Yo, friends of fanfiction, I'm back with another one-shot/special. Now, this is a sequel to my Christmas one, "Miette for Christmas" so, I'd recommend you read that one first. You can probably just read this one on its own, but to fully enjoy it... yeah, read my other one.
It's been five days since Christmas, making it December 30th, and the pokemon league has come and pass, Ash placing second. Yeah, he didn't win, which did bum him out a bit, but he's found something even greater than winning the league here in Kalos. A beautiful, blue-haired, somewhat bratty, girlfriend. By the name of Miette! Currently, him and his girlfriend, as well as Clemont and Bonnie, were saying their goodbyes to Serena, whom was Hoenn bound, "Well, see yea." Ash said, nostalgia in his eyes as he watched Serena.
"Yeah." She simply said with a nod.
Bonnie had tears in her eyes, Miette had a warm smile on her face, she will miss that girl... and Clemont was feeling sad too... But, he did want to lift the mood, since they all shouldn't send Serena off with sorrow, "So, uh, where are you going after this, Ash?" He asked, fixing his glasses.
Realization shown on Serena's face, "Yeah, I'd like to know too."
"Well..." Ash began, rubbing the back of his neck, "I'm gonna go home for bit." He said with a smile.
"Oh?" Miette muttered, "And what about me...?"
Ash froze under the side-eye that he was getting from his girlfriend, "I was gonna invite you to come!" He blurted out.
Miette smirked and grabbed hold of Ash's arm, "I accept."
The other three stared at the lovebirds blankly, as they have been for these past few days.
Ash mistook their gazes as feeling of being left out, and said, "You all can come too, if you want."
Miette sulked, she loved him, but her boyfriend could be dumb, "I wanted you all to myself..." She muttered, no one heard her.
"Really?!" Bonnie exclaimed, stars in her eyes, "That's sounds great!" She cheered with a hop, "We can go, right brother!?"
Clemont rubbed his chin in thought, "I don't see why not." He said with a smile, eager not to say goodbye just yet, "I'll have to tell dad, though..."
"Yes!" Bonnie did a double-fisted pump in excitement, "I can't wait to meet his mom!"
"That's the part you're excited about...?" Miette mumbled in dumbfoundment, hugging her body as if to ensure no one heard her...
"Sounds like a plan!" Ash said happily with a snap of his fingers, "This will be great!" He cheered, happy that he doesn't have to say goodbye to some of his buddies just yet.
Miette put on a forced smile and said, "It sure will be..." She was still a bit upset that she won't have Ash all to herself, but... she'll get over it. Bonnie and that Clemont boy aren't bad... A smirk crept onto her face when she saw the fourth member of Ash's little group, looking oh so sad, "It's too bad that you're going to Hoenn now of all times..." Miette said, a smirk ever present on her face as she shook her head in what seemed like pity.
Serena clenched her fist in frustration, Miette's word were getting to her, and she knew that that blue-haired vixen knew that too, which only had Serena even more frustrated, "Fine..." She muttered, only intending her love rival to hear her, which by her perked ears, it seemed that Miette heard her, "I'm coming too!"
Ash, Clemont and Bonnie looked at her in surprise, Miette on the other hand was hold back a teasing giggle. After all, she didn't want her boyfriend to know she just did... "Huh?" Ash replied, giving himself more time to think of a proper reply, "What about Hoenn?" He asked what everyone was thinking, well, not Miette, she knew that Serena still couldn't let go of Ash just yet, so she'll grip onto anything she can. Even though she already lost...
"Well..." Serena paused, trying to think of a good excuse to follow the boy she fell for a little longer, "Well... I can always get a flight to Hoenn out of Kanto, so..."
Miette sighed and shook her head, tired of Serena blubber, "She doesn't want to leave all of you," She said, speaking for Serena, "Yet, right?"
Serena let out a low growl, "Right..." Was all she said, followed by a sigh, "This that alright we you, Ash?" She shyly asked, a blush on her face.
Ash, ever oblivious to Serena's feelings, just smiled and nodded, "Yep, if that's what you want, then we can all go to Kanto!" He outstretched his arms, as if to cover the group in happiness, "This'll be great!"
Miette locked her arm around Ash's, "It sure will be..." She purred, directing her teasing gaze at Serena, knowing exactly why she wanted to come along.
Clemont, almost as oblivious as his buddy, just moved the conversation along, "Let me go call dad, and tell him the change of plans." And off he went in search of a video phone.
"I'll come too!" Bonnie said, chasing after her brother, Dedenne holding onto her bag for dear live as his partner ran after her brother. Both Miette and Serena let out giggles at poor Dedenne. They may not agree on everything, but they can both appreciate cute things.
Ash's eyes went wide and untangled his arm out of his girlfriend's, much to her displeasure, "I should call my mom and tell her about everyone coming!" And with that, he too ran off to call his parent about the change of plans, leaving Serena and Miette alone for the first time since their game was over, and Miette being the winner, the keeper of Ash's heart.
Miette sighed, the absence of her love already forming a hole in her heart. But, she decided to turn her attention over to someone almost as interesting, "I want to say something mundane and dramatic like, 'don't think I don't know what you're doing,' but that would be pointless, after all, you know I know." Miette monologue, looking at Serena with a pitying gaze.
Serena wanted growl and stare daggers at the blue-haired brat in front of her, but she knew that would be wrong... at least, a little bit... "I know the 'game,' as you put it, is over..." She began, lamenting at her own failures, but she has to accept them, "But... at least let me have this... this last time with him... before you two run off and..." She couldn't finish, the thought of never seeing Ash again without Miette right at his side... hurt, but... she knew she had to accept that... She lost, and that's okay... She just has to accept that, like everything else...
