Rematch on Ice

Serena stood over Ash while he wiped some of the dirt of his face with the handkerchief. Serena very nervously asked him.
"Ash do you, remember me?" Ash looked back up at her.
"What do you mean?"
"We met before many years ago. You went to Professor Oak's summer camp, I went there too." Suddenly it all came back to Ash. He knew he had seen Serena before and that was it. He remembered who she was now and how they had first met. Remembering her and all the fond memories made him feel a lot better, especially when he remembered about the handkerchief.
"The handkerchief to make the pain go away. Well I guess after all this time you finally returned the favor." Serena was filled with joy that Ash remembered her so much that she started to blush.
"I also remember you saying something, oh what was it. Never give up until the end." Ash suddenly remembered that too and realized that he had let his shame get the best of him. He smiled and got up, "You're right Serena, I remember now and I'm going to beat Viola."
Ash gave Serena a big hug causing her to blush without him noticing, "Thank you Serena for helping me get my confidence back." Serena tried to say something back to him but she felt almost overwhelmed everything that had been going like she hoped it would.
Red noticed Ash hug Serena. "I don't know what she said to him but it clearly helped." When Ash let go of Serena he turned to Red.
"Red Serena is Serena from Oak's camp." Red knew he remembered her from somewhere and that was it.
"Serena I thought I recognized you, it's been a while."
"I remember you both, it's hard to forget guys like you."
"Wait a minute you guys have met before." Clemont said.
"Yes we did but it's kind of a long story and I need to get back to practicing." Ash said. He got back onto his spot on the battlefield with pikachu and Fletchling still in front of him.
"I'm ready for more Alexa."
"Very well, Noivern use Gust." Noivern flew back into the air and unleashed a furious wind at Pikachu and Fletchling.
"Come on guys you can do it!" Ash shouted. Pikachu and Fletchling knew Ash was as determined as ever and that fueled their determination. Despite the powerful wind Pikachu and Fletchling held on. Ash noticed Pikachu's tail was off the ground and Fletchling was trying to flap against the wind, this gave him two very good ideas.
"Pikachu stabilize yourself with your tail, Fletchling open up your wings and ride the wind!" Pikachu forced his tail into the groudn and felt it get easier to resist the wind. Fletchling opened up his wings and rode the wind allowing him to remain in place without having to fly against the wind.
"It's working!" Ash said.
"Hey I think Ash has got it." Red said.
"Go pikachu! Go Fletchling!" Bonnie shouted.
"He really is something isn't he." Serena said as she watched Ash find his drive again.
"Pikachu use thunderbolt, Fletchling use Razor Wind!"
"Noivern dodge it." Noivern tried to move out of the way but the attacks were too fast and he was hit. "Yes direct hit nice work guys." 
"Well that was quite a turnaround Ash but can you keep it up. Noivern use Gust, full power!" Noivern got up and roared as he flew into the air and unleashed gust.
Once again Pikachu and Fletchling employed the same counter measure and held their positions. Two hours went by and Ash's pokemon continued to take every gust attack Noivern threw at them. By the time the sun began to set all 3 pokemon were starting to get tired.
"Well I'd say your pokemon don't have to worry about gust anymore." Alexa said. "Thanks again Alexa, this is really going to help in my rematch with Viola."
"They've certainly been training hard enough." Clemont said.
Moments later Ash's stomach growled as he clutched his stomach. He was followed by Red and the others.
"Well I guess we never did get a chance to eat lunch." Ash said.
"I think the center will have dinner available soon." Red said.
"I think I'm going to head back to the gym, good luck tomorrow Ash." Alexa said as she returned her Noivern and walked off.
A few minutes later Ash, Clemont, Red, Bonnie and Serena were sitting at a booth in the pokemon center eating dinner. Red was sitting next to Clemont and Bonnie on one side with Ash and Serena on the other.
"So you have your strategy for countering gust but what about sticky web and the ice field?" Red asked.
