Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Serena was ready to admit that she didn’t know a lot of things.

In her defense, of course, she was barely 6, and she wasn’t one to ask too many questions. She didn’t know why the stars disappeared during the day, or why the ocean would move in and out from the beach. She didn’t understand why her mother brought her to see the Rhyhorn every morning, or how her mom managed to stay on a Rhyhorn’s back for more than a minute before falling to the ground. She didn’t get why all the kids back at home always talked about getting a starter pokémon from Professor Sycamore all the way in Lumiose City, and she didn’t quite know why it was always so hard to try and join their conversation.

She didn’t know why her mom thought it would be a good idea to visit Kanto this summer, and she had no clue why her mom signed her up for this camp.

Serena did know, however, that she was not enjoying it.

Kanto was warmer and more humid than where she lived in Kalos, and she felt like the sun was sticking to her skin, even with the hat shielding her lighter complexion and the layers of sunscreen her mom slathered on. Pokémon she had never seen before were in every direction, and while Serena didn’t feel unsafe - the Professor was always right there - she was always two steps behind everyone else, mentally and physically. Viridian Forest was thick and sprawling, and many of the other kids had grown up on its doorstep. Meanwhile, Serena was trying not to squeal every time a Rattata ran past her feet.

It was a little embarrassing. It was also frighteningly lonely.

She really stood out like a sore thumb, many kids having tan skin and dark hair signature to the region, and her Kalosian fashion looked frilly and light in comparison to the hiking clothes and worn sneakers. If she did try to talk, her accent and clunky pronunciation made it hard for any communication to be understood, and she really didn’t have much to add. It was just like school all over again, except back in Vaniville Town, Serena always knew how to get back home.

Now, Serena had let her mind wander a bit too long, and when she looked up from her feet again, the road had split, and the others on the hike were nowhere to be seen. She bit her cheek and thought to maybe retrace her steps back to the farm, but a minute later she was turned around again, the path utterly vanishing into thick grass and leafy bushes.

Her bottom lip wavered. She didn’t know what to do, she didn’t know where to go. She hated feeling so lost and helpless. A rustle behind her made her jump a foot in the air, and a pokémon unfamiliar to her leaped past her, causing Serena to yelp as she stumbled and fell to her knees, hitting a tree root hard. Was the Pokémon dangerous or upset at her? Would it attack if she tried to leave? Tears sprang to her eyes, but the sob caught in her throat as the bush shook again. Were more going to come for her now that she was hurt? She should get up and run, or do something, but Serena couldn’t help but feel like all her energy had been stolen from the past few days. It was easier to close her eyes and curl up and wait for whatever it was to go away.

“Hey… are you alright?”

Serena peaked one eye open. Peering from under the brim of her hat, she looked up into the eyes of a boy no older than she was. His hand brushed back messy black hair to get a good look at her in return, before smiling.

“I’m Ash! Who are you?”

The dark hair, tan skin, slight accent. He was from Kanto, no doubt about it. Serena wouldn’t be lost at all! She tried to speak, but her voice was failing her and tears were still sliding down her cheeks. What was wrong with her? Her mom wouldn’t be scared. The other kids would be just fine.

She was just… so tired of trying. He probably was already finding her strange, just like the other kids. Serena didn’t blame him as he frowned and dropped his hand that was raised in greeting.

“What's wrong?” he asked, and the genuine concern made Serena force herself to at least start talking.

“I… I hurt my leg,” she managed, trying to enunciate through her accent, but this ‘Ash’ smiled like there was no problem in the world. Did he always smile like that? Where did he find the energy?

“Don’t worry,” he reassured, dropping to his knees. He pulled out a light blue handkerchief with pokeballs embroidered on the corners and brandished it proudly. “See this? This will make it better.”

Serena was frozen as he took her leg and gently tied a secure bandage around the scrape. His eyebrows furrowed as he worked, looking completely unfazed by the unfamiliar forest sounds around them and dirt getting on his clothes. Was every Kanto kid like this? She was sure that Calem back home would be distraught if his jacket got muddy.

“All done,” he beamed, but Serena wasn’t polite enough to stop the gasp of pain that left her mouth as she bent her leg towards her. Ash was undeterred.

“Now, watch this.” He waved his hands over her knee like a wizard performing a spell. It was a little silly, and if Serena wasn’t so confused at the moment, she might’ve smiled. “Feel better, feel better right away!” Ash chanted with a flourish.

Serena paused and tried to put her weight on it, but winced.

“Ow, it still hurts,” she whimpered, still a little too shaken to care about sparing the boy’s feelings. “I can’t stand up!”

To her surprise, Ash didn’t seem put off by this at all. Instead, he stood and smiled again, caramel brown eyes gleaming as dappled sunlight broke through the treetops.

“Don’t give up until it’s over, okay?” He reached out a hand, calloused and scraped with dirt under the nails. “Come on.”

Serena hesitated, like she always did, but Ash didn’t wait for her answer. He took her hand into his own and pulled her up, letting her lean heavily on him as she stumbled forward over her weak leg.

And with that, Serena got the answer to her question; no, not every Kanto kid was like this. Because no one else had offered her a hand when she needed it, no other kid went out of their way to talk to her, Arceus, she wasn’t sure the last time she was given a genuine smile from one of her peers. Ash definitely wasn’t like any kid here at camp. She wondered if he was like any kind of kid in the world. He was so… different.

Maybe Serena needed a little different. Maybe that’s why her mom sent her here.

Ash leaned back and laughed. “There you go!”

Serena blinked. The words were caught in her throat again, but all the tears from before were gone. A pressure that was sitting on her chest since her mom dropped her off at camp was starting to lift.

“I think we should get back to the campsite,” Ash gestured, voice soft. “Come on!”

Serena was still limping over small steps and her head still hurt from shed tears, but Ash never let go of her hand as he led her through the forest and back to camp. All the way, he pointed out different native Kanto pokémon to her (“- and that one over there is an Oddish, they’re sweet but easily scared.”) and was thrilled to learn that she had a Rhyhorn back at home (“-your mom RIDES it? That’s so cool, you have to teach me sometime!”). Serena struggled to keep up with his enthusiasm, but he didn’t seem to mind, and by the time they reconnected with the group, she was telling Ash a story about a nest of baby Fletchling outside her window, and he stayed invested despite her language slips and references to her home region that he was sure to not understand.

Professor Oak was beside himself to find out that two of his campers had been missing, but when asked if Serena was alright, the smile that came wasn’t forced at all. She tipped her face up to the sun, not letting her grin get lost behind the floppy brim of her hat. She looked at Ash, and the sun was nothing in comparison as he smiled right back.

Serena was ready to admit that perhaps, just maybe, she was wrong earlier.

In fact, Serena was expecting to enjoy camp very much.

Chapter Text

It's been about 8 years since Serena had been to a summer camp, and she was happy to say that, for the most part, Professor Sycamore’s summer camp was off to a much better start than Professor Oak’s was for her. She had friends by her side, old and new, a Pokémon partner she would do anything for, and a clear end goal for the camp that helped her appreciate the time spent there - as well as getting her competitive side turning a bit.

One thing that had not changed, however, was Serena’s affinity with getting off trail in forests.

She let her fingers get tangled into her hair as she tugged, a bad habit she’s had since she was young. The air around them was getting tinted with golden flecks as the sun started to breach the afternoon, not escaping Serena’s notice at all. Ash was right at her shoulder, reminding her so much of all those years ago, except this time, Ash was a little shorter than her, and it was Serena’s turn to lead the group through the trees.

That was yet another change - Serena and Ash had company past themselves this go around at camp. She glanced back at the Lumiose-born, blond haired siblings, and grinned as Bonnie walked circles around Clemont, still moving faster than him as he continued forward with his heavy bag.

“What are we looking for again?” Bonnie groaned, her short legs slowly losing the skip in their step. “Let’s start filming already!”

“Perfect scenery is half the battle when it comes to creating a convincing show,” Clemont told his little sister. Serena shot the blond inventor a grateful look, but she could tell that both of them were tired. “We are getting pretty far from camp, however.”

“Come on! We’re going to spend half the day searching!” said Bonnie as she grabbed Serena’s arm.

“You might be right,” she said sadly. Serena exchanged a glance with Ash, who gave her a look saying, “It’s your call, but I’ll keep going if you want to.” She sighed.

Today’s camp challenge was to create a Pokévision video, something fairly straightforward that anyone could do from around the world, but Serena’s perfectionist nature was most likely complicating it far past than what needs be. It made her gut sink, and she felt a little aimless.

Unlike all of her companions and so many of the characters she’s met since she started her journey, Serena didn’t really have a purpose to be here, or a goal to complete. Not like Clemont with his inventions and Ash with his league challenge. What was she doing, really? Running away from Rhyhorn race training could only last for so long, and eventually her mom would ask her what all she gained from these first few weeks on the road.

(Of course, she had gained so much, from friends to foes, confidence to fears, but those didn’t really translate into a goal her mom could give her support on.)

Serena felt like she was right on the edge of discovering something great. Something for her. She hoped that taking the reins on the Pokévision video challenge would create the same inspired spark it did last time, but maybe her first video was a one-time fluke. Maybe she wasn’t cut out for this.

She looked at her group, who was waiting for her decision, and realized that her dedication to this project wasn’t just for her own interests, not in the slightest. It wasn’t exactly a lie to say that Serena was the one contributing the least on this journey. Ash… Well, Ash was Ash. Serena didn’t think she had to really convince people of his importance. This was his journey, he was the default leader of the group, and had more than triple the experience of the rest of them combined. Clemont was barely older than her and was a Kalos League gym leader, looking over the biggest city in the region and a genius who proctored projects that pushed known boundaries with electricity and energy. Even Bonnie, who was only 8, had such a strange intuition when it came to people and pokémon alike, and would drop anything just to help, despite what unknown variables came into play.

Serena wasn’t a ton of help in the recent camp challenges either. She had barely fished before yesterday and pokémon battles were still new to her, so she jumped at the prospect of something even slightly familiar. She said she would handle this, and now some of the most important people in the world to her were expecting results. She wanted to do something for them, something more than just providing dessert after dinner.

Why Ash went out of his way to invite her on this journey with him, Serena had no idea.

Turning, Serena was about to bite the bullet and head back in the direction of camp, when a bright splash of color caught her eye. She gasped and peered closer through some trees.

A flower field, tucked in surrounded by trees, with waves of pink and purple petals blooming under the sun.

It was perfect - secluded enough that they wouldn’t be bothered, with memorable features that would make it stand out amongst other videos, open space, and fantastic lighting.

“How does that look?” Serena asked, a little giddy. “It’s the best place we’ve seen so far!”

She didn’t wait for an answer as she turned, pushing through a bush and running towards the hills. “I’ll take a quick look and then we can start!” she called over her shoulder.

“Wait, Serena!”

Ash’s calls fell on deaf ears as she pushed through the undergrowth, previous doubts melting under the sun as the trees got thinner and thinner. With growing speed, she cleared a final line of bushes with a smile before her stomach dropped, and her only instinct was to scream as she looked down.

The rock beneath her foot broke away and Serena jolted, falling forward over a small canyon that cut unexpectedly through the forest. Another yell broke through the trees, and a hand, familiar and warm, grabbed hers and tried to pull her back. If he was a second sooner, it might’ve worked, but she was already slipping and dragging a stubborn Ash in tow. Serena closed her eyes tight and she did everything in her power to keep a hold on Ash, but he jolted suddenly and her fingers slipped free as they both tumbled to the ground.

It was only when the world stopped slanting from under her did Serena groan and peek her eyes open, sitting up quickly as she took in an unmoving Ash, discarded hat and a worried Pikachu laying next to her.

“Ash, are you okay?” she cried, reaching out an unsure hand. Ash stirred, bringing his own hand to his head with a wince. He grimaced, but spotted her worried expression as he opened his eyes gingerly and plastered a quick smile on his face.

“Yeah, how about you?”

“I’m alright,” she said tentatively, still watching Ash carefully as he scratched Pikachu behind the ears and murmured comforting words to his partner. He then reached for her pink hat that landed beside him, and dusted it off before passing it to her.

“Thank you very much, Ash.” Her heart rate started to slow a bit as she placed the cap back on her head and felt a web of tangles in her hair that formed from falling every which way. Ash laughed, almost bashful, but when he went to stand, he yelped and instantly dropped back down to his knees.

“Ash!”

“Must’ve twisted my ankle a little,” he muttered through clenched teeth, feeling around his right foot. “It’s no big deal, I’m fine.”

Serena almost scoffed, because he couldn’t put an ounce of weight on it and he was looking paler than usual, and those were obvious signs that he was ‘fine’.

“I’m so sorry,” she said, guilt washing over her. “It’s my fault.”

“It's okay!” Ash started to say, but was cut off by a yell from above.

“Hey!” Clemont yelled, his face barely visible from where he stood with Bonnie at the cliff's edge. “Ash and Serena, are you guys alright?”

Ash waved a hand. “Yeah, don’t worry about it! We’re just fine!” he called, and Serena blanched from the lack of self preservation.

“No!” she yelled up, ignoring the look Ash gave her. “Ash hurt his foot and can’t walk!”

Clemont nodded, pulling Bonnie back from peaking over too far. “Understood. You stay there with Ash, we’ll go get some help!”

And Arceus, if she had been getting déjà vu to Oak’s Summer camp all week, it had never been as bad as it was right now. The scared, unprepared feeling was caught in her chest once again, but she wasn’t even the one hurt this time. She glanced back at Ash, who was working his sneaker off, and bit the inside of her cheek. Somehow, he was back trying to help her again, and all she could do was fall off cliffs. The already red and inflamed skin around his ankle didn’t look pretty, and Serena knew from experience that a sprain required a good rest, a tv series to binge, and an ice pack for the swelling.

An ice pack.

The clear water rushing through the stream at the bottom of the canyon was suddenly very loud in her ears. She knelt down and placed her hands in it, and got chills at the instant relief from the summer warmth. It was no ice pack, but it would have to do.

She helped Ash sit on a large flat rock before pulling out a cloth she carries with her, soaking it in the water and laying it across the raised mark.

“The swelling should go down a bit now,” she said, feeling her own eyebrows scrunched up in worry. “It's not the best, but it's better than nothing.”

“That’s nice of you Serena,” Ash said, looking completely relaxed with a warm smile to match. She almost wanted to shake him.

“I feel so awful about this,” she murmured, irritation flashing as Ash waved her off.

“I told you, I’m fine.”

“How can you be so nonchalant?” Serena asked, anger at herself swirling. “I got you hurt because I was careless, are you not the tiniest bit upset at me?”

“You were excited,” Ash corrected. “Really Serena, you’re never careless. I chose to grab your hand.”

“And now you can’t walk.”

He shrugged, almost amused. “I’ve had worse, I’ll live.”

“How much worse?”

“How does passing out due to lack of oxygen while being kilometers in the air, running into multiple burning buildings, temporarily turning into stone and punching a legendary sound to you?”

Serena blinked. “You’re joking.”

“You’re right, the punch never landed.”

And Ash, with all the nerve in the world, laughed at Serena’s baffled expression. She really couldn’t tell if he was joking or not, but Pikachu’s ears twitched and he was looking undeniably unsettled, so Serena decided to shelve the conversation topic. They didn’t seem like the type of memories to get into during the afternoon of a summer day.

“All of that? It sounds like you and Pikachu are an even greater team than I thought,” she said warmly, scratching the Electric Mouse’s ears, and Ash’s face lit up.

“Of course,” he chuckled as Pikachu snuggled his way onto his lap. “I’ve grown so much with him by my side, and I couldn’t ask for a better partner. Everything on our journey leads to the Kalos League. That’s why the more stuff we do, the better!”

