You've got a new episode of this before GTA 6 - can you believe that :3
The entire story so far has been added to the Archivehttps://www.genderplaybooks.co.uk/thearchive/pokemonbodyswapUse the password found in the collections to readHowever, here is Part 7 in all it's messy glory
Confusion Was Super Effective Part 7Serena throws her hand down at Ash, who slips on lose rocks as they follow Team Rocket’s balloon higher and higher up the mountain.
“Here!” she calls out as Ash grabs her hand gratefully. “Gotta be careful.”
“Thanks…” Ash looks up at his own body, pulling him straight and up onto more level ground.
He brushes down his skirt and flicks hair from his eyes. “Nearly there,” he lets out a breath. “My feet are killing me.”
“Not long now, Serena…” Serena replies, hands on her hips as she looks up at the weather station just beyond the neck ridge.
“Serena?” Ash questions, still catching his breath as he notices she called him her name.
“Yeah.” Serena replies with a smile. “You’re wearing my body so well, I felt it fitting you wear my name too.”
Ash’s cheeks flush, but he smiles back. “Okay. I’d be proud to wear your name, Serena. You can call me that and I’ll call you Ash from now on, yeah? I’m sure that won’t get confusing for the writer at all…”
Serena gives a big thumbs-up, ready to agree, when Pikachu calls out to them, pointing at something neither of them has noticed. Just a few metres away, the faint outlines of man-made infrastructure jut from the landscape, standing out like a sore thumb.
“Pika!”
“What is it, buddy?” Serena rushes to his side and looks in the direction Pikachu is pointing.
Across from them stands a concrete wall, almost completely concealed by an overgrown bush. Unlike the surrounding foliage, its branches sway unnaturally, as though caught in a steady breeze. Gusts of wind can be heard echoing from behind it, carrying the hollow sound of a vast cave hidden beyond the thick curtain of leaves.
“What is it, Ash?” Ash asks, standing at Serena’s side.
Serena steps forward toward where Pikachu is pointing. Ash calls out to warn her to be careful, but there’s no real danger. Serena then bravely parts the bush, revealing a dark tunnel that seems to run in the same direction as the weather station.
“‘A tunnel?’” Serena glances back over her shoulder at Ash and Pikachu, both of whom are visibly shivering in the cold.
Though none of them know where it leads, Serena decides they can’t afford to hesitate. Ash has been struggling with the climb for the past twenty minutes, and she knows she needs to take the lead.
“Shall we see where this leads, Serena?” she says loudly over the howling summit winds.
Ash perks up at the idea, his legs only covered by the thin material of Serena’s tights now turning a blue.
“Y-Yeah…” Ash nods once. “Good idea. I am feeling a little tired right now.”
Agreeing that it’s a good idea to get out of the cold, blustering wind at the mountain’s summit, they step into the tunnel. The walls are thick concrete, and as they move deeper inside, dim lights flicker to life, guiding them further along the passage.
Ash looks at a sign on the wall as walk. “Southern entrance.” He turns to look at Serena. “This must lead to the weather station. Why else would these lights be on. Team Rocket must be using it as a hide out.”
Serena with Pikachu on her shoulder agrees with a nod. “If they’re here, I bet that Alakazam is here too. The one that switch our bodies.”
“Let’s pick up the pace then,” Ash replies, marching forward with purpose. “We need to make sure it’s safe. That’s all I’m worried about!”
Serena catches up, Pikachu having to clutch her shoulder tight as she speeds to walk beside Ash. “Not worried about getting your body back anymore?” she asks curiously. “You might be wearing my clothes, my face and my name, but you’re still you, aren’t you, Ash?”
Ash looks back and smiles proudly. “Saving the Pokémon always comes first, Ash, you know that.” Ash then straightens his skirt and flicks back his hair. “And it’s not about me still being me. I’m just being the version of you that I can be.”
Serena’s cheeks glow rosy, red as Ash continues to talk. However, she bashfully looks away and bites her lip as Ash turns to look at her with a question on her mind.
“If we get stuck like this, do you think you’ll miss being a girl?”
Still blushing, Serena slowly turns to Ash as her face twists into one of deep thought. “I haven’t really thought about it.” She looks at Ash wearing her body now so confidently. “I think I’ll miss my clothes and doing my hair. There’s nothing like the feeling of wearing my Pokémon Performance outfits and having fun with my Pokémon.”
Ash looks away and softly smiles. “Do you think I’ll be any good at doing those performances? When I think about doing all that stuff, the dresses, the dancing… I get a little nervous, but I also get a little fired up!”
“You do?”
“Yeah…”
“Well…” Serena forms a determined fist in support. “I’ll help support you with that! You can count on me to teach you everything I know about Pokémon Performances. You’ll be top tier before you know it and every girl in Kalos will idolize you!”
Serena lowers fists, now becoming a little worried. “But…” she looks Ash in the eyes as they continue to walk down the long tunnel. “Won’t you miss trying to become Pokémon champion? Being me doesn’t mean you have to give up on that goal.”
They keep walking. Each footstep sounding louder and louder as the silence goes on, but Eventually Ash replies.
“Now I’m in your body and living as you, Serena, I don’t feel as driven towards that goal. This version of me feels motivated by different things.” Once again, Ash looks away as his cheeks burn bright. He can barely look Serena in the eyes. “S-Surely, it’s the same for you now you’ve been living as me for a bit. Y-You seem so much more of a…. leader.”
Serena quickly looks away as well, both of them blushing furiously and unable to meet each other’s eyes as they speak.
