Pokemon: Mega Tactics - Chapter 3.1

"So wait, you're Professor Sycamore's nephew?" Serena asked her new friend as they walked along the road of Route 4, "That's quite shocking, I never knew he had a nephew and he's so famous too."

Cobalt shrugged, "I didn't really want expectations of him to be put on me," he replied, "Like, I worked as his assistant a bit and learned a lot, but I don't wanna be a researcher, I've got plans to aim for the top and become one of the strongest trainers in the world."

"One of the strongest huh, you're sure aiming high aren't you?" Serena giggled, but internally, she felt a little bit jealous. She'd never had a dream that she wanted to chase. She'd tried all different things. From learning about pokemon trainers, rhyhorn racing, she'd even worked part time at the local pokemart for a few months and learned some basic first aid from the Nurse Joy in her town because she had the passing thought of a career in medicine. But, despite it all, she'd never felt the passion that so many others felt towards a specific goal and chased it wholeheartedly.

It wasn't until she saw Ash on the news last night, that she fully grasped just how much time had passed, and how little she'd achieved in her life. By that, she meant nothing. Ash, who was six months younger than her, was already a famous and celebrated trainer making a lot of money, who's name was apparently known the world over. Heck just last night she found out he had his own fan website and fan club with thousands of members.

It was mind boggling how miniscule her sense of self felt in comparison to what he had done. She felt so small and insignificant. That was why, she was inspired to finally get her first pokemon and go on a journey. Maybe that way, she could find herself and find something that she truly, passionately wanted to do.

And if nothing else, having her own pokemon for company might be nice. All the friends she'd grown up with had already left on their journeys, started their own lives. Now, it was her turn!

"Well, there's no point just aiming low is there?" Cobalt grinned at her, "The world's a big place, there's no telling what could happen."

"You're right." she agreed, that was why she tried so many different things. She eyed the boy beside her, he was a head shorter than her, but was well built with a stocky build and wide shoulders. And he had a pretty nice fashion sense as well, and all his clothes looked quite expensive. She could tell just by looking at him he definitely bought those clothes from a Lumiose Boutique.

'He's accomplished far more than me as well.' she couldn't stop herself from lamenting a with a wry smile. Not only had he worked as a research assistant to Professor Sycamore, the foremost pokemon expert in the entire Region, he'd also already won a tournament apparently, and gained a gym badge.

She may not have followed trainer information much. But even she knew that gym leaders were the cream of the crop. They were the protectors of the towns and cities they were based in after all and generally had more personal power than the mayors. And the money payout for defeating one was apparently amazing.

Cobalt was years younger than her but was well on his way to accomplishing great things.

She was brought out of her thoughts when she heard Cobalt click his tongue, "Just a Fletchling."

Serena turned and looked and saw him staring up at a Fletching eating an oran berry on a tree branch above them.

"You know you've been looking around constantly since we left Santalune City." she pointed out.

"I know," he chuckled, "I've been keeping an eye out for a specific pokemon. I've seen Ralts appear in this area from time to time and I'm looking to catch one."

"Ralts, I'm not familiar with it so I can't help, sorry." Serena replied. She didn't know a whole lot about all the different species of pokemon.

"It's fine," he waved her off, "There's no big rush or anything."

They talked and walked for hours. At one point, Serena had to sit down for twenty minutes because of how sore her feet were getting. She wasn't used to walking such long distances yet.

It was already approaching dusk, and they were only approaching halfway there because of her slowing them down.

"It looks like we'll need to find the Route 4 Pokemon Centre and stay there for the night," Cobalt mused, before turning to her with a grin, "Unless you feel like roughing it for the night and camping out."

She wrinkled her nose at the thought, "I'm not to fond of that to be honest," she hadn't ever really camped out, "I didn't even bring a tent with me, I didn't think it would take this long to reach Lumiose City, silly of me now that I think about it. I guess I was just too gung-ho about starting my journey."

"Well no worries, I've got a pretty comfortable tent, and you can borrow my sleeping bag for the night if you want if we don't find the pokemon centre in time," Cobalt replied, "I've gotten pretty used to roughing it when I was training with my Gible."

"Thanks." Serena bowed her head in gratitude. Cobalt was a reliable and sweet boy. Even if his eyes tended to wander a bit. Her cheeks heated up a bit at the thought.

They reached the top of a hill as they were walking and talking, just at the same time another group was coming up it, talking and laughing amongst themselves.

Serena's eyes widened and her heart hammered in her chest as she caught sight of one particular person in the group of four.

A stalky boy just a little bit taller than Cobalt but shorter than her, clad in a blue jacket, a Pikachu on his left shoulder.

It was Ash! And his right arm was wound around the shoulder of a beautiful, curvaceous girl who had a face like a princess, with shimmering midnight blue hair and eyes to match.

