Shauna cupped her gloved hands over her nose and slowly slid her palms to the side, over her face. She smoothed her hair for the dozenth time before letting out a tense breath and lowering her arms to her waist. She looked down and saw her hands were trembling. She clenched them into fists and swallowed, trying to keep her nerves in check.
The brunette-haired girl breathed in and out, waiting for what seemed like an eternity. Beyond the curtain in front of her, she could hear loud voices, but her mind was too focused to comprehend any of the words. All she knew was the routine. It ran over and over in her mind, on an endless loop. She knew each step; each move; each jump. All she could do was wait and‑
"THEE MAG-NE-FEEQ SHAUNA!" Monsieur Pierre's voice bellowed.
The curtain before her suddenly rose and bright lights shown from high above. Adrenaline surged through Shauna's muscles and for one terrifying second, she froze! Then, more by instinct than intentional thought, she began the first move in the routine.
"Ivysaur, use Sweet Scent and Razor Leaf!"
Beside her, Shauna's longtime partner let out a happy croak and dashed forward. The grass type, adorned with colorful flowers and a cute sailor hat with matching vest, began launching leaves into the air; small whiffs of aromatic, pink mist trailing from the darts as they flew. The leaves quickly lost momentum and began slowly drifting down to the stage.
Shauna turned to Gothita and gave the psychic Pokémon a nod. Her second partner was wearing a mini, cream-colored dress, complete with skirt and sunhat. Gothita looked toward the ceiling with an expression of lonely longing while letting out a sad cry. Meanwhile, on the other side of the stage, Ivysaur struck a confident pose and puffed out its chest.
With Flabébé rising above her, Shauna stepped lively to the front of the stage and made a sweeping gesture with her arms. "Here we see the young sailor setting out on a grand voyage!"
Ivysaur let out a pleased growl while looking on with smiling eyes. Shauna then turned to Gothita and continued.
"Sadly, his love is utterly devastated that he chose the sea, over her. She fears she will never see him again!"
Large tears began to flow from Gothita's eyes and the Pokémon let out a heartbroken wail.
Shauna immediately gestured at Ivysaur while performing a fancy spin. "The ship set off with great fanfare!"
At that, Shauna's Swirlix rose up from Ivysaur's back and shot off a bunch of tiny, sparkling streamers. The sugary filaments began to fall toward the stage, along with the still fluttering leaves. Flabébé quickly soared through the cloud of leaves and sugar, and unleashed a bright burst of light. The carefully crafted Sunny Day illuminated all the sugary streamers; the aroma; and the leaves, making it look just like a cloud of confetti; the sort which was often launched when a famous ship departed harbor.
A few oohs and ahhs sounded from the crowd. Shauna paused a moment before turning back to Gothita.
"Back home, the lonely maiden was left to her dreary life." Gothita began to shuffle across the stage, head down and hands covering its face. Shauna took in a tense breath and dashed toward her Pokémon. After exactly five strides, she leapt into the air, reaching behind her back as she did so.
"She passed the time modeling for one of the finest fashion designers in all of Kalos!"
Shauna pulled a bundle of clothing from a large pocket nestled in the small of her back and tossed it at her psychic Pokémon. The girl from Kalos held her breath! This was where their routine had gone wrong so many times in rehearsal!
With a haughty swoosh of her head, Gothita flicked the sunhat into the air and began to levitate. Her psychic powers fully manifested and took hold of the hat, the bundle of clothing and Shauna. Her trainer let out a sigh of relief and continued in a sing-song voice.
"She wore all the finest outfits and attended all the best galas!"
As Shauna spoke, Gothita used her powers to swap between different outfits. She yanked a dark purple gown out of the bundle and it slipped over her form. The Psychic type struck a regal pose for a few seconds before sending the gown floating up into the air and donning a bright yellow dress. The sight of all the small clothing floating and moving without out anyone touching it was a sight to behold.
As the scene continued, Shauna slowly floated up and behind Gothita. She looked down at her Pokémon and resumed her narration.
"She became the center of attention wherever she went and countless suitors approached her."
Gothita swapped back to her original cream colored dress and donned the sunhat. At the same time, all of the fancy clothes suddenly turned inside out, revealing a bunch of plain-colored fabrics which looked like the suits which men often wore. Shauna's Pokémon arranged the floating clothes so they surrounded her; appearing to be a bunch of men, all seeking her attention.
"But she wasn't interested in their advances!" Shauna declared.
At that, Gothita let out a snobbish chirp, turned her head away from the floating clothes in a rude manner and all of the 'men' quickly flew away from her, as if she'd harshly dismissed them.
There were murmurs of amusement from the audience and Shauna turned back to Ivysaur.
"Meanwhile, the sailor began to learn that the sea was not a place for the faint of heart."
At this, the lights surrounding Ivysaur switched to a bluish hue and Flabébé swooped in. The floating grass type summoned up a small sphere of water and caused it to explode, showering Ivysaur in very chilly water. At the same time, Flabébé sent a gust of strong wind straight at Shauna's faux sailor. Ivysaur gritted its teeth, in exaggerated fashion, against the onslaught and let out a loud groan of effort.
"A huge storm struck the ship and he was tossed to-and-fro!"
Flabébé continued to summon wind while Gothita suddenly used her power to lift Ivysaur into the air. The beleaguered grass type cried out in distress as it was hurled to the side and suddenly slammed into an invisible wall, summoned by Gothita. More wind blew, more frigid water struck and Ivysaur was hurled across the stage, in the opposite direction, before slamming into another invisible wall.
Still floating in the air, Shauna turned back to Gothita. "Winter arrived and the maiden found that there was no one who could warm her lonely heart."
As Shauna spoke, Gothita began to trudge across the stage. Above her, Swirlix started dropping small, shining flakes of sugar while Flabébé summoned a breeze to make it all swirl around Gothita. The effect was to create the look of a snowstorm, blowing against the sad psychic type.
The audience let out a sympathetic whine while Shauna turned back to Ivysaur. The grass type's sailor hat was askew and the Pokémon looked like it had gone ten rounds in a tough battle. With a groan and a lurch, the faux sailor staggered to the side, moving toward Gothita.
