Chapter Text
“Oh, hey, I think I found something.”
There was a loud huff that followed the statement, which meant that Bonnie definitely didn’t buy whatever Clemont said, but it didn’t stop Serena drifting closer to the scene. Ash was squinting off into the distance, trying his best to view whoever was driving that car, and Pikachu was beside him squeaking out in rage with sparking cheeks, rightfully upset that he was knocked off his favourite perch.
But Serena really didn’t have much of a role right now. She wasn’t bad, and she wasn’t the best, so she was stuck painfully in the middle waiting for something to happen to her. It’s been like that for days, to be honest: finding herself nodding along whenever Ash talked about his Gym Battles and how the Battle Chateau was going to be totally worth it, listening to Clemont as he planned out his next inventions as they made their way from town to town. She knew that she didn’t have to force her way into something, she’s learnt from that mistake, but waiting has been… well, boring so far. Nothing has been happening lately. Nothing’s happened to her, either.
She walks up to where the siblings were, catching sight of a purple box. “You see,” Clemont was saying, using his sister to stand up shakily while dusting himself off with his free hand, “That must’ve come out of that person’s car—I think there’s something there, maybe—“
Serena stepped up just a bit further ahead and crouched down right in front of the mystery in question, to maybe see what’s inside the box rather than see the box itself, and just at that moment something tumbled out of it and bumped her knees, sneezing and scattering out sparkly black-gold powder that harmlessly disappeared into the wind.
Black eyes look into her own blue ones, and her heartbeat now thudded in her ears as she instinctively raised an inviting hand in front of it.
“Hey there,” she whispered, words hidden underneath sibling banter and Kanto shoe dust, and yet somehow, inexplicably, the creature decided to nuzzle against her palm after a seconds thought. “Okay, okay, you’re a cutie too!” And then Serena snapped her mouth shut as she suddenly noticed the weight of the rest of the group noticing her, and where she was, and what she was doing.
“That’s a Scatterbug!” Clemont said, rushing over to see the Pokémon and wincing when he noticed the powder on Serena’s clothes, powder that wasn’t doing anything, pretty but ineffective. “And considering that you’re not experiencing any pain right now, that probably means that this one is very weak at the moment, probably been for a while now. We need to get to a Pokémon Centre right now— C’mon, Ash, we got to go!”
“What’s the matter?”
“I’ll hold the computer thing for you, Serena!”
“Thanks everyone…”
All of a sudden, the air was full of movement and talking and hurrying-- hands gently pushing her forward, voices calling out to each other, a shivering Pokémon in her hands looking just as confused. Serena straightened herself up as she nodded, not really understanding the situation but at least coming to an understanding of what she should be doing now.
Take Scatterbug to the nearest Pokémon Centre. That’s easy enough, right?
(She should really be careful with what she wished for.)
Scatterbug was such a small, small thing.
Serena had it cupped in the inside of her hat, making sure to dust off her hands beforehand in case the powder did work but at a slower rate (Clemont) and being pushed to her limits to run as fast as she could (Ash), grassy lowlands blurring as the village they just left rose from the bottom of the valley. Just a little further. Just a bit more.
She may not have any long term goals right now, but she has one goal now and it’s to save Scatterbug.
There was a town they had passed through, a small village that they stopped to get some breath and restock. This was the place she was aiming for, and for once she understood why Ash loved to run so much. Running didn’t lend time to think or worry— running meant that there was an end destination in mind, from A to B, quickest path available.
Her hair may be getting tangled by the wind and her shoes may have tracked an incalculable amount of mud, but all that mattered was the Scatterbug nestled in her hands.
Flying fast and flying free and aiming true, the town’s gates opened and with some people giving her some curious looks. She disregarded them as she stopped at the nearest intersection, turning her head quickly to find any sign of the nearest Pokémon Centre. Ash almost overshoots past her, running a few meters forward before turning on his heel and shouting, “This way, Serena; we’ve checked!” and her heart drummed out to a determined tune as she followed his guide and ran by his side.
For once, not thinking about the boy next to her.
Scatterbug mumbled weakly, and she looked down at the Pokémon. “We’re close, little one!” she said, over and over, past all of the winding ways and people meandering by. Her tongue felt numb by the time the red roof was visible, and yet she didn’t stop repeating those words until they burst through the doors, Nurse Joy looking up from her desk with surprise on her face.
A Wigglytuff and a stretcher later, and it was just them two, sitting at the seats next to Scatterbug’s room.
Serena bit her lip, feeling almost lost in the awkward space. Next to Ash. Just the two of them. Her hand twitched a little as she started to reach out towards the hand that he left on the bench, his head turned to the door where Scatterbug disappeared into.
She didn’t have much, sure. But she had memories of summer in a different region with him, and those memories were happy, and she would do anything to grasp some of that joy.
Pikachu jumped off Ash’s shoulder and Ash stood up suddenly, wincing as he rubbed his head. Serena squeaked as she pulled her hand back, pretending to look at anything but him. “Can’t believe I forgot…” Ash muttered, scratching the back of his neck.
“Huh?”
He shook his head, jogging in place and glancing at the outside door before making his way there. “Don’t worry about it, just stay here in case Scatterbug is okay! I'll go to check on the others, hopefully they didn’t get lost on the way here.”
“But they have my—“ And Ash was gone. Again. Serena sighed through her nose as she looked down at her legs, wondering why her crush was always in such a rush.
Then it was just Serena and her thoughts. Serena and the Scatterbug, separated by a door, waiting for something to happen.
