris, hearing about Ash's participation meant he just had to watch it.
Ash had proven to be an inspiration early on. He'd been intrigued ever since he watched him through the gym challenge. Iris was right-he didn't have to battle all three of them but he'd clearly done it for the challenge and won. And in the most unexpected way too-Oshawott had triumphed over Pansage in a way he'd never seen coming...
The match had shown Cilan the bonds he had managed to build with his pokemon. Pikachu was a given, seeing as they had been together for so long but just look what his encouragement did for Oshawott. And the pokemon had only been with him for such a short time.
As a pokemon conniseur, witnessing such bonds left him delighted. He'd really wanted to know more about how Ash seemed able to reach out to pokemon. What really surprised him was that the boy appeared clueless. As if it were just natural to him, traveling with him showed Cilan that it actually was that simple. Cilan thought it was all the more impressive actually. Ash was just that kind of person. His pokemon knew he cared and did the best for him in return. It was this sincerity that let him reach out to pokemon like Snivy and Tepig, who had no one to trust and consequently chose him to be their trainer. For all her teasing and comments, he thought that even Iris would agree that Ash was the main reason they could befriend Victini when they did.
The Kanto trainer was reckless and stubborn and sometimes too confident for his own good but hey, no one was perfect. Iris would say he was too nice in dealing with the boy often but Cilan thought it was all right for people to make mistakes-it was what people did after those mistakes that really mattered. And Ash had done well there, today was just all the more proof of that. Ash had really outdone himself in the Alola League.
As Chili called out to let them know another challenger had arrived, Cilan wondered what he could do for his good friend's sake. They simply had to celebrate the occasion somehow...
Serena, Bonnie and Clemont:
Bonnie was preparing to set out on her own journey when news of the Alola League came around. She was really excited-traveling with her brother and friends was a brilliant experience, don't get her wrong. Ash and Serena were like siblings to her at this point, she still wanted to make all sorts of experiences though. Her first pokemon was going to be Dedenne, of course. There was no way she could set out without him. Heh, she might be taking a page out of Ash's book.
There was so much she wanted to see-she might have traveled through Kalos with her brother and friends but there were definitely places they hadn't seen. So many pokemon lived in Kalos after all-the girl wondered if she would see Squishy or Ash's Greninja again. That would be great!
Professor Sycamore was also going to give her a starter and pokedex, as was customary for all pokemon trainers. She just had no idea which one to choose. All the starters seemed like good pokemon to her.
Her plans when put on halt when Serena came back from Hoenn a few weeks ago. She'd had a good run in the contests, experience from the pokemon showcase had clearly helped a lot and she clearly enjoyed them. It was great to catch up with Serena, Bonnie had really missed the girl. There was no denying that Bonnie thoroughly enjoyed teasing Serena about her kissing Ash, her expression was hilarious. How Ash missed Serena's crush on him was beyond her...
Then again, she supposed he was just that focused on his dream. He'd told her before how much he looked forward to starting his journey (a lot like her now actually) and how often he spent time with pokemon around Pallet town when he was younger. That drive and passion made Ash who he is, Bonnie couldn't imagine him another way and she was sure Clemont and Serena would agree. Heck, watching him like that made Bonnie want to be a trainer sooner. As reckless and over the top as he could be, Ash was a brilliant friend who had helped the three of them time and again. They had taken time to try keeping in touch with him, though it proved to be difficult with him busy in his travels. That was how they learned of Alola League when they did. They'd gotten together at Bonnie and Clemont's to watch it. The whole thing was brilliant-Ash had been great out there!
Clemont smiled to himself as he finished the finishing touches on his new invention. His creations didn't blow up nearly as much as they used to-which was such a relief...
He was glad Ash told them about the Alola League, even if he'd more or less let it slip, Clemont would've hated to miss it. He had read up on a few things on Alola since hearing that Ash had headed there. It had some fascinating stories and lore. Clemont found himself wandering what it'd be like participating in the Island Challenge, the whole thing sounded interesting.
Ash had been brillant in the Kalos League-even if he didn't win, his battles said a lot about his skill. But today, he had done it. He was the first ever Champion of Alola.
The blond still remembered running into Ash shortly after he was thrown out the gym by Clembot (and hadn't that been a mess). Clemont just didn't feel like he could focus on the gym so he wanted Clembot to help but he never thought things would spiral out of control like that. The Kanto trainer had impressed Clemont early on, proving how strong and brave he was. They had gotten along quickly and Ash easily admitted how much he came to rely on Clemont, which was was something particularly flattering from someone he admired.
Ash was the type who'd charge into things head first but Clemont had seen him try to curb that through their journey. He was just spontaneous and quick to act, the opposite of Clemont but the blond was especially happy to see how Ash came to appreciate science. Bonnie and Serena didn't get it but he was glad to see someone else feeling the same way he did. Seeing Ash's clear awe at his inventions made Clemont want to try harder to become a better inventor.
The way he went about as a trainer was inspiring. Things had seemed bad when he lost against Viola but Ash picked himself up and persevered, soon coming out on top. Clemont had learned a lot from him, he especially liked how Ash remained strong despite the setbacks in his way. He stumbled but he didn't give up. The way his pokemon team came together was amazing. Greninja was a shining example of that. Even Professor Sycamore had never known about the 'Bond Phenomenon' before. It was truly amazing. What they had come to learn proved that it was Ash and Greninja's strong friendship that enabled it. Given Greninja's circumstances as a Froakie, that really said a lot about how the kind of trainer Ash was.
Clemont made a note to get in touch with Ash as soon as possible. He really wanted to congratulate the boy as soon as possible. The boy thought about something he could do for the occasion, maybe he could come up with an invention? Hmm, decisions, decisions...
