Ash stood in the small green room facing a full-length mirror. He was wearing an elegant dark blue suit, white shirt, red tie and light grey pants. The monarch cloak was draped around his shoulders and he was not wearing his signature red hat. He turned to his left and then his right, eyeing his appearance. He turned again so he was facing the mirror and frowned. He felt out-of-place wearing the fancy outfit.
"Pi-Ka-Chu?" came a concerned sounding cry from the floor at Ash's feet.
Ash looked down at Pikachu, "yeah buddy. We finally did it," he said managing a small smile.
Pikachu continued to look concerned. He hopped forward and pulled on Ash's pant leg, making an inquisitive sound.
"Hmmm," Ash replied. He looked up at the mirror. "It's weird," he said, sounding puzzled and disappointed. "I figured winning the world coronation tournament would be awesome, but I can't stop wondering, what are we going to do now?"
Pikachu looked curious.
"I mean, if there's no one left for us to battle against-" Ash's voice trailed off as his expression fell.
At that moment, there was a knock on the door, and Ash heard a voice outside. "Mr. Ketchum, five minutes until they're ready for you."
"K' thanks," Ash replied. He looked at his appearance again and still felt weird. This was so different from how he usually conducted himself.
Ash sighed and walked to his backpack. He retrieved his Rotom phone and dialed a familiar number.
After a moment, the friendly face of Professor Oak appeared on the screen.
"Ash! It's good to see you," the professor said sounding pleased.
Ash couldn't help but smile at hearing Professor Oak's voice. "Hey, Professor Oak!"
The professor paused a moment, eyeing Ash and then continued. "Well, it looks like you're all ready for a special occasion."
Ash was slightly embarrassed. "Oh yeah, they're having this big party to celebrate the new monarch. That's why I'm wearing this."
Professor Oak nodded. "I was planning to call you tomorrow, but I guess I'll say it now. Congratulations on winning the world coronation tournament. That's a really impressive accomplishment."
"Oh, thanks," Ash said. He briefly smiled, but then his face became more downcast. "Winning is a lot different than I'd figured."
Professor Oak looked slightly puzzled. "Oh, how so, Ash?"
Ash sighed. "It's just; I know we did really well. Me and all my Pokémon battled really hard and we won, and that's great. But, now what are we supposed to do?"
Professor Oak smiled. "Ash, tonight is a time to celebrate. You should enjoy your accomplishment. They'll be plenty of time to think of what to do next later."
"Yeah, I guess," Ash replied. "I've just always known what I'm doing next. Now, I don't have a clue."
Professor Oak looked thoughtful for a moment. "You're a Pokémon trainer Ash. There's a lot more to what you do than just battling."
Ash absently scratched his head. "Well, I don't know what that would be."
"Hmmmm," Professor Oak fingered his chin, appearing to consider something. "Tell you what Ash. You enjoy tonight, then when you get back to Pallet Town, come by the lab, we'll talk."
Ash nodded. "Sounds great," he said, his mood lifting slightly at the thought of seeing Professor Oak.
Professor Oak suddenly yawned, covering his mouth as he did so. For a moment, the older man appeared very tired.
"Everything okay Professor?" Ash said.
"Hmmm, Oh yes," Professor Oak quickly replied. "I've just been burning the midnight oil a little too much lately."
There was another knock on the door. "One minute Mr. Ketchum," the voice said.
"It sounds like it's time for you to go," Professor Oak said.
"Yeah, sorry," Ash replied apologetically.
Professor Oak smiled. "Don't be sorry Ash. This evening is for you. Try and enjoy yourself. Have fun with your friends."
"I'll try," Ash said.
Professor Oak nodded. "I'll see you later Ash. Goodbye."
With that, the call ended and Ash returned the phone to his backpack. He walked back to the mirror and looked at his appearance one more time. He shrugged, supposing that it was okay and headed to the door.
Outside the room, Ash saw one of the staff waiting at attention. He was an older man, wearing a black suit with a white shirt, and black tie.
"Are you ready Mr. Ketchum?" he asked regally.
Ash immediately felt embarrassed. He'd never had people waiting on him before. "Uh, yeah I guess," he said with a sheepish smile.
The man maintained excellent posture, raised his left arm and indicated the hallway to his left. "This way, sir."
Ash glanced back at Pikachu and gave his friend a little head nod. Pikachu immediately smiled and leapt up to Ash's shoulder. Ash then turned and started walking in the direction the butler had indicated.
Goh stood at the edge of a large crowd of people; all of them waiting for the new monarch to arrive. The crowd contained many famous Pokémon trainers and normally he would have been asking them nonstop questions about Pokémon, battles, and capturing. Chloe, however, had scolded him earlier when he'd attempted to do just that; something about it being inappropriate in this formal setting. Now he was bored, and he stuffed his hands in the pockets of his all-grey suit, waiting for something to happen.
"Chloe, you look so pretty!"
Goh glanced over at Chloe, who was standing beside him, and saw Iris had walked up to her. The Unova champion was wearing a dress that was similar in appearance to her standard outfit but had a bit more flair. She also wore a sparkling tiara, and a silver necklace.
"Oh, thanks!" Chloe said, looking bashful. "You look really pretty too."
Chloe's dress was mostly white with patterns of gold and sapphire accenting the elegant garment. She'd redone her hair into a neatly arranged double-braid of flowing maroon, which wrapped up and around the back of her head. All of her hair was held in place with a half dozen shining silver hairpins.
"I can't wait to see Ash," Iris said, her voice nearly squeaking from excitement. "Even though I lost, I'm so happy. One of my best friends is the world champion."
Chloe nodded. "I know. It doesn't seem real that Ash won."
There was a bit of commotion near the entry to the room. Chloe and Iris watched expectantly, but Ash didn't appear. The excitement level died back down for the two girls and they waited patiently for Ash to be introduced.
Goh took the opportunity to step away from Chloe. If he couldn't quiz the Pokémon trainers at the party, he could at least read Pokédex entries on his Rotom Phone. He just needed to be out of sight from his persnickety friend.
"It sure is fun getting dressed up," Chloe said, passing the time.
Iris nodded. "Yeah, it's not something I usually do. It took me forever to pick out a dress." Iris hesitated for a moment and leaned toward Chloe. "Do I really look pretty?" she whispered to her.
"Both of you look wonderful," a female voice from behind them said in an encouraging tone.
Chloe and Iris spun around and saw Serena standing a few feet away from them. The other girl was wearing a cherry red, strapless dress which glittered with thousands of sequins arranged in flowing patterns which ran from her waist down to the lowest fringe of the garment. She had a simple red bracelet around her left wrist, and she was wearing golden, heart-shaped earrings, similar in design to the Kalos showcase symbol. She also wore a beaded turquoise necklace which draped to just above the top of her dress.
Upon seeing her, Chloe smiled in happiness, and Iris looked on in awe.
"Wow, Serena! And I thought your contest outfit looked great," Chloe said ebulliently.
"Amazing!" Iris added, her tone full of wonder. She'd only ever seen Serena in her traveling outfit, and was stunned by her beauty.
"Thank you," Serena said appreciatively, smiling at the compliments.
Again, there was a commotion around the entrance way, and an older man in a black suit emerged from the curtained opening.
"Oh, I think it's time!" Iris said excitedly. "Bye Chloe, bye Serena." With that, Iris sped toward the front of the crowd, almost bouncing with energy as she moved.
Chloe giggled and turned toward Serena, "so, you're finally gonna get to talk with Ash?" she said.
Because Serena had arrived just before Ash's final match with Leon, she'd barely had time to wish him good luck before he'd headed to the arena. Afterward, Ash had been whisked away, and Serena had only been able to shout her congratulations to him from afar. This would be their first proper conversation in a long time.
Serena nodded to Chloe. "Yes, we have a lot to catch up on," she said, her voice heavy with anticipation.
Chloe smiled and blushed slightly. The girl looked bashful for a moment and then leaned toward Serena and spoke again, her voice now hushed, but full of excitement. "Serena, good luck with Ash!" Chloe squeaked from embarrassment when she finished the words.
