The Only Exception

49.

AHHH ITS BEEN... AWHILE GUYS! I'm so sorry this took long. Been doing some artwork here and there ;-;
2020 has definitely been a huge kick in the face to all of us. But hey, we got through it together :D Thank you guys for sticking around with my stories. I really appreciate your reviews a lot! (The good and the bad)

I definitely promise you that this story will reach its conclusion! So I hope you'll stick til the end! :D

Okay, you're probs tired of reading this and just wanna go straight to the story LOL

Enjoy!

The group finally made their way to Laverre City. Mamoswine had carried Serena all the way towards the Pokemon Center as the others helped her down. Ash had been the one to help her inside to get her ankle treated.

"Dawn, you alright?" Ash asked the blunette.

"Yeah, I'm fine." She smiled then looked over at Clemont. "Thanks for saving us Clemont. I'll make sure to reward Chespin later with some poffins." She winked.

"No problem, Dawn." Clemont smiled. "We're going to prepare dinner. Bonnie?"

"Yup! I'm starving!" Bonnie exclaimed as she followed Clemont to help him prepare dinner. Ash and Dawn laughed at the little girl as they watched the two siblings walk away.

"You sure you're okay? You're not hurt or anything?" Ash asked her again as he held both her hands and looked her over for any scratches or bruises.

Dawn chuckled at him, "yes, I'm sure. If anyone was hurt, it was Serena."

"Yeah, you're right. But, I know she'll be okay. Serena is strong." Ash smiled.

Dawn smiled and noticed Nurse Joy walking out of the examination room. "Nurse Joy, is Serena alright? Is everything okay?"

Nurse Joy nodded her head at her and smiled. "It's a minor sprain, so she'll be able to walk soon. Now, I'm sure Mamoswine is exhausted. Would you like me to take care of him?"

"That would be great. Thanks, Nurse Joy." Dawn smiled as she handed Mamoswine's Pokeball over to the Pokemon nurse.

Nurse Joy then smiled as she left the two.

"I'm gonna make some poffins. You coming?" Dawn asked.

Ash smiled and shook his head at her. "No, you go ahead. I'm gonna check on Serena."

Dawn raised her brows at him then let out a small smile. "Okay. See you later."

•~•~•

Serena looked out the window of the room as she watched a few leaves fall. She noticed some kids playing with their Pokemon as she let out a small smile.

Just then, she heard a small knock on the door and saw Ash coming in with a plate of food. "Hey." He let out.

"Hi." She said with a small smile.

Ash set the food down on the table beside her bed as he went and sat down in front of her. "You doing okay? How's your foot?"

"It doesn't hurt as much. So, I'll probably be able to get out of bed soon." She told him.

Ash smiled, "I'm glad."

Serena looked over at him. It's the first time that she's actually seen him like this. It's the first time she's actually seen him the way Dawn does. She furrowed her brows and looked down at her hands.

I knew the outcome and yet... I tried so hard to make it work. I knew it from the day she came to Kalos... I'm not blind, I saw the look in his eyes when she first came here.

She was always someone special to him. Someone who could make Ash smile so much. I've always wanted to be the reason that Ash smiles but I... I could never compete with her...

Just then, her eyes widened in surprise when she felt two arms wrap around her and she was suddenly pulled into a hug.

"Ash?"

"It seemed like you needed it." He told her as he hugged her tighter.

She furrowed her brows at him and let out a smile and hugged him back. "Promise me we'll always be friends?"

Ash's eyes widened as he pulled away to look at her. "S-Serena?"

"I know, Ash. I know who really makes you happy. So, please. Promise me that we'll always be friends no matter what." She smiled.

Ash smiled, "it's a promise."

Serena nodded her head him. "Good. Just make sure she doesn't hurt you or I'll—"

"Serena..."

She chuckled at him, "kidding. I'll be here for you — as a friend."

Ash smiled back at her, "yeah. I'll be here for you too, Serena."

Meanwhile in Anistar City

"Congratulations, young man. You and your Pokemon have battled very well." Olympia, the Anistar Gym Leader, smiled as she handed over the Psychic badge to a young trainer.

"Thanks so much. This has given me lots of new experience." A boy with shoulder length hair said as he placed the gym badge in his case.

He then walked out the gym feeling a lot more confident.

"Well well, if it isn't Calem."

His eyes widened at the sound of his name being called out and turned around to the find the source of the voice. There stood a boy, an inch taller than him, with spiky brown hair. Calem's eyes widened at the familiar smirk on his face and let out a smile.

"Gary? Gary Oak? Wow, it's been so long! Last I saw you was—"

"My old man's summer camp." Gary smiled as he went up to him and stuck out his hand for him to shake it. "Just got out of the gym?"

"Yeah, I actually just won my 7th gym badge. Gonna be heading to Snowbelle soon to earn my 8th. But, maybe we could catch up before then?"

"Sounds great. We definitely need to catch up on a lot." Gary emphasized.

Calem raised a brow at him. "Hm... I feel like it's meeting you here was no coincidence."

Gary smirked, "Do you remember our good friend, Ash Ketchum?"

And there you have it :D

Next Chapter Preview: Gary and Calem talk about the past. Group takes an R&R day. Dawn and Serena... BOND!?!?

Bonus: This is for you guys. Thank you so much for reading and reviewing my stories. They really do mean a lot to me. I love you guys ;-; I know I don't update as much but just know that I am (little by little)

A big thank you to all of you :D