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Chapter Text

Ash sighs. Ever since the end of the Alola League, he’s been dealing with an odd feeling of emptiness. He’s finally done it- he won a Pokemon League. But what is there to do now? The school year is over. Professor Kukui and Burnet have their own lives, so they probably don’t want him in the house. All of his friends are busy and likely wouldn’t enjoy being bothered. So what’s left for him?

“Well,” Kukui suggests when Ash poses the topic to him, “I’ve heard of this thing called the World Coronation Series. You enter at a certain rank, and every match you win improves your rank. Try it out and see how far you can go!” 

Ash smiles at the man who has become like a father to him. “Thanks, Professor! I’ll give it a shot!” 

With that decided, Ash grabs the first flight back to the ranch. It’s a changed crowd from over the years- Charizard is back in the Charicific Valley, and Sceptile has moved in with his mate back at the tree. Totodile felt that he was better off with Misty at the Cerulean Gym, (Ash always knew she’d really caught it) and is now a happy Croconaw who calls Ash every week. Without two of his most powerful Pokemon and one of the liveliest, Ash’s team feels incomplete. 

However, the ranch isn’t without its new additions. A Flygon moved in while Ash was in Alola, and Professor Oak has kindly reserved it a spot under Ash’s name. Apparently, it’s just as much of a battle nut as Ash himself, and constantly picks fights with any Flying or Dragon types. 

The big additions are from Kalos: Goodra and Greninja are both back. Greninja finally defeated the remains of Team Flare’s bioweapon, and Goodra’s marsh is in good hands. It feels good to have them on the team again. 

Ash stares at his Pokemon with pride. “Alright, guys. We’re going to be trying something really difficult for a long time. This will be hard, and I understand if you don’t want to do it. But we’re going to the top of the top- we’re going to take on the likes of Cynthia and Lance. Are you with me?” 

His team roars their agreement, and Ash smiles. 

“Here’s the thing. At the moment, I only have five slots for the team. So whoever’s unsure, you can back out now. I won’t fault you for anything. We’re going to be battling at a much more serious level than you all are used to.” 

To the surprise of nobody, Greninja is the first to step up, taking its rightful place at Ash’s side. They’ve been separated once before, and now that they’ve been reunited, the Bond Phenomenon is going to take the battling world by storm. 

“Nape!” Infernape is just as quick on the draw as Greninja, and Ash smiles at his strongest Sinnoh teammate. Infernape is incredible on his own, but Blaze provides him with a power boost akin to Legendaries. If he hadn’t been so tired from his battle against Paul, Ash has no doubt that the Fire type could have beaten Tobias. 

Don’t say that, he chides himself, you were the reason you lost that battle. Not your Pokemon. 

“Swel-LOW!” The shriek of a Boomburst confirms Ash’s next teammate. Swellow has been training her tailfeathers off, learning powerful moves and honing her speed. She’s battled all of Ash’s fliers, and only Charizard is strong enough to keep her in check.

“Ess.” Calmly, almost catlike, Espeon strides over to Ash’s side. His last Unova capture has never been the flashiest member of his team, but she possesses a quiet strength akin to Greninja. With some training, she could be a formidable battler. 

That leaves one slot left. Ash’s Pokemon look at each other, seeing the current team. Then, wordlessly, they step aside. Only Flygon remains. 

“You up for this, Flygon? I’ll warn you- there’s no backing out.” 

“Gon!” It says proudly, and Ash can see the spark in its eyes. It wants to win. Ash can respect that.

His team decided, Ash raises his eyes to the sky and pumps a fist. 

“Look out, world. I’m Ash Ketchum, and I’m going to become the very best!” 

Chapter Text

With a yawn and a crack of his neck, Ash steps off the plane and into Wyndon. The immediate thing that stands out to him is the sheer size of the city. He’d done some reading on the plane about the Dynamax phenomenon, but seeing it in person is something else entirely. The stadium is gigantic. 

“Wow.” He breathes, and Pikachu nods in agreement. “Piiiiika.” 

A purple-haired man sees them taking in the sights, and chuckles. 

“First time in Galar?” Ash nods, and the man looks at Pikachu. “That’s a nice Pikachu you have there, kid. You a battler?” 

Ash nods again, this time with confidence. “You bet! My name’s Ash Ketchum, and I’m going to make it to Master Ball tier!” 

The man throws his head back and laughs. “I like your spunk, kid! My name’s Leon, and I’m the current World Coronation Series Monarch. If you want to make it to Master Ball tier, you’ll have to be on my level. Do you think you can do that?” Ash sizes up Leon. He has a confident stance, but it’s not arrogance. No, this is confidence borne from experience. Leon is no joke.

“I’ll give it my all!” Ash proclaims. 

Leon smiles again. “I look forward to seeing you in the Masters’ Eight, kiddo.” He flips his hat around, then walks off towards Wyndon Stadium. Ash looks at Leon’s retreating back, and turns to his team. All six of them are out now. “That’s who we have to beat, guys. Are you ready for this?” Their cries of triumph are all the answer that Ash needs. 

“Alright then! Let’s hop on the train to Motostoke, then we can get registered for the PWC!” But before Ash can take another step, a kid runs up to him. “Hey! You look like a strong trainer! Can we have a battle?” 

Ash smiles, never one to turn down a challenge. “Sure! What’s your name?”

“I’m Hop!” The kid says excitedly, and takes out a Pokeball. “This’ll be my first battle ever! Come on out, Sobble!” 

Ash raises an eyebrow at this. He can’t go all-out against a beginner trainer, but this might be a good way to test out his newest teammate’s skill. “Flygon, I choose you!” 

As the bug-like dragon emerges from behind Ash’s back, Hop gapes. “Wow! You have a Flygon? How long have you been training for?” 

Ash lets out a nervous chuckle. “Five years. Flygon’s my newest catch, though. You can make the first move, so let’s see what Sobble can do!” 

Hop pumps his fist excitedly. “Sobble, this’ll be a great way for us to train! Use Water Gun!” 

“Dodge and hit him with a Breaking Swipe!” But hold back, Ash tries to convey. Flygon doesn’t seem to understand, and sends the little lizard flying backwards. Curiously, it’s not enough to knock Sobble out in a single hit.

“Alright, Sobble, we can’t hit him physically now. Keep using Water Gun!” Impressed at Hop’s knowledge, Ash watches Flygon take the weak attack. Unlike other members of his team, Flygon has no tolerance for the clearly weaker Pokemon, and fires off an unprompted Rock Tomb that boxes Sobble in. Ash raises an eyebrow. Flygon can battle on its own, which is excellent for him, but the insect-like dragon clearly doesn’t understand the concept of holding back. At least he can put Sobble out of its misery with a final attack. 

“Finish it with another Breaking Swipe!” With walls surrounding it on three sides and Flygon covering the opening, Sobble has nowhere to run, and takes the full force of the Dragon type attack. 

Hop winces. The battle is most definitely over at this point. However, just as quickly as the sad look crossed his face, it’s replaced by a look of enthusiasm. 

“Wow! I didn’t know you were such a powerful trainer! You could give Lee a run for his money!” 

Ash chuckles and scratches at his neck. “Well, I’m not there yet. But one day, I’m going to take down Leon and become the next World Coronation Series monarch!” 

Hop grins and pets Sobble’s neck. “I can’t wait to see it!” 

With his goodbyes said, Ash purchases his ticket and hops (ha) on the train to Motostoke. Once there, he can register for the World Coronation Series. The train ride is uneventful, and soon enough, Ash finds himself at the registration desk.

“Why hello! Are you here to register for the Galar Gym circuit?” The attendant asks politely. 

Ash grins. “Nope! I’m here to take part in the World Coronation Series!” 

“Alright, let me look at your League file, then we’ll assign you a rank based on that. Everyone starts in the Normal class, with a rank below 1000…” As the attendant pulls up Ash’s league file, he trails off. 

“Well, this is certainly a surprise! Welcome to the World Coronation Series, Mr. Ketchum. Your official rank is number 1211, though I suspect that you will easily climb higher than that. We wish you luck!” 

A wave and a smile later, Ash sets up camp in the Wild Area. There’s nobody around but him, his team, and loads of wild Pokemon. The Kantonian trainer grins. “Perfect. This is the best possible place to train, guys!” His team hoots and hollers enthusiastically.  

“Now, I want you to split into pairs and start practicing. Swellow, I want you to work on your Boomburst with Pikachu. Try to make it more controlled.” 

“Swel!” The Hoennian bird chirps in agreement. 

“Pikachu, I want you to practice Volt Tackle. Try to minimize the recoil damage that you take while performing the move.” 

“Greninja, Infernape, pair up. Greninja, I want you to try and learn Night Slash. Treat it like Cut, except use the Double Team energy in your blades instead. Infernape, Protect is a super useful move. Try to block Greninja’s Night Slashes.” 

The two warriors acknowledge each other, before squaring up in a clearing far away from the tent.

“Flygon, Espeon, you two are my least experienced battlers. Espeon, you know Calm Mind, right?” 

The feline Psychic-type nods, causing Ash to smile. “Good. I want you to think about releasing that Calm Mind energy outwards- try to hit Flygon. Flygon, let’s work on your agility. Don’t let Espeon hit you.” 

The training is hard, dirty work. Everyone is caked in mud by the time the session is over, but it’s paying off. Greninja seems to have control over Night Slash, and Infernape can manage a decent Protect. The two seem to have formed a bond from their mutual power levels. 

Swellow can now control her Boombursts, aiming them into tight sonic pulses. Her already-odd resistance to electricity is improving with every Electroweb and Volt Tackle from Pikachu. That’s good- Swellow overcoming her Type disadvantage could prove useful against analytical opponents. 

Flygon and Espeon are both showing massive improvements right away. Flygon can dodge anything Espeon throws at it, and the Eeveelution has made the steps towards learning Stored Power.

Ash looks at his team with pride. “Alright guys, let’s wash up and hit the hay. Tomorrow, we’re going to win our first PWC battle!” 

Chapter Text

Pulling up the newest app on his Rotom phone, Ash schedules a WCS battle. It’s against a guy named Nick Karlaftis, ranked 1186. They’re supposed to meet in the Wild Area, near Ash’s campsite. In other words, this is a home-field match for Ash and the crew.

“Listen up, everybody. I’m going to use Swellow and Espeon for this match. The rest of you will get a chance later, I promise.” He turns to his chosen Pokemon. “You two ready for this?” 

“Low!” “Ess!” 

Ash grins. “Then let’s do it!”

A kid around Ash’s age walks over to them. “Hey, are you Ash Ketchum?” 

“Yep! I’m assuming that you’re Nick Karlaftis?”

The other boy smiles. “Right on the money. Let’s see if your battling matches up with your power of observation. Go, Ponyta!” As Nick’s chosen Pokemon emerges, Ash studies it. The purple hair and sparkling hooves imply a Fairy type. Must be a regional form then. 

“Swellow, I choose you!” When Swellow comes out, the first thing she does is size up her opponent. Doesn’t seem all that impressive. 

A Rotom drone flies over. “The PWC match between number 1186 Nick Karlaftis and number 1211 Ash Ketchum will now begin! The match is two on two, with no substitutions allowed by either side. Are the trainers ready?” Both Nick and Ash nod. 

“Then let battle commence!” 

“Alright, Ponyta, start things with a Fairy Wind!”

“Dodge and turn that Fairy Wind around with a Hurricane!” Ash counters. With a powerful flap of her wings, Swellow whips up a cyclone that repels the attack and then some. Ponyta is sent flying, landing shakily on its hooves. 

Nick does a double take. “I thought you were a new trainer!” 

Ash grins. “Nah, just new to the PWC. Boomburst, Swellow!” The blast of sound hits Ponyta dead-on, knocking it over and driving it into the dirt. The Rotom drone flies in to check the damage. 

“Ponyta is unable to battle! Competitor Nick, send in your next Pokemon!” 

Gaping, Nick returns his Pokemon. 

“You’re good, Ketchum. But let’s see how you do against my partner! Go, Linoone!” Another regional variant. This Linoone is black and white, and has an undeniably crazed expression on its face. “Linoone, give them a taste of your Fury Swipes!” 

“Boost yourself with Tailwind, then hit it with Air Slash!” As Swellow fires off the propelling wind, she effortlessly dodges Linoone’s dive. Her followup Air Slash drives it into the ground, with the weasel clearly down for the count. 

“Linoone is unable to battle! The match goes to the challenger, Ash!” 

Nick recalls his Pokemon with an expression of disbelief. “You just three-shotted my team. You should be in Great Ball, at least!” 

Ash grins, then bumps his fist against Swellow’s beak. “Thanks, but we’re not going to stop until we get all the way to Master Ball tier!” 

Nick shakes his head and smiles. “I believe you, dude.” 

Immediately, Ash turns to Espeon. “Want to take the next one, girl?” “Eon!” She purrs excitedly. Ash grins, then pulls out his phone. “Let’s get to it, then!” 

Luckily, the next challenge Ash sends out happens to be to a fellow camper. Terry Farley, rank 1114, has a fiery personality and a cocky streak a mile wide. “You might as well give up now, noob. I’m going to pulverize you! Magmar, you’re up!” 

“Espeon, I choose you!” As Espeon emerges with feline grace, Terry chuckles. 

“Wow. An Eevee evolution? How weak are you?” 

Espeon lets out a guttural growl, unlike her usual dainty purrs. Ash almost wants to copy her. How dare this new trainer pass judgement on his Pokemon! 

“Let’s show this guy just how strong you are, Espeon. Use Extrasensory!” The Psychic attack does massive damage, staggering Magmar and throwing it backwards. 

“Don’t be intimidated by this loser, Magmar. Fire Blast!” As the Fire type charges up its powerful attack, Ash sees an opportunity. 

“Calm Mind, then trip it up with Psychic!” 

Once Espeon boosts herself, she uses Psychic to pull Magmar off-balance. Taken off guard, the opposing Pokemon misses its Fire Blast, opening up an opportunity for Espeon. 

“Set up another Calm Mind!”

Terry grins. “We’ve got you now, noob. Magmar, Burning Jealousy!” 

Ash winces, but takes a breath and returns his attention to the battle. With her boosted stats, Espeon shakes off the attack fairly well. The burn also won’t be much of a factor, since she’s a special attacker anyway. 

“Alright, Espeon, remember what we practiced! Stored Power!” Thanks to the boosts from Calm Mind, Espeon’s attack explodes outwards. Magmar staggers, and falls to one knee. 

“Come on, get up! Hit it with Scorching Sands!” 

Though Magmar gets the attack off, it’s clear that the Fire type is struggling. It’s not prepared for opponents as powerful as Espeon. 

“Let’s finish this with another Stored Power!” 

Espeon lets the attack go, pulsing outwards in a hypnotic spiral of light. Magmar falls. This time, it doesn’t get back up. 

“Magmar is unable to battle!” 

Terry looks incensed. “That was my starter, you noob! Now, deal with my ace! Come on out, Falinks!” 

Ash gives his opponent an unimpressed stare. “Extrasensory.” 

Just as quickly as Falinks came out of its Pokeball, it’s back inside. 

“Falinks is unable to battle! The match goes to the challenger, Ash!” 

Terry stomps his foot. “Hacks! I call hacks!” 

Maybe I’m just better, Ash thinks, but he forces a smile to his face instead. “That was a great battle!” 

“Pfft. Whatever, noob.” Turning on his heel, Terry stalks off towards his own campsite.

Ash looks at Espeon. “You tired, Espeon?” A series of pants gives Ash his answer.

“Come on, I’ll make you some Poffins when we get back to the tent.” Espeon lets out a contented sigh, then returns to her Pokeball. It’s been a good day.

Chapter Text

Ash has very little idea how to make Poffins, so the first thing he does when he gets back to the tent is call Dawn. She isn’t happy. “Well well well, look who finally remembered that he has a Rotom phone!” 

Ash winces. In his defense, he’d only just acquired a Rotom phone, and he’s too scatterbrained to use it properly. “Hey, Dawn. I need your help.” 

Her mock-scolding tone quickly fades. “Of course, Ash. What do you need?” 

He gives her a sheepish grin. “Teach me how to make Poffins? I totally forgot how to do it, and I promised Espeon some.” 

Dawn sighs and pinches her nose. This boy is going to be the death of her. 

“You know, you could always look up a recipe.” 

“Yeah, but it never makes as much sense as when you explain it.” Ash counters. Dawn gives him an exasperated smile. 

“Okay, so first, you start with the batter…”

Eventually, Ash emerges from the tent with a half-decent batch of Poffins. They’re nothing special, but it’s enough to make Espeon and Swellow very happy. “Thanks, Dawn. They love it.” 

She smiles. “Of course, Ash. I’m a little curious though- why didn’t you call Serena?” 

Ash’s face twists into a confused expression. “Should I have done that?” 

Dawn fights back the urge to facepalm. Arceus above, this boy is still clueless. Dawn has heard Ash’s rambles about Serena, and she’s met the girl herself. The two are so smitten with each other that it would be funny if it wasn’t so sad. “I’m not even going to try with you.” 

Ash tilts his head. “Dawn, you’re my best friend. Be honest with me. Am I screwing something up?” 

“That depends. How much do you value your relationship with Serena?” 

“Huh?” Dawn takes a deep breath upon seeing Ash’s confused reaction. Remember, he’s trying his best. You can’t blame him for that. 

“Ash, what was the last thing Serena did before she flew to Hoenn?” 

Ash thinks for a moment, and all of a sudden, he feels heat rushing to his face. It always happens whenever he thinks of that moment- and he doesn’t know why. Dawn probably does, though.

“Hey, Dawn? I think there’s a word for the way I’ve been feeling, but I can’t think of it off the top of my head.” 

Dawn’s face lights up. “And how have you been feeling, Ash?” 

“Well, whenever I think of Serena, my whole face feels hot, and my hands start to shake. And all I can think about is how important she is to me. Is there a word for that?” 

Dawn positively beams. “Ash, that’s what happens when you like someone. As in, like them.” 

Ash’s quiet “oh” is all she needs to hear before a squeal of excitement escapes her. 

“Ash, you have to tell her!” Ash winces and scratches at the back of his neck. 

“I don’t want to pressure her into it, though. I should wait for her to do this on her own terms.”

“Screw that! Ash, Serena has been pining over you for years. The two of you are some of my best friends. You are flying to Hoenn, showing up to her next Contest, and telling her how you feel. Do I make myself clear, Mister Ketchum?” Ash’s ensuing cringe gives the bluenette her answer. 

“Alright, Ash, I’ll call you when I get a date for Serena’s next Contest. Keep winning PWC matches, okay?” 

For the first time over the course of the call, a smile returns to Ash’s face. “You bet!” 

“Bye now!” Dawn hangs up the phone, and as soon as she can, dials Serena. 

“Hey, Dawn, what’s up?” The Kalosian girl answers the phone immediately, sweaty from Contest rehearsal. Milotic and Braixen continue to dance in the background.

“When and where’s your next Contest?” Normally, Dawn’s more tactful than this. But right now, she can’t afford to dance around the issue. This might be her chance to get Ash and Serena together. She can’t pass this opportunity up- not in a million years. 

“Two weeks, in Mauville City. Why are you asking?” Serena’s confused tone makes Dawn resist the urge to grin. Oh, this is going to be so good. 

“No reason!” 

Dawn’s honey haired friend frowns. “It can’t just be for no reason. I know that look, Dawn. You’re up to something, aren’t you?” 

This time, Dawn can’t hold back the smile that spreads across her face.

“I wouldn’t want to spoil the surprise!” And what a surprise it’ll be, she mentally adds. Two people who are absolutely in love with each other, reunited after a year apart. Oh, this is going to be fun. 

Serena smiles and lets out a sigh. “Well, I need to get back to training. See you later?” 

Dawn matches the smile with one of her own. “Always!” As soon as her friend hangs up the phone, Dawn goes to her contacts and shoots off a quick message to Ash. 

Mauville City in two weeks. Be there.

Her work done, Dawn turns to Piplup. “You know, I could really go for milkshakes. Up for it?” 

“Lup!” The little penguin replies happily. It’s never been one to turn down sugar. 

Shaking her head at Dawn’s crypticness, Serena turns back to her team. Sylveon is playing with Pancham, while Braixen and Milotic appear to be sparring. “Alright, everyone, that’s enough for today. We’ll do some more practice tomorrow.” The team gives nods of agreement, with Pancham yawning and pumping his little fist. Serena chuckles and takes the little panda into her arms. “Bedtime, Pancham.” 

When she looks down and sees him asleep in her arms, Serena can’t suppress a little laugh. It’s definitely been a long day, and that much practice is enough to wear anyone out. Sylveon also looks tired, but lets out her “I need to be brushed right now” coo. 

The blue eyed performer laughs again. “Just a minute, Sylveon. I need to get my equipment.” Sylveon gives a disappointed sigh, then walks over to Braixen and Milotic. The latter is a newer addition to Serena’s little team, and Sylveon has gone out of her way to make the sea serpent feel welcome. It’s a sweet gesture from the Pokemon that used to be Serena’s newest. “Eon?” ‘ What are you talking about?’

“Lotic.” ‘Just Serena’s friend. She’s weird.’ Milotic rolls her eyes and tosses her head imperiously. 

“Brai, braixen!” ‘Don’t be rude!’ Braixen chastises. ‘ Besides,’ she adds, ‘we should be worried about Ash. It’s been months.’ 

‘I still don’t understand why this Ash person is so important. If he’s Serena’s mate, why isn’t he here?’ 

‘Human relationships are complicated, Lottie. Ash and Serena both have their own dreams.’ 

Serena looks over at her Pokemon curiously. “What are you talking about, everyone?”

“Braix!” When her starter makes a kissy face, Serena blushes and looks away. It’s been a year, and she’s still not over the airport. Arceus, that was such a stupid thing to do. 

“What’s done is done.” She reminds herself as she begins to brush Sylveon’s fur. Ash has probably forgotten all about me. 

Oh, how wrong she hopes she is. 

Chapter Text

Two weeks is a lot of time for a person like Ash, and before long, he’s on the verge of Great Ball tier. Espeon has quickly become a major threat, learning moves like Psyshock and Dazzling Gleam. Flygon is slowly adapting to the team, learning Iron Tail from Pikachu. The electric mouse seems to have taken his draconic teammate under his wing, though Pikachu often finds himself underneath Flygon’s literal wings. 

Infernape and Greninja have taken up regular spars with each other, with Greninja having fully learned Night Slash. Ash, realizing the versatility of this move, subsequently moves to using it over Cut. 

However, Infernape is growing restless. It’s been ten matches, and Ash hasn’t used him yet. 

“Infern!” He protests when Ash sends out Flygon. “I know, buddy. Just wait for Great Ball, okay?” “Naape.” The Sinnoh starter finally settles, before watching Ash and Flygon battle.

“Let’s finish things off with Iron Tail!” “Fly!” With a spin, the Dragon-type jerks forwards and slams into its opponent with the attack. The opposing Elgyem faints. “Elgyem is unable to battle! Which means that the match goes to the defender, Ash!” 

Ash’s opponent, a girl named Jen, returns her Elgyem. “Wow, you’re crazy strong!” 

“Thanks!” Ash says happily. Then, he checks his phone. The plane to Mauville City leaves in six hours, so that’s probably enough time for one more battle.

“We’re ranked 1005 now, guys! One more win, and we’ll be in Great Ball tier!” Ash says excitedly. The team roars their affirmation. Ash receives a ding on his phone, then checks it. “Looks like there’s an opponent nearby!” 

He clicks the notification. “According to this, they’re ranked 823. Seems like a good challenge, right guys?” Thinking for a moment, Ash looks at his Sinnoh ace with pride in his eyes. 

“You up for this one, bud?” 

“Ape!” The warrior pounds his chest proudly. He’s always up for a fight- why would now be any different?

Scrolling the app, Ash looks for information about his opponent. And… it’s Trip. As in, the Trip from Unova. The wannabe Paul who beat a Pikachu weakened by Zekrom. The one who Ash somehow lost to multiple times. Man, Zekrom really did a number on him in Unova. He turns to Infernape. 

“Infernape, this match just got a lot more personal.” 

Within an hour, Trip shows up to the campsite. “Well, well, well. If it isn’t Ash Ketchum. Ready for me to get my revenge?” 

Ash raises an eyebrow, unimpressed with his former rival. He talks a big game, but he’ll be eating those words soon. 

“Look, are we going to do this or not? I’ve got somewhere to be.” 

Trip smirks arrogantly. “Oh, this’ll be over fast. Especially if you send out any of your normal team. Serperior’s been itching for a rematch with that Pikachu.” 

Ash looks distinctly unimpressed. Many of his Unova team were young and inexperienced, and with his reset, he hadn’t had time to adequately train them. Trip’s going to be in for a Distortion of a surprise if he expects Ash’s Unova team. 

“Let’s wrap this up quickly. Go, Serperior!” 

“Infernape, I choose you!” 

As the warrior emerges, staring his opponent down coldly, Trip takes a step back. 

“Where in Zekrom’s name did you find that?”

“Sinnoh. Hey, did you know I was Top 4 in the league there? And that I won the Alola League? I”m not the person you think I am, Trip.” 

Ash doesn’t normally talk about his own achievements, but something about Trip just sets him off. 

Staggered, Trip shakes his head and returns to the battle. Ketchum has to be lying, right?

A Rotom flies over. “The battle between Ash Ketchum, rank 1005, and Trip Shooter, rank 823, will now begin!”

“We’ll take the first move. Use Wrap!” It appears that Trip’s strategy with Serperior hasn’t changed since their Unova days. He still expects to get in close and attack from point-blank range.

“Dodge it with a Flame Wheel!” Infernape generates a circle of fire and sprints to the side. Trip, seeing this, decides to reveal his trump card. A mistake, this early into the battle.

“Use Frenzy Plant!” As the forest of vines springs up, Ash smirks. 

“Infernape, burn through it with Flare Blitz!” The effect of the attack is immediate. Serperior’s vines are burnt to a crisp by Infernape’s flames, and the followup punch sends Serperior sprawling. 

“Serperior, get some space!” Since it can’t attack after using Frenzy Plant, Trip’s starter attempts to slither away.

“Don’t give him an inch, Infernape! Wrap this up with Mach Punch!” Dashing forward, the Fire type grabs Serperior and delivers a staggering uppercut. 

“Serperior is unable to battle! Competitor Trip, send out your next Pokemon!” Trip recalls Serperior with a slack jaw. There’s no way that Ketchum just did that. He must have gotten lucky.  

“I’m counting on you, Conkeldurr!” 

As the Fighting type emerges, Ash decides to go with an old classic strategy. Trip will never see it coming. 

“Use Dig!” Thanks to its superior speed, Infernape is able to get under the ground. Trip scans the field warily. “Be ready, Conkeldurr. Once he comes up, hit him with a Hammer Arm!” Ash grins wickedly. 

“Why would I do that when I could attack from here? Infernape, UNDERGROUND FLARE BLITZ!” The battlefield erupts. Bits of grass and soil go flying everywhere, and Conkeldurr staggers. Infernape comes up for air now, barely showing fatigue from the massive attack.

Trip looks panicked. “Dynamic Punch, finish it off!” 

“Block it with a Mach Punch, then use Flame Wheel!” Once the attacks collide, Infernape summons the Flame Wheel and smacks Conkeldurr in the chest with it. The pure Fighting type winces, as a red aura spreads across his body. 

“Infernape, you just burned him! Finish things with another Flare Blitz!” 

“InferNAPE!” 

The primate screams, then strikes Conkeldurr with a full body rush. Infernape staggers from the recoil damage, but gets back up with a grin on his face. Conkeldurr stays down. 

“Conkeldurr is unable to battle! Which means that the win goes to the challenger, Ash!” Rotom buzzes. Ash grins and high-fives Infernape. “Way to go, buddy!” 

“Infer!” It says proudly. 

Seeing Trip’s shaken face, Ash offers him a handshake. “Good match!” 

Trip bats it away. “It wasn’t. I need to get stronger." He storms off, and Ash shrugs. Trip’s going to be Trip, he guesses. 

An alarm goes off. Ash has five hours to get to the airport. If he wants to get to the train station by walking, it’ll take him an hour. “Alright, gang, let’s go! We’re going to see Serena again!” 

He stops and takes a step back as a thought hits him. “Wait, most of you haven’t met Serena.” 

“Pikapi…” Pikachu sighs disappointedly. 

“Well, all you need to know is that she’s awesome!” Behind Ash’s back, Greninja shoots a wink at Pikachu, his fellow Kalos teammate. They’re going to make this happen or bust.

Chapter Text

Surprisingly, Ash makes it to the airport with two hours to spare. He even has enough time to transfer Lycanroc over from Professor Kukui. 

“Thanks, Professor!” Ash says excitedly, fingering Lycanroc’s Pokeball. The unique wolf barks, tongue wagging happily. He’s with Ash again! This means Good Things! 

“Of course, Ash.” Kukui grins from across the line. “Though I must admit, I’m a little curious. Why are you flying to Hoenn? I thought your PWC challenge was going well.” 

Ash returns the Professor’s grin. “Don’t worry, I’m still in the running! I just had to make this flight so that I could see a friend.” 

Kukui takes note of the blush on Ash’s face, and decides to tease his surrogate son a little bit. After his obliviousness during their time spent together, it’s nice to see the kid getting some action in the romance game. 

“A friend, huh? What’s their name?” 

“Her name’s Serena! She does this thing called Pokemon Contests, and I’m going to see her perform in one!” Ash says excitedly, running his fingers through Lycanroc’s fur. 

Kukui chuckles. Man, his kid is smitten, isn’t he? “Have fun, kiddo. The class and Burnet send their love, by the way.” 

“Tell ‘em that I say hi back!” Ash says, then checks the time. “I gotta go, Professor. Call you back soon?” 

Kukui laughs. “You can call me back anytime, Ash.” 

“Okay, bye!” Ash hangs up the phone and looks at Lycanroc. “Ready to meet Serena, bud?” 

“Roc!” It says happily. This Serena person must be Ash’s mate. Of course he’s excited to meet his Trainer’s mate! 

“Now boarding Corviknight Air flight 939 to Mauville City. Boarding at Gate 18.” 

Ash looks up, then stares at Lycanroc with a smile. “Alright, Lycanroc, time to get in the ball.” 

When Lycanroc whines, Ash sighs. “I know, buddy. I don’t like it either. But the rules say you can only have one Pokemon out at a time, and Pikachu hates his ball.” “Piika.” The little mouse contributes from Ash’s shoulder. With another whine, Lycanroc bumps its nose up against the Pokeball. Ash stands up, grabs his bag, and starts to make his way over to gate 18. He really doesn’t want to miss this flight. 

Hours later, the flight touches down in Mauville City. Ash takes off his headphones and looks at Pikachu. “Well, we’re here. Should we make our way over to the Contest hall?” His stomach lets out a rumble before Pikachu can reply. Ash blushes. “Getting something to eat is probably a good idea, though.” 

“Chu.” 

Before Ash can take another step, he’s wrapped in an Ursaring hug by a blue-haired girl with a Piplup. 

“Ash! It’s been forever!” Once she lets go, Ash can get a good look at her face. She’s grown since they last met, at least an inch. The almost permanent grin affixed to her face hasn’t changed, though. 

Ash matches the girl’s grin with one of his own. “It’s great to see you, Dawn! Do you mind if we get something to eat, though? I’m pretty hungry.” 

The bluenette shakes her head. “It’s always food with you, Ash.” Nevertheless, she allows the Kantonian trainer to run and get a quick snack. 

“So how’ve you been? World Coronation Series going well?” 

“You bet!” Ash grins. “I just made it into Great Ball tier!” 

“That’s- wait, if I say that it’s great, will you laugh at me?” Dawn asks. 

Ash’s grin becomes mischievous. “Maaybe.” 

Pouting, Dawn swipes one of Ash’s fries. 

Ash changes the subject with no amount of subtlety whatsoever, hoping to learn more about Serena. “How have your Contests been going, Dawn?” 

“Great! I’m qualified for the Grand Festival.” The bluenette responds, taking a sip of her cheap soda. She passes the cup to Piplup, then looks at Ash. “Aren’t you more concerned about Serena, though? She has four ribbons already.” 

Ash almost spits out his drink. “Four? But didn’t the qualifications for the Grand Festival just start?”

“Well, she missed the last one, so she’s been trying really hard lately. If she wins tomorrow, she’ll be ready for the Grand Festival!” Dawn explains, a smile on her face. 

When Ash’s face lights up, Dawn takes the chance to push her real agenda for the day. “If Serena wins, it’ll be the perfect time for you to confess your feelings!” 

Ash’s face turns redder than a Tamato berry. “And you’re sure this is the right thing to do?”

“Absolutely!” Dawn says, and Piplup lets out a “Lup!” of affirmation. “Now, come on! We don’t want to be late for the Contest!” She gets up, grabs Ash’s hand, and drags him out of the airport. Nothing is going to ruin this. But as soon as they walk outside…

“Prepare for trouble!”

“And make it double!” 

“To protect the world from devast-”

“Will you two SHUT UP?” Dawn says, clearly close to snapping. 

James looks down at her from the hot-air balloon indignantly. “You can’t interrupt the motto!” 

“Dat’s right!” Meowth adds. “Da motto is sacred!” 

“Look, can I just send you blasting off already? I’ve got a date.” Ash clamps a hand over his mouth as soon as he says it, and Jessie looks at him curiously. 

“Who’s the lucky girl, twerp?” 

Sensing Team Rocket’s interest, Dawn makes her move. “Serena.” 

Jessie lets out a crow of victory. “I knew it!” 

Meowth reluctantly conjures up a Pay Day coin- when did he learn that? 

“Come on! I thought for sure that it would be the angry twerpette from back in Kanto!” The Scratch Cat Pokemon bemoans. 

Ash gags. “Misty? Nah, she’s like my annoying big sister. We get on each other’s nerves, but we still have each other’s backs.”

“Nobody asked for that, Ash.” Dawn deadpans, and James looks straight ahead. 

“That’s all well and good, but don’t we have a Pikachu to nab?” He sends out his Inkay, which Piplup stares at angrily. “Pip!” It protests. 

“Could you guys just leave me alone today?” Ash asks impatiently. 

“You can try to steal Pikachu tomorrow or something. This is really important.” 

Jessie and James look at each other, then nod. 

“Alright, twerp. But just this once! Next time, Pikachu is ours!” Jessie says firmly, her arms crossed. 

Ash tips his cap at the persistent criminal trio cheekily. “I’d like to see you try!” 

With that taken care of, Ash and Dawn sprint to the Contest hall, where Dawn flashes her Pokedex at the security guard. “He’s with me.” She says, gesturing to Ash. The guard nods and lets them inside. Once there, they sit down and wait. It’s time for the show to start.

Chapter Text

Several Coordinators come and go, as Dawn judges them all under her breath. “Sloppy.” She comments after one performance, a boy with a Gulpin who had used various kinds of Natural Gift. 

Ash stares at her in confusion. “I didn’t see anything wrong with it.” Sure, it wasn’t on the level of Dawn or May’s Appeals, but he hadn’t expected it to be. 

Dawn sighs and turns to look at Ash. “Ash, I’m a Top Coordinator. You think I wouldn’t notice small mistakes?” 

Ash simply shrugs in acknowledgment. So far, everything he’s watched has been fine, but it makes sense that Dawn would catch mistakes that he doesn’t see. 

Finally, it comes time for Serena’s Appeal. The Pokemon she sends out is one Ash recognizes, though not from her team. 

“Milotic, let’s begin with an Ice Beam!” 

The attack shoots upwards into the air, and a second Ice Beam creates a frozen cloud. Milotic then begins to Surf, freezing the water as it goes. Every step seems calculated, but Ash can’t see it all come together yet. Then, Serena gives the order to finish with a Dragon Dance, and everything clicks into place. 

Standing before them is a beautiful ice sculpture of the Pledging Tree, one of Ash’s favorite places in Kalos. Everyone gets to their feet, with Ash clapping harder than anyone. Serena looks out at the audience. Her eyes meet Ash’s- just for a second- but it’s enough. Ash watches as she holds back a gasp, then gives a smile that’s only for him. He returns the smile with every fiber of his being.

Serena cruises through the battle rounds with Braixen and Sylveon, easily dispatching her opponents on her way to the finals. In said finals, she’s up against a girl named Lisia. Lisia has two ribbons and is looking for her third, but it’s clear who wants it more. 

“Braixen, Fire Blast! And Sylveon, back it up with Swift!” 

“Dodge it, Altaria!” 

Lisia’s only remaining Pokemon can’t avoid the blow, and her long-fainted Dustox can do nothing but watch. Serena’s attacks combine in a beautiful flare of reddish-pink light, and Altaria doesn’t have time to block. 

“Altaria is unable to battle! Which means that Coordinator Serena has won this contest, and the Mauville Ribbon!” 

Serena’s smile stretches across her face, and she makes sure to look at her Pokemon. “We did it, guys!” 

“Eon!” Sylveon says happily, wrapping her feelers around Serena’s hand. She’s just as excited as her Trainer- they’ve won their fifth ribbon! 

Lisia walks up to the honey haired girl with a smile on her face. “That was a great battle, Serena. I hope to see you at the Grand Festival.” 

Serena returns the smile with one of her own. “I hope the same!” She accepts the Mauville Ribbon from Nurse Joy with a gracious smile, and walks off into the wings. 

From up in the stands, Dawn rises to her feet and tugs at Ash’s hand. “This is your chance! Go down there and talk to her!” 

Ash blushes, but follows Dawn’s lead. A security guard stands in front of the wings, arms crossed and a scowl on his face. “No entry unless you have official access.” He says in a low tone. 

Dawn flashes her Contest ID at the guard with a smirk. “This good enough?” The guard gives a grunt of affirmation, then lets them through. 

Backstage, many of the performers are getting ready to leave. Serena, on the other hand, is listening to something through her headphones. They’re a cheap pair, pink Sylveon themed headphones connected to a small tablet in her hand. Ash knows this tablet, of course- it served the group well through many Kalos adventures. 

Careful not to startle her friend, Dawn taps Serena on the shoulder. “Rena? You there, girl?” 

Serena leaps up as if she’d been hit by Pikachu’s Thunderbolt. “Dawn! I didn’t know you were coming!” 

The two girls immediately hug, and when Dawn takes a step back, a huge grin is plastered across her face. “I saw you out there today, girl. You were on fire! You too, Braixen!” 

“Braix!” The fiery fox accepts Dawn’s high-five with a paw, happy to see Serena’s friend and her fashionable Piplup. 

“That’s not the main reason I’m here, though.” Dawn steps back, and there he is. The Alola Champion. Her six year old self’s best friend- Arceus, her best friend outside of Dawn and her Pokemon. 

“Surprise?” Ash says weakly. 

Serena’s jaw drops. She thought she’d been imagining it. But here Ash is with Pikachu by his side like always, in the flesh. 

“Serena? Are you okay?” He asks concernedly. 

The blonde haired girl nods slowly, still dazed from the reappearance of the boy across from her. “Tell me I’m not dreaming.” She whispers. 

Ash smiles softly, that special smile he reserves only for her. 

“I’m right here, Serena.” 

And at that moment, the Performer lets it all out. Every bottled up emotion since their departure at the airport, all ten months of going to sleep and praying that he hasn’t forgotten her. All ten months of her trying to focus on her goal, ignoring the feeling that a piece of her heart was missing and never going to be given back.

Ash wraps Serena in a tight hug, holding her close as she cries. “Ten months, Ash. Ten months, and you didn’t talk to me. Did I do something wrong?” 

Ash shakes his head, holding back tears of his own. He can’t help it- ten months apart, and he put this wonderful girl out of his mind. Just… didn’t think about anything other than Alola and being in Alola. Arceus above, how could he do that to her?

“I’m so sorry, Serena. I really messed up, I know that. But I’m here now, and I have something to say.” 

Serena takes a hiccuping breath and looks up at Ash, collecting herself. “What is it?” 

Ash takes a deep breath, and Dawn shoots him a thumbs-up. It’s now or never. 

“Serena, you’re the most special person in my life. Ever since that day at the airport, I get Butterfrees in my stomach whenever I think of you. You’re kind, passionate, and really talented. And… I really like you. So,” Ash blushes and stares at his shoes, “Will you go on a date with me?”  

Serena doesn’t say anything for a moment. Then, she hugs Ash even tighter. 

“Of course I will, Ash! I’ve had a crush on you for the longest time.” Both of them blush at this statement. 

“Can I take you out for coffee? Dawn said she knows a place.” 

Serena gives Ash the smile that’s only reserved for him. “Of course, Ash. I’m looking forward to it.” Then, to her surprise, Ash pulls them to eye level. He has an inch and a half on her now, and he’s putting it to good use. 

“Serena?” 

“Yes, Ash?”

“You forgot something at the airport.” 

And then there’s nothing but the two of them, together at last. 

Chapter Text

The next day dawns, and Ash is up bright and early. Ironically, Dawn isn’t. “Don’t wake her, bud.” He whispers to Pikachu, who’s subtly prepping a Thunderbolt for the bluenette snoozing on the couch of the hotel room. “She helped me out with this- the least you can do is let her sleep.”

“Pikachu, pika.” The little mouse acknowledges, letting the electricity die. Ash feels his stomach rumble, and makes a decision.

“Let’s get some breakfast, Pikachu!” His partner pumps his little fist, then jumps to his normal spot on Ash’s shoulder. 

Ash ends up writing Dawn a note and leaving it under her door. Gone for breakfast, will be back soon. He and Pikachu stroll through the streets of Mauville City, taking in the bustling atmosphere. It’s been so long since he was in Hoenn! That battle against Watson feels like forever ago, even when it’s only been three years. Thinking back, it definitely wasn’t his best moment…

Eventually, Ash finds himself at a cozy little diner. Ryan’s is cheap and makes good pancakes, so Ash is happy. They even have ketchup packets for Pikachu. As his partner snacks, Ash starts to run through the date in his head. He and Serena agreed to meet for coffee and lunch, but what’s after that? What if she doesn’t like the person he’s become? 

Ash is well aware that he let himself go in Alola. But can you really blame him? After the chaos of Team Flare, he just wanted to act like a kid. Even as the region’s Champion now, a part of him is hanging on to that Kalos League loss. He’d come so close- trained up his best team, had a power even greater than Mega Evolution on his side- and he’d still come up short against Alain. Then he goes on vacation to Alola, goes to school, and… wins the league. It doesn’t feel right. It almost feels like cheating, to have won so easily. Don’t say that, your Pokemon worked for every inch of that win. It was you who didn’t deserve it. 

“Everything okay, son?” Ash blinks, and stares up into the face of a friendly waiter.

“Just lost in thought. Could I get the check?” The waiter nods, and writes something down. Ash pays for his food, thanks the kind person with a tip, and heads back to the hotel. Once he’s back in his room, Dawn grabs him and shakes his shoulders.

“Ash, I have a surprise for you.”

“Huh?” Intrigued, Ash follows Dawn to the closet. There, freshly pressed in a way only one person can do, is his Kalos outfit. 

“I reached out to your mom, and she sent your clothes over this morning. It’s perfect for your date!”

Ash grins and gives Dawn a quick hug.

“Thanks, Dawn! This is great!”

The Coordinator thinks for a moment. “Crap, you have no idea what to do on a date, do you?”

Ash frowns. “We just hang out, right?”

Dawn nods. “That should work. Now get changed! I want you to surprise Serena when you pick her up.” Ash nods and goes into the bathroom to oblige his friend’s request. 

Serena takes a deep breath. Today’s the day. After six months of pining and another ten months apart, she’s going on a date with Ash. If Bonnie knew about this, she’d be freaking out. The very idea of this was so completely foreign to Serena before Hoenn- the concept of a date with Ash only existed in her idle daydreams. But now, they’re getting coffee together as more-than-friends. Speaking of friends… “Hey Rena! We’re here!” Dawn says cheerfully. Serena takes a deep breath, clutches her ribbon close, and heads out the door. 

Standing outside Serena’s little apartment is Ash, wearing his Kalos outfit. It brings back tons of good memories; including that moment at the airport. 

Ash blushes- Serena’s new outfit fits her well, with the grey blouse and red skirt seeming like they were made for her. “Did you sew that outfit yourself?” Ash asks curiously, and Serena nods. 

“It’s really pretty!” Just like you. He adds mentally.

Serena blushes again. “Thanks, Ash. I think you look very handsome.” She adds shyly.

Ash feels himself go red down to the tips of his toes. Handsome? Him? Serena’s the one who looks like she stepped off a magazine cover. 

“Hey, lovebirds? Don’t you have somewhere to be?” Dawn pipes up. Still flushed, Ash offers his hand to Serena. She takes it, and the two are ready to head off.

“Wait!” Dawn pulls out a small camera, the kind that develops film. “Say cheese!” Ash puts his arm around Serena, and the two smile at each other.

Dawn grins. “Perfect! Now go out there and have a great date!” Nodding and blushing, Ash and Serena set off to get their coffee.

As it turns out, the place Dawn recommended is right next to the diner where Ash got breakfast. Once it’s their turn, the barista asks for their orders. “Small hot chocolate for me.” Ash says, remembering the time he had some of Professor Kukui’s coffee. He shudders at the memory. Never again. 

“And could I get a small mocha with cinnamon?” Serena asks politely. The barista nods, and Ash steps up to pay. “You really don’t have to do that.” Serena protests, but Ash just smiles. 

“My treat, Serena. Don’t worry about it.” Serena thinks about it, then nods and lets Ash pay their tab. 

While waiting for their drinks, the teens sit down at a small table. “I heard from Dawn that this was your fifth ribbon, Serena. That’s super impressive!” 

She smiles. “Thanks, Ash. I wasn’t in time for the last Grand Festival, so I wanted to work extra-hard for this one.” The barista calls their names, and Ash gets up to grab the drinks.

Once he gets back, Serena takes a sip of her mocha and looks at him. “So where have you been, Ash? Dawn told me you were in Alola, how did that go?”

Ash grins and scratches the back of his neck. “Great! I ended up going to a Pokemon School…”

“... and that’s how I won the Alola League!” Ash finishes.

Serena gets up and gives him a massive hug. “You finally did it, Ash! I’m so happy for you!” Ash smiles. Getting validation from Serena means so much, even compared to friends like Brock and Misty. 

“I’d love to meet some of your Alolan team some time!” Serena says, and Ash grins.

“Walk outside with me, and I’ll show you!” They exit the coffee shop hand in hand, and once they’re outside, Ash takes out a Pokeball.

“Come on out, Lycanroc!” 

The rocky wolf emerges from his Pokeball, tail wagging happily. Wait! There’s a New Person! This must be Ash’s mate! He needs to introduce himself! 

Serena giggles as Lycanroc nuzzles against her leg, sniffing her out. “You didn’t mention that Lycanroc was so friendly!” 

Ash grins, happy to see his Pokemon getting along with his- what’s the word again? Girlfriend? “He’s always like that. But I think there’s one Pokemon who’s even more excited to see you. You think Braixen will want to see him?”

Serena lets out a small gasp. There’s only one Pokemon that Ash can be talking about. She releases her partner. “Braixen? There’s someone who you might want to see.”

“Brai?” The vulpine witch asks curiously. Ash grins, and tosses out a Pokeball.

“Ninja!”

Chapter Text

Braixen gapes at the arrival, watching as he gives her Trainer a high-five. It can’t be… “Braixen brai?” Greninja? Is it really you? 

“Gren?” Braixen?

Ash and Serena watch happily as their Pokemon embrace, clearly happy to see each other. Braixen in particular almost seems to be blushing.

“So, Greninja beat the vines?” Serena asks, and Ash nods.

“Yeah, and now we’re competing in the World Coronation Series together.” 

“World Coronation Series?” The blonde-haired girl asks curiously, and Ash explains. Once he's finished, Serena twirls a lock of hair around her finger contemplatively.

“Ash, if you have so far to go, why not rotate your Pokemon around a little bit? Surely you have more that would love to battle than just your six.”

Ash considers this for a moment, and finally gives his answer. “Well, for Great Class, I want to focus on training up Flygon, Espeon and Swellow. I might rotate more when I get to Ultra Class, but for now, I’ll focus on the six I have.” 

Serena nods. “That makes sense.”

Ash looks at his Pokemon, then offers Serena his hand. “Want to walk to the park?”

Serena smiles. “I’d love to.” Hand in hand, the new couple stride down the streets of Mauville, looking every bit like the prince and princess of the world.

Once they reach the park, Ash lets out his full team. “Alright, everyone, this is Serena! She’s a Pokemon Coordinator, and…” here he blushes, “...My girlfriend.”

His team have varying reactions to this. Flygon looks confused, as does Swellow. Infernape smirks and pats him on the back, and Espeon lets out a noise of contentment. Clearly, the two of them are more well-versed in human affairs. 

“Nice to meet you, everybody!” Serena says cheerfully. Espeon brushes up against Serena’s leg, asking for scratches. Once the Coordinator obliges, the feline Pokemon purrs happily.

“How’d you catch an Espeon, Ash?” Serena asks. Ash rubs at the back of his neck. 

“Well, back when I was in Unova, I caught an Eevee. She was pretty shy, but she warmed up to me after some incidents with a Genesect. Sorta like Sylveon.” Serena nods, continuing to scratch under Espeon’s chin. Just then, Ash gets an alert on his phone. 

“A PWC match? Here?” A boy in a red shirt comes running up to the two of them, panting. 

“Hey! Are you Ash Ketchum?”

Ash gives his signature grin. “Yep, that's me!”

“Great! I’m Brendan, PWC rank 1121. And I challenge you to a battle!” Brendan puts out his hand for Ash to shake, and the Kantonian takes it.

“Serena? Do you mind?” The blonde-haired girl shakes her head, hiding a smile. At least Ash was polite enough to ask this time. 

Brendan grins. “Let’s get this started right! Exploud!” The ear splitting Pokemon emerges with a sonic shriek, forcing Espeon to throw up a psychic screen. Ash grins. If Serena’s here, why not show off a little with one of his Kalos Pokemon?

“Greninja, I choose you!”

Serena smiles, watching as Ash and Greninja move into position. Even without activating the Bond Phenomenon, they’re perfectly in sync. 

A Rotom drone flies over. “The match between rank 1121 Brendan and rank 957 Ash will now begin!” 

Brendan looks at Ash and Greninja, swallows, and speaks with some clearly forced confidence. 

“We’ll take the first move. Exploud, use Boomburst!”

“LOUD!” The sonic shriek hurtles through the air, aimed directly at Greninja. Only when it hits the ‘Greninja’ standing there, the ninja vanishes in a puff of smoke. 

Brendan frowns. “Must be Double Team. Exploud, keep up the pressure with more Boombursts!”

The resonant attacks continue to be fired off, but none of them make contact. At last, Ash makes his first spoken command of the fight.

“Use Night Slash!” Suddenly, Greninja pops up from behind Exploud, and hits it in the back with the Dark-type move. Exploud keels over, fainted. 

Recalling his Pokemon, Brendan gives Ash a look. “You’re pretty experienced, aren’t you?” 

Ash smiles sheepishly. “Yeah, Greninja’s one of my strongest. Would you rather I switch out?” 

The Hoennian battler sighs. “That would be preferable.” He picks up his next Pokeball and throws it. “I’m counting on you, Swampert!” 

“Lycanroc, I choose you!” 

Brendan frowns. Ash picked a Pokemon with a double disadvantage to his Starter. So what’s the trick?

“Start strong with Surf!” 

“Accelerock behind him!” 

“Roc!” In the blink of an eye, Lycanroc practically teleports behind Swampert, dodging its attack completely. It follows up with a burst of energy, and even though it’s resisted, the attack still knocks Swampert back.

“Woah!” Brendan exclaims. The wolf's speed is far beyond what even a priority move should grant. 

Ash doesn’t let up. “Lycanroc, use Crunch!”

As the Rock type canine opens its jaws to bite down, Brendan figures out his move.

“Muddy Water, then hit it with a Hammer Arm!” 

Ash grins. “Gotcha.”

The minute Swampert’s fist comes down, Lycanroc catches it and utterly blasts the Water-type backwards.

Swampert struggles to its feet, and Brendan looks at his Starter with concern. 

“You sure you can keep going, buddy? That was a pretty nasty Counter.”

“Swamp!” The axolotl gives its trainer a thumbs-up, and Ash grins.

“Your Swampert’s got a lot of fighting spirit, Brendan! I really admire that!”

Brendan smiles, and decides to leave it all out on the field. “One last shot, Swampert! Use HYDRO CANNON!”

Swampert charges up the massive attack and lets it rip, soaking Lycanroc and shoving it backwards from the force of the pressurized water. But the recharge period is too much. Even after taking a super-effective hit, Lycanroc is still standing.

“Rotom! I forfeit.” Brendan says, smiling at Ash. He returns Swampert, whispering a quick “thanks.” 

“You were awesome out there, Brendan!” Ash compliments. “It’s been a while since Lycanroc got a run for its money like that.”

Brendan shakes his head. “Be honest with me, dude. I stood no chance.” 