Serena looked straight at Chloe and saw the girl's blush deepen. Chloe had sat next to Serena during the entirety of Ash's match and she'd witnessed all of her reactions from the intense battle. Between that and observing her and Ash's brief interaction at Lilycove, the young girl had discerned that Serena had strong feelings toward Ash. One look at Serena's spectacular dress had told Chloe everything about what the Hoenn champion had prepared for this evening. She couldn't resist making some sort of comment as she found it all immensely exciting.
Serena nodded and smiled subtly at Chloe, acknowledging the girl's comment. Delighted, Chloe grinned and struggled to keep from giggling.
A short distance away, at the curtained entrance to the room, the MC of the event took up position at the beginning of a small red carpet which ran from the entryway toward the center of the room.
The MC spoke in a loud, clear voice. "Presenting the winner of the Masters Tournament, the greatest Pokémon trainer in the world, our new Monarch, Ash Ketchum."
The MC stepped to the side of the curtained entrance and there was a sharp fanfare of trumpets. When the fanfare concluded the curtains were pulled to either side revealing Ash with Pikachu on his shoulder. Ash blinked at the bright lights, not knowing what he should do.
The entire room erupted in polite applause and Ash smiled awkwardly, embarrassed at all the attention.
The MC made a gesture and Ash started walking toward the end of the short red carpet. He smiled at Iris who had made her way to the front of the crowd gathered around the red carpet.
"You're still such a kid," Iris said in response. She tried to sound critical, but her voice cracked and tears welled up in her eyes.
Ash laughed and Iris joyfully smiled in return, so happy to see Ash as the champion. Tears streamed down her cheeks, but she otherwise managed to keep her emotions contained.
As Ash reached the end of the red carpet, a pair of photographers stepped in front of him and lined up for pictures of the newly crowned champion. Ash and Pikachu tried to strike a dignified looking pose, but they ended up looking just as awkward as they felt.
The photographers stepped away and the MC walked up to Ash and bowed slightly to him. At this, the crowd which had gathered around the entry way started to disperse, with most of the patrons taking a moment to shake Ash's hand and congratulate him. Ash became more and more embarrassed as Steven, Lance, Diantha, and Cynthia all congratulated him.
Ash pulled at the collar of his suit, not used to wearing such clothes.
Leon stepped out of the crowd and stood in front of Ash. "I never liked those clothes much either," he said wryly to Ash.
Ash brightened at seeing the former monarch, "Leon! I'm glad you came."
Leon smiled, "of course. I couldn't miss this."
"Yeah," Ash replied. "They sure take this seriously."
Leon nodded. "It's a big deal. Especially here in Galar." Leon's look changed to one of sympathy. "Your whole life is going to change now that you're the champ. You're going to be really busy."
Ash was puzzled. "Really busy. What do you mean?"
Leon scanned the crowd "Once they get here, you'll understand," he said, sounding mysterious.
"Uh," Ash responded, not sure what Leon was meaning.
Leon's demeanor changed again and he smiled broadly at Ash, clapping a hand on the young man's shoulder. "Good luck Ash, you're gonna need it."
With that, Leon turned and walked into the crowd.
Ash stared after him, feeling a sense of foreboding over what Leon had said. He quickly shook off the feeling and continued greeting people as they came up to him.
After a minute of this, Pikachu's ears perked up and he suddenly shifted on Ash's shoulder. The Pokémon got Ash's attention and pointed at a dessert table set up toward one end of the room.
"You want something to eat huh," Ash replied.
Pikachu nodded and quickly jumped off Ash's shoulder. The Pokémon turned and briefly looked back at Ash and then glanced into the crowd behind his trainer. Pikachu smiled and continued running toward the dessert table.
Ash smiled at seeing his longtime friend chasing after sweet treats.
Unbeknownst to Ash, Serena had moved through the crowd and was now standing behind him. She took a breath, calming her emotions, and spoke. "Congratulations Ash!" she said happily.
Ash immediately turned toward her, his eyes brightening. "Serena!"
Serena smiled, and chirped from happiness. She paused for a second, savoring this long awaited moment. "You finally achieved your dream. I'm so happy for you."
Ash laughed, "Thanks. I'm glad you could make it."
Serena gave an affirming nod, "I wouldn't have missed it for anything."
Ash blushed slightly and paused a moment to compose himself. "Serena, I wanted to-"
Ash's words were cut short by a pair of journalists making their way through the crowd, shouting for his attention. "Mr. Ketchum! Mr. Ketchum!"
The two short-statured men cared little for the others at the gathering, and pushed their way forward until they were inches away from Ash.
"What were you feeling when you defeated Leon and became the world's greatest Pokémon trainer?!" The first journalist said boldly, shoving an audio recorder toward Ash.
Ash, taken aback and surprised by the journalists' appearance, tried to wave off the question. "Sorry, but I was just talking to-"
The second journalist immediately interrupted, "What were you thinking when you defeated Leon, and became the world's greatest Pokémon trainer?!" Also shoving an audio recorder toward Ash.
Ash, a bit flustered, turned to the second journalist. "Wait, isn't that the same question?"
At that moment a female journalist shoved past Serena, knocking her backward a step. "What were your Pokémon feeling when you defeated Leon, and became the world's greatest Pokémon trainer?!" she said, producing her own audio recorder.
Ash held up his hands, trying to calm things down. "Hold on. One at a time,"
The three journalists, unfazed by Ash's request, kept bombarding him with questions, barely giving him a chance to answer.
"Excuse us miss," Serena heard over her shoulder. She turned toward the female voice and quickly stepped out of the way of a television reporter with a cameraman in tow.
The two of them walked past her, moving toward Ash. "Let's see if we can get an exclusive before everyone else shows up." The female reporter said, fussing with her hair as she walked.
The television crew joined the others surrounding Ash, nearly concealing him from view.
Serena stared at the crush of reporters for several long seconds. Her shoulders fell slightly as she let out a disappointed sigh. She looked at the floor for a moment before straightening up and regaining her composure. She blinked her eyes clear and walked partway across the room, away from the reporters and Ash.
At this moment the MC spoke up. "Ladies and Gentlemen, it is now time for the formal dance. Anyone who wishes to participate, please gather at the center of the room." The MC gestured toward a group of musicians who had set up in a corner of the room." We have tonight the Wyndon orchestra to grace us with their talent."
People started moving about the room, some moving towards the edges, others searching for a partner, and several couples walking toward the center.
Serena was already near the edge of the room and didn't move; instead she glanced at her surroundings and spied Diantha standing a dozen paces away from her. She was surprised Diantha wasn't participating in the dance. Rather, the Kalos champion was staring intently at someone in the crowd of people. Serena followed her gaze and spotted Steven Stone walking toward Diantha. Steven reached Diantha and held out his left hand.
"Shall we have that long promised dance, milady?"
Diantha smiled subtly and took Steven's hand. "Yes, Mr. Stone. I think we shall."
The two of them turned toward the center of the room and walked hand-in-hand until they were amongst the other couples. They then took hold of each other in a traditional waltz style and began a smooth and elegant spinning dance.
Serena watched as the couples in the center of the room began dancing a waltz; all of them moving gracefully, in tune with the music. She briefly felt sad that she wasn't participating in the dance, but she pushed the feeling aside and started walking slowly around the edge of the room. She saw Goh nearby, staying well back of the dance floor; fidgeting with the suit he was wearing.
After a few dozen paces, she spied Chloe standing at the edge of the dance floor, smiling and swaying side-to-side with the music. Chloe was clearly fascinated by all the dancing couples, and after a moment she turned and started looking at the people who weren't currently dancing. She moved toward a handsome young man and took a several deep breaths, working up her courage. She opened her mouth to speak, and at that moment the young man said something to a young lady at his side and the two of them clasped hands and stared walking toward the center of the room.
Chloe's expression and posture fell in disappointment. She quickly recovered and stepped toward another young man. He too said something to a lady, and the two of the walked toward the dance floor hand-in-hand. Again, Chloe's posture fell, and this time she stared at her feet, clearly disappointed and demoralized.
Serena's heart went out to Chloe and she thought quickly. An idea occurred to her and she turned toward Goh, standing a short distance behind her. Goh was now looking at his Rotom Phone and didn't notice Serena until she had walked right up to him.
"Hi Goh, are you enjoying the party?" Serena asked cheerfully.
Goh looked up from the phone, mildly surprised. "Serena! Uh, I guess so…." he replied unenthusiastically, "parties aren't really my thing."