Serena lay down on her bed with a smile. Today had been such a nice day-they'd watched the Alola League together and saw Ash come out on top. She was delighted for him.
The girl was taken aback by Palermo's suggestion to go to experience the contests of Hoenn. She worried that the woman didn't think she was good enough and thus expected her to quit. Serena may not have known what she wanted to do in her journey but she came to love pokemon performing-she didn't want to give it up.
But when she thought about it, Palermo had even said she looked forward to seeing Serena's next performance. So maybe she thought something about the contests could help her improve. Serena had talked it over with her mother and Ash days before making up her mind and both of them agreed with her reasoning. Ash had a good bit of insight on contests due to his experience and it helped settle any of her misgivings on the matter. In fact, the two events were more alike than she expected.
Traveling through Hoenn proved to be an enlightening experience. She wasn't sure what to think at first but she liked contests well enough. They were different from the Tripokalon but they had their own charm. She wanted to be Kalos Queen to help make people happy and she could see that coordinators could do that as well. Participating in contests had given her a new perspective, she felt more ready than ever to try her next shot at being Kalos Queen.
Serena giggled a bit, thinking of how unlike her that determination used to be. At first, she was so lost-having no idea what goal she should choose. Her mother wanted her to be a Rhyhorn Racer like her but even Grace knew that she wasn't fond of the idea. Ash was part of the reason she set out when she did, she had never forgotten the kind boy who really went out of his way at the summer camp. She hated that they had to travel to Kalos when they did-otherwise they would've been friends that much sooner. That whole mess at the tower made Serena's heart stop but she was so glad Ash came out all right.
It was disappointing that he didn't remember her at first but maybe the memory just didn't mean the same to him as it did her. That was okay though, they still got to be friends quickly and he invited her to travel with him, Bonnie and Clemont. She'd learned a lot from the three of them. Even little Bonnie, who had yet to be a trainer, was intent on making the most of the journey. The girl had felt bad, they were all so determined but she had no idea what to do with her life. They were more than understanding though and it was with their help as well as that of Shauna and Aria, that she was on this path. She was less than pleased to learn the truth about the Lumiose Gym but she could see that Clemont was in a tough spot and he tried handling the situation in the best way he knew. Both siblings were great friends and she was glad to have them in her life.
Shauna proved to be a closse friend who made her want to learn about performances- but the one who'd really made her want to be better in performances was Aria. She'd heard of the Kalos Queen even before leaving home-she was a popular figure admired by many after all. The day she spent with Aria proved that she more than deserved her excellent reputation. Aria had done so much for her in that little time just because she wanted to do. They'd had a great day together and Serena was more than happy to call the redhaired girl a friend and a rival.
Seeing Ash work hard to become the best trainer he can be made Serena want to learn more. He was amazing-of course she knew he was reckless, sometimes arrogant and maybe careless but he had the biggest heart of anyone she knew and that was what made her like him. Ash's drive helped them all pull together through the obstacles in their way. She wanted to be supportive to him and the others-even if she didn't have a dream, she could at least help them with theirs. He was their optimistic leader who hardy ever gave up hope and helped them all keep going because of that attitude. It was part of the reason she liked him so much. He had his limits of course, as could be expected of anyone. Ash's lowest point through their journey had been after his loss to Wulfric and they'd gotten into a fight about his behavior but in the end, he picked himself up and won the following day.
Looking back, Serena could admit that she may have had a bit of a crush since the camp but getting to know him over their journey made those feeling grow even stronger. Just thinking of that made her face grow warm as she remembered kissing him at the airport. It was something she felt she had to do but in the end, she'd wound up too embarrassed to talk to him for a while. Serena vowed to avoid doing things on impulse as much as possible. Things were a bit awkward when the subject came up but Serena admitted that she simply wanted to make her feelings known. Ash admitted that he needed time to think about it as such relationships weren't something he really thought about, which she understood. It would hurt if he didn't feel the same about her but they would still be friends. He was too important to her to let such a thing ruin it.
Ash had taken a good step forward to his dream today. It was definitely something to celebrate-she wanted to get in touch with him later. Maybe they could visit him or something? They could throw a party!
As Serena would learn a few hours later, she wasn't the only one who had the idea...
Delia had gotten a call from Tracey that made her smile widely. It seemed he, Brock, Dawn and Misty had gotten together to plan a party for Ash's victory. She was thinking of throwing such a thing herself but they had beaten her to the punch. Her son really had some great friends. The four had even called up Ash's other friends in the regions he visited to come to Pallet Town for the occasion. It was so thoughtful of them!
She was now busy preparing food for the party, knowing how much Ash loved her cooking. They were going to have fun. Delia really couldn't wait to see Ash's face he came back. He was going to be in for a great surprise.
Well, that's the end of it.
I hope it was good. Sorry if my details aren't quite accurate but I haven't watched all the Alola season. As much as I like the Sun and Moon games, the anime is a bit lacking for me. I did watch the Alola League but there's some stuff I wasn't quite sure I remembered right...
Someone suggested this idea to me before and I wondered, how would Ash's friends take the news of his victory? I can't remember if Serena talked to anyone about Palermo's suggestion to go to Hoenn but I figure Ash would be able to give her a nudge in the right direction. I just figure it makes sense for them to make friends and try to keep in touch so I put that little idea there. Dawn's gotten to know Iris and May pretty well because of it and they hear some of Ash's stories from time to time.
They haven't really done anything about Ash and Serena's relationship in canon so I put the consequences of the kiss scene in the best way I could think of. I'm a little biased because I like the idea of him and Serena as a couple but I figure him taking time to think his feelings over is understandable.
Welp, thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed it. Hope you read my other stories.