1. Ash's Story (Part 0: Prologue)

Chapter 7: Firelit Dreams

Warm steam curled from vents along Fiero City's streets, drifting past lantern posts and dark volcanic flower boxes. Hot springs beneath the city warmed its bathhouses, kitchens, and Fire Gym.

Ash fanned himself with a folded brochure from the train station. He had survived forests, castles, secret labs, and training yards, but Fiero's humid heat still made him look personally offended.

"It is hot here," Ash said, waving the brochure harder. "Does Fire Gym training include learning how not to melt?"

Serena walked beside him with her hands clasped behind her back. Usually she would have laughed, but today she barely seemed to hear him and kept staring ahead.

Ash slowed near a steaming vent and glanced at her. "Serena, are you listening?"

She startled and nearly stepped into a puff of steam rising from the pavement. "Eek! Yes, I am."

Ash tilted his head at her. "You did not answer me."

Serena blinked, then flushed when she realized she had missed the question. "Sorry. I was thinking about something."

"About what?" Ash asked as they walked.

"Nothing important," Serena answered much too quickly.

Ash stopped, and after a few more steps, Serena noticed and turned back. "Your face says it is important," he said.

Serena looked away, embarrassed by how easily he had noticed. "It is only about Helen."

"Your sister?" Ash asked, remembering her immediately.

Serena nodded. "She won the Master Chef Junior competition in Sevestar, and everyone keeps talking about her restaurant menu. The hotel is busier than ever because people want to taste what she made."

Ash smiled at that. "That sounds great."

"It is," Serena said, then winced at how flat the words sounded. "I am proud of her. I really am."

Ash folded the brochure and held it against his chest. "But something is bothering you."

Serena's shoulders sank. "Helen cooks, makes people smile, and already knows what she wants next. I raced Mom because I wanted to prove I could choose my own path, but I still do not know what that path is."

Ash let her finish before answering. He knew Serena had to figure this out for herself, even if he wanted to help.

"Not everyone figures it out at the same time," Ash said. "Helen found cooking early. Goh saw Mew once and decided what he wanted right away. Nate found books before he found half the rooms in the library."

Serena laughed despite herself. "Nate would call that research."

"He would," Ash agreed. "But you do not have to be Helen, Goh, or Nate. You can travel, train, try things, and decide when something finally feels right."

Serena watched the steam curl around her shoes. "What if I wait too long?"

Ash hesitated. He knew what it felt like to worry about wasting time, but scaring Serena would not help her choose anything.

"Then we tell you if you stop trying," Ash said. "But you have not stopped."

Serena gave him a sideways look. "You sound like Aurora."

Ash grimaced at once. "I was afraid of that."

Serena laughed properly this time, and Ash looked relieved as they started walking again. Some of the tension had finally left her face.

Banners in the hotel district showed Helen in a chef's hat beside Sizzlipede, with her Master Chef Junior ribbon beneath her name. Serena slowed beneath one.