The Road to our Destiny

Chapter 69

As the group heads back to the Indigo Stadium, they all struggle to focus on the match against Ash and Max because of what happened between Brock and Holly. Ash, Pikachu, Dawn, and Piplup remember Brock feeling sad when Holly left after they lost the Hearthome City Tag Team Battle tournament, but he was nowhere as devastated as he is now. Serena walks sadly, not only because Brock and Holly are apart, but because she feels like she lost a good friend whom she could relate to when it comes to having special feelings for someone. By the time they all reach the building, Max feels reluctant to go inside.

"I don't know if I can battle while feeling sorry for Brock," he confesses.

"I know how you feel," Misty says. "Even though I've been so angry at him for making promises to both Holly and Lucy, even I could tell how sincere he was to make it up to them. But I never would have thought he would lose his special someone before he could even confess his true feelings."

"Cilan and I haven't known him for very long, but I think we know him enough to pity him," Iris says.

"Axew," Axew agrees from Iris' hair.

"Yeah, same for us," Bonnie says, pointing at herself and Clemont.

Ash turns to his friends with a frown. Even though he still doesn't understand Brock and Holly's feelings, he knows that they care about each other a lot. He wishes there was something he could do to cheer Brock up, but it seems clear he can do nothing but give his longtime friend some time while Timothy and Coovers try their best to comfort him. He then turns to Serena, who is visibly down about what has happened and then to Max. He thinks hard for a moment until he decides to speak.

"Well, you know what?" he says. "I think we should give this battle our all in honor of Brock and Holly's memory."

"Huh?" everyone says.

"Think about it, guys," he says. "There's nothing we can do to bring Holly back or cheer Brock up, but I know both of them would want us all to stay happy and keep going. It's like Brock said, we need to give it everything we've got, and he knows Holly would want us to do the same. Besides, Holly, Timothy, Max, and I all promised to give everything we've got on our semifinal battles. Holly and Timothy kept up their end of that promise, so we need to smile on and do the same. So whether we're battling or cheering for each other, let's honor Brock and Holly by giving it our all until the very end. What do you say?"

For a minute, no one says anything. Then, Serena smiles and chuckles with her mouth closed.

"There you go again, Ash. Trying to cheer everyone up," she says.

Misty scoffs in amusement and says, "Well, I guess we shouldn't expect any less."

"Agreed," Clemont says with a smile.

"Well, if it's what Brock and Holly would have wanted, then I'll cheer for both of you," Dawn says to Ash and Max.

"Piplup," Pilpup says with a smile

"We'll cheer Ash on with a smile," Cilan says with Iris nodding.

"Cheer for Ash, all you like. I'm going to keep supporting my little brother out in the field," May states proudly.

Max hesitates before he smiles at Ash and says, "Well, I've wanted to have a full-on Pokemon battle with you long before I turned old enough to have my first Pokemon. This is my chance to do that, so I'm going to give it everything I've got."

"Awesome, that's what I want to hear," Ash says with a toothy grin.

"Pikachu!" Pikachu says cheerfully.