(Epilogue)
Here comes trouble
No mistaking

The Kalos League had made a huge change in everyone. Everything.

It was the first time Ash Ketchum ever won in a Pokémon League, and even though he was more shocked than anything at first, shock turned into happiness and happiness turned into hope.

"I'm closer than ever to being a Pokémon Master," he declared to his Pikachu, "and I'm glad my first glint of a bright future was you, Pikachu. It's always you. We're finally achieving our dream...!"

The now Kalos Champion noticed the girl beside him: short honey-blonde hair, electric blue eyes... she gave him a look no one else in his life ever had.
And he finally noticed it.

I'd know you anywhere

"Only too late..." he remarked in his mind, as he swiftly turned his gaze away. Pikachu grabbed onto Ash's shirt, making the raven-haired boy look at him.

"Pikapi... (Ash...)" The Pokémon's eyes softened. He understood Ash's deepest feelings, and vice versa. "Pikachu... (Don't give up...)"

I could sail to the ends of the ocean and
Find you waiting there

Ash's lips finally curved into a small smile. "I'll never give up."
-o-

I've been searching and searching
Near and far

Meanwhile, Serena's head was filled with a whole other case. "It's time... our journey is over..." she stated, staring outside the window at one of the Pokémon Center's rooms.

Serena had to admit it: she was satisfied.

She made more friends than she could ever count. Even though from a start she wished they'd never separate, she now understood it as a normal part of life. They wouldn't be together forever... but they would be best friends forever.

Searching and searching

"That's true..." she muttered, a melancholic tone in her voice. She heard the soft steps of her Pokémon, the only friends who'd never leave her side, they were her family.

Pancham rushed to her, jumping on her shoulder and not letting go. Braixen ran to her from behind and gave her a tight hug, rivaling Pancham. And Hana walked by her feet, nuzzling her head on her boots and purring slightly.

Serena giggled in response to their affections.

And there you are

She lowered her head, her back facing them, and added, "I love you, guys."

Our wishes share a star...

I choose you
I choose you
What else can I do?

We're just too good together to part

What we've shared from the start
Feels like one beating heart
I choose you
I choose you

-o-

"I'll miss you, guys!" Ash exclaimed, giving a goodbye hug to each of them. "But don't worry! You'll be happy and safe in your new home... until I come back!" He was talking about Professor Oak's haven for all his past Pokémon.

Greninja was the last to come to him, lowering his head in a slight bow. Ash stared at him.

The ninja frog was glad his master won the League, even if not thanks to him, but the fact that it wasn't thanks to him hurt him ever so slightly.

He knew Ash and Pikachu had the strongest bond, the one that could never be broken, least replaced. But it hurt him. Especially now that he'd decided on a new future, a new purpose.

Hello, stranger
Don't I know you?
Nice to see you my friend

"Greninja..." Ash noted how silent his friend was. He stood up and immediately ran fast on his feet to give the Pokémon a big hug.

"I'll miss you, you know? But still, I want you to be happy," Ash Ketchum said, going tight with his hold. "We have a bond, alright?"

"N-nin... (Y-yes...)" he answered, glancing at the trainer and returning the hug. Pikachu jumped on Ash's shoulder and onto Greninja's head.

Did we just scale the top of a mountain, and
Fly back home again?

-o-

"See you again!"

"Goodbye!"

"I'll miss you!"

"We'll never forget each other!"

"Promise!"

I've been looking and looking

These words were uttered over and over again in the airport. Be it by the Pokémon or their trainers, they were well-meant.

Serena was leaving to go to Hoenn, and Ash was leaving himself, later, to go back to Kanto. Bonnie and Clemont were sad to see their two friends go, and Ash and Serena were sad to see them stay.

Chespin and Bunnelby were huddled around Hana, one rougher than the other. She gave a kiss on the forehead to both; since they did mean something to her.

Chespin was troublesome to no end, but still kind-hearted, and she had to say how his persistence was admirable... until seeing the Sylveon and Pikachu kiss lovingly finally put an end to it.

High and low

Bunnelby was always a big brother figure, and she knew it was only that for both of them.