“You tried, and that’s what matters!” Ash says encouragingly, and that makes Serena smile from the sidelines. Even in total victory, Ash is always uplifting others. It’s one of the things she loves most about him. 

“Now, I have a date to get back to! It was great meeting you, Brendan!”

Brendan smiles and gives Ash a high-five. “Same to you! Enjoy your date, dude.” 

After Brendan has left, Serena walks up to Ash and plants a kiss on his cheek. “You were awesome, Ash.”

The boy in question blushes. “It’s no big deal. Really, I should be thanking you for sitting through that.”

Serena smiles and pulls Ash into a hug. “For you? I’d sit through a thousand battles.”

Chapter Text

Eventually, the date comes to an end. The two arrive back at Serena’s rented apartment, holding hands and blushing widely. Ash turns to Serena. 

“I’d love to do this again sometime. Maybe in a few weeks? I have some WCS matches coming up, but I’d be happy to schedule something after that.”

Serena nods, still in disbelief that this is all real. Her crush likes her back. Then, she gets a crazy idea. “I could go with you.”

Ash stares at her. “Are you sure, Serena? I don’t want you to lose your dreams because of me.” 

“Ash, you’re more important to me than some Contests. Besides, I only rented this apartment, and I’m qualified for the Grand Festival. It’s not that much of a loss if I decide to go to Galar with you.”

Her boyfriend thinks about this for a minute. Having Serena by his side would honestly be great- but it would also mean setting down roots in Galar. Ash isn’t sure if he wants to do that. But maybe it’s worth a shot.

“If you’re fine with this, Serena, then I’ll support you one hundred percent.”

She smiles again- that smile reserved only for Ash. “You win some PWC matches. I’ll meet you in Galar.”

He pecks her on the lips, still in shock that this amazing woman chose him. “Sounds good to me.” 

Ash departs from Mauville City with a smile on his face and a new fire in his heart. He’s going to train harder than ever, and before they know it, the PWC will be looking at their new World Monarch! 

The first thing Ash does when he gets back to Galar is to start looking for apartments in Hammerlocke. It’s the second largest city in the region, so there should be plenty of real estate. And between his winnings and the fact that he’s a full-time Champion now, the price shouldn’t be an issue. 

In the end, he settles on a small place near Hammerlocke Stadium. It’s got two cozy bedrooms, a bathroom in each, and a small kitchen where he and Serena can eat. It’s also right next to the local park, so his team will be getting plenty of exercise. 

His next move is to start taking on PWC matches again. Now that he’s in Great Class, it’s not as easy to just walk up to someone and request a battle. There’s scheduling going on. Still, he manages to secure a match in Spikemuth next week against Marnie, one of the local Gym challengers. That should be fun. 

Finally, Ash gets in touch with Professor Oak. He wants to officially make a reserve team, just in case something happens to the current one. The old man chuckles, and sends over two Pokeballs. One contains Talonflame, who’s happy to be reunited with Greninja and Swellow. The other has Buizel, and the swimmer immediately gets tackled in a hug by Infernape. 

“Buizel, Talonflame, Lycanroc, you guys have a lot of catching up to do! So I want each of you to pick a move and start focusing on it. Find yourselves a sparring partner, and then get to work!” His reserves give cries of affirmation, then find an area of the park that’s unoccupied. 

From the start, it’s clear that his team are at vastly different skill levels. Buizel has clearly been honing his skills at the ranch, learning Surf and mastering the Ice Aqua Jet. Combo moves like that could be a good surprise against higher-ranked opponents. Infernape is clearly happy for his friend, and the clash of Ice Punch on Mach Punch continues to ring out.

Talonflame, much like Swellow, is very much focused on speed. She may lack the Gale Wings ability, but she makes up for it with her natural agility. She’s been matching her Brave Bird with Swellow’s Hurricanes, trying to fly through the powerful winds. 

Finally, there’s Lycanroc. His Alola ace has certainly not been slacking off, replacing Bite with Crunch, and mastering Accelerock to the point where it’s almost instantaneous. That much was obvious against Brendan. Ash, seeing this, decides to have the rocky wolf learn Stone Edge a different way. By using the move in a manner similar to Krookodile, Lycanroc can take even more advantage of its natural speed. Maybe a Z-Move and Accelerock combo is on the horizon?

His current team are no slouches, either. Swellow is turning Tailwind into a genuine attacking threat, using it to boost the speed of her Quick Attacks. It’s good in case Ash ever wants to run a mixed set. Flygon is steadily putting more power into Breaking Swipe, to the point where Ash thinks it could become Dragon Claw soon. Espeon? She seems to have Psychic down pat, and Stored Power is no longer just a party trick. Her Ability has also come in handy many times. 

And then, of course, there’s his Big Three. Pikachu, Infernape and Greninja. Each of them compliments the other, and they’ve all been working on new moves. Pikachu has brought back Volt Tackle, and has been launching it from Quick Attack for a devastating priority move. Infernape wants to learn Brick Break, and has been training relentlessly against the poor rocks of Hammerlocke City Park. Lastly, there’s Greninja. They’ve been playing around with the Bond Phenomenon. Then, one day, it happens.

“Alright, Greninja, let’s wrap this up with a Water Shuriken!” “Ninja!” The moment that the tree shatters, and Ash lets the transformation drop. 

“That was amazing, buddy! You’re getting so much more control over those shurikens!” 

“Grenin.” Maybe we could try making them out of ice?

Ash, ironically, freezes. “Greninja? Call me crazy, but I think I just heard your voice in my head.” 

“Ninja gren?” No, I heard you too. Is this some side effect of the Bond Phenomenon? 

Ash grins. “It must be! This is so cool!” 

“Roc lycanroc?” Greninja? What’s going on?

Ash and I can understand each other now.

Lycanroc’s tail wags. Cool! Could you tell Ash that I love him?

Greninja does so, and Ash chuckles. “Aw, I love you too, Lycanroc!” He turns to Greninja. “I’m really excited! We could do so much with this new ability!” He pauses for a moment. 

“I should probably call Clemont about this.” He grabs the Rotom phone out of his pocket, looks up the number for the Lumiose City Gym, and dials it. 

“Lumiose City Gym, Clemont speaking.”

“Hey, Clemont! It’s Ash!” 

The blond-haired inventor smiles. “Nice to hear your voice again, Ash! I heard that you won the Alola league. Congratulations on that!” Ash grins.

“Thanks, Clemont! I actually have a reason for calling, though. See, Greninja and I seem to have a telepathic link now, and I was wondering if you have any inventions that could help us figure it out.” 

Clemont winces. “I don’t, but I can make something. Why don’t you come to Lumiose City in three weeks? Bonnie misses you, and I could probably have something completed by then.”

Ash smiles from across the line. “That sounds great! I’ll see you then!”

He hangs up, and then turns back to his team.

“Get ready, everyone! We’ve got that match with Marnie in a week, and I want us to be as prepared as we'll ever be!” 

Chapter Text

The day of the match soon arrives. Ash gets up early and takes a train to Spikemuth, leaving himself time to explore the Galarian city. It’s… honestly kind of depressing. The city is grungy and beat-up, but still carries itself with a kind of pride. In a way, it reminds Ash of Pallet Town.

Immediately, what stands out is the massive crowd of people wearing black leather jackets. They’re carrying around vuvuzelas, and have a whole bunch of Galarian Dark-types with them. One of them looks at Ash. “Ain’t you the bloke challenging Marnie?”

Ash grins. “Yeah! I’m Ash Ketchum!”

The guy looks at him and smirks. “You don’t look like much of a challenge. Why don’t you battle some of my friends in Team Yell? We’ll judge if you’re good enough to battle Marnie.”

Ash looks the guy up and down, then looks at Flygon. The dragon will be sitting on the bench for this match, so it’ll be good to get some more training in. “Sounds good to me!” 

Team Yell aren’t really much trouble. They mostly stick with Galarian Zigzagoon and Linoone, with the occasional Thievull or Nickit thrown in there. Flygon sweeps through them with Rock Tomb, Breaking Swipe and Earthquake. The last of the Team Yell grunts just shakes his head. “You’re gonna give Marnie a hell of a battle, kid.”

Ash nods, thanks him for the battle, and heads to the stadium. 

Once arriving, he seeks out a dour-faced man with salt and pepper hair. “Are you the referee for this match?”

The man nods. “Yeah, I’m Dan. I assume that you’re Ash Ketchum?” When Ash nods, the referee takes him to an equipment booth. He hands Ash a small headset with an attached microphone.

“Here in Galar, we mic up the PWC competitors. Put this headset on so that we can test out the equipment.”

Ash obliges, and once the equipment is working, he wanders off to call Serena. 

“Hey, Sere. I’m about to battle Marnie.”

He can feel her smile from regions away. “You’ve got this, Ash. Just remember that you trained for this, and that I’m cheering for you.” 

“Thanks. See you soon.” He hangs up the phone, puts on his headset, and nods at his chosen team. It’s time to face the music. 

“Welcome, people of Spikemuth! Are you ready for a World Coronation Series match?” The crowd screams their agreement, and the announcer seems to smile with them.

“Then here we go! In one corner, we have the pride of Pallet Town! Hailing all the way from Kanto, he’s one of the PWC’s fastest rising stars! Please make some noise for rank 887, Ash Ketchum!”

Ash walks out onto the battlefield, deafened by the crowd. Considering that Marnie is from Spikemuth, though, there are more than a few jeers thrown in. 

“And in the other corner! Our hometown hero with her own fan club! Her brother’s a Gym leader, but her goal is to be the Monarch! Put your hands together for rank 649, MARNIE!”

This time, the applause is almost unanimous. A girl walks out into the opposing box, her black leather jacket matching with a pink tee and skirt. She turns on her mic, then addresses Ash.

“I’ve heard a lot about you, Ketchum. Let’s see if you live up to the hype!” She turns and faces the audience, working them effortlessly.

Ash grins. “I can’t wait for this battle, Marnie!”

She smiles back at him, a faint blush crossing her features. He's probably already taken, but a girl can look, right? 

Dan walks out onto the field. “At the request of the defender, this PWC Great Class match will be a three on three battle with no substitutions. Furthermore, as the defender, Marnie is allowed one Mega Evolution or Dynamax. Competitor Ash, do you consent to these terms?”

Ash flashes his signature grin to the cameras. “Yep!” Not having a gimmick might be a handicap later on, but it’s not like he planned on having one in this battle. 

“Competitors, please send out your first Pokemon!”

Marnie takes a Pokeball off her belt with a flourish, throwing it out. “Morpeko, spotlight!” 

Though his motion is far less flashy, Ash puts a bit more flare into tossing his Pokeball into the fray. “Swellow, I choose you!” 

Marnie raises an eyebrow. “You do know that Morpeko is an Electric type, right?”

Ash returns her skeptical look with a charismatic grin. “I know what I’m doing. Swellow, start us off with a Tailwind!”

As the wind streams forth, Marnie decides to make her move. “Aura Wheel, Morpeko!”

“Peko!” The little gremlin rolls itself into a ball, crackling with electricity. As it's not in Hangry Mode at the moment, it's the perfect time to strike with a super-effective hit.

“Take it.” Ash’s command comes out in a serious voice, and nobody questions it when Swellow absorbs the blow. All it comes away with is a few minor scratches. 

“The hell?” Marnie probably didn’t mean to have her mic turned on for that one, but it slipped out anyway. Just what is Ketchum feeding these Pokemon?

Ash’s grin turns Gengarish. “Swellow, it’s time to show off your Quick Attack!”

The bird Pokemon plummets downwards, striking Morpeko at high speeds.

Marnie seems to come to a decision, aiming to get as much as she can out of the situation. “Morpeko, Parting Shot!”

Ash winces. That attack drop is going to hurt, especially with no substitutions. 

“And Marnie has gone for Parting Shot, a move that allows her to switch her Pokemon!” The announcer's narration is inane, and Ash starts to tune it out as he does with most League matches.

Marnie takes Morpeko’s ball and replaces it with another one. “Runerigus, it’s showtime!”

The spectral Cofagrigus variant emerges, and Marnie quickly gets to work. “Body Press!” 

“Dodge it and use Air Slash!”

Quick Attack is off the table thanks to Runerigus’ Ghost type, so Ash is stuck with his Flying moves for now. Swellow gracefully evades Runerigus’ attack, then fires back with a powerful Air Slash.

Marnie looks caught off-guard. “Dodge with Phantom Force!”

As Runerigus vanishes, Ash glances at the shadows and waits for them to ripple. The moment that the light starts to shimmer, he calls out.

“Swellow, on your seven. Hurricane!”

Without looking, Ash’s faithful flier lets loose a giant windstorm. Runerigus, caught out, can only take the attack. Seemingly turning the tide even more in Ash's favor, there are swirls in its singular eye. Hurricane's secondary effect of confusion has kicked in.

“Alright, Swellow, let’s wrap this up with another Hurricane!”

Marnie reveals her final card. “Payback!”

But it’s no use. Runerigus slaps itself across the face, then takes a massive hit from Swellow’s personal storm. It falls to the ground with swirls in its eyes.

“Runerigus is unable to battle!” The referee announces. 

Shaking her head, Marnie picks up her next Pokeball. “You’re good, Ketchum. But I think that Morpeko’s got you this time.” Indeed, it is Morpeko that hits the field, now in its darkly-colored Hangry mode. “Bite!” 

“Strike first with Quick Attack!” Swellow darts in, landing a hit before Morpeko can retaliate. However, when it tries to fly away, Morpeko grabs on for dear life.

Marnie grins. “Point-blank Ice Fang, and follow it up with an Aura Wheel!” 

“Shake it off with a Nosedive, Swellow!” 

As Swellow plummets downwards, Morpeko blasts it in the back with Aura Wheel. A cloud of dust forms from the impact, shielding the audience from the outcome. When the dust clears, only Morpeko is still standing.

“Swellow is unable to battle!” 

“Thanks, Swellow.” Ash murmurs, turning his mic off. “Take a good rest. We’ll win this one for you.” Marnie’s shown all of her cards now- Ice Fang, Aura Wheel, Bite and Parting Shot. He has one Pokemon that’s good against every single one of those moves.

“Infernape, I choose you!”

Once his friend hits the battlefield, Ash wastes no time. “Mach Punch, and keep it going until you land a hit!” Infernape charges in, forcing Marnie onto the defensive.

“Parting Shot!” 

Ash grins. “We won’t fall for that again. Infernape, use Protect!” The translucent barrier forms, protecting Infernape from Morpeko’s attack.

Marnie shakes her head. “Guess we’re stuck here, ‘peko. Might as well make the most of it. Aura Wheel!” 

“Break it with Mach Punch!” Infernape’s strike sends Morpeko careening across the battlefield, and when it gets up, it’s wincing in pain.

Marnie sucks in a breath. “Come on, one last time! Aura Wheel!” 

“Use Protect and slam it into the ground!” That’s a little trick that he picked up from Paul- using Protect as a weapon. Morpeko hits the dirt, and it doesn’t get up this time.

“Morpeko is unable to battle! Competitor Marnie, please send out your final Pokemon!” 

Smiling ruefully, Marnie recalls Morpeko. “You’ve given me a good fight, Ketchum. But I guarantee that you haven’t fought my ace before. Toxtricity, spotlight!”

Marnie’s ace hits the field with a sneer, looking down at Infernape contemptuously. Ash scans it with his Pokedex. Electric and Poison type, huh? 

“Infernape, use Dig!”

Marnie’s smile becomes sharp. “Force it out with Sludge Wave.”

Ash matches her smile with one of his own. “That’s not going to work!” Infernape strikes, and to its credit, Toxtricity takes the quad effective move reasonably well. But it’s clearly done enough damage for Marnie to make a choice.

“Toxtricity, return!” She recalls it to the Pokeball, and the crowd goes wild. The ball grows once, twice, three times- and when Marnie throws it, Toxtricity has Gigantamaxed. 

“And here we see Marnie’s signature Pokemon, her G-Max Toxtricity! Since he’s not from around here, Ash won’t have faced anything quite like it before!”

Biased much? Ash asks himself sarcastically, then starts a timer in his head. They just have to last three minutes against Marnie.

“Infernape, let’s test their defenses with a Mach Punch!”

“Keep it away with Max Ooze!” Ash remembers from his brief research that Max Ooze raises special attack. Considering that Toxtricity resists his Fighting moves, it’s best to stall Marnie out. 

“Dodge it with Dig!” Infernape ducks low, forcing the wave of sludge to miss. Marnie sees this, and seems to make a decision.

“As soon as it comes up, hit it with G-Max Stun Shock!” Infernape strikes, but thanks to the Gigantamax boost, Toxtricity barely seems fazed. It then proceeds to swing the massive guitar off its back, play a few chords, and hit Infernape. The strike staggers Ash’s teammate, and to top it off, there’s the telltale crackle of paralysis. Ash winces. Two minutes left. 

“Another one!” The paralysis kicks in at the absolute worst time, forcing Infernape to take the hit. Ash sucks in a breath. Infernape is down. The announcer loudly points this fact out, and Ash waits. He knows what’s coming next.

With a roar of determination, Infernape activates Blaze.

Marnie takes a step back. “What the hell is that?”

Ash doesn’t pay attention. He can explain after the match. “Let‘s end this in one shot, Infernape! Flare Blitz!” With the boosts from Blaze, there’s no doubt in Ash’s mind about the outcome.

Toxtricity rapidly shrinks down to normal size, swirls appearing in its eyes. Infernape has done it. 

“WHAT AN UPSET!” The announcer screams.

Marnie recalls Toxtricity with a resigned smile. “Guess I underestimated you, Ketchum.”

Ash returns her smile with one of his own. “Don’t feel bad! It was a great battle!” He looks up at the Team Yell squads, who are streaming out of the stadium in disappointment.

Marnie walks to the middle of the pitch and shakes his hand. “It’s not often that someone can take down a G-Max Pokemon without one of their own. What even was that thing your Infernape did?”

Ash explains. “It’s his Ability, Blaze. It’s really strong, so Infernape is able to do a lot more damage when it’s active.”

Marnie shakes her head. “Good on you, Ketchum.” 

Watching from her small apartment, Serena waits for the coverage to cut away before texting Ash.

You were amazing out there!

His response comes quickly. Couldn’t have done it without you, Sere.

He really is too sweet sometimes. But that’s part of why she loves him so much. 

Hey, I’ve got time. If you have any Grand Festival ideas, let me know!

Will do! Miss u!

Miss you too.

Chapter Text

Serena takes a deep breath. Today’s the day. She’s packed up all her stuff. Today, she’s flying to Hammerlocke City. “Ready, everybody?” Her team voices their agreement. Sylveon is even wearing a cute pair of sunglasses similar to Pancham’s, looking very much like a Kalosian tourist. 

“Alright, let’s go!” She walks through security and finds her way to Gate 5D. Dawn is there to see her off.

“I’m going to miss you, Serena. Try not to get into too much trouble, kay?”

Serena hugs her friend. “Don’t worry about us, Dawn. I’ll see you in the finals of the Grand Festival!”

The bluenette smirks. “Count on it.” 

“Now boarding Corviknight Airlines flight 118 with nonstop service to Hammerlocke City.” The announcer’s voice rings out, and Serena gives Dawn one final hug before recalling her team to their Pokeballs. In just a few hours, she’ll be in Galar! 

Ash paces nervously. Serena’s flight will be landing any minute now, and then he can pick her up and show her the apartment. This is big, Ash- don’t screw it up. “Pikapi?” Pikachu asks curiously.

Ash sighs and scratches his partner’s chin. “Just excited to see her again, buddy.”

An announcement comes over the speaker system. “Corviknight Airlines Flight 118 is now landing at gate 16.”

Ash perks up. “That’s our cue, guys!” Pikachu and Greninja, his chosen companions for this little adventure, give small cheers. When Serena’s around, Ash is always even happier than he normally is. 

As soon as Serena steps off the plane, she’s swept up into her boyfriend’s arms. “Missed you.” He murmurs, hugging her tightly.

Serena returns the hug and plants a kiss on Ash’s cheek. “Missed you too. Ready to show me our apartment?”

Ash blushes and nods his head. This is a big step in their relationship, but with how long he’s known Serena for, it shouldn’t be much of an issue. “Yeah. Let’s go.” 

The teens begin the trek from the airport, pausing occasionally to take in the sights of Hammerlocke. With the entire city being built around an old castle, every nook and cranny is filled with history. Ash takes great pleasure in acting like a tour guide, pointing out all of the historic monuments that they walk past. However, the two are soon obstructed by a long line of people. 

“What’s going on?” Serena asks curiously.

One of the people in the crowd turns to her. “It’s Raihan! He’s signing autographs!” 

“Raihan is the Gym leader.” Ash whispers. “Here in Galar, Gym Leaders are celebrities.”

Serena nods in understanding. This would be like Aria getting seen in public. “Ash, want to wait in line? You and Raihan might get along.”

Ash considers it. This is definitely a good opportunity, especially if he wants to know his competition. “If you’re okay with it, Serena.”

She smiles at him. “I’m fine! You wait in line, and I’ll go to a Sawsbucks or something.” Ash nods, gives her a quick kiss on the cheek, and steps into line. 

It’s a long process, but eventually, Ash makes it to the head of the line. A tan-skinned man that can only be Raihan gives him a megawatt grin. “Heyo! You got anything for me to sign, kid?” 

“Actually, no.” Ash replies truthfully. “I mostly wanted to meet you. See, I’m a World Coronation Series challenger, so I thought I should know my competition.”

Ash doesn’t like how cocky that came out, but Raihan seems to find it funny. “That’s great to hear, kiddo! If you ever make it to Ultra Class, give me a call.”

The Kantonian smiles and nods. "I'll keep that in mind."

After walking to the nearby Sawsbucks, Ash finds Serena snacking on a muffin. “Ready to go home?”

She beams up at him. “Yeah.” They walk hand in hand towards the apartment building. Once inside, they take the elevator up to the top floor. “I wanted somewhere quiet,” Ash explains, “and there was an available space up here.” Serena looks around. She can see two bedrooms, a small kitchen, and two bathrooms. Not bad for Ash’s first apartment. However, something’s missing. 

“Where are the personal touches, Ash?” The raven-haired trainer blushes and rubs at his neck. 

“I’ve been spending most of my time out in the Wild Area, so I haven’t really had time to decorate.”

“That settles it.” Serena decides. “We’re going to get some stuff and make this place feel like home!” 

Ash groans. “Try not to go overboard, Sere. I already have the essentials and stuff.”

Serena pouts. It’s cute. “I won’t.” She reluctantly obliges, and Ash can’t help but laugh. Serena’s shopping habits don’t seem to have improved since their time in Kalos. Hopefully, there won’t be any problems at the store.

Since Ash already has the basics, Serena ends up looking for things with more homey touches. There’s a print of Lumiose Tower, a welcome mat, and a world map where Ash can mark off all the places he’s been. (She calls him a showoff when more than half of it is covered in red marker.) She ends up not purchasing anything else, as Ash was surprisingly responsible in putting together his apartment. He really has grown up. Speaking of Ash…

“Ready to go? I paid for our stuff.” He holds out a hand and pulls Serena to her feet.

She smiles at him gratefully. “Yeah. Let’s go home.” And home it is.

Chapter Text

The next morning, Ash wakes up to a delicious smell. He pulls on a shirt and walks out into the kitchen, where Serena is making Kalosian toast. “Wow, Serena! That smells great!” He compliments.

Serena dips another piece of bread in the batter and gives Ash a smile. “Thanks, Ash! It’ll be ready in a minute.” When Pikachu tugs at her pant leg, Serena looks down at the little mouse. “Don’t worry, Pikachu, I mixed some ketchup with your food this morning.”

The electric rodent gives a cheer. Ketchup! His Pikapi’s mate is the best! 

Ash chuckles. “Don’t encourage him, Serena. He already goes through too much ketchup as is.”

Pikachu pouts and shoots a low-power Thunderbolt at his Trainer. Just let him enjoy his Tamato-berry fueled goodness in peace, please! 

Serena smiles at the interaction, then slides the toast onto a clean plate. “Here you go!” She chirps.

Ash takes one bite, and his eyes immediately widen. “This is the best thing I’ve ever tasted.” He says- with his mouth still full.

Serena giggles. “Chew first, silly. But thank you!” Ash swallows, smiles, and eagerly takes another bite of his breakfast. Pikachu gives a satisfied “chuuuuu” of agreement, so all in all, Serena feels like she’s done pretty well. 

“I can’t take all the credit, though. It’s my mom’s recipe.” Serena says, and Ash nods.

“You’re still the one that cooked it, though! And it was delicious!” Ash compliments, and despite herself, Serena flushes. This boy is going to be the death of her. 

“Hey, do you want to do some Grand Festival practice today? I have time in case you want someone to help out.” Ash suggests. Serena swallows a bite of her breakfast, then smiles.

“Sure! Just let me get ready, and then we can go to the park and practice.”

The Kantonian looks confused. “Aren’t you ready now, though?”

Serena rolls her eyes. “I still have to do my morning makeup, Ash.” 

“Personally, I think you look beautiful without it.” Ash fires back, and Serena can feel the heat spreading across her body. Damn this beautiful boy and his smooth words.

“Just… give me five minutes, okay?” Ash nods, gives her a quick kiss on the forehead, and starts to clean the kitchen. This might be a good opportunity to train before his next match. 

As promised, Serena is ready five minutes later. She takes Ash’s hand, eagerly running towards the park. Ash has to grab his hat and jog quickly just to keep up. Once they arrive, Serena immediately lets her team out of their Pokeballs. “Alright, everyone! Today, we’re going to be practicing for the Grand Festival!” Her Pokemon let out a series of happy cheers- all except for Braixen, who glances over at Ash nervously.

Noticing this, Serena goes over to Ash, who is sitting on the ground. “Could you let Greninja out? I think Braixen wants him to see her perform.”

Ash nods and releases his Kalos starter.

“Ninja!” Hello, everybody! 

“Brai!” Hi, Greninja! 

Serena smiles at the interaction. It’s nice to see that they still get along, even after so long apart. She turns to Pancham, Sylveon and Milotic. “Let’s work on the battling part today, everyone. Pair up!” Braixen turns to her aquatic teammate, leaving Pancham with Sylveon.

“Pancham pan!” Let’s do this! 

“Now, finish with Aqua Ring and Flamethrower!” As the moves collide into a flaming construct, Ash gets to his feet and claps. He’s been doing a lot of that today. 

Serena has her team battling each other, pitting Sylveon and Pancham against Braixen and Milotic. The former two focus more on speed, while the latter two aim for elegance. It could be a deadly strategy if implemented correctly- and Ash has no doubts in Serena’s ability to do just that. She’s going to go far. 

“That was amazing, Serena!” Ash compliments. The Coordinator blushes and turns to her Pokemon. “Good job today, everyone!” The team cheers. They’ve all been training hard today, working on various combinations. Sylveon is even starting to learn Moonblast. A move like that could make for an excellent finisher, same with Braixen’s Fire Blast. Both are powerful attacks that also happen to look good. A perfect recipe for Contests. As she thinks about this, Ash pulls her aside for a second.

“Is it just me, or is Braixen interested in Greninja?”

Serena sticks out her tongue at Ash playfully. “Since when did you notice that stuff, Ash?’

Ash flushes and scratches at the back of his neck. “Well, I started asking Dawn questions about whatever I didn’t get. So I think I’ve been doing better?” He says embarrassedly, and Serena pecks him on the cheek.

“I think you’re doing just fine, Ash. And, to answer your question- yes, Braixen definitely has a thing for Greninja.” 

“Gren?” Huh?

Ash gulps. “Oh no.” 

“What?” Serena asks concernedly, and Ash facepalms. 

“I forgot that Greninja can hear my thoughts now.”

Serena’s jaw drops. “Greninja can hear your thoughts? Ash, this is a huge deal! Why didn’t you tell me?”

Ash rubs at his neck again, the embarrassment now feeling familiar. “I meant to tell you, really. I just forgot.”

Serena shakes her head. “Fine, but you’re not off the hook. Once we solve this, you’re going to tell me everything about your new bond with Greninja.”

Ash nods at his girlfriend, happy to have slipped out of what could’ve been a bad situation. 

“Greninja? Can I talk to you for a minute?” 

Sure, Ash. What’s up?

With no experience or ways to dance around it, Ash just dives right in. “Do you like Braixen the way I like Serena?” Greninja chokes. 

After Pikachu ineffectively pounds him on the back, Greninja recovers his wits enough to respond. 

I think so? I’m really not sure.

Ash smiles ruefully. “I know the feeling, bud. But if you ever want to do something about it, just let me know, okay? Serena and I will be more than willing to help out.”

Greninja gives as much of a smile as it can. Thanks, Ash. 

Once Ash has explained the new development with Greninja to Serena, the other teen frowns in contemplation. “No wonder you wanted to talk with Clemont. This is huge!” Ash nods. Once he gets to Lumiose City in a few weeks, he’ll make sure to stop by Prism Tower. He promised Clemont, after all. 

Ash receives a ping on his phone. “Wow, it’s time for my next match! Want to watch?” Serena looks at her team. “What do you think, everyone? Do you want to help me cheer Ash on?”

“Braixen!” “Vee!” “Milo!” “Cham!”

Serena smiles and looks at her boyfriend. “That seemed pretty clear to me. Now, let’s get you to the Gym for your next battle.”

Chapter Text

As it turns out, there are several smaller battlefields underneath Hammerlocke Stadium. These fields are where Ash’s next PWC match is located. However, when he reaches the battlefield, a familiar face is waiting for him. 

“Hey, Falkner!”

The blue-haired boy looks up from a notebook. “Hello, Ash! It’s been a while!”

Ash smiles and shakes his opponent’s hand. “It really has been. How’s the Gym?”

Falkner smiles. “It’s excellent! I was recently promoted to fifth gym status!”

Ash lets out a low whistle. “That’s a huge improvement, Falkner! I’m really happy for you!”

Falkner smiles again. “Thanks, Ash. Now, let’s get this match started. I assume you’re going to use your Pikachu?”

Ash grins ruefully and scratches underneath Pikachu’s chin. “Nah, I want to give my newer teammates some time to shine.”

Falkner returns the smile and calls a Rotom drone over.

“This PWC match between rank 854 Ash Ketchum and rank 801 Falkner will now begin! Competitors, please select your Pokemon!” 

“Let’s go, Noctowl!” 

“Talonflame, I choose you!” 

The Pokemon emerge, sizing each other up. Falkner lets out an appraising whistle. “That’s a beautiful Talonflame, Ash. You must take good care of her.”

Ash smiles at his opponent. “Thanks, Falkner. But let’s get this battle started, yeah? Flame Charge!”

“Defend with Air Slash!” 

Talonflame’s initial attack is deflected by Noctowl, failing to achieve the speed boost. Ash doesn’t let this rattle him, though. “Aerial Ace!” 

“Keep it away with Extrasensory!” As Talonflame is pushed away yet again, Ash realizes Falkner’s strategy. 

“Talonflame, he’s trying to keep you at a distance! Get in close with back to back Flame Charges, then use Steel Wing!” “Flame!” The fiery falcon dives in, getting a double speed boost from each of its moves. The followup Steel Wing blows Noctowl backwards, and Falkner looks caught off-guard. Clearly, he wasn’t expecting Ash to figure him out so quickly. 

“Foresight, then Hypnosis!”

Ash lets out a curse under his breath. Foresight guarantees that the normally-inaccurate Hypnosis won’t miss. He hates to sacrifice the boosts from Flame Charge, but right now, it’s his best option. 

“Talonflame, return! Swellow, get up there and use your best Hurricane!”

Falkner staggers, and as soon as Swellow hits the field, it whips up a massive Hurricane. Noctowl is sent spiraling to the ground, and when the dust clears, there are swirls in its eyes. 

“Clever, Ash. You negated my strategy by switching your Pokemon. But that won’t work against my partner. Go, Pidgeot, and show them your own Hurricane!”

Falkner’s majestic partner makes Ash’s heart ache for his own Pidgeot, still at home in Kanto.

“Swellow, return! Talonflame, just like we practiced!” Falkner’s confused expression says it all, and Ash smirks.

Talonflame uses Brave Bird directly through the Hurricane, striking Pidgeot head-on. The blue-haired trainer shakes his head.

“Impressive, Ash. You’ve certainly grown up.” Then Falkner’s hand goes to his wristwatch, where a familiar stone is hanging. Ash gulps.

“Pidgeot, show them our bond! Mega Evolve!”

With a familiar flash of blue light, Falkner’s Pidgeot grows and changes. Now, Mega Pidgeot faces down Talonflame.

Ash smiles, ready for the challenge. “Talonflame, it can’t dodge our attacks now! So hit it with your best Steel Wing!” 

“Pidgeot, use Sky Attack!”

Falkner’s ace rapidly gains height, until it’s barely visible against the ceiling. Ash winces. Falkner’s found a way around Mega Pidgeot’s ability- with Sky Attack, it’ll be much harder to hit.

“Talonflame, wait for it to dive down! Then dodge with Flame Charge and let Pidgeot hit the ground!”

His opponent’s eyes widen. “Pidgeot, watch out!”

But it’s too late. As Pidgeot dives down in a stoop, Talonflame nimbly dodges with the speed boost from Flame Charge. Pidgeot’s own speed causes it to hit the ground at a breathtaking pace, kicking up a huge cloud of dust. A faint blue light gives away the result, however. 

“Pidgeot is unable to battle! Which means that the match goes to the challenger, Ash!” 

Falkner shakes his head and recalls Pidgeot to its Pokeball. “You were fantastic, my friend.” Then he turns to Ash and offers his hand to shake. “Congratulations, Ash. You’ve come a long way since Johto.”

Ash accepts the handshake with a grin. “Thanks, Falkner! You’ve gotten super strong too!”

The Gym leader shakes his head, clutching Pidgeot’s Pokeball close. “Even so, I’m not on your level.” Then he looks over at Serena, who’s been sitting on the sidelines. “No Misty?” 

Ash gags. “Why does everyone think that we were together? But, to answer your question, that’s Serena. My actual girlfriend.” Despite himself, Ash blushes as he says this. It still feels so surreal. 

Falkner chuckles, then walks off towards the Pokemon Center.

Serena walks up to Ash and wraps him in a tight hug. “You were amazing, Ash! Let me take Talonflame and Swellow to the Pokemon Center.” She takes the Pokeballs from her boyfriend’s hands, then strolls off towards the waiting Nurse Joy.

Ash watches her go with a smile, then checks the PWC app. He’s moved up thirty four spots, into spot 820. His next scheduled opponent is in three days, and- oh, no. That name is familiar. Painfully so, in fact. Ash clenches his fist, just as Serena walks up with Swellow and Talonflame in tow. 

“What’s wrong, Ash?” His girlfriend asks, concern clear in her voice.

Ash takes a deep breath. “I need to make a call.” 

A little while later, Ash is standing in a room with his Rotom phone in one hand and Serena at his side. Once Liza picks up, Ash gets straight to the point. “I need to borrow Charizard.” 

The caretaker of the Charicific Valley looks confused. “Why? I thought you weren’t going to use him in the PWC.”

“Well, plans change.” Ash says grimly. “Remember what I told you about Charizard’s old trainer?” 

Liza looks horrified. “What about him?” She asks with a sense of dread. 

“He’s my next opponent. I figured that Charizard would want some payback.” Ash’s face is set like stone, and only Serena’s hand on his shoulder keeps him from flying off the handle. 

Liza nods. “I’ll transfer him over. You’re in Hammerlocke now, right?” Ash nods, and Liza lets herself smile for just a moment.

“Congrats on the relationship, by the way.”

When the Kantonian and Kalosian both flush, Liza lets out a small cackle.  “I’ll leave you two alone. Just make sure to call Charizard more, Ash. I think he misses you.”

Ash nods, and hangs up the call. Serena turns to him curiously. 

“You have a Charizard, Ash?” 

“He wasn’t originally mine,” Ash explains, “I rescued him from a really horrible trainer named Damian. He’s my next opponent.” 

Once he’s revealed Charizard’s backstory, Serena puts her hands over her mouth.

“That’s horrible! You did the right thing, Ash. Even then, you were still looking out for others.” 

Ash flushes embarrassedly. “Actually, I was kind of a brat back then. Used to get on Misty’s nerves all the time.”

Serena cocks her head inquisitively. “You talk a lot about Misty and Brock. Tell me about them, please? I’d love to know what you were like as a kid.” 

“Well…” And as Ash tells his embarrassing stories from his Kanto journeys, he just listens to Serena’s giggles. That beautiful sound is what keeps him grounded. 

Everything will be alright as long as Serena’s by his side.

Chapter Text

The day of the match soon arrives, and Ash is about as prepared as he can be. Between Charizard’s training and his own relentless schedule, they should be more than ready for whatever Damian can throw at them. Serena has been invaluable at keeping him grounded, making sure that he takes care of himself in between all the training. 

Since the match is scheduled to be in Wyndon, Ash books a Corviknight taxi to take him there. Serena wraps him in a hug before he leaves. “Take care, alright? I’ll be practicing for the Grand Festival, but I’ll be cheering for you from here.”

Ash smiles. “I’ll be fine, Sere. You just focus on practicing.” He pecks her on the cheek, steps into the taxi with his chosen team, and gets ready for the short flight.

Once the Corviknight touches down in Wyndon, Ash immediately lets out Charizard. “Let’s go over your moves one more time, buddy.” Charizard snorts, but doesn’t object. With ten different moves to choose from, there’s plenty of potential combinations. Ash takes a second to look Damian up in the WCS database. “Looks like he’s known for using Machamp and Beedrill, so Wing Attack is a must.” Charizard nods, and Ash goes through other attacks in his head. “Okay, I think I have a plan.” 

Ash reaches the battlefield, where Damian is waiting. “So, you’re next in line for me to crush. What’s your name, punk?”

Ash grits his teeth. “My name’s Ash Ketchum. And I have a bone to pick with you, Damian. Remember your Charmander?”

Damian lets out an obnoxious laugh. “That weakling? He should have died years ago. I’m better off without him.”

As Ash clenches his fist, he feels Charizard’s Pokeball shake. “Yeah, about that. He remembers you. And he’s not happy.” With a flick of his wrist, Ash releases his seething dragon. 

Damian takes a step back. “What the hell? That weakling actually evolved?” He shakes his head and takes out a Pokeball of his own. “No matter. I’ll just crush you anyway. Go, Beedrill!” The insectoid Pokemon comes out, glaring at Charizard.

“The PWC match between rank 820 Ash Ketchum and rank 814 Damian will now begin!” 

“We’ll take the first move, Beedrill. Use Cross Poison!” 

“Dodge and hit back with Wing Attack.”

Charizard flies out of the way of Beedrill’s reckless charge, then strikes it in the back with one of its wings. Beedrill staggers, but gets back up and readies itself to charge again. “Use Twinneedle!” 

“Flamethrower!” Beedrill’s attack is burned away by Charizard’s flames, the heat forcing the stinging Pokemon backwards.

Damian takes a step back. “Damn, he got better. All the more reason to crush you! Beedrill, use Leech Life!”

Ash raises an eyebrow, as the quad-resisted attack barely does anything at all. “Finish this, Charizard. Use Seismic Toss!”

Charizard flies up into the air, carrying Beedrill with it. They come crashing down in a cloud of dust, and there can only be one winner. 

“Beedrill is unable to battle! Competitor Damian, please send out your next Pokemon!”

Damian’s smirk turns dangerous. “Let’s get this party started, Machamp. GIGANTAMAX!” Ash grimaces. Damian may be a total jerk, but his Machamp is no joke. Especially if it’s Gigantamaxed. Charizard just has to survive three minutes, and then this will be a fair fight again.

“Use G-Max Chi Strike!” The enormous Machamp pumps its fists, then starts to rain down blows on the battlefield.

“Charizard, get into the air!” Dodging clumsily, Charizard manages to get itself airborne. “Now, Wing Attack!”

As Charizard dives in to land the close range attack, Damian makes a critical error. “G-Max Chi Strike, again!”

But Ash is prepared this time. “Blast Burn directly to the face!” Empowered by its rage, Charizard launches an explosion roughly as powerful as Victini’s V-Create. Machamp staggers, howling in pain and clutching its face. It begins to shrink.

“Dammit, no! Stay up and use Max Knuckle!” Damian screams.

Clearly hurt, Machamp manages to stay upright and launch a gigantic punch at Charizard.

“Charizard, you can’t attack right now, so just dodge!” Even through the Blast Burn recoil, Ash’s draconic Starter ducks underneath a punch. “Flamethrower, then finish it off with another Blast Burn!” 

“One final G-Max Chi Strike!” But it’s too late for Machamp. The Flamethrower torches it, and the followup Blast Burn knocks it to its knees. Machamp groans pitifully, and collapses without another word.

“No, no NO!” Damian screams, tugging at his hair. He moves to smash Machamp’s Pokeball, but Ash stops him.

“One move, and I call Officer Jenny right now.” The raven-haired boy hisses.

Damian smirks arrogantly, all traces of defeat gone from his face. “You wouldn’t.” 

“Try me.” Ash snarls, and hits the button on his phone to stop the recording. 

“Hello, Officer Jenny? I have video evidence of a trainer abusing his Pokemon.”

Damian’s face goes from a smirk of triumph to a look of despair in seconds. “Th-they can’t touch me!” He bluffs, but Ash sees the fear on his face. It’s over. 

“Thank you for reporting this, Mr. Ketchum.” An Officer Jenny says later. “Without your help, we never would have gotten enough evidence to convict Damian.”

Ash strokes Charizard’s back, trying to calm the dragon down. “It was my pleasure, Officer.”

“Char.” Charizard snorts. The policewoman nods, and goes on her way. 

“Guess we dodged a real bullet there, huh Charizard?” Ash says, and receives a ding on his phone. It’s Serena, calling from back in Hammerlocke. He picks up with a smile on his face.

Serena matches that smile with one of her own. “I assume that you have good news?”

Ash’s face splits into a vindictive grin. “Damian was just arrested on charges of Pokemon abuse.” 

Serena looks contemplative for a moment. “I probably shouldn’t be so happy about that…”

“...But Damian’s a jerk, and he deserved it.” Ash finishes, and it matches his own feelings on the matter. Damian got what was coming to him. 

“How’s Grand Festival practice going?” The Kantonian asks, and he immediately notices the sweat dripping from his girlfriend’s brow. She’s clearly been practicing hard.

“It’s going great! I have a whole bunch of new combinations ready.” The excitement in Serena's voice is palpable, and Ash finds himself smiling softly from across the region.

“Well, I can’t wait to see them when I get back.”

Serena returns the smile, then blows him a kiss. “Miss you.” 

“Miss you too, Sere. See you in a few hours.”

Chapter Text

The flight home is a quiet one. Charizard is affectionate, trying to make the most of their limited time together. But as much as he messes with Ash and loves to train with him, it’s clear that the Fire-type wants to go home. Ash scratches underneath Charizard’s chin, then returns him to his Pokeball. He walks over to the transfer machine, then sends it over to Liza. Charizard’s back home now.

Serena greets him at the door of the apartment, her hair wrapped in a towel. It’s clear that she took a shower recently. “Is Charizard doing alright?”

Ash nods, then walks in and looks at the state of the apartment. It’s recently been cleaned, judging from the washed dishes and the lack of clutter. 

“Were you stress-cleaning, Sere?” 

Serena flushes and nods. “It was a tough practice, and I wanted to decompress a little.”  

Ash plants a kiss on her forehead and sits on the couch. “I get it.”

He releases his team. Lycanroc curls up at his feet, Greninja stands off in the corner, and Infernape finds himself serving as a space heater for the others- minus Buizel, who’s looking at Greninja with a sense of awe.

Ash chuckles. “You know, Buizel, Greninja would probably be happy to teach you.”

I would? The frog asks curiously, and Ash lets himself laugh again.

“He idolizes you, Greninja. Surely you two can swap a few tricks.”

Buizel wags his tails furiously. He’d love to teach Greninja how to use something like Ice Punch! 

Serena walks in on the hangout, and chuckles at their antics. “I’m going out to get groceries. Does anyone want to come?”

Still excited from the revelation that he’ll be training with Greninja, Buizel raises his paw.

Serena smiles at the little otter. “Okay, Buizel!”

Ash, currently buried underneath a cuddle pile, offers a thumbs-up. Between Serena’s level head and Buizel’s excitable nature, there should be some fun to be had. 

“Alright, Buizel, let’s get going!” “Bui!” Serena smiles at her orange companion, who’s walking next to her with a confident smile on his face. He’s going to be learning from the Greninja! This is so amazing! And, to top it off, Ash’s mate is super nice! 

“Berries, get your berries here! All kinds, all at low prices!”

A familiar drawling voice breaks Serena and Buizel out of their thoughts. “Team Rocket? Running a berry stand?” “Zel?” 

Jessie looks over at her from the stand. “Hey, it’s the Kalos twerpette! Congrats on the relationship, by the way.”

This takes Serena off-guard, but she quickly catches herself. “A pound of Lum berries and half a pound of Oran berries, please.” James quickly gets to bagging her order, as Buizel readies an Ice Punch in case Meowth tries anything.

“Buizel bui.” I’m watching you.

Meowth gulps and passes Serena her order. “Dat’ll be fifteen Poke, please.”

As Serena pays up, James walks up from the back of the stand. “There’s a battle tournament a few streets over, and word on the street says that there’s a Pokemon egg up for raffle. You might want to take a chance on that.” The purple-haired man advises.

Serena nods. “You up for some battling, Buizel?”

“Zel!” Of course! He’s ALWAYS up for some battle practice!

As she walks over to the tournament, Serena shoots off a quick text to Ash.

Hey, what are Buizel’s moves?

Sonic Boom, Ice Punch, Aqua Jet, and Surf. Why r u asking?

There’s a battle tournament ;)

Ok then! <3

“Excuse me, I’d like to sign up for the battle tournament.” Serena says to a hard-faced man, who snorts. 

“This isn’t some prissy contest. If you’re not serious about battling, go home.”

Serena takes a deep breath and tries to maintain her cool. “I’m here to win. Now can I come in or not?” The man shrugs. “Your funeral.” “Bui-ZEL!” The little otter says indignantly, and Serena strokes its back. “Don’t worry about him, Buizel. We’ll win this.” 

Serena’s first opponent is a street thug with a powerful-looking Shiftry. He takes one look at Buizel and snickers. “That weak-lookin’ thing is gonna take me on? Give up, girlie.” Serena’s smile becomes sharper than a Ceruledge’s blades. “Sonic Boom, then follow it up with Ice Punch!” As Buizel’s first strike lands, it gives Serena an idea. “Close the distance with Aqua Jet, then use another Ice Punch!” “Bui!” Buizel obeys, and the Shiftry is knocked out. The thug’s jaw drops. “Arc damn, you ain’t kidding around!” Serena high-fives Buizel. “No, I’m not. Now could somebody please explain how this tournament works?” 

A man who looks to be the leader of the group stands up. “Simple. Beat five of us in a row, and you win a Pokemon egg. Not illegally bred, I might add.” He tacks on at the end, seeing Serena’s suspicious look. The blue-eyed girl takes a breath. “Sounds simple enough. Are you ready to do this, Buizel?” “Buizel!” He confirms, with fire in his eyes. Serena turns to the group. “Next opponent, please.”

“Ice Punch!”

“Dodge with Aqua Jet, and use Surf!” 

“Confuse them with Sonic Boom, and finish it with another Surf!” 

Before long, Serena has made it to the leader. He gives her a low whistle. “Nobody’s made it this far in a while. You’re impressive, I’ll give you that. But are you ready for Galar’s best?” He sends out a menacing Grapploct, one that looks more than ready to grapple with Buizel. Serena adjusts her hat. “Let’s get things started with a Sonic Boom!” 

“Octolock.” The Grapploct lunges forward, grabbing Buizel and squeezing it tightly. Serena racks her brain for a strategy. Then, all of a sudden, she figures it out. “Buizel! Cover your whole body in water, and then slip out with Aqua Jet!” Summoning the water for its signature move, Buizel manages to escape Grapploct’s hold. Serena smiles. “Now, full power Surf!” But what comes out is far more than a normal Surf. Buizel summons a gargantuan wave, which comes crashing down over Grapploct. The move seems to do recoil damage, but it’s done enough. Grapploct is knocked out.

“Congrats, miss. You win this egg here.” The leader says, and Serena takes the egg gratefully. “Well that was fun, wasn’t it, Buizel? You even learned a new move!” “Bui!” It says happily. Serena accepts the offered high-five, recalls Buizel to his Pokeball, and begins the walk home. She can’t wait to tell Ash about their little adventure!

Chapter Text

When Serena comes home, the first thing Ash notices is how happy she looks. The Kalosian girl is practically glowing, and she’s humming as she puts the berries in the fridge. Curious, Ash walks over to the kitchen. “What’s got you so excited, Sere?”

She turns to him with a big smile on her face, then shows him the contents of her purse. “I won a Pokemon egg!” 

“Woah!” Ash says excitedly. “Do you have any idea what could be inside?” 

“Nope!” Serena says cheerfully. “Then again, isn’t that half the fun? Also, I think Buizel learned a new move. Want to go to the park and check it out?” She adds, making sure to catch Ash's attention.

“Sure!” The Kantonian trainer says. Any excuse for more training is a good excuse in his book! 

Once they reach the park, Buizel excitedly emerges from his Pokeball. He’s going to show Ash and Greninja his new move! 

Ash grins at Buizel’s excitement, then looks at Flygon. The dragon has volunteered to be the subject of their little test, and Ash appreciates his good sportsmanship. “Alright Buizel, let ‘er rip!”

Buizel summons the massive wave again, and as he does it, Ash pulls out his Rotom phone for a scan.

Wave Crash: a powerful Water-type move that deals recoil damage upon completion. 

“Sounds about right.” Ash mutters, then looks at his team. Buizel is wincing a little bit from recoil, but it’s Flygon who’s absolutely drenched.

“Okay, Buizel, we can use this!” 

“Gon?” Flygon asks inquisitively, and Ash smiles.

“Don’t worry, buddy, I haven’t forgotten about you. How about we work on your Ice resistance today? Try to keep up with Buizel’s Ice Punches.”

The dragon nods, and squares up with Buizel. Ash lets Greninja out. “Watch Buizel use Ice Punch. I want you to take that energy and put it into your Water Shurikens.” 

Greninja nods. Got it! He sits down in a meditative pose, watching as Buizel and Flygon spar. One clearly has speed and experience, while the other has a wily nature that meshes perfectly with Ash’s own battle style. They’re a match made in heaven. 

“Great practice, everybody!” Ash says, several hours later. Buizel and Flygon nod at each other with newfound respect. They’ve been going at it since the start of practice, and it shows. Both of them are hungry, dirty, and utterly exhausted. But there’s an undeniable hunger in their eyes, the same kind of hunger that Ash saw when he first met Flygon. They want to win. 

Just then, Ash’s stomach rumbles. The Trainer blushes. “Oops, I think it’s dinner time. Who wants to head back and get something to eat?”

All of the Pokemon raise their respective appendages. Chuckling, Ash recalls them and begins the walk back to his apartment. 

When he gets back, he finds Serena with headphones on and something simmering on the stove. “Something smells great!” Ash compliments, and Serena takes her headphones off to nod.

“Yeah, I’m making karp au vin. Want me to show you how to do it?”

Ash smiles nervously. “Sure. Can’t promise I’ll be any good, though.”

Serena laughs and holds her hands over his wrists. “Okay, so the first thing you do is mix the sauce together…” 

An hour later, there’s a passable version of karp au vin sitting on the table. Ash takes a bite, and his face lights up. “Hey, this is really good!”

Serena smiles and slips a bite to Sylveon, who coos happily. “I knew you could do it, Ash!” 

Ash chuckles, scratching at his neck. “I didn’t. I tend to mess up whatever I touch.” 

Serena frowns. “Ash, that’s not true. Why would you say that?”

Her boyfriend shrugs. “I dunno. Things like that slip out sometimes." Ash chuckles humorlessly. "I mean, look at my League record. Not much of anything until Alola, right? And even then, I was on vacation.” 

“So you’re saying that your Pokemon didn’t deserve that win?” Serena fires back, and Ash almost chokes on his dinner. 

“No! Nothing like that! My Alola team worked super hard!” 

“And you didn’t? Ash, you need to give yourself more credit.” Serena chastises. 

“Is that really okay, though? My Pokemon are the ones who did all the work. I’m just… me.” 

Serena takes his hands in hers, holding them close to her chest. “Exactly, Ash. You’re you. ” She kisses his forehead. “You’re talented, passionate, and incredibly kind. You have a bond with Pokemon that other people can only dream of. And, above all, you don’t give up until it’s over.”

She takes a deep breath, and finally lets the words hanging over her out into the open. “That’s why I love you, Ash. With all my heart.” There. He knows, and whatever happens next, she’ll know that she said what she needed to say. 

Ash thinks for a moment. This is a big step, but it feels right. “I love you too, Serena. More than I really know how to say.”

He blushes, with a tinge of embarrassment clear in his voice. “And I really appreciate everything you do. Like stopping me from being stupid,” here he chuckles and thinks of their misadventures, “And reassuring me when I’m feeling down. You mean so much to me, Serena.” This time, he makes the first move. 