“Y-You think so?” She asks. “I’ve just been doing what feels natural and yeah, leading and stuff has felt more natural.”
“Suits you.” Ash replies very softly as he tucks hair behind on ear.
“Really?” Seren smiles wide as Pikachu pulls a grossed-out face and jumps off her shoulder to walk beside them in a bit of a huff, like he’s suddenly become a third wheel.
Ash stops and so does Serena. He looks her in the eyes and smiles. “Mhmm. I think so. I’m seeing you in a new light and I really like it…. Ash.”
Serena grins and flexes, cutting a few manly poses. “Oh yeah! Is it my boyish charms or my ruggish good looks?!”
Ash giggles, placing a hand over his mouth. “Maybe…. both. Is that wrong…?”
Pikachu rolls his eyes and sigh loudly; it echoes off the solid walls around them. “Piikaaa….” He grumbles and then sits on the floor as Ash and Serena continue
For a moment, they remain locked in each other’s gaze, neither of them feeling unsettled by the face they’re seeing reflected back. Ash is the first to look away, letting out a small giggle as he lowers his hands to his lap.
“Y’know, I wouldn’t mind if you made changes to my old appearance to make yourself more comfortable in my body.” Ash reaches up to Serena’s hair, running his fingers through the tuft peaking out under her cap.
Serena reaches up to touch her hair and accidentally brushes against Ash’s hand. They both freeze for a moment, then recoil with awkward squeaks, quickly looking away, embarrassment written all over their faces.
“S-S-Sorry…” Ash mumbles. “I-I…I”
Usually, moments like this send Serena's mind into overdrive, making her overthink every feeling she has for Ash. This time is different. Ash's words about being a leader echo through her mind, steadying her resolve. Instead of second guessing herself, she decides to take the lead.
She reaches out for Ash’s clasping them together and tight in hers. Ash lets out a little squeak as their eyes meet and they stand facing each other but inches apart.
“S-Serena….?” Ash blinks like crazy as Serena holds his hands tighter.
“Call me… Ash….” Serena replies softly before leaning in closer.
“W-What are you doing, Ash?” Ash asks with a crack in his voice as his eyes growing wider as she gets closer and closer.
“Taking the lead...”
Ash's breath catches as Serena closes the small gap between them. For the briefest moment, she hesitates, giving him every chance to pull away.
He does not. Instead, Ash's nervous expression softens. His fingers curl around hers, holding on just a little tighter, surprising even him self as he gently leans in towards her
Their lips meet in a gentle, tentative kiss.
It is soft, warm and only awkward for all of half a second.
Then it simply feels... right. Lip over lip, the two kiss for the first time.
Neither of them thinks about whose body they are in. That doesn’t matter to them right now. All that matters is how they feel about the person behind those familiar eyes.
When they finally separate, they remain only inches apart.
Ash slowly opens his eyes. "Umm…..." he mutters, tucking rouge strands of hair away from his face. “T-That was…new.”
"I’ve wanted to do that for so long..." Serena admits, proud of herself for finally showing Ash how she truly feels.
Neither of them lets go, and Serena feels her heart thud with sudden excitement. She glances at Ash, who can’t seem to stop smiling, his cheeks burning a bright red.
"D-Did that feel kinda—"
“Right?” Serena completes his thought as he hesitates.
About to reply and lean in again for another kiss, Ash is interrupted by Pikachu who’s watching the whole things play out in front of him.
“Pi…ka….” He grumbles, his tongue out in disgust as he then rolls his eyes and starts marching ahead without them.
They both watch Pikachu wander off ahead, and as their eyes meet again, they break into laughter, amused by the slightly embarrassing situation.
“Seems your partner…” Ash looks up at Serena, holding her body closer. “Isn’t impressed by us just now… Ash.”
Serena laughs, putting her arms around Ash’s shoulders as she kisses him on the forehead. They stand together, hugging as Pikachu looks back and once again pulls a face and rolls his eyes.
“PIKA!” he cries out, stamping his foot impatiently.
“Seem so.” Serena chuckles. “Seems so…”
The two finally let go and start walking again. As they catch up to Pikachu, the mood shifts and suddenly it’s awkward, the memory of their first kiss looping through both their minds. Each of them overthinks it in silence, the tension only deepening when they remember they’re still switched into each other’s bodies.
First Ash wants to talk about it but hesitates.
Then, Serena turns to look at Ash, wanting to bring it up, but suddenly finds herself to embarrassed.
Pikachu, now walking between them lets out a long sigh. “Piiikaaaaaaaaaa.” He rubs at his face, frustrated by their suddenly bashful behaviour. He jumps several times, grabbing both their hands to bring them together.
They all stop, Pikachu standing before them as their gazes slowly move down to the fact they are holding hands, thanks to Pikachu’s quick movements.
“Pika!” he gives a thumbs up to them both, then spins on the spot, leading them further into the tunnel.
Neither Ash nor Serena lets go.
They share one last shy smile before their fingers naturally intertwine, both of them squeezing the other's hand just a little tighter. Pikachu nods with satisfied approval and hops forward, his ears perking up as he leads the way.
Then, as soft happy smiles return, a deafening blast tears through the tunnel.
The concrete walls tremble, dust rains from the ceiling, and a powerful shockwave rushes past them.
Their goal quickly comes back into focus.
"That came from the weather station!" Ash exclaims.
The two exchange one final look before breaking into a run, Pikachu racing ahead beside them. Whatever Team Rocket is planning, they are more determined than ever to stop them.