Serena, almost subconsciously, removed a pokéball from her belt and rolled it over in her hand, the shiny finish glinting in the sun. She smiled, thinking of the fire fox curled inside.

“And after you beat the Kalos League, what are you planning to do next?”

“Become a Pokémon Master, of course!” He declared, pumping his fist in the air with a smile, and Serena couldn’t stop the laugh as warmth bubbled inside her. After not seeing him for years, Serena had been worried that the boy she tracked down would’ve been very different to the kid she met, or that her memories were worn by nostalgia, but no; Ash was just as motivated, just as kind, and just as hopelessly ambitious, even though he had a few more credits to back that dream up than when he was 6.

Serena didn’t really know what being a Pokémon Master entailed. Ash had made it clear when they were kids that it wasn’t just about winning, or even being the strongest in the whole world. It was more than that, but that more was a mystery to Serena that only Ash knew how to satisfy. Was it traveling everywhere a pokémon could live? Encounter each species in person? Fully understand Pokémon as they knew it? Those goals seemed impossible to Serena, but Ash never cared about what was impossible, and Serena found that, as long as Ash was happy, she didn’t quite care either.

With that attitude and ambition, how could someone not admire him?

“You’re always doing your best, and you’ve done so much,” she laughed.

“But I’m not done yet. After all, I’ve gotta make my dream come true.”

“You really are an amazing person,” she thought out loud, quickly backpedaling when Ash’s eyes went wide and touched at her genuineness. “So you’ll be back on your feet in no time! Let me get some more water for you.”

Arceus, she needed a filter. Serena supposed that accidental fondness wasn’t the worst thing she’s ever slipped up and said, but it was still a tad embarrassing. Was she so far behind that confidence and capability were beyond impressive to her? The water was cool and grounding on her hands, and she took longer than needed to refresh the cloth. When she turned back, Ash was waiting for her patiently, like he expected her to say something. She bit her lip, and Ash nodded, prompting. She took a breath.

“Sometimes I wonder, what is my dream, Ash? What is it that I want?” Serena didn’t quite meet his eyes, feeling awfully vulnerable. “I feel like everyone else has it figured out.”

“Well, I don’t, that’s for sure.”

Serena’s eyes snapped up. “Huh?”

Ash smiled, a little confused. “Serena, why do you think my goal is something so open ended? I battle because it makes me better and I love it, but that’s not all I want to do. Thinking about it too much won’t help, so I’d rather keep moving forward. That’s all we really can do.”

“Have a little more faith in yourself,” Ash said, reaching out to place a hand on her shoulder after a beat of silence. “And trust your pokémon. You have your whole life to figure out a life goal, you don’t have anything to prove.”

Serena made a little disbelieving noise at that last comment, and Ash’s eyebrows shot up.

“I’m being serious! Bonnie adores you and Clemont is so comfortable around you, you immediately won over Shauna, Trevor, and Tierno, and your mom really cares about you,” Ash said in a fierceness that took Serena a bit off guard. It made her wonder if this was advice he had to figure out for himself. “Who else is left to prove something to? Me?”

“You invited me on this trip,” Serena blurt out. “And I just can’t figure out why. I don’t have much to offer.”

And for some reason, that’s what made Ash fall quiet. He blinked at her, his raven bangs shadowing his puzzled eyes as he pieced together what she just said. Serena shifted a bit, feeling a bit flustered, but she refused to break. Eventually, Ash’s face cracked with a smile.

“Is the fact I enjoy your company not reason enough?” Ash said, his voice laced with a laugh that made Serena’s heart light up with fireworks. “I couldn’t believe that you were the same person from camp when you first found me in Santalune City. I had friends when you first met me, sure, but when you live in a small town in Kanto, you know everyone. Meeting you helped me realize how big the world was, and the fact that you went out of your way to help me with my first gym and return the handkerchief? It meant a lot.”

“So, yeah, maybe I just wanted to see what you would be like so many years later,” Ash continued, stretching back. “You’re still the same person, I can see it, but you’ve already changed loads, and it’s pretty cool. If you’re worried about ‘proving yourself’, or whatever you made yourself believe, put that thought away because you’ve already helped me loads! My strategy against Viola, guidance through Kalos, tricking a pokémon smuggler, a hand with Team Rocket, or how about catching me as I fell through a rift in the Cave of Mirrors? Arceus, you even kept your promise and taught me Rhyhorn Racing and saved the others when I was tangled up! I make lots of stupid decisions, Serena, so trust me when I say asking you to come with me is far from one of them.”

Ash didn’t push any further as Serena let that sink, watching the rushing water quietly. Her head was reeling and she was sure that her face was completely red, because this wasn’t what she was expecting, and she felt like summer sun had engulfed her and gave her a big hug.

She wasn’t who she wanted to be yet, but that was fine. Who said she needed to know now? What’s wrong with having a little fun? If she was good enough for the people she cared about, then she was golden. Serena will become good enough for herself with time; she had her whole life to do that.

“Thank you,” she smiled at Ash, and he just gave a good-natured shrug back.

“Hey, I should be thanking you, my foot feels better already.”

“Lets call it even,” Serena joked. “You give me life advice and I pull you down a cliff.”

“I think I’m gonna need some of those poképuffs you made earlier to be at full strength though.” Ash’s eyes gleamed, and Serena stood, dusting off her skirt.

“You’ll get poképuffs after we win the camp challenge,” she said, as movement at the top of the cliff caught her eye. “I believe our ride is here.”

Professor Sycamore, Clemont and Bonnie peered down at them, waving, as a group in orange vests secured ropes and climbing equipment on nearby trees. Ash straightened his hat, fixed his shoe back on, and then put an arm over Serena’s shoulders as she got him to his feet.

“Fair enough,” Ash said. “Celebration dessert! With us as a team, there’s no way we lose!”

* * * * * *

That night, they found out that they did end up winning the challenge, to Serena’s shock and delight, and when Ash grabbed her hand and threw it into the air with a cheer, she felt like she had won the world.

Chapter Text

“There you are! We’ve been looking for you, you know. Bonnie got tired and already started eating dinner.”

Serena dropped the hand that was fiddling with her ribbon, possibly her favorite part of her new outfit. It was a beautiful shade of sky blue, and as Serena was a believer that giving gifts made things more special, she adored it that much more.

She couldn’t quite bring herself to look at the gifter of that present, however; her stomach was begging for food at the mention, to turn around and return to the group in the Pokémon Center, but the thought of eating made her queasy. With every star that appeared in the sky, she resigned herself to sit longer on the concrete steps, little pieces of gravel keeping her grounded.

“Go ahead and eat with them. I’ll grab a snack later in the lobby if I’m hungry.”

“Then I guess you won’t want this,” Ash said, sitting next to her on the steps and placing a bowl of rich stew by her side. Serena looked at him, a little hopeless, and his cinnamon eyes feigned innocence. She picked up her spoon - only to be polite - and pushed around a bit of potato in the broth.

“Why are you out here, Ash?”

“I want to eat with you,” Ash said, mouth half full of sandwich. “Food doesn’t taste as good alone.”

Serena swallowed a lump in her throat, angry at herself. She knew she wasn’t being fair, acting so dismissive, so she bit her cheek and brought a small spoonful of soup to her mouth, the heat scalding her throat yet settling nicely in her empty stomach. She stared at the rolling hills of golden sand on the horizon, appreciating the cool evening air before they started out across the Lumiose Badlands in the morning.

“And you couldn’t eat with Clemont and Bonnie?” Serena asked, setting down her spoon. Ash swallowed and smiled at her.

“That would break tradition, though, wouldn’t it?” Serena smiled softly at that, remembering the unspoken seating chart for meals. Ash always ended up at her side, and if Ash didn’t pass out by the time the sun set, they’d often point out new constellations that appeared as the seasons shifted.

(It surprised her, when he first mentioned the quiet hobby, but she assumed that traveling across several regions with the native people taught you a lot about the area’s culture and natural elements.)

But the small smile didn’t stay on her face long, and Ash’s expression mirrored her own.

“I’m not going to force you to eat, you know. You feeling alright?”

“It’s not the food, it’s delicious. Compliments to the chef,” Serena said with a pang of guilt, knowing it was usually her job to help Clemont out with dinner.

“Then still the showcase, huh?”

The warmth of the soup turned bitter in her mouth as she reflected on the events a few days before. She could practically hear the deafening silence of the crowd, feel every faceless gaze on her, see Fennekin trip and send their performance crashing to the ground. No matter what she did, if she let her mind wander for a moment, she found herself back there - on her knees in the Coumarine Showcase Hall. She had already come to peace with the fact that she lost, but the doubt was lingering - so Serena was going to sit here until that memory could be sealed and forever put away, no matter how long it took. She needed to be in the right state of mind before they pushed through a rather tremulous part of their journey.

“That’s exactly the problem,” she groaned, face in her hands. “I’m still on about the showcase! I messed up, I know, and I can’t do anything about it now. That’s just how life goes. I gave myself a night to be pathetic yesterday, and I ended up chopping off my hair on a dock. I want a fresh start, everyone is expecting a fresh start now that I look different, but everything in my mind is still there and I just can’t move on!”

The gentle wind filled the silence between them after her outburst, and the breeze wasn’t the only reason she felt cold as she peered through her fingers. Ash wasn’t looking at her - he was staring at the stars with a wistful look in his eyes.

“Victini is bright tonight,” Ash said, his voice soft. “I remember when Cilan pointed it out to me. In Unova, it’s almost in the center of the summer sky, but here, it’s much farther to the east. Ages ago, people thought that they would gain good luck if their altar lined up with the constellation.”

Serena blinked, a little thrown off guard. He’d shared stories all about Victini and Unovan legendaries weeks before, where was this coming from now? The embarrassment at her apparently ignored ranting curled in her gut, poisoned by the bitterness already there.

“What, no inspirational speech this time? No planned words about how life is always going to work out if you believe hard enough?” she said, her words sharp on her tongue. Ash looked at her, the wistful look disappearing to a lost expression.

“What do you want me to say, Serena?” Ash asked. “What do you want to hear? Because right now, I just want to make sure you’ve eaten today.”

Another wave of guilt made her feel sick to her stomach. Why couldn’t she be a little less selfish for once and take the kind gesture without complaining? It just wasn’t fair to Ash, who was always doing his best to help whether he understood the situation or not. She deflated under his eye, wishing she had her long hair back to hide behind.

No, she thought. She cut it for a reason. She was going to change.

“I’m sorry,” she sighed, owning up. “It’s no one's fault but mine that I’m so worked up. There’s finally something I want to do and I just-“

“You blow it,” Ash said, voice a little heavy. “All the waiting leads up to that moment, this dream, and you’re so excited, and it falls through either way. Makes you rethink a lot of things.”

“… Yeah.” Serena nodded, just glad someone was able to put it into words. “I knew this was going to be hard. I mean, failing is a part of competing, but I don’t know what else I’ll do if it doesn’t work out. And then I look at you, and it seems to come so naturally to you. I mean, you’ve been on a winning streak since your Santalune rematch. Battling, for you, just works.”

Ash leaned back on his hands, returning to his stargazing. “It only works because I make it work. Yes, you need to believe in a lot of things - yourself, your pokémon, your ideals - but eventually you have to step into unknown territory. Did I ever tell you I was so unprepared that I forfeited my first ever gym battle?”

The wind brushed her choppy hair against her chin as Serena started with surprise. “Really?”

“Yeah,” he laughed, unbalancing his hat as he pushed back his hair, a little embarrassed. “I lost quite a few gym battles in Kanto, and beating the League? Forget it. Months of traveling and I just wasn’t there yet. No gym is easy, and I have doubts about every single one.”

“But, in the end, you always end up winning.” Her voice was basically a breath as she watched complex memories surface in tiny motions on his face - a twitch of his mouth or the scrunch of his eyebrows.

And while she was lost in deciphering movements, Ash finally broke his watch on the sky. The waning moon casted his face with a cool light, but his smile was warm, and it filled Serena to her very core.

“Only because I kept trying, and not because I always win, but because I love it regardless. I’ve traveled across 5 regions since I was ten, and I haven’t won a Regional League once. It wears on you, but I’m never working through it alone. I’m living for something more than success can dictate - living for a better version of me and tomorrow.”

His words cut through the still air. Serena didn’t quite know what time it was, but it had gotten late enough that no more stragglers were appearing at the Pokémon Center, and she was certain her stew was cold by now. She moved her head upward, a little flushed under Ash’s lingering gaze, and started searching for her favorite constellation - Meloetta. Serena practically screamed when she learned that Ash had met the mythical Pokémon in Unova, but despite it being in season, she couldn’t seem to find the Melody Pokémon. She dropped her eyes to the ground.

“That’s an inspiring mindset,” she admitted with a small smile, “and it’s one I’m trying to apply. I want to be better for those I care about and succeed in being who I want to be, now that I have an idea. I know I’m not there now, so I thought maybe cutting my hair would help me picture some change.” The newly cut ends tickled her jaw as she talked.

“You don’t have to completely change yourself to become a better person, you know,” Ash said kindly, but it filled Serena’s gut with dread.

“What do you mea- oh, are these not good changes? Is it too superficial?” Serena spouted, a beat of panic causing her heart to skip. “Oh Arceus, I saw Bonnie and Clemont’s reaction, they clearly preferred my previous look-”

“Serena! Serena, hold on,” Ash interrupted, putting his hands on her shoulder to force her to look at him. “Breathe. Do you like your new style?”

Serena nodded, lips tight. Ash tilted his head and grinned.

“Well, that’s all that matters, isn't it? You’re not a bad person for trying something new.”

Serena nodded again, and Ash dropped his hands before saying, “For what it’s worth, I think short hair looks good on you.”

Oh, and Serena wished that the sun was out just so she had a reason to blame heat rising to her face. Ash was nice to everyone, that was just the type of person he was, but the private compliments specifically for her always made her head spin - before she beat herself down for it. Surely Ash didn’t mean anything by it, and it was stupid to entertain something that could possibly jeopardize her friendship with someone as unique as he was.

“Thank you,” she said, touching where the blue ribbon lay over her heart. “For the outfit addition, as well. You really didn’t have to give it to me.”

“The ribbon was too pretty for me anyways,” Ash shrugged with a shy smile. “I thought it matched your eyes perfectly.”

Serena leaned over to straighten Ash’s hat firmly back on his head and beamed at him. She could almost imagine that the stars reflected in both of their eyes were the lights from the Pledging Tree as Ash pulled her aside to fix a present just for her. The moment was so warm and dear that she was sure she was going to remember it for a long time.

“You know, you’re a lot more thoughtful than your impulsive nature would suggest,” Serena teased, flicking Ash’s bangs as she pulled back. “A true enigma.”

Ash’s smile grew as he laid a hand over Serena’s, causing her to nearly jump out of her skin.

“I’ve been told I’m full of surprises.”

Her breathing hitched slightly as he wrapped his hand around her own and stood, pulling her up with him. The heat from his skin was pleasant in the cool air, and Serena had to blink multiple times to stop herself from leaning into a warm hug, even if she was slightly shivering.

“For example,” he joked once Serena stood up straight, “despite my terrible sense of direction, I know where to find a certain constellation in the sky for you.”

He led her past the side of Pokémon Center, and through a small break of trees behind it. As he searched the new stretch of sky, he dropped her hand and pointed upwards.

“There,” he said quietly. It took Serena a minute to figure out what he was looking at, but when she saw it, a smile broke across her face.

Stars twinkled in the shape of a pirouette, and Serena could finally see the image of Meloetta, previously hidden by their positioning behind some trees.

“Meloetta,” she recited, “A summer constellation in Unova and surrounding regions, paying tribute to the mythical pokémon that inspired countless works of art and music throughout history and was pivotal to Unova’s early culture. Some claim that the constellation shifts forms, like Meloetta was said to do, but there’s no recorded proof of that.”