Serena nodded, "Hmmm, do you think you'll be joining the dance," she said, casting a glance toward the center of the room.
Goh's face immediately tightened in fear. "Uh, well…. I don't really dance. Plus I don't have a partner." He managed to keep his voice mostly even, but it was obvious that the thought of dancing made him uncomfortable.
"I see," Serena replied. She half-turned and looked at Chloe. "What about Chloe over there? She could be your partner."
"Huh, Chloe?" Goh mumbled. He leaned sideways to see around Serena and saw Chloe standing some distance away, looking downcast.
Serena turned back toward Goh and smiled. "She's looking for someone to dance with," she said cheerfully. "I know it would mean a lot to her if you asked her."
Goh stared at Chloe, an internal battle raging between his discomfort with the situation and his desire to help his longtime friend. Finally he sighed, "Okay, I guess so…"
"Great," Serena said.
Goh glanced at Serena, laughed nervously and started walking stiffly toward Chloe, once again fidgeting with his outfit. It took Goh longer than it should have to reach Chloe, but he was soon standing within arm's reach of her.
Chloe had failed to notice him as she was still staring down at the floor.
Goh grimaced and then spoke up. "Hi Chloe," he said.
Chloe's head lifted quickly, her expression shifting from surprised to at-ease, as she realized who had greeted her. "Oh, hi Goh," she said softly. Her voice noticeably less energetic than usual.
Goh briefly clenched his teeth and then spoke again. "So…. Chloe, would you like to… dance?"
Chloe's face immediately lit up. She beamed with joy as any trace of sadness vanished from her. "Yes Goh, I'd love to!" she said gleefully.
Goh awkwardly held out his right hand to Chloe, mimicking as best he could what he seen others do at the dance.
Chloe looked at his hand and giggled with amusement. She eagerly grabbed hold of his outstretched hand with both of hers and started pulling him toward the center of the room. Goh managed to keep from falling over, but was less than graceful as Chloe led him to the center of a group of people dancing.
"So, how's this work?" Goh moaned nervously.
"Oh, it's easy," Chloe replied, full of happiness and enthusiasm. "First, we hold hands like this," she said, taking Goh's left hand in her right.
"Uh!" Goh groaned, his eyes widening as he became more nervous.
"Then, I put my hand on your shoulder and you put your hand on my waist." Chloe followed through on her statement, resting her left hand on Goh's shoulder.
Goh stared blankly for a moment, and then sputtered. "Wait, my hand, where!?"
"On my waist Goh," Chloe said smiling.
Goh made a moaning sound, now thoroughly discombobulated, and didn't make a move.
Chole giggled again, amused at Goh's behavior. "Oh, never mind. Let's go!"
Chloe pulled Goh sideways, and started spinning around with him, in an awkward parody of a waltz. Goh stumbled along as best he could; occasionally shouting in surprise as Chloe led him around, smiling all the way.
Serena chuckled as she watched the two of them move around the dance floor. Their awkward spinning drew several curious and amused stares from the other dancing couples. The two youths were very much out of place among the other graceful dancers, but no one seemed to mind.
As she watched Chloe enjoying herself so much, Serena started to feel sad again. This time she found it harder to push the feeling aside.
"Hey, Serena!" she heard Ash call from her left.
Serena breathed in sharply, surprised at hearing Ash. She turned toward him and saw he was moving through the crowd a short distance away.
Ash reached her and smiled sheepishly. "Sorry about that earlier. It seems I'm really popular all of a sudden."
Serena gave Ash a welcoming smile. "Well you are the world's greatest Pokémon trainer now," she said, adding a touch of sarcasm to the title the journalists had been saying over and over earlier. "I imagine everyone is going to want to talk to you."
Ash laughed and then let out an exasperated sigh as he realized this was what Leon had warned him about.
Ash took another breath and spoke again. "So Serena, I wanted to-"
As if fate itself was conspiring against them, at that moment, the two short-statured journalists from earlier came shoving through the crowd, angling toward Ash.
"Mr. Ketchum! What's your opinion on Ice Beam verses Aurora Beam?"
Ash turned toward them, holding his hands up to try and quiet them. "Come on guys, I just answered a bunch of questions." Ash's tone was polite but he'd clearly had enough of the journalists.
"How about Light Screen and Barrier, which do you think is better?" the journalists continued without pause.
Seeing the way the journalists were treating Ash made Serena start to feel angry. Before she could say anything however, Leon emerged from the crowd, walking up behind the two short-statured men. He reached out and wrapped an arm around each journalist, pulling them close to him as if he was best buddies with them.
"HEY! How'd you like to have an exclusive interview with the former Monarch?" Leon said in an overly enthusiastically voice.
The two journalists started to protest but Leon ignored them. He winked at Ash, drawing an amused smile from him and causing Serena to sigh in relief and smile.
Leon spun around and started hauling the journalists away. "You know, I've got quite a lot to say about Ice Beam. I think it's one of my favorite attacks…."
Ash and Serena shared a quick laugh about Leon's antics.
Ash turned toward Serena, "Boy I'm glad that's done with."
Serena nodded, "They weren't very considerate."
"Nope," Ash replied. He glanced at the center of the room and saw all the couples moving about the dance floor. "Hey, everybody's dancing!"
"Yes." Serena agreed. "You hadn't noticed before now?" She queried delicately.
Embarrassed, Ash looked back at Serena. "I've been kind of busy." Ash looked thoughtful for a moment and then spoke again. "How come you're not dancing?"
Serena hesitated for the briefest of moments. "No one's asked me yet," she said, a touch of sadness in her tone.
"Hmmmm," Ash again turned to look at the couples dancing. Several long moments passed before he suddenly brightened. "Oh yeah," he exclaimed, turning to Serena. "Hey Serena."
"Yes Ash!" she replied, anticipation making her voice tighter than usual.
Ash smiled. "Congratulations on winning the Hoenn contest championship."
Serena was both surprised and disappointed at Ash's words. She managed a grateful smile in response. "Oh, thanks….. You heard about that then."
"Yeah," Ash nodded. "I've been following your progress since we met in Lilycove. You did really great."
Serena was genuinely surprised to hear Ash had been tracking her progress. She blushed slightly and smiled happily. "Well, thank you Ash. That's really nice of you to say."
Ash smiled in response, and then turned back to look at the dancers. At that moment, Chole and Goh came spinning by. They had moved toward the outer edge of the circle of dancers and passed well within earshot of Ash and Serena.
Chole spied them as she rotated around and cheerfully called out, "Hi Ash! Hi Serena! Wheeee!"
Goh grunted from the exertion of keeping up, as he continued to be pulled along by Chole. A few seconds later, they were gone from view.
Serena laughed and held a hand to her mouth.
Ash laughed as well. "I didn't know Goh could dance," he said.
"I don't think he can," Serena said, continuing to laugh.
Ash and Serena continued laughing for a few seconds. Eventually they regained their composure and stood watching the couples dancing in front of them.
Abruptly, Ash turned toward Serena. "Hey Serena, would you like to dance?"
Serena froze for a pair of heartbeats. Taking a small breath, she calmed herself and simply replied, "Yes Ash, I would."
Ash smiled, turned slightly and extended his left hand toward her. Serena, standing to Ash's right, reached across herself with her right hand to take Ash's left, and in the same move, smoothly stepped in front of him, and pivoted counterclockwise on her right heel with all the grace of a professional dancer. The result was that she was now standing to his left, in the correct position for a waltz. She maintained eye contact with Ash throughout the entire sequence, taking in his every reaction.
Even though Ash had seen Serena's elegant movements many times before, he was still fascinated by her grace and poise, and couldn't help but smile as she settled next to him, hand-in-hand.
The two of them stepped forward onto the dance floor, moving toward the center of the group. As they walked, several of the passing couples saw it was the champion Ash crossing their path. The couples either stopped to let them pass or redirected their dance to avoid getting in their way. Most of the couples offered words of congratulation or praise to Ash. Ash did his best to politely accept the compliments and commend his Pokémon, but he mostly looked embarrassed, not used to this sort of attention.
Serena also received several compliments about her dress and appearance to which she courteously thanked them. As one of the couples moved away, Serena faintly heard the woman say that the 'Monarch's date was a beautiful young lady.' She glanced at Ash, but he apparently hadn't heard the comment. Part of her was relieved, but another part was disappointed.
