Tryst with Destiny: The Beginning of the End (Main Story)

15 : Champion vs Champion

(Next Morning)

Serena, while smiling, tosses and turns a few times before waking up. She sees that Ash is still fast asleep. She looks at the time and jumps up out of her skin.

"Ash! It is 8:00 already. Wake up." She shouts as she tries to get out of the bedroom. 

She gets surprised when she experiences a mild sore feeling in her butt when she tries to get up. She realizes that it is because of the activity she and Ash savoured last night. Because the feeling is mild, she manages to wobble her way to the bathroom. Ash decides to let Serena go the bathroom first as he puts on some clothes and decides to check up on the Pokemon.

'Oh no. I don't have time to research about Diantha's Gardevoir.' Ash realizes when he sees Pikachu and the other Pokemon.

(Half an Hour Later)

Ash and Serena walk into the mess hall only to see Grace waiting there quietly sipping her coffee.

"Where have you two been?" She asks.

"Sorry. We slept very late." Both of them apologize in unison before proceeding to grab their breakfast trays. Grace, however, raises an eyebrow at their reply. Her suspicion gets further fueled when she notices a slight wobble in Serena's walk.

Within five minutes, they both return and sit down on their chairs. Without wasting another moment they start wolfing food down.

"So? Did you both use protection last night like I told you?" Grace asks in a casual manner.

"No, we didn't because we didn't have any," Serena replies.

Both she and Ash freeze in the moment when they realize what Serena just said. Both Ash and Serena gulp as they look at Grace, a little confused and a little shocked.

"How.." Ash starts only to be cut off by Grace.

"Did I know?" Grace asks, "By your timing, by the slight wobble in Serena's walk, despite her best efforts to hide it. Last but not the least, by the way in which Serena's face is glowing."

Serena and Ash turn a shade of red. They look down on the floor as their feet shuffle in nervousness. Grace finishes her coffee and puts down the cup.

She turns to Ash and Serena who both gulp and says "I am not angry. I have been in your shoes too. It was the same with me and Serena's father. Sometimes you can't control yourself. Plus you two are adults now, so you need to be able to take your own life decisions."

Both Ash and Serena, internally, feel relieved on hearing Grace says that. But then her expression and tone turn stern as she says "However. I will expect you to use protection from now on. Is that understood? I don't want any untimely pregnancies, Serena. At least not before you are married and are ready to be a mother. Now finish your food quickly. We will need to hurry."

"Absolutely," they both reply quickly and resume devouring their food in pin drop silence. 

Grace smiles as she sees Ash and Serena quietly, but quickly, finish eating their food.

(30 Minutes Later)

"Today marks the day when the new term of KIP officially starts. However, before your classes begin, I will have an exhibition one-on-one battle with the Champion of the school." Diantha says into the microphone on the stage.

The crowd erupts into cheers as she and Ash proceed to walk to the battlefield and take their respective positions.