She glanced out of the corner of her eyes to see Ash beaming at her, and a hint of pride for remembering his stories flared up - she had to admit, the history made her appreciate the star pattern much more. Previously, it was simply a constellation that she could always see quite well from Vaniville Town, and she made it her mission to find it every night while on the road. She tried to ignore it getting harder to spot as the days turned colder and the constellation appeared lower and lower in the sky. She never minded when it disappeared from the night sky before, but now that she was cities away from home, the idea made her uneasy.

“Change is a little scary,” Ash said, and Serena jolted, convinced that this trainer could read her thoughts. “Stepping into that unknown territory once you have a dream. That’s why it's okay to take it a step at a time. That’s why I never travel through regions completely alone either - Pikachu is always there for my first day of any journey.”

Serena turned to look at him, and shied away slightly when his eyes were already on her. She could practically count the freckles on his nose, and his voice ran in her ears despite him speaking softly enough that the words would’ve been lost in the wind to anyone else.

“So,” he continued after a pause, “when you’re working on whatever changes you want for yourself, find something that’s always there. Something you can count on, like your pokémon partners, your dreams, or something simple like the stars.” He glanced back upwards.

“Or you?”

Ash laughed kindly, and maybe to spare Serena’s embarrassment at her slip-up, said, “Of course! You know I’ll always be cheering you on and on.”

Arceus, Serena was one of the luckiest trainers in the world. Clemont, Bonnie, Shauna, Ash, all of them were the kindest of friends anyone could ever ask for. If they were willing to give her a shoulder to lean on, she’d take it gratefully.

She didn’t know how long they stayed there, eyes stuck to the sky as they continued their routine, asking silly questions to extend their stay - when asked what came first, Arceus or the egg, Serena always argued that Arceus had to be first, but Ash was adamant on saying that everything came from something. Somehow that debate shifted into the theoretical idea of making an Arceus egg with god itself and a ditto, and Serena almost choked from laughing so hard. It was… comfortable. Even if so much in her life was feeling brand new, this was strangely comfortable.

Well, the company was comfortable. Serena clenched her teeth as another gust of wind washed over her light outfit, and she wished she could say the same about the weather. Ash noticed her shivering and shrugged, gesturing to his long pants and jacket.

“You know, maybe jeans or an extra layer would’ve been a good thing to add when you changed outfits,” he smirked, and Serena rolled her eyes.

“We’ll see who’s complaining across the desert tomorrow,” she shot back, but Ash’s eyes glowed with anticipation.

“I almost forgot about that! Man, I can’t wait, how big was it again? Do you think I could find a pokémon that’ll help me in my next battle against Clemont?”

Serena glanced over her shoulder, back to the Pokémon Center. “I’m sure I could check on my Pokédex for you.”

“And finish your dinner, right?”

She’d be lying if she said she didn’t completely forget about that. Suddenly very aware of her growling stomach, Serena gave a feeble nod. Ash lit up.

“Great, I’m hungry!”

“You already ate!”

“I’m telling you, it’s better to eat with someone else! You’ll thank me later.”

Laughing, she spun around to head back inside before Ash grabbed her wrist. She looked over curiously, and the fondness in his eyes made her shiver.

“What’s our saying?” he asked, vaguely reminding Serena of her mother telling her to say please as a kid. She didn’t even have to think as the words escaped the tip of her tongue with a smile.

“Don’t give up until it’s over.”

He smiled affirmatively, before dropping her wrist as he ran past her. “Race you to the kitchens!”

Shaking her head with a grin, Serena held onto her hat before starting after him. It was almost ridiculous how quickly Ash could flip her mood and mindset to the right place.

Maybe she wasn’t ready for her dream quite yet, but Arceus, she now had a dream, and she wasn’t going to let that go. Change could be scary, but it didn’t have to be lonely.

Serena figured that Ash was also right on another part - dinner shouldn’t be lonely either, and it tasted ages better with someone else; even if it had to be quickly reheated in a complimentary microwave.

Chapter Text

Looking back, Serena found it downright cruel that one of the most exciting days in Ash’s life almost ended his journey the hard way. Likewise, it was cruel that Serena, for most of the day, could only watch as Ash tiptoed the wire of death.

It had been an energetic morning at the hotel on the day of Ash’s final battle, to say the least. Ash was already awake and warming up by the time Serena had come out with some coffee, even though he was the last one to bed out of their group the night before. They had to be at the arena at 10 am sharp for camera set ups, interviews, and a little bit of preparation time in the arena before it filled up. Serena had to practically feed Ash his croissant with how much he was moving, and Clemont wasn’t fairing much better in getting Bonnie to calm down and not disturb any of the backstage workers. She learned - through mouthfuls of pastries - that Ash had a talk with Lysandre last night, the very same man that sweet girl Mairin mentioned yesterday. She wondered if Mairin was going to stay true to her word and not see Alain until after the battle. She wondered if that meant that Alain was currently on the other side of the expansive stadium alone.

The next few hours felt like a whirlwind. Serena, Clemont and Bonnie wished Ash good luck before finding Shauna, Trevor and Tierno and settling in their ticketed seats. The weather was stunning, warm and bright with swirling tufts of cloud, almost as if the excitement from the crowd pouring in was influencing the sky itself. When Ash and Alain finally took their places on the field, their confident faces reflected on screens around the stadium, Serena swore that she cheered the loudest out of everyone.

And when it was bittersweet acceptance plastered on Ash’s face across the screens about an hour later, Serena clapped just as hard and was just as proud.

After a quick word with Ash backstage and more of Serena proceeding to make sure he ate, everyone had to rush back to places to accept prizes and continue with television recordings. Serena had tried to focus on the awards ceremony, she really did, but something in the city was rumbling faintly that made her journey-worn senses spike. Was there an accident? Serena could’ve sworn she heard screaming, but there was so much cheering, it was hard to tell.

Ash was talking to Alain now, who was standing on the podium with a heavy looking trophy in his hands. It was disappointing that Ash couldn’t get that win that he dreamed of, but a small, selfish part in Serena was a little relieved. After coming 2nd in the Master Class, it was a little comforting to know that both of them had a journey to continue.

They’d both really come a long way, huh? Ash had always been confident and capable, but that was not the same person she offered a cloth to in the middle of a Santalune practice. And her? A few months ago, she was barely on the front lines of the Rookie Class, and now she could still remember the stage where she performed against Aria perfectly. Pride was swirling in her chest - mostly for Ash, but it was nice to say in confidence that she was just a bit proud of herself as well.

Despite the warm thoughts she tried to focus on, a small area in her brain was nabbing that something was very wrong. After encounters with Pokémon such as Yveltal, Xerenas and Hoopa’s legendary summons, she started to get a sense of how it felt. There was a power in the air, but perhaps that was simply the remaining energy from a League? Serena’s never been to one, maybe she was wrong-

If Serena was asked to describe the sound that happened next, she thinks she would compare it to the moon hitting the surface of Earth. Not high pitched or ringing, but a deep, intense, loud that just resonances throughout the world.

And… Arceus above, what was that?

Serena gripped the chair in front of her as the whole arena seemed to shake. She heard people screaming all around and rock crumbling, probably credited to the massive black and red flecked vine- or was it more like a root? She wasn’t quite sure, but it was making its way over the edge of the stadium wall, and more were breaking through the layers of concrete with ease.

“Squishy, come back!”

Bonnie’s shrill scream ripped Serena away from her frozen spot, and she reached for the young girl’s wrist, missing by inches. Clemont launched forward and held onto his sister around the waist as Bonnie tried to run after the strange pokémon that held her affection.

“Let me go!” Bonnie cried, flailing her arms towards Squishy. The ground underneath rumbled again, and Serena darted forward to steady the siblings.

“We need to stick together!” Clemont yelled over the noise. Crowds were starting to rush every which way as people swarmed the exits. “You’ll get hurt alone!”

“So will Squishy!” Bonnie wailed, but stopped thrashing and started pulling on Clemont’s wrist. “Let’s go!”

As Clemont grabbed their stuff, Serena swung back to the stage, panic caught silently in her throat. Shauna and the others were pushing through the crowd on the aisle opposite to them, but that was not where she was looking. Ash was right down there, where had he gone? Every second felt like a hundred years long as she searched the field, praying for a glimpse of a red hat or a signature yellow pokémon. Someone grabbed her arm, making her jump.

“Serena, we need to move,” said Clemont, sounding shockingly calm. Serena turned back to him, and only because she had known the inventor for over a year was she able to see the fear in his eyes. She supposed it was the trademark of a big brother, to be the stable voice of reason as Bonnie tugged and shouted through tears.

After one desperate look back to the field, Serena nodded, not seeming to be able to speak. That seemed to be a pattern with her, in hindsight. Fear settled like a weight on her chest, and the most Serena could do was keep herself breathing. Her grip on Clemont’s hand was like steel as he guided them through the crowd, stumbling and stopping during the sporadic earthquakes and dodging falling debris. It was a painful balance, to go fast enough to find their friends outside, but moving carefully to avoid injury.

Once they finally pushed out under the clear sky, Serena’s blood went cold.

It was even worse than it sounded. The vines were everywhere, constantly moving towards running crowds, some vines rooting in concrete and sprouting trees with leaves the color of blood. She felt sick to her stomach as some fluttered down in front of her, and she jerked back to stop them from brushing her skin. Her ears were starting to get deaf to the constant damage around her, and Clemont and Bonnie’s frantic discussions were almost white noise. Whether intentional or not, all her senses were dialed and primed for one specific thing.

A flash of light and a crack of distant thunder is what she found, and Serena was moving in the direction of Ash and Alain before she even registered what was happening. The Kalos League finalists were breaking down the vines to let citizens pass, with a hard expression in their eyes that would’ve almost scared Serena if she wasn’t terrified already.

“Ash!” her voice broke, ducking under a swinging vine. The Kantonian trainer only barely turned around before Serena pulled him into a hug, holding him tightly despite her shaking hands. She felt him freeze for a minute before wrapping his arms around her.

“There you are,” he whispered, and Serena almost sobbed with relief. She could hear Clemont and Bonnie running up behind her, and let go to give an apologetic look to the siblings for running off.

“Are you all okay?” Clemont shouted frantically, and Ash grinned.

“We’re all just fine,” he insisted, and once again, Serena was grateful for his relentless optimism in the face of danger - even if it means he was a danger to himself at times.

“Ash, Ash, Squishy disappeared! It ran off somewhere,” Bonnie wailed, running into the older trainer for a hug. Serena took this as an opportunity to take a closer look at the cityscape sprawled at the bottom of the small hill. Metal and glass from wrecked cars littered the streets, if you could even see the streets through the thick layers of vines. Some people lay on the sidewalks or against buildings, nursing injuries or - Serena shuddered when she realized - not moving at all. Alarms were blaring all around her and the police force were powerless while trying to create a form of order; people ran in every direction like mice caught in a cat’s den. Serena’s eyes watered as she coughed in the dust from the air, and her nose wrinkled at the smell of smoke and sulfur.

As she surveyed the scene, Serena couldn’t help but think of nightmarish stories Ash had told her in hushed voices next to dying down coals, retellings of past adventures he had and calls too close to leave Serena feeling comfortable. She thought of quiet ressaurances and cups of tea passed between trembling hands as Ash would wake from a nightmare, despite how hard he tried to shrug it off, and she wondered if she would be waking up in 10 years time with this picture burned into her memory.

And Serena, in all her imagining of the future, almost forgot that she needed to survive the day to get there. A vine burst from the ground right in front of her, causing her to jump back and scream as it curved over her head and smashed into the wall about 20 feet above her. She was frozen, but she figured that if she had blinked, she would’ve missed the flash of yellow as the vine dissipated under Pikachu’s Iron Tail.

She turned to Ash who appeared at her side, breathless. “Thanks.”

But he wasn't focused on her. He was looking upwards, and his eyes widened.

“Move!” He yelled suddenly, and all Serena could feel was Ash crashing into her, causing them to both land heavily down the path, and she gasped as something narrowly behind them slammed into the concrete.

It took her a second to catch her breath, as it felt like all the wind had been slammed out of her, but once her eyes focused, she saw Ash crouched over her, practically shielding her from excess debris that hadn’t settled with his own body. A fresh cut now lay across Ash’s upper arm, but if he noticed the bleeding, he didn’t acknowledge it.

“Are you ok?” he asked, and Serena sat up, peering over his shoulder to see the rest of the group jumped away from a concrete slab that had settled where she was standing a few moments earlier. She glanced upwards and saw cracks and chunks in the upper stadium wall where the vines had struck.

“I’m fine,” managed Serena, who truly was uninjured, if a bit shaken. “Looks like I owe you two now.”

Her quip didn’t get the tension-relieving smile she was hoping for - instead, Ash’s eyes were more serious than she had every seen them, and it scared her a bit. Alain and Bonnie came rushing up to them as soon as the coast was clear, and she saw Clemont peering at the broken stump of the root.

“Everyone needs a pokémon partner out at all times,” Ash addressed the group with steady command. “Preferably one who is very fast. We’ll keep a buddy system as well, no one goes off alone, especially while we don’t know what these things are. Clemont, get over here.”

Tearing himself away from his examinations, he murmured, “I’ve never seen any kind of plant that grows like that. The trees growing so fast is not at all natural.”

“So, they’re all alive?” Alain asked. “Where are they coming from?”

Clemont hummed. “Alive isn’t necessarily my question, I'm wondering if they are sentient. I see no way how they could be, with the sheer amount and structure, but they seem to know how to target people. Either they are sentient, or very specifically, and artificially, engineered.”

“Like being controlled?” Bonnie asked, her gaze off in the distance. Clemont adjusted his glasses.

“It suppose it makes the most sense, but who, and from where is still-”

“How about that?”

The whole group turned, following Bonnie’s gaze across the city and to the top of Prism Tower, where clusters of vines grew thick and an aura of red light shone. It took a minute for Serena’s eyes to adjust, but she started to see a dark outline of something there; a pokémon, maybe?

“Could it be.. Zygarde?” Alain said, hushed, making the connection before Serena. “This could only be created by the power of a legendary.”

“Squishy is headed there,” said Bonnie, with such certainty that it made everyone stop and stare. “It’s headed towards Prism Tower.”

“What? How-” Clemont began, but Bonnie was already off running. “Bonnie, wait! You can’t just leave!”

“Go.” Ash put a hand on her shoulder. “We’ll catch up to you guys a little later.”

“What?” Serena spun. “We can’t split up, what about you guys?”

“I’m going with Alain to find Mairin, you guys need to find Squishy. I have a feeling it knows a bit more than we do,” he said, and Serena panicked slightly.

“We have no idea what’s going on,” Serena pleaded. “What if you guys get hurt, or- or trapped and we can’t find you? I need to know you’re safe.”

“And I need you to watch over those two,” Ash’s voice dropped to a whisper. “Obviously Clemont is a brilliant battler, but his sister and his home are on the line. I’ve seen people make stupid decisions when their emotions get in the way while facing danger.”

Serena’s heart sank, because she knew, deep down, he was right. He’s been in these situations, she really didn’t need to worry - especially with Alain at his side. Ash had saved her twice within a few minutes. She would just slow them down.

“Stupid decisions based on emotions, huh?” Serena said, trying to keep her voice light. “Sounds familiar.”

Ash cracked a weak smile. “Hey, I’ll admit that those ‘people’ I’m talking about sometimes include me as well.”

“Ash!” Alain called. “We need to get going!”

With a nod, Ash stepped back, giving her a wave, but Clemont rushed forward unexpectedly.

“Take this,” he panted, arms full of devices. “A communicator. We’ll stay connected anywhere within city limits.”