Still hand-in-hand, they reached the center of the dance floor. Serena deftly turned to face Ash, and they took hold of each other in a traditional waltz form. Serena's mind briefly flashed back to the unsuccessful time she'd tried to teach Ash to dance, and the painful experience Miette had suffered when she'd taken Ash as a partner. She looked straight at Ash, determined to use all her skill to not let this dance end in catastrophe.
"Ready?" Ash asked.
Serena took a breath and steeled herself. She smiled subtly and nodded to Ash.
Ash took the lead and started them into a slow counterclockwise turn, joining in with the movements of the other dancing couples. To Serena's surprise, there was no stumbling, tripping or hesitation from Ash, just simple elegant dance steps. After a few graceful rotations, Serena started to relax.
"Wow Ash, you've really gotten good at dancing!" Serena said happily.
Ash looked pleased, "well I hope so. You're the one who taught me."
Serena laughed softly, "I tried to. It didn't go so well."
Ash laughed along with Serena, "no, it didn't. I was terrible." He sighed, shaking his head slightly as he remembered the infamous rhythmic battle strategy. "I'm probably just better because you're here."
The compliment made Serena want to blush, but she kept herself in check. "Give yourself some credit. You're definitely better than before."
Ash nodded, but said nothing in reply. Both of them were silent for a minute as they simply enjoyed the dance. Eventually, Serena let out a contented sigh and broke the silence.
"So Ash, what are you planning to do next?"
Ash blinked a couple of times and took on a thoughtful expression. "I don't really know," he said, sounding distant. "Before now I've always had another challenge, another gym, another league to aim for. But now, what else is there?"
Serena was about to repeat back some of the advice Ash had given her, but stopped herself. Something about his tone told her this problem didn't have a simple solution.
"Well, I'm sure you'll find something," Serena said in an encouraging tone. "You're the world champion. There's going to be plenty of trainers challenging you. You'll have to defend your title."
Ash nodded, but he still looked distant. "Yeah, but is that all there is. Keep defeating challengers so I can continue being the Monarch?"
Serena started to feel a little concerned for Ash. "You sound like you're unhappy," she said, her tone mirroring her feelings.
The comment caused Ash to shift his attention back to Serena. "Oh, it's not that. I'm really happy. I just don't know what I'm going to do next."
Serena didn't entirely believe him. She knew Ash too well. He was always striving toward his next goal as a Pokémon trainer. Without a clear objective, she could see Ash being lost and unable to move forward in life.
"There was something Leon said," Ash continued. "When he became the Monarch he didn't know what to do either. He wondered if there was anything else that could challenge him. Then he was defeated by Eternatus, and he realized that there are some things out there way more powerful that can be challenged."
Ash thought for a moment. "Maybe I'll go around the world and start challenging legendary Pokémon. There's got be to something as powerful as Eternatus out there. Battling that would be sure to make me stronger."
Ash was startled when Serena suddenly gasped and clenched both her hands, tightly squeezing his left hand and right shoulder. He looked at her and saw an expression of fear and concern on her face that vanished as soon as it had appeared. She quickly appeared calm again, but there was still a glisten of concern in her eyes.
Hearing Ash talking about battling legendary Pokémon had caused Serena to remember the crisis with team flare; how they'd all been in danger; how mind controlled legendary Pokémon had almost cost them everything; how the entire world had almost been destroyed.
"Serena?" Ash said softly, puzzled by her reaction.
Serena opened her mouth to speak, then hesitated. If challenging legendary Pokémon would make Ash happy how could she oppose that?
"If you do go looking for that sort of a challenge, just don't get in over your head, okay?" She said, her voice trembling slightly.
Ash's expression softened as he saw Serena was genuinely worried. "Yeah, no problem. I mean, we saw a bunch of legendary Pokémon when we were in Kalos. That all turned out okay."
"Barely," Serena replied warily. Squishy had been a good friend to them, but she vividly remembered Zapdos and Moltres raging and causing destruction. Legendary Pokémon were terrifyingly powerful and she would prefer Ash leave them alone. "Just…. make sure you don't get hurt."
Ash nodded, and smiled. "You know me, I'll be careful," he said, trying to reassuring Serena.
Serena half laughed, half coughed at the ludicrous reply. She did know Ash, and if there were words to describe him, 'careful' was not one of them. She tried to take a breath to steady herself, but she found herself choking on tears. The memory of Ash nearly falling into a volcano when they'd encountered Moltres was greatly upsetting her.
Ash's expression became serious when he saw Serena was genuinely distressed. "Are you okay?" he asked.
"I-" Serena started to speak but hesitated. She was torn between speaking openly about her concerns or putting on a strong face for Ash's sake. She wanted to support Ash, but she couldn't ignore her reservations. She decided to be honest.
She looked right at Ash. "You're not the most careful person Ash," she said in a kind yet firm tone. "When it comes to Pokémon, you can be pretty reckless. I just don't want you going after some really powerful legendary Pokémon and then something going wrong."
Serena's head fell as she couldn't hold Ash's gaze. She felt ashamed to be saying all this. "I don't want something to happen to you," she said, her voice barely a mumble.
There was silence for what seemed like an eternity. Serena stared at the floor. She felt immense guilt for having put her own feelings and desires ahead of Ash's dreams.
"Yeah, that would be pretty dangerous, wouldn't it?" Ash said in an amused voice.
Serena was surprised and puzzled by Ash's reply. She straightened up to look at him again. "What do you mean?" she asked.
"Challenging legendary Pokémon," Ash answered. "Eternatus wiped out Leon without even trying. Only a crazy person would want to battle something like that."
"Oh," Serena breathed. This wasn't the reaction from Ash she'd expected.
Ash took on a sheepish look. "I can be reckless can't I. Here I was thinking of challenging something so strong I wouldn't stand a chance." He gave Serena a grateful look. "Thanks Serena! I might not know what to do next, but that's no reason for me to do something stupid."
Serena was shocked. She'd expected Ash to stubbornly want to go after legendary Pokémon. Relief flooded through her. "You're welcome, Ash," she said.
Ash smiled at her and she smiled back.
They spent another minute dancing before Ash spoke up again.
"What are you going to do next Serena?"
Serena stared at Ash for a second, as if considering something, before she answered. "I don't know. I haven't thought about it. I finished with the Hoenn contest and then came straight here."
"Huh," Ash replied. "Well, maybe you could go for Kalos queen again."
Serena laughed politely, "We'll see. Right now I just want to enjoy the moment. I can go a day without planning my next adventure."
Ash looked a little perplexed. "Boy, I can't do that. When I finish one challenge I need to know what's next."
Serena chuckled, "Same old Ash."
Ash laughed in response.
With that, the two of them continued dancing; enjoying each other's company. Their travels around the dance floor had landed them near the center of the room once again. Their cadence had slowly slightly and they took a moment to look around at the other couples surrounding them. They saw Diantha and Steven dancing just a few paces away. The two champions were moving with a bit of extra energy, both of them extremely proficient at dancing. As Ash and Serena looked on, Diantha shifted her stance and Steven let go of her with his right hand, allowing the woman to transition into a dazzling spin. Her dress flared outward, thousands of sequins sparkling in the light. After three rotations, Diantha came back to Steven, the other catching her neatly. They mutually smiled at each other and continued dancing.
Ash and Serena looked at each other, both of them impressed by Diantha's elegant spin. They exchanged a few glances and expressions, wordlessly communicating a decision to perform the same spin. A few steps later, Serena shifted her stance just as Diantha had and Ash let her go just as Steven had. With years of dance practice and many Pokémon contests in her past, Serena was just as graceful on her feet as Diantha. She spun perfectly, her hair shining, her beaded turquoise necklace rattling around from the rotation, her dress billowing as if it had a life of its own.
Ash had seen Serena in numerous dresses, and many different situations. He'd seen her dance and perform, but there was something different about this time. Maybe it was her new appearance, or that they'd just spent some time dancing together, but he was completely captivated by her beauty as she spun.
As a result, when Serena stopped spinning and came back to a now distracted Ash, he failed to catch her properly. Serena compensated for the mistake immediately, but they still gently collided. They managed to keep from bumping heads, but they came so close to each other that their noses brushed together. For a moment, their faces were barely an inch apart, and each could feel the other's breath on them. There was a tense moment; then Serena smiled, took a step back and pulled Ash back into the waltz.
