Time Heals All Wounds, Right?

Time To See Some Old Face

Ash POV
   “Pikachu, end it with a Quick Attack into an Iron Tail!” I watched as my buddy ran towards the opponent’s Bisharp and he slammed his tail straight into Bisharp’s abdomen instantly knocking it out. “Nice work out there buddy.”

“Pika!” He confirmed with a thumbs up. We've spent the last few months doing different chores back home for Professor Cerise. My new friend Goh and I have traveled all over Kanto and Galar, making amazing discoveries and learning new secrets that will benefit pokemon and people alike for generations to come. All of that, but there's still that hole in my heart. Every day I miss Serena more and more, but the truth is, I don't think I can face her after what she did. I don't know whether it was the rush of the first person she saw or if she really still loves him. I know we promised to be with each other for the rest of our lives, but the world keeps changing. Deep down I still hope that there is a chance we could be together.

“Hey Ash! We have our new assignment, let's go!” I turned around and saw Goh start to run towards the lab and I followed behind him until we got there. I walked around Goh and looked at the Professor.

“So, where to next Professor?”

“Woah, hey there you two. You came awfully quickly. Well, this is going to be something new. There are these weird signatures popping up all across the globe. So I'm splitting you up. First up is Goh. You'll be going here, Johto, and Hoenn. And Ash, you're going to Sinnoh, Alola, and Kalos.” The last region he spoke sent a few chills down my spine. But I would rather think of it when the time came instead of stressing over it now.

“Professor what about Galar?”

“Heh, you know how Leon is… he insists on taking care of it on his own.” They went on to have a small conversation on how Leon insisted it was his duty as Monarch, but I zoned out with my own problems. If I was going to Sinnoh first, I would likely run into Dawn and we haven't spoken since, well. The accident. I guess it was time to see her again. I hope she's still as kind as she was before.

Serena POV
   Forgive Myself? What does that even mean? Ash, why did you have to go? Why did you leave me with so many questions?

“Serena, it's time to try again.”

“Bonnie… it's pointless you know as well as I do that i'll never be able to walk again. So please stop asking me to try.”

“You walked that day.”

“Then why haven't I been able to since? I'm just dead Bonnie, glued to this chair for the rest of my life.”

“Serena, what's actually wrong?” I felt the tears start to come down again like they did every night. Some people run out of tears to cry, but me? There's no end to my pain.

“I meant every word to Calem when I said them Bonnie. I told him I loved him and I meant it at that moment. I saw the broken Ash again. Just like every time it's my fault.” I turned around and Bonnie was also crying because she knew what I was saying was also true. “Why can't I hold happiness for more than a few moments?”

“Listen to me Serena. I know you love Ash, as much as he loves you back. Life will give you ups and downs, but as long as you get back up every time you will see that it will be worth it in the end. You are his drive as he is yours. What's the one thing that will always pick you down when it's too hard to get back up?” I sat up and looked deep inside my memory and found nothing. Why? Because I was looking in the wrong place. I needed to look inside my heart. There I heard the words that drive me.

“Never give up till it's over.” I looked out the window out towards the setting sun and admired its beauty. “Ash, I'll keep my promise if you're willing to keep yours.”