“Hurry!” Bonnie pleaded behind them. Ash opened his mouth like he wanted to say something, staring at Serena, but then closed it and shook his head before racing after Alain. Breaking away from her rooted place, she turned and followed Bonnie and Clemont.

Serena called out Braixen from her pokéball and dashed after Bonnie and Clemont, who brought out Luxray. They fell into a formation - Bonnie in the middle, Clemont on the right, Serena on the left, and their pokémon leading. Her jaw was clenched tight, focused on stepping through rubble and checking if corners were clear for the group. She kept her eyes straight ahead - if she looked at anyone laying still on the side of the road, she’d drop to her knees right there. In between deep breaths, her mind wandered to how Ash and Alain were doing, and the communicator felt heavy in her hand. It was incredibly frustrating - as soon as Serena confirmed he was safe, Ash was leagues away once again.

She prayed that Alain would have the responsibility to keep Ash falling into any of those emotional decisions. She trusted Ash with her life, but Arceus knows that she wasn’t sure if she trusted him with his own life. He was the type to take a blow for anyone.

Serena didn’t stop running, not for a second, until Clemont fell out of her line of vision and she looked back to see him staring at a news screen.

“I know him!” he gasped as a nicely dressed man appeared. His appearance was almost jarring at first; his hair was like a mane of red fire, but his eyes - his eyes were cold, empty slits of blue, like chunks of ice. They held a sense of command as he started to speak.

“To my beloved Kalos Region and the entire world, I am Lysandre.” The man’s voice was rich and velvety smooth, making Serena shudder. She only scarcely made the connection that this was the man Mairin and Ash were talking about earlier.

“As the face of Team Flare, I have an announcement. We are here to remake the world into a place of pure beauty and peace! Team Flare’s purpose is to transform our world into an exquisite example of creation. To do so, we have joined forces with the Legendary Pokémon, Zygarde, who will preside over the new order of the Kalos region. Zygarde is angry at the behaviors of both people and pokémon, at the lost discipline of this world. Humanity is out of control! We live in an era of selfishness and greed, and there is never enough for anyone. To truly live in peace and return to beauty, we must reduce the numbers of beinds on this planet. Only the chosen ones will move into our bright, hopeful future.”

“I truly apologize if you do not see tomorrow, but I will not hesitate to pass the judgment that will bring about the beautiful future of which we all desire.”

No one moved when the feed was cut. No one talked, and Serena distantly wondered if anyone even breathed. It just didn’t sound real. It couldn't be real. It wasn’t until a red aura, almost like a shockwave, was sent through the city and pushed them all to the ground. Coughing up dust, Serena peered through teary eyes and deducted Prism Tower as the source.

“We need to get there now,” Clemont said, helping Bonnie to her feet. “I’m afraid things just got a whole lot worse.”

*********

The sun was setting by the time the group had reached the base of the tower, painting everything in a red light that made Serena’s head hurt. Along the way, they met up with Clembot and Blaziken Mask, and more annoyingly, members of Team Flare. Squishy turning out to be the second Zygarde core was a shock, but frankly, Serena was pretty sure she was at her limit for being confused and terrified. It was worth it, however, to see Bonnie’s face light up with delight at her friend’s new transformation.

That delight didn’t last long as Squishy engaged in a fight with Team Flare’s first core, and Serena had to hold the young girl back from running into the crossfire. By the time she remembered the Team Flare admins standing in front of the door, a dark swirling light was headed towards her and Bonnie, and her reaction time just wasn’t quick enough.

But apparently, a Mega Garchomp’s speed was.

Everyone turned, Serena searching the streets with joy as she recognized the Dragon Type in front of her. Soon enough, Professor Sycamore stepped from an alley, one hand protectively on a young girl’s back.

“Mairin!” she exclaimed, relieved to see the red-head safe, but Team Flare was relentless, and Serena was pushed to the back lines as Mega Evolved pokémon took the protective center stage. She pulled Mairin aside, clasping her hands.

“Did Ash and Alain find you?” she asked with a smile, but Mairin’s eyes widened.

“I was going to ask if they were with you! They said they were going to Prism Tower!” The younger said, her voice thick with emotion. “If something bad happened…”

Serena couldn’t pretend like the same fears weren’t coursing through her blood, but she found it impossible to word them, not when Mairin was looking so scared and small, despite only a year between the two. Serena wondered if that was how she looked to Ash every time he helped her pick herself up - someone who just needed to be given a little bit more strength.

Your smile gives people strength.

Well, didn’t she say she had always been on the receiving end? Maybe it was time to change that.

“You don’t have to worry about Alain and Ash,” Serena said with a smile, with so much confidence she almost believed it herself. “You know they’re both strong!”

Mairin hadn’t stopped shaking. “I’m still so worried about Chespie too.”

She thought back to a quick conversation that was held in the hotel lobby, about a Chespin of Mairin’s who had gotten ill and hadn't woken from its coma, being treated at Lysandre Labs.

Wait… Lysandre Labs? Maybe there was more than one reason to go there.

Serena looked to Clemont and knew that this battle for reclaiming Prism Tower was beyond her. She had never seen her friend so determined, so confident in his claim as the rightful gym leader, and with plenty of others helping, she found that she had no doubts that her skills would be better elsewhere.

“Clemont!” she called. “I’m going to make a trip to Lysandre Labs!”

The inventor looked over his shoulder and put together the situation in an instant before giving her an affirmative nod. “You better get going then! Don’t worry about us.”

She grabbed Mairin’s hand, and watched as her face lit up in realization. “Come on! Chespie needs us both.”

“I’ll go too,” Professor Sycamore started. “I have a car back at the-”

He was cut off as a Dark Pulse was aimed in their direction, and Serena could feel the rush of wind against her as she just barely leaped back in time. Clemont stepped in front of them.

“Hurry and leave while you still have time!”

“Thank you Clemont!” Serena shouted, keeping a tight hold on Mairin as they ran back to the streets, the Professor following behind. They barely got a block away before they were interrupted by a strange trio - all 3 apparently from Lumiose TV, willing to give them a lift in their helicopter. A small part of Serena’s brain screamed at accepting rides from strangers, but her world was literally crumbling around her and they needed all the help they could get. Besides, she was tired of running.

Despite being safely in the air and finally given a chance to rest, Serena couldn’t find it in herself to relax. She was fiddling with the communicator anxiously, constant white noise filling her ears as her calls fell on empty lines. It made sense that Clemont wasn’t answering, he was busy with a coup, but Ash? It had been hours since she last heard from him. She looked out the helicopter window, biting her lip. She figured that if it was a normal night, the first stars would be appearing in the sky, but the whole world seemed to be covered in a tinted red smoke.

No stargazing tonight, then.

She supposed her lack of relaxation was a good thing, because as soon as they got into view of the Labs, Serena could barely make out an Admin on the ground, sending icy attacks to their helicopter. Of course, infiltrating a private investigation base would never be easy, but Serena was getting more annoyed than anything.

Braixen hopped up from her seat and Serena stood, swinging the helicopter door open while letting her anger flare. She was getting home and seeing Ash and the others when this was done, and no one was getting in the way of that.

“Ready Braixen?” She shouted, watching shards of ice fly closer as her precious partner jumped into position. “Flamethrower!”

The moves collided in an explosion, and perhaps if she was closer and could hear the trainer’s command, or if smoke wasn’t obscuring her vision, Serena would’ve been able to fight back against the Icy Wind thrown at them next. The helicopter tilted at a dangerous angle and she grabbed onto the handrails desperately. Alarms were blaring as dials on the control pad hit critical numbers, and while watching the pilot try to steer in panic, a part of her was wondering if this was where she was going to die.

“Steven!”

Mairin’s voice cut through the chaos, her face pressed onto the glass and Serena glanced down with a gasp. Thank Arceus and any legendary besides that one specific Zygarde core. It was, in fact, the Hoenn champion, riding on his Mega Evolved Metagross, sending attacks so vicious that she almost felt sorry for Team Flare.

It was the slightest bit satisfying to watch a warehouse explode, however.

By the time the helicopter had safely landed and the group had jumped out, a wave of Team Flare members had joined their Admin in a face off against the Steven Stone. Serena wasn’t quite sure what they were hoping to accomplish in that fight. She had no reason to hesitate as Steven exchanged a few words with Professor Sycamore and waved them on to get going.

The labs were like a maze, dark and undecorated with seemingly no doors but the possibility of danger at every corner. It took a few forks in the road to realize that, somehow, Serena had ended up as the makeshift leader of the group. Mairin kept close to her, the interviewing team following behind, and Sycamore? Sycamore looked deep in thought, and Serena was worried if she had to fight for both of them if the time came to it. She realized, coming down to it, if it came between her and anyone in this room, she’d put herself on the front lines in a heartbeat.

Woah. She almost missed a step while running at that thought. It was completely true, she believed it with all her heart, but when had she started thinking like that? Months ago, Serena would’ve been too scared to try and take on Team Rocket alone, let alone dive into the heart of an organized crime secret base. Her own voice sounded different in her head now - it was kind to herself, more often than not, and it was decisive. Certain, even when not having all the answers. The voice in her head, she realized, was sounding a lot like Ash.

She couldn’t help but smile at that.

The next couple hours passed in a blur. Serena fell into a routine of searching, only hesitating slightly when it was revealed that Team Rocket was the interviewing team all along; in hindsight, she should’ve known. Somewhere during the search, she had to bring out Pancham and Sylveon just to match the sheer number of Flare members appearing. Sometimes, she would just picture it as their next showcase rehearsal - Pancham with the stone support, Braixen with the fiery center moves, and Sylveon dancing as a quick target, not letting anyone land a clean hit. However, even the endurance of a performer reached its limit, and once again sent thanks to Arceus when Steven finally found them in the deepest parts of the lab.

Steven was able to take care of the rest of the battle with ease, and helped backtrack their steps. Able to take a bit of a backseat, Serena brought back out her communicator and fiddled with the dials. They were a bit outside of the city limits, would it even work if she tried? Would Ash even answer? It had been hours since they last talked, too many for Serena to keep track. What if something awful happened?

She figured it didn’t hurt to try, and after a bit of beeping, there was a crackle, and Serena could hear a slight wind from the other side.

“Ash?” she exclaimed, thinking it was almost too good to be true.

“Serena!” His voice was a little robotic, but it was Ash, and if Serena closed her eyes she could practically see the smile matching his warm caramel eyes. “Where are you guys now? Are you safe?”

“We’re at Lysandre Labs, we just found Mairin’s Chespie,” she reported quickly. “I’m here with Steven Stone and Professor Sycamore, what about you? What’s your location?”

“I’m with Alain and Elite 4 Malva at the top of Prism Tower,” Ash responded, and Serena let out a breath of relief to know he was with capable allies.

“Mairin? Are you there?”

Serena started as Alain’s smooth voice cracked over the communicator. She held it out to Mairin, who’s expression matched the other boy’s panic.

“I’m here! Alain, please, are you alright? What has happened?”

“We fought off Lysandre,” Alain said, voice heavy. “But he disappeared. Jumped, after we knocked out his pokémon and his control system went offline.”

Control system going offline? Serena had a feeling she knew who was responsible for that.

“Ash, could I ask you to go to the Lumiose Gym?” she asked, trying to ignore any encroaching bad feelings. “It’s Clemont.”

“Of course,” Ash said, and Serena had a feeling he understood. “Stay safe, Serena, you hear me? Keep yourself alive.”

“That goes for you too,” she said, a small smile on her face as the elevator stopped at whatever floor Steven had dictated. “Tea is on me when we get back, promise.”

The line cut with an electric buzz, and Serena decided right then and there that nothing was more important than keeping that promise.

She was going to keep it, even when the giant stone Steven stopped to gather files on started to glow, and began emitting a power that absorbed Chespie.

She was going to get out alive, even as the rock began to grow, spouting spikes throughout the surface and forming into an eerily familiar silhouette.

She and Ash were going to see each other again, even if all of Lysandre Labs was crashing down around her, even if those damned vines were starting to sprout, and even if Serena had never been so lost and scared in her life.

She was beyond terrified, but that wasn’t important anymore.

Serena watched from atop a takeoff platform Steven had set them on as masses of Team Flare members evacuated their headquarters. Karma really was merciless, and while they deserved a taste of their own medicine, the blood moon hanging in the sky above made her skin crawl. By the time they were safely inside a carrier and flying a reasonable distance behind the massive powered stone - in the shape of Zygarde, no less - she was calling Ash once again.

“What’s up? Are you hurt?” Ash’s voice immediately rang through from the other side.

“Uh, Ash, it’s an emergency,” she started, not quite sure how to explain this.

“The Giant Rock, this power source at Lysandre Labs, absorbed Chespie and transformed,” Professor Sycamore jumped in urgently.

“Absorbed Chespie?” Alain’s voice blared loud in her ears, making her wince.

“This giant rock is on the move somewhere,” Steven cut in. “We’re going to keep tracking and analyzing as we go, but I’m sending you our coordinates. Get here fast, bring anyone you trust in a fight.”

Serena wasn’t sure if Ash being here would make her feel a million times better, or a thousand times worse. “Oh, please be careful!”

“You know I always am.”

The communicator went quiet once more in Serena’s hands, and her vision blurred - from tears? Exhaustion? She couldn’t tell, but it had been almost 12 hours since the attack started. She felt dead on her feet, and she was sure she looked it too.

“You should get some rest,” Mairin said gently, making her jump. The offer sounded like heaven, but she shook her head. She had far too much to do. She had to make sure her loved ones - and her world - were safe.

“It’s left the forest!” Steven shouted, and with a look out the window, Serena saw the Giant Zygarde-Rock had indeed broken out of the trees, leaving a straight path of destruction. It had now made its way onto a long, rather flat stretch of clay and stone with a horizon that looked strangely familiar.

“Anistar City,” Sycamore realized. “This is the mesa outside Anistar City. It’s headed for another energy source.”

“The sundial,” Steven finished, quickly typing messages and looking at charts. He closed the tab with a flourish and grabbed a pokéball on his belt. “We fight it now, when we have a clean shot. We can’t let it make a connection.”

The Hoenn Champion and Professor opened the carrier doors, calling out their aces in a golden light of Mega Evolution. Serena stepped between them, fishing out Braixen’s pokéball, and if Professor Sycamore was going to try and stop her, he quickly gave up at the fixed look Serena threw at him.

Braixen jumped on Mega Metagross’s back as it flew down to get a closer target, but nothing the three of them did seemed to make any dent. It wasn’t slowing down, no matter what they threw at it, and their proximity became their downfall as a vine wrapped around Metagross, halting it in its tracks and tossing Braixen off the top.

“Braixen, no!” Serena rushed to the carrier edge, feeling someone hold her back. No, no, she had to do something. Braixen was getting farther and farther away, the ground looking like it would rise up and swallow her whole. She started fishing in her bag for another pokéball - maybe Slyveon’s Fairy Wind could-

Serena blinked, almost missing the flash of black and the sudden lack of a falling Braixen.

“Huh?”

And then she saw it - A Mega Charizard X with a familiar Pikachu on top, and a Braixen safely in their clutches. Mairin and Serena lit up in tandem.

A helicopter flew out from behind a stone pillar, and there Ash and the others stood in an open side door as the carrier rose to be side by side. Sycamore held out a hand, and Ash, Alain and Greninja bridged the small gap between the two aircraft.

“Ash!”

He was a mess - his dark hair was tangled under his hat and his clothes were covered in dust and dirt. His eyes, wide and alert, sat on dark circles, and Serena winced at the dried blood down his arms and hands, with a fresh wound on his jaw that was staining his jacket collar.

She was sure she wasn’t fairing much better - she smelled like an exploded building - but Ash looked at her and grinned like she was made of gold.

“How was Lysandre Labs?” Ash asked, stepping forward, and Serena found her cloth in her pocket.

