Amourshipping Story: Childhood Bonds

Part 2 : Partners in Battle

The sun was high in the sky, and the courtyard of Lumiose High buzzed with energy. Ash and Serena stood back-to-back, Pokéballs in hand, their expressions full of determination. Across from them, two upperclassmen prepared their Pokémon, confident smirks on their faces.

"You ready for this, Serena?" Ash called, glancing over his shoulder.

"Always," Serena replied, her sapphire eyes gleaming.

Their opponents sent out a Machoke and a Magmar, both looking intimidating and ready to fight. Ash and Serena exchanged a quick look, their bond so strong that words weren't necessary.

"Pikachu, I choose you!" Ash shouted, releasing his ever-loyal partner.

"Braixen, let's show them what we've got!" Serena added, her fiery Pokémon appearing with a flourish.

The battle began, the crowd of students cheering from the sidelines. Pikachu's agility and Braixen's precision made for a perfect combination.

"Quick Attack, Pikachu!" Ash commanded.

"Follow it up with Flame Charge, Braixen!" Serena yelled.

The two Pokémon moved as if they had rehearsed this dance a hundred times. Pikachu darted in, dodging Machoke's strikes, while Braixen unleashed a fiery assault that left Magmar reeling. Within minutes, the match was over. Ash and Serena stood victorious, high-fiving each other as the crowd erupted in applause.

"You two are unstoppable!" someone in the crowd yelled.

Another student chimed in, "They're definitely going to end up together. It's obvious!"

Ash scratched the back of his head, laughing awkwardly. "Come on, guys, we're just best friends."

"Yeah," Serena added, though her cheeks flushed slightly. "We've been friends forever, and that's all there is to it."

The crowd didn't seem convinced, and the teasing continued as the duo packed up and headed to their next class.

---

Later that evening, Ash and Serena sat on the roof of Serena's house, watching the sunset. It was their favorite spot to unwind after a day full of mischief and battles.

"Do you think people are ever going to stop saying we're going to end up together?" Serena asked, breaking the comfortable silence.

Ash shrugged, tossing a pebble into the garden below. "Probably not. People like to talk."

Serena turned to him, her expression soft. "Does it bother you?"

"Nah," Ash said, grinning. "Why should it? They don't get it. We're a team, Serena. We always have been."

She smiled, leaning back against the roof tiles. "Yeah. A team."

But deep down, as the stars began to appear in the sky, both of them felt a flicker of something they couldn't quite name-something that had always been there but was only now starting to make itself known.