Miette put her hand up to stop Serena and her blubbering, "Yeah, yeah, I get it." She slowing lowered her hand and formed a genuine smile, "It's alright, I guess. You can have this."
Serena sighed and a smile crept onto her face as well, "Thank you, Miette..."
"Eh, whatever, it not like I own him, or anything..." Miette muttered in response, "Not yet, anyway." She stared Serena dead in the eyes as she lick her lips.
"MIETTE!"
After clearing any and all confusion the parents may have, our heroes boarded a plane bound for the Kanto Region. After a brief game the Blue-haired performer played called 'making sure I sit next to Ash, no matter what' the plane was lifting off. Clemont and Bonnie were able to sit next to each other, and of course Miette made sure to sit next to her love. Serena on the other hand was alone... She got the seat right behind the siblings, "It could be worse..." She told herself. At least she's alone and not sitting next to some creep.
Bonnie looked around the plane, she saw many people she didn't know, but they were not what or who she cared about. She looked to her left to she the new lovebirds, who were just as odd as she suspected... Miette was nibbling on Ash's ear, seemingly for attention, which he gave into with a kiss on the lips, which caused the girl of the two to blush deep red before quickly returning the kiss in stride. Bonnie shook her head at the two. She thought of Miette as a good person, but definitely a... flirtatious and... maybe a bit of a possessive person, but when someone fired back, like Ash kissing her, she melted... "So odd..." Bonnie mumbled. Despite these thoughts, she's happy for her and Ash. Is she a bit sad for Serena? Most certainly, but... Serena did have many chances... Even if Ash is a complete dense rock when it comes to romance...
To Bonnie's right was just her brother, nothing special there... But, behind her was a certain honey-blonde young woman... Despite never really voicing it, she always hoped that someone would take Ash off the market so that SHE, Bonnie, could play a fun game of her own... A smile crept onto her face, the thought of someone like Serena taking her brother off her hands was a magical thought! She could cook, clean, dress well, pretty much all you need in a woman, right? "Right!" Bonnie thought with a nod of her head!
Bonnie tapped her brother on the shoulder, once his attention was on her, she said, "I'm going to the restroom," Clemont replied with a nod and went back to looking out the window, marveling at, not the landscape below, but the plane wings. Bonnie got up from her seat after shaking her head at her brother's weirdness and made her way to the 'bathroom' which was actually just the seat behind them, consisting of a lone Serena.
Serena looked to her left to see Bonnie walking up to her, "Hmm, is something wrong Bonnie?" She asked with a hummed.
"Meep!" Bonnie whimpered in surprise, not expecting Serena to call out to her. She hadn't come up with a good excuse for the two girls to trade places yet! "Uh..." She mumbled in response.
Serena raised an eyebrow at the girl's behavior, "Are you okay?" Concern for the girl rising along with her eyebrow.
Bonnie's mind raced for a good excuse, and then she realized... Serena thinks something's wrong with Bonnie... Perhaps she can make a little white lie and play into this assumption of Serena's. She mentality apologized to Serena and then said, "Yeah, I think I just need some rest..." Bonnie moaned, faking a yawn, "Do you mind if we trade seats so I can lay down?"
Serena narrowed her eyes in concern for the little girl she viewed as a sister, "Of course," Serena stood up and lifted up any arm rests so that the seats formed a long bed looking space, "Get some rest, me and your brother will be right in front of you, OK?"
Bonnie hugged Serena, "Thanks Serena," with that her mission was over, she had got Serena to sit next to her brother. Bonnie definitely felt bad with her lying, but she'll pay her back in some way eventually.
Serena made sure Bonnie was laying down before taking her new seat next to Clemont, tapping on his shoulder with the intention of explaining what's going on, "Clemont?"
Clemont jumped in surprise, totally entranced by the plane, "Wha?! Oh, hey, what's up Serena?" He looked around, "Where's Bonnie?"
Serena explained what was going on, "I think she must have exhausted herself with all the excitement."
Clemont fixed his glasses, taking a peek at his sister behind him, who was faking sleep, "I see, thank you for taking care of her, Serena."
Serena smiled and nodded, "Of course, I view her as my own little sister," She let out a short giggle.
Bonnie snickered under her breath, "If you get my brother to put a ring on it, you can be my actual sister..." She mumbled silently, covering her smirking mouth with her hand, hoping no one heard her.
"Still, thanks..." Clemont murmured, looking around with rosy cheeks, her smile was always something that sparked such a reaction in his system.
Once Miette made sure her love was happily napping on her shoulder, she brushed the hair out of his eye with a soft, content smile. But, her attention was pulled away from her cute, raven-haired, sleeping boyfriend when she heard a familiar giggle. She looked to her right and saw Serena and Clemont chatting, the yellow-blond with a red tint on his face, "How interesting..." Miette muttered under her breath with a teasing smile, "I wonder what kind of fun I can have with this development..."
The group of five de-boarded the plane, they were now in their leaders homeland, Kanto, Vermillion City to be exact.
Ash leaped from the stair leading out of the plane to the ground below and took in a deep breath, "Ahhh, I missed that smell, the smell of Kanto air!"
Miette caught up to her boyfriend and did the same as he was and smelt the air, "I..." She hesitated before signing and muttering, "I don't think the air smells any different..."
The other three were able to catch up to the love birds and let out collective laughs at their behavior. Clemont was the first to speak up, "We are now in Vermilion City, yes?"