"After a long voyage, the sailor returned home; exhausted and glad to be back on dry land."
Ivysaur continued approaching Gothita and finally perked up, sending an eager look at the psychic type.
"When the sailor caught sight of the maiden he'd left behind, he suddenly realized just how foolish he'd been."
Ivysaur let out a joyful cry and dashed toward Gothita. The psychic type spotted it coming and froze in place. Ivysaur skidded to stop at Gothita's side and croaked a greeting, smiling from ear-to-ear. A moment later, the maiden barked a sharp retort and backhanded Ivysaur with a vicious slap. The audience gasped in dismay and Shauna continued in a disheartened voice.
"Unfortunately, the maiden didn't forgive the sailor for leaving her so abruptly."
Sporting an expression of agony and desperation, Ivysaur circled around Gothita and started rasping frantically. The grass type pulled a bundle of flowers out of its jacket and presented them to Gothita. The psychic type promptly turned up her nose. Next, Ivysaur struck a pose and blasted a bunch of pretty pedals into the air. Flabébé used its powers to project bright, shining rays of light which made the scene look like a sunrise. Gothita remained thoroughly unimpressed.
"The sailor tried everything he could think of to make it up to the maiden. Nothing seemed to work, though."
The audience moaned in sympathy and Ivysaur sagged in defeat. In a last act of pleading, the grass type sat down in front of Gothita and pressed its two front legs together, in a mimic of begging. Finally, the stoic psychic type softened her expression and nodded in response.
"Eventually, the maiden remembered all the wonderful times she'd had with the man."
Ivysaur's expression brightened and it bounced to its feet while letting out a supremely happy growl. Gothita softly cooed and nuzzled against Ivysaur. The grass type blushed deeply and started croaking awkwardly. Meanwhile, the audience let out a sweet note of approval.
Ivysaur grinned for several seconds before turning to Gothita. The grass type used its vines to pull a ring out of its closed flower and presented it to the well-dressed maiden. Gothita immediately gasped, raised its hands to its face and stared back with wide-eyes.
"It wasn't long before the sailor proposed!" Shauna continued in an excited voice.
The audience cheered. A moment later, Gothita and Ivysaur spun around and their outfits flew from their bodies. Underneath their previous consumes was wedding attire; Gothita in a lovely white dress and Ivysaur in a sharp looking suit. Still floating above the scene, Shauna slowly descended to the stage so she was just behind her two Pokemon.
"And they all lived happily ever after!" she declared.
At that, Flabébé and Ivysaur blasted pedals into the air, Gothita sent out a burst of multicolored light and Swirlix threw ribbon-like streamers over all of them.
The crowd immediately erupted in thundering applause. Shauna took a breath and her lungs promptly spasmed as a massive sob racked her body. A huge wave of relief washed over her and happy tears began to flow from her eyes. The performance had gone perfectly. Everything had fallen into place. All their work had paid off.
Shauna looked at her Pokémon and blubbered few words. They all stared back with happy smiles and she knelt down to embrace them.
"You did so great!" she wept, wrapping her arms around her friends.
After a few seconds of happy cries and joyful tears, Shauna wiped at her face and stood up. She looked out at the audience and smiled while waving. She performed a deep bow and her Pokémon matched the motion.
"Ah truuly mehmarbool parformence froom Shauna!" Monsieur Pierre's said. "Noww, we shall seee ow the queeen of Kalos defends her title!"
With her heart pounding, Shauna waited for the spotlights to shift away from her before she started walking off the stage. The bright lights focused together on the red-haired and gorgeous form of Aria as she took the stage. The audience greeted her with applause and cheers which shook the arena. Even Shauna found herself clapping as Aria, one of the women she deeply admired, struck a cheerful pose.
With movements of practiced grace, the queen of Kalos stepped and twirled while her Pokémon bounded in all different directions. Delphox pirouetted and whipped up a whirlwind of fire. Vivillon spiraled around, leaving a mist of shimmering sparkles wherever it flew. Aromatisse chirped and squawked while hopping about; a pink, sweet-smelling cloud rising from its form.
As Shauna looked on, her throat began to tighten from nervousness. Where her performance had been innovative, creative and heartwarming, Aria's was much more like a standard routine. The Vaniville native had known that she couldn't possibly beat Aria in a contest of beauty, elegance and style. Her only hope was that the audience would favor her unique approach to showcases over Aria's.
Uplifting music played as Aria's Pokémon began their performances. Fire burned, the air sparkled and gorgeous shapes of red and yellow formed in the air. Aria smiled all-the-while; always punctuating her moves with a wink or a laugh. Shauna slowly shook her head and smiled ruefully. Aria was perfect as always.
The incredible display of light and fire evoked gasps and cheers from the audience. With a final burst of sparks and a blast from Vivillon wings, Aria raise a hand in the air and let out a final, cheerful shout. Her Pokémon all fell-in beside her, smiling and looking like the winners they had been for so long.
The audience rose to their feet and roared in approval. Shauna chuckled and clapped along with them. The performance had been perfect; however, there hadn't been anything truly new. Inside Shauna's fluttering heart, she felt a small spark of hope. Perhaps she had just barely eked out a victory? She would know soon enough.
A few minutes later, Aria and Shauna stood side-by-side, at the center of the stage. Monsieur Pierre instructed the audience on voting and the process of selecting the next Kalos queen began! People raised their glowcasters and pink orbs of light flew toward Aria. Simultaneously, teal orbs flew towards Shauna and the tallies of both competitors began to fill.
Shauna held her hands at her collar as the voting unfolded. Her emotions were all over the place. One moment she didn't think she had a chance, the next, she felt she might be about to win. She kept staring straight ahead, afraid to look over her shoulder at the voting display. Each second seemed to drag on for an hour and she struggled to draw each breath.
The crowd began to become more and more excited and Shauna could no longer resist looking away. She glanced back at the vote totals and cried out in astonishment when she saw she and Aria were tied! She glanced over at the queen of Kalos and saw her attention was focused on the vote total as well. Her smile was subtle and her pose unwavering. Shauna, meanwhile, felt like she was about to faint. Was she about to become Kalos queen?!