“They got evicted,” she said simply, steading one hand on the side of his head as she dabbed at the bleeding cut. “What about Lumiose?”

“Not much better,” he said, letting his voice drop. “But with Team Flare’s Zygarde core free, the damage should be stopped.”

Serena stopped wiping at the cut - it was being annoyingly persistent, and looked Ash dead in the eyes. “You said you wouldn’t get hurt.”

“I said I’d stay alive.”

“You’re on a thin wire, Ash.”

“I don’t have much of a choice,” Ash huffed, turning to Professor Sycamore and Steven. “What’s the plan?”

“We need to retrieve Chespie at its core,” the Professor said. “It’s what sparked this excess energy. If it gets to the Sundial, it’ll overload.”

Serena watched curiously as Greninja - no, Ash-Greninja - stepped forward, staring at the moving rock. Weeks of traveling and she still was at a loss for how this transformation worked. After a second of silent concentration, Ash gasped next to her.

“I can see it,” he whispered. “Greninja, I just got an idea.”

Serena balked. “What kind of idea?”

“Diving straight in.” Ash fixed his hat on his head as Greninja jumped. Swallowing, Serena stepped back. If she understood what was happening, Ash needed to focus for this to work, even if it made her uneasy. She’s seen Ash react poorly to damage Greninja takes while in this form.

To her surprise, however, Ash reached back, taking her hand tight. It was cold, being kilometers in the air, and Serena could feel scrapes on his palm, but that moment was the safest she felt in hours. She didn’t dare let go.

“I have no idea how you’re not scared,” Serena murmured, stepping back to Ash’s side. He gave her hand a squeeze.

“Oh, I’m horrified,” Ash admitted. “But after a while, you learn how to become a bit numb.”

Well, that didn’t have heartbreaking implications at all. She breathed deeply, watching all the other pokémon swarm Greninja in a protective ring as they approached the Zygarde rock. “It’s just another performance,” she whispered under her breath. “You just keep dancing, Braixen.”

If Ash heard her, he didn’t comment.

For a minute, it seemed like they were doing well. More pokémon meant more targets for the rock to deal with, but it got used to this new charade quickly. It didn’t take long for more vines to sprout, tangling their partners every which way. Ash kept flinching every time the vine curled around Greninja squeezed, and Serena had never felt more helpless in her life.

There was screaming, there was struggle, and then a bright flash of light came from over the horizon, hitting the Giant Rock straight in the chest, and all their Pokémon were freed. Ash rushed forward, looking out the window, and beamed.

“Would you look at that?”

Joining his side, Serena’s jaw dropped. All the gym leaders with their Pokémon aces, and Ms. Diantha herself, stood on a cliff a few kilometers away, positioned between the Giant Rock and Anistar City. She really couldn’t tell if she had bad luck or good luck, with how many close calls they were getting.

In a few minutes, they were landed and regrouping with their new fighting additions. The two champions, Steven and Diantha, stepped forward to discuss a plan, as pokémon were quickly tended to. After a few brief words to old friends, Ash leaned closer to Serena’s ear.

“When the sun rises next, the world will be brand new,” Ash whispered, and Serena looked up at him. “That’s what Lysandre told me.”

The words made her blood chill, but she smiled regardless. “It will be changed,” she said, “but not because Lysandre dictates it so.”

“You sound confident.”

“It’s because I am.”

“Confidence is a good look on you.”

Even if the world was a few possible hours away from ending, she couldn’t help but smile. Someone - maybe Diantha - called for people to gather around in a formation, but before Serena could make her way over, Ash stepped in front of her, troubled.

“Serena, can you stay on the back lines?”

… What?

“You can’t be serious.”

“I am,” Ash said, with almost a desperate look in his eyes. “Someone needs to watch over Bonnie and Mairin, they can’t fight.”

“Then we’ll get them in the carrier and flown somewhere safe! If you’re fighting, so am I,” Serena insisted. “I can help!”

“Yes, in this way. Serena, you are the kindest person I know. Those two need someone to watch over them that everyone trusts,” he argued. “Besides… I need to know you’re safe, or I won’t be able to focus.”

For all the stubborn teenagers.

“You’re so hypocritical,” she spat, the fear inside mutating into something stubborn and angry. “I care about you too, for Arceus’ sake! How am I supposed to do my job when you’re out there, risking your life at every second? This isn’t an isolated attack in Lumiose City anymore, Ash. No one is safe, so the least I can do is be there for you!”

And the way Ash was looking at her… it confused Serena. He was frustrated, conflicted, scared, hopeful, and… maybe proud? Touched? She shook her head, annoyed for getting distracted.

“Can you please let me make one emotional decision today?” Ash finally said, his voice barely a whisper. “Maybe having an extra hand would help, but Arceus, everything is slipping through my fingers right now. Even if it’s stupid, this will be enough.”

… Damn. Serena couldn’t bring herself to argue with that, not when his warm, round eyes looked grayed and so, so worn. Biting the inside of her cheek, she nodded, and Ash stepped away to join the Gym Leaders in their starting positions. Steeling her nerves, Serena stepped far back, a hand on both Mairin and Bonnie’s shoulder protectively, with her three Pokémon guarding the front.

Serena thought she knew fear earlier, back in Lumiose City. But watching her friends race towards danger while all she could do was watch? This was easily worse.

Her eyes were burning from the dust and smoke, throat as dry as the ground underfoot, and her legs trembled after hours of use. But she didn’t flinch. Not when all the gym leaders were thrown around, not when she saw explosions on the vines’ surface, not when she heard yells that sounded too similar to Ash and chipped at her heart.

Not even when the Giant Rock was only a few arms away from them and vines enclosed on all sides.

… And then, the vines stopped.

It was over.

Was it?

Chespie was in Mairin’s arms. Ash was smiling at her from across the cliff. The rock was still, and when everyone attacked together, it fell.

It should’ve been over.

It wasn’t.

Serena couldn’t find it in herself to be surprised when Lysandre appeared. Cockroaches don’t die, huh?

Not even Valerie’s Light Screen was enough to fully stop the blast that came out of the Giant Rock. The ground beneath them was ripped up, and when Serena’s eyes opened again, her pokémon were shaking her nervously, and her head had never hurt as badly as it did then. She could barely breathe - the wind was thin and filled with dust, every desperate breath sending her into a coughing fit that grated her dry throat, and her hands shook as Sylveon helped her up.

They charged in again either way. Another blast, and Serena grabbed onto Mairin to absorb the impact with her own body. Every second, she felt weaker, but her will grew. She was not letting Lysandre win.

And apparently, Zygarde felt the same.

It was magical to watch, both cores coming together into one, ripping through the rock in a bolt of green light, and creating a beam so powerful it scarred the Earth. The light from the explosion was blinding, and people around her hit the ground. Everything was so loud.

It was quiet.

It was still.

And then, it was really over.

Serena sat up, the ground around her in ruins and debris laying everywhere. Her head was to the point of bursting, and seeing the blood on her hands made her feel dizzy. With a word of thanks, she recalled her pokémon. They needed a rest.

So did she, but she had someone else to find.

The sun was starting to rise on the horizon, and Arceus, it was beautiful. Shining and golden, painting the sky with gentle streaks of pink and blue as the red smog from the nightmare disappeared. She thought of the words Ash quoted before their final push. She told him that this wouldn’t be Lysandre’s sunrise. If he wasn’t here to see it for himself, Serena didn’t think she would be able to handle it.

“Serena?”

She turned, and practically melted under the familiar cinnamon gaze. A steady trail of blood came from his forehead down the side of his face, but he was alive. She never had more reason to smile.

She burst into tears instead.

She curled in onto herself as the dam broke. Warm arms encircled her, and she practically collapsed against Ash’s chest, causing them both to slide to the ground, exhausted. Serena almost forgot how being safe felt like. She could feel Ash shaking, his face buried in her shoulder, both drinking in the fact that the other was alive. Neither made a move to let go. It was so much, all at once. It was relief and joy, fear and hurt, and for the first time in half a day, she let it all out.

If she could feel tears on her neck from Ash as well, she didn’t say anything.

He didn’t say anything either, but when they finally broke apart and Ash smiled, it said everything she needed to know.

Serena, for better or for worse, really would be different after today. But she was alive. Ash was alive. The world, for the most part, was ok. That was all that mattered.

Chapter Text

Serena had learned, over a year of travel, that a change could take a long time to become routine. She learned a few weeks ago, during what people were dubbing the Kalos Crisis, that change could also happen in a day.

Healing took a lot longer.

After the attack, once everyone was finally patched up and accounted for, Serena, Ash, Clemont, and Bonnie had a hard time sleeping, despite them all being exhausted. Serena kept turning over, making sure that everyone was still there and safe in their Pokémon Center room. Clemont would continue to sit up, checking on Bonnie, who was curled up in a ball staring at the wall. Ash wasn’t even attempting to pretend he was asleep - he leaned against the backboard, watching the window like a hawk.

A few minutes of this passed before the 4 of them made eye contact and came to a silent agreement. For the next week, their beds were pushed together, laying all within an arms’ reach of the others.

Someone was always there when one awoke with nightmares, and Serena slept a little more soundly.

It took time, for people to put the pieces of a normal life back together, though Serena doubted that her life would ever fully go back to normal. Her days were spent with her friends and loved ones again, but there was a certain fragileness in the air that kept her pausing for deeper breaths, as if the serenity would break and she’d be back in front of the Giant Rock.

Or perhaps that was asthma. A doctor said that she was going to have to schedule an appointment to get her lungs checked out due to the amount of dust she breathed in during the attack. She really hoped that wasn’t going to be a long term problem - performing could be some heavy exercise, after all - but for now, Ash had to keep telling her to take breaks from cleaning or helping rebuild when work areas got too strenuous or dusty. The breaks gave her a lot of time to think, which Serena couldn’t say she enjoyed much more. When she wasn’t seeing Lumiose City in ruins every time she closed her eyes, a certain former Kalos Queen and Performance Coach was on her mind, and she hated the feeling of a deadline looming over her head.

But that wasn’t something she needed to worry about now, she thought, holding a cup of tea in her hands as she and Clemont discussed city proceedings, both watching Ash and Bonnie race down the street, playing, out of the corners of their eyes. Serena told Palermo she would have an answer once her journey was done.

And it wasn’t done! She laughed with Shauna like always, played with Bonnie and watched battles between Trevor and Tierno. They all even took a quick trip to the next town over to see if there was any lasting damage that needed tending to. It was just like their journey had just picked up where they left off! Sure, Clemont was having to dedicate more time to his gym with extra responsibilities, and she had overheard Ash talking to his mother about looking for plane tickets back to Kanto eventually, but that wasn’t an issue right now.

Because they still had time, Serena insisted to herself in a crowd as Prism Tower was relit. Fireworks made the city glow with color and Serena smiled, seeing the joy and hope it sparked on the faces around her. This was good. This was steady. She had time.

Then she blinked, and suddenly she was waving. Waving goodbye. Waving goodbye to her mother as she took the bus back home, which felt oh so far away, waving goodbye to Shauna, and Trevor and Tierno, waving goodbye to Sawyer, who all were planning to assist Champion Steven with research and rebuilding. Serena was sad, crushed really, but she didn’t show it. She didn’t think she was ready to say goodbye. People waved and smiled like they would see each other tonight for dinner, but their paths may not reconvene for years.

But everyone else was walking down their path, so Serena swallowed her grief and didn’t try to hold anyone back.

She let herself take in the surrounding buildings, some old and weather-worn, and others that were days new. She didn’t talk until their friends had turned the corner, becoming hidden by one of these new buildings, and there was a comforting hand on her shoulder. Serena looked up at the sky blue eyes of her favorite inventor.

“I really should be getting back to the gym as well,” Clemont said a little apologetic, pushing up his glasses. “There’s still a lot of work to do.”

“I wanna help!” Bonnie exclaimed, happily grabbing her brother’s arm. The Gym Leader laughed fondly, and it was so domestic and normal that Serena’s heart hurt.

“Have fun with whatever you choose to do this afternoon! See you at dinner!” Clemont waved, Bonnie dragging him forward. Serena waved absentmindedly again, although with a little less weight than the previous goodbyes.

“Oh yeah, what should I do?” Ash said thoughtfully, turning around as the siblings made their way towards the city center. “What are your plans?”

“Me?” Serena blinked.

In all reality, Serena would probably spend the rest of the day wandering Lumiose City, offering a helping hand where she could with reconstruction, soaking in old sights (while biting her lip to keep away tears whenever she dwelled on a nostalgic memory too long), and maybe get some coffee from the cafe outside Prism Tower for the last time in who knows how long.

Or perhaps she’ll sit in the living room, turning a card over in her hand with Palermo’s number on it, rewriting a pros and cons list in her head for the hundredth time, trying to see each and every outcome for what's next (and somehow create an outcome where she didn’t have to think about a ‘what's next’ at all). She’d probably end up throwing down the card halfway through like she always did, because Arceus, planning ahead like this was never her forte, not like Clemont, and she’d probably end up baking just to get something done (all while diligently ignoring the stacks of pastries from the past few days at the end of the kitchen counter).

Serena didn’t say any of this to Ash, of course. Ash was one of her best friends in the world and had seen her in her lowest moments, but she couldn’t bring herself to truly dump these worries onto him, not when everyone was healing and finally starting to smile again. She wouldn’t let herself be selfish like that, not after swearing that she was going to start giving back to everyone else - and Serena would fight Lysandre again with her hands behind her back if it meant keeping Ash’s smile.

“I don’t know,” she said truthfully, shrugging her shoulders. “What about you?”

Ash looked out at Lumiose City, and Serena fondly felt like she already knew that answer. Cuts across his skin from the attack were cleaned and covered over, and the bags underneath his eyes from stressful sleep were starting to lighten. If Ash was truly getting back to normal, he’d probably be rushing off to catch a last battle with Alain, or maybe go see if Clemont has any gym challengers.

He turned and gestured down the street instead. “Let's go out.”

That’s how Serena found herself and Ash strolling down a boulevard, shooting smiles at each other as they noted improvements to the city and discussed the impromptu showcase that was held a few hours prior. Apparently, Ash and the others had called out their Pokémon and danced along to her routine off to the side of the crowd, and for once in her life, Serena wished that she wasn’t a performer on that stage, just so she could have joined in too.

It was lovely, just to have a day like this. They had been so busy since the attack, and it was nice to breathe. It was safe. Comfortable.

So why did Serena have to be feeling so bad?

“-and I was telling Alain, I’ve seen every single one of your performances, but the one you did today was new, which really surprised me because it’s not like you had time to plan a routine,” Ash was saying, using his hands to speak. “Let me tell you, Alain was really blown away. You don’t see a Master Class finalist up close every day.”

Blinking back to the conversation, Serena thanked Arceus for Ash’s talkative nature filling her quietness.

“I should’ve brought you up there with me,” Serena joked lightly. “Maybe Alain too. Master Class finalist and the Kalos League prodigies? All of Lumiose City would’ve been there.“

She wasn’t really serious at all, even if a small part of her did want to dance with Ash, but he almost stopped walking.

“You really think so? You saw me at Korrina’s gym, I was horrendous.”

“From what I saw, you did quite fine at Pierre’s Dance Party.”

Ash snorted. “Miette would say differently.”

A flare of irritation flashed inside Serena. “Then she shouldn’t have asked you to dance, that’s on her.”

Serena ignored that pointed, and slightly amused, look Ash gave her before shrugging. “I mean, I like to think I did better once I danced with Aria.”

Serena did stop walking at that, and had to add a skip in her step to catch up.

“She came down and danced? Oh, I wish I could’ve asked for one.”

“I think she had her hands full teaching me to not trip over my own feet,” he said sheepishly.

