Chapter 15: Igniting The Flame

The stage was set. Together, the two felt the surge of adrenaline run right through them. Alongside each other, facing what was the final hurdle on their way out of Route 16. One more fight, and the future would be in front of them. One more tangle with Team Rocket, and the group would finally leave, carrying the torch flaring into the winter, flaring towards Anistar City.

Frogadier gave a warm beam of confidence across to Braxien, the two stood firm ahead of their battle against Jessie and James's Gourgeist and Inkay.

Pikachu began cheering from inside his glass ball, knowing it wouldn't be long before Ash and Serena found a way to break him free. He never once doubted the two, not when they were together. In Finn's words, they were 'inseparable'- a bond that could not be broken. It was through their strength to carry on, after all of the moments of angst and uncertainty in their journey that they came together to prevail against any hurdle. Now they would show the world just what they meant to each other, and more importantly, make Clemont and Bonnie realise their newly found affections. Their onlooking Pokemon cheered, anticipation was growing for Ash's first battle since his fall.

"Are they battling together?" Clemont asked across to his young sister.

"It seems so, and look! Look!" Bonnie pointed frantically.

"They're holding hands!" She bounced up and down in a delirious moment of shocked elation. Dedenne released a chorus of cheers; excitement levels soared. Clemont looked further ahead for a closer look. It was clear as daylight, they were definitely holding hands.

"Braxien, run on up ahead and give Frogadier a boost up!" Serena cried to kick off proceedings.

"Then leap up into the air and hit 'em with Water Pulse!" Ash latched onto Serena's commands; the two began battling with almost seamless unison. Braxien began charging forward towards the onlooking Gourgeist and Inkay who were floating in mid air, where she whipped out her trusted, and precious twig, styled with a thick rose red bow and offered it as a step for Frogadier to nimbly take a jump into the air. The blue frog rushed towards the twig, where as light as a feather it then took its jump and soared, flying amongst its levitating opponents. From within Frogadier summoned a torrent of water, sending a bombarding wave crashing towards the bewildered duo from Team Rocket. Ash and Serena waited in hope that they could land an early direct hit.

"Quick, dodge it!" But Jessie cried to steer the duo clear of danger.

"You're gonna have to do better than that if you want Pikachu back!" Meowth sneered from the cliff, now clutching the device which held Pikachu in the glass ball.

"Inkay, Pysbeam again!" James bellowed, as the dark and psychic type squid Pokemon twirled around, and positioned itself upside down to fire another beam of psychic waves that were aimed directly at Braxien. The fox saw the attack come speeding towards it, until Ash and Frogadier intervened for their safety.

"Deflect it with Cut!" Frogadier sped towards Braxien's side and used its arm as a blade to slice through the Pysbeam attack, sending the remnants of it hurling back towards Inkay. Their dark and psychic type opponent was briefly knocked off balance by the deflection; Ash and Serena were making inroads, however it was only the beginning of their synchronised strategy.

"Great job, Ash; now it's our turn!" Serena beamed a confident grin at her battling boyfriend.

"Braxien, use Flamethrower at them both!" She yelled, where Braxien immediately jumped up into the air with its twig, Frogadier bent down to make way, as Braxien conjured up an enveloping wave of flames, sizzling at a temperature that would soar through the crisp autumn breeze, and hurl straight towards Gourgeist and a dazed Inkay, both rooted to the spot.

The flames scorched at the Team Rocket duo, landing directly onto Inkay, sending it plummeting to the ground. Gourgeist suffered super-effective damage, and despite its struggles to maintain its sturdy balance, found an aftermath of flames bite it. Gourgeist was inflicted with a burn, a timer was now placed on its durability.

