Note: I haven't watched the anime episodes with Serena. This fic is based on the X/Y games and I've made Serena's character my own. In addition, while the fic does follow the plot of the games I've also added in a lot of my own twists and turns, and extra events will happen alongside the events of the games.

PS. I've recently updated the Prologue, and I'm in the process of editing the rest of the chapters. The plot won't change, though if you've read the old chapters then you may notice a slight change in Serena's character.

Enjoy.


Prologue

"It's no use – there's just too many of them," I whispered into the mouthpiece of my Holo Caster. "Should I pull out, or…?"

In front of me was a projection of my mentor, Professor Sycamore. An expression of worry was etched onto his pale features.

"What is your exact situation?" He was hesitant to completely abandon the mission but I knew he didn't want to place me in danger.

I looked up. I was hiding behind a rock at the entrance to Glittering Cave. Several men and women were coming and going, always in pairs. They wore bright red outfits and they all had bright red hair with matching red sunglasses. The women's hair was styled with two pigtails whereas the men all had one pigtail off to the side.

"I'm not sure what's going on. They keep entering and leaving the cave, but I have no idea why."

Sycamore's brow creased in thought. "And you can't see a way of getting inside unseen? No way at all?" he checked.

I narrowed my eyes. If I'd had time I would have stolen a uniform and dyed my hair. If I'd had resources I would have bribed one of their more uncertain-looking members. If I'd had a weapon, I would have gotten one alone and threatened them.

I had nothing. The Professor called me out on short notice after a repost of suspicious activity around Glittering Cave. I was completely unprepared.

"There's no way that I can see that doesn't take time or resources I don't have. Team Flare look to be too well organised."

"Team Flare?" Although he was only a projection I could see the professor's gaze sharpen.

I nodded. "That's what I heard one say they were called: Team Flare."

"Interesting," the professor murmured.

Overhead, thunder rumbled in the sky. I flinched involuntarily.

"Professor?" I urged after a moment of silence. "What do you want me to do?"

Sycamore blinked, refocussing. "If you had some pokémon with you I would tell you to go ahead and sneak inside because if you ran into trouble you wouldn't be defenceless, but seeing as you don't then there's nothing to be done. You'll have to abort the mission."

Abort the mission? I had never had to abort a mission before.

"I'm not defenceless," I argued. "I've been training in martial arts since you recruited me at ten years old. You know I can handle a few grunts."

Professor Sycamore shook his head. "Those Team Flare people, I am fairly sure they have pokémon with them." He guessed correctly - I could see the pokéballs on their belts as they passed in front of my rock. I nodded in reluctant affirmation. "Against people you are very skilled, I agree, but against pokémon? I'm sorry Serena, but there's no way you can defend yourself against pokémon attacks."

Unwillingly, I had to agree. "Maybe they wouldn't see me," I suggested.

"That's a very big maybe," the professor pointed out. "Serena, I don't want you to get hurt. Anyway, your mother might start to worry soon. You should teleport back to her before she realises you're missing."

I looked at my watch. "She'll be in the middle of a race right now," I said, but I found the teleport app on my pokétch and began tapping in the coordinates I would need to send myself back home. The app had been developed by a man called Professor Rowan who lived in the Sinnoh region. It used the same kind of power the pokémon Abra uses to teleport itself. Apparently he had only made a few for certain people. I felt honoured to be one of them.

"Good girl," Professor Sycamore nodded. "Ah, it looks like Professor Rowan is calling me. I had better answer him. I'll talk to you soon."

"Sure. Bye." I ended the Holo Cast. Then I took one last look at the Team Flare members standing outside the cave before, pressing the button on my pokétch to teleport myself home.


Author's Note: That's it for now. Please review so I know how I'm doing, and how to improve. I welcome constructive criticism.

Thank you for reading!

~ Jay