Ash nodded, "Yup, we need to go through route 1 before we can get to Pallet town, home." He stretched his legs, "So, no time to waste!" And with that he dashed off.
"Wait! Don't leave me my love!" Miette ran after him, holding out her arms as if she was going to hug Ash when she caught him.
"Those two... Sure are interesting together..." Bonnie said with a shake of her head.
Serena sighed, "You got that right," she groaned, the pain in her heart still present.
Clemont scratched his cheek, unsure of what to do, knowing what pains Serena so, "Uh, should we go after them?"
"Yeah..." Serena sighed with a shrug.
After a quick hop, skip and jump through route 1 our heroes were now on the outskirts of Pallet town, the home and birth place of our main hero.
"So, this is your hometown, my love?" Miette asked, hanging off Ash's arm, taking in the landscape, "It's quite... quaint, fitting for you." Miette mumbled, enjoying the different feeling, after all, she was a city gal, she's never really been to such a small, quaint town.
Ash nodded, eager to run down the hill and see his mother, "Yup, there's no town quite like Pallet." He grabbed his girlfriend's hand, "C'mon, I want you to meet my mom!" And with that, he ran down the hill, pulling Miette with him.
"WHA-WAIT! I'm not ready yet!" Miette stuttered, trying to fix her hair as they ran.
Bonnie snickered at the two lovers, "I could watch them all day..."
"Uh, should we go after them?" Clemont asked, gesturing his hand forward.
"Yeah..." Serena sighed with a shrug, "Wait, didn't we just do this?"
As Serena, Clemont and Bonnie tried to catch up to the couple, they took in the small town of Pallet, "It's so peaceful here..." Serena mumbled in amazement as she watched the towns folk go about their lives and entering and exiting their quaint homes.
"It's completely different from Lumiose city..." Bonnie said, her eyes flashing scenes of the bustling city she called home and tried to compare it to the quiet, peaceful, almost village that is Pallet, "It's amazing."
"It really is..." Clemont added, fixing his glasses, making sure he was seeing all he could.
As the three were taking the town in, not used to such a place, being the city kids they are, they heard some feminine laughter, "You three must not be from around here, yes?" The three were pulled in the direction of the voice and were met with the appearance of a woman, around 30 it seemed, with mahogany hair and amber eyes. She was wearing a pink short-sleeved jacket with a yellow undershirt, a purple skirt, and light green shoes. She was holding a bag of groceries.
Serena blushed in embarrassment, "Th-that's right, sorry, we're from Kalos, so we've never really seen such a town..." She admitted, slightly hiding her face with her hat, hoping she didn't offend the local woman.
The woman let out a cheerful laugh, "Oh, that's quite alright." She assured the group, "Actually, my son is coming home from Kalos himself."
Clemont's eyes went wide and he fixed his glasses, "Really?!" He paused, an idea coming to mind, "Who's your son?"
"Oh, he's-"
"MOM!" The group and woman turn towards the sound of the voice, a young man with raven black hair running towards them, with a short, blue-haired girl chasing after him.
"Oh, there's my son." The woman said, waving at her son.
"That means..."
"You're Ash's..."
"His mother..."
Serena, Bonnie and Clemont said in that order, finishing each other's sentences.
When Ash made it up to his mom, "Hey!" His eyes then went wide in surprise, "Huh, you guys found my mom before me?"
Ash's mother laughed in her hand, "Ah, so you three must be the friends Ash told me about," The three nodded, taken-aback by the sudden and unorthodox way this all happened, "Well, it's nice to meet you, I'm Delia, Ash's mother."
After an exchange of 'Nice to meet you's' and 'My name is...' Ash spoke up, "Oh yeah, mom, there's someone I'd like to meet."
These words made Delia's eyes go wide, causing her to stop talking to her son's friends and turn towards her son, "And who might that be?" She asked, already knowing he must mean the blue-haired girl next to him.
Ash put his hands around Miette's waist and walked up closer to his mother, taking his girlfriend with him, "Mom, this is Miette, my girlfriend."
Miette gave a slight bow with rosy cheeks, "It's nice to meet you, mo-mother..." She stuttered, internally cursing herself for her stuttering, stupid, embarrassed self. She didn't mean to just say mother! She meant to say 'Ash's mother!' well, it's too late now! She bit her lip as all these thoughts rushed through her head, but, unbeknownst to her, the mother had a much more different inner turmoil.
Delia's eyes went so wide the other three of the group thought they might fall out. "Your... 'Girlfriend?'" The mother repeated, not believing the words.
Ash nodded, placing a comforting on Miette's shoulder, "Yup, and she's great." Miette's face only got redder from Ash's honest declaration.
Serena smirks slightly, enjoying being on the opposite side of this dance they used to do, "Heheh, who's the embarrassed one now...?"
Delia coughed into her hand, clearing her throat, "Well, that's just..." Miette seized up when she paused, fearing the worst, "JUST WONDERFUL!" She pulled Miette into a giant bear hug, lifting her small frame into the air, "OH, I'M SO HAPPY, I NEVER THOUGHT A WOMAN COULD EVER GET THROUGH MY SON'S DENSE HEAD, I CAN FINALLY BE A GRANDMA!"
Miette's eyes turned into swirls, her face completely red, "Grandma?!" She let out a failing squeak, "No, not yet, I mean I'd love to, but we haven't, I!" She let out senseless blubber as she was shook around by the mother.
Bonnie and Serena laughed at the poor girl, for different reasons sure, but they still laughed together.
"I'm glad you like her mom." Ash said, completely oblivious to anything happening, like usual.