When their lips connect, Ash feels himself become whole again. Every little part of him fills with warmth, from the crown of his head to the tips of his toes. Only Serena can do this to him. 

“You should go to sleep, Ash. Being tired probably isn’t helping your mood right now.” Serena points out, and as she does so, Ash suppresses a yawn. He really is tired. 

“Okay. Goodnight, Serena.”

“Goodnight, Ash.”

Chapter Text

By the time morning rolls around, Ash is feeling much better. He wakes up with a spring in his step, and practically skips into the kitchen to make himself and his Pokemon some breakfast. “We’ve got another match today, guys! So eat up!” 

Hearing Ash’s cheerful humming, Serena wakes up and walks into the kitchen. “Feeling better?” She asks teasingly, and Ash scratches at his neck. “Yeah, I don’t know what got into me yesterday.”

“It’s okay, Ash. Everyone has their off days.” She presses a kiss to his temple, and pops some toast into the toaster. “Who are you facing today?” Ash shows her an image of a red-haired girl with pigtails. 

“Her name’s Whitney, and she’s a gym leader like Falkner. She uses a lot of Normal types, so Lycanroc is going to get a good battle in!” “Roc lycanroc!” The wolf adds happily. Today is a Battle Day! That means he can do Battles! 

Serena smiles and scratches Lycanroc behind his ears. “I have a meeting with a few other Coordinators about Grand Festival logistics, but I’ll be cheering you on from there.” Ash nods, recalls Lycanroc, and gives Serena a peck on the cheek. “Bye!” 

This time, Ash’s match is being held on one of the park’s many battlefields. This one isn’t being broadcast, and is merely being overseen by a Rotom drone. Ash walks up to the field, and finds Whitney waiting for him. “Heya, Whitney! Ready for this battle?” The redheaded girl tosses her short hair over her shoulder. “Absolutely, Ash. I hope you’ve gotten better!” 

The Rotom Drone flies over. “The World Coronation Series match between rank 795 Ash Ketchum and rank 762 Whitney will now begin! Competitors, please select your first Pokemon!” 

“Here we go, Wigglytuff!”

“Lycanroc, I choose you!” 

Whitney smirks. “Choosing a Rock type to counter my Normal types? Pretty predictable of you, Ketchum. Wigglytuff, go for a Focus Blast!” 

“Make it miss with Accelerock!” Lycanroc does its job, dodging the Focus Blast with ease. Ash decides to follow up strongly, knowing that Wigglytuff can take hits.

“Stone Edge, like we practiced!” “Lyc!” Unlike the usual rocky spires that it creates, Lycanroc summons a circle of pointed stones. Said stones launch themselves at Wigglytuff, and each one scores a direct hit. “Tuff!” The round Pokemon cries out in pain. Whitney grits her teeth. “Focus Blast, again!” 

“Dodge, then use Crunch!” Despite being resisted, the move still does excellent damage. Wigglytuff starts to wobble. “Fine! Dazzling Gleam, now!” 

“Lycanroc, close your eyes! I’ll guide you!” Thanks to Lycanroc closing its eyes, the blinding flash of light doesn’t do nearly as much damage. Whitney smirks. “Now, while he’s still distracted! Focus Blast!” 

“Lycanroc, dodge down and right!” Following Ash’s instructions, the rocky wolf manages to avoid the Focus Blast. “Now, finish it with Accelerock!” Blasting forward, Lycanroc scores another direct hit onto Wigglytuff. The chubby Pokemon falls over, defeated.

“Wigglytuff is unable to battle! Competitor Whitney, please send out your next Pokemon!” Surprisingly, Whitney grins. 

“I remember how much trouble you had with my partner, Ash. Let’s see if you’ve gotten any better! Come on out, Miltank!” 

Ash looks at Lycanroc. “You okay if I give Flygon a shot?” Lycanroc thinks for a moment, then trots over to Ash’s side. Let’s see how well the Dragon can battle! 

“Flygon, I choose you!” 

Whitney’s grin stays plastered across her face. “We’ll take the first move. Miltank, use Attract!” 

Ash grimaces. Having used this strategy with his Servine many times, he knows how dangerous the move can be. “Bat it away with Iron Tail!” Obeying his Trainer without hesitation, Flygon fulfills the request. Miltank’s Attract is deflected by the metallic coating of Iron Tail. Whitney’s grin fades.

“Now, make it flinch with Stomp!” 

“Stand your ground, Flygon!” And indeed it does. Flygon doesn’t hesitate to take the attack, and without Ash’s instruction, responds with a Breaking Swipe. Whitney is gritting her teeth now, clearly not happy. “Rollout!” Miltank gathers speed, striking Flygon multiple times. This gives Ash an idea. 

“Trap it with Earthquake!” A chasm opens up underneath Miltank, disrupting its rhythm. The rolling cow falls, and it struggles to get up. Ash grins. “Fun fact! Miltank can’t climb stairs because their legs don’t bend that way.” Tugging at her hair, Whitney finally breathes a sigh of defeat. “Rotom, I concede.” 

The drone acknowledges this. “Miltank is unable to battle! The match goes to the challenger, Ash!” Ash recalls Flygon to its ball, then offers Whitney his hand to shake. “Good match!” The pigtailed girl sighs. “You’ve gotten a lot better, Ash.” She recalls Miltank, shakes his hand, and walks off. Ash checks his phone. “We’ve got time for one more battle, guys! Who’s up for a little trip to the Wild Area?” 

He ends up facing an Alolan trainer named Kahili, who specializes in Flying types. She smiles, and thanks him for being the Champion. Ash scratches at his neck and says that it’s nothing, really. 

“The PWC match between rank 783 Ash and rank 714 Kahili will now begin! Competitors, please send out your first Pokemon!” 

“Lycanroc, I choose you!”

“Oricorio, let’s dance!” A Ghost-type Oricorio comes out, shaking its feathers. Ash looks at Kahili. “Would you be alright with me using a Z-Move?” The Flying specialist smiles. “Only if you can make it that far. Oricorio, Quiver Dance!” 

“Accelerock, don’t give it a chance to boost its stats!” “Roc!” Lycanroc dives in, striking Oricorio before it can finish the dance move. Kahili is quick on the defensive, though. “Hurricane!” 

Too close because of Accelerock, all that Lycanroc can do is take the attack head-on. Thankfully, it’s resisted due to Lycanroc’s Typing, but the damage is still there. It’s the first solid hit that Lycanroc has taken in quite a while. Ash grins. This is what battling’s all about! 

“Accelerock, then use Crunch right after!”

“Revelation Dance!” Kahili’s command comes out late, causing Oricorio to take the back-to-back hits without any kind of defensive strategy. It falls over, finally stopping its dance. 

“Well done, Champion. But let’s see how your Lycanroc does against this! Toucannon, Bullet Seed!” Ash counts the seeds. One, two, three, four- oh, dang. This Toucannon must have Skill Link. 

“Let’s wrap this up, Lycanroc!” Ash clicks a crystal into place, and lets the familiar feeling of a Z-Move wash over him. “Here we go, Lycanroc! Use Splintered Stormshards!” 

Kahili sees this, and nods to Toucannon. They begin to strike their own poses. “Toucannon, it’s time to take off! Supersonic Skystrike!” Z-Move meets Z-Move in a clash of blinding light. However, when said light fades from the field, there can only be one winner. 

“Toucannon is unable to battle! The match goes to the challenger, Ash!” Smiling and shaking her head, Kahili returns Toucannon. “I expected nothing less from our Champion. Make Alola proud, Ash!” The boy in question grins. “I will!”

Chapter Text

Once Ash gets home, he notices that Serena isn’t back yet. That Grand Festival meeting must be taking longer than expected. He grabs a snack from the fridge, then flops down onto his bed. The sheets smell fresh- Serena must have been cleaning again. After living with her for a bit, Ash has noticed how much of a neat freak she can be. It was certainly a surprise when she yelled at him for leaving his clothes on the floor. 

“ In the hamper, Ash. Not over, not under, not near, not around. IN.” They both got a good laugh out of that later. And, as a bonus, Ash has made a much more concerted effort to be clean. It’s the least he can do, really. 

As he gets up to turn on the TV, Ash hears his phone ring. “Hello?” A voice from his past rings out in his ears. “Hey, Ash! It’s Scott.” 

“Scott from the Battle Frontier?” Ash asks curiously, and the man in the Alolan shirt laughs.

 “The very same! I’m working with the World Coronation Series right now, and I have a fascinating opportunity for you.” 

Ash grins. “Hit me.”

“It’s called the Gauntlet, and it’s taking place in Stow-on-Side. To put it simply, it’s a Great Class tournament. The winner gets to take on Alder.” 

“Alder, as in former Champion of Unova Alder?”

“Yep!” Ash feels his grin widen. This sounds like the perfect opportunity to show his stuff. 

“How long would it be?”

“Three days, give or take. There’s already a bunch of trainers who’ve signed up, but I made sure to reserve you a spot. You game?” 

Ash doesn’t give it a moment of thought. “Absolutely! Let me just tell my girlfriend, and I’ll head over! When’s the tournament?” 

Obviously holding back a comment about Ash having a girlfriend, Scott laughs. “It’s in a week, kiddo. You’ve got time.” Ash grins, already dreaming up elaborate training plans. This is going to be absolutely awesome!

“I’m home!” Serena walks through the door with a smile on her face, and Ash matches it with one of his own. “How was the meeting?” Serena sighs and closes the door. “Boring. Lots of logistical stuff. I did get to meet some of the other Coordinators, though. What’s got you so excited?” 

Ash grins, and tells her about the Gauntlet. “You’re okay with it, right?” He asks nervously, and Serena gives a soft laugh. “Ash, of course I’m okay with it. I just need you to tell me about things like this ahead of time, which you did.” She pecks him on the cheek. “Now, as much as you want to train, you also need to rest. Lunch first, then training.” Ash pouts a little bit, but can’t deny that Serena has a point. Food is definitely a good idea. As they talk, Serena gets an idea. 

“Ash, you tend to know a lot of important people. Why don’t you ask one of them to train with you?” Ash looks up from his pasta with a grin on his face. “See, this is why you’re the smart one in the relationship.” Serena flushes, and Ash kisses her forehead. “I have a call to make!” 

Curious, Serena can’t help but listen as Ash paces around in his room. “Hey, Cynthia! How’s it going?” The blond-haired girl almost chokes. Why is her boyfriend calling the Champion of Sinnoh? And she sounds… happy? 

“Things are good, Ash! I’m a little curious, though: why the call? You haven’t exactly stayed in touch.” Serena can practically see Ash scratching at his neck as he struggles to come up with an answer. 

“Well, I’m participating in the World Coronation Series, and I was sorta hoping for a spar?” The last part comes out hesitant, like he regrets saying it. Cynthia laughs. “Give me a day, Ash. I’m sure I can make time. Where has your journey taken you now?” 

“Hammerlocke! You think you could meet me in the park tomorrow?” 

“Of course, Ash. See you then!” Cynthia hangs up, and Ash walks out of the room with a spring in his step. Serena looks at him curiously. “How do you know Cynthia, Ash?”

“Oh, she helped me and Dawn save the world!” Serena holds her jaw back from dropping out of instinct. “That… doesn’t narrow it down very much, Ash. You’ve saved the world a ton of times.” Ash chuckles. “I guess I have, haven’t I?” He bounces towards the door, clearly planning something. “I have to train for the Gauntlet, Sere! See you in a bit!” 

Once he’s in the park, Ash releases his team. “Who wants to battle Cynthia?” Everyone lets out loud cheers, though Ash has his eyes on Buizel and Greninja. Greninja is still trying to freeze its shurikens, and Buizel has been a very helpful coach so far. Icicle Spear might really come in handy against the blond Champion. 

“One more time, Greninja! Water Shuriken, then freeze it!” Here we go! With a heave of effort, Greninja creates a shuriken- and finally gets it to freeze. “Way to go! That was Icicle Spear!” Ash encourages, and Greninja tries again. This time, the projectiles are more knife-like in nature, meaning that Greninja has control over the shape of the weapons. 

Flygon is clearly working on the power of Breaking Swipe, training it against Espeon’s Dazzling Gleam. Talonflame and Swellow are back to their usual pattern of pitting Hurricane against Brave Bird, with the ranged fighter in Swellow contrasting the close-quarters brawler Talonflame. Finally, there’s Pikachu, Lycanroc and Infernape. All three of them are eager for a shot at the Champion. Lycanroc is even catching Stone Edge in its mouth now, training up Infernape’s resistance to Rock while working on its own move. Pikachu is still working on that Quick Attack-Volt Tackle combo. It’s going great! 

The rest of the day passes by in a blur, and come morning, Ash is immediately dashing out the door. He wolfs down some breakfast, pecks Serena goodbye, and sprints to the park. There’s still a couple hours to wait before Cynthia gets to Hammerlocke, so that means more time to train!

At last, a discreet black car pulls into the park. As soon as a familiar head of blond hair steps out, Ash is sprinting over to engulf the Champion in a hug. “Hey, Cynthia!” She laughs and returns the hug. “Ready for this battle?” Ash grins, pulling out his Pokeballs. 

“Ready as I’ll ever be.” 

Chapter Text

Once they get to the practice field, Cynthia looks at Ash’s team. “Unfortunately, I only brought six Pokemon with me. I’ve already seen Infernape and Pikachu back in the League, and Lycanroc from the Alola replays. Would they mind sitting out?” Ash looks over to his partners. The three of them look disappointed, but there’s also a sense of understanding. “Sounds good to me! Who do you want to battle first?” 

Cynthia looks at the team with an appraising eye. Sensing Swellow’s eagerness, she smiles and strokes the bird’s feathers. “Let’s see what you’ve got, little one.” “Low!” 

As Swellow takes its position, Cynthia sends out her first Pokemon. “Let’s go, Milotic!” The two Pokemon stare each other down, taking in the potential weak spots. Ash grins. “We’ll take the first move! Swellow, use Boomburst!” A shriek of sound punctuates the order, driving home Ash’s point. Cynthia’s eyes flash. “Mirror Coat.” 

Ash grimaces. Thanks to Team Rocket, he knows all too well how powerful that move can be. Milotic absorbs the hit with little trouble, then bounces the Boomburst directly back at Swellow. Ash’s loyal bird dodges, but looks rattled. “Tailwind, then follow it up with Hurricane!”

“Ice Beam, go!” Milotic dodges the Hurricane, then fires a point-blank Ice Beam at Swellow. Unable to escape in time, the Hoennian bird goes down. Ash grimaces, recalling Swellow to its Pokeball. “I’m going to lose every round, aren’t I?” 

Cynthia stares at him disappointedly. “Ash, the point isn’t for you to win. I’m going all out right now. If you want to be in the Masters’ Eight, you have to improve from where you are right now.” Ash sighs, then smiles. “Thanks, Cynthia! That makes a lot more sense!” He picks a random Pokeball, then grins. “Flygon, I choose you!” 

Cynthia smiles. “I like your taste, Ash. But let’s see how you handle this! Let’s go, Glaceon!” Ash’s eyes widen. “Oh, crap. Flygon, you need to finish this quickly! Earthquake!” 

“Ice Beam.” Flygon barely manages to dodge Glaceon’s attack, and fires back with a powerful Earthquake. However, despite the force of the attack, Glaceon barely looks fazed. Cynthia grins, and Ash can see why so many people are intimidated by her. “Sheer Cold!” 

Ash doesn’t even give a command. Sheer Cold is always a one-hit KO move, even if it’s difficult to aim. “Return, Flygon. You did great.” Smiling despite the loss, Ash sends out Talonflame next. In response, Cynthia chooses her Gastrodon.

“Let’s get this started with a Brave Bird, Talonflame!” 

“Gastrodon, use Smack Down!” Ash winces, as the quad-effective attack brings Talonflame crashing out of the sky. “Come on, Talonflame, we’re not done! Use Steel Wing!”

“End it with Muddy Water.” Unfortunately, Talonflame doesn’t have time to get the attack off. A wave of dirty liquid comes surging down, knocking out the fiery falcon before it can do anything. Ash grins ruefully. He’s down three-zero and hasn’t landed a good hit yet. And yet he somehow feels… exhilarated? 

This isn’t a battle I’m meant to win. Ash realizes, echoing Cynthia’s earlier words. So why not just say “screw it” and have fun? “Buizel, I choose you!” “Let’s go, Roserade!” 

Ash grins. “Finally, a chance to get some damage in! Buizel, Aqua Jet straight into an Ice Punch!” Cynthia’s eyes widen- just a fraction, but it’s there. “Petal Dance!” 

Buizel is hit by the attack, but not before striking Roserade cleanly across the face with Ice Punch. Ash keeps grinning. “Time to bust out our new attack, Buizel. Wave Crash!” 

“Counter Shield with Petal Dance!” Impressed by Ash’s guts, Cynthia watches as the Kantonian trainer’s face turns to one of admiration. “You used my strategy?”

“It was a good one, Ash.”

Ash’s grin returns. “Yeah, but that doesn’t mean there’s no holes in it. Buizel, go over the top with an Aqua Jet!” “Bui!” Using the signature move that its line is known for, Buizel dodges Roselia’s Counter Shield and scores a glancing blow. Cynthia takes a step forward. “Sludge Bomb!” 

“Deflect it with Sonic Boom!” Indeed, Buizel manages to deflect Roserade’s attack- but there’s a telltale purple tinge at the end. Poison. “Buizel, let’s try to finish this with another Ice Punch!” 

“Petal Dance, again!” This time, it’s too much. Buizel falls. Still, Ash is doing better! He got in a few hits this time! “Espeon, I choose you!” “Let’s go, Spiritomb!” The smile quickly fades from Ash’s face. Espeon has a double disadvantage here. Still, he has a card up his sleeve. 

“Start with a Calm Mind, Espeon!” 

“Will-o-Wisp, Spiritomb.” As the flame lands, Ash decides to kick his plan into high gear. 

“Dazzling Gleam!” Cynthia raises an eyebrow as the attack lands. It doesn’t do much- clearly Espeon is one of his newer captures. However, the fact that it made a dent in Spiritomb at all says a lot. As one of her bulkier Pokemon, the shade is usually a wall to unprepared challengers. 

“Again, Espeon!” This time, Cynthia cuts him off. It’s quite brutal, actually. “Sucker Punch.” Espeon goes down, leaving Ash with just one Pokemon left. Cynthia stares at him. 

“No more playing around, right?” She pulls out her Starter’s Pokeball, and Ash unclips one from his belt with a wicked grin. “Like I’d ask for anything else. Greninja, I choose YOU!” 

Without a word, Cynthia releases Garchomp. “Let’s start this right with Dragon Rush!” 

“Test her defenses with Night Slash, then slip away with Double Team!” The initial collision leaves a cloud of dust behind, and Greninja staggers. “Water Shuriken!” The frog is quick on the draw, firing off the liquid projectiles. Garchomp is faster, though, and manages to dodge with Dig. Cynthia gives Ash a Look. “We said no more playing around, Ash.” He chuckles ruefully. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.” A veil of water begins to form around Greninja. When it fades, the Kalosian starter’s appearance is visibly different. Ash reaches to his back, where Greninja keeps its large Water Shuriken. “You know what to do when Garchomp comes up, right Greninja?” “Gren!” Cynthia smiles at their teamwork. “Garchomp, come up and use Dragon Claw!” 

“Icicle Spear!” Once again, Cynthia is caught off-guard. This kid just doesn’t stop surprising her, does he? “Dragon Rush!” When the attack hits home, Ash winces in pain- right where Greninja was hit. So this is the Bond Phenomenon that Diantha was talking about. Still, the kid gets up with a grin on his face. “Water Shuriken!” Greninja takes the shuriken off of its back- and then it grows, expanding to quickly become twice its original size. The massive shuriken hits Garchomp head-on, causing Cynthia’s ace to stagger. This Greninja- without the Ability it’s so famous for- just made her Starter take a step back.

 Cynthia grins. “Now that’s more like it, Ash! Garchomp, let’s finish this! Draco Meteor!” 

“Water Shuriken, FULL POWER!” This time, the shuriken is absolutely massive, about the size of Greninja itself. Ash seems to move in sync with his Pokemon, drawing an imaginary weapon off of his back. Likewise, Garchomp forms a glowing orb in its mouth, ready to shotgun upwards. 

The attacks collide with a massive BANG. 

When the dust clears, Ash is down on one knee. Cynthia takes one look at Garchomp, and makes her decision. “I’m calling this match, Ash. Neither Garchomp nor Greninja can go on.” She takes out a tube and starts to reapply her lipstick, making sure to flash the Key Stone at Ash. He gets the message loud and clear, smiling ruefully and giving Greninja a high-five. “Thanks for the battle, Cynthia. I definitely have a long way to go before the Masters’ Eight.” The blond-haired Champion smiles and gives Ash a surprisingly parental hug. “You’ve got this, kiddo.” Some day, you’re going to be the best of the best.

Chapter Text

When Ash gets home, Serena immediately greets him at the door. “Have fun?” She asks, and the Kantonian trainer smiles. “Yeah! I lost really badly, but that just tells me how much I have to grow!” Smiling, Serena gives her boyfriend a quick kiss. “Do you feel more ready for the Gauntlet now?” 

“Absolutely!” Ash replies, then thinks. “Do you need my help with practice? I’m happy to lend a hand in case you need it.” Still smiling, Serena shakes her head. “I’m alright. But thank you!” She puts away the plate she’d been cleaning, then turns to Sylveon. The Fairy-type has been helping out around the house, and right now, she’s just been pestering Serena. “Want to go for a walk?” “Eon!” The Eeveelution says happily. Finally, a chance to get out and get some air! 

Serena grabs her purse, her Pokeballs, and the portable incubator. Then, with a peck to Ash’s cheek, she’s off. The walk takes them to the nicer part of Hammerlocke, away from the cheap restaurants near the stadium. Here, the houses are large and Gothic. Sylveon and Pancham take it in with wide eyes, while Braixen feels like dancing. It’s such a pretty place! 

Suddenly, Serena hears a cracking noise. She looks down at the incubator, and- “Oh! It’s hatching!” Thinking quickly, the Kalosian girl runs to the nearest Pokemon center. “Nurse Joy, my egg is hatching!” The nurse quickly rushes over, taking Serena’s egg in with an experienced eye. “Alright, I’ll take it from here. Is there anyone you want to call?” In an instant, Serena dials Ash. “What’s up?” He asks concernedly. 

“The Pokemon egg I found is hatching!” Serena can feel Ash’s grin. “That’s great, Serena! I can’t wait to meet the newest member of our family!” Her breath hitches. Our family. Yes, this little Pokemon will be part of their family, won’t it? No matter what hatches from that egg. 

Nurse Joy emerges from the room with a small purple Pokemon in her arms. “Well, miss, you’ve hatched a healthy Toxel. Please take good care of it, and let us know if you need any help.” Serena accepts the baby with a grateful smile. “Thank you, Nurse Joy! I’ll do my best!” The baby stirs, then looks up at Serena with wide eyes. “Tox?” It chirps. Serena stares down at her newest teammate lovingly. “Hey there, Toxel. I’m Serena.” The baby yawns, stretches, and settles back into Serena’s arms. 

“It likes me.” She breathes, and Ash smiles. “Who wouldn’t? You’re amazing, Serena. I’m sure that Toxel can see that.” Serena feels herself blush, then takes out a spare Pokeball and touches it to Toxel’s forehead. “We should probably baby-proof the house, Ash. Just in case.” Ash laughs. 

“Yeah, you’re probably right. I’ll look that up while you walk home, okay? That way, we can get Toxel settled in without making the house too dangerous.” Arceus, he really thinks of everything. He’s going to make a great dad someday. 

Serena flushes as soon as the thought enters her head, and quickly turns her attention back to Toxel. The little Poison-type is fast asleep in her arms, and when she recalls it to its Pokeball, nothing out of the ordinary happens. Good. Hopefully, things will stay that way. 

As soon as Serena gets home, Ash sweeps her up into his arms. “Hey, Sere! I made sure to look up how to properly baby-proof everything in the house, so we should be good to go.” Serena smiles and clicks open Toxel’s Pokeball. “Welcome home, little guy.” The baby Pokemon stirs, then looks up at Serena. “El?” Ash grins down at the tiny Poison type. “Hi, Toxel! I’m Ash!” He whispers. Toxel babbles happily and starts to squirm in Serena’s arms. 

“Oh, do you want to get down?” The baby nods, and begins crawling once Serena sets it down on the floor. The Kalosian girl watches in amazement as Toxel begins to explore. “Wow, Pokemon grow up so much faster than humans. It’s kind of crazy.” Ash shrugs.

“Meh, we’ll just roll with it and figure things out as we go, just like always.” 

“But what if I mess this up? I don’t want Toxel to have a bad life.” Serena frets, and Ash puts his hands on her shoulders. “Breathe, Sere. In for six, out for eight. Just breathe.” After taking a few deep breaths, Serena feels herself calm down. 

“Serena, you’re going to be an amazing parent for Toxel. And, whatever happens, I’ll be by your side. You don’t have to do this alone.” Overcome with emotion, Serena kisses Ash. “Thank you.” She whispers, meaning it wholeheartedly. 

“Toxel tox?” What’s momma doing?

“Roc, lycanroc!” That’s called kissing! It’s what two humans do when they’re mates! 

“Bui, buizel.” Meh, too mushy for my tastes. 

“Ninja-gre.” Anything is too mushy for you, Buizel. Be nice.

“Buizel bui.” Sorry, sensei. 

Ash looks over at the group. “Everything okay over there?” Greninja nods, and Buizel shoots him a thumbs-up. “Good! I want you guys to help Toxel get settled in.” His stomach growls, and Serena gives a gentle laugh. “Sounds like it’s time for lunch. I’ll make us some salad.” Ash pumps his fist in victory. Anything Serena makes is always amazing! His Pokemon seem to agree with that sentiment, as all of them give cheers of approval. Serena smiles, then makes her way into the kitchen and starts to grab ingredients for lunch. 

“Come on, Toxel, just one more sip!” Serena encourages, and the baby Pokemon reluctantly takes a sip from the bottle. The Kalosian girl sits down and lets out an exhale. “Tag in?” She asks Ash wearily, and he smiles. “I can take it from here! You’re doing great, Serena.” She smiles, then flops down onto the couch dramatically. Who knew that feeding a baby Pokemon would be so difficult? 

Watching from the couch, Serena sees Ash slowly inch the bottle towards Toxel’s mouth. The baby Poison-type isn’t backing away this time, so hopefully it’ll actually take in the nutrients it needs. Ash is patient as always, just like he is with any other Pokemon. 

Eventually, Toxel finishes the bottle and settles down for a nap. Serena recalls it to its Pokeball, then sets a timer on her tablet for when Toxel needs to wake up. Nurse Joy had given her very specific instructions on how to care for the baby, and she’s been following them to the letter. Ash has suggested getting his friend Brock to help check on Toxel’s well-being, and Serena isn’t opposed to it. Maybe in a few weeks, once Toxel’s settled in. But for now, she’s just content to sit down. 

Ash walks over. “Tired?” Serena nods, and Ash sits down next to her. “Take a break, Sere. You could really use one.” Too tired to come up with a response, Serena lays her head on Ash’s shoulder and feels herself drift off to sleep. She could get used to this.

Chapter Text

Soon enough, the week comes to an end, and it’s time for the Gauntlet. As Ash climbs into the Corviknight Taxi, still cloaked in the early morning light, Serena presses a kiss to his forehead. “You’re going to do amazing, Ash. I’ll be cheering you on from here.”

Smiling gratefully, Ash returns the kiss. “Love you, Sere.” And as the taxi departs, he thinks about just how right those words feel. 

Once the Corviknight touches down in Stow-on-Side, Ash thanks the pilot and steps out. Stow-on-Side is very different from Hammerlocke, having two separate stadiums that play host to different Gym leaders. Ash is looking for Bea’s gym, which is said to be on the north side of town. It’s not difficult to find– the man in the Alolan shirt gives it away.

“Hey, Scott! It’s been a while!” Ash smiles, and Scott laughs. 

“It’s good to see you, Ash! Follow me- I’ll take you to the tournament.” Ash follows his lead, and is taken through a back passage into the Gym. Since it’s Allister’s turn to lead the Stow-on-Side Gym this year, Bea has graciously allowed the use of her gym for the Gauntlet. Ash steps inside, and is immediately greeted by the bustling of sixty three other Great Class trainers. The Gauntlet has certainly pulled in a large crowd. 

“We’ve got trainers from nine different regions here.” Scott explains, and Ash nods. That makes sense. It makes him wonder how they’re going to pull off such a large tournament in just three days, though. 

Seemingly sensing Ash’s doubts, Scott chuckles. “Just wait for the announcement, Ash. I’ll explain everything in a few minutes.” The Battle Frontier owner walks off, leaving Ash to wander his way through the crowd. He eventually makes his way towards the front, sitting in one of the sixty-four chairs provided. A girl who can’t be more than thirteen sits down next to him. “Hola! I’m Nemona!” 

Ash holds out his hand for her to shake. “I’m Ash Ketchum, from Pallet Town!” 

Nemona fixes him with a blinding grin. “Cool! I’m from Mesagoza in Paldea! How long have you been battling?”

 Ash chuckles at Nemona’s enthusiasm, which reminds him of his own. “I’ve been battling for…” he does a quick calculation in his head, “five and a half years. What about you? Is this your first tournament?” 

Nemona grins. “Yep! Me and my partners are going to battle everyone we can!” She quiets down as Scott steps up to the podium. A suspiciously familiar camera crew walks up and starts to film the jovial man’s speech.

“Hello, everybody! My name is Scott. For those of you who don’t know, I own the Kanto Battle Frontier. Today, I’m partnering up with the World Coronation Series to bring you the Gauntlet: a sixty-four trainer tournament with an amazing prize- a chance to take on former champion Alder.” Here, Scott gestures to the field. It’s been divided from the usual gigantic battlefield into four smaller quadrants. 

“Here’s how we’re going to do this. Once the randomly generated bracket is up, we’ll start battling. There are twelve battlefields total, including eight under the stadium, so we should be able to get through the first rounds quickly. Those first two rounds will be two on two battles. Then, once we reach the Round of Sixteen, it’ll switch to three on three. From the round of sixteen onwards, gimmicks WILL be allowed.” He pauses and lets the trainers digest this.

“Without any further ado, here are the brackets!” As soon as the screen lights up and shows the sixty-four trainers, Ash is searching for his name. There he is, up in the top left quadrant- and his opponent is Nemona. 

The Paldean girl, having seen this, smiles at Ash. “Fantȧstico! I’ll see you on the pitch!”

Ash nods, mentally preparing his team. The Gauntlet is going to be grueling, so he’ll need all nine team members for it. Nobody- not even Pikachu and Greninja- can afford to sit out. 

Looking at the schedule that’s just been texted to his Rotom phone, Ash sees that he and Nemona are on the northwest field. He walks over, silences his phone, and looks at the ref and his opponent.

“This will be a two on two Great Class battle between Nemona Castellanos and Ash Ketchum! Competitors, send out your first Pokemon!” 

“ Vamos, Tauros!” 

“Espeon, I choose you!” A black Tauros emerges from Nemona’s Pokeball, and it paws the ground with a menacing look. Must have Intimidate. Luckily, Espeon is a special attacker. 

Just to be safe, Ash scans Tauros with his Pokedex. It appears that Paldean Tauros are Fighting type, so Espeon should be at an advantage. 

The ref shoots him a look, and Ash puts his Pokedex away with a sheepish grin. Hey, it can’t hurt to be prepared, right? 

“Battle begin!” 

“Espeon, test their defenses with an Extrasensory!”

“Bulk Up!” Espeon’s attack hits immediately, driving Tauros backwards. The bull snorts and shakes its head, boosting its stats. Nemona looks at the field with a critical eye. “Raging Bull!” 

Ash raises an eyebrow. That’s not a move he’s heard of before. Espeon takes the hit hard, and when Tauros glows blue, Ash guesses that it’s Water type. Before Tauros can go for another, he comes to a realization. 

“Throw it back with Psychic!” This time, Tauros takes a lot more visible damage. It gets thrown backwards across the field, its attack failing to land.

Nemona grimaces. “Alright, let’s finish this up quickly! Outrage!” Now that’s a move that Ash knows how to deal with. 

“Espeon, dodge until it gets tired, then strike with Dazzling Gleam!” Espeon runs rings around Tauros, dodging each frenzied toss of the bull’s head. Once Tauros begins to tire out, the feline evolution of Eevee strikes. Dazzling Gleam is a direct hit, and Tauros goes down. The ref waits for a moment, then raises a flag. “Tauros is unable to battle! Nemona, send out your next Pokemon!” 

Nemona grimaces. “Mierda.” 

Ash doesn’t know much Paldean, but he’s pretty sure Nemona shouldn’t say that. 

“ Vamos, Lycanroc!” A Lycanroc is the next one out. This one is the Midday form, and Nemona’s has a sparkling blue coat. Noticing Ash’s gaping expression, Nemona’s grimace quickly turns to a proud smile.

“You’re admiring Lycanroc, si? He’s a Shiny Pokemon!” Impressed, Ash nods and looks at Espeon again. She’s licking her paws, ready for another round. 

“Calm Mind!” 

“Accelerock!” 

Compared to his own Lycanroc, Nemona’s is pitifully slow. Still, it’s fast enough to hit Espeon before she can boost her stats, causing the feline to hiss and drop into a crouch. She’s not happy. Ash watches the field, then makes his move. “Rip up the field with Psychic, then throw the dust in Lycanroc’s eyes!” “Es!” 

Espeon does as she’s commanded, and the sand goes directly into Lycanroc’s eyes. Nemona maintains her grin. “That won’t work, Ash! My Lycanroc has the Keen Eye ability! And now, we’ll use it to our advantage! Crunch!” 

Preventing himself from cursing, Ash orders Espeon to dodge. She’s not quite fast enough, and takes the attack full-on. 

“Return, Espeon.” No point in letting her get knocked out. Ash selects his other Pokemon. 

“How about a Rock on Rock battle, Nemona? Lycanroc, I choose you!” The wolf comes out of his Pokeball with a howl, immediately understanding that this is a Serious Battle. 

Their commands ring out simultaneously. 

“Accelerock!” 

Here, the difference in speed is made immediately apparent. Ash’s Lycanroc is across the field in the blink of an eye, while Nemona’s is still visibly running. The Dusk form of the Wolf Pokemon makes contact, blindsiding his shiny opponent.

“Follow it up with a Howl to boost your stats, then Stone Edge!” 

“Rock Slide!” Nemona’s command comes late, and Ash’s Lycanroc has already made short work of her shiny canine. Lycanroc lies on the ground with swirls in its eyes.

“Nemona’s Lycanroc is unable to battle! Which means that the win goes to Ash! He will advance to the next round!” 

Grimacing and holding back tears, Nemona walks over to shake Ash’s hand. “You were great out there, Ash. Guess I just wasn’t good enough yet.” Ash puts a comforting hand on her shoulder. 

“You’ll get there someday, Nemona! It took me a lot of losses to get to where I am now.” 

The younger trainer perks up a little bit. “You really mean it?” 

“Of course!” Ash encourages. “One day, you’ll find your greatest treasure. And battling is a great way to do that!” 

Encouraged, Nemona throws her arms around Ash. “Thanks,” she mutters, “I needed that.” 

“No problem, Nemona.”

Chapter Text

After quickly getting his team healed by the on-site Nurse Joy, Ash heads into the tunnels for his next battle. The girl he’s supposed to be facing is named Iono, and she’s already at the field when Ash gets there. “Helloooooo there! Welcome to the Iono Zone!” Ash is immediately pulled over towards a small camera, which his opponent is giving a fanged grin to. “Any words for the camera?” Caught off guard, Ash shakes his head. He just came here for a battle- not to appear on another stream! 

“Aw, there goes my revenue for the day…” Iono makes a sad face, but immediately perks up. “Anyway, I’m all set and ready to go!” The referee looks at the two of them. “This will be a two on two Great Class battle between Iono and Ash Ketchum! Competitors, send out your first Pokemon!” 

“Kilowattrel, come on out!” 

“Flygon, I choose you!” 

Another Paldean Pokemon hits the field. From the name alone, Ash guesses that it’s an Electric and Flying type. Time to start this right. 

“Rock Tomb!”

“Use Air Slash, knock those rocks away!” 

It’s quickly clear that Iono has more experience than Nemona. The Rock Tomb is batted away, and Flygon is hit in the face with an Air Slash. Thankfully, Flygon doesn’t flinch. That gives Ash time to plan his next strategy. 

“Dragon Claw!” 

“Use Hurricane!” Once again, Flygon is shoved back my Kilowattrel’s attack. Clearly, Ash won’t be able to get in close. The problem is that all of Flygon’s moves, sans Earthquake, require the dragon to rush in. Ash makes his call. “Flygon, return! Swellow, I choose you!” Iono raises an eyebrow, clearly confused at Ash’s choice of Pokemon. “Okayyyy… Thunderbolt!” Kilowattrel throws out the electrical attack, but Swellow easily dodges. “Quick Attack, then slam it with a Boomburst!” 

Both of Swellow’s attacks hit home, and Iono’s other eyebrow raises quickly. She clearly didn’t expect that to happen. “Another Thunderbolt!” This time, Swellow absorbs the hit with little trouble. “Swellow swel.” Pikachu shocks harder. 

Ash grins, having gotten the gist of the statement. “Hurricane!” Kilowattrel is buffeted by the wind, before being thrown downwards. The raven-haired trainer presses his advantage. “Boomburst again!” This time, Kilowattrel is driven into the ground. The crater left behind makes Ash wince. Iono does the same, and recalls her fainted Pokemon. “Woah, your Swellow’s no joke!” She grins and pulls out her next Pokeball. “Pawmot, let’s go! Double Shock!” A bearlike Pokemon immediately comes out, striking Swellow with a massive overhead punch. Unprepared, Swellow takes the attack head-on and shrieks in pain. Ash winces at the unfamiliar attack, recalling Swellow before it can take another super-effective hit. “Flygon, I choose you!” 

Once the dragon comes out, Ash makes a quick call. “Flygon, I think it’s an Electric type! So let’s hit it with an Earthquake!” Flygon lets loose, shaking the ground with its attack. However, it only appears to do normal damage. Ash looks confused. “What does Double Shock do, anyway?” Iono gives him a fanged grin. 

“It causes Pawmot to lose its Electric typing in exchange for a super powerful move!” Ash groans, having missed his chance at a super effective hit. “Flygon, follow it up with a Dragon Claw!” 

“Ice Punch, now!” Wincing, Ash orders Flygon to dodge. Thanks to its training with Buizel, the dragon manages to avoid the attack. Its Dragon Claw strikes Pawmot, pushing the Paldean Pokemon back. 

“Follow up with Rock Tomb!” However, what happens next is more of a rockfall than a rock tomb, and Ash grins. “That was Rock Slide! Now, use a Breaking Swipe to lower its attack!” 

“Mach Punch!” Pawmot makes a speedy leap towards Flygon, striking it with a flurry of blows. The dragon flinches backwards, giving Iono an opening. “Now use Ice Punch!” This time, Flygon takes the super-effective hit head on. Thankfully, Flygon survives the hit, but it’s clearly winded. Seeing this, Ash decides to leave it all on the line. “Rock Slide, then finish it with an Earthquake!” Iono gives him that fanged grin again. “Let’s wrap this up, Pawmot! Close Combat!” Pawmot dives in, hitting Flygon with a barrage of powerful punches. Unfortunately for the Paldean streamer, her Pokemon flinches back from the power of Rock Slide, and gets shaken off its feet by Earthquake. It’s over. 

Groaning, Iono calls her Pokemon back to its ball. “Dios mio, that could have gone so much better. Anyway, thanks for the battle!” She shakes Ash’s hand, shuts off the smaller camera, and skips away to the nurse on duty. Ash shakes his head. Iono is certainly something, that’s for sure. 

Ash makes his way over to the locker rooms once his Pokemon are healed, and pulls out his phone. “Who do I call first?” He wonders, debating the options in his head. However, the choice is made for him when Clemont’s number shows up on the screen. Ash picks up the phone with a smile. 

“Hey, Clemont! What’s up?” Ash asks the inventor, grinning widely. He can practically see the Gym Leader adjusting his glasses from regions away. 

“Hello, Ash! I was just wondering when you’re coming to Lumiose City. I finally finished making a machine to record the Bond Phenomenon!” Ash grins again. “That’s amazing, Clemont! I’ll probably visit you in a week, since I’ve got a tournament right now.” The blond-haired inventor gives a noise of acknowledgement, before being interrupted by a crashing sound. Clemont sighs. “Looks like Bonnie’s home. I’ll have to warn her not to be so loud next time.” 

Ash chuckles, being used to Bonnie’s antics by now. “Tell her I say hi!” Clemont smiles. “I will. Good luck in your next match, Ash!” 

“Thanks, Clemont!” Still smiling, Ash hangs up the phone. He checks the schedule. They’re onto the Round of Sixteen now, which means it’ll be a three on three. Curious, Ash turns on the locker room’s TV and checks out the current match. On screen is a familiar face, one that he hasn’t seen in a while. “Ritchie?” The redhead is out on the field, commanding his Charizard to use Fire Spin and trap his opponent’s Bronzong. When the light from the Fire Spin fades, the bell Pokemon is knocked out. Ash claps, then takes in the Dynamax band on Ritchie’s wrist. He might have to face that later on in case they match up in the bracket. 

Ash gets a notification, and checks his phone. His next match has been decided. And his opponent is… 

“Cameron?” Ash asks incredulously. Pikachu lets out a similar noise of disbelief. The last time they’d faced the scatterbrained trainer was in the Unova League, and that had resulted in an embarrassing loss for Ash. This is his chance to prove that he’s gotten better. He looks at Pikachu determinedly. 

“Let’s give Cameron a match he won’t forget.”

Chapter Text

The time comes for Ash to take the field. He’s already selected his team of three, ready for anything that Cameron can throw at him. He knows the Unovan boy’s team by heart at this point- having repeated it to himself many times over during some of his worst bouts of anxiety. This time, he won’t be caught off guard. No unexpected evolutions, no Zekrom-given concussion to hold him back. He’s going to hit Cameron with everything he has. 

The Unovan trainer grins at Ash from the other side of the field. “Hey, Ash! It’s been a while!” Ash forces a smile to his face. “It’s great to see you, Cameron! Ready for this battle?” Cameron’s grin grows to spread across his face. 

“You bet! But I bet you don’t have a counter for my secret weapon!” 

Ash fixes his opponent with a deadpan look. “It’s Hydreigon, isn’t it.” Cameron looks baffled. “How did you know?” Holding back a sigh, Ash looks at the referee to start the match. “This will be a three on three Great Class battle between Ash Ketchum and Cameron! Competitors, please send out your first Pokemon!” 

“Hydreigon, you’re up!”

“Buizel, I choose you!” 

Both Pokemon hit the field, and Buizel immediately sizes up his opponent. Big, but he’s taken down bigger. 

Cameron waves his hand around excitedly. “We’ll take the first move! Hydreigon, use Tri Attack!” Charging up the triple beams, the Unovan pseudo legendary fires at Buizel. 

“Let’s put Serena’s strategy to good use, Buizel! Get in close with Aqua Jet, then slam it with an Ice Punch!” Acknowledging its trainer’s command, Buizel evades Hydreigon’s attack and slugs its left head with a frozen fist. Cameron’s Pokemon staggers back, but the Unovan seems unfazed. “Double Hit!” 

“Counter Shield!”

“Huh?” Cameron asks, and he can only watch as Ash’s Pokemon shields itself in a veil of water. Every time that Hydreigon goes in to attack, it’s struck by the spinning shield. Capitalizing on Cameron’s confusion, Ash goes in for another attack. “Now, turn that Counter Shield into a Wave Crash!” “Bui!” Still spinning, Buizel summons its trademark massive wave and blasts it at Hydreigon. When the wave subsides, Cameron’s Pokemon is unconscious. Gaping, the Unovan boy pulls out his next Pokeball. “Wow, Ash! Your Buizel is super tough! But how does it do when the type matchup isn’t good? Ferrothorn, you’re up!” 

“Buizel, return!” Another valuable lesson from Paul- switching out based on Type matchups. Ash doesn’t want to keep Buizel in if it has an unfavorable opponent. “Talonflame, I choose you!” Cameron gulps, but quickly smiles as he remembers something. “You think I wouldn’t have Flying coverage, Ash? Ferrothorn, use Thunderbolt!” Ash raises an eyebrow. Thanks to Pikachu, his team has pretty good Electric resistances. Still, it’s best to have Talonflame go for the super-effective move right now. “Dodge it with Flame Charge!” With a caw of acknowledgement, the fiery falcon dives forwards. Ferrothorn lets out a squeal of pain as the quad-effective move strikes it, and its Thunderbolt misses by a wide margin. Ash doesn’t waste any more time. “Flame Charge, again! Then finish it with Brave Bird!” This time, Cameron doesn’t even bother giving a command. There’s no point- Ferrothorn is already knocked out. 

“Wow, Ash! You’ve gotten a lot better!” Cameron compliments, and Ash briefly allows himself to smile. He knows what’s coming next. “Lucario, you’re up!” All of a sudden, the Kantonian gets a crazy idea. In fact, it’s so crazy that it just might work. “Talonflame, hit Lucario, and then return!” The hit barely does anything- but it wasn’t meant to. Talonflame gets off some chip damage, then returns to its Pokeball. Cameron looks at the ref incredulously. “Whaaaaaaaat? Is that even legal?” The referee shrugs. “It’s a move called U-Turn, and yes, it’s perfectly legal. Competitor Ash, please send out your next Pokemon!” Ash grins down at his partner. “You up for a rematch with Lucario, buddy?” “Pika pika!” The electric mouse nods excitedly. Cameron grins and pumps his fist. “Awesome! Let’s do this!”

The combatants step up, and once the referee gives the go-ahead, Cameron recklessly dives in. “Lucario, use Force Palm!” 

“Dodge it and hit Lucario with a Quick Attack!” Pikachu obeys, striking Lucario and darting away. “Now follow up with a Volt Tackle!” 

“Copycat!” Cameron calls, and Lucario begins charging up his own Volt Tackle. However, when they clash, Lucario comes off worse for wear. On the other hand, Pikachu looks hyped up, crackling with static electricity. Cameron doesn’t seem to understand. “How the heck did that happen?” 

“Pikachu’s ability is Lightning Rod, Cameron.” The Kantonian says dryly. Cameron facepalms. “I was so sure that it was Static!” Ash decides to keep going, pressing his advantage. “Thunderbolt!” Still charged from Lucario’s failed Volt Tackle, Pikachu’s next Thunderbolt knocks the Aura Pokemon clean off its feet. 

“Get up, Lucario!” Cameron calls, and his faithful partner does so with a snarl. “Good! Now use Aura Sphere at Pikachu!” Ash grimaces. Aura Sphere never misses- but that doesn’t mean it can’t be deflected. “Knock it away with Iron Tail!” Pikachu obliges, deflecting Lucario’s attack with its tail. Cameron winces. “Copycat, again!” This time, Lucario’s tail takes on a metallic sheen, and it spins forward to hit Pikachu. Ash isn’t having any of that, though. 

“Quick Attack back to back, then finish it with a Volt Tackle!” The Quick Attacks blur together, combining to launch Pikachu at breakneck speeds. The electric mouse’s Volt Tackle strikes Lucario with a sound like thunder, and when the empathetic canine falls onto its back, it is very clearly out of it. 

“Lucario is unable to battle! Which means that the win goes to Ash!” Cameron shakes his head ruefully. “Aw, man! I thought for sure that I’d beat you again!” The raven-haired Kantonian smiles, then shakes Cameron’s hand. “Thanks for the battle, man.” Ash walks off, feeling far more satisfied. This win meant a lot to him, especially after his disastrous Unova journey. 

Watching the bracket, Ash sees many familiar faces advancing to the quarterfinals. These include Ritchie, who appears to be his next opponent. The Kantonian trainer sighs. Yet another opponent that handed him an embarrassing loss. Is fate conspiring against him, or is this just his normal luck? Ash sighs, gets his team healed, and looks down at Pikachu. “Alright, here we go.” Steeling himself, Ash walks out to face the music.

Chapter Text

When Ash gets to the field, Ritchie flashes him an easy smile. “It’s been a while, Ash. You still have Charizard?”

The raven-haired boy shrugs. “Yeah, but he’s off training. I’ll warn you, Ritchie- I’ve gotten a lot better since we last battled.”

His opponent grins. “You’re not the only one who’s improved, Ash. I got top four in the Indigo League last year!” 

“That’s awesome!” Ash says, genuinely happy for his old acquaintance. Then he smirks and looks at the ref, a hint of his cocky ten-year old self shining through. “Let’s get this show on the road!” The ref obliges, going through the standard match introduction and calling for them to bring out their Pokemon. 

“Let’s do this, Sparky!”

“Espeon, I choose you!” 

An undeniably familiar Raichu hits the field with a cry of its name, making Ash grin. “Thunder Stone?” Ritchie nods, then looks at Sparky. “Fake Out!” 

“Dodge it!” The speed of Fake Out is too much, causing Espeon to flinch backwards. Ash doesn’t let this phase him. “Start setting up a Calm Mind!” 

“Two can play that game! Sparky, use Agility!” The larger electric mouse darts around the field, drastically increasing its speed. 

Undeterred, Ash continues to set up his strategy. “Use Calm Mind again!” 

“Play Rough!” 

This time, Espeon is quicker on the draw. She barely dodges to the side, avoiding Sparky’s rough tackle. The Calm Mind increases her stats without a hitch, allowing Ash to execute the second phase of his plan. 

“Stored Power!” The psionic energy expands outwards, catching Sparky off guard. With the Raichu off balance, Ash decides to push his advantage. “Use Dazzling Gleam!” 

Ritchie grins. “Sparky, return! Let’s rock, Zippo!” His Raichu vanishes in a flare of red light, and it’s quickly replaced by a Charizard. This one is less muscular than Ash’s, but is clearly built for speed. It resists Espeon’s attack, causing Ash to quickly switch tactics. If he’s not careful, Zippo could sweep his team. “Hit it with a Psyshock!” 

“Burn it up with Fire Spin!” The speedy pseudo-dragon obeys, burning away Espeon’s attack. Ash grits his teeth. “Stored Power, again!” 

“Get up in the air and use Flamethrower!” Ritchie orders, and when the stream of flames lands, Ash winces. Espeon is a hard hitter, but she’s not great at taking those hits. That’s something they’ll have to work on. To his surprise, the psychic feline gets to its feet with a snarl, but it’s clearly taken a lot of damage. 

“Espeon, return!” Now, he can stave off damage aimed at Espeon until later. And with a Charizard on the field… 

“Lycanroc, I choose you!” Showing itself with a howl, Lycanroc quickly drops into a battle stance. Ritchie wastes no time returning Zippo, bringing Sparky back onto the field. 

“Fake Out!” 

“Meet it with Accelerock!” 

Here, Lycanroc’s natural speed makes itself known. It keeps up with Sparky’s Fake Out, and the attacks strike each other at the exact same time. Both boys decide to follow up aggressively.

“Use Thunder Punch!” 

“Stone Edge, Lycanroc!” 

The attacks cancel each other out again, with Sparky managing to punch through each spire of Stone Edge before they can reach him. However, this gives Lycanroc time to dart away before Raichu can attack again. Looking impatient, Ritchie makes his call. “Agility, then slam it with another Thunder Punch!” 

“Lycanroc, get some distance!” Barking its acknowledgement, Lycanroc obeys. Unfortunately, Sparky’s newfound speed means that the electric mouse is hot on his heels. 

“Play Rough!” Ritchie calls, and Ash grins. 

“Turn around and do what we did against Gladion!” As soon as Sparky makes contact, Lycanroc takes the hit and strikes back with a back-breakingly nasty Counter. Sparky wobbles a bit, and as Ritchie asks his Pokemon to hang tough, Ash presses his advantage. 

“Stone Edge!” 

This time, Sparky doesn’t get up. Ritchie sighs, reaching for his Raichu’s Pokeball. “Return, Sparky. You were awesome.” Now, he’s in quite the pickle. Both of his remaining Pokemon have quad weaknesses to Rock. That doesn’t mean that he lacks coverage or contingencies, though. 

“You’ve got this, Happy!” A well-groomed Butterfree hops into action, proudly fluttering its wings. 

Ash doesn’t waste a second. “Accelerock!” 

“Dodge it and use Sleep Powder!” Happy takes a massive hit, but in the process, Lycanroc inhales some of the spores. It falls asleep, forcing Ash to recall it with a grimace. He should really teach more of his Pokemon Sleep Talk. Ah, well. Live and learn. Since Espeon would be at a disadvantage against Butterfree, that means it’s time for him to pick his third. “Swellow, I choose you!” 

As soon as the Hoennian bird emerges, Ritchie recalls Happy to its Pokeball. However, rather than selecting Zippo, the band on his wrist begins to glow with pink light. Ash winces, mentally preparing himself. “Happy, let’s do this! Gigantamax!” Once the transformation finishes, Ash starts the mental timer. 

