The lift of the Anistar City arena finished its descent and a blonde haired woman in a white and orange outfit stepped off, flanked by a Fletchinder a Helioptile and a Hawlucha. Shauna didn't even glance in the other woman's direction. She was solely focused on what she would have to do in the next three minutes.
The smooth and articulate voice of Monsieur Pierre boomed over the PA system and Shauna stepped forward onto the platform.
"Ahnd nouw, veed come to ze laast parformer en dis enaugural coompetition of ze Kalos Pokémon showcase seazon!"
Shauna took a deep breath and looked down at Ivysaur standing just a few paces in front of her. She gave her shoulders a small shrug and felt the weight of Gothita on her back as it waited for its moment.
"Time to shine, everyone!" she said in a bright voice.
The platform jolted slightly and started to rise up toward the bright lights of the stage above them.
"ET'S ZE LOUVELY SHAUNA!"
The platform reached the top and Shauna took a step forward to strike an exuberant pose. She fixed a sweet smile to her face and looked to Ivysaur just as her upbeat performance music began to blast out through the PA system.
"Petal Dance!" she called out in a sing-song voice.
Shauna's Ivysaur, elegantly decorated with flowers, beads and bows, let out an excited growl and deployed a huge number of sparkling pink leaves in a cloud which began to swirl around them.
Shauna giggled bounded to the front edge of the cloud and performed a full pirouette while she was in midair. "Now, Magical Leaf!" she commanded.
Rather than sending out more leaves, Ivysaur began to use its power to manipulate the countless pink petals which were already whirling around them. The grass type looked left and right, a huge smile on its face as the petals began to form into small clusters which continued to spin around them.
Shauna let out a girlish laugh and began to run around the inner perimeter of the swirling vortex in the opposite direction of the spinning petal clusters. Ivysaur surged forward and joined Shauna in running around the perimeter, however her Pokémon was running in the opposite direction she was.
Shauna giggled again and deliberately let a few of the petal clusters hit her, sending several small explosion of beautiful pink dust into the air. Ivysaur used its vines to also explode a few of the petal clusters, adding to the pink mist blowing in the air.
Shauna took a breath and whispered her next command. "Now!" she said over her shoulder.
Gothita responded immediately and erupted out of a concealed backpack on Shauna's costume. The psychic type used its power and stabilized the petal clusters in Shauna's and Ivysaur's paths.
Shauna let out a joyful shout and leapt upward, letting her right foot land on one of the petal clusters. Rather than disintegrating, the pink petals supported her weight and allowed her to run upward, into the vortex, bounding from cluster to cluster. Ivysaur mirrored her performance and began running upward through the clusters as well, spiraling upward in the opposite direction as Shauna.
Shauna held her arms out to her sides to keep her balance and chuckled happily. She could hear the crowd gasping and ooooing in amazement at the gravity defying performance. She and Ivysaur reached the top of the vortex at the same time. The two of them leapt toward each other and Shauna grabbed hold of a small, concealed handle in Ivysaur's costume.
As the two of them began to fall toward the stage below, Shauna winked and breathed her next command. "Solar Beam!"
With excellent precision, trainer and Pokémon performed a simultaneous forward flip and just as both of them were inverted, Ivysaur pulsed out a bright flash of light. The petals all exploded into pink dust and Shauna's Floette burst out of Ivysaur's flower to more gasps and amazement from the crowd.
The fairy type quickly spiraled down to the stage floor, its excited cries filling the air and a huge cloud of Fairy Wind blowing out in all directions. Above, Shauna and Ivysaur finished their flip and rapidly plummeted, feet first, toward the stage below. A fearful gasp escaped the lips of more than a few audience members.
Shauna let out a boisterous, happy laugh just as Gothita and Floette each used their powers to generate a powerful upward rush of pink air which slowed their trainer and her Pokémon. Shauna and Ivysaur landed as gently as a feather and the air above them shimmered as the massive cloud of sparkling pink dust billowed out over the arena. She and all of her Pokémon struck a finishing pose just as her music hit its final, powerful note!
Shauna smiled broadly and looked across the massive audience as they all erupted into thunderous cheers. "We did it, guys!" she spoke in an excited voice.
The better part of an hour later, Shauna finally got a moment alone with her Pokémon. All of them were still wearing their contest outfits and all of them were beaming happily. With a giggle and a grin, Shauna brandished the princess key she'd been awarded a few minutes ago and spoke in a joyful voice.
"This is it!" she squealed to her Pokémon. "This is our first step to reaching the master class!"
All of her Pokémon nodded in approval and voiced their enthusiasm. They congratulated each other and looked toward Shauna.
The showcase winner cupped the elaborately shaped princess key in her hands and sighed in wistful relief as she stared at her prize. "When we took last year off, I was so worried we'd be left behind by everyone." She looked down at her Pokémon and clinched both her fists in excitement and determination. "But it's clear we haven't lost a step!" she said confidently.
Her Pokémon all cheered and cried out ecstatically.
Shauna smiled and put her hands on her hips. It was at that moment her phone in her pocket vibrated. Shauna's eyes brightened and she quickly retrieved it. She saw who was calling and she eagerly answered the video call. She held the phone in front of her and a moment later the face of her old friend, Serena, appeared.
"Hi Serena!" Shauna said excitedly.
Serena laughed politely and smiled. "Shauna, I saw your whole performance! You and your Pokémon were so beautiful!"
Shauna smiled happily. "Thanks, we worked really hard on that one!"
Serena gave a small nod. "And now you've got your first princess key. I'm sure you're gonna make the master class!"
Shauna nodded and her brow furrowed in determination. "I'm sure we will too!" she said confidently. "This is gonna be our year! We're gonna go all the way to the top and become Kalos queen!"
Her Pokémon let out another enthusiastic cry and Shauna sent a happy smile their way.
Serena hummed wistfully. "Aria's not gonna be easy, but I'm sure you'll give her a run for her money!" she said.
Shauna nodded intensely. "We will!" she said in a strong voice. A moment passed and then Serena's long-time friend started to look a little introspective. "You know what would make this even better?" she posed.
Serena let out a small chuckle. "What?" she answered playfully.
Shauna intently fixed her gaze on the phone. "If you were here competing as well!" she said forcefully.
Serena hesitated for a moment and then let out a deflating sigh. Her face fell a little and she slowly shook her head.
"I'd love to, but I have responsibilities. I'm really busy with other things right now," she said in a somber yet sincere tone.
A silly smile pulled at Shauna's lips and a little blush entered her cheeks. "And that other thing is a guy named Ash, right?!" she said in a girlish voice tinged with naughtiness. "I'm sure he takes up a lot of your time and energy!"
Serena blushed slightly and her expression became a little bashful. She looked down for a moment and then raised her gaze back to the phone.
"I do have other responsibilities, you know," she said in a chiding tone.
Shauna nodded quickly and chewed on her lower lip. "Mmm hmm, mmm hmm," she hummed. She eyed Serena's surroundings as well as her outfit and saw she was in a darkened room and clothed in pajamas.
"Is he there with you right now?" she said in a teasing voice.
Serena gasped in mock indignation. "No!" she said sharply with a laugh.
Shauna grinned. "Really?" she said sarcastically. "Pan the room. Let me see."
