A/N Hi.. I wrote this for my own amusement.. I'm not a professional writer at all. One day I was bursting with pent up creativity, I like pokemon and the plot just came to me. Do let me know if you like it in comments section :)

As for characters, I have tried to be as true to the anime as possible. The only change is that Serena is a little stronger. I didn't like that anime made her look kind of helpless. My Serena is strong enough to be of help for Ash in face of trouble.

Also, although I have explored her feelings for Ash a little, it is not a love story. Another change is that she has a female Kirlia instead of Pancham.

Disclaimer: I do not own pokemon or any of the cool stuff about them.

Spoiler alert for dub viewers: I have a personal preference for Japanese version of the anime, which is always few episodes ahead of dubbed version. My story may contain details from episodes that haven't been dubbed yet.

Ready here we go! In this chapter, we meet Ash training for Kalos league with Clemont and Serena. There's a cute Ash vs Serena battle in between. On the other hand, Team Flare has internal discords..

After a chilling rematch in snowbelle gym, Ash just got himself the icerberg badge. The blond siblings, Clemont and Bonnie articulated their excitement at the win but a certain blue eyed girl was standing still, looking steadily at Ash as she breathed heavily. Welcome back... welcome back Ash Serena thought, her smile bright due to Ash's victory against snowbelle gym leader wulfric and his mega abomasnow. Pikachu, talonflame and greninja had done it.

"Congratulations Ash!"

"The Ash greninja form was truly something to see!"

"Don't forget pikachu and talonflame guys!.." Exclaimed Bonnie supported by Dedene. Squishy was hiding in her bag since they were not alone.

As Serena and Clemont celebrated, they all tried to forget the awkward time when Ash walked away from them, upset after his crushing defeat at the gym when he challenged Wulfric for the first time. Ash was thinking along the same lines.

"Listen um Serena, thank you.. for that day, you know when I..." Ash wasn't a emotional person. He didn't know how to express them.

"Oh.." Serena blushed deep pink under Ash's gaze. It was no secret that she had a crush on him. She made an effort to check her fluttering heartbeat and put on a normal smile.

"Congratulations Ash"

Meanwhile at Team Flare HQ

"The core is responding to something unknown. It's producing energy." Said a tomboyish scientist with green shoulder length hair. This was Bryony.

"It's quite a sight but again I always knew what Zygarde core is worth", said orange haired Aliana snidely. Rivalry between the two young scientists was apparent.

"Oh ho ho.. Just wait my dears.. We have only just begun to see the potential of this tiny thing. It has the power to sweep over the entire planet to create the beautiful world we all desire" said Xerosic who was older, almost in his middle age, with red spiked hair, plump body and oily voice, he was clearly the team leader.

The holo caster flashed near Xerosic. He pushed a button.

"Z1 has escaped again through our clutches.. But it was all Celosia's fault. She let a bunch of kids get away with it" reported Mabel, blue haired team flare scientist through gritted teeth.

"You were the one who lost to the girl of that group. I was battling those two annoying boys all by myself.!" Purple haired Celosia defended.

"Don't fight. Don't fight my dears. Recover z1 this time. Celosia, Mabel, call the hq if you require assistance." Xerosic said in his usual oily voice.

"Oh yeah. Call me if you can't handle this. I can recover z1 in a minute you know" it was Aliana's turn to gloat at rival's failure.

"I don't need any help from YOU. I can recover z1 by myself!"

Xerosic ended the call before the rivalry could get ugly. He turned to the captured Zygarde core.

"See my friend. The core is emitting energy far beyond than what we predicted. We have a duty to put it to 'good' use" he snickered.

Pokemon center

After fending off attack on squishy the day before, our heroes were enjoying breakfast at a pokemon center.

"Man oh man! Why can't Kalos league begin sooner?.. Pikachu and I are so fired up, we can't wait that long"

"Pika-chu"

"Now now Ash" the former gym leader tried to talk sense into Ash.

"Not everyone is as quick as you or Sawyer to collect all badges and weren't you going to use this time to train?"

It worked.

"Right. training.. We'll use this time to pump up our attacks pikachu"

"pika pika-chu" the little rodent's tone matched his trainer's excitement.

"But where can we do it?"

"There's mt. Aquamist behind the pokemon center. How about that?"

"Sounds good to me alright. Ready Pikachu?"

"Pi ka"

"Serena why are you smiling?" Little Bonnie was more perceptive than the two boys.

"Um oh nothing at all..." Serena shook both her hands in front of her to assert her point" "um I was thinking it's been a while since I trained with my pokemon too"

She blushed.

Why'd she blush at that, wondered Ash. But it was not in his nature to think too much.

"Then you can train with me and Clemont, right Clemont?"

"Of course, a battle is all you need to feel better Serena."

Bonnie thought both Clemont and Ash were soo dense but she followed them to field at the foot of the mountain.

Ash vs Serena

"Braixen flamethrower"

"Noivern supersonic"

The two moves collided but Braixon ended up confused as a result of supersonic.

"Snap out of it Braixen, use sunny day then flamethrower"

Sun shined brighter above them, in the next second a massive fire erupted from Braixen's wand aimed at Noivern but the dragon pokemon was quick to dodge.

"Boomburst"

Noivern's ears flashed silver, releasing damaging sound waves. Braixen couldn't take it..

Braixen is unable to continue. Noivern is the winner. Clemont declared. "Good job though Serena. Now it's you and me Ash"

Someone was attracted by the flame and the noises on mt. Aquamist.

"Finally, we've located z1" blue haired Mabel's high pitched voice squeaked in microphone.

"Proceeding with z1 recovery" said her purple haired colleague Celosia.

"Hold it Mabel, Celosia. Standby until tomorrow afternoon. A very special person can join you then" Xerosic commanded.

"We can handle the kids."

"It's Lysandre's orders"

Mable was too smart to argue.

"Roger"

Back at the center again

"Wow that was some rigorous training, I'm hungry. What about you buddy?"

"Pikachu" pikachu agreed. They were back in pokemon center, all tired. Clemont and Ash had full battle where Ash very narrowly beat Clemont. Serena and Braixon attempted to learn a new move called mystical fire. Sylveon learned dig and was working on protect. She was failing to keep the barrier up under physical attacks. After the master class was over, Kalos queen Aria had told the runner up contestant Serena to make her pokemon strong as well as pretty. Therefore Serena was doing what she never did before, battling and making her three pokemon stronger. It was already Paying off. Flames shot from Braixen's wand burned bright and sparkly. Sylveon was showing great confidence in herself. Her newest addition, ralts whom she captured using Sylveon, had evolved into Kirlia. Serena herself was getting even better at coming up with creative combinations. She was sure she and her pokemon could be of help in battles as well as in trouble with team rocket.

They all were happy with their efforts and satisfied with their pokemon's.

After they got their pokemon back from nurse Joy, decided to call it early night.

Little did they know what plans Celosia and Mabel were making for them that night.