“Use Max Airstream!” Butterfree flaps its gigantic wings, creating a gust of air. Ash curses his lack of a Dynamax band, and orders a counterattack. “Cut through it with Air Slash!” With a caw of determination, Swellow slices through the gigantic funnel of wind. However, Ash knows from his research that Max Airstream raises Speed. If Happy gets too many of those off, it could become impossible to keep up with. He has to stall it out. 

“Swellow, dodge and weave! Fire off a few Boombursts, but don’t let it touch you!” 

“Use Max Airstream again!” When Swellow manages to dodge this time, Ritchie shakes his head. In the time it took for Happy to release the attack, another thirty seconds elapsed. Dynamax really slows the pace of the battle down. “Alright, time for a Max Flutterby!” 

“Counter with a Hurricane!” Ash calls, and the two attacks cancel out. 

Ritchie grins. “Time to show off our special Max move, buddy! Use G-Max Befuddle!” A glowing sphere of green energy surrounds Happy, then encompasses Swellow. Once the light fades, Swellow is surrounded by a crackling aura. Ash winces, knowing that the paralysis will destroy his strategy of dodging. “Swellow, return!” Thirty seconds left now. 

With no other choice, Ash sends out the sleeping Lycanroc. “Wake up, Lycanroc! I know you can!” Growling, Lycanroc shakes its head and blinks the sleep from its eyes. Ritchie gulps. Now that Lycanroc’s awake, Ash has quad effective moves against both of his remaining Pokemon. “Use one final Max Airstream to boost your speed!” 

“Lycanroc, use Stone Edge to get yourself up into the air, then slam it with an Accelerock!” Nimbly, Lycanroc boosts itself upwards and slams into Happy with a howl. The Butterfree wobbles, then begins to shrink down rapidly. It falls. Groaning, Ritchie recalls his Butterfree and sends out Zippo. 

“Come on, Zippo, let’s finish this quickly! Use Solar Beam!” 

Ash grimaces, knowing full well how much damage the attack is capable of. “Dodge it with Accelerock!”

 Unlike the battle against Brendan’s Swampert, Zippo is clearly at Lycanroc’s level. The super effective attack strikes Ash’s rocky wolf head on, and Lycanroc isn’t durable enough to take the hit. “Lycanroc is unable to battle! Competitor Ash, please send out your next Pokemon!” 

Grinning ruefully, Ash sends out his next Pokemon. “Espeon, I choose you!” Facing down the Charizard, Espeon hisses a challenge. Zippo snorts, and waits for Ritchie’s command. 

“Flamethrower!”

“Block it with a Psyshock!” Espeon’s psychic attack manages to shield itself from the worst of Zippo’s flames, and it gives Ash time to go on the offensive. “Calm Mind!” 

“Trap it with Fire Spin!” Espeon nimbly dodges this, setting up its own stats in the process. 

“Use Psyshock and slam Charizard into the ground!” Zippo roars in pain as it’s driven into the dirt, and when it unfurls its wings, they don’t achieve enough lift to get it back into the air. Ash grins wickedly. “Finish it with another Psyshock!” 

This time, Espeon’s attack makes direct contact with Zippo, causing it to stumble backwards. As it topples over, Ritchie gives his rival a rueful grin. “Good one, Ash. Win this tournament for me, yeah?” 

“You bet!” The Kantonian responds excitedly, and goes off to prepare for his next match

Chapter Text

Seeing that his next opponent is someone named Cheren, Ash takes his break as a time to look over the other boy’s matches. It appears that Cheren specializes in Normal-types, and that he’s a crafty battler who has his Pokemon take hits before dealing back damage. Luckily for Ash, he has a Pokemon that can do just that. 

“Infernape, are you up for some brawling? I want to go all-out now that we’re in the semifinals.” “Ape!” The fiery monkey says proudly, beating its chest. Ash grins at his friend. “Cheren won’t know what hit him.” 

Once Ash has his team prepared, he gets to the field. Cheren looks at him with a keen eye. “You’re the Alola Champion, yes?” When Ash nods, Cheren grins. “Perfect. As the new Gym Leader of Aspertia City, you will make for an appropriate final test.” 

“Is someone in the Unova League retiring?” Ash asks curiously, and Cheren nods. “Lenora wanted to focus on her museum, and I offered to step up.” Cheren puts his hand to his belt, as the referee calls for them to select their first Pokemon. “Stoutland, let’s do this!” 

“Infernape, I choose you!” As soon as the monkey comes out, it feels a chill run down its spine. Ash curses under his breath. Stoutland must have Intimidate. This might cut his strategy short. 

“Stoutland, use Work Up!” 

“Mach Punch!” Ash orders, and Infernape delivers a powerful strike before Stoutland can boost its stats. “Now, follow it up with Brick Break!” 

“Use Return!” As the attacks clash, Stoutland’s natural bulk allows it to absorb Infernape’s hit. However, its Return doesn’t do much to Ash’s Sinnoh starter. This gives Ash an opportunity to call out his next attack. “Flame Wheel!” Infernape spins itself in a circle, leaving Stoutland with a burn. 

“Infernape, attack with repeated Mach Punches! Try to mimic Close Combat!” Whooping and hollering, Infernape launches a barrage of punches at Stoutland. Wincing, the large dog flinches back from the blows. Cheren cries for it to use Crunch, but it’s too late. Infernape’s fake Close Combat has done the trick. 

“Stoutland is unable to battle! Competitor Cheren, please send out your next Pokemon!” Smiling, Cheren sends a Watchog out to battle. “Start with a Super Fang!” 

“Dodge it, Infernape!” The fiery Starter darts out of the way, narrowly evading Watchog’s stamina draining move. If that move hit, it would put a stop to Infernape’s sweep. “Now use Flame Wheel!” 

“Hyper Fang!” Infernape’s fiery somersault meets Watchog’s teeth, and it’s clear who has the level advantage. Infernape bowls over Watchog, before striking it with a backhand. “Infernape, let’s finish this with a Brick Break!” “Ape!” Spinning around, Infernape delivers a brutal hit to Watchog’s head. As the Unovan Pokemon goes down, Ash can’t help but feel disappointed at how quickly the match is going by. Now that he’s in the semifinals, he expected a bit more of a challenge. 

Cheren shakes his head. “I should have expected nothing less from a Champion. However, you have yet to meet my partner. Braviary, take to the sky!” Braviary hits the battlefield with a proud caw of its name, and Ash grins. This is going to be fun. 

“Start with a Brick Break to test its strength!” 

“Bulk Up!” Braviary’s muscles seem to grow in size, allowing it to absorb Infernape’s hit far better than it would have otherwise. “Now use Close Combat!” 

“Dodge it with a Flame Wheel!” Once more, Infernape dodges. However, Braviary’s eyes seem to track its movements, and it strikes the monkey in the back. Thinking to himself, Ash quickly recalls Braviary’s possible Abilities. This one must have Keen Eye- otherwise, Infernape should have easily dodged that Close Combat. For now, evasion is off the table. They have no choice but to get in close. “Use your fake Close Combat again!” 

“Match it with Close Combat!” Braviary’s wing meets Infernape’s fist, with neither giving ground. Ash feels Cheren match his grin. 

“Use another Close Combat!” 

“Infernape, time to pull out our trump card! Flare Blitz!” As the two attacks clash, Ash feels Infernape’s stamina start to wane. It’s been going for three straight opponents, and that means it’s getting tired. However, this tiredness comes with an added advantage. Just one more hit… 

Ash shakes his head, seeming to snap out of a trance. When did he start thinking like Paul? Is the win really all that matters? No, he’s going to do this his way. Infernape doesn’t have to get hurt. “Infernape, return!” However, the fiery monkey dodges the recall beam with a glare. Ash looks at him warily. “You’re sure about this?” “Ape!” It says confidently, then levels a look at Braviary. Cheren grins. 

“We’re not done, Ash! Braviary, use Shadow Claw!” Cawing its acknowledgement, Braviary lunges in with its talons glowing purple. It strikes, leaving Infernape to breathe heavily. In this case, though, that’s a good thing. As the flame on Infernape’s head starts to grow in size, Ash grins at Cheren. “Infernape, let’s finish this with a Flare Blitz!” 

Cheren matches Ash’s grin with one of his own. “You’re not the only one with a trump card, Ash! Braviary, use Brave Bird!” Charging itself with blue light, Braviary dives down to meet Infernape head-on. The two attacks collide with a massive bang, sending a cloud of dust up over the arena. When it fades, both Pokemon are lying on the ground, groaning. Braviary staggers to its feet, but as Infernape attempts to do the same, it sways and falls. 

“Infernape is unable to battle! Competitor Ash, please send out your next Pokemon!” Grinning despite the loss, Ash recalls Infernape. 

“I’m impressed, Cheren! Your Braviary is super strong!” Cheren nods. “Thank you, Ash. Coming from you, that means a lot to me.” Ash grins, then makes his call. “Pikachu! I choose you!” 

Braviary is severely weakened from its battle with Infernape, so all it takes is a single “Piika-CHUU!” to end the match. Cheren walks to the middle, shaking Ash’s hand and giving him a Basic Badge. “You’re going to make a great Gym Leader, Cheren!” The Kantonian boy compliments, and his Unovan opponent smiles. 

“Thank you. But I believe you should be getting ready for the finals?” Ash nods, thanks Cheren again, and walks off to the locker rooms. He has the rest of the day to get his team rested and plan a strategy. (Since when did he actually plan things?) 

Once his team has recovered, Ash looks at them proudly. He’s going with a core duo of Flygon and Greninja for this battle, the two covering each other’s weaknesses well. His only problem is Fairy types- which is where Talonflame comes in. He stares at each of his nine Pokemon. 

“Well, we made it to the finals. Win or lose, I’m proud of all of you.” 

Here, Ash grins savagely. “But I don’t plan on losing, and I doubt you guys do either. So let’s go out there and win this thing!” His Pokemon cheer in agreement, ready for whatever the bracket will throw at them. More than anything, though, they’re ready to win.

Chapter Text

Taking a deep breath, Ash walks into the wings. It’s now or never. The announcer waits for the crowd to quiet down, then begins the introductions. 

“In this corner, we have a challenger endorsed by Chairman Rose himself! He’s been at the top of the Great Class for a while, and is looking to win here to cement his reputation! Hailing from Ballonlea, please welcome Bede!” 

A boy with white hair and a smug smile walks out onto the pitch. Taking in his pink attire, Ash assumes that he’s a Psychic or Fairy type specialist. As his mic crackles to life, the boy addresses the crowd. “Let’s get this over with. Whichever nobody is coming out to face me, I’ll make short work of them!” This seems to get the spectators fired up, and Ash feels a familiar fire rise in his chest. It’s always fun to take guys like Bede down. 

“And his opponent! This competitor has had a meteoric rise through the World Coronation Series, shooting all the way up to the Great Class in just a couple short months! He’s the pride of Pallet Town and the first ever Champion of Alola! Please give a warm Stow-on-Side welcome to Ash Ketchum!” At the word champion, the crowd goes wild. Bede, on the other hand, sniffs haughtily. 

“Being champion of some backwater region doesn’t impress me, Ketchum. I’ll defeat you and prove why Chairman Rose endorsed me!” 

Ash raises an eyebrow, and can’t hold back a snarky comment. “Inferiority complex much?” 

The crowd oohs, and Bede’s face twitches. “You’re the inferior one! Malamar, to the battlefront!” 

Seeing the psionic squid, Ash makes a call. 

“Flygon, I choose you!” 

With a cry of its own name, Flygon hits the field. After the referee goes through the rules and starts the battle, Bede takes the first move with a smirk. “Use Psycho Cut!” As the blades of psychic energy launch forwards, Ash is quick to come up with a countermeasure. 

“Knock it back with Iron Tail!” The attack is quickly deflected, though due to Malamar’s Dark type, it has no effect when bounced back. Bede’s haughty smirk doesn’t move an inch. “Now use Superpower!” 

“Flygon, get into the air and use Earthquake!” Ash is being very careful about his move choices, not wanting to lock himself into a Dragon move in case of Bede having a Fairy type. Flygon follows his instructions, dodging Malamar’s brutal hits and shaking the battlefield with Earthquake. Staggering a little, Malamar gets to its feet. “Taunt!” Ash grins at this- by going for Taunt, Bede has effectively wasted a turn. Who needs setup when you can just go for all-out damage?

Somewhere in the Sinnoh region, Paul facepalms. He doesn’t know why, but he gets the feeling that it’s related to Ash somehow. 

“Flygon, let’s show them your Iron Tail!” 

“Gon!” 

Cracking its tail like a whip, Flygon strikes Malamar in the side of the head. For the first time in the match, Bede’s smug look fades, instead replaced with a look of anger. 

“Malamar, use Throat Chop!” 

“Dodge, then use Rock Slide!” Malamar is able to chop the rocks away, though not before taking some damage from the hail of boulders. 

“Earthquake!” 

Shaking the field again, Flygon gives a draconic grin. Malamar is knocked off its feet, and Bede immediately returns it. 

“Orbeetle, to the battlefront!” A Pokemon that Ash doesn’t recognize hits the field, but from the name alone, it’s probably a Bug type. 

Ash grins. “Rock Slide!”

“Trick Room!” As the rocks strike their target, the entire field glows with a purple light. The grin vanishes from Ash’s face. He knows from experience just how deadly a properly-executed Trick Room team can be. “Break the Trick Room using Iron Tail!”

Bede looks incensed. “You can’t break Trick Room!” 

Ash responds with a cocky grin, letting some of his past self shine through. 

“Watch me.” 

With a slam of its tail, Flygon shatters the Trick Room barriers, immediately slowing Orbeetle to a crawl. Ash’s grin only grows in response to this. “Finish this off with another Rock Slide!” With a smile to match its trainer’s, Flygon lets loose and knocks Orbeetle down to earth. With a shocked expression, Bede recalls it, though he quickly composes himself. “No matter. Malamar, to the battlefront!” As the squid comes in, Ash makes a split-second call. “Flygon, return! Greninja, I choose you!” 

“Ninja!” Greninja comes onto the field immediately, causing Bede’s smirk to grow. “Everyone knows that Malamar is the superior Dark type, and I’ll prove it now! Use Superpower!” As Malamar charges in, Ash sends out a telepathic command through the Bond Phenomenon. “Slip away with Double Team, then use Water Shuriken.” Greninja does just that, creating a shadowy clone to distract Malamar. This also seems to fool Bede, giving the Kalosian ninja a free shot at Malamar’s back. When Malamar turns around to use another Superpower, Greninja slips away again. “ Alright, Bede wants to fight in close. So let’s keep Malamar distracted with Double Team, and just continue hitting it with Water Shuriken. ”

“Got it!” As Malamar’s attacks continue to miss, it’s clear that Greninja’s hit and run tactics are having an effect on it. Bede tugs at his hair, clearly frustrated. “Spin around and use Throat Chop! Get rid of the fakes!” 

Ash’s grin turns sharp, like a well-crafted knife. “Night Slash!” 

Manifesting a blade of umbral energy, Greninja appears out of thin air and hits Malamar in the back. With the damage it’s taken from all of Greninja’s Water Shurikens, the Night Slash is finally enough to take it down. Bede is practically ripping his hair out at this point, and calls out his final Pokemon. 

“Hatterene, to the battlefront! And use Dazzling Gleam!” Yet another Pokemon that Ash doesn’t recognize comes out of the Pokeball, and Ash groans. Of course he’s fighting a completely unknown variable. However, considering Bede’s specialty, he has one move that’s a good bet. 

“Dodge and use Night Slash!” Ducking to one side, Greninja manages to avoid the Fairy-type move, and strikes Hatterene with a blade of black energy. It doesn’t do as much as the Kalosian starter expected, though. “Ash, I think Hatterene is also a Fairy type!” 

Receiving Greninja’s message, Ash grins. Now that he knows what he’s dealing with, this battle just became a whole lot easier. “Greninja, let’s show him our Icicle Spear!” 

“Grenin!” Manifesting icy daggers in its hands, Greninja lets loose with a volley of Icicle Spears. Being a slow Pokemon, Hatterene is unable to dodge them, and takes the attack head-on. This seems to push Bede over the edge. “Time for you to face me at my full power! Hatterene, GIGANTAMAX!” He recalls Hatterene, and once again, the Pokeball begins to glow with pink particles. 

Ash really wishes he had more Z-Crystals right about now. 

Gigantamax Hatterene sees the field, and it… really doesn’t look so different from a normal Hatterene. Bede smiles maniacally. “Hatterene! Use G-Max Smite!” Ash curses under his breath. How can Greninja not take the hit here? “Dodge it with Double Team!” Slipping away, Greninja creates a shadow clone to take the force of the hit. It bursts into smoke almost immediately, but Greninja itself stays unharmed. Ash grins. “Harass it with Night Slashes, and wait for my signal!” 

While he says this out loud, a different message is transmitted into Greninja’s mind. “Try to gather all of your Icicle Spears into one big weapon. Then, on my signal, throw it at Hatterene.” Greninja nods, and as it hammers Hatterene with Night Slashes, ice slowly begins to build up in its other hand. 

At last, Bede gets lucky, and G-Max Smite manages to hit Greninja. The Kalosian starter staggers from the super-effective hit, but thanks to Ash, doesn’t get confused. Bede looks confused. “Why isn’t your Greninja down? One hit from Hatterene should have taken it out!” Ash bares his teeth in an Arcaninish grin. “Never assume anything about Greninja. Now!” At last, Greninja reveals the gigantic Icicle Spear it’s been hiding. With a cry of its name, the shinobi frog launches the spear directly at G-Max Hatterene’s chest. As the witchlike creature begins to shrink down, Ash can hardly believe it. He’s won. 

Still in disbelief, the Kantonian trainer sprints over to Greninja and hugs it. “Thank you.” He whispers, and Greninja gratefully returns the hug. For a moment, it’s just a trainer and his Pokemon standing there- nothing else in the world. 

Looking over Greninja’s shoulder, Ash sees that Bede has stormed off the pitch. The Kantonian shrugs. So he’s a sore loser. Not like he hasn’t dealt with those before. Scott walks down to the field, smiling at Ash. He reveals a small trophy, and presents it to the raven-haired trainer. “Congratulations, Ash.” 

Taking the trophy, Ash raises it high, grinning for the whole world to see. This win might not be that large in the grand scheme of things, but it’s still a win. 

From up in the VIP box, Alder chuckles. “Let’s hope you give me a tough fight, young Ash.” It’s been so long since he had a good battle- not since Iris defeated him and claimed her title. It’ll be fun to see how much Ash has improved.

Chapter Text

A day later, Ash checks in with the on-site Nurse Joy. His team is ready to face Alder. Since half of the older man’s team are Bug types, both Lycanroc and Swellow feel like good counters. Then, of course, there’s Pikachu, who called dibs as soon as the match was announced. An official walks up to Ash with a microphone and earpiece in hand. “Mr. Ketchum? We’re ready for you.” Ash grins, then heads down to the battlefield. It’s time for him to prove himself. 

Alder looks at Ash with a jovial smile. “Hello again, Ash! I hope you’re ready for our match.” 

The Kantonian boy grins. “You bet! And I’m going to win this time!” 

Alder lets out a belly laugh, letting the crowd eat this up. “We’ll see, young Ash!” 

The referee goes over the rules, then calls out for the competitors to select their Pokemon. “Let’s go, Accelgor!” 

“Swellow, I choose you!” Both Pokemon come out, and Accelgor looks about as excited as it can. Graciously, Alder allows Ash the first move. The amber eyed Trainer smiles. “Use Air Slash!”

“Double Team!” Multiple copies of Accelgor form in the blink of an eye. However, they’re quickly dispelled by Swellow’s Air Slashes. Knowing that this battle is still early and that he needs every advantage, Ash doesn’t let up. “Let ‘er rip, Swellow! Use Hurricane!” 

“Dodge with another Double Team, Accelgor!” Cloning itself rapidly, Accelgor causes Swellow’s powerful Hurricane to go wide. 

Ash grins, recognizing Alder’s strategy. It’s the same one he used against Bede. “Swellow, don’t give them anywhere to run! Boomburst!” Before Alder can call out for Double Team, Swellow lets out a shriek. The noise blasts Accelgor across the arena, doing a lot of visible damage to the ninja bug. 

Alder grins. “Now that’s more like it, Ash! Accelgor, use Water Shuriken!” Ash’s eyes widen, and he doesn’t bother asking Swellow to dodge. “Destroy them with Air Slash!” Each of Accelgor’s shurikens is successively cut apart by Swellow, and Ash grins. “Now use Hurricane!” Again, the gust of wind strikes Accelgor. “Get in close with Peck!” 

Alder grimaces, then nods at Accelgor. “Final Gambit!” Ash’s eyes widen. “Swellow, get out of there!” But it’s too late. Accelgor winks, and with a boom, launches itself at Swellow and explodes. There’s no doubt in Ash’s mind as to the outcome. 

“Both Swellow and Accelgor are unable to battle! Competitors, please send out your next Pokemon!” 

Ash smiles ruefully. “I guess that’s what I should have expected from a Champion. You really wanted Swellow out of the way, didn’t you?” 

Alder gives him another belly laugh. “Of course! And, in honor of your strength, I’ll use a Pokemon I’m sure you’re familiar with. Go, Bouffalant!” As the Bash Buffalo Pokemon comes out, Ash makes a split-second choice. 

Almost without thinking, he calls out, “Lycanroc, I choose you!” 

The wolf sees his opponent, and bares his teeth in a snarl. His eyes glow red with rage, and he can tell that this is a battle requiring his full strength. 

Ash grins as Lycanroc’s eyes flash red. “Let’s get this started right, Lycanroc! Howl, then Stone Edge!” With a blood-chilling howl, Lycanroc boosts its attack and summons a circle of stones. Said stones quickly launch themselves at Bouffalant, each projectile sharpened and ready to pierce Bouffalant’s thick hide. 

“Head Charge, straight through!” Bouffalant lowers its head and rushes directly through the shards, letting its thick skull take the impacts. The attack itself does little to Lycanroc, but Alder doesn’t seem fazed. “Stomping Tantrum!” 

“Alolan Stone Edge, and climb it to get off the ground!” Bouffalant’s hooves come crashing down, but Lycanroc climbs the Stone Edge pillars and manages to avoid the shaking earth. Alder raises an eyebrow in wonderment. 

“Fascinating. I’ve never seen a Pokemon able to use both variants of Stone Edge before.” 

Ash grins. “That’s one of a bunch of reasons why my Pokemon are special! Lycanroc, time for an Accelerock!” 

Shooting forward, Lycanroc strikes Bouffalant in the flank with its horn, narrowly avoiding impaling it. Alder’s response is to call for a Wild Charge, which does a lot of visible damage to both Pokemon. 

Ash winces. “Does your Bouffalant have Reckless?” 

Alder chuckles. “Well spotted, Ash! Bouffalant, use Skull Bash!” 

The buffalo rears up on its hind legs, raising its defense before charging at Lycanroc. 

“Dodge with Accelerock!” Lycanroc gets out of the way, but this time, Alder is prepared for the dashing move. 

“Stomping Tantrum!” 

Ash winces. Since Lycanroc dodged the Skull Bash, Stomping Tantrum will double in power. 

“Counter!” It’s a last-ditch gambit, and Lycanroc will almost certainly faint. But he has to try. 

With a howl of effort, Lycanroc absorbs the energy of the hit and strikes back with double the power. Incredibly, Bouffalant is still standing. But the energy is too much for Lycanroc, and it sways, before collapsing. The referee raises her flag. “Lycanroc is unable to battle! Competitor Ash, please select your final Pokemon!” 

Ash recalls Lycanroc, thanking it for its efforts. “We’ll win this for you, buddy.” He extends his arm, and Pikachu scampers down. “I choose you!” 

Alder eyes Pikachu critically. “Be on your guard, Bouffalant.” 

In response to this, Ash grins. “Too late. Use Quick Attack!” 

Shooting forward like a rocket, Pikachu blasts into Bouffalant at full tilt. Having already taken a lot of damage from Lycanroc, the buffalo keels over. The referee raises her flag again. “Bouffalant is unable to battle! Competitor Alder, please send out your final Pokemon!” 

Smiling, Alder’s hand goes to the string of Pokeballs around his neck. “You know, Ash, it’s been a long time since my partner saw battle. Let’s see if you can keep up. Go, Volcarona!” Face to face with a Champion’s Starter, Ash looks down at Pikachu. “No holding back, right? “Pika!” 

The Kantonian boy grins. “You said it, buddy.”

“Quiver Dance!” Alder shouts, and Ash takes the opportunity. 

“Don’t let it get up to speed, Pikachu! Use Electroweb!” A Spinarak-web of electricity covers Volcarona, negating the speed boost from Quiver Dance. However, the other boosts are home free, and Alder smiles. “Now, Hidden Power!” 

“Counter it with Thunderbolt!” The problem with Hidden Power is that it could literally be anything. And as it strikes Pikachu, blowing the electric mouse backwards with the type of damage only a super effective move is capable of, Ash groans. 

“It’s Ground-type, isn’t it? Pikachu, stay on your guard!”  

The little mouse obliges its best friend, keeping a safe distance from Volcarona. 

“Now, another Thunderbolt!” 

“Flamethrower, then follow with a Bug Buzz!” Both moves come in rapid succession, testing the strength of Pikachu’s resolve. This dance continues for a while, each Flamethrower countered by another Thunderbolt, each Bug Buzz caught with Electroweb. They’re getting nowhere. Both Pikachu and Volcarona are breathing heavily, perfectly matched. 

At last, Ash makes a decision. “Pikachu, it’s time we went all out!” He grins, then begins to strike a pose. “Alder, as the Champion of Alola, I’d like to introduce you to a key element of our culture! Pikachu, use BREAKNECK BLITZ!” Running in a way only Z-Power can enable, Pikachu sprints towards Volcarona at near terminal velocity. Ash’s grin turns wicked. “Now throw in a Volt Tackle for good measure!” 

“Pikapikapikapika…” The electric mouse strikes Volcarona at top speed, crackling with electricity. All of the training with Quick Attack and Volt Tackle has paid off. When his partner hits Alder’s, Ash has no doubts as to the outcome. 

“Volcarona is unable to battle! Which means that competitor Ash has won this match!” 

Ash blinks. He just beat a former Champion. Without thinking, he runs over to Pikachu. “That was amazing, buddy! We did it!” “Pikapi!” His partner says happily, and nuzzles him. Alder recalls Volcarona, and laughs. 

“That was quite the finishing move, Ash. On behalf of the World Coronation Series, I’d like to officially welcome you to the Ultra Class. Your current rank is 99. But, from me to you,” here Alder winks, “I think you can do a lot better.” 

Ash smiles up at the older man. “We’ll do our very best, sir!” And he means it. First, though, there’s someone- or rather, a few someones- that he has to see.  

Chapter Text

When Ash gets home in the evening, he’s greeted with a warm hug and a plate full of his favorites. The raven-haired boy grins up at his girlfriend. “You’re the best, Serena.” 

She blushes in her usual adorable way. “Just eat. We still have to get ready for that flight.” Ash nods, his mouth full of Pokepuff. He’s really excited to see Clemont and Bonnie again, and since he doesn’t have any Ultra Class battles scheduled for a while, there should be more than enough time to hang out with the Volta siblings. Speaking of hangouts…

“Serena? After we go to Lumiose City, what would you say to visiting Alola for a while?” 

Serena stops and thinks for a moment. “I’d love to!” She finally decides, already imagining how she can turn this into Grand Festival practice. 

“I bet Professor Kukui and the rest of my class would love to meet you!” Ash says, and Serena is eager to match her boyfriend’s enthusiasm. 

“Sure! I’d love to meet your class and the Professor.” Ash grins, then after finishing his celebratory dinner, takes his plate over and starts to clean it. 

“Buizel, lend me a hand?” “Bui!” The otter shoots him a thumbs-up, then starts using a low power Water Gun to hose down the dishes. Ash chuckles and grabs the soap. 

After the dishes are washed, Ash takes a shower and begins to pack. The flight to Lumiose City leaves tomorrow morning, and he wants to be prepared. Seeing this, Pikachu starts to grab clothes in his paws and carry them over to Ash. The Kantonian chuckles, accepting his partner’s help. “Thanks, buddy. You excited to see Clemont and Bonnie again?” 

“Pikapika!” The little mouse says excitedly, before mimicking Dedenne’s face.

Ash smiles. “Yeah, and Dedenne too! It’s gonna be awesome!” He closes his suitcase, then yawns. When Pikachu matches him, the raven-haired boy smiles. “Bedtime, buddy.” Both trainer and Pokemon go to sleep, dreaming of Lumiose City. 

The next morning, Ash is awoken by Serena shaking him. “Huh?” He asks sleepily, and Serena rolls her eyes. 

“Get up, sleepyhead. We have to get to the airport.” Immediately, Ash throws off his covers, before realizing something important- he’s not wearing a shirt. The Kantonian blushes a deep red, and Serena turns away with a flush on her cheeks. Pikachu just laughs. 

Ash glares down at his partner. “Traitor.” He mutters, but that only causes the mouse to laugh harder. 

Once that minor hiccup is resolved, Ash and Serena make good time to the airport. They arrive with enough time to go through security, get their bags checked, and get their Pokemon situated. Pikachu and Toxel will be accompanying them on the flight, and Serena is currently giving the young Poison-type its bottle. It’s been less fussy about taking its food lately, and Ash is pleased to see that development. “I heard you on the phone last night,” he comments, “What was that about?” 

Serena smiles excitedly. “The Performers’ Association wants me to do some work in Alola. Since we’re visiting there, I thought I could help out.” Ash leans over and kisses her temple. 

“That’s awesome, Serena! Maybe I should get Dawn to come so that you can have some help.” Serena pushes a lock of hair behind her ear, twirling it as she thinks. 

“I kinda wanted this trip to just be the two of us,” she finally admits, “but bringing Dawn seems like a good idea.” Ash thinks about this for a moment. He can definitely see Serena’s point- a trip to Alola with just the two of them would be amazing. At the same time, Dawn would be a huge help to both of their work efforts. 

“What if Dawn stayed somewhere else, and we stayed with Professor Kukui? I’m sure he wouldn’t mind.” Ash suggests. 

Serena considers. “That sounds like a great idea!” She says, and kisses Ash with gusto. 

Toxel babbles happily. He has the best parents ever! 

“Tox toxel?” Uncle Pikachu? 

“Pikapi-chu?” What’s up, little guy? 

“Toxel tox-toxel?” Do we have the best Trainers in the whole world?

“Pika-chu.” Yeah, we do. 

Eventually, the flight arrives, and Ash and Serena board the plane. Pikachu and Toxel relax in their laps, and Serena lets her head slip onto Ash’s shoulder. Ash smiles softly, and slips a pair of headphones over his ears. For the next few hours, he just lets himself tune out. 

When the plane touches down in Lumiose City, Ash gently shakes Serena and Toxel awake. 

“We’re here.” He whispers, and Serena slowly opens her eyes. The warm glow of Lumiose City in the evening lights up the plane, making everything appear golden. Ash takes her hand, and once they’ve retrieved their bags from security, the young couple make their way to the hotel. 

As Ash checks in, the woman at the front desk gives him some rather unfortunate news. “The only rooms available have one bed.” 

Serena’s quick on the draw, wanting to avoid any potentially embarrassing situations. “Why don’t you give Clemont a call? I’m sure he’ll let us stay at the Tower.” 

Ash grins. “That sounds great!” He quickly pulls his phone out of his pocket and taps in the inventor’s number. 

“Lumiose City Gym, Clemont speaking.” The blonde haired boy’s voice is tired, like he stayed up all night creating more inventions. “Hey, Clemont! It’s Ash!” The Kantonian boy quickly explains his and Serena’s situation to their friend, and Clemont is quick to agree. 

“We have plenty of room in the Tower. Come on over- I’m sure Bonnie would love to see you!” 

Ash thanks his friend, hangs up, and takes Serena’s hand. “Come on!” They walk over to Prism Tower, laughing and holding hands, looking for all the world like a perfect couple.

Once the Kantonian and Kalosian are at the front gate, Meyer is there to greet them. “Ash and Serena! What a great surprise!” He pulls both of them into a quick hug. “Clemont is waiting for you, but we haven’t told Bonnie yet. We’re going to surprise her.” Ash and Serena both nod. This should be a fun surprise for the youngest member of their group. 

Bonnie taps her foot impatiently. “So what’s this surprise that you and Dad have been working on, big bro? I really hope it’s not another invention.” 

Clemont pushes his glasses up, looking rather smug. “All I can say is that you’ll love it.” 

Bonnie shakes her head, stroking Dedenne’s fur as she waits. “This better be worth it!” 

“Oh, I don’t know, Bonnie. Would you say that we’re worth it?” A familiar voice says, and Bonnie’s eyes light up. “Serena? Ash?” As they walk into the living room, Bonnie sprints towards Serena, letting herself get wrapped up in her pseudo-big sister’s arms. “Missed you.” She mutters, and Serena kisses her forehead. 

“I missed you too, Bonnie.” 

Ash grins at the younger Volta sibling teasingly. “What, no hug for me?” Rolling her eyes, Bonnie walks over to Ash and gives him the requested hug. Once the hug is complete, Bonnie looks over at Toxel. “Oh my gosh, it’s so cute! Where’d you get it, Serena?” As the blond-haired girl explains her adventure with Buizel, Ash feels his stomach rumble. Meyer hears this, and claps his hands. “Alright, everyone, it’s time for dinner. Bonnie, you can catch up with Serena in the morning.” Bonnie pouts a little, but obliges her dad. Clemont, on the other hand, goes to the fridge and retrieves some leftovers. 

“We just ate,” the inventor explains, “but I made some Pecha berry surprise.” Ash’s grin widens. Clemont’s secret recipe is one of his favorite things that the inventor makes. 

Once they’ve sat down at the table, Serena takes a bite of her dinner. “It’s really sweet today, Clemont! I love it!” The inventor smiles at his friend. “I made it the way you like it in preparation for your arrival.” Ash, having already finished half of his plate, leans over and pecks Serena on the cheek. “Still not as sweet as you.” He murmurs. 

Bonnie’s jaw drops. Clemont’s does the same. 

Ash scratches at his neck embarrassedly. “Did I forget to tell you guys that we’re together?” 

Bonnie stomps over to the raven-haired boy indignantly. “Ash freaking Ketchum. You got together with Serena and you didn’t think to tell me? I was her wingwoman!” Serena laughs as Bonnie continues to tear into Ash, berating him for keeping the secret. 

At last, Meyer takes pity on Ash. “Bedtime, Bonnie. You can talk with Ash and Serena about this in the morning.” He winks at them. “Now, should I just get one room ready?” The look on Ash and Serena’s faces is priceless. Meyer laughs. “I’m just messing with you. Ash, do you mind rooming with Clemont? We have a guest room ready, but I figured you wouldn’t mind the cot.”

Ash nods. In the morning, they can figure all of this out.

Chapter Text

In the morning, when Ash wakes up, he finds that Clemont, Serena and Bonnie are all in the kitchen. His girlfriend is making a batch of Kalos toast, while the blond-haired inventor is frying some Kelpsy berries in a scramble. Ash grins, and walks over to peck Serena on the cheek. “Breakfast smells amazing, Sere!” 

Serena smiles, and flips the toast in the pan. “Sit down at the table, and I’ll get some ready for you.” 

Ash does as he’s told, sitting down with Bonnie. “After Clemont runs his tests, do you want to have a battle? I’d love to see how you and Dedenne have improved.” Bonnie grins. 

“Actually, I have a surprise for you. But I’ll definitely show you when we battle!” Ash nods, and accepts the plate of Kalos toast offered to him by Serena. 

“Eat up!” She encourages, and Ash happily obliges her. Once his stomach is filled, and he’s made sure that everyone else has eaten, Ash turns to Clemont. 

“You said you had some tests to run, right?” Clemont nods, and asks for Ash to follow him out to the Gym. The inventor leads his raven-haired friend to a machine hooked up to a pair of helmets and two blood pressure cuffs. “The second one is for Greninja,” Clemont explains, “so that I can monitor the two of you when you communicate telepathically. Could you put this on for me?” 

Ash obliges, and releases Greninja so that the shinobi frog can do the same. Once the equipment is on, Clemont begins to instruct the duo. “Please start communicating with each other.”

“Like this?” Greninja asks, and Ash hears Clemont’s faint gasp. 

He smiles. “Yeah, exactly like that, Greninja!” “So, what do you think Bonnie’s surprise is?” 

Greninja smirks at his Trainer. “That would be spoilers, Ash.” 

The Kantonian boy pouts a little. “Fine, be that way.” He looks over to Clemont. “You got anything?” 

“Indeed I do!” Clemont excitedly waves them over. 

The blonde haired inventor shows Ash two graphs, and then elaborates.”This top graph is your brain waves while communicating telepathically with Greninja.” Then he points to the second graph. “This is Korrina’s Lucario when it uses Aura. Ash, I believe that your bond with Greninja is a result of Aura!” 

Ash’s breath hitches in his throat. “That’s great, Clemont!” He lies. “I’m feeling pretty tired right now- do you mind if I go back to the room?” Clemont nods distractedly, furiously typing away on a tablet. 

As soon as he gets back to the room, Ash buries his face in his pillow. Yeah, he’s used his Aura before. To beat Gladion, to sense Runerigus against Marnie. But something about hearing it from Clemont just hurts. The source of his telepathy with Greninja is something that’s caused him so much pain.. 

He still has nightmares about the Tree, about Lucario.

Serena knocks on his door a little while later. “You okay?” 

Ash chuckles, but there’s no mirth in his tone. “Honestly? No, but I’d rather not talk about it. Not yet, anyways. Is Bonnie ready for her battle?” 

Serena nods, then walks over to Ash and plants a small kiss on his lips. “Whenever you’re ready, I’m here for you, Ash.” 

Touching his lips, Ash can only nod. “Thank you, Serena.” He gets up, pecks her on the lips, and makes his way to the battlefield. There, Bonnie is waiting for him- with a familiar black and green canine Pokemon by her side.

“Hey, Squishy!” Ash says excitedly, now understanding why Greninja could tell what Bonnie’s surprise was. He must have been able to sense the Legendary’s presence. 

“Hello, Ash.” Zygarde’s voice enters his head, and Ash starts to smile. “Bonnie tells me that you wish to battle. Would you be satisfied with myself as your opponent?” 

Ash’s grin widens. “Only if you’re alright with facing your apprentice. Greninja, I choose you!” The shinobi frog is immediately at his side, bowing to Squishy’s ten percent form. 

Clemont turns to his sister and the boy who might as well be his brother. “This will be a one on one Pokemon battle between Bonnie and Ash. Ash, would you mind letting Bonnie have the first move?” 

Ash smiles at Bonnie. “No problem!” 

Bonnie clenches her fist and raises it to the sky. “Alright then! Squishy, use Extreme Speed!” 

“Don’t bother dodging, Greninja! Use Icicle Spear!” As the canine Dragon-type darts in with blinding speed, Greninja summons a pair of icy daggers. Each one finds its mark, causing Zygarde to howl in pain. 

Bonnie winces. “Alright Squishy, let’s try a Thousand Arrows!” As the arrows rain down from the sky, Ash grins. Here’s where he and Greninja can really show their stuff. “Dodge with Double Team, then use Aerial Ace!” When Greninja strikes the Legendary this time, Squishy flinches back. 

Bonnie cries out. “Stop!” Immediately, Greninja returns to Ash’s side. Ash looks at Bonnie concernedly. “What’s wrong, Bonnie?” 

Biting her lip, Bonnie looks up at Ash. “I don’t like seeing Squishy get hurt. I wanted to surprise you, but I guess I didn’t really think this through.” Ash walks over to Bonnie and puts a comforting hand on her shoulder. 

“Don’t worry about it, Bonnie! If you’re not comfortable with it, then I’ll stop. You did the right thing by telling me.” 

The blond-haired girl gives Ash a hug. “Thanks, Ash.” 

Ash returns the hug with a smile on his face. “No problem, Bonnie.” 

Greninja helps Squishy to its feet, and the Legendary chuckles. “I must admit, Greninja, it has been a while since I battled in this form. You’ve certainly grown stronger.” 

The Starter nods, before returning to Ash. The Kantonian gives his Pokemon a fistbump, then walks out of the Gym. Greninja soon follows. 

Serena greets the two of them once they return to the living section of the Tower.

 “Have fun?” She asks. 

Ash explains Bonnie’s situation, and Serena smiles. “You’re a good person, Ash.” 

Hearing this makes Ash wince a little. If she knew what he’d really done- if she knew about Lucario- would she still say that? 

That’s a question for future Ash, the Kantonian boy decides. Out loud, he asks Serena a question. 

“Do you want to go to the mall?” 

Serena fixes her boyfriend with a piercing look. 

“Ash, are you really volunteering to go shopping with me?” 

Ash scratches at the back of his neck, before letting out an embarrassed chuckle. 

“Well, apparently there’s this new place in the food court, and I really want to try it…” 

Serena laughs. “You could have just said that, Ash. Let’s go for a walk. By the time we’re done, it should be about time for lunch.” Ash nods, and takes Serena’s hand in his. His problems can wait. Right now, he’s just going to enjoy a day out with his amazing girlfriend.

Chapter Text

As they walk over to the mall and its impressive food court, Ash and Serena take in the sights and sounds of Lumiose City. It’s like visiting an old friend. Along the way, Serena stops into a few boutiques to browse. Smiling, Ash follows her into the shops, and when they reach a jewelry shop, his eyes are drawn to a pendant hanging in the window. There’s a beautiful gem embedded in the center- a gem that’s the same color as Serena’s eyes. 

Pulling out his phone, Ash writes himself a reminder to visit the shop later. He can get the necklace for Serena before their trip to Alola. 

Eventually, their walk takes them to the center of the food court. There, Ash pulls Serena over to a ramen restaurant, which appears to be opening up for the day. 

Ash grins. “This is the place I wanted to try! I haven’t had any luck finding good ramen besides my mom’s, and I was hoping that this place would be good.” 

Serena smiles and points to the menu. “Looks like they have a couples’ discount!”

Ash’s grin grows even wider. “Perfect!” He walks into the restaurant holding Serena’s hand, and the woman at the front gives them a kind look. 

“Table for two?” 

The two nod, and the woman leads them over to a quiet spot in the corner. Much to Pikachu’s delight, there are ketchup packets. 

Ash chuckles as his partner dives in, then picks up a menu. After looking at it for a moment, he passes it to Serena. “Want to split a bowl of Goldenrod ramen?” 

Serena smiles. “Sure!” Then she leans forward and whispers to him. 

“I’ve never actually had ramen before.” 

Ash’s shocked face gets a laugh out of both Serena and Pikachu. “Well then, let’s hope and pray that this place is good!” He decides. 

After the waiter takes their order, Serena drums her fingers on the table.  “So, what’s on your mind, Ash? You’ve been acting off ever since Clemont ran those tests.” 

The Kantonian boy steels himself, and takes a deep breath. If he’s going to tell anyone about this, it might as well be Serena. “Have you ever heard of Aura?” 

Having been an avid lover of fairytales as a child, Serena lets out a small gasp. “The life energy of all living things? The thing that gives Pokemon their power?” Ash nods, and holds up his hand. 

Closing his eyes and concentrating, Ash’s hand begins to glow blue. After a second, the glow fades. Ash takes a deep breath. 

“I’ve never used my Aura properly before, but sometimes, it just bubbles up. Clemont said that my Aura is what makes the Bond Phenomenon work.”

“Why is that a bad thing?” Serena asks curiously, and Ash winces.

“The last time that I really used my Aura on purpose before today, somebody died.” 

Serena doesn’t ask for Ash to elaborate. She’d been there for Hoopa and Volcanion, even Yveltal. She’s seen Ash’s adventures. But hearing this makes her think that she hasn’t seen a fraction of what Ash has been through. “You’re the bravest person I’ve ever met, Ash.” 

He shakes his head. “You wouldn’t say that if you knew what I’ve been through, Serena. I’ve let so many people down.” 

“But no matter how many times you get knocked down, you always get back up.” She responds, crossing her arms. “And what’s all this talk about letting people down? Ash, you’ve inspired so many people, including me. None of us would have made it through the Kalos Crisis without your heroism.” 

She leans forward and places a kiss on his forehead. “You may not see it, Ash, but you’re my hero. My very own Aura Knight.” 

With tears pricking at his eyes, Ash leans forward and grabs Serena’s hand. “Can I tell you something that only my oldest friends know?” He whispers, and Serena nods. “Anything.” 

“When I was ten, I was the hero of an ancient prophecy. I had to save Lugia and the Legendary Birds of Shamouti from this crazy guy who wanted to collect them. Almost like Alva and Magearna.” The conversation stops for a moment as Serena processes this. In this time, their waiter delivers the bowls of noodles and broth. Ash picks up the noodles with his chopsticks and begins to chew, waiting for Serena’s reaction. 

Finally, Serena gets out of her side of the booth. She walks over to Ash, and wraps him in a massive hug with both arms. “Arceus, Ash, can you ever catch a break?” 

Ash tries his best to hold back a tired laugh, but fails miserably. 

“At this point, I think Arceus has it out for me. I’ve met Them, after all.” Serena blinks at this, before shaking her head. Of course Ash has met God. She really shouldn’t be surprised at this point. 

They finish their ramen in silence. It’s really good, some of the best food Serena has had in a long time. But the somber mood almost sours the taste. 

After paying for their food, Serena takes Ash’s hand and drags him towards a battlefield in the center of the mall. “This worked for me,” she jokes, “so let’s see if a battle will clear your head.” 

Ash shakes his head. “I’d honestly rather keep spending time with you,” he admits, and Serena clutches his hand. 

“Whatever works, okay?” 

Ash looks at Serena adoringly. “What did I do to end up with such an amazing girlfriend?” 

She pulls him in close. “Exist. That’s all you have to do.” 

They stand there like that for a while, just taking each other in. Eventually, they start walking back to Prism Tower. 

“I don’t know what you see in me,” Ash finally admits, “I’m just a kid with an impossible dream.” 

Serena takes Ash’s hands in hers, pressing them close to her heart. “Ash, there are so many things I love about you. We’d be here all day if I tried to list them all. But above everything else, I love you because you never give up. You’re getting closer to that so-called ‘impossible’ dream every day, and I’m going to be here to support you no matter what.” She kisses him passionately, pouring all of her emotion and love into that one action. When she pulls away, Ash has tears in his eyes. 

“Serena, you’re the best girlfriend a guy could ask for. And I honestly don’t know how to make it up to you. So, I’m going to do everything you promised to do for me. I’ll support you in your dreams, catch you when you fall, and be by your side no matter what.” They’re at the gates of the tower now, and as Clembot lets them in, Ash plants a kiss on Serena’s cheek. With promises like these, who needs vows? He thinks, then immediately blushes. Bad Ash, he chides himself, don’t get ahead of yourself. 

Little does he know that Serena is imagining their future, in a small chapel with all of their friends by their sides. It’s a nice thought- one that she hopes will come true one day. For now, all she can hope is for their relationship to continue growing. 

Chapter Text

When the young couple return to Prism Tower, they’re greeted by a pleasant surprise. “Hey, Korrina!” Ash says excitedly, and the Shalour City Gym Leader walks over to them with a similar smile on her face. 

“Wow, so this must have been Clemont’s surprise! It’s great to see you two again!” She gives Ash a high-five, then pulls Serena into a sidelong hug. 

“Why are you in Lumiose City, Korrina?” Serena asks curiously, and the skater laughs. 

“I owed Clemont a favor. This little firework,” here she ruffles Bonnie’s hair, “Is gonna get to battle ME for the Rumble Badge!” 

Bonnie pumps her fist excitedly, almost looking like a younger version of Ash. “I’m going to win that one on one, Korrina! And you’d better use Lucario!” 

Korrina laughs again, spinning in place. It’s odd to see her do that without her roller skates on. “Wouldn’t dream of doing anything else, squirt. Ash, you mind refereeing?” Ash shakes his head, and follows the girls up to the battlefield. 

It’s a hard-fought battle, but when Korrina decides to Mega Evolve Lucario, Bonnie and Dedenne don’t have much more left to give. The tiny Electric-type eventually collapses in a dead faint, and Ash declares it unable to battle. Bonnie rushes over to her partner, cradling it in her arms. “Sorry, Dedenne. I guess I didn’t do a very good job.” 

Korrina walks over to Bonnie and puts a hand on her shoulder. “Don’t feel bad, Bonnie! Lucario and I were going all-out, and you’re barely even a Trainer yet. The fact that you did so well means a lot!” Bonnie looks up at Korrina, smiling. “You really think so?” 

The skater laughs. “Squirt, I know so!” 

Watching the two girls from the sidelines, Ash shakes his head and smiles. Korrina will do as Korrina does, he supposes. Besides, it’s not like she’s wrong- Bonnie eliciting a Mega Evolution is a big deal. She and Dedenne have grown a lot. 

As Clemont pulls Korrina aside to thank her, Serena nudges Bonnie in the ribs. “Is there something going on there?” She asks, motioning to where the older Volta sibling is deeply engrossed in conversation with his fellow Gym leader. Bonnie smirks. 

“I mean, I asked Korrina to take care of Clemont, but this is the first time that BOTH of them blushed. So, yeah. Definitely something.” The younger girl then looks up to her pseudo big sister with a smile. 

“You and Ash, huh? He finally got the hint?” 

Serena laughs. “Actually, he’s the one that confessed. Though I imagine that my little parting gift to him helped out.” 

“I was so surprised when you did that,” Bonnie admits, “but I was also super excited!” 

“So, how have you and Dedenne been?” Serena asks, and as Bonnie describes her recent escapades, Ash watches them with a smile. Despite never outright saying it, it’s always been clear that Bonnie views Serena as her big sister. Seeing them interact, even after all of their time apart, is heartwarming. 

As Ash walks over to Clemont and Korrina, he notices something on Clemont’s wrist. “Hey, is that a Mega Ring?” The blond-haired inventor pushes his glasses up and smiles. 

“Yes indeed! I recently acquired a Manectric and a Manectite, and Korrina’s grandfather was kind enough to give me a Mega Ring.”

Korrina elbows her fellow Gym Leader in the ribs, causing him to cough. “Don’t be modest, Clemont! You earned that Key Stone. Grandpa doesn’t just give them to anyone.” 

“That’s awesome, Clemont!” Ash says, happy for his friend. “Maybe you and Manectric can give me a battle someday!” 

“That would be a very fun experience, Ash!” Clemont replies, and Korrina stands between them. 

“SO. I heard someone’s in the World Coronation Series. How’s it been going for you?” The blond-haired Gym leader asks, and Ash perks up.

“It’s going great! I just made it into the Ultra Class, but I’m taking a little bit of a break right now. I could show you my team, though!” 

Korrina grins at this. “I’d imagine that Greninja is on it, right? And Pikachu too.” 

“You bet! There’s seven others, though. They’re the best team I could ask for!” 

“Roc!” Lycanroc pops out of his Pokeball to accentuate this point, nuzzling up against Ash’s leg. 

Clemont’s eyes go wide. “Is that the Dusk Form Lycanroc that the scientific community was going nuts over? I never thought I would see it in person!”

Ash scratches Lycanroc behind the ears. “Yeah, Lycanroc’s pretty special. He’s also the reason I won the Alola League!” 

Everyone (bar Serena and Clemont) freezes. 

Bonnie stomps up to Ash. “YOU WON A POKEMON LEAGUE?” 

Clemont adjusts his glasses with a frown, playing along. He’d known, of course, but a momentary lapse in his memory led him to not tell Bonnie. “That seems like important information, Ash!” 

Ash puts his hands up in surrender. “I’m sorry, guys! I don’t go around advertising the fact that I’m a Champion. Mostly because I like being me, and not being seen as some great figure. I’m just me, y’know?” 

Bonnie wraps him in a hug. “Of course you’re you, silly! You’ll always be Ash to me!” 

“And me.” Clemont adds, and Korrina slings her arm over his shoulder. 

“Me too, Ash! You’ll always have us, and I bet there’s a bunch of other friends you can rely on.” 

Ash looks up at them gratefully. “Thanks, guys. You’re the best friends ever.” Bonnie beckons Serena over, and the entire group engulfs Ash in a hug. 

Dinner is a more quiet affair, with small talk being made, and plenty of Clemont and Serena’s cooking being passed around. Korrina and Ash both gratefully go in for seconds, causing their respective counterparts to laugh. 

“I really need to ask for your recipes at some point, Clemont.” Serena comments, and the inventor chuckles. 

“I’d be happy to give them to you, Serena! I’ll make a list of your favorites tonight, and it’ll be ready before you two leave for Alola in the morning.”

“Wait, they’re leaving?” Bonnie asks, and Serena gives her a tiny smile. 

“Our flight to Alola leaves tomorrow morning. Sorry I didn’t tell you, Bonnie.” 

The younger blond girl sniffles a little. “It’s okay. Just stay in touch this time!” 