Serena chuckled and sent a critical look at her friend before she rotated the phone around letting Shauna see that Serena was indeed in bed all alone. Once the viewing was complete, Serena turned the phone back toward her face.
"Satisfied!" she said.
Shauna giggled. "So, it's just every other day, then?" she teased.
Serena laughed and raised an eyebrow. "Believe it or not, it actually hasn't happened yet."
At this, Shauna openly laughed. She wiped a tear from her eye and looked at Serena with a piercing expression. "Serena, you're a terrible liar when it comes to Ash. Your feelings are so obvious!"
Serena's eyes widened and she responded in an indignant voice.
"No, Shauna, seriously, we haven't been together yet!" she said with emphasis.
Shauna giggled and rolled her eyes slightly. "Okay, whatever you say," she said sarcastically.
Serena made a playful pouty face and then smiled. Shauna stared back at her and then her expression became wistful.
"I sure wish you were here," Shauna said with a sigh.
Serena gave a small shrug. "You'll just have to win Kalos queen all on your own."
Shauna thought for a moment and then the look of determination reappeared on her face. "You know I will!" she said forcefully.
The two girls exchanged a few more words and then they bid each other goodbye. Shauna and her Pokémon needed to change out of their contest attire and Serena needed to get to bed. Sometime later, Shauna left the Anistar City arena, gazing at her princess key and dreaming of the future. Meanwhile, Serena was sound asleep and dreaming of Ash using his key to unlock all sorts of wonderful things in her future. Both girls smiled happily as thoughts raced through their minds, however, Serena's smile was quite a bit happier than Shauna's as were the soft, sleepy moans that wafted from her lips.
Serena softly hummed as she walked to and fro across her room, preparing herself for another day on the reserve. She finished putting on her work clothes, added a tiny touch of makeup which Ash loved and applied just enough perfume that he would smell it when he moved in close to kiss and cuddle with her.
Still humming happily, she walked to the side of her bed and straightened a small stack of Pokémon-sized garments which were meant for some of the newly hatched residents on the reserve. The small coverings were her own creation. With the weather slowly turning chilly, she wanted the little ones to keep warm. She'd long known how to sew and mend clothing, but creating full garments was something she'd just recently started doing. She hoped that one day she could make herself and Ash clothes, and perhaps one day, her wedding dress. She'd love to walk down the aisle wearing her own creation.
With another happy hum, the girl from Kalos fluffed her hair a bit and took a look in the mirror. Even though the summer had been hot, she'd allowed her hair to grow out. Now, her golden locks were dangling just below her armpits, nearly reaching the length she'd worn them when she'd originally traveled with Ash all those years ago.
She turned to her left and then the right, inspecting how she looked. She hadn't planned to grow her hair out; it had simply happened. Several times over the past months, she'd intended to trim it, but every time Ash had made some simple, offhand comment about how great her hair looked and she'd held off on using her scissors. Now that she had some serious volume to her hair, perhaps it was time to consider a new look? There were a lot of things she could do with long hair…
Serena blushed as her imagination started to consider possibilities. Inevitably, her mind began to come up with naughty ideas of how she could put her hair to use. With her cheeks flushed crimson, she pulled two bundles of hair down the front of her chest, testing a thought. Her golden strands weren't quite long enough to reach her breasts and so her idea of using her hair as an alluring covering would have to wait.
Serena chuckled and shook her head in an amused fashion as she gathered her hair and moved it so it only lay across her back. Ever since she and Ash had shared a close encounter in the shed a few weeks ago, their love life had taken a sharp and steamy turn. Their heart-to-heart conversation had finally put them both on the same page as far as sex went. Both of them were content to wait until they were ready to be intimate. In the meantime, with the pressure of needing to be intimate gone, they'd started to fully explore all the things they could do without sleeping together. To her delight, Serena had quickly discovered that Ash had a bit of a kinky side and, modest as he was, he definitely spent some time thinking about sexy stuff he could do with her.
Serena felt a tingle of excitement twist its way through her body as she remembered Ash's first big, bold move. One evening, about a week after the meeting in the shed, Ash had come up behind her while she was washing dishes and cuddled close to her. Like many other times when they'd performed that act, Ash had slipped his hands under her shirt and gripped her sides. However, to her immense surprise, instead of simply caressing her body, he'd reached up and unfastened her bra!
Serena still remembered how her body had ignited with desire as he'd tossed aside her undergarment. A moment later, he'd whispered sensuous words into her tingling ears, assuring her that she was now much more comfortable without the confines of a bra. Then, her man had slid his hands around her sides and teased that he was going to cup her bust with his lovely, warm palms. Oh how he'd teased her and she'd loved every single sensual second! The night had ended without Ash sampling the luscious mounds of flesh which adorned her chest, but both of them were fine with that. This was their new reality; teasing amped up to maximum intensity!
A week later, Serena decided to join the sexy fun and start something. After a hard day's work, Ash had taken a shower and then she had taken one. However, the girl from Kalos had intentionally forgotten to take clothes in to the bathroom with her. Twenty minutes later, when she'd emerged from the bathroom, she had a towel wrapped around her torso and nothing else. Before the shower, she'd preemptively teased Ash a bit to ensure he'd be waiting for her as she exited the bathroom and he hadn't disappointed. She'd relished watching his eyes bug out at the sight of her towel-wrapped form and loved watching him waffle between walking away and giving her privacy or staying and watching what she would do next. She'd bounced her eyebrows at him and smirked, making his decision quite easy.
With a few strides, Serena had made her way to the adjacent laundry room and slipped a shirt on over her head to cover her top. With Ash watching, she'd then retrieved her panties and, while she could have slipped them on while still wearing the towel, she'd decided to make things easier for herself and simply dropped the towel. For several eye-popping seconds, Ash had gotten a very nice view of his secret wife's well-sculpted posterior. The years of hard work on the reserve had definitely done wonders for her physique!
A couple of days had passed and it was again Ash's turn to make a move. This time, while they were washing dishes after dinner, he'd leaned close to her and whispered his idea for what they could do for fun later on. With a blush and girlish giggle, Serena had eagerly agreed.
They'd retreated to the couch and Serena had laid down lengthwise on the cushions with her upper body propped up on one of the end rests. She'd then performed some careful maneuvering with her hands and arms, slipping them out of her sleeves while keeping her shirt on her torso. She'd discarded her bra and then given Ash the go-ahead to remove her shirt. Both of them were blushing deep-red when her garment came free, revealing her bare torso and that her modesty was being protected by her hands atop her breasts and nothing else.
Serena's hands were just big enough to cup her breasts and not leave too much exposed. She and Ash shared some excited giggles and then the game began! Ash went to work, first tickling his girlfriend's feet and then slowly working his way up her body. The challenge was to see if Serena could keep her hands strategically positioned atop her bust while Ash did his best to tickle her in the best and worst possible ways. If she lost focus for an instant and made a rash movement, Ash would be treated to a most wonderful sight. The stakes were high and it caused both of them indescribable excitement!
