The Road to our Destiny

Chapter 58

The day after May won the Grand Festival and everyone partook in the celebration later that night, Ash, Pikachu, Serena, Dawn, Piplup, May, Max, Clemont, Bonnie, Brock, and Holly all got together and start heading to Pallet Town. Ash video called his mom in advance to let her know they're coming, and she told him she will have the party for May, Dawn, and Serena ready for them by the time they arrive. She also said she reached out to a couple of other people who would like to attend, but when Ash asked who, she just said it's a surprise.

The journey back to Pallet Town is mostly uneventful. May carries her Ribbon Cup with her happily and often polishes it whenever the group is on a break from walking. Max and Dawn rebuke her for the way she obsessively treats her trophy, but she's too much in bliss to care. Brock and Holly often talk to each other about how they plan to go to Pewter City after the party as they walk together. Every now and then, Max yanks their ears, telling them to cut it out for the sake of everyone else.

As for Serena, however, she walks in the back of the group with a sad look on her face. Dawn or May walk beside her and try to have a conversation, and she puts on a forced smile and talks to her friends. But despite that, she's had a downhearted look on her face ever since she had her talk with Grace after the Grand Festival. Ash sometimes turns to her and asks if she's okay, and she gives him a smile and claims that she's fine. He hesitantly believes her, but he can't help but be unsettled from the way she's been acting.

It is a couple of hours past noon when the group makes it to Pallet Town, and Ash excitedly runs ahead of everyone to his house. When he gets there, he sees party decorations and tables set up in the yard with Professor Oak and Tracey, setting up with Mimey.

"Hey, Professor, Tracey!" Ash calls out.

"Pika, Pi!" Pikachu shouts from Ash's shoulder.

Professor Oak and Tracey turn to the raven-haired boy and smile.

"Hey, Ash," Tracey greets.

"Ash, my boy, how are you?" Professor Oak asks.

"I'm fine," Ash says. "Did you guys see the Grand Festival?"

"We sure did," Tracey answers. "In fact, where are May, Dawn, and Serena?"

"Here, we are!" Dawn calls out as she, Piplup, Serena, May, Max, Clemont, Bonnie, Brock, and Holly catch up. "We had trouble catching up with Mr. Wingfoot here."

Ash chuckles and rubs the back of his head while Tracey steps up to approach May.

"Congratulations on winning the competition, May," he says. "That is a big trophy you got there."

"Thanks," May says gleefully.

"I'd like to draw a sketch with you, the Ribbon Cup, and your Pokemon at some point during the party if that's alright," Tracey requests.

"Absolutely!" May replies with stars in her eyes.

"Ah, more attention on her and that trophy. That's all she needs," Max mumbles to Bonnie, earning a chuckle from her.

"Is my mom inside?" Ash asks.

"Yes, indeed," Professor Oak says with a nod. "And so is a certain someone else."

"Really? I wonder who it is," Ash says, interested.

"Let's find out," Brock suggests.

Ash nods in agreement, and together, he, Pikachu, Serena, Brock, Holly, Clemont, and Bonnie all go inside the house. They hear Ash's mom humming from the kitchen while a certain girl with orange hair is sitting on the living room couch.