The orbs of light continued to fly and the count continued. Both women continued to climb on the display and Shauna continued to hope. Then, Aria crept ahead by a little and then a little more. A few more teal orbs flew in and Shauna hoped that maybe they'd be enough to give her the victory. A few pink orbs trickled in and then a couple teal ones. The orbs stopped coming and the large screen above them changed. Shauna held her breath, and then a large image of Aria appeared!
"CONGRADULASIONS TOO AIRA!" Monsieur Pierre shouted euphorically.
Shauna's knees shook and she felt like all the energy had been drained out of her legs. Her stomach churned and she started to feel sick. She'd been so close, yet she'd failed. Tears started to fill her eyes and she had to swallow mightily and force a smile upon her face. She turned toward Aria and began to clap, even though all she wanted to do was run off the stage and weep.
To Shauna's side, upon seeing the announcement of her victory, Aria's smiled faltered ever-so-slightly and her shoulders dipped ever-so-subtly. The queen of Kalos then took a deep breath, let out a happy chortle and performed a flourishing wave to the crowd.
"Thank you sooo much!" she sang.
The audience roared in approval. Aria spent a few more seconds thanking all who had watched before turning her attention to Shauna. The red-haired woman sent the other girl a sympathetic smile and spoke in a kind tone.
"You did so well, Shauna. That was such a neat and creative performance."
Shauna's throat nearly closed up as tears choked her airways. She gasped for breath and wheezed out a reply.
"Thank you! I appreciate that…" she managed.
Aria's lips trembled and she looked as if there was more she wanted to say. She hesitated for a moment and then turned back to the crowd. She waved again and Monsieur Pierre began to approach. Shauna clapped a few more times and then began to slowly back away. She just wanted to get off stage and be alone…
The blue light of the moon cast a dim glow over Pallet Town. On the second floor of the Pokémon reserve, the window of the guest bedroom was illuminated by another sort of glow. Inside, sitting on the bed, Serena held her phone and let out a mournful sigh as she watched Shauna come up just a little short.
"Oh, Shauna…" she breathed as her friend's expression waivered upon learning that she would not be Kalos queen.
Serena pulled her knees up to her chest and typed out a short text. "Call me when you're ready." A dozen minutes later, her phone vibrated and Serena took the call. Shauna's face appeared on the screen as the video call connected.
"Hey, Shauna…" Serena said in a sympathetic tone.
"Hey, Serena…" Shauna replied in-kind.
The next few minutes were filled with mutual commiseration as Serena offered encouragement and consoled Shauna on the loss. Within a short time, Shauna was sound better, but her demeanor remained downcast.
"I just don't know what I'm going to do…" the brunette-haired woman sighed.
"I'm sure you'll figure something out," Serena whispered; making an effort to keep her voice low so she wouldn't wake Ash in the adjacent room.
Shauna sighed and her shoulders slumped. "No, that's just it. I threw everything I had at this performance. I just couldn't do it."
Serena hesitated for a moment. It sounded like Shauna was thinking of giving up. Her friend in Kalos scrunched her lips and moved her mouth before continuing in a downcast voice.
"I think I need to change things up," she croaked. "I need to get away from showcases for a while."
Serena thought for a moment and replied in an encouraging voice. "Well, you could always try contests. That really helped me get better."
Shauna's eyes brightened ever-so-slightly. "Yeah, maybe," she moaned. "I don't know…"
Serena pursed her lips and thought before speaking. "You'll get there, Shauna. I know you will."
Shauna sighed and nodded. "Thanks Serena," she breathed in an appreciative manner.
Serena smiled in response but said nothing. Silence hung in the air for several seconds before Serena finally did speak up.
"So, how's Miette taking it?" she asked.
Shauna snorted and rolled her eyes. Miette had lost in the first round of the master class, much to many people's surprise.
"She found a couple of her fans and went off with them…" Shauna said in a deadpan tone.
Serena scoffed and raised both her eyebrows. "A couple," she repeated.
Shauna nodded. "Mmm-hmm," she hummed before shrugging and speaking in an unironic tone. "So, I suppose she's taking it well…"
Serena struggled to keep from sniggering. She took a wheezing breath and shook her head.
"Oh, Miette…" she breathed.
On the screen, Shauna shook her head as well before speaking in an inquisitive tone. "Hey, have you heard from Lisia, recently?"
Serena blinked before replying. "No, I haven't," she replied.
Shauna made a curious expression. "Hmmmm, that's weird," she said absently.
"What's weird?" Serena answered.
"Lisia just disappeared after the Fleurrh City showcase. I haven't seen or heard from her."
Serena frowned and thought back. Come to think of it, she hadn't heard from or seen Lisia either.
"I hope she's okay," Serena replied.
"Yeah," Shauna responded. The woman in Kalos pondered her thoughts for a moment before turning her attention to Serena. "So, where are you sleeping?" she asked in a coy voice.
Serena immediately giggled. "At the reserve…" she replied with a grin.
Shauna chewed on her lower lip. "Is Ash there with you?" she squeaked playfully.
Serena's grin got bigger. "No, he's in the next room!" she whispered excitedly, gesturing over her shoulder.
Some blush began to creep into Shauna's complexion. "Staying apart tonight?" she probed in a not so subtle fashion.
Serena sniggered and squirmed atop the mattress. For a woman who stayed away from sex, Shauna sure liked trying to pry into her love life…
"We still haven't been together yet…" Serena said in a girlish tone.
Shauna's eyes flashed with mischief. "You liar!" she said in a teasing tone.
Serena giggled some more. "Cross my heart!" she retorted playfully. Shauna sent her a supremely dubious look and Serena grinned wickedly before continuing in a very low voice. "But… he has… seen my boobs!"
Shauna's eyes went wide and she began to laugh. Serena had to clamp a hand over her mouth to keep from doing the same. The two friends giggled and sniggered for the better part of a minute before Shauna finally spoke in a grateful tone.
