Chapter Text
“Gary, are you listening?” Ash questioned, waving his hand in front of Gary’s face.
Serena looked back at the two boys hoping her blush had receded. It was so weird that she couldn’t remember him, she turned back to Gary and saw that he had been staring at her.
Serena felt her heart stop for a second, he didn’t turn away from him as she stared back. She felt her mouth try to move but he turned his gaze back to Ash, patting him on the shoulder.
“I just came by to let you know gramps says you’re welcome to come over whenever you want Ash,” Gary reported, his hands returning to his pockets.
“Oh uh, thanks Gary. But I was-”
“Anyway, I’ll see you later. I hope to see you around, Serena,” Gary smirked, Serena raised her hand in a silent goodbye as he turned around with his Umbreon trailing behind him.
Serena couldn’t help but stare as Gary stiffly walked away his arms straight at his side, he’s walking like a robot.
“I’m surprised he left so quickly. Are you guys close friends,” Serena asked, as Ash seemed to look confusedly after Gary.
“Um, kind of? I mean it's a small town so we always were around each other. But after one summer he kind of just became a real jerk. But once he was older he kind of matured and now we’re….acquaintances?” Ash asked more than told, as Serena thoughtfully hummed in response.
“Ah but I think me and Pikachu are going to go out and train. Are you okay, if I leave you with my mom?” Ash worried, and Serena couldn’t help but giggle.
“Don’t worry, I’ll make sure she doesn’t bring out your baby album,” Serena teased.
“God, you’re just as bad as her,” Ash joked, “You ready to go Pikachu?”
“Pika, Pi.”
“Come on Sylveon, I’m going to make some macarons,” Serena informed.
Serena walked back into the kitchen as Sylveon laid down in the kitchen where a stream of light was hitting the floor.
“Who was at the door?”
“Oh it was a boy named Gary.”
“Ah, I haven’t seen him in so long.”
“Do you mind if I make some macarons?”
“Oh no, help yourself.”
Serena moved to the pantry grabbing the ingredients before stopping by the fridge. She laid them out on the counter before grabbing a bowl. Serena had this recipe by heart, her mind wandering as she repeated the steps.
Gary. I’m surprised I don’t remember him. Serena was rather reserved that summer but she had made friends with Ash and a couple girls near the end. There wasn’t more than twenty kids their.
Serena’s eyebrows unconsciously creased in concentration, as she mixed the ingredients. Ah. Wait there was that one kid who constantly seemed sick.
Serena knelt down as she picked another daisy that she spotted on the ground, she would make a pretty flower crown of daisies. As she stood back up she saw a small boy in a purple shirt with a red face staring at her before turning around and walking back towards Professor Oak.
He’s so weird.
Awe that must’ve been him . Serena thought thinking about the older version she had just saw. She would admit he was certainly cute, and he certainly seemed dazed earlier, maybe he had a weak constitution.
She carefully piped the batter onto a baking sheet as she gently put the tray in the oven. I should bring him some for his Umbreon.
Braixen slowly walked in a brush in paw, sitting down at the table before starting to comb her tail. Serena set a timer on her pps as she silently held out her hand and Braixen eagerly dropped the brush in her hand, swinging her legs.
It was easy to let her mind wander with each stroke of the brush. It was strange to be here with Ash, in his home, where he grew up. It brought a small smile to her face, she was so close to him. It would be so easy to….she should just tell him how she feels.
It was a cliche of how it felt like a weight was permanently sitting on her chest that she couldn’t remove. If he said he felt the same, it would be perfect. But life was never perfect, in a perfect world she would have won the showcase and been the current Kalos queen.
What if she couldn’t do it. If things went on like they did now then she and Ash would eventually split up. She would be alone. No Clemont, Bonnie or Ash… She would be alone. Could she even continue on her own? When she had left home she was only alone for two days before meeting Ash.
The brush stilled for a split second before continuing. Maybe, she should just go home... Her grip tightened on the brush, her strokes becoming harsher.
“Braix!”
“Oh, sorry, Braixen.”
But if I went home then Mom would just rub it in my face and she would be right. I can’t give up just because it's getting hard. I’ve always given up on things whenever it gets hard for me...Serena stared at Braixen’s tail her hand running over the smooth fur. My life would just go back to normal if I went home, life would be so…boring. I wish I was like Clemont, and Bonnie, and ….
Serena knew she was being pathetic. She couldn’t just wish for her life to change without her taking action herself, but it was much harder to move forward.
Tentatively touching the bow on her head, she wished she had the strength to pull out the physical ribbon that represented her devotion but also the shackle that she had willingly attached to herself.
Why am I not good enough for him?
The beeping of the timer snapping her out of her thoughts, the brush dropping to the kitchen floor with a clack.
Braixen looked back at Serena concerned, but Serena simply smoothed down her pokemon’s fur. Rubbing her temples she walked over to the oven grabbing the tray of macaroons, and carefully moving them to a cooling rack as she prepared the filling.
The silence was amicable the quiet clinking of dishes filling the kitchen. Braixen had come back with a tin Serena’s mother had sent her a while ago that had once held homemade cookies. The macaroons were delicately placed into the tin, the lid clicking into place.
After much fuss of leaving the house, Serena and her pokemon were making their way to Professor Oak’s lab. When she had been preparing to leave all of her pokemon ran out to follow her, Braixen in the middle of shampooing had left a wet trail of water, Pancham had walked in covered in dirt, which had repulsed Braixen, and Sylveon had woken from her nap and tangled her own ribbons trying to run after Serena.
Serena had then had to help Braixen finish washing her fur, mop up the water trail that went from upstairs to the front door, and give Pancham a bath so Braixen didn’t kick him away from her, and thankfully Braixen had taken the time to help Sylveon untangle herself.
Braixen was all but strutting down the road with her freshly washed pelt, while Pancham, the cutie, carried the large tin above his head with his little arms (he had pulled at Serena’s new skirt until she had handed it over), and Sylveon was daintily walking beside her.
“I’m surprised you wanted to come guys, it’s your vacation too,” Serena sighed, as Braixen hooked their arms rubbing her cheek against Serena’s.
They walked in a companionable silence with Pancham huffing, “Pan, pan,” for each step. It was adorable when Serena would offer to carry it but it would just speed up her little Pancham. Serena was finally able to get Pancham to hand over the tin when he saw the steps up to Professor Oak’s lab.
Braixen picked up Pancham as he all but collapsed, exhausted in her arms as they all began to climb up the stairs.
Holding onto the tin resting it against her arm, she lightly knocked on the door, “Professor?” Braixen slowly pushed the door open Serena and Sylveon following her in .
“Hello?”
“Hello,” a old man greeted as he poked his head out from behind a computer.
“Hi, my name is Serena. I, uh, brought some macaroons for Gary and Umbreon.”
“Oh,” a kind smile lit up his face, “I’ve heard so much about you.”
“Huh?”