Two brilliant blue eyes moved back and forth in unison, carefully studying the pair of hats laid before them on the table. Their owner was humming indecisively, wondering which would be the most fitting with her outfit; not that her current attire was anything special. A simple red skirt and flowing light-pink top, reminiscent of older days, wasn't particularly hard to accent, in her opinion, but she found the choice difficult regardless.
A smile soon formed on her pursed lips, lightly laughing at herself for being so finicky in her fashion.
There's always option 3, Serena thought.
Taking both hats in hand, the honey-blonde briskly tossed them back onto her dresser, performing a quick half-spin to face the mirror. She nodded to herself with a delighted grin, content.
"Perfect," the girl said instinctually.
Serena briefly messed with her hair, currently hanging at a compromised length between her long and short styles. She found it the most comfortable, and most professional when it came to her work. Amidst realigning a few strands, she came across a certain blue ribbon tied into the side. Her smile mellowed into a thoughtful line, humming gently in the background. True, it wasn't a ribbon meant for hair, but if anyone could make it work, she could. Her job required a significant amount of wardrobe visitation, making it difficult to wear at all times. Of course, she refused not to, and so settled on keeping it permanently in her locks.
At last prepared for the day ahead, Serena took in a deep breath, smelling the aroma of nature wafting in through the various windows of her home. Grabbing her shoulder bag, she made her way to the front door, sliding it open to step back into Laverre City's gorgeous surroundings.
She'd finally grown used to the aged yet beautiful settlement, whose balanced visual of nature and civilization had served as her main state of residence for close to two years now. Buzzing all over Kalos could really take it out on you, so it felt comforting to have a quiet place to return to once work was finished for the week.
Not seeing any more reason to delay, Serena shut her door and was off at a mild jog, worried that Valerie might have already left the gym.
The honey-blonde was forced to make her way through Laverre City's main streets to reach her destination. On any other day this wasn't too much a challenge. However, currently, as it had been going all week, the city of otherworldly dreams was experiencing one of its many yearly festivals. What used to be a wide and spacious road had been reduced to well past half its natural width, jammed on both sides by stalls, events, crowds, and all manner of Pokémon.
The more subtle dirt-composed streets were easier to navigate, but Serena still took care not to bump into the numerous people darting this way and that. A few balloons held by children smacked her in the face, along with fritzing up her hair. She was sure one of them was a Drifloon even, apologizing in its general direction just in case. Despite the chaos, the determined young lady managed to break past the mass celebration, finally emerging before the Laverre City Gym, easily spotted from within the mob due to the enormous tree at its core.
Sighing in relief, Serena made her way inside, still feeling the need to rush despite the sparsely populated area. Upon emerging onto the gym's lobby, she was immediately met with turned heads and smiles, all originating from the furisode girls that were always present within Valerie's place of business. One of them, Katherine, was quick to approach their visitor directly, giving her a small bow.
"Ms. Serena, I'm glad you could make it."
Hearing this made the honey-blonde relax a bit more.
"Thank you. So does that mean Valerie is still here?" she asked hopefully.
Katherine nodded.
"Of course. She specifically waited for you to get here before moving out to the festival main."
And just like that, the relief turned to guilt.
"Oh no," Serena groaned. "I made her wait on me."
Before the girl could sink too low in her regret, a charming giggle rang out through the room, quickly drawing attention to its newest occupant. Valerie slowly walked up to her friend, a sleeve held to her mouth as she laughed, amused by Serena's claim, but with her signature light-hearted manner. While the younger girl appeared startled, Laverre City's Gym Leader simply shook her head, stopping in front of her.
"Don't you give it a second thought, Serena. I was happy to wait for you. It wouldn't seem right walking into the festival without my number one exhibitionist by my side."
Serena was quick to give a humble smile, amazed as ever by her friend's ability to overlook snags and uplift the conversation.
"Well, I'm sorry anyway," she replied, holding her hands together in front and slightly lowering her head.
Valerie simply draped an oversized sleeve around the girl's shoulders and began leading her back towards the front entrance, the Gym Leader's assistants wishing them luck.
Serena initially believed moving through the crowd would be impossible by this point. After all, everyone knew Valerie, most of which were huge fans of her work, or simply fans of the beautiful woman herself. Considering this fact, the younger girl was amazed when the dozens of participants of Laverre's latest festival parted as the pair made their way forward, even while screaming out in excitement or showering the Gym Leader with praise and adoration. It was quickly apparent that the people of the city respected Valerie's job enough to not interfere; a touching detail of Kalos' northernmost community.
Sticking close to her friend, Serena followed beside up until their destination emerged upon the crest of a hill. Even having seen it several times already, the performer within the honey-blonde couldn't help but beam at the naturally integrated stage set before her. For times when Pokémon Showcases came to Laverre City, they were held here, upon the surface of a low cut tree stump, wide enough to easily support a performer and her partners. The tree itself had been cut down long ago, used to build much of the old city, leaving behind a remnant that could still be used to great effect.
The stage had been fitted with overhead lights for any nighttime events, as well as a rear tent from which performers could emerge, serving dually as their prep room. Serena gave the festival workers credit for working with the natural environment.
"Not quite what you're used to, is it?" Valerie asked with a smile.
Her companion just chuckled.
"I'm not sure if I'm used to any stage right now. It's been a while."
Laverre's Gym Leader nodded slightly.