Serena tried to contain her laughter, but soon she was cackling uncontrollably and gasping for breath. She writhed and squirmed under Ash's tickle attack but she kept her hands where they needed to be. With tears of mirth flowing down her face, she tensed up her body as Ash tried to slip his fingers into her armpits. It took all her effort, but she endured the attack. After several minutes of tortuous joy, Ash relented and both of them laid down on the couch exchanging affectionate glances. After a few minutes of recovery, Serena asked Ash to put her shirt back on. He happily did so, but before he pulled it all the way down, she teasingly slid her fingers downward a little, giving her man a partial glimpse of what he'd missed out on. How she loved this new reality of theirs!
With the erotic memories flowing freely, Serena's cheeks became rosier as she continued her happy humming. It had been a few days since the tickling game and they were due for another night of fun. She had an idea, but she wanted to see if Ash had any plans before she said anything. She loved making him happy and she loved it even more when he made her happy!
With a contented sigh, she slung her carrying bag over her shoulder and stepped lively toward the door of her room. It was time to begin another day in Pallet Town and then, hopefully, spend another evening in paradise!
Serena descended the stairs and bid Delia farewell before meeting up with Sylveon in the living room. Her Pokémon mewed excitedly and was clearly eager to get to the reserve. Serena smiled, exited the Ketchum household and stepped outside into a bright, beautiful autumn day. The weather was still warm, so Pancham and Delphox were currently lounging in the front yard, soaking in the sun. Serena regarded them for a moment and then spoke up in a cheerful voice.
"So, are you two going to be staying here again?" she said.
Her two Pokémon nodded in a relaxed fashion and gave her subdued replies. They looked like they were about to drift off to sleep.
Serena chuckled softly and then turned toward the main road. "Okay, you have a fun day!" she said sweetly.
With that, she and Sylveon set out at a pedestrian pace, their eyes looking toward the buildings of the Pokémon reserve on the hill above Pallet Town.
It took all of my discipline and self-control to keep from leaping for joy as we slowly made our way to the reserve. I didn't need my ribbons to sense how incredibly happy Serena was. Her eyes sparkled, her skin glowed and her hair shone a wonderful gold as it gently fluttered in the small breeze. She was positively bursting with love and anticipation.
I'd brushed against her earlier in the day and gotten a tiny glimpse of her emotions; her sweet ones and her sizzling hot ones! I blushed slightly and looked to the side, feeling some measure of embarrassment over how I occasionally received insight into the very private side of Serena's relationship with Ash. Every time I intertwined with Serena, it was like a fountain of love and warmth surged to life inside me. It was a wonderful experience and it meshed beautifully with the other half of my life.
I blushed a little more as my thoughts turned to Glaceon; my handsome, blue Romeo. I loved him just as Serena loved Ash. Somehow, he always knew how to make me happy. Whether it was presenting me with flowers, a little ice sculpture or saying some flattering words, every day, he worked his way deeper into my heart. I knew he was waiting for me in the bushes in front of the main building and I couldn't wait to meet with him.
My ears perked up as Serena started to reminisce about a time we'd traveled in Hoenn during Autumn but my thoughts quickly drifted back to Glaceon. The last few days, there had been a change in our routine. Normally, we'd go to a specific part of the reserve and socialize with the Pokémon or help them out. However, recently, Glaceon had started taking me on tours of secluded parts of the reserve; places where not many Pokémon lived. Once, he'd even dropped a hint that such a location might be a great place to raise a family. My heart had suddenly leapt as I realized what he was doing. He was showing me possible locations for us to build a nest. My love was thinking about mating and all which would be required if such a union was successful.
I completely missed everything Serena said as I started to envision Glaceon asking me to be his mate. I had given a great deal of thought to the matter and I knew he was the one for me. He was kind, thoughtful, protective, strong and full of love. I knew he would be the right choice to start a family with. My only question was when he planned to ask me to be his.
We reached the base of the large stairway and I quickly bounded up to the top. I waited there as Serena followed at a casual pace. She smiled at me, loving my display of energy and spirit. As she climbed, I stole a quick glance over my shoulder toward the bushes lining the front of the main building. It took a moment, but I spotted a set of four blue legs mostly concealed by the foliage. My heart skipped a beat as I confirmed my love was waiting for me yet again. It was going to be another wonderful day!
Serena reached the top of the stairs and paused a moment to look out across Pallet Town. The vista was a beautiful sight as was my trainer. Her hair stirred in the small gusts of wind and her smile was dazzling. Everything couldn't get any better. She let out a big, happy sigh and then turned toward the main building. It was time for both of us to continue our respective romances.
We neared the front door and I saw my love peeking out from a bush. His pointed ears poked out of the leaves and his deep blue eyes glittered with freezing warmth. My insides bubbled with joyful anticipation!
Then, without warning, Serena froze in her tracks and a perturbed expression appeared on her face. She took hold of her carrying bag and briefly rummaged through it before letting out an annoyed sigh.
"Ugh, I forgot the little warmers," she groaned.
I instantly knew what Serena was talking about. She'd made a bunch of little outfits for the smaller Pokémon on the reserve. It was a very kind thing for her to do, but that's just how Serena was. Apparently she'd left them at home.
Serena sighed again, let her carrying bag drop back to her side and scrunched her mouth up in an annoyed frown. "Oh, well! Let's go back and get them real quick!" she said, turning on a heel and starting for the stairway.
Now it was my turn to freeze. My love was just a few strides away. Was he about to propose to me?! Was he going to sweep me away to some bungalow he'd assembled and make overtures to me?! The thought of walking away from him filled me with angst and sorrow!
I took one step toward Serena and then one step toward Glaceon. I saw my love look at me with a puzzled expression. How I wanted to bound toward him! I let out a distressed mew and Serena turned around to look at me.
My trainer regarded me for a moment and then smiled. "Are you wanting to stay here, Sylveon?" she asked sweetly.
Relief and excitement washed over me. I nodded enthusiastically, perhaps a bit more than I should have, and let out an acknowledging cry. I saw Serena smile in sweet amusement.
"Well, okay. You go have fun with your friends," she said, in a kind and melodic voice.
I felt a brief flash of guilt as Serena turned her back to me and continued on her way. She and I were a team and it felt wrong to leave her. But, my love was calling, just like hers so often did. I waited until she started descending the stairs and then I spun around. With a few quick strides, I dashed into the bush and pressed my nose into the cold, smooth blue fur of Glaceon's neck.
I mewed softly, he nuzzled me back I wrapped one of my ribbons around his midsection and felt lovely, warm emotions flood through me. I basked in the exquisite joy of the moment, just as he did. Then, we pulled apart a little and he wasted no time in telling me where he wanted to explore today. This time it was a small forest near the southern edge of the reserve. I blushed, mewed bashfully and then happily agreed. A few moments later, we were striding side-by-side across the green fields of the reserve. Everything was perfect!
Serena's feet clomped down on the dirt road of Pallet Town and she started making brisk strides back to the Ketchum household. She sighed, rolled her eyes and shook her head. She'd been so busy daydreaming about Ash lavishing her with loving touches that she'd completely forgotten to pack the small outfits into her carrying bag. Fortunately, the house was just a short walk away and the oversight would only cost her a few minutes.
As she walked, she looked at the trees, fields and quaint little houses surrounding her. Pallet Town sure was a lovely place; just the kind of location where someone could raise a happy little family. Serena blushed slightly and looked down at her feet. One day, she planned to raise her own happy little family right here. She was looking forward to it.
