A.T.: So before this chapter, I wanna apologize for delay of releasing, but I had schoolwork too and I had to do it. Right now, I have all schoolwork done so I hope I will release more often. Anyway ENJOY :D

Everyone had just finished lunch in another town and Serena had left, just to serve everyone the Pokepuffs. Of course she had a separate for pokemon, although Ash never despised eating pokepuffs that were done for pokemon.

"I have pokepuffs for you guys and I made sure, that Chespin won't eat them this time, right Fennekin?" Serena said with smile and looked to Fennekin who cried in agreenment and then looked at Chespin, who pouted and stroked his tail, that was burned little.

"Awesome,I was really starting to get taste to eat them." Ash said with everyone laughed.

"So Serena, when you didn't get to give anyone your Pokepuffs, then you just finded someone to eat them for you?" everyone heard, but the only recognize the voice was Serena, who froze for a moment on the spot, where she was standing. Everyone turned turned to voice and saw girl with blue short hair. She was wearing a long shirt and short dress that ended above the knees. She had a smaller grin on her face that made Serena feel even more nervous.

"H-hey Miette, how ar-are you doing?" Serena asked nervous, trying to sound confident.

"I am doing great, but probably not so great as you are." Miette said and then came closer to say quietly to her. "Another black hair wearing red cap? I thought you would come up with something new." she told to Serena with smirk and making Serena just madly blushed.

"H-he is just friend that I am traveling with." Serena said with squeecking voice.

"Yeah, that what you said." she said and leaned back and looked to others. "Hi, my name is Miette and I from Vanille town like Serena." she told to others and and threw her hand over Serena's shoulder.

"I guess, by your actoins you are friends. The name is Clemont." Lumiose gym leader said and arranged his glasses.

"My name is Bonnie and this is Dedenne." Bonnie shouted on which Miette giggled and then looked at Ash, who had his grin beaming at her. 

"And you are?" Miette asked with curiosity at Ash. 

"I am Ash and this one buddy is Pikachu." Ash said and petted Pikachu, who jumped on his shoulder.

"Pleasure to meet you. You have really good looking Pikachu by the way. I have seen some Pikachu before, I have never saw some looking like this." Miette told to Ash, who just smiled.
"Thank you."

"Then you should see other pokemon Ash have, you would be suprised." Bonnie shouted and Ash just scratched behind his head. Miette on other hand smirked.

"Then I hope I would sometimes see HIS speacial pokemon out." Miette said it with seductive tone, on which only Serena reacted with covering her mouth and started to drag her away. Ash, Bonnie and Clemont looked at them in confuse.

"I will go buy something with Miette. We will be back before dark." Serena blurted and dragged Miette away.

"Amm.... Ok." Ash said and girls left. Bonnie tried to follow them, but was stopped by Clemont.

"Clemont let me go. I wanna go with them."

"I think they want to be alone Bonnie, so let them." Clemont said holding struggling Bonnie, that after a few attempts just pouted.

"If you want Bonnie, I have one pokemon, that, you would really like to play with." Ash said with small smirk, on which blond girl immefiately reacted with stars in her eyes and big smile.
Meanwhile Serena let go of Miette, who just laughed.

"I can't say, if I am laughing at your acting on my words or that you were the only who got what I was saying." Miette said laughing on which rhyhorn racer in training just shook her head.

"First of the all, you know exactly why I am always nervous of your words." Serena said and Miette just smirked.

"Don't blame me, that I just learned a lot of these sayings and if I remember corectly, you were the one who said something similiar sometimes."

"Yeah maybe I said it sometimes." Serena said with small pink on her cheecks because of embarasment. "But I never said something like this in front small child like Bonnie."

"Ok, calm down. Jeez." Miette said with hnads up defending her self, but then leaned closer to Serena again. "So tell me, did you already told him you like him?"

"I-I only know him." Serena said with redder cheecks.

"Surely." Miette said unconvience of answer. "How did you meet him anyway?"

"Well, I maybe met him when I was young on summer camp."

"Do you mean the camp after which you were completely changed with your behavior?" Miette asked suprised, but then light up with conclusion she come up with. "I knew something happened there, it was Ash, wasn't he."

"He just helped me."

