Dragging myself through the dirt path, I was struggling with each step along the way. 

The energy from the battle against that Lysandre completely drained me of my energy. Add onto the fact that Greninja landed on top of me, crushing me in the process. "Just a little bit further..." I let out in pain, wincing at the direction ahead yet only focusing on the destination. Putting one hand in front of the other and pushing, I could fill myself going in and out of consciousness. My vision blurry, each time I close the lids it is as though hundreds of years pass, waking up in a new century.

My head was spinning, but each time I managed to regain myself and get back to working on getting home, or Serena's house I can't help but feel the shame eat me from the inside. Shame and disappointment with my performance regarding what had happened in that forest. Of course, I was quick and efficient enough to be able to prevent those pokemon from being harmed and further experimented, tested upon. "But at what cost..." I said underneath my breath. "Greninja..." I cried out to the pokemon trapped in the pokeball, resting from the excruciating duel it underwent from earlier. "Pikachu..." My yellow mouse buddy was still knocked out cold, situated in my backpack.

I couldn't bare the pain anymore. Falling to my knee, I had formed a fist and slammed it to the ground beneath, forcing away bits of sand away with the air created by the thrust. My hand was left stinging, but I had not given enough thought to care. I was only caught in the endless loop of my humiliating defeat. "Was it all worth it?" I said out loud, yet in a whisper at the same time. "Did I do the right thing?" I questioned my actions, thinking back on the pokemon that I had let go "It had to be, but was it worth the suffering of my own companions? Odds are, they will just be recaptured again by Team Flare..." 

"Reckless actions I keep repeating... I've gone over this countless times by now. Why do I keep repeating the same mistake?"

My journey had been cut short temporarily, and I was forced to slide to the side of the rough terrain, starring at the black ceiling above. All the white spectacles were out in plain sight, hiding nothing from the world. The countless other varieties in our galaxy emitting light. I've always wondered 'What would it be like out there?' These thoughts often made their way into my mind when I took time to rest and relax, clearing my mind of all other worries. My exhausted mind had begun playing tricks on me, and began connecting the bright dots in the sky to form different objects. Reminding me about everything, my mind unable to even rest because of its own doing. 

"Greninja..." I grunt, raising my hand towards the sky. Closing all my fingers to grasp at the figure, opening back up only to find nothing but a dark void with silver pepper spilled all across. Turning to the side, another pattern formed. One that had been with me for my entire journey. The very first one. One that I could never forget in a million years, nor would I ever leave him behind. "Pikachu..." I turned over, pain filling every nerve in my body as I extended my hand out towards him. Same as Greninja, he too was consumed by the void. 

Barely staying awake, I slammed my head back onto the surface below me. I didn't care, or was it that I couldn't even feel it at this point. Actually, I couldn't feel... anything at this point. My mind was spinning in circles around me, while my eyes darted into the darkness surrounding the environment.

One final picture filled the lights, connecting them. I wasn't able to tell at first what I had been gazing upon, but eventually it was made clear. A girls face. A very familiar girl to me, it was the honey blond that spent her time trying to... I don't even know. She is doing something, for some reason, and in spite of what I thought even I can't understand. That signature smile crept on the face, a wink sent my direction. All sorts of feelings were stirring up, especially those that had been locked away in a dungeon far below. A pulse got sent out from an unfamiliar location once more. 'These had been occurring more frequently than ever...' I looked back onto the sight above me, I tensed my eyes shut before shifting my head away and shaking it.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!" I shouted out in frustration and slammed both my hands into the ground. I brought them up to my head, rubbing my face up and down "She keeps on trying no matter what... always returns to me..." My eyes shot back at the void, the sight had finally disappeared out of view leading me to sigh.

"You have to stay strong."

The words rang in my head, as though it was the first time I was hearing them. Ignoring all of the antagonizing feelings coursing through my nerves, I shot up from my resting position and turned in every direction. In hopes to see that face again. In hopes to hear the smooth voice reach my ears. In hopes that I may once again, come in contact with those soft hands. Veils of water began building up in the sockets of my eyes. "W-where are you?" I called out, but no voice returned back.

"I-I know I'm meant to stay strong. I'm trying my best and giving it my all... but I fell again, worse than ever... and I don't know when I'm meant to put my trust in others..." I confessed out into the open, holding nothing back but the tears that were dying to escape. "Maybe letting Serena into my life won't be a mistake... but what about the dangers that I face in my life?" I shouted out towards the darkness, in frustration and mixed confusion. 

"I don't know what to choose! Everyone that I work with, they can all protect themselves. Innocent bystanders like her can't do anything if Geovanni or Lysandre find out! The only thing that I'm doing with this decision is putting another person at same risk that I put you in, I can't, no I won't be able to handle that again!" 

I fell back to the ground, panting. Exhausted at my sudden outburst, but why? I was having a shouting match by myself and... the wind. There was no one, not even a thing there 'Am I going crazy?' I thought to myself, listening to the sounds of nature around me. The leaves rustling on the forest line nearby, branches scraping against each other due to the slight breeze. 