Ash chuckles. “I won’t make the same mistake twice, Bonnie. I have Clemont’s number, so I can call you two whenever.” 

“Sounds good to me.” Bonnie admits, and takes her plate over. The others do the same.

Later that night, Serena finds Ash pacing around the house, rubbing his fingers through Pikachu’s fur. His hair is starting to stand up from all of the static electricity. 

“Poke for your thoughts?” Serena asks, and Ash smiles sadly. 

“Just… saying goodbye is hard. I’ve had to do it a lot, but it never gets any easier.” 

Serena walks up to him and gives him a hug. “Don’t think of it as a goodbye, Ash. Think of it as ‘see you later’ instead.” Chuckling, Ash cups Serena’s face in his hands. 

“You always know just what to say, Sere.” He kisses her, and she happily returns the favor. 

“Shouldn’t you guys be in bed?” Flushing, Ash turns and sees that Korrina is looking at them. There’s a glass of water in her hand, and a small smirk on her face. 

“I don’t think Meyer would appreciate you two getting up to any funny business-”

“Good NIGHT, Korrina.” Serena says forcefully, and the almost maternal tone in her voice makes the skater laugh. 

“Night, you two. See you in the morning.”

Chapter Text

When the morning rolls around, Ash and Serena are seen off with hugs and promises to meet again. Clemont presents the honey-blonde haired girl with a notepad, where he’s scribbled down some of his favorite recipes. Serena accepts this with a grateful smile. 

Korrina wraps the entire group in a tight hug. “Last one, I promise!” 

Ash rolls his eyes playfully. “You said it would be the last one three hugs ago.” 

“And I mean it this time!” Korrina retorts, still clutching Clemont close. Bonnie’s smirk at this action goes unnoticed by all but Serena, who shoots the younger girl a wink. Bonnie responds with a wink of her own, promising that matchmaker shenanigans are in the future. 

As the call for the plane to begin boarding rings out, Ash and Serena step onto the plane with a final wave to their friends. Serena turns to her boyfriend. “You told Professor Kukui that we’re coming, right?” 

Ash grins. “Yeah, I did!” Though I neglected to mention the ‘us’ part. He mentally adds. He’s sure that Kukui won’t mind, though!

The flight to Alola seems to pass in a blur, with Serena reading through Clemont’s recipes and Ash listening to an audiobook. Before they know it, the plane is touching down in Hau’oli City. Ash feels his phone buzz, and opens it to find a text from Professor Kukui. 

Professor Dad: Hey, Ash! I hope you don’t mind, but Burnet and I thought we should pick you up from the airport. 

The Kantonian boy is quick to respond, firing off a text as he and Serena retrieve their bags. 

Ash: No problem, Professor! Meet us by the baggage claim.

Since he’s concerned with making sure Pikachu and Toxel are alright after their time on the plane, Ash misses the Professor’s followup text. 

Professor Dad: Wait, us?

Walking hand in hand with Serena, Ash makes his way over to the baggage claim. It’s not hard for him to spot the shirtless man in a lab coat, nor his visibly pregnant wife. The man in question walks over to Ash, embracing him in a paternal hug. “How’s it hanging, kiddo?” 

The raven-haired trainer grins. “It’s going great, Professor! I got to rank 99 in the World Coronation Series, and I’m going to keep getting better!” Then he looks over at Burnet. 

“Hey, Professor Burnet! How’s the baby doing?” The white-haired woman laughs. 

“Baby Lei is doing just fine, Ash. Kukui’s been taking good care of both of us.” The professor wraps an arm around his wife, before shooting an inquisitive look at Serena. 

“And who might you be?” He asks curiously, and Serena turns to Ash. 

“I thought you told him we were coming!” 

Ash scratches at his neck embarrassedly. “I may have forgotten to mention the ‘us’ part… do you want to introduce yourself, or should I?” 

Serena rolls her eyes at her boyfriend with fond exasperation. “I’ll do it.” She extends a hand to Kukui for a handshake. “Alola, Professor! I’m Serena, Ash’s girlfriend. I’m also a Pokemon Coordinator.” 

Kukui blinks. “I have a daughter in law?” 

As Ash and Serena blush and splutter, Burnet cackles at her husband’s verbal slip up. “I don’t think they’re quite at that stage yet, Manalo. But it’s lovely to meet you, Serena! We’ve heard lots about you from Ash.” 

“Hopefully good things.” Serena says, and Ash looks at her adoringly. 

“Like I could say something bad about you, Serena.” 

Burnet leans over to Kukui. “They’re worse than we were.” She whispers, and Kukui nods. Ash is just as Captivated by Serena as she is by him. 

Once the new arrivals have retrieved their bags, Kukui walks them from the airport to his and Burnet’s house. He opens the door with a smile. “Home, sweet home!” 

Immediately, Ash walks up to the loft. It’s exactly as he remembers it, and there are even three Pokeballs and a Beast Ball sitting on his bed. Ash smiles, and taps on one of them. 

“Incin!” Ash is quickly wrapped in a hug by the Fire-type tiger, and he laughs. 

“It’s great to see you too, Incineroar! I bet the Professors have been taking great care of you!” 

Incineroar nods, before turning to Pikachu and extending its paw for a fistbump. Pikachu obliges, before hopping down and grabbing another Pokeball. This one opens to reveal Rowlet, who happily nests in Ash’s hair before falling asleep again. Ash chuckles. “Some things never change, do they?”

“Ash?” Serena calls from the bottom of the stairs. “What are you up to?” 

“Just reuniting with my Alola team! I bet they’d love to meet you!” Ash jogs down the stairs, with Incineroar following close behind. Serena looks at the wrestler curiously. 

“Is that your Incineroar, Ash?” 

“Roar!” It confirms, giving Serena a thumbs-up, then turning to Ash with an inquisitive look. “Ciner?” 

Ash chuckles. “Incineroar, this is Serena. She’s my girlfriend.” Incineroar cocks his head, and Pikachu quickly explains something in Pokemon-speak. Seeming satisfied, Incineroar claps Ash on the back and returns to his Pokeball. 

Serena smiles. “Your Incineroar seemed like quite the gentleman, Ash!” The boy in question smiles, then reaches up and pulls a very feathery bird slash marshmallow out of his hair. 

“And this is Rowlet!” Shaken awake by its Trainer’s actions, the little bird cocks its head. “Let!” It flies over to Serena and perches on her hat, preening happily. Serena giggles. 

“He’s so fluffy!” 

Ash grins. “Rowlet only does that with people he likes, so I’d say he has good taste!” 

Serena laughs and hits Ash’s arm playfully. “Oh, you.” 

From the corner of the room, Burnet feels her mouth turn up in a smile. It’s almost criminal, how cute the two of them are. 

She pokes her head into the kitchen, where Kukui is making fried rice. “Okay, do you want to give Serena the shovel talk, or should I?” 

Kukui shrugs, shifting the pan as he does so. “I’d rather get to know Serena first. Besides, Ash can take care of himself. Kid’s our Champion, after all.” Burnet nods, acknowledging the point her husband is making. Ash can certainly make his own decisions. At the same time…

“Sometimes, it’s just hard to remember that he’s not my kid.” Burnet says, and Kukui chuckles. 

“Yeah, I feel you there. But Delia seems to be fine with us being his backup parents, so I’m pretty satisfied with that.” The white-haired researcher nods, agreeing with her husband. She cups her hands around her mouth. 

“Ash! Serena! Time for lunch!” 

Still smiling and holding each other’s hands, Ash and Serena walk over to the table. Kukui quickly slides them two plates of fried rice. “Eat up, you two! And I made seconds, Ash, so don’t feel bad about finishing.” 

Serena takes one bite out of the Alolan dish, and her face immediately lights up. “This is delicious, Professor!” She enthuses, and Kukui laughs. 

“Glad you like it! It’s an old family recipe that my mom gave me.” 

Ash, having demolished half of his plate already, nods his agreement. Mama Kukui’s fried rice is something of a comfort dish for him, so it’s nice that the Professor made it for him. Plus, it’s a great way to introduce Serena to Alolan food! 

Burnet smiles, then turns to Serena. “So, Serena. Is there anything you’d like to do while you’re in Alola?” The honey-blond Performer nods her head. 

“The Performers’ Association wanted me to talk with the Kahunas and Professor Kukui about getting some Pokemon Contests going. Would you be open to helping me with that?” 

Burnet nods. “Sure thing! And I’m sure Ash’s classmates would also be willing to help. Speaking of,” here she turns to Ash and Kukui, “How’d you like to introduce Serena to the class?” 

Ash stands up and grabs Serena’s hand. “That sounds great! C’mon, Serena, I’ll show you the school!” Laughing, Serena allows her boyfriend to pull her along.

Burnet shoots her husband a sly glance. “They’re going to freak at Ash having a girlfriend. Want to get the camera?” 

Kukui laughs. “Sure thing! I can’t wait for Ash to Astonish them.” He runs to his room to grab his phone, and Burnet allows herself to smile again. The class’ reactions to Serena will be priceless. 

Chapter Text

With Serena close behind him, Ash jogs up the familiar path to the Pokemon School. All that’s missing is RotomDex fluttering around his head. He can already see Sophocles and Kiawe out in the front yard, setting up something or other. Upon further inspection, it appears to be a large banner. Ash pulls up to the school with a grin on his face. “Hey, guys!” 

Kiawe’s face lights up. “Hey, Ash!” He walks over to the Kantonian and wraps him in a friendly hug. Ash responds in kind, also stopping to scratch Turtonator under the chin. The Fire and Dragon type hums appreciatively. 

“Who’s that Pokemon?” Serena asks curiously, and Sophocles steps forward to explain. 

“That’s Kiawe’s partner Turtonator, a Fire and Dragon type!” Sophocles says, before pausing and scrutinizing Serena. “Also, who are you? I’ve never seen you around before.” 

Serena laughs. “I’m Serena! And I’m going to assume that you’re Sophocles? Ash has told me lots about you!” 

The ginger-haired boy lights up like a Christmas tree. “So you’re Serena! Ash talked about you lots while he was in school here!” He puts his hands around his mouth. “Come on out, everybody! Ash is here!” 

At their friend’s signal, four kids come streaming out of the school. All of them are accompanied by their partner Pokemon- and Ash quickly takes note of something related to this. 

“Lillie! Did Snowy evolve?” The girl with platinum blond hair nods, and pets what appears to be a regional Ninetails. 

“Yes, she did! Mother got me an Ice Stone for my birthday.” Gladion nods at his sister’s words, stroking Silvally’s head. 

Mallow, Lana and Gladion are all greeted in quick succession, with each receiving a hug or a high-five for their troubles. While Ash is doing this, Lillie wanders over to Serena shyly. 

“Excuse me, miss, but are you Serena Yvonne? From the Master Class?” 

Serena blinks, not having expected anyone to recognize her. “I am! And you’re Lillie, right? Ash has told me a lot about you!” 

Lillie lets out a quiet meep of embarrassment. Ash mentioned her! To someone who almost became the Kalos Queen! 

Seeing the other girl’s embarrassment, Serena decides to change the topic. “You have a beautiful Pokemon! Is that a regional Ninetales?” Lillie nods, stroking Snowy’s fur to ground herself. “Yes. Her name is Snowy, and she’s an Alolan Ninetales.” 

Serena smiles at this. “Would you like to meet my partner?” When Lillie nods again, the honey blond Performer sends out Braixen. Curiously, the vulpine witch greets Snowy. “Brai?”

“Nine!” Both Pokemon giggle, causing their owners to do the same. Serena extends her hand to Lillie. “Lillie, I think this is the start of an amazing friendship!” Still a little starstruck, Lillie accepts the handshake with a nervous smile. 

Ash wanders over to the girls, looking excited about something. Serena looks at her boyfriend fondly. “Did you get them to agree to a battle?” 

Ash nods excitedly. “Yeah! It’s going to be everyone versus me! Lillie, want to join?” 

Summoning her confidence, Lillie smiles up at Ash. “I’d like that, Ash! Snowy and I have grown a lot since the Alola League!” 

Ash grins at this. “Feel free to use your Z-Move, too! I want to show Serena how it looks when other people use them!” 

Lillie looks at Serena, then looks back at Ash. “Are you two… together?” She whispers, as quietly as possible. Ash nods excitedly, while Serena gives a calmer smile. 

A huge smile crosses Lillie’s face. “I’m very happy for you, Ash!” Then she wanders over to the other members of the class, who are preparing their partners for battle. All of them are huddled together, except Gladion, who’s off in the corner with Silvally. 

Now, what to use? The platinum haired boy muses. There’s always the risk of his friend pulling out a new Pokemon, but the likelihood of him using the Alola team is simply too high to ignore. The Ground Memory is his best choice. 

With Silvally ready for battle, Gladion equips his Z-Ring and joins the group. They’ve spread out across the field, and Ash is fingering the two Pokeballs on his belt. The Kantonian smiles at Gladion. 

“Let’s do this, everyone!” The class cheers their agreement. 

Before he can send out his Pokemon, Serena walks over to Ash and gives him a peck on the cheek. “For luck.” 

Jaws drop, minds are blown, and the sound barrier is abruptly broken by the sound of Mallow’s squealing. 

“HuminahuminaWHAAAAT?” Kiawe splutters, comical in his disbelief. 

Sophocles is staring at the two of them with an open mouth. “Does… not… compute…” 

Gladion blinks rapidly, before shaking his head. Of course Ash would have a girlfriend. Is there no end to this boy’s hidden depths? 

Mallow runs up to Ash and begins to shake him by the shoulders. “Tell me everything. ” She demands, and Ash nods rapidly. He has no desire to face Mallow at her shippiest. 

Only Lana doesn’t give a reaction, instead choosing to walk away. Curious, Serena follows the blue haired girl, and finds her on her knees with tears in her eyes. 

“What’s wrong, Lana?” Serena asks. Lana looks up at her, tears clearing a little. 

“It’s nothing, Serena. Don’t worry about it!” Her attempted confidence falls flat, and Serena can see it clearly. 

“I’m here if you want to talk, okay?” At this, Lana seems to break. She hugs Primarina, and eventually looks at Serena. 

“When we were at school together, I had a crush on Ash.” Before, Serena would have freaked out at this information. Now, she just smiles gently at Lana. 

“I understand that. He’s a very easy person to have a crush on.” Lana looks slightly mollified at this, but her embarrassment is still clear. 

“I dunno, it’s just really embarrassing. You’re so amazing, and of course Ash would like you! Compared to you, I don’t have anything to offer.” 

“It’s not a competition,” Serena admonishes gently, “I’m sure you have your own gifts and talents.” The bluenette smiles a little at this, and gets up. Primarina follows. With Serena supporting her, Lana walks back to the battlefield. Immediately, Ash runs over to check on her. 

“Everything okay?” He asks, and Serena smiles at him. 

“Just some girl talk, Ash. Who are you using for this battle?” 

Ash grins. “You’ll just have to wait and see!” 

The class takes their places, and Ash takes his. “I’ll be going all out, so I’d like you guys to meet some of my strongest Pokemon! Infernape, Greninja, I choose you!” As the starters appear, they look at their opponents and grin. Turtonator, Vikavolt, Tsareena, Primarina, Ninetales and Silvally. This should be tons of fun.

Chapter Text

Since he only has two Pokemon compared to the class’ six, Ash is given the first move. He grins. “Your mistake. Infernape, Mach Punch at Turtonator! Greninja, Night Slash at Tsareena!” These strikes appear weak at first, but Tsareena still cries out when Greninja strikes her. 

Kiawe, seeing the fiery monkey incoming, decides to go for a tried and true strategy. “Shell Trap!” 

This spurs his classmates into action. 

“Primarina, Aqua Jet at Infernape!” 

“Silvally, Swords Dance!” 

“Vikavolt, use String Shot at Greninja!” 

“Tsareena, counter with Trop Kick!” 

“Snowy, use Dazzling Gleam!”

As Infernape’s fist strikes Turtonator’s shell, the ensuing explosion pushes it into range of Primarina and Snowy’s attacks. Blinded and knocked off balance, the Fire-type throws up a hasty Protect to block an incoming Sparkling Aria. 

Meanwhile, Greninja is faring far better. It nimbly dodges Tsareena’s Trop Kick, ducks under a String Shot, and retaliates by slugging Mallow’s partner with a one-two punch of Aerial Aces. Having taken three powerful hits, two of them super effective, Tsareena is out for the count. Seeing this, Gladion decides to make his move. 

“Crush Claw at Greninja!” Caught off-guard, the shinobi frog is too slow to dodge, and gets a nasty swipe across the back for its trouble. Ash grins. Gladion hasn’t lost his edge. 

“Alright, Greninja, Icicle Spear at everyone! Infernape, try a Fire Punch at Vikavolt!” As Greninja flings its icy weapons in a wide arc, Infernape closes in on Vikavolt and uppercuts it. 

Sophocles hastily calls for a Zap Cannon, hoping that he can’t miss at such close range. Instead, Infernape jumps onto Vikavolt’s back, slamming it into the ground with Protect. After another Fire Punch, the bug doesn’t get up. 

With the fight reduced to a four on two, Gladion decides to take charge. “Dazzling Gleam again, Lillie! Lana, have Primarina use Surf! Turtonator, ride the Surf and use Flamethrower! Silvally, Multi-Attack at Infernape!” 

His friends nod, and their Pokemon obey orders. When Infernape flinches back from the Multi-Attack, Ash makes a deduction. “Silvally is one of four Types, Greninja, and half of them are weak to Ice! Use Icicle Spear, concentrate on Silvally!” 

Lillie is quick on the draw, surprising Ash. “Snowy, protect Silvally with Freeze-Dry!” Though the attack doesn’t do much, it’s enough to temporarily incapacitate Greninja, allowing Silvally to dodge. Surf, Flamethrower and Dazzling Gleam all strike Infernape, and it’s not fast enough to throw up a Protect this time. Lana capitalizes. “Alright, Primarina, it’s time! Embraced by the sea, past the ocean’s horizon… use Oceanic Operetta!” The massive globe of water comes up, and with Greninja incapacitated by Freeze-Dry, there’s nothing to stop Infernape from taking the hit. 

At the same time, Gladion tosses Kiawe a crystal. “Do what we practiced!” Kiawe grins, and he and Turtonator begin to make a series of poses. But it’s not the familiar dance of Inferno Overdrive- this is something different. “Turtonator, use Devastating Drake!” A second Z-Move crashes into Infernape, sending it sprawling to the ground. 

Greninja runs over to check on his teammate, having gained some distance with Water Shuriken. “Ninja gre?” He offers a hand to the fiery simian, and Infernape gratefully accepts it. “Fernape!” The flame on its head begins to grow brighter and hotter. Ash grins. Why not show off a little? 

“Guys, I’d like to show you our full power! Infernape, Flare Blitz at Turtonator! Greninja, Water Shuriken at Primarina!” A veil of water grows to cover Greninja, and when it’s gone, Ash-Greninja remains. Serena grins. Professor Kukui, who has just now run up to the group, gawks. 

“Is this the Bond Phenomenon that Professor Sycamore published those papers on?” 

Serena nods her head proudly. “Ash and Greninja worked really hard to master it! And, before you ask,” she adds, seeing the questioning look on the Professor’s face, “Infernape’s ability is Blaze. It’s stronger than normal, so Ash trained him to use it.” 

Smiling and shaking his head, Kukui watches as Ash’s two remaining Pokemon wreck the rest of the class. Primarina falls to an Aerial Ace from Greninja, while Turtonator gets clocked in the head with a Mach Punch by Infernape. Soon, it’s only the Aether siblings who remain. Serena is impressed. From what Ash told her, Lillie wasn’t much of a battler while they were in school together. She and Snowy must have worked hard to improve.

Ash seems to have the same thought. “Wow, Lillie, you’re doing great!” 

Lillie blushes a little bit. “Thank you, Ash!” 

Gladion shakes his head fondly. “Head in the game, sister. Silvally, use Air Slash!” 

“Snowy, use Aurora Beam!” 

“Greninja, deflect the Air Slash with Water Shuriken! Infernape, get close to Snowy and use Flare Blitz!” His Pokemon follow their orders to the letter, and soon, Snowy is sprawled out on the ground. 

Only Silvally remains now, and Gladion slots in his Z-Crystal. It looks identical to the one Hapu used, confirming Ash’s suspicions. “Guys, Silvally is a Ground type! Infernape, feel free to hit it with Flare Blitz! Greninja, watch his back!” 

The Starters nod, and Infernape dives in just as Gladion calls for Tectonic Rage. Shoulder-checking Silvally, the Sinnoh native throws it off-balance and manages to dodge the Z-Move. Greninja jumps into the air to avoid the attack, and flings a pair of Water Shurikens at Silvally. Empowered by the Bond Phenomenon, these projectiles and Infernape’s Blaze-boosted Flare Blitz are enough to finally knock Silvally down for the count. 

Gladion just shakes his head as he recalls Silvally. “You certainly have some amazing Pokemon, Ash. Is there a reason you didn’t use them in the Alola League?” 

Ash grins at the boy with platinum hair. “I made it a tradition to have a new team for every region! Except for Pikachu, of course.” He scratches under the Electric-type’s chin, and Pikachu rubs against his Trainer’s hand contentedly. 

With Primarina recalled to her Pokeball, Lana runs over to Greninja. “That’s one of the coolest Water-types I’ve ever seen!” The frog ninja holds out a webbed hand for Lana to shake, and she takes it enthusiastically. 

Meanwhile, Kiawe is looking at Infernape critically. He then turns to Ash. “You were holding out on me, man! You know I love to see Fire-types.” 

Ash scratches at his neck. “I also have a Charizard, a Quilava, a Pignite and a Talonflame?” 

Kiawe promptly facepalms. 

Seeing this, as well as the aftermath of the battle, Kukui decides to step in. “Let’s get your Pokemon to the school nurse, everybody. Don’t want them to get injured after a hard battle. That would be a real Sucker Punch!” 

“Professor, your jokes should only be a Last Resort.” Ash retorts, and Kukui clasps a hand over his heart. 

“That’s some Sheer Cold right there, Ash.” 

“Do I have to Wish for you two to stop?” Serena asks, her eyes twinkling. Ash grins madly, and Kukui matches him. 

“Okay, I like her.” Mallow officially announces, and the rest of the class agrees. It’s not often that somebody can stop Ash and Kukui’s pun wars. 

“She’s a keeper.” Gladion deadpans, and Ash and Serena both flush. They’re far too familiar with that word for their own good. 

“They’re adorable.” Lana loudly whispers. The rest of her class nod their agreement. 

Kukui looks at his watch. “We’ve still got a few hours before dinner, everyone. Who wants to show Serena around the island?” Everyone’s hands- including Ash’s- shoot up. Serena smiles and takes Ash’s hand into her own. A tour of Alola from her boyfriend and her new friends? What more could she possibly ask for?

Chapter Text

As it turns out, between Ash and the class, Serena has some great tour guides. They show her around Melemele Island, making a note of every special place. 

“And that’s Mallow’s family restaurant!” Ash says proudly, pointing to a small building. With a sign reading Aina’s Kitchen, the restaurant radiates a homey aura. Ash takes Serena’s hand and guides her towards the small building. “You have to try the malasadas. They’re out of this world!” 

Serena laughs. “I’d be happy to!” Before she can walk into the restaurant, Mallow darts out with a plate of the treats in question. 

“These are Ash’s favorites!” She explains, and as Serena pulls out her wallet, the green haired girl shakes her head vehemently. “It’s on the house.” 

Serena gratefully accepts the sweet treat, and takes a satisfied bite out of it. It’s sugary but not cloying, doughy but not raw. In other words, it’s one of the best things she’s tasted in a long time. When she says as much, Mallow’s face lights up. “Thank you! They’re my specialty.” 

The rest of the class grins, knowing how much it means to Mallow when somebody likes her food. Ash perks up, remembering something. 

“You know, Mallow, Serena also loves to cook! I bet she could show you some new stuff to put on the menu.” 

Mallow smiles. “What do you say, Serena? Are you okay with pausing your tour to show me some recipes?” 

Serena thinks for a moment, then nods. “Of course! It’ll give Ash some time to catch up with the rest of the class, anyway.” 

Grinning, Mallow leads Serena into the restaurant’s kitchen. It’s empty, save for Mallow’s dad, who waves them in. 

The green-haired girl turns to her new friend and gestures to the shelves. “Well, Serena, have at it!” 

Serena smiles, and immediately begins to find the ingredients for Kalos toast. She can probably substitute a different kind of bread instead of Brioche, but the basic recipe remains the same. 

“Mallow, could you grab some Haban berries? I need them for the batter.” 

The girl in question retrieves the berries, twisting the stems and letting the juice flow into a mixing bowl. The so-called “Dragon berry” has an odd quality that makes it perfect for battering the bread Serena is using. 

Soon enough, Serena has a serviceable batch of Kalos toast. An hour has passed, so when she peeks her head out the window, the sun is beginning to lazily drift downwards. Twisting her neck a little, Serena looks over to a small clearing, where the class’ Pokemon are playing with each other. Everyone seems to be having a good time, and with there still being a few hours before dinner, a snack seems like a good idea. 

“We have Kalos toast if you guys want some!” 

Ash freezes, before grinning. “Come on, everyone! You need to try Serena’s Kalos toast. It’ll blow your tastebuds off!” 

Already tempted by the promise of food, Sophocles sprints into the restaurant at Ash’s declaration. Ash and Kiawe quickly follow, as does Lana. Gladion rolls his eyes, but accompanies his friends inside. 

Once they take their seats, each member of the class is given a plate of Kalos toast. Mallow brings out a pitcher of syrup, and everyone begins to dig in.

At his classmates’ muffled sounds of enjoyment, Ash grins. Serena’s cooking can do that to anyone. 

“And what about my cooking, Ash?” Mallow asks lightly. The Kantonian boy freezes. Crap, did he say that last bit out loud? 

Mallow grins. “I’m just teasing, Ash. You can totally prefer your girlfriend’s cooking to mine.” 

Ash splutters. “Your cooking is great, Mallow!” 

“But Serena’s is better?” Lana teases, and Ash buries his face in his hands. 

“Hey, you’re the one who signed up for this. I have to deal with it on a daily basis.” Kiawe shrugs, before taking another bite out of his snack. 

At the sound of a familiar ringtone, Serena pulls her phone out of her pocket. “Professor, can you take me to pick up Dawn and Zoey from the airport?” 

Kukui nods, having finished his own plate of Kalos toast. “Sure! It would be nice for me to make a good First Impression.” 

Gladion groans at this, while Serena and the rest of the class laugh. Lillie raises her hand timidly.

“Could I come with you? I’d love to meet Dawn.” 

Serena smiles warmly at the younger girl. “Of course! Just warning you, Dawn can be a little… over the top at times.” 

In response, Lillie giggles. “I deal with Kiawe all the time. Dawn can’t be that bad.” 

“I resemble that remark!” Kiawe protests, before laughing. 

With Lillie in tow, Serena and Kukui make their way to Hau’oli Airport. A flight from Sinnoh has just landed, which means that Dawn must be here already. And indeed, when the trio reach the airport, they’re greeted by a certain bluenette with a Piplup.

“Hey, Rena! Are you excited for this?” Dawn quickly wraps her friend in a hug, before being pulled back by a girl with spiky red hair. 

“Calm down, Dawn. Give Serena a moment to breathe.” The bluenette reluctantly pulls back, before setting her eyes on Professor Kukui.

“Hiya, Professor! I’m Dawn, Ash’s pseudo sister. This is my girlfriend Zoey,” she points to the spiky-haired girl, “and my sister in law Serena.” 

Serena flushes a deep red, as Lillie lets out a small laugh. Dawn hears this, and looks at Lillie. 

“You’re one of Ash’s classmates, right?”

The girl in white nods. “I’m Lillie. You’re Dawn Berlitz, and your girlfriend is Zoey Nozomi, right? You two are both favorites to become Sinnoh’s Top Coordinator!” 

Zoey laughs. “Looks like we’ve got a fan on our hands, Dawn!” 

She leans down to speak to Lillie. “You want to know something cool?” 

Lillie nods, and Zoey grins. “Tomorrow, over on Akala Island, Serena and Dawn are going to have a Contest battle!” 

Seeing Zoey’s smile, Lillie matches it with one of her own. “I can’t wait! I’ve always wanted to see Dawn battle in person, so this is a dream come true for me!” 

Zoe smiles again. “It’s something special, Lillie.” 

Dawn waves the two of them over. “Lillie! Serena told us that your friend Mallow has a restaurant! Can you show us the way? I’m starving!”

Lillie laughs a bit at Dawn’s over the top antics, before taking the lead. “Of course! Follow me!” 

Serena watches her friends, and then she smiles. This looks like the start of a great friendship.

Chapter Text

When Ash sees the group coming, he gets up and embraces the five foot tall mass of energy coming in for a crash-hug. “And hello to you too, Dawn.” He says dryly, but accepts the hug anyway. 

Zoey doesn’t greet Ash quite so enthusiastically, instead opting for a friendly wave. Ash returns it with a smile, remembering Zoey fondly from their interactions in Sinnoh. 

Dawn breaks away from Ash, and turns to the class. “Hey, everybody! I’m Dawn!” 

The class introduce themselves, with each bringing out their partner Pokemon. Piplup does the same as his Trainer, introducing himself to each of the Alolan Pokemon. They seem to get along well, and Piplup accepts Pancham’s offered high-five. 

Seeing that everyone is getting along, Kukui claps his hands to get everyone’s attention. 

“Hey, gang. We should probably figure out dinner. How does pizza sound?” 

The cheers- especially from Ash and Sophocles- give the Professor all the answers he needs. 

Once the pizza arrives, the group chats amiably. Dawn seems to get along well with Lana and Mallow, while the more tomboyish Zoe is working Gladion over. Serena cheerfully watches as Ash scarfs down half of a pizza by himself, smiling and taking small bites out of her own slice. 

Soon enough, the conversation shifts to romance, and Sophocles has a question. 

“Dawn, if you and Ash traveled together first, why didn’t you two get together?”

The bluenette nearly chokes on her pizza. Ash pats her on the back as she coughs, and when she recovers her breath, Dawn holds up a finger. “Two reasons. One, I view Ash as my brother. Two,” here she slings an arm around Zoey, “I am a very happy lesbian.” 

Ash holds his hand over his heart in mock offense. “Was I not good enough for you, Dawn?” 

Dawn snorts. “The day I get with you is the day Arceus admits that They shouldn’t be putting all of their responsibilities onto your shoulders.” 

There’s a rumble of ominous thunder in the distance, almost like Arceus heard that. 

Dawn turns around and flips the cloud off. 

“Dawn!” Serena chastises, holding her hand over Lillie’s eyes. “There are still kids here!” 

The bluenette shrugs. “They might be kids, but they’re probably not that sheltered.” 

Gladion raises a hand in protest, and Zoey laughs. “Maybe not the best thing to say, Sunrise.” 

Mallow holds a hand over her mouth. “Oh my goodness, they have pet names for each other!” 

“Most couples do, Mallow.” Gladion says dryly. Mallow sticks her tongue out at him. 

Dawn looks at Lana and Kiawe. “Are they…” 

Kiawe shakes his head emphatically. “By the Tapus, no. All of Alola would burn to the ground if they were a couple.” 

Lana, on the other hand, gives Dawn a conspiratorial nod. “There’s something there, alright.” 

“So, Dawn!” Kukui says, clearly trying to change the topic. “Could you tell us about some of Ash’s adventures? He’s a bit notorious for not telling us anything.” 

Dawn’s face splits open in a shit-eating grin. “Would you rather me tell you about the time we met God, or the time Ash beat a Darkrai and a Latios?” 

“He did WHAT?” Sophocles yelps. Gladion and Kiawe gape similarly. Zoey smiles. 

“Yeah, it was pretty impressive to watch. Ash was the only person in the entire Sinnoh League to beat Tobias’ Darkrai.” 

“And it took four of my Pokemon to do it.” Ash mutters, hanging his head. The loss to Tobias still weighs heavily on him years later. 

“I repeat: you were the ONLY person to knock out that Darkrai. And you didn’t even use your strongest team to do it!” Dawn says, frowning and crossing her arms. 

Serena taps something on her tablet, and shows it to the group. “Is the Tobias that beat Ash the same one ranked number 10 in the World Coronation Series?” 

Zoey looks at the picture and nods. “Yeah, that’s him.” 

“Looks like you’ll have a shot at him after all, Ash! You just have to get high enough in the rankings.” Sophocles says encouragingly. Ash gives the ginger haired boy a grateful smile.

“That’s the goal, Sophocles. Right now, I’m just focused on my next match.” 

“Which is?” Lana asks curiously. 

“After Serena and Dawn have their Contest battle, I’m going to Cerulean City to battle Misty.” Ash says firmly, already thinking about potential strategies. Lillie raises a hand shyly.

“Ash, if you have so many Pokemon, why don’t you rotate them around for the Ultra Class? I’m sure some of them would love to get in on the action.” 

The Kantonian ponders this proposal. Sure, some of his Pokemon might like to participate. The more battle hungry ones like Krookodile would relish the chance to take on the Ultra Class. He’s been so focused on his current team that he’s neglected his old one. 

“You know what, Lillie? I think that’s a great idea!” Already, ideas are beginning to form in Ash’s mind. Training combos and new moves to teach… the possibilities are endless. 

Mallow taps her fingers on the table. “Earth to Ash?” 

Dawn smirks. “I know how to get his attention.” She cups her hands around her mouth, before whispering something in Ash’s ear. 

All of a sudden, Ash jolts forwards, now sitting upright. Serena smiles gently at him. “Back with us?” 

Ash scratches at his neck. “Yeah, sorry about that. I just have so many great ideas!” 

“Why don’t you get a notebook, Ash?” Kukui suggests. “That would help you keep track of everything.” 

Grinning, Ash nods. “There’s a twenty four hour convenience store in the city, right? I can probably find a notebook there!” 

“Taking a few cues from Sawyer?” Serena teases. 

“Yeah! And I can probably Mega Evolve my Sceptile if I find a Sceptilite and a Key Stone!” And if he even wanted to battle now that he has a mate, he mentally adds. That’s never stopped Charizard before, though, so hopefully Sceptile will be the same. 

Serena just shakes her head and smiles. “Why am I not surprised?” 

“If you mean the Sceptile that beat Darkrai, I bet you could have won the League with just that Pokemon!” Sophocles says, looking up from his phone. He’s clearly searched up a video of the Lily of the Valley Conference semifinals from a few years ago. 

“Can I see?” Gladion asks, and the rest of the class crowds around Sophocles to watch the clip. Ash bites his lip, clearly uncomfortable with the attention. 

Serena leans over and puts her hand on his shoulder. “You’ll get your shot, Ash.” She whispers. 

Zoey, who has always been adept at reading the room, decides to change the topic. “So, before the flight, Dawn and I got confirmation from Kahuna Olivia about the battle tomorrow. Are you guys excited to see a real Contest battle?”

Lillie and Mallow both nod enthusiastically, while Gladion and Kiawe give more resigned shakes of their heads. They clearly don’t have as much interest in the foreign battle style. 

Zoey grins. “Well, just wait and see. This battle’s going to be one to remember.”

Chapter Text

When the morning of the battle comes, Ash is up bright and early. He immediately showers, throws on his Alola clothes, and heads downstairs for breakfast. Professor Kukui is frying some Persim berries in a pan, and he gives Ash a cheerful wave when the Kantonian comes down. 

“Alola, Ash! You might want to wake Serena up for breakfast. She’s over in the guest room.” 

Nodding, Ash makes his way over to the room in question. He knocks softly, and when nobody responds, he cracks the door open. “Serena?” He whispers. 

“I’m up.” The whisper comes back, but it’s quiet and subdued. 

“Can I come in?” Ash asks softly, and Serena nods, before realizing that her boyfriend can’t see her. 

“Yeah.” With the door cracked open, Ash only has to push it a little bit further to get in. He finds Serena in her nightgown, lying down and clearly not looking so good. 

“Everything okay, Sere?” Ash asks concernedly, and Serena lets out a small laugh. 

“Just nervous, Ash. I don’t think I can match up to Dawn.” 

This time, it’s Ash’s turn to laugh. “Don’t be silly, Serena! You’re every bit as talented as Dawn is, and today, you’re going to show that to all of Alola!” 

Serena sits up in the bed, and Ash plants a gentle kiss on her forehead. “Je t’aime, Serena.”

At this, the Kalosian girl flushes a deep red. “You learned Kalosian for me?” 

Ash shrugs. “I really just wanted Bonnie to teach me that phrase.” 

Burnet knocks on the door. “Lovebirds? Breakfast is ready.” 

Ash stands up and offers his hand to Serena. “After you, milady.” 

If it was possible for Serena to go redder than she already was, she would have done it already. 

After breakfast, the group takes a ferry over to Akala Island. Once they’ve arrived, Olivia walks up to greet them. 

“Hey, Ash! It’s been a while.” 

Ash grins and gives the Kahuna a high-five. “Hey, Olivia! I have someone for you to meet.” He takes Serena’s hand before taking a step forward. “This is my awesome girlfriend Serena!” 

After the obligatory confusion over Ash having a girlfriend, Olivia greets Serena with a warm smile. “You must be one of the Coordinators in today’s Contest battle! It’s lovely to meet you.” 

“Same to you, miss Olivia!” Serena says politely, and Olivia laughs. 

“None of that ‘miss’ stuff, Serena. Makes me feel old!” She shoots the Kalosian girl a wink, and Serena laughs. 

With the small talk over with, Olivia leads the group to a makeshift stage. Dawn is already there, wearing a light pink sundress. Serena has a similar dress on, only in red. Ash was momentarily speechless when seeing her in the dress for the first time, and since then it’s become one of Serena’s favorites. 

Dawn runs over and wraps Serena in a hug. Once she pulls away, the bluenette’s permanent grin grows wider. “You ready for this, Rena?” 

Serena matches Dawn’s smile with one of her own. “As ready as I’ll ever be.” 

An audience begins to form around the stage. When there are ten minutes left before the performance is scheduled to begin, every seat is filled. Ash and the Kukui family, being some of the first to arrive, have front-row seats. 

At last, the time for the performance arrives. Olivia steps up to the front of the stage, a microphone in her hand. “People of Alola, welcome to our very first Pokemon Contest!” She waits for the applause to die down, then continues. 

“This will not be a traditional Contest, however. Our competitors will have three minutes to battle, and whoever has the most amount of points by the end is our winner. Now, none of that would be possible without a judge, so please give a warm Akala Island welcome to our judge for today, Zoey Nozomi!” 

Zoey walks out onto the stage, waving to the crowd cheerfully. She’s clearly a performer, and a seasoned one at that. 

Meanwhile, in the audience, Ash frowns. “Three minutes isn’t a lot of time. Dawn and Serena will have to make each moment count.” Burnet and Kukui both nod. Ash may not be a Coordinator, but he’s seen enough Contests for them to know that his judgment is sound. 

Olivia looks at both competitors. “This will be a one on one battle in the Contest style. Competitors, please bring out your Pokemon!” 

Dawn brings out a Pokeball closed with a Splash Seal. “Piplup, let’s dive in!” The little penguin emerges with a flourish and a bow, soaking up the applause. 

Serena smiles. “Sylveon, I choose you!” She throws the Pokeball into the air, where it appears to explode in a shower of glitter. Sylveon lands daintily, before curtseying to the audience. 

“Begin!” 

Immediately, Piplup launches forward in a spinning Drill Peck. Sylveon gracefully dodges to one side, before firing back with a series of Swift stars. Dawn’s points drop slightly. 

The blue-haired Coordinator gestures with one hand. “Whirlpool below Sylveon!” 

The roaring tides sweep Sylveon away before it can dodge, carrying it towards the edge of the stage. Serena winces, but keeps her cool. “Use Moonblast and fly up!” Ethereal pink energy forms around Sylveon, propelling it upwards and away from Piplup’s Whirlpool. 

“Hydro Pump while it’s in the air!” This time, Sylveon has no way to dodge, and Piplup’s powerful attack hits it head on. Pushed back, Sylveon growls and shakes its feelers. It wants to win for its Trainer! 

Serena smiles at her Pokemon’s determination. “Okay, Sylveon, use Swift and make a cloud in front of yourself!” The cloud forms, giving Sylveon time to recollect itself. Without Dawn’s direction, Piplup fires a Bubblebeam at the Swift stars, popping each of them in turn. However, this has given Sylveon time to charge up a Moonblast. 

“Fire away!” Serena cheers, and Dawn grins. 

“Meet power with power, Piplup! Use Hydro Pump!” 

The attacks collide in a shower of golden light that sends droplets of water splattering everywhere. When the light fades, Tapu Lele is standing between the two competing Pokemon. 

Olivia gasps, and Ash grins. Tapu Lele must have sensed the presence of Mesprit’s Chosen. 

“Remember, not everyone is as familiar with Legendaries as you are.” Kukui whispers, and Ash laughs. If that’s what the professor thinks, he picked the wrong two people to make that example for. 

Tapu Lele looks at Dawn first. “Chosen of Mesprit, you have proven yourself worthy of wielding Lord Marshadow’s power. Take this, and wield it responsibly.” The Pokemon summons a Z-Ring and a Z-Crystal that doesn’t look anything like the known varieties. It then turns to Serena. 

“Blessed of Xerneas, you too have shown your worth. Come forth, and accept this token of my goodwill. Should you misuse it, I have no qualms about taking it from you.” Still in awe, Serena takes the Z-Ring and the rosy pink crystal. 

With its work done, Tapu Lele flies away. 

Ash is the first to break the silence. “Well, that happened.”

Chapter Text

The crowd erupts into shouts, screams, and general pandemonium. Olivia tries her best to calm them down, but to no avail. 

All of a sudden, Ash has an idea. “Swellow, use Boomburst!” His Hoennian flier shrieks, and the amplified noise causes everyone in the crowd to clap their hands over their ears. Ash returns Swellow, smiling sheepishly. “Sorry about that, but Swellow and I had to do something.” 

Olivia looks at Ash gratefully. She then turns to the crowd. “People of Alola, please listen! We are not meant to argue with the will of the Tapus. If Tapu Lele has deemed these young women worthy of Z-Rings, then they are worthy of Z-Rings.” 

The older woman looks over to Zoey. “With that out of the way, I believe our judge has the scores?” 

Zoey nods, looking down at her notes. “The winner, by a grand total of five points, is… Dawn Berlitz!” 

Dawn grins widely, and Serena gives her friend a smile. Losing sucks, but at least it was to Dawn. 

Ash runs up to Serena, engulfing her in a hug. “You were awesome out there, Serena! And now you have a Z-Ring and your own Z-Crystal!” 

Serena giggles. “Slow down, Ash. I don’t even know how to use this Z-Crystal yet!” 

Curious, Professor Kukui walks over to the blond Performer. “Mind if I take a look, Serena?” 

She shakes her head and gives the crystal to the Professor, who studies it for a moment. He turns it over in his hand, then gives it back to Serena. 

“The closest match for this is Fairium Z, but as far as I’m concerned, this is a one of a kind Z-Crystal.” 

Ash squints at the crystal in question for a moment. “Hey, doesn’t that symbol in the middle look kinda like one of Sylveon’s ribbons?” 

Serena looks at the crystal again, and smiles. “Maybe it’s a Z-Crystal for Sylveon!” 

“In that case, we should call it Sylvium Z!” Kukui chimes in, and Burnet chuckles. Her husband has a knack for naming things. 

“How would the Z-Move work?” Ash asks curiously. 

Kukui shrugs. “I guess you just… make it up, like you and Pikachu did with Ten Million Volt Thunderbolt.” 

At this, Ash grins. “Serena, that’s amazing! You and Sylveon can create something completely unique for your performances!” 

At this, Serena laughs. “I suppose I can! But don’t we have some packing to do? Our flight to Cerulean City leaves tomorrow morning.” 

Ash looks sheepish. “Oh yeah… is it wrong that I kinda forgot about that?” 

Serena smiles at him fondly. “Only you, Ash.” 

“Speaking of that, who are you going to use against Misty?” Kukui asks. “I remember your Pikachu facing her Gyarados, but that’s the only time I’ve seen the two of you battle.” 

Ash thinks for a moment. “Well, I bet Bulbasaur’s tired of watching everyone at the ranch. Maybe I’ll use him and one of my Tauros!” 

“One of your Tauros?” Kukui questions, and Serena laughs. 

“Ash once accidentally caught thirty Tauros in the Kanto Safari Zone.” 

The boy in question raises a hand. “In my defense, they kept getting in the way of the Pokeballs I was throwing. I didn’t expect to catch the whole herd!” 

Kukui shakes his head. “Man, your first Pokemon journey must have been crazy. And didn’t you end up placing top sixteen in the Indigo Conference?” 

Ash shakes his head bitterly. “Not good enough. When I was just starting out, my Charizard didn’t even listen to me. I lost the match because he fell asleep, and my other Pokemon were tired from stopping one of Team Rocket’s plans.” 

“You can’t blame yourself for that!” Serena protests, but it’s clear that Ash disagrees. The Kalosian girl sighs- this is just one of those things that Ash will continue to beat himself up over. They can work on this later. 

The rest of the day passes by in a blur. Dawn says that she’ll stay in Alola for a while with Zoe to practice her Z-Move, while Serena and Ash begin the process of packing for their flight to Cerulean City. Throughout the day, it’s clear that Ash isn’t in a great headspace. He doesn’t even eat seconds at dinner, instead choosing to quietly excuse himself and walk over to the lab.

Several hours later, Serena finds Ash slumped over a PC, snoring softly. A face she recognizes is on the other end of the line. 

“Gary?” Serena asks incredulously, and the brown-haired boy looks at her from regions away, seemingly confused.

“Wait, do I know you?” He asks, and Serena chuckles. 

“It was a long time ago, but back when we were at Professor Oak’s summer camp, do you remember a girl with a straw hat?” 

Gary gapes at her. “No way. You’re the girl who was always hanging around Ash! I can’t remember your name, though…” 

The girl in question chuckles. “It’s Serena. I’m Ash’s girlfriend. Why were you two calling?” 

Shaking his head at the idea of Ash having a girlfriend, Gary cracks his neck. “Ash was just checking in on how his team was doing. He’s planning out who to use against Misty, and wants to know how they’ve progressed. He fell asleep by the time I got around to recapping the Unova squad.” 

Serena chuckles a little bit. “What time is it in Kanto, anyway? It can’t be healthy for you to be up so late, especially if you’re still working for your grandfather.” 

Spreading his arms wide like a showman, Gary grins and cracks a yawn. “What can I say? Insomnia sucks.” 

“Still, you should get some sleep. I’ll get Ash to bed.”

Gary lets out another huge yawn, before giving Serena a small smile. “Ash is lucky to have you.” 

Blushing, Serena nods and hangs up the call. Ash stirs, and she plants a kiss on her boyfriend’s temple. “Ash?” 

He stares up at her with sleepy eyes. “Are you an angel?” He asks groggily, and Serena feels herself flush down to the tips of her toes. 

“No, just Serena.”

“What’s the difference?” He asks cheekily, seeming more awake than before. 

Serena flushes redder than a Delphox’s fur. 

“Let’s get you to bed, silly.” 

Supporting Ash, Serena walks back to the Kukui household. The professors are waiting for her, and Kukui gently walks a half-asleep Ash up to the loft. Burnet smiles at Serena. “You’ve got a real keeper on your hands, Serena. Don’t let him slip away.” 

“I won’t.” Serena promises, and she means it.

Chapter Text

When it comes time for them to fly out from Alola, Ash and Serena are seen off with hugs and promises that they’ll visit. Serena and Mallow exchange recipes, and Dawn wraps the entire group in a massive hug. As the gate agent calls for them to board, Ash holds Serena’s hand. “Ready for this?”

Serena smiles back at him. “Absolutely. Let’s win your next World Coronation Series battle.” 

As the plane begins its ascension, Ash puts in a pair of headphones and turns on one of his favorite podcasts. Titled Those Three Battle Nerds, it’s exactly what the name implies- three battle nerds analyzing recent developments in the world of Pokemon battling. Serena has Toxel out and is playing with the baby Electric type, so Ash just smiles at her and starts the podcast. 

“And next on the docket, let’s talk about the Gauntlet and its winner, the rising star of the World Coronation Series, Ash Ketchum!” Ash almost chokes on his drink. Why would this podcast bring him up? He’s not special. He’s just a kid from Pallet Town. 

Serena looks over from where she’s keeping Toxel entertained with what appears to be a plastic Klefki. “Everything okay?” 

Stunned, all Ash can do is nod. “My favorite podcast just brought me up.” 

The Kalosian girl grins at her boyfriend. “Ash, that’s amazing! I’m so happy for you!” 

Smiling in disbelief, Ash pets Toxel’s head, listening as the baby Pokemon chirps happily. “It’s all so surreal. I’m actually in the Ultra Class, and I’m just a few matches away from entering the Top 50. I never thought I’d actually get this far.” 

Serena leans over and pecks him on the cheek. “You’re self-deprecating again, Ash. Get some sleep- it’ll help, I promise.” 

Ash nods, turning the podcast off and leaning his chair as far back as it can go without disturbing the passengers behind him. Once that’s done, he closes his eyes and lets Cresselia take him. 

When Ash is gently shaken awake by Serena, the soft glow of Saffron City greets him from outside the window. “We’re here, Ash.” Serena says, smiling at him. Ash yawns, but sits up in his chair and gets a light static shock from Pikachu for his troubles. In a few hours, they’ll be at the Cerulean City Gym for his match with Misty. It’s really early in the morning right now, (thanks time difference) so Misty probably isn’t even awake yet. This should give Ash and Serena time to hitch a ride, get up to the city, and transfer over the Pokemon that Ash needs. 

Once they’ve deplaned and grabbed their bags, Ash takes Serena’s hand and pulls out his phone. 

“What are you doing?” Serena asks curiously. 

Ash grins. “Calling in a favor.” 

A few moments later, a rather pretty woman with green hair walks up to the group. “Welcome back, Ash. You haven’t changed much.” 

Ash smiles at the woman, and Serena feels her heart twist a little bit. “Thanks, Sabrina! How are you and Haunter doing?” 

Sabrina seems to pull a Pokeball out of thin air. “He’s a Gengar now, and really seems to miss you.” She turns to Serena. “And who’s this young lady?” 

Ash raises an eyebrow. “Couldn’t you just read her mind?” 

“I could, but I’ve been working on boundaries lately. The therapist my parents found was really helpful for teaching me social cues.” 

Serena decides to seize the opportunity and introduce herself. “I’m Serena. I’m a Pokemon Coordinator from Kalos, and…”

“My girlfriend.” Ash finishes, grinning dopily. Sabrina smiles at the two of them. 

“I’m happy for you, Ash. You’ve come a long way.” 

Ash chuckles and rubs at the back of his neck. “Everyone keeps saying that, so I guess it’s true.” 

Sabrina looks between the two of them, and then back at Ash. “I owe you a favor, so what is it you need?” 

Blushing a little bit, Ash looks down at his shoes. “Could you teleport us to Cerulean City? I really don’t want to go on foot.” 

Sabrina smiles kindly at him. “Of course, Ash. Before you go, however… I’d like you to have Gengar. I think he’s done as much as he can for me.” 

Ash grins as he accepts the Pokeball. “Thanks, Sabrina! I promise to give Gengar a good home!” 

The Gym leader nods, and motions for Ash and Serena to take her hands. “Next stop, Cerulean City.” 

There’s a flash of light, and when Serena opens her eyes, the three of them are standing in front of a Pokemon Center. She gapes and turns to Sabrina. 

“You’re a Psychic?” 

Sabrina nods her head, then sends out an Alakazam. “Take us back to Saffron City, please.” Alakazam bows its head, and in a flash of light, Sabrina and her Pokemon disappear. 

Serena turns to Ash. “Isn’t that the girl who turned you into a doll?” 

“How do you know that- ASH?” An incredulous voice from the back of the Pokemon Center calls, and Ash turns to face a redheaded girl in a yellow tank top. 

“Hey, Misty! What’re you doing up so early?” 

“Getting ready for my battle with you, knucklehead. I have a whole bunch of new team members to try out, and we’re going to go all the way to the top!” 

Ash grins back at the redhead. “I can’t wait to beat you, Misty!” 

“You wish!” She retorts, and then she looks at Serena. 

“I’m sorry for this idiot. Did he rope you into this adventure against your own will?” 

Serena giggles. “Quite the opposite! I’m Serena, and I’m going to assume that you’re Misty?” 

The older girl nods. “Right on the money. So, how do you know Ash? Traveling companion?”

“She’s my girlfriend.” Ash butts in, and Serena feels her face darken. They may be going steady, but it still manages to surprise her when Ash just… announces their relationship to the world.

Something in Misty’s expression changes. “His girlfriend, huh?” Her friendly demeanor from before seems to vanish for a moment, though it quickly reappears. 

“All the fish in the sea, and you managed to land that one. He’s quite the catch, you know.” 

Ash rolls his eyes. “Just like you to be using water metaphors, Misty.”