At her side, a blue feathered penguin-like pokemon walked, coming just up to above her waist.

Beside the beautiful girl, was a blonde, thin boy dressed in a blue jumpsuit, with large round spectacles.

And at his own side, was small cute little girl.

"Heya!" Ash greeted them with a cheerful grin, lifting his free arm not around the girl. Serena despite wanting to meet the boy again badly, felt herself freeze up, not sure what to do.

She'd wanted to see him so badly, wondered what he'd feel upon meeting her again. But, despite his fame and achievements, for some reason, it never occurred to her that he would already have a girlfriend. A beautiful, bodacious girlfriend that put her to complete shame at that.

"Hey!" Cobalt greeted him right back with a wave, "You're Ash Ketchum right?"

"That's me." Ash thumbed his nose and laughed lightly.

Cobalt stepped towards him and held his hand out to the older boy, "I'm Cobalt Sycamore, I've been a bit of a fan of yours for a while," he said, "And I wanted to thank you for what you did last night, helping out my uncle and his Garchomp."

"You're Professor Sycamore's nephew? He told me about you!" Ash took his hand and shook it readily, "He told me you just started out yesterday and you were in Santalune City to try and get a gym badge."

"That's me," Cobalt repeated back at him with a similar laugh, "And yeah, I challenged the Santalune Gym just this morning, I only got a one on one since Viola the gym leader was in a rush, but I managed to win and got the Bug Badge."

"Congratulations!" Ash pat him on the shoulder good naturedly, "I can't wait for my gym battle! Just hearing you won has got me psyched up, I'd love to battle you myself."

Cobalt opened his mouth to reply, but before he could, Serena watched as the blue haired girl reached out and pinched his cheek between two fingers, "Ah ah, no battling right now," she chided him, "We haven't got the time for it right now, remember?"

"Ah, right, sorry," Ash chuckled sheepishly, before blinking at her and Cobalt as something apparently occurred to him, "Hey, this is my girlfriend Dawn, and my new friends and travelling companions Clemont and Bonnie."

"Nice to meet you," Dawn rolled her eyes at Ash but smiled fondly, and gestured to the pokemon by her side, "This is my partner pokemon Prinplup."

"Prin!" Prinplup puffed its chest out proudly

"Hello, it's nice to meet you." Clemont bowed politely.

"Heya! as you heard, I'm Bonnie and I love cute pokemon!" the little girl giggled.

Despite herself, Serena smiled at her enthusiasm, "I-it's nice to meet you all, I'm Serena," she introduced herself. And before she could lose her nerve, she reached into her skirt pocket and retrieved a blue handkerchief, before turning to Ash, "W-we've actually met before, a long time ago. You gave this to me back at Professor Oak's trainer camp in Kanto and I...just wanted to return it to you."

"Really?" Ash blinked at her in confusion as he accepted the handkerchief. He peered at her for a few moments before realisation dawned in his amber eyes, "Oh I remember now! You're the straw hat girl I helped out back then."

Serena forced a smile onto her face, despite feeling the exact opposite of wanting to smile, "That's me.." she forced herself to laugh cheerfully, copying him and Cobalt.

"Thanks, though you didn't need to come all this way to return it to me." Ash replied.

"..I guess not." she shrugged lightly.

"Well, it was nice meeting you guys, but we want to try and get to Santalune City before the Pokemon Centre locks up for the night," Ash said after stowing the handkerchief in his pocket, and grinned back at Cobalt, "Next time we meet up, me and you should have a battle."

"Sure, but fan of yours or not, I'm aiming to win." Cobalt fired back.

"i'll hold you to that!" Ash laughed as he and his girlfriend and two friends left, waving them goodbye.

"It was nice meeting you!" Bonnie called back.

Once they ascended over the hill and made their way down out of sight, Serena felt the strength in her legs fade and slumped down onto her knees. Tears prickled in the corner of her eyes. And all the motivation she felt to start her journey was just gone and her heart ached.

"Woah, woah Serena what's wrong!" Cobalt rushed over and asked, his piercing almost yellow eyes looking her over worriedly.

She laughed, but not at anything he said, just herself, and how pathetic she was. "Just fully realising how silly of a little girl I really am," she replied, trying to hold back her tears, "You know...I kind of had a crush on him for years, after he helped me and what he said to me, it motivated me to keep trying, but now I just feel really hollow that I've seen him, he's achieved so much, and looks perfectly happy with his beautiful girlfriend...And I just.." she lost the battle then as well as her words, and her tears fell freely.

"I feel so pathetic!" she couldn't help but cry.

She felt a warm hand rest on her head and looked up to see Cobalt scratching his cheek and looking a bit awkwardly, "Everyone feels that way from time to time," he told her, "And you can't help what you feel at times. I'm not really what to say to help you to be honest, all I can tell you is stuff I've heard through others and gotten advice on."

