'Now I've got you Flint' I smirked as I looked upon the worried Elite Four member. Infernape was caught in a trap. Using it's hands to catch Pikachu's Iron Tail like that made it vulnerable. It won't  be able to use Thunder Punch, Mach Punch or Dig and Flamethrower would only cause an explosion to cause damage to itself. 'Alright, time to wrap this up. We've given him a run for his money'

"Pikachu!" I yelled out towards my partner, who turned back to me "Show them your true strength! Your most powerful thunderbolt." I shouted to which Pikachu nodded and turned back to its motionless opponent shivering in fear. The yellow mouse pokemon grinned as did I before he began charging his volts "Pika, Pika, Pika, Pika, Pika, Pika" I looked to Flint who still carried a worried expression, and was quick on his feet to try and think of a solution "Throw it away!"

'Check' 

I knew that it was already too late, this battle was over the minute it began. Infernape wasn't quick enough and ended up getting a taste of Pikachu's electricity "Pika-Chuuuuuuuuuu!" The yellow mouse pokemon shouted and released it's signature move overpowering the fire type, who let out a cry in pain.

A bright light emitted from the location of the two pokemon, and soon followed by an explosion. Smoke filled the battlefield, and blocked my vision of the other side. Pikachu returned out of the smoke with a flip and to our side quickly "Good job Pikachu!" I turned my attention back to the battlefield, and the last know location of Infernape

'And mate'

The smoke began clearing, I was pleased when it completely disappeared to find Infernape inside a crater created by the powerful move. He was laying on the ground, electricity still flowing through his body. I took a closer look at the eyes, only for them to be filled with swirls. A small sigh could be heard from the other side of the battlefield "Well Ash, I don't know how, but you did it. You beat me fair and square, congratulations on beating a Sinnoh Elite Four member" I gave him a nod, before he returned his pokemon.

"Alright Ash! You did it, you won!" I heard a shout from my side, I turned my head in confusion and watched on as the person I least expected to be here was running towards me. "Serena...?" I said in disbelief before being tackled to the ground. The moment she made contact with me I felt a pulse of some sort exit from the center of my chest. I was left completely speechless from the surprise. "Congratulations on your victory Ash! You managed to win against an Elite Four." Serena said congratulating me on the win.

I was still staring at her with confusion 'Is this some sort of hallucination? Now that I think about it, this might be another one of those nightmares...' My thoughts were soon interrupted by the soft voice "Ash? Are you there?" The voice asked, while the figure waved her arm in front of my eyes. I brought my hands up my face and rubbed my eyes. I picked myself up, proceeding to stare at her cerulean eyes in disbelief, my mouth slightly agape. "Ash?" She asked again in a more depressed tone.

We were soon joined by another voice who added onto the sight "So Ash, do you mind telling me who this is? Your girlfriend perhaps?" I saw the girls cheeks fluster with crimson color, while I simply covered my face with my hat 'What the hell is Serena doing in Sinnoh?' I thought to myself. Flint only chuckled at our responses, I remembered what I wanted to do before Serena interrupted the post battle tension. 

I pointed with my hand to honey blonde "Serena" I extended my arm out towards Flint "That was a great battle Flint. Even though you were the one to lose, you should still feel proud of the rank you carry with you." I said out towards him, waving him a smile, he happily accepted and put a hand on my shoulder "You've outdone yourself Ash, the amount you've grown since the last time I saw you and battled with you. Don't let others knock you down, you get right back up and show your worth" I looked down at the ground, and put a hand on the center area of my chest. Feeling the slow beats.

'I haven't felt this emotion since that incident...' I said to myself. I glanced to my side and saw Serena standing there, my mind still in disbelief that she was actually in Sinnoh for some reason. 'Why are you here... this place is dangerous' She seemed to notice me and took this as an opportunity, the next thing that happened shocked me. She grabbed my hand and began dragging me towards the city, I kept staring at her with confusion and then twisted my head towards Flint who only chuckled as he watched the scene.

Before long we were located outside of a restaurant, Serena nodded and went inside of the building. I glanced down at our interlocked hands then back at Serena, she seemed to be determined for some reason. I sighed and didn't retaliate since there was no point, but was still confused at everything that had happened up to this point.

We took our seats, sitting opposite of each other in a small booth by the window. The moment we sat down Serena shot a look of anger at me and shouted out "Where have you been all this time?!" By now I felt the only move that was being used on me was confusion, it kept building up. My mind couldn't process anything, I raised my hand and scratched the front of my head as if trying to think of what on earth is going on. She then turned to the ground with a sad expression on her face and spoke up once more in a tone more down "I see... I guess you still hate me for what I did to you with Calem..."