Delia finally put Miette after giving her a kiss on the cheek, "Oh I just love her!" She said, petting Miette in the head, ruffling up her hair, "Come, we must get home, I need to know every little detail on how this wonderful girl dug through the rock that is my son's head!" She grabbed Miette's hand and ran off, all while Miette was still spitting out nonsensical blubber.
"I don't really know what you mean by that, but I'm right behind you mom!" Ash said, running after his mom.
Clemont fixed his glasses with a nervous chuckle, "Heh, I guess we know Ash gets his energy."
Now at the Ketchum residence, Delia was showing Miette everything she could, Ash's room, all his baby clothes and pictures, both girls were enjoying each other's presence and time. In the living room sat and uncomfortable Ash with his three other friends, "What could my mom possibly be showing her now?" Ash said, trying to look up to his room, hoping to catch a glimpse of what his mother and girlfriend are doing. His friends laughed at his embarrassing situation.
In the background, the TV was on, playing the news, the gang wasn't really paying any attention to it, until something caught Clemont's attention, "Oh, that's right, it's New Year's eve, I forgot."
This made Serena look at the TV to see that the date displayed was in fact December 31, she didn't even realize that a day passed on the plane, since she mostly slept through it, "I forgot too, it really snuck up..." She mumbled.
Bonnie didn't think too much into it, until a devilish thought crossed her mind, that was until Ms. Ketchum came back down and said, "That's right, it's almost a new year!" She then whispered into Miette's ear, "Are you planning to kiss Ash when the time comes?"
This caused Miette to turn red once again, "Wha?! I mean, of course, but, I!" She was the queen of stuttering today.
Bonnie snickered with a devilish thought, "People typically kiss when the new year hits..." She thought, looking at Serena and Clemont, who were talking about their shared forgetfulness of the upcoming new year, "I wonder if I can use this..." She mused, following with a low giggle, that she hoped no one heard, but one person did. And that blue-haired vixen raised her eye in confusion.
Delia and Serena were in the kitchen preparing some snacks to keep everyone energized for the midnight trek. Clemont and Ash were at Professor Oak's ranch showing off all his pokemon. So, it was only Bonnie and Miette in the living room, and the older girl had somethings on her mind for the younger girl to hear. "Hey, we need to talk." Miette said, a little more snappy than she intended.
Bonnie, who was snacking on some crackers, raised an eyebrow at the sudden inquiry, "What's up?"
Miette paused for a moment, trying to think of how she wanted to approach this, she didn't want to have the wrong idea and, well, that would just be embarrassing, "Two words, Serena and Clemont... Catch my drift?"
Bonnie squinted her eyes, caution on how to approach this, not wanting to get the wrong idea, she played dumb, "What about them?"
Miette grumbled, biting her lower lip, being sneaky and indirect, was not her strong suit, "I think something about them, but if you figured it out yourself, tell me." She said, not really know if that made any sense.
Bonnie licked her lips, she was pretty sure they had the same idea going on, "Something between, right?"
Miette sighed, pretty much convinced they were on the same page, "1... 2... 3..."
"I want to get them together." They both said at the same time, when they realized they smirked at each other.
"Well, good to know we're on the same page, little girl." Miette said, her mind racing with this new information, hoping she can have some fun with this new revelation.
Bonnie nodded happily, "Yup, I think she can take care of my brother really well!" Both wanted the same thing, but for very different reasons. Miette wanted to have some fun with Serena and Bonnie wanted to make sure her brother is taken care of, both not knowing the difference in their intentions.
"Work together?" Miette asked, outstretching her hand for a shake.
"Together." Bonnie shook her hand.
At Professor Oak's ranch Ash and Clemont were enjoying the company of the many pokemon Ash had caught throughout the years, but they decided to take a break on a nearby bench. "Here," Ash said, handing Clemont a bottle of water.
"Oh, thank you." Clemont accepted, taking a small sip after the intensity of the pokemon playtime.
Ash sat down next to his buddy with a sigh, "Whoo..."
"That's a big sigh..." Clemont mumbled, fixing his glasses, "Everything okay?" He asked, wondering if something had happened.
"Yeah, I'm fine, just surprised is all." Ash replied, leaning into the wall behind the bench.
Clemont let out a small chuckle at the vague answer, "About... What?" He pressed.
Ash laughed as well, realizing that he wasn't going to get out of this, "It's about my mom and Miette, I didn't expect them to get along so well." He admitted.
"Did you not want them to?"
Ash waved his hands in defense, "Oh no, of course I'm happy they like each other, it's just!" He paused for a sigh, "It's so freaking embarrassing..." He slightly blushed.
Clemont couldn't help but laugh, for the problem to be so simple and just embarrassment, "Isn't it better that they get along and embarrass you, than they hate each other and are fighting?"
"Yeah, I guess you're right..." He re-positioned himself so that he was staring at Clemont, "But, imagine this, you and your girlfriend go home and you bring her to meet your dad, and he's showing her all these embarrassing things from when you were a kid! It's just embarrassing, man!"
Clemont understood what Ash was going for, but still got a little rosy in the cheeks at the notion of him having a girlfriend, "We-well, I'd have to have a girlfriend for that t-to happen!"
"Pfft, I know." Ash said, waving Clemont off, "Speaking of which, you ever want to try and get one?"
Clemont did a spit take as he was trying to cool down from the conversation, "WHA-what?!" He wiped his mouth, "Where did that come from?!"
Ash, not catching on to Clemont's embarrassment, says "Well, now that I'm with Miette, I'm just happy, y'know." He smiled at Clemont with a warm, genuinely caring grin, "And I want that happiness for you too, y'know."
