A Blast From the Past
Ship: Femslash Amour
Summary: Serena sets off on her journey, and is surprised to see an old face form Summer Camp! Except, they look a lot different than she remembers them…
Part 2 of a request from TheDoctor1998
"What do you say, Fennekin? You want to be my partner?"
Fennekin smiled, and happily jumped into Serena's open arms, making her smile.
"Fen Fen!"
"Alright then, welcome aboard!"
Professor Sycamore smiled at the sight.
"Ah, a young trainer about to set out into the world on their journey! Such a magical moment. Which reminds me…"
He moved to collect Serena's Pokedex and a few Pokeballs, only to stumble over a piece of rubble. Luckily, he managed to catch himself before he fell.
"Professor, are you alright?"
"Huh? Oh yes, sorry. Things are still a little messy after that accident a few days ago when Garchomp got loose."
"Oh my! Were you alright?"
"Oh yes, everything was fine in the end thanks to a girl from Pallet Town."
This got Serena's attention. Pallet Town? Could she know Ash…
"Now what was her name? Its on the tip of my mind…"
"That's okay, Professor. Do you know where she went?"
"Well,she's going to challenge the league, so if I had to guess she'll be heading towards Santalune City to challenge Viola."
"Santalune City, got it! Thanks, Professor!"
"No problem, Serena, take care!"
It was only then that it dawned on him.
"Now I remember! Her name was Alice Ket-"
But Serena had already left, leaving him alone. With a shrug, he went back to his work.
"Oh well, I'm sure she'll run into her eventually."
A whole later, Serena and Fennekin were eating lunch in a forest. But Serena's mind was on more than food.
"Ash…do you remember me?"
"Fen?"
Serena looked down to see Fennekin glancing up at her curiously.
"Oh, I'm sorry, you're probably wondering what I'm talking about."
"Fen!"
"Well, I guess a story couldn't hurt. You see, it all started when I was younger…"
A young Serena curled up against a tree, sobbing. Her mother had sent her to a summer camp in the Kanto region, and at first it had seemed fun. But she had quickly gotten lost, and then she hurt her leg. Now she was alone, hurt, and to make matters worse it was starting to rain.
"Hey, I've never seen you here before! What's your name?"
Serena glanced up to see a boy her age holding out his hand to her. Confused and scared, she curled up further, but he persisted.
"Hey, it's okay! I don't want to hurt you, I promise! I'm Ash, from Pallet Town."
"S-S-Serena."
"That's a pretty name!"
Serena blushed, and feeling safer around him now accepted his hand to help her up.
''What's wrong?"
"I was supposed to join a Pokemon Summer Camp today, but I got lost! I tried to make my way back to town, but I think I twisted my ankle!"
"Summer Camp? Hey, you're the one we were all waiting for! Everyone's psyched to meet you!"
"Really?"
"Yeah! Pallet Town's pretty small, so we all pretty much know each other. But a new kid from another region? You're the talk of the town!''
Serena smiled, but a shooting pain in her foot reminded her of her current situation.
''We'd better fix you up! Sit down."
With Ash's help, Serena sat down on a log and outstretched her leg. Ash took out a bandana, and using a nearby twig he wrapped it around her ankle to make a tourniquet. Then he waved his hands over her leg and chanted:
''Pain, Pain, go away!"
It didn't make the pain go away, but the humor did make Serena feel better, and she giggled.
''Ah ha! I made you laugh!''
''You did, thanks.''
''No problem!''
As they waited for help to arrive, Ash kept conversation up to keep her mind off her leg, telling her about his dream.
''A Pokemon Master? What's that?''
Ash thought for a minute, then shrugged.
''I don't know! Ill figure it out when I get there.''
''Really? You can do that?''
''Sure! It's the journey that matters, not the destination.''
Serena smiled, finding his determination fascinating.
''That's amazing.''
''What about you? Don't you have a dream?''
Serena shrugged.
"Not yet."
"That's alright! You've got plenty of time to figure it out. All that matters is that you give it your all.''
Serena smiled, feeling much better.
''Thanks, Ash.''
"A few minutes later, Professor Oak and the rest found us," Serena went on. "I didn't get to do much activity that week because of my ankle, but Ash visited me everyday!"
She smiled wistfully, and looked up into the sky.
"Maybe its silly, but for me it was love at first sight. I never forgot about him, even after all these years. And as crazy as it might be, I always hoped he would remember me, and maybe…just maybe…we can go on a journey together."
Fennekin smiled, and nuzzled against her hand, making Serena smile and pet her.
"Thanks, Fennekin. Now come on, let's see what the world has to offer us!"
"Fen!"
A few days later, they reached Santalune City. Although Serena didn't currently plan to challenge the league, she figured it couldn't hurt to check out the gym.
To her surprise, Viola was already in the middle of a gym battle when she got inside. Curious, she sat in the stands, where she met a boy her age and his little sister.
