In the last chapter:-

Ash notices Serena is in a sad mood. In an attempt to cheer her up, Ash challenges Serena to a battle.

It's the best way to clear your mind. He explains that having a Pokémon battle always helps him when he is feeling down; he believes that having a battle will make her feel better as well.

Serena considered it for a moment before agreeing to battle him.

"I accept your challenge. But I never had a proper battle before." Serena admits.

"I am sure you will do great."

Serena calls out her Braixen to the battlefield, while Ash uses his Pikachu.

"Alright! Braixen let's go!" Serena tossed her Pokeball into the air and released her Serena's starter.

"Pikachu! I choose you!" Pikachu hops off of Ash's shoulder and takes a battle instance.

"Pika!"

"Braixen, are you ready to battle?"

"Brax!" Braxien looked at Serena in confusion. Did her trainer just say a battle?

"We are having a battle against Ash and Pikachu," Serena explained.

Braxien nodded and took a battle stance, ready to battle.

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"You have the first move." Ash offered.

"Braxien Flamethrower!" Serena shouted.

Braixen points its wand stick at the opponent and forms a red-orange flame at its tip. It then releases a red-orange stream of fire from the tip of its wand at Pikachu.

"Thunderbolt!" Ash ordered.

Pikachu's cheeks spark and it releases a powerful bolt of yellow electricity from its body at Braxien's attack.

Two attacks collided and resulted in an explosion.

"Now, use Hidden Power!"

Braixen forms a light blue ball of energy in front of its hands and then fires the ball at Pikachu.

"Iron Tail to destroy it," Ash ordered.

Pikachu's tail glows white or metallic grey, and it hits the Hidden Power attack with it cancelling the attack.

Serena's eyes widened as the Hidden Power was shattered by Pikachu's Iron Tail and blue shards falling to the ground.

"Wow, this looks beautiful, Ash. That was a great strategy."

"T-Thanks,"

"Now the battle!"

"Uh, right!" Ash said before calling out his next attack. "Now! Use Electro Ball!"

"Deflect with hidden power. Then use, Flamethrower!" Braixen responded quickly, her blue sphere of energy cancelling Pikachu's attack and launching a flame attack right back at Pikachu.

"Quick Attack to dodge!"

Pikachu runs at a fast speed to dodge it and the attack hits the ground creating a cloud of smoke.

"Your Pikachu is speedy," Serena commented.

"Your Braixen is strong." Ash complimented her.

"Now, Iron Tail!"

"Use your stick to block it!"

Pikachu uses Iron Tail, which Braixen tries to block with its stick, but Iron Tail is overwhelmed and hits Braixen which makes it step back a little.

Serena pulls herself together then looks at Braixen with a smile and says.

"Braixen, Just act as if we are rehearsing," Serena advises.

Braixen nodded in understanding.

"Braixen! now use, Flamethrower aims it to the ground then follow up with Psybeam."

Braxien uses Flamethrower on the grojumpsjump high into the air to get closer to Pikachu then Braixen fires a streaky blue beam with pink circles inside it from its mouth at the opponent.

"Electro Ball!"

Braixen launched the attack at Pikachu, which collided with Pikachu's Electro Ball creating a shower of sparks and a cloud of smoke.

Serena wasn't done though. "Use the smoke and then use, Fire Blast!" Serena yelled.

Braixen releases a 大-shaped blast of yellow-orange fire from its sticks at Pikachu.

"Pikachu! use Iron Tail on the ground to counter that.!" Ash responded.

As the attack came near Pikachu used Iron Tail on the ground resulting in debris and rocks flying into the air countering the Braixen's fire blast attack.

"Flamethrower!" Serena called out her next attack.

"Thunderbolt!"

He released a powerful bolt of yellow electricity from its body at Braixen which was collided by Braxien's attack creating a cloud of smoke.

As the smoke clears, Braixen and Pikachu are breathing heavily.

"That was a great battle, Sere," Ash said as he called out the battle.

_____________☆☆☆☆______________

"It's over?"

"Yup, I did say a friendly battle. We don't have to finish the battle."

"Okay, but you are a strong trainer." Serena then turned to Braixen. "Braxien, you did great," Serena said as she returned Braixen to the Pokeball.

Ash praises Serena for her battling skills and tells, "You and your Pokemon are strong and they share a strong bond."

"Y-You think so..."

"Yes," Ash replied. "So, I guess, Braxien is your starter Pokemon."

"Yup. Who is your starter Pokemon? You have Charizard and Bulbasaur which are Kanto starters. I guess you choose Charizard or Bulbasaur."

"Nope," Ash shook his head in denial.

"Then who is it?"

"It's Pikachu!"

"What? Pikachu. But how?" Serena asked, looking confused. "I thought Kanto starters are Charmander, Squirtle, and Bulbasaur?"

"Well, it's a long story." Ash smiles sheepishly while rubbing the back of his neck and looks at Pikachu.

"Care to tell me your long story." Serena smiled.

Ash nods his head.

