Hey guys! I'm back for another fanfic. This time, I won't be able to update this story in day's time since 2nd term just started, but I'll try to update it every Saturday. It's not a promise though.

I'll temporarily use 3rd person point of view for now since I'm thinking which one's better, 3rd person or 1st person? Anyway. Enjoy reading and don't forget to review! :)

Climbing Down The Mountain

Chapter 1: Paying A Visit

Trees covered in snow, cold winds blowing their way, and comforting silence envelope their surroundings, at the peak of Mt. Silver, on the edge of the cliff, sits Ash and Pikachu, reminiscing their past adventures throughout each and every region they have faced. The cold wind doesn't seem to bother them since they've been training on this mountain for over eight years.

Ash had battled many strong trainers, and Pikachu had battled many strong Pokemon, and they've won every single one they engaged in. And now, for Ash, a battle against a Champion is like a mere battle against a Magikarp. Since then, he had been renowned as Pokemon Master by the people around the world, but, upon becoming one, to his realization, it was not enough to satisfy him. He thought that he haven't had enough training, and so he went to this mountain to perfect every moves and combos his Pokemon had. It's been over eight years, and still he felt it wasn't enough.

As he thought very deeply on what could satisfy him, he felt an empty space in his heart. Heart… Love…

He remembered the time when his childhood friend admitted her feelings for him before he could board the plane to his home region. He turned his back, until…

"I-I-I love you!"

As he heard those words, he froze on his spot, turned back around, and saw her scarlet cheeks and tears that formed on her blue orbs started streaming down her beautiful face like raging waterfalls. It took him thirty seconds to process every word she had blurted out and the expression she had given. When his mind was still processing, he was surprised as she hugged him suddenly. He couldn't return those words, but he was able to return the hug.

He laughed at his denseness then. He didn't know the meaning of 'love'. No, not the love for his Pokemon; the love that is shared between a man and a woman. He guessed that his heart and mind was into Pokemon and adventures. The thought of having a girlfriend didn't cross his mind as his goal was his first priority. He's one now, and now what? Where does he go from here? He can't keep training hard all the time. Eventually, one will come and take his title when he is not in this world anymore. He needs someone; someone who would take care of him and him to take care of, someone who would be with him for life, someone who would cook meals for him since his stomach is that of the universe, someone… someone who would love him as much as he loves her.

As he thought of these things, his mind shifted to his childhood friend, Serena. He thought of her honey-blonde hair tied in a low pony tail flowing naturally in the air, her blue orbs that seem to change his world as he look at them, her slender waist any girl could wish to have. She was… perfect. He felt regret as he remembered he said to her that, until then, he would have to satisfy his goal. He hadn't heard any news about her after his departure from Kalos. He assumed that she forgot about him. That thought alone already felt like a Hyper Beam hit his heart. He also assumed that she now has a boyfriend. That, he felt his heart is being guillotined.

How he regret not having to reciprocate her feelings back then. Sure, not understanding a girl's feelings for him since his mind is set to his goal is understandable, but not returning her feelings, that's a different story to tell.

How he wished to relive that moment; the moment when she confessed to him, and that he would say he felt the same way. But, to relive that time, he would have to be with her, and she currently resides in her home region. A light bulb appeared above his head, signifying that an idea crossed his mind.

Pikachu sensed this, and hopped on his trainer's shoulder as he stood up. Ash unclipped a Pokeball from his pocket and threw it in the air and came out his strongest Pokemon in his roster, Charizard.

The dragon-like Pokemon roared loudly and fiercely and the ground shook beneath them. Ash hopped on his Pokemon, and commanded,

"Charizard, take me to Kalos. I have an 'appointment' there waiting for me."

Charizard started to flap his wings and flew high in the sky. Their destination? Kalos.

Fresh and warm breeze coming their way, the atmosphere that seems to void of sorrow, at the foot of Pomace Mountain, near the flower fields sits Serena and her new partner, Mawile. She was reminiscing her past adventures with Ash, Clemont, and Bonnie; how they stood up to challenges, how they argued and strengthen their bonds afterwards, how she cheered for Ash in his gym battles, how she admired Ash's determination, and how Ash's trade mark quote "Never give up until the end!" helped her achieve her dream of becoming Kalos Queen.

