*Blows Noisemaker*
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, POKEMON! WELL DONE, MASUDA! #TRAINON
Serena walked on beside Ash, continually blushing at what had happened the previous night. Ash and Serena had shared a kiss, just after the dance at Terminus Cave. To make things even better, she stole Ash back from Miette's charm! However, she swore vengeance on the two just before they left to continue on to Snowbelle City. Currently, she was as happy as, well, a Happiny! Suddenly, she started to run ahead.
"What's the rush, Serena?" Ash questioned, trying to keep up.
"I just feel like running! Plus, it's good exercise!"
Ash smiled and ran to keep up with his blond-haired friend.
"Wait, you two! Don't just go running like that!"
"Well, maybe if you had lowered the weight of that backpack, you wouldn't have a problem! When we get back, I'm asking Daddy if we can get a Hitmontrainer for you."
Trailing behind Serena and Ash were the Lumiose City gym leader, Clemont, and his sister, Bonnie. They had joined Ash on his travels shortly after his journey started. Finally running out of breath, Serena slowed down.
"You sure run fast, considering the fact that you're wearing boots."
Serena blushed at Ash's compliment, and Ash blushed back. Meanwhile, Bonnie and Clemont caught up.
"Anyone hungry?"
"Come to think of it, I am a little hungry..." Ash answered.
"Me too!" Bonnie chimed in.
"Let's take a break!" Serena announced.
Clemont smiled, and he put down his backpack and prepared to cook. Bonnie began to play with Dedenne, and Ash began to talk to Serena.
"Hey, Serena! Why don't we have a Pokemon battle?"
"Huh? You know I'm not that good at battling..."
"Come on! Just give it a shot!"
"I don't know."
"Come on, Serena," Bonnie said, "I've never seen the two of you battle! Just this once? Please?" Bonnie puffed out her lips.
"Well, okay..."
"Great!"
The two trainers spread out.
"NOIBAT, I CHOOSE YOU!"
Serena smiled.
"Flying-Dragon...In that case, Sylveon! I choose you!"
Noibat fluttered in the air, while Sylveon stared at her opponent with determination in her eyes.
"NOIBAT, AIR SLASH!"
"COUNTER WITH FAIRY WIND!"
The two moves collided, resulting in a cloud of smoke.
"Now, use Dazzling Gleam!"
A bright light headed toward Noibat, who was awaiting Ash's command.
"DODGE!"
Noibat then flew into the air, avoiding the shining light.
"SUPERSONIC, NOIBAT!"
Noibat let loose an ear-piercing cry.
"SYLVEON, STAY STRONG! USE YOUR RIBBONS TO COVER NOIBAT'S MOUTH!"
Sylveon used two of her ribbons to reach Noibat in the air, and covered his mouth.
"Now, slam him down!"
Noibat was slammed into the ground as the ribbons returned to Sylveon.
"Good job, Serena! I never thought Sylveon could do something like that!"
"I learned from the best!"
"Then, I guess the real battle begins! NOIBAT, SUPERSONIC AGAIN!"
"SYLVEON, USE YOUR RIBBONS AGAIN!"
The ribbons headed toward Noibat.
"Not again! Noibat, circle around Sylveon, and use Supersonic!"
Noibat dodged the ribbons and produced a swirling Supersonic.
"Now, use Razor Wind!"
"USE FAIRY WIND!"
Both attacks landed a direct hit. However, both contestants were still standing.
"It's a close match, Serena!"
"Yeah!"
"LET'S FINISH THIS! CHARGE AND USE STEEL WING!"
"USE DAZZLING GLEAM!"
Noibat charged with a Steel Wing straight at the dazzling gleam.
"Keep going, Noibat..."
"GO, SYLVEON!"
"DODGE, NOIBAT!"
Right before Noibat would be hit with the Dazzling Gleam, he dodged and landed a super effective Steel Wing. Sylveon fainted.
"Well done, Noibat!"
"Take a good rest, Sylveon. You did a great job."
Serena walked to the victors.
"That was a good battle, Ash! How were you able to dodge the Dazzling Gleam at the last second like that?"
"I did that in a similar situation."
While they were talking, a boy was watching their entire battle from the trees. He was wearing sunglasses, had red spiky hair, and wore a blue shirt with jeans. Bonnie noticed this visitor.
"Who are you?"
He ignored Bonnie, and approached Ash, slowly clapping.
"Not bad! Not bad, Ashy-boy!"
The second he heard what the boy had called him, Ash suddenly had a glare on his face. He turned around to see Gary Oak, his first rival, with a smug grin on his face.
"But you're gonna have to do better than that if you have hopes to make it to the Kalos League!"
"What are you doing here?"
"Same as you! I'm trying to become the champio-" He caught sight of Serena, and immediately swooned.
"Won't you introduce me to your gorgeous friend here?"
"I'm Serena..." she said with a slightly annoyed tone.
"Are you two dating or something? Because if not-"
"YES, YES WE ARE!" Ash quickly confirmed before pulling Serena into a kiss.
"Ok, ok, break it up, jeez..."
Ash broke off the kiss, and continued to talk to Gary.
"How far have you gotten, Gary?"
"Farther than you, that's for sure!"
He held up his badge case to reveal he already had recieved the Snowbelle City badge.
"What about you?"
"I'm on my way to Snowbelle City-"
"HA! EVEN WHEN I'M NOT HERE I'M STILL AHEAD OF YOU! WHAT AN AMATEUR! JUST LIKE WHEN WE WERE KIDS!"
"When you were kids?" Serena asked.
"You see, sweetness," Gary explained, "This doofus was my first rival. I was always one step ahead, or one Pokemon stronger than him. In fact, let me tell you something! You know why he's stuck with that puny Pikachu? He slept in and missed Starter Day at my Gramps' lab!"
Serena chuckled.
"That is kind of funny...however, this Pikachu is the strongest I've ever seen!"
"Hm...wanna test that theory?"
Serena looked at Ash. Ash looked at Pikachu, who was fired up for a battle against an old rival.
"Pikachu looks like he's in. Let's do it!"
"Fine! One-on-one! Winner takes all!"
"DEAL!"
To be continued...