The sun glowed strongly in that hot morning of Sunday in the Kalos region.
Ash was walking impatiently, moving back and forward again and again,waiting. While in the other hand Clemont was reading a magazine in a couch nearby.
''Grrr…'' Ash growled slightly due the frustration. ''C'mon, how much does she need to get ready?!''
''Don't tire yourself complaining about it Ash, but it's true that they've been there…'' Clemont paused to watch his clock. ''Exactly 30 minutes''
''Man, I know she wants to look good but not even Dawn used to take this long…'' Ash kept complaining.
Clemont raised an eyebrow. ''Who's Dawn?''
Ash looked to him and scratched the back of his head. ''Sorry, I forgot you don't know any of my other friends''. Then he decided to tell him about Dawn. ''Well, where to begin…? She was a girl, like me in height, blue eyes and hair, her partner was a Piplup and she used to wear a cheerleader uniform when I had a gym battle''
Clemont blushed a bit at the thought of a girl doing that for Ash. ''Are you joking?''
''Nope'' Ash smiled, not fully understanding the reaction of his friend. ''And I have to admit she looked good on that''
''WHO LOOK GOOD ON WHAT?!'' The voice of a very disgusted girl shouted.
Both guys turned their heads almost immediately to encounter a rather pleasant surprise. It was Serena of course, dressed with a beautiful and very classy blue and black dress, lady-like white heels and a tiara in her hair.
''Hey guuuuuys!'' Bonnie hopped from the room with Fennekin, Pancham and Dedenne. ''Serena looks like a beauty queen, right?!'' She asked with a big smile.
''Who's that girl who looks good Ash?!'' Serena asked with anger.
Ash and Clemont were speechless for a moment. Their eyes totally lost.
Serena blushed and flinched back. ''S-stop staring like that!'' She commanded with her face red.
''I knew it!'' Bonnie smirked satisfied. ''Now you owe me an ice-cream Serena!''
Serena sighed. ''I guess you win Bonnie'' She smiled.
The guys snapped out of it some seconds later.
''W-w-wow?!'' Clemont stammers.
''Serena, you look amazing…'' Ash whispered loud.
''Huh...?! S-stop it…'' Serena whispered coyly, hiding her face with her hair.
Bonnie just stood there giggling, Dedenne on her head while Pikachu went to see the other Pokemon.
''Yo!'' Pikachu greeted. ''How come that you guys aren't ready yet?''
''Well, we don't need as much work on our looks as Serena need so we don't need to be ready so early'' Fennekin explained at him.
''Yeah, that and I don't really feel like being in a cute, really little suit if it's not necessary'' Pancham grinned.
Fennekin rolled her eyes. ''You need to look good to success on this world''
Pancham huffed her comment sarcastically. ''Say the 'oh-my-gawsh' old pro in this who knows what exactly to do…''
''Just what are you insinuating?! That I don't have what it takes to shine or something?!'' Fennekin growled, offended.
''H-hey calm down!'' Pikachu caught the two brawler's attention. ''I mean, are you really going to start fighting for this? Pancham, is alright if you want to be comfortable as much as you can. Enjoying the little things like that is one of the life's greatest pleasures.
''Yeah Pikachu! You're the only one who seem to understand it!'' Pancham put a paw on Pikachu's shoulder like friends do.
''Hey, why are you always in his side?!'' Fennekin protested, offended.
''What?! But I'm always in your side Fennekin!'' Pikachu countered.
''And that's why it hit me so hard that you're not this time…'' Fennekin lowered her ears. ''I thought w-we were friends…''
Pikachu gulped, thinking that he made her resent. ''F-fennekin…?''
Pancham fidgets for a moment. ''Man, this is bad…'' He said to himself.
Some tension filled the air in some awkward seconds of silence…
''Kiiiiiiding!'' Fennekin winked playfully at him. ''I swear, you're so easy to trick''
Pikachu exhaled with a paw on his chest, then looked at her unamused. ''Just what exactly is wrong with you!? You made my heart sink for a moment!''
Fennekin giggled with excitement. ''So you're saying that I make your heart to move around huh…?''