Their movements were slower now and Ash was noticeably distracted. In his mind, he was still seeing Serena gracefully spinning.
Ash looked at Serena and spoke in a quiet, detached voice. "You sure are beautiful Serena."
Upon hearing the words, an involuntary shudder went through Serena's body and she nearly missed a dance step. Her face lit up as she felt warm emotions surge through her. "Thank you Ash!" she exclaimed ecstatically.
Ash suddenly came back to his senses and he realized what he'd just said. Embarrassed and dismayed, he blushed and tried to backtrack. "Uh, I mean, the dress you're wearing is really beautiful."
Serena smiled and giggled at Ash's actions. "Well, your outfit is very nice too; almost as good-looking as you." Serena blushed fiercely when she said the last words. Part of her couldn't believe she'd just been so bold.
Ash attempted to laugh off the situation, but Serena fixed him with a piercing gaze and he found he couldn't look away from her. His laugh trailed off to nothing.
The two friends just stared at each other, not speaking and not looking away. Their dance slowed to the point where they were barely swaying side-to-side. As they slowed their steps they also drifted closer together until there were only a few inches separating them.
Serena's emotions were starting to get the better of her. Her face was mildly flushed and she was finding it harder to breathe. Memories of Ash swirled in her mind and she'd completely lost awareness of everything else in the room other than the young man she was holding on to.
"Hey Ash," Serena said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Hmmmm," Ash grunted a reply. He too was lost in the moment.
Serena paused a second as she tried to think of something else to say. However, there was only one thing fixed in her mind.
"Do you remember when we said goodbye in Kalos?"
It took Ash a second to register the words, but when he did the corners of his mouth turned upward slightly and he became a shade redder than he already was.
Serena took a ragged breath, and shifted her grip on Ash's shoulder so she could pull him closer. She began to gradually lean toward him, slowly closing her eyes as she moved.
Suddenly, the entire room erupted in applause. The loud noise jolted Ash and Serena out of their trance-like state. They looked around and saw all the couples had stopped dancing and were looking in the direction of the orchestra, clapping enthusiastically. The musicians had finished their performances, and were now taking bows in response to the applause. It seemed the dance was over.
Serena turned back to Ash. The intense emotions she'd been feeling a moment ago were already fading.
"Well, I guess that's it," she said, sounding content.
Ash looked back at her, "yeah." He also sounded content.
Serena smiled, "I really enjoyed dancing with you Ash."
Ash nodded, "same here. We should do this again sometime."
"Yes, we should," she said, a bit of wistfulness creeping into her voice.
The two of them went to step apart but realized they were still holding on to each other as if they were still dancing. Each of them laughed nervously and slowly let go of the other. They each took a step back and were surprised to find that they were still holding hands. Ash's left and Serena's right hand were still clasped together despite them trying to separate. They exchanged embarrassed glances and delicately let go of each other. The emotions from earlier had complete faded and Ash and Serena were now feeling very self-conscious about what had almost happened.
They each took another step backward smiled awkwardly and bowed politely. They then turned and walked in opposite directions, moving into the crowd of people.
Ash wandered through the crowd with no real direction or purpose. His mind felt fuzzy and he couldn't focus. Part of him wanted to stay with Serena, but he felt so embarrassed and he could tell she did too. He thought of Pikachu, and decided to go find his friend.
Ash started walking toward the dessert tables when Leon emerged from the crowd and greeted him.
"So, how's the new Monarch fairing?" Leon said in a respectful tone.
Ash sighed. Tonight had not gone at all like he'd expected. "I guess okay," he said shrugging. "This is all very different for me."
Leon nodded. "I guess I was fortunate when I won. The Gigantamax Drednaw put a damper on most of the festivities. It seems you're getting the full royal treatment."
Ash laughed sarcastically, "lucky me."
Leon half smiled and then spoke again. "So, have you thought about what you're going to do next as a Pokémon trainer?" Leon's tone made Ash suspect the man already knew what he was going to say.
"I've thought about it a little," Ash said. "But I don't really know what to do. I know you talked about finding legendary Pokémon, but I don't think that's for me."
Leon gave an understanding nod. "Would you like to hear some advice from a former monarch?"
Ash's interest was immediately peaked. "Sure."
Leon's expression appeared thoughtful, his gaze lifting toward the ceiling. "I told you about how when I became monarch I was afraid there would be nothing else out there that could challenge me. I learned that was not the case when I battled Eternatus. There were many things more powerful than me, and I could strive to overcome them."
Leon shifted his stance and looked at Ash. "However, now I realize that was only part of the answer."
Ash nodded, urging Leon to continue.
"Before we battled Ash, I didn't know how I'd feel if I lost. Would I be angry or heartbroken? How would I react after reaching the top and then being dethroned? I was a little scared, especially after losing to Eternatus." Leon gave Ash a sidelong glance. "Do you know what I felt when I lost?"
Ash started to say something, but Leon grinned and continued. "I felt pride. I felt proud to have played a role in helping you become the new champion. That's when I finally realized the true task that a champion can perform."
Leon again paused for effect before continuing.
"You see, when someone reaches the top, the only thing they can do is help raise others up with them. One day, the people you've helped will surpass you and then you can look to surpass them. In this way we all raise each other up and become stronger."
Leon closed his eyes and bowed his head slightly; he had an ironic grin on his face. "Funny that it took me losing to learn this final lesson."
Ash stood speechless. Leon's words had made sense and he felt some of his confusion clearing. He started to feel as if he had a direction again.
"So, helping other people get stronger is what a champion should do." Ash said.
Leon nodded. "That's what I've learned anyway."
"That makes a lot of sense. Thanks Leon!"
Leon grinned, looking satisfied.
"So what are you going to do next Leon?" Ash asked.
Leon again looked thoughtful, "hmmmmm, I'm not sure, but I'm thinking about traveling again. It would be nice to see the world again. Go someplace far away where people have never heard of me. I could just be 'Leon the Pokémon trainer' instead of 'Leon the former monarch.'"
Ash looked puzzled. "Why would you want to go where nobody knows you?"
Leon gave a belly laugh. "Ah, it's not until you become famous that you fully appreciate anonymity. I think it's something you're starting to find out."
Ash realized Leon was talking about the journalists. "Oh, I see what you mean."
Leon nodded, "before I go someplace though, I should get one of those Rotom Phones; one with a map. I think it will come in handy."
Ash and Leon shared a laugh.
Leon held out a hand, "thank you Ash, and good luck."
Ash smiled and shook Leon's hand, "thank you Leon. You've really helped me."
Leon gave Ash a final respectful nod then turned and walked away.
Ash watched him go then turned and continued toward the dessert tables. He found Pikachu standing on the end of a table, munching on a miniature tart. Pikachu spotted him and gulped the rest of the tart in one bite; he then leapt from the table and dashed to Ash.
"Hey, buddy!" Ash said happily as Pikachu called out to him and jumped up to his shoulder. "Did you enjoy yourself?"
Pikachu nodded, spoke happily, and patted its full belly.
Ash chuckled, "Well, I'm glad the desserts were tasty."
Pikachu sent Ash an inquisitive look and pulled at the monarch cloak Ash was wearing. "Pi-ka! Pi-ka?" it said, sounding concerned.
Ash looked at the cloak, realizing Pikachu was asking about his doubts over becoming monarch. "Oh yeah, I'm feeling a lot better now," he replied in an optimistic tone. "I got to talk with Leon. He gave me some really good advice."
Pikachu smiled, and sounded happy.
Ash ran a hand over Pikachu's head and smiled as his Pokémon enjoyed the attention. He looked around the room and saw the far wall was lined with huge windows through which could be seen a large terrace overlooking Wyndon. Ash immediately started walking toward the windows and found a glass door leading outside. He'd had enough of the crowded party and needed some place quiet to think.
Ash passed through the door and walked out onto the terrace. To his relief, there was no one outside. He stepped up to the stone balustrade which ran along the edge of the terrace and leaned against it. Pikachu jumped onto the railing and looked down at the grounds below. Ash let out a sigh and relaxed, thinking about what Leon had said.