"I already have an idea for the ice field."
"Really what is it!?" Bonnie said excited.
"It's a surprise."
"Aw that's no fun."
"Well if you need help with the Sticky Webs I think I have something that can help you with that." Clemont said as he pushed his glasses back with his finger.
"Sweet thanks Clemont, Pikachu, Fletchling are you ready for more training!?" Pikachu and Fletchling were on the edge of the table with the other pokemon eating their dinner.
When they heard Ash they turned around. 
"Pika!" Pikachu said confidently while Fletchling squawked. Red was very relieved to see Ash like this again.
"Well Serena I don't know what you said to him but it certainly did the trick." Red said. Serena looked at Ash again. She admired how determined and spirited he was. Yet at the same time so caring for his pokemon.
He really hadn't changed since the last time she saw him. But what made her the happiest was that he remembered who she was after all that time and that it made him feel better.
After they finished dinner Ash and the others were outside the pokemon center by the practice field again. Clemont was standing in front of the others and next to something large that was under a white sheet.
"Ash I've put my inventive skills to work and have built something that is going to prepare your pokemon for a sticky web of any kind!".
When Clemont grabbed the sheet Bonnie grabbed Red's leg and hid behind it.
"Bonnie are you okay?"
"I'm fine it's just, my brother's inventions don't always work out like he hopes they will."
"What does that mean?" Clemont revealed his invention which turned out to be metal blue cannon like machine with a class case filled with white silk on the side.
"What is that?" Ash said.
"This is the web cannon, it launches sticky webs identical to Surskit's. I will fire them at your pokemon and all they have to do is dodge them."
Ash was a little uneasy about having Clemont shoot at his pokemon with a cannon. "Uh are you sure that thing is safe?"
"Oh come on Ash would I put your pokemon in danger."
"Alright, Pikachu, Fletchling get ready to dodge." Ash said as Pikachu and Fletchling stepped onto the field.
"Get ready, and Fire!" Clemont screamed as he yanked a lever and the cannon fired 3 webs at Ash and Fletchling.
"Dodge them!" Pikachu and Fletchling quickly moved out of each web's path.
"Nice work guys."
"Fire! Fire!" Clemont screamed as he fired more webs. One by one PIkachu and Fletchling dodged the webs and became more agile.
"Wow they're doing great." Red said.
"They are." Serena said.
"Not bad, but let's see how well they do when the machine is set on high." Clemont said as he yanked the lever again.
This time, however, the machine didn't fire. It started shaking and rattling.
"Huh why isn't it working?" Clemont said as he looked down the barrel.
"Clemont I'm not sure that's the best idea." Red said. The machine made a very loud clanking sound and Clemont threw the barrel up so it was facing the sky.
4 large bursts of silk shot out and flew into the air. After a few seconds they fell back down and covered the barrel of the gun. The gun continued firing but was plugged up by the silk on the barrel.
"Hit the deck!" Red said as he grabbed Charmander and Bonnie getting them to the ground. Ash did the same with Fletchling and Pikachu, while Serena did the same with Fennekin.
Moments later the cannon exploded covering Clemont in soot.
"Another failed invention brother."
"It appears so." Ash and the others got up.
"It's alright Clemont I think we got enough training anyway." Ash said.
"It's getting pretty late, I think we should call it a night." Red said.
"I agree." Ash said. Back at the pokemon center nurse Joy gave them 2 rooms, one for Clemont and Bonnie and one for the rest.
Serena had taken a shower and put on her pajamas. She was in the bathroom brushing her Fennekin's hair when she heard a knock.
"Serena are you almost done, Red and I still need to brush our teeth."
"Oh, you can come in now if you want." Serena said. The door opened and Serena saw Ash standing on the other side.
Serena saw Ash was only wearing a pair of black work out shorts. She blushed as she tried to make it not obvious that she was looking at him.
Serena had never seen Ash shirtless before, then again the last time she saw him they were just kids. Ash had kept himself in good shape. He even had a six pack, not extremely toned but there.
