Galactic Z

Chapter 2: Realization

So this is the second chapter of my story. Enjoy, and let me know if you like it.

Our four heroes were heading towards a village named 'The Luregon village' to attend a festival. As usual, Ash was walking in the front, then Serena and Bonnie, and Clemont, at last. It was the first time Bonnie had been to the Sinnoh region, so she was too busy checking out the surroundings to see any new Pokemon. She did not notice that Serena was continuously staring at Ash. Suddenly she saw a Pokemon she didn't recognize. She pulled Serena by her skirt and asked, "Hey Serena, what's that Pokemon?"....No response came from Serena. At that moment, Serena's head was in a dreamy state. It had been over a year since she had left Kalos and parted ways with Ash. She missed him so much. Now having him so close after so long, she couldn't help daydreaming. Bonnie turned her head to see what's going on. She saw Serena staring at Ash. Her cheeks were bright red, her eyes were dazzling and there was beautiful happy smile on her lips. It didn't take Bonnie even a moment to realize what was up. She gave a toothy grin towards Serena. Although Serena did not notice her at-all. She was too busy fantasizing about having Ash by her side all the time. It was like a second chance to her. She had to confess her feelings to Ash. Although she had kissed Ash on the last day of their Kalos journey, but it did not seem like it had made any difference. Ash still treated her like just a friend. That's what she thought, at-least. On the other hand, Ash was trying to make up his mind. The loneliness and discomfort had totally disappeared from his heart. But he was feeling something strange. His heart was trying to tell him something. He did not understand what it was. Soon it was night. Our heroes set up their camp and Clemont started cooking. Ash started training with Pikachu, Alakazam, Charizard and Lycanrock in a distance. Serena and Bonnie were sitting by the camp-fire. Serena was still in her dreamy state, wondering how she could get closer to Ash. Bonnie on the other hand was observing her. She thought she would tease her, but not at the moment. She then decided to go see Ash as he trained. As she reached him, she noticed that he was not focused on his training very much. Ash was having trouble keeping his mind stable. Bonnie saw this and decided to go in and investigate. She reached Ash and asked, "Are you ok Ash?" Ash snapped out of his dizzy state of mind and looked at Bonnie. "Yeah, I'm alright. It's just, I'm having some thoughts...It's not important, let it go." Ash answered and decided to keep the training on hold for the time being. He returned his Charizard, Alakazam and Lycanrock in their poke-balls and Pikachu started playing with Dedene. Ash went back to the camp and sat by the fire, next to Serena. As he sat there, all the thoughts he was fighting against just vanished. They were replaced with a sense of comfort. Ash figured he felt good when he was around Serena. But still, he was trying to figure out why. At that moment, he felt like he could spend an eternity just sitting there next to Serena. He didn't think of anything and placed a hand on one of Serena's. Jolts of current were sent up his spine. His heart got filled with excitement, comfort and nervousness. He did not wonder if Serena noticed him doing that or not. He just had to hold her hand. On the other hand, in her dreamy state, Serena felt like something touched her hand. It felt so good. Her heart was beating faster and faster. She felt Vivillons in her stomach. She slowly came back to reality and noticed that Ash had her hand in his. She blushed a bright red, but didn't say or do anything. She wanted to enjoy the moment. There was one thought in her mind, "Does he like me back?" As all this was going on, Bonnie was watching the two from a distance. She smiled at the two and thought that they looked adorable together. But she couldn't watch them for long as Clemont called Serena for some help. Bonnie went to Ash and sat right next to him. Ash did not notice anything as he was staring at Serena. Bonnie moved her mouth near his ear. "She is really cute isn't she?" Ash heard someone whisper. Being in a spell-bound state, he just nodded his head yes. Then in an instant, he came back to reality and turned around. He saw Bonnie smirking at him. He tried to say something but Bonnie cut him off. "Now now, don't try to make excuses." She said. Then her smirk grew even wider as she said in a teasing manner, "You're in love with Serena aren't you?" Ash was shocked. 'Me, in love with Serena?' He thought. He never thought about love. To him his dream always came first. So it was tough for him to accept the fact. But then there was not any better explanation to whatever was happening to him. He sat there silent. In his head, he was trying to process the fact he just learnt. Bonnie was confused. She snapped her fingers in-front of his eyes. "Hallo..Earth to Ash.." She said. Again, Ash snapped out of his dizzy state. He did not say anything. He still wondered on what Bonnie told him. Pikachu and Dedene soon reached the scene. The former Pokemon saw the wired expression on Ash's face and grew worried. It was about to say something as Bonnie scooped it up off the ground and put a hand on its mouth. "Let him be for now." She said to the yellow mouse Pokemon. Then she put it down. Pikachu seemed to get it. It didn't disturb Ash. At night, as everyone finished eating and were about to go to sleep, Bonnie decided to sleep with Serena as she used to do back in Kalos. The atmosphere became quiet. Serena thought she was the only one awake then. She couldn't sleep as her mind resisted stopping thinking of Ash. It