Serena took the title of Kalos Queen from Aria two years ago. Since then, the news reporters started to annoy her, and so she searched for a place that is unknown to any of them to get some time alone, and she knew exactly where to go. She couldn't go to her hometown since they knew she lived there.

Mawile was found by her in a house near Pomace Mountain where its trainer, Maple, lived back then. Serena knew it's been eight years since she's been here, and when she saw Mawile's expression, she knew that its trainer had passed away. She asked Mawile if she can stay in the late Maple's house for a while, which it agreed to since its been trustworthy to Serena after she caught it from falling from Team Rocket's balloon during the night when she had enough of arranging flowers. Not only did it agreed to Serena, it went and took out its Pokeball from the drawer as well as the key stone Maple held for a long time, and came back and handed the two items over to her, signifying it wants Serena to become its new trainer. She didn't expect for Mawile to decide it wants her to become its trainer since she only wanted a quiet place to stay for a while, but nonetheless, she accepted.

They went to the nearby flower fields for a relaxing and fresh breeze to surround them. Serena only realized now how beautiful the flowers dance with the wind, and how Maple tried to protect this field from dying or from being destroyed by outsiders. How she wished for Ash being here. It was really romantic. She imagined herself, sitting beside him, her head resting on his shoulder, watching the flowers dance at the beautiful garden that is in front of them.

Throughout her journey, she didn't have the courage to tell Ash her feelings for him. That is because she was afraid of him not having to feel the same way as she does. She already knew from the moment she talked to him personally in Santalune City, that he was as dense as planet Venus. Not only that, he didn't remember her at first sight, but that didn't pull away her love for him. She knew she needed to tell her feelings for him before he goes back to his home region.

"I-I-I love you!"

She said to Ash at the airport. She couldn't resist the urge to cry her heart out since the intense feeling from the thought of Ash departing from Kalos was too strong for her. She wanted him to stay, but that would mean she would hinder his goal to become a Pokemon Master. It seemed though as confessing her feelings to him wasn't enough to satisfy her. She knew she would have to receive a response from him. But she couldn't wait, as she went ahead and bear-hugged Ash. She wasn't surprised as she felt his arms wrap around her waist as her mind was still filled with thoughts of Ash leaving.

Her heart started beat from dread as he told her that he wants to satisfy his goal first, but felt relieved as he added that he will visit her again in the near future, trying to not make her feel sad. Until then, she would continue on to become Kalos Queen to impress him. But since then, he is yet to visit her. She thought that he forgot about her. That thought alone made a large crack in her heart. She also thought that he already has a girlfriend. That, she felt that she doesn't have a heart anymore.

How she regret not having to tell him earlier. She could've told him about her feelings so that he could develop the same feelings over time. But it's too late. And now, she is only waiting for him to visit her once more, and maybe tell her that he loves her.

"Did you know, Mawile, that I have feelings for Ash? You know, the boy with the red hat and Pikachu back then?" She asked Mawile, attempting to lighten the weight in her heart.

"Maw?" "Huh? When?" Mawile asked in surprise.

"I had feelings for him since the incident back in the summer camp in Kanto. I was lost in the forest, and I was scared by a Nyoromo back then and I tripped, hurting my knee. He then appeared from the bushes, saw me, and tied a handkerchief on my wound. He lifted me up too hard, resulting in a hug-like state. I was surprised back then from the state we were in. And then he walked me out of the forest. Since then, he is the nicest boy I've ever met. I even made his saying my trade mark quote." Serena said. This was the second time she talked about how she had feelings for Ash. The first was with Fennekin.

"Mawile wile!" "That's so cute!" Mawile said.

"I know, right? Even I am surprised how cute my experience was. But I don't know if he feels the same way as I do. I really hope he does though." Serena said.

"Wile mawile mawile." "I also hope he does. You two do make a cute couple after all." Mawile said, complimenting they would look cute together.

"Hehe, thanks Mawile." Serena said, blushing lightly at the comment.

She then realizes how time flows by quickly as she saw the sun began to set. She stands up and said,

"Say, why don't we go back to your house? It's getting late, and I'd like you to try my Pokepuffs." Serena said.

"Mawile." "I would love that." Mawile said.