Chapter Two: Blinded By Nostalgia
When he heard Bad Luck's songs being played at the pokemon centre, he couldn't understand what all the fuss was about. Shuichi was a good singer, but his vocals were bland like a burger without cheese. For the fans to say that Shuichi was the best singer in the world must have been joking. The production of his songs were very good, but Ash still felt the vocals were bland. It was ridiculous, Ash thought: so much fuss over an average singer.
"I've heard better, Pikachu," Ash said. He didn't care if he was going to get punched by an avid fan-girl. "There's no way Shuichi is the best singer in the world." He crossed his arms as he waited for the concert to begin. "I can't believe people are so mean to Serena when they don't even know her."
"Hey Ash!" A teenage girl was waving at him. At first he had no idea who the girl is, but he didn't want to sound like an idiot. It wasn't until she saw a red florges twirling behind her, did a image of a young girl with a flabébé come into his head. Then it all came back to him. She looked so different and grown up, but at the same time, he couldn't believe that he was unable to recognise his own friend instantly.
"Hi Bonnie!" He was amazed at how fast eight years had gone. The last time he saw Bonnie, she was tiny. She still had that blonde pigtail by the side of her face. "It's been so long since I last seen you. Is Clemont with you?"
Bonnie shook her head. "He's just been promoted as an Elite Four member," Bonnie explained. "My brother couldn't make it, so he sent me here instead to support Serena."
"That's great," Ash exclaimed. He held his fist at the level of his eye and declared, "Serena is going to need all the support she can get. These haters are being pathetic."
Bonnie giggled. "Haters gonna hate. I know that Serena is going to blow them away with her amazing voice."
Ash felt the pit of his stomach churn. He was scared for Serena and even through she was strong, he could only imagine how horrible she must had been feeling when the media are trying to portray her as the most hated singer in the universe. It was times like that when Ash was reminded why he chose to be a pokemon trainer and not be moulded into society's expectations.
Ash had been training on his own for a while and decided to train in some of the harshest environments in the world. For a while he called the sheer cold peak of Mt. Silver his home until a trainer from New Bark Town swept his team with a hoppip. After the defeat, Ash realised it was time for him to take a break and return home. Looking at the pink poster with Serena in a frilly dress made him realize how much the world had changed since he stayed at Mt. Silver.
He had never seen so much chaos over a music band since the British boy-band, One Direction announced their split. Ash was never keen on them either, but could remember Dawn dragging him to one of their concerts in Sinnoh.
"Have you ever been to any other concerts before?" Bonnie asked.
Before Ash responded, he looked around the hall. There was only a handful of people in the large standing area of the hall whilst the front row of the balcony was filled with miserable people in sunglasses. He shook his head and faced Bonnie again. "Uhm... I've been dragged to a couple of concerts. But this is the first time I've come to one on my own free will."
"I'm really excited," Bonnie exclaimed, bouncing on the spot. "Serena is going to be amazing."
The opening act for Bad Luck was a band composing of dragon-type pokemon. The lead singer was a golden altaria whose sweet vocals warmed up the crowd, especially the other pokemon up nicely. There was a large dragonite on the altaria's left on bass guitar and on the right, was a flygon on lead guitar. A mega-salamence threw himself on the drums creating an eerie sound that went well with the metal music. A goodra on the keyboard created a calming atmosphere.
Ash couldn't see as well as he had hoped to as everyone out in the front had their arms out trying to take a picture on their cell phones. The music itself was very good, and Ash liked the idea of an all-pokemon-band and hope more come out in the future. Even though they were only on for an hour, it felt as if they were on for only thirty minutes.
As soon as Serena came on the stage. The crowed at the front booed at her whilst the people at the balcony remained silent and like statues showed no signs of movement. Serena stood back and waved to the crowd. She pulled an over the top smile, but the crowd only hissed louder. Serena tried to open her mouth, but the words wouldn't come out. Her lips trembled as the cries from the crowd became more clearer.
"Ugly!"
"Serena sucks!"
"Bring Shuichi back!"
"I can't take this any-more!" Ash stomped his foot and held his fist in the air. "Pikachu! Thunderbolt the lot of them!" He didn't want to do it, but it was the only way to get their attention. With immense pleasure, Pikachu jumped from the sky and unleashed a powerful wave of electricity at the haters. It wasn't for very long, but was strong enough to make the people go on the floor. There were waves of smoke that all lead to Ash.
"Who do you think you are?" A girl at the front roared.
"Ash?" Serena whispered in amazement.
"You guys are a disgrace," Ash declared. "Serena hasn't even started singing and you're hating on her before you even get to know her."
"We know she's gonna suck!" Another guy cried out from the balcony.
"If you think that Bad Luck can't survive without Shuichi then why did you buy tickets to see them?" Ash asked. "If you bought them just to hate on Serena, then you are the ones that suck. There are people who struggle with money all the time and you guys who use it to express your hate disgust me. Now shut up because I want to hear Serena sing!"
It was soon silent.
"Thank you," Serena said. She bowed her head as her lips leaned towards the microphone. She held it in her hand and gulped. It was her moment to shine. She had been nervous, but seeing Ash stand up for her the way he did made her want to sing. The show must go on. "Let's have some SPICY MARMALADE!" Serena shouted with her hands on her hips. The energetic guitars kicked in as Serena swayed her hips. She couldn't hear her haters from the sounds of the bombastic riffs.
"You have no right to sing that song!" a girl in front of Ash cried out.
Ash recognised the song Serena and the band were performing as Spicy Marmalade. It was one of the band's first hits. Ash really enjoyed how they made a retro pop song into an epic rock anthem. He didn't just like Serena's voice, he loved it. Bad Luck had no original members left, but that didn't bother Ash, he was enjoying the way that Serena breathed new life into the old music.
He didn't care what the haters were going to say, he was declaring himself Serena's biggest fan.
"Serena is amazing," Bonnie shouted to Ash. "It's a shame about the haters."
"Don't worry," Ash assured Bonnie. "They're just blinded by nostalgia."