Maybe she should’ve gone to find Clemont and Bonnie herself. It’s not like she has anything to do here. She twisted her skirt with her balled up hands, feeling so incredibly small.
Scatterbug wasn’t her fault, she knew. But still, no matter what, she couldn’t quell that feeling of not doing enough. Where was it from? What happened to it? Will it ever be okay?
Okay, maybe the last question was a little too pessimistic. Nurse Joy was looking after the little Pokémon! Of course it would be okay.
Everything will be okay.
“You can come over to— Oh, wasn’t there somebody with you?”
Serena straightened herself up and stood to her feet, shaking her hair out and giving the Nurse Joy a large smile. “The others are coming soon, but in the meantime, I’m here. Is there anything you want to tell us?”
Nurse Joy did not return the feeling. She looked apprehensive, fiddling with her fingers as she looked at a point past Serena herself. “But I called about the boy…” The lady shook her head, before turning to Serena with a tight-lipped smile. “Well, in the meantime, I would like for you to stay in the lobby. Let me know when your friends arrive, alright?”
Her hand clenching by her side, Serena nodded. Turned away again. Not worthy again.
“Okay! Thanks again, Nurse Joy!”
The same, again.
“Oh… please… never do that again…” Clemont panted as he leaned on the side of the wall, chest heaving with every breath. Bonnie rolled her eyes as she stood over him, strangely imposing for such a young girl, and Ash laughed it off as usual.
Serena bit back a reluctant smile seeing them again. Even as her breath quickened and her heart started pumping harder, she couldn’t help but feel a little more calmer seeing them. A bit more steady. “We can take a rest here, if you like?”
Clemont shot her a grateful look, nodding slightly after his latest deep breath. “That’s… nice. Thank you, Serena.”
“Geez, bro, you’re such a lightweight!” Bonnie cried right afterwards, stomping her foot down in emphasis. “How are you even alive at this point?!”
“Because of his amazing inventions, of course?!” Ash looked so happy at the conclusion he made, and the two girls shook their heads as Clemont ducked his head down. “But seriously, we can take a break here. Might as well see how Scatterbug is doing, after all this time.”
“Yeah…” Serena felt some knots twist inside her stomach, remembering the grave look Nurse Joy gave her. Something wasn’t right. It was taking too long, the atmosphere around here too harsh.
—Of course, she never had her Pokémon hurt to such a degree, but still. There was something off about this Centre. “I’m just going to take a small walk outside in the meantime, okay?” She needed to clear her head a little.
The group waved at her as she turned around and walked out of the Pokémon Centre, holding her hat at an angle as the bright sun and strong winds embraced her. Even though it’s been a little more than a week since Serena first started her journey (and joining the group a couple of days later), she still felt so new at this. So shaky, so unready for it all. It’s so strange, feeling this way.
There are no Rhyhorn here. No expectation to be the best. As far as the others know, Serena is perfectly, completely unknowing of every possibility in front of her. A clean slate. Something just waiting for the right trigger, the right moment, the right words.
“Sca, sca, scatta!”
Such a tiny sound. It was almost impossible to hear, if one had something else to do and a place to go to.
Serena was already around the corner of the Pokémon Centre as she meandered around, her hands in her pockets as her legs led her around the circumference of the building. Somehow she must’ve been at the back of the area— she could see through the small gap in the window a stretcher and white walls. The treatment wing.
And on the windowsill, a small, determined Scatterbug trying to pull itself up.
She found herself almost running to that window, looking left and right to make sure that nobody was around. The back of the Pokémon Centre was empty, deserted; even inside the room, there were no other signs of life. It was only Scatterbug and her, a window and a strong breeze, tiny fluff ruffling as the Pokémon kept trying to mount the cliff that was the inner part of the sill.
“No, little one; you have to stay back and get your strength back,” Serena urged, cupping her fingers around it to softly push the Pokémon back up into the windowsill. Scatterbug refused, pulling its head away, chirping in annoyance, wiggling insistently.
Serena knew that this Pokémon Centre already had a problem with them. The responsible thing to do is leave Scatterbug here so there wouldn’t be any suspicions about their intentions. It’s also the safer method as well, because none of them were true medics, Serena the least of all. All logic pointed to making sure that Scatterbug stayed put inside the little room with Nurse Joy. it was so unbelievably clear what the choice should be here.
But Scatterbug didn’t want to stay here.
Scatterbug wanted to leave, for whatever reason it had in its little heart.
(And who was she to say no to that?)
She let her hand fall down, fingers still embracing the tiny Pokémon that looked up at her with something a little like surprise. Serena couldn’t… Well… “If that’s what you want,” she sighed, feeling all of the fight seep out of her. She smiled down at the Scatterbug in her hands, moving her hands away so she could squat onto the ground. “So, is this where you want to go?”
“Sca-bug!” The Scatterbug crawled onto the ground, looking left and right before its antennae drooped. Serena looked around, wondering what was wrong. Could it be that Scatterbug…
The ground shook, and Serena looked back on reflex. There was something coming, and it was loud, and Scatterbug was scared now, running a round in tight circles as it chirped in alarm.
And, well, who was Serena to not help?
(To not scoop it up into her hands again, to try to find shelter, even though that window gaped and that room echoed pure white and antiseptic, waiting for a patient that left some time ago.)
What is Serena, if not always reaching a hand out to anyone who would take it?
Ash looked around, foot impatiently tapping on the tiled floor. Clemont was checking his tablet, and Bonnie was playing with Dedenne and Pikachu by gently bopping their noses at different intervals.