“I’m surprised you even know what a metaphor is. ” The Kantonian girl fires back, though there’s no heat in her voice. Serena shakes her head. 

“Don’t you two have a battle to get to?” 

Ash’s face lights up at the reminder of his purpose in Cerulean City. “Yeah! I’ll meet you two at the Gym, but I have some Pokemon to transfer over first.” 

Misty takes Serena’s hand. “See you there, Ashley. ” She throws out, over Ash’s protests. 

Once they’re out of the raven haired boy’s sight, Misty’s whole expression changes. She’s instantly gone from the carefree big sister to a protective mother Ursaring. “You and I are going to have a talk. ”

Chapter Text

Misty and Serena walk to a park close to the Gym, and sit down on a bench. Misty’s face has remained stony for the entirety of their walk, and once they sit down, she turns on Serena. 

“I don’t think you understand just how lucky you are to have Ash.” Misty starts, and Serena immediately bites her tongue. It’s best to let Misty get these feelings off her chest. 

“The kid is stupidly kind, incredibly brave, and would sacrifice the world if it meant saving his friends. I’ve seen him battle Legendaries like it’s second nature, and I know that Ash would do anything for someone he loves. So, whatever you do, don’t screw this up.” 

Misty exhales loudly, and Serena takes a deep breath. It’s time for her response. 

“Misty, I’ve known Ash since I was six years old. We met at Professor Oak’s summer camp, and I’ve had a crush on him ever since. I pined for him throughout our entire Kalos journey, and he was completely oblivious. When I finally found out that he liked me back, it was the happiest day of my life. If you think that I’m going to screw up our relationship after waiting for it for nine years, you don’t know either of us. Ash makes me the happiest person alive, and I’m never going to change that.” 

The redhead’s face shifts to an impressed smirk. “Good. Now, I have a battle against your boyfriend to win- with a new trick up my sleeve, of course.” She undoes her braid, and shows Serena a hair clip with a Keystone embedded in it. Being from Kalos, Serena recognizes it immediately. “Which Pokemon can you Mega Evolve?” 

Misty grins. “Wait and see.” 

Once the girls have walked over to the Gym, they find Ash, who has a Pokemon familiar to Serena out on the field. Misty sprints over to the little green dinosaur and gives it a hug. 

“Hey, Bulbasaur! It’s been a while!” 

“Bulba!” The Grass type (or at least Serena assumes it’s one) hugs Misty with its vines, then walks over to Serena. “Bulba, bulbasaur?” 

Serena holds out her hand to Ash’s Pokemon. “It’s nice to meet you, Bulbasaur! I’m Serena.” 

Bulbasaur accepts Serena’s handshake with a vine, then looks at Pikachu questioningly. “Saur bulba?” ‘Are they together?’

“Pika cha, chu, pikapi.” ‘Serena is Ash’s girlfriend.’ 

“Bulbasaur.” ‘Good to know.’

Ash grins at the girls. “I’m ready when you are, Misty!” 

Matching his grin with one of her own, Misty gets into position. “Let’s do this, Ash!” 

A Rotom Drone flies over. “The World Coronation Series match between rank 99 Ash Ketchum and rank 41 Misty Waterflower will now begin. Trainers, please send out your first Pokemon!” 

“Politoed, let’s sparkle like the waves!” 

“Bulbasaur, I choose you!” 

As soon as Politoed emerges from its Pokeball, rain clouds begin to form over the field. Despite himself, Ash grins. “So you found a way to speed up your Rain Dance strategy, huh?” 

Misty matches Ash’s grin with one of her own, excitement clear in her expression. “You bet! Politoed, let’s get the ball rolling with Flip Turn!” 

“Catch it with Power Whip!” That’s one thing Gary updated him on- Bulbasaur’s moveset got a major overhaul while he was away. Power Whip is just one of the changes. Politoed is stopped dead in its tracks by the attack, before Bulbasaur throws it into the pool.

Misty raises an eyebrow. “Impressive, but that won’t stop us. Ice Beam!” Politoed pokes its head out from the water and fires the attack at Bulbasaur, causing the little Grass type to shiver in pain. Ash frowns at this. 

“Bulbasaur, fire a Leech Seed into the pool, and see if you can fish Politoed out!” 

“Gotcha. Politoed, Flip Turn!” Politoed headbutts Bulbasaur from behind, before recalling itself to its Pokeball. Gyarados emerges with a roar, but Ash doesn’t see Bulbasaur flinch backwards. Either his Pokemon is too experienced to let an Ability affect its performance, or Misty’s Gyarados doesn’t have Intimidate. Moxie could be a problem later, though. “Bulbasaur, let’s try a Body Slam!” 

“Hurricane!” Despite its lack of Special Attack power, Gyarados’ attack strikes Bulbasaur for powerful damage. The little dino is sent flying into a wall, but staggers to its feet with a snarl. Misty smirks. 

“Well, Ash, it’s time we went all-out. Now, my beautiful beast of the sea!” Misty touches her hair clip, and a stone on Gyarados’ tail begins to glow. When it fades, a towering Mega Gyarados stands above Bulbasaur, roaring in defiance. 

Ash’s face goes white with shock. His hands begin to tremble, and from the stands, Serena can see his chest beginning to heave from hyperventilation. The raven haired boy’s hand goes to his belt, but he shakes his head at the last moment. 

“You’re not winning this time, Lysander.” Ash murmurs under his breath, and in an instant, his hat is backwards and his hand is outstretched. (He prays that Lysander won’t see his weakness.)

“FRENZY PLANT!” With a cry of its name, Bulbasaur plants its paws down onto the floor. An entire forest seems to erupt from the pool, striking Gyarados and causing it to roar in pain. Still, its body glows with a Dragon Dance, and a followup Crunch knocks Bulbasaur out for the count.

“Tag in, buddy.” Ash mutters, and Pikachu quickly takes his place on the field. 

Unaware of her friend’s internal turmoil, Misty smirks at Ash. “Can’t handle Gyarados’ power? No challenger has ever made it past this specific team! Now, Gyarados, use Aqua Tail!” 

“Quick Attack into Volt Tackle!” There’s panic in Ash’s voice, the kind Serena knows can only come from one source. She needs to stop this battle. 

Pikachu’s movements are rushed and sloppy, like he’s mirroring Ash. His vision is blurred from the rain, and this causes the mouse to miss his Volt Tackle. Gyarados’ Aqua Tail collides with Pikachu’s prone form, and before the mouse can get back up, Ash runs out onto the battlefield. 

“Greninja, I choose- wait.” He scrambles for his belt, but the familiar shinobi’s Pokeball isn’t there. He glares at the head of red hair that can only be one man. “What did you do with Greninja, Lysander?” 

Misty cocks her head in confusion. “Who’s Lysander? And what does your special Greninja have to do with anything?”

Ash blinks, and all of a sudden, he’s back in the Cerulean Gym. He’s facing down Misty, not Lysander. This Mega Gyarados isn’t Shiny. Greninja is safe back at Professor Oak’s lab. In conclusion: he screwed up. Big time. 

Feeling his face run hot with shame, Ash turns on his heel and runs out of the Gym. 

“Ash, wait!” Misty calls, but the Rotom drone cuts her off.

“As Competitor Ash has left the vicinity, the win goes to Misty! Rankings will be updated shortly.” 

Still shaking, Serena walks over to Misty, where the redhead has a barrage of questions prepared. The first one is the most important, though.

“Is Ash going to be alright?” 

Serena takes a deep breath. “I think so. He just had a really bad flashback, so I think it’s best if I go after him right now.” 

Misty nods her head sorrowfully. “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry.” 

Serena shakes her head. “You couldn’t have known. I’ll go get him, and then you two can talk.” 

With that, the Kalosian girl departs, only one thing on her mind.

Chapter Text

Ash doesn’t know when he stops running. All he can feel is blistering embarrassment, the very idea that he could mistake Misty for his worst enemy seared into his head. How could he have been so stupid?

Eventually, Ash trips over a root in the park, falling flat onto his face. He holds a hand to the bruise rapidly forming on his cheek, then looks up at his surroundings. The park is empty, the early morning sun still rising over Cerulean City. Pikachu runs up to him, panting from the sprinting he’s had to do. “Pikapi?” 

The Kantonian boy looks up at his partner. “I’m fine, bud. Just a little rattled.” 

Pikachu stares at Ash skeptically, before pressing a paw to Bulbasaur’s Pokeball. The little Grass type comes out, panting from his earlier battle with Gyarados. Ash slaps a hand to his forehead. “I need to take Bulbasaur to the Pokemon Center. I’m such an idiot.” 

“Don’t say that about yourself, Ash.” A familiar voice echoes from down the path, and Ash turns to see Serena, panting from having to keep up with her boyfriend’s pace. 

“How am I not an idiot, though? I forgot to get Bulbasaur medical attention, I lost a match for no good reason, and I mistook my oldest friend for my worst enemy.” The raven haired boy shakes his head bitterly, and Serena holds his hand up to her chest. 

“Ash, look at me. You’re not to blame for your trauma. Lysander is the problem, not you. This is a perfectly normal response for someone who’s been through a traumatic event. Right now, all I want you to focus on is your breathing. Can you do that with me?” Serena takes an exaggerated deep breath in, and Ash copies her. Once they’ve repeated that a few times, Ash finally feels his heartrate begin to drop from its accelerated pace. 

“I really need to apologize to Misty, and ask for a rematch. Hopefully I won’t react the same way.” Ash says, and Serena shakes her head. 

“Ash, throwing yourself back into this situation isn’t going to fix it. You need to take some time to regroup, figure out a proper response, and go in with a clear head.” 

The Kantonian boy bites his lip, but acquiesces. Serena takes his hand, and together, they walk to the nearest Pokemon center. Misty meets them there, and immediately runs up to Ash and gives him a hug. Ash melts into his old friend’s arms, accepting her whispered apologies with some of his own. When they break apart, Misty looks at Serena gratefully. 

“Thank you.” She says, and the blond girl smiles back at her. 

“Of course. Now, Ash, what should we do about your match?” Serena asks, and Ash thinks for a moment. Eventually, he seems to come to a decision. 

“Can we have a rematch later? I have some planning to do.” 

Misty nods her head. “Of course, Ash.” Normally, she’d make a crack about how she’s going to beat him again, but this clearly isn’t the time. 

After a quick breakfast, Ash pulls out a set of Pokeballs. Misty is out running errands, and Serena is on a phone call with the Performers’ Association. This leaves him with all of the Gym to train with, and three Pokemon to work with. 

“Come on out, everybody!” In addition to Bulbasaur and Pikachu, his three other choices make themselves known. Tauros, (the leader of the herd,) stomps a hoof like a salute. Bayleef nuzzles him, which is a step up from her previous habit of glomping. Heracross cheerfully waves at him, before pouncing on Bulbasaur in pursuit of its sap. Ash laughs. 

“Leave Bulbasaur alone, Heracross. Once we win this match, I’ll get Serena to make you one of her Pokepuffs. How does that sound?” 

Though it doesn’t know what a Pokepuff is, the promise of sweets is enough to lure Heracross away from the Kantonian Grass type. Bulbasaur wipes its forehead with a vine. It cares about Heracross, it really does, but Arceus if that isn’t annoying. 

Ash turns to the rest of his team. “Okay, gang, we’re going to be taking on Misty tonight. I need all three of you to be ready. You might even have to battle against Croconaw.” 

Bayleef and Heracross both make sad noises at this statement. Croconaw was their friend, and it was a gloomy day when Ash officially handed his custody over to Misty. Now, they’ll train to face their dancing friend and whatever new tricks Misty has taught him. 

Several hours pass in a flurry of training and readjustments. Ash learns the new movesets of his Pokemon backwards and forwards, and discovers plenty of interesting new things about his teammates. Bayleef is the big standout- she’d never struck him as a particularly battle-hungry Pokemon, except for when he’d first met her. Now, she seemed to have some of her old drive back. In fact, her body almost seems to be glowing…

There’s a flash of blue light, and when it vanishes, Bayleef is no more. In her place stands a proud Meganium, who promptly goes back to her old ways by glomping Ash. Ash laughs happily. 

“I’m so happy for you, Meganium! Now, let’s see what new moves you learned…” He pulls out the Pokedex to scan her, and nods in approval when it reveals her newfound moves. “Okay, we can work with this!” He directs Meganium to face Tauros, while Heracross spars with Pikachu. 

Around an hour later, Serena walks up to the practicing group with a sandwich in one hand and a box of Pokepuffs in the other. “Someone missed lunch.” She says teasingly, and Ash gratefully accepts the sandwich. It tastes just like one of Clemont’s sandwiches, with the distinct taste of the inventor’s preferred Pecha berries clear in the flavor. 

“Thanks, Serena!” Ash says gratefully, and once he’s eaten his sandwich, he makes sure to catch her off guard with a kiss. Serena squeaks in surprise, but accepts the kiss gratefully. Meganium lets out a little huff at this show of affection. Who is this girl, and why is she taking Ash’s attention away from her? 

Misty walks into the Gym just as Ash pulls away from Serena, and tsks playfully at the couple. 

“Public displays of affection? In this Gym? Not on my watch, busters!” She sends out Croconaw, who does a happy dance at the sight of his old Trainer, before cheerfully blasting him with a Water Gun. Ash stares down in shock at his soaked clothes, before bursting out laughing. “Good one, Croconaw! You excited for this battle?” 

The dancing crocodile nods excitedly, before cocking his head at the sight of Serena. “Naw?” 

Once Bulbasaur gives what Serena assumes to be an explanation, Croconaw trots over to her and presents its stomach for belly rubs. Serena obliges, and the Johtonian Water type lets out a low rumble of pleasure. 

Misty looks at the two of them fondly. “Remember, Croconaw, we still have a battle to win.” 

The croc looks at his Trainer, then back at Serena. Battle or belly rubs?

Eventually, the desire for a good battle wins out over Croconaw’s desire for affection, and it trots over to Misty’s side. Serena walks up into the stands, and a Rotom Drone flies over. 

“The World Coronation Series match between rank 105 Ash Ketchum and rank 38 Misty Waterflower will now begin! Trainers, please send out your Pokemon!” 

“Shimmer like the sea, Golduck!”

“Tauros, I choose you!”

Chapter Text

When the Pokemon take their positions, Ash makes sure to sneak in one last comment. “So, Psyduck finally evolved, huh?” 

Misty smirks. “Yeah. And now, we’re going to use that evolution to kick your butt! Use Focus Blast!” 

Golduck conjures up an orb of Fighting type energy in its hands, and flings it at Tauros… before the orb goes wildly off-course and flies into the pool. 

“More like Focus Miss.” Ash snarks, and Misty’s face goes red. 

“I’d like to see you do better, buster! Power Gem!” 

“Tauros, dodge it and use Wild Charge!” Tauros canters to one side, evading the blast of Rock type energy from Golduck’s forehead. It then rears up and delivers a Wild Charge directly into the duck’s side, causing it to wince in pain. Misty snaps her fingers. 

“Flood the field with Surf!” Golduck nods, and soon, even the platforms of the Gym are soaked. Tauros goes in for another Wild Charge, but being covered in water, it electrocutes itself, rather than Golduck. Ash frowns at this. Since his main move is out of the question, it’s time to use plan E. 

“Use Earthquake to drain the water!” Snorting, Tauros stamps a hoof onto the platform, and a crack begins to form in the floor of the pool. All of the water rushes to fill the crack, leaving Golduck open to another Wild Charge. The duck then uses another Surf, hoping to catch Tauros in the act twice. Instead, the bull lowers its head and delivers a powerful Retaliate to Golduck’s chest. A Psyshock throws it back, and Tauros bellows in pain. All of a sudden, its eyes go red. Ash grins. 

“Thanks for the critical hit, Misty!” He says cheerfully, and Misty swears under her breath. Of course the one time she lands a critical hit, it’s on a Pokemon with Anger Point. 

“Golduck, use Focus Blast again, end this quickly!” 

“Time to reveal our trump card, Tauros! Outrage!” 

Snorting and bellowing, Tauros rushes Golduck with all the force of a speeding train. At point-blank range, it’s impossible for Golduck’s Focus Blast to miss, and it explodes upon contact with Tauros’ forehead. When the dust clears, Tauros staggers to its feet, stomping a hoof in triumph. Golduck is out cold on the floor, unable to do much of anything. 

“Golduck is unable to battle! Competitor Misty, please send out your next Pokemon!” 

Misty shakes her head. This loss can be chalked up to bad luck; without the critical hit, Golduck probably would have survived Tauros’ attack. But now, since it’s locked into Outrage, she can exploit this. “Croconaw, let’s do this!” 

Emerging with a happy dance, the crocodile quickly assesses its situation. With Tauros locked into Outrage, it just needs to dodge and weave- something it specializes in! 

“Alright, Tauros, keep using Outrage!” Ash says, flipping his hat backwards. Misty grins. 

“Dodge with Dragon Dance, Croconaw!” The Johtonian Water type dances and dodges, boosting its attack and speed in the process. Tauros, confused from fatigue, slams its head into the wall. With the attack boosts from Anger Point, it’s enough for the bull to knock itself out. Ash bites his tongue. That was a mistake on his part- he should have figured out a way to counter the confusion from Outrage. 

“Alright, Meganium, I choose you!” Meganium comes out of her Pokeball, (surprisingly without glomping him,) and faces down Croconaw. 

“Let’s start with a Body Slam!” 

“Dodge it and use Ice Fang!” 

Meganium gets in close, preparing to throw her body weight onto her former teammate. However, Croconaw nimbly sidesteps, before biting down on Meganium’s tail. The Johtonian Grass starter winces in pain, before retaliating with a Petal Blizzard. This time, it’s Croconaw who takes the hit, and the croc is quick to charge up another Dragon Dance. Another Ice Fang gets Meganium shivering, the secondary effect of frostbite kicking in. Ash threads his tongue between his teeth, before getting an idea that he’s not entirely sure will work. 

“Meganium, flood the field with Petal Blizzard! Don’t give Croconaw anywhere to run!” Nodding, Meganium begins to fill the air with rose petals. Said petals narrow in on Croconaw, causing the gator to yelp as it’s suddenly pelted with petals. Misty frowns. 

“Use Waterfall to get into the air, then get in close with Ice Fang!” Croconaw nods, boosting itself up before diving at Meganium. Once it’s close, it bites down on Meganium’s front leg, before pounding its former teammate with Superpower. Meganium groans, but plants one leg down and draws the water towards itself with a Stomping Tantrum. Croconaw jumps over the shaking earth, hitting its teammate with another Superpower. Meganium attempts to heal itself with Synthesis, but between the frostbite and one final Ice Fang, it goes down. 

Ash bites his lip. Croconaw has gotten a lot stronger since he last saw it, and it’s making this battle difficult. He needs to get his former teammate out of the battle quickly. Knowing Misty, she still has Starmie or Gyarados in the back. “Alright, Heracross, I choose you!” 

Misty glares at him, and Ash immediately realizes his mistake. 

“Satoshi freaking Ketchum. Please tell me you didn’t bring a Bug type to a battle with me?” 

Ash laughs nervously and scratches at the back of his neck. “I… may or may not have forgotten?” 

“You’re gonna pay for that, buster! Croconaw, use Waterfall!” Nodding, the blue alligator shoots forward, but Heracross ducks and whirls around, before Ash calls out his order. 

“Take it down with Brutal Swing!” Heracross’ horn glows with Dark type energy, and it quickly whips its head around to hit Croconaw. Exhausted from its battle with Meganium, the croc falls over with spirals in its eyes. 

“Croconaw is unable to battle! Competitor Misty, please send out your last Pokemon!” 

Misty’s hand goes to her belt, and she presents her last Pokeball with a flourish. “Starmie, dazzle them like the jewel you are!” 

So Ash’s suspicions were correct- she did have one of her heavy hitters in the back. At least it’s not Gyarados, though. Misty has done that much for him. The raven haired boy nods at Heracross. 

“Focus Punch!” 

“Meet it with a Flash Cannon, Starmie!” Heracross’ fist is intercepted by a beam of silver energy, and Starmie is quick to follow it up with a Blizzard that leaves Heracross shivering. Ash frowns. Heracross is at its best when it can set the tempo of the battle. Misty clearly knows that, because Starmie’s rapid fire attacks are keeping the bug off balance. “Alright, Heracross, let’s try a Rock Slide!” 

“Blow them all away with Hydro Pump!” Each of Heracross’ carefully-crafted rocks is met with a blast of water from Starmie, and the last of these is sent flying into the bug’s chest. 

“Now, throw him into the air with Psychic!” 

“Break yourself out with Brutal Swing!” As Starmie begins to levitate Heracross into the air, the beetle begins to thrash around. Its horn makes contact with Starmie’s telekinetic grip, and that causes Heracross to drop like a stone. The starfish fires a quick Hydro Pump, but Heracross is able to block it with Focus Punch. The beetle then rushes in with a Brutal Swing, catching Starmie off-guard and throwing it into the wall. The starfish lets out a muffled cry before letting loose another Blizzard, which causes frost to form on Heracross’ skin. Ash chews his lip, deep in thought. The frostbite is putting Heracross on a timer, and he needs to end this quickly. It’s time to pull out the big guns. 

“Megahorn!” 

“Meet it with Hydro Pump, Starmie!” Starmie’s stream of water meets Heracross’ horn, and Heracross quickly switches to Brutal Swing to make contact. Another Megahorn sends Starmie flying back, and the followup Focus Punch slams into the starfish’s core. Heracross continues the beatdown, stabbing into Starmie with a Megahorn-Brutal Swing combo. At this point, the Water type can only fire off a weak Psychic, which Heracross brushes off with a final Megahorn. It’s very clearly over. 

As Rotom declares Starmie unable to battle, Misty recalls her fallen Pokemon and pulls Ash into a sisterly hug. “You better get to number one, Ash. Or I’ll send Gyara-” she corrects herself mid-sentence, “Or I’ll send Croconaw after you!” 

Ash grins. “Will do, Misty.”

Chapter Text

Ash sits in front of his computer, stifling a yawn. It’s been a long three months, but it’s been worth every moment. He’s number 20 in the Ultra Class right now, and his Pokemon have learned a plethora of new moves. His next match is going to be announced soon, and right now, he’s just sorting through his email. One message in particular catches his eye. 

“Serena!” Wrapped in an elegant red nightgown, the blond haired girl watches as her boyfriend sprints into the room. 

“What’s up, Ash?” She asks, taking a sip of her coffee. It’s the nice stuff, straight from the Orange Islands. She can afford to treat herself, between her salary and Ash’s. 

“You know my favorite podcast?” He asks, taking a bite out of the fresh biscuits Serena has pulled out of the oven. 

Serena raises an eyebrow. “ Those Three Battle Nerds? The one you forced me to listen to multiple episodes of? That one?” 

Ash chuckles nervously, but quickly regains his confidence. “Yeah, that’s the one. They invited me to be on an episode of their podcast! Isn’t that awesome?” 

Serena nods. “When is this podcast getting recorded?” 

“Two days from now, in Wyndon.” Ash replies. “We can take a Corviknight Taxi to get there, and then there’s an airport in Wyndon in case I need to fly out for my next match.” 

Serena walks over to Ash and places a kiss on his cheek. “Okay. Do you want me to come with you?” 

Ash returns the kiss and smiles. “If you’re okay with it. I’d love to have you by my side.” 

“Wherever you go, I’ll follow.” She replies, and Ash knows that she means it. 

Two days later, the teens find themselves walking into a professional recording studio in Wyndon. Interns are running all over the place with coffee, and a security guard leads them into a room where three people are waiting. The tallest of them, a young man with wild brown curls and a pair of clear glasses, steps forward and shakes Ash’s hand. 

“Thank you so much for coming on the show, Mr. Ketchum. It means a lot.” 

Ash shrugs, grinning. “It was no problem! I’m a huge fan, so to get invited on was a dream come true for me. You’re Logan, right? I can tell from the voice.” 

Logan nods. “Yeah, that’s me.” 

He turns to Serena. “You’re Serena Yvonne, right? My little sister is a huge fan of your Performances.” 

Serena giggles. “Thank you! Ash is really excited to be here- I’m mostly along for the ride.” 

“That’s how I felt when this knucklehead started the podcast.” The young woman at the table pipes up, before holding her hand out to Serena. “I’m Verity. You’ve already met Logan, and the guy over there is Sorrel.” 

The young man with a Lucario waves, his partner doing the same. Serena recalls from listening to the podcast that Sorrel is usually the quietest member of the trio, and isn’t surprised at his nonverbal response. He seems to be a kindred spirit- someone caught up in the riptide that is their best friend. (Or friends, plural, in his case.) 

The group sits down around a table, and each of them is given a microphone. One of the sound techs gives them a countdown, and then Logan launches into his opening spiel. 

“Hel-lo, dear listeners! Welcome back to Those Three Battle Nerds, the premier podcast for battling news! For those of you tuning in for the first time, my name is Logan, the mastermind behind this whole crazy endeavor.”

“I’m Verity, our resident expert on Contest Battles!” 

“And I’m Sorrel, the technical analyst and aspiring doctor.” 

Logan grins. “Today, we have a pair of very special guests on the show! First, hailing from the Kanto region, the rising star of the World Coronation Series, current rank number 20, Ash Ketchum!” 

There’s a round of scattered applause from the tech crew, causing Ash to blush and rub at the back of his neck embarrassedly. Verity takes over from Logan, though from the look on his face, it’s clear that this wasn’t in the script. 

“And, our surprise second guest! The runner-up in the Master Class from two years ago, and a current entrant in the Hoenn Grand Festival! Give it up for the one and only Serena Yvonne!” 

More scattered applause. Serena giggles a little, before taking Ash’s hand under the table. Sorrel takes over from Verity, seemingly launching into a prepared spiel. 

“So, Ash. In the past few months, you’ve risen meteorically through the ranks of the World Coronation Series, defeating several Elite Four members and highly ranked Gym leaders in the process. You were even the winner of the Gauntlet, a prestigious tournament that allowed you to battle Alder. I’m sure we’re all wondering- how did you do it?” 

Ash smiles. This is one of the questions he’d been prepared for. “Well, Sorrel, it all comes down to the trust between me and my Pokemon. I’ve been a full time trainer for almost six years, and that’s given me a bond with my Pokemon that I can honestly say I’m lucky to have.” 

Sorrel nods, and Logan jumps in with another question. “Who’s your dream match for the World Coronation Series?” 

“Well, I obviously want to battle Leon and Cynthia. But if we’re talking pre-Masters’ Eight, then it’s definitely Alain Sycamore.” Ash replies, causing the podcast hosts to nod. 

“For the unaware among our audience, Ash and Alain battled in the finals of the Lumiose Conference two years ago, with Alain emerging victorious in a nailbiter of a 6-5 match.”

Ash chuckles. “Yeah, that was one of my best matches ever! Even though I lost, I had loads of fun battling Alain.” 

After a few more rounds of questions, Verity chews her bubblegum thoughtfully. At a nod from Sorrel, she finally asks the question on their minds. 

“Ash, Serena… the public is wondering. Are you two an item?” 

The raven haired boy grins across the table at the podcast hosts. “Yeah! We’ve been dating for a few months now, but we traveled together during my Kalos Gym challenge.” 

Verity lets out an “aww!” as Logan smiles. “Well, let us be the first to congratulate you two. Serena, you’ve been a bit quiet during this whole thing- what’s it like to be dating the fastest rising trainer in the World Coronation Series?” 

“It’s pretty hectic.” Serena admits. “Both Ash and I have our own dreams, and each of us tries our best to support the other. We can’t always be there for each other, but I always make sure that Ash knows I’m cheering him on.” 

“The same goes for me. I’ll admit, I was pretty dense when Serena and I traveled together, so now we’re making up for lost time.” Ash says. All three of the podcast hosts smile at this statement, happy for their guests. 

A moment later, Ash’s phone rings. He looks at the caller ID, then at the people across the table from him. “Excuse me, guys, I have to take this.” 

He steps out of the room, and Verity takes the opportunity to quiz Serena about her preparations for the Grand Festival. The two girls chat for a while, with Logan and Sorrel occasionally throwing in commentary. Their conversation pauses when Ash reenters the room, a cross between a smile and a scowl on his face.

Serena immediately understands. “It’s that Tobias guy, isn’t it?” 

Logan jumps in upon Ash’s nod of confirmation. “For the unaware, Ash Ketchum’s next opponent has just been revealed as Tobias Takuto, current rank number nine in the World Coronation Series. Tobias is infamous for using a Darkrai, one of the few Pokemon in the world classified as Mythical.” 

“He also has a Latios.” Ash mutters, and it’s like a bomb has gone off in the room. Sorrel is pulling something up on his phone, Logan is freaking out, and Verity is content to watch the chaos with a mischievous smile on her face. Serena just shakes her head. This is just Ash being Ash. 

“For all the curious listeners, I’ll link a video of Ash’s Lily of the Valley conference battle against Tobias in the description of the video.” Sorrel says. 

After a few rounds of speculation about Tobias’ final Pokemon, Logan goes through the outro. 

“And… cut! That’s a wrap, everybody.” The sound crew let out a series of tired cheers, and Ash gets up from the table. He’s been tapping a pen against his leg for the last half hour, seemingly unable to stay still. Serena takes his hand as they walk out of the studio. “Nervous?” 

Ash chuckles humorlessly. “I’ve been dreading this match since I learned Tobias was in the World Coronation Series. He crushed me the last time we battled- it was 6-2, and even then it didn’t feel close. There’s no guarantee that I’ll beat him.” 

Serena smiles. “I have full confidence in you, Ash. I believe in you, your Pokemon believe in you… all that’s missing is for you to believe in yourself.” 

At this, Ash smiles and kisses Serena’s cheek. “It feels like you’re always there for me, Serena. I wish I could repay the favor.” 

“I’m always going to have your back. That’s what a partner is for, right?” Serena says. 

Ash smiles again. “I like the sound of that, Serena.” 

Serena grins. “Now, let’s get you ready to beat this guy!”

Chapter Text

“It’s time.” 

Ash looks at his chosen team, three of the best Pokemon he could ask for. The loyal Espeon, the gutsy Swellow, and of course, Pikachu. Each of them has been selected for their role in defeating Tobias. The trainer with a Darkrai has ironically plagued his dreams for years- now, he can finally put those nightmares to rest. He shoots off a quick text to Serena, who’s watching from the stands. 

I’m nervous. 

Her response is quick and decisive. You’ve got this, mon amour.

Ash smiles at his phone, pockets the device, and walks out of the tunnel. The crowd on Lily of the Valley Island is deafening, but he only has eyes for his blue-haired opponent. Tobias stares him down. 

“Ash Ketchum. It’s been quite some time, and yet you’re the only person who’s ever beaten Darkrai. It makes me wonder- can you do it again?” 

In response, Ash grins. “We’ll see, Tobias. We’ll see.” 

The referee, hovering on an Aegislash, looks down on the two competitors. “This will be a three on three Ultra Class battle between Tobias Takuto and Ash Ketchum! Competitors, please send out your first Pokemon!” 

“Come forth, Darkrai!” 

“Espeon, I choose you!” 

Tobias stares at the feline Psychic type with a sense of disbelief. “Are you mocking me?” He asks indignantly, and Ash feels himself prickle. Nobody gets to pass judgment on his Pokemon like that, Legendary owner or not. 

“Far from it.” 

Tobias shrugs. “Your loss, then. Dark Void!” 

“Detect!” Espeon twists out of the way of Darkrai’s projectile, quickly boosting her stats with Calm Mind in the process. The Mythical then throws another Dark Void her way, but Espeon lets it wash over her- and then it bounces back, hitting Darkrai and putting it to sleep. Tobias’ jaw drops. 

“What.” 

At this, Ash grins. “Espeon’s ability is Magic Bounce! Basically, she ‘bounces back’ certain status moves- like Dark Void, for example. Now, Calm Mind until it wakes up!” 

Tobias can only watch on helplessly as Espeon boosts its stats, and Darkrai stays asleep. When the Mythical finally wakes up, Espeon lets loose with a powerful Dazzling Gleam. Darkrai is blown backwards, but retaliates with a Dark Pulse that leaves Espeon reeling. Clearly, the Sinnohian Legendary’s power hasn’t changed a bit. 

“Alright, Espeon, let ‘er rip! Use Hyper Voice!” A shrieking noise emits from the feline Psychic type’s mouth, causing Darkrai to clap its shadowy hands over the sides of its head. Tobias looks flustered- Espeon is dominating this fight, and it shows. 

“Freeze it in its tracks with Ice Beam!” A bluish beam extends from Darkrai’s hand, fired towards Espeon with the intent to inflict frostbite. Espeon dodges with Detect, and opens its mouth to let loose another Hyper Voice. The sound waves strike Darkrai head-on, blowing it backwards and letting Espeon charge up a Dazzling Gleam. Light meets dark as Espeon’s attack collides with its Mythical opponent’s Dark Pulse, and the boosts from Calm Mind allow Espeon to push forward and land its attack. Darkrai falls to the ground, unconscious. 

“D-darkrai is unable to battle!” The referee stutters, and the crowd goes berserk. There are shouts of “Cheater!” and “No way he just did that!” Tobias ignores all of them, and recalls Darkrai. Ash calls Espeon back to his side, knowing what’s coming next. 

“Come forth, Latios!” 

Ash grins fiercely. “We’ve been waiting for three long years to finish this grudge match! Pikachu, let’s show ‘em what we’re all about!” The mouse leaps down from his shoulder, facing down the eon dragon with a cry of defiance. 

“Latios, begin with Luster Purge.” 

“Return to sender!” Without giving an explicit command, Ash gets the message across to his loyal companion. Pikachu’s tail lights up silver, and the Steel type energy allows him to beat back Latios’ attack. The dragon follows with an Aura Sphere, which Pikachu blows up with a Thunderbolt. They fall into that sort of song and dance for a while, the same overall pattern of fire-block-repeat. Then, Tobias decides to switch things up. 

“Draco Meteor!” In an instant, Latios shoots an orb of draconic energy upwards, and meteors rain down from the sky. 

“Pikachu, dodge with Quick Attack!” 

“Giga Impact, don’t give the rat any breathing room!” As the meteors come crashing down, Pikachu begins to speed up in an attempt to dodge them all. Latios chases after the mouse in hot pursuit, his body glowing green with the telltale energy of Giga Impact. Ash knows that if the Eon Pokemon hits Pikachu with that move, it could be game over. Tobias has him trapped. 

“Pikachu, turn around and Counter Shield! On my signal, release!” 

Pikachu puts on the brakes, whipping a Thunderbolt around himself to deter Latios’ Giga Impact. The Dragon type ascends upwards, seemingly preparing a nosedive. This gives Pikachu plenty of time to charge up a Counter Shield. As Latios begins to descend at breakneck speeds, Pikachu gathers up all the energy of his Counter Shield into a single attack. But what comes out is far more powerful than a normal Thunderbolt- a godly bolt of lightning strikes Latios, knocking it out of the sky and digging a fifty foot trench in the floor of the stadium. Pikachu is breathing heavily, and when Ash calls for a Quick Attack, Pikachu can barely move to execute the order. Ash frowns. This new attack must be like Hyper Beam and its many variations- it clearly requires a recharge turn. Still, with Latios staggered from the sheer power of the attack, Pikachu has the time it needs to recover from the attack. 

“Come on, Latios. Show your power with one last Luster Purge!” Tobias encourages, and Latios staggers into the air to fire the Psychic-type projectile. Pikachu bats it into the ground with Iron Tail, and with a defiant cry of its name, the electric rodent unleashes a finishing Thunderbolt that drives Latios back into the ground- for good, this time. 

Tobias recalls the Hoennian Psychic type, before calling out to Ash. 

“I must say, Ash, I’m incredibly impressed. Nobody except Cynthia has ever beaten both Darkrai and Latios- and without losing a Pokemon, too! Still, I have one last card up my sleeve. Come forth, Entei!” 

Ash swears under his breath. Of all the Legendaries for Tobias to own… it had to be the one he has the worst personal history with, minus Zygarde. Pikachu looks exhausted from his duel with Latios, so right now, it seems like the best thing to do is to call his buddy back. “Swellow, I choose you!” 

The Flying type comes out with a shriek and a caw, staring Entei down with fire in its eyes. The Legendary snorts, seemingly dismissing Swellow as an inferior being. This incenses the flier, who opens its mouth and lets loose with a massive Boomburst. Entei meets it with a Snarl, which Swellow dodges, but this forces it to disengage its Boomburst. 

“Eruption, end this quickly. ” Tobias calls out, a hint of panic in his voice. Ash snorts. This guy loves his brute-force moves, doesn’t he? Swellow dodges the Eruption, sticking its tongue out at the Legendary in a taunting manner. This incenses Entei, and the massive lion begins to charge up a Solar Beam. Swellow fires a quick Air Slash, disrupting Entei’s progress and forcing it to release the Grass type attack early. Swellow dodges with laughable ease, before letting loose another Boomburst. Entei meets it with Eruption, though this one isn’t quite as strong as the last time. 

“Entei, pin it down with Extrasensory!” The Legendary Beast’s eyes glow pink, and Swellow shrieks as it’s flung around by the Psychic type attack. Ash frowns. Swellow needs to get out of there- with Pikachu rested up, his buddy can finish the fight. 

“Swellow, use U-Turn!” The flier nods, and pecks Entei on the forehead before returning to its Pokeball. Pikachu takes the field just in time to dodge a Solar Beam, and jumps into the air with Quick Attack to avoid a Snarl. 

“Use Extrasensory, box him in!” 

“Pikachu, it’s time to show Tobias just what we can do!” Ash says, and Pikachu immediately understands. The raven haired boy slots a Z-Crystal into place, and begins to strike a series of poses. Tobias looks on confusedly. “What in the name of Arceus…”

Ash doesn’t let him finish. “Pikachu, let’s show this guy what we’re made of! Time to use GIGAVOLT HAVOC!” The borrowed Z-Crystal glows, and a massive beam of electricity strikes Entei head-on. The power of the Z-Move is too much for even Entei to bear, and it collapses to the ground, completely out of it. 

The crowd is silent. Tobias was seemingly a lock for the Masters’ Eight- a shoo-in, some said. Nobody had even made it past his Darkrai. And now, this seemingly unknown Trainer has defeated him three to zero. This is unheard of. 

Serena is the one who starts it. She gets to her feet, and in lieu of cheering for Ash, she begins to clap. Soon, the person next to her joins in. Then another, and another… the whole stadium claps for Ash, lifting him up. 

Tobias walks over to Ash’s side of the field. Rather than saying anything, he simply shakes Ash’s hand and raises it to the sky. This is your champion, he seems to say. The crowd agrees.

Chapter Text

“You know, I think Toxel is getting ready to evolve.” Ash comments one day. His team and Serena’s are playing in the park, with the newly rotated Noctowl keeping a watchful eye on Toxel. The Johtonian flier’s illusions have the baby Pokemon enraptured, with Toxel currently chasing after a copy of its big sister Milotic. Braixen and Greninja are cuddling under a large maple tree, having sorted out their feelings. All is well. 

“I’d be very happy with that.” Serena responds. “It evolves into Toxtricity, right?” 

“Yeah, and there are two possible forms of Toxtricity- both capable of Gigantamaxing.” A familiar voice comments, and Ash lights up. 

“Hey, Raihan! Did you catch my battle the other day?” He asks excitedly, causing the Hammerlocke Gym leader to laugh. 

“It would be more remarkable if I didn’t see it, kid- it’s all over the sports networks and Goomygle. I’m looking forward to our battle.” 

“Me too! I’ve already got my team picked out for it.” 

The woman next to Raihan rolls her eyes. “ Boys. We have a job here, don’t forget that.” 

Serena looks over at the woman. She’s strikingly pretty, with a green T-shirt and orange hair. 

“I don’t think we’ve met, miss. I’m Serena.” 

The other woman giggles. “I’m Sonia! It’s a pleasure to meet you- I’m a big fan!” 

“Really?” Serena asks curiously. 

“Of course! I make sure to know who the best Performers and Coordinators are, and from what I’ve seen, you’re great at both!” 

The girls look over at Ash and Raihan, who are eagerly discussing the ins and outs of Raihan’s recent battle with Flint. Serena had sat on the couch of their apartment and watched with Ash, soaking in his enthusiasm and commentary. His magnetic personality and eager nature combined with his battling knowledge would make him an excellent analyst. 

“So, you mentioned a job. What exactly are you and Raihan doing here in the park?” Serena questions, and Sonia’s face lights up. 

“Well, Rai and I are both huge history nerds. My gran, Professor Magnolia, wants us to research an old legend, and Raihan thought that you two could help us out- if you have time, I totally get it if you don’t.” 

Serena smiles. “Well, since Ash and Raihan are busy, why don’t we do a little girls’ trip? I’ve always wanted to see inside the castle, but I haven’t gotten the chance since moving here.” 

Sonia returns Serena’s smile with an infectious grin of her own. “Sounds fantastic!” 

She cups her hands over her mouth and calls out to Raihan. “Hey Rai? Serena and I are going for a little adventure!” Raihan waves a hand, but Ash runs over with a Pokeball in his hand. 

“Take Greninja with you, just in case you guys run into trouble.” He says earnestly, and Serena smiles at him. 

“Thanks, Ash. We’ll stay safe.” She says, and pecks him on the cheek. Braixen does the same for Greninja, and calls her teammates over so that Serena can return them to their Pokeballs. 

“You have such a lovely team.” Sonia comments. Serena giggles. 

“Thank you! I’m sure your team is great, too.” 

Sonia smirks a little bit. “I was quite the battler back in the day. Would you like to meet them?” 

“Absolutely!” Serena says enthusiastically. Sonia reaches into her purse and pulls out three Pokeballs. “The other three are resting at Gran’s lab,” she explains, “but I always keep these three on me.” In a flash of red light, the three Pokemon are released. 

Serena holds up her battered Pokedex to examine the three unfamiliar Pokemon. 

“Cinderace, the Striker Pokemon. A pure Fire type with the ability Libero. It juggles a pebble with its feet, turning it into a burning soccer ball. Its shots strike opponents hard and leave them scorched.”

“Boltund, the Dog Pokemon. An Electric type with the ability Strong Jaw. This Pokémon generates electricity and channels it into its legs to keep them going strong. Boltund can run nonstop for three full days.” 

“Corviknight, the Raven Pokemon. A Flying and Steel type with the ability Unnerve. This Pokémon reigns supreme in the skies of the Galar region. The black luster of its steel body could drive terror into the heart of any foe.” 

Sonia pats her partners on their heads. “These guys have been with me since the start of my journey. Cinderace was my starter as a Scorbunny, and Boltund and Corviknight were my first catches as a Yamper and a Rookidee, respectively. Corviknight gives great rides- want to fly to the spot I need to investigate for my gran?” 

Serena accepts Sonia’s hand and sits on Corviknight’s back. With a shriek and a flap of its steely wings, the metallic raven takes off. Serena laughs and clings to Sonia’s back as Corviknight flies them towards the innermost part of Hammerlocke. Once they reach their destination, Sonia offers Serena a hand to dismount. The Kalosian girl takes it gratefully, dismounting and letting Braixen out as she stares at the massive double doors. 

“It looks like someone’s been down here recently.” Sonia comments, taking out a notebook. Serena is reminded of her friend Sawyer for a brief moment, and stares at the doors in fascination. There are markings on them, seemingly in an old indecipherable language. However, Sonia takes one look at the door and grins. 

“These are footprint runes! My gran forced me to learn about these- good thing I did, because now I can read these!” Sonia pulls something up on her phone, and immediately begins writing a translation. While she does that, Serena lets out the rest of her team, letting them explore the passageways of Hammerlocke Castle. Toxel in particular is fascinated by the space, crawling all over the walls curiously. Serena laughs, and takes her phone out to record the baby Pokemon’s explorations. 

At last, Sonia looks up from her phone, and turns to Serena. “Okay, I’ve managed to translate the message on the doors. It seems to say ‘In your hour of need, open these doors and the King shall return.’ Huh, interesting.”

“Now I’m curious.” Serena admits. “How does this relate to old Galarian folktales?” 

Sonia shrugs. “Well, there’s only one way to find out. Shall we?” 

Serena recalls her team and presses her shoulder to the door. “Let’s find out exactly what Hammerlocke is hiding.”

Chapter Text

At first glance, the chamber seems rather innocuous. It’s dark, so Serena has Braixen bring her wand up to light the way. Upon closer inspection, there appears to be two stone statues of horse-like Pokemon. Sonia gasps in delight. 

“These are the King’s Steeds!” At Serena’s confused look, she elaborates. “Here in Galar, we have a folk tale about a Pokemon named Calyrex and its two Ride Pokemon. These are statues of those Ride Pokemon.” 

“Fascinating.” Serena breathes. She lets out the rest of her team to explore, and Toxel immediately presses its nose to one of the statues. “Tox…” Without warning, the baby Pokemon Nuzzles the statue, causing the stone to crack. 

“Toxel!” Serena admonishes, and the baby Pokemon at least has the good grace to look ashamed. However, the stone continues to crack, and the other statue begins to do the same. Serena nervously calls her orange haired companion over. 

Sonia takes one look at the cracking stone, and immediately sends out her team. “Well that’s bloody fantastic. We may have just woken up a pair of Legendary Pokemon. Prepare for a fight.” 

“You mean these weren’t just statues?” Serena asks, as her team forms a defensive circle around her. 

Sonia nods. “It seems so.” 

With a pair of bone-chilling neighs, the King’s Steeds break forth from their stone prisons. The white one glares at Sonia, while the black one seems to stare into the depths of Serena’s soul. The Kalosian girl meets the horse’s stare with one of her own, subtly releasing Greninja as she does so. Her boyfriend’s Kalos ace slips into the shadows, ready to strike should he be needed. 

The stalemate is broken when the white Pokemon launches an attack that Serena recognizes as Icicle Crash. Sonia’s Cinderace deflects it with a Pyro Ball, and when the Fire type attack connects, the white steed whinnies in pain. 

“According to the legend, Glastrier’s an Ice type, and Spectrier is a Ghost type.” Sonia summarizes quickly. Serena nods, quickly calling Braixen over to her side. “Braixen, alternate between Flamethrower and Fire Blast. Keep supporting Sonia’s team.” 

Her vulpine partner nods, and begins firing attacks at Glastrier. The rest of Serena’s team is locked in combat with Spectrier, with Milotic pinning it down with Ice Beam, and Toxel getting in close to Nuzzle the legendary steed. Pancham is firing Dark Pulses from a distance, and Sylveon and Greninja are keeping Spectrier off balance with Double Team. Serena feels a swell of pride at her team’s independence. 

However, Spectrier isn’t going to let these attacks slide so easily. Eyes glowing pink, it throws Pancham into the wall with Psychic, then follows up with a swift Shadow Ball that knocks the little panda out cold. Spectrier lets out a spine-trembling whinny, and seems to grow in power. Serena recalls Pancham, before calling out to Sonia.

“I think they get stronger for each of our Pokemon they defeat!” 

Sonia nods, and her Boltund narrowly dodges a High Horsepower before retaliating with a powerful Thunder Fang. Glastrier lets loose with an Icicle Crash that knocks Corviknight out of the sky, and an Outrage finishes off the downed raven. Much like its ghastly counterpart, Glastrier surges in power after the knockout, and sends another Outrage fueled assault towards Cinderace. The versatile Fire type dives out of the way, before retaliating with a massive Electro Ball that knocks Glastrier off balance. 

Serena still has her hands full with Spectrier- Sylveon has been slowed down by Scary Face, and Greninja needs to watch out for a super effective Draining Kiss. The most Toxel can do is let loose a few Metal Sounds to support the team, and Milotic’s limited move pool isn’t helping much, either. 

Taking her eyes off of Sonia to focus on the fight at hand, the Kalosian girl calls out to her Pokemon. “Sylveon, let’s go on the offensive with Moonblast! Greninja, do the same with Night Slash! Toxel, get out of the line of fire, and Milotic, set up an Aqua Ring around the team to heal everybody!” The Performer’s Pokemon obey, following her commands to the letter. Spectrier rears up on its hind legs when Greninja slashes at its flank, and is thus unable to dodge Sylveon’s powerful Moonblast. 

Braixen is doing just fine for herself alongside Sonia’s team, alternating between Flamethrower and the stronger Fire Blast to keep the wild horse off balance. Cinderace keeps itself alive with Pyro Ball and Electro Ball, kicking the spheres at Glastrier whenever it starts to focus too much on Braixen. Boltund goes for hit and run tactics, darting in with a combination of Thunder Fang, Crunch and Play Rough. All in all, they’re doing a good job at keeping the Legendary contained. Sonia clearly has battling chops, and she knows how to use them. 

To Serena’s delight, it appears that Spectrier is beginning to tire itself out. Milotic’s Aqua Ring has helped immensely with that, as have Sylveon and Greninja’s constant uses of Double Team to keep the King’s Steed distracted. Unfortunately, Spectrier is far from done. 

With a malicious neigh, the Swift Horse Pokemon grabs Toxel with a Psychic, and throws the baby Pokemon towards the wall. 

“Toxel!” Serena screams, as the tiny Poison type is hit with a relentless barrage of Psychics. Greninja lashes out with a Water Shuriken to break the steed’s concentration, but the damage is done. Toxel is curled up in the fetal position, slumped on the floor. Its breathing is ragged, but it hasn’t slipped into unconsciousness yet. Serena rushes over to the baby. 

“I’m so sorry, Toxel. Rest up, okay?” She moves to recall it, but with a defiant little growl, Toxel staggers to its feet. 

“Tox.. Tox.. Tox…” Its body begins to glow with a blue light, one Serena recognizes. “No way.” 

“Tox…TRICITY!” With a roar of challenge, the newly christened Toxtricity gets to its feet and unleashes an Electric attack. Serena takes out her Pokedex to analyze the new addition to Toxtricity’s moveset, and smiles when she finds the name of the new attack. “Alright, Toxtricity, use Overdrive!” 

Strumming the new guitar-like appendages on its chest, Toxtricity repeats the earlier attack. Sylveon throws up a Protect when Spectrier attempts to retaliate with Psychic, and Greninja throws a pair of watery kunai to gain the steed’s attention. 

All of a sudden, Serena gets a crazy idea. So crazy, in fact, that it just might work. “Sonia, do you have any Pokeballs with you?” 

The orange haired researcher nods. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking? Because if you are, we only get one shot at this.” 

“It’s a risk we’ll have to take.” Serena decides. Sonia hands her the Pokeball, and the Kalosian girl takes aim. After another Moonblast/Icicle Spear combo, Serena figures that it’s now or never. 

Taking a deep breath, Serena throws the Pokeball, and it hits Spectrier directly in the flank. 

One click. 

Two clicks. 

Three clicks. 

The ball lets out a faint ding, and Serena breathes a sigh of relief. Then the realization sets in. She just captured a Legendary. 

The lack of combat on the other side of the room tells Serena that Sonia also captured her target. The blond haired girl walks over to Sonia, holding her hand out for a high five. Sonia accepts, then giggles. 

“Well, the boys’ll be sad they missed out on such a great adventure!” 

Serena grins. “Their loss.” She says cheekily, and begins the walk out of the chamber and into the searing daylight.

Chapter Text

Thankfully, the Pokemon Center isn’t far from the secret chamber, and Serena soon finds herself on Corviknight’s back once again. Sonia guides them back towards the park, where Ash and Raihan are waiting. The black haired Kantonian boy wraps Serena in a hug as soon as she dismounts, and Serena happily returns the gesture. 

“Did you have fun?” He asks, and Serena nods excitedly. 

“Absolutely! And I also have some cool stuff to show you! Come on out, everybody!” 

She releases her team from the five Pokeballs in her purse, and Ash immediately runs over to hug Toxtricity. He turns to Serena expectantly. 

“Have you scanned him with your Pokedex yet?” He asks, and Serena shakes her head. 

“I’ll do that now.” 

“Toxtricity Low Key, the Punk Pokemon. An Electric and Poison type with the ability Punk Rock. It has an electrical organ on its chest. While generating electricity, it fills its surroundings with what sounds like the strumming of a bass guitar. This Pokemon knows the moves Acid, Nuzzle, Metal Sound and Overdrive.” 

As the Pokedex recording plays, Ash notices something. “Hey, Serena? What’s that sixth Pokeball doing on your belt?” 

Serena bites her lip. “It’s a bit of a long story.”

Ash sits down next to her, calling Pikachu over so that the rodent can sit in his lap. “I’ve got time.” 

Over the course of the next few minutes, Serena recounts her adventure with Sonia. Ash and Pikachu are enraptured by the story, sitting almost completely still. When Serena finishes by handing Greninja’s Pokeball back to Ash, he jumps to his feet. 

“Can I meet Spectrier? It would be so cool to meet a Legendary I’ve never seen before!” 

Serena chuckles. “Okay. I’m warning you- Spectrier isn’t super friendly.” 

At this, Ash shrugs. “I’ve probably dealt with worse, over the years.” 

The Kalosian girl acknowledges the point, and opens the sixth Pokeball to reveal the Galarian Legendary. Spectrier emerges with a death glare at the human that dared to capture it, snorting and letting loose a Scary Face. Serena holds her ground, however, giving Spectrier a firm look of her own. 