"Thanks, Serena," she breathed.
Serena grinned. "No problem," she said happily.
"I'd wish you luck with Ash, but I don't think you need it…"
Serena sniggered a few more times. "Thanks!"
"Talk to you later," Shauna sighed gratefully.
"Later!"
A bright, morning sun slowly rose from the horizon. Cool mist burned away and dew shimmered on bright-green blades of grass. It was spring time in Pallet Town and life was awakening from its winter slumber. People were setting things in order while Pokémon enjoyed the warmer weather. Everyone was outdoors, taking in the new beginning. Meanwhile, at the Pokémon Reserve, a certain couple was spending the morning together, indoors…
Serena slowly drew in a measured breath and struggled to keep from grinning wildly. She followed Ash's movements as best as she could but some of the motions were still beyond her. For all her skill and athleticism, her man was outperforming her!
Ash rotated his palms, and Serena did the same. Ash flexed his knees and Serena shifted awkwardly. She hadn't expected that one… She looked into his brown eyes and laughed as she saw how amused he was. She was supposed to be the graceful one, and here she was, flailing around like a fish out of water.
Ash's eyes flashed with mischief and he smoothly moved his hands up and down. Grinning fiercely, Serena shook her head ruefully and readjusted herself to keep up with Ash's performance. He'd gotten the better of her and now he was rubbing it in. She was definitely losing this little contest of theirs, but she didn't mind one bit…
Knees bent, hips rolled, arms moved and hands glided. Sweat started to bead on both of their brows as they reached the end of their contest. Finally, with their hearts beating rapidly, they finished their final motions and became still. They took in deep breaths and let out sighs of satisfaction. This wasn't their first time doing this, but it had been the best one so far…
Ash let out a chuckle and relaxed. "Hey, you did pretty well that time!" he said in an encouraging voice.
Serena felt a little blush rise in her cheeks. She couldn't help but feel like she should be doing better.
"Thanks a lot…" she said with some sarcasm while giggling.
Ash chuckled again and shifted to a casual, standing position. "Pretty soon, you can try out a Z-Move for real."
Serena snorted at this. "Don't I need a Z-Crystal first? Not just these little dance moves…?" As she spoke, she playfully swayed her hands and arms in a parody of the Z-Move motions they just gone over.
Ash kept smiling. "Eh, you can borrow one of mine," he said. "I'm sure it'll work."
Serena appeared skeptical, but before she could say anything, the timer dinged and she let out a pleased chirp. "Ah, that's the biscuits!" she said happily.
Ash looked over at the oven and let out an enthusiastic shout. "All right!"
With a grin and an amused chuckle, Serena walked across the kitchen and opened the oven. The wonderful smell of fresh biscuits filled the air and she slipped on her oven mitts before removing the tray holding their breakfast.
Ash and Serena chatted about their upcoming day as they ate their morning breakfast. Both of them were glad that spring had finally arrived and they could start getting more done. Ash had plans to check over the construction site for their house, while Serena wanted to begin planting a garden. The warmer weather had brought a different energy with it and both of them were excited to get outside.
Serena grabbed a biscuit and spread some newly-made jam over the steaming treat. She'd recently whipped up the jam from berries she'd picked as part of learning some new home skills. She chomped down and immediately found the mix to be quite a bit too sour for her liking, or anybody's liking for that matter…
With her lips puckering and eyes watering, she grabbed a glass of sweet juice and washed away the unpleasant spread. She still had a lot to learn in the realm of homemaking. She coughed a couple of times to clear her throat before turning her attention to Ash. She watched as her man gulped down another biscuit while reading some Pokémon league news on his phone. Normally Ash wouldn't be on his phone during breakfast, however, today was different. This afternoon, he'd be taking his three students out on a big training excursion.
Serena let out a wistful sigh and kept staring at her hunk of a man. Part of her was really glad that he was going to be training Terence, Cyril and Gwyn. Pokémon battles were part of Ash's being and they always made him happy, but she was going to miss him terribly while he was gone.
Serena looked down at her crumb-covered plate and twisted her fingers together as she thought about the month which had passed since they'd returned from Alola. She didn't know how, but she and Ash still hadn't been intimate. They'd had plenty of fun in the weeks which had flown by, but sex had eluded them. Many nights had been spent on the couch with her lips enjoying the caress of Ash's mouth and her breasts enjoying the caress of Ash's palms. Toplessness had become a part of their relationship and she loved it!
She loved teasing and surprising her man in every creative way she could think of. She'd even gone as far as to waltz into his room one early morning, to wake him up, with not a stitch of clothing above her waist. With Ash's eyes stretching wide, she'd casually held up two blouses and asked him which one she should wear. The tension had been incredible and Serena had genuinely wondered if they would finally do the deed that morning. But, after a few naughty giggles and some raunchy comments, she'd slipped on the blouse Ash had suggested and went on her way. Part of her enjoyed the wait and anticipation of sex; however, she was still really looking forward to when Ash explored the one secret she still held from him!
With steamy thoughts swirling inside her mind, Serena glanced over at her man and let out a happy hum. Ash perked up slightly and turned his head toward his secret wife. Serena stared back and a silly smile grew on Ash's face. After a few heartbeats, he spoke up in a low voice.
"What are you thinking about?" he asked.
Serena sniggered and blew out a hot breath. "Just about how much I'm going to miss you," she said in a sweet voice.
Tense seconds passed and the two lovers eyed each other with looks of anticipation, wondering if a romantic move would be made. However, each of them knew there was work to be done and romance could wait until later. Regrettably, in this case, later meant some weeks in the future, but such was life.
With a few more sniggers and sneaky looks, the young couple gulped down a few more biscuits before heading outside.
The sun was still climbing into the sky when Ash and Serena started the day's work. Ash attended to a few Pokémon matters and repaired the roof of a shelter before heading over to the construction site. He checked out how the unfinished frame had faired over the winter and was pleased to see nearly everything was intact. He brushed away a few leaves and nailed down a couple of loose boards before making a list of all the supplies he would need.
