Ash came rising back up on Charizard, Serena's hat tied to his back and he was carrying her body in his arms, holding Serena close to his chest. Everyone turned as Charizard landed and Ash hopped off, holding his Pokeball behind his back for a brief moment to return Charizard, before walking forward, the storm and his wet hair covering his eyes as he looked down at the floor. There was complete and utter silence as everyone watched Ash walk up to the tables that had been set up. Ash gently laid Serena onto the table like he was putting a baby into a cot, before putting his hands on his face. Ash stared at the blood on his hands, watching it wash away in the pouring rain. He stood and stared at his own hands as someone finally moved.

"Serena...she isn't dead...right?" Bonnie spoke slowly, walking up to the table. She snapped her head up to Ash upon asking the question. 

Ash didn't reply, he reached into his pocket and put the note on her chest, before walking off. Pikachu decided not to follow him, staring at Ash as he headed away from the scene. 

In the background, Bonnie began to wail, crashing to her knees. Many of the gang began to cry, but some of them just stared into space, feeling unsure about how to react. Gary was the only person in the group that seemed to be taking it with no reaction, hands in his pockets. However, he had a grim look on his face and suddenly began to walk in the same direction that Ash was going, without saying a word.

Ash continued until he came across a forest and then he sat down on a log that had fallen, resting himself on it. Ash took the time to actually look at himself. His clothes had some blood stains, but there was also dirt and rubble covering his body and his face. Ash took off his hat and put it down in front of himself, before taking Serena's hat from his back, placing it next to his own hat. Ash stared at both of the hats as a memorable scene with Serena played in his head. 

He had just lost to Wulfric and spiralled into uncertain depression. Serena had made it her duty to find him and the confrontation sent them both away in anger. But, Serena had actually helped Ash and the final form of Ash-Greninja was born. 

"Ash" Serena's voice came from in front of him. 

Ash snapped his head up in response and there she stood, Serena, completely alive and well. 

"What...what is this?" Ash's face became visible as his eyes widened. He stared at Serena, who slowly took a few steps forward.

"Why have you been crying?" she tilted her head in question, seemingly confused by Ash's behaviour. 

Ash said nothing more, he took one giant step forward and put his hand out towards Serena. As he expected, the image of Serena faded through his hand and Ash collapsed onto his knees. Even though his emotions were spent, Ash found himself crying once more. The image of Serena had made him believe for a moment, but that was because Ash wanted to believe. He knew deep down that she was not coming back, no matter what.

"I am so stupid" Ash murmured to himself, wiping the newest round of tears from his face.

"Come on, get up" Gary's shadow formed over Ash as he entered the scene. 

"Huh?" Ash looked up at Gary, disbelief still all over his face. Gary reached out a hand.

"I said get up, I am not going to let you suffer alone" Gary helped Ash up and then walked over to the two hats. He picked up Ash's and then gave it to him. "Put it on, you will get a cold in this rain"

Ash slowly put it on and then Gary picked up Serena's hat and handed it to Ash.

"She wouldn't want you to be like to this, Ash. Let's show Serena the type of person you really are. I want to see that 'never give up' attitude" Gary was staring at Ash with a serious expression and Ash noticed the plaster on Gary's face.

"I know...I'm sorry" Ash still murmured. He didn't have the strength to talk. 

"Sorry for what?" Gary asked Ash, with a little bit of surprise now on his face.

"For punching you...and for everything. It seems that whatever I do, it is never enough. Everything is my fault" Ash's words brought anger onto Gary's face.

"Don't you dare say anything like that again!" Gary yelled, and it was his turn to hit Ash, but he only pushed him to the floor.

"WHAT ELSE CAN I SAY?" Ash yelled back at full force, his hat falling off of his head and onto the ground. Ash smashed his hands into the muddy ground over and over again. "IT'S ALL MY FAULT"

"No...Ash" Gary crouch down and put a hand on Ash's shoulder. "It is not your fault. You know who is to blame. For everything. Right?" 

Ash stopped moving. He knew Gary was right, but he didn't want to admit it.

"Stop blaming yourself. You know exactly what needs to be done, right?" Gary asked Ash, who had frozen in place on the ground.

"Yes" Ash replied slowly, getting to his feet. He grabbed onto Serena's hat and put his own hat back on.

"Let's head back to the others, there is something we need to discuss. Promise me you will stay strong" Gary stared directly into Ash's eyes, the seriousness taking over again.

"...I promise" Ash murmured once more, following Gary back to the rest of the gang.

Bonnie and a few others were still crying when they got there. Bonnie was clutching onto Clemont, who was staring at Serena's body.

"What should we do?" Cilan spoke slowly, almost as if he was choosing his words very carefully. He looked around to gauge the reactions of the others.