She shook her head, hopeless. “I have no idea how you can safely jump off buildings and run across a legendary calamity, but the minute I put music on, you freeze.”

“Doesn’t it make you nervous? Knowing everyone’s watching you if you make a mistake?”

“What about all your battles? I would get so overwhelmed.”

Ash gaped for a minute, looking puzzled. “It's… different. Everything else fades away, it's just you, your friends, and your goal. If people want to watch, that’s fine, but it’s not gonna make me want to win any more or any less.”

Serena shrugged back. “That’s how performing feels.”

“I’m not sure if I’ll ever get it, I’m sorry,” Ash laughed, and Serena grinned with him, because frankly, she could only follow half of his wild descriptions of battling. Ash’s caramel eyes slid off of hers, focusing on something in the distance.

“Woah,” he breathed, and Serena turned around and winced at the blinding sunlight glinting off a glassy building. “The airport looks brand new! Look at the planes, I bet flights are starting again soon.”

She didn’t say anything at that. Serena didn’t really trust herself to speak, because more planes meant more chances Ash will be headed back home, and if Ash isn’t here, there would be no reason for Clemont and Bonnie to continue traveling away from Lumiose City, and her journey really would be over. She kept her mouth tightly shut in a line, even as Ash kept admiring the building with his contagious optimism. The thought of him leaving was like a kick to her stomach, putting her on the brink of nausea.

He had been by her side non-stop for about a year. The idea of him being gone felt so wrong.

As much as she tried to keep her displaced negativity to herself, Ash’s smile dropped a bit as he met her eyes, and his praises towards the progression fell silent. She cursed inwardly, but knew that he had always been able to read her like an open book.

She’ll do better. She wasn’t about to ruin this good day.

Easily turning away from the airport, Ash headed down a different street with a beckon, and Serena wordlessly followed.

It took her a minute or so of wandering and distant comments to realize that Ash had led her into the shopping district - specifically luxury end shops and boutiques that she would burst into every time they visited the city, even just to browse. In fact, Ash was standing outside one of her favorites, the Fleurs Féeriques, looking at a wonderful sundress with delicate silk lacing.

She was so entranced by the thing that she didn’t realize how strange the situation was right away. Ash Ketchum window shopping? It sounded like his worst nightmare.

“It compliments your skin tone,” she teased, walking up to the display next to him. Even with her annoyingly distracted mood, it was hard not to laugh at the eye roll he sent back to her.

“Very funny,” he deadpanned, before glancing back at the sunrise-colored dress. “What do you think?”

Serena did a double take, noticing the slight furrow in his brow like he was thinking hard. What for?

“Oh, I’m not sure, it’s nice,” she stammered, unprepared. “Though I’m not sure if that would be your mom’s style.”

If Serena knew any better, she would’ve said that Ash flushed, muttering something like ‘not about his mom.’ She didn’t push as Ash finally said, “Well, what would you like?”

“Huh?”

“Like, which places are your favorite?” Ash said, looking around the street. “I’m, you know, curious.”

If she was a slightly better person, maybe Serena would’ve just politely told him some nearby suggestions. But Arceus, whatever Ash was trying to do was too funny to pass up. Serena shrugged innocently.

“Guess,” she said, trying to keep the laugh out of her voice. “Test your memory.”

For a second, Ash looked at her, exasperated, but then his eyes lit up.

“Ok,” he said, thinking. “Ok. I think there was one next to that fountain by the canal.”

Arceus, Serena couldn’t help it. It was endearing, to say the least, to see Ash race between streets, peering into fancy shops with his scuffed shoes and pants that were slightly ripped at the knee. She trailed behind, trying to keep her mind empty and focused from straying away to looming decisions, and flashed reassuring smiles at Ash whenever he looked back.

They wound through the maze of city streets, Ash seeming to take the longest possible route around before stopping outside a window. Twin dresses stood in the display, with soft layers of tulle and a corseted bodice decorated with ribbon in varying shades of lilac and gentle mint. There were a few differences, though. The mint had a subtle shine in the a-line fabric, as if threaded with diamonds, while the liliac was embedded with pearls across a rounder skirt.

“This one,” he breathed, a little out of breath from running. “Serena, look at it!”

“Beautiful!” she confirmed, and Ash beamed.

“Well, which one?” he asked.

“Why?” Serena looked at him. “I can’t afford it anyways.”

“It’s fun, isn’t it? That’s what you do,” Ash said, matter of factly. “You’re able to look at something pretty and create a whole show out of it in just your mind. You’ll go on and on about it, and by the time it's night, you’ll be choreographing your pokémon outside the campsite. So, which one?”

He was right, of course, but it surprised Serena with the amount of certainty he said it with. He was talking about consistency when Serena felt like her life couldn’t be getting more inconsistent. Doubt bit her tongue and she simply said, “I don’t have a preference.”

“Come on, give me more than that!” Ash insisted.

“I don’t know Ash,” she said, vexed. “They’re both pretty!”

She felt her heart pang as Ash frowned slightly, and she once again smacked herself for letting her mood get in the way.

“I really don’t know,” she tried again, a little softer. “The purple is more like what I usually wear, but I can’t imagine the different possibilities with a new color palette and mint.”

“I don’t think there’s a wrong answer,” Ash responded kindly, despite her dismissiveness. “Trust your gut, it’s often smarter than you think.”

If Ash was trying to reference something a bit past dresses, Serena willingly let it pass over her head. It was a kind sentiment, even if she doubted it. Either way, just to make Ash smile a bit, she let herself draw closer to the mint dress, whose shimmering fabric had quickly captured her attention. She looked over her shoulder to see Ash grinning.

“The color suits you. Contrasts the blonde hair.”

“Don’t act like you know anything about color theory, Ash,” she said, failing to keep the fondness out of her voice.

“I trusted my gut.”

Serena laughed at that, the clear sound surprising her.

“Anything else your gut is telling you?”

“That I’m hungry,” Ash said, the smile in his eyes was infectious. “How about a galette?”

They were lucky that construction had lowered customer traffic for the time being, as Serena really wasn’t in the mood to smile for many people other than Ash, and if the League Finalist wasn’t careful, he could very easily find himself swarmed by cameras.

Not that he would’ve cared, of course, as he was busying himself with probably half the galette stock. The cookie was delicious, as always, but it crumbled like sand on Serena’s tongue, and it was a struggle to swallow it. They lingered outside the shop, watching the population pass as the afternoon got later. They saw pokémon, with trainers or without, and kids of all ages racing down the street, some linking hands as they skipped. There were tall men and women in suits, walking with a purpose, and wandering couples hand in hand. Serena’s heart warmed as what looked like a mother and father stood at the steps of an apartment complex, a bundle of blankets and a tiny baby blinking up at the clear blue sky. It couldn’t have been more than a few weeks old, and Serena had the distant thought of if it was born around the Crisis. The image was so warm and safe, and when Ash’s shoulder pressed lightly against hers with a hum, she had a feeling he saw it too.

Despite it, the fear was still there. Serena had changed, she had changed so much. The world was changed too, of course, but it was going back to normal. ‘Before-her-journey’ normal.

Serena wasn’t quite sure how she’d fit into this world now.

Since they started walking again, Serena was distantly aware that Ash’s gaze wasn’t leaving her. She could feel her skin prickling, but she didn’t really find it in her to care. In fact, Serena found herself actively avoiding direct eye contact, because she knew that her fears would be as clear as glass in her eyes. She heard Ash make a few frustrated noises, but she didn’t cave, casually commenting on a cloud in the distance.

She couldn’t do much, however, when Ash stopped right in front of her.

Serena let her gaze fall to the side quickly, but stayed frozen as Ash put two gentle, slightly hesitant fingers on her jaw, and tilted her head upwards.

Brilliant cove-blue eyes, gentle and swirling met warm golden honey eyes, dashed with cinnamon and certainty. There was a huff of a smile.

“You know,” Ash said softly with a winning grin. “There’s a saying that if two trainers eyes’ meet, they have to have a battle.”

“Now?” Serena said after a pause of confusion.

Ash laughed like a ringing bell, and before she could register what was happening, his hand grabbed hers, and he was pulling her along in a run, her half-eaten galette falling to the ground with a muted thump.
They had to quickly slow to a walk as her-still weak lungs burned, but Ash kept a warm hold on her hand as they made their way side by side to an open battlefield. The sand was shining underfoot, and she kneeled down to brush the soft surface as Pikachu jumped from Ash’s shoulder towards the center.

“It’s been a while since we’ve been here, huh buddy?” Ash asked, a little wistful. “Our first battle Kalos with Clemont.”

That was news to Serena, but she stood and dusted off her skirt with a knowing smile. “Come to think of it, I’ve never had a proper battle against you, have I?”

Ash nodded. “Working together with your pokémon, making decisions on the go, it can tell a lot about people. Whenever I’m feeling down, I find that having an outlet helps.”

Serena rolled a pokéball between her fingers. “You really think so?”

“I think that it doesn’t hurt to try,” he said, taking his place at one end of the field. His eyes glinted with a challenge, and Serena felt something inside her wanting to rise to meet that.

“Ok Braixen, come on out!”

“Pikachu, Quick Attack!”

The collision was fast and sudden, Braixen barely having the time to touch the ground before being pushed down the field. She gaped at Ash, who smiled slightly. She knew Pikachu was fast and Ash was relentless while battling, but being up against it was almost scary.

Almost. She wasn’t quite sure if she could really be scared of Pikachu and Ash.

“Let's keep up the pressure,” Ash shouted. “Iron Tail!”

“Brace yourself!” Serena yelled to her partner, and while Braixen held off for a while, she lost her footing in the rigid stance and was knocked to the floor. She bit her lip, because of course he wouldn’t hold back. She knew she couldn’t beat Ash in a fair fight, but Arceus, suddenly she wanted to try. She just needed the battlefield in her favor, but it was never where she felt the most comfortable.

But maybe the stage was.

She closed her eyes, and drew her feet together to third position, like she was rising on that platform. Pikachu was a small target. She needed something big.

“Braixen!” She snapped her eyes open with her performance smile. “Our Dendemille Showcase routine! Use the surrounding landscape!”

Braixen paused, and then jumped to her feet with a nod. Soon enough, Braixen was spinning and dancing, clean and practiced, all around the field with blasts of fire circling her steps. Serena could practically hear the music, and couldn’t help but sway a bit as the ghost of the dance steps tugged at her. Pikachu couldn’t catch a break - dodging was now the priority, but Serena knew it wouldn’t take long for Ash to find the rhythm.

“Flamethrower!”

“Send it back! Thunderbolt!”

The moves collided, creating billowing smoke that covered the field. Serena closed her eyes tightly, but smiled. The amount of conditions from leftover moves her pokémon had to dance through during performances meant that Braixen getting lost was the least of her worries. Sure enough, she saw Pikachu leap into the air, meaning to get a clear view, while Braixen was still calmly spinning below.

“Use Electro Ball on the ground! Blow away the smoke!” Ash commanded quickly, and Pikachu obliged.

“Jump up Braixen!” Serena shouted, smiling to see her friend a step ahead of her. “Scratch!”

Serena hoped that she could’ve gotten a hit off Pikachu while it was falling, but it moved with indescribable precision. Ash had to barely mutter a word before its tail was glinting silver and met Braixen’s attack halfway. They both recoiled to the ground.

“Combo 6!” She yelled to a falling Braixen, and smiled, because while Ash and Pikachu were trying to figure out whatever combo 6 meant, Braixen’s paw brushed the ground lightly, letting herself spring back into an aerial before sending a Fire Blast towards the Electric Mouse. It hit, point blank.

Both pokémon were breathing heavily when the dust settled, and Ash looked at her with a strange mix of emotions in his eyes - Serena’s chest swelled when she recognized pride.

“You’re strong, you know,” Ash said, walking to the center as Pikachu jumped to his shoulder. “Stronger than I think you give yourself credit for.”

“Not nearly as strong as you.” Serena called back Braixen, not really sure how to respond to such compliments.

“You’re stronger than you were,” Ash pressed. “By miles. That’s all that matters, life isn’t some competition. Come on, Serena, have a bit of faith in yourself. A bit more pride!”

“I feel like you praise me enough for the both of us,” she said, half joking.

“And I will, because I know what it takes,” Ash said, unwavering. “Trust me, I do. None of this is easy - battling, dreams, and life, I guess - and it takes a level of understanding that you won’t always have a plan. I kinda lost that back during Wolfric’s gym. I was so used to things working out, so tunnel-visioned on one goal, that a bump in the road totally upset me. You brought me back on track. I want to do the same.”

Serena deflated. She really had been so transparent with her thoughts this entire day, huh?

“I didn’t want to worry you, I just… I don’t know what to do next,” she finally admitted out loud. “It scares me. What if things go back to how they were, and I’m left behind?”

“You won’t be.”

“You sound so confident.”

“I am, because honestly, Serena, you impress me.”

She opened her mouth to protest, but Ash put a hand up and continued. “When I first met you, you were crying over a noise in a bush and clung to my hand like the forest was going to eat you alive in broad daylight. About 8 years later, you’ve tracked me down over 3 cities because of a handkerchief, and all the sudden, I’m taking advice from you over a gym battle, despite you never being in one. You have this knack for just understanding people, Serena, and that’s not something you easily learn. We wouldn’t have gotten halfway through my gym challenge if it wasn’t for you holding us together, all while figuring yourself out at the same time! You always put us first, never let us see you worry, even if I wanted to help. It was always making sure that I was happy and safe.”

“That’s what friends do,” Serena shrugged, and Ash just smiled softly.

“Sure, but I really don’t think I could do it if I was in your shoes. You took a singular idea and made a name for yourself with little to no outside help. You taught yourself, you got better, you kept your own head above water, all while keeping us going as well. Arceus above, Serena, that’s impressive. You stood on the Master Class stage next to someone 5 years older than you with less than a year of training. I traveled with two gym leaders who showed me the ropes and only got top 16 in my first go-around at a league.”

“You know that’s a little different.”

“That’s not the point. The fact is, you did it, and you’re better for it. It doesn’t matter what you do now, really. If you want to stop and go home, you’ve lived an experience that many people don’t have in their entire life. It’s enough to be satisfied, but I’m guessing you don’t want to stop though,” Ash said, and Serena nodded her head. “Then you’ll just do it again. Waiting won’t make a decision come sooner. You had no idea what you were going to do at the beginning of our journey, and now you have more tools in your pocket to help you figure out what's next. More pokémon, more friends, bigger dreams. I promise you, even if I’m halfway across the world, I’ll always be cheering you on.”

Ash squeezed her hand, and Serena started. She hadn’t even realized he took it, but the sudden warmth that rushed through her gave her chills. So many words were on the tip of her tongue, but they caught in her throat, sappy and sweet, and what ended up breaking through surprised her just as much as Ash.

“Would you dance with me?”

After a beat of silence, Ash pushed back his dark bangs, laughing. “You know I’m not any good at that, Serena.”

“I thought the same about battling,” she insisted, finding a strange confidence and amusement in this idea. “I surprised myself.”

She could feel the disbelieving look Ash was directing at her as she picked a track from her device, but he was still smiling when she looked up.

“I’m going to step on your toes.”

“Is that a warning or a threat?”

“Ha, ha,” Ash said sarcastically, but before she knew it, he’d taken her hand again, and she was leading him through the basic positions of a partnered dance. He kept looking down anxiously, his brow furrowed in concentration, and Serena had to choke down the well-meaning laugh towards her best friend.

“I never understand,” he said after a minute. “How you manage to make it look so easy.”

“I’m not thinking about the dancing as much as it would seem,” she tried to explain. “Why do you like my performances?”

Ash thought for a moment. “You’re always smiling. You’re having the time of your life working with your pokémon, and it’s so mesmerizing to watch.”

“What if I told you I had a huge mistake during one of my Master Class rounds? Would you have noticed?”