Ash and Serena's moves were flawless. Astonishingly, the couple had merged their strategies and moves together without a second of practice while still managing to pull through and dominate an ever-panicking Team Rocket. Pikachu cheered from his glass prison, while rapturous applause rang out from their watching Pokemon from the sidelines at each swift movement Braxien and Frogadier made as partners. The two complemented each other in their battling styles, almost reminiscent of their trainers. Braxien was capable of giving Frogadier that extra lift to soar to newer heights, and hit harder than ever; in turn Frogadier was capable of clearing the way of threats, and allowing Braxien to hit its best shot, having being given the opportunity to strike. Serena motivated Ash, she fired him up on numerous occasions in his gym battles, giving him a real moment of revelation as his strategy comes together, allowing him to capture the very best of his battling passion, and spur himself all the way to victory. Ash, in any way possible, protected, and believed in Serena. Throughout all of her doubts, worries, and anxieties, he would pull through for her, and open up the opportunity for her to excel, and aspire to new heights. Their synchronised movements were flawless in summing up their unbreakable bond. The two thrived off each other; Ash felt the situation hotting up, he felt his flame for adventure flare. He felt his stomach brewing that hot, excitable feeling of being alive in the open world again. He realised he had been out of the game too long following his concussion, but now he was back and stronger than ever. This time he was back with Serena by his side. Holding hands, the two had come together closer than ever, the two now had an even greater reason to strive towards their dreams. Their motives rekindled, their fires burning, all from the feeling of being together. Pikachu knew he wouldn't be away from them long, he knew that down below him, something remarkable was beginning. For the first time, out of pure affection, Ash and Serena showcased exactly what they were capable of achieving now that they were together, and it all stemmed from the lessons that they had learnt.

They had learnt what it was like to be afraid, to worry that they might never see each other again.

Ash had come face to face with death itself, but defied it in favour for the people that were important to him, and for the girl who he fell in love with.

Serena had come to realise the important of each previous moment. She revelled in the thirst of the fight, to feel alive next to Ash. She realised how special the moment really was, knowing that a few distant days ago, she was by his side, but watching him lying there motionless, fighting his own inner battle.

This was the battle that epitomised their relationship.

Consistently there for each other, thriving off each and every move; it was a spectacle to behold. Ash and Serena were caught in the moment, it was time to make a finish and rescue Pikachu.

"They battle so well together!" Bonnie cheered, watching Braxien and Frogadier putting Gourgeist and Inkay against the ropes. Clemont placed a hand on his chin, and began to hypothesise the exhibition.

"Maybe this is the 'bond' that was mentioned, although it's the first time I've ever seen something like this..." Clemont sunk into deep thought, while Bonnie enthusiastically watched on. She had so many questions, so many things she wanted to know about what was going on with Ash and Serena. At that very moment they were both shining, glistening with confidence in each other as they battled together, hand in hand.

"Jessie! Don't go easy on 'em just because the two twerps are in love!" Meowth impatiently yelled at his incompetent partner, who stood there bewildered at the fluidity of their opponent's movements.

"I'm trying, don't you see?!"

"Trying and failing; just like ya love life!"

"Woba woba..."

"You take that back, no one is yet worthy for a place beside the future Kalos Queen!" She growled back, with just a hint of jealousy in her tone.

A flurry of bickering began, with Jessie and Meowth at each others' throats. Ash looked at Serena, Serena looked back at Ash. He squeezed tighter onto her hand, where those amber eyes began shining once more.

"Let's show them exactly what we're made of!" Ash looked into her eyes, where the two brought their interlocked hands up to their chests, and listened in closely.

Still beating in sync.

Still linked by their heartbeat.

"Let's do it, Ash." She replied with beaming confidence, before turning back to the action, where Frogadier and Braxien were awaiting their final commands.

"Quit yapping you two, here they come!" James screamed with a look of horror on his face at the sight of Ash and Serena preparing to finish the battle, his colleagues meanwhile were too enticed in their own battle of words to realise that another blast off was becoming ever the more inevitable.