Goh collapsed into a chair and let out an exhausted whine. The dance had ended none too soon for him and he propped up his right leg on his knee and starting rubbing his aching foot. He glanced to his left at Chloe, who was just as energetic as when they'd started dancing. She was still standing, smiling happily and humming one of the tunes the orchestra had been playing. As she hummed she made little steps and motions; imagining she was still gliding around the dance floor.
"Wasn't that the best Goh," Chloe said sweetly. "Dancing's so much fun."
Goh made an exasperated face but didn't say anything negative. He didn't want to hurt Chloe's feelings. "Yeah, sure. It was great." Goh answered, failing to keep all of the sarcasm out of his tone.
Goh looked down and switched which foot he was rubbing. The shoes he was wearing were not built for comfort, and he was feeling every step he had taken.
Chloe looked over at Goh and noticed him wincing as he worked on his feet. She'd known from the start that Goh couldn't dance and the whole experience had been uncomfortable for him. He'd hung in there nonetheless, and she appreciated that.
She took a few steps so she was standing next to Goh. "Thanks for dancing with me Goh. I really had fun," she said sincerely.
Goh grunted a reply but didn't look up.
Chloe smiled, leaned toward Goh and gave him a small peck on his left temple.
Goh straightened up, surprised, and looked at Chloe. The girl smiled appreciatively at him, then turned and walked away.
Goh, a puzzled expression on his face, looked down at his feet, then back in the direction Chloe had left. He wasn't sure what to make of what had just happened.
The fresh air and quiet he'd found on the terrace helped Ash to refocus himself. Whereas before the evening had begun he'd felt lost and directionless, now he felt he knew what to do. He just wasn't quite sure how to do it yet. He stared out into the night sky, the stars shining above Wyndon.
Pikachu, sitting on the balustrade to his left, suddenly perked up and made a sound. Ash looked at Pikachu and the Pokémon jumped down to the terrace floor and dashed halfway toward the door before stopping and looking back at Ash. Pikachu gave Ash a happy expression and then continued toward the door.
Ash was puzzled by Pikachu's action and was about to follow after him when he heard a very familiar voice to his right.
"You look deep in thought," Serena said.
Ash was mildly surprised, and looked over at Serena. He immediately felt a little awkward and didn't say anything in reply.
Serena noticed Ash was tense. She smiled warmly, indicating everything was fine, and stepped closer until she was next to him. She turned toward the balustrade and rested her elbows on the structure. She looked out at Wyndon, completely at ease. After a moment, she looked over at Ash.
"Let me guess. You're thinking about what you're going to do next."
The nerves Ash felt disappeared. He half-smiled and nodded, "Yeah, how'd you guess?"
Serena suppressed a laugh and raised her eyebrows, sending Ash a knowing look.
Ash smiled sheepishly, "Oh, right!" he said. Ash took a breath and slowly let it out. "I think I know what I'm going to do now."
"Really?" Serena said, sounding intrigued.
Ash nodded. "Mm-hmmm, I talked with Leon and he said that when someone reaches the top, the only thing they can do is raise others up with them; help make others stronger."
Ash smiled and looked happy. "I think that's what I'm going to do. I'm going to help others get stronger. I'm going to teach them what I've learned." Ash raised his arms to his chest and clinched his fists in determination. "One day they'll get stronger than me and then I can work to overcome them. It'll be awesome."
Serena felt a wave of happiness and admiration of Ash roll over her. She looked at him, taking in his renewed enthusiasm. Just a little while ago he'd been at a loss for his future, and now he had a plan and was reinvigorated. After having been away from Ash for so long she was reminded of exactly why she felt such strong feelings for him.
Ash lowered his arms to his sides and looked off to the horizon. "Only thing is, I'm going to have to completely rethink how I've been doing everything."
The comment raised Serena's curiosity, "why is that? What do you need to change?"
Ash closed his eyes and tilted his head downward. He looked very introspective. "Up till now, I've always been focused on myself. Training my Pokémon; winning my gym battles; challenging different leagues; I haven't had much time for helping other people. It's going to be a big change for me."
Ash opened his eyes and looked back at the horizon. There was a slight breeze blowing and Ash ran a hand through his hair to straighten it.
"I don't think that's true at all," Serena spoke. Her voice was as gentle as the breeze and for a moment Ash wondered if he'd imagined the words.
Ash turned toward Serena, puzzled by her comment. She was no longer leaning against the balustrade and had turned to face him. Her eyes were glistening and her mouth was turned upward in a small yet sweet smile.
"What do you mean?" Ash inquired.
Serena closed her eyes and took a long, slow breath. She paused for a heartbeat, opened her eyes, and looked at Ash. "Ash, you're one of the most selfless people I know. You're always helping others wherever you go. Anytime you see injustice, you charge in to help. If you see someone in trouble, you act without thinking of yourself."
Ash was dumbstruck. "I don't know…. I think that's a little different."
Serena slowly shook her head, amused at Ash's humility. "Well then, take me for an example," she said, briefly lifting her arms out to her sides. "If it wasn't for you, I'd still be a moody little girl in Vaniville Town trying to get out of Rhyhorn practice every day. I wouldn't have any dreams or aspirations. I wouldn't have gotten my Pokemon, competed in showcases or traveled the world." Serena's voice wavered slightly as she started choking up from emotion. "Everything I am today is because of you Ash."
Ash mouth was agape as Serena finished her words. It took a moment for him to assemble his thoughts. "Come on Serena," Ash managed. "You did all those things. You worked really hard. You're the one who won all those contes-"
"I may have done those things Ash, but you inspired me," Serena interrupted. "I can't tell you how many times I would have given up if not for the things you taught me and your words which kept me going."
Ash didn't have any sort of reply. He still didn't see his actions as any big deal, but her flurry of compliments had rendered him speechless. He lowered his gaze and looked at the ground, suddenly feeling very embarrassed to be receiving such lofty praise from Serena.
Serena moved closer to Ash until she was within arm's reach. She raised her right hand and gently placed her partially curled index finger underneath Ash's chin. Slowly and affectionately, she lifted his head until his gaze was again level with hers.
Serena spoke again. Her voice was just a whisper and cracked from emotion. "Everywhere you go, you leave a trail of people and Pokémon you've helped. Clemont, Bonnie, Trevor, Sawyer, Noivern, Goodra, Goh and Chloe." Serena pulled back a step from Ash, "There's countless others too, and that's just what I've seen. I'm sure you've helped so many more on your other journeys."
Ash thought about all the people and Pokémon Serena had listed off. It was true that he'd helped them, but it hadn't seemed like anything special to him. It had just been the right thing to do.
The tiniest of smiles formed on Ash's face as he thought way back. He remembered friends like Misty, Brock, Tracy, May, Max, Dawn, Lillie and Lana. He thought of some of the random people he'd met on the road or in the countless towns he'd visited. There were also all the Pokémon he'd met; too many to count.
When he'd first heard Leon talking about helping people he'd envisioned doing big projects, teaching classes full of people or leading an expedition to some far-off corner of the world. Now he realized that he didn't have to do big things in order to help people. The little things could be just as important.
Ash's smile widened and he focused his gaze on Serena. "Thanks Serena, you always know the right thing to say!"
Serena maintained her smile and gave a small nod, but didn't say anything. There were tears in her eyes and Ash could see a tiny tremble in her lips. He guessed she was too emotional to speak.
Ash reached out with his right hand and gently clasped Serena's left shoulder in a show of camaraderie. Serena shifted her right hand up and laid it on top of Ash's hand. Neither of them said anything as they stood on the terrace, enjoying the moment alone.
Eventually Serena slipped her fingers underneath Ash's hand and gently lifted his arm up, so they could cordially let go of each other.
Ash smiled and opened his mouth to speak. "So Serena, now that I've figured out what I'm going to do, maybe I can help you think of your next move?"
In an instant, Serena's expression switched to utter amusement and then to hilarity as she broke down in a series of deep laughs; nearly buckling at the knees. She had so much emotion bottled up inside that when Ash reverted to his usual self and started looking for the next task, apparently oblivious to the moment they were sharing, she couldn't help but laugh. She held a hand up to her mouth, in an effort to stifle the sound, but it wasn't nearly enough.
Ash looked on, perplexed by Serena's reaction.
Serena tried to steady herself and looked up at Ash, only to start laughing all over again.
"Did I say something wrong?" Ash posed.
Serena shook her head and took several gasping breaths. "No Ash…. You're wonderful…. Don't ever change."
