The bustling streets of Lumiose City were alive with excitement. It was the grand celebration following the *Kalos World Championships* and the *Kalos Queen Contest*. Ash had finally done it—he'd become the World Champion, his dream realized after years of battles and growth. Meanwhile, Serena had reached the pinnacle of her journey, winning the prestigious title of Kalos Queen in front of thousands of cheering fans. Yet, amid their success and the fanfare, the most important moment was yet to come.
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Ash stood by the large balcony of the hotel where the festivities were taking place, his gaze lost in the horizon as night began to fall. He was still trying to process everything that had happened. His name would go down in history as the Champion of the Kalos League. But there was something else, something that had been nagging at him for years—the kiss she had given him with an answer to questions on their final day in Kalos before parting ways to achieve their own goal . He couldn't quite explain it, but it had changed everything.
Years had passed since then, and the distance between him and Serena had been inevitable. Their journeys had taken them down separate paths, and though they had always kept in touch, it was never the same. Ash had always believed that being a Champion and achieving victory in battle was enough and becoming someone who was in the forefront of all be it championship or battles —until now.
"Hey, you," a familiar voice broke his thoughts.
Ash turned around, his heart leaping when he saw her. Serena stood there, wearing the crown of Kalos Queen, her hair flowing down her back like a cascade of golden sunlight. Her eyes sparkled with pride and joy, the same warmth they had always held for him.
"Serena…" he murmured, his voice quiet.
She smiled, walking over to him with the grace that only a true queen could possess. But there was something different in her eyes tonight. Something deeper. Something more real.
"Seems like you've been lost in thought, Ash," she teased gently. "Are you overwhelmed with the victory that you finally have achieved ? Or… is there something else?"
Ash's chest tightened as he glanced down, unsure of how to put his emotions into words. It had been five years since that last journey in Kalos, and he had grown so much since then. Not just in strength or battle, but in emotional understanding that what truly mattered. and he can certainly understand what he truly wanted after his final victory .
Serena's gentle hand brushed against his arm, and he felt a jolt of warmth shoot through him. He had felt this way before, years ago, but now it was clearer than ever.
"I've been thinking a lot," he began slowly, eyes locking with hers. "About that moment. The one we shared, just before we said goodbye…" his voice lost he wanted to speak but just can't come out on its own.
Serena's smile softened, and for a moment, Ash saw a flicker of that same sadness he and she had carried for so long. The unspoken words between them had always been there, lurking in the silence of their reunion. But now, they were both standing on the final trail of something new—something that had taken years to grow into clarity and which has yet to become true .
After many minutes of silence and just talking through eyes many words have been spoken but yet nothing has come out till now after another minute of silence . she spoke ...
"You mean the kiss," Serena said, her voice barely above a whisper. "That kiss was… something I'll never forget, Ash. It was more than just a goodbye. It was everything I'd ever wanted to say to you at that moment."
Ash felt his heart race as he stepped closer to her, his hand reaching out to hold hers. "I didn't understand it back then," he confessed, his voice thick with emotion and a hint of sadness for understanding it a little late . "I didn't know what it meant. But after all this time, after all my battles, all my travels, I finally get it. I understand what that kiss meant, what you meant to me."
Serena's breath caught in her throat, and her hand tightened around his. There was a sense she never anticipated and in the air now, a charge that neither of them could ignore.
"I… I never thought I would get this chance again," Ash continued, his heart pounding in his chest. "But I need you to know that I don't just want you to be by my side as a friend, Serena. I want you… I want you to be my life partner. I want to spend my life with you."
Serena's eyes widened, and she stepped back slightly, her hand flying to her lips as if to hold in the emotions that were threatening to spill over. Ash could see the joy, the surprise, and something deeper in her expression.
"Ash…" she whispered, her voice breaking.
He took a deep breath, gathering every ounce of courage he had learned over the years. "Serena, I know it's been years. We've both changed, we've both grown. But I've realized that I don't want to face the world without you in it. I need you with me… forever."
Serena's eyes glistened as a tear slipped down her cheek. She reached up, cupping his face gently, as if trying to reassure herself that this moment was real.
"You really mean it, don't you?" she asked softly, her voice filled with wonder.
Ash smiled, his heart swelling with love and hope. "I do. I've never been more certain of anything in my life."
For a long moment, they simply stood there, holding each other's gaze. Then, Serena nodded, the most radiant smile spreading across her face.
"I think… I think I'd like that," she said, her voice full of emotion. "I've always known you were someone special, Ash. And now I know that… we're meant to be."
Without another word, Ash pulled her gently into his arms, their bodies colliding in a long, tender embrace. The noise of the celebration outside seemed to fade into nothingness as they held each other, the weight of the years apart melting away.
And then, as if everything had aligned perfectly, Ash leaned down and kissed her—slowly, deeply, with all the love he had been holding inside for so long. Serena melted into the kiss, her arms wrapping around his neck as she responded with the same intensity and passion.
This time, it wasn't just a kiss goodbye. It was a promise, a vow that they would never be apart even again.
The stars above them seemed to shine brighter as they broke the kiss, their foreheads touching as they whispered to each other.
"I love you, Serena," Ash said, his voice full of certainty.
"I love you too, Ash," she replied, her voice filled with the quiet joy of a future that had finally been set in motion.
And in that moment, Ash knew without a doubt that the greatest battle of all wasn't winning a championship or a contest—it was the battle for their hearts, a battle that had ended with both of them victorious.
Together forever ….