"Excuse me, is it alright if I sit here?"
The older boy nodded, and motioned for his sister to move over.
"Sure, we don't mind. Bonnie, scoot over-"
Bonnie, however, had other ideas. With a loud squeal, she immediately took a knee, confusing Serena.
"Oh my gosh, you'd be perfect for my older brother! Please marry him!"
With a sigh, her older brother activated a mechanical arm and dragged her back pouting.
"Bonnie, we've been over this! I'm sorry, Miss, she means well. My name is Clemont."
"You need someone to take care of you when I go on my journey!"
Serena just chuckled, and waved it off.
"It's fine. Thank you, Bonnie, but I'm afraid I have to decline."
"Whatever," Bonnie said with an eyeroll. "There's plenty of Seabass in the sea."
"Who's battling, anyway?"
"Our friend Alice. And man, who knew Viola was so tough?"
Just as Clemont had said that, the referee made the call.
"Pikachu is unable to battle, Masquerain wins! Which means the winner is the Gym Leader Viola!"
"Alright! Way to go, Masquerain!"
"Masquerain!"
Alice sighed disappointedly, but put on a brave face as she scooped Pikachu up into her arms.
"Pika," her partner whimpered.
"It's okay, pal," she said soothingly. "We'll get them next time!''
Pikachu smiled as she stroked his fur.
"You guys were great, Alice! I'd be happy to battle you again.''
''Thanks, Viola! But we'll win next time."
Alice returned to her friends, sad but raring to try again. Her friends ran up to cheer her up.
''You were great, Alice!''
''Yeah!'' Bonnie echoed. ''Pikachu was amazing! You'll win next time, no doubt!''
Alice smiled, feeling better already.
''Thanks, guys.''
It was then that she noticed the new addition to their group.
''Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't see you there!''
''That's alright,'' Serena waved it off. ''I kind of just showed up at the end of your battle. Im Serena, by the way.''
''Alice. Alice Ketchum.''
''Ketchum?'' Serena echoed. ''You wouldn't happen to be from Pallet Town, would you?''
''Yeah, how'd you know?''
''Are you related to Ash Ketchum at all?''
Alice's face paled, making Serena nervous.
''Oh, is that too personal? Im sorry, it's just that I've been wanting to see him again, and since you shared the same last name, I thought…''
''Um…you found him.''
''Huh?''
''Or at least, you found her. I…used to go by Ash Ketchum. Back when I was a boy…''
Everyone could only stare in shocked silence.
A while later, Serena and Alice were sitting at a table at the Pokemon Center cafe waiting for Alice's Pokemon to heal. As they waited, Alice explained everything. Clemont and Bonnie were out doing some sightseeing, leaving the two girls alone.
''Wow…'' Serena said at last. ''That's some story. I'm sorry you went through all of that. Nobody should have to feel like they aren't who they should be.''
Alice shrugged.
''Its ok, it's all in the past now.''
''Did Clemont and Bonnie know?''
''I never thought it would come up. You know, new region, new me and all that.''
Serena nodded.
''Sorry, I didn't mean to force a confession out of you.''
''Meh, it probably would've come up at some point. No harm done. Besides, they're great people, they won't hold it against me.''
''You look great! I mean, you can't even tell you were ever a boy!''
Serena then realized how insensitive that sounded, and tried to take it back.
''I mean, you were always a girl, just that you didn't know at first, and…''
Alice smiled, and giggled.
''Yeah, well, science is amazing, ya know?''
''Yeah…''
''Something wrong?''
''This may sound like a crazy question, but…do you remember me? From Professor Oak's Summer Camp all those years ago?''
Alice studied Serena's face for a minute, before smiling.
''I thought you looked familiar! You were the new girl in town, and got hurt!''
''Yeah! You cheered me up and kept me company until Professor Oak found us. I'm glad you remembered me.''
''So, where do you plan to go from here? Did you ever find your dream?''
Serena shrugged.
''To be honest, I don't really have any travel plan. I kind of just want to travel the region right now.''
''Well…if you want, you could travel with us…''
''Really?''
''Yeah! It'd be great to travel with an old friend.''
Serena wasn't sure why, but something about Alice's smile made her heart flutter.
"Ok, sounds like fun!''
''Great! I can't wait!"
Neither could Serena. She'd achieved one of her dreams at least, even if her crush wasn't quite who she remembered him, or her, to be.
But why was her heart being so fast?
A/N: To the guest reviewer who keeps begging me to make this an Alice/Furisode girl Kali story, the answer is no for three reasons: This is a request for an female Ash and Serena story, I have no idea who that other girl is, and frankly I don't like being hounded like that. I'm happy to take requests (though I'm far more knowledgeable about the anime, so try to keep it to either characters from that or relevant NPCs who weren't adapted like the other half of Galar's gym leaders), but constantly begging me to do it is not how you get my attention.