"What would you do when I'm gone?"

That is what she asked him. He hadn't understood what she meant at first, but he does now.

"What in the world are you talking about? Don't say that! You won't be gone!" He had answered.

"Still, what would you do?"

"Hm..." The boy had thought. "I would never forget you!"

Now, he will keep that promise.

The seventeen year old boy clenched his fist and looked at the stone in front of him.

"Why," He sobbed, choking back his tears. "Why did you leave us, Serena?"

'I always needed time on my own
I never thought I'd need you there when I cry
And the days feel like years when I'm alone
And the bed where you lie is made up on your side.'

There were many headstones in the graveyard, but he had only come to see one; his late girlfriend's.

His heart ached as he remembered every memory with her.

Eleven years ago. The first time they met, at summer camp when he was 6 and she just 5. They forged a friendship, unbreakable even by distance.

Afterwards, eight torturous years of waiting to see her again. Then, they finally reunited.

A year as friends. Two and a half blissful years of dating. He could have looked at her smile forever without getting bored. He didn't remember the times she was battling, nor the times when she was being interviewed by fans and reporters, but rather the times they smiled together, laughed together, fought together even. Because those were the memories he treasured most. Their relationship had had bumps along the way, but all had turned out in the end.

Until she left for the heavens.

'When you walk away, I count the steps that you take
Do you see how much I need you right now?'

He remembered the last kiss she gave him two weeks ago, when the sixteen year old Champion of Kalos had sacrificed herself for the world, giving herself to Team Flare. The best one, and yet somehow the worst as well.

"I will always be watching over you," She had promised, her sapphire blue eyes glistening with tears she refused to let fall.

"Ash Ketchum, I will always love you. You made these last few years the best ones of my life. Thank you. I hope I've returned the favor in some way. I wish we could have lasted longer, but —" Her voice cracked mid sentence.

She inhaled deeply and continued, "We wouldn't have lasted forever anyway. This is for the good of you, me, everyone. Goodbye. I will never forget you, and we will see each other again... I promise."

'When you're gone
The pieces of my heart are missing you
When you're gone
The face I came to know is missing too
When you're gone
The words I need to hear to always get me through the day
And make it okay
I miss you.'

Then, she had shoved a letter into his hand, pecked his lips one final time, and ran into the swirling vortex of flames with her Pokémon beside her. Five minutes later, the whole world had been saved from Team Flare, almost totally unscathed. The Kalos Champion had saved the world with only one casualty — herself.

Swallowing his anger, he looked down at the inscription in the headstone.

'Serena Yvonne

16 years old (2001-2017)

Kalos Champion (2013-2017)

Greatest warrior in Kalos Crisis (2017)

May she always be remembered in our hearts.'

Serena... I will always love you too.

'I've never felt this way before
Everything that I do, reminds me of you
And the clothes you left, they lie on the floor
And they smell just like you, I love the things that you do.'

He withdrew a blue and white envelope from his pocket. The letter she had given him. Taking a moment to admire the blue roses on the piece of stationery, he reminisced everything about her; her cerulean blue eyes, perfectly matched with the blue roses. Her honey blonde hair, sweetly scented and soft as silk. Her delicate skin and flawless features. She had had thousands of boys drooling over her, but she had chosen him.

And now she was gone.

Stifling another sob, he carefully opened the envelope and took out the piece of paper inside. It was decorated in the same style as the envelope, white with blue roses.

'To my blue handkerchief

Dear Ash,

If you are reading this, I am not with you anymore.

First off, I would like to say that I am sorry. I was not entirely honest with you.

When I gave myself up to Team Flare, I told you it was for the good of everyone, which it was. But what I did not tell you was that there was another reason. It was the less heart-wrenching way, Ash.

I have had a rare type of cancer ever since I was born. There isn't even a name for it because less than 0.1 percent of the world's population has ever been diagnosed with it. There is no known cause, nor is there a cure.

You see, by the time I was 7, the doctors had already confirmed that I would not live as long as others. Usually the disease is fatal, but patients live up to 40 years, sometimes even 50. However, my case was a rare kind. My life was limited, yes, but the limit was unknown and much shorter than other patients'. So basically, I was living my life, knowing that I could die at any time. My life was a ticking time bomb with no timer.

When we were in a relationship, the doctors told me that I probably would not make it past 20 years old. I knew that you would be crushed upon hearing the news, hence I never told you. I know you hate liars, and I was lying to you, but I hope you can see why I did it.

I didn't want you to be holding on to me, because you would have to let go of me in 4 years. The more attached you grew, the harder it would be, and I didn't want that. You have a full life ahead of you as the new Kalos Champion. Please don't waste it.

I gave myself up to Team Flare in hopes that you would take the news a bit more easily. I was bound for death soon anyway—saving the world was just the right thing to do.

Please give my most sincere apologies to Clemont and Bonnie too. They do not know about my disease either, though Bonnie did get a few hints from my mother. Do Clemont's inventions still blow up? Does Bonnie still play matchmaker for Clemont? How I wish I could be there, laughing with you. I hope you will hold on to your title as Champion, Clemont be the amazing Gym Leader he always was and a great inventor, and Bonnie be a strong and beautiful trainer.

Ash, be yourself. There is someone else waiting for you out there, someone who will make you forget about me, replace me. Please don't try to change something that has already happened. Go live your life to the fullest. If you miss me, which you shouldn't, go listen to this song called "When You're Gone". When I'm gone, I would like you to remember me, but not to care for me anymore. It's confusing, but I think you know what I mean.

I will always be watching over you, and I will always love you.

Your blue ribbon,
Serena'

The teenager was crying again. Crying for his love, his angel. He would never see her again.

'When you walk away I count the steps that you take
Do you see how much I need you right now?'

He took a photograph of the two of them together from his pocket, one taken two years ago on their first date. He placed it into the envelope and sealed it with shaking hands.

Serena, no one can replace you. No one is as perfect as you are.

With a last respectful gaze towards the headstone, he turned and left, bowing his head to hide the tears he could no longer hold back trickling down his cheeks.

And looking upon him from above was the girl he loved.

I will never stop loving you, my blue handkerchief. I'll see you again... someday.

'When you're gone
The pieces of my heart are missing you
When you're gone
The face I came to know is missing too
When you're gone
The words I need to hear to always get me through the day
And make it okay
I miss you.'

Okay, just a quick authors note. I might be making this into a book, so if I do look out for that. Thank you for the support! :)