“Spectrier, Ash is a friend. Treat him with respect.” 

Spectrier snorts again, but seems to subside. Ash stares at the King’s Steed in fascination. The elegant equine is unlike any Pokemon he’s ever seen, bearing a partial resemblance to a Rapidash while clearly being its own Pokemon. It just exudes an aura that screams Legendary. 

“Wow, Spectrier. You’re a really cool Pokemon!” Ash says earnestly, and Spectrier tosses its mane arrogantly. Of course it’s interesting. At least this human can seem to recognize that. 

All of a sudden, Ash gets a glint in his eye. Serena recognizes it immediately. “ No, Ash, you can’t battle Spectrier.” 

“Aw, come on!” Ash protests. “It would be great practice for my team!” 

“We barely know what Spectrier is capable of.” Sonia chimes in, Raihan in tow. “If someone as talented as Ash battled it, we might know where it scales compared to other Legendaries.” 

“Not me?” Raihan clutches a hand to his chest in faux offense. Sonia laughs. 

“This is payback for all the times you made me third wheel for you and Leon, Rai.” She says cheekily, and Raihan laughs. 

“Can’t argue with that. Well, Ash? Let’s see what you’re made of!” The Dragon type user encourages, and Ash’s hand goes to his belt. He faces down Spectrier with a confident smile on his face. 

“Alright, here we go! Pikachu, I choose you!” The little yellow mouse scurries over to its Trainer, immediately getting into a battle stance upon seeing Spectrier. Upon seeing its opponent, the King’s Steed snorts, seemingly dismissing Pikachu as an inferior being. The fur on Pikachu’s back bristles, and Ash takes a moment to flip his hat backwards. 

“We’ll teach Spectrier not to underestimate us, Pikachu! Let’s get started with an Agility to speed things up!” 

As its speed increases, Pikachu becomes a blur of yellow, running rapid circles around Spectrier. Without a word from Ash, it charges in with an Iron Tail to cut through Spectrier’s Shadow Ball, and it proceeds to sidestep an attempted Scary Face. Pikachu then cuts loose with a series of rapid-fire Thunderbolts, each one striking Spectrier and preventing it from charging up another Shadow Ball or Draining Kiss. 

Sonia and Raihan watch in awe as Pikachu effortlessly dominates the match, while Serena smiles proudly at her boyfriend’s partner. Each strike is precise, quickly executed, and expertly designed to wear Spectrier down. 

“Zacian above. I’m going to have my hands full.” Raihan mutters, and Sonia nods wordlessly. 

Ash grins. Spectrier is beginning to show some exhaustion from its earlier battle with Serena, and he and Pikachu can exploit that. “Come on, buddy, let’s finish this in style! Use THUNDER!” 

The sky above the battlefield darkens for a second, before being split open by a blinding bolt of yellow and an earsplitting crack. When the sky clears, Spectrier lies on the ground, completely unconscious. 

Ash scratches at the back of his neck. “Oops. Did I overdo it?” 

Serena simply recalls Spectrier, before sprinting over to Ash and wrapping him in a hug. “Ash, that was incredible! I knew you and Pikachu were strong, but beating Spectrier by yourselves is just insane!” 

“I’d have to agree with that,” Sonia chimes in, “that was far more than I expected from you.” 

Raihan simply crosses his arms. “You’ve got a lot of potential, kiddo. I really hope we get matched up before the Masters’ Eight.” 

At this, Ash grins. “You can count on it, Raihan! I’ve got a teammate I’ve been saving specifically to battle you!” 

The Galarian Gym leader cocks an eyebrow. “Oh? And who might that be?”

Ash’s grin grows wider. “I can’t tell you- that would spoil the surprise!” 

“Can you tell us a bit about your Pokemon, Ash?” Sonia inquires curiously. “It would be right interesting to hear about them, especially since I bet you can’t find some of them in Galar.” 

The black haired boy shrugs. “I don’t see why not.” And he begins to recap his teams, starting with the Alola squad and working his way backwards. Raihan subtly pulls out his phone to take notes. 

Once Ash finishes, Serena looks at him curiously. “I thought you mentioned having a Pidgeot, Ash. What happened to her?”

Ash bites his lip. “I had to release her. She’s protecting a flock of Pidgey and Pidgeotto back in Viridian Forest. I promised I’d go back for her a long time ago, but I haven’t had the time.” 

“Well, why not go now?” Serena suggests. “You’ve got plenty of time before your next match. I’m sure you can catch a flight back to Kanto and visit Pidgeot.” 

“Maybe check in with Professor Oak first.” Sonia chimes in. “Who knows? Maybe your Pidgeot came back. I’ve heard of loyal Pokemon doing that.” 

Ash smiles- a small one, but a smile nonetheless. “I think I’ll do that. Thanks, everyone.” 

Raihan pats him on the back. “No problem, Ash.” 

After saying their goodbyes to Raihan and Sonia, Ash and Serena make their way back to their apartment. Ash boots up the monitor, already punching in the number for Oak’s lab. The professor picks up on the first ring. “Ash! What a lovely surprise!” 

“Hey, Professor. I have a favor to ask.” 

Ash explains about Pidgeot. “Have you seen her around?” He finally asks, once he’s finished. The old professor laughs. 

“What a coincidence! There’s a Pidgeot that’s been visiting the lab recently. She’s one of the largest of her species that I’ve ever had the pleasure of observing, and she seems to enjoy training with your team. Should I ask if she wants to rejoin your team?” 

“That would be much appreciated.” Ash says gratefully. 

A day later, Ash makes his way over to the closest Pokemon center. He sends over Buizel’s Pokeball, giving the little weasel some more time to train with its friends back on the ranch. In exchange, a battered and well-loved Pokeball appears. Ash takes the ball with a smile, before walking to the park where he’s spent so much of his time recently. He takes a deep breath. “Now or never.” The boy mutters, and presses the button to open the ball. 

With a proud caw, a massive Pidgeot flies out of the Pokeball, before landing and nuzzling Ash’s cheek. The Kantonian laughs. “It’s great to see you too, Pidgeot! I missed you.” 

He grows solemn for a moment. “For what it’s worth, I’m really sorry.” 

Pidgeot chirps and does the bird equivalent of a shrug. It’s okay; they’re together now, right? Isn’t that all that matters? 

Ash bites his lip. “I guess…” He looks like he wants to say more, but his phone begins to ring. When he looks at the caller ID, Ash picks up immediately. 

“Hey, Sere. What’s up?” 

“Ash, you need to check the WCS app. Right now.” His girlfriend sounds excited, but also really nervous about something. Ash adjusts the phone so that he can see the screen. He pulls up the World Coronation Series app, and grins when he sees the first alert in his notifications screen. 

At the same time, he notices a familiar Pokemon flying into the park. It lands, and its rider dismounts, adjusting his scarf as he does so. 

“It’s been a while, Ash. I’ve been waiting for this.”

Ash’s grin turns fierce. “Same here, Alain.”

Chapter Text

The two boys converse for a while, catching up on each other’s adventures. Ash learns that Alain has been training for his Elite Four challenge, using the World Coronation Series as a way to prepare himself. He’s also continued his research on Mega Evolution, finding a new Charizardite X and Key Stone for himself. All in all, the Kalos League champion is doing quite well for himself. 

“What about you, Ash?” The older teen asks. “I heard you won the Alola League- but what made you take part in the World Coronation Series?” 

Ash laughs a little bit. “Would you believe me if I said I got bored?” 

It’s a lie, but Alain doesn’t need to know that. 

Alain stares at Ash, his blue eyes meeting Ash’s dark ones. He clearly has his doubts, though out of respect for Ash, he’s choosing not to voice them. 

“Well, I need to get back to my hotel room. See you tomorrow.” He climbs onto Charizard’s back, gives Ash a two-fingered salute, and takes to the air. 

The Kantonian boy breathes a sigh of relief. He’s happy to consider Alain a friend, but their relationship has been… complex, after the Team Flare incident. It’s why he never made an effort to keep in touch after leaving Kalos. Well, that and the fact that he didn’t have Alain’s number. The latter part certainly would have helped. Ash shrugs. Well, it's too late to do anything now. What matters now is winning this battle. 

The day of the match arrives, and Serena adjusts Ash’s hat in the tunnel. “You’ve got this.” She says, before Ash can start worrying. She presses a kiss to his forehead, gives his hand a squeeze, and walks off to find her place in the stands. 

Ash fidgets with his hands, going over the two Pokemon he’s selected alongside Pikachu. He couldn’t trust this team more. So why is he still nervous? 

You haven’t grown enough. His subconscious hisses, his thoughts more poisonous than a Seviper’s fangs. You were just a scared kid when you battled Alain last time, and you haven’t changed a bit. 

The raven haired boy shakes his head violently, clearing it of any negative thoughts. He’s going to win this, battle Raihan, and advance to the Masters’ Eight. Simple as that. And when the announcer calls his name, Ash holds his head high, walking into the stadium of a city that has claimed him as its own. Whether he intended it or not, Hammerlocke has become a home away from Pallet Town, much like Lumiose City. Let’s just hope he can avoid the tragedy part. 

Up in the stands, Serena takes her seat. She’s sitting next to a family with a crying baby, and as the little kid wails, she releases Pancham. The panda begins making funny faces, causing the baby to shift from crying to laughing. The mother looks at Serena gratefully, then gasps when she recognizes who helped her. Serena smiles, then presses a finger to her lips as the woman turns back to her partner. 

Alain stares at Ash from across the field, and to the casual observer, he would seem emotionless as always. But Serena can see the glint in his eyes, the way his right hand tightens around his left wrist. He’s enjoying this. 

Ash appears the same way, cool and collected to the naked eye. Serena knows his tells, though. To her boyfriend’s credit, he’s doing a better job of hiding his nerves than usual. However, she can still see the frantic way he smooths down Pikachu’s fur, the occasional twitch in his shoulders like he’s preparing for a fight. 

The referee floats down from atop his Aegislash. “This will be a three on three Ultra Class battle between Ash Ketchum and Alain Sycamore! Both competitors may substitute Pokemon at any time, and there is no time limit. Additionally, one battle mechanic is allowed for each side! Competitors, please send out your first Pokemon!” 

“Let’s do this, Bisharp!” 

“Pidgeot, I choose you!” 

Alain’s Pokemon hits the field, a predatory glint shining in its cold eyes. In sharp contrast, Ash’s Pidgeot lets out a loud battle cry, flapping her enormous wings and soaring into the air. 

“Careful, Pidgeot.” Ash warns. “Alain is the strongest opponent you’ve ever battled.” 

The referee drops his hand. “Battle begin!” 

Wanting to avoid giving his opponent an early advantage, Ash takes the first move. “Pidgeot, let’s start strong with a Heat Wave!” 

The Kantonian bird nods her assent, flapping her wings to generate a searing gust of air. Alain doesn’t respond verbally, instead looking at the Steel type and miming a vertical slashing motion. Bisharp understands, and as the wave of warmth rolls towards it, the Unovan Pokemon cleaves one of its arm mounted blades downwards. This motion creates a thin strip of wind, which rips through the super effective attack and strikes Pidgeot in the face. 

Ash thinks about this as Pidgeot circles Bisharp. If Alain’s Pokemon has learned Air Slash, that means it has a more reliable ranged attack than Focus Blast. “Alright, Pidgeot, let’s try a Feint Attack!” 

Pidgeot nods, flying forward and seeming to blink out of existence for a moment. It re-emerges behind Bisharp, striking it with a wing. The flier then follows up with an unprompted Quick Attack that knocks its opponent over. 

Bisharp gets to its feet with a murderous glare, before lunging forward with a Throat Chop. Pidgeot’s undignified squawk is cut off by the jab at its neck, and Bisharp takes the chance to hammer its opponent with an Iron Head. 

Alain still hasn’t said a word, instead choosing to let Bisharp fight on its own. Ash is feeling frustrated- he and Pidgeot just aren’t in sync like they used to be. He throws his arm out, putting all of his negative feelings into calling for another Heat Wave. This time, the attack hits, and Bisharp is blasted backwards. Alain takes this opportunity to make his first verbal call of the match. “Air Slash, then follow it up with Iron Head!” 

“Pidgeot, Quick Attack!” Ash’s first flier blitzes forwards, doing a barrel roll to avoid the incoming Air Slash, and meeting Bisharp’s Iron Head with its beak. The collision knocks both Pokemon backwards- and as Pidgeot rights itself, Ash decides to call for his finishing move. 

“Get into the air and finish it with Sky Attack!” 

“Brace yourself, Bisharp.” Alain’s cold tone makes it exactly clear what he’s aiming for. Bisharp nods, crossing its arms in front of its face in an X, ready for Pidgeot’s attack. 

As the Kantonian Flying type picks up speed, Ash begins to wonder what Alain’s game could be. Then, all at once, he realizes. “Pidgeot, disengage!” 

For the first time in the match, Alain smiles. It’s a predatory grin, the kind of smile one wears when they know something the other person doesn’t. “Too late. Guillotine!” 

As Bisharp’s arm blades glow, Ash knows that it’s too late. Pidgeot is too close, and even with how hard it is to properly aim Guillotine, it would be almost impossible to miss from that range. 

Pidgeot hits Bisharp at full speed, and though the Unovan Steel type is pushed backwards, the effect of Guillotine is immediately apparent. Pidgeot slumps to the floor of the arena, knocked out and unable to battle. The referee declares it to be that way, and Ash recalls his fallen friend. 

He played right into Alain’s hands- if he’d stuck with Heat Wave and the occasional Quick Attack, it would have been much harder to land that Guillotine hit. If he wants to win this battle, he can’t make the same mistake again. He needs a ranged fighter to finish off Bisharp. “Pikachu, I choose you!” 

Ash’s best friend runs down from his shoulder, taking up a battle stance against the Dark type on the opposite side of the field. With a cry of its name, the electric rodent lets loose a Thunderbolt that pins Bisharp down. When the Unovan warrior doesn’t fall, Pikachu hits it again. And again. By the fourth Thunderbolt, Bisharp is still standing, but its eyes are closed, and it’s not moving. The referee flies over to examine it. “Bisharp is unable to battle!” 

With that declared, Alain recalls his Pokemon with a quiet whisper of praise, before throwing out his next Pokeball. “Ready up, Chesnaught!” 

The Kalosian Grass type hits the field, punching its fists together and sneering at Pikachu. Ash raises an eyebrow. That’s a new Pokemon for Alain. Stupid, he chastises himself, of course Alain has caught new Pokemon. You’ve done the same thing. 

Externally, instead of showing any of his inner turmoil, Ash simply calls for a Quick Attack to probe Chesnaught’s defenses. With a nod from Alain, Chesnaught braces its arms together, causing Pikachu to run into the barbs on its opponent’s arms. As his best friend recoils in pain, Ash recognizes the move from his time in Alola as Spiky Shield. Great. Now he has to find a way around a move that not only protects Chesnaught, but damages Pikachu as well. 

“Pikachu, pin it down with Thunderbolt!” Pikachu lets loose an arc of electricity from its tail, which strikes Chesnaught and temporarily freezes it in place. This allows the electric rodent to hit with a Quick Attack that knocks its much larger opponent backwards, though Alain doesn’t this offense go unpunished. “Wood Hammer!” 

Chesnaught strikes Pikachu with a glowing green fist, causing the smaller Electric type to go flying backwards. The hedgehog winces as the kickback of Wood Hammer catches up to it, but at Alain’s command, it tucks itself into a ball and begins to use Rollout. 

Ash curses under his breath. Rollout is a difficult strategy to counter, and if he doesn’t have Pikachu do something about it soon, Chesnaught could get up to unbeatable levels of power. Time to go back to a tried and true strategy. 

“Use Iron Tail on the ground!” Pikachu slams his tail against the floor of the arena, causing it to crack and rupture. Just like Whitney’s Miltank all the way back in the Great Class, Chesnaught quickly finds itself with nowhere to move. Its Rollout grinds to a halt, and Ash sees an opportunity. 

“Before Chesnaught can use Spiky Shield, let’s hit it with a Volt Tackle!” Ash calls, and Pikachu nods. 

“Pikapikapikapika…” Chesnaught brings its arms up to block, but Pikachu simply launches itself over the block and hits its Grass type opponent from behind. “Pi-KA!” The little mouse declares triumphantly- before Chesnaught whirls around and catches it in the chest with a Drain Punch. The impact sends Pikachu soaring across the field, while Chesnaught appears visibly refreshed and ready to go another ten rounds with its smaller foe. 

Ash frowns at this development. Alain has certainly crafted Chesnaught’s strategy well- Rollout to cover any Flying types, two moves that match Chesnaught’s Typing, and Spiky Shield for defensive utility. He’s certainly stepped it up from the less elegant, brute-force tactics that he used in the Kalos League. Pikachu needs to really bring the hammer down. 

“Quick Attack into Volt Tackle, buddy, let’s end this!” Ash throws his arm outwards, and Pikachu responds, rushing forward with blinding speed. Chesnaught begins to stomp forwards as well, bringing its fist up in a Wood Hammer. The two fantastical creatures meet in the middle of the arena with a loud BANG that seems to shake Hammerlocke to its core. When the dust clears, Chesnaught is breathing heavily, while Pikachu’s chest rises and falls in unconsciousness. Ash runs out onto the field to pick his best friend up, while Chesnaught respectfully backs off to give him some space. 

“Pikapi?” Pikachu stirs in Ash’s arms, and the raven haired boy smiles down at his partner. “You were awesome out there, buddy. Let’s leave the rest of this to Greninja, yeah?” 

Pikachu nods sleepily, climbing onto Ash’s shoulder before nodding off again. Ash’s hand goes to his belt, where his final Pokeball rests. He’s been waiting for this moment for over a year now. Every moment of training, every stride they’ve made as a team. It’s all led up to this. 

“Greninja, I choose YOU!” 

Silent as the grave, Greninja slips out of its Pokeball and takes up a battle stance. Chesnaught snorts, bracing itself for what’s to come. Alain raises an eyebrow. How are you going to wiggle your way out of this one, Ash? He wonders. Out loud, he waits for Ash to make the first move. 

“Icicle Spear!” Greninja instantly summons a pair of freezing daggers, flinging them from its webbed hands. 

“Chesnaught, block with Spiky Shield!” Chesnaught brings its arms up to block, but as soon as the icicles make impact, Greninja dashes forwards. Ash grins. 

“Aerial Ace!” Greninja jumps into the air and swings its leg downwards, hitting Chesnaught in the back of the head with a powerful axe kick. Already spent from its battle with Pikachu, the prickly Grass type collapses to the floor, with the referee declaring it unable to battle. Alain recalls it, then stares down at Ash. They both know what’s coming next. 

“Let’s do this… CHARIZARD!”

Chapter Text

Out of Alain’s Pokeball, his most faithful partner emerges. What was once an eager little Charmander has become a fierce and loyal Charizard, and the Kantonian dragon is eager to prove the strength that once allowed it to defeat Malva’s Houndoom. The collar around its neck glints in the sunlight, reflecting the Charizardite X inserted in the middle. Alain doesn’t make any move to his wrist, though. He appears content to simply… watch. Wait. Let Ash take the first move. 

As he tends to do, Ash loses his patience first. “Greninja, let’s try to pin Charizard’s wings with an Icicle Spear!” Nodding, Greninja summons another set of icy kunai, though this time, there’s four. Each one is thrown with deadly aim and precision, designed to pin Charizard down so that the shinobi frog can win with close-ranged attacks. 

“Block with Dragon Claw!” 

Charizard snorts, its claws glowing green as it manifests a pair of draconic talons. The icy weapons are promptly batted away, and Charizard takes to the air. Ash thinks for a moment. If Charizard is taking off instead of staying on the ground, it can’t use Blast Burn. That leaves three options: Dragon Claw, Thunder Punch and Flamethrower. Unless Alain taught it a new move… 

Ash curses softly under his breath. There’s no way to know what Charizard is going to do. Time to use one of his favorite strategies: screw around and find out. “Greninja, rush in and use Aerial Ace!” 

“Charizard, intercept with Thunder Punch!” The draconic Fire type dives down, fists lit up with super effective Electric type energy. Greninja does a flip to avoid the oncoming haymakers, bringing its leg down and catching Charizard in the back of the head. Alain’s partner roars in pain, but still manages to swing a Thunder Punch into Greninja’s midsection. The shinobi frog flinches from the powerful hit, before slipping away and giving itself some space to take a breather. 

“Ash, I think it’s time.” Greninja communicates. Ash grins. 

“Hey, Alain! I think we should stop holding back!”

The adopted son of Professor Sycamore smiles. “Exactly what I was thinking, Ash.” The older boy’s hand goes to his bracelet, a familiar gesture that brings back flashes of pain, panic, anger in Ash’s head. “Key Stone, respond to my heart! Beyond evolution… Mega Evolve!” 

The Kantonian boy bites his lip, hard enough to draw blood. This is wrong. 

He’s back on Prism Tower, he’s in chains, Alain is watching, he’s doing NOTHING as the world explodes into pain-

The metallic taste in his mouth as he runs his teeth over his injured lip is enough to snap Ash back to reality. He takes a deep breath. He can do this. 

“Greninja, let’s do this! Our full power, everything we’ve learned!” A veil of water surrounds the shinobi frog, and from within, Greninja begins to glow with light much like Charizard. The audience holds their collective breath. 

The light fades, leaving two very different Pokemon in the arena. One is a black dragon, with blue flames streaming from its mouth that match its Trainer’s scarf. The other is a blue amphibian with distinctive Z marks on its cheeks, and a red fin on its head that looks remarkably similar to its Trainer’s cap. A watery pair of Vivillon wings form on the amphibian’s back, before morphing into a massive shuriken that resembles an X. For the first time in the match, the announcer’s inane commentary reaches Ash’s ears. 

“And would you look at that, folks! The two competitors appear to have Mega Evolved their Pokemon! This looks remarkably similar to the Kalos League finals of two years ago!”

Greninja and Charizard look at each other, each noticing the sheer determination in the other’s eyes. This match means everything for both of them. As Greninja reaches to his back for his shuriken, Charizard lets out a mighty roar, his body beginning to glow a telltale bright blue.

This time, Alain takes the first move. “Blast Burn!” 

“Get into the air to dodge, and use Water Shuriken!” 

Charizard punches the ground, creating a series of fissures that coalesce under where Greninja is before erupting in a wall of flames. However, Greninja is already in the air, and retaliates with a Water Shuriken that barely grazes Charizard’s ear before burying itself in the ground. 

The failed Blast Burn gives Charizard a chance to respond, flapping its leathery wings and flying up at Greninja with a pair of Dragon Claws. Ash’s hand goes to his hip, and Greninja unsheathes a Night Slash just in time to block Charizard’s attack as they both begin their descent to the ground. Upon landing, the amphibian Starter blocks a followup Thunder Punch with an Icicle Spear dagger, but is close enough for Alain to reveal his final attack. 

“Flare Blitz!” Shrouding himself in a cloak of blue flames, Charizard headbutts Greninja in the chest, causing Ash to gasp in pain. To make things worse, Charizard swipes at Greninja with its tail, hitting the same spot and catapulting its opponent across the battlefield. 

Greninja hits the ground with a dull thud, and Ash’s vision swims with Minior as he doubles over. Through the ringing in his ears, he looks to the crowd. Serena’s whole team is out, and they’re cheering him on- even Spectrier, in an inverse of its normal behavior. The world seems to slow as he makes out what Serena is saying: don’t give up until it’s over. And it’s not over, is it? So he can’t give up. Simple as that. 

Rising to its feet with newfound determination, Ash-Greninja flings an Icicle Spear at Charizard. When the black drake shatters the dagger with a Thunder Punch, Greninja runs in with an Aerial Ace imbued kick before Charizard can hit him with the Electric type attack again. The strike nails Charizard in the jaw, causing the opposing Dragon type to falter. 

Taking advantage of his window of opportunity, Greninja continues his assault, nailing Charizard with a flurry of Flying type attacks that strike true. It isn’t until Greninja overextends on a kick that Charizard is able to retaliate, grabbing the Ninja Pokemon’s extended leg. 

With a wicked grin, Charizard’s hand sparks to life, and Greninja is electrocuted for several agonizing moments before being slammed into the ground. Charizard follows up with a searing hot Flare Blitz that blows Greninja backwards, though its Dragon Claw is blocked by a hastily constructed Night Slash that barely holds itself together. 

Greninja does a back handspring to create some space between himself and Charizard. By now, it’s apparent that both Pokemon are nearing the ends of their ropes- Charizard’s flames are flickering, and Greninja looks like a Galarian after one too many drinks. Both trainers appear to acknowledge this fact, and call out what one could assume will be their final attacks. 

“Blast Burn, let’s finish this!” Alain shouts, his voice no longer cold, but burning as hot and bright as the Pokemon he commands.

Raising his hand to the air, Ash cries out, “Water Shuriken, one last time!” 

This time, instead of generating the water weapons from its hands, Greninja pulls the gigantic water shuriken off of its back. As it rotates in place, the shuriken seems to grow in size. Ash feels a surge of familiar energy, and suddenly recognizes the giant shuriken for what it is- an incomplete Z-move. He reaches into the bond with Greninja and pushes, pouring all of his energy into this final attack. If he doesn’t win here, all of his work will have been for nothing. 

As Charizard’s flames erupt from the ground, glowing white with heat, Greninja releases its finishing move. The giant shuriken goes flying, slicing a clean path through the Blast Burn, before hitting Charizard in the throat and causing a massive explosion. 

As the smoke clears, the stadium falls into a hushed silence as both Pokémon stare at each other, seemingly daring the other to fall first. Then, a moment later, a body impacts the ground in a flash of light. 

“Charizard is unable to battle, which makes Ash Ketchum the winner!” 

The crowd erupts, screaming and cheering. Ash rushes out to the field to give Greninja a hug and Alain a handshake- but right as he embraces his Water type partner, the world spins and fades to black. 

Serena starts running the moment she sees Charizard fall. With how close her seat is to the field, it’s not much of an effort to find the gate and show the guard her all access ticket. She sprints onto the pitch to give Ash a massive hug- but that quickly turns into helping Greninja catch her boyfriend as he collapses. The mood in the stadium quickly shifts from elation to panic, and Alain rushes over to Serena’s side. His microphone is still on, so everyone hears him as he calls for a doctor. 

Soon enough, a doctor and her assistant make their way down onto the field from the tunnel. They load Ash onto a stretcher pulled by a well muscled Galarian Rapidash, and Serena and Alain follow the doctor’s assistant to where a second Corviknight Taxi is waiting. The first one has taken off, presumably with Ash and the doctor inside. 

“Take us to Hammerlocke General Hospital, ER wing,” The assistant says firmly. The cab driver nods, and with a sharp whistle, the Corviknight takes off. 

The Trainers sit in silence for a while, before Alain speaks up. “Ash is strong. I know he can make it through this.” 

Serena’s mouth twitches upwards in a small smile. “Thanks, Alain.”

They remain quiet for a bit longer before Serena starts to talk again. “It’s just- scary, I guess. I haven’t seen Ash pass out like that since before he mastered the Ash-Greninja transformation. He must have pushed himself beyond his normal limits to beat you.”  

Alain chuckles quietly. “That sounds like Ash.” 

The taxi begins to descend, and the doctor’s assistant opens the door for Serena and Alain. They lead the two Trainers through the surprisingly empty hallways of the ER, and into a quiet room. Ash is lying in a bed, sipping a huge bottle of Lum berry juice through a Pikachu themed curly straw. Serena almost bursts into tears at the sight of him safe and sound. 

“Hey, guys.” He says hoarsely. Serena loses her composure at this, rushing to Ash’s bedside and wrapping him in a tight hug. 

“Don’t ever do that again, Ash.” She scolds, clutching him close. 

“Do what? Win?” Ash asks teasingly. Serena rolls her eyes and pulls him in for a kiss. Alain, the doctor and her assistant politely avert their eyes. When Serena pulls away, Ash dutifully returns to drinking his juice. 

“He’s suffering from severe exhaustion and sleep deprivation.” The doctor explains. Serena frowns. 

“That can’t be right… Ash has been sleeping fine.” She says, and Ash gulps down his juice. The doctor looks at him. 

“Is there something you’d like to tell the class, Mister Ketchum?” The medic asks sarcastically. 

“Ash? Honey, what aren’t you telling me?” She asks, concern clear in her voice. Ash doesn’t meet Serena’s eyes. 

“Nightmares.” He croaks out. Alain’s face twists in a sympathetic smile- it’s not pity, Serena notes. No, this is the smile of someone who knows Ash’s pain. They’ve all bottled it up to some extent, but it seems Ash has done the best job of hiding it. Especially if Serena hadn’t noticed it.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” There’s a lot of concern for her boyfriend in Serena’s tone, but there’s also an undercurrent of hurt. She’s Ash’s girlfriend- and yet he doesn’t trust her to know when he’s having nightmares about one of the most traumatic events of their lives?

“I didn’t want you to see me at my worst.” Ash admits. “I hate being so- so vulnerable. It reminds me of when I first started my journey.” 

Serena recalls Ash telling her the story of that dreadful first day, and understands his problem. 

“Ash, I’m your girlfriend. I can deal with you at your worst. Partners, remember?” 

At this, Ash winces. “I’m really sorry, Serena. I jumped to conclusions again, and it ended up with- well, this.” 

Serena just bites her lip and squeezes his hand. “I’m not mad, amour. Just a little disappointed. But we’ll make it past this, just like we always have.” 

Ash returns the squeeze with a faint smile. “I guess we will.” 

Alain clears his throat. “I hate to bring more stress to the situation, but the PWC just announced the date for your match with Raihan, Ash.” 

When Alain says this, Ash perks up a little. “Really? When is it?” 

“Two weeks from tomorrow.” 

Ash pumps a fist- and then he notices the pained look on Serena’s face. “What’s wrong, Serena?” 

The blonde girl bites her lip. “That’s- that’s the same day as the first day of the Hoenn Grand Festival.” 

Alain sums up the mood in the room rather accurately. 

“Well, shit.” 

Chapter Text

The next two weeks pass in a haze of preparation. Ash works and trains as hard as he can without pushing his limits, and Serena does the same. Both of them spend hours at the park or the training center, coming home sweaty and exhausted. The events of Ash’s battle with Alain weigh heavily on the two of them, and though they’ve grown closer because of it, there’s an unspoken divide. 

On the last day before Serena flies out to Hoenn, she wakes up early. She can still hear Ash’s snoring from across the hall, and a small smile creeps across her face. Serena is going to take today off. No extra training, no last minute changes to her routines. Today is going to be for her and for Ash. And that means starting the day right. 

Serena tiptoes into the kitchen, before releasing Braixen, Pancham and Sylveon. Her three oldest partners yawn and stretch, before turning to her attentively. Serena giggles, and then tells them their mission for the morning. The Pokemon all nod in turn, and begin pulling out the ingredients for breakfast. 

Ash wakes up to the delicious smell of crepes. When Serena first introduced him to the Kalosian breakfast food, it was like falling in love all over again- without the phase where he was dense about his feelings. So when he wakes up to the sight of Serena gently placing a tray containing crepes and coffee on his nightstand, he can’t help the lovestruck grin that spreads across his face. 

“Hey, Sere.” He whispers, careful not to disturb Pikachu, who’s asleep on his stomach. 

“Good morning.” She whispers back, and pecks him on the lips, before recoiling. “Xerneas, I forgot just how bad your morning breath is.” 

Ash grins sheepishly, making a careful effort to swallow back his bad breath. “But you love me anyway, right?” 

“Not as much as I love you when you’ve brushed your teeth.” She retorts playfully. “Eat your breakfast, drink some coffee, and get ready. We’re taking the day off today.” 

“But my training-” Ash starts, but Serena cuts him off. 

“You’ve been training non stop for the past two weeks, Ash. You can afford to take a break.” At the hesitant look on his face, she adds, “Please? For me?” 

Now, there’s a part of Ash that wants to insist on completing his training. But when Serena asks him for something like that- something so simple and small, but something that clearly means a lot to her- there’s no way he can say no. So, with an internal sigh, Ash nods. “Okay. Let me get ready, and then you can explain what exactly we’re going to do today.” 

Serena smiles at this, and that smile alone is enough to tell Ash that he made the right choice. “Okay. Love you.” 

“Love you too.” He manages through a bite of crepe. Serena rolls her eyes fondly, and quietly shuts the door so as not to disturb Pikachu. 

After he’s completed his morning routine, Ash throws on his Kalos outfit. The Galarian weather has taken a turn for the worse, with each gust of air feeling like an Articuno is using Frost Breath. On the bright side, it signifies two things- that his team is getting some extra endurance training, (Lycanroc in particular,) and the fact that Christmas is now a short month and a half away. The second of these facts is made very clear when Serena drags Ash, Greninja and Pikachu towards Hammerlocke’s shopping district. Every shop is advertising Christmas products, and Ash laughs when Serena insists that they find ornaments to decorate their future Christmas tree with. (He doesn’t mention that he wants to take her home to Pallet Town for Christmas.) 

Once their ornament quest has been fulfilled, it’s Ash’s turn to take the lead. In true Ash fashion, he drags Serena towards the food court. There’s a new curry stand that he’s desperate to try out, so Serena just laughs and follows him towards the stand. 

“I’ll have a bowl of the classic curry, please.” Serena says politely, as the owner of the stand begins preparing her order. Ash, being Ash, orders the spiciest thing on the menu. Greninja puts a webbed hand to its face at this, and probably mutters something about how Ash was going to get himself killed one of these days. Xerneas knows Serena is thinking the same thing. 

After the two of them have paid for their food and walked over to a bench, Ash puts a bite of curry in his mouth. Serena can practically see the steam coming out of his ears as he experiences the taste. “Wow, they weren’t kidding when they said this was spicy!” He comments, and Serena stifles a laugh into her own plate of curry. Pikachu lets out a disappointed “Pikapi…” that speaks of years of dealing with Ash’s antics. 

Once they’ve eaten their lunch, (or demolished, in Ash’s case,) Ash begins walking towards the park. Pikachu and Pancham begin a game of catch behind him and Serena, while Greninja and Braixen walk hand in hand much like their Trainers. It’s a cheerfully domestic sight. However, that all changes once the group reaches Hammerlocke City Park. 

Seemingly acting on instinct, Ash reaches for his belt and sends out his team. Specifically, the team he’s going to use against Raihan. He almost starts giving them directions- but the words die in his throat when Serena gives him a meaningful look.

 “No training, remember?” She admonishes gently, and Ash hangs his head. Stupid, can’t even remember a simple task…

Serena takes one look at the state Ash is in- the state of her wonderful, caring boyfriend who can’t seem to care about himself- and wraps him in a tight hug. It’s a grounding hug, and after a moment, Ash relaxes in her arms. Serena leads him over to a bench, and Ash shakily sits down. Once he’s settled, Serena places her hand in his. “We need to talk.” 

Ash exhales, blowing a strand of hair out of his face. “What is there to talk about? I screwed up. I can’t be at one of the most important events in your life, and it’s all because of my selfish dream.” 

Serena bites her lip. There’s a lot to unpack in those three sentences, but the first thing that comes out of her mouth has little to do with any of it. 

“Have you considered going to therapy or getting medication?” It’s out before she can stop it, and as soon as she says it, Serena claps a hand over her mouth. 

“I’m sorry, Ash, that was so insensitive-” 

“Pipika.” Pikachu interjects, his little voice sounding surprisingly serious. Confused, Serena can only watch as the little mouse begins to mime something out. It almost looks like he’s trying to mimic Xerneas, with the way his ears and tails are pointed upwards. Then the interpretation shifts to something draconic, mouth open in what could be passed off as a roar. It’s almost as if a lightbulb goes off in Serena’s brain. 

“Does this have something to do with all the Legendaries you’ve met?” She asks. 

With a bitter chuckle, Ash nods. “I can’t exactly go spilling the secrets of the world’s most powerful Pokemon to some random doctor, even if they’re a trained professional.” He pauses contemplatively, then continues. “Medication might be a good idea, though. I just have to take a test, right?”

Serena nods. “I think it’s a bit more complicated than that, but we should be able to help you get some antidepressants after all this is over and done with.” 

Pikachu climbs into Ash’s lap, and the raven haired boy begins to stroke his faithful partner. “I just- I can’t help but feel like this is all my fault, somehow. Maybe if I was a better boyfriend, I’d be able to be there for you instead of focusing on my dream.” 

“You said it yourself, Ash- it’s your dream. Beating Raihan is extremely important to you, and even if it hurts me that you can’t be there for me,” here Serena bites her lip again, “I think you’ve earned the right to be a little selfish.” 

“What do you mean?” Ash asks, genuine curiosity coloring his voice. Serena gazes at him, her sapphire eyes meeting his amber ones. 

“Ash, you’re one of the most selfless people I know. You’re constantly lifting up other people, inspiring them to do better, and being there for them when they’re down. You can prioritize yourself this time.” 

“Don’t you think you’re papering over my flaws a bit?” Ash asks, his tone pensieve. “I’m not perfect, Serena. I’m headstrong, I don’t have a great handle on my temper, I’m easily distracted… there’s a lot for you to dislike.” 

Serena smiles. She knows what to say now, and it’s something she’s needed to say for a long time. “Here’s the thing, Ash. I love you. Not the idealized version of you,” here they both recall an argument, thrown snowballs and raised voices, “but you. That includes your flaws. Are they things to work on? Yes, absolutely. And we’re going to have our disagreements and compromises. But the point is, I love you with your flaws. They’re a part of you, just like my vanity and jealous streak are part of me.” 

“You’re not really vain.” Ash points out, but Serena just smiles sadly. 

“You’re so quick to find the good in other people, I think you forget to find it in yourself.” 

“When did you get so wise?” Ash marvels, and Serena laughs and pecks him on the forehead. 

“I had a good teacher… and a mom who loves philosophy as much as she loves Rhyhorn Racing.” She admits. “Now, let’s get home. I want to order from that Unovan place and cuddle on the couch.” 

“Want to watch a movie while we do that?” Ash asks, getting to his feet. Serena smiles and places a gentle kiss on her boyfriend’s cheek. 

“Sounds good to me.”

Chapter Text

Serena leaves for Hoenn early in the morning the next day, with a whispered goodbye to Ash, who’s gotten up early to see her off. As Greninja and Braixen embrace and the rest of Ash’s team say their goodbyes, Ash presses his lips to Serena’s like a dying man looking for oxygen. When they part, Ash has a wistful expression on his face. “Win or lose, I love you, okay?” 

With a smile much like her boyfriend’s when he’s about to win a battle, Serena puts her hands on her hips. “Love you too. But I don’t plan on losing!” 

Ash smiles.  “You’re going to go out there and rock the world, Sere.” 

A final kiss goodbye later, Serena is on her way to the airport. The process of getting there is smooth, and thanks to the early hour, the lines are extremely short. She grabs breakfast and coffee at a cafe near her gate, making sure to get snacks for the flight. At the decision of her team, Sylveon will be accompanying her on the flight, so Serena purchases a small bag of the Fairy type’s favorite treats. It’s going to be a long trip, so Serena might as well make sure that Sylveon will be happy. 

There’s still an hour before her flight boards, so Serena pulls out her tablet and decides to do what Ash has been doing recently- she studies film. She looks up footage of the other Coordinators competing in the Grand Festival, and she makes a list of the pros and cons she can see from their performances. Because, at her core, Serena is a planner. So she plans. 

It takes a tap from Sylveon’s feeler to snap Serena out of the zone, and with a start, she realizes that her flight is boarding. The Performer glances gratefully at Sylveon, and slips her Pokemon a treat as they make their way down the jet walk. Sylveon coos happily as she consumes the treat, placing a feeler in Serena’s hand. Together, they make their way to Serena’s seat. 

While Serena’s flight boards, Ash performs his morning routine, before heading out to the training center. His team for the match with Raihan certainly isn’t conventional by any means, but with what he’s seen on film, they should have a good matchup. 

He checks in at the front desk of the center, waving to the friendly receptionist and heading towards the simulation battlefield. Even though most World Coronation Series battles happen on a standard dirt field, Ash prefers to be prepared for anything. 

Ash releases his squad for the day from their Pokeballs, going through the usual warmups and having them pair up. Kingler and Infernape, Pikachu and Donphan. After the first round of sparring finishes, Ash sets the battlefield. They’ll be battling in the forest today, working on situational awareness. This is a perfect exercise for the lumbering Donphan and Kingler, and a good tune-up for the more agile Infernape and Pikachu. Ash, in the meantime, walks over to the weight rack. He can’t afford to slack off on his own training, either. Pikachu and Infernape are experienced enough to lead this exercise on their own. 

After about ten minutes of reps, with Greninja progressively adjusting the weight of the bar each time, Ash is approached by a girl who looks to be about two years older than him. Her pink hair is styled in a bob that frames her face, and she reeks of strong perfume. “Do I know you from somewhere?” She asks in a breathy voice. 

Ash sits up and shrugs, taking a water bottle from Greninja. “You might if you follow the World Coronation Series. I’m Ash Ketchum, from Pallet Town.” 

The girl giggles at this. “Now I recognize you! You’re the guy who’s going to battle Raihan!” She taps a hand to her chin, seemingly thinking about something. “The tabloids don’t do you justice, though.” 

Now, Ash may be rather dense in terms of matters of the heart, but he knows an attempt at flirting when he hears one. “Thanks…” He says unsurely, and the girl giggles again. 

“Oh! I haven’t introduced myself, have I? I’m Klara, from the Isle of Armor.” She leans over Ash, showing the low cut of her T-shirt as she helps to adjust the bar. Ash awkwardly takes it with Greninja’s help, suddenly feeling very uncomfortable. He’s never really dealt with someone this… blatant in their advances before. 

“You know, Chairman Rose usually holds a Christmas party, and it just so happens that I have an invite. How’d you like to be my plus one?” Klara asks, batting her eyes in a manner that could be seen as seductive if one squinted. Ash takes a moment to think, before slotting the bar back into its place and sitting up so that he can look the Galarian girl in the eye. 

“I’m sorry, Klara, but I already have a girlfriend.” 

Klara’s face turns red. “You’re kidding, right? There’s someone you’d rather have?” 

Ash nods, pulling out his Rotom phone and opening the camera roll. He shows Klara the picture he has in mind- Serena, in the middle of practicing her routine. Her honey blonde hair is wild and messy, flying around in the wind. Despite her less than immaculate appearance, she’s caught in the middle of a laugh, and her azure eyes seem to sparkle. Braixen and Toxtricity are filling the air with sparks, fire and electricity mingling to create a halo effect around Serena’s head. She looks like an angel. 

“That’s my girlfriend Serena. She’s awesome.” 

Klara sniffs. “The washed-up wannabe Kalos Queen? She’s probably just trying to get with you for the glory. I mean, look at the way she dresses. That slag has no sense of dignity.” 

Ash feels his blood run cold. There’s no way Klara just went that far. Right?

Oblivious to her male audience’s current predicament, Klara keeps digging. “I’m ten times the woman that prissy little princess will ever be, Ketchum. You could do so much better. Like me, for example.” 

In an instant, Ash is on his feet, with Greninja by his side. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.” He hisses, glaring at Klara with the fury of a thousand Magcargo. Klara scoffs. 

“Really? If you don’t believe me, I’ll show you in battle. If I win, you have to be my date to the Chairman’s Christmas party.” 

“And if I win, you leave me the hell alone and never come near me or Serena again.” Ash counters, using every ounce of his self control to not just explode at the pink-haired girl. How dare she say that about Serena. 

Klara smirks. “Deal.” She flounces away towards the back door, where a dirt sparring arena has been constructed. Ash follows her with rage in his heart, knowing exactly who he’s going to use for this battle. If Serena’s honor has been insulted, there’s only one candidate. 

When Ash reaches the battlefield, Klara is standing next to a long haired blonde boy in a silly looking top hat. “This is my half brother Avery,” she introduces him, “we battle best as a team.” 

Avery steps forward, spinning a Pokeball on his finger. “I heard you’ve been saying some rather nasty things to my sister.” 

“Your sister is a liar who tried to hit on me.” Ash fires back, mentally calling Greninja over. 

“You should count yourself lucky that she deigned to speak with riffraff like you.” Avery sniffs. 

Ash bites his lower lip, hard enough to draw blood. “Look, I’m not trying to cause trouble. But your sister said some stuff about my girlfriend, and I’m not going to let that slide. So just send out your Pokemon already.” 

With a haughty smirk, Avery sends out a Galarian Slowking. Klara does the same with a Galarian Slowbro, though with a twirl that sends her short skirt fluttering upwards. Ash simply waves Greninja over and takes his place on the battlefield. 

“No second Pokemon?” Avery asks mockingly. 

Ash shrugs. “I don’t need one.” 

“Oh, you’re going to love Chairman Rose’s Christmas party.” Klara giggles. Ash just rolls his eyes. 

“Since we’re generous hosts here in Galar, we’ll let you have the first move.” Avery says, his voice dripping with false sincerity. Ash nods, before closing his eyes and reaching out to Greninja. He feels their minds connect, and Greninja vanishes with Double Team. Then, without hesitation, the amphibious Kalos starter lashes out with a Night Slash that causes both Slowbro and Slowking to drop to the floor. 

Klara gapes, while Avery does the same. Ash just chuckles, before turning back to the Galarian siblings with steel in his eyes. 

“Hold up your end of the bargain, Klara. Never come near me again.”

“Y-you must have cheated!” Avery stammers out, and Ash sighs. 

“I’m the Champion of Alola. I’m number nine in the World Coronation Series. I’m battling Raihan for a shot at the Masters’ Eight. So don’t you dare imply that I didn’t work my ass off to get to where I’m at today.” 

“Why you little-” Avery cocks his fist back, but before he can do anything, Ash’s eyes glow blue. Time seems to stop for the raven haired Trainer, and he sees Avery’s hand coming at him in slow motion. Ash sidesteps, clenches his fist, and meets Avery’s nose with his knuckles. 

Klara shrieks, and Ash feels a sick satisfaction at the shocked look on her face. Then he realizes what he just did, and he swears. “Arceus, I’m stupid.” He pulls out his Rotom phone and dials 999, holding the phone up to his ear while Klara helps Avery to his feet. 

“999, what’s your emergency?” The operator asks in a crisp voice. Ash gulps. 

“Miss, I think I just broke a guy’s nose. Could we get a doctor over to Hammerlocke Fitness over on the corner of Tudor and Fifth?” 

The operator sighs. “Yes, of course. Was this action in self defense?” 

Ash nods, before realizing that the operator can’t see him from her room at the police station. “Yes. He was going to punch me after I beat him in a Pokemon battle, so I punched him first.” 

“Alright, we’ve dispatched a doctor to your location. Please stay in one place for questions, though we should be able to get the full story from the security tapes.” 

“Will do.” Ash hangs up, then walks back over to the Galarian siblings. Avery is clutching his nose, his face splattered with blood. Klara is pale, looking like she wants to be anywhere else. Ash sighs and runs a hand through his hair. 

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have lost my temper like that.” 

“Damn right you shouldn’t have!” Klara shrieks. “My brother has a broken nose!” 

“You said my girlfriend was a slut. I think we can call it even.” Ash retorts, already feeling his temper bubbling back to the surface. 

Before Klara can open her mouth to respond, Avery groans. “Just… don’t, Klara.” 

The door to the training center opens, revealing the doctor in medical gear. She looks familiar- and then it hits him. This is the same doctor who treated him after his match with Alain. 

The doctor sighs. “You again, Ketchum?” 

“Hey, it’s not for me this time.” Ash says jokingly, trying to play it cool. Once the doctor has led Klara and Avery towards the waiting ambulance, Ash grits his teeth and walks over to the punching bag. He’s still mad, but now he’s mad at himself rather than the stuck-up Galarian and his gold digger of a sister. 

BANG. “I still can’t control my temper.” 

CRACK. “I’m a failure.” 

SLAM. “I’ll never make it to the Masters’ Eight.” 

THUMP. “She’s too good for me.” 

WHACK. “I might as well give up now.” 

It’s only when Greninja catches his next strike that Ash realizes he's been using Aura on the punching bag- the poor target is in shambles on the floor, and a training center attendant is looking at him with an open mouth. Ash sighs, pulling out his wallet. 

“I’ll pay for it.”

The attendant shakes his head. “No, it’s no trouble. That happens all the time.” He’s clearly lying, but Ash appreciates the sentiment. 

“I think I’ll just… go.” The attendant nods, and Ash makes his way over to the simulation battlefield to retrieve his team. Once they’re back in their Pokeballs and Pikachu is on his shoulder, Ash walks home. The police can get his statement later. Avery’s probably too embarrassed to press charges, anyway. 

Unfortunately, the walk back to his and Serena’s apartment is a long one, so when Ash finally unlocks the door, he stumbles over to the couch and collapses. He fumbles for his phone to call Serena, but then remembers that she’s on a flight to Slateport City. “Dammit.” 

Instead, he dials a number that’s been drilled into his head since before he even started his journey. She picks up on the first ring. 

“Ketchum residence, Delia speaking.” 

“Hey, mom.” Ash hates the way his voice breaks, hates how vulnerable he feels. But this is his mom. She’s not going to judge him for being in a bad place. 

“Ash? Honey, what’s wrong?” The concern in her voice brings tears to Ash’s eyes. How long has it been since he and his mom just… talked? No stakes, no underlying tension. 

“A lot. But can you just- tell me what’s happening in Pallet Town? I need a distraction right now.” 

“Of course.” And Delia talks, telling tales of the ranch and the new customers she’s receiving. Apparently, being known as Ash’s home has brought some much needed attention to the little town. 

For a little while, Ash just sits there and lets his mom talk. It’s not alright at the moment, not by a long shot. But for just this little while, he can let himself rest. 

Chapter Text

When Serena’s flight has officially landed in Slateport City, she’s tackled in a hug by her blue haired fellow Coordinator. “Rena! You made it!” 

Serena laughs, taking in a breath after Dawn’s rib crushing embrace. “Of course I did! I won those five ribbons, so I’m going to show up.” Then she notices a third person in the group- a brunette whose face she’s seen on Coordinator Monthly a fair few times. 

“Dawn, when were you going to mention that you’re friends with the Princess of Hoenn?” She hisses, trying to keep her inner thirteen year old fangirl in check. Dawn appears confused. 

“I never mentioned the fact that I know May? I thought Ash would have brought that up.” 

“Ash would’ve-” Serena starts, and then she stops herself. Ash had mentioned a friend named May before. How did she never put two and two together? 

“Yveltal take me now.” Serena mutters, burying her face in her hands. Oh Xerneas, this is so embarrassing! Here she is, meeting one of her biggest heroes, and acting like a complete idiot. 

May laughs, though not unkindly. “You’re Serena Yvonne, right? I’ve been dying to meet the biggest rising star of the Contest world- and, more importantly, the woman who stole Ash Ketchum’s heart.” 

Seeing the route May is offering her out of the hole she dug for herself, Serena takes the opening gratefully. “You traveled with Ash when he went through Hoenn, right? He’s told me lots of stories.” 

May raises an eyebrow. “Good ones or bad ones?” 

“Both.” Serena admits with a giggle. May laughs. 

“He hasn’t told you the best ones, I bet. C’mon, let’s walk and talk. My little brother is waiting for us.” 

“Max, right? Ash mentioned him a few times.” Serena asks, and her brunette companion nods. 

“Yeah. He just started his journey, but he’s putting off his next Gym badge to watch the Grand Festival and cheer me on.” 

“He sounds like a nice kid.” At this, May laughs. 

“Max gets on my nerves a lot, but we’ve been through thick and thin together. I wouldn’t trade him for the world.” 

“I’m an only child, so the closest thing I have to a sibling is my friend Clemont’s little sister Bonnie.” Serena admits. May smiles, then pauses as they reach the food court. 

“He should be around here somewhere…” She comments, looking around. At last, her eyes settle on a Trainer who looks to be a little older than Bonnie, with thick framed glasses and extremely dark blue hair. He’s happily chewing on a spring roll, a Grovyle and a Kirlia doing similar next to him. May takes one look at the boy and rolls her eyes, before sauntering over and taking the spring roll out of his hand. 

“Hey!” The boy- who Serena assumes to be May’s brother Max- protests. “I was eating that!” 

“Well, now I’m eating it.” She shrugs, taking a bite. “Mm, this is good!” 

After chewing and swallowing, May turns to her brother. “Max, I’d like you to meet Serena. She’s a former Pokemon Performer from Kalos.” 

Max looks up disinterestedly. “Hey.” He turns his attention back to his food, but May quickly tacks something on- something that’s sure to grab his attention. 

“She’s Ash’s girlfriend.” 

“WHAT?” Now Max is fully invested, his attention turned to Serena. “Dang, I never thought Ash would actually date anyone!” 

Serena smiles at this, before turning to Max’s Pokemon. “Is that Grovyle your Starter? I remember Ash telling me it’s one of the Pokemon that Professor Birch usually gives out.” 

Max shrugs. “Technically yes, but Kirlia was one of the first Pokemon I ever bonded with, back when he was just a little Ralts. I promised him I’d come back for him when I was a Trainer, and now here we are, four years later!” 