"For sure." Miette said and both of them entered shopping mall, where were quite a lot of people. "How did you even found him?"

"Well, it wasn't that easy, when I take that Ash was like on all channels of Kalos jumping down from Prism tower." Serena said small giggle, but she got really loud respong.

"WHA-" Miette shouted but was muffled by Serena's hand and getting some attention people passing by.

"Shhh. It was almost 2 months ago." Serena told to Miette, who just looked more suprised.

"Wait, Ash was that crazy guy stopping Garchomp? I only heard of it from Shauna talking that he jumped down for his pokemon. Well at least something new compared to Calem, but you should watch out." Miette said with mischievous grinn

"What are you talking about?" Serena asked confused and Miette just smiled.

"I let you take Calem, but I think Ash is more interesting. You shouldn't be suprised, if I try something on him, if he look so hot." Miette told to Serena, who just looked suprised.

"First of all, I never said you need to let me take Calem. Second, really? And last thing, Ash doesn't talk about these things and showed any interest in me or other girls we met." Serena said with slight disappointment.

"To answer these. If you would let me, then it would be more interesting. And Ash didn't seem to mind spending time with you, and you didn't deny that he wasn't hot." Miette said with bigger smirk and Serena just madly blushed.

"MIETTE!!"

"Now come on, when you took me away from others for shopping, then do some shopping." Miette told to Serena and ran to next shop, leaving Serena, who tried to grapp. Serena just sighed and followed her.

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

"So you are telling me that Grace let you go on her own without any problems, but instead advised you to go with Ash? Then she started traveling with Ash and the others, but Ash has no idea why you're traveling with him?" Miette asked, while paying for new dress she bought.

"Yeah, that is, how it is probably." honey-blond kalosian said with slight nervous chuckle.

"I don't know what to say now. The first thing that surprised me was that you didn't even buy anything. Then that probably Grace is planning something or that you should tell him."

"I just didn't wanted anything and Fennekin neither, right Fennekin?" Serena asked to her pokemon, who nodded. She was about to go to exit, when she remembered, what Miette said. "What should I tell him?"

"I don't know, like the thing you are with him to just help you with your problem or that realize your stupid problem with your stupid training? You tell me, what you should tell him." Miette said with angry voice. Serena looked stunned by those words, but she didn't know on what react first. About telling truth to Ash or that Miette is talking about her problem, like it was something obvious.

"Miette, I can't say that to Ash. I don't know, how would he react." Serena said with frown.

"So tell me this Serena. Are you trying to hide your problem on which you came for help to Ash and don't tell him anything? Then you are just using him then Serena." Miette told to Serena, who just frowned more.

"I-I didn't think of it like this. I was also thinking of saying something to Ash about it, but I am scarred how would he react and I think he would just hate me for that." Serena said and from her blue eyes started to make tears.

"Hey, hey, don't cry me on this. Don't think of it like this Sere. What you told me about Ash, he can understand things like this." Miette said this time with calmer voice not to make Serena more uneasy. Serena then just looked to Fennekin, who nodded in agreement.

"I guess you are right Miette."

"That's what I am talking about. The sooner the better." Miette said with smile.

"You are right, I will try to tell it to him this month." Serena said with confident smile, but Meitte only shook her head in dissagreement.

"Nope, you tell him today."

"You are crazy? I don't so much courage to tell him it today." sapphire-blue eyes girl said with quiet voice, almost impossible to hear her.

"I will tell it like this. If you won't tell him, then I will. So it will be just about who will be first in Pokemon center. So about that being said, I am going and maybe I will have a chance to say something to impress Ash." Miette said with giggle and started to ran back to Pokemon center, while it was getting dark.

"MIETTE!" Serena shouted angry, but blue hair girl didn't stop in running. "Come on Fennekin, I can't let that happen." Serena said to Fennekin, who started run ahead Serena.

Serena could already see Pokemon center and she was almost close to catch Miette, when suddenly Fennekin was caught by something and pulled into side street.

"Fen!"

"Fennekin!" Serena shouted and ran after Fennekin, who was dragged away. Serena looked back at Miette, who didn't notice, what was happening, but Serena couldn't go away from Fennekin. When Serena got close to Fennekin, she saw that there was man putting Fennekin in cage and red pokemon with black stripes on four legs and two others on the back.

