Pokemon Heart and Mind: The Persici Prequel

Chapter Three: Catch Me When I Fall

Chapter Three

Catch Me When I Fall

Songs:

Sparks Fly, by Taylor Swift

I'm Only Me When I'm With You, by Taylor Swift

'Till the Love Runs Out, by One Republic (Serena's Performance)

As Ash stepped off of the plane in Veridian City, he stretched his arms, and was thrilled to be back on home soil. There was definitely a good feeling associated with being back where you got your start.

It was early afternoon, and thankfully, the weather was nice, and made the walk a lot easier. Pikachu seemed content as well, falling asleep on his shoulder as he walked. Rotom followed close behind chattering about random things it was seeing on the way. For Pikachu, it was probably jet lag, but it hadn't hit Ash just yet. He still felt pretty energetic. By about four pm, his eyes came upon a very familiar sight: the tiny little town surrounded by mountains on every side. Pallet Town. Home.

"Pikachu, buddy! Wake up! We're home!"

Pikachu opened his eyes and stared forward. "Pika pika." (Translation: "Finally. Home.")

"Whoa! Haven't been here in a while! Updating data!" Rotom exclaimed excitedly, snapping photos.

Ash got so excited that he started off in a run down the path into town, excited to see his Mom, his friend (whoever it was!), and chow down on something delicious. He could hardly wait or contain his excitement.

"Whoa! Wait Ash! Wait up!" Rotom called, waving its arms hysterically as it floated after him.

When he made it to the house, he opened the door, and stepped in. He removed his shoes, and set his backpack by the door. "Mom! I'm home!" He glanced around, realizing the house was dark. However, something smelled delicious, like something was baking. Were they cookies? He looked around into the living room, and realized that he had awoken a sleeping Pokemon. A Sylveon. Ash stared in surprise as it made its way over, its feelers waving excitedly. Pikachu got really excited, and jumped off of Ash's shoulder, going to say hello. Sylveon happily wrapped her feelers around Pikachu's paws. The two of them greeted each other like old friends. Had his Mom gotten a Sylveon somehow?

No. She would have mentioned it. The only other person he could think of that had a Sylveon was...

Then, he heard a door open upstairs, and footsteps, and very familiar voice, yet slightly more mature. "Ash? Is that you?"

He turned toward the stairs, and a girl came stepping down them. She wore a dark blue, off the shoulder dress, a pink button-up vest over top, black stockings, and a very familiar blue ribbon in her hair. Her eyes were that same bright blue he remembered, and her formerly short hair hung down to her shoulders in soft waves. He noticed, also, that she was more filled out than she was before; and that thought made him blush. As he looked at her, he felt stunned into speechlessness. Not just because she was here, but because he could tell that she, in many ways, was quite a bit different from the girl she was before. She carried herself straighter, and seemed to be radiating confidence. Walking beside her was a Pikachu with a ringlet of flowers over one ear.

"Serena?" He said her name, and stared at her in surprise.

Serena grinned and began to step down the stairs again. "Ash! It's so good to see-" Missing a step, she fell forward. "AHHH!"

"Ah! Watch out!" Ash jumped forward, in front of the stairs and caught her. But the force of her fall forced them to fall backward in a tangled heap, his hat going flying.