"The truth is the day before I am going to start my journey and choose a starter Pokemon. I am so excited that I couldn't sleep and thought about half of the night about which Pokemon I am gonna choose. And then when I am asleep I still have the dream about the Pokemon.

In the morning the alarm clock rang I don't know how but I threw the clock into the wall. When I woke up, I looked out of the window and noticed that the sun was already up. The broken clock on the ground. I jumped out of the bed and started running to the lab in my pajamas..." Ash stopped as he heard Serena laugh.

In response, Ash pouted, "Why are you laughing?"

"It's just you running out of your house in pajamas."

"Do you want to hear the story or not."

Serena stopped laughing, "Okay, please continue." She assured him.

"Yeah, when I run out of my house. After 5 minutes of running, I arrived at the lab. When I entered Professor Oak's lab to receive my Pokémon, Professor Oak told me that all three starter Pokémon have already been taken by the trainers.

I said for any Pokémon and then he replies that he still has one left. I don't care about which Pokemon, I just wanted my starter Pokemon. I receive the Pokémon, which turns out to be Pikachu.

I think that it is cute, but Pikachu gives an electric shock when I pick it up to hug it. And I start my journey, soon come to realize that Pikachu refuses to go inside his Poké Ball and prefers his independence."

Then Ash explains how he tries to catch Pidgey by throwing a Poké Ball.
Then he uses Pokedex and finds out that to catch a Pokémon, a trainer must first use their Pokémon to battle it, thereby weakening it, to be caught by a Poké Ball. Pikachu doesn't listen to him.

How he threw a small rock at what he believes is the Pidgey. However, it turns out to be a Spearow, which starts attacking Pikachu and him. Pikachu shocks Spearow, and in the process alerts a whole flock. The angered Spearow flock gives chase and eventually catches up and attacks Pikachu.

"I quickly grab Pikachu and dive into the waterfall to escape from the flock of Spearow."

"What!" Serena's eyes widened.

"Hey, don't worry I am right here."

Serena said nothing and Ash continued.

"And then we are fished out from the river by Misty, who tells me to take the injured Pikachu to the Pokémon Center in Viridian City. Seeing the Spearow flock approaching, I escape with Pikachu taking Misty's bike. I pedal furiously toward Viridian City, with the flock of Spearow following behind me. I lost control of the bike and crashed down a hill.

Realizing Pikachu's condition is critical, I plead with him to go inside his Pokeball so that I can protect him from the approaching Spearow. Pikachu, after seeing how much I care for it, performs a powerful Thunder attack which drives the Spearow away.

After that, I took Pikachu to the Pokemon Centre in Viridian City. Then we became great friends since that day. And now I am glad that I was late that day, if I woke up early then I would never meet Pikachu." Ash stroked Pikachu's head.

"Cha!" Pikachu cheered.

Serena smiled, "You are right."

"So, Pikachu didn't like you at first but now you two are best friends."

"Now, we should get into the house," Ash suggests.

"Right." Serena nodded in agreement.

Speaking of Pallet Town, Serena remembers that she wants to return the handkerchief so that's why she invited Ash to her house.

"Now, I am inviting you to my house."

"Huh, why?"

"I visited your house two times and you didn't even come to my house," Serena complains.

"Okay, I accept your invitation." Ash nodded.

"Pika,"
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When They went inside, Delia noticed them and asked Serena.

"Hi, Serena. Did you see all of Ash's Pokemon?"

"Yes, Ms. Ketchum. I am happy that I finally got the chance to see all of Ash's Pokemon." Serena answered.

"Serena, you can call me Delia," Delia said with a small smile.

"Mom, I am going with Serena to her house. She invited me."

"Sure, Ash." Delia nodded and she smiled looking at Ash and Serena. "Anyway, you two look cute together."

"You think so..." Ash inquired.

"Yup, Ash." Delia winked but Ash doesn't comprehend why his mom is telling that on the other hand, Serena started to blush harder.

"Ash, we are going!" Serena grabbed his hand and dragged him out of the door.

"Wait! Sere..."

After a few seconds of walking, they arrived at Serena's house.

"Mom, we are home!" Serena announced as she and Ash entered the front door.

"Hi, Ash, how are you?" Grace said.

"I am fine."

"Mom, we are going to my room."

"Okay, Serena,"

Before Grace could say anything to tease them, Serena and Ash began to walk upstairs.

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In Serena's bedroom

Serena walked towards her closet and took out the blue handkerchief.

"Here..." Serena said as she handed Ash a blue handkerchief.

"That handkerchief... It's the same..." Ash said while taking the handkerchief in his hand.

"Yes," Serena nodded. "This is the same handkerchief that you tied around my injured knee during Professor Oak Summer Camp."

"You kept it with you for all these years."
Ash said in a surprised tone.

"Yup, I have wanted to return it to you."

"Thanks, Sere. It means a lot to me."

They are silent for a moment until Ash decides to speak.