Pikachu noticed the cattiness behind her words and blushed like mad. ''H-hey! D-don't put words on my mouth alright!?'' He crossed his arms and looked away.
Fennekin couldn't help but break in laugh because of how cute Pikachu looked being so flustered.
Pikachu growled, his face turning crimson of embarrassment. ''It's not funny!''
Fennekin washed a tear from her eye before looking at Pancham, whom was with a poker face.
''So…'' He started. ''You were faking…. Right…?''
Both the mouse and the little fox made a bewildered face before paw-palming at his friend's innocence. Pancham could be really naïve sometimes.
''You're really that slow...?'' Fennekin said plainly.
Sometime later the registration closed and the show was about to begin. The preliminary round went fantastic for Serena who scored 9-10 and earning the 2nd place.
Of course, she was still intimidated that the 1st place was in possession of the so-called ''Queen of Kalos'', idol of the masses.
Aria
Yup, she was in this competition and she was in a roll. Not that is some kind of surprise coming from her. Since she and her Braixen are naturals in this business.
Serena was brushing her hair, trying to keep calm and failing miserably.
''Oh man, Aria was just too good back there, what I'm gonna do?!'' Serena was almost hurting herself for brushing her hair so brusquely.
Fennekin looked at her trainer with sympathy, then jumped onto her waist and licked her hand.
Serena noticed what Fennekin was trying to say and put the brush away. ''Oh Fennekin, thanks for comprehend me'' She hugged her Pokemon. But, something was missing…
Serena gasped. ''Fennekin! Don't tell me I forgot to dress you?!''
Fennekin remembered that she wasn't ready yet, and started getting worried as well.
''Oh no! We're next and you're not ready! Man, not even I'm ready yet!'' Serena called for Bonnie, whom was in the seats with Clemont and Ash.
Bonnie arrived in record time. ''Did you need me for something Serena?''
''Bonnie, thanks goodness. I need you to help me with Fennekin so I can get ready myself. I'm really nervous by this'' Serena handed the Pokemon dressing kit to Bonnie and kept brushing her hair.
''Just like this afternoon?''
''Yes, please''
''Ok, leave it to me!'' Bonnie said energetically as started to help Serena with Fennekin.
''Alright everyone! There goes Amber and Blissey with a trace of glory!'' The announcer shouted. ''Next, we have the performance of Miss Serena and Fennekin!''
The public roared with excitement.
''I wonder if they're ready yet…'' Ash's voice was covered with concern.
''Don't worry about them, Serena may not have that much experience but if they put her in the 2nd place on her second contest she should know what she's doing don't you think?'' Clemont's words were reassuring.
Ash smiled. ''Yeah… Yeah! You're right Clemont! Thanks.''
Pikachu didn't stayed calm though. He managed to catch a glimpse of Fennekin's nervousness before they parted ways in the hall. He sighed before rushing as fast as he could to the garden outside.
''There! All done'' Bonnie said as she looked at Fennekin.
''Bonnie, this is amazing! Thank you so much!'' Serena said with glee; Fennekin looked so cute that the judges were most likely give them a 10-10. ''That's it, I hereby declare you my official assistant for the contests, how's that sound?''
''Yay!'' Bonnie jumped with a big smile on her face.
Fennekin felt like calming her down before the show so she exit the room. Bad thing she bumped with something soft and fell almost as she exited the room.
''Hey, watch it!'' She said with disgust.
''S-sorry…'' The familiar voice of a male echoed thought the beautiful bouquet of flowers that covers his face.
''Huh? Pikachu, is that you?'' Fennekin asked.
''Yup'' He said with the flowers still covering his face.
''Why are you with a bouquet of flowers?'' Fennekin was rather confused.
''Oh, this is for you of course'' Pikachu sounded cheerful.
Fennekin's muzzle turned pink. ''E-excuse me?''
Pikachu handed the bouquet to Fennekin before proceed. ''You see, I noticed that Serena was not the only one nervous about this so I thought this would help you to know that we're all with you''
''Well, I was a little shaken by the fact of getting to step in front of so many people, yes. But now I'm shaken by other thing…'' She smiled shyly, thought he could not see her.
