That time, which always seemed to come too fast, had arrived despite being unwanted.

It was time for everyone to part ways.

A bittersweet melancholy charged the atmosphere, as everyone said their goodbyes under the shadow of Prism Tower.

And, after that…separation. Clemont and Bonnie waved at the Ash and Serena, the little girl’s eyes watering and her older brother’s obscured by the glare of his glasses.

They all silently vowed to meet each other again, in another time and place, no matter how long it took.

As he walked through the streets of Lumiose one last time with his companion, Ash realized that she, too, would be leaving.

He couldn’t bring himself to say anything, and just stared at the sky, both walking in uncomfortably comfortable silence.

It was then that he realized that he needed to say something. “Say, Serena…what are you going to do now?”

His question was similar to the one he made back then when they were just starting their journey through Kalos, but it now carried a different sort of significance. The girl’s stride stops, and she stands, facing him. He stops gazing at clouds, and their eyes meet.

"Well, Ash…", she fidgets, and clasps her hands behind her back, "…I’ve been thinking about things, and there was something I needed to tell you."

Her cheeks have a rosy tint, and her gaze travels downward. Her fingertips play with the brim of her hat before she takes it off, her golden hair freed from the confines of her headwear.

Ash holds his breath for a few moments, and he isn’t quite sure why. Pikachu, who had been sitting on his trainer’s shoulder all this time, hops off of Ash, figuring he might as well provide the two with a modicum of privacy.

"The truth is…even if I don’t have any real goal just yet, I really do know what I want to do from now on."

"Really?", Ash asks, perking up. "What is it, Serena?"

"What I really want to do…is travel with you, Ash." She turns her head to the side, before letting out an almost inaudible whisper, "…because it makes me happy…"

"Ah…well, I’d love to travel with you, Serena! I didn’t quite catch that last part, though." But he did.

Serena smiles brightly at the trainer. “It’s nothing. I’m just glad, that’s all. So, off to Kanto next?”

"Yeah." Pikachu climbs back on his shoulder. The yellow rodent smiled internally. Guess Ash does grow a little bit more every day, after all…

Ash outstretches his hand, just like that one time when they met as children.

"Let’s go.", he says, "Towards our next adventure."