Hi everyone!!  SylveonKwami here.

Okay.  So, this is chapter 22.  I've planned out the rest of the book, and it will end after..

24 chapters.

Which means, THE END IS CLOSE!!  It has been amazing writing this book, but all good things must come to an end.  So, here's the update plan from now on.

Chapter 22: March 16th

Chapter 23: March 30th (my one year anniversary on Wattpad!!)

Chapter 24 + Something extra: April 13th

Now, things might be a little late, but the updates will be around those dates.  Okay, okay.  I've been going on for a long time now.  Time to start the chapter!!  Don't forget to vote and comment if you liked it :)

Enjoy!! >v<

Ash

"Woah, that was some good training there, Misty!" Ash exclaimed, giving his old friend a high five.  "When Espeon restores Serena, we should do a double battle."

"Yes we should," Misty agreed, flashing a smile at him.  "Are you on for another match?"

"Uh.. no, sorry.  I should probably get back to Serena now," he explained, starting to back away.  Before Misty could say anything else, he briskly started walking off to their tent.  He was about to go inside when he realized something.

Wait- I left Serena out there!  By herself!  And I promised her we'd spend the day-

Shoot.

Quickly, Ash ran into the tent.  Maybe Clemont had brought her back here?  "Serena?" he called, growing frantic when she didn't respond.  He searched the tent, but she wasn't there.  It's okay.  Maybe she's somewhere else around camp.  

So, with that thought in mind he searched everywhere, top to bottom, hoping to find her and apologize... only to realize that she wasn't there.  He found no trace of her.  He told Pikachu to go and tell the other Pokemon to look for her; he knew all too well the dangers.

What if she's d-

No, Ash, don't think like that.  Don't give up until it's over.

Thinking fast, he knew that there was only one place she could be.  He bolted to the field where Espeon restored him, calling out her name.  "Serena?  Serena, this isn't funny.  S-Serena... Serena please...!" he begged, going down on all fours to inspect the grass.  With his heart pounding out of his chest, he searched and searched through the grass, but to no avail.  She wasn't there.  But, he did find something interesting...

Footprints.

Tiny footprints.

He looked into the direction that they led; they seemed to lead into the-

Oh no.

OH ARCEUS NO.

Serena, why would you-

Because of me.

I already know it.

Ash looked ahead; the clouds were gray and dark, and a wind was beginning to blow around the area.  After a couple seconds, rain started to fall, then more and more.  Ash could barely see six feet in front of him.

"I'm coming, Serena!" he yelled, and raced into the forest alone.  He pushed his way through countless bushes and shrubs, and caused at least two flocks of Fletchlings to fly up into the air with all his bashing.  He ran all over, repeatedly calling out her name, trying to catch any responses beneath the roaring of the wind.  He was completely drenched and soaked when he approached a now-roaring river, hoping for a small rest.  He caught his breath as he stared out into the water, the storm making the water overflow its banks.  Ash sighed; everyone, he knew, would probably be looking for him, but that didn't matter.  He would only leave when he found Serena.

The wind calmed down a little, and he let out a small sigh of relief.  He was adjusting his cap when a small sound caught his ears-

A whimper.

Slowly, Ash turned his head to the source of the sound; the top of a nearby tiny tree.  Ash's eyes widened.

Serena.

"Serena, Serena please come down!" he begged with her, watching the winds violently sway the branches.

It was hard for Ash to catch her response, but he heard it.  "Y-You abandoned me, Ash!  You left me all alone, when you promised.. you promised me you wouldn't!" she screamed her heart out, and Ash felt his tears mix with rainwater.

He thought about saying "I didn't mean to", or "I'm sorry", but those responses were just meaningless in his eyes.  "Serena, let me help you down," he chose to say.  "I promise, for real this time, that I will never let anything bad happen to you.  I'll never leave your side... I love you, Serena!  With all my heart and soul."

"R-Really?" she whimpered, and Ash could see her big blue eyes looking down at him from where she was standing.  "D-Do you m-mean it?"

"Of course, my love," Ash said, giving her a gentle smile.  

"A-Ash, I'm scared," she said, crying a little.  "I want to come down."

"I'll get you down," he promised.  "You'll be okay.  Hmm.. I'm going to reach out my hand for you, okay?  All you have to do is climb down enough so you can reach it, alright?"

Ash lifted his hand out to her, and although he got pretty close, she still had to climb down a fair way.  "I'm right here," he said, hoping to fill her with confidence.  "I'm right here if you need me, I won't let anything happen to you."

Serena slowly nodded and started climbing down the trunk.  She moved slowly, and although Ash was getting more and more anxious with the wind, he knew that if she went any faster the wind would whip her away.  Suddenly, Ash heard a sound coming from behind him, and when he turned, his heart lurched.

Umbreon.

"St-Stay away!" he yelled, panicking.  If Umbreon got him again, they'd both die tonight.  "J-Just leave us alone!" he used his remaining hand to shoo away the Pokemon, but Umbreon remained standing there, cocking its head in concentration.  Ash turned back to Serena, who had stopped moving, staring at Umbreon.  Her terrified eyes met his, and for once, Ash was actually scared for his life.

Suddenly, and blue light engulfed Serena, and Ash turned his head back to Umbreon, whose eyes shone in a bright blue.  "H-Hey, stop that!" he yelled, listening to Serena cry out.  Umbreon didn't listen, widening it's eyes as if to use more of its power.  Suddenly, he turned his eyes back to Serena, who was-

Moving... towards him?

Her eyes had a shocked expression, and when Ash looked back at Umbreon with that same one, he realized something else.

Umbreon wasn't trying to hurt them... he was trying to help!

He's using Psychic!

"Th-Thank you!" Ash said gratefully, smiling in relief.  "Thank you s-so much."

Umbreon simply nodded his head, giving him a grunt in respons-

Just then, a huge gust of wind blew through the area.  Ash was knocked off his feet, crying out in pain as he hit the rough earth.  He saw Umbreon fall down too, losing his Psychic hold on Serena-

Serena!

"Serena!" he called out.  "Serena!"

Ash knew the wind had caught her, even before he saw her being swept past him.  He tried reaching for her, and she tried reaching for him, but the wind kept them apart.  The last he saw of his love was when she was tossed violently into the river.

The river full of rapids.

Oh Arceus, no no no no no no no

"SERENA!"

...

Yeah, I know, intense chapter.  

But, I hoped you enjoyed it nonetheless.  Expect an update in about two weeks, but I will actually try to update early and finish the book.

So, this is the end of the chapter.  Have an awesome day/night!!

Stay tuned ;)