"I suppose that's my fault for sending you all over the region on a daily basis."
Serena was quick to wave her hands back and forth in front of her.
"Oh no, no, no! I don't mind that at all, Valerie! It's fun to travel all over seeing the sights."
She paused with a small grin.
"Even though I've already seen most of it traveling with my friends way back when."
Valerie, meanwhile, contemplated her friend's words, keeping the ever-present, mystical look in her eyes. She turned to look out onto the city's landscape, as if studying it.
"It puts me at ease to hear you say that, Serena. Though I wish I could let you enjoy Laverre more often. This is the first time you've stuck around long enough to catch a festival."
The honey-blonde couldn't stand watching the woman she admired so much feeling conflicted, prompting her to gently place a hand on the Gym Leader's shoulder, regaining her attention fully.
"Really, Valerie, I love working for you. Moving place to place is like instinct to me by now; I grew that early on."
Serena's friend finally surrendered to her smile once more, letting out a quiet sigh of relief. Her magnificent eyes then looked into the younger girl's directly.
"I like to think of it as working with me," she replied warmly.
The two joined together in a laugh momentarily, enjoying one another's kind-hearted spirit. Once they settled, Valerie seemed refocused, beaming at her companion.
"Well, what would you say to an offer to take the stage again?"
Blinking, Serena found herself surprised, only to suddenly smile widely to her friend's request.
"That sounds fun," she replied with a grateful nod.
However, a frown soon formed on her face, as she glanced down at her attire.
"Though this isn't really fitting of a performance…"
Valerie wasn't one to give in easily, placing a hand over Serena's back.
"Who will be your partner for today?"
Abruptly cut off from her moping, the honey-blonde placed a finger to her lips and set her eyes up to the sky.
"Sylveon hasn't had much time to dance recently. I'm sure she'll appreciate an open stage."
The Gym Leader nodded, satisfied.
"Then I have the perfect outfit for you."
Around fifteen minutes later, a significant crowd had gathered around the tree stage, whispering amongst themselves about what the event could possibly be. Valerie's assistants had spread word of a special performance organized by the Gym Leader herself, effortlessly attracting a mob of epic proportions.
Eventually, the fairy trainer emerged from the prep tent, causing excitement to peak all over again. Valerie walked up to the stage's edge, giving an elegant bow to her audience. She waited a moment for the crowd to get their praise and compliments out of their systems, then proceeded to spread out the sleeves of her exotic outfit.
"Welcome, everyone! I hope you've enjoyed our city's wonderful celebration so far."
A cheer rang out in response, indicating an affirmative.
"Here, at this natural landmark, I would like you all to witness a small performance, a showcase, if you will, courtesy of my close friend, Serena. She is a dedicated worker, a talented young lady, and, a Kalos Queen."
At the mention of Serena's title, sounds of awe blanketed the crowd, amazed that their Gym Leader managed to get such a high-class figure to appear at their fairly out-of-the-way city. Valerie kept going as the chatter began anew in hushed tones, moving to the side as she held out a sleeve to present her friend.
"Watch the dazzling spectacle of Serena and her precious Pokémon partner!"
On cue, the tent flaps parted, instantly silencing the crowd, who gazed upon the figure as she made her way towards center stage. The awe played all over again, as everyone took in the sight of the girl's new appearance.
The furisode clad onto Serena's form held a wonderful distribution of creamy white and light pink separated by soft curves, accented along certain points by narrow bands of light blue in two different shades, including the edges of her large sleeves. A big pink and white bow was settled just beneath her collar, from which two "feelers" extended, wrapping around most of her upper arms before hanging off to the sides. Two more feelers were clipped to her hair, identical to the others but nearly reaching down to her ankles. The clips themselves were shaped and colored like a Sylveon's ears. Completing her look was her blue ribbon, tied into a bow beneath her left clip; although its shading didn't match exactly to the dress's own hue.
Serena didn't care, and Valerie knew why.
As she reached the stump's central ring, the performer stopped, flashing her signature smile and raising her arms out to nearly shoulder level. Eyes widened, as suddenly, four more feelers sprouted from the dress. Unlike the others though, these were moving on their own. For a few seconds, the new sets formed various symmetrical shapes and patterns, framing Serena in wondrous backdrops. Once the crowd had been sufficiently excited, the honey-blonde took hold of the uppermost feelers, which wrapped themselves up to her wrists.
With one swift motion, the honey-blonde heaved upwards with her arms. In an instant, a form was slung over her head from behind, landing perfectly before her on all fours, giving a joyous cry.
"Veon!"
Sylveon took a small, introductory bow along with her trainer, as the audience was now in perfect condition to observe their routine.
"Alright Sylveon, use Fairy Wind!"
The moment her partner leapt into the air, Serena started spinning, smoothly beginning a transition into dance. Sylveon was quick to generate a large gust of sparkling winds with her feelers, twirling in the air while doing so. The Intertwining Pokémon switched to summersaulting as she fell back down, landing cleanly onto Serena's outstretched arm. As the two spun momentarily, their combined feelers drifted around them in a veil of white ribbons, eliciting more approval from the audience.
"Now Swift!"