"Braxien, let's finish it with Fire Blast!" Braxien raised her twig into the air, and released a torrent of swirling flames, reaching out at all angles, targeting the stationary Gourgeist and Inkay.

"Frogadier, join in with another Water Pulse!" The ninja frog leaned back to conjure up maximum energy to unleash its violent waves towards the targets. The two attacks conjoined into one, the pulsating water surged through the core of the all consuming fire, sending a vicious wave of swirling fire and water towards Team Rocket.

Their faces shot pale with delirious horror knowing that the impact would surely leave a sore mark.

James shrieked in a high pitched voice as the trio scrambled aimlessly for cover.

"Maybe this really is twerp love!"

With Clemont and Bonnie watching on from the sidelines, Ash and Serena both put on two huge grins.

"That's right!" Serena proudly declared.

"You bet it is!" Ash eagerly added with one hand on the tip of his red cap, and the other holding onto Serena.

The two announced themselves, no longer holding any doubts, nor anxieties. They were with each other, and were not afraid to hide it. They had come so close to losing it all that living the moment for what it truly was became something they had learned to embrace. Serena no longer hid away with shyness; she loved Ash.

Bonnie immediately jumped out from behind the bushes where she had taken cover with her big brother. Clemont's glasses fell straight from his face.

The two Lumiose siblings watched on, astounded, as the combination of water and fire crashed into the Team Rocket on top of the cliff, smashing the glass in which Pikachu was encapsulated in. The trio were knocked off their feet, while Pikachu had been knocked out of their grasp and off of the cliff. It was a sight all too familiar for Serena, she flushed a worried white seeing Pikachu falling directly in front of her. She felt the memories try to grip her, and come rushing back, but instead it was Ash who gripped her tighter, and shouted the loudest.

"Hawlucha get Pikachu!" He roared as from behind him Hawlucha let go of his protective hand over Noibat, and ran ahead to leap up into the air, and ride the breeze, enabling it to glide near the edge of the cliff where Pikachu was plummeting. Pikachu himself fell out of control on the ever quickening drop, until he landed with a thump onto the sturdy back of the muscular red fighting Pokemon who began his descent. Hawlucha flew near Ash and Serena to drop Pikachu off in front of them. Ash gave a glance back at Serena, their minds were in sync, the finishing blow was about to be landed upon Team Rocket.

"Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!" Ash and Serena both commanded in unison as they thrust their linked hands out straight, facing forward for Pikachu to strike its shock of lightning that would finish off their run in with their familiar foes.

Pikachu took an intake of energy, before releasing the bellowing strike towards a helpless looking Jessie, James and Meowth. Their Pokemon dazed and faint; there was no fight left for the three crooks today.

The impact smashed into them at speed, causing an explosion to rumble throughout the infrastructure of the cliff. A grumbling sound rung out around Route 16, before the explosive impact sent Team Rocket flying right over the top of the watching group's heads.

The faint "we're blasting off again!" rang out like music to their ears, as the danger cleared, and tranquillity seemingly returned to Route 16. The calmness could not be considered peaceful, for there was always an eerie atmosphere sitting around Melancholie Path. The peering Pumpkaboos and Murkrow's returned to their habitats in the tall grass; silence settled. Ash revelled in the quiet, watching in satisfaction as Team Rocket flew out of sight. It was then that the silence was abruptly melted away by the sound of a loud smooch on his cheek. Ash's gaze was then broken further by a certain dancing Pikachu landing on top of his hat. He looked over, where Serena was blushing with a big beaming smile. In her other hand was Braxien, with Frogadier timidly holding onto the fox Pokemon's free paw. Ash felt the sizzling sensation tickle his skin once more; he couldn't hide it, he was flushing into the colour he always saw in Serena. He was blushing a deep red; at that moment, as their Pokemon jubilantly rushed up to swarm them, Ash saw a part of Serena within him, and a part of himself in the blue gaze of Serena's cerulean eyes.