A strange sound caused Serena's ears to suddenly perk up. She stopped in her tracks and turned her head to the left and right, trying to determine which direction the noise had come from. She heard the sound again and turned toward it. It sounded like the subdued roar of a flame. She raised an eyebrow and started to follow the noise.
A dozen paces into her investigation, she heard another roar followed by the eager chirping of children. She then heard the distinctive sound of a Pokémon move and Serena suddenly realized what she was listening to. It was the sound of a Pokémon contest! Someone was performing!
A small smile pulled at Serena's lips as she moved around a large shrub and stepped quickly to the side of an abandoned old shed. She was very curious who in Pallet town was putting on a show. There were a few kids who'd been inspired by her performances. She wondered if one of them had taught their family's Pokémon some moves. Feeling excited, she rounded the corner of the shed and came into sight of the performers….. Delphox and Pancham!
Serena's eyes went wide and she instantly froze while softly gasping in surprise. Delphox had just finished absorbing some of Pancham's Dark Pulse energy into a sphere of fire and was about to toss it into the air when both Pokémon caught sight of her. The elegant fox and the tiny panda stiffened up, squeaked in surprise and the fire-sphere suddenly dissipated. A moment later, a gathering of a half-dozen young children, who'd been watching the performance, all made various cries of dismay and shock at Serena's appearance.
"Oh no!" a girl moaned.
"Busted!" a boy groaned.
Serena stood still with her mouth partially agape. A flood of memories rushed through her mind. Memories of her first showcase; her first princess key; competing in the master class; traveling in Hoenn; winning the Hoenn championship. She came back to reality and realized that her Pokémon were putting on a performance for the local kids…. without her.
As Serena looked at the dismayed faces on her Pokémon she suddenly felt large trickle of guilt seep into her emotions. She knew why her Pokémon were performing without her. It was because she hadn't done a performance in quite a while. Ever since Ash had declared his love for her, that whole part of her life had taken a back seat. She'd been so focused on Ash; on wanting to have sex; on all her wonderful feelings and on her future life, that she'd forgotten all about contests.
Serena took a steadying breath and summoned a kind smile. "It's okay," she said in a trembling voice.
Delphox and Pancham still looked nervous. They glanced at each other and then back at Serena.
One of the little girls spoke up. "Don't be mad at them Miss Serena," she said. "We all asked them to put on a show."
Several of the kids nodded and voiced agreement.
Serena glanced at the kids and sent them a calming smile. She then looked back at her Pokémon and stepped forward so she was only a few steps from them. She looked at Delphox and Pancham and then spoke in a soft voice.
"You've both really missed doing this," she said.
Delphox and Pancham nodded hesitantly and looked downward. They absently kicked at the dirt with their feet, not wanting to meet their trainer's gaze.
Serena felt a lump in her throat. She'd always felt bad about putting off her contests, but right now, the guilt was immense. Her eye suddenly caught a flash of red ribbon as Delphox tried to keep her stick concealed behind her back. She gasped softly as more memories filled her mind. She remembered how distraught Delphox had been when her original stick had been broken. She remembered all the effort and emotion which had gone into coming to terms with getting a new stick. She also remembered the promise she'd made Delphox; the promise that they'd win Kalos queen together with that stick.
Serena took a couple of steps forward and slowly reached forward with her left hand. She coaxed Delphox to bring the stick out from behind her back. With her eyes wet with emotion, the girl from Kalos let out a heavy breath and wrapped both her hands around her Pokémon's stick in a gesture of sincerity.
It took Serena a moment to come up with the correct words. "I'm sorry," she breathed. "I haven't been thinking enough about you two."
Delphox and Pancham let out very soft cries and waited. Quiet seconds passed and then Serena straightened up. She let go of Delphox's stick and then turned on a heel to face the kids. Her demeanor immediately perked up and she smiled joyfully.
"SO! You all wanted to see a show, huh!" she said energetically.
The kids looked flabbergasted for a moment and then their eyes widened and they let out cheers of excitement.
Serena half stepped, half danced her way between her two Pokémon and then faced the crowd. "Well, you've come to the right place!"
Ash shifted his position in the chair at the kitchen table for the fifth time and checked the time. It was some time after when Serena normally arrived. She was occasionally late but not by this much. If she was ever this late, she'd send him a text or call him. The world's greatest Pokémon trainer drummed his fingers on the table a couple of times and then stood up. He wanted to know what was going on.
Ash looked out a window and didn't spot Serena. He checked a few neighboring rooms and no Serena. He called out the name of the woman he loved and still no Serena. Just as he started to roam the main building he suddenly froze and looked around cautiously. It would be just like his girl to sneak into the building and set up some kind of a prank to pull on him.
Moving slowly and carefully, Ash started walking down the hallways and exploring the rooms. He checked that no buckets of water were propped above doorways and no other dastardly devices were concealed behind furniture. He was a good ten minutes into his investigation when he heard the front door open and the distinct sound of Serena's footfalls. He let out a sigh of relief and stepped quickly toward the kitchen.
Ash reached the kitchen just as Serena had started to look around, puzzled that her man wasn't waiting for her.
"Hey!" Ash said enthusiastically.
Serena tried to smile but it fell flat. "Hey," she replied in a halfhearted voice.
Ash instantly looked sympathetic. He could tell when Serena was unhappy and she clearly was.
"Is something wrong?" he asked in a delicate voice.
Serena's gaze wandered. She opened her mouth to speak and then closed it. She took few aimless steps and then sat down heavily in a chair at the kitchen table. She rested her elbows on the table and cradled her face in her hands. She let out a deep and exasperated sigh but failed to say anything.
A look of concern spread across Ash's face and he moved to sit down next to Serena. He rested his arms on the table and leaned so he was close to his woman. With a gentle nudge of his right elbow, he let Serena know he was there and ready to provide her with whatever support she needed.
Serena peeked out from between her fingers and sent Ash an appreciative smile. She then sighed again, lowered her arms and leaned back in her chair.
"Delphox and Pancham were just putting on a show for some of the kids," she said in a weighty tone.
Ash was puzzled for a moment and then felt relieved. He'd been worried that something terrible had happened.
"Hey, that sounds cool!" he said in an excited tone.
Serena sent him a sidelong look full of dread and concern. Ash's face instantly fell. Clearly, something was going on he didn't know about.
"Is that a problem?" he said tentatively.
Serena worked her mouth as she tried to put together a reply. She finally sighed yet again and turned her head toward Ash.
"Do you remember when Delphox's stick broke and we tried to get it fixed?" she said in a subdued voice.
Ash thought back to their journeys in Kalos. He did remember all the drama which had played out around the stick. Delphox, Braixen at the time, had been so distraught over losing the stick that she'd tried to hold on to the old broken one for a while. She'd eventually taken up a new stick, but the whole thing had been quite an event.
"Yeah, I remember that," he said.
Serena nodded solemnly. "Do you remember the promise I made to Delphox?" she asked.
Ash thought for a moment and recalled Serena saying something about Kalos queen. "Yeah, I guess," he said.
Serena worked her mouth and then a small frown formed on her lips. "I guess…. seeing them performing again; seeing her using that stick; it reminded me of all my old plans…... all my old promises."