Clemont's Bunnelby was like an emotional replacement to the hole Zorua had left after his betrayal, he was warm and reassuring and she knew, unlike Zorua, he knew were he stood.

Pikachu was naturally friendly with everybody, he gave a hug to any of the Pokémon that asked for it without hesitation and his big, characteristic grin made anyone sadly smile as well.

Looking and looking

He looked at the Sylveon, meters away from him and tilted his head. He loved her. A darn lot. And know, like before... they'd take separate ways.

And...what'd'ya know?

But for some reason, it didn't feel as depressing and hopeless as before.

Hana gave him a smile he couldn't resist; he rushed to her side, step slowing down only when he was inches away from her. His brown eyes were full of sparks, and her sky blue ones softened.

"I love you," they accidentally proclaimed at the same time. Noticing the coincidence, they couldn't help but laugh about it.

Just like long ago

Ash's gaze turned to Serena, and their eyes met. He noticed how immediately, the girl's cheeks flushed a light shade of red, and he couldn't help but chuckle about it.

Ash walked closer to her, and did something nobody expected him to do...

He looked at her straight in the eyes and proceeded to wrap his arms over her waist. She was stunned at the sudden hug, but smiling, wrapped her hands over his shoulders.

I choose you
I choose you

What else can I do?
We're just too good together to part

Hana wrapped her own feelers all over the Electric-type and he melted in her hold before giving her a short lick in the muzzle.

His fingers brushed against the flower behind her ear; the one that started everything between them. "No matter what... I promise, I'll never forget you."

"I'll never forget you, either."

What we've shared from the start
Feels like one beating heart
I choose you
I choose you

-o-

Time went by... a year, to be specific.

Ash and Serena always kept in touch; and so did their Pokémon. Videocalls, messages, phone calls, letters... went on and on and on.

During Ash's time in Alola and Serena's in Hoenn, the two preteens could feel something extremely special for one another and the feelings kept growing.

Both Pikachu's and Hana's mind was occupied by the other more than they could muster. Throughout battles and performances, everyone was changing, everything was growing.

A day came when they could finally reunite. Ash and Serena had chosen a special spot to keep a promise and see each other again. It was a surprise for Pikachu and Sylveon, though...

"We're here, buddy!" Ash Ketchum hollered to the top of his lungs as he exited the airplane, his most faithful Pokémon on his right shoulder.

"Pika Pika! (Now you'll finally tell me!)" the mouse exclaimed, excited. "Pikachu Pika?! (Where the heck are we?!)"

Ash chuckled to himself, liking the feeling of keeping a secret to a Pokémon. "Soon enough, you'll know..."

The two friends rented a bike and travelled far away, following a dirt path across the hills that served as their route. It was exciting, nostalgic even.

And Pikachu let his mouth hang agape as the breeze brushed against his fur. The ride made his heart beat faster and faster, specially when they reached a meadow, surrounded by large trees and shrubs.

It was familiar.

A scent reached Pikachu's nose and he inhaled it deeply, melting with hunger. "Pika! (Delicious!)" He leapt off Ash's shoulder as the boy stopped the yellow bike.

The mouse ran and ran, following the smell and trying to decipher it.
"Pi Pi...? (Are those...?)" He kept sniffing the air for clues.

Going under one of the bushes, he resurfaced to find what he was looking for.

"Pi Pikachu~! (Ketchup Poképuffs~!)"

The Pikachu jumped into the basket that contained the treats, forgetting about everything for just that moment.

"Piiii! (Yum!)" the Electric-type hummed before biting deep into his favorite food in the world. Then he heard a giggle. It came just from his left side.

How didn't he notice before...? He (reluctantly) threw the Poképuff away, though he was ecstatic nonetheless. "Pikapi~! (Serena~!)" He found himself nuzzling himself into her arms.

"I missed you, too, Pikachu..." she stated, blue eyes softened.

"Pikachu, dude!" Serena's mischievous Pokémon grinned, glancing at him.

"Pikachu!" the fox called, resting her head on her hand pleasingly

Ash's Pikachu laughed. "Guys, you too?!" He glanced around, hoping to spot somebody special.

"Not just us..." Braixen smiled knowingly. "There's someone waiting for you inside." She pointed at the darker woods next to them.