Sylveon performed a handful of dance steps across her trainer's arm span, before leaping off with help from Serena's upward movement. While flipping numerous times, a dense cluster of stars sprang out from her feelers, which were immediately caught up in the vortex of Fairy Wind still surging strong. Upon returning to the ground, Sylveon switched to an encircling dance around her trainer, who was twirling away in ballet fashion. The glittering stars and twinkling of their vortex caused nothing short of dropped jaws in the crowd, watching the enveloped performers proclaim their skill and elegance on the stage. But Serena wasn't done just yet.
"Double Team, Sylveon!"
Just like that, an entire ring of Intertwining Pokémon appeared in a flash, transforming the performers' ballet duet into an astonishing hybrid of dance and synchronized swimming. Each Sylveon copy fluttered its feelers about as it flipped and skipped around Serena and her partner, creating the effect of a mass of ribbons fluttering in the breeze. Deciding it was finally enough, Serena called out her last command.
"Fairy Wind once more!"
Giving Sylveon another boost into the sky, the performer watched her Pokémon discharge another blast of Fairy Wind; this time creating a spin in the opposite direction. Both girl and Pokémon were obscured by the converging winds and stars, before the vortex exploded from the opposing forces, cleanly wiping away all of Sylveon's afterimages and firing off her Swift stars in all directions. The audience was treated to a fireworks show, as each star burst into dazzling sparkles that surrounded them as well as the stage.
At long last, Serena emerged from the scattering winds, locked into a finishing pose with Sylveon balancing on her outstretched arm with one paw. As the duo gazed across the audience with big smiles, they were practically deafened by the outpour of cheers and applause, with many people jumping up and down or waving their hands in the air. The performer and her partner both took a bow, glancing over to the stage side to see that Valerie was happily clapping away as well, as much as her sleeves permitted. Various comments could be discerned from the mob as their approving reactions died down.
"I remember her now! She won Kalos Queen a few years back!"
"A marvelous performer like that is close friends with Valerie!? What a legendary pair!"
"We love you, Serena!"
"Your Sylveon could be matched only by Valerie's in grace!"
As Serena fought off a blush from her revitalized fans, she noticed her Gym Leader companion walk over, offering a congratulatory smile.
"That was stunning, Serena. You haven't lost a bit of your skill."
After the honey-blonde thanked her, the woman knelt down and petted Sylveon on the head.
"And you as well, Sylveon."
"Sylveon!" the Intertwining Pokémon replied with glee.
While the noise had finally sunk to reasonably quiet chatter amongst the festival attendees, one person couldn't help uttering one last comment as she approached the stage, staring up at Serena with stars in her eyes.
"That was one of the most spectacular performances I've ever seen! You're amazing!"
Serena smiled at the girl, kneeling down slightly to speak.
"Thank you so much. Who might you be?" the honey-blonde asked, holding out a hand.
The tree stump wasn't that high off the ground compared to an actual stage, allowing Serena's new fan to somewhat easily reach up and shake her hand. The brunette gave off a friendly smile in return as she answered.
"I'm May."
"It's nice to meet you, May."
As the girls allowed their hands to drop, Valerie tilted her head, examining the outstanding patron.
"I don't recognize you from town. Are you visiting from somewhere nearby?"
May shook her head.
"Nope. Actually, I came from a different region altogether."
Serena was surprised by her reply, while Valerie just held an interested expression.
"Wow, that's so cool! What region is that?" the performer inquired.
May took a moment to step forward and pull herself onto the tree stump, sitting on the edge. Serena joined her soon afterwards, with Sylveon laying down on her lap.
"All the way from Hoenn, believe it or not. I came here after hearing how amazing Kalos' fashion was; known the world over. I just had to see for myself."
She glanced at Valerie.
"Everyone I asked over in Lumiose City said this was the place to find what I was looking for, and I have to say…"
Her eyes briefly studied Serena's furisode.
"They were right."
May's new friend motioned to Laverre's Gym Leader.
"Valerie here is the one who designs all the beautiful dresses you've seen. She's a real artist with incorporating Pokémon into her work."
May stared at the designer with renewed wonder, which the woman found somewhat amusing. The Hoenn native then returned her attention to Serena, suddenly wanting to settle her curiosity.
"So that title that Ms. Valerie called you by. Are you really a queen? And how did you get to be called that?"
Her Kalos friend giggled a bit, all while continuing to gently pet Sylveon.
"I used to be. A few years back I won that title in a Master Class Pokémon Showcase. I held onto it for about a year, but then I found I wanted something a little more… dynamic, to do with my life. Being the best in Kalos is nice and all, and it was an aspiring goal for me at the time, but we can always move on to bigger dreams, right?"
May nodded in agreement, as did Valerie out of eyesight.
"A showcase? Is that anything like Pokémon Contests?"
Serena was unsure of her friend's term, raising an eyebrow.
"I wouldn't know. I've never heard of that."
May was honestly shocked, instantly leaning towards her new friend.
"Really? Have you ever been outside of Kalos?"
Serena shook her head, further astonishing the brunette. However, May was quick to calm her reaction and gave off a smile.
"Well, in many other regions all over, they hold Pokémon Contests; two round events where coordinators show off their Pokémon's style and skill."
She held up a finger.
"The first round is similar to what you did a few minutes ago. You put on a performance with your Pokémon using all kinds of combination moves and tricks."
Serena began to understand, nodding.
"A showcase also has two rounds, and that sounds similar to its second one."
May peered down at the now soundly resting Sylveon.