There was a small shake of the head, making Ash’s hair bounce.

“See? That's that! A perfect dance with no soul isn’t going to compete with a flawed performance that has true happiness in it. It’s about connecting with the audience, getting something across. Everything else melts away, and it’s just you living in the moment. Do you kind of understand that?”

A nod. Serena noticed that he had stopped looking at the ground, keeping his gaze firmly on her while they swayed. “It’s just having fun? Making other people happy?”

“Simple, really,” Serena confirmed. She let herself fall quiet, and almost closed her eyes as the music crescendo and wind rustled the trees around them. This was so different, but it still felt familiar. After a minute, she couldn't help but lean slightly closer as they turned and did a stage whisper. “Was this whole afternoon an attempt to cheer me up?”

Ash nodded, looking a little embarrassed. “Maybe I should’ve just gone straight to the battling.”

“No,” Serena beamed, giving his shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “I’m having the time of my life. Seems like you’re a natural at performing already.”

Chapter Text

When Ash Ketchum was 10 years old, he left the only home he had ever known with a single bag on his back and an impossible dream. Since then, the entire world has become his home.

He was 11 years old when he was marked by a crime ring, constantly being hunted, threatened, and followed at the expense of people he loved. He wouldn’t be surprised if said agents were in the city right now.

When he was 12, Ash and his friends were taken hostage by an ‘intelligence’ organization, getting bound to mythical pokémon as said legendary power was used to rip a hole in time and space.

Ash was 13 when he watched a poor boy, not much older than he was, get manipulated by his father figure-turned cult leader and enslaved a legendary pokémon in an attempt to keep the population under his own heel.

When he was 14, he was almost sacrificed for the betterment of a ‘New World.’ Sometimes, he can still feel the cuffs on his limbs and something in his soul tugging towards a phantom bond.

He tried to take a break when he was 15, and ended up fighting creatures that appeared out of wormholes.

Ash Ketchum was going to turn 16 in a few months, and was currently considered one of the two strongest trainers in the entire world.

For some reason, this was the thing that was making him worry.

Ash sat on the bleachers, looking out over an open stadium. It was massive, and even though it wasn’t technically empty - cleaning and production crews were scurrying around like ants - the sheer size and quietness made Ash feel so small. There was a two day break in between his and Cynthia’s round and the final matchup; he supposed it was to give people time to rest, and for final tourists to sprinkle into Galar - although frankly he couldn’t imagine even more people in this stadium. He’s seen some big crowds before, but the Master’s 8 Tournament was simply immense. According to Goh, some records were being set for attendance, and people were planning to crowd around the stadium and watch from outside when the seats inevitably filled up.

He spent that first day off training, going over old recordings of Leon’s battles, trying to learn as much as he could - although, as he expected, there wasn’t much. Most battles ended too quickly to discern a strategy outside of ‘use Charizard’, and Ash wasn’t even sure what Leon’s team of 6 would be going into the finals. There was only so much practice you could do before it became detrimental, and everyone deserved a day of rest.

So did he, Goh insisted as he dragged Ash away from any battlefield he saw. It was a nice morning, stopping by some staple places whenever the two traveled to Galar, and he almost forgot how lovely it was to just explore with Goh. The boy was inquisitive and focused, and even the slightly paternal sense to worry let Ash rewind a bit during most of their trips. This time, however, the research fellow was noticeably distracted, and Ash wasn’t too surprised when he raced off around lunchtime, quickly saying something about Project Mew and ‘important briefings’.

He wasn’t quite sure if he believed him, but Goh had no reason to lie. It’s not like his friend’s life was suddenly put on hold because he had a few big battles. That’s how he ended up back at the stadium, despite Goh’s nagging in his mind and Pikachu’s tired warbles in his ear, but just avoiding it entirely made Ash feel even worse.

“Tomorrow, huh buddy?” Ash asked, looking across the clear sky. Pikachu was such a constant after 5 years that he barely noticed the shift in weight as his partner climbed from one shoulder to the other. “Excited?”

Pikachu made a small cry of affirmation, and Ash smiled. Arceus above, he was here. Half a decade of traveling across the world would climax this time tomorrow. It was surreal, and Ash had seen a lot of surreal things in his life.

He was excited, of course. Thrilled, even! It hasn’t been an easy road, but he was so proud of his team. Not just his current team - every single partner he’s had from Pikachu to Dracovish. Each and every one of them taught him something, and he could relish in good memories for the rest of the day. Unfortunately, that didn’t stop the feeling of something strange in his core that wouldn’t settle, like a camera angle that was just slightly off kilter.

Ash rolled his shoulders back, feeling restless. That wasn’t uncommon for him - frankly, it was more worrying when he was completely still - but it was making him uncomfortable. There was a sense of unpreparation that was making him squirm, but he couldn’t put his finger on it. It's not like he’s missed any important information for the tournament, Goh made sure of that, but it felt like he forgot to wake up properly this morning.

Maybe he was hungry, he thought as he pushed himself up. It’s not like it could hurt.

He really did his best to duck between crowds and keep his face low, but Pikachu on his shoulder was just too much of a blatant symbol. It took him longer than it should have to run into a café and grab a scone, but he also should’ve expected the entire city to be overrun by tourists. It was weird, to have so many people know his name, but Ash couldn’t locate a single familiar face in the masses. He practically beelined for the city edge, and as soon as he found the comfortable and worn dirt path leading away, he sidelined to the surrounding wilderness.

His chest loosened with a breath instantly. The air was still tinged with production and civilization, but the soft green of the woods made it seem blissfully far away. He didn’t stray far, but he found a flat rock in a patch of sun and sat down, letting Pikachu run around within sight. As he ate the scone and fiddled with his backpack strap, he could almost pretend he was on an-honest-to-goodness journey. Professor Cerise gave him incredible traveling opportunities, but that sense of wandering was slimmer - especially since the Masters 8 started. It was so freeing, to be able to go wherever the earth underneath your feet led you to, but Ash was painfully aware that his backpack currently only held his wallet and some scattered necessities; he wouldn’t get far on an impromptu journey at the moment.

Nevertheless, he let himself go through the motions, as if today was like any other day. He washed his hands off in a clear, fast-moving stream and almost subconsciously found natural markings as he started walking - a tree that had a split trunk was just a ways east of the stream, and south of a wild grove of blackberries. A small group of Nickit were hidden in the brambles and were startled into a battle with Pikachu, but a sloppy call from Ash let another bold fox get a nip off before disappearing.

He leaned against a tree, almost amused at his mistake as he pressed his slightly bleeding hand to his jacket. He really needed to get it together before tomorrow. He hoped that a sense of normalcy would’ve satisfied this scuttling under his skin, but if anything, it felt even more prevalent. Ash sighed, letting his head fall back. What was he missing? He had his team, he had Pikachu, he tried having a journey, he had his friends-

Oh.

Oh. Maybe that was it.

It was the biggest day of Ash’s life tomorrow, and for the first time in years of travel, he felt so alone.

Huh. That was… weird. Well, ok, it felt a lot more complicated in his stomach than just weird, but Ash wasn’t really used to this - was it loneliness? He slid down the tree trunk, sitting heavily. He wasn’t really ever alone, with Pikachu always by his side, and sure, he’s been away from people, but usually that was his choice or an outside force actively pushing them apart. He couldn’t think of a time where he didn’t have at least one friend who wanted to be around him.

Maybe that wasn’t fair, and maybe it was the tiniest bit self-centered, but Ash felt like today was a day where he could indulge in that. He was competing in the Masters’ 8 Finals tomorrow, and even if he wasn’t expecting everyone he’s ever met to drop their life to come cheer, no one had called to wish him luck! Not even his mom, he realized with a start, which made him check his phone a little anxiously. Did anyone give a glancing thought to one of their old friends fighting in a celebrated world-wide event?

A small, unwelcome part of his brain whispered that Ash was the clingy one, that he was expecting too much of his friends and that he didn’t impact them like they impacted him - that they all moved on after he left - but he waved that thought away. No, more likely, they just really didn’t understand how big of a moment this was for him.

Or perhaps they just forgot.

It was simple. It was an understandable reason. It still made Ash feel like shit.

He sat at the base of the tree for a while, but honestly, Ash wasn’t one for self-pity, so he brushed off his shorts and started making his way back to the city. It was going to get late soon, and the least he could do was grab dinner for both him and Goh before rush hour started. He could look over some of Leon’s old battling footage, he thought as he made his way back past the tree with the split trunk, or maybe interviews where he mentioned more of his regular Pokémon and strategies. It’s not like he had anything better to do, and Ash only had one shot tomorrow. He couldn’t afford to let this go to waste.

Ash was just entering the city again when his phone ran, and he answered it without ever looking at the caller tag, a flicker of hope bubbling in his chest.

“Ash? Ash, where are you?”

The little flame wavered a bit at the sound of Goh’s voice, but it made him smile softly nevertheless.

“I’m not far from the stadium, I’ve just been taking a walk. I was going to pick up some food, does Alolan sound good?”

“Oh, don’t worry about it,” Goh said, his voice tight with excitement. “Can you get back to the hotel lobby? I, uh, need your help on something.”

“I’m really not going to be able to help much with Project Mew,” Ash said, turning in that direction anyway. “Now, when you find Mew, I’d love to help you battle, but all your fancy charts and numbers look like a different language to me.”

“Trust me. I think you’ll like this one.”

The call ended with a soft click and Ash sighed, shoving his phone back in his pocket. He didn’t know what he really expected. He’s been around Goh for the past few months, and it’s not like he has anything new to say about the tournament. Ash almost forgot that Goh’s mission was kicking off just as much as his own goal.

He scoffed inwardly at that realization. Hypocrite. Maybe he was being a bit too hard on his friends for not following up on big days.

He raced back to the hotel. He might not understand the project, but he was going to be the best assistant and friend for Goh ever. Two freshly bought coffees were warm in his hand, and he quickly scanned his brain as he passed restaurants. Goh liked Unovan food a lot, specifically eastern cuisine. Did any place here do delivery for that? Ash shifted the drinks to one hand as he fished out his phone, clumsily looking through maps while he approached the hotel.

“I know you said not to worry about dinner, Goh, but I’m hungry,” Ash said, pushing the door open with his foot, eyes on his phone. “This one places looks good, but it’ll take about 40 minutes, is that-“

“Surprise!”

Ash dropped his coffee.

There were so many people. A table stocked with food was on one side of the hotel lobby, and surrounding him were dozens of smiling faces.

Familiar smiling faces.

“Brock!” Ash cried. “Misty, Cilan, May, holy Arceus!”

It was everyone. Everyone. He saw his mom, Professor Oak, the Alola crew, Dawn, Max, Tracey, Gary, Iris, Bonnie, Chloe, Clemont, more and more! Goh pushed through the crowd, absolutely beaming.

“There you are!”

“What on earth-“ Ash started, getting cut off as two short figures grabbed onto him from either side. He looked down to see Max and Bonnie smiling up at him.

“It was your friend’s idea!” Max grinned, pointing to Goh.

“He called us a few days ago and helped everyone find flights!” Bonnie exclaimed, Dedenne jumping off her shoulder to go say hi to Pikachu. “I was on such a big plane, Ash! I’ve never left the region before!”

He felt like his heart had melted as he looked up to Goh. “You really did this?”

The Kantonian researcher looked a bit shy, and Ash noted with a fond laugh that he blushed easily. “I tried to tell you that you deserve a break!”

Ash wasn’t sure that he could recount the next few hours properly. It was such a blur of conversations, music, catching-up, snacks, and encouragement that it made his head spin. He had never given so many hugs in such a short amount of time. It was really nice, he thought, as he grinned into his cup full of Unovan soda that Iris brandished proudly. Watching Mallow talking with Cilan, or Clemont trade gym leader notes with Paul, it was such a warm feeling to see family everywhere he turned. They all took turns dancing - Lana put on some classic Alolan songs and danced with Misty after May sang in Hoennese (but performed it in the signature Sinnoh style with Dawn). Ash gave Bonnie a piggy-back ride, and suppressed his laughs at Professor Kukui scooping Max into the air as well.

All the cultures, all the people. It was so much.

Almost too much, at times, and Ash ended up stepping outside on the front patio for fresh air for a bit.

Galar nights were cool, but at this time of year, not uncomfortably so. The sky was clear enough that the waxing gibbous moon shone bright, but the wisps of cloud and light pollution made it hard to pinpoint many stars at all. Ash was so thankful that he and Goh decided to take a hotel that was more on the edge of the city, near the top of a steady hill, because the normally subdudded night culture was overflowing with people down on the streets below. He must have stood there for a while, just watching the world pass by, letting the noise in his head dim.

“Any good constellations in this hemisphere?”

Ash jumped slightly, turning to see someone leaning against the rail to his right, eyes skybound.

“Serena!”

She broke her gaze from the night with a laugh. “It’s good to see you!”

“You too!” Ash said, feeling himself smile wide. It had been too long, in his opinion. Almost two years, if you didn’t count the small glance he had of her back in Hoenn a few months ago, and he didn’t. Ash practically hit himself on the boat ride home when he realized that he was this close to seeing her all day, and it was hard to pick up the phone after that. He hadn’t even recognized her, for Arceus’ sake!

Although, it was hard to blame his past self. Serena looked so different! The bright reds and pinks were replaced with sleek grays, although he could see hints of her favorite color in her skirt and earrings - she pierced her ears, he realized with a start. That was new too. Some things didn’t change though, as Serena gestured back to the sky.

“So, any good stars?” she repeated.

Ash shrugged. “I’m sure there would be, but it’s not really the easiest to see them right now. A lot of Galar is pretty developed.”

“It’s still calming though, isn’t it?” Serena said. “Though it took some time to map out Hoenn’s constellations without your help, I tried to make it a routine each night.”

Giving a small hum of acknowledgement, Ash guiltily realized that it was a practice he’d fallen out of touch with. He’s been so busy, always on the move, that watching the stars before he hits the bed each night was not on his priority list. It might’ve been the fact that it got a bit lonely after a while - while people were always politely interested in his talks and helped him search, few found the same solace in the peace and distance of stargazing that Serena did.

“How’s the tournament going?” she asked. “I’ve tried to catch every battle live, it's been brilliant to watch!”

“It’s…” Ash struggled to find the words, head pounding a bit. “It’s a lot. I mean, I’m surrounded by champions all the time! Legends, I can learn so much by just being here.”

“You’re one too!” she poked his side. “First Alolan champion! Congratulations again, by the way. I wish I was there to see it in person.”

“You’re plenty busy! A Top Coordinator in Hoenn!”

“Alongside Lisia,” Serena clarified with a small smile. “I’ve been touring with her for a bit, but I think I’m going to go back to Kalos soon. Performance season will be starting again, and I’m really excited to build a routine around Milotic to introduce her into the scene.”

Ash did a double take. “You have a Milotic?”

She shot him a confused look. “Yeah, I raised a Feebas in Hoenn. How long have you been out here? Dawn, May and I did an impromptu performance together, and I used Milotic right then.”

“How late is it?” Ash asked the world at large, half-heartedly feeling in his pockets for his phone. “I should really be inside for my own party.”

The quiet contemplation on Serena’s face made Ash feel just slightly self conscious, a feeling he’d never associated with her. She seemed puzzled, and honestly, he was confused with himself. He was lonely earlier, wishing for someone to show up, but now that he had all of his friends at arm’s length, he was avoiding people. He fidgeted, leaning back and forth on the idea of going back in. On one hand, there were people he hadn’t seen for years. On the other, the topic of tomorrow’s match would inevitably come up, and Ash was sure if he could stomach it.

Wasn’t this just rich, he realized with a start. One of the 2 strongest trainers in the world was getting stage fright.

