Time Heals All Wounds, Right?

Alive?

Ash POV
Another day, another battle. Tomorrow would be the first day that the semi-finals are being held and as luck would have it, I was going up against Bonnie. I guess it was time to see how much she's grown with that Z-Ring I gave her.

"PIKA." I turned around to see Pikachu getting ready for battle.

"Calm down buddy, the battle isn't today." His expression slowly melted down into a frown.

"Pika....."

"Don't worry you'll get your chance. Now do a little training." I spent the entire afternoon training since I know the battle ahead was going to be a difficult one. Sure all of my battles have been a breeze, I know for a fact that Bonnie will give it her all.

"Training for our battle?" I turned around to see my old group of friends approaching.

"I always train. How about you?"

"I use strategy so I don't need to rely on strength" she replied with a confident tone.

"Why not on both?"

"Playing mind tricks are we?" Dawn came up from behind Bonnie.

"That depends on your point of view." I turned to face everyone else. "How's it going?"

They replied with an ok except I noticed a different tone when Gary talked. I looked at him which he noticed and shifted his gaze over to Serena who looked to be in deep thought. Could my absence really be doing bad for her?

"Excuse but so have to go do something in my room." I walked for about three minutes but I could feel somebody watching me. I looked over my shoulder and as I called it, it seemed someone was following me.

Serena POV
"Why would I follow him?"

"Come on Serena, remember what I told you" exclaimed Misty. "It's time to move on, I can see that you like him."

"WHAT" My face started to heat up but I quickly calmed myself. "I can't Misty, he is here. I can feel it.

"This isn't about him. It's about you."

"I agree with Misty." I turned around and Gary is walking up to us. "Just give it a try."

" I- alright." I followed red for about half an hour before he took a right turn and just vanished. "Where did he go?"

Ash POV
"Looking for me?" Serena turned around and looked at me like she had just seen a ghost.

"DON'T SCARE ME LIKE THAT". ,

"Alright." I said with a small laugh. "Come on let's go to my room."

"Why should I after you scared me like that?" She asked while pouting.

"Isn't that why you were looking for me?"

"I guess so." As I walked with her I couldn't help but feel uneasy. What did she want to talk about? Did my disguise not hide me anymore? Is she worried about something? I guess I'm just overthinking it. I opened the door to my room and we went inside.

"So what did you need?" I waited for a reply but it never came. "Serena?" I turned to look at her and she was frozen in place and the verge of tears.

"Where did you get those?..." she pointed at my old hat collection. I walked over and picked up my Kalos hat.

"They belonged to someone I knew a long time ago."

"Do you know where he is?" She asked with despair in her voice. I stood in silence for a few seconds trying to figure out what my next move should be. "Please if you know where he is, I need to know."

"I can't..." my voice started to shake so much it's hard to say anything. She made her way towards the balcony and looked up at the sky. For the time being there was nothing but silence, each of us in our own little world.

"You should come back, it's starting to rain." Drop after drop the rain poured. Slowly increasing in speed, the rain felt like a song was playing and telling me now is the right time.

"The rain feels nice." She spoke with such sorrow in her voice. Even though the rain is making her face wet, it's easy to tell that some of the drops aren't rain but tears. I walk over to her and place my hand on her shoulder.

"Why can't you tell me?"

"It's his choice." Almost immediately she turned around with a hint of anger in her eyes.

"Don't you understand? I've spent years looking for Ash Ketchum and now that the answer is right in front of me you won't tell me?" I flinched at her calling out my name. Every fiber in my body is telling me to make her pain go away, I just couldn't. So instead I walked over to the couch and sat down.

"I'm sorry but I can't tell you. Not right now."

"Then tell me this. How do you know what happened between us?" I froze.

"What are you talking about?." I replied quickly, trying to act like I didn't know anything.

"A few days ago in the forest when you played your music I saw your memories."

Serena Pov
"I know that you were there. You saw what I did" I was trying my best to keep a firm voice. Inside was a different story. I was growing more desperate. The key to finding Ash was right in front of me.

"Please." I asked one last time. "Help me find the answer I've been looking for." He turned away for a second. I need him to tell me where Ash is. Every night after he disappeared, that night plays in my dreams. And just like the dream, every night I wish I could take it all back.

"I'm sorry..." I was about to scream at him for being such a terrible person but he continued.
"For leaving you... for causing you pain and suffering."

He sat up and turned around to face away from me. "Everything I ever did was to protect my friends. I had to stay away to keep you all safe." He raised his hands to look at his palms and they were shaking a lot. I made my way over to him confused on why he was saying all of this to me.

"What are you trying to say Red?" I said as I walked around to see him eye to eye.

"Your journey is over." He spoke as he removed the cover once more and showed the face of the one person who has driven me forward all these years. Ash is here.

"ASH!" I wasted no time and tackled him into a hug. I've waited years for this, I've spent years looking for him. I felt as if I let go now he would disappear again. However, he didn't seem the same. He wasn't warm anymore, he just felt cold. Immediately guilt flew through my heart and I couldn't help but release tears of regret.

"It's ok Serena, I'm here now."

"I know but, I just can't help it... all of this, the pain. I was the one who caused it."

Ash POV
"No you didn't. It was all my fault." A huge weight had just been listed from my shoulders. "I didn't look at things from your point of view and that caused this."

She looked up at me and she looked genuinely happy for once. "At least we can be together now. Your champion so people won't judge me badly." My heart dropped at this. Her career was still the most important thing to her.

"Serena, it's been a long time. Besides you love Calem not me."

"I never loved Calem. I didn't know what I was doing. I just..." she was on the verge of tears."l..."

"It doesn't matter, I'm not a champion. Red is. And after the tournament Red won't be around anymore."