"Although, you seemed to be much more involved in it."
The honey-blonde nodded again.
"Yep. You perform together in a showcase, in what's called a free performance. It's all about you and your partner displaying your bond."
After May shook off her awe at such a novel idea, she held up another finger.
"The second round involves a battle."
This was certainly a surprise to Serena, who blinked in response. Valerie just grinned.
"Wow that sounds complicated. For a first round, we do a theme performance, which is a randomly chosen event that partners have to overcome to advance."
Once more, May seemed impressed.
"You here in Kalos sure know how to be original. By the way, that was a free performance you did up there, wasn't it?"
Serena nodded proudly.
"It sure was. Valerie thought I could use a break from work, so she offered the stage."
The brunette gave a quizzical look.
"You work for Ms. Valerie?"
Her friend nodded.
"After finally letting the title of Kalos Queen go I wasn't too sure what to do with myself. Then Valerie came forward and offered to have me be her promoter. She can't find the time to make an exhibit of her dresses all over Kalos, so she has me go out to present all her new lines, seeing as I already enjoy trying on all kinds of clothing."
May had stars in her eyes again.
"So you're a model?"
At this, Serena couldn't help but blush with a giggle.
"I guess you could say that."
She turned back to May.
"So what about you? I'm guessing you're a coordinator?"
The brunette seemed to shift into a proud posture, giving a grin.
"Top Coordinator as a matter of fact. I actually earned a nickname in some areas. They call me the Princess of Hoenn."
While Serena gazed in admiration at such a title, Valerie seemed to have finally reached a decision, her mystical eyes shining with an idea. The sound of the Gym Leader stepping forward attracted both younger girls' attention.
"It's settled then. Since Serena gave you a good taste of what showcases are all about, I think you, May, should give us a show of just how contests work, with a battle."
Both girls did a double-take, looking at each other, then back at their senior.
"V-Valerie, are you sure about that?" Serena stuttered out.
Her friend just nodded.
"This will be good for you, Serena; both experiencing another region's culture and seeing how well you've improved."
Considering the designer's valid points, Serena returned her sight to May.
"Well, what do you think?"
At first the Hoenn visitor said nothing, a blank look across her face. This was gradually replaced with a wide grin, as she seemed ready to scream in excitement.
"That would be amazing!" she cried, jumping to her feet.
Her mood suddenly diminished upon looking down at her clothes, then at Serena's festive outfit. The brunette held her hands together in front of her and faced Laverre's Gym Leader.
"Um, Ms. Valerie, do you by chance have a costume to spare?"
Most of the crowd from Serena's original performance had gradually broken up, off to enjoy the rest of the festival. It was near lunch time by now as well, meaning many patrons were settled in to eat. Despite that, a steady mob was still gathered by the stage stump, noticing that Serena was still upon it, although standing to the side, as if awaiting an opponent. Sylveon was patiently sitting by her side, still with plenty of energy to dance away.
Just as the honey-blonde was about to see what was taking so long, Valerie stepped out of the tent, looking quite content as she strode over near her friend's side of the stage. Before Serena could say anything however, a second figure emerged from the prep room.
Like the Kalos performer's outfit, May's new attire consisted of a two-toned furisode based off another evolution of Eevee. Light blue encompassed the vast majority, but a much darker shade was visible on the ends of her sleeves, her shoes, and two diamond shapes on her back. The fringes of the dress itself all ended in soft, diamond points, truly instilling a wintery image. Twin teal dangles hung from her hair, held together by an accessory resembling the crest on a Glaceon's forehead.
"Wow, you look great, May," Serena couldn't help but comment.
The Hoenn native smiled back as she took out a pokéball.
"Thanks. You too. Alright, take the stage!"
Tossing the capsule into the air, she released the creature held inside with a burst of light. Upon the Pokémon's reveal, May's Glaceon emerged in full view, already wearing a confident, if not serious grin. Understanding the brunette's choice of clothes now, Serena looked down to her partner.
"Ready, Sylveon?"
"Veon!" the Intertwining Pokémon answered, hopping forward to take a stance for battle.
As the two began staring each other down, Serena saw several of Valerie's assistants moving a rack holding two banners to the rear of the stage, positioning it in the center. Another assistant was holding a timer device. To add further confusion, a Venusaur stomped into view, taking position beside the twin banners.
"What's all this?" Serena inquired.
May was happy to explain, motioning to the equipment.
"In a contest battle, you're scored based on how many points you have remaining after a time limit. You start out with all your points, but they decrease for a number of reasons. This includes things like getting hit by attacks, messing up an attack, having your moves taken advantage of, and being out-styled. Knocking out your opponent is an instant win though."
Serena nodded in understanding, feeling somewhat intimidated by the mass of rules foreign to her.
"Our points will be tracked by those hanging banners there. Venusaur will be watching carefully, sheering off pieces to reflect our score. Right, Venusaur?"
"Saur!" the Seed Pokémon replied.
Concluding her tutorial, May formed a determined look in her eyes, locking a gaze with her new opponent.
"Alright, we're ready for it," Serena called.
"Sylve!"
May turned to Valerie, nodding. The Gym Leader in turn signaled her assistant, who went ahead and activated the timer, displaying a countdown clock at five minutes.
"Begin!" Valerie declared, waving an arm into the air.
As the seconds ticked down, May was the first to act.
"Glaceon, use Blizzard!"
