Hi, everyone!  I hope you all had an awesome weekend!  As promised, here's Chapter 9!  Hope you all enjoy!  (This will hopefully be a shorter chapter)

Serena

The rest of the day went by in a flash.  She, along with Ash, had baked a wonderful batch of PokePuffs, and with the help of their Pokemon, they decorated them wonderfully, with homemade icing and the berries that Serena had picked earlier.  She remembered laughing as Sylveon had lifted Ash up with her feelers, then fretting over him when he fell face first into one of the PokePuffs.  Those... those were some good times.

Even though they'd had fun, that terrible feeling had lasted for the entire day.  "Ash won't get better."  Just looking at him, watching his smiling face, then remembering how he wouldn't...

I don't want to think about that anymore.  He will get better, right?

But... what Clemont said.  The chances are small.  Maybe it's just time for me to accept it, and tell him the truth, if Clemont hasn't yet.  After dinner-

A tail flicked her, and when she turned, she saw Espeon calling her, gesturing to Clemont.  Turning red with embarrassment, she realized that her friend was talking to her and she had spaced out and ignored him.  "S-Sorry, Clemont," she stuttered quickly.  He smiled.

"Don't worry, Serena, I was just talking about how my latest invention will help with baking your PokePuffs," he explained.  "It will really help with..." Serena stopped listening after that; unless it was actually tested to not blow up, she did not trust her precious PokePuffs inside of Clemont's machine.

"Y-Yeah, Clemont," she said awkwardly.  "I'll try it out soon."

"I'm sure it will do great," Ash piped up, sitting on the table next to Serena (it still made her blush a little when he deliberately chose that spot next to her).  "Science is so amazing!"

He still says that, after all this time...

After all that's happened...

How can he?

How can he be so happy?

HOW CAN HE?

He won't even-

"Hey, Serena, are you alright?" came Ash's voice, and she looked at him to see a concerned look on his face.  He's concerned about me.  He shouldn't be.  You're taking away his happiness.

"Uh, yeah, I'm fine," she murmured, then continued to eat in silence.  She willed for someone to talk, to do something, but it seemed that after she stopped talking, everyone else decided to stop too.  After a couple minutes, though, everyone finished, and Serena couldn't have been more relived.  She quickly collected the dishes and washed them, longing to get back to her tent where she could be alone for a bit.  

Unfortunately, she didn't expect Clemont to intercept her on her way there.  "Hey, Serena," he said cheerfully.

She eyed him warily.  "What's up?" she asked him.

Clemont got straight to the point, looking at Ash.  "Have you told him yet?" he questioned her.  "Because I-"

"No, I should be the one to tell him," Serena said, shaking her head.  "I mean, I want to tell him.  I don't know why, but he needs to hear it from me, that he probably won't-"

"I won't what?" Serena turned to see Ash standing on the picnic table, clearly listening to every word of their conversation.  "Serena, come on, tell me." his voice sounded joking, but she knew he was being dead serious.  She started backing away.

"I... I..." she couldn't.  She couldn't break his heart.  She couldn't get rid of the Ash that made her day brighter, the Ash that everyone loved, the Ash that she loved.  She turned around and ran towards the forest.

I can't.  I'm so sorry, you'll understand right?

"Serena?  Serena!  STOP!  You know it's dangerous-" came Ash's voice, but she wouldn't have it. She needed a place to run to.

"I'm sorry!"

........................................................................................................................

After a couple minutes, Serena found herself a clearing where she could think properly.  You have to go back.  This was dumb.  You know it's not safe out here.

Footsteps sounded from behind her, almost confirming her worst fear.  The Umbreon, the Umbreon, run!

However, as she turned around, the only Pokemon she saw were her Sylveon and Espeon, both looking worried.  Sylveon wrapped one of its feelers around her wrist, and Espeon started rubbing its head on her leg.  She smiled.