While Ash attended to his tasks, Serena inspected the large patch of soil Kiawe had turned in his effort to plant a garden. With a loving smile on her face, Serena shook her head and began the dirty task of setting right all that was wrong. There were small rocks scattered everywhere and the soil wasn't properly tilled. Weeds were starting to come up and whatever had been planted wasn't growing.
She really appreciated Kiawe's effort, but he'd done a very poor job preparing things. She knew the dark-skinned man lived on a farm, but one couldn't tell based on the state of the so-called garden. Perhaps he'd been distracted or wasn't familiar with how things grew in Kanto?
Time passed, the sun rose toward its apex and Serena continued her dirty job. At around mid-day she decided it was time to quit on the garden. She had things to do inside and it was clear the garden was going to be a multi-day project. Just before she headed inside, her pawing through the dirt suddenly came across a piece of fabric. She pulled it from the earth and immediately raised an eyebrow when she recognized it as the remains of a sports bra. The straps were torn and Serena could only imagine what had transpired. Apparently she and Ash were not the only ones to experience romance on the Pokémon reserve!
With a nonplussed look on her face, Serena headed inside and tossed the destroyed sports bra in the trash. She couldn't help but notice by the cup size that the bra was for a very well-endowed woman. Given that Lana, Mimo and Mallow were the only women who had visited the reserve, and that Mallow was the only one of them sporting enough feminine hardware to warrant a double-D bra, the conclusion was obvious…
Serena let out an amused snort and shook her head. She'd thought she'd seen Kiawe stealing looks at Mallow. There'd definitely been tension between them. With an ironic sigh, she glanced around the living room, wondering where they'd done the deed and how many times. She also felt a little jealous that someone else had experienced intimacy in their residence before herself and Ash.
With a sigh and a shrug, Serena headed to the bathroom to wash up. A couple minutes later, she returned to the kitchen and began fixing a bunch of sandwiches for Ash and the kids to take on their journey. She also fixed some trail mix and packed a few healthy snacks. She'd seen the junk the kids usually ate and felt a need to try and improve their daily diet.
Soon, there was a small pile of snacks and a dozen sandwiches wrapped in plastic. Serena let out a satisfied, feminine grunt and smiled. There was something about doing simple home jobs which made her extremely happy. With the kid's meals sorted, Serena put the food in the refrigerator and then made tracks for the front door. She wanted to get the mail before Ash left, in case there was something for him.
Serena stepped outside and breathed in the fresh air of spring. It was a truly beautiful day and she was looking forward to working outdoors in the coming weeks. With the breeze causing her golden locks to flutter, she walked down the stairs to the mail box and retrieved a trio of letters. As Serena returned, she glanced through the mail to see if there was anything important. The first two letters were clearly junk mail but the third envelope sported fancy scrollwork boarding the edges and had a return address for the Petalburg Gym in Hoenn.
Serena smiled when she saw the fancy envelope was addressed to Ash and herself. She had an idea as to what it was. She decided to not open it. She would leave that for Ash.
By the time Serena reentered the main building, Ash had returned from his shortened day of work. They exchanged some quick pleasantries and then he headed to the bathroom to shower. Serena spent a brief moment standing outside the bathroom door, debating whether she should go inside and join her man. Ultimately, she decided not to. She didn't want their first time to be in the shower. Plus, the kids would be arriving before long and the last thing they needed was to lose track of time caressing each other's wet, naked body and be caught en flagrante!
I looked up at the bright, blue sky and felt warmth, from the sun, shining down on my equally blue fur. Part of me was sad to see winter go. It was my favorite time of year; a period where I felt right at home no matter where I went. The planet turned on, however, and now it was time for all things green to sprout once again.
My love let out a happy chirp and bent her head low to sniff some of the shoots which were coming up from the ground. She cooed softly and looked back at me, over her shoulder; her ribbons fluttering in a sudden, spring breeze. She cheerfully announced how much she loved spring and all the new life it brought.
My heart swelled and my stomach quivered with warm, gooey emotions. I promptly stepped forward and wholeheartedly agreed with Sylveon. This season was, without-a-doubt, the best time of the year. My love smiled and I blushed. After all, I could create a mini winter anytime I wished. Spring only came around once a year. It was something to be cherished.
A playfully mischievous smile pulled at the lips of my love. She looked at me with her magical eyes and took a couple steps forward; nodding with her head for me to follow. I smiled and trotted after her, feeling as light as a feather from all the glowing emotions swirling within me. We crossed one of the many grassy fields on the reserve before descending to a sparkling pond.
With the clear water slowly warming, more of the Pokémon were taking the opportunity to bathe and renew their appearance. Pidgey, Nidoran, Oddish and Rattata were just a few of the many creatures milling about. My love gracefully walked up to several of them and extended a happy greeting. I watched her socialize, feeling so lucky that, of all the Pokémon she could have had, she chose me to be her love.
I joined Sylveon in chatting with the Pokémon and we spent the better part of an hour checking in on the residences of the reserve. As the sun passed the midway point in the sky, my love gently brushed a ribbon across my cheek and whispered for me to follow her, once again. A silly smile spread across my face and I fell into step behind her.
We trotted and then dashed across a couple of hills as we transited the reserve. I spotted the master trainer and Serena working some distance away and my love commented on how happy she was that her trainer had chosen Ash over performing in more showcases.
I chirped a question and asked if my love was sad that she wouldn't be competing in Kalos anymore. My love slowed and appeared introspective for a moment before turning and fixing me with a happy yet emotional expression. She stated that she was sad that performance wouldn't be a part of her life anymore; however, she immediately added that a happy life was far more important than a successful life, devoid of love. She then fixed me with a look which made my insides turn to mush. She whispered that she was very happy here at the reserve and she would take that over showcases any day.
I swallowed and croaked out an incoherent reply which made my love laugh before she nodded for me to continue following her. I did so and we dashed toward the main building on the reserve. Upon reaching the back door, Sylveon used her ribbons to turn the knob and pull open the door. Seeing her intent to go inside, I expressed some worry that Pokémon weren't supposed to go barging inside the building without a good reason. My love sent me a playful glance and winked before stating that this was one of the privileges of belonging to the girlfriend of the master trainer.