I stared at her in the eye while she was looking at the ground, I released a sigh 'Well I guess this is actually happening then' I thought before speaking "Serena, I could care less about you taking Calem's side." I finally spoke, and it caught her attention immediately "I never hated you, or well at least don't anymore" she seemed to be feeling a bit happier when hearing this.

"All this time, you weren't attending classes... I thought it was because of me, you just seemed to disappear without telling anyone, not even me. You've made me worry sick about you. Ash have you been here the entire time?" I nodded, listening to her "But why?" She asked, causing me my nerves to tense as I tried to think of an excuse. I remained in a calm stated, but with each passing moment it would be less convincing no matter what I said. I was soon saved by a waiter who fortunately gave me time to think.

"Thank you, that's all" Serena replied to the waiter in a polite tone "No problem madame" The instant he left, she shot me a look "Well? Please Ash, answer me. I'm not going to think any less or more of you, unless you don't want to tell me... I get it if it's personal" Another sigh escaped my mouth "Well, you saw me in a battle with Flint correct?" I asked Serena, to which she nodded "I got an invitation from him to challenge him after he saw my battle with Cynthia, and since we haven't seen each other in such a long time I thought why not" She seemed to be convinced but still questioned further "Such a long time? What do you mean by that?"

"Oh right, you don't know... I traveled through Sinnoh in the past, gaining experience through out my journey." I explained while Serena gained an expression of awe on her face from my story "You've traveled to Sinnoh before coming to Kalos?" I nodded, things seemed to quiet down until she spoke again "But... If you were here to only battle Flint, the Elite Four member, then why have you been absent for almost two weeks now?" I chocked on my water that I was currently drinking, then looked at her in a state of panic.

"It's... because... I needed to spend more time in Sinnoh." I replied, hoping that she will take it as an answer "Spend more time in Sinnoh?" She asked, I looked at her 'Why did it have to be her out of all the people...' I sighed yet again "There is this exploration that I need to carry out for professor Sycamore, it's very important, and I'll need to take care of that business before returning to Kalos" I said with my half-made up excuse.

"That's weird, I talked to Sycamore in his office one day and when I specifically asked about you he stated that he didn't know the reason for you absence" She carried a confused expression, while my expression became one of annoyed, but I decided not to demonstrate it "Hmmm, talked to Sycamore specifically about me you said?" I put in a mocking tone, Serena's face soon turned a bright tomato red. "I-uhm th-that's not what I meant!" She shot out, completely embarrassed. I chuckled at her reaction, then went back to my calm state. "I must have forgot to tell Sycamore, I'll probably need to notify him. Although I was positive that I did tell him after I arrived here" I said putting my hand on my chin.

I felt some movement in my backpack, before a certain yellow mouse pokemon escaped and took its place on my shoulder "Pikachu, you should continue resting. Get back in the bag." I said to him while nuzzling his cheeks "Pika" He replied while shaking it's head. He looked at Serena then at me, and tilted it's head. "What is it Pikachu?" I asked my partner, who then pointed at Serena. I became confused immediately when I noticed the terrified expression on her face, while her body was shaking. "Something wrong?" I asked with a inquisitive tone.

She shot up from her seat in a completely panicked state "I-I forgot Fennekin at the pokemon center! She has been there all day without me, oh no what will she think... what if something happened... oh this is all my fault" I stopped her by putting a hand on her shoulder "Stop thinking about all the negative outcomes and try to focus. We can go to the pokemon center and see if she is fine. I'm sure nothing bad has happened, besides isn't there someone who could check on her?" I asked

Her body seemed to relax, and her mind became at ease allowing her to think more rationally. She placed a finger on her chin and looked at the ceiling "Uhm... I did ask nurse Joy to check on her, but she is busy and I don't know if she could" I placed a bill on the table and walked towards the exit, and motioned her to follow "Wait Ash, what about the food?" She asked, I shrugged my shoulder "Isn't your Fennekin more important than any meal?" Serena picked up the pace and we made our way towards the pokemon center.

The walk was short but we made it to the pokemon center, and Serena rushes to the front desk "Nurse Joy! Did you get the chance to check on Fennekin? Is she alright? Did she do anything wrong? Please forgive me for putting the task upon you" Nurse Joy turned to Serena and smiled at her then chuckled "Actually, Fennekin has woken up, but when I checked on her she was asleep, I think she saw your note and continued with her relaxation while you were gone" Nurse Joy explained, A massive exhale escaped from Serena's mouth as she dropped on the floor to her knees "Thank Arceus..." She said.

