Love's at Stake!? The Challenge!

Serena wanted to kill Allie.

Choke her and throw away the—no, calm down, Serena, deep breathes. Murder wasn't the best solution, besides she did enjoy Ash holding unto her and leaning her head against her arm and then giving her kisses and—never mind, Allie was definitely dying. There was no question about it.

"Oh, Xavier you look a little sick, are you okay?" Ash asked her, looking concerned at the red face of his 'lover'.

"F-fine…don't worry about me…"

"Are you sure? While I enjoy your blushing when I show my affection for you, this is beyond the normal," Ash went on. "Let me see…" He placed a hand on Serena's forehead, not noticing her face turning a deeper shade of red. "You're rather warm…"

"It-its fine, Ash, don't worry about it…"

"But perhaps I should. You're acting stranger than usual," he told her, pouting.

He looks adorable…and I just want to die…Serena thought, looking everywhere but at her partner.

Eventually, both of them made it back to the banquet hall; Clemont was still seating in one of the tables, with Allie by his side. The princess noticed them coming in first, and then, smiled smugly towards them. Serena's response was to glare at her, before Ash dragged her towards their table.

"Oh, hello!" Allie cried out, laughing as she waved at them. Clemont waved nervously back, having noticed the murderous gaze on Serena's face. He looked at Allie and then at Ash, who excitedly waved back and argued 'Xavier' to hurry to their table. "Glad to see you found him, Lady Ashley!" the princess said as they both sat down, returning Serena's glare with an innocent smile.

"Ah, yes, he was wandering around looking for me! Can you believe it?" Ash told her, blushing. "He's such a darling!" Clemont gave Ash a confused look and glanced at Serena. She returned a look of her own and shook her head as if saying, "Not now."

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Eventually the two ladies (one just disguised as a one anyway) excused themselves to talk about 'love' and other matters, allowing the two 'gentlemen' some 'boy time' as they called it. As soon as the two of them left, Clemont gave Serena a look,

"…was Ash acting girlier than absolutely necessary?"

"…Allie did something to him," Serena told him, slamming her head on the table.

"What? What did she do?" Clemont asked, whispering as a waiter passed by.

"One of her maids has a Kirlia," the girl told him, still with her head against the table. "used Hypnosis on him to make him act 'ladylike'…"

"Umm…are you sure? Maybe he's just playing a prank on you?" That couldn't be right, could it? Then it would mean that she had found them out! So why—

"Why would he, Clemont? Besides I noticed his eyes…they were glassy…blank…" she told him, raising her head and sighing. "She knows we are here…she's just being a jerk about it…"

"Then what are we going to do?" the inventor asked, looking concerned. "We need to snap him out of it…how are we going to pull that off?"

"I…I really don't—"

"I told you, no, sir!"

"Oh, come on, fair maiden! Surely I'm more of a catch than that sad excuse of a man!"

The two friends looked back at a small group of people, wondering what was taking place in the middle of it. They didn't have to wait long as they watched Ash break through the small group of people, being followed by a young man in a dark suit.

"Are…are you kidding me?" Clemont asked, looking nervous. Serena didn't give him a reply as she got up from her seat and moved towards the pair.

"Xavier!" Ash cried upon noticing her coming their way. The other young man noticed her coming as well, and groaned.

"Really? That is your famous fiancé? He looks like a woman!" Serena ignored the chuckles of a few men as she approached the group, pretending she hadn't heard the remark, no matter how true it was. Ash wasn't as forgiving, though.

"At least he's not following me like a Psyduck that has yet to get it into his head that I want nothing with him!" A few ladies in the crowd giggled at that remark, while the young man gave them a glare.

"Ash-ashley is something wrong?" Serena asked, almost forgetting to use her 'male' voice for a second. "Is he bothering you?"

"Yes, he is!" Ash told her, going to her side and grabbing her arm. "Let's go and seat down, please…"

"Sure," Serena told him, giving a strange look at the young man, who looked back.

They barely made it two steps before the young man cried, "I'm a better catch than this fool of a man, Lady Ashley!"

"That's what you think!" Ash cried, giving Serena a look, "Come on, Xavier, say something!"

Like what? Serena didn't fully understand what was going on, except that this guy was being a pain…had Allie orchestrated this too, or had it just happened? She looked at the young man and noticing nothing wrong with him, told him,

"Stop bothering her…she's not interested."

"Is that the best come back you can think of, Xavier?" the young man asked, laughing. "She's got more backbone than you have at the moment, whelp!" A few other men around began laughing, as if they had heard a good joke. Ash was about to respond, only for Serena to beat her to it.

"…I'm not telling you again. Leave. Her. Alone."

Everyone stared at Serena, a few flinching at the glare she gave the young man.

I've had enough of this day already with Allie's little games…I'm not putting up with another jerk! Not today! Serena thought, as she continued to glare at the young man. He glared back.

"Ha! What could she see in a man like you when she can have me?" he asked with some venom.

"What makes you think she sees a man on you?" Serena replied, getting even more annoyed than before. If it wasn't Allie, it was this jerk. Just freaking great!

"How dare you!" the young man asked; his cheeks red. "Fine then, let's see who the better man is! I, Lord Herault, challenge you to a battle!"

And this day was getting worse…just perfect.


Oh...boy! This is getting better and better...poor Serena!

Now that she and Clemont both know about Ash's little problem how are they to break him out of his 'lady' behavior?

For now, I'll leave with this small challenge. Next chapter a battle and another challenge...perhaps Serena's day can improve a little.

A big thanks to all who have reviewed and favorite this story! Hope you enjoy this chapter, too!

(Recognize the name of the young man? If you do, you already know the Pokemon he's going to use in the fight!)