The Kalosian girl feels herself melt from the cuteness of the story, knowing that it’s exactly the kind of thing Ash would do. Max seems to take after his idol in many ways, his kindness included. It shows, both in sharing food with his Pokemon and in pausing his Gym Challenge to watch his sister perform. 

The group make their way out of the airport and towards the hotel where Serena and Dawn have booked their rooms. As it turns out, their rooms are right next to each other, which Dawn grins at. “Sleepover. Tonight.” She promises, and Serena smiles. She had some sleepovers when she was a kid, but something tells her doing the activity with Dawn will be a lot more fun. 

When the time for the sleepover arrives, it’s immediately made clear to Serena that Dawn and May are going all out. Dawn has her makeup bag and a nail polish kit, while May generously provides a pizza and a large tub of ice cream. All three girls are dressed in their nightwear. Serena blushes upon realizing this, as both other Coordinators are far less modest about their fashion choices. May seems to find this adorable. 

“So,” May inquires through a bite of pizza, “what’s it like being Ash’s girlfriend? Spare no details.” 

Serena blushes, and Dawn hisses as the hand she’s painting shakes. “He’s really sweet, and he cares so much about me. It shows up in the littlest things, too. There are times when I come home from training and the laundry is all done, or the kitchen is clean, or my favorite flowers are on the windowsill. He can be such a dork, but it’s part of why I love him so much.” 

May clasps her hands together. “Three things. One, you two sound absolutely adorable. Two, are we sure we have the same Ash Ketchum? And three, when I said spare no detail, I meant it. Is he a good kisser?” 

At this comment, Serena’s face goes from red to scarlet. “W-well, he’s not bad, but I don’t have much experience…” 

Dawn snorts. “May, if you’re looking for juicy details, don’t bother. They skipped the passionate stage and just went straight to being grossly domestic. It would be cute if it wasn’t sickening.” 

“But I wanted details.” May whines, and at this point, Serena places a spoon with a bit too much ice cream into her mouth. She’s had enough of this conversation, thank you very much. Thankfully, the topic shifts to preparations for the Grand Festival tomorrow, which Serena happily participates in. Around ten, May calls it a night and leaves, while Dawn stays for another hour. Serena goes to sleep with a full stomach and a light heart, eager for the first round of competition. 

Ash rolls his neck, cracks his knuckles, and sits up in bed. Pikachu similarly rises from his own bed, a comfortable nest made out of blankets and one of Ash’s old sleeping bags. He may not be battling today, but he still has an extremely important job as Ash’s main supporter. 

After pulling himself out of bed and throwing together a serviceable breakfast of protein bars, toast and juice, the messy haired boy sets off towards the stadium at a jog. The security guard lets him go through the staff entrance upon seeing his WCS profile, and Ash makes his way down to the field. He doesn’t let his team out, instead choosing to go through his own workout routine. An intense cycle of upper body and core exercises, followed by a series of stretches to loosen up, finished with a round of sprints. Pikachu keeps up through the entire circuit, fulfilling his duty as a training buddy and occasional weight pack. 

At some point, Raihan enters the empty stadium, and watches Ash’s workout with an impressed look. A routine like that is usually reserved for athletes and adrenaline junkies, not fifteen year old kids. 

“You ready?” He calls, hands cupped around his mouth. Ash looks up and grins at him. 

“Ready as I’ll ever be! I can hardly wait for the match to start!” The messy haired boy shouts back. And it’s true- he has some surprises in store and he’s itching to get back to battling. And with an opponent like Raihan? This is going to be fun. 

A few hours later, the stadium is filled to the brim with eager spectators. Everyone wants to see who’s going to claim that final, coveted spot in the Masters’ Eight. Raihan is the odds-on favorite, of course. As both the current number eight seed and a fixture in the Galar League Tournament’s finals, he’s expected by many to waltz into the world’s most prestigious tournament. But there’s been noise about his opponent, too- the champion of Alola, a boy of only fifteen. He’s only lost one WCS battle, and his track record includes wins over several Elite Four members. The money line is on Raihan, but this Ash Ketchum kid could make some of the more daring gamblers a lot of cash. 

Serena watches from the stands, taking note of the more impressive Coordinators. The first round is designed to weed out the inexperienced or the out of practice, and forcing them to only use one move in an Appeal is an extremely effective way of doing that. She could have Milotic make an ice sculpture, but Serena’s never been one to repeat her ideas. 

An idea hits her, almost like one of Pikachu’s Thunderbolts, and Serena smiles. She knows what she’s going to do. 

The referee hovers on his Corviknight, surveying the arena. “This special World Coronation Series battle will be a four on four Single Battle between rank nine Ash Ketchum and rank eight Raihan Kasib! The winner will advance to the Masters’ Eight! Substitutions are allowed, as is the use of one Battle Mechanic. Competitors, please send out your first Pokemon!”

Raihan cracks his neck. “Give ‘em a roar, Gigalith!” 

Ash grins, and makes his move. “Krookodile, I choose you!” 

Chapter Text

A short time later, a member of the Grand Festival staff approaches Serena. “Ms. Yvonne? You’re up in fifteen minutes. I would suggest that you get ready.”

Serena smiles gratefully at them. “Thank you!” 

She walks into the wings, pulling a new dress from her mom out of its wrapping. The dress is black as night, with a sweetheart neckline, elbow length sleeves, and a skirt that goes to just above her knees. Bolder than she’s used to, but tasteful compared to what others might choose. Serena pairs the number with a red headband, and wraps her signature blue ribbon around her right wrist. I wonder if Ash would like this outfit? 

The thought of Ash sends a blush across her face, and Serena fidgets with her hair until she’s able to center herself again. There’s no room for error here. One mistake, and she’s out. 

The moment that it lands on the field, Gigalith kicks up a blinding sandstorm. Ash steps back and shields his eyes, before realizing that he has a solution. Said solution comes down to breaking a promise he made a long time ago, but if he has to pick between a personal belief and his Pokemon, there’s no question. Ash will always pick his team. Besides, it’s not like he hasn’t done this before. 

Ash lifts his hand from his eyes, but before any sand can be blown into his eyes or mouth, his eyes glow blue. A thin layer of Aura covers Ash’s face, keeping the sand out and allowing him to see the battle clearly. “Alright, Krookodile, let’s start off strong with Dig!” 

A red beam of light gives away Raihan’s next move, and the tan skinned man grins. “Show them your stuff, Corviknight!” 

Ash curses under his breath. Corviknight is immune to Dig, leaving it with only two weaknesses to exploit. And Krookodile lacks coverage for either of those weaknesses. Still, a setback like this isn’t going to keep Ash down for long. 

“Krookodile, come out and use a double Stone Edge combo, like we practiced!” 

The Unovan Dark type bursts out of the ground on a pillar of rock, clutching a smaller shard in each claw. Once the elevation is right, Krookodile jumps off of the spire and stabs its daggers into Corviknight’s right wing. The metallic raven shrieks, its body glowing as it attempts to use Curse to mitigate more damage. It then swings into a barrel roll in an attempt to shake Krookodile off, but the croc hangs on gamely and bites down with Crunch. 

Raihan grimaces. “Dual Wingbeat!” 

With two flaps of its mighty wings, Corviknight manages to shake Krookodile off, flinging it into the ground. Thankfully, Ash has a plan for situations like this. 

“Krookodile, turn that fall into a Dig!” 

With a grace many would find unexpected due to its size, Krookodile turns its fall into a somersault and digs into the earth. It can’t attack Corviknight from down here without repeating its earlier trick with Stone Edge, but being underground shields it from any of Corviknight’s attacks. 

Ash bites his lip, teeth sinking into soft flesh and nearly drawing blood. He’d wanted to save his wildcard for later in the battle, but right now, it’s his best option to counter Corviknight. 

“Naganadel, I choose you!” 

Changed and ready, Serena waits for her name to be called. Braixen paces next to her, having been briefed on the performance plan. It’s something Serena has always wanted to try and has practiced countless times, but she’s never felt like it was the right time. The routine is deceptively simple as far as moves go- which makes it perfect for this round of the Grand Festival. A little bit of modification has Serena confident in her chances of advancing. 

The announcer introduces her, and Serena comes spinning onto the stage, Braixen trailing behind her with her wand lit up. The Kalosian fox blazes a trail with Flamethrower, leaving fiery afterimages in her wake. The partners begin to dance together, with choreography inspired by Le Corsaire, one of Serena’s favorite ballets. Each jump, spin and pivot is carefully timed to the music and Braixen’s uses of Flamethrower. 

Serena looks up from her releve to sneak a glance at the judges, and it appears that they’ve caught on to her idea. The streaks of fire left by Braixen’s Flamethrower are slowly creating a picture, with the occasional bit of written kanji thrown in for added effect. It requires a lot of careful control, but Serena has faith in her Pokemon’s abilities. 

Naganadel emerges from its Beast Ball with a roar, and Raihan takes a step back. “Bloody hell, Ketchum, you never mentioned an ULTRA BEAST!” 

Ash gives the older Gym Leader a cheeky grin. “That was intentional! I couldn’t tell you all of my Pokemon, it would ruin the surprise!” 

Raihan shakes his head in disbelief, grounding himself. “Ultra Beast or not, we’re taking that thing down. Corviknight, use Body Slam!” 

“Fire Blast, Naganadel!” 

Before Corviknight can disengage, a fiery kanji appears directly in its face, roasting the metallic raven and forcing it to the ground. Ash grins toothily, his next move on the tip of his tongue. 

“Follow it up with a Thunderbolt!” 

“Corviknight, get up and use Steel Wing!” 

As Raihan’s Pokemon struggles to get up, a bolt of electricity from Naganadel hits its injured wing, and a crackle a few moments later signifies paralysis. Curiously, Naganadel is looking tired despite not having taken a hit. Ash runs through what he knows about Corviknight, and quickly concludes that Raihan’s particular specimen has Pressure. He needs to end this fast, before Naganadel gets too exhausted to fight. 

“Naganadel, let’s rain down the Thunderbolts!”

The Dragon type Ultra Beast nods, snapping off a barrage of electrical attacks. Curiously, Corviknight makes no attempt to dodge. Ash doesn’t realize why until he sees Corviknight’s talons clutching the ground. 

“Corviknight is grounding itself so that the electricity won’t hurt it…” He murmurs, then comes to a decision. 

“Well, if it won’t move, we’ve got a free shot with Fire Blast!” 

Raihan’s eyes widen, focused on the flaming kanji racing towards his Pokemon. 

“Get into the air and dodge!” 

Ash smirks, knowing that he has Raihan exactly where he wants him. “Gotcha.” 

At the last possible moment, Naganadel follows up with a Thunderbolt, pouring enough electricity into Corviknight to put the Galarian regional bird down for the count. 

Raihan shakes his head, watching as the sandstorm dies down. He’s able to see Naganadel in its full alien glory now, the elongated stinger clear to him. “Gigalith, get back out there!” 

The music draws to a close, and Serena takes a bow alongside Braixen. Left in the air is a picture of a fire lily, with the kanji for beauty and elegance written below it. The judges deliberate between each other for a moment, before their scores appear. 97, 98 and 98. 

With a total score of 293, Serena holds the fourth highest spot on the leaderboard, behind Dawn, May and a woman named Solidad. And with only forty three Coordinators left and a cutoff of sixty four…

Serena throws her arms around her Starter. “We did it, Braixen! We made it to the battle rounds!” 

“Braix!” Serena’s partner hugs her back, just as ecstatic as her Trainer. However, they both know that the most difficult section is yet to come. This Appeal round is simply meant to weed out the less experienced, and the next day means another set of Appeals, as well as the start of the Battle rounds. That will be their true test. 

Gigalith’s return heralds the coming of another Sandstorm thanks to Sand Stream, so Ash reactivates his Aura mask and focuses on Naganadel. The Poison and Dragon type looks tired but triumphant after its battle with Corviknight, and in spite of Beast Boost, Ash decides to recall it. Naganadel fights him, though, buzzing and flitting away from the Pokeball’s recall beam. Ash raises an eyebrow. “You want to keep fighting?” 

His Alolan companion nods its head. “Nadel!” 

Ash grins. “That’s the kind of battling spirit I like to see! Dragon Pulse!” 

“Knock it away with Rock Blast, then get in close with a Headlong Rush!” Raihan commands, and Gigalith obeys. 

The Compressed Pokemon spits out three volleys of rocks, which dissipate Naganadel’s attack. Then, with shocking speed for such a heavy Pokemon, Gigalith stomps forward and plows into Naganadel with the force of a speeding train. The super effective Ground type move causes Naganadel to squeal in pain, the power of Gigalith stacking with its earlier exhaustion to dish out an obscene amount of damage that barely leaves it standing. Still, it gets up, and Ash decides to capitalize on the drops in Gigalith’s defenses. 

“Pin Missile, let’s go!” 

A pair of Bug type projectiles shoot towards Gigalith, knocking it backwards and staggering it. Naganadel is still far worse for wear, though, and Raihan can clearly see this. 

“Finish it with an Iron Head!” 

“One last Dragon Pulse, Naganadel!”

Gigalith’s charge is interrupted by a spectral dragon, but the crystalline creature manages to weather the storm and deliver a powerful headbutt to Naganadel’s body. Its energy spent, the Ultra Beast collapses, and Ash recalls it with his thanks. With Gigalith on the field, Raihan will be expecting Krookodile, so the Galarian probably has a countermeasure in his back pocket. Time to reintroduce an old friend to the competitive scene, then. 

“Alright, Kingler, I choose you!” 

Snapping its pincers menacingly, Kingler makes its presence known on the dirt field. Raihan responds to this choice with a feral grin. 

“Kingler, huh? Let’s give ‘em a warm Galarian welcome, Gigalith! Rock Blast!” 

“Surf hammer!”

Raihan’s questioning expression and momentary hesitation gives Kingler the opening that it needs to use its new technique. The king crab summons a massive wave, and upon the wave reaching its apex, Kingler fires a powerful Crabhammer from within the wall of water. Propelled by the supercavitation and the resulting explosion, the wave rushes forwards, swamping Gigalith at blinding speeds and preventing it from firing its Rock Blast. 

“Follow with Hammer Arm, Kingler!” 

“C’mon, Gigalith, meet it with a Headlong Rush!” 

Cloaked in sand, Gigalith meets Kingler’s charge with one of its own, striking the Pincer Pokemon with its two massive front legs. Kingler burbles something unintelligible, before striking back with a powerful Hammer Arm. The clash of moves leaves both Pokemon severely weakened, and both Ash and Raihan can see this. 

“Kingler, let’s finish things with a Crabhammer!” Ash shouts, though he’s perturbed by Raihan’s grin. 

“Wouldn’t do that if I were you, because since we're going down, we’re taking you with us! Gigalith, use Explosion!” 

Ash’s eyes widen. “Oh no.” 

A massive wave of concussive force erupts from Gigalith’s body, blowing Kingler backwards and shooting sand everywhere. Ash barely manages to maintain his shield, too caught up in focusing on Kingler. After a moment, the king crab staggers upwards, standing triumphantly over Gigalith’s unconscious body- before it also succumbs to exhaustion and faints. 

“Both Kingler and Gigalith are unable to battle! On the count of three, the contestants will send out their next Pokemon! One, two, THREE!” 

Ash grins. “You’re back up, Krookodile!” 

Raihan meets the younger Trainer’s grin with one of his own. “Bring the storm, Flygon!”

The two Pokemon eye each other warily. Krookodile is no worse off from its battle with Corviknight, and Flygon is completely fresh. This should be interesting. 

Walking back into the wings, Serena is nearly knocked off her feet by the rest of her Pokemon, who have all come out to congratulate her. Pancham, Milotic and Sylveon all hug her legs, while Toxtricity Nuzzles her hair, causing it to float due to the static electricity. Only Spectrier stays out of the hug- at least until Braixen gives the ghastly steed a reproachful look. With a huff, Spectrier pokes its nose into Serena’s chest, allowing the honey haired girl to stroke its snout. 

Serena smiles warmly. “Thanks for the hugs, everyone! But as much as I love celebrating with you all, we need to get back to training for tomorrow!” 

Her Pokemon voice their assent, and Serena laughs. “Let’s get to it!” 

Chapter Text

Krookodile and Flygon size each other up, both taking a moment to gauge the strength of their opponent. Ash considers his moves. Krookodile is a purely physical attacker, and thanks to Flygon’s Levitate ability, Dig isn’t an option. Stone Edge won’t do much damage either. He could always go in for a Crunch, but a move like that is risky against a Pokemon as versatile as Flygon. He’ll just have to wait and see what kind of moves Raihan has given to the Dragon type.

Being an impatient man, Raihan decides to capitalize on Ash’s hesitation, taking the first move for himself. “Flygon, use Air Slash! Keep them at a distance, they might have Dragon coverage!” 

Flygon beats its wings, sending out a flurry of wind projectiles. Krookodile has to fight its immediate instinct to duck underground, instead choosing to summon a circle of stones, firing the Stone Edge to meet Flygon’s blades head on. Air meets rock in a clash of the elements, and neither side emerges with a clear victory. Krookodile has escaped unscathed, but so has Flygon. 

“Boomburst, put them on full blast!” 

“Dig in, Krookodile, then get in close to use Crunch!” 

Krookodile ducks away from the wall of sound being aimed at it, using Dig to close the gap between itself and Flygon. Raihan’s grin sharpens in response to this. 

“Use Boomburst on the arena floor! Don’t give them anywhere to hide!” 

Ash bites back a curse as the arena floor shakes and rumbles, exposing Krookodile’s position. Caught by surprise, the Dark type is unable to avoid being blasted upwards and subsequently dropped into a chasm by Earth Power. 

Before Krookodile can burrow away, Flygon pins it down with a flurry of Air Slashes. The crocodile is pelted by the blades of wind, taking significant damage before escaping with Dig. Raihan frowns. 

“You know that won’t work, right? Flygon can just use Boomburst on the floor again.” 

Ash laughs. “Oh, I’m counting on it. Do it now, Krookodile!”

As Flygon takes a deep breath in preparation to use Boomburst, Krookodile propels itself upwards with Stone Edge, its claws glowing a draconic green. The Unovan Ground type uppercuts its opponent directly on the chin, eliciting a cry of pain as the super effective move makes contact. 

“Go for the throat with Crunch!”

“Shake it off and use Air Slash!” 

Krookodile’s shadowy jaws lock around Flygon’s throat, causing its fellow Ground type to choke and splutter, its attempt at an attack dissipating. Pressing the advantage, Krookodile follows up with another Dragon Claw, raking the attack across Flygon’s back and knocking its adversary out of the sky. 

With both Pokemon on the ground and Raihan on the back foot, Ash presses his advantage. 

“Krookodile, drag Flygon under with Dig!” 

“Don’t let it get you underground, Flygon! Use Boomburst to escape!” 

The force of Flygon’s sonic blast manages to separate the dragon from Krookodile, and once it has some breathing room, Raihan grins. 

“Let’s end this with Draco Meteor!” 

Ash, having seen Raihan’s matches against Flint and Wulfric, saw this coming. “Get underground and wait it out, Krookodile! Then get ready for my signal!” 

Krookodile waits and watches as Flygon fires a beam of orange energy upwards, before proceeding to duck away as the energy becomes a meteor shower. To Raihan’s surprise, none of the glowing projectiles make contact. He frowns at this. 

“Flygon, get into the air and start prepping another Draco Meteor. We’ll make them come to us.” 

On the ground, Ash taps his foot three times. It’s barely noticeable on the cameras, but to a Pokemon trained in seismic awareness like Krookodile, it might as well be a warning tremor before an earthquake. 

The reptilian Ground type bursts out of the ground, locking its jaws around Flygon’s just as the dragon prepares to fire its attack. With its pathway blocked, the energy gathered in Flygon’s mouth can’t escape, so it goes the only way it can: inwards. 

A single powerful explosion later, both Krookodile and Flygon lie on the ground in less than blissful unconsciousness. The referee declares both unable to battle, and Ash recalls Krookodile with whispered thanks. It’s time for the battle they’ve been anticipating since the start of this match. 

“Steel yourself, Duraludon!” 

“Infernape, I choose you!” 

About an hour and a half into her training with her team, Serena finds herself being approached by May. The experienced Coordinator is beaming, her trusted partner Blaziken walking at her side. “Serena, you need to come over! They announced the first round results!” 

Serena laughs at May’s enthusiasm, but acquiesces to the brunette’s request. With Toxtricity in tow and instructions for the rest of her team to keep practicing under Braixen’s leadership, she makes her way back to the Contest hall. 

As May had so graciously informed her, the results of the first round have been put up on the hall’s Jumbotron. With a score of 293, Serena remains in fourth place, above Drew Hayden and just below Solidad Summers. Naturally, May and Dawn sit atop the leaderboard with a perfect 300 each, but Serena feels like she’s announced herself as a Top Coordinator hopeful with her opening performance. 

Still, she can’t get complacent. There’s another Appeals round to clear before she reaches the battle rounds. For this round, a more traditional Appeal that allows the use of multiple Pokemon and moves, she plans to use a combo routine involving Pancham, Sylveon and Milotic. Using Braixen again would be repetitive, and Toxtricity needs a bit more practice before he’s ready for his big debut. Her sixth, Spectrier, is in the same boat as Toxtricity- just with a lot more practice required. The spectral equine is taking a frustratingly long time to warm up to her, but Serena supposes that it’s to be expected. 

Before she can get back to training with her team, Serena is pulled aside by Dawn. The blue haired Coordinator fixes her friend with an unimpressed look. “Serena, the day’s over. You probably won’t be up for a while in tomorrow’s Appeal rounds. Don’t you think that your team needs a break?” 

Serena sighs. “This is my first Grand Festival, Dawn. If I want to make a good impression and get through the next few rounds, I have to train harder than anyone else here. I don’t have the advantage of an established reputation on the circuit.” 

Dawn raises an eyebrow. “Girl, you were almost Kalos Queen. Don’t you think that’s worth something to the judges?” 

The honey haired girl shakes her head. “I’ve heard the way people talk, Dawn. They think I’m a ditz, that Performances are somehow easier than Contests. I can’t prove them right by slacking off. I owe it to my Pokemon to win… and to myself, to be honest. I’m tired of coming up short, always being second place. It’s finally time for me to cross the line between the winners and the rest.”  

Dawn, floored, can only nod along to Serena’s speech. “Okay then. Just don’t forget to take breaks, Rena. See you at dinner?” 

Serena nods. “Count on it.” 

As Infernape stares Duraludon down, Ash’s hand subtly reaches into his pocket. He runs his hand over the Z-Crystal, before pulling it out and slotting it into its rightful place on his wrist. “Infernape, let’s show them just what we’re capable of! Dig, then straight into a Flare Blitz!” 

Infernape ducks underground as Duraludon snaps off a Thunderbolt, before superheating the earth with a Flare Blitz. Curiously, Duraludon winces even before Infernape makes contact, so Ash takes out his Pokedex to examine what appears to be a new move. 

“Alright, Infernape, you just learned Scorching Sands! Try to do it again!” 

Infernape presses its paws into the ground, warming the surface to an uncomfortable degree. Duraludon is ready, however, and with surprising speed, it lumbers forwards and smacks Infernape with a Dragon Tail. The steely dragon immediately follows up by charging a Flash Cannon, but Infernape quickly uses Protect to negate any possible damage. 

“Body Press, let’s go!” 

“Jump and use Flare Blitz!” 

Duraludon jumps into the air, preparing to bring its full body weight down onto Infernape. The fiery simian doesn’t take this lying down though, instead choosing to meet Duraludon with a searing hot Flare Blitz. When the towering reptilian is knocked out of the sky, Infernape pounces on it with a devastating follow-up Close Combat. Raihan frowns, knowing that he’d underestimated Infernape. Even without the monstrous power of Blaze, the Fire type is an experienced and skilled combatant. 

A follow-up attack flings Infernape backwards, away from Duraludon and into the dirt. Snarling, the Sinnohian Fire type gets up to use Scorching Sands. Raihan anticipates this, though, and decides to take a page out of Ash’s book. 

“Duraludon, use Flash Cannon and launch yourself into the air!” 

Nodding, Duraludon gathers the metallic energy in its mouth, before firing- not at Infernape, but at the torn up floor of the arena. In addition to blasting Duraludon upwards, the shot destabilizes the floor, causing the dragon’s opponent to stumble. 

Raihan pounces on the newly-given opportunity with a grin. “Now turn your fall into a Body Press piledriver!” 

“Protect, now!” 

Infernape brings up the glowing blue shield just as Duraludon hurtles towards it, causing the steely draconid to bounce back and skid through the dirt. The two Pokemon breathe heavily, clearly locked in a stalemate. Raihan, seeing this, calls Duraludon back to its Pokeball. The Pokeball glows pink, and begins to grow in size. Raihan grins. 

“Time to show them our full power, Duraludon! Let’s get huge, and Gigantamax!” 

Serena returns to the scene of her partner Pokemon scolding its Legendary teammate, most likely over something the latter had said. She shakes her head and sighs. “Bring it in, everyone.” 

Once she has all of her Pokemon gathered in one spot, Serena delivers her announcement. “We’re going to do one more runthrough of tomorrow’s routines, and then take the rest of the evening off. I’ve put you all through enough for one day.” Upon seeing the grateful looks on her team’s faces, Serena knows that she’s made the right decision. 

A flawless execution of tomorrow’s Appeals routine later, Serena calls her team back to their Pokeballs with whispered thanks. Then, as her stomach so graciously reminds her, it’s time for dinner. Serena makes the short trip over to the dining hall, serving herself a plate of traditional Hoennian food before seeking out May and Dawn. The other girls are tucked into a corner booth, with May sitting next to a green haired boy that Serena recognizes as the brunette’s rival Drew. 

Drew gives Serena an appreciative look when she sits down next to Dawn. “Serena Yvonne, right? The new girl from Kalos? Pleasure to meet you.” 

May smacks his hand playfully. “Back off, Hayden, she’s taken.” 

“Whoever they are, they’re lucky- unlike whoever gets saddled with you.” Drew fires back. 

Serena catches a glimpse of a faint blush across May’s face, and gives Dawn a questioning look. The bluenette replies with a grin that promises future mischief, before cutting in so that May and Drew’s bickering doesn’t escalate. “So! Who are you all using for the Appeals round?” 

“Absol and Butterfree.” Drew responds immediately. 

Not to be outdone, May speaks up next. “I think I’ll go with Glaceon and Beautifly. They’ve been working on some really interesting combinations!” 

“Probably Pachirisu and Lopunny, they could use some work on combining their moves.” Dawn comments. 

Everyone turns to Serena expectantly, and she swallows. “I’m using Pancham, Sylveon and Milotic. Is that too much?” 

Surprisingly, it’s Drew who speaks up. “Not at all. It’s ambitious, yes, but ambition is good. It means you’re confident in your Pokemon and their capabilities.” 

“Yeah, Serena! If you use three Pokemon in your Appeal, it’ll show the judges how serious you are about becoming Top Coordinator!” May chimes in. 

Serena smiles. “Thanks, everyone. Now, I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m going to shower and call it a night. It’s been a long day.” 

As the honey haired girl gets up and walks back to her cabin, the rest of the table wishes her well. It’s a pleasant feeling, and it reminds Serena that despite the prejudices of other Coordinators, she has friends. Friends who are also her rivals, but friends all the same. 

With Duraludon now Gigantamaxed, Ash starts the countdown and waits. Raihan immediately falls into his trap, showing more of his impatience- something that’s undoubtedly cost him against Leon in the past. 

“Duraludon, let’s shock them with a Max Lightning!” 

“Nullify it with Scorching Sands, then get ready to use Flare Blitz!” 

Pillars of lightning form on the now crackling field, but thanks to Infernape’s careful timing and use of a Ground type move, none of the electricity touches it. It then lunges forwards with a Flare Blitz, uprooting Duraludon and causing it to shrink to two-thirds of its normal Gigantamaxed size. 

With wild eyes and a look of fierce concentration, Raihan orders a Max Knuckle. Almost lazily, Ash calls for a Protect that mostly deflects the move. The boost to Duraludon’s attack doesn’t concern him at this point- Raihan is getting sloppy. And with as far as his impulse control has come, Ash knows he can capitalize. 

“Knock them down to size with Close Combat!” 

“Oh no you don’t! Duraludon, show them our special finisher! Use G-MAX DEPLETION!” 

Infernape lunges in with a wicked right cross, but before the punch can land, a blinding pain strikes the Fire type, like all the strength is being sucked out of it. The simian shrieks, and Duraludon appears visibly refreshed after every second of performing the attack. 

Raihan shoots a smirk at Ash. “Are you two done yet? No Pokemon besides Leon’s Charizard has ever broken free of Duraludon’s G-Max Depletion!” 

Gritting his teeth, Ash reaches out with Aura, encouraging Infernape to hold on. Infernape seems to gather strength after this, and with a primal scream, it activates Blaze to break free. 

“Holy shit!” Raihan yells, but Ash’s attention is on his Pokemon. Infernape’s head flame is glowing white-hot, and its eyes are filled with focused rage. It looks at Ash and nods. Grinning, its Trainer returns the head movement, his hand going to his wrist. 

“Time to show Raihan the power of our bond, Infernape! Hotter than a welding torch, blazing out of control like a forest fire… Infernape, use Inferno Overdrive!” 

Ash and Infernape finish striking the poses, and as the symbol for Z-power forms in front of them, Raihan hastily calls for another G-Max Depletion. 

It’s too late. 

A massive fireball forms out of Infernape’s head flame, and with a powerful thrust of its fists and a cry of its name, Infernape sends the fireball directly into Duraludon’s face. The resultant explosion of heat creates a searing gust of wind that dries the skin of any spectators close enough to the field, and has the far more important effect of causing Duraludon to shrink down to normal size. The draconid lies on the ground in its normal form, knocked out from the obscenely powerful Z-Move. 

Everything takes a moment to sink in for Ash. It’s not until Infernape, Pikachu and the rest of his team tackle him to the ground that it finally hits him. He did it- he’s in the Masters’ Eight. He’s three matches away from becoming the Monarch. 

Raihan walks over to him, hands in his pockets. “Think fast, Ketchum.” 

Ash catches the object thrown at him: a Gym Badge, by the looks of things. The dragon emblazoned on the shiny metal gives away who it belongs to. 

“I normally give these out to challengers who beat me, and I heard you’re quite the badge collector.” Raihan gives Ash a tired smile. 

“Give Lee hell for me, yeah?” 

Ash grins. “Absolutely. Thanks for an amazing match, Raihan.” 

The dark skinned man waves him off. “I should be thanking you, kid. Haven’t had a battle like that since the last time I faced Leon. Now go, I bet your girlfriend wants to see you. I’ll handle the press.” 

Taking this as the dismissal it is, Ash calls his team back and makes his way out of the stadium. He takes the back alleys of Hammerlocke, careful to avoid the tabloid reporters. Once he arrives back at his apartment, it only takes Ash a few minutes to pack a suitcase. He has a flight to Slateport City to catch, after all. 

Chapter Text

After sprinting to the airport, Ash goes through security, receiving many congratulations as he walks towards his gate. Eventually, it gets to the point where he puts his hat in his backpack, and puts in a pair of earbuds. This way, he’s somewhat less recognizable. Come to think of it, he probably should have changed his clothes… oh well, it’s too late now. He’ll just have to deal with the stares from random people. 

What feels like an eternity later, the flight begins boarding general admission passengers. Ash could have sprung for business class, but he didn’t want to be extravagant. The flight will get there at the same time no matter where he sits, and all that matters is the destination. With a queue of downloaded Mecha Tyranitar movies and Pikachu curled up on his lap, Ash sits back and tries to think about anything but Serena while the plane takes off. 

The five hour flight passes in a blur. Ash watches stupid movies and catches up on the highlights from day one of the Grand Festival, pleased and immensely proud to see that Serena, May and Dawn had all passed the first round in the top five. Serena’s performance in particular is absolutely breathtaking, and Ash recognizes a lot of the moves from her dancing with him in the kitchen. Turns out that teaching him not to have two left feet on the dance floor also helped with her Appeal. 

And now I’m back to missing her, Ash sighs. Just when it seems like he’s got everything figured out, something pulls him away from the girl he loves. Being separated from Serena for long periods of time clearly isn’t great for his mental health. Honestly, with the way he behaves around her and Pikachu, he might have some issues with- what’s it called, codependency? 

Ash sighs again. Yet another thing to bring up when he eventually goes to therapy. At this point, the trouble is finding a therapist who would actually believe him. But that’s a problem for future Ash. Present day Ash just needs to worry about getting to Slateport before the second day of the Grand Festival. 

Around midnight Hoenn time, Swellow Transport Flight 395 touches down in Slateport City. Ash grabs his suitcase from the overhead compartment, gently shakes Pikachu awake, and steps off the plane. It’s only a short walk to the Pokemon Center from the airport, so even in the middle of the night, it shouldn’t be much of a problem. It’s not like anyone will try to mug him, right? 

… Someone tries to mug him. 

Their only Pokemon is a Linoone, and since they challenge him with said Linoone, it’s more of an involuntary gamble battle than an actual mugging. Ash shrugs. Free training is free training, he supposes. “Lycanroc, I choose you!” 

A single Accelerock later, Ash pockets the money and continues on his way to the Pokemon Center. To his shock, it’s not a Nurse Joy working at the front desk, but instead someone that Ash knows very well. 

“Hey, Brock!” 

The tan skinned man looks up from the paperwork, a wide grin spreading across his face. “Ash! It’s been quite a while!” 

“You said it!” Ash grins, all tiredness forgotten. “Looks like you finally got your physician’s license, right?” 

Brock chuckles. “Yes. I’m surprised you know what that is, though.” Both friends share a laugh at that. 

“Anyway, what brings you to Slateport? I saw your battle with Raihan, and I know you qualified for the Masters’ Eight. So shouldn’t you be off training?” Brock asks curiously. 

Ash rubs the back of his neck. “I’m in town for the rest of the Grand Festival, actually. I came to see my girlfriend.” 

Brock’s jaw drops. “Let me get this straight. You , the most unromantic person I know, somehow managed to get a girlfriend before me?” 

Ash groans. “Why is everyone so surprised? Every time I tell someone I’m in a relationship, they’re shocked. But when I tell them I won a League, nobody bats an eye!” 

Brock chuckles at his friend’s frustration. “You forget that you’ve traveled with a lot of beautiful girls, and never once in the time I’ve known you have you shown any interest. Who’s the unlucky girl?” 

Ash winces, and Brock immediately notices. 

“Sorry, Ash. That was probably a little too far. But I’m genuinely curious as to who could have caught your attention.” 

Nodding and accepting Brock’s apology, Ash explains. “Her name’s Serena Yvonne, and she’s the most amazing girl in the entire world. I’m so incredibly lucky to be dating her.” 

“She’s that Coordinator from Kalos, right?” Brock asks with a raised eyebrow. When Ash nods, his best friend lets out a low whistle. 

“A girl like that is quite the catch, Ash. How did the two of you meet?” 

“Well, it all started at Professor Oak’s summer camp when I was six…” 

Once Ash is done explaining, Brock has a huge smile on his face. “I’m really happy for you, Ash. It sounds like you and Serena are a good match.” 

“We are.” Ash says, as earnestly as he can. 

The former Gym Leader nods, then scowls playfully. “I still can’t believe you found your soulmate before I did.” 

Ash laughs. “You know, if you asked Lucy on a date, I’m sure she would say yes.” 

Brock seems to seriously consider this, before shaking his head. “That’s enough about my love life. You need some sleep, Ash. I’ll be here all week, so if you want to catch up over coffee, just let me know. Your room is room 25.” 

The raven haired Trainer accepts his room key with a smile. “Thanks, Brock! I’ll see you in the morning!”

With that taken care of, Ash makes his way down the halls towards his room, swiping the key and opening the door. The room is small, with a single king-sized bed, and a bathroom off to the side. 

Once his suitcase is unpacked and Pikachu is settled in comfortably, Ash strips down to his boxers and climbs into bed. He should be able to manage around six hours of sleep, since the doors for the Grand Festival open at nine-thirty local time. That leaves him with six hours for sleep, ninety minutes to get himself ready, and an hour to get to the venue. Sounds reasonable, if he had to guess. So, with a light heart and a whisper of, “sweet dreams, Serena,” Ash turns out the lights and puts his head on his pillow. 

Serena is woken by gentle prodding from Sylveon’s feelers, and when she opens her eyes, she sees Pancham preparing to bounce on the bed. The blonde haired girl gives the little panda a motherly glare. “Pancham, no. We’ve talked about this.” 

“Cham cham pan…” The Fighting type pouts, but acquiesces to its Trainer’s request. Serena looks at her team. Everyone minus Spectrier is out of their balls and waiting for her, and it fills her with excitement and trepidation. This is where she really proves that she belongs- once she passes the second Appeal, it’s all battles from there. 

After showering quickly, doing her hair, brushing her teeth and applying a light coat of makeup, Serena makes her way to the dining hall. She grabs a breakfast quiche, biting into it as she walks to the training field. It can’t hurt to be prepared by doing things again. 

Before she can reach the practice field, Serena is pulled aside by Dawn. “No.” 

“But Dawn-”

“I said no , Serena. Cramming in extra training is just going to get your nerves up and make you sloppy. Trust me, I would know.” 

It takes a moment, but Serena acquiesces, her shoulders slumped. 

“What if I lose, Dawn?” She asks quietly, biting her lip. “What if I blow it and let everyone down again?”

Dawn puts her hands on her hips in the most commanding fashion she can muster. “Serena Yvonne. You are undoubtedly one of the most talented Coordinators here. You have just as much of a shot at winning as anyone else. And if you lose, you lose. What is it that you always say? Nothing we do is a waste of time? There’s no point in being fatalistic about this.” 

Serena chuckles wearily. “You make a very good point. Sorry about the pity party.” 

Her blue haired friend softens. “Don’t mention it, Rena. I’ve got your back, now and forever. Now let’s get going. The Ribbon Cup isn’t going to win itself!” They walk off towards the wings. 

Ash reaches the doors of the Slateport Contest Hall with plenty of time to spare, seeing that only a few people have arrived before him. That’s good, it means he can get better seats. 

“Ash!” 

The raven haired boy’s head turns, and a grin stretches across his face. “It’s been a minute, Max! How’ve you been?” 

Max returns Ash’s grin. “Great! I’ve got four Gym Badges- Dad’s next. I paused for the Grand Festival though. May’s trying to defend her title this year, but there are a few people I think could beat her. Your girlfriend is one of them.” 

“Do you know where Serena is?” Ash asks hopefully. 

Max tilts his head, as if examining his mentor from a new angle. “You’ve really got it bad, don’t you?” 

Ash smiles without an ounce of regret. “Worse than Brock ever did. Just… not as over the top about it.” 

“I can tell.” Max says plainly. He adjusts his glasses, then looks up at Ash, sticking his hand out. 

“How about this- I get you to Serena, and you give me a battle when the Festival ends for the day. Deal?” 

“Deal.” Ash shakes Max’s hand to seal it, before following the younger boy’s lead to the backstage area. Coordinators and staff alike bustle around, making sure everything is ready for the day. Max pulls him past a group of laughing boys, and continues leading Ash around until they reach the greenrooms. Max knocks a quick pattern on one of the doors, three fast taps followed by a slap. 

“Just a moment!” May’s voice calls from inside the room. 

Max grins wickedly. “Check this out.” Despite May’s request and Ash’s warnings, the younger Maple sibling opens the door anyway. The scene inside is extremely surprising, and yet somehow entirely expected. 

May and Drew are caught in a passionate kiss on the couch, their faces flushed and their bodies pressed together. When May turns around to yell at Max, her ruined hair and lipstick come into full view. Then she sees Ash, and goes deathly quiet. 

“Max Irving Maple. Please tell me you didn’t do what I think you just did, because if you did, no court in the world would stop me from murdering you.” 

Entirely unphased by his sister’s anger, Max shrugs. “I thought Serena was in here. Hey, Drew.” 

Drew’s red face peeks out from behind May. “Sup.” 

Ash, feeling a great deal of secondhand embarrassment, decides to cut to the chase. The sooner he leaves this situation, the better. “Hey guys. Do you know where Serena is?” 

May waves a hand embarrassedly. “Next room over, she’s sharing with Dawn. Now please get out of here.” 

Ash shoots her a casual salute. “Will do. Congrats, by the way.” He walks out of the room as May takes a deep breath, and more than anything, he’s just thankful the walls are semi soundproof, because May has quite the set of lungs on her. Especially when she’s mad. Max is in for it, and like the good older brother figure he is, Ash abandons his pseudo little sibling in favor of finding his girlfriend. 

Halfway through her playlist, Serena hears a soft knock at the door. Dawn is changing in the booth behind her, so Serena quietly opens the door, and comes face to face with the love of her life. 

The reunion kiss is long and sweet, all of the emptiness in her heart filling as Ash captures her lips with his. It’s only been two days, but with everything that’s happened, it feels like a month has passed. 

Ash pulls back, holding Serena’s face. “You know, I can fit the whole world in my hands when I do this.” He murmurs, and Serena goes bright red. Curse this beautiful boy and his unexpectedly smooth compliments! 

“I’m so glad to see you again, Ash. And I’m so, so proud of you for beating Raihan. You earned every bit of that victory.” Serena whispers, resting her forehead against his. Ash just seems to drink it in. 

“Come on, you probably need to get ready.” He whispers. “I’ll leave you to it.” 

Serena pulls him in for one last kiss, and then closes the door quietly. When she turns around, Dawn is staring at her with a Persian-like smile on her face. “Your man came back for you. That’s good- because if he didn’t, I would have kicked his ass into next week.” 

The honey blonde haired girl smiles wryly at her best friend. “I appreciate the sentiment.”  

An announcement plays over the loudspeakers, calling all guests to return to their seats. The TV in the green room lets out a faint noise, which informs the girls that the order for the Appeals round has been posted. Serena has the first slot after intermission, and Dawn is going fifth overall. The two best friends look at each other, grinning. They’re going to put on a show that the audience won’t forget for a long time. 

Chapter Text

Hello, my dear, dear readers. You may have noticed that it's been quite a while since I updated this story. Well, the reasons are numerous, but I figured I'd start with the easy one.

I'm not okay, guys.

I've been dealing with some pretty serious mental health issues this year. I was actively suicidal at one point, and for that reason, I ended up in a series of therapeutic programs. I'm still at one, as a matter of fact. My mental state is pretty awful. Also, I lost access to my personal Google Docs, and I've basically had to start from scratch. That should hopefully change soon, but it means that To the Sky's future is up in the air. 

I'm going to be honest here, as I should have been from the start: I'm not entirely sure that To the Sky is worthy of continuation. It's so clearly the work of a teenager desperate to make their mark, without any regard for quality or the maturity that makes other fics like GeekGirles' Piece of My Heart or Pocketbook's Paldea Saga so special. I'm kind of embarrassed that I put it into existence, if I'm being fully honest. Maybe that's just me being a depressive cynic, but I'm frustrated that my first book is such a shitshow. I'll leave it up for you guys, and I'll try my best to finish it, but good God I'm just so tired of putting out mediocre work and praying for the best. Somehow, some way, I need to step up my game. 

New works will be coming soonish. See you all then.

With love and regrets,

Tigerhawk7109

Chapter Text

Ash navigates through the crowds, making his way to his seat with Pikachu on his shoulder and the rest of the team in their Pokeballs. He’s pretty close to the stage, but not so close that it will be difficult to see. An elderly couple sits next to him, and the man strokes the fur of a Riolu contentedly. 

Seeing that they haven’t noticed him, Ash decides not to bother the two, simply taking out his phone and checking the lineup of the Masters’ Eight. All the big names are there: Leon, Cynthia, Lance, Steven, Diantha. There are three names that surprise him, though. Iris, for a start- Drayden had informed him that she was now Unova’s Champion, but Ash had assumed she would have needed to fight through the ranks like him. 

Apparently not, he muses, a bitter feeling tingeing his thoughts. The League Association’s ignorance of Alola and its culture means that being their Champion holds far less weight. Iris, coming from a region known for battling, doesn’t have to worry about that. She’s always had so many advantages over him, and it rubs him the wrong way in spite of their tentative friendship. For Lugia’s sake, she had an Axew that knew Giga Impact. She was never like Misty, who brought him down to Earth because she actually knew better than he did. 

Pulling himself out of his reverie, Ash looks at the list again. The second unfamiliar name, Geeta, piques his curiosity. A quick Goomygle search reveals that she’s the representative of the Paldea League, a Champion ranked Trainer primarily known as a researcher of the Terastal phenomenon. The part about her being Champion ranked makes Ash raise an eyebrow curiously. Does Paldea have a separate system from the rest of the world? 

The final name on the list is the one that makes Ash pause. Rank 8: Ash Ketchum, Champion of Alola. Began the season as rank 1211. 

“How the hell did I manage that?” He whispers, disbelief creeping in. Yes, he beat Raihan and earned his spot in the bracket. But seeing it like this? His name on a list of the strongest Trainers in the world? It all feels that much more real. 

A blare of feedback from the speakers alerts Ash to the fact that the Festival is starting. He knows that Dawn will be going fifth, so it’s worth it to pay attention. The first four Coordinators are clearly good, but a step below where Ash knows his friends and girlfriend are at. When Dawn’s name is called, he stands up and applauds, knowing that his best friend is about to school most of the field.

Dawn steps onto the stage with a confident smile present on her face, throwing two Pokeballs into the air. After a moment, both capsules burst open, revealing Lopunny and Pachirisu, the Electric-type striking a dynamic pose atop Lopunny's head.

Pikachu's ears perk up with excitement, causing Ash to crack a teasing smile towards his partner.

“Guess you liked her too, didn’t ya?”

Pikachu scratches at the back of his neck in a manner oddly similar to his Trainer. “Pikapika…”

Before Ash can resume the teasing, the crowd goes quiet. Dawn is about to perform. 

With a flourish, the Sinnohian Coordinator commands Pachirisu to use Discharge. Pachirisu proceeds to jump off Lopunny's head and high into the air, firing off multiple rings of blue electricity that surround themselves around the two Pokemon.

"Lopunny, freeze the electricity with Ice Beam!” Lopunny generates a ball of Ice-type energy in its hands before performing a pirouette, spinning as it releases the Ice Beam. As Lopunny continues to spin, the ice begins to freeze the rings of electricity, the ice jumping from one ring to another as it continues its ascent towards Pachirisu. Ash grins, anticipating Dawn’s next move before she calls it out. 

“Now Lopunny, shatter the ice with Dizzy Punch!” 

Lopunny stops firing Ice Beam, though it continues to spin, its fists glowing as it begins to break the rings with well-placed punches to the weakest parts of the coil. The ice doesn’t even crack—instead, it explodes outwards, freeing the electricity and allowing it to arc between the shards. 

Snapping her fingers, Dawn strikes a pose. “Alright you two, let's finish this! Use Helping Hand and Shadow Ball!” Pachirisu, who had been hopping from one floating ice shard to the other, jumps off and dives towards the ground, its paws beginning to glow a brilliant white as it descends.

Generating the umbral energy in one of its fluffy appendages, Lopunny high fives Pachirisu as the Electric-type lands on the ground before applying said hand to the Shadow Ball, causing it to nearly double in size. Lopunny then jumps up and flings the extra large Shadow Ball into the ground, the Ghost-type attack beginning to disperse outward once she lands. The contrast between the arcing electric currents and the wave of shadow pulsing outwards is nothing short of spectacular.

Pachirisu jumps upward towards Lopunny's head, and the two Pokemon share another high five while Pachirisu is midway through her jump. Pachirisu lands on Lopunny's head once more, and the two strike a pose, marking the end of their appeal.

Dawn takes a bow and recalls her teammates, blowing a kiss to the crowd as she exits the stage. Ash grins. From the look on the judges’ faces, Dawn performed exactly as expected- a grade above the rest. She’s gunning for May’s title. 

Several more Appeals pass in the blink of an eye, until the announcer calls Drew’s name. The green haired boy enters from stage left with a flourish, casually flicking open Absol and Butterfree’s Pokeballs. 

“Alright, you two, let’s give them a show! Absol, use Razor Wind, and Butterfree, blow it apart with Gust!” 

Concentrating the energy in a tight spiral around its horn, Absol lets loose a series of crescent shaped blades. Butterfree proceeds to flap its wings twice, creating two powerful Gusts that scatter Absol’s Razor Wind. 

“Now use Psychic and Rock Slide!” 

Several huge rocks emerge out of thin air, hovering above the stage in Butterfree’s powerful psychic grip. At Drew’s command, the rocks begin to drop, rapidly gaining speed as gravity exerts itself. This is far from the end of the Appeal, though. 

“Slice those rocks with Iron Tail, Absol! Butterfree, give her a boost with Bug Buzz!” 

Absol takes a running leap as Butterfree flaps its wings determinedly, boosting its teammate’s jump with the pleasant humming of a Bug Buzz. Its leap now amplified, Absol tucks into a somersault, cleaving through the rocks with Iron Tail in an impressive display of strength. Of course, no Coordinator worth their salt ends an Appeal without sticking the landing, so Drew has Butterfree use Gust and soften Absol’s fall. With that sorted, the green-haired Coordinator takes a bow, recalling his Pokemon and strutting off the stage. 

Ash holds his laughter as the fan girls go wild, trying to block out the memory of Drew making out with the girl he views as a sister. They’ve probably been dating for a while, and they'll undoubtedly break the Internet if they go public. It’s a good thing he and Serena live out of the spotlight- all it took was one particularly nasty encounter with the press to convince the Mandibuzz-like reporters to leave them alone. 

Out of the remaining Appeals before intermission, the only one that catches Ash’s attention is the Appeal of a boy named Florian. He sends out a Charcadet and a Klawf, two Pokemon Ash’s Pokedex tells him are from Paldea. The Appeal itself is perfectly fine, with Klawf shattering Charcadet’s Fire Spin attacks using Brick Break. What really catches Ash’s attention is the guy’s look of easy confidence. He’s holding his cards close to his chest. Serena might end up facing him in the later rounds. 

Intermission is called, and Ash stretches and gets up from his seat. A rumble from his stomach draws a chuckle from Pikachu, only for the little mouse to turn sheepish when his own stomach growls. Ash laughs. 

“Don’t try that with me, buddy. We both know that our appetites are identical.” 

He makes his way over to the food court, and a stall with three familiar vendors catches his attention. “Hey, James. Could I get a Nimbasa roll with soy sauce?” 

“Coming right up, Twerp!” Meowth chirps from the counter, as his partner in crime begins pulling out the sushi ingredients and rolling them together. 

“How’s business been? I haven’t seen you guys in a while.” Ash comments, then realizes the odd nature of his statement. It’s true- Team Rocket hasn't bothered him in quite some time. Hell, the last time he or Serena ran into them was before Serena had even gotten Toxel’s egg. 

Jessie shrugs. “Well, there was that whole nasty business with some other twerp taking down all of Team Rocket. Some kid from New Bark Town… Ethan, wasn’t that his name?” 

This time, Ash actually does a double take. All of Team Rocket, gone? Just like that? It seems unbelievable. They’d plagued his home of Kanto for years, time and time again slipping out of Champion Lance’s grasp. And now they won’t be bothering anyone ever again. That does raise a question, however. 

“If the rest of Team Rocket is locked up, how are you guys here?” Ash queries, and Meowth has the decency to look somewhat embarrassed. 

“Ah… dat would be because the kid put in a good word for us, after we gave him directions to da Boss’ office.” 

Ash shrugs at that. “Good for you guys. I hope this means you won’t be coming after Pikachu any time soon?” 

“Pretty much.” James confirms, handing Ash his order as he rings him up. 

Ash takes the sushi, feeling a strange melancholy settle over him. For so long, Team Rocket has been part of his life, a speck of consistency no matter where he ends up. This… this feels like an ending. 

“I’ll see you guys around.” He offers, and James gives him a kind smile. 

“Count on it, Ash.” 

The raven-haired Trainer walks back to his seat, munching on sushi and mulling over what may very well be the last time he ever encounters Team Rocket. Wherever they end up after this, he wishes them a happy ending. 

… And maybe a series of annoying mishaps to make up for every time they tried to steal Pikachu. Hey, a guy can hope for a bit of petty revenge. 

The lights begin to dim, and Ash sucks in a breath. It’s her turn now. While Serena is typically open with her routines, she’d kept her specific Grand Festival preparations a secret from him. All Ash knows is that he’s going to inevitably be blown away, and he can’t wait.

Chapter Text

I can't keep doing this, guys.

I can't keep writing a story that never should have gone this far. I can't keep pretending that my story- this shambling wreck held together with duct tape and the dreams of a fifteen year old author with eyes too big for his stomach- is good. That I even deserve a place among the writers on this platform whose work far outstrips my own.

To the Sky is done. No fakeouts, no more hiatuses. This is where it ends. If anyone has any questions about what would have come next, feel free to put them in the comments. I don't mind answering.

It's been a hell of a ride, everyone. Thank you for your support.

- HTR, "Tigerhawk7109"