It’s been a while since Serena first left.
It’s also been a while since Scatterbug first came here.
The Kantonian shook his head, standing up from the seat that he was on and walking over to the door. Bonnie perked up at the movement, her hand falling to the couch as Pikachu ran over to where Ash was walking. “Pikapi?”
The Trainer shrugged. “I’m just checking where Serena is. Hopefully she didn’t get lost or anything.” Before he could take any more steps, though, a big pink body got in his way. “Hey! What’s gotten into you, Wigglytuff?”
Nurse Joy’s assistant puffed up her cheeks, glaring at him with her round blue eyes. Pikachu’s own cheeks crackled with electricity, and Ash felt his stance becoming more active as a result.
“Is there something wrong?” Bonnie piped up from the back, pulling the drawstring of her pouchette over her head and tilting herself to see the confrontation as Dedenne scrambled to get inside.
No matter how Ash bent himself, Wigglytuff somehow blocked the way. Narrowing his eyes, he put a hand out behind him and spoke to his friends. “Wait, maybe you should get—”
“Oh, Wiggly!” Quick taps on the ground echoed before the runner of the Pokémon Centre stood behind Ash, causing him to turn around and notice how she was mirroring his pose as she stared him down. Glancing behind her briefly, Nurse Joy nodded at her Pokémon before returning her attention to the boy in front of him.
Said boy opened his mouth, “Excuse me, but I—”
“I’m sorry, but I can’t let you go.” She stood firm in front of them, her Wigglytuff staring them down from behind.
His blood ran cold all of a sudden. Even now, after countless near-death and actual deaths, Ash felt a part of him wilt underneath the glare of the nurse in front of him. “What?”
“You heard me. As of now, this city is under lockdown and this Pokémon Centre especially. No one, including you, is allowed to leave until further notice.” She went to walk away, pace clipped, and Ash stared at her in befuddlement.
Once Wigglytuff passed him, totally bumping into him on purpose, Ash tried the door and gritted his teeth as he found it unresponsive. Looking over, he then called out, “What do you mean, we can’t leave?”
Nurse Joy shook her head, her face betraying a kind of anger that Ash had rarely seen in those few moments as she walked to the desk she usually sat at. “You’re the one who brought that Scatterbug, right?”
“Well, actually, my brother first found it.” It was comical having Bonnie throw her hands over the counter as she stood on her tiptoes, trying to see beyond the small wall that was a counter, but her attitude was serious as could be. “And Serena ran it here, and Ash helped her find the Pokémon Centre.”
The woman looked conflicted, turning her gaze to Clemont. He nodded, standing protectively next to his sister. “She’s right. We’ve only just come to this place for a small break before we resume our journey. We have no ill intentions at all, for people or Pokémon.”
“Wait, is that what you think?” Ash was more confused than angry at this point, even if his clenched fists and gritted teeth pointed to otherwise. “We didn’t steal the Scatterbug, if that’s what you’re saying! If you want, we can even look for its Trainer… although I’m not sure what good a Trainer that person is if it was in a cage.”
“It’s not a caught Pokémon.” She looked apprehensive in the face of them all, looking down at the three. “Just… look, can you wait? Officer Jenny will be here shortly, and then you can explain your case to her.”
“But I’m telling you that we didn’t do—” A hand laid on Ash’s shoulder, and the Kantonian turned to see Clemont gently shake his head. Ash looked down and saw his other hand intertwined with Bonnie’s, the younger girl looking a little shaky.
Pikachu rubbed his side of his face against Ash’s, a slight tinge of electricity zipping in between them.
Ash took a deep breath and shut his mouth afterwards, letting Clemont pacify the upset matron of the building and walking the group away from the front desk, towards where the general rooms were. He still felt that confused righteousness rushing through his veins, mixed with protectiveness and worry. Once they rounded the corner, he turned to Clemont, trying to control his voice to say, “But Serena is still outside.”
“I know.” They kept walking forward, watching the inventor as his glasses started to take on an unfamiliar gleam. “She’s not going to let us out just because of what you said, Ash. If I’m not mistaken, she probably thinks that you stole Scatterbug, and she has enough conviction to call Officer Jenny about it too. In any other case I would say that we should just wait it out and talk to the authorities instead, but…”
“We can’t leave her behind, can we?” Bonnie said, looking up at him.
Clemont nodded, before turning to Ash. “I’ve got a plan, but we’ll need some free space. You’ve looked at the map, right? What do you think?”
They don’t have a room, and the cafeteria and other public places were out as well. But that’s what Nurse Joy would think, right?
“You’re not saying…” Bonnie started, looking between the two boys in front of her. “No. You’re both crazy!”
Ash merely shrugged and shared a look with Clemont, both of their mouths curling into something that could definitely be classified as worrying. “If that’s what it takes,” he said, adjusting his cap as they walked on forward.
Pikachu hopped off Ash and stayed next to Bonnie instead as the group headed deeper into the Pokémon Centre, an almost worried ‘chuu’ whispered in the stilted, bubbling silence.
In all honesty, Serena didn’t mean to wander too far or for too long.
Scatterbug was distrustful, preferring to wander around the ground on its own many feet. This meant that it was easy to lose, terrifyingly easy to accidentally step on (thank goodness it never came to that) and a little too stressful for Serena to keep track of the time it took to calm it down.
