Love in the Time of Teamwork

Chapter 13: A Promise

Here we are with another chapter! Hope you've been looking forward to it. So, let's begin Chapter 13, and a Happy Easter for those of you that celebrate it!

Chapter 13

A Promise

Ding ding ding a ding!

"Ash, Clemont, your Pokémon are all better now," called the kind voice of Nurse Joy. Brock stepped out from behind her, wheeling the cart with Pikachu and Bunnelby on it. Both of them were looking as fit as ever.

"I checked them over myself," Brock told them.

"Pikapi!" Pikachu cried out, bounding from the cart and onto Ash's shoulder.

"You did great out there today, buddy," Ash said, scratching behind his partner's ears. Pikachu soaked in the adoration and praise from his trainer. Clemont was thanking Bunnelby as well while his sister quickly grabbed the poor Pokémon and hugged it tightly. Gary walked over and slapped Ash heartily on the back.

"Nice job, Ashy-boy," he told him. "That was some mobility out there, Pikachu. You keep battling like that, you'll help us win not only the tournament but you might win the whole Kalos League."

"That's the plan!" Ash said, clasping Gary's hand and giving it a firm shake. It was then he noticed Serena standing there, framed by the light of the Pokémon Center's doorway. Despite wearing the clothes he saw her in just about every day, she looked stunning bathed in the golden light of the slowly setting sun. It brought to mind her encouraging words during the battle. So, while Gary moved off to talk with Brock (the one who was suspiciously not flirting with Nurse Joy), Ash moved forward to talk to Serena.

"All better, Pikachu?" Serena asked, reaching over and petting the electric mouse herself.

"Cha..." Pikachu said contentedly, nuzzling against Serena's hand. Ash smiled; it was nice that Serena cared so much about his Pokémon. He felt the same way, of course. All of his friend's Pokémon were a precious part of his family. He'd do anything for any one of them.

"You were amazing out there, Ash. The way you and Clemont combined strategies like that..." Serena said. Ash never let his grin falter as he stared into her eyes. Her eyes really were dazzling, like an endless blue sea. It was odd how clearly he could see that now, had seen it during the battle. When she had called out to him, to tell him to not give up and that she believed in him, he had answered and he saw those gorgeous orbs of blue stand out amongst the black and white crowd. Never before had he had a moment of such shocking clarity. It drove him forward.

He had thought the intensity of what he saw and felt in that moment was just due to the battle going on, but now that it was done, and he was here...things were different. Serena was different. Or maybe he was different. Ash couldn't be sure. The only thing he knew right then was that Serena's eyes showed so many emotions that he couldn't possibly comprehend, but he noticed the same tenderness in them that he had felt when she called to him.

"I couldn't have done it without Clemont, and Pikachu, of course," Ash laughed out. Just then, his stomach rumbled loudly and he chuckled.

"We should get you some food, first," Serena confirmed with a giggle.

"We'll all go," Clemont announced, breaking up the small moment between the two. "I hear that tonight's a Food Festival. They're bringing out food from all over various parts of the region, including all of the Ancien City specialties."

"Ches Chespin!" the grass type suddenly exclaimed, popping out of its pokeball at the mention of food. He sniffed at the air, and once it seemed his nose had locked on to a tantalizing smell, Clemont's unruliest Pokémon set off from the Pokémon Center into town.