The Defeat of Leon
"And with this, Master Red has defeated Leon again!" the commentator screamed. The battle screen showed that Red had chosen only one Pokémon—his Mega Charizard—to defeat Leon's entire team of six.
Red walked away from the battlefield without showing any emotion, despite the gravity of his win, after a brief handshake with Leon. Currently, Red is the No. 2 Legendary Trainer. There are only three Legendary Trainers in the world; however, no one knows who the first is, as no one has ever been able to defeat Red to challenge the number one player.
Red had only come to this region for a task, but he was required to fight the current champion, Leon. In the last three years, power levels have shifted significantly. While the three Legendary Trainers have remained at the top, there are now seven World Champions. Leon is ranked as the third strongest World Champion, but the gap between a Legendary Trainer and a World Champion is vast. Below them are the Elite Trainers—those ranked 1 to 100—followed by Gym Leaders. In this world, ranking is everything.
The Engagement Party
Serena was on her way to Clemont's engagement party. As she entered the hall, she saw many familiar faces: Misty, Brock, May, and many more of Ash's old friends. She greeted everyone warmly.
May and Dawn, who were both participating in the World Queen Contest, approached her. "Oh, Serena! Long time no see," May said with a smile.
"So, Serena, are you ready for the World Queen Contest? Because I won't go easy on you!" Dawn challenged.
"Don't worry, Dawn, I'm ready," Serena replied with a smile.
The event had heavy security, as there were three "Regional Queens" in attendance. "Serena, you don't usually keep many people around you," May noted.
"I just don't like always being watched," Serena admitted.
"I see. Our government just won't let us go free," Dawn added, explaining that her regional government forced security rules upon her.
"I heard you were attacked by Team Rocket recently. Are you alright?" May asked.
"I'm totally fine, May," Serena said, though the memory of Jessie and James flickered in her mind. Should I tell them about it? she wondered.
"Hello, Serena," Misty said as she and Brock approached. After greetings were exchanged, Brock's said. "Serena, you've become even more beautiful than before..."
"Brock, come to your senses!" Misty snapped, pinching his ear.
"D-don't worry, I am alright, Misty," Brock said.
"Ow! Yeah, yeah... hello, Serena," Brock said, recovering.
Soon, Bonnie arrived to welcome them. "Hello, everyone! Welcome to my brother's engagement!" Finally, Clemont appeared, and the engagement ceremony went smoothly. Everyone planned to stay for three days, though some of Ash's other friends couldn't make it due to urgent work.
A Somber Memory
That night, the group sat in the hall talking. Brock was discussing his recent research. "My studies show that if we use this new research-grade food, Pokémon have a much better chance of physical strength recovery."
"That's great, Brock! Can I order some?" Dawn asked.
"Not yet; it's still in the research phase. I'll let you know when it's released," Brock replied.
Bonnie then approached Serena. "Serena, can you come with me? I want to show you something." As they walked away, Misty wondered what it was and asked, "What is it about?"
"Who knows?" Clemont said, setting down his tea. "They're very good friends; maybe she's showing her some new news and her news photographs."
after some talk
Brock asked in a serious tone. "So, Clemont... has Serena forgotten about him yet?"
The room fell silent.
as Clemont says
"I don't think so," Clemont sighed. "She wears a mask, but inside, she hasn't forgotten. She still thinks about him."
"That's not good for her," May said worriedly. "If she keeps holding on like this... she might break."
"We told her to try and move on, but maybe she just can't forget him," Clemont replied.
"At the funeral, she took it harder than anyone," Brock remembered. While Misty had been crying and Brock was reassuring her, Serena had been too shocked to even weep; she didn't talk and left the place after the funeral.
Clemont continued, "After the funeral, she shut herself away for a week. Her mother called us, begging for help. I remember that day clearly even now."
Flashback start
Clemont recounted the day he and Bonnie arrived at Serena's house. Grace had met them at the door, tearful and worried. Seeing her, they immediately understand the situation.
"Where is she?" Clemont had asked.
"In her room upstairs," Grace replied. When they reached in front of her room, they saw, "The door was broken."
Grace: She wouldn't open it for four days, so I had to break it down."
When they entered, they found Serena sitting in a corner of her floor near bed, her head resting on bed. She looked lifeless, with dark circles under her eyes from days of insomnia.
