The Road to our Destiny

Chapter 21

It has been three days since Ash, Pikachu, Serena, Brock, Dawn, and Piplup bumped into Timothy, Electchu, Coovers, and Scott. Ever since Serena got her Absol, the honey blonde girl has started to cherish taking care of her new Pokemon like she promised. It warmed her heart to introduce Absol to her other Pokemon, and despite feeling uneasy at first, it started to become good friends with Braixen, Pancham, Sylveon, and Poliwag. Absol and Poliwag have begun to become playmates as they like to chase and playfully tackle each other whenever Serena lets out her Pokemon for during meals. Serena also lets Absol out of its Pokeball at night so that it can sleep next to its mother figure in her and Dawn's tent because it doesn't like to sleep in its container.

On the sixth day since they left Cerulean City, the group find themselves in Saffron City. Dawn and Serena look around in awe as they walked down the streets of the city excitedly.

"Oh my, this city is huge," Dawn says excitedly.

"Piplup," Piplup chirps in Dawn's arms.

"Yeah, they don't call it the biggest city in the Kanto region for nothing," Serena says.

"Yeah, I guess it's pretty big, but I'm more excited to re-challenge Sabrina at the Saffron City Gym and see Haunter again," Ash declares.

"Pi, Pikachu!" Pikachu shouts, sharing Ash's enthusiasm.

"Of course you are, Mr. Ketchum," Dawn says, smirking while shaking her head.

Serena nods in agreement before she says, "But don't forget, Ash, Dawn, and I have a contest here too, and we need to register for that."

"I know," Ash says. "And I'm going to be rooting for you all the way."

"Pikachu," Pikachu agrees.

Serena smiles and blushes while Dawn pouts.

"Hey, what about me?" She whines.

"Well, of course, I'm rooting for you too, Dawn," Ash says scratching the back of his head.

"Sure, you are. I know how it is," Dawn grumbles before giving Serena a teasing look that makes the honey blonde girl blush even more.

"Speaking of which, isn't the contest today?" Brock asks. "I think we should make sure you have enough time to register on time."

"No problem, Brock," Serena assures as she takes out her tablet. "Registration doesn't close until -"

Suddenly, Serena gasps loudly, catching everyone's attention.

"Oh my gosh, they moved the time! We need to register by 10:30, and it's already 10:23!" She says, panicking.

Everyone gasps and Brock says, "We need to hurry, quick!"

Without another word, the four trainers start running as fast as possible with Pikachu struggling to stay on Ash's shoulder and Dawn still carrying Piplup. They keep running until they take a turn to a giant stadium and barge inside where Dawn and Serena almost ram into the help desk

"Please don't tell us we're too late to register!" Both girls desperately shout simultaneously.

"No, you still have a minute left," the woman at the desk says, chuckling.

Both girls and Piplup sigh in relief as they hand their registration cards to the woman at the front desk, and she scans them and gives them back to them.

"Alright, you're both set," the woman says. "We will need you to come to the back in five minutes with the rest of the competitors."

"Great, thank you," Serena says as she and Dawn turn around to Ash, Brock, and Pikachu, who all sigh in relief.