"Really...?" he mused, a bit confused.

"You'll regret it if you don't go!" the Pancham added, laidback as he leaned on Serena's lap.

Deciding not to doubt anymore, he left Serena to walk over to the woods.

"If Serena and her Pokémon are here, why is it Hana isn't with them?" the Pikachu wondered, head lowering in disappointment as he walked through the Dark Forest.

When light finally reached him again, he realized where he was. "Eeveelution Forest...!"

"Surprise!" a dozen voices exclaimed in unison. Between them were Zeni, Teddy, Aunt Leaf, Queen Nymphia, the Eevee Brothers...

"G-guys... I can't believe it! I thought I'd never see you again...!" Pikachu muttered, voice cracking and eyes mushy.

"Yet here we are... again reunited!" Zeni was the first to step out. She ran (slowly, but it was fast to her) and let herself fall on Pikachu's arms with cheer.

Teddy was next and he did just the same move, so did everyone else who followed, until the group was tied into a big hug.

Pikachu was suffocating under all of the Pokémon, but as their good friend, he was almost too happy to notice.

"Um... there's someone missing," he managed to say, while trying to catch up with the oxygen he had lost.

"By someone, you mean me, right? Nice to see you again, Pikachu!" A shiny Glaceon, accompanied by a normal-colored one walked into them.

"Shynee! Hehe! You doing well?" the Electric-type asked the Ice Eeveelution.

"Better than ever...! Especially now that I'm Queen..." she stated, grinning like an idiot.

"Wait, what...?!" The words erupted from Pikachu agape mouth.

Shynee chuckled, managing her smile better. "That's right! Cuz gave the position to me!"

"You mean Hana?!"

"Yup! She said being a monarch wasn't what she wanted... she wanted to make her trainer a Kalos Queen," Shynee told him.

"It's her dream to do showcases and performances as long as she lives! She can't do that as Queen, unfortunately..." the Glaceon explained, smile dimming a little with what she last said.

"Oh..." Pikachu's initial shock turned into a sincere smile. "She's following her dream."

Shynee chuckled again, now much clearer. "I love her for that, I'll always admire her... Hana said I'd make a great Queen. And... I feel like I have a true purpose now."

Pikachu let a short, but cheerful laugh loose. "I'm glad!"

"Oh! Also, there's someone waiting for you!" the shiny Glaceon added, like she almost forgot.

Glacia spoke for the first time, "They want you to find them around there." She pointed the woods that went after the Eeveelution Forest.

Unlike the Dark Forest, these woods were clear and soft. The sunlight reached every tree branch... Pikachu knew first-hand.

He laughed at a joke he just made. "The Light Forest?"

He trotted around, the trees started disappearing as he went on and he found himself in some kind of meadow full of blooming pink flowers.

"It's beautiful..." he noted. He stepped closer to one of the flowers to examine them better when he felt something slowly creep behind him and he felt his eyes being covered.

"Huh?!" Before he turned around, whatever touched him had vanished and he felt like something was about to jump at him anytime soon.

I choose you

"W-what?! Who's there?!" Pikachu hollered, standing on all paws and trying to look menacing. But all he heard was a playful giggle in response, very cute-sounding.

He tilted his head in confusion on his own emotions.

I choose you

He decided to not waste any time and followed after the voice that took over his senses.

But when he took JUST a step forward, he found himself stumbling down a tunnel; sliding for dear life. Then he fell headfirst to the ground, the Electric-type realized the the deja vu kind of place he was in.

There was a gate in front some kind of mountain, the top shaped like Eevee-ears. He walked over to it, to find a hole already made for him to enter.

On to journeys anew
With the wonderful friends that I've found

Resurfacing, he coughed a bit of dirt and jumped to the other side, satisfied. He heard the stifled giggle again, and shrubs moving as well.

Pulling the brave card, he walked fearlessly deeper into the Eevee mountain.

As the planet spins around
We're eternally bound

Pikachu was thrown to the ground, a white figure landing on him. Her smile lightened his.

Hana's feelers wrapped around his head as she lowered hers and gave him a kiss in the same place she had for the first time ever.

I choose you
I choose you