I snorted in amusement and shook my head before following Sylveon inside. She shut the door and quickly dashed for the upstairs level. She climbed the stairs, with me in pursuit, and continued running down a side corridor. She pulled open another door and started climbing a very steep staircase. I struggled to follow her. My slightly bulkier form and shorter legs made me far less graceful than her. I finally reached the top of the stairs and realized that we'd just climbed up into the attic of the main building.
There were a few dusty, cardboard boxes scattered around and some old equipment which looked like it hadn't been touched in several decades. I glanced around feeling a sense of wonder at having entered a location where Pokémon or humans rarely ventured. I glanced at my love and she smiled before indicating that I should follow her again.
She slowly walked to the far side of the attic; the sloped roof above us descending gradually to either side. I stayed at her heels; feeling curious and excited about this small adventure I was being led on. We reached the far-wall of the attic and my love stopped at a small, round window with wooden crossbeams in the center. She leaned her head close to the glass and looked out over the reserve. I joined her and marveled at how amazing the view was from up high. She agreed and leaned toward me, sweetly nuzzling against my cheek. I smiled and returned the gentle affection. This day was simply perfect!
After a few wonderful seconds, Sylveon stepped back and turned away from the window. She paced a few steps to the side and let out a feminine mew. I watched as my love stepped onto a pile of pillows which I'd failed to spot earlier. The cushy headrests looked like they'd been scavenged from various places around the reserve. Additionally, the floor around the pillows had been thoroughly dusted and contrasted sharply with the rest of the dirty attic.
I felt a little puzzled and watched as my love slowly turned in a circle as she walked atop the pillows. After a long moment, Sylveon turned away from me and lay down on her side. She turned her head so she could see me, her beautiful ribbons splaying out around her body. She let out a supremely happy sigh and whispered if I was ready to join her.
A small frown formed on my face as puzzlement took hold of me. Without thinking, I asked what I needed to be ready for. In response, my love simply smiled broadly, arched her back in a slow stretch and gracefully rolled over. In the middle of the roll, as her legs pointed toward the ceiling, my love flared her limbs, revealing her feminine splendor in a most sensual and scandalous fashion!
My eyes bulged! My heart hammered! My legs quivered and my jaw fell open! I'd never seen Sylveon do anything so risqué! She was the height of modesty; always keeping up an air of dignity, even during our romantic moments. I had no idea what could have possessed her to do such a thing! Such was my shock that it wasn't until her second call-out that I finally heard my love's invitation.
I locked eyes with Sylveon and she sent me an adoring gaze which left no doubt as what I'd been asked to join. I stared at her, taking in the sight of her perfect, cream-colored fur, her slender, elegant body, her sparkling, blue eyes and her dreamy expression. I was the luckiest Pokémon on Earth!
With a joyous shout, I leapt forward and landed on the pillows, straddling my love with my legs. The force of my landing caused me to gently crash into her and both of us began giggling uncontrollably. She rolled to the side and I went with her. I was on top, then she was on top. There was chaos, laughs, excitement and endless, naughty giggles. Finally, we came to a stop. She was on her back and looked up at me; while I stood, looking down at her.
We stared deep into each other's eyes, contemplating the intimacy we were about to share. I gently nuzzled my nose against hers and we let out peaceful, contented sighs. Our hearts beat as one, and soon, our bodies would join as one. Our love was now complete.
While Ash showered, Serena busied herself with cleaning the kitchen and making sure all his traveling gear was assembled. Before long, she heard the water stop and him exit the shower. Serena grinned and hummed while she waited for Ash to join her. This would be the last time she'd see him for a few weeks and she was going to make the most of it! A minute later, the bathroom door opened and Ash strode into the kitchen.
"All right, are the kids here yet?" he asked in an energetic voice.
Serena smiled kindly at her man and shook her head. "Nope, not yet," she replied simply.
Ash nodded. "Okay, good. I've still got to get the gang together."
Serena hummed in acknowledgement. "So, which Pokémon are you taking?"
Ash frowned and looked thoughtful. "Well… Pikachu for sure…" he began.
When Ash didn't list any more Pokémon, Serena sniggered and gestured at the fancy envelope resting on the kitchen table. "You got some mail," she said sweetly.
Ash glanced at the letter and smiled. "Oh, hey, cool!" he said. He promptly picked up the letter and tore it open without checking to see where it was from. Serena subtly rolled her eyes at Ash's eagerness. Sometimes he missed out on the little things.
Ash unfolded the letter, started reading, and his eyes immediately became bright and happy. "Hey, May's getting married!" he declared.
Serena smiled as warm emotions bloomed inside her chest. Her guess of the letter's contents had been correct. She was happy for May. The other woman had endured enough hardship. It was only right that she get some lasting happiness.
Ash grinned broadly as he kept reading. "The wedding's going to be this summer. It's in Petalburg City."
"Sounds lovely," Serena said with a smile. She watched Ash for a few more seconds and then stepped closer to him. She planted a small kiss on his cheek and whispered into his ear. "I'm going to go take a quick shower," she said. "Keep an eye out for the kids."
Ash glanced over at her and they shared a charged glance. With a small smirk, Serena stepped away and made tracks for the bathroom. Ash watched her for a few moments before turning his attention back to the letter. He reread the wedding announcement and then stared off into the distance. His memory harkened back to his first meeting with May; their first meeting with Drew and how much the Hoenn natives had despised each other. Ash grinned and chuckled. Who would have thought that bitter rivalry could end in romance?
While Serena showered, Ash stepped outside and took a quick tour of the reserve. He debated about which of his Pokémon he should take. He wanted to give the kids a challenge; however he also realized that all of his creatures were far too strong to offer a fair fight. He'd have to hold back and thus the training would be incomplete. His hope was that the kids would battle against each other and he could advise them on what to do. He could then use his Pokémon as a final test.
After some internal debate, Ash settled on Staraptor as his additional partner. Pikachu could provide a challenge on the ground while Staraptor would be a threat from the air. He liked the combination of moves and, after fetching his long time flying friend, he returned to the main building.