Silence hung in the air for several long moments and Ash scooted a little closer to Serena.
"Hey, why are you feeling sad?" he asked in gentle voice.
Serena let out another sigh and started to slouch forward in her chair. She looked as if the weight of the world was pressing down on her.
"I guess….. I just realized that I'm letting down all my Pokémon," she said, her voice cracking as she spoke.
Ash looked taken aback. "What do you mean?!" he said, his tone protesting Serena's self-criticism.
Serena slouched a little lower. "I promised my Pokémon we'd win Kalos queen!" she said, tears trickling into her voice. She opened her mouth and then raised her gaze to meet Ash's. Her lips trembled and her eyes teared up. She then closed her mouth and just looked down at the table.
Ash looked very somber and scooted closer until he was right next to her. He wrapped his right arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. Serena reached her left hand up and grasped hold of his fingers. She let out a heavy sigh and a couple tears rolled down her cheeks. She took several ragged breaths and then continued.
"I love you more than I can say, Ash!" she began in a quiet voice. "When you took over the reserve, I was so, so, so happy to help you out. I know, at first, we thought it would only be for a few months, but time just started flying by."
The two of them nuzzled for a moment and then Serena continued.
"First, it was us becoming more than friends, then it was us going on dates." She took a breath and then pressed on. "Then we were hugging and kissing and then you said you loved me!"
A moment passed and then they softly pressed their lips together in an encouraging kiss. They locked eyes and then Serena continued.
"Ever since then, I've completely forgotten about my Pokémon and my promise to them," she said mournfully.
Ash looked conflicted as he worked to come up with a reply. "I don't think you've forgotten about your Pokémon," he said. "You're always taking care of them and you're there for them."
Serena's shoulders sagged. "Yeah, I know," she groaned. "But they love performing. They live for it." She took a breath and then continued. "You should have seen them today," she said, some pride creeping into her voice. "Pancham and Delphox were so happy. Even though it was just a little bunch of kids, they were having a great time."
Ash thought for a time and then spoke in a soft voice. "Well, what do you want to do?"
Serena was introspective for a moment and then she slowly replied. "I think I need to start doing contests again," she said. "I've really let that part of my life slide this year."
Ash nodded in agreement. "That sounds like a great idea," he said in an encouraging voice.
Serena hummed as she thought. She then sighed and chuckled softly.
"I'd go back to Kalos and try showcases again, but that's no‑"
Ash's eyes brightened. "Hey, why don't you?" he said.
Serena looked toward Ash, surprise in her eyes. Her mouth was slightly agape and it took her a second to speak.
"Because….. you need me here," she said carefully.
Ash nodded slowly. "Yeah…" he began slowly. "But…. I could run the place on my own. You could go to Kalos, if you want to," he posed.
Serena just stared at Ash. She wasn't sure what to think. The thought of leaving the reserve hadn't crossed her mind for over a year.
"I…. uh!" she stammered. "I….. don't know." She took a breath and collected herself. "Ash, I'd feel really bad leaving you here all by yourself."
Now it was Ash's turn to collect his thoughts. After several seconds, he spoke in a kind and warm voice.
"Serena, I can handle the reserve by myself," he said. He saw her about to protest and kept going. "I've felt really bad that you abandoned your plans for performing when you came here to help me out. I've always hoped that you would go out there again one day and win something big. Maybe even Kalos queen."
Silence hung in the air as Serena thought and Ash waited. Finally, the girl from Kalos drew a breath and spoke in a quiet voice.
"You've felt bad that I stopped on contests?" she said.
Ash gave a small nod and smiled wryly. "I mean, I'm not too sad," he said in jest. "I've got you here, and you're a great farmhand!"
A sharp laugh burst out of Serena and she playfully punched Ash in the arm. Both of them giggled for several seconds and then became quiet again. Ash finally continued in a low whisper.
"I really love that you're here, Serena. But, if you wanna pursue your dream again, I'm behind you one hundred percent."
Serena's eyes shimmered in appreciation and love. She took a ragged breath and another tear ran down her cheek.
"I really need to think about this," she said in a gravelly voice. "I don't know if I….." she paused a few seconds. "I just really need to think about this," she finally said.
Ash smiled and leaned close so he could give her a small peck on the cheek. "Well, whatever you decide, I'll be happy for you." A few seconds passed and then he added. "Just don't feel like you have to stay here," he said.
Serena slowly nodded several times and then met his gaze. She took a few deep breaths to clear her lungs and she wiped at her face.
"Well," she said in a more cheerful voice. "Now that we talked about that, what do you want for breakfast?"
Ash grinned and Serena followed suit. They rose from the table and walked into the kitchen to fix what would be a late breakfast.
The twinkling stars shown overhead and a beautiful half-moon rose from the horizon. I loved looking at the stars. They were so pretty; tiny, unchanging dots of light which seemed to represent the ever-present hope for the future.
I shared my thoughts with Glaceon and he seemed impressed by my perspective. He replied that he thought they were pretty because they reminded him of how my fur seemed to sparkle in the sun. The comment made my insides bubble and I cuddled up next to him.
We were lying on the grass in front of the main building. The tiniest chill was in the air and so we'd curled up next to each other, happy to pass the time looking at the stars and enjoying our closeness. My love had withdrawn his coldness and instead let his body become warm. I so appreciated how he always thought of me.
More time passed, the moon continued to rise and my love and I softly nuzzled against each other. It was starting to get late and I briefly wondered what could be keeping Serena. She usually headed home by now, but not tonight. With a small blush, I quickly surmised a likely answer for her absence. She and Ash were no doubt engaging in another night of romantic activity. I felt happy emotions tingle inside of me at the thought of my trainer in the grasp of the one she loved. What they had was so beautiful!
A few more minutes ticked by and the noise of the front door opening sounded behind us. Glaceon and I looked over our shoulders and took in the sight of Ash and Serena standing in the doorway. I felt a mix of feelings as I realized it was time to leave. I was happy to head home with Serena but I was sad to leave my love.
I shared my feelings with Glaceon and he made a wonderfully cute comment which made me chuckle. I stared at him for a moment and then rewarded him with a small kiss. I briefly touched him with a ribbon and smiled as I felt how happy my act had made him.
While my love and I exchanged some final affections, I could hear Ash and Serena saying their goodbyes.
"So, tomorrow," Ash said, a bit of excitement in his voice.
"Yeah," Serena said after a pause. She didn't sound as excited as Ash. "I think I can get everything ready to go."
There was another pause and then Serena spoke up in a timid voice. "Are you sure I should do this?" she breathed.
Ash scoffed and then spoke in a warm and loving voice. "Why are you asking me? This is your dream. I want you to live it out just like I did with mine."
Serena sighed and sounded a little somber. I turned to look at her and saw her and Ash staring longingly into each other's eyes. I felt a little twinge of empathy for my trainer. I knew how much she wanted to mate with Ash. It was something which occupied a lot of her thoughts. It looked like another day had passed and the two of them had remained apart yet again. I hoped she wouldn't be too disappointed.
"Yeah," Serena said slowly. "It's just…. I'm gonna miss you," she said sadly.
Ash smiled and leaned his face close to hers. "I'm gonna miss you too," he said in a sultry tone.