A smile of his own slowly crept onto Clemont's face, appreciating the genuine care, "Thank you, but..."
Ash cut him off, "Is there anyone you like?" He asked, once again not realizing how embarrassing this is for the yellow-blond boy.
Clemont was taken-aback by the sudden question, but when he processed what Ash said, a certain honey-blonde girl encroached his thoughts. Clemont has always thought she was beautiful, especially when she cut her hair and changed her outfit, but he always thought that he'd never have a chance with a cute girl like her, and someone like Ash was much more fit to be with someone like her than... Someone like him. She was confident, pretty, driven and cheerful... A dreamer... Clemont couldn't possibly be loved by someone like that when he was just a tech-nerd with round-glasses, having his sister try to find someone to take care of him. Not to mention all his inventions were failures. Clemont let out a heavy sigh, "Nope... Can't think of anyone..."
Ash raised his right eyebrow at this confession, "Really?"
Clemont was taken-aback by this response, he fixed his glasses, "What does that mean?"
"Well..." Ash began, picking his teeth, "I kinda thought you had a thing, a feeling for Serena."
Clemont would've done another spit-take if he had water in his mouth, instead his mouth just went wide, "WHA-what do you mean?!"
"Well, back when I came to you during Christmas about Miette, you seemed pretty fixated on Serena." Ash explained.
Clemont looked away, tears in his eyes, "I was trying to get YOU to realize HER feelings for YOU..." He muttered, feeling so sorry for Serena.
"What was that?"
"Nothing..."
"So, I thought you, maybe liked her." He placed a hand on Clemont's shoulder, "Though, I don't think I've ever seen her have feelings for anyone though, so good luck."
A comedic stream of tears continued to flow for Serena out of Clemont's eyes, "Oh Serena, I'm so sorry..."
Snacks were now served, Delia, Miette, Serena and Bonnie were all gathered around the living snacking on the, well snacks, that were placed on the coffee table in the middle of the room, in front of the sofa, while the TV played some new years countdown program. "So, Delia-" Miette began, but was cut off by a hand wave from the mother in question.
"Oh please, call me mom, or mother if that fits better." Delia insisted with a muffled chuckle into her hand.
Miette blushed slightly, but carried on with her sentence, "So, Mother, can I ask you something?" This sudden question caught the mother off guard, as well as Serena, she was confused why Miette was being formal, it wasn't like her. If the blue-haired vixen wanted to ask something, she would, without care on who it would affect.
Delia cleared her throat and smiled warmly at her newly acquired daughter, even if she wasn't there yet, the mother didn't care, "Of course, dear. What is it?"
Miette smirked, this was all part of her plan, she would start talking about something so embarrassing that Serena would run away like the little girl she is, and then it would be Bonnie's turn to do... Whatever she wanted, after all, Miette was in for the fun, if the young girl wanted to get her brother with the honey-blonde, then that's on her, "So, when Ash and I kiss once the new year hits, how should I do it?"
Serena spit out her drink at such questioning, "Miette!" She choked out, her cheeks red.
"What's wrong Serena?" Miette played dumb, fighting the smirk trying to creep onto her face, "It's a good question. Should I be the one to initiate or should I wait for him to grab me," Miette wrapped her arms around herself and swooned, her cheeks all rosy, "Oooo, that sounds so exciting!" She could see Serena turning into a strawberry in the corner of her eye, which causes her to smirk, "What do you think, Mother?" Miette kept the pressure on.
Serena held onto the hope that Delia would shut down such a conversation, but, to her horror, that did not happen, "Hmmm, well, my son is quite dense, so I don't know if he'll pick up on any sexual ques." The mother said, rubbing her chin in thought.
"Delia?!" Serena moaned in pain, throwing a pillow into her face, trying to hide from this situation.
Miette nodded, her cheeks red, not thinking that Delia nor herself would take it this far, "You're right, I could show him my bra and he would think the heat was getting to me."
Serena got up with a huff, shaking the table, "Ex-excuse me!" She shouted, probably a little too loud, her face completely red, you'd think she had a fever. And with that, Serena ran away from the living room.
"Bingo..." Miette mumbled, her face looking like a super villain, well, a cute one. And then she looked at Bonnie, giving the signal to move to phase two.
Bonnie nodded back, mouthing "I've got this!" Before running off in the same direction Serena did.
With Bonnie and Serena gone, it was just Miette and Delia, the mother not knowing what just happened, "So, were you thinking of giving any tongue?"
Miette turned bright red, "WHAAAA?!"
Ash and Clemont were called inside the lab by the professor for some impromptu late-lunch, which they gratefully accepted. "Come, sit down." Professor Oak offered, gesturing towards a sofa.
"Thanks professor!" Ash thanked taking a seat, eagerly awaiting the promised lunch.
"Yes, thank you." Clemont expressed his own gratitude, taking a seat next to his traveling companion.
"Stop being so grateful, you're going to give him a bigger head than he already has." A new, suave voice entered the room, a plate of sandwiches in hand.
"Gary, my boy, I assure you, my ego is quite in-check!" The professor shot back, a scowl in his ageing face.
"Yeah, yeah." Gary placed the plate down on a nearby table in front of the sofa, "Dig in!" He said, taking a seat next to Ash.
"Sweet!" Ash took a sandwich in each hand and double-fisted the sandwiches, taking a bite out of each.
Gary shook his head with a sigh, "Good to know you haven't changed..."
"Oh, but he has changed, my boy." Oak said, grabbing a sandwich of his own, "I heard from Delia while you were out on the ranch that you've got yourself a lady friend now, Ash."