Serena straightened up and steadied her breathing. She suppressed a few final laughs and wiped tears of mirth from her face. "Okay, I guess I need to decide what I'm doing next," she said, her voice still shaking from the hysterics.
Ash brightened. "So, do you want to go for Kalos queen?" he said energetically.
Serena sighed softly and moved so she was again leaning against the balustrade. She looked up into the sky. "I don't think so," she said. "It doesn't feel like it's the right time."
Ash moved so he was standing next to her. "You gonna do more Pokémon contests then?"
Serena had only given passing thought to what she was going to do once she was finished in Hoenn. She didn't have a plan or even much of a list of possibilities.
"Well," she started slowly. "I know there are contests in Sinnoh and also some in Johto. I'll probably go to one or the other." Serena looked over at Ash, gauging his reaction. "Of course, there's also a small contest scene in Kanto, so that's also a possibility."
Ash nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I've been to Sinnoh and Johto. Those are good choices." Ash suddenly smiled and looked a little embarrassed. "And, of course, I live in Kanto."
"Yes, I know," Serena replied, continuing to watch Ash. "How are the contests there?"
Ash chuckled. "Well, I guess pretty much the same as in Hoenn. There just aren't as many coordinators or locations."
Serena nodded. She looked back up at the sky and was silent for a moment while she thought. "I don't know if I want to go to Sinnoh."
Ash looked surprised, "really, why not?"
Serena looked down at her hands which were folded and resting on the balustrade. "Well, like you Ash, I've started helping other performers when I get the chance. If I go where there's a lot of contests and coordinators, there's less of a chance to find people who have never experienced performances before." She looked back at Ash. "I think a smaller contest scene is what I'm looking for right now."
"Huh," Ash replied, a little surprised Serena didn't want to go for the next biggest contest competition.
Serena continued. "That leaves Kanto and Johto." She maintained her stare at Ash. "So, where should I go Ash?"
Ash was slightly taken aback at the question. "Uh, aren't you the one making that decision?" he said, sounding uncertain.
Serena smiled slightly, "well, I figure the world's greatest Pokémon trainer should have a pretty good answer."
Ash laughed nervously as Serena again referenced the journalists from earlier in the evening. He hoped that Serena was just joking but as the seconds passed and she remained focused on him with an unblinking stare, he realized he was going to have to come up with an answer.
"Umm, well, Johto and Kanto are right next to each other, so I guess you could pick either one if you wanted to." Ash squirmed, feeling extremely uncomfortable at being asked to pick where Serena was going next.
Serena said nothing and kept staring.
Ash felt sweat beading on his forehead. "The contests in Kanto aren't as big of a deal as they are in Johto. So, I guess Johto might be the best choice."
Serena kept staring.
Ash nervously tugged at his collar. "On the other hand, if you're wanting to go where there's fewer contests, I guess that would be Kanto."
Serena's stare remained unchanged.
Ash swallowed, "there's not a whole lot of contest halls in Kanto. Some of them are hard to find. But I guess that's what you're wanting, isn't it?"
Serena still didn't react, although it seemed to Ash that she was holding her breath.
Ash flashed a tense smile, "is Kanto okay Serena?"
Serena finally moved and nodded at Ash. "Kanto sounds great Ash," she said, sounding content. "Thank you."
Ash let out a big sigh of relief.
Serena was silent for a moment then spoke. "I've never properly been to Kanto, so this should be a fun adventure."
Ash immediately brightened up, "oh yeah, it's great. There's all kinds of cool places and a bunch of Pokémon you've probably never seen before."
"It'll probably be a lot like when I first arrived in Hoenn," Serena replied. "I didn't know anyone or where anything was. I just started exploring and meeting people." Serena's expression became distant as she delved through her memories. "It was just like you said Ash; nothing is really a waste of time. Even when I got lost or just spent a day wandering along the coasts, it always felt meaningful."
"Huh, you got lost in Hoenn?" Ash remarked, a little surprised.
"A few times," Serena said. "But it always ended up okay. I just treated it like another adventure."
Ash thought for a moment, his gaze wandering. "So you don't know where anything is in Kanto," he said more to himself than to Serena.
Serena returned her focus to Ash, but didn't say anything.
Ash finished thinking and looked back at Serena. "Hey, Serena," he began, his tone a little awkward.
Serena acknowledged him with a small nod.
Ash smiled nervously and blushed slightly. "So, Kanto's my home, and I live there," he said, almost stumbling over his words. "I know where everything is, and if you're going to be traveling there maybe I could show you around." Ash absently scratched at his face. As he spoke, his gaze moved all over, looking everywhere except at Serena. "That way you'll know where the contest halls are and you won't get lost."
Serena smiled joyfully, "that sounds great Ash. I'd really appreciate it," she replied, her voice cheerful.
Ash finally looked at Serena. He blushed even more and chuckled nervously.
Serena stared at Ash for several seconds then took a step toward him so there was only a short distance separating them. She reached up and gently took hold of his suit, adjusting it so it was straight and even.
Ash simply stood wide-eyed, and speechless, not moving a muscle.
"Traveling together in Kanto," Serena spoke softly, in a distant sounding tone as she let go of the suit and started straightening Ash's collar and tie. "It will be just like old times." Serena finished with the collar and grasped the top of the monarch cloak with both her hands, moving it so it was evenly draped on Ash's shoulders.
Serena held the cloak in place and looked Ash up and down. She gave a satisfied smile and met Ash's gaze. "There, now you look like a proper champion."
Ash didn't have any sort of response. His face was now very red and he could only stare back at Serena.
Serena let go of the monarch cloak and took a step back. She paused for a few seconds, taking in Ash's appearance; she wanted to remember this moment.
"We should probably go back inside," Serena said with a sigh. "I'm sure there are still a lot of people who want to talk with you."
"Uh, huh…" Ash, grunted. Not really registering the words.
Serena smiled and turned toward the door she'd used to enter the terrace. She looked back over her shoulder at Ash. Her move shook the young man out of his stupor and he took a couple steps forward so he was beside Serena. The two of them then walked toward the terrace door and rejoined the party inside.
Like usual, Wyndon airport was busy with the surge of morning passengers. Plenty of people were coming and going, most of them pulling rolling suitcases behind them. Chloe passed through the automatic front doors of the airport and smiled wide at seeing all the activity. She was wearing her backpack and holding on to the straps slung over her shoulders. A few steps inside the building, she turned and looked back out the door.
"Come on Goh, your feet can't hurt that much!" she said in a chiding tone.
Goh slowly traipsed in through the doors and came up beside Chloe. He groaned in misery. "How do people dance for a living and still be able to walk?"
Chloe sighed. "You were just doing it wrong," she admonished him. "If you knew how to dance, your feet wouldn't hurt at all."
"Oh really," Goh replied sarcastically; not believing her. "You should show me how it's done then."
Chloe grinned lightheartedly. "Sure Goh. I have dance class this week. I could teach you."
Goh recoiled, a look of horror on his face. Chloe couldn't help but laugh at the sight.
"When's our flight leaving," Goh mumbled, pulling out his phone. He glanced between the phone and the overhead boards displaying flight times. Goh's shoulders slumped when he saw they had more than an hour before their flight started boarding.
"Argh, this is gonna take forever," Goh moaned.
"Oh, quit complaining," Chloe said. "So what if you have to wait a little while before you're flying off after project Mew."
"I don't wanna wait any more," Goh wailed. "I've been waiting my whole life. I wanna catch Mew!"
Chloe sighed. "This is gonna be a long flight," she said to no one in particular.
While Goh was still steaming from the forced wait, Chloe took the chance to explore the airport. She walked around the entrance area, looking at the different signs and kiosks scattered about the room. After a few minutes she returned to Goh, who was now sitting on a bench, sulking.
"There's lots of neat things to see here Goh!" Chloe said in an encouraging tone.
Goh slightly turned his head away from Chloe. "Are any of them Mew?" he said, pouting.
Chloe frowned and put her hands on her hips. "Yeesh, you usually aren't like this. Come on, you should be happy. You're gonna get to pursue your dream."
Goh's expression softened slightly, but he still kept his arms folded and didn't look at Chloe.
Chloe sighed and turned to look around the airport again. At that moment, she spied Serena strolling through the entrance way. She was back to wearing her typical charcoal colored outfit and had a pink and red carrying bag slung over her right shoulder.