“Scatterbug, wait for me!” she called out as she found herself looking for it once again, squatting down and slowly making her way forward by one ungainly step at a time. Some stalks of grass rustled and she found herself smiling as she went closer to it, seeing Scatterbug panting as it turned towards her. She offered her hand again, quietly saying, “Come with me. I won’t hurt you, I promise.”
“Scatta?” It held a questioning expression as it sniffed her hand, looking up at her and opening its mouth so that its single tooth caught the light. “Bah?”
The ground shook again, and Serena quickly scooped up the bug and held it close as a Buneary bounced by. Scatterbug shivered against her, and she found her heart melting as she pulled her hands away from herself to look at it and give it her best reassuring smile. “It’s not safe for you to go out on your own, especially since you weren’t completely healed yet. If you let me help, you can find what you’re looking for a lot sooner. Okay?”
The Pokémon wiggled its antenna in thought, before chirping in agreement. It then started to push itself up, pointing at her hat, and she pulled it down. “Do you want— Okay, that’s pretty cute.” Scatterbug squeaked happily as it ran around the rim of her hat, looking happy, and Serena wasn’t going to take that away. “If you want, you can stay there? Alright, but make sure you don’t slip off, and warn me if anything happens."
With that settled, Serena tried to look for where the Pokémon Centre was. The sun was already reaching its zenith when they first arrived at the Centre, and now it was already going down and dropping steadily since. The forest was thick and as Serena felt around her pockets, she realised that she left her portable device with the others. Back in the Centre.
The place she is looking for.
Serena shook her head and adopted a determined face. Someone will come for her, right? And in the meantime, she can try to ascertain their location. She must’ve learnt at least a little from summer camps, videos and books.
Some time of aimless wandering, attempted climbing up trees and calming down an easily spooked Scatterbug later, there was a slight roaring sound in the distance. Serena listened in as the tiny Pokémon shivered in its place, trying to figure out whether it was coming near or coming towards them. Wait, there were other sounds as well… footsteps, coming closer… some whispering… louder motor sounds…
Then a hand shot out from the closest tree right onto her shoulder.
Serena jumped but the hand holding her shoulder was steady, pulling her down before the loud sound of a motorbike drove by them. She turned around to see Ash close by, looking over his other shoulder to check around before sticking up a thumbs up at the trees on the other side of the path, where both Clemont and Bonnie came out.
Her heartbeat thudded in her ears so loudly she could barely hear her next words. “Guys…”
“It’s good to see you too, Serena!” Ash gave her a lopside smile, taking his hand away as he rose to his feet and dusted himself off. The others came around, looking similarly dirty (and in Clemont’s case, winded) as they warily looked around them.
The Kantonian was so bright in front of her as he offered a hand towards her and she took it, her fingers wrapping around his and their heartbeat matching beat for beat until— “And how is Scatterbug? Still with you?”
Serena let out an embarrassing squeak as said Pokémon crawled around the rim of her hat to take a look at the newcomers, chirping happily when it recognised their faces. Ash took his hand out of Serena’s as he went to pat Scatterbug on the head with a finger, beaming at it. “Aww, you’re doing great, aren’t you? You’re lucky to have Serena look after you like that.”
“Both of you should limit your contact with Scatterbug,” Clemont called as he freed his leg from a bush he stepped into. Shaking his shoe, he then approached them, adjusting his glasses as he peered at the Pokémon who curled up at the focus. “Hmm, looks like Scatterbug doesn’t like attention.”
“Or maybe it doesn’t like you!” Bonnie was grinning as she popped up beside her brother, waving towards the Bug Type. “Isn’t that right? Big, scary Clemont’s no fun to be around, isn’t it?”
Ash laughed and the air felt lighter for it, even though Clemont was sputtering and Bonnie was grinning and Serena felt full, too full at this moment. Finally maneuvering her tongue to a speaking position, she said, “I think we should help find Scatterbug’s home.”
The air fell to sudden silence.
Serena steeled herself as she took down her hat, watching the tiny Pokémon on it. It pasted on a determined face and squeaked loudly, seemingly agreeing with what she said. Looking over at the others she continued, “I found Scatterbug trying to leave, and it really seems to want to find its friends again. I know that it looks… not very ideal to backtrack, but I think if we look around the place where we first found Scatterbug we can find some clues to help it get home. It’s fine if none of you want to, but I thought that I might as wel— ”
“I’ll do it,” Ash declared, stepping forward and looping an arm around her neck. Serena meeped and hugged the hat closer to herself, causing Scatterbug to huff in annoyance.
“Me too!” Bonnie sing-songed, tugging her dress and flashing her with a big smile.
Even Clemont gave her a nod and added, “We’ll all help Scatterbug, no matter what. And anyways, we came this far.”
The teen girl thought about it, still feeling a smile bloom on her face as she asked, “How did you all find me?”
The three turned to each other, looking faintly embarrassed before Ash piped up with, “How about we talk about it later.”
“We’ve got a long walk ahead of us…”
“And it’s a long story.” And then he flashed her a smile and, well, you know what happened next.
(In her defense, she was very much willing to let go of the subject if anyone asked! And not just Ash!)
“W-What? Camp out? Really?”
Ash paused, looking back at her as he set up one of the tents. The sky was bordering on darkness, the sun already hugging the horizon. The weak light somehow still highlighted his face though, not that Serena would know. “Yeah? We obviously can’t go back to the Pokémon Centre, and we’re too far away from the next town.”
The others were milling about, setting up the table and the campfire and the pots and plates. Serena was standing in the middle, her hand still gripping the portable device (that she finally got back) as everyone else around her moved.