The kids hadn't arrived and Serena was still in the shower. Ash paced around the living room once before he heard the water shut off. A minute later, there was the sound of the hairdryer running as Serena started her after-shower routine.
Grinning, Ash sauntered over to the bathroom and slowly paced around. His mind filled with images of Serena brushing her golden hair, in nothing but her panties. He had no trouble conjuring the sight. He'd become well acquainted with the appearance, shape and suppleness of Serena's wonderful bosom! His secret wife sure was gorgeous!
Sniggering, Ash waited while the hairdryer continued to run. After another minute passed, the whine of the device stopped. Ash could hear Serena's muffled footfalls as she approached the door. A moment later, she called out in a casual tone.
"Hey, Ash, are the kids here, yet?" she asked.
Ash smiled. "Nope, not yet," he replied.
"Okay, good," Serena said. A moment later, the door knob turned and Ash spun around to greet his girlfriend. The woman from Kalos stepped out of the bathroom, her damp hair hanging loose behind her back. She had a large, white, fluffy towel wrapped around her waist….. and nothing else!
Serena's eyes glittered with naughtiness as she looked at Ash. Meanwhile, Ash's eyes stretched wide as he took in the sight of Serena's bosom; jiggling freely with each step she took. Her freshly washed skin was simply radiant and seemed to glow. After several long moments, Ash coughed and spoke in a garbled voice.
"Uhhh, you didn't want to get dressed…?" he managed.
Serena merely shrugged and sent Ash a dismissive expression. "I forgot to take my clothes in," she replied casually.
Ash immediately snorted in amusement and began to snigger. Despite Serena's best efforts, a sneaky grin began to spread across her face. Without breaking stride, the topless woman continued into the laundry room and Ash followed after her. Upon reaching the pair of dressers inside, Serena turned around and faced her man. She folded her arms, making sure to keep her limbs below her lovely mounds of flesh. Ash stepped up to her and the two lovers locked eyes. Silence reigned for a long moment before Serena spoke in a whisper.
"I'm gonna miss you," she said in a sultry tone.
Ash sniggered. "Me too," he growled.
Serena started to chew on her lower lips and giggled once before taking a step forward. "You know what else I'm going to miss…?" she said in a syrupy voice.
Ash's gaze bounced between Serena's breasts and her glittering eyes. "What's that?!" he asked.
Serena opened her mouth in an erotic manner and slowly unfolded her arms. She gently ran her hands up the sides of her breasts while keeping her eyes fixed on Ash!
"You keeping them warm!" she sang.
Ash didn't need to be told what to do. Grinning from ear-to-ear, the man from Pallet Town extended his hands and softly cupped the breasts of his girlfriend. Serena's eyes closed and a hum of supreme enjoyment reverberated throughout her body. Both of them let out satisfied sighs and then Ash spoke.
"The weather's warming up so you should be okay," he whispered.
Serena sniggered and nodded. "I know, but it's still going to be lonely."
"I'll only be gone a little while."
Serena's grin broadened and she reached down to take hold of the towel wrapped around her waist. "I hope so," she breathed. "If you're gone too long, I'll have to shave again!"
Ash frowned for the briefest of moments before his eyes suddenly snapped wide open. His gaze dipped down to Serena's waist then zipped up to her face. The topless woman from Kalos grinned and swayed her hips seductively.
"Wanna see what's waiting for you when you get back…?!" she whispered seductively.
Ash started to chuckle uncontrollably and Serena quickly joined him. He leaned closer; she pulled at the towel around her waist… then the front door burst open and a trio of enthusiastic voices bellowed throughout the building.
"HEY! WE'RE HERE!" Terence shouted.
"I GOT A NEW POKÉMON!" Gwyn yelled excitedly.
"WE'RE ALL READY TO GO!" Cyril called out.
Ash and Serena locked eyes and a look of mortified dismay took hold of the golden-haired girl. She opened her mouth and a muted scream exited her throat.
"aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!" she rasped in horror, before stepping back and turning away from Ash.
Fortunately for Ash and Serena, they were concealed from view by the walls of the laundry room. Unfortunately for them, there was now a trio of very eager kids inside the building searching for a Pokémon master to lead them on an adventure. With a sheepish grin on his face, Ash leaned to the side and shouted toward the front of the building.
"Hey, uhhh, that's great! Why don't you sit down and I'll be with you in a second…"
"COOL!" Terence bellowed from somewhere. "Where are you?!"
Ash started to step out from the laundry room but stopped when he felt a tightness in his pants. He suddenly realized that Serena's sensual exposé had gotten his body well and truly excited. He grimaced and kept his lower half out of sight as the kids bounded into view.
"Uhh, hey, how about you all go get some food from the kitchen…" he deflected. "Make sure you're all packed."
The kids all skidded to a stop and eager expressions took hold of their faces. "OKAY SURE!" came their unified reply. A moment later, they had reversed direction and were dashing back toward the kitchen.
Ash let out a sigh of relief and glanced over at Serena. His eyes widened as he took in the sight of his secret wife's bare butt cheeks, jiggling as she moved. In her frenzy to get dressed, Serena had dropped her towel and was in the process of rapidly pulling on her clothes. Only her back being turned to Ash kept him from viewing the last secret she held from him.
Ash swallowed and had to force himself to turn away from the sight of his naked woman. He suddenly wished he had one more day at the reserve before leaving. It certainly would have been exciting!
While the kids were still ransacking the pantry, Ash and a now fully clothed Serena joined them. Gwyn excitedly told Ash all about her new Poliwag, Swirly, which she had caught. Terence talked about the battles he'd won and lost while Cyril spoke about all the research he'd done during the winter.
Ash briefly reprimanded the kids for barging into the building without knocking but he quickly got off track when Gwyn starting asking about the best food to feed her Poliwag. Serena rolled her eyes and smiled kindly. Her man still had a lot to learn about kids and disciplining them. Fortunately, there would be plenty of time, in the future, for him to learn.