"What do you mean?" Serena asked.

"There's more Magikarp in the sea," he quoted the cliche line at her and Serena found herself snorting a bit, "And this is something my uncle told me about. But, it's possible to fall in love more than once."

"How'd you know that's true?" she found herself asking.

"I'm just assuming it's fact considering the amount of women my uncle has dated," he smirked at her and she felt herself snort, "But look, if it's any consolation, I don't think you look pathetic. I've had crushes that never worked out, most people do, and each time it felt like it was the end of the world, and I was way more pathetic looking, trust me. Big puffy eyes and nasty snot all over the place."

She giggled, "Really?"

"Oh yeah, like a big ugly baby," he replied, making her giggle even harder, "Now come on, stop crying, everything will get better, I promise." he comforted her and held his hand out to her.

She took it and he helped her to her feet, "I guess you're right." Serena sniffled a bit, but she agreed with him.

"And if it's any consolation," Cobalt continued as he let go of her hand and smiled at her, "Dawn is a beautiful girl alright, but you don't lose to her in anyway as far looks go."

Despite the way she felt just moments ago, like her heart had been shattered into pieces, Serena felt her cheeks warm up as smile so wide it hurt her cheeks split her face, "..Thanks." she mumbled lightly.

"No problem!" he winked at her, before turning and cupping his chin, "Now we should probably see about trying to find the pokemon centre around here for the night."

"..Yeah." Serena agreed. She looked around before mortification filled her as behind them, she could see a figure standing in the shadow of a tree.

"Uhm, hello there!" Serena called out, "I'm sorry if my drama...held you up."

The shadowy figure panicked as she called out to it, and Serena's eyes widened as it shot into the air above the tree in a panic. It wasn't a person at all, it was a pokemon!

It was humanoid, with a body like a dress and wings on its back. "Vespe!" it cried and thrust its arms out towards her, dozens of glowing golden spheres appearing around it in the air before shooting towards her like bullets.

Serena froze as she panicked herself, she couldn't think on what to do!

"Gible Protect!" Cobalt called from behind her, and coming to her rescue. In a burst of light, a small blue pokemon appeared in front of her, and an instant later, a large spherical green barrier sprung into existence around it and her, which the golden spheres slammed into and detonated, but the barrier held strong.

"Flamethrower!" Cobalt stepped up in front of her just as his pokemon let go of the barrier, letting it drop.

"Gib!" the small pokemon opened its mouth and suddenly it spat out a massive wave of fire! Serena's eyes widened in awe as the wave of flames slammed into the attacking pokemon and washed over it.

It screamed and moments later, dropped to the ground, its body sizzling and smoking.

"A Vespiquen huh?" Cobalt mused, "It must be freshly evolved, they usually gather hives of male Combee quite quickly and are never alone after that."

He turned to his pokemon and crouched down, petting it on the head, "Good job buddy." he praised his pokemon.

"Gible." the small blue pokemon merely nodded crossing it stubbly little arms as Cobalt returned it to his pokeball.

"Right, let's go find that pokemon Centre shall we?" Cobalt smiled at her.

Serena blinked at the sheer casualness of it all, "..But what about that pokemon?" she pointed to her downed attacker. Vespiquen he called it, she thought.

"It should be fine, it only got some light injuries, pokemon recover quick, damage of this level will only keep it down for a little while," he told her, "Though if you're worried about it, feel free to catch it if you want and bring it to the Pokemon Centre with us."

Serena bit her lip. She didn't feel right leaving it here, that was true, "But you're the one who beat it," she replied, "And what about when I go to get my starter pokemon? Won't me already having a pokemon invalidate it all?"

"Nah, my uncle's an understanding guy, he'll still let you pick your starter even if you catch it," Cobalt waved off her worries, "And personally I'm only going after some specific types of pokemon, and Vespiquen while a great pokemon doesn't fit what I'm going for."

Serena took in what he said before nodding slowly, "..Well alright." she replied hesitantly. She reached into her skirt pocket and fumbled with a shrunken pokeball before enlarging it and giving it a gentle toss towards Vespiquen.

It hit the pokemon, bouncing off of it and opening up, sucking it inside in a flash of red light, before dropping to the ground as it closed. It glowed red and shook from side to side, and without realising it, Serena held her breath.

Moments later, she released that breathe and smiled brightly when it made a loud 'ping' noise, and the glow faded as it stopped shaking. "..Huh.." she blinked as she made her way over and picked it up, marvelling at the pokeball in her hands, "I..caught a pokemon."

"That you did," Cobalt flashed her a thumbs up, "Most people's first catches are Rattata, Bunnelby and such. You got a Vespiquen, make sure to raise it well."

Serena found herself smiling even harder somehow, "Right, I will!" she agreed. Her earlier melancholy all but forgotten somehow.