Out of nowhere, I heard a sudden rhythmic pattern of foot steps crunching the green below, headed my direction. With all the energy I could muster up, I shifted my attention towards the sound of the crunching leaves and saw the shaded figure. I squinted my eyes, attempting to focus on the mysterious figure dashing towards me, hoping to reveal the image.

Finally after a moment or so, I stared at it. Into the vicious eyes, the stern expression on it's face.  It looked me up and down, then eventually back into the eye contact shared between us. It nodded and extended it's hands "Lucha" I heard it call out, a smile forming on it's face. I glanced at the sign of help with confusion "You want to help me?" I asked out towards it, earning myself another nod. It pointed towards the center of my chest. I followed the pointed finger and felt the tiny claw reach its mark. I raised my attention back to it, returning the smile and accepting the hand.

It pulled me up surprisingly fast. The pokemon was extremely strong for its size. Once it did pull me up, the moment I put pressure on either of my two feet, I dropped and winced in pain "Lucha!" It called out and grabbed me, taking one of my arms and throwing it over its shoulder "T-thanks..." I managed to get out in a puff, before coughing.

Now that I was up close to the pokemon, and could see all of its features, I couldn't help but recognize it from somewhere. I was sure of it, the pattern is all too familiar and the worried look in its eyes. I swear I have seen this pokemon somewhere before, but I just can't seem to pin point the exact location. "Do I know you from somewhere?" I asked out towards the figure. It slowly raised the arm belonging to its small body, and brought out it's hand, only to form it into a fist with a finger pointing upwards. My mind was sent back.

"Go, now before they can catch you again! Be free, I'll distract them!" I yelled out towards the fleeing pokemon.

One of the pokemon stopped in it's tracks and looked back at me in worry for a moment. 

"Go!" I shouted towards it, still it didn't go "Trust me, I'll be just fine" 

I gave a thumbs up, reassuring it that no harm will come to me. It turned, giving its own thumbs up along with a nod and escaped with the rest.  

It hit me "You're that pokemon..." I coughed towards the end of the sentence. It smiled, and nodded at me then went back focusing on the path ahead. With each step, I felt myself getting more and more loss in the darkness. It wasn't before long, until it consumed me and forced me into deep slumber.

I walked up those last set of stairs to the building, unlocking the door with the key that was given to me by Serena. I was left slightly shocked when the key wouldn't turn any further to the right, implying that the door was already unlocked, and I could enter. I pressed down on the metal piece and entered the abyss. The first thing that hit me was the warm atmosphere of the house, spending most of the night outside it was the most relaxing feeling at the moment. I could drop right here, and wouldn't mind sleeping on the floor. "Finally, back home..." I let out, getting rid of my shoes in the corner and swaying towards the stairs in exhaustion.

Each step creaked an annoying wooden, and loud sound across the walls of the interior. Half way up, I had misplaced my foot, accidentally causing me to trip forward and go head first into the stairway. The impact sent out a deafening noise, and a world of hurt to my forehead. My sleepiness caused me to completely ignore the pain, as everything else was already hurting. 

Finally making it up the tiresome climb, I walked towards my room opening the door and sat down on my bed. I took my pack off my back and placed it in front of me. I reached into the cloth bag and pulled out the knocked out electric type, and moved my arms towards the side of my pillow to place him, until a lock of hair disturbed my movement. I stood up confused, and noticed that there was a person lying in my bed. I took a closer look, due to the complete darkness in the room and was shocked to find it was Serena. 

I smirked at the sight, and reached my arm for underneath her neck and her legs. I picked her up, in the typical way a bridegroom would to to his bride on the wedding day. Walking to her room, I couldn't help but feel her hands tighten on my clothes. She was still fully clothed, in her usual day outfit. 'Were you really waiting all this time simply... for me?' I asked myself, in slight disbelief of the thought.

Nudging the door aside to Serena's room, we made straight for the bed where I dropped her off and pulled the bed sheets over her. Without a moment to spare, I raced back to the guest room with all energy I had left to spare, and finishing the race by throwing myself onto the soft cushions and once again, falling unconscious for the nth time today.

P.O.V Switch

I walked up the stairway, oblivious to the pain that had entered my legs. Walked, yet it felt more of a run up to the boys room with backpack in hand. The first thing my eyes caught was that the position of the door had not changed since this morning. I didn't care what he was doing, I slammed the door open and brought out the back pack "Ash, you forgot your backpack" I creaked open an eye, only to realize that the room was a ghost town "down...stairs..." My soft voice rang through out the walls, but reached no ear aside from my own. My focus was constantly shifting from the empty room to the backpack owned by the raven hair boy I admire all too well.

'Where is that boy now...' I thought to myself, walking to his bed and sitting down. "I'm done searching for him, Dawn already completely exhausted me for today. If I go chasing after him now, I won't be coming back home today, or even tomorrow." I said making up my mind about my course of action.

"I've barely seen or spoken to him, and he stays in the same house as me." I huffed out in slight annoyance with his disappearances "That's fine then." I said, sighing and gaining a smile "I know for a fact he returns to his room, he won't be able to ignore me when he comes back. I want to have a chat." With that I waited and waited. The day passed by and the raven haired boy never showed up.