"Thanks, you guys," she said gratefully.  She felt something cold land on her arm, and looked at it to see a snowflake land on it, then quickly melt.  She looked up, and to her horror, more snowflakes were falling, faster and faster.

Perfect.  Now you're caught in a storm.

Suddenly, it became very cold, and she shivered.  "I-I should have brought my jacket," she stuttered, wrapping her arms around herself in an attempt to gain some warmth.  The one time I need Braixen...

She sat down on a nearby log, Sylveon and Espeon coming to cuddle beside her, trying to keep all of them warm.  I should go back.  Go back, and tell Ash what's really going on.

Except...

I'm not going to be able to do it.

I can't-

Espeon suddenly started whimpering, and when she looked ahead, a shadowy figure was in the bushes.  She stood up, Sylveon hopping in front of both of them.  Growling, the figure stepped out.

An Umbreon.

I don't know if this is the one, but I'm not taking any chances.

"Sylveon!" she called, unwrapping its feeler from her wrist.  "You have an advantage over dark types.  We can win easily!  I choose you!"

"Sylveon!" it said, fired up.  Though it didn't usually battle, Serena had faith in it.

"Fairy Wind!" she yelled, and Sylveon conjured up a blast of pink wind, and aimed it at the Umbreon.  Not expecting it, it fell over, clearly taking damage.  It then growled something at Espeon (which caused her to shrink back even further) and aimed a Confuse Ray at Sylveon.

"Sylveon!  Dodge!" she shouted, and was relieved to see it dodge the attack.  "Alright, Fairy Wind, again!" another Fairy Wind was blasted at the Umbreon, who skillfully dodged it, and aimed an Iron Tail at Sylveon.  Sylveon, not expecting the attack, took the damage, and fell on the snow-covered ground.

"Sylveon!" Serena called.  "Are you okay?" Of course she's not okay!

"It's okay, Sylveon, you did your best," Serena said gently, stroking its head.  "I-"

Serena suddenly was aware of a heated conversation between Espeon and the Umbreon, and from the way that Espeon was cowering in fear, Serena didn't like it one bit.

"Hey!" Serena stepped in front of Espeon.  She glared at the Umbreon.  "Cut it out!"

Suddenly, Umbreon whipped its head towards her.  Serena gulped; she didn't like the look it was giving her.  She shivered; both from cold and from fear.  Snow kept falling; it blurred her vision and blanketed her hair.  She turned.  Definitely time to go back.

But, before she could even do anything, she saw the Umbreon's ring glowing red, bright red, just like what Ash said happened before he...

GET OUT NOW!

Suddenly, light shone in her eyes.  

She screamed.

Then it all went black.

Ash

"What happened with Serena, Clemont?" he was asking.  "And what's the thing that won't happen to me?"

His friend sighed.  "That's for Serena to tell you, not me."

"Maybe someone should go get her," Ash said nervously.  He looked up at the now dark sky; it was snowing heavily now; last he checked, Serena hadn't brought a jacket, and she would be cold, scared, and alone.  "I'll go get her."

Clemont shook his head.  "No, Ash, I-"

A scream resonated through the forest, sending shivers through Ash's spine, but then gasped when he recognized who it belonged to.

Serena!

Okay, that's all for today!!  Hope you all enjoyed this chapter!  Next up will be Chapter 10, so watch out for that!  Also-

OH MY GOSH I ALMOST FORGOT

I just remembered how I didn't clarify their ages for this story!  Sorry about that!  Ash, Serena, and Clemont are around 16 and Bonnie is now around 12 years old, and is a Pokemon Trainer.  SORRY!  Hope this clarifies things.

Anyways, now for our Pokemon Question of the Day!  Since we've been talking about Eeveelutions a lot in this chapter, which one is your favourite??  Comment your thoughts below!

For me, just look at my username and guess-

SYLVEON IS MY FAVOURITE EEVEELUTION

*Ahem* Well, that's all for now!  Have an awesome day/night!

Stay tuned ;)