A small smile pulled at my trainer's lips and I felt giddy as I knew what was coming.
"Not as much as I'm gonna miss you," Serena whispered.
Ash leaned so close that their noses pressed together and their lips brushed against each other. "Wanna bet?" he proffered.
The two of them grinned, sniggered and then they slowly started a lovely kiss which quickly began to grow in scope.
My love blushed at the open romantic display and averted his eyes. He made a comment about why humans always had to be so cavalier around Pokémon when it came to displays of affection. I chuckled and nodded in agreement. I didn't look away however. Seeing Serena in the throes of passion didn't embarrass me much anymore. My power meant that I was closer to her than anyone else and seeing her acting on her intense desires filled me with happiness rather than shame.
I felt warmth tingle inside me as Ash wrapped his arms around Serena and Serena did the same to him. I watched as their kiss became more intense and their mouths began to move. I saw Ash slip one arm under the hem of Serena's shirt and slide it up her back. He also slipped his other hand down her shirt's collar just behind her neck. They held each other tightly and squirmed in each other's grasp. This kiss was much more intense than usual!
Seconds ticked by, the kiss continued and Serena adjusted her stance. I saw her press her lower half against Ash's and then a moment later he responded with a motion that mimicked how humans mated. I raised an eyebrow and pondered the often paradoxical nature of human intimate relationships. Ash and Serena were very deliberately holding off on mating and yet here they were doing everything possible to perform the act without actually joining together.
I glanced at Glaceon, who now had his head turned away from the roiling display of passion. There would be no such complicated dance of desire when we decided to become a couple. We'd make our promises to each other and then we'd mate. Love was simple for us and I was glad for that.
I watched for another minute as my trainer was groped and humped by the man she loved. I started to wonder if they would go back inside and mate for real but then they slowly pulled apart. Their mouths were shiny from their kissing and Serena's clothes were disheveled. They whispered a few words too quiet for me to hear and then kissed one last time. Serena then stepped back and they separated.
I turned to my love and jokingly told him it was safe to look; the kissing was over. Glaceon chuckled at my comment and looked at me with his wonderful, dark blue eyes. We shared a brief moment and then I wished him goodnight. He told me he'd be waiting for me tomorrow morning and I told him I'd be there.
I stood up alongside my love, gave him one last nuzzle and then bounded across the grassy field to Serena's side. I fell into step with her and expected to hear her sweet voice welcome my arrival. Instead, we kept walking and she said nothing.
I felt a little surprised and glanced up at my trainer. What I saw shocked me. Instead of a smile, there was a frown. Where, before, her eyes had sparkled, now they seemed to be empty. There was no happiness or joy to be found in Serena, only a sullen and forlorn expression. I instantly felt worried. Had something terrible happened?! It was times like this that I wished I could speak human.
I let out a soft, inquiring mew but Serena either didn't hear it or she paid it no heed. We descended the stairs and started walking along the dirt road. Serena let out a heavy sigh, rubbed at her face and then crossed her arms, a grim expression on her face.
I started to feel genuinely worried. I hesitated a moment and then reached up a ribbon to entwine with Serena. The instant my power read her feelings, a tidal wave of doubt, guilt, worry, regret and fear slammed into me! I recoiled from the extremely unpleasant experience and whined. What in the world had happened?!
My stomach was churning from worry when Serena reached the Ketchum residence. She put on a happy face for Delia and exchanged some pleasant small-talk with her. I didn't hear any of it. My mind was completely occupied with trying to figure out what had happened to Serena. After a few minutes of conversation, Serena excused herself and went upstairs to her room. She invited Delphox, Pancham and me to join her. This wasn't all that uncommon, however, I sensed some strange emotions from the fox and panda. What was going on?!
We reached the room and the three of us lined up facing Serena. Our trainer looked very anxious. She wrung her hands and paced back-and-forth in front of us. I stared at Serena and then stole a glance to the side at Delphox. I quietly asked her if something bad had happened here at home. Delphox briefly looked as if she'd been caught in some kind crime but then Serena spoke up in a warbling voice and we all focused on her.
"Okay," she began slowly, looking almost distraught as she spoke. "First, I wanna say that I've been really selfish this past year."
My eyes widened and my ears perked up. This didn't make any sense! Why was Serena saying this?!
Serena looked at each of us in-turn and did her best to smile. "You all have been so wonderful. I've really let you down and you haven't complained once! You've supported me and I appreciate that so, so much!"
Ominous dread filled my insides. The way Serena was talking made it sound like something big was about to change. I knew she and Ash were okay in their relationship. I'd just seen them faux mating. What was wrong?!
Serena's eyes teared up a little and she clasped her hands together in an emotional gesture. "I know all of you love performing. It's what we've always done. And it's not right for me to just live for myself while all of you are sitting around, dreaming of taking the stage."
Serena coughed once, wiped at her face and briefly turned around as she recomposed herself. While her back was turned, I looked to the side and whispered a desperate question at Delphox and Pancham. What on earth was happening?!
Delphox again looked guilty but Pancham spoke frankly. He said that he and Delphox had been doing a performance for the local kids and Serena had spotted them. Serena had seemed really shocked at first but then she had joined in the performance.
A terrifying picture suddenly took shape in my mind as things started to click together. I knew Serena's emotions better than anyone, perhaps even better than she did. I knew how, deep down, Serena had felt guilty about stepping away from contests. However, her wonderful relationship with Ash was so much more important than a performance on a stage. She loved Ash and he loved her. That kind of love was precious. Most people never got to experience something so pure and wonderful. And now, Serena was turning away from that love and stepping toward the contest stage!
I barked a sharp question at Pancham and Delphox. WHAT HAD THEY DONE! WHAT HAD THEY SAID!
Pancham's eyes widened in surprise at my outburst while Delphox looked indignant. The fire fox said that they hadn't done anything. She claimed to not know why Serena was so out-of-sorts. Pancham looked thoughtful for a moment and then mentioned that Serena had seemed really emotional about Delphox's stick.
Horror shot through my body. The stick incident had occurred before I'd met Serena but Delphox was never too shy to tell the tale. She loved reminiscing about how Serena had promised that one day they would win the Kalos championship using that stick and Serena would become Kalos queen. I was about to demand the truth from Delphox when Serena turned back around and addressed us.
"Sorry," she said in a gravelly voice. "This is a little hard for me." She took a steadying breath and then continued. "So, Delphox, Pancham, Sylveon. I really can't apologize enough for not thinking of you for this past year." Serena let out a bitter laugh and shook her head. "Here I am, taking care of all these Pokémon on the reserve and my own Pokémon are off doing performances for the local kids because I've forgotten all about them!"
I had to bite my tongue to keep from shouting at Delphox. I couldn't believe what she'd done and how she'd kept it a secret from me that she and Pancham were doing performances. How could she manipulate Serena like this?! I glared to the side at her and she eyed me back.
Serena clasped her hands together again and looked very emotional. A moment passed and then she continued in a quiet voice.
"It isn't right," she breathed. "It's not right because I made promises to all of you that we'd be performers." She first gestured to me. "Sylveon, I said that we'd put on dancing performances and have lots of fun!" She then gestured to Pancham. "Pancham, I told you that you'd get to dress up and be seen by countless people." She finally gestured to Delphox. "Delphox, I said that together we'd win Kalos queen with that stick." Serena took a shuddering breath and then continued. "That ribbon is the symbol of that promise," she said, her voice breaking as she was overcome with emotion.