It was stupid, to be honest. Of course a journey was going to involve staying outdoors at night as well as in the day. She even used to dream about it when she first started her journey…
But it was one thing to have camped when being a young child, under adult supervision and with many others around in the same place, and another thing to camp out with a group of friends, no gear, and a new Pokémon.
She gulped.
Bonnie peeked at her as she skipped by with the cans of diced tomatoes, slowing her gait as she called out, “Are you okay, Serena? You look like you’ve been hit with Hypnosis or something.”
Said girl tried to regain control of her tongue, repeatedly swallowing as she forced herself to close the screen and not think about how far away civilization is. How the nearest Pokémon Centre is the one they escaped from. How they still don’t know where Scatterbug came from. “Um… just asking, how many times have you camped out before?”
“Oh, tons of times!” Bonnie flapped one hand out dismissively, holding the cans against her chest as she walked towards where her brother was. “I even got my own tent, see?”
“She can’t,” Clemont said dryly, which earnt a raspberry from the younger girl.
“You’ll get used to it,” Ash added, patting her back all of a sudden and causing her to stiffen up. The Kantonian chuckled as he then removed his hand, giving her a friendly wave before throwing his hands out. “There’s seeing the stars, and being all huddled up next to nature, and having fun without a curfew. Being alone with the ones you love, no distance between you…”
Serena couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Was Ash…? Could he really? “But I… don’t have a tent.”
“Is that all?” At her blank expression, Ash jabbed a thumb to his chest. “Serena, let me tell it to you straight—” I love you, I've always thought about you since the Summer Camp, how did I ever live my life without you, stay with me and we’ll unlock new heights together as a c— “I forgot my tent at home. In Kanto.”
Oh. Well. That was one way he could’ve ended it.
“It’s true, you can’t be doing worse than him,” Bonnie agreed as Serena’s ears turned a lovely shade of red that could rival the sunset.
“Bonnie!”
“Coming!” She walked over with the cans, leaving Ash and Serena standing together.
Alone.
Under the big navy night sky.
Serena twiddled her thumbs, trying and failing to look at Ash. The moon was framing him, his blue jacket almost blending in with the night. His eyes and hair almost shared the same hue under the darkness. She tried to open her mouth to ask the question. Her breath failed.
He was just so beautiful. So kind. So brave.
She…
“Well, since you don’t have a tent, you can sleep in my place!” Ash said cheerfully, giving her a thumbs up. “I’m fine with camping outside tonight.”
He’s fine with what? “No, no, it’s totally fine—“ she blabbered, feeling the rest of her face join the colour of her ears.
“Oh! If you’re doing that, Ash, that means that you can use my tent! I’ll just sleep with my brother again.” And there was Bonnie, joining them again with such a big smile.
Two incredibly happy people in front of her, proud of their solution. Serena sighed. They were very generous after all… “Okay, thank you very much.” She looked around, realising that she hadn’t done much. “Is there anything you’d want me to do?”
“Well there is the setting of the tables—“
“We need to set up the other tent!”
“And get the Pokémon ready as well—“
It was a flurry of movement in the next twenty-so minutes, Serena finding her mind blanking as she went around the campsite: bringing out plates, trying to find the jars of Pokémon food in the mess known as Clemont’s bag, taste-testing the pasta sauce. By the time she sat on her seat she felt exhausted, wiping her head as the warm dish sat in front of her.
Looking up at the sky, her breath caught a little. It looked so wonderful— the vast sheet spreading above their heads, steam wafting towards the heavens, pinpricks of light already visible. Ash caught her awed look and grinned, and Serena found that blush coming back again as she went back to staring at her food.
(At the very least, eating indoors wasn’t half as magical.)
Once she ate her fill she quickly excused herself to check on Fennekin (who was fine, preferring to eat next to Serena) before walking over to Scatterbug itself. It seemed to have left its bowl full, staring at it forlornly as the other Pokémon chowed down around it. Serena bent down and tapped her knee to gain its attention. “What’s wrong, Scatterbug?”
The tiny Pokémon shook its head at the pellets, looking upset at them. Chespin tried to steal one of them. Serena caught the paw. “Do you not like the food?”
“Sca…” Scatterbug crawled away, antennae wiggling about as it moved about. Serena stood up and went to follow it, freeing her hands as she made sure to not accidentally step on her friend.
After some searching around the area, the Pokémon perked up and jumped on a particular flower, greedily chewing on it. “Oh, so you eat plants! I’ll make sure to stock up on that kind.”
Scatterbug nodded its head, small cheeks all bunched up as it swallowed its mouthful of bright yellow petals. Serena sat by it and watched it clear out complete swaths of the plant, only stopping after its belly was bulging from the amount it ate. Finally content, it promptly went to sleep, curling up and snoring quietly to itself.
…It looked so peaceful, Serena realised. It’s strange to think about the dire circumstances that they met it in, but now, underneath the cool night, there was a blissful lack of panic and stress, of worry and shadowy threats. Now, even time seemed to hold still, holding its breath.
Scatterbug looked so happy at this moment. Could it be dreaming of its family? Of its home? Serena couldn’t tell. But as she gently cupped the Pokémon and placed it in the inside of her overturned hat, walking over to the campsite once more, she made a small promise to herself.
That no matter what, the last thing she will see of Scatterbug was its radiant smile, pure and brighter than the sun itself.
Packup was a lot less glamorous than mealtime was.