"Hey, give me ba-"

"Ariados use string shot on her." man said and Ariados shot of string at Serena. Before Serena could react, her hands were tied to the body with a thread. With her hands tied, she lost her balance and fell to the ground. Before Serena could start screaming, the man came to her and tied the cloth over her mouth.

"Shut up you stupid bitch. I will just sell you pokemon for some money and you will just get another one. Like in this world isn't enough pokemon to get." he said and placed Fennekin on motor tricycle. Serena she tried to get out of the binding with all the force, but the threads were too strong to break them. The man just looked at her with a smirk that made Sernea fear and panic. "Now, it would be a shame not to take advantage of such an opportunity, "the man said, taking out a pull-out knife.

Serena just watched in fear as the man slowly approached her with a knife. She tried to get to her feet, or at least crawl away, but nothing helped her escape. The man pushed her to the ground by one hand with a lot of stregth to keep her from moving. She wanted to scream, she wanted to call for help, she wanted to moan in pain from the force he was acting on her, but she couldn't do anything. Everything was muffled by the fabric she had over her mouth. So she just closed her eyes and was afraid of the worst.

Suddenly, but the force used on her disappeared and a small explosion could be heard. Serena opened her eyes and saw Ariados upside down. Then she looked back at the man and saw someone lying on the ground kneeling on him, beating him. When Serena looked up, she saw a blue jacket and a red cap, which she already knew who it was. The man just whines in pain as Ash beats him with tremendous force and tries to defend himself at least a little. He shouted for Ariadus to help him, but the one who tried to get up was hit by a blue ball. Serena turned quickly behind her and saw Riolu standing there and Pikachu standing side by side. Riolu took the knife from the ground and ran to Serena to cut the string, that was holding her.

"No stop it, please." the man begged between hits.

"You motherfucker wouldn't stopped, if she asked you and you shouldn't even dare to beg." Ash said in pure rage and punched him with no stopping. His hand was after that stopped by smaller hand. Ash looked behind and saw Serena, who was untiedand with no cloth on her mouth, and looking at him with look of trying to calm down Ash.

"Ash, I think he had enough." Serena said with calm voice, but still shaken. Ash looked at her with with small smile, but then looked down at the man, who was bleeding from his nose and coughed some blood. He was barely conscious, but he was still breathing, but his eyes flickered. "Please Ash, or you will just kill him." Serena said with trying to take Ash away from the man. After a while, Ash just sighed and stood up from man, with pissed face at him. Last time he kicked him in to the ribs, on which man whimpered. After that Ash took out small tissue in which he wiped some blood, that he had from man.

"Are you ok Serena?" Ash asked with both hands on her cheecks, looking for some cuts or wounds, on which Serena blushed a little, from his touch.

"Yeah, I am ok, but I think, we should get him some help." Serena said and looked to man.

"Clemont is probably calling officer Jenny, if he did as I said to him." Ash said with small smile and still looked at Serena for assurance. When Ash backed away from Serena, she was suprised by Fennekin, who jumped in her arms.

"Ash, this is another time, I am owing you saving me and Fennekin. By the way, how did you know I was in trouble?" rhyhorn racer in training asked and looked at Ash, who just smiled and looked down at Riolu.

"You can thank him. He knew something was wrong when we were training, so I kind of felt it too. So I left the center right away, on the way I met Miette, who wanted to tell me something, but I ignored her." Ash said and looked back at Serena and he noticed that she was looking at the ground and was completely silent. "Serena, are you alright?" but she didn't reacted. "Serena?" Ash asked and placed his hand on her shoulder and placed one of his fingers under her chin to make her look at him. She was crying. "Why are you crying Serena?"

"Because I am useless. I can't do anything by my self. Because the whole traveling with you started with that I needed again your help, but I never said anything to you." Serena said with tears in her eyes. Fennekin rather jumped down and looked at her trainer sad.

"Slow down Serena. Try to cal-"

"Ash, Serena are you there?" both of them heard and looked to end of the side street to see Bonnie, Clemont and Miette. By their side was Jenny, who was ready with rope and handcuffs.

"What happened Serena?" Bonnie asked, with concern seeing Serena crying. Before anyone could say anything, Ash placed arm around Serena and started to take her away.