Serena reached up and wiped at her eyes. I immediately turned on Delphox! I hadn't felt genuine anger in a very long time but Delphox's actions were beyond the pale. Serena was now in emotional agony and doubting herself and her choices. Her beautiful tapestry of emotional bliss had been torn apart and it was all Delphox's fault!
I told Delphox that she'd been extremely irresponsible and set Serena up for heartbreak. I told her that she should have stopped to think about what would have happened if they'd been spotted.
To my further anger, Delphox huffed indignantly. She told me that Serena was losing herself in her work and forgetting how much she loved showcases and performing. She told me that it wasn't her fault that Serena felt guilty. Serena had made her promises and then neglected them.
Rage started to build inside me but Serena sighed and continued speaking.
"I've… decided," she began in a slow and hesitant voice. She suddenly looked a little worried but then she steeled herself and pushed forward. "That it's time for us to finally make that promise happen!"
My insides froze as solidly as if Glaceon had blasted me with an Ice Beam. Cold dread filled my being and I prayed that Serena wasn't about to say what I suspected she was.
Serena took a breath, looked at each of us and then spoke in a loud, clear voice. "We're going back to Kalos! We're gonna compete in showcases again!"
The words hit me so hard I nearly collapsed to the floor. Did no one see the calamity that this move would bring about?! My mind ached and my stomach churned as dozens of future possibilities flowed through me like water rushing down a canal.
Serena loved Ash and being away from him would break her heart. Then, there was the very real chance that them being apart would damage their relationship. The thought of their beautiful romance being spoiled made me sick! Next, what if Serena actually became Kalos queen? That would surely keep her and Ash apart for a long time! What if they drifted apart?! What if one of them found someone else?! What if it all ended in heartbreak and tragedy?! What if the most beautiful romance on the planet was ruined all because of a trip to Kalos?!
As I struggled to keep my composure, I heard Serena call out in an excited voice. "Isn't that exciting?!"
Pancham nodded and voiced approval but when I heard Delphox do the same in her smug sounding voice, something inside me broke. I ground my teeth and looked at her with utter contempt. How could she have hurt Serena like this?!
Pancham leapt forward like the child at heart he was and Serena caught him in her arms. She spun him around while they both smiled and giggled. I was glad for the distraction. I turned to face Delphox and growled out an accusation, telling her that she'd acted terribly as a Pokémon and she should be ashamed of doing this to Serena.
Delphox huffed and brushed off my words. She then said that I was the one who was being irresponsible. I was constantly keeping Serena focused on Ash and causing her to miss out on everything else she could be.
I couldn't believe this. Serena was the one who loved Ash, not me. I barked back and told Delphox that Serena was in love and she was only following her heart.
Delphox agreed but said that Serena deserved to be more than just a house wife. She deserved to wear the crown of Kalos just like Ash had worn the Monarch cloak. Since she and Ash were holding off on mating it made sense for Serena to fulfill her dream before she settled down.
I vigorously shook my head. I told Delphox that Serena would always be more than a house wife. She'd won the Hoenn championship and now she had the most beautiful romance ever. Her life was perfect and she had no business messing things up. Going to Kalos was a terrible idea.
Delphox narrowed her eyes and then hissed that I was only saying all this because if we went to Kalos it meant I wouldn't get my daily fill of Glaceon.
My eyes widened at the accusation. I rebuked her impugning of my character and told her that I was acting in Serena's best interest. I wanted to protect her love for Ash.
Delphox scoffed and said that I was acting in my mating interests and the only love being protected was what Glaceon delivered to me every time we snuck off together.
Anger, rage and fury filled my body. I screamed that Delphox was a cruel and heartless vermin, focused only on her own glory and spotlight.
Sparks started to crackle off of Delphox's body and she accused me of being a female who mated with any male who crossed my path.
I laughed harshly at her words and told her that at least I could accept a male's advances. I then told her that she was so full of her own ego, her future mate would be greatly disappointed when he discovered that there was no room for him inside her.
"HEY!" Serena shouted abruptly.
Both of us froze and then turned to face our trainer. Serena was looking at us with an expression somewhere between disappointment and sympathy. She paused for a moment and then smiled warmly.
"Look, I know this is a big change, and it will be hard adjusting, but I'm sure we can make this happen."
She then set Pancham down on the floor and knelt down before extending her hand palm down.
"Let's all do this together!" she said energetically.
Pancham immediately hopped forward and slapped his paw on top of Serena's hand with a happy cry. Delphox sent a glare in my direction and stepped forward. She elegantly placed her hand atop Pancham's. I did my best to look on-board with the idea of traveling to Kalos and stepped forward as well. I extended a ribbon, however, I moved it to the bottom of the stack, underneath Serena's hand. I had no desire at all to come into contact with Delphox.
Serena took a deep breath and then fixed a determined expression on her face. "NEXT STOP, KALOS QUEEN!" she cried out. All of us threw our hands/ribbon into the air in a show of team spirit. Afterward, Delphox and I exchanged vicious glares. Neither of us would be forgetting this incident anytime soon.
I awoke the next morning and hoped the previous day had just been a nightmare. I looked to the side and saw the pair of suitcases Serena had packed the previous night. It hadn't been dream. Soon we would be leaving for the airport and then for Kalos. I trotted over to the foot of Serena's bed and curled up. Normally, I slept downstairs with Delphox and Pancham but I'd managed to convince Serena to let me stay with her. I had no desire to sleep anywhere near Delphox, the one who had caused all this. As I thought about the previous night, I felt sick to my stomach. How could this be happening?!
I lay there for several long minutes and then I heard Serena stir. She sat up and I saw that she looked very tired and unhappy. She sighed heavily and rubbed at her face. She then saw I was there and she forced herself to look more upbeat.
"Morning, Sylveon," she said in a groggy voice.
I tried to give a happy response, but my voice sounded like it belonged at a funeral rather than an exciting sendoff.
Serena sighed again and stood up. She paced over to her dresser and stretched a little. She then began disrobing and changing into her traveling clothes. Because of our closeness, Serena didn't think anything of changing in front of me and I felt no embarrassment at seeing her beautiful body completely uncovered. I stared at her as she picked out her wardrobe. The only thing I felt was sadness that it might be a very long time until Ash got to see the stunning view I was currently taking in.
Why had she and Ash decided to hold off on mating?! All of this could have been avoided if they'd just listened to their hearts. Now, their whole relationship was potentially in jeopardy. A tear flowed down my cheek as I thought about how lonely and sad Serena was sure to be once she was on the road.
Fittingly enough, Serena decided on her old Hoenn outfit. She donned her charcoal top, her red/white skirt and her charcoal tights. She spent a minute fluffing her long hair and then decided to let it hang loose. She considered a donning a hat but ultimately she decided against it. She was older now and the headgear she had just didn't quite fit with her new, adult, appearance. She slipped on a bracelet and her outfit was complete. The girl from Kalos looked into the mirror and sighed heavily. She then straightened up and turned around and looked toward me with a determined expression.
"Okay, Sylveon, you ready?!" she said with some excitement.