Serena groaned as she carried off the dirty plates, side-eying the merry skips of Bonnie and the lazy lounging of Ash. “They don’t waste time,” she muttered, and Clemont sighed in reply as he left the kettle to simmer on the tripod.
There were the plates, the cutlery, the table, the cups. Pots and empty cans and the apron that was still drying after a particular incident following an annoyed Froakie and a misplaced Vine Whip. Serena hadn’t anticipated a camping night and so didn’t have any macarons or PokéPuffs, something that she will remember for next time.
As it was though, there were plenty of other activities to be occupied with, and she just dodged an empty can that was kicked up between Bonnie and Dedenne, so there was no time for regret. Just bustling work and busy hands and shared tired smiles and Ash rubbing his stomach next to an equally full Chespin, Pikachu having already found his way back to the sleeping bag outside the tents.
After calling back their Pokémon, Serena slumped downwards, her knees screaming for mercy as they embraced the blades of grass underneath it. “Are we finally done no—“
“Campfire stories!” Ash yelled as he launched himself at the ground next to said campfire, a massive smile on his face as he wiggled his fingers at the others. Clemont sighed as he walked over with his mug and tablet, already looking bored as he sat to the side of the Kantonian, while Bonnie skipped forward and patted a seat next to herself for Serena.
Serena was… confused. And still tired. “Campfire stories?” she asked as she took the seat, already dreading the answer.
“Don’t try to leave,” was all Clemont supplied, already watching the screen as he took a sip. Scatterbug’s snores radiated out from within her overturned hat as Ash clapped his hands twice, rubbing his hands afterwards as he took a deep breath.
“One day, there was a Pokémon.”
“He always starts his stories like this,” Bonnie whispered, rolling her eyes even as her posture was alert. Serena nodded, already watching in rapture.
He looked so natural here, so in his element, as he stood above the campfire and made flowing movements and narrated the tale. “This Pokémon wanted, more than anything, to see the world beyond its home. It was curious and hadn't went out for hundreds and thousands of years, so it was lonely. Of course it wanted to go outside! But there was a problem: it was tied to a spell to never leave its home.”
The girls gasped, and even Clemont made a thoughtful hum. Ash grinned, but there were notes of sadness in that smile. Before Serena could contemplate it further, he dramatically followed it up with, “Of course, it’s dream was going to come true, though. Some travellers found it and heard about how the Pokémon wanted to see the sea, its most favourite place, and they stayed with it. They played around with it, fed it some food, even saw its mysterious power! But the hardest thing was helping it to escape.”
“But it found some friends,” Serena found herself asking, before slapping a hand to cover her mouth. Bonnie raised her eyebrows as Ash laughed, and the teen girl felt her cheeks flush once more. Why did she say that? What did she even mean by that?
Ash was too kind, nonetheless. “Yeah, that’s true. But if you have a dream, you would want it to come true, right? Not much can replace that.”
Did Serena ever wanted like that? She couldn’t tell. Bowing her head she made a squeak in response to that, and the storyteller gave her a thumbs up before returning to his tale, holding his hands up as the fire crackled and his voice lowered. “But I forgot to mention one thing. There was a man who had heard the stories about the home of that Pokémon, because it used to be his ancestors' home as well, and he wanted it to be as perfect as it used to be. He went to capture the Pokémon to use its power to move their home back to where it once was.”
“That’s terrible!” Bonnie cried, hands tightly gripping her knees.
“Definitely terrible.” And there it was— that haunted look. The quickest shadow. Serena rubbed her eyes but that smile looked so perfect, so nice, and she didn’t want to interrupt again, even though his tone was still low. “That man was selfish, thinking that he knew everything, thinking that he had the right to move someone’s home like that. Even though he knew it would hurt the Pokémon. Even though it would hurt everyone else.” His countenance brightened suddenly and it felt like tonal whiplash. “But the travellers helped the Pokémon get free, its friends came to help, and the home was placed back to its usual resting place. And hey! Because of all that, the spell was lifted and the Pokémon was finally able to travel the world once more!”
“I’m not going to question even half of that,” Clemont muttered as he put the tablet down, looking vaguely cynical of the whole story. Ash laughed and patted the scientist’s back with his usual jolly enthusiasm, and Serena let out the breath she didn’t know she was holding.
“That sure was a story,” she said, sounding so quiet even to her own ears. Bonnie took Serena’s hands into her own and started to babble about the Pokémon, about the home and a cool epic sword fight that totally didn’t exist, and she felt her heart calm down a little.
A Pokémon. Its home. A selfish human being thinking that they had the right to it.
Serena was going to help Scatterbug find its home, but she’s not going to be like that. She’ll respect it. Care for it. And she’ll let it go when it’s time, because she’s not selfish at all.
She glanced over at Scatterbug, watching its tiny body rise up and down. Yeah, she can’t imagine being that selfish.
She woke up with the gasp, no recollection of anything but a twisted feeling and deep-seated emptiness.
Rubbing her eyes, Serena checked the screen of her portable device. 11:02. It was late, but not as late as it usually was. Maybe there was something about camping…
Groaning and stretching upwards, she pushed her hair back and crawled towards the tent door. A brief flash of guilt ran through her, that everyone made a space for her to sleep in and yet she was trying to sneak out, but she shook it off. Only a few minutes. Just some fresh air, and then she will try again.
Walking out of the tent was such a stark difference from her sleep. It looked so much more brighter than what was behind her eyelids, even as the trees painted sharp shadows against the sky, and Serena couldn’t help but breathe out in awe.
“Pretty, isn’t it?”