With a hint of aggression, The Fresh Snow Pokémon fired off a glistening blast of frost and wind from her mouth, which sailed towards the stationary Sylveon. Serena studied the oncoming attack, using her performer's instincts first and foremost.
Well, if it has the same reaction as fire would…
"Dance into it with Fairy Wind!" she commanded.
Acknowledging the order, Sylveon dashed forward, executing several dance hops before throwing herself into a spin and releasing the fairy move from her twirling feelers. As May watched in surprise, Blizzard was undone as easily as pulling a loose threat on a sweater, dispersing into a shower of glitter and gust. Meanwhile, the audience cheered at the display happening before them. In accordance, Venusaur fired off Razor Leaf at the banner representing May's points, shredding a small portion.
Disappointed, the Hoenn native watched Sylveon backflip back near Serena, who praised the fairy type for her success. Deciding not to let the first move slow her down, May went on the offensive again.
"Charge forward with Ice Beam, Glaceon!"
"Gla!"
With nibble movements, Glaceon took a run at its opponent, who braced herself.
"Hold it back with Swift!" Serena ordered.
Sylveon swiped at the air with her feelers, letting loose a swarm of stars one after the other.
"Dodge them all!" May called confidently.
True to her command, Glaceon side-stepped each round of projectiles, all while never taking its eyes off Sylveon. Venusaur cut off bits of Serena's banner with each miss. Concerned, the performer called for a Fairy Wind to blow the Fresh Snow Pokémon back. As Sylveon held her feelers together in preparation for a forward blast, both she and her trainer noticed May smirk. In that moment, they had forgotten the attack Glaceon held charging in her mouth.
Ice Beam sailed like a lightning bolt, striking Sylveon's ribbon-like appendages, earning a cry from the Intertwining Pokémon and freezing them all together. In addition, the icy chunk severed as dead weight, giving May an opening.
"Now use Iron Tail!"
Glaceon gladly coated a metallic surface on its tail, then ran full force at Sylveon for what distance remained, swinging her attack to bash effortlessly through the ice and hit the fairy type directly for super effective damage.
"Veon!" she cried, falling back to the floor.
"Sylveon, are you alright?" Serena asked with worry.
Despite gritting her teeth, her partner managed to get up, shaking any remaining ice particles from her feelers. Glaceon seemed unsatisfied with the damage it caused, standing by for May's next command. At the back of the stage, Venusaur had taken a significant portion of Serena's banner away. The honey-blonde glanced at their clock, seeing there was a little less than three minutes remaining. She had lost over twice as many points as May, leaving room for concern. She knew it was her first time in a contest battle, and that her battling in general wasn't anything special, but it frustrated her regardless. She balled her fists, trying to think of something to try against her more experienced opponent.
Something blue swung past her eye.
Flinching, Serena looked again. She found one side of her bow had come undone, leaving the ribbon's end to flail in her face. She took the time to fix it, almost on instinct, as if everything else could wait. As her accessory laid in good condition, she felt like something had been conveyed through its loose distraction. Perhaps, it was akin to someone waving their hand on front of her, to snap her out of her tense mood. She turned to eye Valerie, who was smiling at her.
Did, did she see that? the honey-blonde wondered.
An encouraging nod from the Laverre Gym Leader offered no true evidence either way, but it certainly convinced Serena to rethink her strategy. Eyes back on May and Glaceon, her mind calmed, her hands relaxed.
I may not have experience in this field, but I have my performances, my precious partner, and Valerie's help. It's not over, which means there's no way I can give up!
"Sylveon, rush ahead!" the girl called.
"Sylveon!"
The Intertwining Pokémon was all at once running for her foe, focused and determined like her trainer, sensing the change in Serena's voice. May didn't hesitate to knock them back.
"Blizzard, Glaceon!"
Another storm of snow was thrown Sylveon's way.
"Fairy Wind!" Serena countered.
Again, the fairy type sent a rush of dazzling gusts to tear Blizzard apart. Unfortunately, this wasn't forgotten from earlier by their opponent.
"Now use Mirror Coat!" May called.
To Serena and Sylveon's horror, Fairy Wind backfired upon reaching through to Glaceon, whose body reflected the attack right back at them. The chaotic winds blended with Blizzard were sure to cause massive damage; that May was certain of.
"Protect!"
Unable to push past, the gale was thrown in all directions but its target's, leaving behind an unharmed Sylveon, smiling through her barrier. May and Glaceon gasped, not expecting Serena to pull out her trump card right after theirs. Venusaur had cut off a small piece from both banners after the clash, but Serena was still well behind. Only a minute and a half remained.
"Don't let up, Glaceon, Iron Tail!" May commanded urgently. She refused to allow Sylveon to start moving around again. Holding Protect had briefly forced the Intertwining Pokémon to stop, giving the opportunity to close in.
"Double Team!" Serena called, showing hints of a smile.
Glaceon slammed down with its tail upon the closest Sylveon, which sadly turned out to be an afterimage. A dozen more surrounded it, frustrating the Fresh Snow Pokémon as May told it to eliminate all of them quickly. Even as this transpired, May lost points for each copy that fizzled out, slowly closing the gap between her and Serena. The Kalos performer knew now was the time, with barely thirty seconds left on the timer.
"Dance away, Sylveon, then Swift!"
