Devastated Boy{Amourshipping}

Chapter - 13

NB: From now the conversation is between Ash's inner self and Serena.

The atmosphere grew heavier as a sense of foreboding crept into the air around Ash. What had been pleasant moments ago had shifted into an eerie and unsettling feeling.

Serena's instincts were on high alert, sensing the change in her surroundings. It was as if a shadow had fallen over the tranquility that had been present before. She turned her head to look at Ash, who was sitting right beside her, only to find him giving her an odd and uncomfortable glance. This was unusual; while she had been shy around Ash, she had never felt uneasy under his attention. If anything, she had cherished it.

Serena's face tensed as Ash spoke again, "We finally meet again" but this time, his voice held an uncanny depth to it, accompanied by an unsettling sensation. A chill ran down her spine, and her instincts had her on edge. She slowly reached for her Pokéballs, readying herself for whatever might come.

"Who are you?" she asked, trying to mask her instinctual fear. Ash chuckled, his voice now possessing an eerie undertone. "You caught on quicker than I expected. Perhaps it's a woman's intuition," he replied, his gaze shifting away from her.

Serena's unease remained, and she didn't respond. "How long do you intend to stand guard?" Ash scoffed, his tone mocking. "Ash, what's happening?" Serena questioned, hoping that this was just some sort of act on Ash's part.

But Ash didn't seem inclined to offer her answers. Instead, he continued speaking, his words dripping with an unsettling calmness. "There's no use holding your ground against me. If I wanted to, I could reduce you to ashes without lifting a finger," he proclaimed, leaving Serena shaken, though she remained steadfast, maintaining her defensive posture. "Calm down, girl. I don't have the time to turn someone into a crisp right now. Let's get down to business."

Serena's guard remained, her uncertainty growing as she struggled to make sense of Ash's words. Something was definitely off.

"Allow me to introduce myself," Ash began, his tone carrying a peculiar cadence. "I am Ash, or to be more precise, a fragment of his consciousness that has existed within him for quite some time." Serena was rendered speechless by his revelation.

"What do you mean, a part of him? You're nothing like the Ash I know," Serena retorted after a moment's pause, her skepticism apparent.

"Exactly. That's the point. I am not the Ash you know and look up to," Ash paused before continuing, his tone devoid of emotion. "Well, I can't say it just admiration for that fool that i've seen in your eyes, but that's beside the point."

"Huh?" Serena's anxiety was escalating as his words began to unravel.

"The bottom line is, I am not Ash as you know him. I'm more like a side of him that had remained dormant beneath the surface of his mind. An alter ego of sorts, if you will. Through a series of events, I managed to gain consciousness after being forced out of his mind a few times," Ash explained.

Serena listened intently, her doubts still lingering. "Why should I believe you?" she asked, a question that was only natural.

"Without me, the man you hold so dear would have met the same fate as our Pokémon," Ash responded, his words delivered with a chilling gravity.

"What do you mean?" Serena's confusion deepened.

"The answer should be clear if you think about the Ash you hold in high regard. Could you imagine him making the call to escape while leaving his Pokémon to perish in the face of danger?"

"No...no, he wouldn't," Serena realized, her thoughts aligning with Ash's disturbing explanation.

Serena's thoughts were racing, her mind grappling with the implications of Ash's words. The image of the courageous and selfless Ash she knew clashed with the unsettling notion that there might be another aspect of him, one that she had never encountered before.