Stay

Chapter 3

"You'll make the right choice. You always do."
If only the right choice was as clear cut as it usually was.
Was there even a right choice in a situation like this?
Ash sighed; he didn't know. These weren't the kinds of decisions he was used to making. His strength lay in battling and protecting his friends. What did he know about love?
Wait...love?
Was that what was going on?
It made sense, in a way. He had only ever seen any of his Pokemon acting the way Pikachu and Greninja did around Sylveon and Braixen once, and that had been when his Butterfree had found a mate. Just because Ash was a little dense didn't mean he was completely unaware when two Pokemon were in love.
He wondered if it was traveling with Brock for so many years that had made him notice things like that.
A small ray of sunlight broke through his bedroom window. Even after he had gone to bed, he still hadn't been able to fall asleep. He had spent the entire night tossing and turning, replaying Serena's words to himself in his mind.
"How am I supposed to choose?" he asked aloud.
Ash stared up at the ceiling. He never thought he would be faced with a decision like this. Should he choose to follow his dreams or put it on hold for his Pokemon? How could he do either, though? They were an important part of his dream, but they were also his friends and he wanted them to be happy. Even if it was at the cost of his own happiness. He would have given up every possession in the world just to make his friends smile. Just smile.
But Pikachu and Greninja did more than just smile when they were with Sylveon and Braixen. They seemed to glow and there was always a look of pure bliss about them, as though they didn't have a care in the world. Sylveon and Braixen looked just as happy when they were with Ash's Pokemon as well.
Knowing that, the right choice would be to allow his Pokemon to remain here in Kalos-and, therefore, remain with them as well. It would be one of the hardest things he'd ever done, and not just because he would be giving up on his journey temporarily. He would have to say goodbye to his mother too, and everything he had ever known back in Pallet Town.
But it was all worth it if it meant Pikachu and Greninja were happy.
Besides, maybe he could continue his journey with Serena or travel the Kalos region again. They could invite Clemont and Bonnie to come along too. That would be nice.
Ash knew that his mind was made up. Now he just had to figure out how to tell his mother that he wouldn't be coming back. Oh, and pick up his Pokemon from his other journeys Professor Oak's lab, of course.
His life was about to change dramatically, for better or for worse.