He walked over to the sink and picked up his was when he noticed Serena brushing Fennekin.
"You're brushing your Fennekin I see."
"Yeah she likes to be brushed." Ash could tell that by how happy Fennekin looked as Serena moved the brush through her fur.
"So are you excited for your rematch tomorrow."
"Oh yeah, now that we've got our training done we're ready to get that gym badge." After Ash finished brushing his teeth he l turned back to Serena.
"So how have you been doing since summer camp?"
"Fine I guess, my mom took us back to Kalos. My dad is a major in the Army so I don't get to see him that often."
"I'm sorry to hear that."
"It's okay, anyway a few years ago my mom started training me to be a Rhyhorn racer."
"Rhyhorn racing?"
"Yeah it's pretty popular here in Kalos and my mother was a renowned racer. Apparently she met my father when she won a race in Coumarine City while my dad and a few other cadets at the Kalos officer academy in the city were watching."
"So do you want to be a Ryhorn racer too."
"No, to be quite honest I hate riding Rhyhorn. Not that I hate Rhyhorn as a pokemon, I just never liked riding them."
"So what are you planning on doing on your journey then?"
"Uh, well to be quite honest I'm not quite sure yet."
"Well sometimes you just need to go out and see what's out there, experience the world." Ash said. Serena was exactly on Ash's page. Going out and seeing what was out in the world was exactly what she wanted to do.
"You're right, for now that is what I want to do." When Ash finished brushing his teeth Serena had finished brushing her Fennekin's hair. The two walked out of the bathroom with Fennekin in Serena's arms as Red walked into the bathroom.
On the left side of the room there were 2 single beds with a small set a draws in between them and another two beds on the other side of the room. Pikachu was already laying on top of the pillow on Ash's bed while Charmander rested at the end of Red's bed.
Ash got into his bed and put his head against the pillow as Pikachu brushed up against the top of his head. Serena set Fennekin at the end of the bed like Charmander and got into the bed. A minute later Red came back into the room. "Good night guys."
"Good night." 
"Good night." Serena didn't fall asleep until after Ash and Red.
"He remembered me, he really remembered me. Not only that but even after all this time he's still the same caring and spirited person he was then". She thought to herself.
The next morning after breakfast Ash and the others went to the gym. Ash stood on the same end of the field as he did the previous day while Alexa and the others watched on the sidelines. Charlotte stood on the side with two flags. "The rematch between the gym leader Viola and the challenger Ash Ketchum is about to start. Both trainers are allowed to use two pokemon and only the challenger is allowed to substitute Pokemon."
"Well Ash you're back to challenge me already, but Alexa did tell me about all the training you did with her yesterday."
"I'm ready for you this time Viola."
"We'll see about that, go Surskit." Viola threw her first Poke Ball forward and let out her Surskit.
"Pikachu let's do this." Pikachu jumped down from Ash's shoulder and got into a battle stance growling at Surskit.
"Surskit start off with Water Sport."
"Pikachu Quick Attack!" Pikachu sprinted forward as Surskit shot water across the field.
"Surskit dodge with Agility." Surskit quickly moved out of Pikachu's path and Pikachu ran right past him.
"Pikachu turn around and hit her!" Pikachu pushed himself back with his legs and used quick attack to hit surskit in the back.
"Alright nice job Pikachu!"
"Well that was impressive." Red said.
"Surskit use Sticky Web."
"PIkachu dodge just like we practiced." Surskit lowered her head and unleashed several webs at Pikachu. Pikachu quickly dodged each web like he had the night before.
"Look he's doing it just like when he was practicing!" Bonnie said.
"Surskit use Quick Attack." Surskit quickly glided across the water and smacked into Pikachu before he landed.
"She's still just as fast."
"Surskit use Quick Attack again."
"Pikachu slide under her and use tail whip into Quick Attack." Pikachu ran a little before sliding across the water on his back. When Surskit was directly over him, Pikachu whipped his tail around and knocked Surskit off her legs tumbling forward.
