Chapter 4/Final: Resolve

The next morning in Pallet Town in the Kanto region, Delia had brewed a cup of tea before making her way to the living room and turning on the TV. Turning it on, she found a news story from "Lumiose Now" with Alexa on the screen. "Alexa?" she noticed before sipping on tea.

"Ash Ketchum, a Pokémon Trainer from Pallet Town in Kanto, remains in critical but stable condition after he was hit by an Ursaring's Hyper Beam attack," she reported with tears draining down her face. Delia and Mimey gawked to the news, the former having the cup of tea slip through her fingers and crash the floor, pieces of ceramic clay scattering like glass. Alexa continued her report as Mimey rushed to get a broom and dustpan to remove the broken cup.

"Ash!" She bolted out the door with Mimey running behind. Meeting her at the front gate, Oak arrived in his car.

"You saw the report?" he asked.

"I did!" Oak motioned his head to join inside. Delia and Mimey entered the car in their way to the airport. They flew to Kalos and were picked up by Cosette when they arrived. When she saw Ash in the bandages, she broke down. Professors Oak and Sycamore consoled her, as did the Gym Leaders and Bonnie. Hoping for his health to return, Delia hugged her son with tears streaking her face. Alexa informed the two about Ash's actions and how he saved Serena from Ursaring. Two weeks passed. Everyday, Serena visited his room as did everyone. During one occurrence, James and Meowth came by to see him out of mercy. Jessie could care less about him. One morning, Serena prayed for Ash.

'Everyday, I wish to forget the words that put you in this condition,' she minded. 'Your mom's here, Professor Oak's also here… and they're very worried about you.' She lowered her hands and gripped Ash's hand. For a minute, all she could do was pray. The waning days wore her to which she rested her head on his chest. She closed her eyes and felt his heart. Unbeknownst to her, Ash began to open his eyes. His vision blurred by days of unconsciousness, he began to breathe on his own.

"I'm… sorry…" he weakly groaned. Serena snapped awake from the sound.

"Ash?" She looked to his waking eyes which he spotted.

"Sere… na…" Serena gasped to seeing and hearing Ash starting to stir.

"Ash!" She leaped onto him to hug tearfully. Ash's eyes finally opened to see the one who wished they didn't meet.

"Are… you… okay…?" Serena gawked to his questioning.

"Am I okay?! I wasn't the one hit by an Ursaring's Hyper Beam attack, silly!" Serena giggled but Ash couldn't muster a smile. "You've been in a coma for two weeks. I feared you wouldn't come out." Ash closed his eyes.

"I'm… sorry." Serena blinked to the sudden apology. "You were… mad… at me. I… was never… a good… listener. I… wasn't… thinking… about… you or… Bonnie… or Clemont." Serena knew Ash was honest. Hearing him confess to his selfish nature made her hug the friend from Pallet Town with tears flowing down her eyes.

"Ash, you didn't do anything that would make me hate you! I don't know what made me say that two weeks ago, but I don't hate you! I never wanted to hate you!" Her cry seemed out of nowhere for Ash. "In all honesty, I deserved that Hyper Beam! What I did was unforgivable, even to me! I'm the one who needs to say sorry!" Ash now wished he could move his arms to hug Serena back. "And in fact… I now wish I never leave you, ever." Ash's visible eye grew in interest.

"Never… leave me?"

"I should've come clean sooner. Since seeing you risk your life to stop Garchomp and save Pikachu. I've always wanted to thank you for those years ago. You may not be aware of it like I do when you helped me back to camp after I injured my knee. You've also helped me find my path as a performer and met with some great Pokémon." Her admission brought a smile to Ash's face. Delia, Grace, Pikachu and Mimey came to Ash's room to excuse Serena and let them have a turn with Ash.

"I don't know if my apologies will make up for Serena's nonsensical outburst to your boy," Grace mulled.

"Knowing that he protected your daughter, I would've expected nothing less from him," Delia hummed. "I mean… that's my Ash." They found Ash's room and soon found Serena and Ash locked lips. Her tongue tasted the insides of Ash's cheeks. "Oh, dear!" Serena didn't know their mothers came by to see the kiss between her and Ash.

"I think we came at a bad-" Pikachu sensed something and reached the bed as Serena and Ash separated. Seeing Ash awake, Pikachu cheered to his friend awaken after two weeks.

"Pikachu…" Ash greeted. Pikachu couldn't have been more happy to see his trainer alive. The sound of her son made Delia rush to see Ash awake. Turning, Serena saw the mothers and gawked.

"Mrs. Ketchum?" she realized. "Mom? When did you get here?"

"What were you doing, Serena?" teased Grace. "Reenacting Sleeping Beauty?" Delia hugged her son, deeply concerned with his status.

"Ash, you wouldn't believe how worried I was when I heard how you got hurt," she cried. "You're still my world!" The warmth of her love, Ash felt comfortable within Delia's arms.

"Didn't… mean to… worry… you, mom," he groaned. "Just anxious… to get back… to… Pokémon… training." After breaking away, Delia planted a kiss to Ash's forehead.