Ash shook himself out of his head, aware of the silence that had fallen over them. His eyes focused on Serena smiling at him, offering a macaron.

“Dessert for your thoughts?” she said, and Ash took it gladly, savoring the Kalos specialty that he hadn’t had in at least a year. Serena kept a patient level gaze, and Ash searched for something to say that wouldn’t make him sound too lame.

“I like your hair,” he settled on honestly. “It’s growing out again.”

She laughed, brushing the ends behind her ears. “Thank you, but I don’t think you came out here just to think about that.”

“You don’t know,” Ash joked back. “I need a haircut soon, maybe you can help me.”

“You know full well I cut my hair with no mirror on a dock while the sun was barely up. It’s a miracle I didn’t make myself go bald,” Serena glanced at him. “And I like your fluffier hair, for what it’s worth.”

Ash smiled, but the displaced worry still pulled at his gut, and like always, Serena read him like an open book.

“Ash,” she started in a placating tone, but he turned his head away. Serena didn’t say anything, but he heard a huff escape her. After a beat of tense silence, he saw her move away from the railing and look towards the city from the corner of his eye.

“Walk with me?” she asked tentatively, and that made Ash look up. Moonlight shrouded one side of her face, and the porch light covered another, making her eyes gleam both silver and gold. It was an enthralling effect. When he finally registered the question, he just cocked his head, and she gave a small grin before continuing. “I’ve never been to Galar before, perhaps you can show me around.”

It was a distraction, one Ash would take, but he could tell from the look in her eyes that she wasn’t going to let the topic drop so easily. He recalled winter storms and a well aimed snowball to the face the last time he was this cooped up about a fight.

Well, there wasn’t any snow this time of year in Galar. It was a pretty safe bet.

“Yeah,” Ash smiled. “Yeah, that sounds good! Are you hungry?”

“Dinner was literally just inside-“

Serena’s voice melted behind him with a fond sigh as Ash jumped down the stairs of the patio and took off. He didn’t have to look back to know that she was following right with him.

As soon as Serena suggested a quick city tour, Ash’s brain was speeding through ideas of fun places and ways to entertain, but Serena seemed perfectly content to just wander, interjecting with small commentary as Ash recapped the past two years. They took long roads at first, away from crowds, but the bright lights of the boardwalk area drew them like moths to a star. Ash was racing to the cotton candy stands before Serena had a chance to scold him for too much sugar this late, but he didn’t need to worry - apparently passing a display of kettle corn was all it took to break her resolve too. Ash took care to point out any native Galar pokémon to her, and once she spotted a Wooloo plush from a carnival game stand, Ash handed her his snacks and cracked his knuckles.

As it turns out, Serena was almost insultingly good at Whack-A-Diglett, and presented the Wooloo prize to Ash while smothering a laugh. He shook his head hopelessly, and she succumbed to a fit of giggles.

“I thought you wanted it!”

“Oh I do,” Serena grinned, her voice ringing while Ash held the ridiculously fluffy toy. “I just thought it would serve as good memories for you in the future. You know, big party with all your friends, losing at carnival games-”

“That’s it!” Ash interjected, not able to keep the smile off his face. “This is disrespectful, you know.”

“Hey, hey, maybe there’s a game here for you,” Serena said. “Eating competition, endurance test, or there’s a battlefield right over there..”

He smirked. “I’ll pass.”

“Why? Scared I’ll beat you, Mr. World Champion?”

Ash’s smile tightened slightly. World Champion. It could be him tomorrow, and Serena must really believe that. She said it was such a smile, such a gleam of unparalleled confidence in her eyes that Ash almost felt ill. After a beat, Serena’s expression softened.

“Hey, really, are you feeling-”

“Great,” he cut in quickly, looking around. He put on a smile, because really, this wasn’t about any of the weird complexes he was having in his head at the minute - that was for tomorrow. Today, he just wanted to have a good time and catch up with a friend who’s only done the best for him. “Let’s keep walking before this area gets busy.”

But Serena was too good at guiding the conversation. He tried to talk about any new pokémon she caught in Hoenn while they bought tea, and Serena got him talking about his current World Championship team before he knew it. He brought up jewelry and fashion trends as they passed shop windows, and somehow he ended up recapping Diantha and Cynthia’s recent matches. They talked about showcases and Aria’s new performance styles, and if he didn’t catch himself, Ash would’ve started ranting about his conflicting excitement and nervousness whenever he thought of Leon.

Eventually, their luck dodging crowds ran out, and they bumped straight into a paparazzi group. The lights and cameras clicking were too much for Ash’s brain, and his head was starting to hurt, badly. He grit his teeth, trying to give clipped, but not rude answers, to the flow of questions - How did he feel about taking down the Queen of Sinnoh? Did Ash regret not being able to see his friend Iris in the semifinals? How did he get to the finals at such a young age? Did Ash wish he had a chance to get revenge on Alain, who famously lost him the Kalos League? Was the tournament staged? What was his plan going up against the undefeated World Champion? How was Ash-

“That’s enough,” Serena said forcefully to the group, but her voice sounded far away, like it was underwater. He didn’t protest as she grabbed his wrist and led him through the winding streets, looping and looping until they ended up in front of a large, circular installation.

The Ferris Wheel cart was just big enough for them to sit side by side, their little Wooloo plush curled up with Pikachu on the seat opposite. It was cozy. Quiet. He breathed deep, grounding himself, and tried to put all the thanks in the world into a single glance to his friend. Serena smiled back, but jumped as the ride started moving. She pushed her face to the glass, a giddy laugh breaking the silence while the ground fell away. He leaned against her shoulder to see out too, and watching her starstruck smile made Ash almost forget about everything upsetting in the world.

When the cart stopped again, a few intervals up, Serena whipped to face him in panic.

“The ride broke!”

He tried not to laugh, as that would’ve been a little mean, but his chest was bubbling with warmth and he really couldn’t help it.

“They do that, Serena. The carts have to stop to let others board and leave. First time on a Ferris Wheel?”

“Yeah,” Serena admitted, a little sheepish. “It seemed like the best solution to get away from people.”

“Well, thank you. You didn’t have to go out of your way.”

“Yes I did,” Serena said softly, and Ash looked over at the tone change. Her bright blue gaze was slightly dull and forlorn, and he scrambled to say something to fix that. “I’m sorry for pushing you, Ash. That’s a habit of mine, huh? You made it clear that you didn’t want to talk about the World Championship Series for whatever reason, but I just wouldn’t let it go.”

“I-” Ash started, unprepared. “That’s not your fault. I don’t even know what's wrong, really.”

“Do you want to work through it?”

“I don’t want to dump it on you.”

“Ash.” Serena said with the most disbelieving look. “Ash, I’m asking.”

He closed his eyes and leaned his head back with a small thunk, his hat pushed up against his mess of hair. He barely registered the jolt of the cart as the Ferris Wheel started moving again. It rolled in silence.

“I, well, I guess I just-” Ash cut himself off with an annoyed huff. Peering through his lashes, he saw Serena watching gently. No annoyance, no expectations, no pity. Just her. Ash fumbled with his words for another second or two for more than one reason.

“I’ve been waiting for a day like tomorrow my whole life,” he started slowly. “Even if I didn’t know it exactly. Every league, every win, it pushed me closer to this goal. Leon was so much of what I wanted to be, I just had to be a part of this when I found out. I went in with the same confidence and determination as I do with every league, because apart from scale, this really is no different. I wouldn’t get this far by hesitating.” He wrung his hands in his lap. “I just don’t think I really expected to get this far.”

“Why not? You’re a regional champion too.”

“I’m a kid,” Ash said. He wasn’t blind, he knew the criticism that was passed his way. “I know a lot, but I just don’t have the experience that the others have. My strategies are half done and barely planned enough to be called strategies. It’s thanks to my team that it works out.”

“Iris is a kid,” Serena pointed out quietly. “Alain is barely older than you guys.”

He wasn’t wording this properly, was he? Ash sucked at words.

“It’s not really the same,” Ash pressed. “I think Iris would agree with me. Besides, she had an objectively harder time becoming Unova champion than I did Alolan Champion. I was the first, there wasn’t really an Elite 4 and Reigning Champ that needed to keep its place.”

“You can’t compare-”

“And I’ve never beaten Alain,” he continued, ignoring Serena’s interjection. “He may not be a regional champion, but he’s really earned his place here. He just got unlucky going up against Leon first. I got lucky.”

Serena scoffed, not unkindly, but with a hint of hurt on Ash’s behalf. “You cannot say that you got to the Master’s 8 Finales through luck.”

“Really, I shouldn’t have won the battle against Steven. By all accords, he’s stronger than me.”

“So you don’t think your team earned it?”

“What?” Ash backpedaled quickly. “No, no of course they did, but they did the work. I’m not sure I really-“

“You don’t think you earned it.”

It wasn’t a question. It was a statement, pure and simple, and a small part of Ash’s brain registered it as fact. He nodded. Serena’s eyes were creased with worry that confused him, but she stayed silent, and Ash rushed to fill the stillness.

“I’ve gotten so lucky so many times, and that’s not enough to match Leon right now. No one matches him! No one has even gotten close.”

The Ferris Wheel creaked as if agreeing.

“I thought no one was going to come for my battle earlier,” Ash continued quietly. “It hurt. Even if I had doubts, it would’ve been nice to not face it alone. I shouldn’t have worried, though, of course you guys would all show up! But to see all these people who supported me, who helped me get to where I am, makes me feel like I’m carrying all their dreams and journeys on my shoulders. And I can’t drop this now.”

The cart stopped again. Serena barely moved this time. They were far enough off the ground that the noise from the city was dim on his ears.

“It’s so confusing,” Ash whispered, the confession parting through his lips as easily as air. “I don’t know what's worse - People I love not caring about this tournament, or people caring but I let them all down.”

It was quiet for a while, though it was impossible to say how long exactly. It could’ve just been 30 seconds, but Ash’s nerves made it feel like 30 days.

“I’m sorry,” Serena said softly, so softly that Ash barely heard. “I’m sorry you feel like you have to carry all of this. It sounds lonely.”

“I’m not-”

“And I’m sorry,” she continued, stronger. “That I would’ve never looked closer or guessed. You have such confidence, such an uplifting energy that I just assume you to be okay. That’s unfair of me.”

Ash’s heart sank. This was exactly what he wanted to avoid. “I’m sorry if that disappoints you-”

“Ash! No, it’s not that, it’s never that! Everyone is going to have fears and doubts. Everyone. I mean, look at me, you know!”

Ash did look at her, and remembered how she seemed so different back on the patio. So defined and well put together, a girl who went through a region alone and came out even more of a superstar. Her bottom lip was wavering now, her eyes were blown bright and wide, and the area between her brows was wrinkled where it was furrowed tight with anxiety. He bit his lip. He did know.

Serena took a deep breath, steading herself, and lightly tapped her chin. “Well, let's get a few things straight. You deserve to be in this tournament, and that’s not something you can argue with. There are so many people fighting for this spot, you simply wouldn’t be here if you didn’t have the strength to do so. Do you think Steven Stone went easy on you? Do you think Cynthia held back for once in her life? No. They wanted this just as much as you do.”

“My pokémon-”

“Your pokémon are here because of you. They are strong, yes, but were they all strong when you started? Would they have had the confidence to take on their dreams? The organization? The determination? You cultivated that, Ash, and you do it with people too. It’s contagious, really.” Serena was smiling now. “You guys are a team. That includes you.”

Ash’s tongue was heavy in his mouth as he tried to think of a response - only to realize he couldn’t. Serena was right, and she seemed to take his silence as confirmation to continue.

“Secondly, let's go back to the hotel and ask around; you won’t be letting anyone in there down, and I’m so sorry if I ever made you feel like that. Leon is almost double your age, Ash! We all believe in you because we know you have the capacity for amazing things, but no one is going to be disappointed with you if you lose.”

Ash looked out the window as the Ferris Wheel started turning a second time, noticing the stars getting clearer. A smile was being tugged at his lips, and he ran his calloused fingers over the knuckles of his other hand. “That’s nice of you.”

“Everything I’m saying is true, Ash. Would I lie to you?”

No. Serena wouldn’t. Some might try to spare his feelings, but being nice was just her second nature. She was honest first and foremost. Honest whenever he doubted himself, took a wrong turn, or tried to run. In the same way he found himself always being honest with her.

“I still want to win,” Ash exhaled, as if it was a secret. “Even if I can’t.”

“You could. There’s nothing about Leon’s team that makes it any more special than others you’ve faced,” Serena said, running her fingers through the short ends of her hair. She raised her eyebrows when Ash gave her a Look™. “What? I may not know as much about battling as you, but Leon’s Charizard is just another pokémon. A well trained one, but so is every pokémon in this tournament. You don’t need to be scared of his team. Leon is the one who's figured out how to make it all work.”

“That's the problem. I’m not Leon.”

“No, you’re not,” Serena said fiercely, shaking the Ferris Wheel cart slightly as she suddenly stood. “You’re Ash Ketchum. A boy from Pallet Town in Kanto, who started giving helping hands at 6 and is now one of the two strongest trainers in the world at 16. You are not Leon. You are Ash. The Ash who never seems to run out of energy when it comes to supporting others, who could eat a whole buffet in a single sitting, who gets so passionate that self care is an afterthought at times. The Ash who will never hesitate to stand up for his beliefs, the Ash who marks constellations down at night, and the Ash who gives up on nobody - not his pokémon, not his friends, and not himself.”

She took his hand, soft and delicate in his own but confident in their movements, and Ash found himself clutching it like a lifeline even after Serena sat back down next to him.

“You are Ash.” Serena continued gently, but firm, her eyes shining almost too brightly to meet. “And I wouldn’t want you to be anyone else. You never give up until it’s over. And if you need someone else to help you on that road for once, you have a dozen people who love you for you - not for battles you win or lose.”

There was no question there, no waver in her voice. There were layers, ones he would be picking apart in his brain while he laid in bed, but each word was doused in convocation. Belief. Serena stated like a fact. Serena would never lie.

People loving him for him; not about what he could prove. And it was true.

Looking down at the tightly clasped hands, Ash gave a small smile. “When did you become so wise?”

“I had a good teacher,” she murmured warmly. “It was about time I paid it forward.”

When she said it, ‘teacher’ was synonymous with ‘friend’. ‘Friend’ meant ‘loved one’. ‘Loved one’ being Ash. It felt so right. It wasn’t a coincidence this was the person he ended up spilling to - he found that it was hard to have secrets around Serena. They both had a tendency to share under night skies and comforting hands.

Night skies. The Ferris Wheel cart stopped again, and all his energy after a relentlessly long day went with it.

“I think I want to start over after this,” Ash said, slumping his head against Serena’s shoulder with a yawn. “Like how I used to do.”

“Where would you go?”

Ash pretended to think about it, but in all honesty, he's had a list for a while. “Paldea, probably, it’s not too far from here. It’s apparently well renowned for its education, I’m sure I could meet a lot of great people there.”

“I hear it also has brilliant food and culture,” Serena added softly. “That does sound nice.”

A heavy 'come with' weighed on both of their tongues, but neither said it. Maybe later, one will ask. Maybe if a time came where the universe willed it so, but friends are friends even if they need to walk their separate paths with nothing but a promise and a wave.

The Ferris Wheel was spinning. They would be on the ground soon enough.

Ash couldn’t really remember why he was so scared when he first got on.

“Just so you know, Ash,” Serena said, the ends of her hair brushing against his forehead. “I’m proud of you. More proud than you could ever know.”

He didn’t know what to say to that, so he just lifted his head, and he could see his smile in Serena’s glittering gaze. For a moment, he could almost see the small girl with the straw hat.

Ash hugged her. Serena hugged back.

A gentle 'I love you' rested on both of their tongues. Neither said it.

They both knew it was true.