"We did it, Ash!" Serena gleefully cheered at him. It was their first victory as a couple; and the both of them knew that it would be the first of many. In that moment they were ambushed by the joyous embraces of Talonflame and its large wings that breathed warmth into the huddle, Hawlucha and his proud antics, Pancham and its dancing delight found on Serena's shoulder, alongside the thrilled elation of Noibat who took a comfortable spot opposite to Pikachu on Ash's free shoulder. The baby bat released a sigh of relief that all of the drama was all over, at least for the Pokemon concerned anyway.

"So is there something you two want to tell us?"

Clemont's polite voice called, standing there calmly, highly contrasting with his jiggling sister. She had the widest grin, all teeth on show. Looks like the drama wasn't over just yet for Ash and Serena.

The two walked back over to the expectant Lumiose pair.

The two flushed the deepest shade of crimson.

"Uh, well..." Ash began to stutter on his words, while scratching the back of his head. Where they had previously been more than happy to announce their affections to the world, explaining it, and confessing it to their two close friends was still a considerably tricky task. Ash took a huge intake of breath, and let it all out in one long sigh. Steam appeared from where his warm breath met the crisp air. A cold breeze was sweeping past.

"Where do I start!" He chuckled to ease the tension, but looking around, Clemont deserved to know, he too had been through a lot with Ash. After almost losing each other, Ash knew that there was nothing worth hiding in the dark any longer. He looked down at the ground, running his foot around the dust, lightly kicking a small pile of soggy leaves. He then darted his face back up at Clemont, before scanning over to Bonnie. The younger lemon-haired sibling cast her large grin to one side for a moment, the Pokemon quietly assembled to listen. Ash stood there, with an honest, and serious expression on his face. It was an expression of deep thought, a radiating aura of newly found wisdom, stemming from sobering memories.

He made an uncomfortable gulp, and began speaking from the deepest depths of his heart. Serena too felt a kick of nerves trundle around her stomach. Standing near the very edge of Route 16 itself, there was a mutual feeling that closure was necessary before moving on.

"I guess... over the past few days, I've learned a lot." Ash timidly began to speak. Those around him listened in closely.

He looked up at the cliff. "I've been travelling a long time, and sorta forgot about the dangers there are. The truth is, I never really thought that something like that would ever happen to me."

He looked back at the group.

"I've jumped and been caught so many times before that I never really knew what it was like to fall. I never knew what fear was, there was nothing to be scared of." He clenched a flustered fist.

"Now I think about why I used to be so stupid and ignored it. Fear was always a good thing, fear keeps us alive." Serena placed a hand over his shoulder, feeling Ash tense up. The raven-haired trainer looked back at her.

"It's there to keep us together." He continued, with guilt cropping up in his tone.

"Now I know what it's like to fall, and not be able to get back up. For once I found out what it was like to be alone." He scanned around every set of eyes within the group.

"I found out what it was like to be without all you guys." He paused as the group took in his words, deep and sore from where he had first felt them, from where he had first discovered the fear of being alone.

"To think that in one quick moment I could've left you all without ever getting to say goodbye... That really hits me hard." Serena felt herself begin to tear up under Ash's words as he reflected on the past events, she shuffled closer to him, keeping by his side.

"I thought I could always keep running, and nothing would ever stop me. Nothing would ever take my mind away from being a Pokemon Master. I guess I never realised... what the journey to that goal really was."

Ash stared down at the ground.

"I was stupid... I was stubborn."

Clemont spoke up.

"Ash... you don't need to be so hard on yourself."

Ash looked back up and smiled.

"No, you're right; because what I've learned has made me a much better trainer, and a much better person."

Clemont and Bonnie were initially taken back by the insightful words of Ash; Serena at that moment felt a sense of pride sit comfortably in her at the thought that she could call him her boyfriend.

"What Finn said was true, now I really do know what a journey is all about."

He sucked in another gulp of air, and stretched out his back.

