The Road to our Destiny

Chapter 40

Serena groans softly and opens her eyes to see the sun shining through the hotel room window. She sits up to yawn and stretch before turning to Absol who is sleeping next to her and shakes it gently.

"Wake up, Absol. It's morning," she says softly.

The disaster Pokemon slowly wakes up and lets out a cute yawn before smiling at Serena and giving her brief lick in the face. Serena giggles quietly and pets her young Pokemon.

"Did you sleep well?" She asks.

"Absol," Absol says, nodding.

"I'm glad," Serena says happily. "Now, let's start the day. We have my fifth and final ribbon to win today."

"Absol," Absol says excitedly.

"Don't you mean my final ribbon?"

Serena and Absol turn their heads to see Dawn and Piplup slowly waking up in their own bed. The blunette girl gives the honey blonde girl a tired but competitive look that Serena returns.

"We'll see who wins their final ribbon first," she says.

Dawn nods and says, "We sure will."

"Will you two keep it down?"

The two girls and their Pokemon turn their heads to see May and Holly getting up with groggy looks.

"Some of us don't have a contest to compete in today," Holly whines.

"Same here," May groans.

Serena and Dawn chuckle quietly, and the former says, "Sorry," before the two of them quietly get dressed and exit the hotel room with Absol and Piplup following. They walk to the hotel's cafeteria on the bottom floor in silence until Serena decides to speak.

"You know, speaking of the contest, what will you do if you win?" She asks.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Dawn asks.

"I mean, will you stay with the group until it's time to head to the Indigo Plateau?" Serena clarifies.

Dawn stares at Serena as they walk for a moment before she looks away.

"That's a good question," she says. "I do like to travel alone sometimes so that I can practice without people knowing what tricks I have up my sleeve, but at the same time I really enjoy traveling with you, Ash, Pikachu, Holly, May, Max, and Brock."

Serena smiles and says, "Same here. It's been fun traveling with you."

Dawn nods and thinks for a moment.

"Tell you what," she says. "If I win, I'll travel with you guys until you get your last ribbon. But if you win, you guys have to take me to the nearest contest for mine."

"Okay, it's a deal," Serena says before taking out her tablet and searching for upcoming contest. "The nearest contest that's happening soon is one in Cremini Town near the border between the Kanto and Johto regions. It looks like there's a ferry that will be heading there tomorrow, so we can just stay here for one more night and then sail to Cremini Town. Sound good?"

"Perfect," Dawn says, smirking. "We'll tell the others on the way to the contest."

"Sounds good," Serena says.

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Before long, Ash, Pikachu, Brock, Holly, May, and Max go downstairs to have breakfast in the cafeteria with Serena and Dawn. Once everyone finishes their meals, the group decides to head over to the contest hall as Serena and Dawn decide to bring up their plan as they walk.