Each afterimage began jumping all around, greatly annoying Glaceon, who had trouble hitting the last few remaining. Stars were simultaneously being fired all around. Several managed to graze the ice type, prompting more point loss. May kept her eyes darting back between her score and her Pokémon, tensing up by the second. Finally, Glaceon managed to cancel out the last copy, leaving a surprised Sylveon vulnerable. Grinning, May knew it was hers.
"Iron Tail!" she cheered.
Glaceon confidently swung around its tail to come down on its foe, eager to stop all the tricky dancing. Serena just smiled. As the attack made contact, May couldn't believe what she saw.
Glaceon's metal-coated tail was being held back by all four of Sylveon's feelers, albeit struggling to do so against the steel type attack. It was now or never.
"Swing it around, Sylveon!" Serena called, executing a single spin for emphasis.
Following the command with a fierce smile, Sylveon wrapped her feelers further around Glaceon's tail, before jerking the entire ice type off the ground.
"Glaaaaace!" it cried out, unable to escape.
"Oh no!" May exclaimed.
The force at which her Pokémon was being spun made it impossible to aim an Ice Beam or Blizzard, at least anywhere but the empty sky.
"Fairy Wind for the finish, Sylveon!" Serena concluded.
A glimmering tornado engulfed the helpless Glaceon, trapping it indefinitely. On the sidelines, Valerie gave a respectful smile. Sylveon finally slammed the entire display into the floor, scattering her Fairy Wind into the air and earning further cheers from the audience. Glaceon, while refusing to faint, growled through her teeth as it attempted to stand upright. Even so, it was too late; the timer signaled a cease in battling. There was silence for a moment, as the two girls glanced over to the banners.
Serena's brilliant eyes shined, watching as Venusaur, reluctantly, stepped aside, revealing the final results of their struggle. Although it was close, Serena and Sylveon's comeback had erased a major portion of May's points, placing them just ahead of the foreign coordinator. The Kalos pair, finally registering the win, cheered, running to one another for a tight embrace. The honey-blonde thanked her partner endlessly, congratulating her for the difficult work she'd done. Added to this were the roars and whistles of the crowd, who'd enjoyed the show immensely. It was a feeling they both missed, the feeling that came from a successful showcase.
On the other side of the field, on her knees, May let out a thoughtful sigh, giving her exhausted Pokémon a gentle pet on the head while smiling at Glaceon's disappointed face.
"Don't worry about it, Glaceon. You did amazing out there. Neither of us were prepared for one another's style and techniques, so it was a fair contest."
Though still obviously sullen, the Fresh Snow Pokémon nodded, giving a grin in return before May recalled it to its ball. May then got to her feet, walking over to her new friend, who noticed and was quick to give a small bow to the Hoenn visitor.
"May, thank you. I learned so much from you."
The brunette chuckled as she placed a hand behind her head, waving dismissively.
"I should be the one telling you that, but it was my pleasure. You and Sylveon know how to move, not to mention battle. Pretty good for a performer."
Valerie's approach caught their attention, as the designer studied each girl momentarily.
"And so the queen trumps the princess. I couldn't ask for a greater exhibition, or a more heated contest of style and grace. I thank you both as Laverre City's Gym Leader."
While Serena just smiled, May was nearly knocked off her feet, pointing a shaking finger at Valerie.
"Y-y-you're the Gym Leader!?" she blurted out.
While the fairy trainer calmly nodded, Serena found herself unable to contain a laugh at May's reaction.
"She sure is. That's where I learned some of those moves you saw. In fact, it's the same one she used against one of my friends during his Gym Battle."
Valerie beamed at the memory, recalling great enjoyment in that particular match.
"And yet he found a way past it. All of my tricks, in fact. There was no stopping his ingenuity."
May seemed to think back while humming quietly.
"Sounds like someone I know."
Serena seemed to be gradually losing focus in the conversation. She absentmindedly grabbed the ribbon in her hair, pulling it out completely. The girl smiled thoughtfully, feeling the material in her fingers while May went on.
"Always in a hurry to get to the next battle."
Serena's eyes softened, memories flooding back.
"Always stepping in to protect a friend or Pokémon, no matter what," she spoke without thinking.
"An appetite that could rival a Snorlax."
"Never stopped encouraging the people he cares for."
The two then spoke in unison.
"And never without that Pikachu of his!"
The fond dance down memory lane ended there, with both girls staring at each other with wide eyes and open mouths. Valerie formed an interested expression again, but chose not to interrupt as the younger trainers continued to stay frozen in place. Sylveon even started getting worried, entwining a feeler around her friend's arm. Even after a few tugs, Serena still didn't respond. Venusaur, who had yet to be recalled, managed to stomp over and poked her trainer in the cheek with a Vine Whip.
A moment after their Pokémon gave up, Serena finally resumed the conversation.
"Was your friend… by chance… named Ash Ketchum?"
May's head seemed to merely creak in reply, but still conveyed a nod.
"Uh huh," she forced out.
Changing back into normal clothing provided the necessary breather for both ladies to soak in their mutual relationship with a certain Kanto trainer. The festival had returned to its usual flow, with dozens of people and Pokémon walking past the natural stage, upon which the girls were now sitting, having lengthy conversation about their travels with the one and only Ash Ketchum.
