A few minutes ago, Serena was on her way to Santalune city when she had run into a Vespiquen which fired off a Power Gem at her, only for Fennekin to defend her.

However, she didn't know that a certain pair was watching her.

"The mission will take some time, and it wouldn't hurt to capture a starter from a fresh trainer would it?" asked Cassidy as Butch agreed.

"Alright then," said Cassidy with a sneer as she sent out her Gengar.

"Gengar use Shadow Ball!" she yelled as Gengar's attack hit in front of Serena and Fennekin, throwing her backward.

"What?!" Serena yelped as she got up.

Cassidy: A shrieking whine! A blast from the past!
Butch: Spinning like a Gyro Ball and moving fast!
Cassidy: To the moon...
Butch: ...And beyond...
Both: ...What a blast!
Cassidy: Administering justice with lightning speed!
Butch: Bashing the bad guys, should we feel the need.
Cassidy: So here's a newsflash from across the wire...
Butch: The real Team Rocket is now on fire!
Cassidy: Cassidy!
Butch: And it's Butch!
Shuckle: Shuck-uckle!
Cassidy: Showing the losers who are the gem...
Butch: ...The true Team Rocket...
Both: Us! Not THEM!

"WHAT DO YOU WANT!" yelled Serena angrily, though she was scared inside.

"We want that Fennekin. Give her up and we'll leave you," Cassidy said as Butch nodded.

"NO WAY!" Serena yelled as Fennekin got out of her hands and stood in front of her protectively.

"Well, then what's going to happen is on you," said Butch as both ordered their pokemon to attack.

"GENGAR USE DARK PULSE!" they both yelled.

"Fennekin! USE FLAMETHROWER!" Serena said panicking as Fennekin obeyed her orders. However, the two dark pulses overpowered her flamethrower and hit her, sending her back slamming into Serena causing them both to fall.

"Now, Shadow Pulse again," they both said with a sadistic grin and the pokemon fired the attack.

 Serena braced for the attack as it came dangerously close to hitting her, until a blue sphere deflected it.

Serena opened her eyes to find a Lucario in front of them, defending her.

"Huh?" she muttered as she turned only to be pulled in a hug.

Serena blushed as she realized who it was. She looked up to see Ash, however, unlike the usual smile he had, he was glaring at Team Rocket while hugging her.

'H-hot!' she thought blushing even harder as he turned to her and smiled.

"Hey, Serena. Must say, didn't expect our reunion to turn out like this. Just a moment, I've got some pests to take care of," Ash said as he released her and walked towards Team Rocket who were now sweating bullets.

"You took it too far this time," he said as he released his Charizard, who roared at his full power.

Froakie, who was seeing Charizard's full power for the first time shivered as he looked at him in awe. The same went for Clemont and Bonnie, who had just arrived.

"Alright... Overheat."

Hearing this, Clemont and Bonnie's eyes widened as they knew this was one of the strongest fire-type moves and for Ash to use it like that, he must have been extremely angry or extremely serious.

As Ash said that, Charizard let out a stupendously powerful torrent of flames which was way bigger than it was supposed to be as per description. Serena, Clemont, and Bonnie could feel the temperature shoot up a few degrees as their eyes widened.

"Is this kind of power even possible?" muttered Clemont as he remembered the battles he used to have. The closest he had seen was his Father's Blaziken in action, and that was about half as powerful as this, and that too in its Mega evolved form.

"USE DARK PULSE!" both Butch and Cassidy yelled, but it was useless as the Overheat was barely affected and slammed into both pokemon sending them flying along with team rocket.

"..."

"..."

"..."

Froakie by now was just in awe of the power of Ash's Charizard. As for others, Serena and Clemont had developed a respect for it while Bonnie fangirled over it.

Charizard just walked past Ash as he gave him a fist bump.

"Good job Charizard," he said with a smile as he recalled him in his Pokeball. He then turned to Serena who was looking at him with awe in her eyes.

"So... long time no see, Sere," Ash said with a smile as Serena jumped onto him engulfing him in a hug.

"ASH!" she said excitedly as Ash hugged her back, lifting her off the ground causing her to turn beet-red.

"It feels so good to meet you," said Ash as he hugged her tightly, even shocking her.

'I hoped he would be happy to see me, but this... wow...' she thought as Clemont and Bonnie just stared at them, confused.

"Uh... do you both know each other?" asked Bonnie innocently.

Serena was still blushing and trying to comprehend what had just happened so Ash took the lead.

"Well, back when we were 6 she came to Kanto, Pallet town, from where I am to participate in a camp organized by Professor Oak. We met there, and she was my second friend, after my friend Gary. But then she had to go back..." said Ash as he said the last part with a sad tone, resembling a hurt Rockruff.

'He's so cute! He looks like a hurt puppy,' thought Serena as she hugged him.

"In fact... a part of the reason I started to journey was to find her again," said Ash as he himself blushed at what he had said.

"Really?" asked Clemont, interested.

"Y-yeah..."

"Wait... you're serious?" asked Serena, feeling extremely special.

"Y-yeah... I really wanted to meet you again," Ash said scratching the back of his head sheepishly.

"ME TOO!" said Serena squeezing him.

"Really?"

"Of course! In fact, when I saw you on TV yesterday I decided to get a pokemon and find you," she said as Fennekin looked impressed at her boldness.

"... YOU CAME HERE FOR ME!" asked Ash with wide eyes.

"Yeah. I r-really wanted to meet you, plus I thought it would be a great time to start a journey," she said shyly.

"Wow... so... we're heading to Coumarine city. If you've come so far, do you maybe want to accompany me till there? " asked Ash with a smile.

"R-really? Are you sure I won't be a burden?" she asked nervously.

"Not at all, in Ash's words, the more the merrier," said Bonnie cheerfully as Ash nodded.

"That's all good and fine, but I suggest you both stop hugging, Pikachu's squished in between and he doesn't look good," said Clemont as they both noticed this and separated.

"OH SORRY PIKACHU! Are you okay?" asked Ash panicking as Pikachu took deep breaths and gave him a thumbs up.

'Why do I get a feeling that if it wasn't Serena meeting me after years the outcome of this would be very different ending with a charred me?' 

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