"I didn't expect you to change after something like that Ursaring's attack." Ash huffed and smiled.

"Well… something did… like knowing… what love is…" Delia and Grace blinked before turning to Serena. Her blushing smile gave the mothers a hint.

"Oh…!" wailed a happy Grace. "My baby girl's in love!" Serena's gawk couldn't be hidden.

"MOM!" she snapped. Grace apparently didn't hear Serena's outburst.

"I can see it now… In several years, Delia and I will walk down the aisle at your wedding… watch you exchange vows and rings… then the kiss… then you two in your honeymoon as you discuss the future… and we can't forget the grandchildren!" Delia heard Grace's plans and grew excited.

"You're making me not want to wait for Ash to have a little one of his own!" she agreed. The mothers cheered while Ash and Serena became red in embarrassment.

"Mom, please!" she yelled. "I know you're thinking about the future but come on!" Ash lowered his head, not sure what to say.

"They're moms," he sighed. "What can you do?" Grace passed Serena and reached Ash's side.

"I did want to thank you personally for protecting Serena," she mentioned. "I'm surprised that after all that, you two were quick to make amends." Ash sighed once more, still thinking he's to blame for her shout.

"I thought I did… something against her… wishes. At least… we can still… focus on our goals." Grace snickered before removing the gauze over his eye. Under was a nasty blister. She winced to it.

"Maybe when that blister's straightened and you can move again. Still…" Grace kissed Ash on the cheek. Pikachu shrilled a little to the kiss. Serena had a few Pokémon on hand who wanted to see Ash awake.

"These Pokémon also gave you some 'get well' kisses," she pointed out. "Braixen, Sylveon, come on out!" Braixen and Sylveon emerged, cluing Ash in on what she meant.

"Your Pokémon… kissed me?" he guessed. Braixen patted Ash on the head, grateful to see him awake after all that time in his coma. She and Sylveon kissed his face. "I see… What about…"

"They're also here!" Eager to see Clemont and Bonnie, Ash wanted to move to see the rest but he couldn't move a muscle.

"Save your strength, dear," Delia advised. "We'll bring them in here." She excused herself before coming back with Bonnie and Clemont.

"Ash, you're awake!" the little blond cheered. Dedenne cheered as it and Squishy joined Pikachu to see Ash.

"Clemont," he noticed. "Bonnie." Clemont viewed Ash, still surprised that he lived through the brutal attack.

"You're the first proven case of surviving a Hyper Beam attack at full power!" he awed. Bonnie crawled up, avoiding any wires before kissing Ash by his undamaged skin around his eye.

"First proven? Sounds like I… shouldn't be around."

"But we like you too much to let you leave," Bonnie pleaded. Dedenne and Squishy acknowledged her concern. "By the way, your mom can make meals better than dad or Clemont. Maybe she can be our mom, too!" Ash giggled while Clemont's face became red.

"Bonnie!" he cried out.

"It's true! Serena's made some great food! Ash's mom's been teaching her some new meals while we waited for Ash to wake up! You could learn sometime!" Serena and the mothers laughed to the statement. Bonnie turned back to Ash. "So did you and Serena make up?" Ash smiled to the question.

"We did," he replied. "Haters to lovers, now." Bonnie's eyes glistened with excitement.

"Yes! Thank you!" She hugged Ash tight while raining kisses over his face. Clemont activated his Aipom Arm to remove Bonnie from the bed.

"He's still in a lot of pain, Bonnie," he explained. "You can enjoy hugging him when he's back on his feet." Bonnie understood Clemont's concern.

"Sorry. I got too excited." Grace allowed herself to escort Clemont and Bonnie from the room with Delia covering the rear. After they left, Tierno, Trevor and Shauna emerged.

"Whoa, you're really up!" gawked Tierno. "If a Hyper Beam attack didn't stop you, I don't know what will." Ash sighed, trying to forget the moment.

"Tierno, too close," Shauna scorned. She came to Ash's side. "Hearing what you did after what Serena did, I wish I met you when you first arrived in Kalos. Then again, I'm jealous to know that you're watching over Serena." Ash saw a smile on Shauna's face.

"Why smile?" he questioned. "If you're jealous…"

"Because I know when I've lost. You deserve her more than me." She then turned to her performance rival. "Is it okay?" Serena nodded, allowing Shauna to give a kiss to Ash's nose.

"Shauna!" gawked Trevor. Shauna giggled to the outburst. The boys gave Ash their well-being as they left and the sisters and Korrina entered. Viola got her camera as her Vivillon flew to Pikachu.

"Can I get a picture?" she asked. Ash nodded as Serena huddled with her beau. "So cute…" She snapped the picture as Korrina reached the bed-stricken trainer.

"There's something about you that I can't seem to shake off," she admitted. Ash blinked to the comment.

"How so?" he asked.

"I… haven't figured it out but still, there's something." Ash, Pikachu and Serena shared laughs. Then, Korrina dropped her smile. "The truth is… ever since you helped me in finding the Lucarionite and helped in bonding with my Lucario, I wanted to give you the Rumble Badge instead of making you battle my Meinfoo and Machoke." Ash smiled but wouldn't have wanted the badge in her mind.