She screamed and jumped back and Ash clapped his hands by his ears in surprise. Oh. It’s Ash.
“Sorry,” Serena said as she glanced at him. The boy waved at her, still rubbing one of his ears as he patted a spot next to himself. His sleeping pack was underneath him, and somehow Pikachu was still asleep, or at least a quick sleeper after that commotion. “How long have you—“
“Some time, not too long.” He flashed her a grin, and she gave him a small one in return. “So, what’s got you walking around?”
She shrugged, still not knowing the words to her predicament. Ash took it in stride, watching as she sat next to him, a few handbreadths away from his own body.
They were so close. Underneath the same sky. Not even back in Kanto did they share this sort of intimacy.
Serena should be so happy. She is, in a way.
(She still can’t stop thinking about that story and about Scatterbug. About that tiny twinge in her heart whenever she thinks of the word ‘leave’.)
“Aren’t you a little… upset? That I took Scatterbug like that?”
Ash stretched his arms out and shook his head while she asked the question, seemingly already anticipating how this was going to go. “...Nah. if that’s what Scatterbug wants, then that’s that.”
He said it so confidently. Serena wished she could be that confident. Pulling her legs up, she stared back at the campfire. It was still up, she noticed, and that’s something that will take some getting used to. It’s been far too long since she last camped out beyond fantasies and daydreams. “I think Nurse Joy didn’t trust us with it. She was surprised when you left to get the others, and asked me to let her know when you came back.”
“Geez, do I really look that bad?” A singular laugh echoed in the campsite.
The fire crackled.
The boy adjusted his seating, smiling at her. Ash was smiling at her . She should be happy and so, so grateful (that Scatterbug gave her this chance, that the group gave her this chance, that Fennekin and the Professor and this journey gave her this chance). “Hey, don’t worry,” he said softly, putting a hand on her arm. It felt warm. “I’m sure it’s nothing, and even if it isn’t, well, we can clear it up when we visit the place again.”
“You’re right.” What was she thinking? She turned her gaze back to the fire, thinking about her journey once again. It started in Santalune, or at the Pokémon lab, or with Fennekin, or at that split second where she watched a tiny Ash on screen plummet off a national building.
Life was so precious, she realised then.
“Well, feel free to stay out here as long as you need.”
It’s 11:11. They don’t know it yet, but they both made a small wish in their hearts— Ash looking ahead, as always, and Serena looking up.
They are so tiny underneath the massive canvas that was the sky.
“You seem to be out a lot at night, Ash.”
“Really? Hmm. I guess I just like watching the stars sometimes. And thinking.”
“What do you think about?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know?”
Small, meaningless chatter. Fire, the night, and two teens trying to map the sky.
These moments were so precious. So fleeting. Almost impossible.
(But they were possible, because she was living in it right now. And maybe that’s better than having a dream.)
The next morning came, as sure as anything.
Serena rubbed her eyes as she made her way to the table, slumping her head on its surface once she sat down. A small chuckle echoed from out of her sight, and she groaned. “It’s my hair, isn’t it?”
“Not really.” There was a glimmer of a smile in Clemont’s voice as he mixed in the ingredients before setting the kettle to boil.
A few minutes of seconds.
She raised an eyebrow. “So?”
“So?”
“The reason why you were laughing.”
There was a coughing sound that followed. “Er, it’s nothing.”
“It’s something.” Serena straightened her neck, glaring at him light-heartedly. “C’mon, just tell me—“ She shrieked, jumping to her feet and knocking her chair down, staring right in front of herself.
Hanging on her hair in between her eyes was Scatterbug, who was cheerfully chirping at her.
“Whatsa noise…” Bonnie sleepily mumbled as she trudged out of the tent, stepping around Ash’s prone form to sit next to where Serena previously sat. The young girl pushed up the hood of her onesie to squint at the teen next to her, before proclaiming, “There's Scatterbug.”
“I know!” She tried to cup the Pokémon with one hand, untwining it from her hair and gingerly placing it on the table. Breathing out a sigh of relief, she then took her seat again and patted its head, somehow finding the strength to smile even after that startling moment. “You sure get around, little one.”
A popping sound announced the subsequential pitter-patter of small feet, before a green head appeared next to the two girls. Bonnie moved a little out of the way for Chespin before patting his head. “Che, che!”
“Looks like Chespin is ready for breakfast!” Bonnie giggled, following Clemont’s tired sigh.
Serena shook her head before looking back at Scatterbug. It was such a small thing and yet so energetic. The day just started and yet she couldn’t imagine going through any more disasters. “I’ll need to get dressed,” she said aloud to herself, before getting up once more. “Scatterbug, are you fine with staying outside?”
“Sca, scatta!” It nodded enthusiastically, spraying some black glitter and causing Chespin to fall off the bench in a desperate panic. Serena laughed before walking back to the tent that she borrowed from Bonnie, getting out her clothes, readying herself for the day ahead of them.
“No, Scatterbug, he is not food!”
Whatever that day may bring.
Returning back to the table, she pulled Scatterbug off Chespin’s spines, patting the Grass-Type in consolation as he shivered in place and pawed off the saliva that was left in place. Today’s breakfast seemed to be porridge again; Serena raised an eyebrow to Clemont, who shrugged at her, before sighing and taking a serving of her own, sitting on the table once more.
Just casually eating. Getting ready for the day ahead of them. Nothing special or world-breaking here.
“So, what are we going to do about Scatterbug once we do find its home?”