"Serena, what happened?" Bonnie had asked, lifting her by the shoulders.
Serena's eyes were blank. "Why... why did he die, Bonnie? How could he just leave us? I wasn't even able to meet him again..." She began to shake with sobs.
"Please pull yourself together, Serena," Bonnie cried.
"Serena, please calm yourself," Clemont had urged. "This isn't doing any good to you."
Grace hugged her daughter as she sobbed. "Please, Serena, don't do this to yourself. Don't make me worry like this."
Seeing her empty gaze, Clemont tried a different approach. "Serena... you remember the promise you made to him, right?"
At the mention of the promise she made to Ash at the Kalos airport, Serena finally reacted.
Her lifeless eye just shows a flick of life. seeing her reaction, Clemont pressed immediately
"You aren't going to break your promise to him, are you? You will keep that promise to honor his memory, right?" Clemont said. "Think about it—if Ash were in your place, you wouldn't want him to like this, right?"
After leaving Serena alone to process this, Clemont, Bonnie, and Grace waited in the hall. "I never thought things would get this bad," Clemont admitted.
Grace told them that Serena had been so excited for a contest the day she received the call from Misty about Ash's death. She had immediately abandoned the contest and rushed to Pallet Town immediately. When she returned, she stopped responding to everyone until she finally broke down.
Suddenly, they heard footsteps. Serena came downstairs. Her face was neutral, but her eyes were clearer. "Sorry," she whispered. "I'm sorry for making you all worry."
"Don't apologize, Serena," Clemont said softly.
"Are you okay, Serena?" Bonney asked.
"I'm fine now, thanks to you," Serena said, patting Bonnie's head as her attention went to her mother, who was looking at her very worriedly. She hugged her mother. "Sorry to make you worry like this, Mom."
Grace: don't become like this ever again
Serena: "I'll never do this again."
"Good," Grace said, wiping her eyes. "Now eat. You haven't eaten anything in a week."
"Yes, I am pretty hungry too," Serena admitted.
Grace: "Okay then, I'll go and make something delicious for all of us."
As Grace went to the kitchen to make food
Serena looked back at her friends. "I've decided. I'm going to keep my promise to him. No matter what."
Following that day, Clemont told their friends about the situation, and they all made a pact: they would never mention Ash's name or talk about him in front of Serena ever again.
The flashback ends
"Why is she not able to move on even though she knows Ash was never going to come back again?" Misty asked.
Maybe she holds some belief he will come back even now; after all, we don't receive his body. We only know he was attacked my some mysterious team that brutally killed her mother, and he fell from a cliff. clemont said
But if Ash were alive, he would have surely come back and at least told us. "Dawn said
Yes, but she will not accept it, right? and i think it is good she not seen his dead body or else i am afraid... clemont not said more then this
well she have a very bright future ahead her but she want to stay herself chossing to stay in dark: misty said worriedly
but if this will continue i am sure she will soon....break: may said
yes i am also afraid about that. i also don't think she will be able to keep herself together long now," Clemont said.
"Should we do something?" Brock asked.
Well, we can't do anything on this. We can just hope she will not break, or we have to find another reason for her to cling to: Clemont said
another reason? brock asked
"Yes, well, you know, when we got kidnapped at guest hall in airport two mysterious person saved us," Clement said.
mysterious person? May asked
Yes, they were none other than James and Jesse: Clemont told
what: Everyone got shocked hearing this
Yes, and surprisingly, Serena showed a reaction to that and even asked for help from the Kalos president.
Huh? "But she never do that right," Dawn said.
"Yes, I can see president was also surprised, as serena always keep herself away from asking favor from the government," Clement said.
But why does she do this?? may asked
"It is clear answer she want to find out the culprit of his death," Clemont said.
"T-they bastard didn't leave any traces of them," Misty said.
"Yes...it doesn't matter if she is able to find them or not, but I think this is enough of a reason for her for now," Clemont said.
"Yes, you are right, but... will she really never ever move on?" Dawn said.
"Well, I do think she never will...if she able to, she would have moved on long ago...but i know she will never give on him," Clement said
(Well, here everyone move on pretty much; they may have a boyfriend Drew and Dawn also start dating Kenny, and brock is already married to Lucy.)