Ash x Serena Rise of the forgotten hero

Stubbornness power

The Next Day

The sun had barely begun to rise, casting a golden glow across the horizon when the clock struck 6 AM. Serena tossed and turned in her bed, sleep evading her as the excitement of the tournament buzzed in her mind. With a soft sigh, she decided it was time to get up and breathe in some fresh air.

As she padded down to the lobby, she caught snippets of conversation drifting through the halls. A familiar voice rang out, bright and cheerful.

"You're up early! I'm guessing you're going to train hard for your upcoming battle!" Nurse Joy chimed to someone.

"Right! I'll be back late today!" a male voice replied, filled with determination.

Curiosity piqued, Serena turned the corner and her heart skipped a beat. There he was—Ash, the raven-haired boy she'd seen the day before. Should I follow him? she thought, excitement bubbling inside her. With a newfound sense of purpose, she trailed behind him as he made his way to the beach.

When she reached the shore, she spotted him standing there, his loyal Pikachu perched on his shoulder and a strong Lucario by his side. They were gazing intently at the rolling waves, the morning sun glinting off the water like diamonds.

Feeling emboldened, Serena approached, her heart racing.

"Hey, mind if I sit here?" she asked, her voice a mix of nerves and hope.

Ash turned slightly, his gaze still fixed on the ocean, and motioned with his hand. "Do you," he replied bluntly, his tone casual yet distant.

A small sweat drop formed on Serena's forehead at his response, but she shrugged off the awkwardness and settled down beside him, both of them now lost in the sound of the waves crashing.

After a moment of silence, she decided to break the ice. "So, you're Ash, right?" she ventured, trying to sound casual.

He didn't reply immediately; he simply nodded, his attention still on the horizon.

"Why didn't you stick around yesterday with your friends?" she pressed, wanting to draw him out of his shell.

"I prefer being alone," Ash said coldly, his eyes still locked on the waves. "It makes me feel relaxed—just me and my Pokémon."

A frown formed on Serena's face as she gathered her courage and shifted to sit in front of him, trying to catch his gaze. What she saw in his eyes stunned her—an unmistakable blend of coldness and deep loneliness. Ash glanced at her for a brief moment before looking away, and she felt a pang in her heart.

"Why are you even here?" Ash asked suddenly, breaking the silence.

"Well, I couldn't sleep anymore, so I decided to get some fresh air. When I saw you sitting here, I thought I'd join you," Serena explained, her voice softer now.

Ash smirked slightly. "You forgot to mention how you were eavesdropping before I walked out of the Pokémon Centre."

"Y-You noticed?" she stammered, her cheeks flushing a light shade of pink.

"People can't fool me that easily," he replied with a hint of amusement.

"O-Oh, sorry about that! I didn't mean to," she said, her heart racing.

Without another word, Ash stood up, glancing at Pikachu and Lucario. "Let's get going," he said as he began to walk away.

"Hey, where are you going?" Serena called after him, a mix of curiosity and concern in her voice.

"Training," he replied, his tone indifferent as he continued on his path.

Serena's heart sank. Have I done something wrong? Just a glance into his eyes revealed a past filled with struggle, and she felt a strong urge to understand him better, though she couldn't pinpoint why. She watched him leave, feeling a mixture of intrigue and worry.