"There's so much more than just striving to be a Pokemon Master. I mean, you guys... Even when I was asleep, even when it looked like I wouldn't wake up, you were there for me, right?"

"Always; like we said before we won't ever give up on you, Ash!" Clemont replied.

"Yeah, we're a family after all, right?" Bonnie added.

"Right; because after waking up, and realising that I wasn't alone any more, seeing you all... it made me feel really lucky. To see my Pokemon and my friends, not only am I lucky to still be here, but I'm really lucky to have you all."

He continued with a shining grin.

"It's what tries to break you apart that only brings you together, and now I realise, you guys all mean so much to me." Mutual blushing assured, with Ash also timidly placing a hand behind his head to scratch.

"I realise now, that every moment we share together is a miracle in itself. Every time we laugh, and go somewhere new, it's special. It's a gift. This time that we have... we should all treasure it." Bonnie and Clemont began smiling along with him.

"I'm sorry that I made you all worry so much; and I can promise that I'll never be so reckless again. I know now just how precious and valuable each moment is. It's not worth throwing everything on the line just to reach my goal, there's still so more we've yet to see."

Serena grinned at Ash's reference to their promise, while Bonnie picked up on their closeness again, and beamed a brighter smile at Ash.

"And I guess now, I know just how important each and every one of you are to me, and I've learned about something I never once realised. It gave me a feeling that made me doubt, and worry over just what it was. Sometimes it excited me just as much as a battle, while at other times it worried me like I was falling all over again. I learned about a new part of myself, a part that made me want to hold on to what's important. All of you, I will always protect you no matter what! Although there is one person who I learned that I never wanted to lose."

Bonnie's grin picked up again; Clemont waited for the moment while Serena's face began to flush once more, her cheeks warming up. Ash looked down again, trying to hide his own blush.

"That battle with Team Rocket made me realise just how psyched I can get battling alongside her. When I thought I had lost sight of my dream, and when I thought I was lost, she was there, and made me feel more alive than ever before. She made me realise, one of the biggest things I've learned."

Ash looked back up to the group, presenting his uncontrollable red blush.

"I've learned that I have feelings for Serena."

Serena took a hold of Ash's hand as the raven-haired trainer finally revealed the couple's affections right in front of their two friends and Pokemon. Bonnie's timer had expired, she leaped forward in delight, grabbing Serena's other hand, and tugging on it frantically while jumping up and down. Clemont released an astonished sigh of relief, realising at long last what their 'bond' meant, while the girls shared their jubilant moment.

"You did it Serena! You did it!" She chanted amongst Serena's joyous laughter. She felt the anxieties completely vanish, the breeze swaying her hair was caressing her, rather than unsettling her. "You're a couple at last!" Bonnie squealed in excitement.

She gave Bonnie a huge hug, and looked around at the gloriously golden world around her. It was a beautiful moment, a warmness that revitalised her spirit graced her; she felt a happiness like no other.

She realised that the group had defied their demons from Melancholie Path, and were ready to move on, as a wiser, and closer family than ever.

Their ecstatic Pokemon danced around the group with laughter after Ash's confession; all except for Hawlucha, who shrugged his shoulders in confusion.

The group then faced to the far east, setting their sights on the path ahead, the path that would lead them to Anistar City.

Ash saw the road ahead, but didn't start walking just yet, there was one final expression of gratitude that he had to convey.

"Guys... before we go, um..." He looked to the side of him, where the group had lined up ready to hit the road.

"Huh?" Clemont wondered as Ash once again seemed tentative.