I followed and walked up to the desk "Good evening Ash, how was your day?" Nurse Joy asked me, I smiled at her and replied in a polite tone "It was fine, actually pretty intense. I would really appreciate it if you could have a look at this little guy right here" I said while extending my hand for Pikachu to crawl off of to nurse Joy. "It would be my pleasure" She replied with a smile. "Also, could you just put him in the same room as Fennekin after he has recovered. I'm sure he could use the rest" I asked her, then thanked her.

I turn around and see Serena waiting for me, I walk up to her "Need something?" I asked her, she looks at the ground. I saw her right foot making slight motions, and noticed her nervousness. "I-I was wondering i-if y-you wanted to spend anymore t-time... together" She finally made out, I checked the time on my watch, then glanced back at her "Sure" Her face lit up

We walked out of the pokemon center and I looked at her "Where we going?" I asked, and to my surprise she replied quite quickly "I heard an explosion earlier today, and went towards it. It was a battle, and I took a seat near it because I ran and was tired. While I was sitting on the bench, I saw you and then I dropped my ice cream." She explained her day before meeting me "And this has what to do with where we are going?" I looked at her with confusion "You owe me a new ice cream mister" She chuckled, I sighed in defeat "Alright, let's go. You lead the way."

On the way there, we were walking on a side walk by the road in the city, I was gazing around for anything suspicious, while Serena seemed to be focusing on getting us to the ice cream place. My hunt for suspicions was interrupted when I felt something came in contact with my hand. I looked down at my hand and noticed another hand wrapped around my own. I look up from my hand and into the honey blonde girl next to me, she smiled before blushing furiously. Another pulse that I felt earlier today got sent out, my mouth slightly in awe. We were now staring into each others eyes.

"Come on, let's go it's this way!" Serena shouted before she began sprinting towards the direction of the ice creams while our hands are still intertwined "W-wait Serena, hold up. Can't we go a bit slower?" I tried to get her to stop, but she wouldn't give in and practically began racing to it. She was laughing all the way up until there, I was simply admiring her positive and happy side. 'I remember I use to be like that... the person to always drag others and run off.' I sighed while still looking at her. I went into deep thought 'Maybe... Just maybe...' but was soon cut short by Serena's voice.

"Ash we're here!" She announced as she came to a halt. "Did we really have to run, it's not like were limited on time..." I said to her, while she sweat dropped and we were both gasping for air "I'm here for a week Ash, I plan on using the time as wisely as possible. I need to experience as much as I can before I have to go back to Kalos" She explained but then paused "Not all of us are so lucky that we get to leave and disappear out of the blue" She finished by looking towards the ground, away from me.

I sighed at her emotional response to my statement and walked over to the stand "Hello sir how may I help you?" The kind person asked behind the stand, eager to sell some ice cream. "Two Vanillite specials please" I looked back to Serena who was moping nearby "Make that three, with chocolate on top" I requested in a polite tone, the man nodded and within a few moments I received what I had asked for and walked back to Serena. "Here" I said while handing her the Vanillite special "Make sure you don't drop it this time" I chuckled, this seemed to cheer her up as she accepted the ice cream and began licking it. 

"Argh, it's so cold" Serena commented as she held her head "Perhaps that's why it's called 'Ice' cream" I said by putting an emphasis on 'ice' which earned me a glare from her. "Come, there's a spot nearby we can go to" I motioned her to follow with my hand, she seemed confused but then followed while enjoying her cold dessert. We were soon making our way up an incline "Ash, I'm getting tired, how much longer and can we take a break?" I heard her say from behind, without a word spoken I grabbed her hand and began running, same as she did with me.

We finally reached the top, and sat on a bench near the edge of the world. Down bellow, a glistening blanket of cerulean while the amber sky reflected in vain of beauty. The cauliflower clouds slowly zooming pass in the sky, only to later return to the ground. A pleasant gust blowing throughout allowing you to feel that warm breeze. Far away, barely visible to the naked eye, the scorching fire ball setting below the depths of the unknown. Half visible, reflecting upon the low tides, completing the sphere. Down below, the waves could be heard smashing into the solid surface, then replaced by the sound of silence.

I watched on as Serena's eye flickered upon the sight, her mouth agape and her eyes astounded by the graceful sight. "Wow..." Was the only word that escaped her mouth, she broke the stare to gaze at me "What is this place?" She asked, I looked back out towards the vastness of our world "This is where I go to find peace and quiet, away from all the city life and just enjoy what nature has to offer" I reply then halfway look at Serena "I'm speechless, it's stunning view indescribable" I chuckled at her response

I stared at the setting sun, the flame entering and reflecting in my eyes.

'Why did you come here Serena?' I looked at the girl who knows nothing sitting next to me 'This isn't good... Team Galactic activities rise, and at the same time she comes to Sinnoh... The Special Forces will need to come up with a plan, and quick.  If they don't, I'll need to act before they do.'