"You know, when mom told me that we are moving to the Kalos Region, I was so happy that I finally get the chance to meet you once again. But I don't know where you live in the Kalos Region but fate wants us to meet, not only are we attending the same school but also we live just across the street." Ash said with a warm smile. "I am glad that I met you, Serena."

"I felt the same way! I really wanted to find you. I have been thinking for a while about when I will get a chance to meet you once again. I saw you that night when you came here to Vaniville Town, I immediately knew that it was you. But when I met you at school, I was too nervous to ask, just in case you didn't remember me." Serena said.

"And I am happy that you remember me after all those years."

Both Ash and Seren are happy that they have found each other after all these years.

Serena hugged Ash without a warning, she didn't care! She rested her head against his chest, while Ash accepted it and rested his chin on her head.

Serena POV

I hugged him without warning, I just didn't care. I pressed my head against his chest, I could feel myself blushing, and my cheeks were burning up.

"I've missed you so much," I said.

Ash POV

She hugged me and I didn't even see it coming, I didn't care, I accepted it because it made me feel so warm inside...
He never felt like this before to any of the girls. Serena is different.

"I've missed you so much," Serena whispered.

"Hey, Serena. Let's make a promise. Just like we did back in Pallet Town when you were saying goodbye."

"Okay." Serena let go of him and looked into his eyes.

"Today I promise you that I will stay with you forever."

I am not sure why I made that promise to Serena but it feels right at the moment. I love spending time with her, of course, I will stay with Serena forever.

"Aww, Ash. I promise too. I promise that I will stay with you forever."

"T-Thanks, Sere. I am glad that I reunited with my best friend once again."

I felt weird that I said, friend. I consider Serena more than a friend. But I didn't know how to tell her.

Serena POV

I felt upset that he said, friend. But then I remember what May said that Ash is dense.

I am sure that Ash will realise this feeling one day but it will take time and I will be too happy to wait for that time to come.

Third Person POV

Ash noticed that Serena was looking sad once again but she immediately shook off these expressions and gave him a warm smile.

"Ash! Serena! dinner is ready!!" Grace yells from downstairs.

"Yes, Mom we are coming!" Serena shouted back before turning to Ash. "Shall we go and have dinner?

Ash only nodded and they walked downstairs to have dinner.

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After dinner

"So, what do you think about the Kalos Region and especially Kalos Academy?" Grace questioned.

"The Kalos Region is beautiful and large. I want to explore all the cities in this Region. And Kalos Academy is a new experience for me because I used to travel a lot."

"Yeah, Delia told me that you travelled to different regions and entered many leagues. I guess... you want to enter the Kalos League too," Grace said.

"Yes, I want to enter the Kalos League," I said.

"That's great! Ash," Serena sparkles her eyes. "I want to come with you on your quest on collecting all the eight badges. If it's okay with you."

"That's awesome! I would love to. I can't wait to travel with you." Ash grinned widely and pumped his fist into the air.

"Pika!" Pikachu shouted happily.

"Eevee!" Eevee shouted happily.

"You both agree with us, right?"

Grace, Serena, and Ash talk for some time until Ash decides to go to his house because it's getting late.

"Wait, where is Pikachu?" Ash asked looking around.

"I think Pikachu and Eevee are in my room," Serena replied.

"Come on Pikachu we need to go," Ash called out as he reached Serena's room and noticed that Pikachu was already asleep in the bed with Eevee.

"He is already asleep," Ash said.

"Why don't you let him stay here for the night," Serena suggests.

"Are you sure, Serena?"

"Yup, I am sure."

"Okay, But keep that in mind he needs one bottle of Ketchup in the morning after he wakes up," Ash warned.

"Ketchup!" Serena shouts surprised before nodding in understanding. "I will keep that in mind."

"Alright! I am going."

Serena walks towards the door with me.

"Bye Bye! Sere," Ash yelled.

Serena waved her hand and smiled.

"Today was so much fun," Serena said with a warm smile.

"Yeah, you can say that," Ash beamed and walked towards his house.

"Serena, I am happy for you. You finally decided to invite your boyfriend to your house." Grace teased.

"Mom! He is not my boyfriend!" Serena shouted.

"Not yet at least." Serena thought.

"Serena you are blushing!"

"No, I am not."

Grace couldn't contain her laughter.

"Goodnight, I am going to my room," Serena frowned and walked to her room.

Irritate
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Ash enters his home, not knowing that someone is watching him.

"Ash Ketchum... How dare you, trying to steal my girl!? Serena is mine.

Just wait... you don't even know what's going to hit you."

"But first I want to give you a little warning," he said to himself and started to walk away.

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Ash POV

I went to bed with a smile on my face. Just thinking about Serena made me blush a bit. She gave me just a warm feeling inside.

I was now beginning to think about these new feelings.
She gives me a feeling I have never felt before.

What is this feeling in my heart when I think about Serena?

Then I started to realise something.

I noticed her blushing too while talking to me and she sometimes acts nervous around me.

Could it be that she is feeling the same feeling just like me?

Why is that? I thought for a moment before muttering.

"This is so frustrating."

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