"Even after all that we've been through, even though it's now all over, and we're starting what feels like a new journey... I just wanted to say, thanks to you all being here for me, I feel as if I can be stronger than ever. Serena and I are going to aim even higher, neither of us will lose! I feel so psyched up and ready to start again, and it's all thanks to you guys. So I just wanted to say... thank you, for always believing, and staying by me." His words grew with eagerness and confidence, where Pikachu then stood up on his shoulder and cheered in anticipation, while Noibat snuggled into his parent's other shoulder. Serena took Ash's hand on his right side, while to his left Bonnie took a hold of his other hand. Clemont place a firm hand around Ash's shoulder, smiling at him, purely pleased that he was there with them, as the group embarked on the next stage of their journey. They confidently took their first steps on the road to Anistar City together, steps that began to get quicker, they just couldn't contain their excitement; once again they began running to their new destination. The adrenaline pumping, the thrill of the adventure kicking in once more. This time they ran together, with Clemont maintaining his position alongside them. They ran together, as a family, closer than ever before.

Along the way, Ash still pondered his experiences, the people he met, the lessons he had learned. He thought back to the solitary fisherman who resided in the fishing shack, reminiscing his tales from down the years, wondering just how he could put up with such a life.

"Finn... Whatever you may be doing right now... thank you." He thought to himself, before feeling the slight tap from a cold breeze on his back.

The same breeze ran all the way back across Route 16.

The cold was creeping back in.

"Hello?! Anyone home?" Jessie yelled as she heaved to open the heavy grey door.

"Doesn't seem to be, it's pitch black in here." Meowth groaned as he stumbled around looking for a light switch.

"So this is the nearby fishing shack house that Pokemon Ranger mentioned earlier..." James walked in with intrigue.

The Team Rocket trio had dampened spirits following another failed attempt at capturing Pikachu which had resulted in them blasting off once again. This time they were shook awake by the abrupt landing in the icy water of the fishing shack lake, and figured that it would be best to turn in for the imminent night at the risk of another storm.

"Ugh, let's just stay here tonight, I'm sure whoever lives here won't mind anyway." Jessie decided as she scrunched the soggy strands of her long purple hair. Meowth perched himself up by the window, watching the darkening sky lean over them.

"You would think for a popular fishing spot in Kalos that there would actually be fisherman out by the lake." He wondered in confusion, the whole scene seemed slightly eerie to him.

Jessie shrugged off Meowth's scepticism, and after finally discovering the light switch, made her way up the hard wooden stairs. She creaked through each old floor board, until eventually reaching the end of the corridor, and entering a large room with grey walls. Large windows let in the ever fading light, while a large damp patch had accumulated around a nearby wooden chair. In front of her was an inviting looking bed, pristine sheets that looked to have been freshly made. She looked forward to getting a good night's sleep in it, but realised that there was more there upon closer inspection. Laid out on the bed was a long black fishing rod, that had seemingly aged and gathered dust. It was lined with rust down each component, but had a strange warmth to it, like it had still only recently been used.

Something seemed to tell her that it would be best to leave it, and opted for a room further along the corridor.

Downstairs, James investigated the house, interested in why the shack had been allowed to age over the years. He came across a shelf, where on it, covered in thick dust was a photograph, framed in hard varnished wood. He picked it up, and smiled at the scene pictured. He saw a picture of friends together living in a seemingly valuable moment, a single instant in history where their laughter and enjoyment had been frozen in time to be preserved. It was an old photo; pale unsaturated colours alongside considerable wear around the edges. Pictured were three fishermen, all dressed the same. They were tall figures, each with windswept brown hair that laid under a white cap with tanned skin. They wore light blue shirts, with gilets to store lines for their fishing rods. They were laughing as they stood beside each other fishing in the lake. The caption on the photo held a hint of the fishing shack's glowing nostalgic past.

"Laughing Together: fishing shack regulars Wade, Seward and Finn."

A cold wind then swept past James.

Once it had left, the house's eerie atmosphere had lifted, and from that moment onwards, the fishing shack felt peaceful.

The cold wind continued blowing around the bare faces of the travelling family, enthusiastic and eager with Anistar City fast approaching. This time the cold wind bit in with a hint of frost settling over the previously jewelled grassy fields. It was a sign that winter was arriving.