Serena wasn't surprised to hear that the aspiring Pokémon Master had mentored May at the beginning of her journey, showing her the ropes to a world she was neither familiar with nor wanted at the time. Simultaneously, May was happy to know he hadn't changed after making his way over to Kalos and beyond. It wasn't long before their stories of him dragged on further than any talk of contests or showcases.
Near the tail end of Serena's recalling of events, May started taking notice of the blue ribbon still tied into her hair, recognizing it from her Sylveon furisode. Sylveon herself was still outside her pokéball, sleeping on her trainer's lap.
"Hey, Serena, why are you still wearing that ribbon?"
She frowned.
"Come to think of it, why is it in your hair at all? It doesn't seem meant for that."
The Kalos performer reached up and touched the silky accessory, somehow reassured by its mere texture. She closed her eyes gently.
"Oh, this isn't part of Valerie's outfit, it's mine. I never take it off for long, no matter what kind of clothing I'm modeling or just plain wearing."
May's brows went up in shock.
"Even if it doesn't match at all, or looks terrible even?!"
Serena nodded firmly. Throwing aside her initial reaction, May considered the ribbon's importance.
"It must be really special then. You've absolutely got to tell me how you got it."
The brunette's insistent attitude made it impossible for Serena to say no. Even then, she knew it would be difficult. She placed her hand back down, lightly laying it onto Sylveon's back to join the other.
"Well, um…" she began.
A light pink was already growing on her cheeks, for now unnoticed by May.
"Ash gave it to me, actually…"
She seemed wanting to trail into further explanation, but cut off there, unable to speak. Unfortunately for her, her new friend didn't need anything more. Forget turning on a lightbulb in her head, May's lightbulb flat-out exploded.
"Oh my gosh! You have a thing for him!"
Sylveon was startled out of her sleep, lifting her eyes up only to see May's face practically being shoved into Serena's.
"It all makes sense now! I had a suspicious feeling every time you talked about him inspiring you. You had that look in your eyes. I can't believe I missed it!"
Serena nervously chuckled, though was still red in the face, now easily seen.
"Well, I kinda left some things out."
She looked away, then continued in a near mumble.
"Like how we first met."
Naturally, May might as well have taken her friend hostage until she told her about the first meeting between her and Ash. Serena was forced to spend another several minutes describing it, as well as rectifying to the true reason she left home in the first place. As if it were a missing puzzle piece, May began seeing the whole picture all over again, her expression growing giddier by each sentence.
By the time Serena finally finished her flustering reveal, the Hoenn native was in a daze of melodramatic bliss, easily sucked into the emotional story.
"That is the sweetest thing I've ever heard!" she sang.
Serena found it strange, speaking with someone who found her feelings to be sweet rather than just teasing her about them. And May knew Ash better than Shauna or Miette ever did. Regardless of her embarrassment, it was nice to have someone like May to finally freely discuss it with.
"Yeah," she admitted, staring at the ground in deep thought.
May noticed the sudden depression in her friend's mood, knowingly triggered by talk of the one she fell for.
"He never noticed or showed any returning feelings."
It wasn't a question. May remembered Ash's dense personality. Not exactly a negative quality, but certainly a troublesome one.
"Yeah," Serena said again, her voice more hollow.
The brunette beside her tapped a finger against her chin, trying to think of a way to cheer her up. An idea struck moments later.
"Hey, listen, maybe even he didn't realize it, you never know."
Serena managed to look up to her companion, intrigued.
"How do you figure?" she asked.
May placed a hand on the performer's shoulder, forming a trusting contact between the two.
"Tell me everything you can about how Ash acted around you. I'm talking every detail that sticks out; each word, gesture, even how it compares to the way he was with your other friends."
Growing ever more comfortable with her romantically-attuned friend, Serena knew it wouldn't hurt to tell her as much as possible. For another hour or so, she relayed every slip and anomaly in Ash's otherwise battle-hardened personality to the closely-listening brunette, who only interrupted for an occasional question. The sun nearly touched the tip of Laverre's tallest trees as they finally combed over Serena's entire journey with Ash, which left May with enough to work with.
She nodded with an upbeat attitude, grinning to her new friend.
"Well, considering all that, I can personally guarantee you that the chances of Ash not liking you more than a friend are absolutely zero."
Serena couldn't quite comprehend how to reply to such a bold declaration, but the trust she'd forged with the Hoenn girl certainly didn't stop her heart from momentarily beating faster.
"R-really?" she stuttered.
May nodded again, winking.
"Trust me; the most subtle acts are the biggest evidence."
Taking her word for it, partially just to feel better, Serena finally recovered her smile.
"That means a lot, May. Thank you."
However, the Hoenn native wasn't finished.
"So? Aren't you gonna go?"
Serena blinked.
"Go where?"
May briefly rolled her eyes.
"To Ash, duh!"
Embarrassed all over again, the performer flinched.
"W-what?! Why would I do that? He said he'd come back one day. He promised, and I fully believe him."
May found herself getting ever-so-slightly frustrated, groaning.
"But that won't show him how much you care. You've got to be assertive to get what you want."
"I can't just do that, he'll think I'm either desperate or way too late," Serena automatically defended.
May smirked before countering.
"On the contrary, it's been a perfect amount of time; not too soon, and not too long."
As Serena raked her mind for any kind of defense, she nearly jumped upon feeling a large sleeve cover her shoulders. Looking over, she found Valerie kneeling down to join them, her calm smile containing a hint of plotting. The honey-blonde actually felt nervous.