"A private funeral" Ash spoke those three words as clear as ever and then he rolled his sleeves up. "It should be quiet. That's something I think she would like"

"What about...her Mom?" Clemont asked this and Ash jolted back like he had been shot. 

"I..I'll have to tell her" Ash replied, with slight hesitation.

"You don't have to. I can do it" Miette, who had calmed down a little was instantly refused by Ash.

"It's fine, I will do it now" Ash had already decided. "I will be back later"

Everyone had to watch once more as Ash slowly headed away, back to the Pokemon Center.

"I can't imagine what he must be feeling right now," Dawn said sympathetically. There were a few nods around the group.

"I know one thing for sure" Cilan caught everyone's attention. "After receiving the letter and Gary's talk, Ash will have revenge sitting in the back of his mind now"

Ash made it to the Pokemon Center in no time at all, stepping in and heading straight to the screen. He contacted Serena's Mom and waited for the call to be answered. He waited for what seemed liked ten minutes before there was finally an answer.

"Oh, hi Ash. Sorry, I replied so late" she said, with a huge smile on her face. Ash almost wanted to look away, but he stared back with no emotion on his face. "What is it?"

"It's about Serena" Ash spoke, instinctively clenching his fists, his face saddening. Grace put a hand to her mouth as she realised what he could be saying.

"Don't tell me that Serena..." Grace started and Ash finished the sentence by immediately looking down. He felt like crying but held it all back. "No..."

"I am so sorry" Ash murmured in reply as Grace broke down in front of him. "I must go now" 

Ash disconnected the call with the broken Grace and turned around, heading back outside. Anger slowly started to settle on his face and his grip on his own hands tightened even more. Ash looked up to the sky and continued walking on.

"I will do anything to get revenge for you...Serena. I now understand the reasons you left us behind, but I can't sit around as the people responsible roam free. Gary is right and I know the others feel the same. We will fight for you. I love you" 

72 hours later...

It was starting to get late and Serena's funeral was well underway. For some of Ash's friends, they still couldn't fathom that one of their friends had died. It was something that had never happened to them throughout their journey. The majority of these people kept their heads down and were crying throughout most of the funeral. Ash sat next to Gary, who was not reacting at all like he had done previously, but the anger was visible on his face. A few more minutes passed and people were given the opportunity to speak and Ash stood up, with nothing prepared. He walked over to the casket and gave a brief look to Grace, Serena's Mom, before turning to everyone in attendance, which was only his friends, Serena's Mom and surprisingly his own Mom, in the Kalos region. This was where they decided she would be laid to rest. Right near her very own home, where she grew up.

"If I was told under a year ago that Serena was not going to be safe, then I wouldn't have believed the person telling me" Ash begun, pacing back and forth as he spoke. He seemed calm and collected, having spent the last few days alone, going over his thoughts and feelings. "But, it has happened. She wasn't safe. Grace, Serena's Mom, probably doesn't even know what was going on so I will explain what happened. Team Shadow. I am sure many have heard the name now. They were causing destruction across the Hoenn waterfront, destroying buildings that are being rebuilt and repaired as I speak. They have a machine, one that is powerful enough to control not only Pokemon and increase their power but people as well"

Ash's Mom shuddered at this, reminding herself of the events last year with her and Serena being victims of this machine.

"She had been taken over by this machine one year ago. It was an attempt at full control over her body for the rest of her life. With the help of Clemont, Professor Oak and an old enemy we managed to stop her body from being taken over..." Ash paused for a moment, standing still briefly. He wondered if he should push on and decided to do so. "But, it was still lingering inside her. This second personality was eating her up from the inside waiting to take full control. It happened right as Team Shadow's boss gave me a choice. I had to choose my Pokemon's lives or Serena's. I froze. I couldn't choose. It wasn't as simple as that. He had tried to make Serena jump into the hole in the first place and I was holding her over it. Serena...she...she sacrificed herself for the people she loved. She pushed me away and jumped. There was nothing any of us can do. She never got to say it, but I am sure she loves each and everyone one of us. Cherishes us for the good in us. We must take her praise and fight on with it. We must not let her death be in vain and slow us down. I understand now...Serena"

As Ash finished, he bowed his head down to look away from tears flooding in the crowd. He averted his attention to the trees shortly after, noticing a figure. It was Parker.

Parker had disappeared since the death of Serena. He was staring blankly at Ash from a distance but a small grin formed on his face. Ash knew what it meant. It was time for a second war to occur.

Ash wasn't going to let them go this time.

------------

I apologize for the story so far. May be a little dumb to some.

Amourshipping isn't over. Don't assume it is.

Goodbye