"I will go around with Serena for a walk. Officer Jenny, if you wanna know, it's just some poacher." Ash said and took Serena away before anyone could say anything. Fennekin wanted to follow them, but was stopped by Riolu, who looked at her with reassuring her about Serena's safety.

Ash had his hand around her on her shoulder and looked at her worriedly from time to time. After a while, they both came to a small fountain, from which water gushed and was lit by a couple of night lamps. Ash only turned around to look around for safety, and then just turned to face Serena. Serena was still crying and still looking to the ground, not wanting to look at Ash. Again, she just felt Ash gently put a finger under her chin to see her face. She didn't want to show him what she looked like, but for some reason she couldn't resist his touch, so she looked into his face, where he was just a warm smile again.

"Now Serena, calm down and tell me what's going on." Ash said in a calm voice.

"I-I c-can't, I do-don't wa-wanna hurt your fee-feelings." Serena said and started to look away. She then just felt, how one of Ash hands on her shoulders was placed on her cheeck to make look at him again.

"Serena don't worry. If it is anything, you can trust me that you won't hurt me somehow." Ash told to Serena and looked deeply into her eyes. When Serena looked into his eyes, she got lost into them. His hazelnut eyes were in this situation so hipnotic, that she was starting to calm down from what she was feeling.

"Do you remember, what I was talking about on Papillons day?" Serena said with all tryings not to stop.

"Yes, your problem with Rhyhorn racing. Does it have anything to do with that why are you crying?" Ash asked and tilted his head at Serena and she nodded.

"It has everything to do with it." Serena said and she felt, how her voice is starting to crack, but then looked back into Ash's eyes and felt like getting assurance. "I told you, that I left my home to solve it, but I never told you, that I would never leave, if I didn't see in TV when you were saving Garchomp."

"How do you mean it?"

"I mean, that I needed again your help. I thought and even my mother, that you could help me with finding out my problem. I knew, that with your help, I would be better trainer, better racer, but today with Miette I realize, that when you don't know, why I am even with you, then I am just using you." Serena said and then looked on Ash and noticed, that he had cut on his arm. "And the worse thing is, that you did almost everything for me and even hurt yourself. You are now cut and what me? I am just ok, like always and you did everything for me, but what did I do for you? Wha-" Serena was trying to continue through her tears, but she was silented by Ash, who pulled her in strong hug. Serena's hands were a while in the air, still suprised by his actions, but then just landed on Ash's back.

"You don't have to do anything for me. You know I just do these things. You didn't or don't have to be scared how I will react, because it's nothing bad, that you wanted. I am suprised, that you think I will be able to help you with that, but I am still pleased." Ash said and ran his hand over her back, occasionally touching her golden blond hair. Serena was stunned, but also happy by Ash hugging her. He was hugging. He was hugging her, because he wanted to comfort her and it felt so awesome. She just hugged him, until all tears were gone and then Ash has broken hug, but still had his hands on her shoulders and warming smile. Serena was a little pink, but then returned the smile.

"Thank you Ash, for everything."

"Your welcome and I wanna make it sure. If you need to talk about anything, then you can be sure, I will be there to listen you." Ash said and made his toothy grin. "Now let's go, I think they are worried about us."

"Yeah, you are right." Serena said and looked around to see that it was already dark.

"Well, time is running out really fast." Ash said with small laugh, but Serena was scared to go in dark streets, because she already had enough practice with problems for today.

"Ye-yeah, it is really dark."

"Are you scared?" Ash asked and looked at Serena.

"You wouldn't be after what happened today?" Serena said with trying to sound annoyed like it is obvious.

"Yeah, my bad." Ash said and scratched his back. Serena looked around nervous, but then idea poped out in her mind, on which she got redder, then before.

"Ash?"

"Yeah Serena?"

"C-could you ho-hold my hand on the way back?" Serena said with squeaky voice and deep blush across her face. Ash looked at her suprised and little confused, but then he just smiled and offered his hand.

"If it will make you feel safe, then ok. It will be like on summer camp." Ash said with slight chuckle and scratched with his free hand under nose with one finger. Serena smiled and took slowly his hand. She felt his warm hand sending warm into her whole buddy.