was comfortable with the fantasies but the nervousness did not let her sleep. She thought hard about how she would confess to Ash. Soon, she realized she wasn't the only one awake as she saw Bonnie sit up. She pretended to sleep, not wanting Bonnie to understand anything. But Bonnie knew her too well to fell for that. "Serena, I know you're awake," She said. Serena was surprised that Bonnie caught her. She sat up. "What is it Bonnie?" She asked. Bonnie looked into her eyes and could see how she was feeling. "If you love him so much, why don't you confess?" Serena was surprised again. She tried to act innocent. "What are you talking about?" She said. Bonnie sighed as if she was dealing with a kid. "Come-on, I know you love Ash...." Serena could not get how Bonnie found out. Her heart had started to race on the mention of her, loving Ash. She could deny but she knew it would not work against Bonnie. So she decided to give in. She looked downwards and said with a sigh, "How did you find out?" Her voice was calm, yet nervous. Bonnie could tell she was a bit afraid. She thought she had to do something. But she needed to know more. So she decided to answer Serena's question. "It's so obvious..The way you stare at him, the desire in your eyes clarifies everything and you always blush around him." She said. Then an evil smirk appeared on her face. "And...I remember how you kissed him...." She said in a sarcastic way. Serena was blushing furiously. She didn't have anything to say. Bonnie decided to ask again. "You didn't answer, why don't you confess?" Serena got a hold of herself and started to talk." It's that..." She struggled to say anything. Bonnie: "What?" "I love him so much, but I don't know if he likes me back or not. He treats me like just a friend and nothing more." Serena stated. Bonnie knew she would say that. She sighed and talked again – " What if he too loves you and just does not realize it himself?" Serena's heartbeat went faster at the thought that Ash might love her back. But again, nothing could be considered accurate. She did not know what was true. "How would I know that?" She said. "And what if I confessed and he showed no interest? ......I can't bare a rejection by Ash." She had a point there. But Bonnie knew that the facts were different. "So are you going to give up and let Ash belong to someone el.." Bonnie was cut off as Serena exclaimed, "NO....I would rather die than to see that happen!" Bonnie how Serena felt at the moment. "Then stop being scared and pour your heart out to Ash...I assure you he will respect your feelings." Bonnie kept trying to motivate Serena and eventually fell asleep. No matter how much she had grown up mentally, she was still a kid in the end. Serena still stayed awake. She dreamt how it would feel if she could be in Ash's arms and rest her head on his shoulder. Sleep would not reach her that night. So she went outside to sit under the sky. To her surprise, Ash was outside too. He sat in open gazing the stars. Serena stood there still, wondering what to do. She didn't have to think of anything though as Ash noticed her and invited her to sit with him. She slowly went near him and sat right next to him. Being so close made them both blush. Ash felt Butterfrees in his stomach. The silence was getting awkward. Ash somehow got a hold of himself and spoke, "Not feeling sleepy hnu?" Serena hesitated a bit and said," Uaa yeah. What about you?" Ash thought for a bit and figured it would not be a bad idea to talk to Serena. He took a deep breath and started," Something strange is happening to me." "Are you alright?" Asked Serena. There was concern clear in her voice. Ash could easily tell how much she cared for him. He smiled at the fact and said, "Yeah don't worry. It's just, it's a feeling. I feel like my heart is trying to tell me something, that it needs something." Serena slid closer to Ash as she said, "I understand." She put her hand on his. Ash smiled again and continued, "But I feel really good when I'm with you." Serena didn't say anything. She just blushed. This could be it. Ash might be going to express that he had feelings for her. She was waiting eagerly for the moment. Her blush grew even more as she heard a question – "Do you ever have these kinds of feelings?" She looked down, trying to hide her blush. But she did answer – "Sometimes. But I'm fine when I'm with you." She said. Being so close and holding hands too made the two feel extremely happy in the inside. "I really like being close to you." Ash said without thinking. Serena's entire face had turned a bright red. She fought in the inside against herself to keep calm and not to throw herself on Ash. "Is that why you held my hand earlier?" She said shyly. Ash was socked. His cheeks turned red as he struggled to say, "You noticed?" Serena smiled and wrapped her arms around his and put her head on his shoulder as she said," Don't worry. It's alright, I liked it too." She nuzzled her hair on Ash's shoulder as she added," I like being close to you too Ash." They both were excited beyond description. They did not want those moments to end. Ash had started to realize that the need in his heart was Serena. He needed to be with her. He petted her head as some sleep powder came floating in the air and soon, they were feeling sleepy. Serena fell asleep right there on Ash's shoulder. Ash picked her up in bridal style and took her back in hers and Bonnie's tent and laid her in her sleeping bag. Then he returned to his own tent and went to sleep. The rest of the night went very pleasant for Ash. He dreamt of him and Serena being together and spend their lives hand in hand as one. By the time he woke up in the morning, Ash knew what the feeling inside his heart was.