Ash rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment, "Ehehe, yeah..."
"Wait, WHAT!?" Gary was dumbfounded, "You, Ashy boy!" He pointed a shaky finger at the young man in question, "You... Have a g-girlfriend!?"
Ash let out a nervous chuckle, "Heh, yup."
Gary sunk into his seat, his face as if the world was ending, "This can't be... Ash... Girlfriend... Before... ME?!"
Clemont was confused by this reaction, "Is it that surprising?" He asked. For the year he's known Ash, he's quite the ladies man, even if he didn't realize this. He has both Serena and Miette activity swooning over him, and he definitely left a lasting impression on other young ladies they met throughout their journey.
Gary leaped up and ran an unsteady hand through his hair, "Ash is as dense as a ROCK!" He yelled, pointing at the confused, but slightly offended Ash, "And he's got a girlfriend!" Gary fell back down to his seat and sank down in depression, "And then there's me... An absolute catch and girls just laugh at my advances..." Gary looked like he was about to cry.
"I suppose you're right." Clemont agreed, "But, I don't see why it personally affects you."
Gary sighed, "Ash is a rock, and he got some girl to love him, and for him to actually understand that, and then there's you and me, alone."
Clemont blushed, "Wait, I never said anything about being alone!"
Gary raised an eyebrow, "Oh, so you've got someone, huh?" He crossed his arms and looked away, "Just when I thought we could be friends..."
"NO, I don't have anyone!" Clemont insisted, his face deep red.
Ash choked down his sandwich and added, "He does like Serena though!"
"Ash!? I-I n-never said th-that!" Clemont stuttered out, his face getting more and more red.
Gary smirked, "Oooo, Serena, that sounds like a pretty girl name." He raised his eyes teasingly, "Is she?"
"No!" Clemont quickly replied.
"Oh, so she's ugly." Gary said plainly.
"Wow, that's mean, Clemont." Ash scolded with a shake of his head.
"NO, SHE'S THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL I'VE EVER SEEN!" Clemont yelled out in a frenzy, his glasses almost falling off. "I mean..." He realized what he said and blushed, "She's, uh..."
Gary burst out laughing, "Oh man, you are so much more fun to tease than Ashy boy!"
"Tease?" Ash looked at Gary confused, he didn't realize that Gary was teasing anyone, nor that he was technically helping with said teasing.
Clemont sighed, trying to calm down, fixing his glasses, "Please, forget that..." He pleaded, trying to remain calm.
Gary wrapped his arm around Clemont's shoulder, pulling him into a gentle head-lock, "Look, dude, can I call you dude? You just need to take initiative on this Serena girl, here let me show you..." He let out of Clemont and ignored the blond's pleading, trying to explain that he didn't like Serena that way, but no one was listening. Gary walked up to the nearby wall and looked at Clemont with confidence, "You gotta do something like this!" He slammed the wall with his right hand, if someone was in front of Gary, they'd be trapped between him and the wall, "I call it the wall slam, I made it myself!" No he didn't. "And then, once she's trapped, lean in and whisper in her ear, 'I love you, baby...' and then she's yours!" Gary finished with a thumbs up, thinking everything he just said was the best advice anyone has ever given.
Ash, who was stuffing his face full of sandwiches, pointed at Gary as he's so damn right, "Yeah, seems like a good plan." He didn't really have any idea what was going.
Professor Oak just shook his head with a sigh, he feared it was pointless to explain what was wrong with his grandson's 'plan' and just left the room with an, "Oh dear..."
Clemont had no words for this 'advice' Gary had just given him, he knew such a thing wouldn't work, certainly not on Serena, if anything, it would probably just scare her, "I..." He trailed off with a sigh, unsure of what to even say to all of this.
Gary put a hand on Clemont's shoulder, "Just try it, I know it will work, it's my secret weapon."
Clemont looked Gary in the eyes with a raised eyebrow, "Has it ever worked for you?"
Gary froze and his eyes went wide, his hand slowly falling off of Clemont's shoulder and weakly at his side, "No..."
Serena ran to the hallway and sighed and banged her head on the wall, "Nice one Serena, reeeeeal subtle..." She banged her head again. She was trying, she really was, but when Miette starts talking about stuff like that and with his mother if all people... It's hard to keep her cool. What's even worse is... she doesn't even know if Miette's doing it on purpose or if... she was more pathetic that she thought she was, "What's wrong with me...?" Serena banged her head again, "I had my chance, I'll admit that everyday but..." tears began to fall down her cheeks.
"It's okay if it still hurts."
Serena turned toward the source of the voice, her red, teary eyes stared in shock, "Bonnie...?" She tried to wipe away her tears, not wanting the young girl to see her like this, over a boy of all things, "Did you follow me?"
Bonnie nodded, taking Serena's hand, "It's okay to cry, I know what's wrong..."
Serena's red eyes went wide, "You... do...?"
Bonnie nodded again, "It's okay to be sad about the loss of love..." She said, looking down in sadness, remembering the loss of someone she loved, her mother... "But..." She gave Serena a warm smile, "Sometimes it's best to find something new to love." When Bonnie's mother died she vowed that she'd love her brother with all she had until he found someone else to love him like she does... And she firmly believes that could be Serena.
Serena sighed and smile back at the young girl, no, young lady, "How did you become so mature?" She asked with a sad laugh.
Bonnie squeezed Serena's hand, "I had good role-models."
Serena let another tear run down her cheek, "Thank you..." She gave Bonnie's hand a squeeze back, "Do you think I can fall in love again...?" She felt somewhat embarrassed asking someone younger than her about this, but she felt like the blonde girl could give her answer.