Serena made sure the kids packed her sandwiches and she gave them a short lecture about eating healthier. After a few more exchanges, it was time for them to depart. To Serena's surprise, all three of them piled around and embraced her in a loving hug. Serena choked up a bit as their little arms wrapped around her. These' weren't her kids, but their closeness filled her with a sense of maternal longing. One day, she really, really wanted to have her own children doing this exact same thing.
Once the kids backed off, Ash leaned in and gave Serena his own hug. She felt happiness intermingle with sadness as he held her close. She was so proud of him, but at the same time, she really didn't want to share her man; especially now. After Alola, things were steadily getting more romantic and she could feel that their first union was going to happen any day now. When he returned, she hoped their intimate dance would get back on track. Surely her little tease had seen to that…
Pikachu joined the group and Ash briefly sent out Staraptor for the kids to see. The kids sent out their Pokémon and Ash's eyes lit up as he carefully checked out each of the creatures. Terence was disappointed that he hadn't caught a new Pokémon and he announced his determination to acquire at least six before the league season was out. Cyril, also, hadn't caught a new friend, and he shared Terence's desires to fill out his team.
Once Ash had sufficiently looked over the kids' Pokémon, and sufficiently played with the rambunctious creatures, the four of them prepared to go. Serena stood at the top of the tall stairway looking over Pallet Town and shared one final charged stare with her man. The four adventures turned to go and then a warbling cry rang out behind them. They all looked back and saw Dreepy rushing to catch up with them.
Ash let out a pleased laugh and watched as the dragon type circled around before hesitantly presenting itself to the group. Its intention was clear. It wanted to join their adventure.
Terence looked at Ash with an impressed expression. "WOW you have Dreepy now!"
Ash chuckled and rubbed Dreepy's triangular head. "No, not really. We took Dreepy in and its been living here. It doesn't have a trainer."
At this, Dreepy's posture slightly sagged and the Pokémon let out a mournful whine. Ash frowned briefly and quickly spoke up in an upbeat tone.
"I'm sure someone will want to train it soon," he said. "Dreepy is a really awesome Pokémon!"
Cyril stepped up and nodded in agreement. "It sure is! Dreepy evolves into Dragapult, one of the fastest Pokémon there is!"
Dreepy's demeanor improved and the creature made a few playful circles around Ash and the kids while letting out happy cries. The kids laughed and giggled while Ash chuckled. After a few moments of fun, Ash spoke up in an amused voice.
"So, Dreepy, do you want to come along with us?"
The dragon type blinked a few times before letting out a joyful warble. It zipped around in a couple of loops before settling down near Gwyn. Turtee, clinging to the back of Gwyn's head, eyed the newcomer cautiously.
Serena let out a happy chuckle and put her hands on her hips. "Looks like you've got one more," she sang.
Ash glanced at her and smiled. "Yeah, seems so."
The woman from Kalos took a deep breath and slowly let it out. "Well, you take care of them all," she breathed.
Ash grinned. "Sure thing."
Serena locked eyes with her man and a smoldering smile spread across her face. "Take care of yourself, too!" she whispered.
Ash chuckled and subtly nodded. "Definitely!"
The sun was still shining high above as the two lovers shared one last gaze. Serena performed a happy shrug, Ash grinned and then turned away.
"Okay, let's go!" the world's greatest Pokémon trainer declared.
"YAAYYY!" Terence shouted, thrusting both of his arms into the air. He then turned on a heel and began running down the stairs. Gwyn promptly squawked in distress and started awkwardly chasing after him.
"Don't run down the stairs! You'll fall!" she cried out after the young boy.
Cyril joined the chase and Ash stepped lively after them. At the top of the stairs, Serena watched; a bittersweet smile on her face. She eyed her man as he dashed away. She suddenly recalled the stories Delia had told her about all the times she'd watched Ash run off on a new adventure. It seemed age didn't change certain things.
Night had fully fallen by the time Serena slowly traipsed up the stairs of the main building. Her arms hung loosely at her sides as the soft fabric of her red pajamas soothed her skin. She'd been fully aware of all the work which had to be done, however actually carrying it out had been much more tiring than she'd expected. Her arms were sore. Her legs felt heavy and her feet ached. She was really looking forward to crawling into bed for some much deserved sleep.
Serena reached the top of the stairs and faced a decision. To her left was Ash's empty room; to the right was her room. A naughty thought circled around inside her mind and she debated what she should do. She felt extremely tired, however she also felt very lonely. The first night of Ash's absence was always the worst…
With a naughty snigger and an amused shake of her head, Serena stepped toward Ash's room and moved inside. She pulled the door closed and moved to the bed. She slipped beneath the covers, got comfortable and turned her head so she could press her nose into Ash's pillow. She breathed in his scent and let out a happy sigh.
With Ash's smell inside her nostrils, Serena next filled her mind with memories of her man's touches and kisses during their stay in Alola. Soon, her skin was alight with tingling sensuality and her veins filled with hot desire.
Half an hour later, the woman from Kalos exited Ash's room with a small, guilty grin on her face. She was still very tired, but she no longer felt lonely. She slowly walked to her room and stepped inside.
It took Serena's eyes a moment to adjust to the near-darkness inside her room. The only illumination inside was a large beam of bluish light from the window. The moon was nearly full and it cast its eerie glow across her floor and part of her bed. Serena paused a moment and then took a step toward her bed.
As she reached the foot of her bed, Serena glanced down and saw Sylveon was curled up on the floor. Her Pokémon was sleeping peacefully, just below the baseboard of her bed. Serena felt happiness bloom inside her chest as she took in Sylveon's expression. The fairy type was smiling broadly and looked like she didn't have a single care in the world. Serena spent a moment enjoying the sight of her friend before moving on to her bed.
The golden-haired woman slipped under the covers of her bed and got comfortable. She laid her head back and soon was sound asleep. Before long, Serena was enjoying a dream where she and Ash went swimming and somehow lost their swimsuits in the ocean. As the night wore on, a smile slowly grew and grew on Serena's face. However, it never quite reached the level of happiness which Sylveon displayed.