"I was waiting to tell you at a good time, Serena, and I think this is the perfect opportunity."
Intrigued, Serena listened quietly.
"A family member of mine back in Johto has a friend who works at a local café. She said that a few interesting individuals passed through over the last week."
Even May nudged her head forward, curious as to where the Gym Leader was going with this.
"One was a trainer, your age, with raven-black hair and a Pikachu always on his shoulder, said his name was Ash. The two had been training on the nearby mountain day after day."
Serena and May's eyes grew wide, amusing Valerie as she went on.
"The other was an older boy with tan skin and spiky brown hair."
May gasped, but waited until the designer finished.
"Just the other day, she saw the two of them cross paths, greeting one another like old friends. They left together in the direction of Kanto's Viridian City."
"That's got to be Brock!" May burst out.
Valerie's smile widened just a tad.
"The older boy had mentioned journeying to Hoenn for business."
She shrugged nonchalantly.
"I can't say anything for sure, but there's a good chance Ash chose to tag along with him, based on her description of their interaction."
Serena was left contemplating all that Valerie had said, forcing her mind to piece together the slightest possibility that Ash was, in fact, satisfied with his training and starting a tour back to Kalos. This didn't mean doubt wasn't clouding parts of her thinking however.
"Maybe he's just going to train even more once he gets there…"
May had enough, giving her friend a firm pat on the back.
"Come on, Serena! You heard Ms. Valerie; Ash and Brock were talking like they were really on the move. This is your chance. You can cut him off before they reach Kalos and truly express your lo-"
Serena hastily covered the brunette's mouth before she zoned out into romantic babbling, a fierce shade of red dominating the performer's face.
"You can stop there!" she blurted out in a flash.
Valerie giggled, then continued speaking.
"To be honest, Serena, I agree with everything May has said. You should seek out your goals, just like you've been doing all this time, rather than waiting for something to happen. Didn't you once tell me that's what happened with you and your mother's Rhyhorn Racing?"
She had the performer there. Serena couldn't ague against something she herself had said. However, there were still outlying issues.
"Even if I did want to go, I can't just leave my work."
Valerie glanced over in the direction of the Gym, her expression whimsical.
"League season is starting. I'm sure a rush of trainers will be passing through Laverre City soon enough. There won't be much time to create new lines, much less coordinate you to go out and promote them."
She turned back and smiled to her cherished friend.
"Serena, take yourself wherever you need to. I won't hold you back."
Wedged between two friends who cared for her own goals to such a degree, Serena now found it inconceivable to even try arguing. Even Sylveon, happily watching the conversation, gave a cheer of encouragement upon spotting her trainer's conflicted expression. She was sure that Braixen and Pancham would have the same response. Taking a deep breath to clear her head, the honey-blonde finally sat up straight.
"I'll go then."
May was ecstatic immediately, nearly falling backwards from her triumphant shout. Valerie seemed to brighten even more, if that were possible by this point. Upon recovering from her excitement, May got to her feet, grabbing Serena's hand along the way to drag the performer up with her. As the trio gradually made their way off the stage, the younger Kalos native turned to her visiting friend.
"So what will you do, May? Hoenn is your home, so will you come along too?"
The brunette smirked.
"Are you kidding? There's so much to do here in Kalos. All the shopping I can do, the foods I can try, and even checking out a real Pokémon Showcase. An entire region is mine for the taking."
She gave a wink.
"But don't worry, I'll be watching for when Ash finally makes it here to show the Elite Four he means business."
Grateful for her support and amused by her anticipation, Serena just smiled back.
"Then I guess I'll see you again soon."
May went ahead and came forward, giving the performer one last bit of encouragement with an embrace, which she returned upon realizing the act. Separated, May was instantly off, heading down the road that would lead her back to Lumiose City, eager to begin her feasting of culture and culinary. She waved back to Serena and Valerie as long as she could, before disappearing over a hill. The two Kalosians watched the sun beginning its final fall behind the mountains.
Tomorrow, Serena would be heading towards Lumiose City as well, catching a plane to Hoenn, in hopes of finally reuniting with the boy who changed her life on so many occasions.
I'm gonna apologize straight away for how late this update is. After having issues with my new computer's setup, as well as getting a good Microsoft Word program to type on, I had a bit of a snag in matters involving my car and a very narrow parking lot. Enough said. While I'm dealing with that, I also just got a second job. Until those things are all settled and/or in balance, updates are going to be pretty spaced out most of the time.
I hope you guys understand, but I'll make it up to you all some day, that's a promise as strong as my one to never leave a story unfinished.
AMOUR WORSHIPPER: Granted!
Isangtao: Thanks nice of you to say, thanks.
ASHySERENAShipper: I'll do my best.
Cottonmouth25: It's a sad thought alright. If only they could give the same treatment as Charizard got.
MUTO: It's all good.
Guest: I always will.
Neo Deadmau5: I bet a lot of people would kill me if I didn't get him back.
NGA96: I appreciate that. And I understand, it wasn't my first either.
Sleepy16: Hey! It's great to hear from you again! I'm happy to keep the adventures coming.
Guest: Glad to hear it. And I'm sure it'll end up even longer than my best estimate.
Hope you enjoyed and thanks for any comments/reviews!
next chapter: Beginner, Veteran, Expert