"Serena!" Chloe called out enthusiastically, waving at the other girl.
Hearing her name, Serena glanced toward Chloe and smiled in response. She walked up to her and saw Goh was seated nearby.
"Hi, Chloe. Are you flying to Kanto too?" Serena said.
"Nope," Chloe replied. "Goh's finally heard from Project Mew and they want him to travel to Johto." Chloe's disposition became happier as she continued talking. "Goh asked if I wanted to come along so I'm going to Johto too!"
Serena nodded in acknowledgment, "that sounds great. I hope you have fun." Serena directed her gaze toward Goh. "Good luck to you Goh! I'm sure you'll do great."
Some of Goh's foul mood dissipated upon hearing Serena. He turned toward her and forced a grateful smile. "Thanks," he replied.
"So where are you going Serena?" Chloe asked.
Serena smiled and looked slightly elated. "I'm going to Kanto. I'm going to compete in the contests there."
Chloe looked pleasantly surprised. "Kanto, really! You'll have to come see us in Vermilion city some time."
Serena chuckled. "I'll be sure to drop by. Maybe you can watch one of my contests."
Chloe nodded enthusiastically and then blushed slightly. "Maybe I'll compete in one again. That was so much fun."
The two girls shared a happy laugh. "Well, if you do, I'd be happy to teach you a few things," Serena added.
As they spoke, the doors opened again and Leon walked through. He had a duffle bag slung over his back and was staring down at a Rotom Phone he was holding in both hands. He took a dozen steps into the airport and stopped.
"Hey, it's Leon," Chloe said, catching sight of the former monarch.
Leon looked up from the phone and scanned his surroundings. He grinned, and saw the trio of Goh, Chloe and Serena a short distance from him. "This gizmo is great," he said, holding up the phone and sounding pleased. "It led me straight to the airport, first time."
Serena looked puzzled, and glanced at Chloe.
Chloe caught the meaning of Serena's expression and answered the unspoken question in a hushed voice.
"See, Leon's bad with directions and can't go anywhere without getting lost."
"Ah," Serena breathed, now understanding. She smiled in response to Leon.
Leon grinned and turned his attention back to the phone; tapping a finger on the device. "There's even a Pokédex in here somewhere….. if I can find it."
Chloe chuckled and turned to Serena. She leaned closer and whispered a question. "So, I saw you and Ash dancing last night. How'd it go?"
Serena looked at Chloe and raised an eyebrow in amusement. "Well, aren't you nosey," she replied.
Serena offered nothing else, and once Chloe realized there would be no more information, she looked disappointed.
The doors again opened and Ash came dashing through. He was back to his standard outfit and was wearing his backpack and red hat. He took a sharp turn the second he cleared the entrance and darted to the side, pressing his back against the wall so he was out of sight from anyone outside. He was breathing heavily and looked desperate.
Chloe and Serena looked on puzzled. Leon just gave a knowing grin.
After several seconds, Ash started to relax. Pikachu stuck his head out of the backpack and made a cautious sound.
"Yeah, I think we lost 'em," Ash replied. He started to look around and immediately saw his friends. His expression instantly brightened. "Hey, Serena, guys!"
"Hi Ash," Serena replied quickly. "I was wondering where you were."
Ash gave a nervous laugh. "Yeah, there were about hundred reporters all wanting to ask me the same question." Ash looked at Leon. "I understand what you were saying about being anonymous."
Leon continued grinning. "Nothing like an adoring public to make you appreciate the quiet life."
Ash stepped forward so he was standing with the group. "Wow, we're all here. Ready to go our separate ways."
Goh stood up from the bench and walked over. His foul mood had mostly faded.
Ash turned to Leon. "So, Leon, where are you off to?"
Leon looked happy. "I've decided to visit Alola. I've heard there's lots of different Pokémon there; unlike the ones you find anywhere else."
Ash, nodded affirmatively. "Yeah, there's all kinds of cool Pokémon there. It's great."
Leon agreed. "I think it will be fun. Visiting the islands, seeing the sights." He winked and held up his pointer finger for emphasis. "Plus, I've always wanted to learn how to pilot a boat."
"That sounds great! I hope you enjoy yourself," Serena said happily.
A voice came over the PA system announcing a flight was getting ready to board.
Leon perked up and looked at his phone. "I think….." he said hesitating. A moment later his expression changed to triumph. "Yep, that's my flight. It's time for me to go."
All of them wished Leon well. Ash especially thanked Leon for his inspiration and a great battle. Leon in turn thanked Ash for everything he'd learned from the young man. Leon bid the others farewell and looked down at his phone.
"Okay, let's head to the boarding gate." Leon started walking, still staring down at his phone. After a few paces, he bumped into a bench, and then collided with a kiosk. He looked up, puzzled, and adjusted his path. Several people had to quickly step out of the way of the former monarch as he continued on to the boarding gate, eyes fixed on his phone.
Everyone in the group shared a few exasperated laughs and glances.
"Oh well, I guess some things never change," Ash said.
Goh looked at Ash, "so Ash, where are you going next?"
Ash looked happy, "I'm heading back to Pallet Town. I'm gonna see Professor Oak and stop at my home." Ash's expression became a little embarrassed. "After that, I'm gonna show Serena around Kanto. She's planning to do contests there."
Upon hearing this, Chloe's eyes widened, and she gasped loudly. Glancing first at Ash and then Serena, she started turning red and raised her hands up to her mouth. Despite the move, she still made a soft squealing sound and looked like she could explode with excitement.
Ash and Goh looked on, puzzled by Chloe's behavior. Serena was immensely amused, but kept her reaction limited to a tiny smile.
"Uh, Chloe?" Goh began.
With a spirited laugh, Chloe lowered her hands and grabbed hold of Goh's arm. She was grinning ear-to-ear. "Come on Goh! I think it's time we get moving!"
"It is?" Goh replied, not understanding what was happening.
Chloe turned and took a step away from Ash and Serena, dragging Goh along. She looked back over her shoulder.
"Bye Ash! Bye Serena!" She giggled wildly then continued. "Good luck you two!"
With that, Chloe strode away quickly, hauling a protesting Goh along with her.
"Uh, bye," Ash said perplexed, as Chloe and Goh headed deeper into the airport and disappeared from sight. He turned toward Serena, "what was that about?"
Serena gave a mysterious look and glanced off to the side. "Don't know, but she seemed really excited." She looked up at the flight boards. "We should get going too. Our flight is boarding soon."
Ash agreed, and they started walking in the opposite direction Chloe and Goh had taken. Pikachu stayed in Ash's backpack, looking around at all the sights. They weaved through the large airport and eventually reached a long corridor which led to some of the departing flights.
"I think you're gonna like Kanto," Ash said. "There's a lot to explore, like Saffron City. It's really big like Lumiose City."
Serena, walking to Ash's right, smiled and nodded. "Do they have some cute shops there?"
Ash thought for a moment. "Uh, I don't know." He looked embarrassed. "I've never really gone there looking at the shops. I mostly just went to the gym and the Pokémon center. My mom did all of the shopping."
Serena gave an amused chuckle. "Well, I guess this will be an adventure for both of us."
Ash looked over at Serena and chuckled along with her.
At that moment, a stressed looking man was walking quickly down the corridor in the opposite direction. He was pulling a pair of large rolling suitcases behind him and took up so much of the corridor that Ash had to step to his right, toward Serena, to avoid a collision.
The man hurried past and Ash glanced over his shoulder after him. Ash turned to look forward again and as he did his right hand and Serena's left knocked into each other. Their fingers intertwined and Ash quickly looked at Serena, surprised and embarrassed at what had happened. Serena returned his gaze and smiled happily. Ash blushed and mumbled an apology, gently pulling his hand away from hers. He took a step to his left so he and Serena were again at standard walking distance.
They walked in silence for several long seconds; Ash feeling terribly embarrassed and keeping his hands in his pockets. Serena observed Ash's behavior, then without warning, she leaned toward him and playfully shoved her shoulder into him, briefly knocking him off balance. Ash glanced at Serena and she laughed lightheartedly. Ash smiled in return, the brief tension between them quickly broken.
The two of them continued on their way to the boarding gate, and soon were on a plane, flying toward Kanto.