"Korrina… I wouldn't have… accepted your badge like that…" Korrina seemed awed with his remark. "Same with Clemont. We've traveled together… but he knew… what I was after." Korrina leaned in and hugged Ash.

"Now I get it… You're a Pokémon Trainer of enlightenment, like Grant said about your Gym Battle with him." That's when she had an idea. "Say, maybe when you're fully healed, I can teach you how to skate." Ash slightly gasped to the offer.

"Sure!" In a few days, Ash began his rehabilitation. He began with his strength as he lifted a small dumbbell with two arms, then one arm. He also redeveloped his throwing strength, first with a paper ball. Before long, he graduated to a stress ball, then a baseball. Not only did he regain strength, but his accuracy as well. Even Pikachu watched in awe about his throwing prowess reborn. His ability to move almost redeveloped too quickly. He started off with a walker before using the parallel bars. Each step, he felt pain in his back. Regardless, he had to move. His feet started wide but soon was one foot in front of the other. In a week, Ash tried to walk without support. Serena caught him as soon as he lost balance lifting one foot off the ground.

"I gotcha!" she alerted. Ash took a deep breath before regaining his balance.

"Let's try again…" Serena circled around Ash and held his hands while facing him. One step… Ash proceeded down the line step by step. Serena's feet back-pedaled with each step of Ash's.

"You can do it…" Delia and the professors watched, astounded with his progress. In three minutes, a still unsteady Ash reached the end line. "Way to go, Ash!" The trainer took a few deep breaths.

"He's certainly gone a long way since the Ursaring attack," Oak noticed. "But he never can be satisfied until he's out of here."

"Agreed," Sycamore nodded. Ash still ached after the breath.

"Okay," he huffed. "I can't leave until I can walk on my own." He took a step but lost balance almost instantly. Serena grabbed Ash but they fell together, Ash diving below his beau. Ash hit the floor hard and he cringed in pain as Serena's face read horror.

"ASH!" she yelped. Through the pain, Ash gave a smile.

"Guess… that'll never change. But I won't give up." Pikachu agreed with squeaks.

"I'll help out as well… honey."

"Thanks… dear." Both engaged in a kiss.

(Months Later, Hau'oli Beach, Melemele Island, Alola Region)

As if their kiss looked like it's been there for a long time, Ash and Serena never broke away from the attached faces. Ash spent a month in the hospital recovering from the Hyper Beam from Ursaring. Completely healed, he and Serena made it official that they're dating. Serena won Showcase but lost to her idol, Queen Aria. Ash competed in the Pokémon League and became the champion. Serena decided to join Ash on her adventures than go to the Hoenn region where more showcases were held. Their kiss on the beach with Ash wearing blue swimming trunks and Serena wearing a white swimsuit left some other trainers watching in awe and some jealousy. A blond girl in a white dress, summer hat and dress slippers, a green-haired girl in jean overalls and a blue-haired girl wearing a sleeveless white shirt and blue bell pants viewed the pair. Also on the beach was a blue sea lion pup, a white fox pup, a humaniod plant with long green sepals and dark purple legs and torso, a light brown owl with leaves like a bow-tie, a black and red cat and a spiny gray rotund rodent with a lightning-shaped tail like the Pokémon standing by it, Pikachu. "I'm actually glad Ash and Serena are a couple," the blond noted.

"They're happy indeed, Lillie," the green-haired agreed. "Though, it does leave me a little upset."

"Me, too, Mallow," the blue-haired murmured. "Don't you think so, Lillie?" The blond, Lillie, nodded.

"We never had a chance to go for Ash, Lana. Still, we're happy to see the two in this." Just then, two boys came in. One had dark skin with red and raven hair sticking up like a flame while wearing red shorts. The other was a round orange-haired boy in a white shirt and black shorts.

"That's nothing compared to Misty and Brock's reaction in Pallet Town," the orange-haired brought up. "Brock couldn't believe Ash got a girl first and Misty just lost it with a priceless face." Lillie and Mallow chuckled, as did the sea lion and the humanoid creature.

"Anyway, how long have they been like this?" the dark-skinned teen wondered.

"I… actually lost track of time, Kiawe," Mallow admitted. The rodent became giddy before rolling like a wheel to Pikachu. "Togedemaru?"

"What's she doing?" the orange-haired wondered. Togedemaru reached Pikachu and tackled him. Now face-to-face, Togedemaru kissed Pikachu like Serena's lips to Ash's. Pikachu gawked to the kiss but laughed afterward.

"Well, Sophocles… I think Togedemaru wants to act like the two." Ash and Serena broke to see Togedemaru and Pikachu kiss.

"Guess we're not the only lovebirds around here," Serena teased. Ash chuckled to his buddy. Serena resumed her kiss to Ash. She wanted to be with Ash since the camp. She nearly dashed her chance when she yelled at him, wishing she never met. Now, her wish of never leaving him is coming true. "I love you. I wish I never leave you, Ash Ketchum…"

THE END