"Well, I might as well start doing my homework if he won't show up any time soon." I exited his room, and walked to my own, grabbing my own backpack filled with notebooks and textbooks. Making my way back, I closed the door and unloaded all of my work on the table "Alright... let's get started on this I guess..." I said with little eagerness to begin.

I hadn't even notice the shift in time, but by the time I had nearly ended with my homework the sky had turned a jet black "Serena, I-" I heard the voice of my mom from the other side of the hall, but it cut off. I'm guessing she went to my room but didn't find me. She opened up the door to the room I was currently in "Serena?" She called out to me "Yeah mom?" I asked looking at the little remaining work I had left "Why are you in this room?" She asked, her voice filled with curiosity. 

"Well, I've been trying to get a hold of Ash this entire day and even yesterday. He never shows up, he leaves early and comes back late. I figured that if I wait in his room long enough, I will be able to finally have a word with him." I explained to my mother, taking my eyes off the work and at her "Right, we both know with what you mean by 'have a word with him'" My mother teased, causing me to turn a dark shade of crimson "Th-that's not what I meant mom!" I cried out towards her, only chuckles escaping her from my reaction. I pouted "Why do you always have to do this to me..."

"Oh cheer up darling, anyway the real reason I came up here was to tell you that dinner is in the oven. I knew you were working hard, and didn't want to disturb you. Simply heat it up if you get hungry." I waved my mom off, and regained my focus on the papers on the desk "Thanks, mom. Good night." I saw from my corner of my eyes her lips curved upwards "You too honey, don't overwork yourself." 

It wasn't long after that I had set the final paper aside, and went to take a seat on the bed to wait patiently for his return. An extensive amount of time passed, and there was still no sign of him. I checked the time on my phone "Where is that boy!" I cried out and fell down on the bed, my hair spread in every direction. "This will take longer than expected..." I brought out my phone and began browsing, passing time until I felt my eyes begin to drop. I gave my best attempt at staying awake, but it was to no avail. Soon, I found myself in shroud of darkness. Entering the world of fantasy and surrealism.  

My nose sniffed a delicious course being prepared downstairs. I checked my surroundings, and processed that I was in my own room "But wait... I know for sure that I was in Ash's room last night..." I slammed myself in the head when I realized I dozed off "I fell asleep, oh come on. It would be a miracle if he was actually here for breakfast..." I said out loud to no one in particular, yet had low hopes. "But wait... I know that I was in his room, and that I fell asleep there..." My mind began going over yesterday and the fact that I woke up today in my own room "Did he..." My face burned a bright red, and I could feel the heat.

Once I recovered, I got dressed and made my way down stairs. I entered the dining room and skipped past into the kitchen "Morning mom!" I yelled out, giving her a hug from behind "Someone is excited today, anything special going to happen?" She asked, confused but surprised at the same time from my amount of energy. "Nope, I guess I'm just happy today." I replied to my mother with a massive smile, stretching from ear to ear. I made my way out of the kitchen.

"Some more pancakes will be ready in a minute, you can take a seat next to Ash." She said, and when I reached the dining room, I noticed Ash sitting there and consuming a load of pancakes with his Pikachu "Ash?" I let out with confusion 'Did I miss him when I came past here?' He looked up from his plate, and waved with his hand.

"Morning to you too" I smiled at him, I took my seat. The first thing I noticed was the massive bandage that was plastered across Ash's forehead "Ash! What happened to you!" I shouted out, jumping off my chair and causing it to slam into the floor. He doesn't reply to me. "Ash please, tell me. Where were you yesterday?" I asked, hoping to get some kind of reply. He gulped the current load of pancake in his mouth, and sighed before he replied "I just went for a badge and..." He paused before deciding to continue "...got side tracked along the way." He let out, shifting his eye sight between me and the pancakes.

"Ash there had to be something more than that, what happened?" I questioned him, with worry all over my voice and facial expression "Don't worry. It was only because I managed to trip on my way back and got cut on a rock in the middle of a path." He replied, although I could feel the coldness in his voice. It was slightly disturbing, but he didn't want to say exactly what he did or what happened. "But a rock wouldn't create such a gash for you to require that bandage?" I stated, pointing it out.

"Listen." He said sternly "It's fine. There is no issue. There is no need to worry about it." Ash said, looking away from me. "If you say so..." I replied, still not convinced at all. His last tone only made me worry further. Silence fell upon us, an awkward silence. I decided to break it and start up a conversation "You mentioned a badge?" I asked wondering about which gym he challenged "Huh?" He replied in confusion, as if he wasn't paying attention.

"She asked you about a badge. Did you challenge another gym Ash?" My mother came out of the kitchen, with a plateful of pancakes and set them down on the table before taking a seat and setting down her coffee beside her. Ash shook his head before continuing "Ermm, yes. I battled Valerie, the gym leader from Laverre city..." He answered, clearly as bland as possible. "Laverre city... I've heard a lot about it. I really want to visit it at some point." I said my mind without any thought, staring at the ceiling. I then brought my eyes down to Ash.

"I'd love to join you next time."