I didn't want to leave. I didn't want to do this. I knew this would lead to disaster, but Serena was my friend and my trainer. I had to support her.
With some effort, I rose to my feet and mewed an affirmative reply.
Serena nodded and smiled. "Let's go!" she said. She grabbed her two suitcases and walked out of the room with me following at her heels.
Downstairs, Serena met with Delia and they exchanged hugs and some emotional words. Serena had told Ash's mother about her plans the previous night. Delia was encouraging but also sad that Serena was leaving. She told her to take care and be sure to come back. With that, Serena left the Ketchum residence and headed toward the reserve. Delphox and Pancham joined us, however, I made sure to walk on the opposite side of Serena as Delphox was. She sent a glare my way and I returned it. This was all her fault!
I looked toward the reserve and suddenly my heart shattered. Glaceon would be waiting for me! I'd been so focused on Serena that I'd forgotten about my own love. How could I possibly break this news to him?! I nearly stumbled as I envisioned how devastated he would be. This was such a rotten situation! Feeling like I was walking to the gallows, I trudged along the dirt road toward the reserve.
As Serena cleared the top step which led up to the reserve, she smiled from ear-to-ear. Standing in front of the main building was her man and all of his Pokémon. A huge banner with the words "Good Luck Future Kalos Queen!" was hanging across the front of the building. Ash stood with his arms crossed and a confident smile fixed to his face. Serena chuckled and started to walk down the path toward the sendoff celebration with a little extra spring in her step. This was just what she'd needed!
Five steps from Ash, Serena dropped her suitcases and ran into his arms. They embraced, they kissed, they laughed and they cried. Around them, their Pokémon chatted and wished each other well. Fist bumps, tail slaps and playful taunts were all exchanged as the long-time friends prepared to be separated for an unknown amount of time.
Eventually, Serena stepped back from Ash and the two of them properly greeted each other.
"Well, it looks like you were busy last night," Serena said, commenting about the banner.
Ash shrugged nonchalantly. "Egh, it didn't take that long," he said.
Serena sniggered and smiled in appreciation. They eyed each other and then Ash spoke up.
"So, when's your flight leaving?" he said.
Serena smiled. "Not till this afternoon," she replied with a glint in her eye. "I wanted to make sure we got at least a little time together."
A silly grin pulled at Ash's lips. "But you're already in your traveling outfit?" he said teasingly.
Serena blushed a little and then stepped forward. "Yes," she said in low voice. "But, the thing about clothes is, you can always take them off…"
Ash's eyes widened and he looked a little excited. "Are you wanting to…. do it… before you leave," he said.
Serena grinned playfully, looked at the ground and slowly shook her head. "No," she squeaked. She then cleared her throat and leaned toward Ash. "I don't know if I could leave if I knew what I'd be missing out on."
Ash looked a little puzzled and Serena continued in a seductive voice. "But, we can still have some fun and make some memories before I leave!"
Ash grinned, Serena grinned, they leaned toward each other, the tips of their noses touched and then Serena's phone rang.
Serena groaned and stopped her amorous advance. She retrieved her phone and saw the caller was the airline from which she'd purchased her ticket. She accepted the call and was immediately greeted by an automated voice message.
"Hello, this Latias airlines. We are calling to inform you that your flight has been rescheduled. Your new departure time will be…."
Serena's eyes went wide and she gasped in horror. "Are you serious?!" she spat.
Ash frowned. "What is it?"
Serena growled and ended the call. "They moved my flight up!" she hissed.
"How far?" Ash asked.
Serena glowered for a moment and then replied. "It leaves two hours from now!"
Ash looked shocked. "Whoa, that means you've gotta leave right now!"
Serena spent a moment contemplating just how much she'd come to despise airlines and then she replied. "Yeah, and I'm gonna have to fly, literally!" she said.
Ash took the cue. They'd planned to take the bus to the airport but now plans had to change.
"Charizard!" Ash called out.
The large fire type looked toward his trainer and Ash continued.
"Quick, get your saddle. Serena's gonna have to leave right now!"
Charizard nodded and took flight with a flap of his wings.
Serena looked at Ash and an apologetic expression spread across her face. "I'm sorry," she breathed. "I'd really hoped we could have some fun before I left."
Ash shrugged and then stepped closer to her. He clasped his hands on her shoulders and fixed her with a loving and confident gaze.
"Don't worry about it," he said. He then gave her a sly smile. "You can just call me later."
Serena giggled and blushed a little. "I will definitely do that, Ash Ketchum!" she whispered. She kissed him again and then added one last comment. "I'm sure it will be quite a phone call!" she breathed.
They shared one more quick kiss and then Charizard landed with his saddle in-hand. Ash and Serena quickly mounted the device on Charizard's back and Serena secured her luggage. Serena then mounted the dragon-like creature and gave him a small pat.
"You know how to find your way back, right?" she said. Since Ash wasn't coming along, Charizard would have to fly home alone.
Charizard nodded and growled confidently.
Serena looked at Ash and settled herself into the saddle. "Okay, everyone!" she called out. "Sorry, but we've gotta go right now!"
Serena looked around and saw Delphox and Pancham walk up to Charizard's side. She quickly recalled them and stowed their Pokéballs. She then glanced around for Sylveon.
"Hey, Sylveon!" she called out. "We need to go!"
The girl from Kalos scanned the crowd of Pokémon and saw her fairy type friend was currently being mobbed by a bunch of the reserve's Pokémon. Sylveon had befriended countless others and she was clearly receiving quite the goodbye from Vulpix, Growlithe, Furret, several Buneary, a Skitty and a Zigzagoon. Unfortunately, they had to go, right now!
Serena watched as Sylveon squirmed and desperately tried to break away from the group. Serena felt a little sad for her Pokémon. This wasn't at all how she'd hoped this goodbye would go.
"Come on, we need to go!" she called out.
With a big effort, Sylveon broke free from the crush of other Pokémon. Serena smiled but then raised a curious eyebrow as her Pokémon didn't run toward her. Instead, she dashed as fast as she could toward a nearby Glaceon.
Serena sighed heavily and pointed her Pokéball at Sylveon. "Sorry, we don't have time to wait!"
A desperate cry from Sylveon was cut short as the red recall beam struck her and whisked her away from the Glaceon. Serena glanced at the ice type and saw it looked very distressed at its friend being abruptly yanked away.
Serena held up Sylveon's Pokéball and spoke in a kind voice. "Don't worry, you'll see get to see everyone again," she said. She then tapped the Pokéball to reduce it and stowed it safely in her zipper pouch with Pancham and Delphox's Pokéballs.
Serena then wheeled Charizard around and looked at Ash. "I love you!" she said with all the sincerity she possessed.
Ash smiled. "I love you too!" he replied with equal sincerity.
They shared one final, meaningful look and then Serena urged Charizard upwards. With a growl and a rush of his wings, Ash's fire type soared up into the sky. The creature quickly turned north and began cruising toward the airport, some distance away.
Ash and company watched as Serena and Charizard quickly faded into the distance. The world's greatest Pokémon trainer placed his hands on his hips, blew out a long breath and looked around the reserve. The girl he loved had only been gone a couple minutes and already the place felt much emptier than before. He silently wished her well and then turned to get back to work.