"Of course." Bonnie hugged Serena, "Sooner than you'd think..."
Ash and Clemont had their fill of the ranch and were now making their way back to the Ketchum residence, but... they weren't alone... "So, why are you coming with us?" Clemont asked, looking behind him to see a spiky head of hair.
"Pfft," Gary smirked and waved his hand, "And miss your love bloom?" He simulated the 'fabled' wall slam once more, "No way!"
Clemont groaned, hanging his head low, "When did I say I was going to do that?"
Gary grabbed both of Clemont's shoulder and looked straight into his soul, "I'll pay you... Name your god-dammed price..."
"Seems like a good deal to me." Ash chimed in as he was finishing off one last sandwich he brought with him, "I like money."
Clemont hesitated for a moment, greed, a sin every living thing had lurking inside themselves showing it's ugly head, "How much...?" He quickly shook his head, trying to clear such greedy thoughts out of his mind, "NO, forget I said that!"
Before Gary could respond, the three young men were now at the house and Clemont quickly opened the door and enter to escape the conversation, "Damn..." Gary cursed, "It was about to become interesting..."
Serena and Bonnie reentered the living room just in-time to see Clemont, Ash and Gary pile their way through the door, they seemed in a frenzy, well most the blond and the spiky-haired one, the raven-haired young man didn't seem to bothered.
As Gary, Ash, and Clemont entered the house, they were met with an odd calmness in the living room. Serena and Bonnie had just sat back down at the coffee table, trying their best to keep their composure, especially after what had transpired earlier. Serena had wiped away most of her tears, but her blush was still prominent. Bonnie gave a knowing smile, her warm heart always offering reassurance even in the most awkward of times.
Gary grinned mischievously, clearly hyped from all his teasing, while Ash seemed blissfully unaware of the emotional turbulence he had just left behind. Clemont, however, was trying to shake off the awkwardness of the conversation he'd just escaped.
"Hey, um, where's Miette?" Ash asked, looking around.
Miette was in the kitchen putting together the first on her plans! It was now show time!
The final stretch of New Year's Eve had arrived, and everything was set for a night to remember at the Ketchum house. Delia was busy entertaining guests in the kitchen, and the others had gathered in the living room, anxiously awaiting midnight.
Miette and Bonnie, who had been working in tandem for the past few hours, were huddled near the sofa, eyes gleaming with mischievous intent. They had a clear goal: get Clemont and Serena to kiss when the clock struck twelve. It wasn't going very well... All of their plans ended in failure... What they didn't know was that they'd have some serious help, from Gary, and some major obstacles along the way, Ash's denseness.
Gary was standing off to the side, arms crossed, eyeing Clemont like a hawk. The younger man looked far from relaxed, shifting uncomfortably as he fiddled with his glasses.
"Hey, Clemont," Gary started, voice oozing with teasing intent. "So... you still thinking about that 'wall slam' move? That's definitely a top-tier method for romance."
Clemont looked up with wide eyes, stumbling over his words. "W-What? No, that's not—"
"Oh, don't play coy with me. I've seen the way you stare at Serena. You're totally into her!" Gary pressed on, sidling closer with a smirk. "And that 'wall slam'? You've got to try it. Trust me, it works every time!"
Ash, munching away at another sandwich, couldn't help but snicker. "Yeah, Gary! Great advice, just like the time you got crushed by your own 'romantic' idea when you tried it on Misty."
Gary's cheeks flushed slightly as his smug facade wavered, but he quickly recovered, smirking back at Ash. "Hey, we don't talk about that. The point is... this should be your chance, Clemont."
Bonnie glanced at Miette, who was subtly nodding, signaling her next move. Bonnie, her face serious, squeezed Serena's hand for reassurance before catching her attention. Serena, sitting nearby, hadn't noticed the scheming under the surface but gave Bonnie a smile.
"You know, Serena," Bonnie said innocently, "I think you and Clemont would make an adorable couple. I mean, just imagine it—his genius combined with your grace. Totally perfect."
Serena blinked, eyes wide as she tried to make sense of what Bonnie was implying. "What do you mean?"
"Nothing," Bonnie giggled, winking at Miette.
Serena, suspicious now, shifted uneasily in her seat. At that moment, Miette seized the opportunity, moving in, "Yeah, that's definitely one way to get over Ash." She shrugged, "After all, he's mine now..."
Serena's cheeks turned red, "Wha-what are you guys talking about?!" She looked down at her lap, picking at her skirt, "Me and... Clemont...?" She looked up to see the yellow-blond in question talking, more so getting talked at, with Gary. Serena would be lying if she said that she didn't see Clemont's good qualities, after all, he had many. But... She was always so focused on Ash to think about anyone else... It's not like he liked her... right?
Clemont stared at the clock. Time was ticking down, and he felt the weight of everyone's expectations. Gary's eyes glinted at him as he leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a mock whisper, "Just go for it, Clemont. Grab Serena, pin her to the wall, and make your move."
"Would you just stop!" Clemont snapped, "I never said I liked her, just..." He sighed, taking his glasses off, "Stop..."
Gary's eyes went wide, maybe his teasing went too far... "Shit, I'm sorry..." He hit his head, "Stupid Gary!"
Clemont opened his mouth to say something to Gary, but before Clemont could respond, Ash was suddenly there, standing beside him with that ever-perplexing, goofy grin of his. "Clemont, you're acting like Serena's gonna kill you if you say something... Just... admit it. You like her, don't you?"