Pikachu scratched the back of his head. ''Heh, glad you liked it. But, could you leave it aside for a moment?''
''Huh? Why's that?'' Fennekin asked.
''Well, because when I was carrying it you could not see me due its size, and that's happening now to me. I'm looking forward to see you dressed if you don't mind''
''Oh. Umm…ok…'' Fennekin put the flowers on the ground and looked at Pikachu.
The yellow mouse was exited to see how good Fennekin could look if she really wanted to shine. Immediately after the flowers were put aside Pikachu's eyes were wide open.
Fennekin was wearing a silver, heart motif choker, her left ear was adorned with a barrette of the same color. She was wearing a beautiful pokemon dress, which has colour that matched Serena's
Fennekin started to feel uncomfortable because of Pikachu's silent stare. ''D-do I… look cute…?'' She asked with embarrassment.
Pikachu was forced to muster all of his courage to speak. ''W-well… 'cute' is not the…umm…word I would use to describe it…''
''Huh?!'' Fennekin gasped. ''I see...So, what would be the word…?'' She said kinda discouraged.
''Mmm, does ´´breath-taking beautiful´´ counts as an only word?''
Fennekin was taken completely off-guard by that. She really wasn't expecting a ''pretty'', let alone what Pikachu said.
''What…?'' She whispered really low, her eyes wide open.
Pikachu sweat cold, thinking that he said something he shouldn't. ''Hey, Fenn…''
''WHAAAAAAAAAAAAT?!'' Fennekin screamed, astonished. ''W-what you…? What do mean by that…?'' Fennekin's face was burning red, she was looking everywhere but to Pikachu's direction, her paw on her cheek as signal of embarrassment.
''Umm… I said I think you're beautiful….. And I meant just that. I mean, I don't see another way to take something like what I've just said'' Pikachu shrugged.
Fennekin couldn't believe her ears. Pikachu really said something that?
''I…uhh...um…'' Fennekin tried to force the words out.
Just when Pikachu opened his mouth to speak again Serena and Bonnie emerged from the room. They looked at the two Pokemon and then at the bouquet.
''Wow, they're so pretty!'' Bonnie said as she took the flowers.
Serena then turned to the pair. ''There you are!'' She said to her Pokemon. ''Fennekin, you can chat with Pikachu later, now we have to go to that scenario and win this competition!'' Said a fired-up Serena.
''Go for the gold you two!'' Bonnie cheered.
''Of course!'' Serena responded as she rushed at the stage. Bonnie following her, parting ways with her to meet the boys in the seats.
''Well, I guess we can finish this conversation later Fennekin. Best luck for both of you'' Pikachu smiled sincerely.
''Y-yeah…'' Fennekin said as she looked at the scenario.
''Ok then, I'm off.'' Pikachu turned to leave. ''Remember that we'll be rooting for you''
Fennekin took note of Pikachu's kind words and nodded to herself. ''I know. Bye Pikachu, and thanks'' Fennekin was on her way to the stage too.
''Hey!'' Pikachu returned to her once more. ''One last thing''
Fennekin turned too. ''Huh?''
''Tonight, when you carry the gold on your neck, we're having a nice dinner. How's that sound?'' Pikachu proposed.
Fennekin looked hesitant for a minute. ''Sorry Pikachu, but I'm not so sure that I can win over Aria's Braixen'' She said.
''Well, I do'' He smiled relaxed, being confidence about his friend getting the first place.
Pikachu's words were reassuring for Fennekin, who looked at him smiling too. ''Thanks Pikachu…''
Pikachu then turned back. ''I shouldn't keep you any longer. Go there and show 'em what you can do''
Fennekin nodded. But before leaving she needed to thank Pikachu properly for all the support he gave her right?
''Thanks…'' Fennekin planted a peck on Pikachu's cheek while he faced the opposite side before fleeing from the hall to the stage.
Pikachu lost his cool and balance. ''Wai...eh…wha?!''
Fennekin was giggling as she rushed to Serena's side to begin the show. While she did she was repeating Pikachu's words on her mind over and over again.
Pikachu watched her leave and felt a warm sensation on his face. He was blushing.
''So…Was that a yes?''