"Thank you Ash." Serena said and they went back to the Pokemon center. As they went, Serena felt so happy with today's results. Even though the man had almost taken her to Fennekin and was planning something worse, she was satisfied that Ash could tell her everything that bothered her and he wasn't upset. After a while, they reached the door of the Pokemon Center, where, to Serena's disappointment, she split her arms with Ash.

When they entered pokemon center, Miette immediately noticed them, but before she got to them, Ash was pushed to the ground by huge green pokemon, on which back was riding Bonnie. Pokemon looked so happy to see Ash and with it's head on long neck, it was looking all around Ash.

"Ash, are you ok?" Serena asked with worriedly, but after Ash started laugh, when pokemon started to lick, she realize, that this is probably normal for him.

"I am alright Bayleef, you didn't had to be so worried, about me." Ash said between laughs. In meantime, Bonnie got of from Bayleef and ran to Serena with smile and Fennekin with her. Fennekin again jumped back in her arms for small hug.

"Are you alright now?" she asked looking curious at Serena.

"Yeah I am fine." Serena said with smile.

"And how was your time with Ash?" Bonnie asked with small smirked and Serena blushed once again today and Miette just laughed.

"I like this one." Miette said still laughing. Serena then looked at Ash, who was starting to get from below Bayleef.

"I guess, this is Ash's pokemon." Serena asked and looked at others.

"Yeah, it's Bayleef and it's so fun play with it. I wanted to go with on shopping, but Ash and Clemont said, that you wanted to alone, so Ash sent his pokemon back for Bayleef." Bonnie squeaked happy and hugged Bayleef on neck.

"Anyway, Miette, we didn't get to talk really about what you are doing." Ash asked and Miette just smiled, but Serena could see, that she was more like smirking on getting Ash's attention.

"I am doing pokemon performer." Miette said proudly, but Ash just tilted his head.

"Does have to do something with perfumes?" Ash asked, making Serena giggle.

"No, I am perfoming in showcases, where me and my pokemon do shows, where we are trying to look our best." Miette said with waving her hands to look pretty.

"So is it like you are in dresses and showing off?" Ash asked still not getting, if it was really only that.

"Not really, but if you want, then I can show sometimes show in dress only for." Miette said with seductive voice.

"Nah, I am good." Ash said and shrugged. Serena sighed with relief, but on other side, Miette was suprised, that Ash didn't get what she was saying or that he didn't want. She looked to Serena, who only raised her hand and shook with it showing, that he still doesn't know what she was talking about. Before she could say anything else, they were interrupted by Jenny, who cleared her throat to get their attention.

"I am sorry, but I need to discuse something with mister here alone." she said and pointed to Ash. Ash tried to look confused, but he still couldn't hide a little fear, that he was feeling from this conversation. Ash then left with officer, leaving Miette alone with Serena because Bonnie was playing with pokemon and Clemont was inventing again something.

"I still didn't quite catch, what happened there in that street." Miette asked and making Serena uncomfortable.

"He was trying to steal Fennekin, that's all." Serena lied and looked down at Fennekin in her arms, who looked back at her with worried look.

"Are you sure, that's true?" Miette asked with suspicious look.

"Yeah, that was everything, now please, if you could excuse me, I am pretty tired and I have to clean myself. Night" Serena said and ran upstair fast enough she could. Later that night, Serena only had dreams of the same day. However, her dreams remained for the part of the day where she and Ash were at the fountain. How he held her in the victim or looked her in the eye and she felt nothing but trust and safety and maybe something more.

"Ash, you look like on good boy so please, next time, try to be more careful about attacking someone like this. I know that you wanted to protect your girlfriend, but you must know, that if you would continue longer, then you would almost put that criminal in CPR." officer Jenny said with serious look.

"She isn't my girlfriend, she is just friend and I am sorry officer, I just needed to make sure, he wouldn't make more trouble."

"And you made sure of that, but next time, if you wanna punch someone like this for protecting you friends, then you should watch on the one you are punching to know, when to stop before it's too late. Some criminals can use of that force to their use, like they sue you for their injuries. And I know, it's sounds crazy, but courts can be sometimes crazy with what can work." Jenny said with slight laugh to release tension.

"Yes officer Jenny. Also I do only this to protect my friends and the closest ones." Ash said with smile and they both ended conversation.