"Pikachu use Quick Attack!" Pikachu quickly got up and sprinted at Surskit as she tried to get back onto her legs.
"Surskit use Agility." Surskit tried to move out of the way but Pikachu was too fast and she was hit with quick attack.
"Great job Pikachu!"
"Pikachu is doing really good, but what is he going to do if Viola uses the ice field again." Serena said to herself.
"Alright Ash you've been doing very well but it's time for me to end this. Surskit use Ice Beam."
"Pikachu Quick Attack, don't let her use Ice Beam!" Pikachu sprinted forward and latched onto Surskit.
"What!? Surskit get him off you!"
"Come on Pikachu don't let go!" Red said. Pikachu did his best to hold on but eventually Surskit forced Pikachu off her.
"Perfect now use ice beam!" Viola shouted.
"Oh no!" Surskit launched a powerful Ice Beam into the air that hit the ceiling and flew down in several smaller beams. Just like last time Pikachu dodged all of the falling ice beams and the floor became solid ice.
"Oh no not again," Red said.
"Come on Ash you've got to do something!" Clemont said.
"Don't give up now Ash, not after all the hard work you and your Pokemon did!" Serena said. Surskit easily slid across the ice until she was directly in front of Pikachu.
"Surskit use Signal Beam."
"This is it, Pikachu use your tail to implant yourself then use Thunderbolt!" Pikachu smashed his tail into the ice which gave him enough stability and traction to unleash thunderbolt.
"Woah he figured out how to beat the ice." Red said.
"Amazing!" Bonnie said. Pikachu's thunderbolt tore through the signal beam and hit Surskit filling her with electricity.
"Surskit!" Surskit fell over with swirly eyes.
"Surskit is unable to battle." Charlotte said.
"Great job Pikachu we did it!" Ash said.
"Alright Ash you've got the advantage." Red said.
"He did it, he beat Viola at her own game." Serena said. Viola returned Surskit and smiled at Ash.
"I must say, I'm impressed Ash that was a very impressive move. But I've still got Vivillon," Viola threw her second poke ball and her Vivillon came out and above her.
"Pikachu get some rest, Fletchling can handle the rest." Pikachu came back and climbed onto Ash's should as he took out Fletchling's Poke Ball.
"Fletchling I choose you!" Fletchling came out of his Poke Ball and squawked at Vivillon.
"Fletchling against Vivillon, you want your pokemon to overcome who beat them last time I see. Vivillon start off with Gust."
"Fletchling use Quick Attack, use the strategy we used last night." Fletchling flew at Vivillon as she unleashed a powerful gust of wind. After facing Noivern's gust, Vivillon's didn't seem that bad. Just like last night Fletchling opened up his wings and rode the wind.
"What!?" Viola said as Fletchlind move through the wind with ease hitting Vivillon with Quick Attack.
"Alright!"
"Hmm it appears Ash has my sister on the ropes." Alexa said.
"Vivillon Gust isn't going to work anymore, use Sticky Web!"
"Fletchling dodge then like you did last night!" Every time Vivillon shot a web at Fletchling he easily moved out of the way.
"Psybeam! Lock onto him Vivillon." Vivillon took a more accurate aim and unleashed Psybeam, hitting Fletchling in the center of his chest.
"Oh no the Psybeam hit!" Clemont said.
"We've still got this Fletchling use Quick Attack."
"Vivillon use Double Team!" Vivillon quickly made copies of herself and Fletchling flew through one of them.
"Oh no now how is he going to tell which one is the real Vivillon?" Serena asked. Ash thought for a moment and then had an idea.
"Fletchling use razor wind!". Fletchling unleashed razor wind and the streaks hit all of the copies including the real vivillon.
"He beat my strategy again." Vivillon said.
"Alright Fletchling follow up with Quick Attack."