The group had already navigated around the Route 17 where they had previously visited before, and had taken the high route that would lead them directly in line with Anistar City's skyline. As the group neared it, the gleam from dazzling city lights began to get brighter. They illuminated the falling snowflakes up ahead, where the world transformed from a veil of orange, to a sheet of white. The group felt the cold shiver through their clothes; they were told to wrap up warm after all.

Noibat released a big yawn from its tiny mouth, much to the group's amusement.

"Somebody's getting tired, huh!" Ash asked like a father to his baby Pokemon on his shoulder. In that moment his pride was interrupted by the grumbling growl from his own stomach, bellowing out a sound of discomfort. Ash was hungry.

Some things really do never change.

Noibat too then startled itself by its own belly rumbling. Serena burst out laughing in hysterics.

"He really does take after his dad!"

The two replied to her with an embarrassed grin, but Serena liked that element on innocence that still remained in him. She took hold of Ash's hand, and caressed it for warmth, feeling his body heat settle into her skin. She grinned again, looking up at Noibat.

"Hey Noibat, how would you like it if Uncle Clemont helped make you and Ash some dinner when we arrive in Anistar City?" She asked in a playful, enthusiastic tone. Noibat cheered with excitement, flailing its little limbs happily. Clemont's glasses caught the oncoming city lights' reflection.

"Uncle?!" He cried in shock.

Ash joined in the group's laughter.

"Aunt Bonnie will help too!" Bonnie beamed while jumping with Dedenne running around her shoulders, not wanting to be left out of the fun.

Ash felt the sinking warmth of happiness fill him once again. Together with the people closest to him, and with his best friend Pikachu on his shoulder. He felt the warm sensation of purity, and fulfilment from the touch of Serena's hand. He was with the girl he truly loved. Just by listening, he felt their hearts continuing to beat in sync, a feeling he would never tire of, a rhythm he would never want to leave. He felt the warmth of happiness, and heat from his flame to succeed burn as one, where it was then he saw it. Sharing the moment with those beside him, they made their way over the cliff, and were soon greeted by the stunning spectacle of Anistar City's iconic purple sundial, glistening in the darkening sky, with snow flakes falling beside it. They met sight of it with a simultaneous gasp. They saw the buzz of the people rushing around the city; a fresh lease of life. It was the home of the next challenge, one that they would cherish. Winter was in front of them, a wonderland of new adventures awaiting them. The raven-haired trainer grinned, feeling his body tense up with excitement.

Ash for the first time saw the true beauty in the world in front of him.
He saw the purple shine of the sundial almost gazing at him, and felt inclined to continue towards it, as the group continued on.

He continued on, knowing that he was at a new beginning.
Knowing he wasn't alone.
Knowing he was with his family.
and knowing that Serena would always be alongside him.
He saw a world where his flame burned bright;
a world in which he would aspire to the top, with his hand held firm.
He saw a world where red and blue were together, blended into the purest of purple;
a world where he was together, with Serena.

Author's Note: So there we have it! After a good four months, Heartbeat finally comes to an end. I have to say I was nervous after the positive reviews Lights of Laverre received; but I can honestly say that it has been a true pleasure uploading these chapters every week. I'm truly blessed to have had such a following for this story. I can only hope now that when I make my next Amour fic that it satisfies expectations! I just want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has read, reviewed and shared; especially the following: Ooobserver, warzonecall, guywithglasses, PurimPopoie, ultimateCCC, ChE clarinetist, Hawkins579, all of the guest users and of course AMOURWORSHIPPER for the wonderful reviews! I hope I haven't missed any one out, but receiving your feedback each week always put a huge smile on my face.
I cannot say for certain when my next story will be posted as I am in the middle of a harsh winter that's so far consisted of applying to university and working through four A-Levels, although I'm hoping I get enough time over the festive period to write something for you all.

Once again, a big thank you from me, and I will see you all in the next story! X