Serena looked up at Clemont, who shrugged as he set his bowl on the table. “A Bug-Type like Scatterbug isn’t usually that rare, but with the way that it was that weak along with Nurse Joy being that protective makes me think there is more to it than what meets the eye.”
“So are you saying that it is rare?” Bonnie looked intrigued, wiggling her pointer finger in front of the Pokémon.
Serena was feeling distinctly different, having caught the grave tone underneath Clemont’s passive countenance. “When you mean rare, you don’t mean…”
The inventor shrugged, but that wary feeling didn’t let up. “I don’t know much about Bug-Types, to be honest, so you probably shouldn’t really take me that seriously.”
“Take what seriously?” The table shook as Ash slammed his bowl next to Clemont, liquid just barely sloshing out with the force of the action.
The two of them quietened at that. Dedenne squeaked from the bag as Bonnie lifted it onto the table’s surface, seemingly awake or at least awakening. A game of chase was then initiated between mouse, caterpillar and hedgehog.
Ash raised an eyebrow expectantly, looking around the three of them, and Serena felt her cheeks lit up involuntarily. Clemont shook his head and turned to his bowl, and Bonnie filled up the silence with, “We were just talking about Scatterbug!”
The tiny Pokémon sneezed at its name, causing the other two to jump in surprise, Dedenne falling onto his keeper’s lap. Bonnie giggled and ducked underneath the table with the mouse in tow, bringing the game to the ground instead. The queasy feeling didn’t let up in Serena.
Ash opened his mouth before shutting it, a sudden glint lighting up in his eyes. “Wait! I forgot, but…” He rummaged through his pocket, pulling out his Pokédex right when Pikachu walked up beside him. “Now that it’s daylight, I can finally check it out!”
Scatterbug meeped as the device was held in front of it, Ash sticking his nose in closer as he read the information off his screen. Serena also reached towards her Pokédex, remembering that it existed to make learning about Pokémon easier rather than just being a glorified square in her own pockets.
As it was, there didn’t seem to be many exciting details about it. A pure Bug-Type, its powder was poisonous, zero point three meters tall, alert to sounds, likes sour food. Serena closed her Pokédex and just patted Scatterbug once more, smiling as it started to relax even as Ash rattled out its strong and weak points. “Don’t worry,” she murmured, pulling out some of the flower petals from a punch in her bag in front of it. “I’m fine with just working with you as you are rather than just looking at a screen.”
“Still not sold on the Pokédex?” Clemont said, raising an eyebrow as he put his spoon back in his bowl.
Serena shrugged. “No, it’s just that…” She gazed at the way the Pokémon tore into the flowers, chirping happily as it did so. “The Pokédex doesn’t say anything about how Scatterbug’s favourite flowers to eat are daffodils.”
“I can add it in if you want?” Ash said, but Serena shook her head. It wasn’t that, per say, but something else. She couldn’t really put her finger on it.
“It’s nothing,” she concluded, going back to her food once more. The boys shrugged themselves before digging in, and the morning was bright, glowing, golden.
Bonnie stretched herself after crawling out from underneath the table as Clemont pressed a button on the side of it, promptly yelping as a green tail with a red tip pointed out from the collapsed form of said table. Ash pulled out his Pokéballs and greeted his Pokémon, giving them their food and once again failing to stop an argument that started up between Fletchling and Froakie.
Serena sat on her own next to Fennekin, face cupped in her hands as she watched her Starter enjoy the Pokémon food. The thought that Clemont had planted in her head wouldn’t leave, that something bad had happened to Scatterbug because of what it was. No matter what the Pokédex said, this was a Pokémon— a friend, a potential companion, it probably even had a family somewhere. She looked over to where she laid her hat on the wide rock next to her, Scatterbug dozing off on it. “I’ll help you find your home,” she whispered to it, feeling that resolve sink into her heart.
She will make this happen.
(Fennekin watched her, eyes the colour of liquid roses.)
Bringing out her portable device, Serena checked the area around them. They weren’t too far from the forests that surrounded where they first met Scatterbug— from there, they could hopefully find enough clues to get properly going. She stood up and stretched, waving her hand out to the others and preparing for today’s hike.
For once, a destination mapped out by her own choice.
For once, helping someone else complete their own goal.
The trek was as standard as they came, with long twisting roads and interspersed trees lining or interrupting it. As usual Ash was leading ahead, with Serena following and Bonnie between them, a quickly tiring Clemont behind everyone else. As usual Scatterbug chose to stay up in her hat and Fennekin took up the space between her arms, watching the view from the height of Serena’s chest. Not as usual (but still welcome), Team Rocket did not hijack their path, and soon enough they were close to the original site.
“Just a little more!” Ash cheered towards the back as the road became more rough, tightly-packed dirt with small rocks pebbled in between. Clemont let out a loud gasp in response, once again grasping his knees as he stumbled forward with Bonnie pushing him on his back. Serena was just about to think about the situation at hand, looking behind with a pursed lip, when a yelp sounded from ahead of her.
Her heart squeezed.
“What kind of lousy criminal returns to the scene of the crime?”
Scatterbug cried and ran to the back of her hat.
“What’d you call me?!”
A rope looped around Ash’s hand, and the Trainer yelped as he got pulled backwards and twisted his head to face the angry Officer Jenny to the side of him, her motorcycle still running as it leaned against one of the trees nearby.
“I can’t believe that Dazzle would go so low as to work with children, but—“ An experimental tug and a pained yelp as the officer leered at him— “Then again, you’re not really a child, are you?”