"Vivillon use Gust and Sleep Powder!" Vivillon unleashed a powerful gust of wind and filled it with sleep powder.
"Sleep powder? Oh no Fletchling get out of there!" Fletchling tried to get out of the wind but it was too late and he fell asleep before falling to the ground.
"Fletchling no!"
"That's not good." Red said.
"Vivillon use Solar Beam!" Viola said. Vivillon took in the sunlight and unleashed a massive Solar Beam at Fletchling. When the Solar Beam hit the ground it knocked Fletchling out.
"Fletchling!".
"Fletchling is unable to battle." Charlotte said.
"Looks like Viola tied it up again." Clemont said.
"He can still do this I know he can." Serena said.
"Fletchling return, you battled well. Pikachu we can do this, I know we can." Pikachu jumped down from Ash's shoulder and ran out onto the field.
"Vivillon use Gust."
"Pikachu dig in with your tail!" Just like with Surskit, Pikachu dug his tail into the ice and kept himself in place.
"Hmm right, Vivillon use Solar Beam."
"Pikachu Thunderbolt!" Pikachu and Vivillon both unleashed their attacks at the same time and when they met they cancelled each other out.
"Keep it up Pikachu you're doing great!" Red said.
"Let's see how well he does when he's asleep. Vivillon use Sleep Powder."
"Oh no." Vivillon unleashed sleep powder and Pikachu began to get drowsy.
"If Pikachu falls asleep it's over." Bonnie said.
"Come on Ash don't give up!" Serena said. Ash grit his teeth in frustration, after all their hard work this is how it was going to end. That's when he remember about him and Serena.
"Never give up until the end!" He shouted. Hearing him say this made Serena blush a little.
"Pikachu Thunderbolt at the ceiling!" Ash shouted. Pikachu used his remaining energy to unleash a thunderbolt in the air as he struggled to stay awake.
"Huh what is he doing?" Viola said. The thunderbolt hit the ceiling then bounced back at Pikachu. The thunderbolt exploded around Pikachu disintegrating the sleep powder and melting the ice around him.
"What?!" Viola said.
"Sweet, great job Ash!" Red shouted.
"Pikachu thunderbolt!" 
"Pika chu!" Pikachu shouted as he blasted Vivillon with electricity.
"Vivillon!" Vivillon hit the ground with swirly eyes.
"Vivillon is unable to battle, the winner is the challenger." Charlotte said.
"We did it Pikachu we did it!" Ash shouted. Pikachu ran back to Ash and jumped into his arms.
"You did it Ash!" Red shouted.
"Great job!" Clemont said.
"He won! He really won!" Serena said.
"Well done Ash, Well done." Alexa said.
Viola returned Vivillon and walked over to Ash.
"Well I'm very impressed Ash. You battled incredibly and you earned this badge." Viola said as she took out a bug badge and handed it to Ash.
"Thank you Viola. That was an amazing battle." Ash took the badge and stared at it for a minute.
"We did it Pikachu we earned out first badge." 
"Pika!" Pikachu said happily. After Ash had nurse Joy look at Fletchling and Pikachu the group was getting ready to leave Santalune city.
As they were walking Ash turned to Serena, "It's been great seeing you again Serena. Also thank you for being there for me when I was down. I don't think I would have been able to win my badge without you."
"Pika." Pikachu said happily with Ash as he looked at Serena. Serena blushed a little when she heard him say that.
"So Serena, what are you going to do now?" Red asked. Serena hadn't really thought that far ahead.
"Well uh, I." She really wanted to keep traveling with Ash, she knew she had to pluck up the courage and ask him.
"Why don't you travel with us." Ash said.
"Huh, you want me to travel with you." Serena said.
"Yeah, it would be great having you as a friend again. Plus traveling with us might help you figure out what you want to do on your journey."
"Yeah you should come with us." Red said.
"Oh please come with us we could be such good friends!" Bonnie said. Serena was touched that they wanted her to come with them, especially Ash.
"Of course I'll travel with you guys."