The sudden, blunt honesty caught Clemont completely off-guard. He jumped a little in his seat. "I... I never said that!"
"Well, you don't have to. Anyone can tell." Ash said, his grin widening. "It's written all over your face. But you're not gonna get anywhere unless you just... let it out."
Before Clemont could object, Ash punched him lightly in the shoulder. "Don't be so scared, dude. It's New Year's Eve! Take a chance for once!"
Clemont's heart thudded in his chest. He wanted to deny it. He wanted to. But... Ash was right. As much as he struggled to admit it, he liked Serena. It was so obvious, and he could see it now: no clever moves, no walls to slam, no thinking too hard about it. He turned to Serena, her bright, attentive eyes so innocently unaware of the flurry of drama surrounding them. Clemont let out a dry laugh, "When did you become to romantically intelligent...?"
Ash proudly wiped his shoulder, as if there was dust on it, "I've always been!"
Gary pulled Ash into a head-lock, "Stop lying Ashy-Boy!" He gave him a nuggie, "You're as dense as a rock!"
Clemont laughed watch Ash try to escape Gary's wrath, but he didn't stick around, he took a deep breath and let it out and made his way over to the girls, one honey-blonde girl being the one on his mind.
Miette and Bonnie were shocked to see Clemont making his way over to them, his eyes on Serena. They looked at each other in shock, they thought all their plans were failures, but... Maybe they're better then they thought! They nodded at each and got up and walked away from Serena, thinking they were geniuses! "Huh? Where are you going?" Serena asked, confused by the sudden departure. But, before she could question further, a voice grabbed her attention.
"Serena." It was Clemont, who looked nervous, yet confident.
Serena warmly smiled at him, "Oh, hello." She patted the seat next to her, gesturing him to sit next to her, which he took, "Are you okay? You seem tense..." Serena asked, noticing his more rigid, stiffness.
"I-I'm fine..." Clemont said, cursing his stutter, he really was trying to keep his composure. He cleared his throat, "It's almost midnight..."
Serena nodded, looking up to the clock on the wall, "Yeah, you're right..." She then sighed, knowing that Miette was probably gonna kiss Ash when it hit the time.
"That was a heavy sigh..." Clemont pointed, now just worried about her, "Is something wrong?"
Serena gave him a pained smile, "Just lamented on the fact I'll be alone when the year changes." She let out a self-deprecating laugh.
Clemont knew this was now or never, he took a deep breath and let it out, "You... d-don't have to be!" He blushed, saying it a little too loud.
Serena looked at him in shock, noticing his blushing face, causing her to stutter herself, "Wha-what do you mean?"
Clemont fixed his glasses, unsure on how to say this, so he just blurted it right out, "You can be with me, this new year!"
Serena's eyes went wide, her cheeks turning ever redder, "D-do... you... mean... tha-that...?"
Clemont swallowed the lump in his throat, "Yes... Serena... I... Uh... this is too hard..." He mumbled, taking his glasses off in embarrassment.
Serena placed a hand on his thigh, "Clemont," She said his name to pull his attention onto her, they stared into each others eyes, "Would you like to be my kiss for new years?" She asked, her face as red a berry.
Miette and Bonnie were watching from the kitchen and fist-bumped, "We are so good..." Miette mumbled, little did they know, this was had nothing to do with them.
The clock was just about to hit midnight and Clemont and Serena were still staring in each others eyes, "Are you okay... with it being... me?" Clemont asked, his face even redder than Serena.
"More then..." Once the count down ended, she pressed her lips onto Clemont's and the two melted into a meaningful kiss.
Miette, turning to Ash with a devilish grin, stepped closer, her fingers curling like they were about to spring. "You know, Ash, I think you deserve a kiss too," she teased, as she leaned in just the same.
Ash, entirely caught off guard, froze. Then, he panicked. "Wait—W-Wait Miette, this is—!"
But it was too late. Miette, in her boldness, caught him by surprise. Their lips met and the room went still for a second as the crowd stared in surprise—and utter embarrassment as they passionately kissed.
When they pulled away, Ash's face was a deep shade of scarlet. "That was—uh, that was—wow."
Miette, mirroring his red cheeks, scratched her head awkwardly. "Uh... yeah... was that... too much?"
Gary, meanwhile, had watched the entire house unfold into kisses, barely holding back laughter, and jealousy as he took a dramatic step toward Clemont.
"Now that's what I'm talking about!" Gary cackled, loud enough to draw the attention of everyone in the room, pulling Clemont into a head lock, much to Serena's surprise. "Nothing says 'New Year' like some good old-fashioned kissing and romance. Clemont, you get an A+ for that one!" Then, his face softened just a little, genuinely happy.
Clemont, still reeling from the kiss, rolled his eyes with a sheepish, flustered grin. He threw a pillow at Gary. "Thanks, Gary..."
Everyone in the room burst into laughter, the moments of awkwardness melting away with their good-natured teasing. And just like that, the night was filled with laughter, friendship, and the unmistakable warmth of new beginnings and lasting friendships and romance...
And that's that, my friends of fanfiction! This is now the longest thing I've ever written, and it didn't even come out the way I intended! I still think it's a really good story, one of my best, but I got really, and I mean REALLY sick, so sick I couldn't write for shit, so I had to cut some corners on certain points, but I still think it came out great. What do you think? I hope you didn't think the ending was rushed, even though it kinda was... Well, if you enjoyed, review, if you didn't, review! And happy new years! By the way, I've been writing as Chronicles Story for SIX YEARS now, holy shit, time has passed, huh? Well, see you around, friends of Fanfiction!